Explanation of the p.199 record (Jan. 7th 1662)
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In reply to:
Jeremiah Meacham in East Hampton, Long Island 1653-1668
Karen Keeley 2/06/06
The record in my earlier posting, p.199 dated January 7th 1662(Community rules for whaling), means that they were watching for whales that were "cast up" on the shores of the Hamptons, Long Island.The men of the town didn't go out in boats to hunt them, but whenever a dead (or dying) whale was found on the beach, the company of men would be called to help with the "cutting out" (i.e. cutting up) of the whale, to get the meat, oil for their lamps, etc. Jeremiah Meacham was one of the overseers in this enterprise.The tail and fins were to be given to the Montauk Indians according to an earlier agreement signed with them.
An earlier record, p. 8 (year 1650) in the RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF EAST-HAMPTON says that "It is ordered yt (that) if any whales be cast up within our bounds that every householder shall do his part of ye (the) worke about cutting of them out according as his turn shal cum the towne being for this worke devided into two parts ye one halfe to goe at one time & the other at an other, and everie one upon warning given is to take his turne to look out to find them and whosoever shall be found to be a delinquent in doing his part in cutting or looking out when his turn is shal pay a fine to ye value of 5 shillings."
"It is also ordered yt (that) if any Indean find a whale and do forthwth tiding of it he shal have 5 shillings for his pains, and if any Inglishman of ye Town doe accedentally find a whale & doe bring ye first tidings of it he shal have a peece of whale 3 foot broad."
(Just thought these records were interesting.They show the broad range of enterprises which our ancestors of those times were involved in.)