How many land trusts have been held 350 years? William Paine established a land trust to benefit the Ipswich, Massachusetts schools. The trustees of the Little Neck Land Trust now hope to sell the land to the current tenants for $29.1 million. The descendants of William Paine are objecting.
“The sale is in direct opposition to William’s wishes,” said Patrick Payne, of Ruther Glen, Virginia. “His will clearly states the land is never to be sold and never to be wasted. Right now, it seems like it’s being wasted. For the [trustees] to suggest to sell the property is a breach of their responsibilities. Some things in life are sacred and a person’s last will and testament is right up there. This is the oldest land trust in America. We just want to see it handled the way it was meant to be handled.”
William Paine first came to Virginia in 1632 to work as a ship’s carpenter. In 1635 he returned to England to collect his family and then settled in Massachusetts. The current Paine family genealogical search group includes some 700 members.
You can read more in an article by Dan Mac Alpine in the Cape Ann Beacon at http://goo.gl/Foc19
