English: Founder's Share certificate of the Third Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation, issued 20 June 1797, signed in original by Caleb Strong as President.

An extract from the Act for the Incorporation of the Third Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation, passed January 1796, Section 78, approved March 9, 1797:

They hereby are constituted a Corporation by the name of the third Massachusetts turnpike Corporation for the purpose of laying out& making a turnpike road from the East side of Robert'shill so called in Northampton by the forks of the roadleading from Dalton meeting-house to Windsor in theCounty -of Berkshire near the house formerly owned by Major Jeremiah Cady to the Eastwardly line of Pittsfield, and for keeping the same in repair, in such place or places as the said corporation shall choose for the same; which road shall not be less than four rods wide and the path to be travelled on not less than eighteen feet in width in any place ; And that when said Turnpike road shall be sufliciently made & shall be so allowed and approved by the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court at any Term thereof in any County in this Commonwealth, then the said Corporation shall be authorized to erect three turnpike gates on the same, in such manner as shall be necessary & convenient ; one of which gates shall be near the house where the said Nathaniel Edwards now keeps an Inn ; one other near the bridge over Westfield river in Chesterfield ; & the third gate near the Inn now kept by Samuel Hascall in Patridgefield, and shall be intitled to recieve from each traveller and Passenger at each of the said gates, the following rates of toll ; vizt. for every coach phaeton, Chariot or other four wheel carriage drawn by two horses twenty five cents ; & if drawn by more than two horses an additional sum of four cents iov each horse ; for every Cart waggon sled or sleigh drawn by two oxen or horses ten cents ; & if drawn by more than two an additional sum of three Cents for every such ox or horse ; for every Curricle ten Cents ; for every chaise, chair or other carriage drawn by one horse nine cents ; for every man and horse five cents ; for all oxen horses and neat cattle led or driven besides those in teams and carriages three cents each ; for all sheep & swine three cents by the dozen and in that proportion for a greater or less number ; provided that no toll shall be taken of any person passing said road on military duty... Provided that if the said Corporation shall neglect to compleat the said Turnpike road for the space of three years from the passing this act, the same shall become void and of no effect.