USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 30
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 30
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Township No. 10 was surveyed by J. Richards, in 1813, and sold in part to individuals, between 1827 and the present time. A large part was sold to Gerrit Smith, August 10, 1849, and some lots are still owned by the state.
MASSENA .- This town was mostly granted in small and separate pa- tents, to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and others. The first of these grants was made Oct. 23, 1788, adjoining the present reservation, and at the mile square. These tracts were designated by letters, and extended to the letter N.
* Secretary's office, patents, b. 23, p. 393.
p
252
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
Colonel Louis, the Indian chief to whom a tract in this town was con- d'tionally granted, in 1789, did not receive a patent. He however drew lots Nos. 72 and 98, of 600 acres each, and 55, 11 and 34, of 500 acres cach, in Junins, N. Y., for his military services.
MACOMB'S GREAT PURCHASE .- The legislature of the state of New York, at their session in 1791, in order to promote the settlement of their lands, passed a law authorizing the commissioners of the land office to dispose of any of the waste and unappropriated lands of the state, in such quantities, and on such terms, and in such manner, as they should judge most conducive to the interest of the public.
The extraordinary powers granted by this law, have been rightly pro- nounced, in the language of a report made not long since to the legisla- ture, on another subject, " too great to be entrusted to mortal hands."
Governor Clinton, in his annual message of 1792, communicated a re- port of the land commissioners, in which they said, that they had during the year, sold 5,542,170 acres, in less than forty parcels, for £412,173 16s. 8d., and that they had endeavored to serve the public interests therein.
In a list of applications that had been received for the tract, was one from Macomb, in April, for all the vacant lands between Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence, for 8d. per acre, in 6 years without interest, which wasrejected, on account of its extent, " and because it contained lands join ing old patents, and fronts too great a proportion of water communication."
On the 2d of May, he applied as before, and it was accepted, the quan- tity being reduced.
Wm. Henderson had applied for all the military land at 9d. per acre, which was rejected. Macomb had no competitors in lis purchase.
This report being in order, Mr. Talbott, of Montgomery, moved a se- ries of resolutions, in which, after entimerating the several acts which had been passed relative to the waste lands, and declaring that the spirit and design of these had been to afford to those of small means, the ability to purchase, and to prevent the accumulation of large landed es- tates in the hands of a few; he directly intimated that the commission- ers had violated the trust reposed in them. It appeared a mystery to him, that this immense tract had been sold for 8d., while adjoining tracts had been sold to the Roosevelts for 3s. Id .; to Adgate, for 2s; to Cald- well, McGregor, and Henderson, at 1s. 84. per acre.
The sale without interest, and privilege of discount by paying down, was severely censured.
These resolutions were warmly discussed but not passed. They were evidently designed as the foundation for an impeachment, but failed in their purpose. Colonel Burr not having attended the meetings of the board, was not included in the charges, as he appears to have been ab-
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sent on official business. The discussion continued till a late hour, when the house adjourned without decision, until the next day. On the 10th of April, 1792, Mr. Melancton Smith moved the following resolution with a preamble, as a substitute for those formerly offered :
" Resolved, That this house do highly approve of the conduct of the commissioners of the land office, in the judicious sales by them, as afore- said, which have been productive of the before mentioned beneficial ef- fects "
This resolution was adopted by a vote of 35 to 20. The following is · a copy of the application of Macomb, which was received by the com- missioners :
"At a meeting of the commissioners of the land office, of the state of New York, held at the City Hall, in the city of New York, on Wednesday, the 22d day of June, 1791.
Present-His Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, Governor; Lewis A. Scott, Esquire, Secretary; Gerard Bancker, Esquire, Treasurer; Peter T. Curtenius, Esq., Anditor.
The application of Alexander Macomb, for the purchase of the follow- ing tract of land, was read, and is in the following words, to wit:
' To the commissioners of the land office of the state of New York, Gentlemen :
I take the liberty of requesting to withdraw my application to your hononrable board, of April last, and to substitute the following proposal, for the purchase of the waste and unappropriated lands comprised within the bounds herein after mentioned, and all the islands belonging to this state, in front of said lands, viz: Beginning at the northwest cor- ner of the township called Hague, on the river St. Lawrence, and thence extending southerly along the westerly bounds of the said township, and the township called Cambray, to the most southerly corner of the latter, tlience extending easterly, northerly and southerly, along the lines of the said township of Cambray, and of the townships of De Kalb, Canton and Potsdam, and Stockholm, to the eastermost corner of the latter, thence northwesterly along the line of the said township of Stockholm, and the township of Louis Ville, to the river St. Lawrence, thence along the shore thereof to the line, run for the north line of this state, in the 45th degree of north latitude, thence east along the same to the west bounds of the tract formerly set apart as bounty lands for the troops of this state, serving in the army of the United States, thence sonthierly along the same, to the north bounds of the tract known by the name of Totten and Crossfield's purchase, thence westerly along the north bounds of the tract last mentioned, to the westermost corner thereof, thence southerly along the westerly bounds thereof, to the most westerly corner of township number five, in the said tract, thence westerly on a direct Jine to the northwestermost corner of the tracts granted to Oothoudt, theice westerly on a direct line to the mouth of Salmon river, where it empties itself into lake Ontario, thence northeasterly along the shore of the said lake, and the river St. Lawrence, to the place beginning, includ- ing all the islands belonging to this state, fronting the said tract in lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence, five per cent. to e deducted for highways, and all lakes whose area exceeds one thousand acres, to be also deducted, for which, after the above deductions, I will give eight pence per acre, to be paid in the following manner, to wit : One-sixth part of the purchase money at the end of one year from the day on
2
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
which this proposal shall be accepted, and the residue in five equal annual instalments on the same day, in the five next succeeding years. The 1st payment to be secured by bond, to the satisfaction of your honorable board, and if paid on the time limited and new bonds to the satisfaction of the board executed for another sixth of the purchase money, then I shall be entitled to a patent for one-sixth part of said tract, to be set off in a square, in one of the corners thereof, and the same rule to be observed as to the payments and securities and grants or patents, until the contract shall be fully completed. But if at any time I shall think fit to anticipate the payments, in whole or in part, in that case I am to have a deduction on the sum so paid, of an interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, for the time I shall have paid any such sum before the time herein before stipulated.
I have the honor to be, gentlemen, with great respect, your most obedient servant, ALEXANDER MACOMB.
New York, May 2d, 1791.
I do hereby consent and agree, that the islands called Caleton's or Buck's islands, in the entrance of lake Ontario, and the isle Au Long Saut, in the river St. Lawrence, and a tract equal to six miles square, in the vicinity of the village of St. Regis, be excepted out of the above contract, and to remain the property of the state : Provided always, That if the said tract shall not be hereafter applied for the use of the Indians of the said village, that then the same shall be considered as included in this contract, and that I shall be entitled to a grant for the saine, on my performance of the stipulations aforesaid.
ALEXANDER MACOMB."
The board, by a resolution, accepted this proposition, and directed the surveyor general to survey the said tract, at the expense of Macomb, and requiring him to secure the payment of the first-sixth part of the purchase money.
(Land Office Minutes, vol. ii, p. 192.)
On the 10th of January, 1792, the surveyor general having made a return of the survey above directed, and the security required having been deposited, for the payment of the southern half of the tract, con- taining 1,920,000 acres, the secretary was directed to issue letters patent accordingly,* which was done January 10, 1792.+ This portion was tracts Nos. 4, 5 and 6, in Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties.
In the returns of the survey, made under the direction of the surveyor general, the lands were laid out into six tracts, of which number one lies entirely in Franklin county, and numbers two and three, in St. Lawrence county.
These were subsequently subdivided into townships, named and num- bered as follows, with the origin of each so far as is known.}
* Land Office Minutes, vol. ii, p 232.
1 See Office Patents, b. 23, p. 160; see recital in patent to McCormick, ib. b. 18, p. 193, & c. # In obtaining the origin of these names, the author has been assisted by A. O Brodie, of N. Y., and Henry E. Hierrepont, of Brooklyn.
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1
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AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
NUMBER ONE embraced 27 townships.
1. Macomb, Alexander Macomb. 14. Ennis.
2. Cormachus,* Daniel McCormick. 15. Fowler, Thedosius Fowler.
3. Constable, Wm. Constable, 16. Johnsmanor, A son of Constable.
4. Moira, a place in Ireland. 17. Gilchrist, Jonathan Gilchrist.
5. Bangor, a town in Wales. 18. Brighton, a town in England. 66
6. Malone, a name in the family of 19. Cheltenham, R. Harrison. 20. Margate, 66
7. Annastown, a daughter of Con-21. Harrietstown, a daughter of Con- stable. stable.
8. St. Patrick, the Irish saint. 22. Lochneagh. a lake in Ireland.
9. Shelah, a place in Ireland. 23. Killarney,
10. Williamsville, a son of Constable. 24. Barrymore, a place in Ireland.
11. Westerly, 25. Mount Morris.
12. Ewerettaville, a daughter of Con-26. Cove Hill. stable. 27. Tipperary, a county in Ireland.
13. Dayton, Jonathan Dayton.
These were numbered from west to east, and from north to south. See map of Franklin county, where the original names and numbers are given ..
NUMBER Two embraced 18 townships, in the eastern part of St. Law- rence county, and south of the ten towns, viz:
1. Sherwood. 10. Matildavale.
2. Oakham. 11. Wick.
3. Mortlake. 12. Riversdale.
4. Harewood. 13. Cookham.
5. Janestown, a daughter of Consta- 14. Catharineville. ble.
6. Piercefield.
7. Granshuck.
8. Hollywood.
9. Kildare.
15. Islington.
16. Chesterfield.
17. Grange.
18. Crum ick.
This tract was numbered from west to east, commencing at the south west corner, and ending at the north.
NUMBER THREE was divided into 15 townships, viz:
1. Hammond, Abijah Hammond. 9. Sarahsburgh.
2. Somerville,t a town in N. Jersey. 10. Clifton, a town in England.
3. Dewitt, the surveyor general. 11. Portaferry, a town in Ireland.
4. Fitz William. 12. Scriba, from George Scriba?
5. Ballybeen, McCormick's native 13. Chaumont, the name of T. D. place. Le Ray.
6. Clare, a county in Ireland. 14. Bloomfield.
7. Killarney,
8. Edwards, a brother of D. Mc Cormick.
15. Emilyville, a daughter of Con- stable.
The numbering of this tract began at the north west, and ran irregu- larly from west to east. We have carefully retained these names and
* Or McCormick. This word is but a play upon the name.
# On some maps marked Caledonia. This was a favorite name of Mr. Parish.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
numbers on our map of St. Lawrence county. Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 21, in the first tract; and 1, 38, in the third tract, have been applied to towns. Most of the others have been discarded, or are used only in designating tracts of land.
Maconib, soon after his purchase, appointed Wm. Constable to go to Europe, and sell lands, which he did, but as they are not within our pro- posed limits, the details of these transactions will not be given. The re- port of this sale naturally spread through the state, and put a stop to further applications, which led the commissioners to direct the surveyor general (Oct. 11, 1791,) to advertise in all the papers in the state, that the Old Military tract, and large tracts east and south of this, were still for sale.
This was accordingly done .*
The failure of Macomb, interrupted the sale, and prevented him from receiving the patents.
On the 6th of June, 1792, he released to Wm. Constable, his interest in tracts 1, 2 and 3.+
As many of the transfers that ensued were confidential, it would be tedious to follow them, if our space allowed. William Constable and Daniel McCormick were the leading negotiators in this business, and after the death of the former, in May, 1803, James Constable, John Mc Vickar and Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, as his executors, assumed the settle- ment of the estate and sale of lands. Macomb's interest in the three tracts was sold June 22, 1791, to Wm. S. Smith, Abijah Hammond and Richard Harrison, but the patents for these tracts were not issued till several years afterwards.
On the 3d of March, 1795, the commissioners of the land office directed the secretary of state to prepare letters patent to Daniel McCormick, for the third tract of 640,000 acres, the latter, who was an original proprietor with Macomb, having paid the sum required into the treasury. This was accordingly done .;
On the 10th of July following, McCormick satisfied the claims of Smith, Hammond and Harrison, by deeding one-fifteenth part of the third tract, and two undivided tenths remaining after deducting the said one-fifteenth part, and also one-third part of the remainders. The title of these gentlemen to the third tract would accordingly be represented by the following formula :
1 + 2(1-75) 10 1'5) + 1-15 .
15
Our limited mathematical attainments will not allow us to trace the
* Land Office records, p. 220.
* Sec.'s office, patents, b. 23, p. 394.
t Sec.'s office, patents, b. 23, p. 160. § Sec.'s office, deeds, 29, p. 157.
·
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AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
complex and compound vulgar fractions that were employed in the sub- sequent sales.
On the 14th of May, 1798, McCormick applied for patents for the first and second tracts of Macomb's purchase, which were ordered, and on the day following, approved, and on the 17th of August, passed by the commissioners .* The first tract embraced 821,879 acres, and the second 553,020 acres.
The fees charged for issuing a patent for 1,374,839 acres granted to McCormick, amounted to $820, of which half was paid into the treasury, and the rest the land commissioners divided between them, by virtue of an act of February 25, 1789, establishing the fees which were a certain rate per township ;t and of course proportioned to the magnitude of the sales.
On the 21st of June, 1797, the surveyor general was directed by the land commissioners to finish and return a survey of the lands contracted and sold to Macomb, and to employ none but competent and trusty sur- veyors on this duty. If difficulty arose in finding the starting point, he was to attend personally to the matter.#
McCormick, by deed to Constable, September 20, 1793, conveyed an undivided third of great lot No. 2,6 and December 19, 1800, a partition deed between Macomb and McCormick to Constable was executed.
Theodosius Fowler, Jonathan Dayton, and Robert Gilchrist, having become interested in the tract, a partition deed was executed January 19, 1802, in which Hammond, Harrison, Fowler, Gilchrist, and Dayton, released to McCormick, Constable and Macomb.
In July, 1804, James D. LeRay, by purchase from Constable, became interested in the townships of tracts Nos. 1, 2 and 3. He appointed Gouverneur Morris as his attorney.
We have prepared a detailed statement of the shares received by each, in these transfers, but our space will not admit of its insertion. The following tabular statement shows the names of those to whom the differ- ent townships were assigned. It is taken from a copy of an original map, kindly furnished to the author, by P. S. Stewart, Esq., of Carthage, the agent of Mr. LeRay.
To condense the statement, the following abbreviations will be used :
L. LE RAY DE CHAUMONT. W. C. WM. CONSTABLE.
M. ALEX'R MACOMB. F. THEODOSIUS FOWLER.
M. C. DANIEL MCCORMICK. G. F. GILCHRIST FOWLER.
* Land office records, iii, p 60. Patents, b. 13, p. 198, 394, sec.'s office.
* Ib., iii, p. 57.
# Ib., iii, p. 18.
§ Deeds, secretary's office, b. 32.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE 1
R. H. RICHARD HARRISON.
P. DAVID PARISH.
H. ABIJAH HAMMOND.
Great Tract No. 1, including 27 townships. 1, M .; 2, W. C .; 3, W. C .; 4, G. F .; 5, M. C .; 6, R. H .; 7, W. C .; 8, H .; 9. N. } W. C., middle § H., S. } M. C .; 10, W. C .; 11, R. H .; 12, W. C .; 13, N. W. ¿ R. H., E. ¿ not marked ; 14, not marked; 15, N. W. ¿ G. F., N. E. ¿ M. C., south part not marked; 16, W. C .; 17, N. } R. H., middle } M. C., S. } W. C .; 18, H .; 19, F .; 20, G. F .; 21, L .; 22, M. C .; 23, M. C .; 24, N. W.4H., N. E. 4 G. F., S. E. 4 R. H., S. W. ¿ M. C .; 25, S. } G. F., the rest not marked: 26, M. C .; 27, N. W. + M. C., the remainder L.
Great Tract No. 2, including 18 townships. 1, N. W. ¿ M. C., N. E. & L., S. E. ¿ M. C., S. W. ¿ G. F .; 2, N. W. ¿ M., S. W. G. F., E. }L .; 3, W. C .; 4, N. W. 4 L, N. E. H. S. E. ¿ M. C., S. W. & C .; 5, M,; 6, S. 3 M. C., N. & M. C., R. H., H., G. F. and L .; 7, M. C .; 8, N. ¿ R. M., S. & M. C .; 9, R. H .; 10. W. C .; 11, W. C .; 12, N. W. P., N. E. R. H., S. E. ¿ H., S. W. 4 M; 13, P .; 14, P. and M .; 15, H .; 16, R. H .; 17, E. part M. C., middle part L., W. part G. F .; 18, not marked.
Great Tract No. 3, including 15 townships. 1, H. ; 2, not marked ; 3, not marked; 4, E. part H, middle part M. C., W. part S., (Madame de Stael ?) ; 5, M. C .; 6, E. L., W .¿ S .; 7, G. F .; 8, M. C .; 9, M .; 10, N. W. ¿ M., N. E. ¿ L .; S. E. ¿ R. H., S. W. ¿ H .; 11, M. C .; 12, M. C .; 13, L .; 14, not marked; 15, N. E. 4 M. C., N. W. 4 G. F., S. ¿ L. ; 15, N. E. } L .; N. W. 4 M. L., S. E. ¿ M. C., S. W. 4 G. F.
The islands in the St. Lawrence were not patented with the lands op- posite which they lay, nor were they included in the jurisdiction of any of the towns, although included in the contract of Macomb, with two exceptions. It was not deemed advisable to patent any of these until the national boundary was decided. By an act passed March 17, 1815, they were declared to be a part of the respective towns opposite which they lay, and this extended to the island in Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Niagara river.
The islands were patented as follows:
All the islands which lie within this state, between a line drawn at right angles to the river, from the village of Morristown, situated on the shore of the river, and a meridian drawn through the western point of Grindstone island, in the county of Jefferson, containing fifteeen thou- sand, four hundred and two acres, and nine-tenths of an acre, were granted to Elisha Camp, Feb. 15, 1823. In the above grant is included Grindstone island, containing 5,291 acres, Wells's island containing 8,068 acres, Indian Hut island containing 369 acres, and some small islands without names.
Lindy's island, 7.92 acres, to Elisha Camp, Dec. 9, 1823.
Nine small islands, 178-8 acres to Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, Oct. 21, 1824.
Isle du Gallop, 492.5
66
66 66
Tick island, 11.0
Tibbits island, 17.5
66 66
Chimney island, 6.2
66 66
Other small islands, 3.0
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Rapid Plat, 9,763 acres, to Daniel McCormick, August, 1815; and to McCormick on the 15th of December, 1823, the following, with the num- ber of acres in each. The title is recorded in book 25, p. 480, of pa- tents, at Albany.
Smugglers' island and Johnson's island, 17.72.
An island near Johnson's island, between that and the United States shore, 2.46.
Snuy island, 55-20.
Upper Long Saut island, 868.80.
Chat island, 95.20.
C island, 3.1.
Chrystler's island, 52-80.
D Island, 2.5.
Hog island, 5-29.
Haynes' island, 134.56.
Goose Neck island, 405-87.
The Isle au Long Saut, was reserved by the state in the original sale, from its supposed importance in a military point of view, and sold to in- dividuals by the surveyor general, in pursuance of statute, between May 5, 1832, and the present time, at the land office in Albany.
Barnhart's island, 1692.95 acres; two-thirds to David A. Ogden and one-third to Gouverneur Ogden, Dec. 15, 1815.
This island, near St. Regis, lies very near the Canadian shore, and a considerable part of it north of the line of 45º N. latitude. It was ac- cordingly regarded as British territory, and in 1795 it was leased of the St. Regis Indians, by George Barnhart, for a term of 999 years, at an annual rent of $30. The British government had made a practice of granting patents upon the issue of similar leases, and would doubtless have done so in this instance, had application been duly made.
In 1806, a saw mill was built, and arrangements made for the erection of a grist mill, when the Indians became dissatisfied and insisted upon a renewal of the lease, at an increased rent. Accordingly a lease was given for 999 years, at $60 annual rent. Deeds had been granted by Barnhart, who with all the other inhabitants of the island, were treated as British subjects, until upon running the line between the two nations, after the treaty of Ghent, the commissioners assigned the island to the United States, as an offset for the half of Grand island, at the outlet of Lake Ontario, which in justice would have been divided. In 1823, D. A. Ogden and G. Ogden purchased the islands in St. Lawrence county, and with them Barnhart's island. The settlers not complying with the offers made, were ejected by the state, and they in 1849 applied for re- dress at the state legislature. By an act passed April 10, 1850, Bishop Perkins, George Redington and John Fine, were appointed commis- sioners to examine these claims, and awarded to the petitioners the ag- gregate of $6,597, which was confirmed by an act passed at the follow- ing session of the legislature. The claimants received as follows: Wm.
17
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
Geo. Barnhart, $1,475; Jacob Barnhart, $3,284; Geo. Robertson, $1,127; Geo. Gallinger, $402, and Geo Snetzinger, $309.
The state, in disposing of its lands, conveys them by an instrument called a patent, in which there appears no consideration of payment, and which purports to be a gift, and to be executed by but one party. As reference is often made to the reservations of the patent, the form of one is here inserted:
"THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the grace of GOD, free and independent. TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come greeting: KNOW YE, That WE HAVE Given, Granted and Confirmed, and by these Presents, DO Give, Grant and Confirm unto [here follows name, bounds of lands, &c.], TOGETHER with all and singular the Rights, Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the same belonging, or in any wise appertaining : EXCEPTING and RESERVING to ourselves all Gold and Silver Mines, and five Acres of every Hundred Acres of the said Tract of Land for Highways : TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the above described and granted Premises unto the said ., Heirs and Assigns, as a good and indefeasible Estate of Inheritance for ever.
ON CONDITION NEVERTHELESS, That within the Term of Seven Years to be computed from the Date hereof, there shall be one Family actually settled on the said Tract of Land hereby Granted for every six hundred and forty acres thereof, otherwise these our Letters Patent and Estate hereby Granted shall cease, determine and become void : IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WE have caused these our Letters to be made Patent, and the great Seal of our said State to be hereunto affixed : WITNESS our trusty and well beloved [George Clinton] Esquire Governor of our State, General and Com- mander-in-Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same."
These instruments are made out by the secretary of state, on the order of the land commissioners, and bear the signature of the governor, and the great seal of the state, which, in former times, was a large waxen disc, with paper on each side, bearing the arms of the state on the face, and an impression on the back, which was styled " the reverse."
Tax Sales have caused large tracts of land in the rear townships of the great purchase to change hands, and many of the present owners hold their titles from this source.
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