A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
In the mean time, however, other claims were asserted as appears by the following:
"We the undermentioned subscribers do hereby certify that we, being associates in a certain purchase made from the Indians of the Mohuwk Castle by John Glen jr., Philip Van Petten, Simon Schermerhorn, for all the vacant lands lying between Sacondago, Kayaderosseras and the river to the third falls, 14 we hereby allow and agree, that John Glen jr. 15, is to have that part lying near the third falls on Hudson's river containing about fifteen hundred acres, we hereby allow, and agree with the said John Glen jr., that he may take out a special patent for the said tract of land." 16
Seymen Schermerhorn,
Philip V. Van Petten,
Cornelius Cuyler,
Johannis Schermerhorn,
John Cuyler jr.,
Ryckart Vanfranken,
Cornelius Glen,
John Roseboom,
Henry Glen,
Chris. Yates, for myself and Jellis Fonda,
Abrm. C. Cuyler,
Seymon Joh's Veeder,
Harms. H. Wendell,
Deryk V. franken,
Aaron Van Petten.
Reyier Schermerhorn,
This petition was endorsed as having been granted on the request of Peter Remsen, in his own behalf and for Simon and Peter A. Remsen, and was succeeded by the following application:
"To the Honorable Cadwallader Colden, Esq., lieutenant governor, and commander in chief in and over the province of New York, etc., etc., etc."
"In council. Humbly showeth That your Petitioner and associates have made a purchase of all the vacant lands lying between the patents of Kayaderosseras, Sacondago, and Hudson's river to the third falls on said river, your petitioners therefore Humbly Pray your excellency will be pleased to grant them a Patent for a small part thereof."
"Beginning at the third falls on Hudson's river, and so up the river till it joyns the line of Kayaderosseras Patent and so along the line thereof to the third falls aforesaid, being the place of beginning, together with all the Islands in the said river opposite."
"And your Petitioners shall ever pray." 17
John Glen Jr.
Henry Glen
14 Baker's falls on the Hudson river. A long and costly law suit in the early part of the century, hinged upon the question whether the third fall on the Hudson river applied to Baker's falls or the falls at Fort Miller. The question was ultimately decided to apply to the former, an opinion abundantly corroborated by all the earlier maps and surveys.
15 The original immigrant to this country bearing this name was Sander Leendertse Glen, who "was a servant" of the West India Company at Fort Nassau, in 1633; received a grant of land there in 1651; also received a patent for a lot in Smit's Valey, New Amsterdam, in 1646, which he sold in 1660; was then called Coopman, of Beverwyck. In 1665, he obtained a patent for lands in Schenectady, which land, he called Nova Scotia, and became his permanent residence. He owned real estate in divers parts of Albany, and was a considerable trader with the Indians. His wife was Catalyn Doncassen or Dongan, by whom he had three sons, Jacob; Sander; and Johannes. He died 13th Nov., 1685. Capt. Johannes, son of the above, was born 5th Nov., 1648. He settled in Schenectady; married firstly, Annatie, daughter of Jan Peek, May 2d, 1667. She died 19th December, 1690. He married secondly Diwer, daughter of Evert Janse Wendel, and widow of Myndert Wemp, June 21, 1691, in Albany. She died April 10, 1724; he died Nov. 6th, 1731. He built the present Sanders mansion in Scotia, in 1713, and occupied the same until his death. His property was spared when Schenectady was burned, by order of the governor of Canada, for kindness shown to French prisoners captured by the Mohawks. Col. Johannes Glen, after whom our village was named, was the son of Jacob who was the son of Johannes jr., who was the son of Jacob, the eldest son of the original immigrant, and brother of Capt. Johannes Glen of Schenectady. According to Prof. Pearson's record, he was born 2d of July, 1735, and baptized in Albany where his father lived and died. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Cuyler. He was quartermaster in the French and Revolutionary wars, stationed at Schenectady; in 1775 bought lands on the Hudson, above Fort Edward, of Daniel Parke, which tract was afterwards called Glen's Falls. He built and occupied the house now owned by Mr. Swortfiguer, in Washington street, (Schenectady). He married Catharina, daughter of Simon Johaunese Veeder. She died October 22d, 1799, aged 57 years, 9 months, 26 days, he died at Schenectady, Sept. 23, 1828, aged 93 years. They had seven children, the oldest of whom was Jacob, who was baptized Jan. 25th, 1761. Of him the same record states that in 1795, he was in business at, and owned the Glen's Falls; removed to Chambly, Canada, as early as 1806, where he died Nov. 27th, 1843, aged 82 years, 10 months and 4 days. He married Frances Stenhouse, and had three children. Prof. Pearson, already largely quoted, adds in a communication to the author, that the colonel, towards the close of his life, became poor and was supported by kind friends in no way connected with the family. His financial embarrassments are conjectured to have resulted from his connection with public affairs, and the consequent neglect of his private interests. This and the preceding document, through the courtesy of the Hon. Diedrich Willers, secretary of state, I have been permitted to copy from the originals in the State Archives.
16 This tract had been petitioned for by John Glen and others as early as May 6th 1761, thus taking precedence in priority of the Queensbury patent. — Vide Calendar of N.Y. Land Papers, p. 303.
17 From First Settlers of Albany County, by Professor Jonathan Pearson, p. 53.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Holden's History of Queensbury
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
The Burnham family of this village have, in their possession, a lease engrossed on parchment, in which, on the 5th of Feb., 1772, John Glen conveys to Christopher Yates, the use for one year of part of two islands in the Hudson river and a tract of land on the west side of Hudson's river, the same being a part, as the instrument states, of a patent granted to John Glen and Henry Glen.
The islands referred to, are those lying near the eastern boundary of the town of Queensbury, and elsewhere referred to, as owned first, by the Jessups, and afterwards by Daniel Jones.
More space is here devoted to the consideration of the Glen tract than would otherwise be given it, from the fact that the name of Glen's Falls is derived from one of the patentees, the circumstances connected with which have been presented to the public in such distorted shape, as to require a new and thorough explanation.
According to a tradition of the Parke family, whose descendants still reside in our neighborhood, a portion of the Glen estate, embracing the extensive water power at South Glen's Falls, was purchased of Elijah Parke 18 the original settler in that neighborhood. 19
After the revolutionary war Glen rebuilt the mills, destroyed during that struggle, manufactured lumber to some extent, and spent some weeks every summer season with his horses and colored servants, at a cottage originally built by one of the Parke family, and which stood on the hill overlooking the site now covered by the paper mill.
Here, if tradition be of any worth, he maintained a state and style of opulence and splendor, superior to any in all the vicinity.
It was during one of these visitations, that in a convivial moment, it was proposed by him to pay the expenses of a wine supper for the entertainment of a party of mutual friends if Mr. Wing would consent to transfer his claim and title to the name of the falls.
Whether the old quaker pioneer thought the project visionary, and impracticable, or whatever motive may have actuated him, assent was given, the symposium was held, and the name of Glen's Falls was inaugurated. 20
18 Some confusion has arisen by reason of the different modes of orthography followed in spelling this family name. The family claims affinity with the Parke family of Virginia so nearly allied to the Curtis and Washington families. The autograph of Daniel Parke shows that he also followed this spelling.
19 According to the Parke family legend, a grant of this valuable tract was obtained shortly prior to the revolution. This title was procured by Elijah Parke, the father of Daniel Parke, mentioned in a subsequent chapter, who, in 1773, made a clearing, commenced a settlement, and erected the first mills at this point. By permission some years since, I copied the following inscription from the fly-leaf of the Parks family Bible, which affords some support to the foregoing statement: "I.S. Parks and Susannah my wife was married in 1789, May. I was 34 years old March 5, 1789. I was born in the town of Half-Moon now in the village of Waterford, when I was 2 months old my father moved his family to the town of Sharon in the St. of Connecticut. We lived there until 1773 and May the 10 and then my father moved his family to what was then called Wing's falls and now called Glen's falls and there built the first mills that was ever built there. And we suffered a great deal in that struggle for liberty we lost our lives and property and became poor and weak. I.S.
PARKS." This statement in relation to the purchase by Glen from Parke, is corroborated by Prof. Jonathan Pearson of Union College, who, in a communication to the author, states that his authority is in a conveyance to be found in vol. X, p. 199, Book of deeds, Albany county, clerk's office. The title however seems to have been in Daniel Parke, Elijah's son.
20 Of Col. Glen's kind heart and genial disposition, something of a glimpse may be caught from the following extract: "27th, Dec, 1780. I alighted at Colonel Glen's, (in Schenectady), the quarter master general of this district, a lively, active man. He received me in the politest manner; an excellent fire, and two or three glasses of toddy, warmed me, so as to enable me to ask him some questions, and to return immediately, for night was coming on, and the Vicomte de Noailles expected me at dinner at five o'clock. Colonel Glen lent me horses to return to Albany, and was so good as to conduct me himself into the Indian village." — Chastellux's Travels in North America, Eng. translation, vol. I, p. 401.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
The Burnham family of this village have, in their possession, a lease engrossed on parchment, in which, on the 5th of Feb., 1772, John Glen conveys to Christopher Yates, the use for one year of part of two islands in the Hudson river and a tract of land on the west side of Hudson's river, the same being a part, as the instrument states, of a patent granted to John Glen and Henry Glen.
The islands referred to, are those lying near the eastern boundary of the town of Queensbury, and elsewhere referred to, as owned first, by the Jessups, and afterwards by Daniel Jones.
More space is here devoted to the consideration of the Glen tract than would otherwise be given it, from the fact that the name of Glen's Falls is derived from one of the patentees, the circumstances connected with which have been presented to the public in such distorted shape, as to require a new and thorough explanation.
According to a tradition of the Parke family, whose descendants still reside in our neighborhood, a portion of the Glen estate, embracing the extensive water power at South Glen's Falls, was purchased of Elijah Parke 18 the original settler in that neighborhood. 19
After the revolutionary war Glen rebuilt the mills, destroyed during that struggle, manufactured lumber to some extent, and spent some weeks every summer season with his horses and colored servants, at a cottage originally built by one of the Parke family, and which stood on the hill overlooking the site now covered by the paper mill.
Here, if tradition be of any worth, he maintained a state and style of opulence and splendor, superior to any in all the vicinity.
It was during one of these visitations, that in a convivial moment, it was proposed by him to pay the expenses of a wine supper for the entertainment of a party of mutual friends if Mr. Wing would consent to transfer his claim and title to the name of the falls.
Whether the old quaker pioneer thought the project visionary, and impracticable, or whatever motive may have actuated him, assent was given, the symposium was held, and the name of Glen's Falls was inaugurated. 20
18 Some confusion has arisen by reason of the different modes of orthography followed in spelling this family name. The family claims affinity with the Parke family of Virginia so nearly allied to the Curtis and Washington families. The autograph of Daniel Parke shows that he also followed this spelling.
19 According to the Parke family legend, a grant of this valuable tract was obtained shortly prior to the revolution. This title was procured by Elijah Parke, the father of Daniel Parke, mentioned in a subsequent chapter, who, in 1773, made a clearing, commenced a settlement, and erected the first mills at this point. By permission some years since, I copied the following inscription from the fly-leaf of the Parks family Bible, which affords some support to the foregoing statement: "I.S. Parks and Susannah my wife was married in 1789, May. I was 34 years old March 5, 1789. I was born in the town of Half-Moon now in the village of Waterford, when I was 2 months old my father moved his family to the town of Sharon in the St. of Connecticut. We lived there until 1773 and May the 10 and then my father moved his family to what was then called Wing's falls and now called Glen's falls and there built the first mills that was ever built there. And we suffered a great deal in that struggle for liberty we lost our lives and property and became poor and weak. I.S.
PARKS." This statement in relation to the purchase by Glen from Parke, is corroborated by Prof. Jonathan Pearson of Union College, who, in a communication to the author, states that his authority is in a conveyance to be found in vol. X, p. 199, Book of deeds, Albany county, clerk's office. The title however seems to have been in Daniel Parke, Elijah's son.
20 Of Col. Glen's kind heart and genial disposition, something of a glimpse may be caught from the following extract: "27th, Dec, 1780. I alighted at Colonel Glen's, (in Schenectady), the quarter master general of this district, a lively, active man. He received me in the politest manner; an excellent fire, and two or three glasses of toddy, warmed me, so as to enable me to ask him some questions, and to return immediately, for night was coming on, and the Vicomte de Noailles expected me at dinner at five o'clock. Colonel Glen lent me horses to return to Albany, and was so good as to conduct me himself into the Indian village." — Chastellux's Travels in North America, Eng. translation, vol. I, p. 401.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Mr. Glen hastened to Schenectady, and ordered some hand bills printed, announcing the change of name.
These were posted in all the taverns, along the highway, and bridle paths from Queensbury to Albany, and the change of name was effected, with a promptitude that must have been bewildering to the easy going farmers of the town in those days.
The following letter; written in elegant running hand, and still existing among the Wing MSS., is believed to determine the date of this enterprise.
"Mr. Glen's compliments to Mr. Wing, and requests the favor of him to send the advertisement accompanying this by the first conveyance to his friends at Quaker Hill."
"Mr. Glen hopes Mr. and Mrs. Wing and the family are all well."
"Glen's falls, April 29th, 1788."
Superscribed "Mr. Wing, Queensbury."
After various preliminary applications, dating from Jany. 1760 ; and originally asking for a grant of a township six by eight miles in extent, on the thirty-first day of March, 1762, Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seelye, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh, junior, Abraham Wanzer, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekial Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Commins, Ebenezer Preston, David Preston and Joshua Agard, twenty-three petitioners in all, agreeably to the instructions of his majesty, who to prevent monopoly of the then wild land of the province, had restricted individual grants of land, to one thousand acres to each bona fide grantee, applied to the provincial council of New York, presided over by the Hon. Cadwallader Golden, lieutenant governor of the province, (and then acting governor in the place of Monckton who had returned to England) for a grant of twenty-three thousand acres of land lying on the Hudson river, west of lands then recently surveyed for James Bradshaw 21 and others, called Bradshaw's township, and named in the patent the township of Kingsbury.
These twenty-three thousand acres embraced a territory of six miles square, and in the original survey of the township, due allowance was made for sundry ponds of water contained therein, as also for highways to be constructed and a due regard to the profitable and unprofitable acres so that the actual area of the township probably contained over thirty thousand acres.
The application having been favorably received, the patent was duly granted on the 29th day of May following, it being in the second year of the reign of King George the third, and was named Queensbury in honor of his then lately wedded consort.
21 James Bradshaw was a resident of New Milford, Litchfield co., Conn., which place was also the home of the greater portion of the applicants for the Queensbury patent, and contiguous to Quaker Hill, Beekman precinct, and the Oblong, from whence most of the early settlers of Queensbury emigrated.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Mr. Glen hastened to Schenectady, and ordered some hand bills printed, announcing the change of name.
These were posted in all the taverns, along the highway, and bridle paths from Queensbury to Albany, and the change of name was effected, with a promptitude that must have been bewildering to the easy going farmers of the town in those days.
The following letter; written in elegant running hand, and still existing among the Wing MSS., is believed to determine the date of this enterprise.
"Mr. Glen's compliments to Mr. Wing, and requests the favor of him to send the advertisement accompanying this by the first conveyance to his friends at Quaker Hill."
"Mr. Glen hopes Mr. and Mrs. Wing and the family are all well."
"Glen's falls, April 29th, 1788."
Superscribed "Mr. Wing, Queensbury."
After various preliminary applications, dating from Jany. 1760 ; and originally asking for a grant of a township six by eight miles in extent, on the thirty-first day of March, 1762, Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seelye, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh, junior, Abraham Wanzer, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekial Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Commins, Ebenezer Preston, David Preston and Joshua Agard, twenty-three petitioners in all, agreeably to the instructions of his majesty, who to prevent monopoly of the then wild land of the province, had restricted individual grants of land, to one thousand acres to each bona fide grantee, applied to the provincial council of New York, presided over by the Hon. Cadwallader Golden, lieutenant governor of the province, (and then acting governor in the place of Monckton who had returned to England) for a grant of twenty-three thousand acres of land lying on the Hudson river, west of lands then recently surveyed for James Bradshaw 21 and others, called Bradshaw's township, and named in the patent the township of Kingsbury.
These twenty-three thousand acres embraced a territory of six miles square, and in the original survey of the township, due allowance was made for sundry ponds of water contained therein, as also for highways to be constructed and a due regard to the profitable and unprofitable acres so that the actual area of the township probably contained over thirty thousand acres.
The application having been favorably received, the patent was duly granted on the 29th day of May following, it being in the second year of the reign of King George the third, and was named Queensbury in honor of his then lately wedded consort.
21 James Bradshaw was a resident of New Milford, Litchfield co., Conn., which place was also the home of the greater portion of the applicants for the Queensbury patent, and contiguous to Quaker Hill, Beekman precinct, and the Oblong, from whence most of the early settlers of Queensbury emigrated.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
This grant was at the time of its issue included in the limits of the county of Albany, whose undefined boundaries then included all the northern part of this state and nearly all the western part of the state of Vermont.
This grant was made subject to all the royal quitrent provisoes, as also the annual payment of two shillings and six pence sterling for every hundred acres therein.
It reserved to the crown, all mines of gold and silver, and also all white or other pine trees fit for masts, of the growth of 24 inches diameter and upwards at 12 inches from the earth.
It is very doubtful whether the crown ever profited by these reservations, although the entire township was covered with a heavy growth of timber, the principal part of which was first growth of yellow pine of magnificent dimensions, from which was manufactured in the early days of the town, lumber of a very superior quality.
Among the conditions of the patent was the stipulation for the erection of the town into a body politic, providing for the annual election by the inhabitants of one supervisor, two assessors, one treasurer, two overseers of the highways, two overseers of the poor, one collector and four constables, the election to take place on the first Tuesday in May, at the most public place in the town, which was forever thereafter to be the place for such elections.
The patent also was to be vacated, in case three acres for every thousand acres so granted should not be planted or placed under cultivation, within three years from the termination of the war then pending between France and England.
The face of the town at that time presented an undulating surface of wilderness, but slightly broken by the numerous streams and ponds within its circuit, whose volume has been greatly diminished by the clearing up of the forests and swamps from whence they derived their supplies.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
This grant was at the time of its issue included in the limits of the county of Albany, whose undefined boundaries then included all the northern part of this state and nearly all the western part of the state of Vermont.
This grant was made subject to all the royal quitrent provisoes, as also the annual payment of two shillings and six pence sterling for every hundred acres therein.
It reserved to the crown, all mines of gold and silver, and also all white or other pine trees fit for masts, of the growth of 24 inches diameter and upwards at 12 inches from the earth.
It is very doubtful whether the crown ever profited by these reservations, although the entire township was covered with a heavy growth of timber, the principal part of which was first growth of yellow pine of magnificent dimensions, from which was manufactured in the early days of the town, lumber of a very superior quality.
Among the conditions of the patent was the stipulation for the erection of the town into a body politic, providing for the annual election by the inhabitants of one supervisor, two assessors, one treasurer, two overseers of the highways, two overseers of the poor, one collector and four constables, the election to take place on the first Tuesday in May, at the most public place in the town, which was forever thereafter to be the place for such elections.
The patent also was to be vacated, in case three acres for every thousand acres so granted should not be planted or placed under cultivation, within three years from the termination of the war then pending between France and England.
The face of the town at that time presented an undulating surface of wilderness, but slightly broken by the numerous streams and ponds within its circuit, whose volume has been greatly diminished by the clearing up of the forests and swamps from whence they derived their supplies.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Three small clearings at the three picket forts previously named, barely served to break the monotony of the old military road which led from near the intersection of Glen and Warren streets, in an almost direct line to the lot well known in the early part of the century as the Mallory place.
The banks of the river, fringed with forest verdure, the island, the falls, then appeared in their native and undisturbed grandeur.
The site of the village was broken by three deep gullies, or ravines, stretching for some distance from, and running at right angles with the river.
One of these ravines now forms the principal sewer of the village, running down past the steam furnace of Messrs. Dix and Knox, and in that early day opening upon the river precisely at the point occupied by the Glen's Falls Company's Grist Mill.
In the upper part of this ravine, John A. Ferriss constructed a fish pond of considerable size, which in 1802 was well stocked with trout, and was then considered one of the ornaments of the place.
The second ravine may to this day be distinctly traced commencing at Cross street and running parallel with Elm, crossing Park street, reissuing through the old Berry estate, and finding its outlet in the river just at the head of the falls.
At a later period Judge Hay built a fish pond in this ravine, and Mr. Cushing erected a diminutive water power in connection with the old red market, on the old Spencer place, now the residence of S.L. Goodman.
The third followed the course of Basin street, and after effecting a junction with two small rivulets at the basin, opened on the river nearly opposite the steam saw mill.
Each of these ravines were in those primeval days the channels of rivulets, which, fed by springs, and supplied by the wash and drainage of the adjacent table lands, lent their constant supply to feed the waters of the Hudson.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Three small clearings at the three picket forts previously named, barely served to break the monotony of the old military road which led from near the intersection of Glen and Warren streets, in an almost direct line to the lot well known in the early part of the century as the Mallory place.
The banks of the river, fringed with forest verdure, the island, the falls, then appeared in their native and undisturbed grandeur.
The site of the village was broken by three deep gullies, or ravines, stretching for some distance from, and running at right angles with the river.
One of these ravines now forms the principal sewer of the village, running down past the steam furnace of Messrs. Dix and Knox, and in that early day opening upon the river precisely at the point occupied by the Glen's Falls Company's Grist Mill.
In the upper part of this ravine, John A. Ferriss constructed a fish pond of considerable size, which in 1802 was well stocked with trout, and was then considered one of the ornaments of the place.
The second ravine may to this day be distinctly traced commencing at Cross street and running parallel with Elm, crossing Park street, reissuing through the old Berry estate, and finding its outlet in the river just at the head of the falls.
At a later period Judge Hay built a fish pond in this ravine, and Mr. Cushing erected a diminutive water power in connection with the old red market, on the old Spencer place, now the residence of S.L. Goodman.
The third followed the course of Basin street, and after effecting a junction with two small rivulets at the basin, opened on the river nearly opposite the steam saw mill.
Each of these ravines were in those primeval days the channels of rivulets, which, fed by springs, and supplied by the wash and drainage of the adjacent table lands, lent their constant supply to feed the waters of the Hudson.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
It will be borne in mind that the patent was granted May 20, 1762, and yet by a record of a proprietor's meeting held on the 18th of June, less than a month following, it appears that the ownership of the patent had almost entirely changed hands, only four of the original patentees being retained among the proprietors.
This rapid transfer of so large, and apparently important a grant, gave it the appearance of a prearranged bargain and sale, in which influential men of the colony had lent their names to obtain the grant for the benefit of those who proposed becoming actual settlers.
At the meeting above mentioned, a vote was passed by the proprietors authorizing Abraham Wing to keep and preserve the certificate and patent for the township for the benefit of the proprietors.
These are now in the possession of one of the descendants of the late Mr. Ashahel Wing, formerly cashier of the Fort Edward National Bank.
At another meeting of the proprietors, held at the shop of Nehemiah and Daniel Merritt, on the Oblong, 22 in Dutchess county, on the 10th of July following, a vote was passed that the town lots in said township be drawn by lot on the 24th inst., at the same place, that Daniel Case and Thomas Aiken should perform the drawing, and that John Gurney should make the proper record of such distributions.
The survey for the division into lots, was commenced on 29th of August, 1762, by Zaccheus Towner, of "New Fairfield, Connecticut, surveyor for the proprietors," and the survey was completed before the following November.
22 The following spirited description of the Oblong by the Marquis de Chastellux at the close of the Revolutionary war, will hardly fail to be of interest to the descendants of those who first came from that place to settle this town. "At the distance of a mile we again pass the same river (the Housatonic) on a wooden bridge; we soon meet with another, called Ten mile river, which falls into this, and which we follow for two or three miles, and then came in sight of several handsome houses, forming a part of the district called The Oblong. It is a long, narrow slip of land, ceded by Connecticut to the state of New York, in exchange for some other territory. The inn I was going to, is in the Oblong, but two miles further on. It is kept by Colonel Moorhouse; for nothing is more common in America than to see an innkeeper a colonel. They are in general militia colonels, chosen by the militia themselves, who seldom fail to entrust the command to the most esteemed, and most creditable citizens." — Trans. Chastellux's Travels in America, vol. I, p. 57.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
It will be borne in mind that the patent was granted May 20, 1762, and yet by a record of a proprietor's meeting held on the 18th of June, less than a month following, it appears that the ownership of the patent had almost entirely changed hands, only four of the original patentees being retained among the proprietors.
This rapid transfer of so large, and apparently important a grant, gave it the appearance of a prearranged bargain and sale, in which influential men of the colony had lent their names to obtain the grant for the benefit of those who proposed becoming actual settlers.
At the meeting above mentioned, a vote was passed by the proprietors authorizing Abraham Wing to keep and preserve the certificate and patent for the township for the benefit of the proprietors.
These are now in the possession of one of the descendants of the late Mr. Ashahel Wing, formerly cashier of the Fort Edward National Bank.
At another meeting of the proprietors, held at the shop of Nehemiah and Daniel Merritt, on the Oblong, 22 in Dutchess county, on the 10th of July following, a vote was passed that the town lots in said township be drawn by lot on the 24th inst., at the same place, that Daniel Case and Thomas Aiken should perform the drawing, and that John Gurney should make the proper record of such distributions.
The survey for the division into lots, was commenced on 29th of August, 1762, by Zaccheus Towner, of "New Fairfield, Connecticut, surveyor for the proprietors," and the survey was completed before the following November.
22 The following spirited description of the Oblong by the Marquis de Chastellux at the close of the Revolutionary war, will hardly fail to be of interest to the descendants of those who first came from that place to settle this town. "At the distance of a mile we again pass the same river (the Housatonic) on a wooden bridge; we soon meet with another, called Ten mile river, which falls into this, and which we follow for two or three miles, and then came in sight of several handsome houses, forming a part of the district called The Oblong. It is a long, narrow slip of land, ceded by Connecticut to the state of New York, in exchange for some other territory. The inn I was going to, is in the Oblong, but two miles further on. It is kept by Colonel Moorhouse; for nothing is more common in America than to see an innkeeper a colonel. They are in general militia colonels, chosen by the militia themselves, who seldom fail to entrust the command to the most esteemed, and most creditable citizens." — Trans. Chastellux's Travels in America, vol. I, p. 57.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
In this survey of the township, the village was located at the Half-way brook, at the crossing of the military road, probably because of the few buildings, and clearing already made at that point.
The town plot at this point was run out into forty-four ten acre lots, six lots deep from north to south and eight lots deep from east to west, forming an oblong square, intersected through the centre in each direction with a highway eight rods wide, and two four rod roads between the tiers of lots to the east, and west of the main road, the whole plot to be surrounded by a four rod road.
The centre lots were reserved for public buildings.
The balance of the township was run out into one hundred and one two hundred and fifty acre lots as nearly as possible.
At the drawing, above mentioned, Abraham Wing was so fortunate as to draw three of what would now be considered the most valuable lots in town, namely, lots Nos. 29, 36 and 37, on which the greater part of the more densely settled portion of the village of Glen's Falls now stands.
On the 8th of November, of the same year, another meeting of the proprietors (at that time increased to thirty), was held at the place before mentioned, when deeds of partition, agreeably to the drawing spoken of, were duly executed each to the other.
At this meeting it was also voted that Daniel Chase and William Haight be appointed to draw lots for the balance of the survey not appropriated in the first division.
In this second partition, several of the great lots were subdivided by lines drawn from east to west, and renumbered.
On the 23d of February the ensuing year the proprietors met at the building before mentioned, in Beekman precinct, Dutchess co., and appointed Wm. Smith, Nehemiah Merritt and Abraham Wing, trustees, to partition out the hitherto undivided lands.
The following document, copied verbatim from the original patent, was written upon two large sheets of parchment in the old English character, and engrossed with great precision and elegance.
It is the property now of the family of Richard Wing, deceased, to whom it has descended as an heir-loom, it having been confided to the keeping of his grandfather, Abraham Wing, by the original grantees, and remained in the possession of the family ever since.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
In this survey of the township, the village was located at the Half-way brook, at the crossing of the military road, probably because of the few buildings, and clearing already made at that point.
The town plot at this point was run out into forty-four ten acre lots, six lots deep from north to south and eight lots deep from east to west, forming an oblong square, intersected through the centre in each direction with a highway eight rods wide, and two four rod roads between the tiers of lots to the east, and west of the main road, the whole plot to be surrounded by a four rod road.
The centre lots were reserved for public buildings.
The balance of the township was run out into one hundred and one two hundred and fifty acre lots as nearly as possible.
At the drawing, above mentioned, Abraham Wing was so fortunate as to draw three of what would now be considered the most valuable lots in town, namely, lots Nos. 29, 36 and 37, on which the greater part of the more densely settled portion of the village of Glen's Falls now stands.
On the 8th of November, of the same year, another meeting of the proprietors (at that time increased to thirty), was held at the place before mentioned, when deeds of partition, agreeably to the drawing spoken of, were duly executed each to the other.
At this meeting it was also voted that Daniel Chase and William Haight be appointed to draw lots for the balance of the survey not appropriated in the first division.
In this second partition, several of the great lots were subdivided by lines drawn from east to west, and renumbered.
On the 23d of February the ensuing year the proprietors met at the building before mentioned, in Beekman precinct, Dutchess co., and appointed Wm. Smith, Nehemiah Merritt and Abraham Wing, trustees, to partition out the hitherto undivided lands.
The following document, copied verbatim from the original patent, was written upon two large sheets of parchment in the old English character, and engrossed with great precision and elegance.
It is the property now of the family of Richard Wing, deceased, to whom it has descended as an heir-loom, it having been confided to the keeping of his grandfather, Abraham Wing, by the original grantees, and remained in the possession of the family ever since.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury.
Compared and corrected with the copy on file in the secretary of state's office at Albany.
GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, defender of the faith and so forth.
To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.
WHEREAS our loving subjects Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seeley, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh, Junior, Abraham Wanzer, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekiel Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Preston, and Joshua Agard, did by their humble petition presented unto our trusty and well beloved Cadwallader Colden Esquire, our Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-chief of our Province of New York and the territories thereon depending, in America in council on the thirty-first day of March now last past humbly pray our Letters Patent granting to each of the said Petitioners respectively and to their respective heirs, the quantity of One Thousand Acres of a certain Tract of Land in the said Province vested in the Crown that had been surveyed and laid out for the said Daniel Prindle and his associates above named of the contents of six miles square adjoining to the lands intended to be granted to James Bradshaw and others between Fort Edward and Lake George under the Quit Rent provisoes, Limitations and restrictions directed and prescribed by Our Royal instructions together with the like privileges of a Township (as were lately granted to Isaac Sawyer and others) by the name of Queensbury Township.
WHICH PETITION having been then and there read and considered of our said council did afterwards on the fifteenth day of April now last past humbly advise our said Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief to grant the prayer thereof.
WHEREFORE in obedience to our said Royal Instructions our commissioners appointed for the setting out all lands to be granted within our said province have set out for the petitioners above named, ALL that certain Tract or Parcel of Land situate lying and being in the county of Albany on the north side of Hudson's river between Ft. Edward and Lake George BEGINNING at the north-west corner of a certain Tract of land surveyed for James Bradshaw and his associates and runs from the said north-west corner, north twenty-seven chains, then west five hundred and thirty-five chains, then south five hundred and thirty-six chains to Hudson's river, then down the stream of said River as it runs to the west Bounds of the said Tract surveyed for James Bradshaw and his associates, then along the said West Bounds North to the place where this tract first began containing after deducting for sundry ponds of water lying within the above mentioned Bounds Twenty-three thousand acres of land and the usual allowances for Highways.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury.
Compared and corrected with the copy on file in the secretary of state's office at Albany.
GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, defender of the faith and so forth.
To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.
WHEREAS our loving subjects Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seeley, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh, Junior, Abraham Wanzer, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekiel Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Preston, and Joshua Agard, did by their humble petition presented unto our trusty and well beloved Cadwallader Colden Esquire, our Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-chief of our Province of New York and the territories thereon depending, in America in council on the thirty-first day of March now last past humbly pray our Letters Patent granting to each of the said Petitioners respectively and to their respective heirs, the quantity of One Thousand Acres of a certain Tract of Land in the said Province vested in the Crown that had been surveyed and laid out for the said Daniel Prindle and his associates above named of the contents of six miles square adjoining to the lands intended to be granted to James Bradshaw and others between Fort Edward and Lake George under the Quit Rent provisoes, Limitations and restrictions directed and prescribed by Our Royal instructions together with the like privileges of a Township (as were lately granted to Isaac Sawyer and others) by the name of Queensbury Township.
WHICH PETITION having been then and there read and considered of our said council did afterwards on the fifteenth day of April now last past humbly advise our said Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief to grant the prayer thereof.
WHEREFORE in obedience to our said Royal Instructions our commissioners appointed for the setting out all lands to be granted within our said province have set out for the petitioners above named, ALL that certain Tract or Parcel of Land situate lying and being in the county of Albany on the north side of Hudson's river between Ft. Edward and Lake George BEGINNING at the north-west corner of a certain Tract of land surveyed for James Bradshaw and his associates and runs from the said north-west corner, north twenty-seven chains, then west five hundred and thirty-five chains, then south five hundred and thirty-six chains to Hudson's river, then down the stream of said River as it runs to the west Bounds of the said Tract surveyed for James Bradshaw and his associates, then along the said West Bounds North to the place where this tract first began containing after deducting for sundry ponds of water lying within the above mentioned Bounds Twenty-three thousand acres of land and the usual allowances for Highways.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury., continued ...
AND in setting out the said Tract of Land the said commissioners have had regard to the profitable and unprofitable acres, and have taken care that the length thereof doth not extend along the Banks of any River otherwise than is conformable to our said Royal Instructions for that purpose as by a certificate thereof under their hand - bearing Date the Twenty-first Day of April now last past and entered on Record in our Secretary's Office in our City of New York may more fully appear.
Which said Tract of Land set out as aforesaid, according to our said Royal Instructions.
We being willing to grant to the said petitioners their heirs and assigns forever, with the several privileges and powers hereinafter mentioned.
Know Ye that of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion We have given granted ratified and confirmed and DO by these presents for us our Heirs and successors give grant retify and confirm unto them the said Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seeley, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh junior, Abraham Wanser, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekiel Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Cummins, Ebenezer Preston, Daniel Preston and Joshua Agard their Heirs and Assignees for ever ALL THAT the aforesaid Tract or parcel of Land set out abutted bounded and described in Manner and Form as above mentioned together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments, Emoluments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining, and also all our Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Possession, Claim and Demand Whatsoever of in and to the same Lands and Premises and every part and parcel thereof and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and profits thereof and of every part and parcel thereof, EXCEPT and always reserved out of this our present GRANT unto us our Heirs and Successors for ever all mines of Gold and Silver and also all White and other sorts of Pine Trees fit for masts of the Growth of Twenty-four Inches Diameter and upwards at twelve Inches from the Earth, for Masts for the Royal Navy of us our Heirs and Successors TO HAVE AND TO HOLD one full and equal Three and Twentieth part (the whole into Twenty-three equal parts to be devided) of the said Tract or parcel of Land, Tenements. Hereditaments and Premises by these Presents granted, ratified and confirmed, and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their appurtenances, (except as is herein before excepted) unto each of them our Grantees above mentioned their Heirs and Assignees respectively.
TO their only proper and separate use and Behoof respectively for ever as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants.
TO BE HOLDEN of us, and Heirs and Successors in fee and common socage as of our Manor of East Greenwich in our County of Kent within our Kingdom of Great Britain, YIELDING, rendering, and paying therefore yearly and every year forever unto us our Heirs and Successors at our Custom House in our City of New York, unto our or their Collector or Receiver General therefore the time being on the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary commonly called Lady day the yearly rent of two shillings and six pence Sterling for each and every Hundred Acres of the above granted lands and so in proportion for any less in quantity thereof saving and except for such part of the said Lands allowed for Highways as above mentioned in Lieu and stead of all other Rents, Services, Dues. Duties, and Demands whatsoever for the hereby granted Land and Premises, or any part thereof AND WE DO of our especial Grace certain knowledge and meer motion, create, erect and constitute the said Tract or parcel of Land hereby granted and every part and parcel thereof a Township for ever hereafter to be, continue, and remain and by the name of Queensbury Townships for ever hereafter to be called and known AND for the better and more easily carrying on and managing the public affairs and Business of the said Township our Royal will and pleasure is and we do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors give and grant to the inhabitants of the said Township all the Powers, Authority, Privileges and Advantages heretofore given and granted to or legally enjoyed by all, any or either our other Township within our said Province AND we also ordain and establish that there shall be forever hereafter in the said Township One Supervisor, Two Assessors, One Treasurer, Two Overseers of the Highways, Two Overseers of the Poor, One Collector and four Constables elected and chosen out of the Inhabitants of the said Township yearly and every year on the first Tuesday in May at the most publick place in the said Township, by the majority of Freeholders thereof.
[End of contents of first piece of parchment.]
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., continued ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury., continued ...
AND in setting out the said Tract of Land the said commissioners have had regard to the profitable and unprofitable acres, and have taken care that the length thereof doth not extend along the Banks of any River otherwise than is conformable to our said Royal Instructions for that purpose as by a certificate thereof under their hand - bearing Date the Twenty-first Day of April now last past and entered on Record in our Secretary's Office in our City of New York may more fully appear.
Which said Tract of Land set out as aforesaid, according to our said Royal Instructions.
We being willing to grant to the said petitioners their heirs and assigns forever, with the several privileges and powers hereinafter mentioned.
Know Ye that of our especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion We have given granted ratified and confirmed and DO by these presents for us our Heirs and successors give grant retify and confirm unto them the said Daniel Prindle, Elihu Marsh, Thomas Hungerford, Samuel Hungerford, John Buck, Daniel Tryon, Amos Leach, Benjamin Seeley, Anthony Wanser, Jonathan Weeks, John Page, Elihu Marsh junior, Abraham Wanser, Benjamin Elliot, John Seeley, Aaron Prindle, Thomas Northorp, Ezekiel Pain, Jedediah Graves, David Cummins, Ebenezer Preston, Daniel Preston and Joshua Agard their Heirs and Assignees for ever ALL THAT the aforesaid Tract or parcel of Land set out abutted bounded and described in Manner and Form as above mentioned together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments, Emoluments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining, and also all our Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Possession, Claim and Demand Whatsoever of in and to the same Lands and Premises and every part and parcel thereof and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and profits thereof and of every part and parcel thereof, EXCEPT and always reserved out of this our present GRANT unto us our Heirs and Successors for ever all mines of Gold and Silver and also all White and other sorts of Pine Trees fit for masts of the Growth of Twenty-four Inches Diameter and upwards at twelve Inches from the Earth, for Masts for the Royal Navy of us our Heirs and Successors TO HAVE AND TO HOLD one full and equal Three and Twentieth part (the whole into Twenty-three equal parts to be devided) of the said Tract or parcel of Land, Tenements. Hereditaments and Premises by these Presents granted, ratified and confirmed, and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their appurtenances, (except as is herein before excepted) unto each of them our Grantees above mentioned their Heirs and Assignees respectively.
TO their only proper and separate use and Behoof respectively for ever as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants.
TO BE HOLDEN of us, and Heirs and Successors in fee and common socage as of our Manor of East Greenwich in our County of Kent within our Kingdom of Great Britain, YIELDING, rendering, and paying therefore yearly and every year forever unto us our Heirs and Successors at our Custom House in our City of New York, unto our or their Collector or Receiver General therefore the time being on the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary commonly called Lady day the yearly rent of two shillings and six pence Sterling for each and every Hundred Acres of the above granted lands and so in proportion for any less in quantity thereof saving and except for such part of the said Lands allowed for Highways as above mentioned in Lieu and stead of all other Rents, Services, Dues. Duties, and Demands whatsoever for the hereby granted Land and Premises, or any part thereof AND WE DO of our especial Grace certain knowledge and meer motion, create, erect and constitute the said Tract or parcel of Land hereby granted and every part and parcel thereof a Township for ever hereafter to be, continue, and remain and by the name of Queensbury Townships for ever hereafter to be called and known AND for the better and more easily carrying on and managing the public affairs and Business of the said Township our Royal will and pleasure is and we do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors give and grant to the inhabitants of the said Township all the Powers, Authority, Privileges and Advantages heretofore given and granted to or legally enjoyed by all, any or either our other Township within our said Province AND we also ordain and establish that there shall be forever hereafter in the said Township One Supervisor, Two Assessors, One Treasurer, Two Overseers of the Highways, Two Overseers of the Poor, One Collector and four Constables elected and chosen out of the Inhabitants of the said Township yearly and every year on the first Tuesday in May at the most publick place in the said Township, by the majority of Freeholders thereof.
[End of contents of first piece of parchment.]
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: Holden's History of Queensbury
A History of the Town of Queensbury, continued ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., concluded ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury., concluded ...
THEN and there met and assembled for that purpose, hereby declaring that wheresoever the first Election in the said Township shall be held the future Elections shall forever thereafter be held in the same place as near as may be, and giving and Granting unto the said officers so chosen, power and authority to exercise their said several and respective offices, during one whole year from such election, and until others are legally chosen and elected in their room and stead, as fully and amply as any the like officers have or legally may use or exercise their offices in our said Province.
AND in case any or either of the said officers of the said Township should die or remove from the said Township before the Time of their Annual service shall be expired or refuse to act in the Offices for which they shall respectively be chosen, then our Royal Will and pleasure further is and we do hereby direct ordain and require the Freeholders of the said Township to meet at the place where the annual election shall be held for the said Township and chuse other or others of the said Inhabitants of the said Township in the place or stead of him or them so dying removing or refusing to act within Forty days next after such contingency.
AND to prevent any undue election in this case, We do hereby ordain and require, That upon every vacancy in the office of Supervisor, the Assessors, and in either of the other offices, the Supervisor of the said Township shall within ten days next after any such vacancy first happens appoint the Day for such Election and give public Notice thereof in Writing under his or their Hands by affixing such Notice on the Church Door, or other most public place in the said Township, at the least Ten days before the Day appointed for such Election, and in Default thereof we do hereby require the Officer or Officers of the said Township or the Survivor of them, who in the order they are hereinbefore mentioned shall next succeed him or them so making Default, within ten days next after such default to appoint the day for such election, and give notice thereof as aforesaid, HEREBY Giving and Granting that such person or persons as shall be so chosen by the majority of such of the Freeholders of the said Township as shall meet in manner hereby directed, shall have, hold, exercise and enjoy the Office or Offices, to which he or they shall be so elected and chosen from the Time of such Election, until the first Tuesday in May then next following, and until other or others be legally chosen in his or their place and stead as fully as the person or persons in whose place he or they shall be chosen might or could have done by virtue of these presents.
AND WE do hereby will and direct that this method shall for ever hereafter, be used for the filling up all vacancies that shall happen in any or either of the said Offices between the annual Elections above directed, PROVIDED always and upon condition nevertheless that if our said Grantees, their heirs or assigns or some or one of them shall not within three years next after the conclusion of our present war with France settle on the said Tract of Land hereby granted so many families as shall amount to one Family for every thousand acres thereof OR if they our said Grantees, or one of them, their or one of their heirs, or assigns shall not also within three years to be computed as aforesaid plant and effectually cultivate at the least three acres for every fifty acres of such of the hereby granted Lands as are capable of cultivation, OR if they our said Grantees or any of them or any of their heirs or assigns, or any other person or persons by their or any of their previty consent or procurement, shall fell, cut down or otherwise destroy any of the Pine Trees by these Presents reserved to us our heirs and successors or hereby intended so to be, without the Royal license of us, our heirs or successors for so doing first had and obtained, that then and in any of these cases this our present Grant and every Thing therein contained shall cease and be absolutely void, and the Lands and Premises hereby granted shall revert to and vest in us, our heirs and successors, as if this our present Grant had not been made, anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding PROVIDED further and upon condition also nevertheless, and we do hereby for us, our heirs and successors direct and appoint that this our present Grant shall be registered and entered on Record within six months from the date thereof in our Secretary's Office in our City of New York in our said Province in one of the Books of Patents there remaining and that a Docquet thereof shall be also entered in our Auditor's Office there for our said Province and that in default thereof this our present Grant shall be void and of none effect any Thing before in these Presents contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
AND WE DO moreover of our Grace certain knowledge and meer motion consent and agree that this our present Grant being registered, recorded and a Docquet thereof made as before directed and appointed shall be good and effectual in the Law to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes whatsoever against us, our heirs and Successors notwithstanding any Misreciting, Misbounding, Misnaming or other Imperfection or Omission of, in, or in any wise concerning the above granted or hereby mentioned or intended to be granted Lands, Tenements, hereditaments and premises or any part thereof.
IN TESTIMONY whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent and the Great Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS our said trusty and well beloved Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New-York and the Territories depending thereon in America.
At our Fort in our City of New-York the Twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty-two and of our Reign the second.
(First Skin Line 31 the word of interlined line 47 the words any or wrote on an erazure and Line 49 the word the interlined.)
CLARKE. 23
Endorsements on the back of the Parchment Skin No. 1: "Secretary's Office 25th May, 1762, The Within Letters Patent are Recorded in Lib Patents No. 13, Pages 478 to 483."
"Geo. Banyar D Sec'y"
"New York Auditor Generals Office 1st June, 1762."
"The within Letters Patent to Daniel Prindle and others are Docqueted in this office."
"Geo Banyar Dept Auditor"
Endorsement on the back of parchment skin No. 2. Letters Patent.
"20th May, 1762."
"To Daniel Prindle, and others for 28000 acres of land in the county of Albany."
Attached to these parchments, was the great seal of the province, a facsimile of which may be found in the fourth vol. of the Doc'y Hist. of N.Y.
23 One of the members of the council.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
A. W. Holden, M.D.
PART II
HISTORY OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER VI., concluded ...
Copy of the original patent of the town of Queensbury., concluded ...
THEN and there met and assembled for that purpose, hereby declaring that wheresoever the first Election in the said Township shall be held the future Elections shall forever thereafter be held in the same place as near as may be, and giving and Granting unto the said officers so chosen, power and authority to exercise their said several and respective offices, during one whole year from such election, and until others are legally chosen and elected in their room and stead, as fully and amply as any the like officers have or legally may use or exercise their offices in our said Province.
AND in case any or either of the said officers of the said Township should die or remove from the said Township before the Time of their Annual service shall be expired or refuse to act in the Offices for which they shall respectively be chosen, then our Royal Will and pleasure further is and we do hereby direct ordain and require the Freeholders of the said Township to meet at the place where the annual election shall be held for the said Township and chuse other or others of the said Inhabitants of the said Township in the place or stead of him or them so dying removing or refusing to act within Forty days next after such contingency.
AND to prevent any undue election in this case, We do hereby ordain and require, That upon every vacancy in the office of Supervisor, the Assessors, and in either of the other offices, the Supervisor of the said Township shall within ten days next after any such vacancy first happens appoint the Day for such Election and give public Notice thereof in Writing under his or their Hands by affixing such Notice on the Church Door, or other most public place in the said Township, at the least Ten days before the Day appointed for such Election, and in Default thereof we do hereby require the Officer or Officers of the said Township or the Survivor of them, who in the order they are hereinbefore mentioned shall next succeed him or them so making Default, within ten days next after such default to appoint the day for such election, and give notice thereof as aforesaid, HEREBY Giving and Granting that such person or persons as shall be so chosen by the majority of such of the Freeholders of the said Township as shall meet in manner hereby directed, shall have, hold, exercise and enjoy the Office or Offices, to which he or they shall be so elected and chosen from the Time of such Election, until the first Tuesday in May then next following, and until other or others be legally chosen in his or their place and stead as fully as the person or persons in whose place he or they shall be chosen might or could have done by virtue of these presents.
AND WE do hereby will and direct that this method shall for ever hereafter, be used for the filling up all vacancies that shall happen in any or either of the said Offices between the annual Elections above directed, PROVIDED always and upon condition nevertheless that if our said Grantees, their heirs or assigns or some or one of them shall not within three years next after the conclusion of our present war with France settle on the said Tract of Land hereby granted so many families as shall amount to one Family for every thousand acres thereof OR if they our said Grantees, or one of them, their or one of their heirs, or assigns shall not also within three years to be computed as aforesaid plant and effectually cultivate at the least three acres for every fifty acres of such of the hereby granted Lands as are capable of cultivation, OR if they our said Grantees or any of them or any of their heirs or assigns, or any other person or persons by their or any of their previty consent or procurement, shall fell, cut down or otherwise destroy any of the Pine Trees by these Presents reserved to us our heirs and successors or hereby intended so to be, without the Royal license of us, our heirs or successors for so doing first had and obtained, that then and in any of these cases this our present Grant and every Thing therein contained shall cease and be absolutely void, and the Lands and Premises hereby granted shall revert to and vest in us, our heirs and successors, as if this our present Grant had not been made, anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding PROVIDED further and upon condition also nevertheless, and we do hereby for us, our heirs and successors direct and appoint that this our present Grant shall be registered and entered on Record within six months from the date thereof in our Secretary's Office in our City of New York in our said Province in one of the Books of Patents there remaining and that a Docquet thereof shall be also entered in our Auditor's Office there for our said Province and that in default thereof this our present Grant shall be void and of none effect any Thing before in these Presents contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.
AND WE DO moreover of our Grace certain knowledge and meer motion consent and agree that this our present Grant being registered, recorded and a Docquet thereof made as before directed and appointed shall be good and effectual in the Law to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes whatsoever against us, our heirs and Successors notwithstanding any Misreciting, Misbounding, Misnaming or other Imperfection or Omission of, in, or in any wise concerning the above granted or hereby mentioned or intended to be granted Lands, Tenements, hereditaments and premises or any part thereof.
IN TESTIMONY whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent and the Great Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS our said trusty and well beloved Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our Province of New-York and the Territories depending thereon in America.
At our Fort in our City of New-York the Twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty-two and of our Reign the second.
(First Skin Line 31 the word of interlined line 47 the words any or wrote on an erazure and Line 49 the word the interlined.)
CLARKE. 23
Endorsements on the back of the Parchment Skin No. 1: "Secretary's Office 25th May, 1762, The Within Letters Patent are Recorded in Lib Patents No. 13, Pages 478 to 483."
"Geo. Banyar D Sec'y"
"New York Auditor Generals Office 1st June, 1762."
"The within Letters Patent to Daniel Prindle and others are Docqueted in this office."
"Geo Banyar Dept Auditor"
Endorsement on the back of parchment skin No. 2. Letters Patent.
"20th May, 1762."
"To Daniel Prindle, and others for 28000 acres of land in the county of Albany."
Attached to these parchments, was the great seal of the province, a facsimile of which may be found in the fourth vol. of the Doc'y Hist. of N.Y.
23 One of the members of the council.
TO BE CONTINUED ...