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Trustee, John Bard, afterwards conveys to David
Stout, who intermarried with Margaret Valleau, Peter
Valleau, Lucas Lozier, who intermarried with Ann
Valleau, Fauconnier Valleau, Elizabeth and Andrew
Valleau, [widow and son of Theodorus Valleau,] one-
sixth part each, of the right, title, and interest of the
lands, devised by Magdalene Valleau, deceased, the
said John Bard retaining one-sixth part, he having
intermarried with Suzanne Valleau, daughter of the
decedent."

"Second Tract, granted 17 Feb., 1701, to Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theale, John Horton, Joseph Purdey, Robert Walter, Leigh Atwood, Matthew Clarkson, Lancaster Symes, Cornelius De Peyster, Richd Slater, John Cholwell, Robert Lurting, and Barne Cosens. This is the Middle Patent, Submitted to an Arbitration of Six men from Queens County, who after Viewing the Land, and Considering all the Circumstances, awarded the sum of nine shillings pr acre, to be paid to the respective Patentees, for their release-there are thirteen patentees, And the Tract Contains five Thousand five hundred acres."*

"Third Tract, granted to Robert Sanders, Thomas Sanders, Johannes Bush, William Sharpas, and Joseph Cleator. This Tract Mrs Valleau sold in her lifetime, to have one third when recovered. It contains fourteen thousand acres."†

Westenhook

Columbia County. "Among the records of the Albany County Clerk's office are Three Indian Deeds, dated October 1, 1703, October 2, 1703, and April 2, 1704, given to Colonel Peter Schuyler, Major Dirck Wessels, Captain Jan Jansen Bleecker, and Mr. John Abeel, conveying the tract of land lying east of Kinderhook and south of Renssalaerwyck. The land described by the first deed was on Westenhook Creek, a branch of the Housatonic River, which gave its name to the whole tract, Westenhook. **** The grantees associated with themselves Ebenezer Wilson, Peter Fauconnier, Doctor Daniel Cox, Thomas Wenham, and Henry Smith, gentlemen holding official positions in the province. A patent passed the seals on March 6, 1705, but inasmuch as the patentees were unable to make the required improvements, on account of the French and Indian War, a new patent was issued in 1708, granting to each of the partners, one-ninth when divided. Like other large tracts held in partnership, it was a long time before the division was effected. Meantime Fauconnier sold his undivided share, to Philip and Robert Livingston, for £450. When this sale was effected in September, 1742, seven of the nine original owners were dead. On July 14, 1760, a partition was effected by their descendants. **** The bounds were: on the north by Rensselaerwyck, east by Massachusetts, west by Kinderhook, and southerly by Claverack.”‡ "Mr. Fauconnier sold his right in this tract, to old Robert Livingston, for the sum of five hundred pounds. His share was one-ninth."§

Minisinck

"Granted 28 Aug., 1704, to Matthew Lyng, Ebenezer Wilson, Philip French, Derick Vandenburg, Stephen Delancey, Philip Rokeby, John Corbet, Daniel

* From Dr. Bard, who does not state what interest Peter Fauconnier had in it.

† Dr. Bard.

"Colonial New York, Philip Schuyler and his Family," by G. W. Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 131. Philip and Robert Livingston were sons of Robert Livingston the first (old Robert Livingston). § Dr. Bard.

Honan, Caleb Cooper, William Sharpas, Robert Millward, Thomas Wenham, Lancaster Symes, John Persons, Benjamin Aske, Petrus Bayard, John Cholwell, Peter Fauconnier, Henry Swift, Henry Tenych, Jarvis Marshall, Anne Bridges, and George Clark. This Tract, Mrs. Valleau sold in her lifetime to Mr. Alexander, her right under Mr. Fauconnier-a great part of this tract to the northward being in dispute, Mr. Alexander gave Mrs. Valleau a Bond, payable to her or her heirs, when the Lands should be recovered to the Patent of Minisinck-which Bond is among the family Papers in the hands of Doctor Bard-and at the time of the sale, Mr. Alexander gave Mrs. Valleau, an obligation to pay her or her heirs, the sum of Fifty pounds more, [part of the purchase money,] upon Mrs Valleau paying the quit-rent, up to the time of this sale, which sum he reserved as a Security for the payment of the same, which has hitherto been delayed upon a report I have heard of one Evertson being accountable for the whole quit-rent in Consideration of a part of the Tract being conveyed to him, which I was informed of by John Bayard of Ulster County."

The Minisinck Patent, was situated between the Delaware River and the Blue Mountains, partly in the County of Sussex, New Jersey, and partly in the Counties of Ulster and Orange, New York, including three Islands in the Delaware River. As it contained much valuable land, it was soon occupied by settlers. Doctor Daniel Coxe was one of the first owners, and conveyed this tract of land to the West Jersey Society. It was afterwards divided by Commissioners amongst the subsequent owners, first into two lots, and then into forty-six lots which were assigned by ballot to those interested.

The description of the boundary lines is somewhat curious. They ran as follows: "Situate lying and being in the Counties of Orange and Ulster, Beginning at a Certain place in Ulster County called Hunting House or Yagh House, lying to the Northeast of the Land called Bashees Land, thence to run West by North untill it meet with the Fish Kill or Main Branch of Delaware River; Thence to Run Southerly to the South end of Great Minissink Island;-Thence Due South to the Lands lately granted to John Bridges and Company, and so along that Patent as it runs Northward and the Patent of Captain John Evans; and Thence to the place it first Began."†

When this Patent was issued the Orange and Ulster Counties were included in the Province of New York. About this time, a dispute arose as to the proper location of the boundary line between New York and New Jersey, which helped largely to unsettle the lines of this patent, as well as those of the two Counties and Provinces. Eventually, in 1769, a settlement was effected, by which a portion of Orange County was thrown into the Province of New Jersey.

The boundary lines of the Minisinck and neighboring Patents, became confused by this uncertainty, so that they were entirely undefined except in general terms. Cadwallader Colden in some observations,‡ in 1732, on the state of the Lands in New York, says, "No quantity of Land or number of Acres, for the most part, are mentioned in any of these Grants, nor is it possible to discover the Quantity, by inspection of the Patents, as it may be done in those Grants, which are founded on a previous Survey, and where any quantity is expressed, it seems to be done more with design to hide the real quantity, [if their present claims be truly conformable to their original bounds,] than to set forth the truth ****. There

* Dr. Bard.

"Doct. Hist. N. Y.," Vol. III, p. 987.

"Doct. Hist. N. Y.," Vol. I, pp. 382 and 383.

being no previous Survey to the Grants, their Boundaries are generally expressed with much uncertainty, By the Indian names of Brooks, Rivulets, Hills, Ponds, Falls of Water &c."

The indefinite expressions of extent, used in this and all the other Patents of the period, with the political and governmental changes, induced by the shifting nature of the times, often caused much doubt to exist, as to the ownership of these land grants. To better this condition, Peter Fauconnier in a Memorial to Lord Cornbury,* dated New York, April 2, 1709, petitioned for an adjustment of the boundary line between the two Provinces, so that the patentees and inhabitants of both might know exactly what the bounds of the Patents and Provinces were, and an end put to all controversies on the subject.

The Minisinck Patent contained upwards of 200,000 acres, and of this Peter Fauconnier owned. One account of the claims against this patent states that Peter Fauconnier's papers mentioned no line between the two Provinces, neither did they say in what portion of the disputed lands his share was situated; therefore no proof has been given of his having possessed it under the Patent. In 1753 his portion was owned by James Alexander,‡ a lawyer of New York, who had been Surveyor-General of New York and New Jersey.

Little Nine Partners Tract

Dutchess County. "Granted 10 April, 1705, to Sampson Broughton, Rip Van Dam, Thomas Wenham, Roger Mompesson, Peter Fauconnier, Augustin Graham, Richard Sacket, Robert Lurting, and George Clarke. Mr. Fauconnier sold his right in this Tract called the 'Little Nine Partner's Tract,' to Mr. Alexander. His share was one-ninth"§

Paullin's Purchase

Dutchess County. "Granted April 18, 1705, to Jacob Regnier, Peter Fauconnier, Benjamin Aske, Barne Cosens, John Persons, and Pasculus Parmeter. This Tract Mrs. Valleau, Conveyed to John Bard, after she had offered it to Mr. Alexander for three hundred pounds and was refused—her right in it consisted of two shares & a quarter, the other shares Dr. Bard bought for sixty pounds a share, and is now possest of the whole tract." ||

The original Patent, of which this was a part, was granted to Henry Pauling (Paullin) May 11, 1696, and was situated on the east front of the Hudson River. After Pauling's death a new patent was asked for the land by Jacob Regnier & Co., which was granted to them, excepting out of it the parcel belonging to Pauling's children. This patent covered 4000 acres, of which Peter Fauconnier obtained one-fifth. The tract afterwards became known as the "Hyde Park Patent," and upon it Peter Fauconnier laid out a town which he named "Hyde Park” in honor of Edward Hyde [Viscount Cornbury].

Oriskany

"Granted 18 April, 1705, to Thomas Wenham, George Clark, Peter Schuyler, Peter Fauconnier, and Roger Mompesson. This tract was disposed of, to Chief Justice Delancey, by Mr. Fauconnier in his life time for five hundred pounds— Mr. Fauconnier's share consisted of one-fifth."

"Arch. N. J., I. S.," Vol. III, p. 388. This is, perhaps, a misstatement, as the Memorial must have

been sent to Lord Lovelace, who became Governor December 18, 1708.

† From an old memorial for the settlement of the line, published in 1757.

He was the father of William Alexander (Lord Stirling), a General in Washington's Army.

§ Dr. Bard.

Dr. Bard.

¶ Dr. Bard.

"Certain Sachems of the Oneida nation, on July 19, 1704, gave a deed to Colonel Peter Schulyer, Colonel Thomas Wenham, and George Clark, for two tracts of land—the first, beginning at the mouth of Oriskany Creek, and extending up the creek four miles, and two miles on each side; the second, beginning on the Mohawk River at the mouth of Oriskany Creek, and running up two miles in breadth, on each side of the river, to the Oneida carrying place, 'where the path begins,' and thence two miles on each side of the path to a swamp. For these tracts a patent was issued on April 18, 1705, by Lord Cornbury, to Thomas Wenham, George Clark, Peter Schuyler, Peter Fauconnier, and Roger Mompesson; to each one-fifth, at the annual rent of ten shillings. On Sauthier's Map it is named 'Oriskany Patent, granted to Thomas Wenham & Co.' "'*

Kayaderosseras, alias Queen's Borough

"Granted 2 Nov., 1705, to Naning Harmense Nisier, Johannes Beekman, Rip Van Dam, Ann Bridges, May Bickley, Peter Fauconnier, Adrian Hooghlandt, Johannes Visher, John Tudor, Joris Hooghlandt, John Stevans, John Tatham, and Sampson Broughton. Mr. Fauconnier in his life time held one 13th. &of this tract he gave a Deed to Mr. David Stout of the 13th. or one share, and Mrs. Valleau in her life time, conveyed the half share Remaining to John Leake, James Ross, and one Tenych of Albany."†

Description

"A Tract of Land in the County of Albany, called Kayadoroses, alias Queen's Borough Beginning at a Place on Schenectady River, about 3 miles distant from the Southwesterly Corner, of the Bounds of Nestignione, the said Place, being the Southeasterly Corner of the Patent, lately granted to Naning Harmanse, Peter Fauconnier and others, thence along the said Schenectady River, westerly to the Southeasterly Corner of a Patent, lately granted to William Apple, thence along the easterly, Northerly, and Westerly Lines, of the said William Apple's Patent, down to the abovesaid River, thence to Schenectady Bounds of the Southeasterly Corner, of the said Patent, on the said River, so along the Easterly, Northerly, and Westerly Bounds thereoff, down to the said River, again, thence along the said River, up Westerly to the Southeasterly Bounds, of a Tract of Land lately granted, to Ebenezer Wilson and John Abeel, and so along the said Patent, round to the Southwesterly Corner thereoff, on the said Schenectady River, thence continuing to run Westerly, up along the said Schenectady River, to a Place or Hill, called Tweetonondo, being five Miles distant, or thereabouts, from the said Southwesterly Corner, of the said Wilson and Abeel's Patent, thence Northerly, to the Northwest most Head of a Creek, called Kayadoroses, about 14 miles more or less, thence 8 miles more Northerly, thence Easterly or North Easterly, to the third Falls on Albany River, about 20 miles, more or less, thence along the said River, down Southerly, to the Northeasterly Bounds of Saroch'toga, thence along the said Sarochtoga's, Northerly, Westerly, and Southerly Bounds, on the said River, thence to the Northeasterly Corner, of Anthony Van Schaik's Land, on the said River, so Northerly, and Westerly, along the said Van Schaik's Patent to the North East Corner, of the above Said Patent, granted to Naning Harmanse, Fauconier, and others, thence along the Northerly, and Westerly Bounds thereoff, down to the abovesaid River, of Schenectady, being the Place where it first begun.-Patented the second day of November, 1705."

* From "Philip Schuyler and his Family," Vol. II, p. 133.

† Dr. Bard. The one share was a wedding gift from Peter Fauconnier to David Stout and Marguerite Valleau; it was never recovered. From a paper loaned by Mr. Edwin A. Marschalk, and which probably was prepared by Dr. Bard.

Half Hollow Kills

"Granted 20 April, 1706, to Isaac De Riemer, John Everts, William Creed, Benjamin Aske, Samuel Staats, Peter Fauconnier, and Barent Christianse. This tract, Mr. Fauconnier sold his share in his life time, to the people living on the land, by a power of Attorney, to Mr. Isaiah Valleau and Theodore Valleau."*

Land in Ulster County

"Granted 20 April, 1707, to Johannes Hardenburgh, Leonard Lewis, Philip Rokeby for N. B., Wm Nothingham, Benjamin Faneuil, Peter Fauconnier, and Robert Lurting. Mr. Fauconnier sold his share in this Tract, to Messrs Verplanck & Robert Livingston, for three hundred and sixty five pounds, in a vast large Grant, and has since been divided-one-eighth of this Right in this grant, made a Deed to Mr. & Mrs. Valleau, upon their marriage, which Deed is preserved among the family papers, in the hands of Dr. Bard, but never acknowledged or Recorded— how far this may operate for the recovery of this part, the heirs of Mrs. Valleau should consider."†

Shenondohowah, or Clifton Park

"Granted Sept. 23, 1708, to Naning Harmense, James Alexander, Peter Fauconnier, Henry Holland, Henry Swift, and Wm. Morris. Remains in the family and lately divided. Bounds: A certain piece or parcel of Land; Called Schenondehowah, alias Christian Park. Ranging in a Northern Line, from the Maquas Cahoes or Schonectady River, along the Western Bounds of Anthony Van Schaick's patent, about 6 miles northerly, into the Woods. Together with a small Island, a little to the Eastward, of the S. W. Corner of the Said Van Schaick's Land. Then along the Said River, Westward, To the Eastwardmost Bounds, of Nestigjoene Patent, as far as The Same Runs Northward, And Then Along The Northward Bounds, of the Said Nestigjoene Patent as far as the Same Runneth Westward, Then Down To The River Side, Along The Westward Bounds, of the Said Nestigjoene Patent, To The River Again. And Three English Miles or thereabouts, upward, To the West, Along The Said River Side. Then Six Miles, or thereabouts, from the Said River side, up into the woods Northward. And Then to Meetg., from thence, on an Eastern Line, with the Line first Run Along, the Above Said Anthony Van Schaick's, Westerly bounds. The Small Island Included, with a Line paralell, To The Course of the aforementioned River."‡

Vacancies in Kings County

"Granted 27 Sept., 1708, to Ann Bridges, Robert Milward, Wm. Huddleston, Adrian Hooghlandt, Peter Praa, Benjamin Aske, and William Anderson. This likewise remains to the family, but will cost a lawsuit to recover, which has lately much been talked of all the papers relating to this tract, are in Mr. Scott's hands to consider; who is interested in the land himself-it has once been tried, and a Verdict given in our favour."§

This Patent contained 12,000 acres. In 1717, Peter Fauconnier, purchased Robert Millward's interest in it. Robert Millward, Attorney-at-Law, had been a leading member of the company owning the patent, which company became known as the "Fauconniers." For seven years there was a dispute between the patentees and the Bushwick people about boundary lines, which was, perhaps,

* Dr. Bard.

† Dr. Bard.

From a paper of Dr. Bard.

§ Dr. Bard.

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