Description:

Neatly scripted letters patent on laid paper, 14.5" x 9.25", signed by George Clinton, Governor, General and Commander-in-chief of all the militia, and admiral of the Navy of New York, as "Geo Clinton". Expected folds and several tiny pin holes with thin strip of expertly applied support to one fold. One inch separation along second fold. Occasional small spotting. Boldly manuscripted with high definition. Near fine. Attached clay appendage with original green stain ribbon, 3.5" in diameter with lifting to the surface of the seal. A stunning letters patent detailing a land acquisition for a "certain track of land" as a piece of a greater acquisition "in the County of Albany lying on the South Side of Jeremiah Van Rensalair's land and on the West side of Hudson River and near the land of Johannes Hallinbeek as yet unpurchased of the Native Indian, Proprietors thereof that the petitioners were desirous to purchase two thousand acres of the said tract of land in order to obtain his Majesty's letters patent for fifteen hundred acres". The document describes land which is in the vicinity of the area previously owned by the Mohawk Indians (to the west side of the Hudson River), and references what appears to have been an option to purchase the acreage as shown as: "his Majesty's Council to grant and I do by there presents give and grant unto the said Henry Lane and and Hendrick Remsen full power leave of license to purchase in his Majesty's name from the Native Indian propriators thereof the Quantity of two Thousand acres of the tract of Land aforesaid provided the said purchase be made in one year after the date hereof and conformable to the Regulations and directions specified and contained in a Report of a Committee of his Majesty's Council of the second day of December 1736 on the memorial of Cadwallader Colden Esq. representing several Inconveniences arising by the usual method of purchasing lands from the Indians. " The reference to Cadwallader Colden was significant, as he was a well-documented scholar from the Hudson River, New York area who wrote a Report on the State of Indian Affairs in 1751, in addition to writing reports on the State of the Lands in the Province in New York and Observations of the Trade of New York in 1722 and 1723 respectively. Of equal interest are the George Clinton Papers from 1745-1753 housed for research and review at the Manuscripts Division, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, specifically a document dated June 16, 1753 and covering a response to the "Mohawk Indians complaining of Encroachments on their Lands and Frauds in the purchase of them--Fort George in New York". Although we will never know the exact circumstance of this particular land purchase, we do know that within the document a reference was made to "several Inconveniences arising by the usual method of purchasing lands from the Indians", a most odd comment considering the immense importance of securing this large tract of land as part of a designated larger purchase of "fifteen hundred acres" and "the petitioners were desirous to purchase (these) two thousand acres of the said tract of land in order to obtain his Majesty's letters patent for fifteen hundred acres". The word "inconvenience" is not the typical word one would use in a business exchange for such a large and important purchase, but here it is used to characterize business dealings with Native Americans. A highly thought-provoking land grant in excellent condition and worthy of further research! The manuscript is transcribed in full below: "The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God and Independent to all to whom these presents shall come greeting: Know ye that we having inspected the records remaining in our Secretary's office do find there certain Instrument in the Worlds and figures the following: "By his Excellence the Honorable George Clinton Captain …that there is a certain track of land in the County of Albany lying on the South Side of Jeremiah Van Rensalair's land and on the West side of Hudson River and near the land of Johannes Hallinbeek as yet unpurchased of the Native Indian, Proprietors thereof that the petitioners were desirous to purchase two thousand acres of the said tract of land in order to obtain his Majesty's letters patent for fifteen hundred acres thereof prayed my license to purchase the same for the purposes aforesaid. I have therefore thought fit by it with the advice of his Majesty's Council to grant and I do by there presents give and grant unto the said Henry Lane and and Hendrick Remsen full power leave of license to purchase in his Majesty's name from the Native Indian proprietors thereof the Quantity of two Thousand acres of the tract of Land aforesaid provided the said purchase be made in one year after the date hereof and conformable to the Regulations and directions specified and contained in a Report of a Committee of his Majesty's Council of the second day of December 1736 on the memorial of Cadwallader Colden Esq. representing several Inconveniences arising by the usual method of purchasing lands from the Indians. And for so doing this shall be to them a sufficient license for Given or my hand and seal in New York the Eight day of April in the year of our Lord 1745, and of his Majesty's Reign the Eighteenth … we have caused to be 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 said State General and Commander in chief of all the Militia and admiral of the Navy of the same at our City Geo Clinton"

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