Top page 1769 Land Patent for Town of Harpersfield, NY

Land Patent for the Town of Harpersfield, NY
Issued in the name of King George III on December 8th, 1769.
Click on image to see each of the three pages of this document. You can also see the reverse side of the wax seal by clicking on the seal.

(Click on the picture to turn the top page down and see the second page)
The top sheet is a half page and begins with the words "Persons in whose . . . "

This important document was issued to John Harper Sr., and 21 other Patentees
after they petitioned to purchase land. After the Proclamation of 1763, British law limited purchase of no more than 1,000 acres per person. In order to purchase this tract, John Harper Sr. put together a consortium of men he trusted in order to purchase this large Tract. After the initial purchase, the shares were then sold back to John, who then redistributed the lots to his family and heirs-to-be. The total Land Patent covered the 22,000 acres which still exists as a 'Town' today. In this case the word 'Town' is a division of todays County of Delaware. At the time of issuance of this Patent the land was a part of Albany County, then Tryon in 1772, and Montgomery in 1784, and an act was then passed which created the boundaries in 1788. In 1791, Otsego County was formed with Cooperstown as it's County seat. Lastly, Delaware County was created in March of 1797.

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The transcription of this document will be done in the near future.