A very rare and historically significant land grant referring to Gold and Silver Mines in The Town of Clinton New York issued and signed by John Jay as Governor. The Land Grant was issued in State of New York on August 2, 1797, during the governorship of John Jay. This document conveys 853 1/3 acres of land in Clinton, New York, to John Livingston, as part of a settlement for Benjamin Birdsall and his associates. It details specific land boundaries and includes conditions for settlement within seven years to maintain ownership. The grant retains the State’s rights to gold and silver mines and reserves land for highways. Officially signed by Governor John Jay and Secretary Lewis A. Scott. 12" x 19" and in fine condition.
We could not find another John Jay land Grant which has come to market with references to the Silver and Gold Mines!
This document represents a fascinating piece of early American history, linking the governance of New York State to the post-Revolutionary War land settlement efforts.
John Jay (December 23, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American statesman, diplomat, abolitionist, signatory of the Treaty of Paris, and a Founding Father of the United States. He served from 1789 to 1795 as the first chief justice of the United States and from 1795 to 1801 as the second governor of New York. Jay directed U.S. foreign policy for much of the 1780s and was an important leader of the Federalist Party after the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788.
Transcribed Version:
The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God, Free and Independent:
Know Ye that we have given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, and confirm unto John Livingston, one of the Associates of Benjamin Birdsall (in pursuance of two certain Acts of the Legislature of our said State, the one entitled “An Act for the relief of Benjamin Birdsall and his Associates,” passed the 24th February 1793, and the other entitled “An Act to amend an Act entitled An Act for the relief of Benjamin Birdsall and his Associates,” passed 24th February 1797) all that certain tract or lot of land situated in the town of Clinton and being part of Township Number Three of the Tract of land formerly set apart for the Military and distinguished in the division of said township by lot number Fifty-Three.
Beginning at the northwest corner of Lot Number Fifty-Two and running thence south eighty-nine degrees west ninety-two chains and thirty-seven links, then north thirty minutes west ninety-two chains and thirty-seven links, then north eighty-nine degrees east ninety-two chains and thirty-seven links, and then south thirty minutes east ninety-two chains and thirty-seven links to the place of beginning, containing eight hundred and fifty-three acres and one-third of an acre. Together with all and singular the rights, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining. Excepting and reserving to ourselves all gold and silver mines and five acres of every hundred acres of the said tract of land for highways.
To Have and to Hold the above described and granted premises unto the said John Livingston, his heirs and assigns, as a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance forever, on condition, nevertheless, that within the term of seven years to be computed from the first day of January next ensuing the date hereof, there shall be one actual settlement made on said tract of land hereby granted for every six hundred and forty acres thereof. Otherwise, these our letters patent and the estate hereby granted shall cease, determine, and become void.
In Testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent and the great seal of our said State to be hereunto affixed.
Witness our trusty and well-beloved John Jay, 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 of New York this second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven and in the twenty-second year of our Independence.
Approved of by the Commissioners of the Land Office. Lewis A. Scott, Secretary
John Jay
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