Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-17
DOMESTIC.

The Difficulty btt,reen Mr.. Fan Rensselaer, and his
7cnants-.1bony CouHiy.-Wc have already given
summary this last week The Mr.. Stephen Van Rcns-
selaer, known as the Patroon OF lcnient disposition
to his tenants, allowed, in many instances, the back
rents so To accumulate as to amount to in value
than the farms themselves Since his DEATH the family
at the head of which is Mr.. Stephen Van Rensselaer,,
oldest of the deceased has called upon the tenants
for payment. The whole subject of the nature Of
tenure Of these farms of the Rensselaer, Manor is thns
brought before the public: II appears the principal dis
affected towns were Rcnssclacrvie, Westcroo, Bern
Knox, and Ncw-Scotland, chiefly entrenched in the
Businesses of the elderbarrack Mountain IL miles $.
w. Of Albany City. They laid what they termed their
grievances before Mr. Van Rensselaer,, rccoect-
ing that their fathers granathers had solcnniv and
voluntarily entered INTO tho contracts by which these
back rents accumulated. These are the quarter sales
quarter proceeds of the perpetual leases whenever
sold Also, 22l bushels of wheat on every I69 acre
farm Also, 81 days services with carriage and team:
and four fowls 900 cents making total ren on each
lot of 100 acres of SIS SD The rise of wages, and
of The value of wheat, fowls, &c. and the serty of
the soil, makes this now amount to $50 vsar md
is exceedingly oppressive.
They propose the rents TO be abolished and the ne
rents to be in money The same number of bushels to
be allowed before, and at the rate of ST. and lower
according to the value of the land 81 per day for dav
services and 90 cents for fowls excluding the reserya
ton of quarter sales water privileges the soil under
water, privilege of roads, mines mine rails timber &c
together with the privilege of buying the SOIL those
who wish To purchase the same any future Time for
such the interest thereof will amount to- the
amount Of rent each lot TO be fixed. They also
propose that those western of the manor whose
farms encountered 10 the amount of their personal
effects and above their arrearages of rents due the
proprietor should be RENTED in whole or at all events
in equal proportion to the spulatons to be entered
for future rents.
Mr. Van Rensselaer, replies that they have no grer-
ances, that the rents charged for the first
years, that they may claim a REIMBURSEMENT of his
right to the land well release Of privileges that
they have nothing to do with arrearages of other farms
&c He will admit no interference says the estimate
wheat is too low in proportion the increased va
lue Of land. By yielding he would do he saws, in.
justice to himself, fam ly and society. He is willing
70 take money rent for wheat at the average price
the last AZ years. days service 3d. and fowls Is cents
Also I" sell the land in fee at S. an acre for the four
sttowns-none of them below the hl but all arrears
must srst be paid On July 4th manifesto was drawn
up BY several of the towns, in which they denounee
Mr.. v. Rs propositions considering themselves de.
graded and equally entitled with their fathers Of the
revolution to release from thraidom They speak Of
Mr.. as prstsadsd proprietor, require him to es.
tahlsh his right to the coil give new leases gran. the
privileges claimed By them, and then theY win asseas