The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-04-30
SIXTY MILLIONS.
Movement OF the Heirs OF the Wal
dr0n Property for the Recovery
of a Rich Estate-The Land Made
by the Tweed Ring and Sold for
Taxes

The celebrated suit commenced u few
years ago by the heirs of Anneke JAMS
for the recovery of the property OF
Trinity Church bids fair to be outdone
by a movement now being pushed for
ward with vigor by the heirs of what Is
known as the Waldron estate. 1t ap
pears that in the year 1646 Baron Re-
solvent Waldron came to this country
from Holland with Gov. Stuyvesant- In
1854 Gov Stuyvesant made grant OF
all that portion of Manhattan Island
lying between Eighty y-second One Hun
dred and Ninth streets, and extending
from the North to the East River, to
Baron Waldron and two others. In
consideration of this grant twenty-five
families were to be located on the estate,
and ferry established with the main
land within three years. These condi-
tions were complied with, but on the
Dutch being driven from possession, the
settlers were dispersed. In 1866, how
ever, when the Dutch had regained pos
session, the grant was renewed to the
same parties. Little seems TO have been
done in relation to the estate until 1884,
when Governor Dougan confirmed the
grant of Governor Stuyvesant, adding
eighteen persons, making in all twenty
one participants. These settlers located
their farms and dwellings on the high
ground, and those of them who disposed
of their property sold only to high wa
ter mark. The title to the flats and 9TH
er land along the river front over which
the river flowed they did not dispose of
leaving it for the benefit of their heirs.
Twenty years since the meadow lands
of Harlem were not considered worth
paying taxes for, and the land was look
ed upon as comparatively worthless.
The Tweed ring, however, recognizing
the value of the large tract of property
lying under water in that neighborhood,
undertook the work of filling it in at the
expense of the city. Something like l.,
$50 acres of valuable land were made
in this way, the title to which, it is
claimed, belonged of right TO the heirs
of the Waldron estate. In 1870 the
Tammany Ring had bill passed by the
Legislature bringing this land under
taxation, and it was subsequently sold
in default of the payment of taxes, the
greater portion of it, as might be sup
posed, being purchased by the members
of the Ring or their agents. The land
so made and sold without title is claim
ed to be worth S6O,O0O,OOO and for it's
recovery the heirs of Baron Waldron are
now taking the requisite steps.
Considerable difficulty, of course, was
experienced in discovering the descend
ants of the original grantees; but by the
exertions of few of those most active
ly interested in the movement, the sig
natures of some 200 of the heirs scattered
all oyer the country, have been obtained.
The majority of them have signed the
necessary papers and contributed the
expenses incurred in the movement.
While some of the heirs look upon the
recovery of this valuable property as
doubtful, others express entire confid-
ence in the strength of their claim, and
are eager that the matter should be
speedily tested.
Ex-senator Lent. who, with the Earle
family and that of Judge Tappan are
directly interested in the recovery of the
Waldron estate, has gone to California to
procure the signatures of the members
of the family residing in that State to
the necessary documents. 1t is stated
that as soon as the consent of those oi
the heirs who are willing to assist in at
tempting the recovery of the estate has
been obtained, steps will Immediately be
taken to test the right of the present
possessors of the property, n sum of $25,
600 having already been appropriated
for that purpose.-[N. Y. Times.