The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-06
Claims Set Up by the Descendants Of
the Early Immigrants.
WHO STOLE THE RECORDS9
Present Owners Denounced by the La Mon.
tagoie Family as Squatters.


among several of the old residents Of Harlem who oI
years past have at their parties and In their family
reunions denounced OF the best known prop.
erty owners there ''souatters." The wretched
manner IN which the Dutch records of transfers Of
vast tracts OF real estate kept shown already
IN regard to the Wadron estate, and the additional
fact or the loss OF the only book containing these
transfers. has once brought to the front tha
numerous heirs of the La Montagnie family, who for
years have contested their property rights in tho
courts. Whether the Harlem Register bo lost or not
and some of these descendants claim that it is not,
as they have what they believe to be well grounded
suspicious that il is safely the possession OF
the ..squatter'' fames-the Montagnie descendants
at least have preserved copy or the original grant
made to johannes La Montaenie by William Keift.
who was Peter Stuyyesant's predecessor. And yet,
notwithstanding that this original document is to-day
in their they have for years been deprived
OF their property, simply because of the absence of
any other Official records, among which is the Harlem
Register, by which the right of possession could be
traced TO the Thompson and Corse families the regu-
lar descendants.
PATENT GRANTED BEFORE srUYvEsANr's ARRIVAL.
Mr.. William r. Thompson who keeps frame facs
tory in East l26th street is the OF Benjamin ons
tagnie Thompson. deceased. whose mother was 4
lineal descendant OF Johannes La Montagnie. To the
latter William Keift made grant OF land extending
from the place where now is located the foot of East
10th street running in northwesterly direction to
about point whore i2ith street to-day crosses the
Eighth avenue. vast tract of land, be easily
ascerained by looking a. the map OF New York. This
grant deed, translated from the Dutch language.
reads as follows
We William keift Director General and Council in
behalf OF Their High Aightincsses the Lords States
General Of The United Netherlands His Hghness.
Prince of Orange and the noble lords managers OF
the incorporate West India Company, residing in
New Netherlands make known and declare by these
presents that the day of the date uuderwritten,
have given and granted unto Johannes La Montagnie
one OF the Council Of Netherlands. piece OF land
lying on the Island of Manhattan. in the Indian
tongue called - and i'll the Low Dutch ''Tha
Falkland. containing 100 Morgans, plane. lying
between the hills and creek and point extending
between two creeks called peckgawnnus till INTO thu
East River. which said land was occupied by
Hcndrck Forest deceased aud purchased by said
La Montagnic at public sale in the fort for 17OG
guilders, upon the express conditions and stipuations
that Johannes La Montasnic, shosc who Dy virtue
hereof shall claim tito under him. shall acknowledge
the noble lords managers aforesaid his lords and
patrons under the sovereignty of Their High Mghti-
nesses. the Lords States General. and shall render
obedience to their Director and Council here in all
things good inhabitants in duty bound to do.
and shall moreover be subject To all such and
assessments shall hereafter be imposed
by the noble lords placing therefore in stead the
aforesaid La Montagnie or those hereafter claiming
under him in the real aud actual possessions of
the said land giving him by these presents full and
rrevocabc powers and authority and special command
to enter upon cultivate occupy and the same in
like manner as lie might do with other OF his patri.
monia lands and effects, without saving rcserving
TO u.s. the grantees in quality aforesaid any
part right title thereto in the least. but to the
bchoof as aforesaid desistng from all things hence-
forth forever. Promising, moreover, to keep nan-
tain and fulfil tins conveyance inviolablc and irrls
vocable, all under obligations according to RICH
thereto standing.
In witness whereof this is signed and confirmed
with our seal in rel AZ hercunto affirmed
Done the 9th of May, 1647, in Fort Amsterdam, in
New Netherlands. WILLIAM KEIFT.
"And how is it, madame. that you. whose husbands
mother was La Montagnie, have been deprived OF
the enjoyment Of this property r. asked HERALD
reporter. yesterday, OF Mrs. Benjamin Montagnie
Thompson. an elderly widow who resides in modest
house in East l25th street.
THAT is more than can tell you just nov, sir'A
she replied "It Is a long long story and nv GOOD
husband when alive did all he could. with another
gentleman named corse 10 get possession OF it. bus
they beat us-thesc lawyers And yet feel that tina
day Will come when we will get rights
Yes mother. interrupted her son. William Il.
Thompson, II am satisfied that of these days. a
least our children will get their rights
HOW THE DUTCH DESCENDANTS THEIR PROPERTY
Il well remember. the old lady added. that my
husband always told me how Benjamin La Mon.
tarne his mothers brother. continually urged him ia
get that tract of land but, far remember.
the wealthy portion OF the family did 70
to law about It. il indeed they not bought,on
altogether by the Bensons. the Ingrahams the Acs
Gowens. the Woods the Bcdeas. and those Dutcn Re-
formed Church people. The poorer portion of the
family could not always afford spend money in law
matters, and still they have done the beat they could
Had they known fifty years ago how valuable thia
tract of land would ultimately become some of
the richer ,ncnbers of the family would have inter-
csted themselves. As IL is il has in the courts
and owing TO the loss of proper records and some Of
the squattcrs being judges and lawyers. we folks
..whom do you cali squattcrs ?" interrupted the re-
porter
They are all squatters. every one of them" EN-.
phatically rejoincd Mrs. Thompson, .these grand
scigneurs VINO clain the whole OF Harlem. tell you.
sir. they have no right there: it belongs to us
here to Harlem lane The Lord Is just and justice will
be done us yet.
noIp DESCENDANT WHO DErrEs THE seuArrEns
ITO prove to You how little these folks show
title to their property, said Mr.. Thompson. II we'll
remember how a member OF family, who waS
boldcr than any one of MS, upon advice Of counsel
seized years ago several lots. downrighs
possession Ut them. put fence around them and
b,,iii shanty upon them here and there Aye. and
when the Central Park laid ont the Commission
crs took his lots and the city paid him for them quite
handsomely The wouId-be owners in this in
stance they had bold fellow to deal with. They
could show ITO papers and they Kept mum. Wilens
this question is preached at all in Harlem they
hang their heads very low, for they know they are
now raE ''sousrrERs'' BECAME OWNERS
, by what right do they claim possession at all
lin 1875. replied Mr.. Thompson, ''when they we'll
s sa 'f w r. ,rtns "a not DC teSnd M
had bill passed by the Legislature granting them
the right OF the land above described upon certain
conditions. II yon look at pamphlet issued by the
Harlem Library you will find claw to this. The alb.
scncc OF records and claim up by them that tho
La Montasnies failed to pay their taxes helped them
along, but you know how slight the yeara
ago. Then. again. some one brought out a statement
THAT AFTER governor kcut. Petrus StuyvCsant. hf8
successor, made condition that the six gentlemen
To- whom the Harlem patent had been granted should
in certain given time provide population Of
at least six hundred persons for Harlem town
aud that La Montapnic failed in providing his quota
or course in the absence of the proper records and
transcripts. II was easy to get up all of stories
to win their but tell you. sir. l do not be-
lcve this Harlem Register is lost II here. right
here in Harlem, and couid point my finger mt soino
OF the families who know all about II this very day
Il must add, however" said Mrs. ThcnpeonsN
THAT while my husband was alive I have often
" he ca Ipr0
they stole tho Dutch papers and sent them all
to England. Years ago Mrs. Wersels, also Dutch
descendant. told personally that she knew some
who had the papers in regard to the La None
tagnic estate in the archives Of the houses Of pars
ment. In London"
The HARLEM CHARTER.
Following Mr.. Thompson's advice, tho reportcD
obtained the pamphlet giving history OF the Harlem
Library in which considerable information ia given
about the action OF the Legislature regard 20 Harlem