The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-13
THE TITLE TO HARLEM.
Not Much Danger that Grants Tomb Will
BE Disturbed by the Claimants.


New Castle Special in Pittsburg Dispatch.
The article in this mornings Dispatch headed
Millions in It" has caused a ceep sensation
here, as most of the heirs reside in and about
New Castle. Learning that there had been a
meeting of the supposed heirs Friday night last,
your correspondent visited DR.. j. N. Emery, who
presided at the meeting, and asked him to shed
what light he could upon the subject. The Doc
tor himself is one of the nearest heirs, being a
grandson Of Luke Coovert, which fact would place
him on the same legal footing as the Rev. Mr.
Converts father.
The Doctor said he was surprised the reverend
gentleman should get so warmed up in the mat
ter, for there was little to be hoped for in the
affair. while there is no question that con-
siderable land on the northern part of Manhat-
tan Island rightfully belongs to US, still there
are so many heirs and so long and disconnected
a chain Of title that it would take a lifetime to
recover it. The land in dispute, which is known
as the Harlem Commons, was granted to the
parties named. viz, Thomas DeLavelle, John
Verveler, Daniel Turneur. Joost Oblens and
Resolved Waldron by the Dutch. Mr.. Coovert
has erred in tracing the descendants, as Wal
dron's sons daughters married the Williams he
referred to. whose daughter married a Van
Zandt, and a daughter from this marriage
married Luke Covert, who is now the living
principal in the affair.
The descendants from these original settlers
are numbered by the thousand" continued the
Doctor. land at the meeting held here on Fri
wy "NAo w. tHSSSAo V"O SRAA
in this vicinity alone. Mr.. Emery has in his
possession letters of inquiry from all sections of
the country-from Washington Territory,
Florida. Maine and all intermediate points. This
shows that the claimant are very numerous"
How about the Grant site, Doctor?"
81 do not think it can be included in the claim,
and Mr.. Coovert is the first person whom have
heard include the place where Grant is buried.
Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly a fact this site
was included in the grant given the original
settlers, but it has been decided and redeeded
until it would be impossible to trace 1t back to my
ancestors. The Harlem Commons syndicate. which
was organized to establish the claims of the
heirs of the settlers above named, do not claim
the ground upon which Grants tomb is erected.
Their principal claim is to some land which has
been filled in by the owners Of higher lands in
the vicinity, who claimed that as they filed UP
the low lands and made them tenable they were
lawfully their property. The syndicate thinks
otherwise, and believes that if the cost of the
filling be paid by the heirs the land should revert
to the heirs of the original owners"
In reference to the property which Mr..
Covert speaks of as being leased by Luke
Coovert for ninety-nine years. which lease is
about to expire, DR.. Emery says there is no doubt
but such a lease was made, out no minute record
ever having been made, ie would be Impossible
to locate the land. An attorney has been author
lied to look the matter up and see what can be
dsne. The syndicate will sue the elevated rail
way for trespass and thus open up the litigation.