Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-16
A MILLION OF ACRES.
THE CLAIM OF ROBERT MORRls'S
HEiRS-BIG SUIT COMMENCED.
They Say They Are Entitled to Lands u"
Western New York Worth
Fifty Millions.
New YORK Times.l

and Washington's financial agent during
the darkest days Of the struggle Tor
American independence, have decided'o
bring an action for the recovery OF
large tract Of land in the western coun-
ties OF this State, said to embrace l,2ol,-
600 acres. and estimated to be worth
something like Sj0,O00,C coo. The heirs
reside in this State, Pennsylvania, and
Ohio, and it is the descendants OF ho'
bert Morris in the latter State that have
taken the iniative in an effort to recover
property Of which they believe the great
patriot was fraudulently dispossessed,
and TO which they believe they have
valid claim as his heirs.
The Ohio heirs have retained MIR.
George VI. Hester, n prominent real es-
tate lawyer Of Cleveland, and at re-
cent conference of the claimants It wac
agreed that a contingent fee OF S3,OO9,-
900 be offered to Mr.. Hester to prosecute
their claim, one of tie Weather heirs
guaranteeing all the attorneys fees and
expenses involved in looking up the title
to the lands in question. ,
The history Of Robert Morris land
purchases in Western New York is the
history Of the early civilization and SET
Element of the counties Of Niagara, Frle,
Chautauqua, Cattaragus. Allegany, Wyo-
ming. Genesee, aud Orleans, and will
bring the investigation OF the claims
back TO the period Immediately succeed
ing the Revolution.
POSSESSED OF VAST WEALTH.
The end of the contest for indepen-
! dence left Robert Morris in the posses
sion of vast wealth gathered from his
fleet of priyateers that preyed on British
commerce and the reimbursement by
tho Government OF the immense sums
he had advanced for the maintenance Of
the army during the struggle. In May,
| 1891. Mr.. Morris acquired the pre-
| emption right Of Massachusetts TO all
the territory west of the Phelps and
| Gorham purchase in this State, which
was afterwards designated the Holland
Purchase and the Morris Reserve. Mr.
Morris subsequently extingulshed the
title that the Indians Of the Six Nations
had in the lands by paving them SO, 600.
In 1892 be sold TO the Holland Company
2. OO0. 600 acres in the counties named,
rcserving for himself tract Of 800, 900
acres lying between the Phelps and Cor
ham purchase and the lands Of the Hol-
land Company.
Mr.. Morris secured the Indian title to
these lands at a council of the natives
held at the "Big Tree, which IS now IN
the heart OF Genesee. and at which were
present such noted chiefs rs Red Jacket,
| Corn Planter. and Little Beard. Colonel
Jeremiah Wadsworth was the commits
sioner representing President Washing
ton. and Robert Morris was represented
by his son Thomas. On a satisfactory
! treaty being signed and the payment
made to the indians Mr.. Morris pro-
ceeded TO put his reserve OF hall a
million acres on the market. Among
some Of the purchasers were Leroy,
Bavard' and McEvers, 1000 acres :;
Watson, Cragie, and Greenleat, 100, 900
acres: the State of Connecticut 5Q0OO
acres : Andrew Cragie and Samuel Og-
den, $4,000 acres John Is. Church,
100. 900 acres Gcrrit, Cotringer 10000
acres. and Wilhelm and Jan Willink,
| 10000 acres.
THE PHELPs-GORHAM PURCHASE.
The Phelps and Gorham purchase con-
sisted of :, 600 600 acres OF land that had
been coded 10 Massachusetts by New
York. and about the same time that Mr..
Morris made his purchase Oliver Phelps
and Nathaniel Gorham bought this Ina
mense tract for Sl,000,000. They, too,
ont their land upon the market, and OF
/ this tract Robert Morris purchased at
eiQhtpence an acre tract adjoining his
own comprising LOOT 900 acres This Is
the land In question in the proceedings
about to be instituted by the Morris heirs.
They claim that Phelps and Gorham maze
n failure of their speculation, and were un'
able 10 make their payments TO the state
Of Massachusetts,, and that that state
released them of two thirds of their obi
cation. they relinquishing their title to
portion Of the tract. This portion
Robert Morris purchased i'll 1886 iron
fbe state and sold off number Of fine
tracts. To Wilhelm and Jan Nlliinf
and others interested In the HOLLAND
COMPANY Mr.. Morris mortgaged the
tract of .20i, 900 acres, when i'll fortune
overlook him, and when Tor a long TINT
he was confined in a debtors prison.
The Wlhnks and their associates OF
the Holland Company took advantage OF
the straits to which the speculation had
reduced Mr.. Morris, and by the fore
closure of the mortgage acquired full IT,
tie TO the land, had 1t surveyed, anc
opened a lend Office for its sale at Ia
tavia with Charles Ellicott az Their resi-
dent manager The greater part OF thu
domain was sold of up to 1893 10 Bona
f9c purchasers aud settlers, and the al
fairs of the Holland Company were
wound up 10y the Farmers Loan an'
Trust Company OF this city in 1910.
NO END OF LITIGATION.
Vice President Searles. of the Farm
ers' Loan and Trust Company, told
Times reporter yesterday that the com
many wears AGO bad charge of the closln
nm of the affairs OF the Holland pun
chase. but that for long time there ha
heen no end of trouble and litigation
Purchasers in searching title have foun
no satisfaction piece on file with thel
county clerk, and then they made /" ., d,
mand for a good deed 4" But, SAID Nj
Searles "this is the first | have hear
of snch an extensive litigation as Is cor
tempIated by the Morris heirs.
! Fx-Judge Noah Davis. though wise
+ba Iond lore of Western New York, ha
not heard of the claims of the Morr
= heirs. 81 was boy of eighteen Sal
r he to a Times reporter yesterday, ian
, a copyist in the office OF ~, the count nj
(: clerk of Orleans county. The Office WI
IN Albion and Chief-Justice Churcn We
the deputy county clerk. ! rememp,
the Holland Company Wen al
knew their manager. David
Tyons who succeeded Mr.. Ell
colt Almost all the business dor
= a lo.-s in pOnyeylnciQp WI