Map of the Catskill Patent

Item — Case: Flat File Drawer 13

Identifier: MAP 2022.0017-7.17

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This map is a period copy of the map of the division of the Catskill Patent prepared for the priorietors in 1768. Lots of land excepted from the original patent are shown along with subsequent divisions with totals of acres in each lot. A description of the Catskill Patent as appears in Beers' 1884 "History of Greene County" is excerpted below:

"Catskill Patent: This is the largest and most valuable patent ever granted for lands now entirely within this county. It embraced five “great plains,” called by the Indians Wachachkeek, Wichquanachtekak, Pachquiack, Assiskowacheek and Potick, with all the land included in a sweep of four miles from the outer edge of the plains in all directions. It contained 35,500 acres. The five plains were the flats at what is now Leeds. The land was bought of the Indians July 8th 1678, by Sylvester Salisbury and Martin Garritsen (Van Bergen), and a patent granted by Governor Andros March 27th 1680. A confirmatory purchase was made of the Indians by Cornelius Van Dyke and Martin Garrittsen June 13th 1684, and a corresponding patent was issued by Governor Dongan April 29th 1688. Several comparatively small tracts that fell within its limits were excepted."

The commissioners charged with the division that resulted in the creation of this map are given as Johannes Slight; D. Wynkoop, Jr.; John Dumond; and Peter Dubois.