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Maps and surveys of Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker Patents, Canajoharie and Minden Townships, Montgomery County, New York
1729-1772

10816

Quantity: 1 folder (14 manuscript items plus cover: 2 surveys, 1 will, 11 survey maps, 51 x 39 cm. or smaller)
Access: Open for research
Acquisition: Gift? Dr. E. Corning, June 1939.
Processed By: Honor Conklin, Archivist, Manuscripts and Special Collections, July 1991.  Annotated by Ken D. Johnson, May 2009

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Historical Note:

Two patents were granted to Rutger Bleecker (Albany merchant) and others on September 22, 1729, being Otsquaga (or Bleecker) Patent of 4,300 acres in Canajoharie Township and Bleecker's Patent, Minden Township, Montgomery County, New York. The principal proprietors included Rutger, Nicolaus, and Johannis Bleecker, Stephanus Groesbeck, and George Clark. The patents lie on either side of the Otsquaga Creek at its confluence with the Mohawk River and includes an island. In addition, there was a patent west of the confluence of the Otsquaga and Otsquene Creeks obtained July 8, 1725, by John Conrad Weiser, Johannes Lawyer, and Peter Wagner (Waggoner, Waggener, Wagenaer, Waggner). Early residents included Hans Casel, Jacob Crouse (Crows), J. Fatterly, Caspar Jordain, John Jordain Jr., Solomon and Andreas Keller, Adam and John Lipe (Lyp, Leips, Leib), Conradt Mathias (Mattys), John Walradt, and Adam Young (Yong).

Scope and Content Note:

Eleven maps, two surveys, and a will fragment (for John R. Bleecker) pertaining to the Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker patents in Canajoharie and Minden townships, Montgomery County, New York, including one survey and map for Weiser, Lawyer and Wagner Patent in Minden Township, Montgomery County, New York. Maps show lot divisions with proprietors and residents and some dwellings.

Item List

Item Description
1 Map: "Wageners at Otsquage." [map of lots 1-9 in Weiser, Lawyer, and Wagner patent west of the confluence of the Otsquaga and Otsquene creeks, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York?]. Back is endorsed with the name "Gytte Bergh" [Geisen Bergh – per Ken D. Johnson].  24.5 x 41 cm. 
2 Survey of the John Conrad Weiser, Johannes Lawyer and Peter Wagner patent, dated July 8, 1725, and the bounds of Rutger Bleecker's patent, dated 1729, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York. 26.5 x 20.5 cm.
3 "Hull's map." [Unidentified lot of land in Otsquaga (Bleecker) or Bleecker patents, Canajoharie or Minden township, Montgomery County, New York?].  20 x 23.5 cm.
4 "Map of the twenty wood lots laid out by Ed. Collins and myselves in 1742, first division in 1732; second division in 1742; last by com[']rs in 1772."  Map of the Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker patents in Canajoharie and Minden townships, Montgomery County, New York, showing the confluence of the Mohawk River and the Otsquaga Creek along with the first division of lots along the Mohawk coast and island, and the five wood lots in the lesser Bleecker patent; and the third division of twenty wood lots in the Greater Bleecker or Otsquaga patent, and includes the principal proprietors Rutger Bleecker, Johannis Bleecker, Nicolaus Bleecker, George Clark, and Stephanus Groesbeck.  41 x 46 cm.
5 "Map of Otsquage by the commissioners, 1772 … by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer."  Map of the Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker patents in Canajoharie and Minden townships, Montgomery County, New York, showing the confluence of the Mohawk River and Otsquaga Creek with the division of the twenty wood lots and slateen lots in Otsquaga patent along with expense lots, and includes the proprietors Rutger Bleecker, Nicolaus Bleecker, Johannis Bleecker, George Clark, Stephanus Groesbeck, Caspar Lipe (Lyp), Conradt Mattys (Mathias), and Hans Casel.  51 x 39 cm.
6 Map: "Our wood lotts att Otsquage." Map of five wood lots and two lots (near) shore north of numbers 2 and 3, in Bleecker patent, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York, and shows the houses of Conradt Mathias (Mattys) Adam Yong (Young), and a lot for [?] Keller.  41 x 32.5 cm.
7 Map: "Rough draft of Bleecker's land surv[eyed] 1729," "served a copy of the rule of court upon Mr. Windeler the 17th day of May 1732." Map of the Mohawk shore lots of Otsquaga (Bleecker's) patent, Canajoharie township, Montgomery County, New York, showing the confluence of the Mohawk River and Otsquaga Creek.  41 x 5 x 33 cm.  (See Item 4.)
8 Survey: "Inclosed are the courses of the wood lot no. one and the hill lying between the said lot and the river, released to Andris Keller Junior the true copy in no. A." Survey of shore lot no. 6, Bleecker patent, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York. 33 x 20.5 cm. (See Item 4.)
9 Map: "Rough draft of Bleeckers land at Canajoharie," draft of the boundaries of the Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker patents in Canajoharie and Minden townships, Montgomery County, New York, showing the confluence of the Mohawk River and the Otsquaga and Otsquene creeks along with the divisions of five wood lots in the lesser Bleecker Patent.  21 x 33 cm.
10 "Map of the Lotts at Otsquage as released by J[ohn] R. Bleecker to Adam Lyp [Lipe] and others the mines and minerals I have excepted 1773."  Map of lots no. 2-7 of the (near) shore lots and the larger expense lot in Bleecker's patent, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York, and showing the residents John R. Bleecker, J. Fatterly, J. Crouse (Crows), Jacob Young, Adam Lyp (Lipe), Caspar Lyp (Lipe).  21 x 33.5 cm. (Expense Lot B – per Ken D. Johnson; see Item 5)
11 Map of the Otsquaga (Bleecker) and Bleecker patents in Canajoharie and Minden townships, Montgomery County, New York, showing the confluence of the Mohawk River and Otsquaga Creek with the divisions of the twenty wood lots and sixteen lots, among others, in the Otsquaga patent, and the five wood lots, and others, in the lesser Bleecker patent and includes the proprietors John R. Bleecker, George Clark, Stephanus Groesbeck, Hans Smith, Caspar Jordain (leasee), John Jordain Jr. (leasee), Jacob Crows (Crouse), Jost Lipe (Lyp) and Solomon Keller.  45 x 54 cm.
12 Map: "Part of Otsquage Devision [sic]." Map of five wood lots and two (near shore) lots north of numbers 4 and 5 in Bleecker's patent, Minden township, Montgomery County, New York. Verso includes a chart of the five principal proprietors and their representatives; Lot no. 1, Nicolas Bleecker (Caspar Lyp (Lipe), Conradt Mattys (Mathias) and John R. Bleecker); Lot no. 2, Rutger Bleecker (Jacob Crows (Crouse), Hans Smith and John R. Bleecker); Lot no. 3, George Clark (Hans Faterly (Fatterly) or Jacob C. [?]); Lot. No. 4, Johannis Bleecker; and Lot no. 5, Stephanus Groesbeck (John Abeel), 38 x 31 cm. (Survey of Expense Lot A; church depicted on map is Reformed German Church at Canajoharie. Shows five upper woodland lots, 1732 division – per Ken D. Johnson; see Item 5]. 38 x 31 cm.
13 "Map of land at Otsquage." Map of lot 20 in the twenty wood lots in Otsquaga (Bleecker) patent in Canajoharie township, Montgomery County, New York, showing lot 20 belonging to John Walradt and Otsquaga Creek.  32.5 x 42 cm.
14 Will (fragment) of John R. Bleecker, disposing of lands in Otsquaga and Saratoga patents in Montgomery and Saratoga counties, respectively, as well as lands in Herkimer and Otsego counties and Rensselaerwyck Manor. The will gives the names of the heirs, being six grandchildren, John R., Peter Edmund, Elizabeth, Maria, Blandina and Sarah Bleecker and the names of leasees. 20 x 19 cm.
Last Updated: January 10, 2022