German Land Records, Roxbury Township, 1834 -1855

During the years 1834-1855, Isaac, Zachariah, Ezekiel and Abel (or his widow, Delanah) bought and/or sold all or portions of Lots 20 (Zachariah), 34 (Isaac and Abel), 7 (Zachariah) and 4 (Ezekiel) of the Northern Division of Great Lot 19 of the Hardenburgh Patent.  These lots are adjacent or nearly adjacent to each other on a northern slope and mountainous ridge located several miles to the northeast of the village of Roxbury, north (across the ridgeline) from the village of Vega, a few miles west of the village of Prattsville (which is in Greene County), and east of the village of Grand Gorge (which at the time was named Moresville).  The nearest accessible village, about 4 - 5 miles away by road, is Prattsville.  These lot numbers are circled in purple below.

The green line divides Delaware County (to the west) and Greene County (to the east).

Lot 34 "The German Lot": the deed records indicate that ½ of Lot 34, about 78 acres, was purchased by Abel German in 1838 and later sold by his widow Delanah in 1849 to a Patrick Lynch.  (This could be the same Patrick Lynch who was married to Gitty German and who died in 1853. In 1850 they lived two residences from Ezekiel.) The deed refers to this lot as the “German Lot formerly occupied by Isaac F German.”  There is also a January 20, 1849 indenture showing that Isaac sold 146 acres of this lot to Patrick Lynch (his son-in-law) for $150. The 1856 Gould map of the area shows an E. German at this location.

We have not found any record of Ezekiel purchasing any part of Lot 34, or Ezekiel’s purchase of the portions of Lot 4 that he and/or his wife Betsey sold as early as 1837. 

Lots 4 and 7 are very large, steep lots of several hundred acres occupying the northern slope of the mountain and ridge line, located immediately southwest of Lots 20 and 34. These appear to be suitable for logging.

Lots 20 and 34 (approx. 150 acres each), being more level, appear more suitable for buildings and farming.  The southwest corner of Lot 20 is located at approx. 42.18’22.46’’N, 74.28’40.53W, the southeast corner of Lot 34 is located at approx. 42.18’56.80”N, 74.28’12.03W. These two lots are 3/4 mile apart along Cal Grant Road, see maps below.

Click on map to get a better view. 

On June 6, 1800 lots 20 and 34, along with other lots, were sold to Daniel Judson, Jr. of Stratford, CT.  He purchased them from Ephraim Beardsley.  Recorded Book A of Deeds at the Delaware County Clerk's Office, pages 191-193.

Drawing of peeling park for the tannery in Prattsville, New York during the 1840s, when it was the largest in the world. Text below the image read "Peeling, and piling hemlock bark, for Prattsville Tannery."