The Morris Reserve
The Morris Reserve was a 500,000 acre tract of land owned by Robert Morris in western New York in the late 18th and early 19th Century. It was originally part of the 6,000,000 acre purchase in April 1788 by Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham of all of Massachusetts' lands in western New York (the "Phelps and Gorham Purchase"). These lands were conveyed to Phelps and Gorham subject to them securing the Indian title to such lands. They were to pay Massachusetts $1,000,000, or 16 and 2/3 cents an acre. Phelps and Gorham obtained Indian title to about 2,250,000 acres east of the Genesee River in July 1788 at the Treaty of Buffalo Creek, for $5250 plus an annuity. They did not obtain Indian title to the lands west of the Genesee, and defaulted on the payment for the lands. In about 1790, the 3,750,000 acre portion of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase west of the Genesee reverted back to Massachusetts.
Massachusetts then re-sold the lands west of the Genesee to Robert Morris in 1791 for $333,333,33. Morris did obtain Indian title to these lands in September 1791 by the Treaty of Big Tree. He then who re-sold most of these lands in 1792 and 1793 to the Holland Land Company. Morris, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, financier of the Revolution and the richest man in America, reserved for himself about 500,000 acres in a twelve mile wide strip along the east side of the Holland Purchase, from the Pennsylvania border to Lake Ontario, known as as The Morris Reserve. At the north end of the Morris Reserve, a 87,000 acre triangular shaped tract (the "The Triangle Tract") was sold by Morris to Herman Leroy, William Bayard and John McEvers, while a 100,000 tract due west of the Triangle Tract was sold to the State of Connecticuit. Other Phelps and Gorham lands east of the Genesee River eventually were purchased by Morris, who re-sold them to the The Pulteney Association.
The Morris Reserve was quickly subdivided and settled. The Morris Reserve lands comprise portions of Allegany, Wyoming, Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties, New York. The Town and Village of Mt. Morris, in Livingston County, New York, is named after Robert Morris.
Referenced By
Nathan Gorman | Nathaniel Gorham | Phelps and Gorham Purchase | Rochester, Monroe County, New York
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