Pultney Estate

Source

From the Historical Register...:

That portion of the Phelps and Gorham purchase which now constitutes Steuben county, was surveyed by Frederick Saxton, Augustus Porter, Thomas Davis, and Robert James, in the year 1789.

On the 18th day of November, 1790, Phelps and Gorham, by deed, conveyed one million and a quarter acres to Robert Morris, of Philadelphia Pa.  Robert Morris, by deed, dated April 11, 1792, conveyed to Charles Williamson, about one million two hundred thousand acres of the Phelps and Gorham tract, which has since been known as the Pultney estate. Mr Williamson held the estate in secret trust for Sir William Pultney, an English baronet. In March 1801, Mr.  Williamson conveyed the estate directly to Sir William Pultney, an act of the Legislature of the State of New York having been passed enabling an alien to hold said land. Sir William Pultney was the son of Sir James Johnstone. He assumed the name of Pultney on his marriage with Mrs. Pultney, niece of the Earl of Bath and daughter of General Pultney.