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Land Indenture Connecting Two of the Most Prominent New York Families of the 18th Century
Land indenture for land in Saratoga County, New York, transferring land between Robert C. Livingston and Daniel DeWolf in 1793. Surveys for the land transfer were made in 1788.
The indenture details the land transfer, noting the measurements and locations of the plots. Livingston signs in the indenture in the lower right.
The Livingston Family
The Livingston family was one of the most prominent families in Colonial America. Robert Livingston the Elder (1654-1728), a successful fur trader and merchant, was granted Livingston Manor in New York's Hudson River Valley in 1715, which was accompanied by huge swaths of land and enormous prestige. The manor passed through his family for several generations before reaching Robert Livingston (1708-1790), the third and final Lord of Livingston Manor. Robert C. Livingstone (1751-1794) was one of the four sons of this prior Robert Livingstone.
During the American Revolution, Livingston family members were heavily involved in the war effort. A drafter and several signers of the Declaration of Independence were Livingstons, as was the first Secretary of Foreign affairs, and the first Governor of New Jersey. Livingston family members continued to hold important positions well after the Revolutionary War, but the end of primogeniture and the division of the Livingston family lands gradually reduced the prominence of the family.
DeWolf Family
The first roots of the DeWolf family appeared in America in 1625. The Daniel DeWolf in question was likely the son of Jehiel DeWolf II (1626-1798) although the various branches of the DeWolf family contain a number of Daniels.
![[Early Saratoga County Land Indenture] Robert C. Livingston to Daniel D'Wolf Leases](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/90872.jpg)
![[Revolutionary War Plans of New York, Boston, Charleston, Delaware River to Philadelphia & Havana] Various Plans and Draughts of Cities, Towns, Harbours &c . . .](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/83450.jpg)
