JOHN FREEMAN FARM, ALBANY COUNTY, NEW YORK ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** John Freeman's Farm (The Place Where the Battle of Saratoga Was Fought) Also known as Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 of the Saratoga Patent Albany County, Province of New York Chain of Title for Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 of the Saratoga Patent Copyright © Leslie B. Potter 2001 General Philip Schuyler is a direct descendant of one of the original seven Patroons of the Saratoga Patent. Philip Schuyler inherited part of his ancestor's land within the Saratoga Patent. Great Lott 16 is one of the Great Lotts in the Saratoga Patent to which Philip Schuyler held title. 1769 General Philip Schuyler leased Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 of the Saratoga Patent to John Freeman. (Schuyler Papers, Box 46, New York Public Library, New York, New York. Also see the Schuyler Papers on microfilm, reel #10, Saratoga National Historical Park, Stillwater, New York) John Freeman lease was a freehold lease dated August 2, 1769 and was for three lives. John Freeman, Efellanah Freeman * (presumably his wife), & Edward Freeman. ? Thomas Freeman, son of John, had a daughter named Efellanah. The name was also spelled Evalena and Efelana. Metes and bounds of John Freeman's leasehold: Beginning at the north west corner of Johh McCarty's farm and runs thence north 77 degrees west 48 chains; thence, south 13 degrees west 42 chains to the south line of the said lott # 16; thence, south 75 degrees east 39 chains to the south west corner of Jeremiah Taylor's farm thence along the west and south bounds of the said Taylor's farm to the south west corner of John McCarty's farm to the place of beginning. Containing 170 acres more or less. 1777 September 19, 1777, the first Battle of Saratoga was fought on Farm # 3, Great Lott 16. The British used John Freeman's log house as a field headquarters. When the British retired from the field of battle, they burned John Freeman's log house to the ground before removing to the Leggett's property, Farm # 2, Great Lott 17. October 7, 1777, the second Battle of Saratoga was fought. The fighting started in Simeon Barber's wheat field in Great Lott #15. Following their defeat the British army removed to the hill above the village of Saratoga & later surrendered. John Freeman fought with the British and retreated with them. 1778 February 10, 1778, John Freeman died in a small pox epidemic in St. Jean, P.Q., Canada. His wife and six of his nine children also died in that small pox epidemic. He was survived by one son, Thomas Freeman, and two daughters: Dorcas Freeman Scott, wife of John Scott, and Mary Freeman Mosher, wife of Lewis Mosher. 1779 William Mead is the tenant on Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 with a term lease. (October 23rd 1779 Saratoga District Tax List, Archives Item A3210 (Tax Assessment Lists, 1779- 1788) New York State Archives, Albany, New York) 1782 William Mead entered into a freehold lease with General Philip Schuyler for Farm # 3, Great Lott #16. (Chancery Decree, Department of State Docket 35 page 312-315, New York State Archives, Albany, New York) 1783 Thomas Freeman, the sole surviving son of John Freeman of Farm # 3 Great Lott 16 of the Saraotga Patent, Province of New York, applied to the British Government for compensation for the loss of his father's farm at Stillwater, NY. His brothers-in-law, John Scott and Lewis Mosher, waived any claim for damages for the loss of John Freeman's farm at Stillwater. (Losses Claims Audit Office records AO 12, vol.32, f.184, vol.64, f.337, vol.109, f.146; and AO 13, vol.12, ff. 518-519. Thomas claim is in AO 13, vol.81, f.98.) John Freeman's property was confiscated by the Commissioners for Forfeiture, Committee of Safety for the State of New York. Philip Schuyler defended his title to Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 of the Saratoga Patent. 1804 In December of 1804, General Philip Schuyler died and a decedent's estate was raised. Schuyler's Will was recorded on December 12, 1804 in Will Book 3 at page 149 in the Office of the Clerk of Surrogates' Court, in and for Albany County, Albany County Courthouse, Albany, New York. 1805 General Schuyler's decedent's estate was settled by a Chancery Decree. Catherine Van Rensselear Schuyler Malcom, one of the daughters of General Philip Schuyler, inherited Farm # 3, Great Lott 16 under the terms of the said Chancery Decree. (Department of State Docket 35, Page 312 to 315, New York State Archives, Albany, New York) At the time of the Chancery Decree was filed, Joseph Brown was the tenant, having assumed William Mead's lease in 1797. Catheine Van Rensselear Schuyler Malcom sold the farms in her Allotment under the said Chancery Decree. Not all of her Grantees recorded their deeds. 1822 Thomas Leggett conveyed title to Farm # 3, Great Lott # 16 to William Leggett. (Saratoga County Deed Book RR at page 168, Saratoga County Clerk's Office, Ballston Spa, New York) {recorded in 1844} The aforementioned deed does not contain a premises description clause, i.e. a "Being clause" and does not explain how Thomas acquired title to Farm #3, Great Lott 16. William Leggett to Abraham Leggett 1838 Abraham Leggett to Ebenezer Leggett (Saratoga County Deed Book RR at page 170, Saratoga County Clerk's Office, Ballston Spa, New York) {Recorded in 1844} 1883 Ebenezer Leggett to Hector A. Esmond (Saratoga County Deed Book 162 at page 53, Saratoga County Clerk's Office, Ballston Spa, New York) 1901 Committee of Safety Records for New York were lost in a fire in the New York State Capital in Albany, NY. 19__ Hector A. Esmond to Jennie E. Wright 1923 Jennie E. Wright to Saratoga Battlefield Association (Saratoga County Deed Book 327 at page 199, Saratoga County Clerk's Office, Ballston Spa, New York) ("Commonly known as Freeman's Farm") 1927 Saratoga Battlefield Association to The State of New York (Saratoga County Deed Book 341 at page 258, Saratoga County Clerk's Office, Ballston Spa, NY