Lot
John Jones Farm
Lot Group
Original Grants and Farms
Property Was Used in 1660 For:
Original Grants and Farms Document(s)
Grant Lot Document(s)
Tax Lot Events
Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
THE JOHN JONES FARM (The Louvre Farm) Block Check List. 1429-1485-1422-1478.
This tract comprised
A. The grant to John Bassett.
B. The northerly thirty acres of the grant to Cornelius Mattysen.
C. Part of the common lands of the city of New York.
A. The Grant to John Bassett
Sir Edmund Andros, Governour, etc., to John Bassett. Patent dated Oct. 9, 1677. — Liber Patents, IV: 127 (Albany).
"Whereas there is a certain piece of land upon this island Manhattans, ye which, by virtue of my warrant, hath beane layd out for John Bassett, ye said land being in breadth by ye water side, 80 rodds, and ranging into ye woods 120 rodds, being bounded to ye north-east by ye land of George Elverson, to ye north-west by ye Commons, and to ye south-west by ye land of Cornelius Mattison. Containing in all 60 acres, as by ye returne of ye survey may and doth appeare."
John Bassett to William Green. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
William Green to William Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
William Hallett to George Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
These three deeds conveyed the land as patented.
B. The Northerly Thirty Acres of the Grant to Cornelius Mattysen
Sir Edmund Andros, Governour, etc., to Cornelius Mattysen. Patent dated i677> "ot found of record.
Its existence proved by a survey made by Robert Ryder, Dec. 12,1676. — Land Papers, \: 100 (Albany). The draught of the patent is entered in (i^;V., I: 145.
Description: "That certain piece of land upon this island Manhattans, lying and being to ye northward of Turtle Bay, being bounded to ye southwest by ye land of Jacobus Fabricius, and to ye south-east by ye River, being in breadth by ye River 80 rods, and in length 120 rods, being bounded to ye north-east by ye land of John Bassett and to ye north-west by ye Commons. Containing 60 acres."
Riker, Hist, of Harlem, 255 n., says that Nelis Matthyssen was from Stockholm. He gives an interesting account of the man and his descendants.
Cornelius Mattysen to Johannes Pietersen. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys the north-easterly 30 acres of the land included in the Mattysen patent.
Johannes Pieterson to George Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Lji^^r D^f^/j, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys same premises.
George Hallett and Priscilla, his wife, to Abraham Lameter. Deed dated May 2, 1727. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys 90 acres of the Louvre Farm of which, at this date, George Hallett was seized.
Abraham Lameter and Catharina, his wife, to David Provoost. Deed dated Sept. II, 1742. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys same premises, viz.: 90 acres.
David Provoost to Sarah Bolton Loftus. Deed dated Dec. 6, 1777. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, XLIV: 230 (New York).
Conveys " all that certain mansion, or dwelling house, lands and premises, called the Louvre Farm, situate, lying and being in the outward of the City of New York."
Will of David Provoost. Dated Sept. i, 1781; proved Oct. 29, lySi— Liber Wills, XXXIV: 304 (New York). Ratifies and confirms a deed of gift of the Louvre farm made to Sarah Bolton Loftus.
1784. In this year Gen. Steuben, having resigned his commission, returned to New York, "where he first rented a country house in the middle part of the island. It belonged to Mr. Provoost, ... It was called the 'Louvre' by its proprietor. Poverty soon compelled Steuben ... to surrender the 'Louvre' . . ." — Chronology.
Sarah Bolton Loftus to James Provoost, eldest son of John Provoost, eldest son of David Provoost Deed dated, March 19, 1787. — Liber Deeds, XLIV: 230 (New York).
Conveys "the Louvre F.irm as it was conveyed to her by David Provoost, to James Provoost, for himself and the other grandchildren of David Provoost, said conveyance to take eStct after her, said Sarah Bolton Loftus 's death."
James Provoost to John Provoost and other grandchildren of David Provoost. Deed dated March 20, 1787. — Liber Deeds, XLIV; 238 (New York).
Conveys to each one full undivided eighth part of the same premises.
John Bowne and Johanna, his wife, and other next-of-kin of David Provoost, to John Jones. Deed dated March 18, 1796. — Liber Deeds, hXY: 367.
Conveys six undivided eighth parts of the same premises.
Sarah Bolton Loftus to John Leary, Jr. Deed, not found of record; recited in the following deed.
Conveys the life estate of the grantor to same premises.
John Leary, Jr. and Elizabeth, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated July 7, 1796. — Liber Deeds, LXV: 377 (New York).
Conveys the life estate of Sarah Bolton Loftus in same premises.
David Provoost and Elizabeth, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated May 14, 1802. — Liber Deeds, LXV: 379.
Recites that John Jones purchased the Louvre Farm on July 7, 1796; that David Provoost was then a minor; and this instrument is made to ratify and confirm the sale of the said minor's interest by his guardian to said John Jones; the said David Provoost being now of full age.
Benjamin R. Seaman and Catharine Johannah, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated Oct. 24, iS04..~Liber Deeds, LXIX: 224 (New York).
Conveys one full undivided one-sixteenth part of said premises.
George C. Thomas and Ann R., his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated April 29, iSo6.~Liber Deeds, LXXXIV: 56 (New York).
Conveys one full undivided one-sixteenth part of said premises.
C. Part of the Common Lands
The Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York, to John Jones. Deed dated Jan. 27, 1800. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, CCCCLXXXII: 207 (New York).
Conveys "All that certain piece, lot or parcel of the Common Lands. . . . Bounded in front to the Northwest by the
public road or highway commonly called the Post Road, as the same is lately laid out (Third Ave.) and in the rear to the Southeast by the land of John Jones, to the Northeast by other of the said common lands . . . and on the Southwest by other of the said common lands in the possession of and granted or intended to be granted to John Hardenbrook. Containing thirty three acres and one fourth part of an acre."
John Jones died intestate, Sept. 29, 1806, seized of this farm.
Its further history is admirably set forth in Tuttle, Abstracts of Farm Titles, Vol. I.
It is an interesting fact that, in 1851, the city of New York seriously considered laying out a park on the east side of town which was to have taken in this estate and surrounding property. This design was abandoned; the Central Park site was adopted. — Chronology, May 5, 1851.
This tract comprised
A. The grant to John Bassett.
B. The northerly thirty acres of the grant to Cornelius Mattysen.
C. Part of the common lands of the city of New York.
A. The Grant to John Bassett
Sir Edmund Andros, Governour, etc., to John Bassett. Patent dated Oct. 9, 1677. — Liber Patents, IV: 127 (Albany).
"Whereas there is a certain piece of land upon this island Manhattans, ye which, by virtue of my warrant, hath beane layd out for John Bassett, ye said land being in breadth by ye water side, 80 rodds, and ranging into ye woods 120 rodds, being bounded to ye north-east by ye land of George Elverson, to ye north-west by ye Commons, and to ye south-west by ye land of Cornelius Mattison. Containing in all 60 acres, as by ye returne of ye survey may and doth appeare."
John Bassett to William Green. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
William Green to William Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
William Hallett to George Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
These three deeds conveyed the land as patented.
B. The Northerly Thirty Acres of the Grant to Cornelius Mattysen
Sir Edmund Andros, Governour, etc., to Cornelius Mattysen. Patent dated i677> "ot found of record.
Its existence proved by a survey made by Robert Ryder, Dec. 12,1676. — Land Papers, \: 100 (Albany). The draught of the patent is entered in (i^;V., I: 145.
Description: "That certain piece of land upon this island Manhattans, lying and being to ye northward of Turtle Bay, being bounded to ye southwest by ye land of Jacobus Fabricius, and to ye south-east by ye River, being in breadth by ye River 80 rods, and in length 120 rods, being bounded to ye north-east by ye land of John Bassett and to ye north-west by ye Commons. Containing 60 acres."
Riker, Hist, of Harlem, 255 n., says that Nelis Matthyssen was from Stockholm. He gives an interesting account of the man and his descendants.
Cornelius Mattysen to Johannes Pietersen. Deed not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys the north-easterly 30 acres of the land included in the Mattysen patent.
Johannes Pieterson to George Hallett. Deed not found of record; recited in Lji^^r D^f^/j, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys same premises.
George Hallett and Priscilla, his wife, to Abraham Lameter. Deed dated May 2, 1727. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys 90 acres of the Louvre Farm of which, at this date, George Hallett was seized.
Abraham Lameter and Catharina, his wife, to David Provoost. Deed dated Sept. II, 1742. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, LXV: 367 (New York).
Conveys same premises, viz.: 90 acres.
David Provoost to Sarah Bolton Loftus. Deed dated Dec. 6, 1777. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, XLIV: 230 (New York).
Conveys " all that certain mansion, or dwelling house, lands and premises, called the Louvre Farm, situate, lying and being in the outward of the City of New York."
Will of David Provoost. Dated Sept. i, 1781; proved Oct. 29, lySi— Liber Wills, XXXIV: 304 (New York). Ratifies and confirms a deed of gift of the Louvre farm made to Sarah Bolton Loftus.
1784. In this year Gen. Steuben, having resigned his commission, returned to New York, "where he first rented a country house in the middle part of the island. It belonged to Mr. Provoost, ... It was called the 'Louvre' by its proprietor. Poverty soon compelled Steuben ... to surrender the 'Louvre' . . ." — Chronology.
Sarah Bolton Loftus to James Provoost, eldest son of John Provoost, eldest son of David Provoost Deed dated, March 19, 1787. — Liber Deeds, XLIV: 230 (New York).
Conveys "the Louvre F.irm as it was conveyed to her by David Provoost, to James Provoost, for himself and the other grandchildren of David Provoost, said conveyance to take eStct after her, said Sarah Bolton Loftus 's death."
James Provoost to John Provoost and other grandchildren of David Provoost. Deed dated March 20, 1787. — Liber Deeds, XLIV; 238 (New York).
Conveys to each one full undivided eighth part of the same premises.
John Bowne and Johanna, his wife, and other next-of-kin of David Provoost, to John Jones. Deed dated March 18, 1796. — Liber Deeds, hXY: 367.
Conveys six undivided eighth parts of the same premises.
Sarah Bolton Loftus to John Leary, Jr. Deed, not found of record; recited in the following deed.
Conveys the life estate of the grantor to same premises.
John Leary, Jr. and Elizabeth, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated July 7, 1796. — Liber Deeds, LXV: 377 (New York).
Conveys the life estate of Sarah Bolton Loftus in same premises.
David Provoost and Elizabeth, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated May 14, 1802. — Liber Deeds, LXV: 379.
Recites that John Jones purchased the Louvre Farm on July 7, 1796; that David Provoost was then a minor; and this instrument is made to ratify and confirm the sale of the said minor's interest by his guardian to said John Jones; the said David Provoost being now of full age.
Benjamin R. Seaman and Catharine Johannah, his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated Oct. 24, iS04..~Liber Deeds, LXIX: 224 (New York).
Conveys one full undivided one-sixteenth part of said premises.
George C. Thomas and Ann R., his wife, to John Jones. Deed dated April 29, iSo6.~Liber Deeds, LXXXIV: 56 (New York).
Conveys one full undivided one-sixteenth part of said premises.
C. Part of the Common Lands
The Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York, to John Jones. Deed dated Jan. 27, 1800. Not found of record; recited in Liber Deeds, CCCCLXXXII: 207 (New York).
Conveys "All that certain piece, lot or parcel of the Common Lands. . . . Bounded in front to the Northwest by the
public road or highway commonly called the Post Road, as the same is lately laid out (Third Ave.) and in the rear to the Southeast by the land of John Jones, to the Northeast by other of the said common lands . . . and on the Southwest by other of the said common lands in the possession of and granted or intended to be granted to John Hardenbrook. Containing thirty three acres and one fourth part of an acre."
John Jones died intestate, Sept. 29, 1806, seized of this farm.
Its further history is admirably set forth in Tuttle, Abstracts of Farm Titles, Vol. I.
It is an interesting fact that, in 1851, the city of New York seriously considered laying out a park on the east side of town which was to have taken in this estate and surrounding property. This design was abandoned; the Central Park site was adopted. — Chronology, May 5, 1851.
