Lt. Governor Cadwallader Colden
1774 John Woods Survey Map for St. Georges Township (4)
1779 Sauthier Map (3)
| In 1770 the first attempts at colonial settlement of the area that would become the town of Coventry began with the granting of the New York township of St. George. On February 6, 1770 a group of 31 New York City INVESTORS led by John Woods petitioned Lt. Governor Colden of the province of New York for a |
|
Lt. Governor Cadwallader Colden |
| 30,000 acre parcel of land "situate lying and being on the West Side of Connecticut river, on each Side of a Brook or Creek that issues out of a large Mountain and empties into the Lake Umfree Megogg, in the County of Gloucester." (1) This 'brook or creek' turned out to be the Barton River, and the tract of land encompassed what is today the town of Coventry. |
|
1774 John Woods Survey Map for St. Georges Township (4) |
| A survey was completed and in November of 1774 the petition was granted and the investors took title to the land. The main investor, John Woods, was a loyalist gunsmith who after completing the land deal, was sent by Governor Tryon of New York in December 1775 to go to England to be employed by the Crown in the King's Armory.(2) |
|
1779 Sauthier Map (3) |
|
References: 1. New York State Archives, Calendar of N.Y. colonial manuscripts, indorsed land papers; in the office of the secretary of state of New York. 1643-1803, Albany, NY 2. Biographical sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution, Lorenzo Sabine, Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat Press, 1966 3. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA 4. New York State Archives, Calendar of N.Y. colonial manuscripts, indorsed land papers; in the office of the secretary of state of New York. 1643-1803, Albany, NY |