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GEORGE CLARKE, NY Manuscript Document Signed 1797

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:550.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
GEORGE CLARKE, NY Manuscript Document Signed 1797
Autographs
1707 Early Colonial New York Governor George Clarke & Land Grant Document Signed For “Viscount Cornbury”
GEORGE CLARKE (Born 1676). Appointed Secretary of the Province of New York in 1703, Acting Governor of New York from 1736-1743, built an Estate named Hyde Park on Long Island.
February 20, 1797-Dated, Manuscript Document Signed, “Geo. Clarke,” as probate clerk of New York for “Edmund Viscount Cornbury,” being an issued Land Grant, Fine. This original document dated 1707, measures 10” x 13” where George Clarke has signed a grant of probate as the Clerk to Lord Cornbury, to Mary Kniffen, the wife of the late Samuel Kniffen. She has inherited his entire estate, but must also be responsible for paying any debts owed. Samuel Kniffen, was the Constable and Tax Collector of Rye, New York in 1701. It is Signed by George Clarke at lower right. The Document itself having a fully intact embossed wax and paper Official Seal at the upper right. There are some archival strips of tape for reinforcement on the blank reverse side where some fold lines were splitting. Overall, a very collectable document even condition.
George Clarke, born 1676, was appointed Secretary of the Province of New York in 1703. In 1724, he and his wife, Anne Hyde, purchased land in Hempstead, Long Island and built an estate named Hyde Park. He was Acting Governor of New York from 1736-1743, and during this time acquired over 120,000 acres of land. George's children did not remain in New York; his eldest son returned to England, two other children had close ties with Jamaica, and another died on an expedition to Oswego in the mid-Eighteenth century.

His wife Anne Hyde, a cousin of Queen Anne, and at the time they came to New York Lord Cornbury (Edward Hyde) was the governor. Mrs. Clarke was one of the most accomplished and charming of women. She was regarded with such enthusiastic affection by the people, that when she died, in 1740, the whole city was thrown into the deepest affliction. Her generosity to the poor had given her the title of " Lady Bountiful," and on the day of her funeral the corporation ordered " that, as it was a pleasure to her in life to feed the hungry, a loaf of bread should be given to every poor person who would receive it.

Samuel Kniffen, was constable and collector of Rye in 1701. He married a daughter of Francis Purdy. His petition to the govenor (about 1701) states that he is 'a prisoner in the common Gaol of the County, being destitute of many friends.' The inhabitants of the town of Ryde had made choice of him for constable, and afterwards the collector's place was laid upon him; 'and being a young man verry ignorant of any office was flattered by the people so that the Rates which he was to collect through his simplicity are great part in arrears.' This has brought him into this desitute condition; and 'haveing a poor distressed wife at home big with child expecting every hour her deliverance, and no body to help her,' he implores his excellency to grant him enlargement, 'so that he may go and collect said taxes with all severity.' (N.Y. Col. MSS., vol. xxxviii, p. 215.) These taxes were those that had accumulated during the revolt of the town to Connecticut. The inhabitants evidently did not blame the collector for his lenity; and the governor must have granted his petiton; for he was made one of the townsmen of Rye the next year, 1702. He died before 1707.