1763 Announcement That City Island in the Manor of Pelham Has Been Laid Out in Lots for Sale

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Benjamin Palmer was the son-in-law of Thomas Pell, Third Lord of the Manor of Pelham. In 1761, Benjamin Palmer purchased from his brother, Joseph, the island then known as Minefor's Island (known today as City Island, long a part of the Town of Pelham before its annexation by New York City). Benjamin Palmer had grand plans to build a large port City on the island intended to rival New York City as an international shipping hub.

In 1763, Palmer announced that the island had been divided and laid out into lots as part of his plan to create a City with at least 4,500 residences. The island was within the Manor of Pelham, though the Town of Pelham had not yet been created. (The Town of Pelham was formally created in 1788.) Today's Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of that announcement.

"THE Island in the Sound, distinguished by the Name of Miniford's Island, in the County of Westchester, is now divided and laid out into Lots, according to a regular and approved Plan of a Town, proposed and already begun to be erected thereon. The whole Island contains about 4500 House Lots, the Disposition of which is calculated in every Respect for the Ease and Convenience of the Inhabitants; each House Lot measures in Breadth 25 Feet in Front and Rear, and in Depth on both Sides 100 Feet; and in order to encourage the actual and speedy Settlement thereof, the Proprietors have agreed to dispose of a certain Number of Lots on the most reasonable Terms, and that no Advantage might be wanting that can give Settlers an Opportunity of becoming wealthy and flourishing, the said Proprietors have lately sued out his Majesty's Letters Patent for the Quantity of 400 Feet in Depth, of the Soil under the Water into the Sound, round all Parts of the Island, which appear any way useful, for the Purpose of erecting Docks or Wharfs; which is likewise laid out and divided with the same Regularityas the former and certain Parts thereof, to encourage the Settlement, are to be disposed of on Terms, which cannot fail being agreeable to the Purchaser. --- Great Part of this is peculiarly adapted for Docks and Ship Yards for the Convenience of building Vessels, which will be undertaken here and finished in the compleatest Manner, at as cheap a Rate as in any Part of New England, or elsewhere; there is besides a Rief of Rocks ranging along the Shore, which form a natural Wharf of a considerable Extent, along Side of which Vessels of 500 Tons Burthen may be hove down with the utmost Safety, and lye afloat in six Fathoms at low Water.

In common Tides the Water rises generally nine Feet or upwards, and in Spring Tides fourteen or fifteen Feet: but as this Harbour is the Place of Meeting of two Tides (one from the eastward, and the other from the westward) there is no Current, so that a Vessel may beat to windward against both Wind and Tide, nor can the Navigation to and from this Island in the Midst of Winter suffer the least Iterruption [sic], the severest Seasons scarce producing an Instance of Ice that could endanger a Vessel.

The natural Advantage of this Island, in Respect to its Situation, points it out as the most proper Object for the present Purpose, being situate about 25 Miles to the Eastward of New-York, separated from the main Land by a very narrow Channel, and in the Heart of a plentiful populous Country, surrounded by a large, safe, and commodious Harbour, fit for the Reception of Vessels of any Burthen, with good Anchorage, and is in itself blest with every Advantage to be met with in the same Compass in any Part of America. It would be tedious to enter into a Discription of the Fertility of its Soil, the Beauty of its Prospects, or the Goodness of its Air, in all which it is allowed, by competent Judges, to excel in a very high Degree.

Tradesmen, Artificers, and Mechanicks cannot desire a more advantageous or happy Situation for themselves or Families, as no Convenience is wanting for the carrying on any Trade or Manufacture: The Island abounding with Plenty of good Water, and the neighbouring Country affording an inexhaustible Store of Wood for all Manner of Purposes.

The Plan of the Island is deposited in the Hands of Mr. Benjamin Palmer, who resides thereon, to whom Application may be made for further Particulars."

Source: [Untitled], The New-York Gazette, Dec. 19, 1763, p. 1.

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