1799 Notice of Foreclosure Sale of Pelham Manor Lands Owned by Augustus James Frederick Prevost, Stepson of Aaron Burr

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Research reveals an interesting notice of a sale of lands at foreclosure published in the August 19, 1799 issue of The New-York Gazette and General Advertiser. The lands were owned by Augustus James Frederick Prevost. Furthermore, the notice suggests that Aaron Burr had some interest in the affair given that he was involved in the underlying deal that created the debt for which the lands were being sold. This is particularly intriguing given suggestions that Burr and Prevost were involved in a scheme to buy up lands near the route of a proposed toll road and rerouted Boston Post Road. See Tuesday, July 18, 2006: Aaron Burr Tries to Pull a Fast One in the 1790s and Must Sell His Farm in Pelham. The text of the notice appears immediately below.

"WHEREAS by Indenture made the first day of June 1797 Augustus James F'k. Provost [sic - should be "Prevost"], of Pelham, in the county of Westchester, for the better securing to John Berry, of the city of New-York, merchant, the payment of one thousand pounds, then current money of the State of New-York, on or before the first day of June 1798, with interest payable quarterly from the first day of September then next, according to the condition of a certain bond executed by Aaron Burr, of the City of New-York, bearing date the day of the said Indenture, did mortgage unto the said J. Berry, all that certain messuage and farm, situate lying and being in the manor of Pelham, in the county of Westchester and the state of New-York, being bounded on the north by the land of James Pell, on the west by East-Chester Creek, on the south by the land of Edward Pell, and on the east by lands in the possession and occupation of Robert Coles, and Jesse Coles, and containing by elimination 155 acres be the same more or less. -- The said farm and tract of land thereby granted being the northernmost half part of the land lately belonging to Jonathan Pell, of the manor of Pelham farmer, deceased; on condition to be made on the payment of said one thousand pounds, with interest, according to said bond. And whereas no part of the same has been paid, and the said John Berry has filed his bill in Chancery, praying that the said Augustus James Frederick Provost [sic], might be decreed to pay said sum, and the said lands be sold for the payment thereof -- to which bill the said Provost [sic] hath answered, admitting all the material facts therein set forth; and thereupon an order hath been entered by consent of parties, that the said monies be paid on the 1st day of September next, with lawful interest, on that day, with the complainants costs of suit, or in default thereof, that the premises mentioned in the complainants bill, be sold immediately after the 1st Sept. next, at public auction at the Tontine Coffee-house, in the city of New-York, by one of the masters of this Court, for the best price that can be gotten for the same, upon giving fifteen days previous notice, to the said first day of September, in one of the public newspapers printed in the city of New-York, of the time and place of sale. This is therefore to give public notice, that the premises aforesaid mentioned in the said complainant's said Bill of complaint -- W I L L B E S O L D AS AFORESAID, at the Tontine Coffee House in the City of New York, on Monday the second day of September next, at 12 o'clock at noon of that day, for the best price that can be gotten for the same, and that all proper parties to be ascertained by said master, will join in the conveyance of said premises to the purchaser or purchasers.

Dated the 16th day of August, 1799.

Aug. 17. t2 Sep. JOHN BERRY."

Source: [Untitled Notice], The New-York Gazette and General Advertiser, Aug. 19, 1799, p. 3, col. 2.

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