Seneca Indians
State of Massachusetts
April, 1788
Oliver Phelps & Nathaniel Gorham Purchase
1788 “one and sixpence per acre, payable in public paper of the commonwealth,” which at the time of purchase was Massachusetts currency. In 1789, when the purchase price of $100,000 came due, the purchasers were unable to meet their obligation due to a 25 percent advance in currency, coupled with non-collection of rentals. The legislature of Massachusetts was petitioned for a release from payment of the original price by Phelps and Gorham and allowed the request.
Robert Morris
The financier of the American Revolution, a large scale land speculator and a resident of Philadelphia, purchased 1,264,000 acres at eight pence per acre on November 18, 1790. Morris sent William Temple, a nephew of Benjamin Franklin, to England to negotiate the sale of the lands, which he did not care to use.
Sir William Pultney, John Hornby and Patrick Colquhoun
Purchased one million acres form Morris at 26 cents per acre in 1791. £35,000 sterling or $170,000.
Captain Charles Williamson
Williamson was the land agent for the Sir William Pultney Association from 1791-1800. Williamson held title as the purchasers, being aliens, could not. He personally owned all of Bluff Point, and once “contemplated erecting a magnificent castle on it towering heights.” Williamson died in 1808.
Charles Alexander Williamson
Son of Captain Williamson. B 1794, d 1849 (Note, it is assumed that he inherited the property and is the same Williamson that sold to A. Wagener.)
Abraham Wagener
1774 - 1853. Purchased 100 acres on Bluff Point from Williamson for a span of horses, date unknown. In 1828 Wagener bought another 1,000 acres from Williamson to the south for $6 per acre. Wagener constructed the house and then lived in it for a period of time before moving back to Penn Yan.
George Wagener
1853-1887 (34 years). Received by will 280 acres from his father, Abraham Wagener. George lived at the house prior to his father's death. An 1876 county map identifies 250 acres owned by George Wagener, consisting of all the land west of Skyline drive and Chapel hill road to Keuka Lake, with the northern boundary being the same as the current northern boundary, extended west to the lakeshore. In addition, there was a small parcel east of Skyline Drive - the hayfield and vineyard between the end of the driveway and the Garret Chapel springhouse.
Lucius P. Wagener (son of George), Frank Wagener (son of George), Ida Wagener Thompson Drake, (daughter of George), Alexander Drake (Ida's second husband)
1887-1889 (2 years) Were willed by their father, George Wagener.
Thomas Scott
1889-1893 (4 years). Purchased the remaining 181.56 acres of Abraham Wagener's original willed 280-acre parcel on 6/19/1889. The deed lists consideration of $7262.40. Scott had a blacksmith shop located to the west of the current workshop. Scott purchased the parcel with funds from the Magee estate of Watkins Glen.
Magee Estate of Watkins Glen
1893-1905 (12 years). 181.56 acre parcel. Scott was unable to meet the payments, and transferred title to the Magee estate. It is believed that Scott continued to live in the house for several years.
Abram (David) and Augusta M. VanTuyle
1905-1908 (3 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 1/6/05 from Daniel Beach as surviving Executor & Trustee of the Magee Estate.
William T. Morris
1908-1914 (6 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 5/18/08. Morris was the son of Congressman Daniel Morris, a local lawyer (Cornell class of 1873) and investor. He was unmarried. Morris, of Penn Yan and New York, used the house as a summer home.
Lucy Tracy
1914-1923 (9 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 3/4/14 along with other premises. There was a $6500 mortgage. ??? Was she related to Morris ???
Paul Garrett
1923-1929 (6 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 7/17/23 along with other premises. Paul Garrett was at one time America's richest vintner, producer of the Virginia Dare wine. At one time he owned the majority of the south end of Bluff Point.
Garrett Holding Corporation
1929-1949 (20 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 7/22/29 along with other premises.
William & Dorthy Conrad
1949 - 1954 (5 years). Purchased the house and yard (3.643 acres) on 3/8/49. Also purchased an adjoining 21-acre parcel to the west on 12/5/50.
Jack and Gertrude Champlain
1954 - 1966 (12 years). Purchased the house, yard, additional 21 acres, and lake lot on 8/16/54.
State of Massachusetts
April, 1788
Oliver Phelps & Nathaniel Gorham Purchase
1788 “one and sixpence per acre, payable in public paper of the commonwealth,” which at the time of purchase was Massachusetts currency. In 1789, when the purchase price of $100,000 came due, the purchasers were unable to meet their obligation due to a 25 percent advance in currency, coupled with non-collection of rentals. The legislature of Massachusetts was petitioned for a release from payment of the original price by Phelps and Gorham and allowed the request.
Robert Morris
The financier of the American Revolution, a large scale land speculator and a resident of Philadelphia, purchased 1,264,000 acres at eight pence per acre on November 18, 1790. Morris sent William Temple, a nephew of Benjamin Franklin, to England to negotiate the sale of the lands, which he did not care to use.
Sir William Pultney, John Hornby and Patrick Colquhoun
Purchased one million acres form Morris at 26 cents per acre in 1791. £35,000 sterling or $170,000.
Captain Charles Williamson
Williamson was the land agent for the Sir William Pultney Association from 1791-1800. Williamson held title as the purchasers, being aliens, could not. He personally owned all of Bluff Point, and once “contemplated erecting a magnificent castle on it towering heights.” Williamson died in 1808.
Charles Alexander Williamson
Son of Captain Williamson. B 1794, d 1849 (Note, it is assumed that he inherited the property and is the same Williamson that sold to A. Wagener.)
Abraham Wagener
1774 - 1853. Purchased 100 acres on Bluff Point from Williamson for a span of horses, date unknown. In 1828 Wagener bought another 1,000 acres from Williamson to the south for $6 per acre. Wagener constructed the house and then lived in it for a period of time before moving back to Penn Yan.
George Wagener
1853-1887 (34 years). Received by will 280 acres from his father, Abraham Wagener. George lived at the house prior to his father's death. An 1876 county map identifies 250 acres owned by George Wagener, consisting of all the land west of Skyline drive and Chapel hill road to Keuka Lake, with the northern boundary being the same as the current northern boundary, extended west to the lakeshore. In addition, there was a small parcel east of Skyline Drive - the hayfield and vineyard between the end of the driveway and the Garret Chapel springhouse.
Lucius P. Wagener (son of George), Frank Wagener (son of George), Ida Wagener Thompson Drake, (daughter of George), Alexander Drake (Ida's second husband)
1887-1889 (2 years) Were willed by their father, George Wagener.
Thomas Scott
1889-1893 (4 years). Purchased the remaining 181.56 acres of Abraham Wagener's original willed 280-acre parcel on 6/19/1889. The deed lists consideration of $7262.40. Scott had a blacksmith shop located to the west of the current workshop. Scott purchased the parcel with funds from the Magee estate of Watkins Glen.
Magee Estate of Watkins Glen
1893-1905 (12 years). 181.56 acre parcel. Scott was unable to meet the payments, and transferred title to the Magee estate. It is believed that Scott continued to live in the house for several years.
Abram (David) and Augusta M. VanTuyle
1905-1908 (3 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 1/6/05 from Daniel Beach as surviving Executor & Trustee of the Magee Estate.
William T. Morris
1908-1914 (6 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 5/18/08. Morris was the son of Congressman Daniel Morris, a local lawyer (Cornell class of 1873) and investor. He was unmarried. Morris, of Penn Yan and New York, used the house as a summer home.
Lucy Tracy
1914-1923 (9 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 3/4/14 along with other premises. There was a $6500 mortgage. ??? Was she related to Morris ???
Paul Garrett
1923-1929 (6 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 7/17/23 along with other premises. Paul Garrett was at one time America's richest vintner, producer of the Virginia Dare wine. At one time he owned the majority of the south end of Bluff Point.
Garrett Holding Corporation
1929-1949 (20 years). Purchased 181.56 acre parcel on 7/22/29 along with other premises.
William & Dorthy Conrad
1949 - 1954 (5 years). Purchased the house and yard (3.643 acres) on 3/8/49. Also purchased an adjoining 21-acre parcel to the west on 12/5/50.
Jack and Gertrude Champlain
1954 - 1966 (12 years). Purchased the house, yard, additional 21 acres, and lake lot on 8/16/54.