Macomb's Purchase - Revision history

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	Macomb's prosperity was short lived due to the bank fiasco which landed him in debtors prison only four months after the big land deal. In order to recoup his losses he began to divest himself of his major land holdings in the north and on June 6, 1792, he turned over to William Constable practically all of Great Tracts IV, V, and VI. It is not quite clear whether this transaction was a hostile takeover or a friendly arrangement but from their former relationship it would appear that the latter was more likely to be the case. In any event, Macomb deserted his interests in the northern lands and transferred his attention to the metropolitan area of New York City. With this turn of events adding to his farmer holdings William Constable became the largest land owner in the state. Shortly thereafter he, too, began to unload some property and in slightly less than a year after the original purchase he sold more than a million acres to [[Samuel B. Ward\|Samuel Ward]].		Macomb's prosperity was short lived due to the bank fiasco which landed him in debtors prison only four months after the big land deal. In order to recoup his losses he began to divest himself of his major land holdings in the north and on June 6, 1792, he turned over to William Constable practically all of Great Tracts IV, V, and VI. It is not quite clear whether this transaction was a hostile takeover or a friendly arrangement but from their former relationship it would appear that the latter was more likely to be the case. In any event, Macomb deserted his interests in the northern lands and transferred his attention to the metropolitan area of New York City. With this turn of events adding to his farmer holdings William Constable became the largest land owner in the state. Shortly thereafter he, too, began to unload some property and in slightly less than a year after the original purchase he sold more than a million acres to [[Samuel B. Ward\|Samuel Ward]].

	Of primary interest to local residents is Great Tract No. I since it lies entirety within the limits of Franklin County. This tract was surveyed into 27 townships containing approximately 32,000 acres each. Names were given to those townships which were mostly related to the original members of the purchase or to regions of former fealty in Ireland or England. No. 1 was named Macomb, No. 2 Cormachus (for McCormick), No. 3 Constable, No. 8 St. Patrick, No. 18 [[Brighton\|Brighton]], No. 21 [[~~Harrietstown\|~~Harrietstown]], and finally No. 27 Tipperary. The intervening numbers were named for lesser known family members, associates, and locations. Harrietstown was, of course, named for Constable's daughter, Harriet.		Of primary interest to local residents is Great Tract No. I since it lies entirety within the limits of Franklin County. This tract was surveyed into 27 townships containing approximately 32,000 acres each. Names were given to those townships which were mostly related to the original members of the purchase or to regions of former fealty in Ireland or England. No. 1 was named Macomb, No. 2 Cormachus (for McCormick), No. 3 Constable, No. 8 St. Patrick, No. 18 [[Brighton\|Brighton]], No. 21 [[Harrietstown]], and finally No. 27 Tipperary. The intervening numbers were named for lesser known family members, associates, and locations. Harrietstown was, of course, named for Constable's daughter, Harriet.

	To clarify any misconception between these townships and towns; a town is a subdivision of a county while a township is a subdivision of a town. To add to the confusion a hamlet or a village is frequently called a "town." In the case of Harrietstown and Duane both were names applied to the early townships and later, when the county was divided into towns, these names were given to the much larger towns. Also surviving this transition period are the towns of Constable, Malone, Moira, Bangor, and Brighton. Constable was, of course, named for William Constable as also was the village of Constableville in Lewis County. Duane was named for Major Duane who married Constable's eldest daughter, Harriet.		To clarify any misconception between these townships and towns; a town is a subdivision of a county while a township is a subdivision of a town. To add to the confusion a hamlet or a village is frequently called a "town." In the case of Harrietstown and Duane both were names applied to the early townships and later, when the county was divided into towns, these names were given to the much larger towns. Also surviving this transition period are the towns of Constable, Malone, Moira, Bangor, and Brighton. Constable was, of course, named for William Constable as also was the village of Constableville in Lewis County. Duane was named for Major Duane who married Constable's eldest daughter, Harriet.

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			[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|''Adirondack Daily Enterprise'', April 28, 1990 ]]

			[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|''Adirondack Daily Enterprise'', April 28, 1990 ]]


	[[File:Macomb~~'s Purchase~~.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]''~~, April 28, 1990 ]]~~

	~~[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|thumb\|400px]]~~
	'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[~~William Constable\|~~William Constable]] and [[~~Daniel McCormick\|~~Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

	The purchase raised a great scandal, and Macomb was subsequently ruined.		The purchase raised a great scandal, and Macomb was subsequently ruined.

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|~~left~~\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|thumb\|400px]]
			'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|~~right~~\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

			'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

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	-----		-----

	''[[~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', April 28, 1990		''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', April 28, 1990

	'''Macomb Purchase leaves legacy of names'''		'''Macomb Purchase leaves legacy of names'''

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	'''External links:'''		'''External links:'''
	* ''Watertown Daily Times'', September 9, 16, 23, 1990 [[http://mlloyd.org/gen/macomb/text/amsr/wt.htm\|Dill, David Jr. "Portrait of an Opportunist: The Life of Alexander Macomb."]]		* ''Watertown Daily Times'', September 9, 16, 23, 1990 [http://mlloyd.org/gen/macomb/text/amsr/wt.htm Dill, David Jr. "Portrait of an Opportunist: The Life of Alexander Macomb."]

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

			[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Macomb_(merchant~~%29~~\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|~~left~~\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|thumb\|400px]]
			'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

	[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

			'''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.

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	[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] [[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].		[[File:Macomb's Purchase.jpg\|right\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]]

			[[File:Alexander Macomb.jpg\|left\|]]'', April 28, 1990 ]] '''Macomb's Purchase''' was the 1791 sale of 12 percent of the New York State's landmass at eight pence per acre, ostensibly to one man, [[Wikipedia:Alexander_Macomb_(merchant)\|Alexander Macomb]].

	Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.		Alexander Macomb, Sr. (1748-1831), a wealthy merchant, bought 3,600,000 acres of upper New York from the state in 1791 for the equivalent of 12 cents an acre. From this one purchase are derived the deeds for all the lands that are now included in Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, as well as portions of Herkimer and Oswego Counties. [[William Constable\|William Constable]] and [[Daniel McCormick\|Daniel McCormick]] were silent partners to the deal.