Seven Partners

By 1715 the Palatines were at last settling into comfortable communities and farming life, but their problems were far from over.  A group of land speculators were issued a grant of ten thousand acres of land in Schoharie which covered the entire area where the Palatines had settled.  These men, from some of New York’s wealthiest families, were referred to as the Seven Partners and were all political allies of Governor Hunter.  The Seven Partners sent word to the Palatines that they would need to either purchase the land from the Partners or move.

A battle of words ensued.  The Germans believed that “the land was the King’s and that the(y) were the Kings Subjects and had no power to agree to any thing about his Majesty’s lands without his special order.”   The Partners countered that they were kings of the land where the Palatines were living.   In a sudden and convenient burst of loyalty to the British government, the Palatines responded that their “King was in England, and that the land shou’d not be taken from them without his Majesty’s particular order.” 

The Seven Partners decided to try another tact.  They approached the Mohawk Indians with gifts of money and rum in an effort to convince them to turn over to the Partners their rights to the land.  The Palatines had no choice but to counter by also sending gifts to the Mohawks.  With little to offer, they nonetheless gave what they could in the hope that the Indians would remain on their side. 

 

Reference:  

“Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness

“Document History of the State of New York”