First lot owners of York’s Square, Part 2
This is the second of two posts detailing the first several owners of the original lots that encircle York’s square. The lots can be located on the map above of the center of York, bordered by Philadelphia, Duke, King and Beaver streets.
As I explained in a recent post, those lots, along with the rest of the first 265 lots of the town laid out in 1741 by Thomas Cookson, were extensively researched by Henry J. Young of the Historical Society of York County (now the York County History Center) for the 1941 HSYC yearbook. Young also researched additional lots included in George Stevenson’s 1754 survey and on the 1805 Alexander’s plan which further subdivided some of the lots. A 45 page reprint of Young’s study of all these 756 lots, with map and index, is available from the South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society as Number 47 in their Special Publications series.
In my last post I transcribed Young’s notes on lots 56, 55, 59 and 60, bordering the eastern half of the square. See below for his research on lots 73, 74, 70 and 69, which border the western half:
Lot 73: George Gump, yeoman, obtained special warrant October 11, 1764, return and patent to him, house already built October 16, 1765, quitrent £8 sterling. Quitrents released to Jacob Upp, Dr. John Rouse, and estate of Conrad Laub, April 26, 1809. The county trustees requested this lot for a prison about 1750, but were given no. 64 instead.
Lot 74: Veit Schall acknowledged April 10, 1751 that he had built on this lot illegally, and promised to pay yearly rent of 10s sterling so long as the proprietaries shall permit him to use the lot. George Isler obtained a ticket, but absconded, and forfeited in 1765. John Hay obtained warrant to accept, April 25, 1776; return April 28, 1774; patent to him, April 29, 1774; quitrent 5s sterling. Penns released quitrent to John Hay’s heirs, January 5, 1811.
Lot 70: Baltzer Spangler obtained ticket, November 1741; warrant and return, February 24, 1763; patent to him, February 24, 1763; quitrent 7s sterling. Held by Christina Spangler in February 1800. Quitrents on part released to William Nes June 4, 1816.
Lot 69: Michael Swoope, Esquire, obtained special warrant, October 11, 1764; return October 7, 1765; patent to him October 8, 1765; quitrent £8 sterling. Quitrents released to Jacob Barnitz and Godfrey Lenhart, August 26, 1805.
Learn more about York’s square at the York County History Center’s Second Saturday program on November 12th at 10:30 a.m. My slide show, Changing Crossroads: York’s Square over the Centuries, will use maps, drawings and photos to illustrate many changes in York’s heart over the past 275 years.
