Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York
Family Owns Land Grant to Manhattan Island
Willed to the 7th generation - My grandmother by her/our Dutch ancestors was the ''Manhattan Island'' who they the Dutch bought the Island from the Indians. My grandmother who is deceased had at the time in the 1920's went to court to gain her rightful ownership and the lawyers, as I'm told were shot down on the court steps back then so the whole issue was droped for fear of being killed. Her children, my father and aunt who are alive today, but up there in their years know the exact story. I know it all sounds crazy but it's true. My question is would it ever be possible to reserect the paperwork and go after a monitary amount for what had been wrongfully taken? I would at the very least like to track down the land grant and will to my grandmother.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Family Owns Land Grant to Manhattan Island
If there was a killing on the court house steps there's newspaper articles on the killing. There may also be a record in the court house concerning a claim or lawsuit filed. In any case you should be able to research this information, and don't forget to research the genealogy to trace your family tree.
Re: Family Owns Land Grant to Manhattan Island
Your facts are not set forth clearly. When you
say "willed to the 7th generation" does this mean
your ancestor did so just like that? Or did your
ancestor will it to his child, who willed it to
to his child, etc., etc., for seven times? If the
former, the devise would be illegal under the "rule
against perpetuities", as basically one can only
devise to some life in being plus 21 years.
At any rate, there should be newspaper articles,
and other ways to research this.
But you should be finding a New York lawyer, as
that is where the land is located.
Re: Family Owns Land Grant to Manhattan Island
I'm not sure that I understand the entire situation, but I think I understand one part. You say the property was willed to the "7th generation." This is not legal even if it was done. Property can only be controlled for "lives in being plus 21 years." If your ancestors 7 generations ago willed the property, it would not be legal to keep it in the family through that one will until now.
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