Edward Ellice - Landowner in Stratford and New York State

 As I was reviewing the 1862 Stratford Town Assessment records, I came across a notation made by the Stratford Assessor in the nonresident section.   The note stated that a list of debits owed  by the inhabitants of the Town of Stratford, County of Fulton, NY to the Honorable Edward Ellice, a resident of London in the Kingdom of Great Britian.  There were two names mentioned, and the amounts that were owed shown on the page.  The two individuals  listed leased property in Stratford from Edward Ellice.  Unfortunately, the total acerage that that Edward Ellice owned in Stratford is not listed in these records.

 Who was Edward Ellice and why did someone from Britian own property in Stratford?

The story of Edward Ellice and his father Alexander is extensive and far too large to write in this post.   For this post I’ll provide a condensed version of their accomplishments and property ownership.

 Alexander Ellice completed his schooling for law at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.  Upon completion of his training he was admitted to the Scottish Bar. 

 With little opportunities in the legal profession in Scotland, Ellice came To North America with his four brothers and settled in Schenectady, NY in 1765.   There the Ellice men  joined in a partnership with a fellow Scotsman named  James Phyn.  With Phyn they engaged in the fur trade and general merchandising business in upstate New York and the lower Great Lakes.  The company later expanded their financial base and took contracts to provision military posts and the  the grain trade. 

 Alexander Ellice wisely invested his profits from these endeavors in mortgages and land in northern New York.  One such site was a mill acquired from Sir William Johnson in Little Falls.    In 1770 Ellice was granted a royal patent for 40,000 acres near Cooperstown.  He owned property in Montgomery and Herkimer County was extensive and most of the property was leased.  These holdings included Stratford.     On Alexander’s death his son Edward bought out the interests of the property holdings from his siblings becoming sole owner.