Early Land Leases in the Cherry Valley Patent, 1743-1851.

The article discusses early land leases in Cherry Valley, New York. The author states that George Clarke, New York governor from 1736 to 1745, granted leases in perpetuity, a type of lease that is now illegal. The article examines the "31 years or three lives" leases and why they were a successful way of settling land. The author also discusses who benefited from these leases once they were terminated. Settlements in the Mohawk River valley of New York are also examined.