​THE HISTORY

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Before the Revolutionary War, and indeed the United States itself, The Little Nine Partners Patent was the final land patent granted in Dutchess County, New York by the British crown. 

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The early exploration of that portion of the Hudson Valley which is now Dutchess County seems to be somewhat uncertain. The first authenticated voyage up the river was that of Hendrik Hudson, made in 1609. On the return of the Half Moon down stream, Hudson anchored near what is now Beacon, and he reports in his log that "friendly Indians brought maize, tobacco and pumpkins." The voyage was resumed the next day and for nearly 70 years, the Native American population of the area was largely undisturbed. Thereafter, from 1685 to 1731, the British crown granted the territory of the present county to private persons.

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The Little Nine Patent was located in the northern part of the county, and comprises all or parts of the modern towns of Milan, Pine Plains, and North East. Little had been done in the way of settlement of the county before 1664, in which year the English gained the land from the Dutch. Roughly triangular in shape, it was bounded on the north by Columbia County, on the south by the Great Nine Partners Patent (1697) and on the west by the Schuyler (1686) and Rhinebeck (1697) patents. Its eastern boundary was the area known as The Oblong, a narrow strip of land along the eastern edge of Dutchess County, bordering the state of Connecticut. Although awarded in 1706, it was not until 1744 that the allocation of each of the nine partners was associated with a specific lot through a Dutchess County Court process that involved a lottery system, drawn by "two boys...under the age of sixteen."

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The Little Nine partners were not the wealthiest group of men; the wealthiest of them was probably George Clarke. Most were of the merchant class. Some were even a little crooked. However, overall they presented a pretty impressive resume. Sampson Broughton was the son of the Attorney General of New York, Sampson Shelton Broughton. Rip Van Dam was an influential Dutch merchant. Thomas Wenham was also a merchant, a receiver of customs in 1702 and associate judge of the Supreme Court. Roger Mompesson was Chief Justice of New York and New Jersey (but paying off his father's debts reduced him to poverty). Peter Fauconier was a French naval officer, but as receiver of customs from 1702-1707 was caught stealing from the treasury. Augustine Graham, the Surveyor General of New York and son of Attorney General James Graham, had a noble bloodline: he was the great-grandson of the Marquis of Montrose of Scotland. Richard Sackett was a brewer and early settler in the region; he was put in charge of the Palatines who were brought over to New York to make naval stores. Robert Lurting, called Colonel, was a merchant who got himself in a bit of trouble for allegedly selling goods unlawfully while he was Vendue Master (auctioneer) of New York City. George Clarke was English and appointed Secretary of the Province of New York and later, acting governor; he married into the English royal family.​

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The settlement of the county gradually increased, and in 1728 a number of Quakers came from Westchester and Connecticut to settle in the Oblong. By 1731, there were settlements in every section of the county, many people having come from New England.

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LITTLE 9 TODAY

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​Over 300 years later, Little 9 Farm 1706 maintains its colonial charm, at the same time reflecting the sophisticated sensibilities of its four owners, who have lovingly restored the property after acquiring it in 2019.  We are excited for you to become a part of the long history of L9F, and experience "farmhouse luxury" in Dutchess County with us.