A friend of mine has an old, hand-written NY legal document framed and
hanging on her living-room wall, and I'm writing to see if anyone on this
list can add to its story.

The document is dated 1796 and is apparently a lease agreement, written in
the town of Westmoreland, Herkimer County, between William Cose (Cosc?) of
Burlington and Samuel Blackman of Westmoreland.  It concerns the use of the
"4th Division in Cose's [Cosc's?] Patent."

Do these details ring any bells?  For one thing, what is the proper
spelling of the patent?  And where in Herkimer County is it?  Who was
William Cose (or Cosc)?

thanks,
phil

Philip G. Terrie
Professor, American Culture Studies
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
(419) 372-6886 (voice)
(419) 372-7537 (fax)