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Archiver > NJBERGEN > 1999-09 > 0937189865


From: Marion G Snedecor <>
Subject: [NJBERGEN] Re: [NJBERGEN-L] ramapo tracts #103+
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 22:31:05 EDT


Last march 16 I saved your message about the Ramapough Tract expecting to
get back to it after I had time to check up a bit further. It lead to
some very surprising conclusions.

I happen to have a copy of the big map of the Ramapough Tract because
Magdalen Valleau was my husband's great, great, great , etc. aunt. We
have the line with the family group sheets to prove it.

Magdalen Valleau inherited her share in the tract from her father Pierre
Fauconnier, who was one of the group of men that bought this huge tract
from the Indians. Her father died before he was able to give the ground
that he had promised to the Paramus Church for the purpose of putting up
their proposed building and for the cemetery that they needed. His
daughter , Magdalen , honored his wishes and deeded the land to the new
church. The church named the cemetery after her in appreciation.

This is only the beginning of my story. Over 50 years ago my husband and
I bought a plot of land to build our home on in Franklin Lakes. At this
time we knew that we had Valleau ancestors, but had not traced family
history yet. My family and I are astonished to find that our home is
located on a part of Magdalen Valleau's 600 acre tract ! It is
unmistakeable. I have had this copy of the map for many years, but never
had taken a good look at it to study, until it was mentioned in some
e-mail messages this year. I found Magdalen Valleau's plot and in
looking carefully, checking the little streams and old roads and it is
very obvious. We bought back some of Aunt Magdalen's ground. It seems
to be a very strange coincidence or meant to be, as we raised our
children here on Magdalen's tract !

Our family for many years have joked about the family's seats in the
church that were given to Magdalen in gratitude for her gift. It is in
black and white that she and her descendants are to have several men's
seats and several women's seats for perpetuity. I have forgotten how
many, but it is written down somewhere. We have often joked that it
would be fun showing up on a crowded Easter Sunday and asking to be able
to sit in the family's seats. It might be very confusing. Many
generations of our family on it's various branches lie buried in the
churchyard and cemetery, as is my husband as well as his parents,
grandmother, and others. My husband's ancestors on many branches were
among those starting the church. I had to purchase the grave to bury my
husband there and was so very happy that there was a place there for him
even though his parents' plot was full. This life can have some very big
surprises. This is one. It is the very best and most fitting that he can
sleep with his many generations of families in Valleau Cemetery.
Serendipity.

My question is: Is there any record of who bought Magdalen's acres as on
the map it doesn't give her land a plot number but just states that it
was sold. I would like to see who bought it. She also had a much
smaller plot still on the Tract, but nearer to Suffern, NY, while it is
only about a mile away that one is not the one that I am telling about.
Magdalen's plot is surrounded by plots numbered in the 30s, 40s, 50s and
60s. If you have a copy of the map it is in the lower left section of
the map and easy to find as it is so big a piece. I would like to know
if someone can tell me if there might be more information about the sale
of those original plots. Would it be in the East Jersey Proprietors
records or possibly before the English grabbed control of the area? I
can't get around to courthouses and archives anymore unless someone can
take me, so would wish for someone a bit more knowledgeable than I to
lend me a hand or show me a way. I'm not too good with the computer, but
am trying to learn. Our local library has nothing about genealogy and
would not be a good source. HELP. Many thanks for any help in this
matter.

Marion

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