Transcript of Original document in the Land Office of New York State. The spelling was kept as on the original document.
To his Exellency the Govenor and the Honorable General Assembly of the State of New York to be convened at Albany in and for said State or to the Honorable Commissenors of the Land Office.
The Petition of Joseph DeSylva of Bristol, County of Schoharie, humbly shueth that he is by occupation a farmer and wishes to procure a tract of land lying on the Plttakill so caled lying in said town afforsade bounded as follows
Viz- South on Jacob Dies on the Schohary Kill west and North sixty three and east on the west bounds of the 3rd tract of Scots Pattent and the Petitesnor wishes to inform your honors that he has a poseson on the and bestoes a great deal of labor on the said land for a number of years past undor expecttasion of obtaining it under the grant of Charles Edwards and others.
But to the grate gref and disopintment of the said J. Desylva, Mr. Fitch came on the 7th of April and of a farm and tacking my wheat and other improvments to the intire ruin of said Desylva and this is to desire you to take his destressed case under your protection. May it please your honorrs to grant said land to said Joseph Desylva for such reasonable consideration as shall relate to the best good of the state and said Desylva.
Should your honors think proper to grant to the said Joseph Desylva his prayer and request you will lay him undor the strongest obbligation of gratitude to you as the ruin of his family is connected with his being discomfeted in his present sittuation.
I am with every sentiment of humility and respect your Hon. Petitioner.
/s/ Joseph Desylva
Dated at Bristol
April 10, 1800
/s/ Judah Laming
/s/ Charles Edward
/s/ Peter Retehmyre Esq.