Early Genesee County

Before recorded history the Hopewellian "mound builders" lived in the region now known as Genesee County. We know little of these prehistoric people, except that which archeologists have unearthed from existing relics.

Thousands of years later, before the arrival of the first settlers, the region was the home of the Senecas, and part of the Iroquois territory. They lived in barracks-like longhouses, generally located near streams.

In the later part of the 1700's, both Massachusetts and New York claimed Western New York. In 1786, an agreement gave governing rights to New York, while allowing Massachusetts to retain title.

It was therefore from Massachusetts that Robert Morris purchased this four million acres of land in 1791. In 1793, Morris sold the land, with the largest parcel being sold to the Holland Land Company, which was comprised of six banking houses of Amsterdam.

Before the territory could be opened up for settlement, it was necessary to obtain land rights from the Senecas. The Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, followed by the Big Tree Treaty of 1797, served this purpose. The Senecas retained 200,000 acres of land for a reservation. They also were to receive interest from federal stocks and bonds.

The Holland Land Company hired a general agent, Theophile Cazenove, who was located in Philadelphia, to oversee land sale. In 1798, Joseph Ellicott was hired and he, along with his brother Benjamin and 130 men surveyed the purchase for the next three years at a total cost of $70,921.69 1/2.

In November of 1800, Paul Busti succeeded Cazenove as General Agent. Busti would serve in this role until his death in 1824. Busti appointed Joseph Ellicott resident agent and in January 1801, sale of land began at Asa Ransom's house in Clarence.

The area was still part of Ontario County, which had levied high taxes on land. This combined with the distance settlers traveled to record deeds, led to the creation of a new county in 1802. The county, Genesee, was named from an Indian word meaning "beautiful valley."

Land sold for about $2.00 per acre and partial payment could be made by working on road or mill construction. Many immigrants and New Englanders took advantage of the opportunity offered, and cleared, settled, and developed the region that we call Genesee County.

The name Batavia was chosen to honor the Dutch landowners, the name coming from the Republic of Batavia, which was the area of the Netherlands before 1806. In 1802, wiuth completion of the courthouse and election of officers, Batavia was named county seat.

The Building

The first Batavia land office, a log cabin, was replaced by a frame building in about 1809. That building was then replaced by a fireproof building, completed in 1815, that still stands today as the Holland Land Office Museum. In 1894 the Holland Purchase Historical Society was formed to restore the building and maintain it as a museum. Key Batavia businessmen, with the help of Batavia High School's class of 1894, raised the funds necessary to purchase the building. Each donor of $10.00 became a charter member of the Historical Society.

The museum was dedicated to the memory of Robert Morris on October 13, 1894. The event was attended by members of President Cleveland's Cabinet and descendants of Robert Morris. Since that time the Museum has undergone many changes.

The Daughters of the American Revolution staffed the building until World War II at which time it was leased to the Genesee Chapter of the American Red Cross. It was during this period that the cinder block addition was made to the back of the structure. In 1948 the Genesee County Board of Supervisors voted to assume ownership of the building, creating the foundation for the current relationship between the County and Historical Society.

The 1970's brought the construction of two wings for the Museum. The west wing, called the Robert Morris Room, was added in 1970 and is used as an exhibit area. The east wing, built in 1977, previously housed the office and collection of the Genesee County Historian. This separate County Department is now located at 3 West Main Street. They provide research services and educational programs. The space is used as an exhibit area and meeting room. The final addition to the building was made in 1982 and consists of a small room attached to the back of the west wing for display of the historic 12 1/2 foot high Genesee County gibbet.