Nunda

Historical

Society

 Whether you are doing family research, property research, or are just interested in the history of the Nunda area, it is important to understand the changes that have taken place in the town's boundaries. The brief summary below will introduce you to these important changes.

1775-1797

The lands of what would become Nunda were part of the homeland of the Seneca People at the time of the Revolutionary War. After the War the area was bought and sold Oliver Phelps & Nathanial Gorham (1788) and Robert Morris (1790). It wasn't until the Treaty of Big Tree in 1797 that the Indian title was cleared from the lands west of the "Old Indian Line (1788) which now marks the eastern boundary of Nunda.

Original lands of the town of Nunda are indicated in white on this map. The "Old Indian Line" is the red line to the left of the town. The "Transit Meridian" marks the eastern boundary of the Holland Purchase. The area between the two lines was known as the Morris Reserve. Adapted from Map of the state of New York showing the location of the original land grants, patents and purchases. Copyright 1895, Julius Bien & Company, N.Y., accessed from http://www.davidrumsey.com

1798-1807

Initial settlement of the Nunda area begins. Many of the early pioneers were "squatters" but those who bought the lands made their purchases from the land companies or speculators. The lands went from Ontario County(1789) to Genesee County (1802) , to Allegany County(1806.) At the same time our Nunda's lands were part of the town of Leicester (1802), then Angelica (1806).

Highlighted section of this 1806 Map of Allegany County shows the lands that would become Nunda. Adapted from Allegany County & It's People: A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, New York. --Histories of the Towns of the County; Mrs. Georgia Drew Merrill, Editor; Published by W.A.Fergusson & Co., Alfred,NY - 1896

1808-1827

The Town of Nunda was organized in March 1808. "Greater" Nunda included all the lands of northern Allegany County on the map to the right. The large township began to break up after 1817. The western half of the town, highlighted in blue, separated from Nunda in 1818. Portage, Granger, and Grove (yellow) left in 1827, reducing Nunda to the present town boundaries.

Map adapted from H.W. Hand's Centennial History of Nunda.

1828-1845

Nunda and its neighbor Portage remain in Allegany County. The 1829 map to the right shows the two towns during this time period. Note that "Nunda Valley" is the present village of Nunda. The label to the south marks Guys or Wilcox Corners, the first postoffice in the present day town.

1846
Nunda and Portage are annexed into Livingston County. Portage lands west of the Genesee River become the town of Genesee Falls. No further changes take place in the town's boundaries.

Taken from 1858 wall map of New York State

• Cook, Thomas S. Yesterday, Stories from Old Nunda, 2008
• Doty, Lockwood, History of Livingston County 1876
• Hand, H.W. Centennial History of Nunda NY 1908
• Merill, Georgia, ed Allegany County & It's People: A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, New York. --Histories of the Towns of the County 1896
• Mau, Clayton, The Development of Central and Western New York, 1958