property history



1100 - 1700s



First nations people resided in this immediate area



The Iroquoian culture becomes dominant by 1100 AD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_New_York(state)) and

dates for the founding of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy vary from 1142 to the mid 1500s. (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/iroquois#HistoricalSummary)





1779



Sullivan's expedition destroys Six nations confederacy



Washington wrote to General John Sullivan: "Sir: - The expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate object is their total destruction and devastation, and the capture of as many persons of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more."

(https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-20-02-0661)


The campaign lasted from May through November, and although inflicted little loss of life, destroyed villages, crops and pushed the Cayugans from their established homes in this immediate area, towards Canada. The nearby village of Aurora, was the site of a large Cayuga village, which was burned to the ground during this campaign.





1789



cayuga reservation formed



A large reservation for the Cayuga people was created, encompassing 64,015 acres of land that wrapped around the north end of Cayuga lake. The southern border of the East side of the reservation was Sherwood Road, which is the street this house is located.





1789



cayuga "leased" their Lands / reservation surveyed into plots



Soon after the Cayuga Reservation was formed, it began to be surveyed for potential sale. Currently researching primary source documents to find out when the surveying began. Who authorized the surveys. Who were the surveyors. When the surveys were complete.





1795



Nathaniel walker lays claim to Lot #149



Nathaniel Walker is one of the names listed repeatedly in the 1795 document created by Philip Schuyler regarding earliest land claims.

excerpt:

"the names of the occupants, who reside on that part of the Cayuga Reservation where the Indians right are not Extinguished

John King sen -- John King Jun ---

Edward Wheeler --- Thomas Stoddard

Nathaniel Walker ---- William Richardson sen

Asa Jackson"


Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. (1795). Land claims on Cayuga Reservation Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7dc4d4f0-a60e-0134-2518-00505686a51c





1797



Thomas Lapham & Daniel brightman purchase lot 149 & lot 35 from Nathaniel walker



On June 28, 1797, Thomas Lapham and Daniel Brightman purchase Lot 149 from Nathaniel Walker. The original deed is at the Hall of Records, Auburn, NY. Thomas was a Quaker from Rhode Island. More research is required to pinpoint WHICH Thomas Lapham in Rhode Island he was. Daniel Brightman has yet to be researched.


It is likely that the first, federal style house, on the original foundation would have been constructed in the years immediately following this purchase.





1831



Augustus Howland marries phebe jane howland



Augusts Howland was sent by his father George Howland, to pursue real estate investment opportunities in Cayuga County at the suggestion of distant relative, Humphrey Howland. Augustus married Humphrey's only daughter, Phebe Jane, in 1831.






183 2



AUGUSTUS HOWLAND PURCHASES LOT 149 & LOT 35 FROM THOMAS LAPHAM



On April 2, 1832, Augustus Howland purchases an existing farm on Lot # 149 & Lot # 35 from Thomas Lapham for $9,808.70.


A copy of George Howland's letter to his son Augustus, detailing the approval of this choice for purchase and the wiring of funds to Auburn Bank to secure the homestead, is in the archives at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.





1834



AUgustus howland gives small parcel to build brick church North quaker meeting



The Quaker community is at a fracturing point due to conflicting beliefs. A parcel of Augustus' land is used to build the North Quaker Meeting, on what is now Brick Church Road. This is the Quaker community in which Emily Howland refers to as a "storm center of reform".

(must double check this year)





1887



Augustus howland dies, property transfers to....



Upon the death of Augustus Howland, the property passes to his grandson, Edward Howland. (Must double check this fact and further information)





1930s - 1940s



Fred Howland assumes ownership of property



Fred Howland, the son of Edward, is transferred ownership before the start of WWII, but moves in to the farmhouse with his wife and 10 year old daughter following the end of the war.





1980s



supreme court ruling on Cayuga nation land claim lawsuit



A large land claim from the Cayuga Nation took legal action to support their land claim for all of the properties within the original Cayuga Reservation. The claim was struck down in Supreme Court, but it created a legitimate fear of property loss and strengthened prejudices of residents, which festers still today. Because this homestead is located on Lot 149, originally on the southern border of the Cayuga East Reservation, it was included in the lawsuit.





2008



property included in the national registry of historic places



Application is approved for the Augustus Howland farmhouse, outbuildings and approximately 200 acres of farmland on both the north and south side of Sherwood Road to be added to the National Registry of Historic Places.





2012



main house surveyed off from agriculture land



The main farmhouse, outbuildings and approximately 3 acres are surveyed off from the larger parcel of agricultural land, which is sold to dairy farmer, Brian M. Dugan. At the request of the Howland sisters, this transaction included a buyback reservation encompassing approximately 8 acres for the future owner of the main farmstead.





2017



jodi baldwin purchases main house property



The approximately 3 acre homestead transfers to Jodi Baldwin in August 2017, from the three Howland daughters.

This ends the 185 year long Howland ownership.


At the same time, Jodi Baldwin performed necessary steps to purchase the additional 8 acres of tillable and wooded land.





2022



jodi baldwin files Verified complaint



Because the legal rights conveyed to Jodi Baldwin to purchase 8 acres of farmland north of the farmhouse were not honored by the current owners, Brian M. Dugan & Howland Farm LLC., legal action was initiated to uphold justice so that the creation of Howland Farm Museum can move forward.


The irony of this "land claim" situation has not escaped the owner through this challenging and stressful process.





2024



baldwin v. dugan & Howland Farm



On June 3rd, owner, Jodi Baldwin, went to Cayuga County Supreme Court to have her rights to purchase the reserved 8 acres of original farmland upheld. The trail, against defendant Brian M. Dugan and Howland Farm, LLC. spanned a full day and the following morning.


The court transcript is available to read.


As of May 2025, she is awaiting verdict from Acting Supreme Court Justice, Honorable Thomas G. Leone.







Howland Farm Museum
1395 Sherwood Road
Aurora, NY 13026

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