Adolph Philipse

Adolphus Philipse (1665–1750) was a wealthy landowner of Dutch descent in the Province of New York. He owned part of the original Manor of Philipsborough (later, the common spelling would change to "Philipsburg") in Westchester County. In 1697, he purchased an extensive tract of land along the east bank of the Hudson River stretching all the way to the Connecticut border. Then known as the "Highland Patent," it would later be referred to as the Philipse Patent. After his death, the Patent was inherited by his nephew, Frederick Philipse II, his only heir-at-law, who became the second lord of Philipsburg Manor.

Early life Adolphus Philipse was born in 1665 in New York City (just renamed from New Amsterdam), the second son of Frederick Philipse, Spanning from the Hudson River to the then Connecticut Colony it encompassed some 250 square miles.

Upon Frederick's death in 1702, Adolphus received all of the manor lands north of Dobb's Ferry, including the present town; this part of the manor was known as the Upper Mills. The balance of the manor and family commercial holdings, as well as the title of the Lord of the manor, were bequeathed to Adolphus's nephew, Frederick Philipse II, son of his elder brother Philip, who had been heir to the title but died in 1699.

Adolphus owned and managed the Upper Mills for nearly 50 years, transforming it into a major commercial operation. It included a stone gristmill, a bakehouse, and a wharf for exporting grain and dairy products internationally via New York City. The complex was anchored by the Philipsburg Manor House and operated by enslaved Africans. Slave quarters were installed by him about 90 feet from the main house. By the time of his death, twenty-three enslaved men, women, and children lived and worked at the manor. They are listed with names (and children, also with ages) in the 1850 probate inventory of his properties.

During the American Revolution, all the Philipses' lands were confiscated by the Provisional New York government's Commissioners of Forfeiture and sold at a public auction.

Philipse Patent

In 1697, Philipse purchased a tract of land from Dutch traders Lambert Dortlandt and Jan Sybrandt, who had bought it a few years before from several Wiccopee chiefs. This became known as the Highland Patent

Shortly after purchasing it, Philipse (whose main country residence was in Lower Manhattan and who maintained only a bachelor shooting lodge on Lake Mahopac in the Highland Patent ), opened the tract to tenant settlers. Thus began a policy that lasted throughout his lifetime and his heirs' so long as they owned the land, Sold afterwards, they became today's Putnam County and parts of Dutchess County.

Personal life

Adolphus Philipse was the second son of Frederick Philipse, the first lord of Philipsburg Manor, and his first wife, Margaret Hardenbroeck. (For Margaret, it was the second marriage.) He was the younger brother of Philip Philipse.

He primarily lived and managed his business affairs from an office and home on New Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, while often staying in Philipse Manor House at the Upper Mills and visiting his hunting lodge at the Highland Patent. He never married and died intestate on January 20, 1749 (1750 New Style).