First Settler? Probably not.........

 I always have difficulty anytime anyone says something in history is the "first", or "oldest", or "tallest" etc, etc, etc.  To be honest, there is just too much "stuff" in history to make any of these superlatives likely.

First settler?  From Europe maybe.......  I think there were people here already NY State Education Department 1932.

Here is an excerpt from the Big Flats Historical Society web-page.

Indians inhabited the Big Flats area with several camps; the largest of which was Runonvea. It was located a bit south east from the hamlet of Big Flats. Many Indian relics have been found in the area of this camp. This beauty and fertility was not lost on the soldiers of the Sullivan Expedition when they visited Big Flats area to destroy the Indian Village of Runonvea and drive the Indians from the area. Some Indians continued to live about the area until 1791 when title to the lands was extinguished by a treaty. 

 

In March 1783 an act was passed by the State of New York most favorable to persons who would settle in this new land, by giving land grants. Thus, in the spring of 1787, Christian Myneer (Minier) with his wife and seven children came up the river through the “Gateway to Big Flats” and landed on the north side of the Chemung River. He was honored as the first settler, planted the first orchard, building the first log house. Remaining were he settled, in March 1791 he received a certification or deed for his chosen ground. His son was the first white child born in the town. His descendants still live and conduct business in Big Flats.

 In March 1783 an act was passed by the State of New York most favorable to persons who would settle in this new land, by giving land grants. Thus, in the spring of 1787, Christian Myneer (Minier) with his wife and seven children came up the river through the “Gateway to Big Flats” and landed on the north side of the Chemung River. He was honored as the first settler, planted the first orchard, building the first log house. Remaining were he settled, in March 1791 he received a certification or deed for his chosen ground. His son was the first white child born in the town. His descendants still live and conduct business in Big Flats.

However, Christian Myneer had hardly roofed his shelter when other settlers began to arrive. Enlarging the community enough that a Baptist Church was organized in 1807, land for a cemetery donated in 1809 and a Post Office was also established in 1809. The Town of Big Flats (Flatts) was established in 1822."