Saratoga Springs, in upstate New York, became a settlement in 1819, splitting from the Town of Saratoga, and was incorporated as a city in 1915. The Mohawk people valued its mineral springs, believed to be a gift from Manitou, attracting European settlers by the 1700s. The 1832 Saratoga and Schenectady Railroad boosted tourism, leading to grand hotels like the Grand Union. Gideon Putnam’s 1802 tavern near Congress Spring spurred growth, though he died in 1812 after a fall. Today, with a 2020 population of 28,491, the city hosts the Saratoga Race Course and Performing Arts Center, retaining its cultural allure.

The Winne family, tied to Saratoga’s history, held large amounts of farmland in the county, positioning them in the region during the 1777 Battle of Saratoga. Their farms supported the Continental Army’s logistics under General Horatio Gates, who defeated British General John Burgoyne. The Winnes had ties to General Philip Schuyler, a key Revolutionary figure and regional landowner, through shared Dutch heritage and land dealings. Family members likely aided Schuyler’s efforts to supply troops, contributing to the victory that secured French support, a pivotal moment in the war.