What conflict did James Fenimore Cooper have with local citizens over Three Mile Point?

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Jarvis, John Wesley: James Fenimore Cooper — James Fenimore Cooper *James Fenimore Cooper*, painting by John Wesley Jarvis, 1822; in the Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York.

In 1837, James Fenimore Cooper became the target of public criticism after he refused to allow local citizens to hold picnics on a family-owned property known as Three Mile Point.1

This incident made Cooper vulnerable to popular backlash, as his actions were perceived as elitist by the community. The resulting tension escalated into a series of legal battles, including multiple charges of libel and various suits and countersuits between Cooper and members of the Whig Party, who utilized the controversy to challenge his political standing. This conflict, occurring alongside agrarian riots on the estates of his friends, contributed to a period of significant personal and professional unrest for the author during his later years in Cooperstown.1