New York State Engineer and Surveyor Ledgers of Accounts with Purchasers of Holland Land Company Lots

Geographic by range number and therein by township number.

The Holland Land Company was an association of Dutch banks and other investors speculating in American land in the late 1700s. The company purchased over five million acres in central and western New York and Pennsylvania. The land was divided into ranges numbered I to XV east to west. Ranges were subdivided into townships of six square miles which were then further divided into lots of 360 acres. The lots could be broken into three section of 120 acres each.

Between 1798 and 1800, surveyors ran the lines of the ranges and townships. Following this, work began on internal surveys of the townships. When this was completed in 1819, the company increased its efforts to sell the land. The company sold its last tract of land (in Pennsylvania) in 1849 and was subsequently liquidated. In 1895 the state purchased Holland Land Company records from the widow of David E.E. Mix, whom the state had employed as a surveyor on several occasions.

These volumes are ledgers of accounts with purchasers of lots or portions thereof in townships of the Holland Land Purchase. Each account includes the following data: name of purchaser, date of sale, location of lands, lot and section number, and debits and credits entered by date. Principal and interest are entered in separate columns. The debits and credits are entered on facing pages. Often several different accounts for successive purchases of the same lot or a portion thereof are found on the same page. Many of the credits are for payments in cash, while other payments were made in wheat or cattle. At the fore of each volume is a map of lots in the township.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives.

A name index to purchasers is at the fore of each volume.

Volume list is available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.