New York State Secretary of State Copies of Releases to the State

Under the Act of 1808 (Chap. 215), lands deeded to the state were originally purchased by private persons, who gave mortgages to the state or to the Commissioners for Loaning Money. When the purchasers failed to make the required payments of principal and interest, the mortgages were foreclosed and the property offered for sale. When no second purchaser appeared, the Attorney General or the Commissioners conveyed the property to the people of the State of New York. These conveyances were authorized by Laws of 1805, Chap. 135, and Revised Statutes of 1829, Part I, Chap. 9, Title 6, Section 16.

This series contains recorded copies of releases to the state entered in chronological order by date of recording. Most, if not all, of the releases in books 1 and 3 are recorded copies of the originals found in Series A0451, Original Releases to the State. Releases from the Attorney General and the Commissioners for Loaning Money are grouped together in book 2. The whereabouts of original releases referenced in book 2 is unknown; they are not found in Series A0451. Each book contains a name index to releasers. The indexes to books 1 - 4 in Series A0451, Original Releases to the State, contain book and page references to some of the entries in this series.

Microfilmed in 1973 at the Department of State by the Genealogical Society of Utah, microfilm reel 947102. Cataloged by the GSU as part of a collection called "Releases and Conveyances, 1787-1900." Microfilm is available for onsite use only.

Series A4691 Location Index to Releases to the State indexes this series.

Microfilm is not available for duplication or inter-library loan.