New York State Comptroller's Office Land Tax Bureau Transcription of Receipt Book of Land Grants from Gerrit Smith to African…

This is a transcription of the original receipt book, kept by Charles Ray, secretary to abolitionist Gerrit Smith. The transcription refers to the receipt book as recording land grants from Gerrit Smith to "colored and poor white slaves from the South." The receipt book was copied while in the possession of George Keyhoe of the Land Tax Department, Division of Taxation and Finance. The receipt book lists land grants issued by Gerrit Smith in 1846, when he made a gift of some 3,000 deeds to various African Americans and poor white people. The amount of land given to each ranged from 40 to 60 of acres land with the intention of furthering colonization by African Americans and poor whites in the North.

The book lists the following information relating to these grants: county name; township; tract; lot; quarter of lot; acres; and remarks (i.e. names of grantees). This volume was apparently retained by the Comptroller due to his involvement in land grants and land taxing in New York State.

This series has been digitized in its entirety and is available in State Archives Digital Collections.

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