New York State Surveyor General Abstracts of Letters Patent
Statement on Language
Some content in this finding aid may contain offensive terminology. For more information on why this language is occasionally retained, see: New York State Archives Statement on Harmful Language in Descriptive Resources.
Overview of the Records
Repository
- New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
- This series consists of abstracts of patents granted for land in New York State. Information includes patentee's name; patent date; land location; land description and acreage. Also included are some undated certifications stating that the preceding abstracts had been compared with the originals in the Secretary's office.
Title
- Abstracts of letters patent
Quantity
- 0.7 cubic feet; 4 volume(s); 1 35mm microfilm roll(s)
Inclusive Dates
Series Number
- A4005
Creator
Arrangement
Chronological by date of patent.
Administrative History
The Secretary and other state officials delivered these abstracts and other records concerning the sale and settlement of state lands to the Surveyor General. The Secretary or a deputy appointed by him was also ex fficio secretary of the Commissioners of the Land Office which was created in 1786 and included the Surveyor General as a member.
Scope and Content Note
This is a volume of abstracts of patents granted for land in New York State providing: patentee's name; patent date; land location; land description; and acreage. Scattered throughout the volume are certifications, signed by Secretary of State Lewis A. Scott or his deputy secretary, stating that they had written the preceding abstracts and compared them with the originals in the Secretary's office. The certifications are all undated but must have been written between 1789 and 1793 when Scott was Secretary of State.
A4005-96: This accretion consists of volumes 1 and 2 of the series, previously missing. Researchers should refer to series accretion A4005-77 for volume 3 and an index to all three volumes organized alphabetically by surname of patent grantees.
Alternate Formats Available
Microform is available at the New York State Archives. Microfilmed in part at the Department of State in 1973 by the Genealogical Society of Utah, microfilm reel 947122 (vols. 1-2 only, 1664-1679). Cataloged by the GSU as part of a collection called "Patents of the State of New York, 1649-1912." GSU microfilm has been digitized by FamilySearch. Images can be viewed online at FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries (including the New York State Archives and the New York State Library).
Related Material
Series 12943 Letters Patent contains the original patents from the Secretary of State's office from which the abstracts were prepared.
Other Finding Aids
Rough alphabetical index to name of patentee or patent in all 4 volumes of original series; index also provides volume and page, date, number of acres, county, and location of patent.
Custodial History
A4005-96: This accretion completes the set, originally in 4 volumes. At the time of accession of volume 3 and index volume 4 in 1977, the other volumes were presumed lost.
Access Restrictions
Microfilm is not available for duplication or interlibrary loan.