New York State Department of State Holland Land Company Maps, Field Notes, and Deeds

The series consists of field books, notes, maps, and deeds relating to the Holland Land Company's lands in the western part of New York State. An act of April 1839 provided for preservation of the title papers of the Holland Land Company.

Records include the original field books from the surveys of 1798 and 1799, which provide a systematic survey of the Holland Land Purchase. Each book provides the names and hometowns of each member of the surveying team. Surveyors include George Burges, David Ellicott, Amzi Atwater, James Smedley, and others.

Also included are field notes (journals) of the survey of township lines in various ranges. These copies were entered into bound journals from the original field books. They are certified by Joseph Ellicott, surveyor.

Original deeds for the lands of the Holland Purchase are also included in the series. Many of the deeds show Robert Norris, Herman LeRoy, or William Willink as either buyer or seller. Deeds date from December 24, 1792 to February 20, 1837. Many have fragile seals or brittle papers attached.

An extremely large clothed backed map of the Holland Land Purchase shows the township lines. The map is divided into three sections (west, middle, and east) and is extremely fragile. Photostatic copies of the sections are available for research use.

Researchers interested in other records pertaining to the surveying and exchange of deeds in the Holland Land Purchase may consult Archives series B0280, B0277, A4012, B0254, A4018, A4027, and B0279.

Microfilm (5 rolls, 35 mm) of Range Books, Vols. 1-15 and Field Books, Vols. 1-68 is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Selected maps from this series have been digitized and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.

Field notes are indexed in David E.E. Mix, Catalogue of Maps and Surveys in the Offices of the Secretary of State, State Engineer and Surveyor, and Comptroller, and the New York State Library (Albany, 1859).

Volume list (of journals).

Folder list (notes and papers).

Item list (oversize deeds and maps).

These materials were deposited in the Secretary of State's Office on April 12, 1841. That office transferred the documents to the New York State Library on November 19, 1924 (documentation in series 13917-83). They were accesioned as Archives series A0025 in 1978. Arrangement and preservation work was conducted in 1997.

Restricted in part due to fragility. Use under supervision of archivist.