Maps of land purchased from the Holland Land Company

The records were purchased by the state from the widow of David E. E. Mix, who had published lists of Holland Land Company records in 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). The state purchased these and other Holland Land Company records in order to have original records concerning state lands.

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 sections 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 of maps provide: name of purchaser; acreage; and boundaries of each purchase. One volume also contains an 1804 map of Holland Land Company land in New York State; another contains miscellaneous correspondence concerning land contracts.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan.

Microfilm: 1 reel; 35 mm.

Series A4012, Holland Land Company field notebooks, contain notes related to these maps.

Lists of maps in some volumes.

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