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Archiver > Dutch-Colonies > 2000-04 > 0954617601


From:
Subject: Re: Original Lot Purchasers
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 14:33:21 EST


In a message dated 04/01/2000 1:13:07 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

> How would I go about finding a list of the original purchasers of lots in
> NEW AMSTERDAM(Manhattan)? Any help appreciated.--
>
> Dick Carter
>
>

Dick,
I know there are others on the list who know a lot more about this subject
than I, but here's my 2 stivers worth anyhow.

I have never seen a "list" as such. And I assume you mean by original
purchasers the original patentees. My impression is that lots were not sold
in the early days but granted under a patent from the Director General with
certain conditions as to improving the land, etc. I also have the impression
that not many records of land transactions remain extant from before the
early 1640s.

Having said all that, one good place to get started is the McCarthy "Map of
the Dutch Grants," a cadastral map of New Amsterdam which appears in the
Iconography of Manhattan Island by I.N. Phelps Stokes. The difficulty lies
in getting access to a copy of this monumental work. Not many libraries have
it, I think. In this map, the boundaries of the lots were hand drawn
overlaying a street map of more or less modern Manhattan. For each lot, the
dimensions are entered, along with the name of the owner along with the year
of acquisition.

From these, you might then search such references as Arnold J.F. Van Laer,
trans., and Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda, eds. & indexing, New York
Historical Manuscripts Dutch, Volume II Register of the Provincial Secretary
1642 - 1647 [Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974]. This
reference contains a number of records of land transactions which might cite
the original patentee.

One might hope there is an easier way to accomplish what you want, but if
there is, I'm not familiar with it.

Regards,
Ted Snediker

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