Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists of twenty-two bound volumes depicting the ownership of various gold and silver mines discovered throughout New York State. The first twenty pages of volume one is an "Abstract of the Description of Gold and Silver Mines Recorded in the Deed Books in the Secretary's Office." It provides the abstract number, discoverer's name, name of county, tract and lot number in which the mine was located, the date recorded and the book and page number in which the record was recorded. These particular entries date from 1791 to 1838 with the last few undated entries appearing to have been added at a much later date.

The remaining entries in volume one and in the other 21 volumes are copies of sworn statements notifying the secretary of state's office of the discovery and location of gold and silver mines. These too provide an exact location of the mine, date of the statement, person's name and signature of the state official attesting to the veracity of the entry.