New York State Office of the Auditor of the Canal Department Bills of Lading and Clearances for Cargoes A1139

New York State Office of the Auditor of the Canal Department Bills of Lading and Clearances for Cargoes

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series contains bills of lading and clearances for cargoes. Information includes boat name; shipment date; name of consignee for each shipment of goods; description and value of articles; where shipped from and to; weight; miles traveled; and tolls charged for each group of articles shipped. Since private forms were often used there is a wide variety of billheads.

Creator:

New York (State). Office of the Auditor of the Canal Department

Title:

Bills of lading and clearances for cargoes

Quantity:

1 cubic foot

Inclusive Dates:

1830-1855, 1869, 1881

Series Number:

A1139

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

Each bill of lading gives name of boat; date of shipment; name of consignee for each shipment of goods; description of articles shipped; and value of same.

The forms used are those of private shippers, and there is a wide variety of billheads. The bills of lading are usually accompanied by clearances issued by the toll collector, which list articles shipped; where from; where bound; weight; miles traveled; and tolls charged for each group of articles shipped.

The form of the bill of lading was specified in a law of 1827; another act of the same year governed the issuance of clearances by the toll collectors, and required filing of copies with the state comptroller. The clearances from 1842 and later lack the bills of lading found in the earlier ones. Most of the documents in this series predate 1840.