Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists of ledgers of accounts showing debits and credits for bonds and mortgages held by the Comptroller for the State of New York. Each account gives: name of mortgagor or obligor; date and amount of bond; location of mortgaged property; interest due; and payments on principal and interest by cash or other credits. Most of the accounts are for sales of land from former Indian reservations and from unappropriated lands. Unappropriated lands are all unconveyed state lands, including those belonging to the Common School Fund, escheated lands, lands conveyed to the state for benefit of the Canal Fund, or by foreclosure of mortgage to U.S. Deposit Fund or any other loan by the state.

Former Indian reservations include the Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and other smaller ones. Unappropriated lands included unconveyed parcels in the Old Military Tract, New Military Tract, Onondaga Salt Springs Reservation, east side of the Niagara River (including Black Rock and Lewiston), and many tracts in the Adirondacks, including the Jay Tract, New Petersburgh, Brant Lake Tract, Iron Ore Tract, etc.)

The ledgers also contain a few accounts of loans to individuals, many accounts of loans authorized by statute to counties and towns for erection of public buildings and improvement of roads and bridges, and loans to academies and schools for construction (from School Fund).