Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Administrative History
• Scope and Contents
• Other Finding Aids
• Alternate Formats
• Access Restrictions
• Processing Information
• Custodial History
• Access Terms

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New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Real Property Field Books for Surveys by James Frost of New York State Lands

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Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Numerical by volume number, roughly grouped by geographical locality.

Administrative History

James Frost was a surveyor in private business who also worked occasionally for New York State government. Some of Frost's first survey work included projecting and completing a plank road from Albany to Fort Hunter, and drafting one of the earliest maps of Schenectady County. In 1819 Frost began a survey of the eastern shore of the Hudson River, under the direction of the New York State Surveyor General. Frost's other survey work included surveying and creating maps of old Schoharie and surveying lands for the second railroad built in the United States, which ran between Canada and New York State, as well as parts of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties. Frost also surveyed Elizabethtown, New Jersey in 1835.

After discontinuing his survey work, Frost's other occupations included farming, running a general store, acting as a Justice of the Peace, and serving as a member of the New York State Assembly for three terms. Frost died at his home in Mariahville, New York on December 23, 1851. He was survived by his wife Mary Marsh Frost and ten children.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of 34 field books created by James Frost from 1811 to 1838 as he surveyed lands for individuals to help settle disputes over property boundaries or for appraisal. Periodically, Frost was also hired by New York State for similar purposes and worked under the direction of the State Surveyor General. The information found in each volume varies, but most of these volumes contain survey notes and topographical sketches. The field books may include some or all of the following information: the reason the survey was conducted, and who requested it; survey location; date; and names of any assistants to Frost. A few of the volumes contain journal entries, most of which are concerned with the actual survey work; some volumes have personal remarks or notes.

Survey information found in these volumes pertains to the following geographic areas: the county line between Montgomery and Fulton; Bauk, Corey, Costy, Pliny Moore and Saratoga Patents; Brant Lake Military Tract and Old Military Tract; Duanesburg, Glenville, Rotterdam, and Schenectady townships; Elizabethtown, New Jersey; and the eastern shore of the Hudson from Schodack to Troy. Individuals for whom Frost created these surveys include John Landers; Jacob A. Vrooman; George Clark, Jr. and G.W. Featherstonhaugh; David Cady Smith; Charlotte J. Devendorf; Mary Smith and Antoinette Smith; James Duanes; P. Smith; Peter Bradt; C.E. Delyraff; Teunis Van Wechten; and Perks Rulofson. One public-sector customer was the New York State Land Office.

Alternate Formats Available

Microfilm 3 rolls; 35 mm.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Microfilm roll list gives volume number, date, names of surveyors, and brief description of areas surveyed.

Location of Originals

Originals held by Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

Processing Information

This series was microfilmed by State Archives staff in 1995 as part of a cooperative reformatting project with the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, funded by a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Custodial History

Original volumes held by Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

Access Restrictions

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

Access Terms