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Administrative History

William Cockburn (?-1804) from Berwickshire, Scotland, settled in Kingston, Ulster County, New York in the early 1760s and was employed as a surveyor, land agent, and speculator in Ulster County and throughout the state and Vermont. As a teacher and employer he influenced many of New York States' surveyors. He married Catherine Trumpbour (also spelled Tremper) of Palatine German descent. They had five children including James (ca. 1775-1848) and William Jr. who accompanied their father on surveying expeditions as did his nephew Jacob Trumpbour Jr. John Kiersted Sr. (1786-1862) of Saugerties was a frequent surveyor for the Cockburns and in later years James Cockburn's son Walter A. also participated. William Cockburn is buried in Mount Marion Cemetery, Kingston, New York.