New York State Engineer and Surveyor Holland Land Company Deed Books B0280

New York State Engineer and Surveyor Holland Land Company Deed Books

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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:

The Holland Land Company was an association of Dutch banks and other investors speculating in American land during the late 1700s. This series consists of records of deeds held by persons who purchased land from the Company. Information includes deed number; to whom land deeded; date of deed; diagram of land deeded; boundary measurements; and acreage. Most volumes contain an alphabetical name index; these also give deed number, township, range, lot, and acreage.

Creator:

New York (State). State Engineer and Surveyor

Title:

Holland Land Company deed books

Quantity:

24 cubic feet

Quantity:

41 volume(s)

Inclusive Dates:

1803-1857

Series Number:

B0280

Arrangement

Numeric by deed number in each volume.

Administrative History

The Holland Land Company was an association of Dutch banks and other investors speculating in American land in the late 1700s.

The company purchased over five million acres in central and western New York and Pennsylvania. The land was divided into ranges numbered I to XV east to west. Ranges were subdivided into townships of six square miles which were then further divided into lots of 360 acres. The lots could be broken into three sections of 120 acres each. Between 1798 and 1800, surveyors ran the lines of the ranges and townships. Following this, work began on internal surveys of the townships. When this was completed in 1819, the company increased its efforts to sell the land. The company sold its last tract of land (in Pennsylvania) in 1849 and was subsequently liquidated. In 1895 the state purchased Holland Land Company records from the widow of David E.E. Mix, whom the state had employed as a surveyor on several occasions.

Scope and Content Note

These are records of deeds held by persons who purchased Holland Land Company land providing: deed number; to whom deeded; date of deed; diagram of land deeded; boundary measurements; and acreage.