Robert Doty deeds
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Three land deeds, dated 1803 and 1805, between Robert Doty, an African American of Jericho in the town of Oyster Bay, Queens County (now Nassau County), and George and Jeremiah Tappin, also of Oyster Bay.
Arrangement
This small collection is housed in two folders by accession number.
Scope and Contents
Accession 1977.505 consists of a May 1803 land deed marking the $275 sale of a property between Robert Doty of Jericho, Long Island and Jeremiah Tappin, of Cedar Swamp, Long Island, contingent upon Doty being unable to raise $275 by May of 1804 and defaulting. In this document Doty is noted to be an African American, and had previously purchased the land from George Tappin (this last name is spelled variously as "Tappen," "Tappan," and "Tappin" throughout these documents).
Accession 1977.215 contains a document labeled "Robert Doty Deed" on one side, with the words "Help, oh help thou God of Christian/Save a mother from despare [sic]/Cruel whitemen steal" written on the other. This work is titled "The destressed [sic] Mother." The accession also contains two indentured deeds in which George Tappen and Elizabeth Tappen, husband and wife, sell their property to Doty. One is dated February 1, 1803, in which Doty purchases the Tappens' lot of land and tenement for $525, the back of this document contains a written statement from the judge Jordan Seaman confirming that this was done willingly with no coercion. In the second deed, one which occurred on May 14, 1805, Robert Doty buys another parcel of land from George and Elizabeth Tappen for 42 pounds.
Subjects
People
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials in this collection are in the public domain.
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Robert Doty deeds, ARC.221, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source and date of acquisition for accession 1977.215 are unknown. Accession 1977.505 was the gift of John C. Gardiner, 1954. The collection was formally accessioned in 1977.
Other Finding Aids
A transcription of these documents is in the collection's digital accession file and available to researchers upon request. The transcription was created by Cecilia Wright, made possible thanks to the generosity of The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level. The collection combines the accessions 1977.215 and 1977.505.
This finding aid was revised by Dee Bowers in 2025. Portions of the revised description were written by Cecilia Wright as part of a project to assess and improve access to archival collections in CBH's holdings that relate to Long Island, made possible thanks to the generosity of The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
