Series 1: Livingston Manor

Minutes of a meeting of Long Island Historical Society Directors, with remarks by Benjamin D. Silliman, introducing an essay by Edward F. De Lancey of New York on the historical background of the Livingston papers.

Bill of sale by Keeseway of the land named Potamkasik Patkock and Stichsoock to Brandt van Slichtenhorst on behalf of the patroon of Rensselaerswyck, 27 May 1649, a margin note of 20 July 1649, and Notarial record confirming the aforesaid sale, 15 June 1670, being early, signed copies on one sheet, all in Dutch, re: "Landt op Claverack;" each part with note in English, "A True Copy," signed by Robert Livingston, Secretary; the Bill of sale signed by Mahikan Indians Keeseway and Skinaias, and by Brandt van Slichtenhorst, director of Rensselaerswyck, and Johannis Megapolensis, Pastor; Notarialrecord mentions Ludovicus Cobes, secretary of the Albany colony of Rensselaerswyck and Schenectady, and is signed by Keeseway, Anahamet, Andries Toller, Jeremias Van Rensselaer; Barent Pieterse [Coeymans?], and Joris Christoffersen [?].

Petition, by Robert Livingston of Albany, to Governor Edmund Andros / Andross, at New York, for the grant of a patent to purchase land lying upon the Kill of Roeloff Jansen or Johnson, the land being "upon the East Syde of Hudson's River noord Catts Kill" and being diposed of by the Indian proprietors.

(2 items) Bill of sale, for the land of Roeloff Jansen or Johnson's Kill, from the Indian proprietors to Robert Livingston, with translations in English and Dutch; mentions Johannes Provoost, and Jan Janse Bleecker, Commissioner of Albany Colony of Rensselaerswyck and Schenectady, and includes many Indian names.

List of goods which Robert Livingston ("his half") is to give to the Indians in Pounds for Roeloff Jansen's Kill, accounting document, in Dutch (numbers represent guilders, not pounds) [CG]; includes map sketch of these lands, on reverse.

Contract document, in Dutch: Robert Livingston (one side) and Gerritt Teunisse and Maste Cornelis (other side, and representing Dirck Wessels) partition the land farthest back of the Roeloff Jansen's Kill; Livingston chooses the ronde vlakte "circular flats" and Dirk Wessels takes the "long flats" [CG]; includes list of witnesses, including Teunis Abrahamse, Frans Hardick, Lambert Janse, Johannes Bensingh [Benson], Jacob Vosburgh, Isak Vosburgh, Frederick Claese van Drenthe, and Jacob Janse van [---][document torn at mid-fold].

Land grant to Robert Livingston for the purchase of Tachkanak, signed by Thomas Dongan (1634-1715), Governor of New York, at Fort James in New York City, with seal, dated 5 June 1685.

Accounting document, in Dutch, list of items requested for Tachkanak behind Patkoop with a list of the items actually offered [CG], re: Robert Livingston's purchase, with map sketch on reverse, dated "Albany 9 July 1685."

(2 items) 3 articles on 2 sheets, all in Dutch, dated Tachkanak, 1 August 1685, re: Robert Livingston's land purchase: Survey return for Tachkanak; Agreement concluded with native owners of Tachkanak, with list of items given in the transaction, signed by Joris Aertsen van den Baast, Johannis Benson and a "Teunis" who makes his mark; List of the measurements of Tachkanak [CG], with a cover note in English describing survey as the work of Samuel Libia.

Contract of sale, for the purchase of land at Tachkanak by Robert Livingston from the Indian proprietors, signed, with seals, at Albany, dated 10 August 1685; colonial signatories include Major Gervis Baxter commander of Albany, David Schuyler, Johannes Wendel, William Toller, Gerrit Bancker magistrate of Albany, and Robert Sanders the interpreter; Indian signatories include Tataemshatt, Machwe, Tawihaes, Niehotowaw, Minasees, Tantanenowa (wife of Netipo), and Mamattittawawpe [note variant spellings].

License granted to Mrs. Alida Livingston of Albany to purchase 400 acres of land behind Tachkanak, upon Roeloff Jansen's kill, for the use of her son Phillip Livingston, made, signed and sealed by governor Thomas Dongan at Albany, dated 1 January 1687-1688.

(2 items) a Contract of sale and a List of Goods (the latter in Dutch), re: the purchase of land at Tachkanak known as Quisichkook, bought by Robert Livingston from the Indian proprietors, the contract signed at Claverack, dated 17 February 1687/8, by witnesses Johannes Benson and Herbert Jacobszen, and signed with marks and sealed by the Indians Tataemshatt, Manetipo, Nekantakos, Tatapenowa (wife of Manetipo), and Michiel (brother of Tataemshatt) [note variant spellings]; this contract later endorsed by Johannes Wendel and Levinus Van Schaick, aldermen, at Albany, on 2 June 1688, their endorsement being noted on the list of goods, signed by Robert Livingston.

Extract of a patent for land at Roeloff Janson's Kill, unfinished and unsigned, apparently an early copy or draft, "11 Nov 1689" written at the end of the extract, refers to an agreement dated 10 July 1683, made between Robert Livingston and the Indian proprietors.

Purchase agreement between Indians and Robert Livingston, re: land on Roeloff Jansen's kill, mentions Johannes Dyckman, signed and sealed at Albany by squaws My Lady and Manhagh, dated 7 July 1697, witnessed by Johannes Beeckman and Johannes Livingston, confirmed by Goose the Indian at Albany on 14 August 1697, and with appended note, unsigned, re: a complaint of 19 April 1725 made by Trioas an Indian son of Manhagh regarding the above transaction, the complaint being resolved by Robert Livingston and the sale confirmed in the presence of Justice of the Peace Jacob Vosburgh, Jan Tys Smit, Frederick Proper, and Gouwanan, an Indian.

Conditions by which farm land is leased out by Robert Livingston [CG], unsigned, dated 11 December 1712, in Dutch.

(2 items) Note, titled "Indians convey gochkomekok and their Rights and Titles to the Mannor of Livingston Bounds," 11 May 1713, with notes on individual Indians; and, the original Conveyance, signed and sealed by 15 Indians, including the sachems Tataemshatt and Wampopoham (alias Michiel), and signed by Jacob Vosburgh, John Conrad Petry and two others, with memorandum affirming the aforesaid sale, dated 21 October 1765 and signed at Albany by Judge Rensselaer Nicoll, clerk Matthew Visscher, and witness John Conrad Petry.

Letter, in Dutch, from Robert Livingston (RL) to Mrs. Rensselaer, dated 31 December 1716, requesting that they meet in a convenient place (because he is so far from the city) in order to examine and exempt the indentures (Palatines?).

(3 items) Copies [CG], two in Dutch and one in English, of a Memorandum titled "Indians desist their Claim of Land lying near ye north Land of Mannor Livingston", dated 13 May 1718, the original signed by Philip Livingston, Robert Livingston, interpreter Martin Vosburgh, Justice of the Peace Roelof Duytser, and Andries Brussie; the memorandum mentions Willem Enoogh, tenant Nikus Janse, surveyor John Beatty, and Indians Catharickset, his wife Nanakema, her daughter Mawemeen, her sister Shano, and her brother Kochak.

Land document, titled "Indians Release Waentas's Land", dated "Mannor Livingston 19 February 1721/2," re: land "lying and being at ye South end of Taghkanik hills," the release made, signed and sealed by Nepetaw, Sankewenaghik, and Corlaer (alias Unanachquin) son of Pighketay, witnessed by eight other Indians and five colonists, the Release approved of and signed by Justice of the Peace Jacob Vosburgh, mentions surveyor John Beatty [Waentas also spelled Waintas].

Land document, titled "The Indians quitt Claim to Land on ye north Line of Mannor Livingston near Roeloff Jansen's kill", dated "Mannor Livingston 4 May 1724," the Quit Claim made, signed and sealed by Nameseet and Potighkamow, and witnessed by interpreter Kekughqua, Notamoss, and Akenimitt, and by Alida Vetch and Geertruyd Bayard, mentions surveyor John Beatty, Hendrick Van Rensselaer, Martin Van Dousse [var. spelled Van Dusen, or Van Deusen], Robert Van Dousse, Robert Teunis Van Dousse, Nikas Janse.

Land Survey, by James Livingston on warrant from Governor William Burnett, with map sketch in ink and watercolor, titled "A Draft of the Land Granted to Severall Palatine head's in ye Mannor of Livingston", dated 17 October 1724, for land adjoining the Hudson River below Robert's Point, comprising 5,768 acres with an addition of 231 acres, mentions grantees Jacob Scherp, Johannes Herremer, John Coleman, and Christophell Huyendom.

2 letters of eviction, from Robert Livingston Jr. to tenant William Bevin, both being contemporary or near contemporary copies drawn up at Livingston's request by Teunis Van Vechten, the originals dated 8 July 1766 and 23 March 1767.

Deposition made by Peter Van Den Bogart, a farmer of Livingston Manor, signed at Albany on 14 July 1767 and sworn to, before Justice John Ten Eyck, re: the matter of Robert Livingston Jr. v. his tenant William Bevin, mentions Hendrick Rensselaer.

(2 items) Articles of agreement, made 12 April 1782, between Leonard Conine, tenant farmer of Livingston Manor, and John Laraway, setting terms of one year's rent and labor for Conine's housing of Laraway and his family, witnessed by John A. Fonda and John Bingham; and, c. 1784 accounting of rent paid by Jonathan Adams to Robert R. Livingston, at Ancram, "for Stephen Johns, for the use of his farm at Oblong," for the period 1782-1784, mentions Mr. Gray, Mr. Van Buren, Capt. Dacker, with "Alford" written at bottom of the page beside a tear, and the name of Robert R. Van Deusen written on the reverse.

(2 items) Original receipt of 1788 and a 1796 copy, both signed by New York state auditor Peter J. Curtenius, re: collection of Quit Rents, paid by "Robert Livingston Esq. of the Manor" for a period 1765-1787, and received by Robert C. Livingston.

(2 items) Letters, re: a dispute over the rights to Livingston Manor: Letter from Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, at Clermont, to Robert Livingston Esq. of the Manor, dated 2 August 1790; Early Copy of Robert Livingston Esq.'s reply to the Chancellor, dated 2 September 1790.

(3 items) Notes, re: the survey and division of Livingston Manor after the death of Col. Robert Livingston, 3rd Lord of the Manor, in 1790: ND Note from Peter Van Schaick to John Livingston, c. 1795-1796, unsigned (possibly an early copy), re: offering recommendations to John Livingston for a defense against claim to lands "near to the Premises in Question," mentions "the Division in 1794"; ND List of Names – James Elliot, Duncan Thompson, John Dings [John Bingham?], John Wigram, John A. Fonda, Judge Woodworth, Teunis Van Vechten, Old Mr. Ten Broeck, Old Mr. Bleeker, John Loomis, Coenradt Clyne, Jacob Cline, William Melius, General Schuyler – with note, in a second hand, re: a land survey by Mr. Wigram; ND Note, unsigned (bottom of the sheet missing), re: apparently deposing Mr. Wigram, surveyor of Livingston Manor and collector of rents, of the details of a survey completed "with a view to accomplish an equal division of the Manor agreeable to the Will of the late Robert Livingston," mentions that 400 farms are contained within the Manor.

Judgment, dated 7 March 1797, affirming prior judgments of the New York State Supreme Court in two cases (the litigants names being partially illegible due to tears to the sheet), possibly "[Jerem]iah Schutt vs. [Jam]es Jackson ex dem: [Ma]ry Livingston" and "[Freder]ick Schutt vs. [James] Jackson ex dem: [Mary] Livingston", an early copy, addresses the State Senate and "the Hon Mr. Chancellor Livingston," mentions Chief Justice Robert Yates and Justices John Sloss Hobart and John Lansing Jr., hearers of the cases, and implies the signature of Bancker, the Clerk of the Court.