Brooklyn Historical Society Mixed manuscript collection
Call Number
1974.037
Date
1626 - 1957, inclusive
Creator
Extent
7.69 Linear Feet
in 2 manuscript boxes and 5 oversize boxes.
Language of Materials
English .
Abstract
This collection handwritten documents of various provenance that had been artificially assembled by librarians at the Long Island Historical Society (now the Center for Brooklyn History) in the 19??s. Documents primarily concern Kings, Queens, and Suffolk Counties in New York State, as well as the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Most items are legal documents, such as court records, deeds, and bonds. Additional materials include election records, Revolutionary War documents, family papers, and one enslaved person's bill of sale. Specific individuals and families represented in the documents include Aaron Burr, Robert Fulton, Frederick Douglas, the Pettet family, Samuel Spragg, and the Young family, among others. Documents of Kings County representatives of the Continental Congress, as well as a copy of a document in Dutch referencing the Dutch purchase of the island of Manhattan from Native Americans, are also included.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains handwritten materials dating from 1626 to 1957. The majority of the items document the business dealings of individuals, from indentures to deeds to letters of recommendation. Notable items include a court release endorsed by Andrew Burr and a note about accommodations for a business trip written by Frederick Douglass. Other items in this collection address political concerns, such as an act to protect the contents of vessels wrecked at sea, or the business matters of small organizations, like the Bethlehem Star Masonic chapter. The collection was compiled by library staff at the Long Island Historical Society.
Subjects
Organizations
Families
Genres
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
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); Brooklyn Historical Society Mixed manuscript collection, 1974.037, Box and Folder number; Center for Brooklyn History, Brooklyn Public Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source and date of acquisition unknown. Formally accessioned in 1974.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-06-09 13:45:41 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English
Processing Information
This collection was processed to the item level.
Processing Information
Oppressive descriptive language was remediated from the abstract note in this finding aid as part of an anti-racist descriptive language audit performed in January 2021. Folder titles were retained to maintain record of descriptive language of collection creators.
Sponsor Note
This collection was processed and described as part of the project, "Uncovering the Secrets of Brooklyn's 19th Century Past: Creation to Consolidation," funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources, with additional support from The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
Revisions to this Guide
March 1, 2019:
Updated by Mary Mann to reflect incorporation of additional materials
January 2021:
Revised by Amy Lau, Archivist, to remediate oppressive language from abstract note.
Repository
Brooklyn Historical Society
View Inventory
15 million 5 hundred thousand dollar bond issued to Drexel, Morgan and Co., 1863, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
15 million 5 hundred thousand dollar bond issued to Hamilton Fish, 1881, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
159th Regiment Volunteers, 1862
Box: OS-42 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Agreement signed by Joshua Cornnell and Moses Taylor, 1709, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Agreement to raise the salary of Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker (in Dutch), 1787
Box: OS-38, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
American School Diary of William Robbins, 1876-1877, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
An Act to Preserve the Freedom and Indpendence of this State, 1784, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
An act to protect the contents of vessels wrecked at sea, February 16, 1787, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Anderfuhren, Albert last will and testimony, 1904, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Appointment of John Bergen to assist shipwrecks, February 16, 1787
Box: OS-40 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Blank bond issued by quartermaster general Timothy Pickering, 1780, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Book commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Masonic Star of Bethlehem Grand Chapter, 1944-1964, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Broadsheets printed with Governor Charles S. Whitman's proclamation regarding a state military census, 1917-06-06
Box: OS-41 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Brooklyn Fire Brick and Clay Retort Works, June 26, 1869, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Buery, William recommendation letter from the Governor of Pennsylvania plus handwritten letter with unidentified sender and recipient, 1624-1923, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Certification of John B. Sammis contribution from Washington National Monument Society, 1850, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Certification of payment for those employed on the 1779 Expedition to Virginia, May 6, 1784, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Charter giving lands to "George Master of Rosse", September 1728
Box: OS-41 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Copy of General Order No. 10, distributed by Admiral Farragut to the captains under his command, 1864-07-12
Box: OS-38, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Declaration of belief in the sacrament and against adoration of saints, multiple signatures, undated
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Decree appointing Richard Waterman to Providence, RI Justice of the Peace, September 26, 1753, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Deed signed by John Scidmore of Huntington in Suffolk County, 1746, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Drawing and description of Samuel A. Willoughby, 1903, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Exiles' Property (probably from Terhune family papers), Revolutionary War era
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Grening, Paul C. deed to More, Jane E., December 19, 1887, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Harris, Sarah to Lady_Little (Brooklyn to Philadelphia letter), January 31, 1800, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Home insurance purchased by Sarah Milburn for 177 Hoyt Street, July 1, 1880, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Illuminated manuscript booklet (in Latin), 1750, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture for land sold to Richard Bryan in Cornwall, England, 1748, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture for lumber business for Charles L. Snow, April 25, 1859, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture for property owned by Sarah J. and Charles L. Benedict to Edward J. Roberts, 1874, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture of Samuel Thorne, 1722, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture of William Bulby to George Morton, 1714, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Indenture of William Bulley and settling of account with Mordecai Harrison, 1714-1736, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Insurance for an addition to the house of Thomas Arden at 7 Franckfort Street by the Mutual Assurance Company, 1798-03-23
Box: OS-38, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Interstate Commerce Commission papers, 1914-1925, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Kings County nominations for the Provincial Congress, November 14, 1775, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Kings County notarized statements of pay, 1869-1877, inclusive
Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Labor contract for building of Southold Harbour wharf, 1786, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Last will and testimony in County Court of N. London, 1677, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letter from P. Schagen to the States General of the Dutch Republic about the purchase of Manhattan (in Dutch), November 1626, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letter from representatives of Queens County upholding Kings County congress nomination, February 19, 1789, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letter of recommendation for Mr. Sands for Senator, March 16, 1791, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letter of recommendation for Samuel Cloves as Judge for Queens County, March 22, 1792, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letter to assessors and collectors of Brookland from the town supervisors, 1729, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letters from Frederick Douglass to H.M. Smith regarding a trip from D.C. to Brooklyn, February 10 and February 16, 1893, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Letters of patent for William Farris for improvements in propelling carriages, signed by John Adams and Timothy Pickering, 1797-04-29
Box: OS-38, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
List of laws affecting altering streets, avenues, etc, in the City of Brooklyn, 1867, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Lynde, Charles W. deed to Mitchell, Clarence G., March 21, 1848, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Marstons, William and Haycock, William signed document (folded parchment), 1713, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Mayhew family tree
Box: OS-37 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Ordination documentation for Samuel Niles, Thomas Prince and John Webb in Boston, March 7, 1732, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Papers of the Masonic Star of Bethlehem Grand Chapter, 1957-1992, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Pardon for treason issued by George III for Israel Howell, January 23, 1777, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Payroll documentation for judiciary, sheriff and city courts, April, 1892, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Petitions and accompanying documents of the Apalachian and Timuquan Indians of Florida (in Spanish), 1688, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Pettet family papers (3 legal documents), 1776-1782, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Photostat of Profession of Faith, undated
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Power of attorney notice of mariner Samuel Spragg, 1757, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Proof of Tory allegiance for the protection of Richard Hudson, 1776-1778, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Receipt and court release both endorsed by Aaron Burr, 1827-1828, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Receipt of goods for James Keenan from James Rorke and Co., November 30, 1869, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Records of Suffolk County court verdicts (William Smith, John Conklin), 1741-1756, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Red Cross Service Flag, 1919, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Resolutions on the death of General Joseph C. Pinckney of the Order of the American Star, April 6, 1881, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Royal order of leave for Daniel Hanton to appeal to the King in Council, February 11, 1757, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Sale of slave from Benajah Strong in the County of Suffolk to Thomas Tredwell of Huntington, November 3, 1793, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
School District 6 tax collection papers, 1896-1897, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Suffolk County court records (2 documents), 1666-1699, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Surrogate court ruling for Jane Anne and Charles C. Pinckney, March, 1892, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Westerly, RI town meeting notes, March 4, 1699, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Will and codicil of Robert Fulton, March 6, 1816, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Young family papers (6 miscellaneous documents, 2 in Latin), 1742-1774, inclusive
Box: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
