Series III. Legal Papers (Access Restrictions Apply), 1799, 1840s-1935, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series primarily includes records concerning the various legal matters handled by W. Stebbins Smith. The series has not been processed and so this description is based on a quick survey of the content of each box. Perhaps half of the series remains in its original condition of tri-folded documents tied together in bundles, often several inches in depth. The rest of the documents are loose and so their relationship, if any, to surrounding documents is unclear.
Overall, the legal matters appear to center, perhaps exclusively so, on real estate property transactions and general estate matters (i.e., administration of wills). These appear to principally concern Bronx communities such as Morrisania, Melrose, Olinville, Highbridgeville, West Farms, and Wakefield, and others not noted. Property in areas outside the Bronx, such as White Plains, are also represented in the series. Transactions include purchases, sales, and leases of property, as well as claims related to property ownership, such as tax liens, assessments for improvements, damage claims against or on behalf of owners, and the like.
Generally, it appears that Smith represented individuals, not corporate/institutional interests. One major exception to this is that he seems to have often represented local Methodist Episcopal churches, including the Centreville African Methodist Episcopal Church, in their real estate matters, as reflected in the series.
Documents in the series include title abstracts, deeds, insurance policies, contracts/agreements, wills, mortgages, assessments, damage claims, property maps, tax bills, and other real estate transaction-related documents. Print matter is found throughout, such as newspaper clippings of real estate auctions and other related matters, auction broadsides, tax lien and other property-related lists, etc. There is extensive, though scattered, correspondence. Much of this relates to legal matters, but much also relates to other matters as reflected in the correspondence of Series I. Some of this appears to have formerly been in letterboxes such as those represented in Series I, while other letters are loose.
The majority of the documents, dating from the 1880s-1930s, relate to the activities of W. Stebbins Smith. The series also includes many documents from the 1840s-1870s that relate to Smith's father, Chauncey Smith, who was also a lawyer. There is some overlap in the 1870s and perhaps in the early 1880s as the father and son partnered for a brief time. Some documents relate to Smith's handling of Chauncey's estate. It is also likely that some of the early documents do not relate to Chauncey's activities, but were compiled by W. Stebbins Smith as part of his file on matters of a later date.
In the container list, the phrase "Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters" is used to indicate that the above-described broad mix of documents is present in the box. In some instances, particular document types or legal matters could be readily discerned on a quick survey and those were also noted in the container list, but should not be taken as encompassing a box's entire content. None of the tri-folded bundles were unbound during the survey so the survey could only perceive the content based on the description from the outermost document (which was often the title abstract with the name of the matter). Date ranges are rough and based on the (relatively few) viewed documents.
Arrangement
The series has not been processed and generally there is no organization to the documents. Overall, each box in the series holds documents from a wide date range and on various matters. Documents on what appears to be the same or related matters are found in more than one box (e.g., the names John B. Suffern, George Stolz, Jennie Irving, and John Devoe are among the many that appear on documents throughout the boxes in the series). However, much of the material is tri-folded and tied together in thick bundles, with presumably some relationship that can possibly be determined from the labeling on the outermost document.
Conditions Governing Access
Because of the condition of the documents in the series, access requires mediation by N-YHS staff. Patrons are permitted to review the contents of the boxes in the series, but will need to consult with the manuscripts curator or processing archivist before accessing each box. Further, patrons wishing to have particular bundles of documents opened will need to have that done by N-YHS processing staff. Accordingly, patrons should be aware that special arrangements and likely multiple visits will be needed for use of the documents in this series.
Processing Information
The series has not been processed. The documents were transferred into record cartons for archival storage at some point in the early 2000s but have not otherwise been physically processed. The contents of the cartons were skimmed in October 2021 by archivist Larry Weimer to develop this preliminary finding aid.
Unprocessed files, 1853-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
About 1/2 box of loose documents, including, among others: check stubs, 1853-64; newspaper clippings, 1860s; manuscript map of land in West Farms owned by Rebecca Marcher, 1880; draft of bill of legal expenses (rolled), 1902; certificate to Smith for his contribution to the Henry Hudson monument at Spuyten Duyvil Hill; correspondence re: Smith vs. Cosmopolitan, circa 1919; and miscellaneous tax bills, loan applications, requests for mortgage placements; etc.
Unprocessed files, 1860s-1910s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes, among other documents: check stubs, 1860s; partial(?) contents of one or more letterboxes, 1901, 1904; and loose pile of letters, clippings, etc., 1870s-1910s.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1900s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bulk is dated 1890s.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bulk 1880s-circa 1901, with some documents ranging to the 1920s.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1931, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bundles of bills, 1880s, 1920s, 1931.
Unprocessed files, 1870s-1926, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1799, 1854-1900s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. There is a 1799 indenture.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1935, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Appears to have a relatively large amount of general correspondence from 1893, including some concerning the estate of Chauncey Smith. 1932 bills. Some 1935 correspondence from the city re: tax lien information.
Unprocessed files, 1860s-1933, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Checks, 1860s. Bundles of bills, 1870s, 1881, 1928, 1929, 1933. Correspondence, 1898-1899. Pile of insurance policies, 1890s.
Unprocessed files, 1852-1925, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Tax sale notices 1910s-1925.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1920, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. There are a few documents concerning the Centreville African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was represented by Smith, and its title and sale of property in Westchester, circa 1890s.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1930s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bundle of bills, 1920. Tax sale notices, 1920s-30s.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1924, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Many more documents here concerning the Centreville African Methodist Episcopal Church; appears to relate to the sale of their property and graveyard, with plans to re-inter the remains at Woodlawn (apparently the reinterment occurred at Mount Hope Cemetery instead).
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Documents related to the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church building. Pile of insurance policies, 1900s-1910s.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Documents concerning the incorporation of the Swedish Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. Documents related to the New York City Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, circa 1921. Checks, 1850s-60s.
Unprocessed files, 1840s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1920, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Documents from case of 1850s in which Chauncey Smith represented Mary E. Ditchett in her lawsuit against the Spuyten Duyvil & Port Morris Railroad Company for causing the death of her husband who fell into a ditch the railroad opened and failed to secure during roadwork. Documents concerning the Prospect Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.
Unprocessed files, 1860s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1910s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Also 6 small, original pigeonhole boxes holding documents.
Unprocessed files, 1840s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1860s-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds, among other documents, the partial contents of various letterboxes, 1904, 1918-19, 1921-22; check stubs, 1860s-70s; Bronx auction catalog, 1899, and other miscellaneous documents to about 1930. Blank forms, especially for Surrogate matters, stationery, and New York Supreme Court print matter. Especially substantive is a circa 1925 study/analysis of the New York City YMCA's program for guidance and placement, and suggestions for those who interview men applying for membership in the Bronx Union YMCA.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1906, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Checks, 1860s-70s. Pile of insurance policies, 1900s.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bills, 1927. Documents concerning Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church matter, 1880s.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1860s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Checks, 1860s.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Many documents relate to compensation claims for the closing of portions of Old West Farms Road between Westchester Avenue and Boston Road, circa 1919-25.
Unprocessed files, 1850s-1926, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Bills, 1926.
Unprocessed files, 1880s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1850-1933, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters. Check stubs, 1850s; Bills, 1880, 1930.
Unprocessed files, 1870s-1920, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1890s-1900s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Unprocessed files, 1870s-1920s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds loose documents on various matters. Holds, among other documents: correspondence (partial), 1898; Smith's certificates as notary public for various years to 1921; checkbook, 1870s-90s; print matter; and blank forms.
Unprocessed files, 1880s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds typical mix of tri-folded bundles and loose documents on various matters.
Oversize documents (flat box), 1875, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds a volume "Abstract of damage and benefit for the opening of Brook Avenue, from tide water to the Harlem Railroad at 165th Street, New-York" and loose sheets that appear to be copies of the volume.