Lot # 819

QUACKENBUSH FAMILY BUSINESS ARCHIVE,

ca 350 items, 1729-1918 (most 1755-1820).

As early as the 1650s, Quackenbushes are recorded in the Dutch colonial settlements near Albany, N.Y., and over the succeeding century, the family grew in stature and wealth. By the 1750s and 1760s, one branch of the family had acquired significant property holdings in the Cambridge patent (northeast of Albany and due east of Saratoga), a beautiful and productive terrain best remembered today as the home of Grandma Moses and fabulous fall color. Stretching from Albany to Cambridge, the Quackenbushes emerged as major property holders, land speculators, and merchants, with some becoming substantial slaveholders. Still fluent in Dutch until well into the 18th century, they sided with the Revolutionary cause during the 1770s and emerged from the conflict with their fortunes and futures intact, if not strengthened.

The Quackenbush family papers document the lives and business affairs of this prominent upstate New York family, as the region evolved from Dutch colony into American state. The collection centers on three generations: Johannes W. Quackenbush (1709-1774), his wife Margrita Bogaert (d.1785), their son Nicholas (1734-1813), his wife Catharina Van Pelt (d.1775), and their son Nicholas N. (1764-1823). The correspondence, financial records, and extensive deeds and records of property holdings make it possible not only to track the rising fortunes of this family, but the settlement of the upper Hudson River Valley during the 18th century, the expansion of commerce, and the fortunes of war.

The correspondence, per se, typically treats with family matters, giving a sense of the intimate bonds between family members, even those separated by time and space, but the letters also provide a basis for understanding the growth of family wealth, their material world, and intentions. The Quackenbushes’ personal finances are documented in a series of detailed wills for John Van Pelt (1758), Catrina Coeman (n.d.), Johannes Quackenbush (1763), Nicholas Quackenbush (1776), and Margaret Quackenbush (1784); and a fine estate inventory for Nicholas Quackenbush (1813), marking the passage of wealth through three generations. More important, however, are the daybooks of household and personal expenses that document the family’s material possessions, cash flow, and day to day expenditures. However, a more poignant indication of the family’s great wealth (and how they got wealthy) appears in a series of documents relating to the transfer and use of slaves. A significant force in colonial New York, slavery lingered well into the early Republic, and throughout the Quackenbush collection, there are subtle and not so subtle records of its effects. Most obviously, the collection includes five agreements for the sale or lease of slaves: Catheriena Livingston’s sale of an 18 year old man named Christian (countersigned by Robert Livingston, Jr., Nov. 1, 1753; sale of a slave named Dina, n.d., but ca.1795?); a scarce and quite late lease of a slave named Peet for a period of seven years (April 1, 1803); a sale of 1/5 share each of a male and female slave from the estate of Johannes Quackenbush, Aug. 13, 1785; and a 1/5 share of a woman slave, same date. A close reading of the daybooks and account books, however, provides additional instances of slave hire and slave activity.

Volumetrically, the most weighty part of the collection are the extensive documents relating to the Quackenbush’s land holdings in upstate New York and their post-Revolutionary speculating in veterans’ land warrants. This rather spectacular record of land holdings is further augmented by the presence of a small number of fascinating and valuable manuscript maps. More than just surveys of property, these maps are handsome examples of eighteenth century provincial cartography, especially the attractive, hand-colored map “Survey of 2500 acres,” surveyed by John DeWitt in May, 1767, and the impressively large vellum survey map of the Cambridge tract, bounded by the Hoosic River to the south and Hudson to the west. Of further note are three letters from Robert Livingston, Jr., the “most important man in colonial Albany” (one in Dutch), 1750-1751, and one from Philip Livingston, April 22, 1745.

In addition to the manuscript materials, the collection includes a selection of printed materials, highlighted by five broadsides (or more accurately, four broadsides and a broadsheet), particularly an undated Dutch song (probably ca.1750-1770) and a satirical poem lambasting lawyers, “A Dialogue between two respectable personages” with “A portrait” on the verso. The copious almanacs are fine examples of a popular form of printing in the early Republic, and the presence of an assortment of early Republic newspapers may be partly explained by the presence of a prospectus for the Albany Argus (for which 42 issues are present), for which Henry Quackenbush was among the financial backers. Two early 19th century books are notable primarily for bearing the large and highly decorative leather ownership labels of Jane Quackenbush.

Partial Inventory

Family correspondence 1756-1814 (63 items)

Johannes(?) Quackenbush. Account book, 1729-1755.
Double entry accounts in leather bound vol., most early ones in Dutch, for carpentry work and other goods and services (with credits of varied nature). Includes entries recording slaves hired out and charges to estate of Myndert Schuyler, 1754-55.

Nicholas Quackenbush. Ledger of purchases 1761-1772
34pp. in oblong vellum-bound volume, recording purchases of hardware and other goods ranging from shovels and spades to screw kings, wire mouse traps, shipwrights adzes, and saddle chains

Nicholas Quackenbush. Account book, 1769-1772
Vellum-bound volume (9pp. only used) with accounts for materials purchased in construction of house

Financial records
Account book, 1752-1753 (8pp.). Carpentry tools, etc.
“Expedition book,” 1755 (12pp.). Walter Quackenbush, “accounts for materials for whale boat that is built in Sconacktenda”
Daybook, 1755-1770 (ca.125pp.). Nicholas Quackenbush. Accounts receivable.
Account book, 1759-1762. (ca.80pp.). Nicholas Quackenbush. Accounts receivable. With playing card used as note to Quackenbush, requesting his presence at a meeting respecting the new ferry.
Account book, 1773-1775.
Daybook, 1793-1796 (112pp.). Record of household expenses, including for food, wine and beer, work around the house, and miscellaneous expenses. Includes numerous entries paying local African Americans for a variety of services, from sweeping chimneys to paving, supply of stone, and killing an ox.
Daybook, 1796-1797 (38pp.). Household expenses, as above.
Daybook, 1814-1817 (18pp.). Household expenses, as above.
Legal Daybook, 1790 (8p.). Record of fees for legal services.
Miscellaneous financial correspondence (10 items), 1784-1813. Some details on prices and purchases.
Miscellaneous receipts (37 items), 1752-1805. Including a receipt for green tea and blankets from famous Jewish New York merchants Hayman and Solomon Levy, signed by Solomon.
Invoices and receipts for building and materials (46 items), 1784-1786. Work performed by Nicholas Quackenbush.

Commissions, deeds, other documents
Nicholas N. Quackenbush. DS on vellum. License to practice law in NY. 1785 Nov. 19. Signed by Richard Morris.
Nicholas N. Quackenbush. Commission as Examiner of the Court of Chancery, 1802 April 5. Signed by Governor George Clinton with intact pendant wax seal.
Nicholas N. Quackenbush. Commission as First Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Albany Co., 1803 Jan. 13. Signed by George Clinton with intact pendant wax seal.
Nicholas N. Quackenbush. 3 vellum licenses to practice law, 1798-1802.
Cornelius McDormet letters patent to military warrant land in Ulysses, N.Y., 1790 July 3. Signed by George Clinton with broken pendant wax seal.
Nicholas Comidine letters patent to military warrant land in Hector, N.Y., 1790 Aug. 5. Signed by George Clinton with intact pendant wax seal.
David Johnson Copy of letters patent to military warrant land in Cicero, N.Y., 1790 April 6. (including deed signing land to Quackenbush).
Jonathan Patterson Copy of letters patent to military warrant land in Cicero, N.Y., 1790 April 6. (includes deposition stating that Patterson had sold his land entirely to Quackenbush).
Jonathan Patterson Copy of letters patent to military warrant land in Cicero, N.Y., 1790 April 6. (includes deposition stating that Patterson had sold his land entirely to Quackenbush).
John H. Holland letters patent to military warrant land in Aurelius, N.Y., 1790 April 6. Signed by John Jay, with broken pendant wax seal.
John Reins Deed to Richard Riker for military warrant land in Lansing, N.Y., 1795 Dec. 11.
Gansevoort Quackenbush. Commission as Lieutenant in 89th NY Militia, June 10, 1820. Signed by De Witt Clinton (separating at folds; old tape repair)

Manuscript maps
“Survey of 2500 acres… surveyed by John DeWitt and others on the East side of Hudson River, County of Albany,” May 1, 1767, ca.14x12”. Spectacular and important map, hand colored, with survey and map signed by Alexander Colden
Cambridge, N.Y., 1768. On vellum, ca.2.5x3’. Map by Thomas Vallentine based on surveys of Archibald Campbell of region of present-day Cambridge, from Saratoga and Hudson River east and Hoosic River north. Lands owned by Cadwalader Colden, Abraham Lansing, et al.
Map of Cambridge patent, n.d. (1768?). On vellum, ca.7x11”. Sketchy, but very interesting map from Fort Edward south along Hudson River.
Survey and map of lots on Crown and Nassau Streets, New York, Nov. 9, 1785 (two maps), ca.14x12”
Street map of Lansingburgh, N.Y., ca.1795? On vellum, ca.2.5x3’. By Joseph Blanchard, depicting streets and house lots (each 20x50’), with drawings of meetinghouses in center square
“Map of land under water in the Fifth Ward of the City of Albany,” 1821. ca.12 x 18”, by John Randel. Hand colored in blue and red.
Also ca.50 deeds and other documents related to properties, primarily in and near Albany and Cambridge, 1733-1802. Some with survey maps, many large and on vellum.

Newspapers
Albany Argus broken run, 1814-1822. 42 issues and 2 extras
Albany Gazette, Aug. 21, 1797 and supplement Feb. 20, 1795
Albany Register, 1811-1822. 28 issues.
New York Herald, April 16, 1865. Issue announcing assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Excellent condition
New York Gazette, March 18, 1766 (2pp. only)
Paulliac Pilot, Sept. 7, 1918 (WWI American aviator’s newspaper)
Boston Traveler, Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice issue, headline: “President Gives Terms of Peace”

Broadsides
“Nieuw Liedt. Een Vryder Klaght” (A New Song: ). S.n., s.l. In Dutch.
“To the Freeholders and Freemen of the City and County of New-York,” (NY, 1768). Regarding the illness of Rep. William Bayard. Worn at seams, some text lacking.
“A Dialogue between two respectable personages” and on verso “A portrait.” Satirical poem on lawyers.
“Debates on dividing Orange County,”
“We do ourselves the pleasure…,” January 5, 1813. Prospectus for publication of the Albany Argus (signed in print by Henry Quackenbush).

Printed Volumes
Volumes in generally worn condition, including The Token for 1829 (on front cover: fine red morocco label with decorative gold border stamped J. Quackenbush); William Dodd, The Beauties of Shakespeare (London, 1821, 16mo, but with handsome blind-stamped gilt ownership with decorative border and name, Jane Quackenbush); T. Priestley, The Christian’s Looking-Glass, or the Timorous Soul’s Guide (Newburyport: G.J. Osborne, 1793); 9 additional volumes and pamphlets.
Almanacs: Beers Calendar or Hosford’s New York and Vermont Almanac, 1823, 1824, 1826; Beers Calendar or Southwick Almanac, 1814, 1816; Hutchins Improved Almanac, 1831-1832; Knickerbocker Almanac, 1892; Loomis’ Calendar, 1831, 1832; Poor Richard Revised or the Albany Almanac, 1802; State of New York Agricultural Almanac, 1822, 1823; Tuttle’s Almanac, 1836; Webster’s Calendar, or the Albany Almanac, 1813-1815, 1817-1821, 1823, 1825, 1827, 1829, 1832, 1833, 1837, 1839-1856.

Miscellaneous
Margrietje Bogert. “Nieuw Jaars Wensch aen myn Eerwardege Broeder en Sister…,” Jan. 1, 1734. Handsome calligraphic new year’s greeting with decorative borders, dated New York. In Dutch.
Catherine Van Pelt. School exercise book, 1756 (weights and measures, arithmetic, finances).
Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, N.Y. Stock certificate (one share), Nov. 28, 1792. Handsome printed certificate with state seal
City of New-York Lottery ticket, Feb. 1790. Some damage from cancellation, but attractive.
Lottery ticket stub book (with some unsold tickets). N.d., ca.1790-95.
Albany and Schenectady Rail Road, 1847. 4 documents relating to easement of land owned by Nicholas Quackenbush
Floor plan of house owned by Nicholas Quackenbush, ca.1796
Sketchbook of Catharine N. Quackenbush, 1804, with floral designs (for embroidery?)

In recent years, Dutch New York has returned to prominence as a topic of historical interest and families like the Quackenbushes, who played such an important role in the social and economic life of the region around Albany, are critical to a proper assessment. The Quackenbush collection offers a rare opportunity to track a single elite family from the mid-colonial period into the early years of the new Republic, and has potential to add to our understanding of the dynamics of a distinctive ethnic and cultural group, the growth of the market, land speculation and tenancy, and much more. Generally good condition with expected wear. (EST $15000-$25000)