The Ludlam family had a long history as surveyors for the village, city, and borough of Brooklyn. Stephen Ludlam was the first, being appointed in 1809. He was followed by his son Silas in 1834, and succeeded by grandsons and great-grandsons into the 20th century. Silas Ludlam (1806-1892) was born in New York City and began working as a surveyor in Brooklyn around 1827. He surveyed farms and estates--such as those of the Duffield, Middagh, Remsen, Pierrepont, and Jackson families--as Brooklyn grew into a village and city. Silas lived and worked in the neighborhood now known as Brooklyn Heights; at the time of his death, he lived at 176 Remsen Street. Isaac Ludlam (1800-1880) was born in Oyster Bay, N.Y. and lived in New York City. He served as City Surveyor for almost 40 years and regularly surveyed properties in Brooklyn.
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Sources
- "Death of Isaac T. Ludlam."
New York Times, December 28, 1880.
- "Silas Ludlam Dead."
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 3, 1892, 12.
From the guide to the Isaac and Silas Ludlam papers, 1826-1839, (Brooklyn Historical Society)
