Papers, 1753-1790.

ArchivalResource

Van Cortlandt, John, 1721-1786. Papers, 1753-1790.

Papers, 1753-1790.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58772889

Papers, 1753-1790, mainly concerned with the operations of John Van Cortlandt's sugar house, but including material dealing with his other business interests. There is also an undated book of sample legal writs. The sugar house was built in 1755, at the north-west corner of Trinity Churchyard in New York City, and John Van Cortlandt took over sole proprietorship of it in 1757. The material related to its operations consists of fourteen daybooks, 1758-1786; two weight books, 1757-1762 and 1765-1757; two receipt books, 1757-1762 and 1766-1771; two shipping books containing bills of lading, 1766-1773; an invoice book, 1766-1769; an account book of the amount of sugar refined at the sugar house, 1784-1787; and a commission account book, 1787-1790. Many of the records contain some material on other business. They include transactions involving other members of the Van Cortlandt family, and the estates of John Van Cortlandt's grandfather, Stephanus, his father, Stephen, and his brother, Samuel. The invoice book and the shipping books indicate the geographical reach of John Van Cortlandt's sugar trade; most shipments are to destinations in North America, but some are to the West Indies, and there are a few to Europe and West Africa. Other material includes a book recording house rentals, 1765-1777, in which some of the properties form part of Stephen Van Cortlandt's estate; a book entitled "Account of Stephen, Samuel, John and Philip Van Cortlandt with John Van Cortlandt and others," 1753-1755; two general account books, one dated 1771, the other dated from New Jersey, 1777-1783; a book of accounts related to the snuff mill in New York City which John Van Cortlandt controlled in partnership with his father-in-law, Nicholas Bayard, and Frederick Sigismund Lentz, 1763-1770; and an undated index volume.

30 v.

New-York Historical Society