Copy of B. Schuyler's map of part of the creek etc. surveyed August 1744, 1744

Name:

Schuyler, Brandt, 1717-1752

Timespan:

18th century

Date:

1744

Description:

A hand drawn survey map depicting a portion of land located at the southern end of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, currently known as the Two Bridges neighborhood. Schuyler's map, rendered in water color and black ink, is described as "a plan of the part of the creek in the meadow emptying into the [East] River." The map is bound by three landmarks: at southwest corner is the property of James Desbrosses; at the north is the Jewish burial ground; and at the southeast is the "gibbet where Hughson hung." The bottom of the map is bordered by a portion of the East River. The Creek illustrated over the land and streets is bound at the north by Oak Street, at the west by James Street, and at the southeast by Cherry Street where it flows into the East River. The Jewish burial ground depicted on the map is the site of Chatham Square Cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel. The cemetery now located at St. James Place in Chinatown was founded by Sephardi Jewish immigrants and purchased in 1682 by Joseph Bueno de Mesquita. Active from 1683 to 1833, the cemetery is now a fragment of its original extent. The gibbet noted on the map refers to John Hughson, his wife Sarah and an acquaintance, Margaret Kerry. Hughson was a tavern owner and dealer in stolen merchandise. The trio was accused and convicted of arson at the British stronghold of Fort George at the southern tip of Manhattan. The Hughsons, Kerry, and several slaves were hung at this site in 1742. Written at the bottom of the map is "Done at the request of Messrs. Anthony Rutgers, John Roosevelt, Jacobus Roosevelt & Christopher Bancker, New York the 22nd August 1744." The four men were each pursuing a water lot grant from the Common Council to extend their properties into the East River. A description of the map is written at the bottom with a note regarding streets and lots written on the upper right.

Identifier:

2016.04.10.00010

Language:

English

Provenance:

Purchased by Arnold Kaplan with the Penn Libraries for the Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica.; Kaplan, Arnold Harvey, 1939- donor.; Kaplan, Deanne, donor.

Relation:

The Kaplan Term Acquisition Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/1229052

Subject:

Jewish cemeteries; Jewish cemeteries -- New York (State) -- New York -- 18th century

Form/Genre:

manuscripts (documents); manuscript maps; maps (documents); Manuscripts, American

Physical Description:

1 item (1 leaf)

Geographic Subject:

Lower Manhattan (New York, N.Y.) -- Maps -- Early works to 1800; Lower Manhattan (New York, N.Y.) -- History -- 18th century -- Sources; New York (State) -- New York

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Schuyler was born in New York City to Philip and Ann Elizabeth Staats Schulyer in 1717. He was a commission merchant in Manhattan. In 1744 he was appointed city surveyor. Schuyler later served as Deputy Mayor and an Adlerman for the South Ward of the city of New York. On April 16, 1741 Schuyler married Margareta Van Wyck and the couple had six children. Their youngest daughter, born shortly after Schuyler's death, was poet Ann Eliza Bleecker (1752-1783).; Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Kaplan Term Acquisition Fund.; Kaplan Collection copy collectify no. 2016.04.10.00010

Physical Location:

Arc.MS.56, Oversize Box 5, Folder 4

Collection:

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Collection of Early American Judaica (University of Pennsylvania); Kaplan Term Acquisition Fund