The surveys of Rensslearwyck include descriptions of boundaries and plat maps of lots situated in both the East Manor and the West Manor. Job Gilbert and John E. Van Alen, and Evert Van Alen, hired agents of the patroon, did the surveys mostly between 1785 and 1805. These surveys contain information regarding the degrees of latitude and longitude of stakes and natural features used in the delineation of a plat of land. The total acreage is recorded as well as remarks on the characteristics of the land, such as fertility of the soil, type of timber, and other information regarding agricultural value of the land. Also, the date of conveyance of the lease is often noted. Most of the surveys are found in bound volumes that are organized by towns as originally established in the manor. These volumes generally contain an index to the names of leaseholders of a particular lot.
The Hudson River divided the Rensselaerwyck into the East Manor and the West Manor. The East Manor lands included all of Rensselaer County south of Lansingburgh, Schaghticoke, Pittstown, and Hoosick. It was divided into areas known as Elizabethtown, Philiptown, Roxborough, Greenbush, Schodack, Stephentown, Middletown, and Little Hoosick. Elizabethtown included the present town of Brunswick and part of the City of Troy. Greenbush included lands that are presently situated in the City of Rensselaer, East Greenbush, North Greenbush, and the western parts of Postenkill and Sand Lake. Roxborough included the present town of Grafton and the western part of Petersburgh. Philiptown included the present town of Nassau and the western part of Stephentown. Middletown included chiefly the eastern portions of the present towns of Poestenkill and Sand Lake and the western portion of Berlin. Little Hoosick encompassed the present town of Petersburgh and the eastern portion of Berlin. Troy was part of the Manor but is not covered by detailed maps and surveys.
All of Albany County was included in the West Manor except the City of Albany, the southeast portion of the Town of Coeymans and the northern part of the Town of Watervliet (now the Town of Colonie). Land records for the West Manor, for the most part, only cover the present towns of Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, and Westerlo, the other records having been destroyed in the Capitol fire of 1911. Jacob Winne and John Preston were the surveyors for many of the West Manor lots.
| Box | Folder(s) | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Elizabethtown Book "A" (Brunswick and part of Troy), ca. 1789-1796. John E Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (87 p.); 34 cm.; index. |
| 2 | Elizabethtown Book "B" (Brunswick and part of Troy), ca. 1790-1796. John E Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (55 p.); 34 cm; index. | |
| 3 | Elizabethtown Book "C" (Brunswick and part of Troy), ca. 1790. John E Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (ca. 56 p.); 34 cm; indexed. A note written on the cover states that the surveys in this volume were transcribed in Elizabethtown (Brunswick) Survey Books "A" and "B". | |
| 4 | Elizabethtown: Surveys for various plats of land done primarily by Evert Van Alen, circa 1790s. 10 items. | |
| 5 | Elizabethtown: Surveys for various plats of land done primarily by Evert Van Alen, circa 1790s. 11 items. | |
| 6 | Elizabethtown: Surveys of lands held by Daniel and Peter Fonda. Evert Van Alen and John R. Bleecker, surveyors, ca. 1790s. 5 items. | |
| 7 | Elizabethtown (Brunswick): Surveys of lands held by Hendrick Gardenier, ca. 1790s. John E. Van Alen, surveyor. 9 items. | |
| 8 | Elizabethtown (Troy): Surveys of lands held by Johannis Van Buren and Col. Stephen J. Schuyler, ca. 1790s. Evert Van Alen, surveyor. 6 items. | |
| 9 | Elizabethtown (Brunswick): Surveys of lands held by Nicholas Wager (Weger), ca. 1788-1794. Michael Vandercook, surveyor. 12 items. | |
| 10 | Elizabethtown: Surveys of various plats of land by Michael Vandercook, ca. 1788. 8 items. | |
| 11 | Elizabethtown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1788-1792. 9 items. | |
| 12 | Brunswick: Survey of Reformed Dutch Church lands, ca. 1813-1814. William McManuss, surveyor. 4 items Troy: Nail factory lots held by Jeremias Lansing; surveys by Evert Van Alen, ca. 1847. 2 items. | |
| 2 | 1 | Greenbush Survey Book "A" Part I (p. 1-48). John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors, ca. 1790-1805. 1 v.; 32 cm.; unbound; index. |
| 2 | Greenbush Survey Book "A" Part II (p. 49 -94), ca. 1790-1805. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v.; 33 cm.; index. | |
| 3 | Greenbush Survey Book "A" Part III (p. 95-141), ca. 1790-1805. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v.; 33 cm.; index. | |
| 4 | Greenbush Survey Book "B", ca. 1790-1805. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v. (55 p.); 32 cm.; index. | |
| 5 | Greenbush: Surveys of various lands by John E and Evert Van Alen, ca, 1790-1805. 13 items. | |
| 6 | Greenbush: Surveys of various lands by John E and Evert Van Alen, ca, 1790-1805. 12 items. | |
| 7 | Greenbush: Surveys of lots held by David De Friest by John E. Van Alen, ca. 1794. 6 items. | |
| 8 | Greenbush: Survey field notes of various lots by John R. Bleecker, ca. 1780s. 5 items. | |
| 9 | Greenbush: Survey field notes of lands of Jacob Glen and Philip Wendell, ca. 1790s. 8 items. | |
| 3 | 1 | Schodack Survey Book "A" Part I (pp. 1-47), ca. 1790-1796. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v.; 30 cm.; index. |
| 2 | Schodack Survey Book "A" Part II (pp. 48-79), ca. 1790-1796. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v.; 33 cm.; unbound; index. | |
| 3 | Schodack Survey Book "B", ca. 1788-1796. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v. (48 p.); 33 cm.; unbound; indexed. | |
| 4 | Schodack Survey Book "C", ca. 1790-1796. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v. (25 p.); 30 cm.; unbound; indexed. | |
| 5 | Schodack: Survey bills and plats, Evert Van Alen, surveyor, ca. 1803-1846. 1 v. (21 p.); 33 cm.; unbound. | |
| 6 | Schodack: Surveys of landholdings of Barheyt, Schermerhorn, Ten Eyck, Van Buren, and Van Valkenbergh. John E. Van Alen, surveyor, ca. 1789-1797. 12 items. | |
| 7 | Schodack: Land surveys and plat maps of various lots surveyed by John E. and Evert Van Alen, ca. 1790-1799. 12 items. | |
| 8 | Schodack: Land surveys of Ostrander and adjoining lots. John Van Alen, surveyor, ca. 1790-1797. 7 items. | |
| 9 | Schodack: Land surveys and plat maps of lots held by Jonathan and Tobias Witbeck and saw mill lot of McKown and Lansing. John E. Van Alen, surveyor, ca. 1789-1797. 8 items. | |
| 10 | Schodack (Nassau): Land surveys of Thomas Tobias lot and vicinity. John E. Van Alen, surveyor, ca. 1788-1790. 7 items. | |
| 11 | Schodack: Draft and sketch maps, ca. 1765-1790. 6 items. | |
| 4 | 1 | Roxborough (Grafton) Survey Book "A", ca. 1787-1797. John E. Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (37 (74) p.); 33 cm.; index. Town also included lands presently situated in the western part of Petersburgh. |
| 2 | Roxborough (Grafton) Survey Book "B", ca. 1793-1803. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v. (29 (58) p.); 33 cm.; index. | |
| 3 | Roxborough (Grafton) Survey Book "C", ca. 1792-1795. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 1 v. (48 (96) p.); 33 cm.; index. | |
| 4 | Roxborough (Grafton) Survey Book "D", ca. 1790-1793. John E. Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (62 p.); 33 cm.; index. | |
| 5 | Roxborough (Petersburgh): Book of land surveys of lots presently situated in northwest corner of Petersburgh. Lots surveyed ca. 1790-1810. 1 v. (18 p.); 33 cm.; no index. | |
| 6 | Roxborough (Grafton): Land surveys and plat maps of various lots. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors, ca. 1787-1803. 15 items. | |
| 7 | Roxborough (Grafton): Land surveys and plat maps of various lots. John E. and Evert Van Alen, surveyors, ca. 1793-1808. 9 items. | |
| 8 | Roxborough (Grafton): Land surveys related to the northern boundary line of the town, ca. 1800s. 15 items. | |
| 5 | 1 | Field book of Middletown, surveyed in the year 1789, Job Gilbert. 1 v. (148 p.); 32 cm.; index. Information is organized by lot number and notes added later regarding the conveyance of the land. |
| 2 | Middletown: Land survey bills and plats of lots surveyed by Job Gilbert, ca. 187-1789. 9 items. | |
| 3 | Middletown: Land survey bills and plats of lots surveyed by Evert Van Alen, 1797-1803. 7 items. | |
| 4 | Middletown: Land survey bills and plats of lots surveyed by Evert Van Alen, 1795-1806. 8 items. | |
| 5 | Middletown: Land survey bills and plats of lots surveyed by John and Evert Van Alen, 1795-18040. 7 items. | |
| 6 | 1 | Philiptown (Nassau and Stephentown) Survey Book. John Van Alen, surveyor, 1787. 1 v. (204 (416) p.); 39 cm.; bound; index. |
| 7 | 1 | Stephentown and Roxborough Survey Book, ca, 1789-1803. John E. Van Alen, surveyor. 1 v. (61 p.); 33 cm.; index. Stephentown: folios 1-25; Roxborough: folios 26-61. |
| 2 | Stephentown Survey Book, ca. 1788-1806. John Van Alen, surveyor. 1v. (48 (96) p.); 32 cm.; index. | |
| 3 | Stephentown: Book of surveys of various lots copied from other books, ca. 1840s. 1 v. (10 p.); 33 cm. | |
| 4 | Philiptown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1789-1790. John Van Alen. Job Gilbert, and Evert Yates, surveyors. 11 items. | |
| 5 | Philiptown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1792-1805. John and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 8 items. | |
| 6 | Philiptown: Survey bills and plats of various lots situated along Kinderhook Creek, 1786-1814. John and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 9 items. | |
| 7 | Philiptown and Stephentown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1791-1799. John and Evert Van Alen , surveyors. 5 items. | |
| 8 | Philiptown and Stephentown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1790-1807. William Douglas and others, surveyors. 11 items. | |
| 9 | Stephentown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1795-1805. William Douglas, surveyor. 11 items. | |
| 10 | Stephentown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1795-1805. William Douglas, surveyor. 8 items. | |
| 11 | Stephentown: Survey bills and plats of various lots, 1795-1805. William Douglas, surveyor. 10 items. | |
| 12 | Stephentown: Survey bills for various lots, 1786-1787. Noah Ely, surveyor. 34 items, | |
| 13 | Stephentown: Survey bills for Lots in the Stephentown Gore, 1786-1787. Noah Ely, surveyor. 21 items. | |
| 8 | 1 | Petersburgh Survey Book "A" ca. 1787-1793. John Van Alen and others, surveyors. 1 v. (60 (120) p.); 32 cm.; index. |
| 2 | Petersburgh Survey Book "B", ca. 1790s. 1 v. (61 p.); 31 cm.; index. (mostly numbered lots; some farms leased ca. 1810s) | |
| 3 | Little Hoosick Survey Book "A", ca.1790-1795. John Van Alen and others, surveyors. 1 v. (48 (96) p.); 32 cm.; index. Lands are presently situated in Berlin and Petersburgh. | |
| 4 | Little Hoosick Survey Book "B" ca.1791-1805. John Van Alen and others, surveyors. 1 v. (55 (110) p.); 32 cm.; index. | |
| 5 | "Little Hoosick Surveys: Petersburgh and Berlin Office", ca. 1840s. 1 v. (40 p.); 33 cm.; index. | |
| 9 | 1 | Petersburgh: Surveys of lots situated in east mountain region near the Vermont border, ca. 1800-1840. 2 items. 20 p. |
| 2 | Petersburgh: Surveys of unnumbered lots east of Grafton town line, ca. 1790s. 11 p. | |
| 3 | Petersburgh: Surveys and plats of lots held by Abraham Ten Broeck, ca. 1791. John Van Alen, surveyor. 5 items. | |
| 4 | Petersburgh: Surveys and plats of lots in the subdivision of David Davis farm, ca. 1801. 4 items. | |
| 5 | Petersburgh: Surveys and plats of lots held by Benjamin Randall, ca. 1791. John Van Alen, surveyor. (returned by Evert Van Alen, ca, 1822) 12 items. | |
| 6 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plat s of various lots, ca. 1791-1813. John and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 11 items. | |
| 7 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1793-1814. John and Evert Van Alen, surveyors. 13 items. | |
| 8 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1787-1803. Hezekiah Hull, surveyor. 12 items. | |
| 9 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1787-1803. Hezekiah Hull, surveyor. 18 items. | |
| 10 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1787. Hezekiah Hull, surveyor. 10 items. | |
| 11 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills of various lots, ca. 1787-1803. Hezekiah Hull, surveyor. 15 items. | |
| 12 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills of various lots, ca. 1786. William Hull surveyor. 15 items. | |
| 13 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1780s. Various surveyors. 10 items | |
| 14 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1787-1789. Robert Perrigo, Jr., surveyor. 20 items | |
| 15 | Little Hoosick (Berlin and Petersburgh): Survey bills and plats of various lots, ca. 1787-1789. Robert Perrigo, Jr., surveyor. 10 items | |
| 10 | 1 | East Manor Survey Book, ca. 1790-1796. Includes surveys and plats of lots in Middletown, Philiptown, Stephentown, and Little Hoosick. John E. Van Alen, surveyor. 1v. (79 p.); 34 cm.; index. |
| 2 | East Manor: Surveys and plats of lots situated in Elizabethtown, Greenbush, Middletown, and Schodack, ca. 1790-1796. John Van Alen, surveyor. 14 items (from unbound book); index. | |
| 3 | East Manor: Surveys and plats of lots situated in Elizabethtown, Greenbush, Middletown, and Schodack, ca. 1790-1796. John Van Alen, surveyor. 13 items (from unbound book); index. | |
| 4 | East Manor: Surveys and plats of lots situated in Greenbush, Schodack, Philiptown, and Petersburgh, ca. 1790-1796. John Van Alen, surveyor. 16 items (from unbound book); index. | |
| 5 | East Manor: Surveys and plats of lots situated in Greenbush, Middletown, and Schodack, ca. 1790-1796. John Van Alen, surveyor. 30 items (from unbound book); index. | |
| 11 | 1 | Berne: Record of leases by lot number, ca. 1790s. 1 v. (ca. 200 p.); 21 cm. |
| 2 | Berne: Survey field notes and remarks of numbered lots by William Cockburn, ca. 1780s. 1 v. (461 p.); 26 cm. | |
| 12 | 1 | "Manor of Rensselaer, 1789 [Book] B". Surveys of various lots situated in the West Manor by Jacob Winne. 1 v. (Fire salvage restoration). |
| 2 | West Manor Survey Book, ca. 1789. John Preston, surveyor. 1v. (Fire salvage restoration). | |
| 13 | 1 | West Manor: Survey of lots along the Great Western Turnpike, 1834. 1 v. (98 p.) (Fire salvage restoration) |
| 2-3 | West Manor: Survey of lots along both sides of the Schenectady Turnpike, 1802. John Preston, surveyor. 1 v. (240 p.) (Fire salvage restoration) | |
| 14 | 1 | Bethlehem: Surveys and plats of lots by John R. Bleecker, ca. 1776. 3 items. |
| 2 | Bethlehem: Surveys and plats of lots, ca. 1780s. | |
| 3 | Berne: Plat map of lots of John Schoonmaker, Christian Schoonmaker and Col. Abraham Wood. Elijah Templeton, surveyor. 1841. 1 item. | |
| 4 | Westerlo: Plat map of lot held by Deborah Powell and three vacant lots surveyed by John Preston, 1822. | |
| 5-8 | Albany Water Works: Land titles, land surveys, plat maps, contracts, and specifications, 1813. | |
| 9-12 | Papers related to Van Rensselaer vs. Wendell litigation, ca. 1822-1836. Includes correspondence, affidavits, surveys, and plat maps. | |
| 13 | Papers related to the eastern boundary of the manor, ca. 1780s. | |
| 14 | Plat maps of land held by Jacob Lansing, ca. 1780s. 2 items. | |
| 15 | Plat map of land held by Abraham Lansing, ca. 1780s. 1 item. | |
| 16-18 | Miscellaneous surveys and maps. | |
| 15 | 1-17 | Surveys and plats of lots in the West Manor, ca. 1785-1795. (Burnt and fragile materials; use restricted) |
| 16 | 1-13 | Survey and plats of lots in Guilderland, Saratoga Patent, Tioga County, New York, and Schenectady. (Burnt and fragile materials; use restricted) |
| 17 | Fragment of a survey field book and other documents. (Burnt and fragile materials; use restricted) | |
| 18 | Original leather covers of East Manor Survey Books. |