The Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit of the New York State Library has ledgers for the eastern and western sections of the Rensselaerwyck Manor. Since very few surveys for the West Manor survived the Capitol fire of 1911, the ledgers and indexes provide information on who lived in that part of the Manor.
The ledgers listed below were kept for Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764-1839) and his heirs from 1799 to the 1890s. However, much of the recorded information was entered between 1799 and 1850. The information was originally entered in daybooks in which all the financial actions of each day were recorded and later posted to the ledgers under names or parties holding the particular lease. Individual entries contain a record of debits for payment owed and credits for payments received in kind or cash. These ledgers are indexed by names that are grouped alphabetically by the first letter of the last name, but the names are not listed alphabetically on the page(s) for that letter. Related information regarding many individual accounts can be found in the leases and surveys. An unpublished guide to the entire collection is available in the research room. All of the volumes listed below are available on microfilm. Due to the fragile condition of the originals, researchers are directed to use the microfilm instead of the originals.
East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1820. (Part 1: pp. 1-309) 1 v. folio. Indexed.
Many accounts are carried over to Ledger "B" and some account to Ledger "C". Also includes accounts brought over from an earlier ledger that may no longer exist.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 1.
East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1820. (Part 1: pp. 310-644) 1 v. folio. Indexed.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 1.
East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1850. (Part 2: pp. 645-1008) 1 v. folio. Indexed.
Many accounts in this part were carried over to "Stephen Van Rensselaer Ledger" in 1850.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2.
East Manor Rent Ledger "B", 1819-1855. 1 v. folio. 602 p. Indexed. Many accounts brought over from Ledger "A". Accounts carried over to East Manor Ledgers "C" and "D", and ledgers titled "Stephen Van Rensselaer" and "William P. Van Rensselaer".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2.
East Manor Rent Ledger "C", 1834-1852. 1 v. folio. 188(600 p.) Indexed. Several accounts brought over from Ledgers "A" and "B". Some accounts carried over to "William P. Van Rensselaer" Rent Ledger.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2.
East Manor Rent Ledger "D", 1839-1898. 1 v. folio. 312 p. Indexed. Contents of folios are arranged by towns: Brunswick (189-254, 275-284, 347-348); Clinton, changed to East Greenbush (121-147); Grafton (255-275, 370); Greenbush (155-179); Nassau (323-346, 368); Poestenkill (285-290); Sand Lake (297-317, 369, 372); Schodack (1-97); Stephentown (353-367), and, finally, an unidentified section (371). The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of the folios (pages) for which information on individuals in each of those towns can be found. Many accounts were brought over from previous ledgers.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 3.
Ledger of Rent Accounts, 1837-1899. 1 v. folio. 247 p. Indexed. (Titled as Stephen Van Rensselaer Ledger). Contents arranged by towns: Greenbush (1-43), Postenkill (53-67), Nassau (75-132), Grafton (151-138), Bethlehem (191-199), New Scotland (200-218), Guilderland (219-233), Waterviliet (234-239), and various places (240-247). Accounts were brought over from East Manor Ledgers "A, B, and C", and West Manor Ledger "A".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 7
Index to West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1860. 1 v.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 4.
West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1840. (pt. 1, pp. 1-337) 1 v. folio.
Many accounts carry over to West Manor Ledger "B".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 4.
West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1840. (pt. 2, pp. 338-652) 1 v. folio.
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 5.
West Manor Rent Ledger "B". 1822-1839. 1 v. folio. 150 p. Indexed.
Many accounts brought over from West Manor Ledger "A".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 5..
Rent Ledger "C", Berne and Knox, 1837-1855. 1 v. folio. 212 p. Indexed.
Accounts were brought over from West Manor Ledgers "A" and "B".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 6.
Rent Ledger "D", Bethlehem and New Scotland, 1838-1880. 1 v. folio. 173 p.
Indexed. Accounts were brought over from West Manor Ledgers "A" and "B".
Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 6.
Reel Guide to Rensselaerwyck Records Available on Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511
| Reel | Contents |
|---|---|
1 |
Indexes to East Manor Ledgers – 177 pages Ledger A Index (for parts 1 and 2) Ledger B Index Ledger C Index Ledger D Index East Manor Ledger A (pt. 1) – pages 1-309 East Manor Ledger A (section 2 of pt. 1) – pages 310-644 |
2 |
East Manor Ledger A (part 2) – pages 645-1008 East Manor Ledger B – pages 1-602 |
3 |
East Manor Ledger C – pages 1-188 East Manor Ledger D – pages 1-372 |
4 |
West Manor Index – 152 pages Ledger A (part 1) Index – Index proper is preceded by four pages of non-indexed names. Ledger A (part 2) Index – Apparently for pages 653-686 Ledger B Index Ledger C (Bern and Knox) Index Ledger D (Bethlehem and New Scotland) Index Ledger A (part 1) Index – Entries go from A to Z and then from A to Z again. West Manor Ledger A (section 1 of part 1) – pages 1-336 |
5 |
West Manor Ledger A (section 2 of part 1) – pages 338-652 West Manor Ledger A (part 2) – pages 653-886 West Manor Ledger B – pages 1-150 |
6 |
West Manor Ledger C [for Bern and Knox, according to information on the index to Ledger C] – pages 1-212 West Manor Ledger D [for Bethlehem and New Scotland, according to information on the index to Ledger D] – pages 1-178 |
7 |
Stephen Van Rensselaer East Manor Ledger Index – 94 pages Stephen Van Rensselaer Ledger – pages 1-247 |
8 |
Book of Tithes Kept by Abraham Ten Broeck, 1758-1771. Titled: "Het Tiende Book, Beginnende 8th Febr. 1758". Information recorded in Dutch. Note that the target frame on the reel says "Book of TITLES of …" |