Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/9g54xh651
University Land Records, 1752-1976 (bulk 1752-1860): Finding Aid
AC028
Princeton University Shield
65 Olden Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Phone: 609-258-6345
Fax: 609-258-3385
mudd@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd
Published in 1998
©2006 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Collector:
- Princeton University.
- Title and dates:
- University Land Records, 1752-1976 (bulk 1752-1860)
- Abstract:
- The University Land Records consist of deeds, mortgages, bonds and other legal papers, including maps, concerning the acquisition or disposition of University properties. Most of the papers are original though some photocopies are present. A portion of the papers relate to research conducted by Professor Gerald Breese for his book Princeton University Land, 1752-1984 (1986).
- Size:
- 0.83 linear feet (1 archival box, 1 halfsize box, and 1 oversize box)
- Call number:
- AC028
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Princeton University Archives.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.
History of the University Land Records
This collection contains original deeds, mortgages, bonds, maps and other legal papers relating to the acquisition and disposition of Princeton University properties. There is also a legal size volume, Copy of Deeds, which consists of transcriptions of many of the original deeds found in this collection. The collection also contains photocopies of deeds, correspondence and papers from other University administrative units, the Mercer County Clerk's Office, the New-York Historical Society and other research facilities used by Gerald Breese in his book Princeton University Land (1986). Some of Breese's research notes are included and many of the photocopies are annotated by Breese.
The collection documents the physical expansion of the University from its earliest period through the acquisition of large tracts of land in the 20th century, including the properties around Carnegie Lake and numerous farms. Early records document transactions with such Princeton University notables as Nathaniel FitzRandolph, John Witherspoon, Walter Minto, John and Richard Stockton, and John Maclean.
For the most part, the papers consist of standard legal documents with detailed descriptions of the properties in question. Most have original signatures.
Description
The University Land Records consist of deeds, mortgages, bonds and other legal papers, including maps, concerning the acquisition or disposition of University properties. Most of the papers are original though some photocopies are present. A portion of the papers relate to research conducted by Professor Gerald Breese for his book “Princeton University Land, 1752-1984” (1986).
Arrangement
Organized into the following series:
- Series 1, Gerald Breese Papers, 1752-1976
- Series 2, Office of the Controller, 1752-1907
- Series 3, Oversize Materials
Access and Use
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist. Under the Copyright Law of 1976, copyright to this item will expire on January 1, 2003. Researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright prior to that time.
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
Most of these records were transferred from the University Controllers Office to the University Archives on September 23, 1966 while Gerald Breese donated the others after completion of his book.
Processing and Other Information
Processing Information
This collection was processed by John S. Riddle in 1994. Finding aid written by John S. Riddle in 1994.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on October 20, 2006.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); University Land Records, Box and Folder Number; University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Randolph, Nathaniel Fitz, b. 1703.
- Breese, Gerald William.
- Witherspoon, John, 1723-1794.
- Minto, Walter, 1753-1796.
- Stockton, John, 1803-1882.
- Stockton, Richard, 1730-1781.
- Princeton University -- History.
- Deeds.
- School lands.
- Land titles -- 18th century.
- Land titles -- 19th century.
- Land titles -- 20th century.
- Deeds -- 18th century.
- Deeds -- 19th century.
- Deeds -- 20th century.
- Bonds (legal records.
- Mortgage deeds.
- Maps.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
Contents List
Series 1, Gerald Breese Papers, 1752-1976
Series Description
Series 1, Gerald Breese Papers, 1752-1976, contains photocopies of maps and deeds, mortgages and correspondence collected by Breese concerning the transfer of tracts of land to the University. Some of Breese's research notes are also included. Most of the papers relate to transactions made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The series concludes with a folder on woodlots and close-in properties from 1752 to 1785.
Series Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title of land.
Miscellaneous deeds from Mercer County Clerk, New-York Historical Society, etc., 1753-1915
Box 1, Folder 1 Gray Farm-Carnegie Lake, 1912-1976
Box 1, Folder 2 Jewell Farm, 1927
Box 1, Folder 3 Major Farm, undated
Box 1, Folder 4 Mather Farm, 1922
Box 1, Folder 5 Olden (Bayles) Farm, 1905-1914
Box 1, Folder 6 Potter Farm-Prospect, 1879-1893
Box 1, Folder 7 Pullen Farm, 1945
Box 1, Folder 8 Schenck Farm, 1839-1922
Box 1, Folder 9 a Smith, Robert, Deed, from Samuel Hazard, 1757
Box 1, Folder 9 Springdale Farm, 1882-1975
Box 1, Folder 10 Various farms, including maps, 1927
Box 1, Folder 11 Woodlot, including maps, 1752-1785
Box 1, Folder 12 Series 2, Office of the Controller, 1752-1907
Series Description
Series 2, Office of the Controller, 1752-1907, contains original deeds, bonds, maps, correspondence and other legal papers concerning the acquisition and disposition of Princeton University lands. Approximately one-fourth of the collection relates to the 18th century with most of the rest pertaining to the 19th century. One folder relates to 1907. The series concludes with a legal size leather bound volume, Copy of Deeds, (undated). It consists of approximately 100 handwritten pages of copies of deeds, of which many of the originals are found in this collection. However, in many cases, the handwritten transcription in Copy of Deeds is more legible than the original. (n.b.: The first folder of the series contains an annotated list of all the papers transferred from the Controller's Office to the University Archives on September 23, 1966.)
Series Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and also includes the names of the seller and buyer.
Lists of deeds and miscellaneous papers, 1966
Box 2, Folder 1 Miscellaneous Papers, circa 19th century
Box 2, Folder 2 Plot Plan between Potters Lane and Washington Avenue, undated
Box 2, Folder 3 Drought (Draught?) of College Land, undated
Box 2, Folder 4 Lines of the College campus mortgaged by Sam. Hazzard, undated
Box 2, Folder 5 Hornor, John, Deed to Trustees, 1752
Box 2, Folder 6 Stockton, John, Deed to the College of New Jersey, 1752
Box 2, Folder 7 Leonard, Thomas, Deed to Trustees, 1752
Box 2, Folder 8 Boundaries of land sold to College by Nathaniel FitzRandolph, 1753
Box 2, Folder 9 a Hazard, Samuel, Deed to Robert Smith, 1757
Box 2, Folder 9 Throckmorton, Samuel, Indenture between Throckmorton and Trustees, w/map, 1760
Box 2, Folder 10 Smith, Robert, Indenture with Trustees, 1765
[In Oversize Box 3]
Box 2, Folder 11 Moores, John, Indenture with Joseph Mershon, 1769
[In Oversize Box 3]
Box 2, Folder 12 Mershon, Joseph, Deed to John Witherspoon, 1771
Box 2, Folder 13 Witherspoon, John, Deed, on behalf of Trustees, to Wiggins and Stockton, 1782
Box 2, Folder 14 Trustees of Presbyterian Congregation, Deed to John Witherspoon, 1785
Box 2, Folder 15 Shippen, William, Affidavit re: College buying land from Leonard and Wiggins, 1791
Box 2, Folder 16 Witherspoon, John and Mrs. Deed to Walter Minto, 1792
Box 2, Folder 17 Minto, Walter, Will, 1792
Box 2, Folder 18 Smith, John, Deed to Josiah Ferguson, 1804
Box 2, Folder 19 Ferguson, Josiah, Affidavit, Award of Stockton & Johnson in re Ferguson, 1805
Box 2, Folder 20 Trustees, Deed to Nicholas Waln, 1816
Box 2, Folder 21 Nixon, Henry, et. al., Affidavit, 1823
Box 2, Folder 22 Schenck, John C, Indenture to Sarah and Elizabeth Burk, 1835
Box 2, Folder 23 Story, Isabel, Deed to Henry Clow and Richard Warrens, 1836
Box 2, Folder 24 Burk, Sarah and Elizabeth, Deed to Charles Steadman, 1837
Box 2, Folder 25 Woodhull, John, Mortgage to James Brazier, 1837
Box 2, Folder 26 Jaques,Richard, Deed to John Potter, 1839
Box 2, Folder 27 Potter, John, Deed to Edward Holcombe, 1839
Box 2, Folder 28 Schenck, John, Deed to Archibald Craig, 1839
Box 2, Folder 29 Brazier, James, Bond to John Woodhull, 1841
Box 2, Folder 30 Brazier, James, Bond to Anthony Simmons, 1841
Box 2, Folder 31 Brazier, James, Mortgage to Anthony Simmons, 1841
Box 2, Folder 32 Schenck, John, Indenture to Elizabeth Burk, 1843
Box 2, Folder 33 Olmsted, George T, Deed to Stacy Barcroft, 1844
Box 2, Folder 34 Kovenhoven, Deborah, Deed to Daniel Bray, 1845
Box 2, Folder 35 Kovenhoven, Deborah, Deed to Henry Applegate, 1845
Box 2, Folder 36 Britton, John, Deed to John MacLean, 1845
Box 2, Folder 37 MacLean, John, Deed to Richard Warren, 1845
Box 2, Folder 38 Princeton Bank, Release to Trustees (William Street land), 1846
Box 2, Folder 39 a Halsey, Luther, Correspondence with James Green, 1846-1849
Box 2, Folder 39 Schenck, William, Release to Trustees land in vicinity of Williams Street, 1847
Box 2, Folder 40 Worth, Josiah, Deed to Ann Schenck, 1848
Box 2, Folder 41 Holcombe, Edward, Deed to Elizabeth Conover, 1848
Box 2, Folder 42 MacLean, John, Indenture to Trustees, 1848
Box 2, Folder 43 MacLean, John, Deed to Trustees, 1848
Box 2, Folder 44 Oakham, William, Deed to Joseph Scott, 1848
Box 2, Folder 45 Cruser, John, Deed to James Johnson, 1850
Box 2, Folder 46 Konover, Deborah, 2 Deeds to John Woodhull, 1851
Box 2, Folder 47 Upington, John, Bond to John Fisher, 1851
Box 2, Folder 48 Clerk's Certificate on Schenck Property, 1851
Box 2, Folder 49 Upington, Thomas, Mortgage to John Fisher, 1851
Box 2, Folder 50 Schenck, Maryann, Deed to Thomas Upington, 1851
Box 2, Folder 51 Fisher, John, Assignment of mortgage to Cornelius Cottrell, 1851
Box 2, Folder 52 Upington, Thomas, Mortgage to Maryann Schenck, 1851
Box 2, Folder 53 Upington, Thomas, Mortgage to Trustees of the Theological Seminary, 1851
Box 2, Folder 54 Torrey, John, 2 Deeds to Silas Stockton, 1852
Box 2, Folder 55 MacLean, John, Deed to John Woodhull, 1856
Box 2, Folder 56 Upington, Thomas, Mortgage and bond to Mary Ann Schenck, 1852
Box 2, Folder 57 Applegate, Henry, Indenture to Sidney Bergen, 1857
Box 2, Folder 58 Clerk's Certificate on property of Thomas Upington, 1858
Box 2, Folder 59 Trustees, Deed to John Woodhull, 1858
Box 2, Folder 60 Robinson, John et. al., Deed to John Woodhull, 1858
Box 2, Folder 61 Lane, Jacob W., Warrantee deed to John Woodhull, 1858
Box 2, Folder 62 Upington, Thomas, Deed to John Woodhull, 1858
Box 2, Folder 63 Upington, Thomas, Liens on property, 1859
Box 2, Folder 64 Burke, James, Assignment of mortgage to John Woodhull, 1859
Box 2, Folder 65 Perry, Henry, Mortage and bond to James Burke, 1859
Box 2, Folder 66 Burke, James, Deed to John Woodhull, 1860
Box 2, Folder 67 Steadman, Charles, Deed to John Woodhull, 1860
Box 2, Folder 68 Steadman, Charles, Bond to James M. Brown and statement from Brown, 1843, 1860
Box 2, Folder 69 Stockton, Richard and Susan, Deed to Vandike B. Gulick, 1875
Box 2, Folder 70 Sloane, William Milligan, Deed to Trustees, 1907
Box 2, Folder 71 Copy of Deeds, circa 1850
Box 2, Folder 72 Series 3, Oversize Materials
Smith, Robert, Indenture with Trustees, 1765
Box 3 Moores, John, Indenture with Joseph Mershon, 1769
Box 3
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/9g54xh651