Environmental History: Researching the Environment:
Field Book of Essex & Warren County Line, Survey of J. L. Harris, Deputy Surveyor
The print version of the finding aid was compiled by Karen Cannell, New York State Archives.
© 2005
Overview
Arrangement
Biographical Note
Content Description
Administrative Information
Use of the Collection
Related Information
Access Terms
Overview of the Collection
| Repository: | Warren County Records Center and Archives |
| Sponsor: | Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. |
| Collection Number: | WCA_HarrisFieldBook |
| Creator: | New York (State). Office of the Surveyor General |
| Title: | Field Book of Essex & Warren County Line, Survey of J L. Harris, Deputy Surveyor |
| Dates: | 1844 |
| Physical Description: | 0.2 cu. ft. of textual records |
| Summary: | Deputy Surveyor Joseph L. Harris created this field book as directe by Surveyor General Nathaniel Jones regarding the survey of the line of division and boundary between Essex and Warren Counties in New York State. The book is comprised of forty-eight pages; most pages have remarks on both sides and the book includes several sketches. |
Arrangement
There is no arrangement scheme for the material.
Overview
Deputy Surveyor Joseph L. Harris created this field book as directed by Surveyor General Nathaniel Jones regarding the survey of the line of division and boundary between Essex and Warren Counties in New York State. Th book is comprised of forty-eight pages, most of which have remarks on both sides. The report includes an introductio (pages 1-23) and survey (pages 24-45) and concludes with a decision handed down by Jones (pages 46-48). The introduction discusses the division line dispute between the counties and provides an overview of the Warren County lines as historically marked (including its boundaries with Essex, Washington, and Hamilton Counties). There are several sketches included in the field book, the first of which appears on page 12, depicting the marker for the divisio of Washington and Warren Counties. Sketches also are found on page 23 [(verso) "Observations for crossing Lake George"]; 25 (Rogers Rock at Lake George); 29-31 (east and west boundary markers on trees and a "monument"); 35 [(verso) "Distance across Schroon Lake"]; 37 (county line stone marker); 38 (eastern side of Ledge Hill); 40 [(verso) Moxham Mountain]; and 41 [(verso) Lake Bellefonte (outline) and "View Mount Jones and Lake Bellefonte"]. Jones found Harris' report and survey to be "satisfactory" resulting in Jones determining and deciding the "legal location of the Division Line of the County of Essex and th County of Warren."
Biographical Sketch
The Dutch established the Office of Surveyor General in 1642 to survey the lands of the province New Netherland. When the English captured New Amsterdam and renamed it New York in 1664, the Office of Surveyor General continued under the British colonial government. The office existed as such until 1846, at which time the New York State Constitution established the Office of State Engineer and Surveyor. This new office took over the duties of the abolished surveyor general’s office and was responsible for engineering and survey work. The state engineer and surveyor was also a member of several commissions and boards, including the canal board (Source: Mead & Hunt. Contextual Study of New York State's Pre-1961 Bridges. November 1999).
Nathaniel Jones (February 17, 1788-July 20, 1866) served in the New York State (NYS) Assembl (1827-1828); the United States House of Representatives (1837-1841); on the NYS Canal Commissio (1844-1847); and in the NYS Senate (1852-1853). Jones also was Surveyor General for the State of New York (1842-1844). Joseph L. Harris served as Deputy Surveyor under Jones who directed Harris "to inspect, explore, survey and accurately locate the line of Division between the Counties of Ess and Warren according to the provisions of the Revised Statutes for establishing the same." The survey was ordered to settle a dispute of the aforementioned division line. Harris began his work on Ju 19, 1844 and filed his report to Jones on January 29, 1845.
Administrative Information
Custodial History
The custodial history is unknown.
Processing Information
This collection's description was created and enhanced as a part of the New York State Archives EnvironmenHistory Virtual Research Collection Project, 2004. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided funding for thisproject.
Use of Collection
Access Restrictions
There are no legal restrictions; however, staff will access all records and must approve all requests for copies.
Available Alternate Formats
No other form exists.
Related Information
Related Material
Maps-miscellaneous documentation (1900-1971); and Survey Papers (ca. 1800-1900), Warren County Records Center and Archives, Lake George, N.Y. Maps depicting the surveyed areas also are available at the Warren CountyRecords Center and Archives.
Other Finding Aids
No other guide exists.
Access Terms
Corporate NamesSubjects
Geographic Names
Essex County (N.Y.)
Warren County (N.Y.)
Washington County (N.Y.)
Hamilton County (N.Y.)
Genre/Form
Surveys
Field notes
Function
Personal Names
Jones, Nathaniel, 1788-1866
Harris, Joseph L.
