1790 LETTER VanRENSSLAER to COCKBURN, CLAVERACK NY BOND

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is a RARE 1790 LETTER FROM JOHN J. Van RENSSLAER TO WILLIAM COCKBURN FROM CLAVERACK, NEW YORK . The document came to us in a sleeve with writing that my Grandfather had written up describing the items, this is what is written on the sleeve: " Letter: John J. Van Rensslaer to William Cockburn Dated August 2nd. 1790, Claverack. Requests survey of land. mentions names of mr. Luosing, Ten Broeck. Advises W.C. that when he comes to Claverack he can find J.J. Van R. in the house of M. Ludlow. Note- Paper bears crest of Van Reusslaer in the bond" This document has 3 folds from when is was folded horizontally with 3 faint folds, has 2 extremely faint vertical fold marks. It measures approx. 12 3/4" by 8". T is a 5 1/4" by 3 1/2" bond at the center- it's round with a figure wearing a helmet at the center holding something long, possibly an oar, he is holding a twig with leaves in his right hand outstretched, next to him is a shield with a cross on it, t is a King's crown on top of the round image. The photo was taken with a desk lamp behind the bond image, this is the easiest to view bond in the collection. This document has typical yellowing from age, corner wear at the bottom, light edge wear with a few tiny edge chips, 1 very tiny hole on top fold & 1 very tiny hole top left area. It has a "#247" written in pen at the top, possible modern era. This is a very nice piece, 218 years old! Great for your collection! I have many more from this period & era that I will be listing over the next few weeks. This came from the estate of my late Grandfather who was a lawyer in White Plains New York. He collected many antique documents such as this. He got most of his collection in the 1930s & '40s. This is the first time being offered, fresh to market. I believe the William Cockburn referred in this is the same person described below. Claverack is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 6,401 at the 2000 census. The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for "Clover Fields" or "Clover Reach". The Town of Claverack is centrally located in the county, east of the City of Hudson.The town was formed in 1778 from the older "District of Claverack." In 1782, the town lost some of its land to the new Town of Hillsdale. The town was reduced again in 1785 to form the City of Hudson. William Cockburn (?-1804) from Berwickshire, Scotland, settled in Kingston, Ulster County, in the early 1760s and was employed as a surveyor, land agent and speculator, primarily in Ulster County, for the Hardenbergh and Hurley Patents, but also for surrounding counties and for his personal land dealings in what is now Vermont. Cockburn married Catherine Trumpbour (spelled variously Trompbour, Trimpbour and, most commonly, Tremper) of Palatine German descent. They had five children: Alexander, James, Christina (who married Nicholas DeMyer), Catherine (who married John Trumpbour), and William Jr. William Cockburn's sons James (ca.1775-1848) and William Jr. accompanied their father on surveying expeditions as did his nephew, Jacob Trumpbour Jr. John Kiersted Sr. (1786-1862) of Saugerties, was a frequent surveyor for the Cockburns and, in later years, James Cockburn's son, Walter A. Cockburn, also worked as a surveyor. As evidenced in an advertisement in the collection, William Cockburn also taught surveying, influencing Moses DeWitt of Ulster County, and employing numerous other surveyors such as Charles C. Broadhead and John Cantine. William Cockburn is buried in Mount Marion Cemetery, Kingston, New York THIS IS FROM MY GRANDPARENTS ESTATE. I AM DESCRIBING THIS AS BEST AS I CAN - IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE ITEM BECAUSE OF THE DESCRIPTION NOT MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS THEN CONTACT ME FIRST BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK SO I CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM- FEEDBACK FORUM IS NOT THE PLACE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES- THAT'S AN EBAY RULE. Makes a great gift! A nice addition to your collection. I DO COMBINE WINNING AUCTIONS FOR BETTER SHIPPING, BUT... read more

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