LOT #7593 |
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April 3, 1729 Lower Manhattan Deed. This indenture ...
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Sold on Jul 28, 2002 for:
$690.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
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Description
April 3, 1729 Lower Manhattan Deed. This indenture measures 24" x 20" and was written on a sheet of sheepskin in a clear, bold calligraphy under the authority of King George II. The document transfers a piece of property from Johannis Beekman to William Beekman for the sum of 100 pounds. This William Beekman was not the same William Beekman for whom Beekman Street and William Street are named. That gentleman died in 1707. This William Beekman is likely a son or nephew of the namesake man. The deed transfers property on Queen Street (now Pearl Street) that ran Southeast from Queen down to the River at that time. Subsequent landfill makes the property three blocks inland now. The property is across the street from what is now Southbridge Towers in lower Manhattan, two blocks away from South Street Seaport. The document is signed on its face by John Beekman and his wife, Aeltie Beekman, along with two wax seals. On the back of the document appear the signatures of witnesses Gerardus Beekman (son of the original William) and Rip Van Dam, who was Governor of the British Province of New York from August 1, 1731 to August 1, 1732. Van Dam spent most of his life in political battles. He fought his enemy, John Leisler, who was supported by Gerardus Beekman. Leisler was sentenced to hang in 1691. Forty years later, Van Dam was involved in a bitter fight against William Cosby, who succeeded Van Dam as Governor of New York in 1732. When Cosby sued Van Dam and won, Van Dam ignored the court's ruling and kept the money involved. In yet another political battle, Rip Van Dam backed John Peter Zenger, the newspaper editor who was imprisoned under governor Cosby, and whose acquittal on libel charges established Freedom of the Press in America.
Heritage is pleased to have the opportunity to offer this collection of early Manhattan property deeds and other fascinating historical documents for public auction sale in the singularly appropriate venue: Manhattan. The items will be sold as lots 7590-7597.
The variety of super-condition papers in this set, rife with signatures of many of the prominent Colonial gentleman whose names still grace lower Manhattan's financial-district streets, comprise an array of historical documents which transfer ownership of Manhattan property, divided into lots, among the young city's early citizens. New Yorkers will recognize many of the names of the signers of these interesting deeds - Beekman, for instance - as the street names in their town.
These are the earliest New York City deeds we have seen, and they are of great historical interest. One of the lots of land whose transfer was literally signed and sealed by a deed in this great collection lies - according to our own fervent, primary-source research - on the site of George Washington's executive mansion, where he and Martha Washington actually resided while New York enjoyed the status of Capital of the United States of America. Another one of the deeds outlines a parcel of property in the shadow of where the Twin Towers proudly held their ground.
We are accustomed to seeing vaguely similar English deeds, which close the transfer of property in England, sell in the $200-$300 range here in the United States essentially on the bases of their attractive appearance and historical authenticity. The Colonial American paperwork we offer here is earlier and in even better condition than the English documents we have seen. And the material comes from an old-time collection to boot. Because these items are not available elsewhere, venturing an estimate is impossible, but solid four-figure realizations are likely.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# HHLG, PCGS# 661020)
Auction Info
2002 July New York, NY Signature Sale #296 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2002
27th-30th
Saturday-Tuesday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 355
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