A Piece of Forgotten History

Recently I found an appealing manuscript document at Holabird Auctions, in Reno, Nevada. Of course I found them online using MatchMaker.

It is an agreement between three lawyers of Ulster County between the Governor of the State of New York, appointing them to inspect the turnpike roads in the County of Ulster. It’s dated this fourth day of July, 1809. It’s signed by Daniel D. Tompkins, possibly on behalf of the governor by his Private Secretary, John C. Spencer.

This matters to me for several reasons. I’m a collector of Ulster County material. As well, the De Witt family’s history intertwined with mine as my family owned 5 newspapers in the county for over 60 years and Virgil De Witt, was our family doctor.

As well, early in the nineteenth century the development of toll roads in Ulster County was the vital and necessary step to connect where had long been a patchwork of farms that had been local kingdoms with few outlets to sell their produce.

In the 1950’s when I was growing up there you knew by chapter and verse the histories of the old stone houses, the crimes and battles and its important events that occurred. We grew up knowing your stories would become part of theirs because local history kept and celebrated.

This document resonates at many levels. At $185.00 it was a very nice addition to the 40,000+/- books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera that relate to my identity.

That the Internet would make it so easy to find such a resonant example 2,000 miles away buried in a single sale when 10 or so other collectible paper auctions were occurring every day worldwide, is simply stunning.

I’m grateful to have lived to see this day.

Here is the document in its full text.

By his Excellency the Governor of the State of New-York, etc. etc.

To Tjerick De Witt, Peter Outwater and Stephen Rea of the county of Ulster, Esquires

Greeting:

It being represented to me that you are not interested in any Turnpike Road, I do, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the law in that case provided, by these presents, appoint you, the said Tjerick De Witt, Peter Outwater and Stephen Rea --

Commissioners for Inspecting every Turnpike Road in the County of Ulster --- “where there is not contained “in the law incorporating the Company for the purpose of “making such Road, a provision for inspecting the same from “time to time.”

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Privy Seal of said State to be hereunto affixed, at the City of Albany, this fourth Day of July in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and nine and in the Thirty fourth Year of American Independence.

(Signed)

Daniel D. Tompkins

By his Excellency the Governor,

John C. Spencer Priv Sec’y