Scope and Contents note

Series 1 consists of letters written by Peter Curtenius (or on his behalf) or letters from various government agencies containing instructions for Curtenius in his capacity as U.S. Marshal of the District of New York. Most of the correspondence is between Curtenius and the Department of State (during James Monroe’s tenure as Secretary of State), the Department of the Treasury (during Albert Gallatin's tenure as Treasury Secretary), and the Commissary General of Prisoners of War, John Mason. Much of the correspondence, particularly from the State Department and the Commissary General, is related to the status of British citizens living in New York City or British prisoners of war during the War of 1812, though the Treasury Department also issued instructions regarding civilian debtors. There is also some correspondence from the Treasury Department related to the 1810 census.

Scope and Contents note

Series 2 consists of documents related to the finances of the Marshal's Office, District of New York. There are five record books which detail the expenses involved in the U.S. government's attachment of specific vessels and their cargos, including captures by privateers and Navy warships. There is also a record book which lists operating expenses generated by the U.S. District Court, District of New York, namely compensation for the jurors, marshals, clerks, attorneys, and constables. In addition to the record books, there are bills, receipts, orders to pay, and other documents for expenses related to the Marshal’s Office, mostly pertaining to ships attached by the government and the maintenance of British prisoners. Some of the bills and requests for payment are from 1810 census takers, while others are more general requests from individuals for various services rendered to the District Court.

Scope and Contents note

Series 3 consists of discharge orders, receipts of prisoners, and bail notices generated by the U.S. District Court, District of New York. There are also reports and lists of British prisoners of war, some from the ships "Acasta," "Ocean," "Peacock," "B. Franklin," "Saratoga," "Quebec," and "Macedonian." Of particular note is a ledger maintained by Curtenius on British prisoners of war, including information on which vessel they were captured from, the length of their confinement, and rations issued. A small portion of the series relates to British "aliens" living in New York, and there is also a document listing American prisoners of war permitted to return to the United States.

Scope and Contents note

Series 4 consists of surveys, deeds, indentures, mortgages, a field book, and maps of land primarily in Oswego County, Oneida County, Lansingburgh, and New York City. The documents relate to the Curtenius family's real estate holdings and details purchases they made, especially the Scriba Purchase, Fonda Purchase, and Roosevelt Purchase. Many documents in this series relate to the splitting of the estate of Peter T. Curtenius, father of Peter Curtenius, between his children and his wife, Catharine, and the settling of the debts of Philip Curtenius, Peter Curtenius's brother, following Philip's death. This series also contains the will of Philip Goelet, the maternal grandfather of Peter Curtenius. Of note are deeds signed by Martin Van Buren and John Tyler authorizing the sale of land in Detroit to Joseph Kirkland of Oneida County, a possible relative of the Curtenius family or a purchaser of some of their holdings.

Papers in this series are especially fragile and should be handled with care.