
Guide to the John Tabor Kempe Papers
1678-1782 (bulk 1752-1774)
MS 344
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 873-3400
© 2011 New-York Historical Society
Collection processed by Melissa Haley
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
on June 20, 2013
Finding aid written in English.
Descriptive Summary
Title: | John Tabor Kempe Papers |
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Dates [inclusive]: | 1678-1782 (bulk 1752-1774) |
Abstract: | The John Tabor Kempe Papers contain primarily court case records (12 boxes) for the colonial province of New York during the tenures of Attorneys General William Kempe and his son, John Tabor Kempe. The bulk of these records date from 1752 to 1774, and concern civil disputes, often over land ownership, tenancy and estates, as well as criminal acts. Also included in the papers are professional correspondences of both John Tabor Kempe and William Kempe, court agendas and fees, legal papers, land and property records, financial records, government documents, and a photograph. |
Quantity: | 7.5 Linear feet |
Call Phrase: | MS 344 |
Biographical Note
1752 Nov. | William Kempe appointed Attorney General for the Province of New York |
1759 July/Aug. | William Kempe dies; his son, John Tabor Kempe, is appointed Attorney General for the Province of New York |
1766 | John Tabor Kempe marries Grace Coxe |
1767 | John Tabor Kempe travels to England; James Duane serves as acting Attorney General in his absence |
1768 | John Tabor Kempe resumes position, is re-appointed |
1777 | John Tabor Kempe's tenure as Attorney General ends |
1783 | John Tabor Kempe returns to England, makes Loyalist land claims |
1791 | John Tabor Kempe dies in England |
Scope and Contents note
The John Tabor Kempe Papers contain primarily court case records (12 boxes) for the colonial province of New York during the tenures of Attorneys General William Kempe and his son, John Tabor Kempe. The bulk of these records date from 1752 to 1774, and concern civil disputes, often over land ownership, tenancy and estates, as well as criminal acts. Offenses range from minor assaults and infractions to capital crimes, including murder and high treason. A separate database exists for the court case records in this collection, containing over 750 entries.
Also included in the papers are professional correspondences of both John Tabor and William Kempe, court agendas and fees, legal papers, land and property records, financial records, government documents, and a photograph.
While a number of well-known legal cases are represented in this collection (i.e. The King vs. Alexander McDougall), the John Tabor Kempe Papers also support research in the lives of ordinary colonial New Yorkers, many of whom are otherwise undocumented. Records also detail numerous land conflicts that erupted in the decades prior to the Revolutionary War, including riots and intrusion cases in the counties, and territorial disputes with Native Americans and with neighboring colonies, especially Connecticut and New Hampshire. Historians of colonial law will find a variety of cases and legal documents in this collection, and John Tabor Kempe's trial notes and correspondence provide insight into a prominent eighteenth-century legal mind.
This collection contains mostly professional records, with very little personal material for either John Tabor Kempe or William Kempe.
Arrangement
The John Tabor Kempe Papers are organized into the following seven series:
- Series 1: Court Case Records, 1678-1778 (bulk 1752-1774), and Undated
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1730-1775 (bulk 1753-1774), and Undated
- Series 3: Legal Papers, 1760-1782 and Undated
- Series 4: Land and Property Records, 1742-1775 and Undated
- Series 5: Financial Records, 1718-1775 and Undated
- Series 6: Government Records, 1722-1773 and Undated
- Series 7: Photograph, Undated
Access Points
Subject Names
- Bleecker, Rutger
- Bradstreet, John, 1711-1774
- Chase, Henry
- Cock, Ann
- Cockburn, Will
- Duncan, John
- Dysart, Richard
- Gomez, Daniel
- Hausbrouck, Abraham
- Hays, Solomon
- Hayward, Sarah
- Hicks, Whitehead, 1728-1780
- Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774
- Kempe, William, d. 1759
- Klock, George
- Lydius, John Henry, 1694-1791
- Nimham, Daniel
- Schuyler, Harmanus
- Silvester, Peter
- Spencer, George
- Swords, Thomas
- Wetherhead, John
- Yates, Abraham, 1724-1796
Document Type
- Accounts
- Affidavits
- Bonds (legal records)
- Briefs (legal documents)
- Civil court records
- Correspondence
- Criminal court records
- Daguerreotypes (photographs)
- Deeds
- Depositions
- Estate records
- Land grants
- Legal correspondence
- Legal documents
- Legal instruments
- Legal notices
- Memorandums.
- Petitions
- Subpoenas
- Wills
Subject Organizations
- Congregation Shearith Israel (New York, N.Y.).
- New York (State). Attorney General's Office.
- New York (State). Court of Chancery.
- New York (State). Court of General Sessions of the Peace (New York County).
- New York (State). Court of Oyer and Terminer (New York County).
- New York (State). Court of Vice Admiralty.
- New York (State). Mayor's Court (New York).
- New York (State). Supreme Court.
Subject Topics
- Assault and battery -- New York (State)
- Attorneys general
- Costs (Law) -- New York (State)
- Counterfeits and counterfeiting -- New York (State)
- Courts -- New York (State)
- Courts -- New York (State) -- New York
- Decedents' estates -- New York (State)
- Ejectment -- New York (State)
- Extinguishment of Indian title -- New York (State) -- Dutchess County
- Indians Of North America -- Land tenure -- New York (State) -- Dutchess County
- Jews -- New York (State) -- New York
- Justice, Administration of -- New York (State)
- Landlord and tenant -- New York (State)
- Larceny -- New York (State)
- Law -- New York (State)
- Lawyers
- Lawyers -- Fees -- New York (State)
- Libel and slander -- New York (State)
- Murder -- New York (State)
- Practice of law -- New York (State)
- Prisoners -- New York (State)
- Prostitution -- New York (State)
- Rape -- New York (State)
- Real property -- New York (State)
- Riots -- New York (State)
- Trading with the enemy
- Treason -- New York (State)
- Trespass -- New York (State)
- Trespass--New York (State)
- Trials -- New York (State)
- Trover and conversion -- New York (State)
- Wappinger Indians
Subject Places
- New Hampshire -- Boundaries -- New York (State)
- New York (State) -- Boundaries
- New York (State) -- Boundaries -- New Hampshire
- New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- New York (State) -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763
- Oblong Tract (N.Y.)
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
Permission to quote from this collection in a publication must be requested and granted in writing. Send permission requests, citing the name of the collection from which you wish to quote to: Manuscript Curator, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Preferred Citation note
This collection should be cited as the John Tabor Kempe, MS 344, The New-York Historical Society.
Separated Materials
BV NYS -- Boundaries -- Oblong; two boxes of papers pertaining to the Oblong dispute.
Container List
Series 1: Court Case Records, 1678-1778 (bulk 1752-1774), and Undated, Bulk, 1752-1774 1678-1778 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteThe bulk of the court case records in this collection are for cases argued in the New York Supreme Court of Judicature. Other courts include the Court of Chancery, Court of Vice-Admiralty, New York General Sessions (in counties), New York General Quarter Sessions (in New York City), Court of Mayor and Aldermen, and the Court of Oyer and Terminer. Cases argued before the Governor and Council are also found in this series. Court case records are arranged by the court in which a case was argued. Within each court, cases are divided into criminal and civil, then arranged alphabetically by defendant for criminal cases, by plaintiff for civil cases. Cases with multiple plaintiffs or defendants are filed under the first name to appear on the documents. In addition, this series includes documents for cases for which the court, plaintiff or defendant cannot be determined. Cases where the court venue is unclear, but plaintiff and defendant are evident, are filed under "Court Undetermined." Documents that are most likely related to a court case, but the court, plaintiff, and/or defendant cannot be determined are filed under "Case Undetermined." Many of these undetermined cases are represented by a single document. Court case documents include briefs, presentments, affidavits, trial notes, complaints, statements of cases, indictments, memoranda, subpoenas, pleas, notices, depositions, rules, certiorari, narratios, replications, bail notices, trial notices, notes, petitions, jury lists, costs, and other relevant documents such as estate records or accounts. Many items are drafts or contemporary copies. Petitions not linked to any specific case are filed together within Case Undetermined. All cases in this series have been entered into a separate database. The database information generally includes court, location, dates, items, plaintiff and defendant, and charge or suit for each case. A notes field also contains other pertinent information about the case, such as references to other relevant cases and correspondence. (Correspondence that was filed with individual court cases has been removed to Series II, and each item removed is listed in the notes field--additional correspondence not listed may also relate to specific court cases, as many letters were already filed separately). A complete report derived from this database is available for researchers, sorted by court. A separate report sorted by charge/suit is also available. The database can be searched by name or keyword--see Manuscript Department staff. This collection also includes numerous land tenant ejectment cases. These suits were brought on the behalf of a fictitious current tenant, usually called "James Jackson," though other names were also used ("Peter Quiet," "John Denn"). Therefore, ejectment cases are filed by the first plaintiff to follow the fictitious name. The false names "John Stiles" and "John Turnout" were commonly used for defendants. Political cases represented in this series include King vs. Alexander McDougall in the Supreme Court of Judicature for libel/slander, several trading with the enemy cases during the French and Indian War (especially the various George Spencer cases in the Supreme Court of Judicature and the Court of Vice-Admiralty), and a number of cases involving maladministration of Justices of the Peace. Court case records also document the quotidian disputes of New Yorkers, particularly in assault cases, and sometimes reveal contentious relationships between men and women, masters and servants, ministers and their congregations, and neighbors. Women are present throughout the series as both plaintiffs and defendants, and a few cases include unkept marriage promises, and accusations of rape. Many cases involve disputes within religious institutions, particularly the Protestant Dutch Church. The King vs. Nepthali Hart Meyers, Hayman Levi, Daniel Gomez et al in the Supreme Court of Judicature details a violent disagreement within a NYC synagogue. Several cases in this collection involve the accusation of slaves for various crimes; see King vs. Belinda, King vs. Venus, King vs. Falmouth, King vs. Pompey, in the Supreme Court of Judicature and King vs. Abraham, King vs. Scipio in Court Undetermined. A number of cases concern slaves seeking their freedom, often claiming false enslavement in the American colonies; see Juan Miranda vs. Cornelius and Sarah Van Ranst in the Supreme Court of Judicature, the case of Francis de Salas Cortilla in Governor and Council, and the cases of Vacan Beneto (petition), Simon Moore, Jacob Quaco, and the estate of William West, all in Case Undetermined. In some instances, the court in which a case was argued was determined through the use of an outside source, especially Julius Goebel Jr. & T. Raymond Naughton's Law Enforcement in Colonial New York: A Study in Criminal Procedure (1664-1776) (NY : The Commonwealth Fund, 1944). Daniel Allen Hearn's Legal Executions in New York State, 1639-1963 (N.C. : McFarland & Co., 1997) was also consulted. Both are referenced in the note field of the database when applicable. Further information on many cases in the collection can also be found in these sources. Note: Many cases contain alternate spellings for the names of plaintiffs and defendants. The most common was used for indexing; alternate spellings are also included in brackets. A number of documents contain the abbreviation "ads," i.e. John Smith ads. William Thomas. With this abbreviation, the defendant is listed first and the plaintiff listed second, rather than the more common Thomas vs. Smith, or Thomas agt. Smith. Other abbreviations found in the collection are "ex dem" meaning "upon the demise" (used in ejectment cases) and "qui tam" meaning the plaintiff has launched a civil suit on behalf of the state. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, A-B |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, C |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, D |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, E-G |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, H |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, J-K |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, L |
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Box: 1 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, Lydius |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, M-N |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, O-R |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, S-T |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, U-Z |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Criminal, Van Renselaer |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, A |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Ba-Bri |
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Box: 2 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Bro-Bu |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Ca-Co |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Cr-Cu |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Da |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, De-Dy |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, E |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Fa-Fo |
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Box: 3 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Fr-Fu |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, G |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Ha |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil,
Hardenbrook vs. Bogert |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, He-Hy |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, J |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, K |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil,
Kempe vs. [ ...? ] |
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Box: 4 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, La-Leake |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Lefferts-Lo |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, M |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, N-P |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Ra |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Re-Ru |
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Box: 5 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Sc |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Se-Si |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Sm-Sp |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, St |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Swords |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Ta-Ti |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, To-Tr |
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Box: 6 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, V |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil,
Van Schaack, McGinnis vs. Sharpe |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Wa-Welch |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Wetherhead-Wh |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Supreme Court of Judicature, Civil, Wi-Wo |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Annely vs. Lewis |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Chancery, B |
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Box: 7 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Bailey vs. Buvelot |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Blouin vs. Wittmer |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Blouin vs. Wittmer |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Chancery, C-D |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Chancery, H-J |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Leadbetter vs. Harison et al |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Leadbetter vs. Harison et al |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Leadbetter vs. Harison et al |
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Box: 8 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Chancery, M |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Chancery, Pemberton |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Chancery, R-S |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Chancery, T-W |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Van Beverhoudt vs. Bayard |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Van Beverhoudt vs. Bayard |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Chancery,
Wittmer vs. Blouin |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Vice-Admiralty, Criminal |
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Box: 9 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Vice-Admiralty, Civil, A-R |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Vice-Admiralty, Civil, S |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: General Sessions |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Mayor and Alderman |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Oyer and Terminer |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Other Courts |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: New Jersey Courts |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Governor and Council |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Governor and Council |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 9 | Court Case Records: Governor and Council, Daniel Nimham |
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Box: 10 | Folder : 10 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Criminal, A-H |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Criminal, J-P |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Criminal, R-W |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Civil, A-D |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Civil, E-H |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Civil, J-N |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Civil, P-Si |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Court Undetermined, Civil, Sm-W |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 8 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, A-F |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 9 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, G-L |
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Box: 11 | Folder : 10 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, M |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 1 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, N-T |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 2 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, U-W |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 3 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, William Pride |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 4 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, Wills |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 5 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, Petitions |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 6 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, Lunacy Commission |
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Box: 12 | Folder : 7 | Court Case Records: Case Undetermined, Various/Fragments |
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Series 2: Correspondence, 1730-1775 (bulk 1753-1774), and Undated, 1730-1775 and Undated
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Subseries 1: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, 1759-1775 and Undated, 1759-1775 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteArranged alphabetically by sender. This subseries contains letters to John Tabor Kempe regarding various court cases, especially land conflicts, and requests for assistance. Prisoners writing from jail often plead their cases to Kempe, and describe conditions in jail. A number of items deal with the disputed area of the New Hampshire land claims, and rioting there. Frequent correspondents include Rutger Bleecker, Henry Chase, Ann Cock, William Cockburn, John Duncan, Richard Dysart, Abraham Hausbrouck, Sarah Hayward, Whitehead Hicks, Harmanus Schuyler, Peter Silvester, George Spencer, Thomas Swords, John Wetherhead, and Abraham Yates. In addition, there are several letters from John Tabor Kempe's brother, William Kempe, asking for assistance, clothes, and money. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 1 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, A-Blanchard |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 2 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Bleecker-Browne |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 3 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Ca-Cl |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 4 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Co |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 5 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Cr-Cy |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 6 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, D |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 7 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, E-G |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 8 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, H |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 9 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, I-K |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 13 | Folder : 10 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Kempe family |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 1 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, L |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 2 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Ma-Mc |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 3 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Mi-Mu |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 4 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, N-R |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 5 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Sa-Si |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 6 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Sk-Sw |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 7 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, T |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 8 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, V |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 9 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, W-Y |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 10 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Received, Unidentified |
1759-1775 and Undated | |
Subseries 2: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent (Copies/Drafts), 1759-1775, 1759-1775
Scope and Contents noteArranged alphabetically by recipient. This subseries contains letters regarding court cases, land issues (especially in Albany County), and financial matters. Frequent correspondents include Rutger Bleecker, John Bradstreet, William Cockburn, Sir William Johnson, Harmanus Schuyler, and Thomas Swords. Letters to Sir William Johnson deal with the Crown's land disputes with Native Americans, and contain Kempe's opinions on the use of Native Americans as trial witnesses, the legitimacy of lan patents purchased from "the Natives," and the Daniel Nimham case. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 14 | Folder : 11 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, A-B |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 1 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, C |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 2 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, D-F |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 3 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, G-J |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 4 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, K-Q |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 5 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, R-S |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 6 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, T-Y |
1760-1775 | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 7 | Correspondence: John Tabor Kempe, Letters Sent, Unidentified |
1760-1775 | |
Subseries 3: William Kempe, Letters Received, 1753-1759 and Undated, 1753-1759 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteArranged alphabetically by sender. This subseries contains letters to William Kempe pertaining to court cases, and land disputes, including the Obling region. Correspondents also express complaints about neighbors, spouses, and masters, and request assistance. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 8 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Received, A-C |
1753-1759 and Undated | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 9 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Received, D-H |
1753-1759 and Undated | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 10 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Received, J-M |
1753-1759 and Undated | |
Box: 15 | Folder : 11 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Received, N-T |
1753-1759 and Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 1 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Received, V-Y |
1753-1759 and Undated | |
Subseries 4: William Kempe, Letters Sent (Copies/Drafts), 1753-1757 and Undated, 1753-1757 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteArranged alphabetically by recipient. This subseries contains William Kempe's letters that deal with pending court cases, and land disputes, especially the Oblong. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 2 | Correspondence: William Kempe, Letters Sent |
1753-1757 and Undated | |
Subseries 5: Letters Between Others, 1730-1774 and Undated, 1730-1774 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteArranged alphabetically by sender. This subseries contains letters between other correspondents regarding court cases, land issues, property and estate disputes, financial and shipping matters, and the New Hampshire land grants and riots. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 3 | Correspondence: Letters Between Others, A-C |
1730-1774 and Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 4 | Correspondence: Letters Between Others, D-L |
1730-1774 and Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 5 | Correspondence: Letters Between Others, M-V |
1730-1774 and Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 6 | Correspondence: Unidentified |
1732 and Undated | |
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Series 3: Legal Papers, 1760-1782 and Undated, 1760-1782 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteThe bulk of this series is John Tabor Kempe's court agendas, 1760-1775. Most of the cases listed on these agendas appear to be in the Supreme Court of Judicature, though some may have been held in Sessions. Chancery cases are also included on some, listed separately. Agendas are quarterly (January, April, July, October) and contain lists of writs to be issued, pleas to be given or received, judgements to be entered, arguments, rolls to be filled, informations to be drawn, costs, and trials held for each quarter. Other items in the series include John Tabor Kempe's legal notes and opinions on various courts, legal definitions (esp. libel), authorities, trover cases, and unidentified court cases. Kempe's will, dated 1782, is also found in this series, as well as several power of attorney forms. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 7 | Legal Papers: Court Agendas |
1760-1765 | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 8 | Legal Papers: Court Agendas |
1766-1769 | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 9 | Legal Papers: Court Agendas |
1770-1775 Apr. | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 10 | Legal Papers: John Tabor Kempe, Opinions and Notes |
Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 11 | Legal Papers: John Tabor Kempe, Will and Power of Attorney forms |
1766-1782 | |
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Series 4: Land and Property Records, 1742-1775 and Undated, 1742-1775 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteThis series contains items pertaining to New York's territorial disputes as well as land and property records, arranged by county, that do not appear to be connected with specific court cases. Items concerning the dispute over the Oblong region, between Connecticut and New York, include petitions, depositions, attornments, licenses, copies of agreements, and a statement of case. Further items regarding the Oblong in the John Tabor Kempe Papers were previously removed from the collection, and can now befound in BV New York State -- Boundaries -- Oblong. The New Hampshire land grant controversy, involving territory in present-day Vermont, is represented by petitions, depositions, notes, lists of grant holders, ordinances, recitals, reports, orders of Council, and Council minutes. Other material concerns disputes over borders with Massachusetts and New Jersey. County land and property records include a list of freeholders in Albany Co., surveys, boundaries, petitions, notes, patents, indentures, leases, and title/patent abstracts. Counties covered are Albany, Gloucester, Ulster, Kings, Orange, Westchester, and Suffolk. Also included in this series are items concerning John Tabor Kempe's house on Broadway, copies of the grant patent to the Duke of York in 1674, and instructions from the Crown regarding grants of land. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 12 | Land and Property Records: New York Borders, the Oblong |
1753 and Undated | |
Box: 16 | Folder : 13 | Land and Property Records: New York Borders, Massachusetts and New Jersey |
1770, 1775 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 1 | Land and Property Records: New Hampshire grants |
1750-1775 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 2 | Land and Property Records: New Hampshire grants |
Undated | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 3 | Land and Property Records: Albany County, List of Freeholders |
Undated | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 4 | Land and Property Records: Albany County, Patents |
1752-1753 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 5 | Land and Property Records: Albany County, Patents |
1761 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 6 | Land and Property Records: Albany County, Patents |
1761-1762 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 7 | Land and Property Records: Albany County |
1753-1771 and Undated | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 8 | Land and Property Records: Gloucester County |
1774 | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 9 | Land and Property Records: Kings County |
Undated | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 10 | Land and Property Records: Orange County |
1742-1762 and Undated | |
Box: 17 | Folder : 11 | Land and Property Records: Suffolk County |
1768-1770 and Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 1 | Land and Property Records: Ulster County |
1774 | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 2 | Land and Property Records: Westchester County |
1761-1762 and Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 3 | Land and Property Records: Multiple or Undetermined Counties |
1754-1771 and Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 4 | Land and Property Records: John Tabor Kempe, house on Broadway |
1772-1773 and Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 5 | Land and Property Records: Duke of York patent [copy]; instructions from the Crown |
1753-1763 and Undated | |
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Series 5: Financial Records, 1718-1775 and Undated, 1718-1775 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteThis series contains John Tabor Kempe's lists of court fees for various courts, 1758-1771, including sheriffs', clerks', and judges' fees; accounts, bills, and receipts for John Tabor Kempe and William Kempe; accounts, bills, and receipts for others; and bonds for debts and shipping. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 6 | Financial Records: Court Fees |
1758-1771 | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 7 | Financial Records: John Tabor Kempe and William Kempe; Accounts, Bills, Receipts |
1753-1775 | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 8 | Financial Records: Accounts, Bills, Receipts |
1718-1770 and Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 9 | Financial Records: Bonds |
1758-1770 | |
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Series 6: Government Records, 1722-1773 and Undated, 1722-1773 and Undated
Scope and Contents noteIncluded in this series are contemporary copies of Governor and Council records, particularly orders, concerning such topics as grants of land patents, charters for churches, and the burning of Zenger's journal; copies of various government acts, ordinances, charters, and orders (including an "act for more effectually collecting his Majesty's Quit Rents"); a 1764 report of John Tabor Kempe regarding fees for the Attorney General's office; and JTohn Tabor Kempe's appointments as Attorney General, with seals. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 10 | Government Records: Acts, Charters, Reports, etc. |
1709-1774 | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 11 | Government Records: Acts, Charters, Reports, etc. |
Undated | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 12 | Government Records: Governor and Council Orders |
1722-1773 | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 13 | Government Records: John Tabor Kempe, appointment as Attorney General |
1759, 1768 | |
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Series 7: Photograph, Undated, Undated
Scope and Contents noteOne daguerreotype of a painted portrait, perhaps of John Tabor Kempe. |
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Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
Box: 18 | Folder : 14 | Photograph |
Undated | |
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