Dey genealogical collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Genealogical research compiled by Joseph Warren Scott Dey (1832–1905) on the Dey (or Dye) family and related lines of New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky. Includes transcriptions of birth, marriage, and death records, as well as family bible entries, wills, compiled genealogies, and Dey's extensive correspondence querying relatives for information.
Biographical note
Joseph Warren Scott Dey (1832–1905), a prominent breeder of trotting horses and a "Forty-Niner" of the California Gold Rush, was a son of the Rev. Richard Varick Dey and Lavinia Agnes (Scott) Dey. As one obituary put it, J. W. S. Dey's penchant for genealogy "was known from the Mississippi to the coast. He took a great delight in studying family histories, and knew more of the ancestors of the American people than any other man in the South. His ancestors were among the founders of New York City, and lived there during the time of Peter Stuyvesant" (Lexington Herald [Lexington, Kentucky], Friday 5 May 1905, p. 8, col. 6). "Dey Street," in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, runs through what was once the farm leased by his ancestor, Dirck Theunis Dey, in 1677.
Arrangement
The collection is not processed—it remains in its original, haphazardly-filled boxes placed inside record cartons—but is accessible through the detailed card catalog "Index to Dey (Dye) Family Genealogical Collection" found in Box K. The archivist has transcribed most of the information from this index in notes for each box on the container list, including [bracketed] physical descriptions of each item, when present. Researchers interested in specific individuals should consult the card catalog before attempting to use the collection.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists mainly of genealogical research—transcribed records of births, marriages, and deaths; abstracts of wills; compiled genealogical charts; gravestone inscriptions; etc.—assembled by Joseph Warren Scott Dey (1832–1905). Though obviously descended from the Dey (or Dye) family, he was connected to a number of New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky families. Among the surnames referenced throughout the collection are Bayard, Best, Breckinridge, Brown, Camden, Carpenter, Coleman, Cowgill, Dayton, Dey (and Dye), Dungan, Duryee, Erwin, Ford, Gibson, Halsted, Hart, Herbert, Hopper, Howard, Humphreys, Jewell, Johnston, Keteltas, Kingsland, Lee, McAdam, McFarren, Messersmith, Morton, Motsiff, Oots, Parker, Payne, Potts, Preston, Ryerson, Schuyler, Scott, Shaw, Shelby, Simpson, Smith, Stillwell, Stout, Thompson, Thornton, Tingley, Van Cortlandt, Varick, Vredenburgh, Vreeland, Ward, Ware, and Webb.
Subjects
Families
Genres
Topics
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers. This collection is stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact manuscripts@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access. Keep in mind that it will take between two (2) and five (5) business days for collections to arrive, and you should plan your research accordingly.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This should be cited as the Dey Genealogical Collection, MS 3123, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Richard Varick Dey (brother of J. Warren Scott Dey), 1925.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Archivist Joseph Ditta created this finding aid in December 2021.