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Title
Adolph Philipse estate records
Names
Reade, Joseph, 1694-1771 (Creator)
Dates / Origin
Date Created: 1749 - 1767
Library locations
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Shelf locator: MssCol 2412
Topics
Philipse, Adolph -- Estate
Executors and administrators
Landowners
Merchants
Politicians
Inventories of decedents' estates -- New York (State)
Personal property -- New York (State)
Slavery -- New York (State)
New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Sleepy Hollow (N.Y.) -- History
Genres
account books
Records (Documents)
Notes
Biographical/historical: Adolph Philipse (1665-1750) was a wealthy New York City merchant and politician with extensive landholdings in the lower Hudson River Valley. Baptised Adolphus, he was the second son of New York City merchant Frederick Philipse, first Lord of the Manor of Philipsborough in Westchester County, known as Philipsburg Manor.The manor extended from Spuyten Duyvil up to the Croton River, along the east bank of the Hudson River. Upon his father's death, Adolph Philipse inherited the upper portion of the manor, northwards from Dobbs Ferry, while his nephew Frederick Philipse inherited the lower portion. The "Upper Mills," located at present-day Sleepy Hollow, was an important hub of farming and mercantile activity. Philipse also held a large tract of land to the north called the Highland Patent, then part of Dutchess County. In addition to managing his business affairs and land holdings, Adolph Philipse held important positions in the provincial government, serving as a member of the Governor's Council and as Speaker of the General Assembly. He died intestate on January 20, 1749 (1750 New Style). Joseph Reade (1694-1771), the estate's administrator, was a merchant, a member of the Governor’s Council, and the husband of Adolph Philipse's niece Anna French.
Content: The Adolph Philipse estate records, dated 1749 to 1767, consist of a bound notebook maintained by Joseph Reade as administrator of the estate of Adolph Philipse, from January 24, 1749 (1750 New Style) to August 19, 1763, comprising a detailed inventory of his personal estate at properties in Manhattan and at Philipsburg Manor in Westchester County, with related accounts. The inventory lists cash and other valuables, outstanding debts, household belongings, and other property. Individual slaves at both locations are identified. Reade attested the records in 1767. The inventory of the goods, rights, chattel and credits of the estate begins at New York, dated January 24, 1749 (1750 New Style). It lists cash and other valuables, outstanding debts, slaves, and household belongings and other goods pertaining to a house, its yard, and a storehouse in New Street. The inventory continues February 12, 1749 "on the manour of Philipsburgh." A list of slaves and livestock is followed by the belongings and goods in each room of a working residence, the mill, and other buildings at the Upper Mills. The inventory was signed by Joseph Reade at New York two months later, on April 24, 1750. The accounts identify expenditures and receipts from January 25, 1749 (1750 New Style) to settlement of the accounts on April 19, 1763. Items include estate expenses, debt payments, transactions with tenants, and the sale of many of the items listed in the inventory. These include silverware, furnishings, cloth and clothing, working equipment, farm produce and livestock, and wampum, reflecting Philipse's mercantile and farming endeavors, and associated wealth. The sale of slaves and expenses for their livelihood are also recorded. Enslaved persons at both locations are listed by name, gender and sometimes age.
Funding: Digitization was made possible by a lead gift from The Polonsky Foundation.
Content: In the store house in New Street folio 16: The page includes the list of enslaved at the upper mills site including men, women, boys, a girl, men unfit to work.
Physical Description
Extent: .2 linear feet (1 volume)
Description
Adolph Philipse (1665-1750) was a wealthy New York City merchant and politician with extensive landholdings in the lower Hudson River Valley. Baptised Adolphus, he was the second son of New York City merchant Frederick Philipse, first Lord of the Manor of Philipsborough in Westchester County, known as Philipsburg Manor. Adolph Philipse held important positions in the provincial government, serving as a member of the Governor's Council and as Speaker of the General Assembly. He died intestate on January 20, 1749 (1750 New Style). Joseph Reade (1694-1771), the estate's administrator, was a merchant, a member of the Governor's Council, and the husband of Adolph Philipse's niece Anna French. The Adolph Philipse estate records, dated 1749 to 1767, consist of a bound notebook maintained by Joseph Reade as administrator of the estate of Adolph Philipse, from January 24, 1749 (1750 New Style) to August 19, 1763, comprising a detailed inventory of the estate at properties in Manhattan and at Philipsburg Manor, with related accounts. The inventory lists cash and other valuables, outstanding debts, household belongings, and other property. Individual slaves at both locations are identified. Reade attested the records in 1767.
Type of Resource
Text
Languages
English
Identifiers
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19552512
MSS Unit ID: 2412
Archives collections id: archives_collections_2412
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 46ebd720-24e4-0133-9501-58d385a7b928
Rights Statement
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.

Item timeline of events

  • 1694: Creator Born
  • 1749: Created (Approximate)
  • 1771: Creator Died
  • 2015: Digitized
  • 2024: Found by you!
  • 2025

MLA Format

Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Adolph Philipse estate records" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1749 - 1767. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/3d1137f0-7437-0133-7748-00505686a51c

Chicago/Turabian Format

Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. "Adolph Philipse estate records" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/3d1137f0-7437-0133-7748-00505686a51c

APA Format

Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. (1749 - 1767). Adolph Philipse estate records Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/3d1137f0-7437-0133-7748-00505686a51c

Wikipedia Citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/3d1137f0-7437-0133-7748-00505686a51c | title= (text) Adolph Philipse estate records, (1749 - 1767)|author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library |accessdate=March 19, 2024 |publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>

Adolph Philipse estate records