Legal Documents: Abstracts of Title, Deeds, and Other Materials Relating to Green-Wood's Properties, 1776-1953 | The Green-Wood Cemetery

By Meredith Giordan and Stella Sigal, Pratt School of Information Students

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Abstracts of Title, 1876-1898

This series contains abstracts of title that delineate the history of the ownership via wills and deeds of specific plots of land in the Eighth Ward in the City of Brooklyn that Green-wood Cemetery purchased or was given in the nineteenth century. Each details the names of all previous land owners and includes a diagram or map of the lots in question. All of them involve Alexander M. White and his wife, Elizabeth T. White, in some way. This series is arranged chronologically.

Box 1

Folder 1: Property: Twentieth Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue (lots 974–980), 1876

Folder 2: Property: Tenth Avenue between Twentieth and Twenty-first Street (lots 1 and 24, block B), 1876

Folder 3: Property: Twentieth Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenue (lots 17 and 18, lot B), 1876

Folder 4: Property: Tenth Avenue between Twentieth and Twenty-first Street (lots 4, 5, 6, 19, 20, & 21), 1876

Folder 5: Property: Twentieth Street (lots 22 and 23) and Twenty-first Street (lots 2 and 3) between 9th and 10th Avenue (block B), 1876

Folder 6: Property: Tenth Avenue between Twentieth and Twenty-first Street (lot 7), 1876

Folder 7: Property: Twenty-first Street and Tenth Avenue (1D), 1876

Folder 8: Property: Eighth Avenue between Twentieth and Twenty-first Street (lots 821–827), 1877

Folder 9: Property: Twenty-first Street and Tenth Avenue (lots 8–12) (draft?), c. 1883

Folder 10: Property: Fifth Avenue between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Street (lots 294­­­­–297), 1898

Series 2: Deeds, 1835-1928

This series contains various deeds (indenture, foreclosure, quitclaim, etc.) pertaining to the transfer or sale of property either to Green-Wood Cemetery or from one person to another that would eventually belong to Green-Wood or pertain to the cemetery in some way. Many specify the lots to which the deed pertains. Some folders also contain documents that were attached to the deeds, such as a water bill or correspondence. Folders 10 and 12 include several deeds that were grouped together and trace property through multiple owners. This series is arranged chronologically.

Box 2

Folder 1: Alexander Hadden to John Blifs, November 1, 1835

Folder 2: John A. Van Brunt and wife to John G. Bergen, April 17, 1849

Folder 3: James R. Brunt and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, April 27, 1849

Folder 4: John F. Delaflaine and Julia Ann, his wife, to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 1, 1849

Folder 5: Thomas Austin and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, April 14, 1852

Folder 6: David F. Clarkson to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 1, 1852

Also included: Agreement between David F. Clarkson and Green-wood Cemetery, April 3, 1852

Folder 7: John Lefferts and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 1, 1852

Folder 8: Gerrit L. Martense to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 1, 1852

Folder 9: Anson Blake and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, December 1, 1852

Folder 10: William Pitbladdo and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 9, 1856

Folder 11: William J. Lewis and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 9, 1859

Lots 398/401, 410/413, 446/449

Folder 12: William Pitbladdo and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, March 20, 1860

Folder 13: [Quitclaim] Robert Martense and Matilda, his wife, to Green-Wood Cemetery, January 15, 1862

Folder 14: John B. Borst and wife to Felix McLansland, February 4, 1862

Also includes: Water bill for E. McLaughlin from Nassau Water Department, May 1, 1871

Folder 15: Levi C. Hildreth to William A. White, January 20, 1863

Folder 16: Edwin Lewis and wife to William A. White, March 10, 1863

Folder 17: Elizur Wright and Susan, his wife, to William A. White, March 23, 1863

Folder 18: [Referee's] Charles Lowrey, referee, to Cornelius Bergen, March 5, 1864

Folder 19: John G. Bergen and others to Edward P. Day, April 1867

Conveys lots 811 to 815 & 833 to 837, Block 128

Folder 20: James A. Degrauw to Henry E. Pierrepont (7 documents), 1868-1875

Deeds included (original order maintained):

James Dunne and wife to Henry E. Pierrepont, July 1, 1873

Charles Lucas to James A. Degrauw, February 14, 1874

Jacob V. B. Martense et al., to Samuel Warburton, November 7, 1868

Mary Warburton and Samuel A. Warburton, executors of the last will and testament of Samuel Warburton, dec'd, to James A. Degrauw, June 10, 1876

Jacob V. B. Martense et al., to Frank Goodwin, November 7, 1868

Frank Goodwin and wife to James A. Degrauw, May 26, 1873

James A. Degrauw and wife to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 10, 1875

Folder 21: Mary O'Shea to William N. Nelson, January 30, 1869

Also includes: Tax document, January 20, 1874

Folder 22: Dauphine S. Hines to Henry E. Pierrepont (6 documents), 1871

Includes (original order maintained):

Release- Jacob V. B. Martense to James M. Murphy, 1871

Deed- James M. Murphy and wife to Dauphine S. Hines, August 31, 1871

Release- Jacob V. B. Martense to Michael McCormack, August 1, 1871

Deed- Michael McCormack and wife to Dauphine S. Hines, August 7, 1871

Deed- Josiah Penfield and wife to Dauphine S. Hines, July 1871

Deed- Joseph Soher to Dauphine S. Hines, July 19, 1871

Folder 23: Andrew S. Wheeler and wife to Alexander M. White, June 13, 1871

Conveys lots 819, 820, 828, and 829

Folder 24: Simon J. Harding to Christopher R. McClellan, July 13, 1871

Folder 25: Elizabeth McLaughlin to Alexander M. White, August 1, 1871

Lots 1 to 4, block 138, Tenth Avenue (west side)

Folder 26: Eliza Murphy and William E. Murphy to Joseph A. Perry, December 1871

Folder 27: Joseph J. White and wife to Henry E. Pierrepont, December 1, 1871

Folder 28: John Doherty and wife to Alexander M. White, December 12, 1871

Lots 816 and 832

Folder 29: Christopher R. McClellan to Henry E. Pierrepont, October 1, 1872

Folder 30: Rachel Martense, trustee, to Uriel A. Murdock, June 11, 1873

Folder 31: Uriel Murdock and wife to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 11, 1873

Folder 32: Rachel Martense and Maria Story to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 27, 1873

Folder 33: William N. Nelson and wife to James A. Degrauw, October 30, 1873

Folder 34: The executors and trustees of the last will and testament of Anson Blake, dec'd, to Patrick McGuire, January 7, 1874

Folder 35: John A. McCabe and wife to Henry E. Pierrepont, February 1874

Folder 36: Margaret Flynn and others to Henry E. Pierrepont, December 3, 1874

Folder 37: [Quitclaim] James A. Degranio and wife to Alexander W. White, December 22, 1874

Lot 10, block 138

Folder 38: Joseph A. Perry and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 1875

Folder 39: Joseph A. Perry and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 22, 1875

Folder 40: [Executor's] Samuel J. Joyce to Green-Wood Cemetery, March 20, 1878

Also includes:

Contract for property, June 29, 1877

Letter from J. Romaine Brown to J. A. Perry, July 17, 1877

Folder 41: William Dunigan and wife to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 26, 1883

Folder 42: [Deed on foreclosure] Louis B. Hasbrouck to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 25, 1912

Folder 43: [Deed on foreclosure] George B. Hayes to Green-Wood Cemetery, May 20, 1914

Folder 44: [Deed on foreclosure] Benjamin Berinstein to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 19, 1918

Folder 45: [Deed on foreclosure] Henry F. Miller to Green-Wood Cemetery, June 26, 1918

Folder 46: [Deed on foreclosure] Thomas Keogh to Green-Wood Cemetery, April 13, 1928

Series 3: Legal Documents Pertaining to the Validity of the Sale of Land to Green-Wood Cemetery by the Heirs of Thomas J. Murphy, 1871-1872 and 1888

This series includes legal documentation pertaining to the validity of the sale of land in Flatbush, New York, to Green-Wood Cemetery by the Murphy heirs includes Justices B.D. Silliman and J.W. Gilbert’s opinions on the sale, Thomas J. Murphy’s will and testament, a map of the land in question, and a letter by Comptroller Charles M. Perry. Questions on the validity of the sale of land to Green-Wood Cemetery by the Murphy heirs arose after one heir objected to its sale. Opinions of Justices B.D. Silliman and J.W. Gilbert uphold the sale and Green-Wood’s title to the purchased farmland. The series is arranged in its original order.

Box 3

Folder 1: Opinions of B.D. Silliman and J.W. Gilbert as to validity of Murphy land title, March 26, 1888

Also includes:

Map of land

Will- Thomas J. Murphy

Envelope

Folder 2: Opinion of Judge Gilbert, March 26, 1888

Folder 3: Duplicates (3)- Opinion of Judge Gilbert, March 26, 1888

Folder 4: Letter- Charles M. Perry and Comptroller & C., April 14, 1888

Folder 5: Opinion of B.D. Silliman, March 27, 1888

Series 4: Legal Documents Pertaining to the Property Acquired by Henry E. Pierrepont, 1866-1874 and 1906-1907

This series contains abstracts of title, land deeds, and correspondence regarding land acquired by Green-Wood Cemetery’s founding president Henry E. Pierrepont. The majority of land described in these legal documents is located on the border of Green-Wood and the neighborhood of Flatbush. These documents are arranged in their original order with the addition of two folders of pertaining documents.

Box 3

Folder 1: Deed- Anna M. Ferris to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 15, 1874

Folder 2: Deed- William A. Duer, referee, to Henry E. Pierrepont, November 11, 1874

Also includes:

Deed- Jane Martense to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 15, 1874

Abstract of Title of the Green-wood Cemetery (draft?), c. 1875

Folder 3: Abstract of Title of Henry E. Pierrepont and Abstract of Title of Joseph E. Perry, September 26, 1867

Folder 4: Correspondence between C.E. Tayntor & Co., Mr. Cushman, and Green-wood Cemetery, 1906 - 1907

Document dates:

June 12, 1906

June 22, 1906

June 20, 1907

October 9, 1907

Folder 5: Deed- Jane V. Wilbur and Lionel A. Wilbur to Henry E. Pierrepont, June 15, 1874

Folder 6: Abstract of Title of Henry E. Pierrepont to the land of Gerret L. Martense heirs, August 22, 1860

Folder 7: Note- Land conveyed as city lots by Martense heirs to H.E. Pierrepont, Undated (c. 1866?)

Folder 8: Statement (financial) of W.A. Duer, referee, re Pierrepont v. Martense, c. 1874

Folder 9: Note/draft re Jane Martense deed, June 15, 1874

Series 5: Bergen Title Legal Documents, 1776 and 1820-1878

Legal documents pertaining to the Bergen family's properties that include wills, deeds, indentures, and bonds. A large number of the documents concern an 1845 petition by Catharine Jane Bergen and several female Bergen children aged fourteen and under to sell land left to them by their father, Lewis Bergen, upon his death. These include petitions by their special guardian, legal responses to the petitions, and the bill of costs in the case. This series is arranged chronologically with the inclusion of a group of documents arranged in the original order.

Box 4

Folder 1: Will- John G. Bergen, January 21, 1867

Folder 2: Will- Garret G. Bergen, December 1878

Folder 3: Cover Sheet- Bergen Title Documents

Note: All documents that follow in this series were collected within this cover sheet.

Folder 4: Deed- Bergen Tract, May 21, 1853

Folder 5: Petition of Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., to sell real estate, December 1845

Folder 6: Petition of Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., infants, to sell real estate, October 15, 1845

Folder 7: Deed of special guardian (to Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., infants), March 31, 1846

Folder 8: Response to the petition of Catharine J. Bergen, et al. to sell real estate, October 1845

Folder 9: Bond of Tunis Bergen to Garret Bergen ($1200), November 1, 1838

Paid August 3, 1844, recording of payment plan and interest

Folder 10: Response to petition of Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., to sell their real estate and confirmation of report of special guardian and for conveyance, March 2, 1846

Folder 11: Bill of costs in the matter of the petition of Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., to sell real estate, April 6, 1846

Folder 12: Deed- Tunis G. Bergen, special guardian, and others to Garret G. Bergen and John G. Bergen, March 31, 1846

Folder 13: Indenture between Tunis Bergen and Garret Bergen ($1200), November 1, 1838

Note: Refers to bond in folder 9.

Folder 14: Lease (typed facsimile)- Wilhelmus Bennet to John van der Bilt, April 11, 1776

Also includes:

Deed (handwritten facsimile)- Garret Bergen to Joseph A. Perry, July 1, 1839

Folder 15: Response to petition of Catharine Jane Bergen, et al., to sell real estate and response to special guardian at to contracts of sale, March 2, 1846

Folder 16: Deed- Barret Bennet and wife to Garret Bergen, May 12, 1820

Series 6: Miscellaneous, 1866-1953

The series includes a surveyed map of Green-Wood Cemetery, tax receipts and legal documentation for land in Flatbush, drafts, correspondence, and affidavits. Legal and financial documentation relate to land sold to Green-Wood Cemetery. There are also notes and keys of unknown provenance. This series is arranged chronologically.

Box 4

Folder 1: Surveyed map of Green-wood Cemetery, undated (c. 19th century)

Folder 2: Map of lands of Garret Martense and heirs, undated

Folder 3: Tax Documents- Green-wood Cemetery, July 2, 1866

Assessed October 22, 1860

Folder 4: Mortgage and bond documents ($350)- John Daly and wife to George W. Pearsall, January 24, 1874

Also includes:

Tax search receipt, May 1, 1870

Folder 5: Deed (draft)- Henry E. Pierrepont and Anna, his wife, to Green-wood Cemetery, June 1875

Folder 6: Tax Receipts for John Daly/Dailey, 1874-1875

Tax receipts dated:

July 31, 1874

July 30, 1875

August 18, 1875

August 19, 1875

Also includes:

Legal document (title search?), July 26, 1875

Envelope addressed to J.A. Perry, Esq., Green-wood Cemetery Office

Folder 7: Affidavit- John Mahoney, July 28, 1875

Folder 8: Tax Receipts for M. Smith and John Mahoney, March 19, 1875 and August 19, 1875

Folder 9: Correspondence from I.A. (?) Terry to D. Silliman, esq., August 9, 1875

Also includes:

Deed (facsimile/draft?)- Elizabeth and Henry Crabb and Rachel Martense to Maria Story and Rachel Martense, February 1, 1866

Deed (draft?)- Uriel Murdock and wife to Henry Pierrepont, June 19, 1873

Folder 10: Correspondence and property appraisals- Ivor B. Clark, Inc. to Green-wood Cemetery, December 1933 and January 1934

Folder 11: Cover letter (copy) and envelope- to J. Wesley Seward re Agreement between Green-wood and Ivor B. Clark, Inc., 1945-1950

Also includes:

Letter- Gen. Delafield to English, 1950

Folder 12: Assignment of Participating Interest and Affidavit- The Green-wood Cemetery to the Dimes Savings Bank of Brooklyn, March 16, 1953

Folder 13: Note- List of dates and property lots, undated

Folder 14: Note- List of conveyances to be made to Green-wood Cemetery, undated

Folder 15: Keys- William H. English

3 sets of 2 keys each

Folder 16: Keys- James W. Henderson

3 sets of 2 keys each