By Alex Vastola, Intern, Pratt Institute, School of Information
Title: Founding Documents, 1837-1899
Predominant Dates:1838-1842
Extent: 4.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Arranged by Series.
Subjects: Abstracts of Title, Act of Incorporation, Bergen, Cornelius, Business--Records, Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Cemeteries--Recording--New York State, Cemeteries--United States--History, Cemeteries--United States--History--19th Century, Cemetery Development, City Council of Brooklyn, Deeds, Douglass, David Bates, Fences, Gates and Railings, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y., Henry Evelyn Pierrepont, Land contracts, Land Development, Land Sales contracts, Landscape architecture--New York (State)--New York--Designs and plans, Legal Documents, New York (N.Y.)--Politics and Government--to 1898, New York State Senate, Real estate transactions--New York(State)--Brooklyn--History
Forms of Material: Correspondence, Newspaper Clippings
Languages: English
By the 1830s, New York City and the surrounding area had a pressing need for a large, rural burial ground. Before 1838, burial procedures were carried out various churches, which caused unsanitary conditions for the city’s water supply and its people. Most churchyards were terribly overcrowded by this time, and there were few regulations to ensure sanitary and respectful disposal of human remains. In late 1837, a committee was formed to seek land that could be developed for a large burial ground. An area of Gowanus, Brooklyn was soon identified, selected for its beauty and for the availability of the land. The committee turned its attention to the organization of Green-Wood Cemetery, and crafted the first regulations and procedures under which the cemetery would operate.
In 1838, the New York senate passed an act of incorporation granting Green-Wood Cemetery the status of a corporation. The cemetery had been in planning for some time, largely under the direction of Henry Pierrepont and Major David Bates Douglass.
The Founding Documents collection contains a large array of documents related to the founding of Green-Wood, including rare correspondence, legal documents, financial records, and minutes and resolutions of the founding committee, detailing the process by which Green-Wood was developed as New York’s first large rural cemetery. Also included are maps, charts, and news articles relating to the incorporation and development of the Green-Wood Cemetery between the years of 1837 and 1899.
This collection is divided into eight series: Legal Documents, Land Development, Financial Records, Committee Reports and Resolutions, Committee Minutes, Henry Pierrepont Correspondence, Miscellaneous Correspondence, and Printed Materials.
The Founding Documents collection and its contents are important for providing insight into the proceedings of the physical and legal establishment of the Green-Wood Cemetery and how such developments have had a lasting effect on the policies of the cemetery in the present day. This collection is contained within four boxes, most of which are designed for oversized materials. Many documents are in embrittled condition, and the worst have been encased in Mylar. All materials are organized by subject and are original to this collection. Please refer to the container list for further information.
Researchers may also wish to consult the following collections: The Henry Pierrepont Papers, which contains more information on Pierrepont’s role in the founding of the cemetery; Farm Conveyances and Deeds, for information regarding the purchase of the land that would become Green-Wood Cemetery; Cemetery By-Laws and Act of Incorporation, for later information on committee procedures and changes to the charter; Minutes of the Standing Committee, for information on later committee procedures; and Reports of the Board of Trustees for more records regarding the development of the cemetery and its early operation.
Abstracts of Title
Act of Incorporation
Bergen, Cornelius
Business--Records
Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History
Cemeteries--Recording--New York State
Cemeteries--United States--History
Cemeteries--United States--History--19th Century
Cemetery Development
City Council of Brooklyn
Deeds
Douglass, David Bates
Fences, Gates and Railings
Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Henry Evelyn Pierrepont
Land contracts
Land Development
Land Sales contracts
Landscape architecture--New York (State)--New York--Designs and plans
Legal Documents
New York (N.Y.)--Politics and Government--to 1898
New York State Senate
Real estate transactions--New York(State)--Brooklyn--History
Repository: The Green-Wood Cemetery
Original/Copies Note: For more information please see http://thegreen-woodcemeteryfoundingdocumentsexhibition.weebly.com/.
Related Materials: For more information please see http://thegreen-woodcemeteryfoundingdocumentsexhibition.weebly.com/.
Processing Information: Accession #: 009-2013
Item #223: “Oct. 10, 1838 Subscription Books opened”
This notice, signed by the Commissioners of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company: Samuel Ward, Charles King, D. R. Douglass, Russell Stebbins, Joseph A. Perry, Henry E. Pierrepont, and Pliny Freeman, notifies the public that on October 24, 1838, the subscription books for capital stock in the Company will be opened, with $300,000 in stock divided into shares of $100.00 each.
This notice is significant because it is the first documentation that the books to subscribe to stock of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company will be opened to subscribers, thereby notifying the public that the cemetery is open for business.
Item #224: “Notice of Books being opened sub. to Capital Stock Oct. 10th 1838”
This notice, signed by the Commissioners of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company: Samuel Ward, Charles King, D. B. Douglass, Russell Stebbins, Joseph A. Perry, Henry E. Pierrepont, and Pliny Freeman, notifies the public that on October 27, 1838, the subscription books for capital stock in the Company will be opened, with $300,000 in stock divided into shares of $100.00 each.
This notice is significant because it documents that the books to subscribe to stock of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company will be opened to subscribers, but the date has changed from the 24th (in Item #223) to the 27th, signifying that the original date for the opening of the cemetery subscription books was postponed.
Item #225: Committee Report on Fencing, July 1, 1841
This report states that the Green-Wood Cemetery Company’s accounts and vouchers were deemed correct for 1841, and notes theses figures and the expenses of the Company. This is used to justify expenses to pay for the construction of a fence around the cemetery’s boundaries to prepare the cemetery for visitors.
This report is important because it notes one of the first times that the Green-Wood Cemetery is considering building a fence around their perimeter. In addition, it also notes an increase in visitors to the cemetery, since a fence is needed to mark were the cemetery is.
Item #226: “Resolution to purchase land and take title” *(Undated)
This resolution states that the Committee on Lands, etc. be authorized on behalf of the Green-Wood Cemetery Corporation to both investigate the title and obtain the title deeds to new lands and to remove the encumbrances to developing these lands once the title deeds to them are obtained for the Corporation.
This resolution is important because it indicates that the Green-Wood Cemetery Corporation is seeking the authority to both obtain and clear new lands for burial purposes, indicating a growth of the cemetery at this time.
Item #227: Committee Report on the Land Development of the Green-Wood Cemetery (ca. 1839)
This report goes into detail about the first year of subscriptions to burial lots in the Green-Wood Cemetery. It notes that some additional land has been acquired (for example, 85 acres), that around 200 people had subscribed, and advise future purchases of land titles and mortgages to grow the cemetery. In addition, it at one point notes that there is doubt that this subscription to capital stock method of management for the cemetery will be sustainable.
This report is important because it not only gives researchers an idea of how the Commissioners of the cemetery wanted to expand the cemetery after its first year of operation in 1839, but also that they began to doubt the for-profit subscription to lots model for sustaining the cemetery association financially.
Item #228: Committee on Nominations Letter about Payment to Major Douglass, New York, October 8, 1839
This letter, signed by J. A. Perry and Pliny Freeman, reports that the salary for Major Douglass of $300.00, with $100.00 paid in advance, has been approved by both Major Douglass and the President of the Board of Trustees of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company.
This letter is important because it is the first documented proof of the cemetery company paying Major Douglass to perform the surveying work at the cemetery.
Item #229: Committee Resolution on the Agreed Salary of Major Douglass, October 26, 1839
This resolution states that the committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company has agreed to compensate Major Douglass $1,000.00 for his services to the cemetery from May to October 1839.
This document is important because it not only confirms that Major Douglass was compensated $1,000.00 in addition to his $300.00 salary for surveying the Green-Wood Cemetery, but also indicates when he worked for the cemetery to perform the survey: from May to October 1839.
Item #230: Board to Pay Major Douglass (March 10, 1841)
In this resolution, the Committee of Insurance of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company at a committee meeting on March 10, 1841, agreed to present to Major Douglass $200.00 in bonds on cemetery lots to pay him for his services to the cemetery.
This resolution is important because it shows the shift of the cemetery from paying Major Douglass in direct cash to refundable bonds, indicating that the cemetery company did not have much hard money to pay him for his services in 1841.
Item #231: Report of the Committee: Resolution on Proposed Amendments to the Charter (ca. 1839)
This report outlines five proposed amendments to revise the Charter of Incorporation of the Green-Wood Cemetery. The first suggestion is to change the identify of the cemetery’s association from a joint-stock company to a general trust, and allow the Directors to buy the stock. The second revision is to secure bond holders by setting aside at minimum half of the proceeds for the payment of bonds until they are paid. A third amendment is to reorganize the Board of Directors of the cemetery into a Board of Trustees, elected by ballot. A fourth suggestion is the exemption of the cemetery association from taxes. Finally, the fifth suggested amendment allows the association to have increased power to preserve the cemetery grounds and clear structures, trees, and enclosures on bought land to prepare it for burial purposes.
This report is important because it outlines how the Green-Wood Cemetery Company wanted to amend its charter of incorporation to change the identity of the cemetery from a for-profit company to a non-profit association.
Item #232: “Report on Sale to Churches Oct 1839”
This report, submitted to the committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery by its Chairman, D. B. Douglass, states that the lands of the Green-Wood Cemetery should be subdivided into sections for different churches (mainly Episcopal churches) (as at Mount Auburn Cemetery) and family members can bury the members of their families in separate enclosures, and that this idea is important in this arrangement with churches. The committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery does not disagree with this idea, provided that it does not interfere with the business of the cemetery and that all lots reserved by a church are guaranteed to eventually be used by its parishioners. It also states that the committee agreed to five provisions for this arrangement with churches. The first was that each church denomination had to obtain a minimum 100 lots to reserve, and these lots should be located in the cemetery in such a way that does not interfere with the rights of the individual cemetery lot owners. The second is that these reserve precincts will be laid out by the cemetery association, within the plan of the cemetery and with no walkways or avenues running through them. Third, that the price was $70.00 per lot paid in cash or a convertible payment method, arranged for five months from the 1st of November, 1839, and the residue payment for lots agreed within five years of November 1st, 1839. Fourth, that the lots reserved by the churches will be held in trust by the cemetery association until they are used for burial purposes by the respective church congregations that has reserved them. Finally, fifth, that the Green-Wood Cemetery Company is responsible for policing and governing the burial lots reserved for the churches. The report also notes that as owners of cemetery lots, the churches that have paid to reserve lots in the cemetery to bury their dead will be considered corporators of the cemetery and therefore have the right to vote in the elections of trustees to manage the cemetery and have the rights entitled to corporators of the cemetery as outlined in the cemetery’s act of incorporation. There is also a note that states that this report was accepted and laid on the table of the committee for approval.
This document is significant because it documents the relationship between the Green-Wood Cemetery Company and the prospective churches that wanted to buy burial lot sections in the cemetery in 1839. It shows that the cemetery company wanted to let the churches reserve lots in the cemetery to bury their dead, as long as they followed certain provisions laid out by the company and respected the rights of the company that runs the cemetery. In addition, this report also shows that Mount Auburn’s agreement with churches on the reservation of burial lots was used as a model for the one considered for the Green-Wood Cemetery.
Item #233: Resolution to Pay Major Douglass for Sums Owed in Bonds *(Undated)
This document explains that the Finance Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company should pay Major Douglass for all his services in redeemable bonds.
This document is important because it reveals how the cemetery paid Major Douglass for the survey work that he did for the cemetery.
Item #234: Authorization of Commissioners to Advocate for Subscriptions to Capital Stock at the Green-Wood Cemetery (ca. 1839)
This document, signed by Samuel Ward, appoints Commissioners Charles King, D. B. Douglass, Russell Stebbins, Joseph A. Perry, Henry E. Pierrepont, and Pliny Freeman as advocates with the authority to advocate for the selling and dividing out of the capital stock of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company to subscribers.
This document is important because it documents the first time that the cemetery company is advocating the selling of stock to support the Green-Wood Cemetery.
Item #235: Resolution to Appoint Committees to Draft Rules and Regulations for the Green-Wood Cemetery *(Undated)
In this resolution, the President of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company resolves to appoint a committee to draft rules and regulations for the cemetery grounds, a committee to develop by-laws toward the fiscal management of the cemetery, and a committee to develop by-laws for the improved regulation of the cemetery, all drafts to be submitted by the next meeting of the Commissioners of the Green-Wood Cemetery Company.
This document is significant because it shows that the Green-Wood Cemetery Company at this time is starting to draft the first rules and regulations for managing the cemetery grounds.
Item #236: “Resolution to Alter Charter” (ca. 1839)
This document is a written draft of the resolution where the Green-Wood Cemetery Company’s desire to notify the New York State Legislature that they wanted to change the structure of the company from a joint-stock to a general-trust, and change its managing corporation from a Board of Directors to a Board of Trustees.
This document is important because it may be the first handwritten evidence of the cemetery’s desire to change its structure and management from a for-profit to a non-profit entity.
Item #237: Authorization for a Committee to Solicit Subscriptions from Church Organizations *(Undated)
In this document, a committee is appointed by the Green-Wood Cemetery Company with the authority to work with church organizations and religious societies in New York City and Brooklyn to set land aside at the cemetery for the use of these institutions.
This document is important because it may be the first written evidence that the cemetery wanted to reach out to religious organizations to interest them in obtaining land for their use at the cemetery.
Item #238: “Form of Resolution which gave appointment to Maj. Douglass” *(Undated)
This document appoints Major Douglass with the job of executing a survey of the Green-Wood Cemetery grounds and to lay out the form of the cemetery grounds, along with executing a map of this survey.
This document is significant because it documents the first time that the cemetery nominated Major Douglass to perform the survey work at the cemetery.
Item #239: “Report of President and Comptroller, respecting reforms and improvements of Avenues.” January 13, 1875
In this report signed by President Henry E. Pierrepont and Comptroller J. A. Perry of the Green-Wood Cemetery, they outline the total cost of paying for avenue improvements for the cemetery, totaling $25,500.00, $1,500.00 per mile of road. Costs for equipment include those for a steam stone-crushing machine, as well as a steam roller. In addition, individual costs are shown for the salary for the machine operators, the cost of coal, etc., and the rate of work that can be completed per day.
This report is important because it documents a period of improvements of the cemetery grounds, since the cemetery association is trying to calculation how much it will cost to improve the avenues in the cemetery.
Item #240: “Report of Standing Committee June 12, 1851”
This report signed by William White and Russell Stebbins, reports that the Standing Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Association has employed Timothy L. Merwin to examine the accounts, vouchers, and receipts of the cemetery and make sure they match correctly. In addition, they note that two mistakes were found with Number 4166, a part-lot for $36.00 owned by James Watson and John Holmes and Number 4191, a full-lot for $110.00 owned by James A. Patterson. The report states that these owners claimed that they paid the clerk of the cemetery for these lots, but the financial records examined by Mr. Merwin do not prove this.
This report is important because it documents the first time that the cemetery hired an accountant to check its books to make sure the financial records of the cemetery were in order.
Item #241: “Report May 29, 1840 Page 34.”
This report signed by committee members Russell Stebbins, J. A. Perry, and A. G. Hammond, explains the meeting of Major Douglass at Trinity Church. In it the committee members explain that they are committed to the citizens to carry out the provisions of the Green-Wood Cemetery’s Charter, that the subscription books should be reopened to churches and individuals, that a committee should be appointed to negotiate with churches on the reservation of cemetery lands to these institutions, that the President of the cemetery association have the authority to receive proposal to create a picket fence for the cemetery and report on this at a future meeting, and that the commissioners of the cemetery be beholden to the cemetery’s President at least $1,500.00 per acre of land as insurance compensation. There is also a pasted page with a “C.” written on it that outlines the regulations drafted by the cemetery’s secretary, T. L. Ogden, agreed by the cemetery’s commissioners in order for land to be given to churches for burial uses.
This report is important because it documents the first time that the Green-Wood Cemetery Association is trying to outline the resolutions that they want the church organizations to agree on before they allow them to set aside land for their burial uses at the cemetery. In addition, the vote passed at this meeting reaffirmed the cemetery’s proposal to work with religious institutions, and invited plans to encircle the grounds with a large picket fence, establishing the borders of the cemetery (Cleaveland, 1866, page 31).
Item #242: “Report June 5, 1841 Copied page 50.”
This report explains the state of the Green-Wood Cemetery Association by 1841. They first state that the land of the cemetery is now ready for burial purposes, and they explain the cumulative values of the bonds and mortgages of the lots in the cemetery. In addition, the report considers future costs to the cemetery, such as bills for various expenses, for fencing around the cemetery’s boundaries, and for building burial vaults.
This document is important because it show what the financial situation of the cemetery was in 1841 and what its association was planning to spend money on to improve it.
Item #243: “Report of Committee respecting Bonds to be given to J. A. Perry May 26, 1843”
This report signed by Russell Stebbins and A. G. Hammond explains that $19,825.00 in bonds, endorsed for $7,450.00, has been set aside to compensate J. A. Perry for his purchase of lands for the Green-Wood Cemetery to use for burial purposes.
This report is important because it reveals how the people who bought lands for the Green-Wood Cemetery to allow it to expand were compensated for buying this land.
Item #244: “Report on the comptroller’s accounts – Dec. 6, 1844.”
In this report signed by Russell Stebbins and Henry E. Pierrepont, the members of the Standing Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Association, explains that they have found that the accounts of the Comptroller of the cemetery that were examined are correct.
This report is important because it shows that both the Standing Committee and the Comptroller of the cemetery are working together in 1844 to make sure that the accounts of the cemetery are in order.
Item #245: “Report of the Standing Committee, March 10, 1869.”
In this report signed by C. P. Smith, Henry E. Pierrepont, and Alex White, the members of the Standing Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Association, explain that they have found that the accounts of the Comptroller of the cemetery (with the vouchers) that were examined are correct. This report also explains that the U.S. Stock has been examined and is in the name of the Green-Wood Cemetery, with a total value of $438,000.00.
This report is important because it shows that both the Standing Committee and the Comptroller of the cemetery are working together in 1869 to make sure that the accounts of the cemetery are in order. In addition, it shows that the cemetery was investing in a large amount of stock at this time.
Item #246: “Report of Finance Committee, Sept. 30, 1857.”
In this report signed by the members of the Finance Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery Association, which includes Robert Ray and William White, the committee members report on the amount of money that exists in an account the cemetery set up with the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company and ask for the authority to request a withdrawal of some of the money from this account.
This report is significant because since it documents a withdrawal request from the cemetery’s trust fund, it indicates that the cemetery is going through some financial hardship at this time, possibly as a result of the effects of the economic depression of 1857.
Item #247: Report of the Standing Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery, October 6, 1869
In this report signed by the members of the Standing Committee of the Green-Wood Cemetery, including Henry E. Pierrepont, C. P. Smith, Robert Ray, and Alex White, they explain that the Silliman and True Bills of a total of $3,750.00 be paid. They also report that over fifty deeds of transfer of land had been made to the cemetery.
This report is important because it notes a large amount of deed of land transfers to the cemetery, indicating a period of growth in the amount of land owned by the cemetery.
