1 Reply Latest reply on Mar 16, 2022 3:05 PM by Rebecca McCormick

    Seeking deed of US Revenue Service property on Staten Island

    Michael Vigorito Newbie
    Michael Vigorito Mar 13, 2022 4:43 PM

      I am researching the history of the US Revenue Cutter Service property on Staten Island NY that later became the General Depot of the US Lighthouse Service property and later still US Coast Guard property.  In 1799 through eminent domain  New York State obtained land in Staten Island (known at the time as  Castleton and later Tompkinsville, but now St. George)  to establish  a marine hospital  and a quarantine station. In 1814 about 5 acres of this State-owned property was  sold to the US Government (Daniel D. Tompkins was the governor of NY) to establish storehouses and offices for the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. According to a NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Report (Old Administration Building - Third District U.S. Lighthouse Depot) there is a deed describing the transfer of this NY State property to the Government of the United States.  I searched the online National Archives records but have not been able to locate it. Can you advise how I can obtain a copy of this deed?

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        • Re: Seeking deed of US Revenue Service property on Staten Island
          Rebecca McCormick Adventurer
          Rebecca McCormick Expert Mar 16, 2022 3:05 PM (in response to Michael Vigorito)

          Dear Mr. Vigorito,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Lighthouse Site Files, 1790 - 1939 in the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard (Record Group 26) that consists of case files for sites acquired by the Federal Government for lighthouses. The files include originals and copies of deeds, abstracts of titles, legislative acts appropriating funds for acquisition, Executive orders reserving sites on public lands, maps, site plans, and related correspondence. The series includes four file units regarding Staten Island. For more information about these non-digitized records, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at archives1reference@nara.gov.

           

          Also, we located the Lighthouse Plans and Maps, 1793 - 1939 in Record Group 26 that has a file unit titled Records Relating to the Lighthouse at Staten Island, New York, 1863 - 1887 which contains five items. These items have been digitized and may be viewed online using the Catalog.

           

          Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1.  We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience as we balance mission-critical work and the safety of our staff during the pandemic. Please check NARA’s web page about COVID-19 updates for the latest information.

           

          We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!