Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
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Collection Overview

Creator:
Alexander, James, 1691-1756
Title:
James Alexander Papers
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/t435gc98t
Dates:
1688-1756
Size:
10 boxes
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-10
Language:
English

Abstract

James Alexander was a lawyer in New Jersey and New York during the eighteenth century. This collection consists of correspondence, documents, and manuscripts of James Alexander, the bulk of which relate to the allocation and ownership of land, primarily in New Jersey and New York.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, documents, and manuscripts of James Alexander, the bulk of which relate to the allocation of land, primarily in New Jersey, or to the legal and government problems arising from its ownership during the period Alexander was surveyor-general of New Jersey and, later, New York. Indian deeds, surveys, and a "Copy of the Jersey Commission for running the Division Line betwixt the Province of New Jersey and New York" are included, with petitions and correspondence regarding land riots (1740) and those arrested during land disputes, and the petition of Alexander and William Smith for reinstatement after their disbarment in the libel trial of printer/publisher John Peter Zenger. In addition, there are letters and documents signed by colonial governors of New York and New Jersey, including William Burnet, Robert Hunter, Edward Hyde Cornbury, Cadwallader Colden, and Jonathan Belcher, as well as letters by David Ogden, and Richard Stockton.

Arrangement

The letters and documents have been tipped into 10 folio-sized bound volumes and are arranged in rough, chronological order.

Collection Creator Biography:

Alexander, James, 1691-1756

James Alexander was a lawyer in New Jersey and New York during the eighteenth century. Born in Scotland in 1691, Alexander fought in the Rebellion of 1715, which resulted in the exile of the Stuarts from England. That year, he moved to the United States and became the surveyor general of the Province of New Jersey. He served on both the Council of New York, from 1721 to 1732, and the Council of New Jersey, from 1723 to 1735. From 1723 to 1727, he also served as New Jersey's attorney general. Alexander died in 1756.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Gift of Mrs. Walter K. Earle.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Joe Calizo in 1996. Finding aid written by Joe Calizo in 1996.

Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

James Alexander Papers; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/t435gc98t
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-10