1801 Amos Corning Manuscript Survey Map of Tribeca, New York City

This unique c. 1801 manuscript map is likely the earliest to specifically illustrate modern-day Tribeca, New York City. The survey dates to 1801, but this manuscript copy was likely drawn around 1808-1809 when the author Amos Corning held the office of City Surveyor. It details lands owned by Anthony Lispenard Bleecker (1741 - 1816), here subdivided into properties, on some of which landholders are identified.

A Closer Look

The map is oriented to the southeast. Broadway runs along the top; at the northeasternmost point (left) is Grand Street (unlabeled), the southwesternmost limit (right) is Leonard Street, and along the bottom, running north-south, is Varick Street. Canal Street, as labeled here, is modern-day West Broadway. Hester Street, in the top left, is roughly modern-day Howard.

A Nice Country Estate

Bleeker acquired this property in 1801, during which time he was a prominent banker, merchant, auctioneer, and one of the richest men in New York. According to the 1884 obituary of his grandson Anthony J. Bleeker, he remembers his grandfather returning home one day and proudly announcing he acquired some 160 acres 'out in the country'. That vast tract of land eventually evolved into modern-day Tribeca and Greenwich Village. Here, Lispenard Street is named after him.

The street layout of Tribeca was roughly put together in the late 1700s. The absence of any reference to St. John's Chapel, constructed in 1803, as evident on our other manuscript map of this area (Tribeca-loss-1801), suggests this map must predate those plans. Contemporaneous illustrations of the area reveal open tree-filled lands all around. Most of the latter development of this area followed the 1811 filling of Collect Pond.

Publication History and Census

Manuscript copied from a survey logged with the city clerk's office by City Surveyor Amos Corning, likely around 1808-9. Only known example.