Collection Summary
Nicholas Low Papers
1773-1897
(bulk 1784-1828)
1773-1897
(bulk 1784-1828)
MSS30627
Low, Nicholas,
1739-1826
36,000
items
100 containers plus 4 oversize
40 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
New York merchant,
financier, land speculator, and state legislator. Family and business
correspondence, business and ship's papers, legal papers, accounts of voyages
to Asia, Europe, and South America, and printed matter. Includes correspondence
with foreign merchants and relates to trade conditions, Loyalist matters, and
to events in Congress during the first session following the adoption of the
Constitution.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Low, Isaac, 1735-1791--Correspondence.
Low, Isaac--Correspondence.
Low, Nicholas, 1739-1826.
Organizations
Great Britain. Army--Officers.
Low & Wallace (New York, N.Y.)
Mordecai Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)--Correspondence.
Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.
United States. Congress.
United States. Constitution.
Subjects
American loyalists.
Business records--New York (State)
Commerce.
Land speculation--Kentucky.
Land speculation--New York (State)
Land speculation--Ohio.
Merchants--New York (State)--New York.
Merchants--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
Ship's papers--18th century.
Ship's papers--19th century.
Voyages and travels.
Places
Argentina--Commerce.
Asia--Description and travel.
Ballston Spa (N.Y.)--History.
Canada--Commerce.
China--Commerce.
Europe--Commerce.
Europe--Description and travel.
Great Britain--Commerce.
Great Britain--Foreign relations--United States.
India--Commerce.
Ireland--Commerce.
Lowville (N.Y.)--History.
Mexico--Commerce.
New York (State)--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
New York (State)--Social life and customs.
South America--Description and travel.
United States--Commerce.
United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Claims.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
United States--Politics and government--1783-1789.
Uruguay--Commerce.
West Indies--Commerce.
Occupations
Land speculators.
Merchants.
Provenance
The papers of Nicholas Low, New York merchant, financier, land
speculator, and state legislator, were given to the Library of Congress by Emil
Hurja in 1938-1939.
Processing History
The papers of Nicholas Low were processed between 1955 and 1965. The
finding aid was revised in 2012.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Nicholas Low is
governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Nicholas Low are open to research. Researchers are
advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Nicholas Low Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1739, Mar. 30
Born near New Brunswick, N.J.
1784
Appointed member of the committee to receive subscription for
the stock in the Bank of New York
1785
Elected a director of the Bank of New York
1788
Elected on the Federalist slate to the New York state
convention that met at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and ratified the United States
Constitution
1793
Gave support to the Society for Establishing Useful
Manufactures, Paterson, N.J.
1796
Became a part proprietor of a large tract of land in Jefferson
and Lewis counties, New York, beginning his career as a land speculator
1810
Built a hotel and a cotton factory, Ballston, N.Y.
1814
Joined the New York Hussars to defend New York, N.Y., against
the British
1826, Nov. 15
Died, New York
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Nicholas Low (1739-1826) span the years 1773-1897, with
the bulk of the material from 1784 to 1828. The collection consists largely of
financial papers and correspondence and includes family and business
correspondence of Low & Wallace, New York, New York, ship records, legal
records, accounts of voyages to Asia, Europe, and South America, and printed
matter. Included are correspondence with foreign merchants, letters from
Low’s brother, Isaac Low (1735-1791), and his nephew, Isaac Low
(commissary-general, British army), dealing with trade conditions, Loyalist
matters, progress of British-American relations, and the proceedings for
recovery of property seized from Isaac Low during the Revolution.
Correspondence of Mordecai Lewis & Company, merchants of Philadelphia,
relates in part to events in Congress during the first session following the
adoption of the Constitution. The collection also includes papers relating to
Low’s lands in Kentucky, Ohio, and New York; the founding of Ballston Spa and
Lowville, New York; the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures; and other
matters relating to life in New York. Prominent as well is material relating to
commercial contacts abroad, mainly in Britain, Ireland, and the European
continent, with connections also in Argentina, Canada, China, India, Mexico,
the West Indies, and Uruguay.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is organized into family papers, general
correspondence, special correspondence, miscellany, and oversize material. The
family papers and special correspondence in this collection are arranged
alphabetically by name of person or institution. The general correspondence is
organized chronologically and therein by name of city.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Family papers
1
Allen, John
1
Low, Alice
1
Low, Catherine
1
Low, Cornelius
1
Low, Elizabeth
1
Low, Henrietta
1
Low, Isaac (1783-1818)
(brother)
1
Low, Isaac 1784-1803
(nephew)
2
Ogden, Euphemia
2
Ogden, Samuel
2
Wallace, Alexander,
1785-1798
1785-1798
2
Wallace, Cornelius Low
2
Wallace, Gertrude
2
Wallace, Hugh
2
Wallace, Magil
2
Wallace, Sarah
2
Wallace, William
3
General correspondence
3
1773
1773
3
1777-1778
1777-1778
3
1777
3
Glasgow, Scotland-London,
England
3
Swansea, Mass.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
3
1781, Curacao
3
1782
1782
3
1783
1783
3
Ostend, Belgium-Moudon,
Switzerland
3
Cheshire, Conn.-St. Thomas, V.
I.
4
1784
1784
4
Bay Honduras-Newry, Ireland
5
Kingston, Jamaica-Cadiz, Spain
5
Green Bush, Maine-Philadelphia,
Pa.
6
Philadelphia,
Pa.-Williamsburg, Va.
7
1785
1785
7
Anvers, Belgium-St. Eustatius,
D.W.I.
7
Derby, England-Cadiz, Spain
7
Savannah, Ga.-Spotswood,
N.J.
8
Albany, N.Y.-Tortola,
V.I.
9
1786
1786
9
Anveis, Belgium-Cadiz,
Spain
9
Hartford, Conn.-Schenectady,
N.Y.
10
Philadelphia, Pa.-St. Croix, V
I.
10
1787
1787
10
Dominico, B.W.I.-Londonderry,
Ireland
11
Lisbon, Portugal-Trinidad
11
Sandy Hook, Conn.-St. Croix,
V.I.
12
1788
1788
12
Rum Cay, Bahama
Islands-Trinidad
12
Augusta, Ga.-St. Croix,
V.I.
13
1789
1789
13
Rio Essoquibo, Br.
Guiana-Lamberton, Scotland
13
Millstone, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
14
Philadelphia, Pa.-Providence,
R. I.
14
1790
1790
14
Rio Essequibo, Br.
Guiana-Teneriffe, Spain
14
New Haven, Conn.-Green Bush,
Mass.
15
Burlington, N. J.-St. Croix,
V.I.
16
1791
1791
16
Liverpool, England-Gibralter,
Spain
16
Canaan, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
17
Philadelphia, Pa.-Richmond,
Va.
18
1792
1792
18
China-Gibralter,
Spain
18
Hamburg, Conn.-Ballston, N. Y.
19
Catskill, N.Y.-Richmond,
Va.
19
1793
19
Curacao, D. Antilles-London,
England
20
Flanders, France-Gibralter,
Spain
20
Hartford, Conn.-Richmond, Va.
21
1794
1794
21
Falmouth, England-Berne,
Switzerland
21
Millstone, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
22
1795
1795
22
Liverpool, England-Lausanne,
Switzerland
22
Hamburg, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
23
1796
1796
23
Falmouth, England-Madeira,
Portugal
23
Hartford, Conn.-Pittsfield,
Vermont
24
1797
1797
24
London, England-Lausanne, Switzerland
London, England-Lausanne, Switzerland
24
Hamburg, Conn.-Philadelphia, Pa.
Hamburg, Conn.-Philadelphia, Pa.
25
1798
1798
25
London, England-Kingston,
Jamaica
25
Middletown, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
26
1799
1799
26
Falmouth, England-Leghorn,
Italy
26
Hartford, Conn.-St. Croix,
V.I.
27
1800
1800
27
Falmouth, England-Cadiz, Spain
27
Hamburg, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
28
1801
1801
28
St. Petersburg-Strabane,
Ireland.
28
Lexington, Ky.-Richmond,
Va
29
1802
1802
29
St. Petersburg-Fully,
Switzerland
29
Plainfield, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
30
1803
1803
30
St. Pierre-Madeira, Portugal
30
Hartford, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
31
1804
1804
31
Liverpool, England-Fully,
Switzerland
Liverpool, England-Fully,
Switzerland
31
Hartford, Conn.-St. Croix,
V.I.
32
1805
1805
32
Buenos Aires, Spain
32
Montevideo, Spain
33
Hartford, Conn.-Richmond,
Va.
34
1806
34
Montreal, Canada-Larned, Ireland
Montreal, Canada-Larned, Ireland
35
Londonderry, Ireland-Fully,
Switzerland
35
Litchfield, Conn.-Geneva, N. Y.
36
Lansingburgh, N.Y.-Monkton,
Vt.
37
1807
1807
37
St. Georges, Bermuda
37
Montevideo, Spain
38
Canton, China-Junior, W.
Va.
39
1808
1808
39
Montreal, Canada-Madeira,
Portugal
39
New London, Conn.-Perth Amboy,
N. J.
40
Albany, N. Y.-Norfolk, Va.
41
1809
1809
41
London, England.
41
Lisbon, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
41
1810
1810
41
Liverpool,
England-Trinidad
41
Lisbon, Conn.-Canandaigua,
N.Y.
42
Claverack, N.Y.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
42
1811
1811
42
London, England-Trinidad
42
Lisbon, Conn.-Utica, N. Y.
42
1812
1812
42
London,
England-Trinidad
42
Lisbon, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa
43
1813
1813
43
London, England-Elmwood,
Ont.
43
Caldwell, N.J.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
43
1814
43
St. Vincent,
B.W.I.-Trinidad
43
Lisbon, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
44
1815
1815
44
London, England-Rotterdam,
Holland
44
Hadley, Mass.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
44
1816
1816
44
London, England-Gibraltar,
Spain
44
New Brunswick,
N.J.-Philadelphia, Pa.
45
1817
1817
45
London, England-Trinidad
45
Lebanon, N.J.-Philadelphia, Pa.
45
1818
1818
45
London, England
45
Lisbon, Conn.-Alexandria, Va.
46
1819
1819
46
London, England
46
Lisbon, Conn.-Philadelphia,
Pa.
46
1820
1820
46
London, England
46
Albany, N.Y.-Philadelphia, Pa.
46
1821
1821
46
London, England
46
Perth Amboy, N.J.-Winchester,
N.Y.
47
1822
1822
47
London, England
47
New Haven, Conn.-Waddington, N.
Y.
47
1823, Albany, N.Y.-Winchester,
N.Y.
47
1824, Albany, N.Y.-Waddington, N.
Y. 48
48
1825
1825
48
London, England
48
Caldwell, N.J.-Utica, N.Y.
48
1826
1826
48
Paris, France
48
Greenfield, Mass.-Watertown,
N.Y.
48
1827
1827
48
London, England
48
Albany, N.Y.-Watertown, N.Y.
49
1828
1828
49
London, England-Paris, France
49
Albany, N. Y.-Watertown, N.Y.
49
1829
1829
49
London, England-Paris, France
49
Albany, N. Y.-Winchester, N.Y.
50
1830
1830
50
London, England-Paris, France
50
Albany, N. Y.-LeRoysville, Pa.
50
1831
1831
50
London, England-Paris, France
50
Albany, N.Y.-Woodburn, N.Y.
50
1832, Hudson, N.Y.
50
1833, Hudson, N.Y.-New York
50
1834
1834
50
London, England
50
Hudson, N.Y.
50
1835
1835
50
London, England
50
Ballston, N.Y.-Waddington,
N.Y.
51
1836
1836
51
London, England
51
Albany, N.Y.-Utica, N.Y.
51
1837
1837
51
London, England-Madeira,
Portugal
51
Bath, N.Y.-Painted Post, N.Y.
51
1838
1838
51
London, England
51
St. Mary’s County, Md.-New
York
51
1839
1839
51
London, England
52
Boston, Mass.-Bellows Falls,
Vt.
52
1840, Albany, N.Y.-Utica,
N.Y.
52
1841, Ballston, N.Y.-Stockholm,
N.Y.
52
1842, Bath, N.Y.-Utica, N.
Y
52
1843, Bath, N.Y.-Lowville,
N.Y.
52
1844, Oswego, N.Y.
52
1845, Albany, N.Y.
52
1847, Bath, N.Y.
52
1848, Ballston, N.Y.-Schenectady,
N.Y.
52
1849, Bath, N.Y.-Utica, N.Y.
52
1850, Bath, N.Y.-New York
52
1851, Bath, N.Y.
52
1852, Lowville, N.Y.
52
1853, Brasher, N.Y.
52
1854, Brasher, N.Y.-Lowville,
N.Y.
52
1855
1855
52
London, England
52
Brasher, N.Y.-New
York
52
1856, Utica, N.Y.
52
1858, Bath, N.Y.-Minerva, N. Y.
52
1859, Bath, N.Y.
52
1860, Bath, N.Y.-Prattsburg, N.Y.
52
1861, Bath, N.Y.
52
1862, Brasher, N.Y.
52
1863, Bath, N.Y.
52
1864, Brasher, N.Y.-Lowville,
N.Y.
52
1867
1867
52
1869, New York-Washington, D.C.
52
1874-1875
1874-1875
53
1890, Red Bank, N.J.-Brooklyn,
N.Y.
53
1894, New York
53
1895
1895
53
1896
1896
53
1897, New York
53
Undated
Undated
54
Special correspondence
54
Bank of New York
54
Bank of Pennsylvania
54
Bank of the United States
54
Bank of Utica
54
Slave miscellany
55-100
Miscellany
55-99
Accounts, invoices, legal matter,
etc. (formerly listed as nos. 127-172)
[
See also
Oversize
](overs)
100
Items re Society for Establishing
Useful Manufactures (formerly no. 173)
OV 1-OV 4
Oversize
OV 1-OV 4
Accounts (removed from Containers
55-100)