Dec 08, 2015 - Sale 2401

Sale 2401 - Lot 69

Price Realized: $ 3,750
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
SURVEYING THE US-CANADA BORDER. (VERMONT.) Whitelaw, James. Map of several towns in northern Vermont, 1794. [Supplied title.] Pen and ink manuscript map on laid paper. 385x315 mm, ample margins; old folds with very few small separations at intersections. Ryegate, March 29th 1794

Additional Details

Starting in 1787 and continuing for 17 years, James Whitelaw was Vermont's Surveyor General. His role was not confined to mere mapping; he proved an adept appraiser of the commercial aspects of land as evidenced by the description he wrote for this map:

"I hereby certify that I have personally surveyed the greatest part of the Counties of Orange and Chittenden in the State of Vermont and am perfectly acquainted with the soil and produce. The soil is almost universally good even on the mountains, except on their summits which are in some instances to [sic] steep and rocky for improvement and produces wheat, Rye oats Barley Pease and every kind of vegetable in as great abundance as any part of the New England states. I have been on almost all the lines described on the Sketch and esteem the soil to be equal in quality to the settles towns in general in this part of the state. I take the town of Richford (except 3 or 4000 acres which is Mountainous) to be fit for all the purposes of Husbandry. Belvedere and Hellyvale have perhaps 10,000 acres of Mountains between them which are unimprovable the remainder is good tillage and pasture land. / James Whitelaw Survey Genl."

At the top of the map he notes: "The 45 Degree of north Latitude being the North line of the state of Vermont and the south line of Canada."