Here are three suggestions of sources of data for 19th century business history:

1) The New York State Archives in Albany holds incorporation files for inactive banking organizations starting 1838 (series 14272; index to organization names available). For information about those files, contact the archivist on duty at 518-474-8955.

2) Civil court records contain extensive documentation on debtor-creditor relations and other business matters. Many county clerk's offices in New York hold civil court files dating back to the early 19th century. Access to them is often not easy, because of the lack of indexes, but there are usually judgment dockets listing names of parties and their attorneys.

3) Copies of certificates of incorporation for businesses and other entities (such as churches) incorporated under general NY incorporation laws are held (on microfilm) by the NYS Department of State, Corporations Division, 41 State Street, Albany, NY 12231; phone 518-473-2492. The agency is geared toward current business needs. However, duplicate copies of certificates of incorporation are filed in the county clerk's office in the county where the incorporated organization had its principal office. (Note that during the 19th century some businesses and other entities were incorporated by special act of the state legislature.)

Jim Folts
New York State Archives


>>> [log in to unmask] 03/26/02 05:05PM >>>
Hello, again,

One other query I'm just getting around to checking. You can reply either
to me or to the list.

Thanks in advance,
David Minor

Delivered-To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 01 Mar 2002 12:45:04 EST
Subject: Timeling Query
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Hi, David:

Last summer, I found a little hand-written manuscript at a book store in
Sacramento, CA and thought I might sell it on Ebay.  It was a genealogy of
a family from New York and I thought if I did a little research on the
family, it would be easier to sell it.

Well, the family turned out to be loaded with Revolutionary War patriots
and I was hooked.  Some months later, I am still doing research on the
Josiah Fish family of the Genesee Country and writing a book on them.  It
is a genealogical approach to historical events and follows parts of the
family from NY across the country to the gold fields of California, and the
San Francisco Bay Area.

It's pretty tough to do research on NY from California, but I am doing
pretty well.  Our Sutro Library in San Francisco has a huge out-of-state
collection, and that is where I have done most of my research.

Sorry to be so long-winded.  There is one thing on which I have not been
able to find information, and maybe you can help.  Eli H. Fish was a brewer
in Batavia and went into business with Trumbell Cary.  Apparently, he was
also a director in the Bank of Genesee and a director of the Wiard Plow
Company.  Can you tell me where I might find more information on Eli Fish
in these capacities?

Also, Libbeus Fish apparently owned two or three mercantile establishments
in the area, possibly one in Lockport.  Any idea where I might look for
this?

Thank you so much for any information you might give me.

Regards,

Carole O'Connell
Sacramento, CA

David Minor
Eagles Byte Historical Research
Pittsford, New York
585 264-0423
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