Sharon posted this on the Yahoo Irish Research mailing list and I have her permission to repost it on this list. Reminiscent of family estate records in Ireland, I have encountered a description of the NYS Library's holdings for the Van Rensselaer family as patroons in upstate New York. I had not realized that these records could extend in- to the mid-1800s. A small portion of the collection is listed below. Sharon Carberry "The Van Rensselaer Manor records hold a wealth of information on rural Albany and Rensselaer counties and their early residents. They largely date from the late 1600s to the 1850s, following the Anti-Rent Wars, by which time the family had relinquished its feudal rights to most of the land holdings. The records are available for research Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 PM in the reading room shared by the New York State Library and the New York State Archives on the third floor of the Cultural Education Center, Madison Avenue, Albany. The microfilm is located the main library on the seventh floor of the CEC. Some original records may be studied; however, in some cases, because of the fragile nature of some maps and surveys and the size and weight of the massive account ledgers, patrons should use the microfilm copies. For more information on the records, contact the Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit of the New York State Library at 518-474-6282." 134 Rent Ledger "C", 1789-1839. 1 v. Indexed. (burnt/fragile) Farm rent accounts are dated primarily from 1789 to 1791 and 1800-1804. Also includes accounts of land agents, surveyors, stores, and mills, 1789 to 1839. 135 East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1820. (Part. 1: pp. 1-309) 1 v. folio. Indexed. Index in a separate volume for all parts of East Manor Ledger "A" included in this box. Many accounts are carried over to Ledger "B" and some account to Ledger "C". Also includes accounts brought over from an earlier ledger that may not exist any longer. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 1. Please use microfilm 136 East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1820. (pt. 1: pp. 310-644) 1 v. folio. Indexed. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 1. Please use microfilm. 137 East Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1850. (pt. 2: pp. 645-1008) 1 v. folio. Indexed. Many accounts in this part were carried over to "Stephen Van Rensselaer Ledger" in 1850. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2. Please use microfilm. 138 East Manor Rent Ledger "B", 1819-1855. 1 v. folio. 602 p. Indexed. Many accounts brought over from Ledger "A". Accounts carried over to East Manor Ledgers "C" and "D", and ledgers titled "Stephen Van Rensselaer" and "William P. Van Rensselaer". Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2. Please use microfilm. 139 East Manor Rent Ledger "C", 1834-1852. 1 v. folio. 188(600 p.) Indexed. Several accounts brought over from Ledgers "A" and "B". Some accounts carried over to "William P. Van Rensselaer" Rent Ledger Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 2. Please use microfilm. 140 Inventory of East Manor Deeds held by William Preston Van Rensselaer, 1848. 1 v. folio. Posted to accounts in East Manor Rent Ledgers "A, B, and C". Information was arranged by town. Also includes a copy of the power of attorney granted by William P. and Sarah Van Rensselaer to Andrew and Charles Lansing and James Bell. 141 East Manor Rent Ledger "D", 1839-1898. 1 v. folio. 312 p. Indexed. Contenst of folios are arranged by towns: Brunswick (189-254, 275-284, 347-348); Clinton, changed to East Greenbush (121-147); Grafton (255-275, 370); Greenbush (155-179); Nassau (323-346, 368); Poestenkill (285-290); Sand Lake (297-317, 369, 372); Schodack (1-97); Stephentown (353-367), and, finally, an unidentified section (371). Many accounts were brought over from previous ledgers. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 3. Please use microfilm. 142 Ledger of Rent Accounts, 1837-1899. 1 v. folio. 247 p. Indexed. (Titled as Stephen Van Rensselaer Ledger). Contents arranged by towns: Greenbush (1-43), Postenkill (53-67), Nassau (75-132), Grafton (151-138), Bethlehem (191-199), New Scotland (200-218), Guilderland (219-233), Waterviliet (234-239), and various places (240-247). Accounts were brought over from East Manor Ledgers "A, B, and C", and West Manor Ledger "A". Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 7. Please use microfilm. 143 Index to West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1860. 1 v. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 4. Please use microfilm. 144 West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1840. (pt. 1, pp. 1-337) 1 v. folio. Many accounts carry over to West Manor Ledger "B". Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 4. Please use microfilm. 145 West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1799-1840. (pt. 2, pp. 338-652) 1 v. folio. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 5. Please use microfilm. 146 West Manor Rent Ledger "A", 1805-1860. (pt. 3, pp. 653-886) 1 v. Indexed. Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 5. Please use microfilm. 147 West Manor Rent Ledger "B". 1822-1839. 1 v. folio. 150 p. Indexed. Many accounts brought over from West Manor Ledger "A". Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 5. Please use microfilm. 148 Rent Ledger "A" Rensselaerville and Westerlo, 1830-1863. 1 v. Indexed. (burnt/fragile) Many accounts were brought over from West Manor Rent Ledger "A", parts 1 and 2. 149 Rent Ledger "C", Berne and Knox, 1837-1855. 1 v. folio. 212 p. Indexed. Accounts were brought over from West Manor Ledgers "A" and "B". Microfilm: MA/FM,974.74,V36,99-18511, Reel 6. Please use microfilm. 191 Various land records, 1797-1845: a) West manor Rent Receipt Book, 1800-1834; b) Register of tenants accounts settled, 1797; c) Memorandum Book of Land titles kept by C.F. Pruyn, 1805-1845; d) Record of Turnpike Lots, 1803. 192 Various land records, 1830-1860: a) Abstract of rent receipts of Jacob and Teunis Van Vechten, 1832-1838; b) Van Vechten Legal Register, 1832-1838; c) Litigation commenced by Pruyn & Lansing, and others, c.1840s-1850s; d) List of leases reentered, 1840-1845. 218 Index to tenants holding promissory notes, 1831-1844. 241 Daybooks of grist mill accounts, c.1845-c.1849. (burnt/fragile) 123 Accounts and Receipts, c.1800-1850. (folio box) 92 Genealogical notes and news clippings, 1890-1920. 93 Scrapbooks, 1874-1892. 2 v. -- Pat Connors, currently visiting Albany NY