Joseph Ellicott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 1, 1760 (1760-11) |
| Died | August 19, 1826 (1826-08-20) (aged 65) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician |
| Known for | Laying outBatavia andBuffalo; advocatingErie Canal |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Ellicott Judith Blaker |
| Relatives | Andrew Ellicott (brother) Benjamin Ellicott (brother) |
Joseph Ellicott (November 1, 1760 inBucks County, Pennsylvania – August 19, 1826 inNew York City) was an Americansurveyor,city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of theQuaker faith.[1]
Ellicott was born inBucks County, Pennsylvania on November 1, 1760.[2] He was the son of Quaker millerJoseph Ellicott (1732–1780) and Judith Blaker (1729–1809). Joseph's siblings included older brotherAndrew Ellicott (1754–1820), a fellow surveyor, and younger brotherBenjamin Ellicott (1765–1827), aU.S. Congressman.[3]
In 1790, his brotherAndrew Ellicott was hired by the federal government to survey the new federal district, where the new capital city ofWashington was to be built. Joseph was Andrew's chief assistant during the latter part of the survey. Joseph Ellicott was subsequently sent toGeorgia to survey the boundary line, established by treaty with theCreek tribe.[4]
He was then engaged to survey some property in westernPennsylvania which had been purchased by a group ofDutch investors, who had formed theHolland Land Company. He also extended the New York - Pennsylvania border westward. When the company purchased a huge tract of westernNew York (that became known asThe Holland Purchase), Ellicott was hired in 1797 and was sent to perform the monumental task of surveying it.[1] Ellicott spent two years (1798–1800) living outdoors in summer and winter, laying out the townships of the new land in order to complete the Great Survey of the land in October 1800.[5]
In 1800, the principal agent of the company,Paul Busti, gave him a new position as their agent at their Land Office inBatavia, New York. From this office, for the next 21 years he supervised the sales of the tract, with his personal signature on many deeds. Ellicott was an observer for the investors at theBig Tree Treaty when theSenecas sold their rights to the land in Western New York.[6]
In 1801, he laid outBatavia, New York, and in 1804 the village ofBuffalo, and established mill sites and communities.[7]
He advocated a canal to be built from theHudson River toLake Erie, and was among theErie Canal Commissioners appointed in 1816 to supervise the canal construction, but resigned in 1818 due to ill health. TheErie Canal was finished in 1825. He also arranged for the contribution of more than 100,000 acres (400 km2) of company land to this project.[8]
As seller and land agent, Ellicott offered generous terms to the buyers, some of whom purchased farms for as little as 25 cents down. When some buyers could not make payments he often extended the terms and sometimes forgave interest if they had made improvements. He offered some selected parcels free upon condition that the buyer would establish a mill or an inn, to help stimulate growth in the area. In later years, Ellicott became the target of complaints by citizens who were unhappy with the land company.[9]
Ellicott was held responsible for the state of New York's decision not to buy up unsold land of the land company, and he retired in 1821. He then attempted to finance the purchase of the unsold land himself, but no one would join his venture, and he had to abandon the plan.[10]
Ellicott was apresidential elector in1804, voting forThomas Jefferson andGeorge Clinton. From March 1806 to June 1807, he was First Judge of theGenesee County Court.
Ellicott never married. His final years were marred by serious mental problems. Family members had him admitted toBloomingdale Insane Asylum inNew York City, where he died in 1826 by hanging himself. Soon after his burial in New York City, he was exhumed and re-buried in Batavia, New York at theBatavia Cemetery.[10]
At his death left anestate valued at about $600,000 (equivalent to $16,675,000 in 2024).
Places named after Ellicott:[1][2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
