Scope and arrangement
The first series, 1792-1894, represents the bulk of the papers and consist of letters, certificates of registration for crews and vessels, returns of manifests, documents regarding imports and exports, and petitions for various positions and contracts. The second series, 1833-1840, consist of vouchers and receipts that were generated from the construction of a Custom House under commissioners Samuel Swartwout, Walter Bourne and Elisha Tibbits.
New York by President Grant Governors Washington Hunt, Noratio Seymour and John A. Dix; Secretary of State Edward Livingston; Tench Coxe, Samuel Swartwout, Peter Gansevoort, Fernando Wood, James; Madison and John Jacob Astor.
Documents of interest are: April 25, 1809, D. S. James Madison; December 17, 1831, Jos. Anderson to Samuel Swartwout re his decision that all books for Seminary training be exempt and February, 27, 1853 "St. Tammany" of Columbian Order endorsed Mr. Henry Liebeman for Weigher.
The New York Custom House Records are arranged in two series: