Letter to Col. Henry Van Dike concerning a donation of land for Queen's College from the estate of James Parker Sr.

Title

Letter to Col. Henry Van Dike concerning a donation of land for Queen's College from the estate of James Parker Sr.

Creator

Description

On October 16, 1807, James Parker Jr. (1776-1868) writes to Col. Henry Van Dike to confirm Parker's intention to transfer a plot of land in New Brunswick to the Queen's College Board of Trustees. Parker describes the five-acre plot of land in detail. The land will be transferred from the estate of his late father James Parker Sr. (1725-1797) and will be considered a donation to the institution, to be used for the new campus.


Parker's land formed the original campus where Old Queens and the surrounding buildings were erected in the nineteenth century.

Date

1807-10-16

Language

English

Text (Transcript)

[Page 1]

Perth Amboy 16 October 1807

Sir

In answer to your letter of the 17 Sept. last on the subject of the lot of land at New Brunswick which had been pointed out by the Committee appointed by the Trustees of Queens College as a suitable place for erecting a College—I have to state to the Committee—

That a lot of land containing Five acres on the North side of Somerset Street lying in a square the Easterly line being distant three chains from King Street shall be conveyed to the Trustees for the purpose of erecting thereon a college and for such other purposes as may be necessary for that institution.

That streets may be laid out sixty six feet wide on the Northerly and Westerly sides of the lot abovementioned and also on the Easterly side if the Board of Trustees so desire it by making the line on that side as much father westerly from King Street as may be necessary for the width of the Street.

The House now occupied by John Demott in George Street will be removed next Spring and that street opened to Somerset Street directly opposite to the lot above described. It is also intended to alter Somerset Street as to make it strait from the New Jersey Turnpike to King Street. If the Board of Trustees think the lot abovementioned will answer the purposes intended they may consider it a donation to the Institution from the Devisees of James Parker decd. for the purpose abovementioned
and

[Page 2]

and a deed shall be executed therefor whenever necessary. If any variation of bounds should be suggested by the Trustees it may be made without difficulty.—

I am with Respect
Sir Your obed Servt
James Parker

Col. Henry Van Dike

[Page 3 - cover ]

Col. Henry Van Dike
New Brunswick

Jas Parker—Donation
16 Oct. 1807

Repository

Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

Archival collection

Records of the Queen's College, Rutgers College and Rutgers University Board of Trustees: Manuscript Minutes, Enclosures, and Subject Files, 1778-1956

Archival location

Box 1, Folder 9: Enclosures, 1800-1809

Citation

Parker, James, “Letter to Col. Henry Van Dike concerning a donation of land for Queen's College from the estate of James Parker Sr.,” Scarlet and Black Digital Archive, Rutgers University, accessed March 28, 2024, https://scarletandblack.rutgers.edu/archive/items/show/211.