In 1764 Samuel Holland was tasked by the Lords of the Boards of Trade and Plantations to undertake a survey of His Majesty's Lands of the coast of North America as far as the Potomac River in Virginia. By 1775 the Survey had, in the light of political unrest in the Northern States, just reached New York before Holland called a halt to the work. It remains one of the most extraordinary achievements in the history of surveying and mapping in history. 

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Although little is known of the 141 men who, over a period of 10 years, took part in the survey, we do have a record through the muster books of the survey vessel appointed to the project.  The list of names of those men. includes those of the Assistant Surveyors who led teams of these men along the coasts of some of the most tretcherous and dangerous waters in the world. They are: Charles Blaskowitz, George Sproule, Thomas Wright, James Grant, Thomas Wheeler as well as that of Samuel Holland himself. The list was kept by Captain Henry Mowat and the ship's Master William Hogg. 

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When reading the names be aware that language, pronunciation and spelling at the time were not always consistent: Even Charles Blaskowitz, perhaps the most famous of the surveyors, was recorded in the books between 1764 and 1767 as John Blasquet and later as Charles Blasquet until 1771 whence his name is recorded as we know it today, albeit as 'Blackwitz' - close enough!