A217 - A Map of New York & Staten Island and Part of Long Island

Charles Blaskowitz

h38" x w53.5"

L

The Plan is made up of at least 4 separate pieces of paper. The largest section of the Plan (and the largest piece of paper) has been trimmed and extended by the addition of more sheets, probably at a later date. It has been hand coloured and contains all of the military information telling the story of the battle for New York including troop positions and defensive positions.

 

The actual date the plan was made is unclear and undoubtedly confused by the note on the bottom which states that soundings were added in 1782. Because the plan was extended or added to in 1782 does not mean that it was originally laid-out at that time.

 

It should also be noted at this point that there exists a second, nearly identical plan, drawn by British surveyors Andrew Skinner and George Taylor in 1782. The Skinner and Taylor Plan is, unlike this one inasmuch as it is purely topographical (no military disposition shown) and dates from 1782. Further to this, the original draft survey for this plan is also still in existance and is held by the National Archives UK [2].

 

The plan presented here is generally regarded as one of the most accurate and complete accounts of events and is very much in the style of Charles Blaskowitz and indeed carries his name and signature on the verso. It is drawn at a scale of 1 inch to the mile, mainly because of the size of the area depicted. It is clearly related to Blaskowitz's better-known 'Plan of New York Island...'[3] and may well be related to the production of that plan. It includes explanations, references and a key to events depicted, in Blaskowitz's own hand.

 

Included on the plan are mile markers on the main roads, leading to the Fort at Brooklyn on Brooklyn and to Lower Manhattan on the main Island. This is a detail included on later work he was likely involved-in such as the making of the British Headquarters' Map.  An article discussing this connection is due to be published n the Heritage Charts Research Locker shortly.

 

The main section of this Blaskowitz's edition was probably produced closer to 1776 than 1782. After all, it is far too 'workman-like' to be the product of a well-considered advertisement for events that had happened 5 years earlier. Like many original surveys which were never published it remained a working document, to be added to as needed.

 

Blaskowitz's 'style' drawing is nowhere near as 'refined' as his contemporaries such as other surveyors of the time such as Thomas Wheeler but he always worked to the same standards of depiction as and as such he manages to convey all details of relief, settlement and countryside effectively. He was one of the first surveyors to complete a recognisable topographic depiction of the New York region. That he was seconded to the staff of General William Howe and later his successor Sir Guy Carleton should be no surprise.

 

[1]. George, III, King of Great Britain, George, IV, King of Great Britain, Clinton, Henry, Sir, Taylor, George, (Geographer), active 1778, and (Geographer) Andrew Skinner. "A MAP of NEW YORK, & STATEN ISLDS; And part of LONG ISLAND." Map. 1781. Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center, https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:hx11z3576 (accessed January 23, 2023).

 

[2]. MR 1/954. New York; New Jersey. 'A Map of New York [i.e. Manhattan] & Staten Islds. and Part of Long Island ...': also shows part of the New Jersey coast; (the area covered is now in the United States of America). Reference table to redoubts and forts. Scale: 1 inch to 1 mile. Compass indicator. Surveyed by George Taylor and Andrew Skinner. 1781.

 

[3]. Blaskowitz, Charles. "A plan of New York Island, and part of Long Island, with the circumjacent country, as far as Dobbs's Ferry to the north, and White Plains to the east, including the rivers, islands, roads, &ca." Map. [1777]. Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center, https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:z603vw04k (accessed January 23, 2023).

A Map of New York & Staten Island and Part of Long Island