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Joseph Ellicott

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	Topics Joseph Ellicott Topic Home Joseph Ellicott was a surveyorSurveying Surveying is the technique and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional space position of poin... , city plannerFacts About Urban planning Urban, city, or town planning is the discipline of land use planning which deals with the physical, social, and economi... , land office , canal commissionerCommissioner Commissioner is a designation that may be used for a variety of official positions, especially referring to a high-ranking p... and judgeJudge A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court.... born in Bucks County, PennsylvaniaBucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a county located in the U.S.... , of the Quaker faith. In 1790, his brother Andrew EllicottAndrew Ellicott Andrew Ellicott was a U.S. surveyor who helped map many of the territories west of the Appalachians, surveyed the boundaries... was hired by the federal government to survey the new federal district, which was to become the new capital city of Washington. Joseph was Andrew's chief assistant. Joseph also hired clock maker and mathematicalMathematics Mathematics is the discipline that deals with concepts such as quantity, structure, space and change.... prodigyChild prodigy A child prodigy is someone who is a master of one or more skills or arts at an early age.... Benjamin BannekerBenjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker, originally Banna Ka, or Bannakay was a free African American mathematician, astronomer,clockm... to assist with the survey. Working with FrenchFrance France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi... city planner and architectArchitect An architect is a person involved in the planning, designing and oversight of a building's construction.... Pierre L'EnfantPierre Charles L'Enfant Pierre Charles L'Enfant was a French-born American architect and urban planner.... , the head of the project, was proven difficult, as L'Enfant had a tyrannical temper. Midway through the project, L'Enfant was dismissed by George WashingtonGeorge Washington George Washington commanded the American colonies' Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War , and was the fir... , who left the project in the hands of Ellicott. While L'Enfant took his drawings with him, the team was able to finish in 1791, using drawings recreated from memory by Banneker. Late in 1791, Ellicott was sent to GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state) For the country, see Georgia . For other uses, see Georgia .... to survey the boundary line, established by treaty with the Creek tribe. He was then engaged to survey some property in western PennsylvaniaPennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a state in the northeastern part of the United States.... which has been purchased by a group of DutchHolland Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands.... investors, who had formed the Holland Land CompanyHolland Land Company tract purchased in western New York was a 3,250,000 acre portion of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase that lay west of the Genese... . He also extended the New York - Pennsylvania border westward. When the company purchased a huge tract of western New YorkNew York New York is a state in the northeastern United States.... (that became known as The Holland Purchase), Joseph was sent to establish the monumental task of surveying it. Ellicott spent two years living outdoors in summer and winter, laying out the townships of the new land. In 1800, the principal agent of the company, Paolo BustiPaolo Busti Paolo Busti, or Paul Busti, was the principal agent of the Holland Land Company from 1800 until his death.... , gave him a new position as their agent at their headquarters in Batavia, 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 the Big Tree Treaty when the Senecas sold their rights to the land in Western New York. He also laid out the village of BuffaloBuffalo, New York Buffalo is an American city in western New York State.... , established mill sites and communities, became a judge for Genesee CountyGenesee County, New York Genesee County is a county located in the U.S.... , and advocated a canal to be built from the Hudson RiverHudson River The Hudson River, called *Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk* in Mahican, is a river running mainly through New York State but partly... to Lake ErieLake Erie Summary Lake Erie is the eleventh largest lake on Earth and, of the five Great Lakes of North America, it is the fourth largest by ... . He lived long enough to see the Erie CanalErie Canal The Erie Canal is a canal in New York State, United States, that runs from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, connecting the Gr... started in 1821 and completed in 1825 and was the first canal commissioner. 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. 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. His final years were marred by serious mental problems. Family members had him admitted to an asylum in New York CityNew York City New York City is the largest city in the United States and the twelfth largest city in the world, making it a major global c... , where he died in 1826 by hanging himself. He was buried originally in that city, but was soon exhumed and re-buried in Batavia, New York. Ellicott had never married, and at his death left an estateEstate (law) At common law, an estate is the totality of the legal rights, interests, entitlements and obligations attaching to property.... valued at about $600,000, which was a considerable fortune in that day. Places named after Ellicott Ellicottville, New YorkFacts About Ellicottville (village), New York Ellicottville is a village in Cattaraugus County, New York, USA.... - village in Cattaraugus County, New YorkCattaraugus County, New York Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S.... . Ellicottville, New York Ellicottville (town), New York Ellicottville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, USA.... - town in Cattaraugus County, New YorkCattaraugus County, New York Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S.... . Ellicott, New YorkFacts About Ellicott, New York Ellicott is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, USA.... - town in Chautauqua County, New YorkChautauqua County, New York Chautauqua County is a county located in the U.S.... . Ellicott Square - a location in downtown Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York Buffalo is an American city in western New York State.... . Ellicott Square Building - a structure in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York Buffalo is an American city in western New York State.... , south of Ellicott Square. Ellicott Street - a street in downtown two blocks East of Main Street and between Swan and Riley streets.Batavia, New York. Ellicott Complex - a dormitoryDormitory Many colleges and universities are now using the term residence hall instead of dormitory.... at the University at BuffaloUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New York University at Buffalo, The State University of New York is located in Buffalo and Amherst, New York.... . Ellicott CreekEllicott Creek Ellicott Creek is a small stream in Western New York, USA.... - a small river in WesternWestern New York ----Western New York refers to the westernmost counties of New York State, roughly the area included in the Holland Purchas... New YorkNew York New York is a state in the northeastern United States.... . Ellicott Road - a road in Orchard Park, NYOrchard Park (town), New York Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York in the USA.... . Ellicott Elementary School - an elementary school in Orchard Park, NYOrchard Park (town), New York Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York in the USA.... External links "The Holland Land Company in Western New York", by Robert W. Silsby, Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, Adventures in Western New York History, volume VIII, 1961, (provides account of Joseph Ellicott, downloadable from http://bechsed.nylearns.org/, click on Adventures in WNY History)