Edward Livingston Papers 1683-1877 (mostly 1764-1836)

Summary

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Overview

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Abstract

The Edward Livingston Papers document the career of American lawyer, diplomat, statesman, and legal theorist Edward Livingston. The collection also contains domestic, financial, and property records of some three dozen others, mostly members of the Livingston/Beekman branch of the Hudson River Valley Livingstons and the Montgomery, Davezac, Barton, and Hunt families; the family surveyor/agent John Cox, Jr.; and an Albany-area merchant Benjamin French, whose forfeited estate ended up in Edward Livingston's hands for debt collection.

Description

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Description

This collection and its sister collection, The Delafield Family Papers (also at Princeton), were housed, until 1986, at Montgomery Place, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, the ancestral summer residence of many members of the Livingston and Delafield families from circa 1805-1985. The Delafield family, especially John Ross Delafield, 1875-1964, were avid genealogists who explored and augmented their Livingston ancestor's papers as well as their Delafield antecedent's records. The two collections arrived at Princeton in several different arrangements, with collection parameters based on the family agencies that owned the physical property. At Princeton, it was decided that the body of the original materials would be split along family lines into two collections. Researchers interested in the Livingston/Beekman line may also want to examine the Delafield Family Papers for secondary sources, iconography, and genealogical research on that branch of the family.

Edward Livingston, 1764-1836, a key figure in local, national, and world politics, is represented by correspondence, writings, property records, financial records, and other manuscript and printed items. In general, the arrangement of his papers is dictated by his varied career; however, a sizable (56 box) correspondence series, arranged alphabetically, spans most of his adult life. Livingston's correspondents comprise a veritable "who's who" for the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Many of the Series Descriptions, later in this guide, include lists of some of the frequent and well-known ones.

The collection is especially strong in Livingston's work in the area of criminal jurisprudence. A special series on the subject contains correspondence with world-renowned legal theorists and jurists, topical writings and drafts, and a collection of works on such issues as penal reform and the abolition of capital punishment. There is also much documentary evidence of his role in the Jackson administration as a supporter in the Congress and Senate, and later as secretary of state and minister to France. A draft of the "Nullification Proclamation," written by Livingston for Jackson, is in the collection. The collection also contains many legal records relating to both his law practice and private affairs, including the 1803 "customs house funds scandal," his entanglement with General James Wilkinson over the Burr controversy, and the split with Thomas Jefferson over the New Orleans Batture.

The women of the Livingston family - Margaret Beekman Livingston, 1724-1800 (Edward's mother); Janet Livingston Montgomery, 1743-1828 (Edward's sister); Louise D'Avezac Livingston, circa 1781-1860 (Mrs. Edward Livingston); and Coralie Livingston Barton, 1803-1873 (Edward and Louise's daughter) - are well represented in the collection. Margaret and Janet, both widowed in mid-life, became powerful landowners and matriarchs in the Hudson Valley, as well as central figures in society. Their land records, financial documents, and correspondence from the well-born and poor tenant alike are clear evidence of their stature. Mrs. Livingston, too, was a well-respected hostess in whose parlor intellectuals and political figures gathered. Coralie, once the belle of New Orleans, was devoted to her father, and remained interested in her father's work in criminal jurisprudence. Her efforts led to the re-issue of Edward Livingston's works in 1873, and it was she who augmented his collection of works on that subject after his death.

There are small, but significant concentrations of records of relatives-by-marriage, such as brother-in-law Auguste Davezac, 1780-1851, diplomat to the Netherlands; Thomas Pennant Barton, 1803-1869, who joined father-in-law Edward Livingston on the mission to Paris as secretary to the legation; and General Richard Montgomery, 1738-1775, husband of Janet Livingston, whose letters on the fatal march to Quebec are a particular attraction of this collection.

The collection contains a variety of ledgers and other financial records which span almost three centuries; account books, rent books, day books, receipts, and balance sheets abound. Many of these records relate to the Hudson Valley area, notably lands that were passed down from Henry Beekman, 1688-1776, to Margaret Beekman Livingston, and later to Janet Montgomery.

The records of agent/surveyor John Cox, Jr., 1756-1825, are especially interesting for their insight into the life of the laboring class of the young republic. Cox worked for many of the Livingstons, surveying their properties, drawing up deeds, leases, and rent agreements, and corresponding with tenants. His work shows up throughout the papers of his employers as well-especially in their financial and real estate records. The written and limned evidence of Cox's career, coupled with surviving personal records and family correspondence, present a well-rounded picture of a faithful employee and Colonial American "everyman" bent on self-improvement.

Like Cox, the papers of Benjamin French are in contrast to the rest of the collection. Their presence here is owed to a twist of fate; French's estate was forfeited to the State of New York for suspected loyalism to the crown during the Revolution, passed through several different hands, and finally settled with Edward Livingston, who attempted to collect the outstanding debts due the late merchant. These records provide insight into Albany-area business in the years preceding and encompassing the start of the American Revolution. Divided into series relating to claims of his estate and a general file of business records (receipts, balance sheets, promissory notes, orders, and correspondence), these documents paint an interesting picture of Hudson River Valley trade at the onset of the Revolutionary struggle.

Manuscripts of selected individuals in this collection, with the exception of most of the financial and real estate records, have been indexed in the MASC database of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library. The MASC index includes only literary and historical persons whose lives have been chronicled in major biographical dictionaries such as The Dictionary of American Biography.

Collection Creator Biography

LIVINGSTON, EDWARD (b. Columbia Co., N.Y., 1764; d. Dutchess Co., N.Y., 1836), lawyer, statesman. Son of Robert Livingston (1718-1775). Graduated College of New Jersey (Princeton), 1781; studied law at Albany under John Lansing. Practiced law in New York City post 1785. Congressman, (Democrat) Republican, from New York, 1795-1801. Acting (1801-1803) simultaneously as U.S. attorney for New York and as mayor of New York City, he was held responsible for the deflacation of an agent and gave up all his own property to be sold in order to make restitution of the loss to the Treasury. Removing to New Orleans, La., 1804, he began practice of the law there, struggling meanwhile under a weight of private as well as public debt. Falsely accused of abetting Aaron Burr in his 1806 activities, Livingston no sooner cleared himself of these charges before he was brought into controversy with President Jefferson over the rights to certain alluvial lands at New Orleans which Livingston claimed. Dispossessed of the property, he published pamphlets on the subject and complained of his treatment in the courts and before Congress.

As chairman of the New Orleans committee of public defense, Livingston organized the people of Louisiana in their resistance to British invasion, 1814. At the battle of New Orleans he served Andrew Jackson as aide-de-camp, interpreter, and adviser. Commissioned, 1821, to revise the Louisiana penal law, he completed a code in 1825 which aimed at the prevention rather than the punishment of crime. Although it was not adopted, the publication of the code brought him wide fame. As a Democrat, he represented the New Orleans district in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1823-1829, and was chosen by the legislature to be U.S. Senator, 1829-1831. As U.S. secretary of state, 1831-1833, he drafted the celebrated 1832 proclamation to the South Carolina nullifiers; he also secured an admission by the French Government in 1831 of the justice of American claims for spoilation under the Berlin and Milan decrees. His last public service was as U.S. minister to France, 1833-1835.

1764Born at Clermont, Columbia County, New York, the youngest of 11 children born to Robert R. Livingston and Margaret Beekman Livingston (May 28)1775Father Robert R. Livingston dies (December); Edward sent to school in Albany1779Enters junior class, College of New Jersey (Princeton)1781Graduates from College of New Jersey1781Returns to Clermont to study French and German (until 1782)1782Begins studying law at the office of John Lansing in Albany1785Admitted to Bar (January)1786Becomes an officer in the New York County Militia (until 1790)1788Marries Mary McEvers (April 10)1791Nominated, but defeated for election to New York Assembly1792Defeated again for the state assembly; Edward and other Livingstons oppose John Jay's election to governor1794Nominated for election to Congress (Nov. 14); elected, he assumes his seat in December of 17951795Moves to reform the penal code, which he claims is too sanguinary - the beginning of a lifelong devotion to this cause1796Opposes John Jay's Treaty; re-elected to Congress1798Opposes Alien and Sedition bills; Re-elected again; does not run in 18001800Mother Margaret Beekman Livingston dies1801Wife Mary McEvers dies of scarlet fever1801Appointed U.S. District Attorney for the District of New York (March 27)1801Appointed Mayor of New York City1802Son Charles dies at age 12 (Nov.)1803Serves as president of the Academy of Fine Arts1803A subordinate from the District Attorney's office absconds with $44,000 in customs house funds - Livingston takes the blame for the scandal and resigns from both public offices, and is saddled with a fine of $100,000 to the U.S. government1804Re-settles in New Orleans, hoping to recoup his fortunes there; he leaves his children in New York with brother John R. Livingston and begins practicing law in his new home 1804Leads local opposition to the March 1804 act of Congress that provided for partition of Louisiana territory, restrictions on the import of slaves, and deferred admittance to the Union1805Authors and publishes a code of civil laws which receives legislative sanction1805Marries Louise D'Avezac Moreau de Lassy (June 3), a young widow and refugee from the slave insurrection in French Santo Domingo1806Daughter Coralie born, the only one of Edward Livingston's children who lives to adulthood, and the only child born to second wife Louise during their marriage1806-1807Opposes the military authority of General James Wilkinson, who accuses Livingston of conspiring with Aaron Burr1807Acquires an interest in the New Orleans Batture, an alluvial deposit also claimed by the Corporation of the City of New Orleans and freely used by the public. Livingston attempts to use the property for his own commercial purposes and stirs up great local resentment. The problem is escalated when President Jefferson orders the tract seized as property belonging to the Federal government. Livingston will spend the rest of his life trying to reclaim the land as his. In fact, the battle in the courts will not be resolved until after his death, in the 1840's1813Daughter Julia, (born 1794) dies in New York1813Publishes "An Answer to Mr. Jefferson's Justification of his Conduct in the Case of the New Orleans Batture," one of several pamphlets by Livingston on the case, and one of many on the subject1814Serves as chairman of the local committee for the public defence, helping the war effort; serves as an aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson, and sees action in battle1815Battle of New Orleans (Jan. 8)1816Runs unsuccessfully for the Louisiana State Legislature from Plaquemines Parish1818Runs unsuccessfully for Congress1820Elected to Louisiana Legislature; serves on many committees, devoting considerable time to judicial and social reform1821Commissioned to revise the state's penal laws (he will work on this until 1824; the draft gets burned in a fire on the day of completion; he begins again and finishes his "Penal Code" within another two years)1821Son Lewis, (born 1798), dies at sea, of comsumption (December)1822Works on revising the civil code and code of procedure, and begins preparing a commercial code (until 1825)1822Elected to Congress, taking his seat in the House in Dec., 1823. He will continue to be re-elected until 18281823Moves to Lafayette Sq. Washington, D.C.1824-1829As congressman, Livingston supports internal improvements, proposes amendment of naturalization laws, proposes an amendment to the Constitution providing for direct election of the President by the people, requests aid for the relief of Greeks, advocates veterans rights, opposes the tariff measures of 1824, 1826, and 1827, and supports a bill to award General Lafayette and his heirs a tract of land in recognition of his services1824Livingston supports Andrew Jackson in his unsuccessful run for the presidency1825Livingston's penal code, entitled "A System of Penal Law" completed; The codes, well defined, outline and define legal procedure, rules for evidence, an enumeration of crimes and punishments, and set up an infrastructure of institutions which provide for the incarceration of criminals, their reform, and the welfare of poor as well. The system also advocates the abolition of capital punishment. The code is presented to the legislature of Louisiana, but fails to receive official sanction, but the publication of his work will make him an international celebrity.1826Debt to the U.S. government (for the 1803 scandal) finally paid off1828Campaigns for Andrew Jackson again; fails to get re-elected to Congress due to his absence from Louisiana; presents his penal code to the U.S. Senate, but no action is taken on it; Jackson offers Livingston the Minister to France post, but he declines due to personal affairs and work on his codes1828Sister Janet Montgomery dies (November 6), bequething the bulk of her fortune, including Montgomery Place, to Edward Livingston1829Elected U.S. senator from Louisiana by the Louisiana Legislature1831Takes oath of office as Secretary of State (May 24). Current affairs during his term in office include: the South Carolina nullification dispute; the Maine boundary dispute, the effort to purchase Texas; the negotiation of spoilations treaties with France, Portugal, the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, and Spain; and commercial relations with various countries1832Writes the "Nullification Proclamation" for Andrew Jackson (December)1833Resigns as secretary of state to become Minister to France; the goal of his appointment is to encourage the French to pay up their spoilations debts to the U.S. (from the time of the Napoleonic Wars), as agreed in a treaty of July 4, 1831; son-in-law Thomas P. Barton is appointed as secretary to the legation1835Returns to the U.S. and retires to Montgomery Place1836Dies of bilious colic at Montgomery Place (May 21)1743Janet Montgomery born at Clermont, the first child of Judge Robert R. Livingston and Margaret Beekman Livingston (August 27)1773Marries Richard Montgomery, a former British Army officer (July 23)1775Richard Montgomery appointed a Brigadier General in the Continental Army (June)1775Grandfather Robert Livingston dies (June); father Robert R. Livingston dies (December)1775Richard Montgomery killed in the siege of Quebec (December 31)1776Grandfather Henry Beekman dies (January 3)1779Janet inherits a vast amount of land in Delaware County from her Grandfather Livingston's estate1784General Horatio Gates proposes to Janet Montgomery, but she turns him down; they remain friends1786(circa) Janet purchases property confiscated from Loyalist James DeLancey in New York City1789-1790Janet travels to Ireland to visit Richard Montgomery's family, particularly his sister Lady Ranelagh1796 or 1797William Jones, son of the Ranelaghs, emigrates to New York and becomes Janet's "adopted son"1800Mother Margaret Beekman Livingston dies; Janet inherits a share of her grandfather Henry Beekman's property in Rhinebeck and the town of Beekman1802Janet purchases a 242-acre farm from John and Catherine Van Benthuysen, in Red Hook, the future site of "Chateau de Montgomery" (Montgomery Place)1804-1805Construction of the new house at Montgomery Place1804Janet enters in agreement with James McWilliams to start a commercial nursery on the farm1815Nephew William Jones, Janet's heir, dies (February 15); nephew Lewis Livingston, son of brother Edward, becomes the new heir1818Richard Montgomery's remains are brought back to New York from Quebec with a great deal of ceremony (July)1821Lewis Livingston dies of consumption, at sea (December); brother Edward is named as the next heir to Janet's estate in the fall of 18231824Lafayette visits Montgomery Place (September 18)1828Janet Montgomery dies at Montgomery Place (November 6)

Collection History

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Acquisition

The Delafield Family Papers and the Edward Livingston Papers, originally housed at Montgomery Place, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., were given to the Princeton University Library in 1986 by Mr. J. Dennis Delafield (Class of 1957) and Professor Penelope D. Johnston.

Archival Appraisal Information

The Livingston maps are interfiled with the general map collection, which is organized by geographic area, then date. "Edward Livingston Papers" is printed on the lower right corner of the verso of each map. Please ask the curator for assistance.

Maps Transferred to the General Map Collection, 3rd Floor

1. Map of England, NW France, English Channel by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), undated ("Feuille 1")

2. Map of the German States by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), undated ("Feuille 4")

3. Map of France and Central Europe, including Germany and Bavaria by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), undated ("Feuille 4")

4. Map of France and Spain by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), undated ("Feuille 5")

5. Map of the Mediterranean including Italy and Greece by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), undated ("Feuille 6")

6. Map of France by E. Collin, Rue de la Harpe, No. 45, (Paris), 1816, 1821. ("Carte Routiere de la France Dressee...Feuille 5")

7. Map of NW France and the South Coast of England, undated ("No. 1")

8. Map of Denmark by Adolph Bull, Copenhagen, 1851. (3 pieces)

9. Map of France, by A.H. Brue, Rue de Bac, No. 6 pres le Pont Royal, 1818 ("Carte, Administrative et Routiere de la France...") ("No. 3")

10. Map of France by A.H. Brue, 1820. ("Carte Physique et routiere de la France, de la Suisse, et de l'Italie septentionale...")

11. Map of France by C.H. Piquet, Quai de Conti, No. 17, undated ("Gallia Antiqua ex Aevi Romani Momentis Bruta...")

12. Map of France 1790, 1832. ("Atlas Nationale de France") ("Department du Nord, Decrele le ler Fevrier")

13. Map of France, Italy, and North Coast of the Mediterranean, undated ("No. 4")

14. Map of NE France, Germany, and Italy, undated ("No. 2")

15. Map of Flanders by Sanson, 1696. ("Le Comte de Flandre")

16. Map of France by C.Fx. De La Marche, Rue de Jardinet, No. 13, (Paris), undated

The Edward Livingston Papers and the Delafield Family Papers were acquired by the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University, as one large gift by the Delafield family in the Spring of 1986. Prior to the donation, certain items were removed and kept by Historic Hudson Valley (HHV) of Tarrytown, New York, for research purposes connected with Montgomery Place, the historic home of the Livingston and Delafield families. The following items are extracted from a list compiled by Jaquetta Haley, Director of Research for HHV, 3/23/86. Items on loan and/or duplicated for our collection are identified as such.

List of Items Housed at Historic Hudson Valley

Blueprints, maps, plans, etc.

Plans for playhouse

Plans for 1922 renovation of house

Plans regarding location of the new state road

Blueprints for Montgomery Place

Plans for heating Montgomery Place

Blueprints for squash court at Montgomery Place

Plans for barn alterations at Montgomery Place

Location of buildings at Montgomery Place

Plans for Montgomery Place sewage system

1923 landscape design for Montgomery Place

Ehler's landscape proposal, 1850's, Montgomery Place

Roll of wallpaper samples from Montgomery Place

Survey of original purchase of Montgomery Place by John Cox, Jr., 1802

Survey of Montgomery Place purchase by John Cox, Jr., 1802

Plan for drainage to north and south of the avenue

A.J. Davis drawings for coach barn, rolled, in poor condition

A.J. Davis plans or proposals regarding Montgomery Place renovations of 1842-1843 and 1860-1863, both with regard to mansion house and the outbuildings

Proposals (not by A.J. Davis) for renovations of house or outbuildings at Montgomery Place

Bound Journals

Janet Montgomery account journal, 1814-1817 (on 10-year loan until 1996; a transcript of this item is in the Edward Livingston Papers, in Janet Montgomery's series)

Louise Livingston account journal, 1840-1844 (on 10-year loan until 1996)

Thomas P. Barton plant journal, 1840's

1921-1922 inventory of Montgomery Place taken by John Ross Delafield, with comments on each item by Julia Barton Hunt

Papers relating to construction of buildings on property, or to the creation of the landscape

1804 contract for the interior of Montgomery Place

1844 contract for work on pavilion and south wing, according to A.J. Davis' plans

A.J. Downing correspondence with Louise Livingston, Cora L. Barton, and Thomas P. Barton, and some lists of plants in Thomas Barton's hand (xerox copies are in the Edward Livingston Papers, in each recipient's series)

1859 contract for construction of the coach house

1860 contract for barn, 2 sheds, and corn house

Account regarding work done on interior of house, 1854

Specifications for 1920's greenhouse and potting shed

Surveyor's notes regarding grading of north and south side

Property lines, deeds and surveys

Railroad map showing south and west property line, from rock in south bay

File on St. John's Church regarding transfer of property, 1930's

File relating to the purchase of the Sawkill property, 14 items

Deed for New York State property to Janet Montgomery, river rights, 1807

Contract between Louise Livingston and A.J. Donaldson regarding Sawkill property

Petition regarding ownership of the rock in south bay

Deed of John Van Benthuysen to Janet Montgomery, 1802

Survey of north boundary of property, 1801-1802

Mr. Spurr's property

Survey, John Bard and Louise Livingston, 1860

Sale of land to Hudson River Railroad in 1850's

Miscellaneous Manuscripts, etc.

Sample of original drawing room wallpaper

Coralie Barton's sketch of Janet Montgomery (old copies are in the Edward Livingston Papers in either Janet Montgomery's or Cora Barton's series)

File on the mill at Annandale, 19 items

Ink sketch of north portico of Montgomery Place

Photographs

Sawkill and Annandale (14 items)

Century Plant and Conservatory, including negatives

J. Dennis Delafield as a child at lily pond

Montgomery Place and Annandale (6 items)

Photographs from 1966 Antiques (10 items)

Original photograph of century plant and conservatory

Montgomery Place interiors and exteriors, 1920's - 1960's, Montgomery Place Orchards, 1944 (146 items)

Portraits of Louise L. Hunt

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Stacy Flora Roth in 1986-1988. Finding aid written by Stacy Flora Roth in 1988.

Sponsorship

The Edward Livingston Papers were the gift of Mr. J. Dennis Delafied and Professor Penelope D. Johnson in 1986.

Bibliography

Source: Concise Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1977).

Access and Use

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Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use. Researchers may be required to use surrogates of collection items stored in special vault facilities.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Preferred Citation

Edward Livingston Papers; 1683-1877 (mostly 1764-1836), Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Find More

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Topics

• American history
• Legal history

Subject Terms

• Administration of estates
• Capital punishment
• Cox, John,1756-1825
• Criminal law
• Death and burial
• Decedents' estates
• Diplomatic and consular service, American
• Election
• Elections
• Foreign relations
• France
• French, Benjamin
• History
• History, Local
• History, Military
• Hudson River Valley
• Hudson River Valley (N.Y.)
• Last years
• Livingston, Margaret Beekman,1724-1800
• Louisiana
• Montgomery, Janet,1743-1828
• New Orleans (La.)
• New York (N.Y.)
• New York (State)
• Politics and government
• Presidents
• Social conditions
• Sources
• Surveyors
• United States
• War of 1812
• Women

Genre Terms

• Account books
• Business records
• Deeds
• Diplomatic documents
• Leases
• Ledgers
• Legal correspondence, American
• Maps
• Tax records
• Wills

Contents and Arrangement

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Arrangement

This collection is composed of one large series and many smaller ones. Each series has a main individual for whom there may be correspondence sent and received, financial records, papers, etc. Because there is considerable overlap between the correspondence of the individual authors, I have established a priority list for correspondence. All correspondence between two "major authors" (roman numerals I-XIV) will be found in the series of the one who is higher up on the list. For example, correspondence between Edward Livingston and anyone else will be found in his papers; correspondence between Janet Montgomery and John Cox, Jr., will be in Janet's papers, while correspondence between John Cox, Jr., and Robert R. Livingston would be found in Cox's. In a case where a particular letter seemed especially germane to both parties, I have placed a photocopy in one of the two parties series. Anyone in the "all others" category is subordinate to the main list of names. If someone in the "all others" category writes to another, that letter is filed by author. The one exception to the priority rule is letters in copybooks, which are filed with the author.

Recipient Priority List:

Edward Livingston

Janet Montgomery

Margaret Beekman Livingston

John Cox, Jr.

Louise Livingston

Cora L. Barton

Thomas P. Barton

Auguste Davezac

Richard Montgomery

Lewis Livingston

Henry Beekman

Robert R. (Judge) Livingston (has a copy book)

Robert Livingston (of Clermont) (has a copy book)

Robert R. Livingston (The Chancellor)

William Jones

All Others

Series 1: Edward Livingston (1764-1836), 1781-1877, 1781-1836

• Subseries 1A: Correspondence, 1784-1836
• Subseries 1B: Papers Related to Public Offices/Public Life, 1795-1836
• Subseries 1C: Papers Relating to the Penal Code, Criminal Jurisprudence, and Related Topics, 1784-1873, 1820-1836
• Subseries 1D: Writings (Miscellaneous), 1792-1836
• Subseries 1E: Legal Records, 1785-1842
• Subseries 1F: Financial Records, 1783-1839
• Subseries 1G: Wills, Inventories, and Miscellaneous Estate Papers, 1803-1836
• Subseries 1H: Certificates, Awards, Degrees, Honors, and Official Documents, 1781-1836
• Subseries 1I: Miscellaneous, 1796-1834
• Subseries 1J: Writings by Others (about Edward Livingston), 1830-1877
• Subseries 1K: Newspapers, 1807-1840
• Subseries 1L: Miscellaneous Printed Matter, 1804-1836

Series 2: Louise Livingston (circa 1781-1860), 2nd wife of Edward Livingston, 1811-1861

• Subseries 2A: Correspondence, 1813-1854
• Subseries 2B: Financial Records, 1811-1861
• Subseries 2C: Miscellaneous Papers, 1837-1860

Series 3: Coralie Livingston Barton (1806-1873) and Thomas Pennant Barton (1803-1869), daughter and son-in-law of Edward Livingston, 1813-1873

• Subseries 3A: Coralie Livingston Barton, 1813-1873
• Subseries 3B: Thomas Pennant Barton, 1833-1866
• Subseries 3C: Cora Livingston Barton and Thomas Pennant Barton, 1831-1867

Series 4: Auguste Davezac (1780-1851), brother of Louise Livingston, 1822-1851

Series 5: Lewis Livingston (1798-1821), son of Edward and Mary McEvers Livingston, 1814-1822

Series 6: Janet Montgomery (1743-1828), sister of Edward Livingston, 1764-1852, 1764-1828

• Subseries 6A: Correspondence, 1764-1828
• Subseries 6B: Financial Records, 1772-1833
• Subseries 6C: Account Books/Copy Books, 1773-1820
• Subseries 6D: Miscellaneous Papers, 1788-1852, 1788-1828

Series 7: Richard Montgomery (1738-1775), husband of Janet Montgomery, 1761-1813, 1761-1787

Series 8: William Jones (circa 1778-circa 1813), nephew of Richard Montgomery, 1796-1816

Series 9: Margaret Beekman Livingston (1724-1800) and Robert R. Livingston(1718-1775), parents of Edward Livingston, 1735-1833

• Subseries 9A: Margaret Beekman Livingston (1724-1800), 1735-1833, 1755-1811
• Subseries 9B: Robert R. Livingston, 1718-1792, 1758-1792
• Subseries 9C: Margaret Beekman Livingston and Robert R. Livingston, 1738-1812

Series 10: Henry Beekman (1688-1776), grandfather of Edward Livingston, and Gertrude Van Cortlandt Beekman, 2nd wife of Henry Beekman, 1706-1803, 1720-1776

Series 11: Robert Livingston (1688-1775) , grandfather of Edward Livingston, 1710-1783

Series 12: Robert R. Livingston (1746-1813), brother of Edward Livingston, 1771-1809

Series 13: John Cox, Jr. (1756-1825), surveyor and estate agent to Margaret Beekman Livingston, Janet Montgomery and others, 1762-1825, 1771-1825

• Subseries 13A: Correspondence, 1771-1825
• Subseries 13B: Financial Records, 1773-1823
• Subseries 13C: Ledgers, 1762, 1770-1786
• Subseries 13D: Miscellaneous Papers, 1771-1797

Series 14: Benjamin French (fl. 1768-1777), Albany area merchant, 1755-1803, 1769-1803

• Subseries 14A: Papers Relating to Claims Concerning his Estate, 1768-1803
• Subseries 14B: Business Papers, 1755-1793, 1768-1777
• Subseries 14C: Ledger, 1772-1776

Series 15: Papers of Others, 1722-1912

Series 16: Miscellaneous, 1725-1824

Series 17: Landholdings, 1683-1887

• Subseries 17A: Edward and Louise Livingston, 1789-1861
• Subseries 17B: Janet and Richard Montgomery, 1750-1830
• Subseries 17C: Margaret Beekman Livingston and Robert R. Livingston, 1747-1800
• Subseries 17D: Henry Beekman, 1683-1879, 1683-1775
• Subseries 17E: Robert Livingston (1654-1728), 1721-1728
• Subseries 17F: Robert Livingston, Jr. (1688-1775), 1721-1762
• Subseries 17G: Others, 1769-1873
• Subseries 17H: Miscellaneous Landholdings, 1706-1887