Duane family papers, 1665-1916 (bulk 1756-1900)

This collection contains papers relating to the Duane family and associated families. The bulk of the collection concerns the papers of James Duane, a prominent New York lawyer, patriot, and land developer. James Duane (1733-1797) became the ward of Robert Livingston after his father's death around 1734 and married Livingston's daughter Mary in 1759. He made a number of profitable real estate investments and was a prominent lawyer by the time of the American Revolution. He was a member of the Revolutionary Committee of New York, the Continental Congress, one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation, a member of the Constitutional Convention, a U.S. District judge from 1789 to 1794, and mayor of the city of New York from 1794 to 1789.