COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Buckingham, David W.
Date:
1830
Short Title:
Map OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN, FROM ACTUAL SURVEY, by D. W. Buckingham, COUNTY SURVEYOR
Publisher:
Jocelyn, Darling & Co.
Publisher Location:
New Haven
Type:
Wall Map
Obj Height cm:
38
Obj Width cm:
40
City:
New Haven (Conn.)
Full Title:
Map OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN, FROM ACTUAL SURVEY, by D. W. Buckingham, COUNTY SURVEYOR
List No:
15785.000
Publication Author:
Buckingham, David W.
Pub Date:
1830
Pub Title:
Map OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN, FROM ACTUAL SURVEY, by D. W. Buckingham, COUNTY SURVEYOR
Pub Reference:
Thompson, Maps of Connecticut, #69 (Yale only). OCLC 47152574 (CT State Library) and 1275786936 (Yale), as of Dec. 2021. Yale’s Beinecke Library in fact has three examples. Of these one (copy 2) is not described in the online catalog, while copy 1 originally sold as a wall-map, and copy 3 is printed on bank note paper and folded into the original paper covers.
Pub Note:
"An extremely rare 1830 plan of New Haven, Connecticut documenting its evolution from a maritime economy to a major New England manufacturing center. The plan represents the first significant improvement on Amos Doolittle’s 1812 Plan of New Haven, which had been only lightly improved and updated in editions of 1817 and 1824, while the significant growth of the city in the interim necessitated a new survey. Indeed the 1830 Census found that the city’s population had grown by no less than 42% in the past decade, from 7147 to 10,180. The plan’s most prominent feature is the original symmetrical grid of blocks surrounding a central Public Square, bounded by George, Grove, state and York Streets, a layout tracing back the city’s founding in 1638. Reflecting growth in the early 19th century, more recent development is shown in every direction, particularly to the east in the direction of the Mill River and to the south along the Harbor. Throughout, shading is used to indicate areas occupied by buildings. An inset at upper right depicts the village of Fair Haven, situated between the Mill and Quinnipiac Rivers, which had been annexed to New Haven in 1784, the year that city was incorporated. By 1830 New Haven’s economy had long since shifted to a manufacturing basis, most famously arms production at the factory founded by Eli Whitney. But much about the plan reveals New Haven’s maritime and mercantile roots, particularly the enormous Union Wharf extending into the harbor, the shipyard on the north side of Union Basin, and the rope walk adjacent to Water Street just east of the harbor. Other points of particular interest include Yale College to the northwest of the Square, the new State House (finished in 1828), ten places of worship identified in a legend at left, and the lower reaches of the Farmington Canal including five locks. The New Haven-to-Farmington stretch of the Canal had been opened in 1828, just two years prior to this plan’s publication, and by 1835 it would be opened all the way to Northampton, Massachusetts. It was never financially successful, though, and within a few years the Canal Company had sold its right of way to the New Haven and Northampton Railroad. The plan is extremely rare: We find but two holdings in institutional collections and no other record of its having appeared on the antiquarian market. An updated edition appeared in 1849, depicting a changed city, greatly expanded and shaped by the arrival of the railroad. David W. Buckingham The plan was surveyed and drawn by Buckingham (1797-1886), who in truth is something of a cipher. Little has been established about his early career, beyond the fact that he described himself as New Haven County Surveyor on this map and retains the title on the 1849 re-issue, though the earliest notices of the map’s publication make no mention of him at all. The closest thing we have found to a biographical sketch is laughably thin and sheds zero light on his activities as a surveyor. “David W. Buckingham, son of Ebenezer and Olive ( Woodnff) Buckingham, born Sept. 27, 1797; was twice married : (1.) To Maria Hannah Potter, Oct. 24, 1824. She was born Oct. 3, 1805, and died May 10, 1842. (2.) To Charlotte Hays Pardee, August 23, 1843. Mr. Buckingham resides in Chapel Street. New Haven, has been a grocery merchant, and has now retired from active business. He has in his possession a silver-mounted cane, marked S. B., which was given him by his father.” (Rev. F. W. Chapman, A.M., The Buckingham Family. Hartford: Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1872, p. 440) A few later references mention him as holding minor civic positions, for example as one of no fewer than 24 Inspectors and Measurers of Wood and Charcoal (1866-67). Another work describe him only as “a retired merchant.” We find no mention of him in the contemporary press until 1884, and then only in connection with a 10-room home on Chapel Street he is seeking to rent out. Oddly, the Morning Journal-Courier for March 2, 1885 describes him as “one our best known old citizens, residing at 1,194 Chapel Street”. The Jocelyn Brothers and Charles Darling Nathaniel Jocelyn (1796-1881) and his younger brother Simeon Smith Jocelyn (1799-1879) were the leading engravers in New Haven from about 1820 to about 1850; they are best known as map engravers but were also among the most important American banknote engravers of their day. Both men were also skilled painters, and active in the Abolitionist movement. Simeon joined the clergy in 1829, and juggled his two vocations to about 1850, when he gave up engraving. In mid-1830, the brothers formed a (short-lived) partnership with another New Haven man, Charles Chauncey Darling (1799-1887), announced in the [New Haven] Columbian Register “N & S.S. JOCELYN and CHARLES C. DARLING have formed a Co-partnership under the firm of Jocelyn, Darling & Co. for the purpose of carrying on the publication of MAPS, PRINTS, ATLASSES, and other works …” (August 7, 1830, page 3). Although this is the earliest announcement of the partnership traced, the partnership was already operating, and was clearly formed to publish this plan of New Haven. Publication History The earliest newspaper announcement traced, placed by the partners in June 1830, comes late in the preparation of the map. Clearly, the partners had previously circulated proposals to publish the map by subscription, and Buckingham had since completed the base survey of New Haven. The June 1830 advertisement sought help in perfecting the survey, “CITY MAP. PERSONS who are acquainted with any contemplated roads, wharves, or improvements of a similar character, in this city, will oblige the subscribers by making it known to them immediately, for the purpose of having it added to the Map of the city, now engraving. — Owing to the necessity of a new survey of the city, and the time required to collect information to make a correct and valuable map, it will not be completed quite as soon as was expected. It is believed, however, that every subscriber will be well satisfied with the delay of a few weeks, that it may be the more perfect.” (Connecticut Journal, June 1, 1830, page 3). Publication, with the first reference to Buckingham, was announced in the Columbian Register on October 23: “CITY MAP. Just published and for sale by JOCELYN, DARLING & CO. At No.3 Bradley’s Buildings, The Map of the City of New-Haven. THE Map is from actual survey by D. W. Buckingham, County Surveyor, and embraces new streets and other improvements. “A large number of the streets have recently been named by the City Authorities, and are all inserted in the Map.” (p. 1) In all, a rare and important plan of New Haven, published at a time of transformative growth." (Boston Rare Maps, 2023)
Pub List No:
15785.000
Pub Type:
Wall Map
Pub Height cm:
38
Pub Width cm:
40
Image No:
15785000.jp2
Authors:
Buckingham, David W.
