Simeon De Witt (1756-1834) was one of the foremost cartographers of the early national period. Born in New York to a family of Dutch extraction, De Witt was educated at Queen’s College in New Jersey, where he received a B.A. in 1776 and an M.A. in 1788. During the American Revolution De Witt served as a private at the battle of Saratoga and as a geographer for the Continental Army. After receiving a discharge from the army, De Witt became the surveyor general for the State of New York, a position that he held until his death (ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, New York and Oxford, 1999, 24 vols. description ends ; T. Romeyn Beck, Eulogium of the Life and Services of Simeon De Witt, Surveyor-General of the State of New-York, Chancellor of the University, &c. &c. &c. [Albany, 1835]; Walter W. Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers: Commercial Cartography in the Nineteenth Century [Detroit, 1985], 73-83).

TJ acknowledged the receipt of the Map in a brief note dated 7 Sep.: “Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr DeWitt and his thanks for his very useful & acceptible present of the map of New York” (PoC in DLC; endorsed by TJ).