America and West Indies: Miscellaneous, 1669 | British History Online

Pages 48-49

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 7, 1669-1674. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

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Miscellaneous, 1669



1669 ?	136. Petition of the Mayor and Aldermen of New York in behalf of the rest of the inhabitants, to the Duke of York. Being mostly Dutch born, but now his Majesty's subjects, by the Articles of Surrender they were promised free trade and equal privileges as any of his Majesty's subjects, and for some years have enjoyed free trade with Holland, paying customs as formerly, which encouraged most of the Dutch to remain. Upon the happy peace between his Majesty and Holland, they made address for three "permissionary ships" to trade from Holland for seven years, which was granted by his Majesty in Council [see previous Vol., No. 1603], and they enjoyed it that year to the great encouragement of the place, and paid some considerable value in customs towards the charge of the garrison; but since, by what information they know not [see previous Vol., No. 1875], these ships are forbidden. Request that they may have free trade to Holland (which is not denied to any of his Majesty's subjects) touching in some port in England and paying customs as they come and go; and that they may bring commodities for the Indians which cannot be so well made in England; which if prohibited the Indians will go to Canada for "the Dutch duffles and. blancoates, which are scrupled to be brought into England, saying it is cloth." It cannot be called cloth, but is worse than "wadmoll" which daily comes from Holland, and is not ever worn by any Christians but only by the Indians. So that if the Farmers of his Majesty's customs may have order to receive the customs, it would keep the trade in his Royal Highnesses territories and relieve Petitioners. 2 pp. Printed in New York, Documents III., 187. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIV., No. 98.]
1669 ?	137. "Answers (in Col. Nicoll's handwriting) to the several queries relating to the planters in the territories of his Royal Highness the Duke of York in America." 1. The Governor and Council with the High Sheriff and Justices of the Peace, in the Court of General Assizes have the power of making, altering, and abolishing laws; Country Sessions are held by Justices on the Bench; particular Town Courts by a constable and eight overseers; the City Court of New York, by a Mayor and Aldermen; and all causes are tried by juries. 2. The land is naturally apt to produce corn and cattle; so that the several proportions of land are always allowed with respect to the numbers of the planters, what they are able to manage, and the feed of cattle is free in commonage to all townships; but lots of meadow and corn land are peculiar to each planter. 3. His Royal Highness grants lands as freehold for ever, the planters paying customary rates and duties towards defraying the public charges; the highest rent will be one penny per acre for lands purchased by his Royal Highness; the least 2s. 6d. per hundred acres, whereof the planters themselves are purchasers from the Indians. 4. The Governor gives liberty to planters to buy lands from the Indians where it pleases them, but the seating of towns together is necessary in these parts. 5. Liberty of conscience is granted, with the proviso in the query. 6. Fishing and fowling are free to all by the patent. 7. All causes are tried by juries; no laws contrary to those of England; soldiers only triable by court martial, except in cases of invasion, mutiny, or rebellion, as in England. 8. There is no tax payable by the planter on corn or cattle, and the country at present has little other produce; the rate for public charges was agreed to in a General Assembly, and is managed by the Governor and Council and the Justices in the Court of Assizes. 9. The obtaining of all these privileges is long since recommended to his Royal Highness as the most necessary encouragement to his territories. 10. Every man, on his request, has liberty to trade for furs. 1 1/2 pp. Printed in New York, Documents III., 188. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIV., No. 99.]