New Netherland Council Dutch Colonial Ordinances
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
New York State Archives, New York State Education Department, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230
Contact information: phone number
001 (518) 474-8955 (reference services)
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archinfo@nysed.gov (general)
archref@nysed.gov (reference services)
archref@nysed.gov (reference services)
Reference number
A1875
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
New Netherland Council Dutch Colonial Ordinances
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
New Netherland Council
Date(s)
1647/1658
Language(s)
dut
Extent
0.2 linear metres
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This series comprises the ordinances, laws and regulations written to govern and maintain order in the communities of New Netherland. The ordinances cover many aspects of daily life and commerce. The series includes an ordinance on August 28, 1655, exempting Jews between 16 and 60 years of age from military service and obliging them to pay a monthly fine (box 17, vol. 16, part 1, doc. 59). A digital copy of the document is available online:
Archival history
This series was initially part one of volume 16 of the New York Historical Manuscripts in the New York State Library.
Administrative / Biographical history
The government of New Netherland, as defined by the Dutch West India Company (WIC), consisted of the director of the colony assisted by a council composed of his commissary, secretary, "schout" (an appointed law enforcement officer with the combined duties of a sheriff and prosecuting attorney), and any skippers in port at the time. This body carried out all government executive, legislative, and judicial functions, except matrimonial rites, settlement of estates, including those of persons dying intestate, and administration of contracts.
From 1653, when New Amsterdam received its charter as a municipality, the council served as a court of appeal for New Amsterdam and other jurisdictions and concentrated on executive matters such as making appointments, issuing proclamations, passing ordinances, replying to petitions, and corresponding with governments of neighbouring colonies.
Laws and ordinances enacted by the council in Manhattan were adhered to by all communities in New Netherland unless specific to one locality. By 1658 communities were required to post previous hit WIC ordinances in their jurisdictions and submit their own ordinances for approval by the council in Manhattan. The council in Manhattan had to submit its ordinances to the previous hit WIC directors in Amsterdam for approval.
From 1653, when New Amsterdam received its charter as a municipality, the council served as a court of appeal for New Amsterdam and other jurisdictions and concentrated on executive matters such as making appointments, issuing proclamations, passing ordinances, replying to petitions, and corresponding with governments of neighbouring colonies.
Laws and ordinances enacted by the council in Manhattan were adhered to by all communities in New Netherland unless specific to one locality. By 1658 communities were required to post previous hit WIC ordinances in their jurisdictions and submit their own ordinances for approval by the council in Manhattan. The council in Manhattan had to submit its ordinances to the previous hit WIC directors in Amsterdam for approval.
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date of correspondence.
Access, restrictions
Photostat use copies of selected documents are available at the New York State Archives. Digital copies are available on:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Linked resources
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