New York Colony Council Original Colonial Laws

Chronological by date of signing.

The "Charter of Liberties and Privileges" passed by the provincial Assembly on October 30, 1683 (part of the so-called "Dongan Laws") provided that bills passed by the Assembly and approved by the Governor and Council should become law. This act was rejected by the King (disallowed or vetoed by the crown) and never had the force of law.

However, the royal commission to Governor Thomas Dongan, dated June 10, 1686, empowered him and his council to pass "laws, statutes and ordinances" for the government of the colony. Commissions to succeeding governors reaffirmed this power. Chapter 10 of the laws passed by the Assembly and approved by the Governor and Council in 1691 set up a "general Assembly" for the colony which would share legislative power with the Governor and Council. It appears that New York's laws were passed under this authority until 1775.

These are original bills passed by the colonial legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Each engrossed bill contains the text of the bill and the signatures of the speaker of the Assembly and of the Governor, with dates of passing and signing. On the reverse of the final page is an endorsement, giving the bill number, a short title, note by clerk of the Assembly giving date bill was sent to the Council, and notes by the secretary to the Council giving dates of first and subsequent readings, of any amendments and commitments, and of final approval. The bills occasionally include amendments in the text or on attached sheets. The series contains gaps, especially for the year 1691. The complete colonial laws were published pursuant to a law of 1891 by the Commissioners of Statutory Revision. Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution includes the colonial charters, Duke's Laws, Dongan's Laws, and other documents, and also contains the texts of a number of laws (particularly for 1691) missing from this series. The published compilation does not contain any indication of the amendments found in the engrossed originals.

Published in Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution. . ., 5 volumes (Albany, J.B. Lyon, 1894), Assembly Document No. 107.

High resolution images of selected original documents in this series are available in State Archives Digital Collections.

13036Series 13036, Enrolled acts of the State Legislature, is a successor series.

Alphabetical name and subject index in each volume of Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution. . .

Presently bound into 41 volumes; had been bound into 18 volumes (numbered 2-19) from the early 19th century until the State Capitol fire of 1911 (book 1 had contained the Duke's Laws and Dongan's Laws).

Original records are restricted: published versions are first use copies.