New York Colony Council Minutes

Statement on Language

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Overview of the Records

Repository
New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
This series consists of bound volumes of minutes of the legislative and executive sessions of the Council of the Colony of New York. The council shared executive and legislative powers with the governor. Minutes include laws, orders, and resolutions concerning the court system, land titles, land development, commerce, relations with Indians, and taxation.
Title
New York Colony Council minutes
Quantity
19 cubic feet; 97 volume(s); 13 35mm microfilm roll(s)
Inclusive Dates
Series Number
A1895
Creator

With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant number ST-03-27-0006-17) and the William Nelson Cromwell Foundation.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

These are bound volumes of minutes of the legislative and executive sessions of the Council of the Colony of New York, established by the British colonial government in 1664. The council shared executive and legislative powers with the governor. Minutes include laws, orders, and resolutions concerning: establishment and organization of courts; granting and settlement of land; regulation and construction of buildings, streets, and wharfs; trade and commerce, including restrictions on exports; trade and relations with Indians; and levying of taxes.

Of special importance are minutes of the first meeting of the Colonial Legislature (April 9, 1691). The Colonial Legislature consisted of a council appointed by the Governor and a House of Representatives elected by the people. In the minutes of the first meeting, James Graham, Speaker of the House, is authorized to address the Council.

In another notable document (May 16, 1670) English Colonial Governor Lovelace reappointed Jan Jurians Beeker to teach Albany youth "to read and wryte."

Alternate Formats Available

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

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

A1455 Transcripts of Council minutes and Assembly journals transmitted to the Board of Trade (1686-1775), contains photostat and microfilm reproductions of Council minutes and Assembly proceedings acquired from the National Archives of the United Kingdom (Public Record Office)

A4406 Transcripts of Council minutes (1674-1761, bulk 1674-1742), contains additional transcripts of minutes of the Council that were maintained by the Division of Archives and History in the State Education Department

A3271 Transcriptions of New York Council minutes and Council papers (1683-1767), contains transcriptions of New York Council minutes and transcriptions of the New York Council Papers (also known as "Colonial Manuscripts")

A0176 Original draft minutes (ca. 1668-1783), contains a draft version of a small amount of minutes of the legislative and executive sessions of the council

Custodial History

Minutes of the First Meeting of the Colonial Legislature, April 19, 1691. This item was removed from the series (Council Minutes, Legislative: Vol 6, p. 1) as part of the Freedom Train Exhibit, which traveled the state from January 1949 to February 1950 (L. 1948, Ch. 659).

Reappointment of Albany Schoolmaster. This item was removed from the series (Council Minutes, Vol. 2, p. 536) as part of the Freedom Train Exhibit.

Access Restrictions

Restricted due to burn damage.Microfilm is first-use copy.

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