(1661) 1662. 1663. N. N. residing under the jurisdiction of N. N. hath applied to us for some assistance and support, and, as his character and poverty are well known to us, we would willingly have provided him therewith, but the low state of our Treasury hath not allowed us to do so. We have, therefore, to request, on his behalf, the Deacons of the City of Amsterdam in New Netherland to lend him a helping hand according to their usual discretion. Done, &c. And the persons who shall bring with them such certificate shall be provided for, and assisted here as circumstances permit. But in order that each Village or Settlement may be better able to assist and support its own Poor, it is further Resolved and decided, that, from this time forward, in all Villages and Settlements, collections shall be made and something laid up for the Poor and Needy. That such may be put in practice, as well in the Villages where there is Preaching, as in those where there is no Preaching, the Director General and Council of New Netherland do hereby Order and command all Magistrates of the Villages where there have been no ministers hitherto, that each in his respective Village or Settle ment shall nominate and qualify two proper persons, who shall go around every Sunday with a little bag among the congregation and collect the Alms for the support of the Poor of that place, and then, if they fall short, they shall address themselves, in the manner as above set forth to the Deacons of this City. Hereby notifying and warning all respective Magistrates that, in case they neglect to have weekly collections made in manner as aforesaid, they shall, for such neglect, be corrected as the case may require. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 22 October, 1661. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." 412. O'Callaghan.) p. 411 One-third of penalty for burning straw in the village of Wiltwyck to be applied toward support of the poor. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." p. 431. O'Callaghan.) The Court to care for wives and children of dissolute or idle settlers. ("History of New Netherland." Vol. 2, p. 468. O'Callaghan.) Orphans sent from the city of Amsterdam, in Holland, to South River. ("History of New Netherland." Vol. 2, p. 540. O'Callaghan.) Kingston. THE ENGLISH COLONY OF NEW YORK 1664 TO 1776 The earliest English laws governing the administration of affairs, charitable and otherwise, in the Colony of New York are known as the "Duke of York's Laws." These laws were "Establisht by the Authority of his Majesties Letters patents, granted to his Royal Highnes James Duke of Yorke and Albany: Bearing Date the 12th Day of March in the sixteenth year of ye Raigne of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second. Digested into one Volume for the publicke use of the Territoryes in America under the Government of his Royall Highnesse. Collected out of the Several Laws now in force in his Majesties American Colonyes and Plantations. Published March the 1st Anno Domini 1664 at a General meeting at Hemsted upon Longe Island by virtue of a Commission from his Royal Highnesse James Duke of Yorke and Albany given to Colonell Richard Nicolls Deputy Governor, bearing date the Second day of Aprill 1664." These and other Colonial laws of New York from the year 1664 to the Revolution were republished by the State of New York in 1894, and the volume and page references herein given relate to the volumes and pages of such republication. Bond slavery of Christians forbidden, but not to prejudice indenture nor taking as apprentice. "No Christian shall be kept in Bondslavery, villenage or Captivity, Except such who shall be Judged thereunto by Authority, or such as willingly have sould, or shall sell themselves. In which Case a Record of such Servitude shall be entered *Volume and page refer to "Colonial Laws of New York," from which these notes and transcripts are made. The chapters agree with those of Livingston & Smith, and Van Schaack. 1664 Vol. I, page 18 (1664) *Vol. I, page 24 Vol. I, page 47 *Vol. I, page 55 in the Court of sessions held for that Jurisdiction where Such Matters shall Inhabit, provided that nothing in the Law Contained shall be to the prejudice of Master or Dame who shall by any Indenture or Covenant take Apprentices for Terme of years, or other Servants for Term of years or Life." ("Duke of York's Laws.") Eight overseers to provide for church and poor. "Whereas the publique Worship of God is much discredited for want of painful and able Ministers to Instruct the people in the true Religion and for want of Convenient places Capable to receive any Number or Assembly of people in a decent manner for Celebrating Gods holy Ordinances. These ensueing Lawes are to be observed in every parish (Viz.) 1. That in each Parish within this Government a church be built in the most Convenient part thereof, Capable to receive and accomodate two Hundred Persons. 2. That For the making and proportioning the Levies and Assessments for building and repairing the Churches. Provision for the poor, maintenance of the Minister; as well as for the more orderly managing of all Parochial affairs in other Cases exprest. Eight of the most able Men of each Parish be by the Major part of the Householders of the said Parish Chosen to be Overseers but of which Number the Constable and the aforesaid Eight Overseers shall yearly make choice of two of the said number to be Church wardens and in case of the Death of any of the said Overseers and church wardens; or his or their departure out of the parish. The said Constable and Overseers shall make Choice of another to Supply his Room." ("Duke of York's Laws.'') Certain penalties to be applied to support of poor. "No Servant either Male or Female shall either give, sell or Truck any Commodity whatsoever during the time of theire Service, under the penalty of fine or Corporal punishment, by warrant under the hands of two Justices of the Peace as the Offence shall meritt. And whatsoever Person shall either Buy, receive or Truck with any such Servant Contrary to this Law they shall be compelled to restore the said Commodytes to the Master of such Servants or Servant, and forfeit the double value thereof to the poor of the Parrish where they shall Inhabit." ("Duke of York's Laws.") Eight overseers to be elected by the freeholders in each town. *Volume and page refer to "Colonial Laws of New York," from which these notes and transcripts are made. The chapters agree with those of Livingston & Smith, and Van Schaack. "Overseers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life, Chosen by the plurality of voyces of the freeholders in each Town, whereof foure shall remain in their Office two years successively, and four shall be Changed for New ones every yeare which Election shall preceed the Elections of Constables, in point of time. In regard the Constable for the yeare ensuing, is to be Chosen out of that Number which are dismist from their Office of Overseers." ("Duke of York's Laws.") "to "Distracted persons" to be provided for by con- . tributions from each town in the riding. "That in regard to Conditions of distracted Persons, may bee both very chargeable and troublesome and so will prove too greate a Burthen for one Towne alone to beare, each Towne in the Rideing where such person or persons shall happen to bee, are to Contribute towards the Charge which may arise upon such occasions." (Amendment to the Duke of York's Laws confirmed by Governor Richard Nicholls October 30, 1665.) Persons holding in trust property of orphans, to render inventory annually. "That all Persons who now have or shall have any Estate of Goods, Chattles or Lands; in their possession, belonging to any that are under age shall exhibit an Inventory and Accompts of that said Estate within three Moneths next after Publication of this Law, to the respective Courts of sessions where such Estate shall be and afterwards yearly; And in Case such Person or Persons who have such Estate, in their hands, do not at the time and place aforesaid present the Inventory and Accompts of such Estates as aforesaid: Then that the whole businesse be sent to the next Court of Assizes where the Offender shall be fined for Neglect of Exhibiting as aforesaid; and if any good Improvement hath not been made of the Estate; yet if it shall be thought Convenient to Continue it in the said Persons hands hee or they shall give better Caution and security or else it shall bee removed into the hands of some other able and discreet Person or Persons as the Court shall appoint upon the Cautions aforesaid.” (“Duke of York's Laws.") Disbursements for the poor and the support of the poorhouse at Albany. The account book of the deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Albany shows there was an armen huys Volume and page refer to "Colonial Laws of New York," from which these notes and transcripts are made. The chapters agree with those of Livingston & Smith, and Van Schaack. (1664) 1665 *Vol. I, page 79 Vol. I, page 56 1665. (1665) 1671 or poor house, in that place in 1665 and that outdoor relief was also furnished to a considerable extent. Such entries as these appear: "To Mr. Peter for burying two Englishmen 12g"; "To small beer for the use of Uncle Peter, 1 g. 13 s."; "Jongen de Brouster for wetnursing Aaron Isack's child, 35g"; "Antony Jansen for six small measures of brandy which was used when the old captain was laid out, 4g, 4s"; "Peter Brouck on his promise to return it during the year 50g"; Paid Gysbert Kleermaker for 100 shad which William Brouwer and John Van Bremer had together, 10g"; "To William Brouwer in money 8g, for which he pawned 1 pair of white stockings until he should return the money ". The following show some of the expenditures for the poor house: "Jan Karrels 2 barrels of lime for the poor house 10g"; Jon de Backer for masonry at the poor house 11⁄2 days at 7 gilders a day, 10g. 10 s"; "Teunis de Messelaer (Metzelaer, the mason) for 11⁄2 days work at the poor house 18g "; "240 bricks furnished to the poor house 5g., 10s"; "Paid to Peter Bogardus for setting 34 broken window panes at the poor house 11g, 18s." In 1700 John Kidnie paid 54g for half a years rent of the East end of the poor house which seems to have been vacant in the decrease of the number of the poor, the old names having all disappeared from the list. On the 15th of February, Ryseck, widow of Gerrit Swart, the last of the church poor, died, and was buried on the 17th the onkosten of which was as follows: 3 dry boards for the coffin 7:10; 4 lb. nails, 1:10; making the coffin 24g; cartage 10s.; a half vat and an anker of good beer, 27g; 1 gal. rum, 21g; 6 gal. Madeira for women and men, 84 g; sugar and cruyery, 5g; 150 sugar cakes, 15g; tobacco and pipes 4:10; Hendrick Roseboom doodgraver 30g; use of the pall 12g; total 232g. A claim of Roseboom of 12g for inviting to the funeral was paid, but it was regarded as an extortionate charge, and the consistory ordered that the doodgraver should thereafter have from the deacons 30 guilders and no more, for like services. ("Collections on the History of Albany." Munsell.) Petition of John Folshave to the Mayor's court for support and relief. "Upon the petition of John Folshave desiring some support and relief in his sickness, the Court do recommend to the deacons of this city to enquire into and examine into the truth of the said petition and to make a report thereof to this Court, and in the meantime to allow him some support in his sickness." "The deacons of the reformed church of this city this day making their report upon the former order sent them upon the petition of John Fossacre returned for answer that the said Fossacre had levied on Long Island, Weshester, and |