PREFATORY NOTE.

THE "Freedom" of a city is the right of enjoying all the privileges and immunities belonging to it, to the exclusion of all who are not "Freemen." In cities, municipal corporations, and boroughs, it was obtained, either by serving an apprenticeship for a certain time, or by the payment of money in such amounts as were fixed by the corporate authorities under their charters; and it was also conferred, in their discretion, by a vote, as a municipal compliment or honor.

In Holland, and in England, or rather in Great Britain, in former days, the "Freedom of a city," or other corporation was a most valuable and important privilege and monopoly. For none but its possessors could practice trades, or do any mercantile business in the place, possess the right of suffrage, or be eligible to election to public office, or other civic honors.

In Holland it was termed "Burgher Recht," or Burgher Right, and was of two classes, "Great Burgher Right" and "Small Burgher Right," according to the amounts of money paid and privileges granted. The Great Burgher Right was also conferred, ex-officio, upon the magistrates, the Dutch clergy, and the high civil, and military, officers of the city or state. As such it was established and existed under the Dutch government in New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

When the English succeeded the Dutch in that province, the English form was established therein, by the English charters of the city of New York, under the

clauses granting the privilege of conferring the "Freedom of the City" upon such terms and conditions as its corporate authorities might fix.

This volume contains for the first time all the official Dutch and English Records now remaining relating to this subject, arranged under four heads:

I. THE BURGHER RIGHT.

II. THE ROLL OF FREEMAN.

III. APPENDIX TO THE ROLL OF FREEmen.

IV. INDENTURES OF APPRENTICESHIP, 1694 TO 1708. Together with a very full Index, of the names of all the Burghers Great and Small, the Freemen of all classes, the officers and magistrates conferring the Rights and Freedoms, and of the documents relating to the same.

Under the first head will be found the documents and official papers of the Director General and Council of New Amsterdam, and of the Burgomasters and Schepens, establishing the Great and Small Burgher Rights in that city, with their respective privileges powers and duties. These are translated from the originals preserved in the City Records in the City Hall in New York, and in the Archives of the State in Albany; the former translated, but not printed, by the late eminent archivist Edmund B. O'Callaghan, M.D., and the latter by his successor Mr. B. F. Fernow. Every paper, document, and name, that has been preserved to this time relating to this subject, from the first movement for Burgher Rights in 1648 to the end of the Dutch dominion, will, it is believed, be here found.

The second head contains the "Roll of Freemen" of the City of New York under its English charters, from 1675 to 1776, when that of 1730 was suspended, and the city ruled by the "Military Courts of Police" established by the British Commanders-in-Chief; and the continuation of the same from and after the revival of that charter in 1784 and civic action under it. This "Roll of Freemen" gives the names, occupations, and employments, of the free inhabitants of New York

during the century preceding the Revolution, with the dates, and the Mayoralties, when, and under which, they were for the first time respectively made such "Freemen. It is printed from the official Roll preserved in the City Records, and is in fact an authentic, official, directory of New York and New Yorkers during that period; and throws a strong clear light upon the persons, and social, and business, standing of those "Freemen," many of whose descendants are among the citizens of New York at this day.

In the "Appendix to the Roll of Freemen," forming the third head above mentioned, are printed in full the names of all persons, officials, and others, who for any reason, during the period between 1675 and 1776, were "voted the Freedom of the City," either as an acknowledgment of special services to the City, or as a municipal compliment and honor, with all the official proceedings in each instance. They are printed in full as recorded officially at their respective dates, and are of very great interest, and of importance to the correct understanding of New York history under the English Colonial rule. In consequence of their fulness and length it was deemed best to print them separately, rather than to break the continuity of the "Roll of Freemen" by inserting them at their respective dates, as they appear in the volumes of the City Records.

From 1784 to 1816 when the creation of Freemen under the charter ceased, without any formal action, the Roll is continued of names occupations and dates as before. This has been a matter of difficulty owing to the fact that the official roll between those dates has disappeared, and the information had to be collected from the official records of the Mayor's Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the proceedings of the Common Council; a fact which has caused much delay in the issuing of this volume. In this portion of the Roll, however, all the special, and complimentary, elections of Freemen are inserted at their respective dates in full with all the proceedings in each case. The

printing at their dates of these papers in the complimentary elections last referred to was adopted, as from 1816 down, the only elections of Freemen that have been made are purely of that character, the last being that of President Andrew Johnson in 1866, and it seemed best that they should appear chronologically.

In 1804, after a fierce contest beginning in 1802, was passed an act of the Legislature which conferred the right of suffrage upon freeholders in the City, who were not freemen under the charter, thus interfering with the charter's privileges. The contest grew out of the Federal and Antifederal politics of the time and was bitter. The letters and communications on both sides in the papers of the day, and the formal proceedings of the Legislature, and the act itself, have been reprinted under this head, as of great historic interest. The last Freemen were chosen in 1815, since which date none have been admitted.

To be admitted as a "Burgher" "Great" or "Small," or as a "Freeman," the applicant had to be chosen by the city authorities, take an oath of fidelity to the city, pay the prescribed fees, and be duly registered. The only exception was in the case of Apprentices who had served seven years. Hence, closely connected with the Freemen under the charter, were their Apprentices, and the system of binding them out then in vogue. For every apprentice upon duly attaining the end of his apprenticeship was entitled to, and did become a "Freeman" without the payment of any fees, and able to practise his trade or occupation in the city, and vote, and be eligible to office therein. Registers of their indentures were required by law to be kept, in which these were recorded at length. In 1740, on the death of William Sharpas, the Clerk of the Common Council, among the volumes of records received by his successor from his widow, were four volumes of these Apprenticeship Registers. They have never been mentioned by writers on the City's history. And now only one of them is to be found among the Records at the City

Hall. This covers from February 1694 to January 1708. It is here printed under the fourth head. These indentures varied a little, and one of each kind is printed in full for comparison. In all the other instances an abstract of each only is given, but with the names and occupations of the parties, and the dates in full. They are of great interest, showing who and what the masters and mistresses were, and who were the City officials who passed upon each case; and cast a bright light on the business and trade methods of New York under William and Mary and Queen Anne.

This volume will be of rare value to historical students and writers, as well as searchers in New York genealogies.

For courteous facilities in its preparation the thanks of the Committee on Publications are due to the Clerk of the Common Council, Captain Francis J. Twomey, who for thirty-five years past has been in charge of the ancient records of the City of New York, and their careful, intelligent, and ever-watchful guardian.

EDWARD F. DE LANCEY.