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." 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 prov ince, 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.

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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