to be thereby granted the citizens and inhabitants of the said city of New York, have anciently held or claimed to hold, use and enjov divers and sundry other rights, privileges, franchises, preeminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments, powers, profits, immunities, lands, tenements and other hereditaments, as well by prescription as by divers grants and confirmations of and from divers governors, lieutenant governors and commanders in chief of the said province, by the name of mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, and by divers other names, stiles and titles and otherwise.

And whereas, divers questions, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, controversies and debates have arisen and been made as well upon and concerning the validity and force of the said recited grant or writing, dated in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty six, and the before recited letters patent of Queen Anne, as upon all and every the other grants and confirmations of divers governors, lieutenant governors and commanders in chief, made to our city of New York, as aforesaid, by reason of the variety of names, stiles, titles and incorporations aforesaid, and by reason that the before recited grant or instrument, dated in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-six, and the other grants and confirmations of divers governors, lieutenant governors and commanders in chief, were made in the governors' own names respectively, when they should have been made in the respective names, stiles and titles of former kings and queens, our royal predecessors, under whom they were governors, lieutenant governors or commanders in chief respectively, and by reason, as some suggest and say, that the said city, or inhabitants or citizens thereof, never were well, regularly or legally incorporated, and for want thereof none of all the said grants, confirmations, instruments or letters patent, herein before mentioned, could take effect or operate; and for divers other defects in all, some or one of the aforesaid grants, confirmations and writings; and also upon the validity and force of the prescription aforesaid. And whereas, our well beloved subjects, the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of our said city of New York, by their humble petition presented to our trusty and well beloved John Montgomerie, Esq., our captain-general and governor in chief of our provinces of New York and New Jersey, and territories depending thereon in America, and vice-admiral of the same, &c., in council, reciting among other things, that the city of New York is an ancient city, and the citizens thereof have anciently held and used, and still do use and hold divers and sundry rights, liberties, privileges, franchises, free customs, pre-eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments, immunities, lands, tenements, public buildings and hereditaments, as well by the name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, as otherwise, to the advancement of the said city in the number of its buildings and inhabitants, whereby the said city is become a considerable seaport, and exceedingly necessary and useful to our kingdom of Great Britain, in supplying our governments in the West Indies with bread, flour and other provisions; wherefore they prayed, among other things, for our confirmation grant to the said city and corporation, by the name, stile and

Charter 1780.

title of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, of all their lands, tenements, public buildings and hereditaments, wharves, docks, bridges, slips, ferries, cranes, grants, charters, rights, liberties, privileges, franchises, free customs, pre-eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments and immunities, now and heretofore by them held and enjoyed; and that they might have the soil four hundred feet beyond low water mark, on Hudson's river, from a certain creek or kill called Bestaver's Killitie, southard to the fort, and from thence the same number of feet beyond low water mark round the fort and along the East river as far as to the north side of a certain hill called Corlaer's hook; and also for a grant of such other powers, liberties, franchises, rights, free customs, jurisdictions, privileges, immunities and things as may be needful for the good rule and government of the said city. And we, considering that the strength and increase of our good subjects, in that our frontier province of New York, does in a great measure depend upon the welfare and prosperity of our said city, wherein the trade and navigation thereof are chiefly and principally carried on, promoted and encouraged; and we, affecting the good and happy estate of our said city, and the steady loyalty and integrity of the inhabitants and citizens thereof, are very desirous and willing to give encouragement to the said city, inhabitants and citizens, and to remove, utterly abolish, and wholly take away all and all manner of causes, occasions and matters, whereupon such questions, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, controversies or debates as aforesaid, or any other questions or doubts may or can arise; and in order thereunto, we have thought fit, them, the said inhabitants and citizens of the said city of New York, (by whatsoever name or names they have been or were incorporated, or whether they have been or were heretofore incorporated or not,) into one body politic and corporate, by the name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty, of the city of New York, by our letters to make, constitute, confirm, renew and of new to create. And we, being also further willing and fully intending and desiring that the said inhabitants and citizens of our said city, by the name aforesaid, should have perpetual succession, and should hold, possess and enjoy, all and singular, the rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, pre-eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, courts, powers, offices, authorities, ferries, fees, fines, perquisites, profits, immunities, rents, possessions, lands, tenements and other hereditaments, not only which in the before rerecited grants, confirmations, writings and letters patent are mentioned, or intended to be thereby granted, but also, which they have held or claim to hold, by prescription or otherwise, with the alterations and enlargements thereof and additions thereto, in such manner and form as hereafter is mentioned and contained, notwithstanding the before mentioned or any other question, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, debates, faults, or imperfections.

of

1. Wherefore know ye, That we of our especial grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, have willed, ordained, constituted, confirmed, given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do will, ordain, constitute, confirm, give and grant, that our said city of New York be, and from henceforth forever hereafter shall be and remain a free city of itself; and that the

created by

the mayor, aldermen

com

monalty of

mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the said city, and their successors from henceforth forever hereafter shall be and remain one body corporate and politic, in re-facto and nomine, by the name of Corporation the mayor, aldermen and commonally of the city of New York, and the name of them and their successors by the name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, one body corporate, in re-facto and and nomine, really and fully we do, for us, our heirs and successors, the city of erect, make, ordain, constitute, confirm, declare and create, by these New York. presents, and that by that name they shall and may have perpetual succession; and also, that they and their successors, by the said name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York be, and forever hereafter shall be, persons able in law, and capable to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all courts and places before us, our heirs and successors, and before all and any the judges, justices, officers and ministers of us, our heirs and successors, and elsewhere in all and all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands whatsoever, and of what kind or nature soever, in as full and ample manner and form as any of our other liege subjects of our said province, being persons able and capable in law, can or may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, by any lawful ways and means whatsoever. And also, That they and their successors, by the name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, be and shall be forever hereafter, persons capable and able in law to purchase, take, hold, receive, enjoy and have any messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions and other hereditaments and real estate, within or without our said province, in fee and forever, or for time of life or lives or years, or in any other manner; and also goods, chattels and all other things of what kind or quality soever. And also, That they and their successors by the same name of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, shall and may give, grant, demise, assign and sell, or otherwise dispose of all or any the messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions and other hereditaments and real estate, and all their goods, chattels and other things aforesaid as to them shall seem meet, at their own will and/ pleasure.

And also, That the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York, for the time being, and their successors shall and may forever hereafter, have and use a common seal for sealing all and singular deeds, grants, conveyances, contracts, bonds, articles of agreements, assignments, powers, authorities, and all and singular their affairs and things touching or concerning the said Corporation. And, by virtue of these our letters, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York and their successors, as they shall see cause, to break, change and new-make the same, or any other common seal, when, and as often as to them it shall seem convenient.*

2. And we do further, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, Extent of t and meer motion, for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, order city.

Note XIX

and appoint that the said city of New York, and the compass, precincts, circuit, bounds, liberties and jurisdictions of the same, do reach, extend and stretch forth, and shall and may reach, extend and stretch forth, as well in length as in breadth and circuit, in and through the limits and boundaries following, to wit: To begin at the river, creek or run of water called Spyt den Duyvel, over which King's bridge is built, where the said river or creek empties itself into the North river, on Westchester side thereof, at low water mark, and so to run along the said river, creek or run, on Westchester side, at low water mark, unto the East river or Sound, and from thence to cross over to Nassau Island, to low water mark there, including Great Barn Island, Little Barn Island and Manning's Island, and from thence all along Nassau Island shore, at low water mark, unto the south side of Red Hook; and from thence to run a line across the North river, so as to include Nutten Island, Bedlow's Island, Bucking Island and the Oyster Island, to low water mark on the west side of the North river, or so far as the limits of our said province extended there, and so to run up along the west side of the said river at low water mark, or along the limits of our said province, until it comes directly opposite to the first mentioned river or creek, and thence to the place where the said boundaries first began. And also, that the said city, within the City divided limits and jurisdictions thereof as aforesaid, be and forever hereinto wards. after shall be, and remain divided into seven wards,* to wit: the West ward, the South ward, the Dock ward, the East ward, the North ward, Montgomerie ward and the Out ward; each and every of which wards shall contain and comprehend, and reach and extend through the several limits and bounds following, to wit:

West ward.

The West ward to begin at the middle of the east end of the street that goes from the parade to the North river, between the lot of ground now in fence, belonging to Charles Sleigh, and the house and ground late of Thomas Elde: and from thence to run a direct line over the middle of the west end of Beaver street, and so along to the middle of Beaver street, till it comes directly opposite to the middle of the south end of New street, and to run along the middle of New street to the north end thereof; and from thence to run to the rear of the dwelling-house now in the possession of Domine Du Bois, and from thence to run all along the rear of the houses that front the Broadway up to the north part of the rear of Spring Garden house; and from thence to run up a line, as the Broadway runs, to the end thereof, including the said Broadway; and John Harris, his house, and to include all other houses hereafter to be built fronting the said Broadway, and from the north end of the Broadway to continue and run a line, as the said street runs, until it comes directly opposite to Bestaver's Killitie or rivulet, and from thence to run to the said Bestaver's Killitie, and so to continue the said line four hundred feet beyond low water mark into the North river, and so down the said North river, always keeping four hundred feet beyond low water mark, until it comes directly opposite to the middle of the west end of the first

*The number of wards has been since increased to fifteen, and the boundaries altered by acts of the legislature. See note XX.

mentioned street; and so to run to and through the middle of the said street, to the place where the said West ward first began.

The South ward to begin at the middle of Wall street, where the South ward. line of the West ward runs across the same, and from thence down the middle of Wall street, until it comes directly opposite to the middle of the north end of Broad street; and from thence down the middle of Broad street to the long bridge; and from thence to the eastward of, and to include the said long bridge, and the market-house at the south end of the said street; and from thence to continue and run a southeast line across the East river to low water mark on Nassau Island shore; and from thence to run along the said shore at low water mark, to the south side of Red Hook, and from thence to run a line across the North river so as to include Nutten Island, Bedlow's Island, Bucking Island and the Oyster Island, to low water mark on the west side of the North river; and so to run up along the west side of said river at low water mark, until it comes directly opposite to Bestaver's Killitie or rivulet; and from thence to run to the northwesterly corner of the West ward, at four hundred feet beyond low water mark; and from thence along the bounds of the said West ward till it comes to the southwesterly end thereof; and from thence still along the bounds of the West ward, through the street by the parade, and through Beaver street and New street, to the place where the South ward began.

The Dock ward to begin at the middle of Wall street, directly Dock ward. opposite to the middle of the north end of Broad street, and from thence down through the middle of Wall street until it comes to the middle of Smith street, then down through the middle of Smith street to a place called Marten Clock's Corner, including the small street between the house late of the said Marten Clock, and the slip, and so to continue and run a line as the said small street runs into the East river, four hundred feet below low water mark, thence running westerly, keeping four hundred feet below low water mark, till it comes to the bounds of the South ward, and from thence along the bounds of the South ward, up the middle of Broad street to the place where the said Dock ward began.

The East ward to begin at the northeasterly corner of the Dock East ward. ward, in the middle of Smith street, and so run from thence up through the middle of the said street, till it comes directly opposite to the middle of the northeasterly end of Golden Hill street; and from thence to run down through the middle of the said street to the middle of the southeasterly end thereof; and from thence to run through the middle of Rodman's slip to the East river; and from thence to continue and run a line as the said slip runs into the East river, four hundred feet below low water mark, till it comes to the southeasterly end of the Dock ward; and so along the bounds of the Dock ward up through the middle of Smith street to the place where the East ward began.

The North ward to begin where the East ward begins, in the North ward. middle of Smith street, and so to run from thence through the middle of the said street, so far as it runs, and so to continue a line from the end of the said street as the street runs to the south side of the creek that runs from fresh water into the East river; and