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New York Colony Council Original Colonial Laws


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series contains bills passed by the colonial legislature and signed into law. Each engrossed bill contains the text of the bill, signatures of the Assembly speaker and Governor, dates of passed and signed, bill number, a short title, date bill was sent to the Council, and notes by the Council secretary to the Council relating to dates of first and subsequent readings, of any amendments and commitments, and of final approval.
Creator:
Title:
Original colonial laws
Quantity:

12 cubic feet

Quantity:

41 volume(s)

Inclusive Dates:
1683-1775
Series Number:
A0212

Arrangement

Chronological by date of signing.

Administrative History

The "Charter of Liberties and Privileges" passed by the provincial Assembly on October 30, 1683 (part of the so-called "Dongan Laws") provided that bills passed by the Assembly and approved by the Governor and Council should become law. This act was rejected by the King (disallowed or vetoed by the crown) and never had the force of law.

However, the royal commission to Governor Thomas Dongan, dated June 10, 1686, empowered him and his council to pass "laws, statutes and ordinances" for the government of the colony. Commissions to succeeding governors reaffirmed this power. Chapter 10 of the laws passed by the Assembly and approved by the Governor and Council in 1691 set up a "general Assembly" for the colony which would share legislative power with the Governor and Council. It appears that New York's laws were passed under this authority until 1775.

Scope and Content Note

These are original bills passed by the colonial legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Each engrossed bill contains the text of the bill and the signatures of the speaker of the Assembly and of the Governor, with dates of passing and signing. On the reverse of the final page is an endorsement, giving the bill number, a short title, note by clerk of the Assembly giving date bill was sent to the Council, and notes by the secretary to the Council giving dates of first and subsequent readings, of any amendments and commitments, and of final approval. The bills occasionally include amendments in the text or on attached sheets. The series contains gaps, especially for the year 1691. The complete colonial laws were published pursuant to a law of 1891 by the Commissioners of Statutory Revision. Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution includes the colonial charters, Duke's Laws, Dongan's Laws, and other documents, and also contains the texts of a number of laws (particularly for 1691) missing from this series. The published compilation does not contain any indication of the amendments found in the engrossed originals.

Alternate Formats Available

Published in Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution. . ., 5 volumes (Albany, J.B. Lyon, 1894), Assembly Document No. 107.

Items Online

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

New York State Archives Digital Collections

Original colonial laws, 1683-1775

Related Material

13036 Enrolled acts of the State Legislature, is a successor series.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Alphabetical name and subject index in each volume of Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution. . .

Custodial History

Presently bound into 41 volumes; had been bound into 18 volumes (numbered 2-19) from the early 19th century until the State Capitol fire of 1911 (book 1 had contained the Duke's Laws and Dongan's Laws).

Access Restrictions

Original records are restricted: published versions are first use copies.

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Volume

Accretion: A0212-78
1683-1684 Original Colonial Laws 1
1685, 1690, 1699 Original Colonial Laws 2
1700-1702 Original Colonial Laws 3
1703-1706, 1708 Original Colonial Laws 4
1709-1710 Original Colonial Laws 5
1711-1716 Original Colonial Laws 6
1717-1720 Original Colonial Laws 7
1721-1722 Original Colonial Laws 8
1723-1724 Original Colonial Laws 9
1725-1726 Original Colonial Laws 10
1727-1728 Original Colonial Laws 11
1729-1730 Original Colonial Laws 12
1731-1732 Original Colonial Laws 13
1733-1735 Original Colonial Laws 14
1736-1737 Original Colonial Laws 15
1739-1740 Original Colonial Laws 16
1741-1742 Original Colonial Laws 17
1743-1744 Original Colonial Laws 18
1745 Original Colonial Laws 19
1746-1748 Original Colonial Laws 20
1750 Original Colonial Laws 21
1751-1753 Original Colonial Laws 22
1754-1755 Original Colonial Laws 23
1756-1757 Original Colonial Laws 24
1758 Original Colonial Laws 25
1759 Original Colonial Laws 26
1760 Original Colonial Laws 27
1761 Original Colonial Laws 28
1762 Original Colonial Laws 29
1763-1764 Original Colonial Laws 30
1765-1767 Original Colonial Laws 31
1768-1769 Original Colonial Laws 32
1770 Original Colonial Laws 33
1771 Original Colonial Laws 34
1772 (Pt. 1) Original Colonial Laws 35
1772 (Pt. 2) Original Colonial Laws 36
1773 (Pt. 1) Original Colonial Laws 37
1773 (Pt. 2) Original Colonial Laws 38
1774 Original Colonial Laws 39
1775 (Pt. 1) Original Colonial Laws 40
1775 (Pt. 2) Original Colonial Laws 41