Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists of photostat and microfilm reproductions of transcripts of New York Council minutes (executive and legislative sessions) and Assembly proceedings from 1686-1775. The transcripts were evidently prepared by the Secretary of the Province of New York or his deputy, and were transmitted to the Board of Trade in London. The transcribed Council minutes preserve many portions of the Council minutes retained by the Secretary of the Province (Series A1895) that were damaged or destroyed in the Capitol fire of 1911; however, the transcriptions are incomplete and contain some gaps in coverage.

The proceedings of the Governor and Council in their executive sessions and in legislative sessions ("Council in Assembly," essentially the upper house of the colonial legislature) are in manuscript, while proceedings of the Assembly are either copies of the printed journals or contemporary manuscript copies thereof. Of particular note is Volume 1183, folios 102-114, which contain minutes of joint meetings of the Governor and Council of New York Colony and the mayor, aldermen, and military officers of New York City, for the period April 27-June 6, 1689. This was at the outbreak of King William's War, when issues of public safety and military preparedness were of special concern.