Research


Scope and Content Note

The series consists of commissions and discharges issued for all appointive positions as well as pardons issued by the governor. Supersedeas is the official discharge of a civil officer from his office. Dedimus potestatem (translated from the Latin as "we give power") is the executive's grant of authority to another author to administer oaths of office. The series was generated by the colonial governor and, after the organization of the state, the council of appointment. The bulk of the series records commissions and appointments; pardons and discharges appear sporadically.

A1854-22: This single document is an original governor's commission to the Supreme Court justices and to county justices of the peace to hold a regular criminal court in a county ("court of oyer and terminer," i.e. "hear and determine"), where all manner of offenses would be inquired into and tried, and persons detained in the county jail would be produced in court for trial ("delivery of the gaol"). One or more of the Supreme Court justices would have sat with a few of the local justices to comprise the bench for trials of felonies and misdemeanors committed in the county. A Supreme Court justices would have presided.

Commission of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery, signed by New York Governor Henry Moore ("Moore"), attested by the Secretary, George Clarke, Jr. ("Clarke"), dated June 10, 1769. Commission is directed to Daniel Horsmanden, the chief justice, and the four assistant justices (named) of the Supreme Court of Judicature; and to the ten justices of the peace in Dutchess County (named). The commission grants to the named justices legal authority to hold a court of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery in Dutchess County. Document is endorsed "Dutchess County 1769.