New York Colony Council Minutes
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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 consists of bound volumes of minutes of the legislative and executive sessions of the Council of the Colony of
New York. The council shared executive and legislative powers with the governor. Minutes include laws, orders, and resolutions
concerning the court system, land titles, land development, commerce, relations with Indians, and taxation.
Creator:
Title:
New York Colony Council minutes
Quantity:
Quantity:
Quantity:
13 35mm microfilm roll(s)
Inclusive Dates:
1668-1783
Series Number:
A1895
Sponsor:
With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant number ST-03-27-0006-17) and the William Nelson
Cromwell Foundation.
Arrangement
Chronological.
Scope and Content Note
These are bound volumes of minutes of the legislative and executive sessions of the Council of the Colony of New York, established
by the British colonial government in 1664. The council shared executive and legislative powers with the governor. Minutes
include laws, orders, and resolutions concerning: establishment and organization of courts; granting and settlement of land;
regulation and construction of buildings, streets, and wharfs; trade and commerce, including restrictions on exports; trade
and relations with Indians; and levying of taxes.
Of special importance are minutes of the first meeting of the Colonial Legislature (April 9, 1691). The Colonial Legislature
consisted of a council appointed by the Governor and a House of Representatives elected by the people. In the minutes of the
first meeting, James Graham, Speaker of the House, is authorized to address the Council.
In another notable document (May 16, 1670) English Colonial Governor Lovelace reappointed Jan Jurians Beeker to teach Albany
youth "to read and wryte."
Alternate Formats Available
Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.
Minutes of the legislative sessions are published in Journal of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New York. Began the
9th Day of April, 1691, and ended the 3rd Day of April, 1775 (1861), 2 volumes. Executive council minutes from 1668-1673 [Vol.
3, Part 1: 1-158; Sept. 2, 1668 - July 11, 1673] are published in "Minutes of the Executive Council of the Province of New
York," ed. Victor Hugo Paltsits (1910).
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
New York Colony Council Minutes, 1668-1783 in Digital Collections
Related Material
A1455 Transcripts of Council minutes and Assembly journals transmitted to the Board of Trade (1686-1775), contains photostat and
microfilm reproductions of Council minutes and Assembly proceedings acquired from the National Archives of the United Kingdom
(Public Record Office)
A4406 Transcripts of Council minutes (1674-1761, bulk 1674-1742), contains additional transcripts of minutes of the Council that
were maintained by the Division of Archives and History in the State Education Department
A3271 Transcriptions of New York Council minutes and Council papers (1683-1767), contains transcriptions of New York Council minutes
and transcriptions of the New York Council Papers (also known as "Colonial Manuscripts")
A0176 Original draft minutes (ca. 1668-1783), contains a draft version of a small amount of minutes of the legislative and executive
sessions of the council
Related Publications
The executive minutes are described in Berthold Fernow, comp., "Calendar of Council Minutes 1668-1783" in New York State Library Bulletin 58, History 6, March 1902) (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1902; repr. Harrison, N.Y.: Harbor Hill Books, 1987).
These records are cited in Stefan Bielinski, ed. Guide to Revolutionary War Manuscripts in the New York State Library (Albany, 1976), item no. 1158.
Custodial History
Minutes of the First Meeting of the Colonial Legislature, April 19, 1691. This item was removed from the series (Council Minutes,
Legislative: Vol 6, p. 1) as part of the Freedom Train Exhibit, which traveled the state from January 1949 to February 1950
(L. 1948, Ch. 659).
Reappointment of Albany Schoolmaster. This item was removed from the series (Council Minutes, Vol. 2, p. 536) as part of the
Freedom Train Exhibit.
Access Restrictions
Restricted due to burn damage.Microfilm is first-use copy.
Access Terms
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Detailed Description
| Dates |
Contents |
Box |
|
Roll |
Accretion: A1895-78 |
|
Vol. 3, Part 1: pp. 1-72 |
1 |
|
|
|
Vol. 3, Part 1: pp. 73-159 |
1 |
|
|
|
Vol. 3, Part 2: pp. 1-88 |
1 |
|
|
|
Vol. 3, Part 2: pp. 89-188 |
1 |
|
|
|
Vol. 6, Reversed side pp. 1-36 (first paging); pp.1-76 (second paging) |
2 |
|
|
|
Vol. 7, Reversed side pp. 1-129 (second paging) |
2 |
|
|
|
Vol. 7, pp. 203-43; Reversed side pp. 1-80 (first paging) |
3 |
|
|
|
Vol. 8, Part 1: pp. 1-102 |
3 |
|
|
|
Vol. 8, Part 1: pp. 103-225 |
3 |
|
|
|
Vol. 8, Part 1: pp. 226-346 |
3 |
|
|
|
Vol. 8, Part 2: pp. 1-93 |
3 |
|
|
|
Vol. 13, pp. 113-244 (not microfilmed) |
6 |
|
|
|
Vol. 13, pp. 245-375 (not microfilmed) |
7 |
|
|
|
Vol. 19, Reversed side pp. 1-36 |
10 |
|
|
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Vol. 19, Reversed side pp. 37-164 |
10 |
|
|
|
Vol. 19, Reversed side pp. 165-292 |
11 |
|
|
| 1751-1764 |
Vol. 23, pp. 1-100 |
14 |
23 |
8 |
| 1751-1764 |
Vol. 23, pp. 101-224 |
14 |
23 |
9 |
| 1751-1764 |
Vol. 23, pp. 225-348 |
14 |
23 |
9 |
