Transcription
Petition of delegates from the five English towns on Long Island
Jamaica, August the 14th 1673.
Whereas wee ye Inhabitants of the East Riding of
Long Island (: namely SoutHampton, Easthampton, SoutHoold Seataucok & Huntington
were sometime rightly & peaceafully joyned with Hertford jurisdiction to good
satisfaction on both sides, butt about ye yeare 1664 Genneral Richard Nicolls comeing
in ye name off his Majesty’s Roijal Highnes ye Duke off Yorcke & by power
subjected us to ye Government under with wee have remained untill this present time
and now by turne off Gods Providence shipps off fforce belonging to ye States off
Holland have taken New Yorke ye 30th of the last month, and wee having noe
Intelligence to this day From our Government: Françis Lovelace Esquire off whatt hath
happened or with wee are to doe, Butt ye Gennerrall off ye said dutch Force hath sent
to us his declaration or Summons with a serius Commination therein contained and
since wee understand bij ye post bringing the said declaration That our Government:
is peacebly & respectfullij entertained into ye said fort & Citty; wee the
Inhabitants off ye said East Rijding or our Deputies for us, att â meeting this daij
doe make these our request as follow;
Imprimis That iff wee come under ye dutch Government, wee desire ye wee maij retaine
our Eclesiaslicall Priviledges vizt, to Worship God according to our beliefe without
anij imposition.
2nd That wee maij enjoij ye small matters off goods wee possess,
with our Lands according to our Purchaze of ye Natieves as it is now bounded out,
without further charge off confirmation.
3rdly That ye oath off allegiance to bee
imposed may bind us onely whyles wee are under Government but that as wee shall bee
bound not to act against them, soe also not to take up armes for them against our
owne Nation.
4thly That wee maij alwayes have Liberty to chuse our owne officers
both civil & millitarij.
5thly That these 5 Townes may bee a corporation off
themselves to end all matters of difference between man & man, excepting onely
cases conserning Lijfe, Limbe & bannishment.
6thly That noe law may be made
or tax imposed uppon ye people at anij tijme but such as shall be consented to bij ye
deputies of ye respectieve Townes.
7thly That wee maij have free Trade with ye
nation now in Power and all others without paiing custome.
8thly In everij
respect to have equall previledges with the dutch nation
9thly That there may be
free liberty graunted ye 5 townes above said for ye procuring from any of ye united
Collonies (: without molestation on either side: ) warpes irons or any other
necessaries for ye comffortable earring on the whale designe.
10thly That all
Bargaines covenant & contracts of what nature soever stand in full force, as
theij would have been had there bene no change of Government.
East Hampton, | Thomas James. | Depût. |
South Hampton, | John Jessip, | |
Joseph Reyner. | ||
Sovth Hoold, | Thomas Hutchinson, | |
Isacq Arnold. | ||
Brooke Haven, | Richard Woodhull, | |
Andrew Miller. | ||
Huntington, | Isaq Platt, | |
Thomas Kidmore. |