Translation
Complaint by the inhabitants of Fordham against John Archer
At a Council held in the village of New Haerlem, this 4th of October, 1673.
Present— The Governor-General and Councillor Cornelis Steenwyck.
The inhabitants of Fordham appear, complaining in substance of the ill-government of their landlord, John Archer, requesting that they may be granted the nomination of their own Magistrates, as is allowed to all the other inhabitants of this government. Whereupon, the aforesaid John Archer being summoned to appear, the complaint is communicated to him, who voluntarily declares, that he desists from the government, authority and patroonship of said town, reserving alone the property and ownership of the lands and houses there; according, therefore, to the said inhabitants the nomination of their own Magistrates, which is confirmed to them by the Governor and Council. Whereupon, the following minute is granted them:
References
Translation: O'Callaghan, E.B., trans./ed., Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York, vol. 2 (Albany: Weed, Parsons: 1858), pp. 569-730 (vol. 23, pp. 1-270 only).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.
The New York State Archives is part of the Office of Cultural Education, an office of the New York State Education Department.
To report technical problems with this web site, please contact the New York State Archives at ARCHINFO@mail.nysed.gov