New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (New York) Minute Books
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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:
The minute books in this series are the record of proceedings in the regular terms of the Supreme Court of Judicature in New
York City (or in other locations during the Revolutionary War). The engrossed minute books are final versions. Rough minute
books are usually less complete, but may contain unique information. Until 1797, the minute books contain entries relating
to both civil litigation and criminal prosecutions throughout the colony and state. After 1797, the minute books contain mostly
entries or lists of legal issues, motions, and appealed cases considered and decided by the court.
Creator:
Title:
Supreme Court of Judicature (New York) minute books
Quantity:
Quantity:
Quantity:
19 35mm microfilm roll(s)
Inclusive Dates:
1691-1692, 1704-1714, 1723-1786, 1788, 1790-1847
Series Number:
JN531
Sponsor:
With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant number ST-03-27-0006-17), New York State Organization
Daughters of the American Revolution, and the William Nelson Cromwell Foundation.
Arrangement
Chronological by court term and date of session.
Administrative History
Before the late eighteenth century most of the business of the Supreme Court of Judicature related to civil litigation and
criminal prosecution, either before the justices in regular terms of court, or in circuit courts held in each county. Starting
in 1784 most, and after 1797, all Supreme Court civil trials in New York City were held by a justice in what were called "sittings"
or circuit court. A few criminal trials, the attorney general the prosecutor, occurred in the Supreme Court regular terms
as late as 1801. After that date district attorneys were responsible for criminal prosecutions. Starting in 1797 most procedural
orders were entered not in the minute books but in separate common rule books. Thereafter most of the business in regular
terms of the Supreme Court in New York City, as documented by entries in the minute books, was deciding motions and points
of law raised during pleading or trial, and reviewing judgments of lower courts removed to the Supreme Court by writ of error
or writ of certiorari.
Scope and Content Note
Minute books are the record of proceedings in the regular terms of the Supreme Court of Judicature in New York City (or in
other locations during the Revolutionary War). The engrossed minute books are final versions in fine handwriting. Rough minute
books are usually less complete but may contain unique information. Until 1797, the minute books contain entries relating
to both civil litigation and criminal prosecutions throughout the colony and state. In civil cases there are numerous orders
(rules) concerning appearance in court, pleading by the opposing parties, determination of judgment award, final judgment,
and execution of judgment. The minutes also contain a few determinations of cases transferred from lower courts by writs of
error and certiorari. In criminal cases at which a Supreme Court justice presided, there are minutes of jury trials in New
York City and County, as well as returns of jury verdicts and sentencing minutes for trials in circuit courts held in other
counties.
The Supreme Court minutes during the early years of state government contain many entries relating to the indictment and conviction
of Loyalists. After 1797, the minute books contain mostly entries or lists of legal issues, motions, and appealed cases considered
and decided by the court. There are also numerous entries relating to the partition of real property and the appraisal of
lands taken for street openings in New York City. The minute books for 1795-1805 contain a few orders for naturalization of
aliens. During all time periods the minute books contain rules relating to court procedure, and the admission of attorneys
to practice in the court.
Alternate Formats Available
Volumes were microfilmed for the New York County Clerk's Office in 1959 and 1995. That microfilm was transferred to the State
Archives, along with the original records, in 2017. The microfilm has been digitized and images are being made available in
the State Archives' online "Digital Collections." The volumes for 1704-1847 (with gaps) were also microfilmed by the Genealogical
Society of Utah in 1977 at the New York County Clerk's Office. The GSU microfilm has been digitized, and the images can be
viewed online at FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries (including the New York State Archives and New York State Library). The
FamilySearch microfilm and digital images are cataloged under the author "New York York Supreme Court (New York County),"
with the title "Minute Books, 1704-1847," microfilm roll numbers 1018632-1018650. Minutes for Oct. 1691-Oct. 1692 and Aug.
1701-Oct. 1704 are published and annotated in Paul M. Hamlin and Charles E. Baker, eds., Supreme Court of Judicature of the Province of New York 1691-1704, 3 vols. (New York: 1959). Minutes for Apr. 1693-Apr. 1701 are printed in Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1912 (New York: 1913), pp. 39-214.
Items Online
The microfilm copy of this series has been digitized and images are available in State Archives Digital Collections.
New York State Archives Digital Collections
Supreme Court of Judicature (New York) minute books, 1691-1692, 1704-1714, 1723-1786, 1788, 1790-1847
Related Material
Minutes for the period April 1693-April 1701 are held by the New-York Historical Society.
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
Naturalizations of aliens are indexed at the front of volumes for 1795-1805.
Processing Information
Volumes were disbound and boxed by a conservator in the 1990s. Pages are very brittle.
Custodial History
Volume 14 (1775-1781) contains entries for the Supreme Court of Judicature of the Province of New York (last entry April 1776)
and of the State of New York (first entry September 1777).
Access Restrictions
Use and reproduction of fragile documents may be restricted.
Access Terms
Subject(s):
Detailed Description
| Dates |
Contents |
Box |
Roll |
Accretion: JN531-17 |
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1691-1692 |
1 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1704-1709 |
2 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1710-1714 |
3 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1723-1727 |
4 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1727-1732 |
5 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1732-1739 |
6 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1750-1754 |
7 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1754-1757 |
8 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1757-1760 |
9 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1762-1764 |
10 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1764-1766 |
11 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1766-1769 |
12 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1769-1772 |
13 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1775-1781 |
14 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1781-1783 |
15 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1785 |
16 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1786 Jan-May |
17 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1786 July-Oct |
18 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1788 |
19 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1790 |
20 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1791-1792 |
21 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1792-1793 |
22 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1793 |
23 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1794 |
24 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1795 |
25 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1796 |
26 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1797-1800 |
27 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1801-1805 |
28 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1806-1810 |
29 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1811-1814 |
30 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1815-1816 |
31 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1817 |
32 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1818-1819 |
33 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1820-1824 |
34 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1825-1830 |
35 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1831-1842 |
36 |
|
|
Engrossed Minutes, 1843-1847 |
37 |
|
|
Rough Minutes, 1750-1756 |
38 |
|
|
Rough Minutes, 1756-1761 |
39 |
|
|
Rough Minutes, 1764-1767 |
40 |
|
|
Rough Minutes, 1772-1776 |
41 |
|
|
Rough Minutes, 1795 Oct |
42 |
|
| Partial index to Rough Minutes, roughly alphabetical by attorney name, then chronological within each letter |
43 |
|
| Dates |
Contents |
Box |
Folder |
| 1797-1800 |
A (1797-1800); B (January 1797-October 17, 1797), pp.1-106 |
43 |
1 |
| 1797-1798 |
B (October 19, 1797 - December 18, 1798), pp.107-184 |
43 |
2 |
| 1797-1800 |
B (December 22, 1798 - February 21, 1800), pp.107-184; C (January 17, 1797 - November 22, 1798), pp.185-332 |
43 |
3 |
| 1797-1800 |
C ( November 24, 1798 - February 1, 1800); D (January 7, 1797- February 20, 1800), pp.333-418 |
43 |
4 |
| 1797-1800 |
E (January 17, 1797- February 21, 1800), pp.419-524 |
43 |
5 |
| 1797-1798 |
F (February 22, 1797- August 10, 1798), pp.525-559 |
43 |
6 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1691 October-1692 October |
Engrossed minutes (Box 1) [Gap 1693-1704] |
1 |
1 |
| 1705 March-1710 March |
Engrossed minutes (Box 2) |
2 |
1 |
| 1710 June-1714 June |
Engrossed minutes (Box 3) [Gap 1715-1722] |
3 |
1 |
| 1723 June-1727 June |
Engrossed minutes (Box 4) |
4 |
1 |
| 1727 October-1732 December |
Engrossed minutes (Box 5) |
5 |
1 |
| 1733 March-1739 October |
Engrossed minutes (Box 6) [Gap 1740-1749] |
6 |
1 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1750 October-1754 January |
Engrossed minutes (Box 7) |
1 |
2 |
| 1750 October-1756 April |
Rough minutes (Box 38) |
2 |
2 |
| 1754 April-1757 January |
Engrossed minutes (Box 8) |
3 |
2 |
| 1756 April-1761 October |
Rough minutes (Box 39) |
4 |
2 |
| 1760 November |
Oyer & Terminer (Box 8) |
5 |
2 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1757 April-1760 August |
Engrossed minutes (Box 9) [Gap 1761] |
1 |
3 |
| 1762 October-1764 April |
Engrossed minutes (Box 10) |
2 |
3 |
| 1764 July-1767 October |
Rough minutes (Box 40) |
3 |
3 |
| 1764 July-1766 August |
Engrossed minutes (Box 11) |
4 |
3 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1766 October-1769 January |
Engrossed minutes (Box 12) |
1 |
4 |
| 1769 April-1772 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 13) [Gap 1773-1774] |
2 |
4 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1772 April-1776 January |
Rough minutes (Box 41) |
1 |
5 |
| 1775 July-1781 April |
Engrossed minutes (Box 14). Province: 1775 July-1776 April; State: 1777 September-1781 April |
2 |
5 |
| 1781 July-1783 November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 15) [Gap 1784] |
3 |
5 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1785 January-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 16) |
1 |
6 |
| 1786 January-May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 17) |
2 |
6 |
| 1786 July-October |
Engrossed minutes (Box 18) [Gap 1787] |
3 |
6 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1788 January-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 19) [Gap 1789] |
1 |
7 |
| 1790 January-May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 20) |
2 |
7 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1791 July-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 20) |
1 |
8 |
| 1792 January-May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 21) |
2 |
8 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1792 July-1793 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 22) |
1 |
9 |
| 1793 July-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 23) |
2 |
9 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1794 January-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 24) |
1 |
10 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1795 January-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 25) |
1 |
11 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1796 January-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 26) |
1 |
12 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1797 January-1800 July |
Engrossed minutes (Box 27) |
1 |
13 |
| 1797 January-1800 February |
Common rules, A-F (Box 43; paper records held as series JN520-17, Box 1) |
2 |
13 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| April 1801-November 1805 |
Engrossed minutes (Box 28) |
1 |
14 |
| May 1806-November 1810 |
Engrossed minutes (Box 29) |
2 |
14 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| May 1811-November 1814 |
Engrossed minutes (Box 30) |
1 |
15 |
| May 1815-November 1816 |
Engrossed minutes (Box 31) |
2 |
15 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1817 May-November |
Engrossed minutes (Box 32) |
1 |
16 |
| 1818 May-1819 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 33) |
2 |
16 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1820 May-1824 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 34) |
1 |
17 |
| 1821 May |
Rough minutes |
2 |
17 |
| 1825 May-1830 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 35) |
3 |
17 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1831 May-1836 May |
Engrossed minutes (Box 36) |
1 |
18 |
| May 1833 |
Rough minutes |
2 |
18 |
| 1837 May-1842 May |
Engrossed minutes |
3 |
18 |
Accretion: JN531-17A |
|
Roll 1 |
1 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1704 March - 1710 March |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 2) |
1 |
1 |
| 1710 June |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 3) [Gap 1715-1722] |
2 |
1 |
| 1723 June - 1727 June |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 4) |
3 |
1 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1727 October - 1732 December |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 5) [Gap 1733-1749] |
1 |
2 |
| 1750 October - 1754 January |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 7) |
2 |
2 |
| 1750 October - 1756 April |
Rough Minutes (Box 38) |
3 |
2 |
| 1754 April - 1757 January |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 8) |
4 |
2 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1756 April - 1761 October |
Rough Minutes (Box 39) |
1 |
3 |
| 1757 April - 1760 August |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 9) [Gap 1761] |
2 |
3 |
| 1762 October - 1764 April |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 10) |
3 |
3 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1764 July - 1766 August |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 11) |
1 |
4 |
| 1764 July - 1767 October |
Rough Minutes (Box 40) |
2 |
4 |
| 1766 October - 1769 January |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 12) |
3 |
4 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1769 April - 1772 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 13) [Gap 1773-1774] |
1 |
5 |
| 1772 April - 1776 January |
Rough Minutes (Box 41) |
2 |
5 |
| 1775 July - 1776 April |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 14) Province |
3 |
5 |
| 1777 September - 1781 April |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 14) State |
4 |
5 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1781 July - 1783 November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 15) [Gap 1784] |
1 |
6 |
| 1785 January - November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 16) |
2 |
6 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1786 January - May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 17) |
1 |
7 |
| 1786 July - October |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 18) [Gap 1787] |
2 |
7 |
| 1788 January - November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 19) [Gap 1789] |
3 |
7 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1790 January - May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 20) |
1 |
8 |
| 1790 July - November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 20) |
2 |
8 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1791 January - 1792 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 21) |
1 |
9 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1792 July - 1793 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 22) |
1 |
10 |
| 1793 July - November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 23) |
2 |
10 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1794 |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 24) |
1 |
11 |
| 1795 |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 25) |
2 |
11 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1796 |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 26) |
1 |
12 |
| 1797 January - July 1800 |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 27) |
2 |
12 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1801 April - 1805 November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 28) |
1 |
13 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1806 May - 1810 November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 29) |
1 |
14 |
| 1811 May - 1814 November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 30) |
2 |
14 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1815 May - 1816 November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 31) |
1 |
15 |
| 1817 May - November |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 32) |
2 |
15 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1818 May - 1819 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 33) |
1 |
16 |
| 1821 May |
Rough Minutes |
2 |
16 |
| 1820 May - 1824 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 34) |
3 |
16 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1825 May - 1830 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 35) |
1 |
17 |
| 1833 May |
Rough Minutes |
2 |
17 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1831 May - 1836 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 36) |
1 |
18 |
| 1837 May - 1842 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 36) |
2 |
18 |
| Dates |
Contents |
Folder |
Roll |
| 1843 May - 1847 May |
Engrossed Minutes (Box 37) |
1 |
19 |
