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Dutch Colonial Records

Records of the Government of New Netherland

Submitted by marpey on Wed, 2017-02-08 13:34
The New York State Archives holds the surviving records of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which encompassed the earliest European settlements that became the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These 17th-century records concern the full range of government functions including relations with native inhabitants, particularly the Mohawks, Mahicans, and various groups around New Amsterdam and the Delaware River.
 

A1877

This series consists of writs of appeal, in Dutch, from judgments made by the courts of New Amsterdam, Oostdurp (Westchester), Heemsteede, New Amstel, Wiltwyck (in the Esopus), Flushing (on Long Island), and Fort Orange. Writs of appeal were granted by the Council of the Colony of New York in response to petitions, usually submitted by one party in a civil action. The records in this series also include summonses and writs of mandamus.

A1882

This series contains deeds, in Dutch, recorded by the provincial secretary from September 5, 1652 until October 15, 1653. The provincial secretary was responsible for recording all land transactions in New Netherland. Most of the deeds document the conveyance of real property between private individuals on the island of Manhattan.

A1875

This series consists of ordinances, laws, and regulations enacted by the Council of the Colony of New York to govern and maintain order in the communities of New Netherland. The records, written in the Dutch language, address personal behavior; community standards in such areas as fire prevention, construction, and real estate; and commercial matters like customs, sales, licensing, fees and taxes on goods and services, tobacco, liquor, livestock, currency, ships and shipping, farming, and trapping.

A1883

The Curaçao records, in Dutch, document the West India Company's activities in the Caribbean during the seventeenth century; supply information about the administration of affairs on Curaçao; and depict the commercial relationship between the islands and New Netherland. The series includes administrative records and correspondence, and business records relating to trade and shipping. The records were maintained by Petrus Stuyvesant, who served as director of Curaçao and dependencies during the years 1642-1644, 1646-1664.