in the choice of their magistrates as in the other villages or towns, as Middleborough, Breuklin, Midwout and Amersfort. Done at the fort in New-Netherland, this 21st of March, 1656. PETER STUYVESANT. By order of the governor general and council of the CORNELIUS VAN RUYVEN, Secretary. TRANSACTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF CONNECTICUT, RELATIVE TO LONG-ISLAND. At a session of the general assembly at Hartford, March 10th, 1663. This court have voted Mr. Wyllys and Mr. Matthew Allyn, to go over to Long-Island to settle government on the west end of the Island, according to the agreement at Hempstead, in February last; and those gentlemen are desired to issue the matter twixt I. Scott and Bloomer, and they are further desired to take in with them the assistance of the commissioners in those towns, for the regulating of any disturbances as occasion is presented. A true copy from the public records of the colony of Connecticut. Examined this 8th day of August, 1664, by GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary. By order of the governor general and council, of the New Netherlands. At a general assemly held at Hartford, May the 12th, 1664 for election, Whereas, his Majesty hath been graciously pleased to confirm unto this colony, by charter, all that part of his dominions in New-England, bounded, as in the said charter is expressed, with the islands adjoining. This court doth declare, that they claim Long-Island for one of those adjoining Islands, expressed in the charter, except a precedent right doth appear, approved by his Majesty. This court doth desire and request the worshipful governor, Mr. Matthew Allyn, Mr. Wyllys, and Captain Youngs, to go over to Long-Island, and to settle the English plantations on the Island, under this government, according to instructions given them. The aforesaid committee are hereby authorised to erect and constitute quarter courts, or appoint other fit seasons for the keeping of court, for the administration of justice, that all cases may be tried according to law, (life, limbs, and banishment excepted,) and to do their endeavors so to settle matters, that the people may be both civilly, peaceably, and religiously governed in the English plantations, so as they may win the heathen to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by their sober and religious conversation, as his Majesty our Lord and King requires in his gracious letters patent, granted to his subjects here, in this colony; and in case of crimes of a capital nature, they are to have liberty to take the opportunity of the courts of Fairfield or Hartford, the like liberty they have in case of review. They may also give oath to those who are accepted by this court for freemen on the Island, and to do what else they judge may conduce for the good of the colony. A true copy from the public records of the colony of 1764, by GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary. The annexation of Long Island to New York. The determination of his Majesty's commissioners relative to the boundaries of his Royal Highness the Duke of York's patent, and of the patent of Connecticut, November 30th, 1664. By virtue of his Majesty's commission, we have heard the difference about the bounds of the patents granted to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and his Majesty's colony of Connecticut; and having deliberately considered all the reasons alledged by Mr. Allen, senior, Mr. Gould, Mr. Richards and captain Winthrop, appointed by the assembly held at Hartford, the 13th day of October, 1664, to accompany John Winthrop, Esq. the Governor of his Majesty's colony of Connecticut to New-York, and by Mr. Howell and captain Youngs of Long-Island, why the said Long-Island should be under the government of Connecticut, which are too long to be recited. We do declare and order, that the southern bounds of his Majesty's colony of Connecticut is the sea, and that Long-Island is to be under the government of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, as is expressed by plain words in the said patents respectively, and also by virtue of his Majesty's commission, and by the consent of both the governor and the gentlemen above named; we also order and declare that the creek or river called Momoroneck, which is reputed to be about twelve miles to the east of Westchester, and a line drawn from the east point or side, where the fresh water falls into the salt, at high-water mark, N N W. to the line of the Massachusetts, be the western bounds of the said colony of Connecticut, and the plantations lying westward of that creek and line so drawn, to be under his Royal Highness' government; and all plantations lying eastward of that creek and line, to be under the government of Connecticut. Given under our hands at fort James, New-York, on Manhattan Island, this 30th day of Nov 1664. RICHARD NICOLLS, GEORGE CARTWRIGHT, We, underwritten, on behalf of the colony of Connecticut, have assented unto this determinaiion of his Majesty's commissioners, in relation to the bounds and limits of his Royal Highness the Duke's patent, and the patent of Connecticut. JOHN WINTHROP, JOHN WINTHROP. A list of the Depnties from the several towns on Long-Island, and from the town of Westchester, which composed the Gene ral Assembly convened at Hempstead by Richard Nicolls, the 1st of March, 1665. South Hampton, Thomas Baker, East Hampton, Thomas Baker, John Stratton, The Address of the Deputies assembled at Hempstead to his Royal Highness, the Duke of York. We the deputies duly elected from the several towns upon Long-Island, being assembled at Hempstead, in general meeting, by authority derived from your royal highness under the honorable Colonel Nicolls, as deputy governor, do most humbly and thankfully acknowledge to your royal highness, the great honor and satisfaction we receive in our dependence upon your royal highness according to the tenor of his sacred majesty's patent, granted the 12th day of March, 1664; wherein we acknowledge ourselves, our heirs and successors forever, to be comprized to all intents and purposes, as therein is more at large expressed. And we do puplickly and unanimously declare our cheerful submission to all such laws, statutes and ordinances, which are or shall be made by virtue of authority from your royal highness, your heirs and successors forever: As also, that we will maintain, uphold, and defend, to the utmost of our power, and peril of us, our heirs and successors forever, all the rights, title, and interest, granted by his sacred majesty to your royal highness, against all pretensions or invasions, foreign and domestic; we being already well assured, that, in so doing, we perform our duty of allegiance to his majesty, as free born subjects of the kingdom of England inhabiting in these his majesty's dominions. We do farther beseech your royal highness to accept of this address, as the first fruits in this general meeting, for a memorial and record against us, our heirs and successors, when we, or any of them, shall fail in our duties. Lastly, we beseech your royal highness to take our poverties and necessities, in this wilderness country, into speedy consideration; that, by constant supplies of trade, and your royal highness' more particular countenance of grace to us, and protection of us, we may daily more and more be encouraged to bestow our labors to the improvement of these his majesty's western dominions, under your royal highness; for whose health, long life, and eternal happiness, we shall ever pray, as in duty bound. From Furman's Brooklyn. This address was agreed on at the meeting of the deputies at Hempstead, in March, 1665. A Narrative and Remonstrance of the Deputies assembled at Hempstead, in March, 1655, relating to the different apprehensions of some matters then and there transacted. His Majesty having employed his ships of war, and sent a considerable number of soldiers to reduce these parts of America to his obedience, the present government was readily received, and peaceably settled on Long-Island, by virtue of his Majesty's letters patent, made and granted to his Royal Highness James, Duke of York and Albany, bearing date the twelfth day of March, in the sixteenth of the reign of our sovereign Lord King Charles the II, published at Gravesend, on Long-Island, aforesaid, about the middle of August following, in the audience of a great number of the inhabitants thereof, by the Right Honorable Col. Richard Nicolls, deputy Governor under his Royal Highness. At which time and place Gov. Winthrop, being then present, openly declared that their colony claimed no jurisdiction de jure over Long-Island; but what they had done was for the welfare, peace, and quiet settlement of his Majesty's subjects, as they were the nearest court of record to them under his Majesty; but now his Majesty's pleasure was fully signified by his letters patent, as above said, their jurisdiction over them ceased and became null; whereupon our honorable Governor then replied also, that he would not put out any of the officers which Connecticut had set up in the civil state, but confirm them under his power to act in every town, until a convenient season served to convene deputies from all the towns on the island, when and where laws were to be enacted and civil officers established. Shortly after, at another meeting of our honorable Govern-. or and Connecticut Commissioners, several persons were there confirmed by him in civil authority, by his writing under his hand, which they published in several towns where they were to collect rates and former dues for Connecticut, unto which power these eastern towns readily and willingly obeyed and submitted for the space of six months at least. In March following, we were convened, being deputies chosen by the several towns in a general assembly held at Hempstead, where his Majesty's aforesaid patent was first read, and a commission from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, empowering and investing the aforesaid Col. Richard Nicolls, with authority to put the contents of the said patent into practice and execution, who declared unto us that our first business should be to decide some, and to compose other differences which were on float before he came to the government, according to the manner and form in practice since our late |