Livingston, Robert (1654-1728) Charter of Albany
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.01862 Author/Creator: Livingston, Robert (1654-1728) Place Written: Albany, New York Type: Manuscript document Date: 1676 Pagination: 2p. : docket ; 31.2 x 18.5 cm Order a Copy
The document puts forth a number of policies regarding how the city and county of Albany ought to operate. It states that trade with Indians will remain an exclusive privilege of the town's residents, that the people must consent to being taxed whenever necessary, and that hunting passes may not be issued. It also lays the ground for the formation of a body politic, and mandates the issuance of land patents to residents. Finally, it states that the area of land called Schachkook will remain in the possession of the Indians that live there. Docketed on verso.
[draft]
Memorandum
1 That ye trade wt. ye Indians shal be Reputed & Estemed as a Peculiar Privilege [struck: peculiar] to ye towne of Albany alone, & mannaged by ye Magestracy & Common Council thereof only
2 The towne & County to be made a body Politique Confirming ye modeling of wh. is to be advised upon
3 That ye Burger [Packt] & Excise [here] usual & pd. for many years may be Continued for [strikeout] some years.
4 a genl. Patint to be obtained for all ye Towne & ye Smal Peece of ground belonging to itt, Confirming all Patints [struck: wh] graunted by ye former Engl: gov: whither quit Rent Referred or not, & ye small Peece of land not patented to be att ye towns Disposal -
5 That some means may be used to stop ye Patrons designs who [struck: will [illegible] as much to] [inserted: will much] Infringe upon ye Towne by his large Patint lawly graunted
6 That ye Pasture by ye old fort may be wt. ye yr Land Lyeing between marte gerritsens Eyland & Claes d Brabanders, conformed to ye Corporation aforesd -
7 That ye Court & Common Council may have such Power & authority att al times to lay Taxes upon ye Towne & County for defraying ye Publik & necessary Charges. & yt. each Congregation may
8 That all fines laid in any Court nt. In ye Corporation high or low may be for ye use of ye Towne,
9 The Reparation of ye fort being a Voluntary act of ye Inhabitants. ought to be Considered by ye govr. & ind[illegible]y govr. to graunt ye foresd. Privileges wh. much be used as a urgent argument
10 That ye govr. never give out any hunting passes wh tends to ye Ruine of ye Towne they making use of yr. [strikeout] mostly to Trade wt ye Indians
11 That all Strays deodands &c found in ye Corporation to be for ye [illegible] of ye Corporation aforesd -
[2] Colony trade [illegible line]
That a peece of land lyeing to ye north of Albany on ye east side of hudsone River called Skachkook may Remain for ye Indians to live & Plant yr on & if ye Indians should desert ye Land or de[crease] yt yt [struck: Land] [inserted: 400 acres] may forever belong to ye [struck: Corporation of ye] [inserted & struck: Reformed] Towne of alb towards ye maintence of a [inserted: not [illegible]] Reformed minister That ye Inhabitants of ye towne & County of alb may have & Ejoy al such liberties, Privledges, & Immunities as any of his maj. subjects in the Province now have or hereafter shall Enjoy -
[docket is in Dutch]
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.