new york colony research

New York Colony on American History Central

New York was one of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, establishing the United States of America.

The Colony of New Netherland was established in 1614, but colonists did not arrive until 1624. That was the year the Dutch West India Company established the first permanent settlement — Fort Orange —  in New Netherland. Fort Orange was on the Hudson River, at present-day Albany, New York. The following year, a second trading post, New Amsterdam, was established on the southern tip of Manhattan Island, at the mouth of the Hudson.  In 1664, English forces captured New Amsterdam. Soon after, King Charles II gave the colony to his brother, James, the Duke of York, who renamed it “New York.”  Although Dutch control was restored in 1673, England regained control in 1674.

Essential Facts

• Year Founded — 1664 (acquired from the Dutch)
• Founded By — Duke of York
• General Assembly Established — 1683–1685
• Region — Middle Colonies

Primary Documents

• New York Merchants Non-Importation Agreement in Response to the Stamp Act
• Townshend Acts, New York Restraining Act
• Sons of Liberty, New York, Association of 1773
• William Bayard, Sr.
• John Cruger Jr.
• Alexander Hamilton
• Leonard Lispenard
• Philip Livingston
• Robert R. “The Judge” Livingston
• New York Colony — History, Facts, and Timeline
• New York Slave Revolt of 1712
• New York Slave Conspiracy of 1741
• Content for this article has been compiled and edited by American History Central Staff .

Founding and History of the New York Colony

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• M.A., History, University of Florida
• B.A., History, University of Florida

New York was originally part of New Netherland. This Dutch colony was founded after Henry Hudson explored the area in 1609. He had sailed up the Hudson River. By the following year, the Dutch began trading with Indigenous peoples . They created Fort Orange located at present-day Albany, New York , to increase profit and take the greater part of this lucrative fur trade with the Iroquois Confederacy.

Between 1611 and 1614, further explorations were explored and mapped in the New World. The resulting map was given the name, "New Netherland." New Amsterdam was formed from the core of Manhattan, which had been purchased from Indigenous peoples by Peter Minuit for trinkets. This soon became the capital of New Netherland.

Motivation for Founding

In August 1664, New Amsterdam was threatened with the arrival of four English warships. Their goal was to take over the town. However, New Amsterdam was known for its heterogeneous population and many of its inhabitants were not even Dutch. The English made them a promise to let them keep their commercial rights. Due to this, they surrendered the town without a fight. The English government renamed the town New York, after James, Duke of York. He was given control of the colony of New Netherland.

New York and the American Revolution

New York did not sign the Declaration of Independence until July 9, 1776, as they were waiting for approval from their colony. However, when George Washington read the Declaration of Independence in front of City Hall in New York City where he was leading his troops, a riot occurred. The Statue of George III was ripped down. However, the British took control of the city with the arrival of General Howe and his forces in September 1776.

New York was one of the three colonies that saw the most fighting during the War. In fact, the Battles of Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775, and the Battle of Saratoga on October 7, 1777, were both fought in New York. New York served as the major base of operations for the British for most of the war.

The war finally ended in 1782 after the British defeat at the Battle of Yorktown. However, the war did not end formally until the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. The British troops finally left New York City on November 25, 1783.

Significant Events

• The Albany Congress occurred at Albany, New York in 1754 to help unite the colonies for defense against the Iroquois Confederacy.
• The Federalist Papers were published in New York newspapers to sway voters to accept the new constitution.
• New York was the 11th state to ratify the Constitution.
• Founding and History of the New Jersey Colony
• A Brief History of New Amsterdam
• Facts About the Colony of Georgia
• The Founding of North Carolina Colony and Its Role in the Revolution
• The Founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• A Brief History of the Delaware Colony
• Founding of the Connecticut Colony
• American Colonization Society
• How Rhode Island Colony Was Founded
• Learn About New Hampshire Colony
• Facts About the Maryland Colony
• History of Newspapers In America
• The Declaration of Independence
• The Second Great Awakening
• The Pennsylvania Colony: A Quaker Experiment in America
• Mercantilism and Its Effect on Colonial America

Life During the American Revolution: Resources for Students and Educators: Revolutionary New York

• Who Should Use this Guide?
• Primary Resources
• Revolutionary New York
• Mapping the Revolution
• Early Newspapers and Periodicals
• Black Experience of the American Revolution
• Women and the War
• Indigenous People and the Revolution
• Queer People in Colonial History
• Resources for Educators

Introduction

As a center of commerce and a critical port,  New York was strategically important for the British to control as a base of operations. From the summer of 1776 to the end of the war in 1783, British forces occupied the city, and New Yorkers themselves were bitterly divided between supporting the British and the Continental Army. 

So what was life like for New Yorkers during the British occupation? Primary sources offer illuminating narratives. 

Timeline of Events

                                                 NYPL Digital Collections ID: 808779

New York played a central and imperative role in the American Revolution, and many battles took place in New York State, including:

1. Battle of Golden Hill, January 19, 1770

2. Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775

3. Battle of Long Island, 1776

4. Battle of Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776

5. Battle of Fort Washington, November 16, 1776

6. Battle of Oriskany, 1777

7. Saratoga Campaign, 1777

8. Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783

NYPL Resources for New York in the Revolutionary War

NYPL has several compilations of key resources for researching New York and the American Revolution, including these blogs:

• New York and the American Revolution: Resources at NYPL
• Teaching American History with NYPL Digital Collections: Revolutionary New York
• The Battle for Brooklyn, 1776
• Dispossessing Loyalists and Redistributing Property in Revolutionary New York
• Evacuation Day: New York's Former November Holiday

Suggested Search Terms and Recommended Titles

Find resources in the NYPL Research Catalog by keyword searches or try the following subjects:

• New York (State)  > History > Revolution, 1775-1783

Or, try searching by specific battles and events:

• Saratoga Campaign, N.Y., 1777
• Fort Ticonderoga (N.Y.) > Capture, 1775
• Evacuation Day, New York, N.Y., 1783

Want to find these books at a library near you? Try searching WorldCat !

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• Last Updated: Aug 7, 2024 2:38 PM
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Colonial New York: A History

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Today, New York stands as the stronghold of American culture, business, and idealism. Its size, influence, and multicultural design mark it as the corner-stone of our country. The rich and varied history of early New York would seem to present a fertile topic for investigation to those interested colonial America. Yet, there has never been a modern history of old New York, until this lively and detailed account by Michael Kammen. Elegantly written and comprehensive in scope, Colonial New York includes all of the political, social, economic, cultural, and religious aspects of New York’s formative centuries. Social and ethnic diversity have always been characteristic of New York, and this was never so evident as in its early years. This period provides the contemporary reader with a backward glance at what the United States would become in the twentieth century. Colonial New York stood as a precursor of American society and culture as a whole: a broad model of the American experience we enjoy today. Kammen’s history is enlivened by a look at some of the larger-than-life personalities who had tremendous impact on the many social and political adjustments necessary to the colony’s continued growth. Here we meet Peter Stuyvesant, director of New Amsterdam and an executive of the West India Company: a man facing the innumerable difficulties of governing a large, sprawling town divided by Dutch, English, and Indian settlements. Ultimately, history would view him as a failure, but his strong, Calvinist approach left such an indelible stamp on the burgeoning colony that readers will be tempted to do a little revisionist thinking of his tenure. Looking at a later governor, Lord Cornbury, gives us the exact opposite example of a man despised by his contemporaries as the most venal of all the colonial governors (he was an occasional public cross-dresser, wearing the clothes of his distant cousin, Queen Anne), but who successfully guided the colony through a transition to Anglican rule. The book culminates in chapters that investigate New York’s strategic role in the bloody French and Indian War, and the key part it played in the economic protests and political conflict that finally led to American independence. The intricate and tangled web of alliances, loyalties, and shifting political ground that underlies much of colonial New York’s past has clearly daunted many historians from taking on the task of writing an understandable account. Michael Kammen has excepted this challenge and gives us much more than a mere chronicle. Rather, he paints a compelling portrait of colonial life as it truly was. Although this important book is thorough and informed by primary sources, Colonial New York’s clear and vivid prose offer a delightful narrative that will entertain both general readers and serious scholars alike. It pays special attention to localities and contains numerous illustrations that are attentive to the decorative arts and the material culture of early New York. Surprising and enlightening, Colonial New York is a delight to read and provides new perspectives on our nation’s beginnings. The book traces significant changes in twentieth-century American culture through the career of Gilbert Seldes. It was Seldes’ book The Seven Lively Arts that produced a wide debate among intellectuals about the so-called “popular arts” (film, broadcasting, cartoons) and their importance to American culture.

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By: History.com Editors

Updated: December 13, 2022 | Original: November 9, 2009

The Dutch first settled along the Hudson River in 1624 and established the colony of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. In 1664, the English took control of the area and renamed it New York. One of the original 13 colonies, New York played a crucial political and strategic role during the American Revolution .

Between 1892 and 1954, millions of immigrants arrived in New York Harbor and passed through Ellis Island on their journey to becoming U.S citizens. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of Americans can trace at least one ancestor to that port of entry.

New York City, the largest city in the state, is home to the New York Stock Exchange and is a major international economic center.

New York’s Native American History

Semi-nomadic Indigenous people have been living in the area now known as New York for at least 13,000 years , settling in the space  around Lake Champlain , the Hudson River Valley and Oneida Lake.

The Haudenosaunee Native Americans arrived in the Adirondack region of New York between 1,400 and 4,000 years ago. They created an alliance of Iroquoian-speaking nations  including the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca tribes. Named the Iroquois Confederacy by the French, this democratic alliance created the Great Law of Peace, which promoted reason instead of force to ensure the principles of justice, health and righteousness. This inspired America’s Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin , and influenced the U.S. Constitution .

Algonquian people, which include the Mahican and the Lenape nations, also inhabited parts of the Adirondacks and the Hudson River Valley, including Manhattan island. They occasionally battled with the Mohawk over territories.

As the French and Dutch arrived in the 17th century, they traded guns and ammunition with the Algonquians in exchange for fur. They also brought deadly diseases and encroached on Indigenous territories, forcing them to migrate. Some Indigenous people raided European property and captured women and children. During the American Revolution, the Mohawks aided the British. Many Mohawks moved to Canada at the end of the war, and others were driven out by the Oneida, who had sided with the Americans.

There are eight federally-recognized Native American tribes in New York today , including the Cayuga Nation, Oneida Nation, Onondaga Nation, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Seneca Nation of Indians, Shinnecock Indian Nation, Tonawanda Band of Seneca and Tuscarora Nation.

New York’s Colonial History

The Dutch, English and French were the first Europeans to explore and colonize the area now known as New York. Voyaging for the French, Italian-born explorer Giovanni da Verrazano became the first European to explore the east coast of America when he landed in New York Bay in 1524. In 1609 and 1610, the English-born explorer Henry Hudson navigated the river now known as the Hudson and other parts of New York seeking new routes to Asia for the Dutch and British. Around the same time, French explorer Samuel de Champlain visited the east coast of North America , including New York, and founded the city of Quebec as the capital of New France.

Following Hudson’s voyages, the Dutch established New Netherland as a fur trading outpost and their first colony in the New World. Dutch merchants soon began sponsoring trips to the new colony, and the first 31 Dutch colonists' families arrived in 1623. They established New Amsterdam—now known as New York City—in 1624. The area diversified as people from all over Europe fled religious persecution, war and natural disaster to settle in New Netherland.

The English, however, believed they had claims to New Netherland, as they had sponsored explorer John Cabot ’s voyages to the New World in 1497 and 1498. They waged three wars against the Dutch between 1652 and 1674, and in 1664 New Netherland passed to the British . The British renamed the area New York after James II, Duke of York, the son of King Charles I.

Between the early 17th century and the mid-18th century,  France sponsored Catholic missions to New France , including areas that are now part of New York state . French merchants in the area also competed with the English to dominate the fur trade and create alliances with Indigenous peoples. Conflicts over land and trade led Britain and France to the French and Indian War . Also known as the Seven Years' War , the confrontation included several major battles fought in New York and ended with the French ceding New France to the British in 1763. 

New York's Role in the Revolutionary War

New York was one of the 13 original colonies that battled for independence from England during the American Revolution. Nearly a third of all Revolutionary War battles were fought in New York . The Battle of Saratoga was considered a turning point in the war. The colonists’ defeat of the British forces convinced French King Louis XVI to ally with the Americans against the British. France’s military and financial support for the Americans was a critical contributor to the colonists’ victory at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, marking the war's end.

After the Constitution was ratified in 1788, New York City became the first capital of the United States . On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the nation’s first president at Federal Hall, located on Wall Street .

Immigration in New York

Starting in the 1850s through the end of the 19th century, millions of European immigrants came to the United States to flee religious prosecution, famine and rising taxes on the promise of freedom and economic prosperity. Over 70 percent of these immigrants arrived through New York City, entering through lower Manhattan until a new federal immigration processing center was opened on Ellis Island in 1892.

Many immigrants who arrived in New York settled there, making the state the most populous in the nation. New York’s population increased from 3 million in 1850 to 9 million  by 1930. A majority of early New York immigrants were from Ireland and Germany, although the Chinese settled in smaller numbers between the Gold Rush in 1849 and the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Italians began arriving in large numbers between 1880 and the 1920s, while the turn of the 20th century saw the arrival of Jewish people from Eastern Europe. These immigrants were often poor and lived in tenement slums on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They toiled in sweatshops until the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire led to new labor and safety laws and the growth of unions to protect workers’ rights.

Following more than 40 years of strict immigration quotas , the 1965 Hart-Celler Act reopened immigration in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants poured into New York City, coming from the Caribbean, India, Africa, Mexico, Greece, Turkey and many other parts of the world, making the city diverse and culturally vibrant.

WATCH: America: Promised Land on HISTORY Vault

Black Americans and the Harlem Renaissance

Black Americans have been an important part of New York’s population since the colonial days when they were brought to America as enslaved people by the Dutch. New York later became home to leaders of the Abolitionist Movement , including activists Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman .

Many more African Americans arrived in New York during the Great Migration of the 1910s to the 1970s. They came mainly from southern farming states including Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia and moved to large northern cities including New York City for factory jobs and to escape Jim Crow laws . Around this time, Black immigrants also arrived from Jamaica and the West Indies. More than 175,000 African Americans landed in the Harlem area of Manhattan, including many artists and scholars, leading to the explosion of poetry, art, music, philosophy and dance known as the Harlem Renaissance . Famous residents included W.E.B. Du Bois , Marcus Garvey , Louis Armstrong , Duke Ellington  and  Billie Holiday . 

Women's Suffrage and LGBTQ Movements

The Seneca Falls convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848, kicked off the women’s suffrage movement . The effort was led by famous New Yorkers including Sojourner Truth , Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony . Their work culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

A vibrant LGBTQ community formed in New York City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although gay rights activism began nationwide in the 1920s, New York City became the “birthplace” of the LGBTQ movement following the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village, which inspired a new wave of gay rights activism.

Cultural and Business Center

A diverse and eclectic business and cultural hub, New York City has housed countless entrepreneurs, businesspeople, financiers and inventors, including Thomas Edison , Cornelius Vanderbilt , John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan . The city attracts more than 65 million tourists annually and nearly a third of all international visitors to the U.S. who come for its Broadway shows, museums, galleries and restaurants, as well as monuments such as the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge .

Date of Statehood: July 26, 1788

Capital: Albany

Population: 20,201,249 (2020)

Size: 54,555 square miles

Nickname(s): Empire State

Motto: Excelsior (“Ever Upward”)

Tree: Sugar Maple

Flower: Rose

Bird: Bluebird

Interesting Facts

• The name “Manhattan” comes from a dialect of the Lenape Native Americans and roughly translates as “a place where we gather wood to make bows and arrows”—tools they relied on for hunting.
• The Haudenosaunee Native Americans were organized into matrilineal clans. These extended families lived together in longhouses and were guided by a clan mother, who made all major decisions for the clan.
• New York City was the first capital of the United States after the Constitution was ratified in 1788. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the nation’s first president at Federal Hall, located on Wall Street.
• The popular tabloid New York Post was initially established in 1801 as a Federalist newspaper called the New York Evening Post by Alexander Hamilton, an author of the Federalist papers and the nation’s first secretary of the treasury.
• The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France in honor of the United States’ enduring dedication to freedom and democracy and of the alliance held between the two countries during the American Revolution. Erected in 1886 on Bedloe’s Island (later renamed Liberty Island) in New York Harbor, the statue stood as a welcoming symbol to the 14 million immigrants who entered the United States through New York until 1924.
• After the towns of Woodstock and Wallkill refused permission to host what ultimately became the country’s most renowned musical festival, a dairy farmer in nearby Bethel agreed to provide access to his land for “Three Days of Peace and Music.” With musical acts kicking off on August 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival attracted more than 400,000 attendees—most of whom were admitted for free since the event organizers were unprepared to control access for such a large crowd.
• Adirondack Park in northeastern New York contains roughly 6 million acres of protected land. Comprised of public and private areas, the park is larger than Yellowstone, Glacier, Everglades and Grand Canyon National Parks combined.
• New York City contains roughly 660 miles of subway track connecting 468 subway stations—the lowest of which is located 180 feet below street level. In 2011, more than 1.6 billion people rode the subway.
• Comprised of three waterfalls in the United States and Canadian territory, Niagara Falls attracts 12 million visitors each year. The American Falls, in New York, is nearly 180 feet high and 1,100 feet long. The Niagara River produces enough hydroelectric power to supply more than a quarter of all power used in the state of New York and Ontario.
• The National Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York.

Photo Gallery 

Fact Sheet: Ellis Island - Statue of Liberty NM, NPS. gov

Exhibitions: First Peoples, nysm.nysed.gov

"Adirondacks: Native Americans," NPS. gov

Haudenosaunee Guide for Educators, americanindian.si.edu

"Manahatta to Manhattan Native Americans in Lower Manhattan," k12.wa.us

Federal and State Recognized Tribes, NCSL.org

Giovanni da Verrazzano, Verrazzano.com

Discovering the Past: Henry Hudson, Albany.edu

Samuel de Champlain, PBS.org

American Journeys, americanjourneys.org

"The Rise and Fall of New Netherland," NPS.org

"What Was New Netherland?" nysm.nysed.gov

Colonial New York Under British Rule, history.nycourts.gov

"Who was John Cabot?" JohnCabot.edu

Missions in New France, heritage.bnf.fr

Jesuit Mission Years in New York State 1654 to 1879, jesuitonlinelibrary.bc.edu

"The story of New France: the cradle of modern Canada," Nationalgeographic.com

New York State K-8 Social Studies Framework, NYSED.gov

Revolutionary War, Parks.ny.gov

Saratoga: Freeman's Farm/Bemis Heights, Battlefields.org

The Nine Capitals of the United States, Senate.gov

George Washington's First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789, Archives.gov

Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900, LOC. gov

A People's History of New York City , historynyc.commons.gc.cuny.edu

U.S. Census Bureau History: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, Census.gov

Immigration to New York, 1900-2000, PBS.org

"A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance," nmaahc.si.edu

The Great Migration, macaulay.cuny.edu

'See 100 years of LGBTQ history mapped out across New York City," Nationalgeographic.com

"The Origin and Meaning of the Name 'Manhattan,'" repository.si.edu

"How New York Was Named," Newyorker.com

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Roanoke’s ‘Lost Colony’ Was Never Lost, New Book Says

A new book aims to settle a centuries-old question of what happened to a group of English colonists. Archaeologists said that its theory was plausible but that more evidence was needed.

By Alan Yuhas

In 1590, the would-be governor of a colony meant to be one of England’s first outposts in North America discovered that more than 100 settlers weren’t on the small island where he left them.

More than 400 years later, the question of what happened to those settlers, who landed on Roanoke Island, off the coast of modern North Carolina, has grown into a piece of American mythology, inspiring plays, novels, documentaries and a tourism industry in the Outer Banks.

Stories have taken root that the colonists, who left no clear trace aside from the word “Croatoan” carved on a tree, survived somewhere on the mainland, died in conflict with Native Americans or met some other end.

A new book about the colonists , “ The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island ,” published in June and citing 10 years of excavations at nearby Hatteras Island, aims to put the mystery to bed. The book’s author, Scott Dawson, a researcher from Hatteras, argues that the Native people who lived there took in the English settlers and that historical records and artifacts can end the debate.

“Basically, the historical evidence says that’s where they went,” said Mark Horton, an archaeologist at the University of Bristol, in England, who worked with Mr. Dawson. Dr. Horton acknowledged that there was no “smoking gun” but said that with everything in context, “it’s not rocket science.”

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Have Fun With History

New York Colony Timeline

The history of the New York Colony is a captivating journey through time, marked by dynamic transitions and pivotal moments.

Originally settled by the Dutch as New Netherland and later captured by the English, it transformed from a Dutch trading post to an English royal colony, and eventually played a central role in the American Revolutionary War.

Over the centuries, New York witnessed waves of immigration, cultural diversity, and the rise of iconic landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty.

This historical timeline showcases the rich and ever-evolving tapestry of the New York Colony, a place that has left an indelible mark on American history and culture.

Timeline of the New York Colony

1609 – henry hudson explores the region.

In 1609, the English explorer Henry Hudson embarked on a voyage in search of a northwest passage to Asia.

Sponsored by the Dutch East India Company, Hudson’s journey led him to the North American continent. He sailed up a river that would later bear his name, the Hudson River.

During this exploration, Hudson and his crew traveled up the river, reaching present-day New York state. This marked the first European contact with the region that would eventually become New York.

1624 – Establishment of New Netherland

In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established the colony of New Netherland. They did so with the intention of creating a trading post and a presence in North America.

The major settlements in New Netherland included Fort Orange, located in what is now Albany, and New Amsterdam, which later became New York City.

New Netherland was characterized by its diverse population, including Dutch settlers, Native Americans, and individuals from various European nations.

1626 – Purchase of Manhattan Island

One of the most famous events in the early history of New Netherland was the purchase of Manhattan Island from the Native Americans in 1626. The colony’s director-general, Peter Minuit, negotiated with the local Lenape people for the acquisition of the island.

The transaction was completed with the exchange of goods and trinkets valued at 60 Dutch guilders, which is often cited as the price for Manhattan, though its exact worth in today’s currency remains a subject of debate.

This transaction laid the foundation for the Dutch presence in the region and established New Amsterdam (lower Manhattan) as a trading and cultural center.

1664 – New Amsterdam captured by the English

In 1664, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, English forces led by Colonel Richard Nicolls captured New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, without significant resistance. This event marked the end of Dutch control in the region.

The English renamed the city New York in honor of James, the Duke of York, who would later become King James II of England. This change in leadership marked the beginning of the English colonial era in what would become the New York Colony.

1673 – New York briefly under Dutch control

During the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch briefly recaptured New York in 1673. The Dutch retook the city and renamed it New Orange, but their control was short-lived.

A year later, in 1674, the Treaty of Westminster was signed, ending the war and returning New York to English control as part of the peace settlement.

1674 – Return of New York to English control

The Treaty of Westminster, signed on February 19, 1674, formally ended hostilities between England and the Dutch Republic. As a result of the treaty, New York was returned to English rule, and the name New York was restored.

This marked the final transition of the colony from Dutch to English hands. Under English rule, New York continued to develop and grow, attracting a diverse population of settlers and becoming an important part of the English colonial system in North America.

Late 17th Century – New York becomes a royal colony

In the late 17th century, New York underwent significant changes as it transitioned from a Dutch colony to an English royal colony. The English established a more centralized system of governance in New York.

The colony was granted a royal charter in 1664, which ensured English legal and political institutions were introduced. This transition brought about changes in land ownership, government structure, and legal systems.

Over time, the Dutch influence on the colony’s culture and society began to wane, and English customs and practices became more prevalent.

Early 18th Century – New York City’s growth as a trading hub

During the early 18th century, New York City, strategically located at the mouth of the Hudson River, continued to grow as a major trading and commercial center.

The city’s natural harbor made it a hub for maritime trade, attracting merchants and entrepreneurs from various parts of the world.

The city’s economic prosperity was further boosted by its role as a center for the fur trade, as well as its connections to the Caribbean and Europe. New York City’s growth as a cosmopolitan and diverse urban center was well underway.

Mid-18th Century – French and Indian War in New York

The mid-18th century saw New York become a battleground during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), which was part of the larger global conflict known as the Seven Years’ War.

The conflict in North America centered on competition between British and French colonial interests. Several significant battles and campaigns took place in New York, including:

• The Battle of Fort Oswego
• The Battle of Fort William Henry
• The Battle of Quebec

The war had a significant impact on the region, leading to territorial changes and contributing to tensions that would eventually lead to the American Revolution.

1765 – Stamp Act Congress in New York City

In 1765, New York City hosted the Stamp Act Congress, a significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

Representatives from nine American colonies gathered in the city to protest the Stamp Act, a tax imposed by the British Parliament on various paper documents and materials.

This congress marked one of the first instances of colonial unity in opposing British taxation policies without representation in Parliament. It played a role in shaping the sentiments that would eventually lead to the American colonies seeking independence from British rule.

1776 – American Revolutionary War battles in New York

The year 1776 was a pivotal one in the American Revolutionary War, and New York played a central role in the conflict. The British targeted New York as a key strategic location due to its significant harbor and geographic position.

The Battle of Long Island, fought in August 1776, saw British forces defeat American forces and led to the capture of New York City.

Subsequently, the city remained under British control for most of the war. The occupation of New York was marked by periods of tension and conflict between British troops and American patriots.

1785 – New York City as the U.S. capital

In 1785, New York City briefly served as the capital of the newly formed United States of America. The city was chosen as the provisional capital while a permanent capital was being sought.

During this time, the Congress of the Confederation, the precursor to the modern U.S. Congress, met in New York City.

However, this period was short-lived, as in 1790, the capital was relocated to Philadelphia while plans were made for the construction of the new federal capital, Washington, D.C.

1797 – Albany becomes the capital of New York State

In 1797, the city of Albany was designated as the capital of New York State. The decision to move the state capital from New York City to Albany was influenced by various factors, including Albany’s more central location within the state and the desire to reduce the influence of the city on state politics. Albany has since served as the capital of New York, playing a significant role in state government and politics.

19th Century – Immigration waves and cultural growth

The 19th century saw significant waves of immigration to New York, which profoundly shaped the state’s culture and demographics. Irish immigrants arrived in large numbers, particularly during the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s.

They settled in cities like New York City and played a significant role in the development of the city’s culture and politics. Similarly, German immigrants also made substantial contributions to the state’s cultural diversity.

New York City, in particular, became a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, leading to the development of neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy.

This era also witnessed the construction of iconic structures, including the Brooklyn Bridge, which was completed in 1883 and connected Manhattan and Brooklyn, further facilitating urban growth.

1886 – Dedication of the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, was dedicated on October 28, 1886, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The statue was a gift from the people of France to the United States and was designed by the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.

It has since become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States and a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving in New York City.

The Statue of Liberty stands as a testament to the ideals of liberty and freedom that have been central to the identity of the United States and New York as a gateway for immigrants seeking a better life in the New World.

New York's Colonial History

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The Connections Between the Thanksgiving Story and Westward Expansion (03:12)

New York Colonial Records

• 1 Online Records
• 3.1 Church Records
• 3.2 Court and Legal Records
• 3.3.1 Dutch Colonization
• 4 References

Online Records [ edit | edit source ]

Many records from the colonial era in New England were kept at the town or county level. Search the catalog at the town or county level to locate those records.

• 1701- 1774 - Records of the Vice-Admiralty court of the Province of New York - images only.
• 1701-1847 - Chancery minutes and orders - images only.
• 1730-1786 wills 1664-1683 - Probate records - images only.
• 1749-ca.1830 - Escheated land records - images only.
• 1649-1912 - Patents of the state of New York - images only.
• Colonial Immigration Records at NYG&B ($) - has vital information and biographical sketches
• New York church records : Vosburgh collection - images, some searchable.
• Digital Colonial Records from the New York State Library .
• Dutch Records - New York State Archives

History [ edit | edit source ]

A Dutch trading post at Fort Nassau built in 1614, was the first permanent European settlement in New York. A charter was granted the Dutch West India Company in 1621, and settlers arrived in the area called New Netherland in 1624. During the 1640s, English Puritans from the New Haven Colony in Connecticut established several communities. Great Britain conquered New Netherland in 1664 and divided it into New York and New Jersey. The Dutch reconquered the land for a short time in 1673 before control returned to the British. New York was one of the original 13 colonies of the United States. [1]

Resources [ edit | edit source ]

Church records [ edit | edit source ].

• Guide to vital statistics records of churches in New York State (exclusive of New York City) . (Albany: Historical Records Survey, 1942).
• Guide to Local Church Records in Archives of the Reformed Church of America and to Genealogical Resources in the Gardiner Sage Library, New Brunswick Theological Seminary by Russell L. Gasero. (New Brunswick: Historical Society of the Reformed Church in America, 1979).
• Inventory of the Church Archives in the City of New York . 9 Vols. (New York: Historical Records Survey, 1942).
• Inventory and Digest of Early Church Records in the Library of the Holland Society of New York . (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1912).

Court and Legal Records [ edit | edit source ]

• Calendar of council minutes, 1668 - 1783 compiled by Berthold Fernow ; preface by A.J.F. Van Laer ; introduction by Peter R. Christoph. (Harrison, New York : Harbor Hill Books, 1987).
• Calendar of New York colonial commissions, 1680-1770 abstracted by Edmund B. O'Callaghan. (New York, New York : New York Historical Society, 1929).
• The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the Revolution: Including the Charters to the Duke of York, the Commissions and instructions to Colonial Governors, the Duke's Laws, the Laws of the Dongan and Leisler Assemblies, the Charters of Albany and New York and the Acts of the Colonial Legislatures from 1691 to 1775 Inclusive . 4 vols. (Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1894).
• Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609-1925 by Alden Chester. (New York: American Historical Society, 1925). Digital copies Vols. 1 , 2 , and 3 .
• Dongan papers, 1683-1688 : Admiralty Court and other records of the administration of New York Governor Thomas Dongan edited by Peter R. Christoph. (New York, New York : Holland Society of New York, 1993).
• Duely & constantly kept : a history of the New York Supreme Court, 1691-1847 and an inventory of its records (Albany, Utica, and Geneva Offices), 1797-1847 by James D. Folts. (Albany, New York : New York State Court of Appeals and New York State Archives and Records, 1991).
• Inheritance and Family Life in Colonial New York by David Narrett. (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1992).
• List of Pre-1847 Court Records in the State Archives by New State Archives. (Albany: Office of Cultural Education, 1984).
• Wills of Early New York Jews by Leo Hershkowitz. (New York: American Jewish Historical Society, 1967).
• Wills of Early Jewish Settlers in New York by Lee M. Friedman. (Reprinted from Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 23, 1915).

Early History and Manuscript Collections [ edit | edit source ]

• Annual Report by New York State Historian. (Albany: Synkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford, State Printers, n.d.).
• Calendar of historical manuscripts, relating to the war of the revolution, in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N.Y . 2 Vols. (Albany : Weed Parsons & Co., Printers, 1868).
• Curacao Papers, 1640-1665 by Charles T. Gehring. (Interlaken, NY: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1987).
• Colonial New York: A History by Michael G. Kammen. (White Plains, NY: KTO Press, 1987).
• Documents Relating to New Netherland, 1624-1626: in the Henry E. Huntington Library by Arnold J. F. Van Laer. (San Marino, CA: Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, 1924).
• The Documentary History of the State of New York by E.B. O'Callaghan. (Albany: Weed, Parson, Public Printers, 1849).
• Early New York State Census Records, 1663-1772 by Carol M. Meyers. (Gardena, CA: RAM Publishers, 1965).
• The French Occupation in the Champlain Valley from 1609 to 1759 by Guy Coolidge. (1938. Reprint. Harrison, NY: Harbor Hill Books, 1979).
• A Guide to Dutch Manuscripts Relating to New Netherland in United States Repositories by Charles T. Gehring. (Albany: New York State Library, 1978).
• History of New Paltz, New York, and Its Old Families, from 1678 to 1820, Including the Huguenot Pioneers by Ralph Lefevre. (1903. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing CO., 1973).
• Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York: Excerpted from the Documentary History of the State of New York, by Edmund Baily O'Callaghan . (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979).
• New York Historical Manuscripts (English period) by Charles T. Gehring. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977).
• Records of the chancery court, province and state of New York : guardianships, 1691-1815 abstracted by Kenneth Scott. (Middletown, New York : Holland Society of New York, 1971).
• Southeastern New York: A History of the Counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam by Louise Hasbrouck Zimm. (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing, 1946).

Dutch Colonization [ edit | edit source ]

• The Dutch Founding of New York by Thomas A. Janvier. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1903).
• History of New Netherland, Or, New York under the Dutch by E. B. O'Callaghan. 2 Vols. (New York: D. Appleton, 1846-1848).
• New Netherland Roots by Gwen F. Epperson. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing CO., 1994).
• New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Council Minutes, 1652-1654 by Charles T. Gehring. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983).
• New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Delaware Papers (Dutch Period) by Charles T. Gehring. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981).
• New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Land Papers, Volumes GG, HH, and II by Charles Gehring. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980).
• New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1660 by Arnold J. Van Laer. 4 Vols. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1974).
• "Passengers to New Netherland: List of Passengers, 1654-1664" by J. F. Van Laer in Year Book of the Holland Society of New York (1902).
• Translation of books of Dutch patents by New York Secretary of State. (Albany : Weed, Parsons and Co., 1864).

Other [ edit | edit source ]

• The Albany Protocol, Wilhelm Christoph Berkenmeyer's Chronicle of Lutheran Affairs in New York Colony, 1731-1750 by John P. Dern. (1971. Reprint. Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1992). Digital images of the book .
• Genealogical data from inventories of New York estates, 1666-1825 by Kenneth Scott and James A. Owre. (New York, New York : New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1970).
• The German Emigration from New York Province into Pennsylvania by George K. Schweitzer. (Knoxville, TN: The Author, 1995).
• Guide to Records in the New York State Archives by New York State Archives. 2nd ed. (Albany: The Archives, 1993).
• Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802 by Fred Bowman. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983).
• Landlord and Tenant in Colonial New York: Manorial Society, 1664-1775 by Sung Bok Kim. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1978).
• More Palatine Families: Some Immigrants to the Middle Colonies 1717-1776 and Their European Origins Plus New Discoveries on German Families Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710 by Henry Z. Jones. (Universal City, CA: The Author, 1991).
• Moravian Journals Relating from New York Province into Pennsylvania by Matthias Henry Richards. (Syracuse, NY: Dehler Press, 1916).
• Moravian Journals Relating to Central New York, 1745-66 arranged and ed. by Wm. M. Beauchamp, for the Onondaga Historical Association, 1916. (Syracuse, N.Y. : Dehler Press, 1916).
• New York Marriages Previous to 1784: A Reprint of the Original Edition of 1860 with Additions and Corrections Including: Supplementary List of Marriage Licenses; New York Marriage Licenses by New York Secretary of State. (1860. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968).
• The Palatine Families of New York: A Study of the German Immigrants Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710 by Henry Z. Jones. (Universal City, CA: The Author, 1985).
• Scotch Emigrants to New York 1774-1775 by Viola Root Cameron. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing CO., 1966).
• Select Patents of New York Towns by Frederick Van Wyck. (Boston: A. A. Beauchamp, 1938).

References [ edit | edit source ]

• ↑ Christina K. Schaefer, Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 393. WorldCat (Other Libraries) ; FS Catalog book 929.11812 D26 1998
• ↑ Christina K. Schaefer, Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 183, 192. WorldCat (Other Libraries) ; FS Catalog book 929.11812 D26 1998

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Information and Facts with the New York Colony Fact File Fast facts and interesting information about the founding, establishment, geography, climate, religion, history, natural resources, raw material, industries (refer to Colonial Times ) and the famous historical people associated with the New York Colony of Colonial America. Information and facts at a glance about the New York Colony via this fast fact file.

		and others, on Manhattan Island
			New York Colony Small Planet Communications, Inc. + 15 Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 + (978) 794-2201 + Contact The Age of Imperialism Colonial America The Great Strike Science for Middle School The Solar System Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 The Civil War: Lesson Plan Create Your Own Web Page Links for Teachers Links for Kids Links and Information for Parents Content and Editorial Design and Production Digital and Technology Book Club: A Literature-Based Curriculum Book Club Plus! Book Club for Middle School Book Club Student Reading Log Book Club Video Book Club Novel Guides Book Club Online Novel Guides Common Core Standards Methodology Professional Development St. Augustine (Est. 1565) Roanoke (Est. 1585 & 1587) Jamestown (Est. 1607) Plymouth (Est. 1620) The Mayflower New York (Est. 1624) Massachusetts (Est. 1629) The Dorchester Company New Hampshire (Est. 1629) Maryland (Est. 1632) Connecticut (Est. 1633) Rhode Island (Est. 1636) Delaware (Est. 1638) The Carolinas (Est. 1663) Pennsylvania (Est. 1682) New Jersey (Est. 1702) Georgia (Est. 1732) In the 17th century, New Amsterdam was a small trading and farming settlement on the southern tip of Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River. It had a magnificent harbor and a majestic river that provided access deep into the rich interior of the region. Its Dutch inhabitants, however, experienced much conflict. The English eventually seized New Amsterdam, renamed it New York, and began to solidify and expand what would become one of America's most strategic and influential centers of trade, culture, and power. The settlement of New York began with the exploration of the Hudson River. In 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson (the river's namesake) sailed as far as present-day Albany in the service of the Dutch East India Company. Although Hudson's mission to find a passage to the Indies failed, Hudson's employers were still pleased with the explorer's findings. Dutch interest was more in trade rather than colonization, and by establishing an outpost called Fort Nassau in 1614, the Dutch East India Company began participating in a lucrative fur trade with the local inhabitants. Click to view a map of the city of New Amsterdam in the colony of New Netherland in 1600. In 1624, the first of seven ships loaded with colonists, supplies, and livestock was dispatched by the newly formed Dutch West India Company to establish the colony of New Netherland. Settling multiple forts along the Hudson River, including Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan Island and Fort Nassau (which would later become Fort Orange) at present-day Albany, the Dutch hoped New Netherland would become a prosperous farming and fur-trading colony. The new colony developed slowly as the Dutch West India Company tried to populate New Netherland with a plan called patroonships. Patroonships were land grants given to anyone who, at their own expense, brought 50 people to settle on their patroon in the colony within four years. The system was unpopular because the company still retained rights to the fur and fishing trades, and very few patroons were successful. DID YOU KNOW? In 1626, Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from American Indians with trinkets worth 60 guilders, which is equal to about $24. The principal economic activity on Manhattan Island and along the lower Hudson River was farming, which often brought the colonists into conflict with American Indians over land disputes. Initially, the Company tried to avoid such conflict as they purchased land from the American Indians. In 1626 Peter Minuit, the first Director-General of New Netherland, reportedly purchased the island of Manhattan from local American Indians with beads and other trinkets worth 60 Dutch guilders before formally founding the settlement of New Amsterdam on the southern tip of the island near Fort Amsterdam. Fort Orange hosted the majority of the fur trade business for New Netherland. For the first few years, the company attempted to steer a middle course between the Mohicans, an Algonquian-speaking tribe, and the Mohawks, one of the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, as the two groups battled for control of the area. After a Mohawk attack on the Mohicans in 1624, however, the Mohicans lost access to the Dutch traders. Meanwhile, the growth of the colony had stagnated. Ownership of the colony was concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy persons. The company's monopoly on the economic life of New Netherland was eroding. A partial reorganization took place in 1640 when the West India Company gave up its trade monopoly. Other businessmen invested in New Netherland, bringing a flow of economic activity into the colony, including the production of food, timber, and tobacco. Peter Stuyvesant was appointed fourth and last Director-General of New Netherland in July 1646. Stuyvesant's dictatorial style helped boost the troubled colony. He restored order to the colony by issuing strict laws and making it mandatory to attend church. He insisted that American Indians be properly paid for the lands and services that had been taken from them. Stuyvesant bargained for captive Europeans from an earlier conflict with American Indians and eventually negotiated a peace treaty in 1660. Dutch settlement was not confined to the Hudson River Valley; the Company also had claims to the Delaware River. These claims were disputed by Sweden, which had secured a charter specifically for the Delaware Bay region. Ironically, the first group of Swedes had been placed there in March of 1638 by the former governor of New Netherland, Peter Minuit, who established Fort Christina near present-day Wilmington. New Sweden was an entity that was under constant struggle. In 1655 under Stuyvesant's command, ships from New Amsterdam sailed south to the Delaware River where they took over the fledging settlement. Click to learn more about New Sweden in America. Swedish encroachments were not the only problem facing the Dutch. More threatening was the spread of English settlements on Long Island and along the coast. The English saw the Dutch colony as a serious impediment, sandwiched between the two fast-growing areas of English settlement, the Chesapeake and New England. Conflict was inevitable. In 1664, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, a British fleet seized New Netherland without firing a shot. Stuyvesant, with the fortifications at New Netherland still incomplete, found himself hopelessly outnumbered and surrendered under generous terms from the British Commander. Several important changes took place under British rule. In 1664, the king annexed New Jersey and gave it to his brother James, the Duke of York. Both the city of New Amsterdam and the colony itself were renamed New York, after the Duke of York. Fort Amsterdam became Fort James, and Fort Orange was renamed Fort Albany. While control of the region changed hands several times after 1664, New York City served as a British military stronghold until the entire region was liberated after the Revolutionary War. New York joined the union as the 11th state on July 26, 1788. [Return to Top] New York | Bibliography Country Studies US. "New Netherland and Maryland." Accessed 5/30/19. http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-8.htm Dunn, Richard S., Ph D. "John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut, The First Governor of the East End." September 12, 1998. East Hampton Library. Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.easthamptonlibrary.org/pdfs/history/lectures/19980912-2.pdf Encyclopædia Britannica. "Peter Minuit." Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/384645/Peter-Minuit Encyclopædia Britannica. "Peter Stuyvesant." Accessed 5/30/19. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Stuyvesant Infoplease. "States by Order of Entry into Union." Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763770.html National Park Service. "Dutch Colonies." Accessed 5/30/19. https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/kingston/colonization.htm New York State Museum. "Early Albany Timeline." Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/timeline.html Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association/Memorial Hall Museum. "Glossary." Accessed 5/30/19. http://1704.deerfield.history.museum/list/glossary/all.do Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). "1628 Across the Continent." Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/history/1628_northeast.html Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). "Peter Stuyvesant." Accessed 5/30/19. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/pnp377425eng/peter-stuyvesant-pnp377425-eng/ University of Notre Dame, Department of Special Collections. "A Brief Outline of the History of New Netherland." Accessed 5/30/19. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/NNHistory.html New York | Image Credits Henry Hudson | Encyclopædia Britannica, courtesy of the Library of Congress Director General Peter Stuyvesant | Artist: Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, 1936; National Park Service: Cultural Resources Map of Dutch and English Colonization in New England | National Park Service: Cultural Resources © 2020 Small Planet Communications, Inc. + Terms/Conditions + 15 Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 + (978) 794-2201 + [email protected] Search All Records Collections Catalog What's New Collection Close-Ups Digitize New York New Netherland Settlers Scholar in Residence Articles & Guides Webinar Library Most Recent Issue Research Services New York Family History School NYG&B at the NYPL Events List NYS Family History Conference 2024 Programming NYG&B Store Flagship Publications Internships 1869 Circle Team & Leadership Year in Review Career Opportunities New York Vital Records Timeline: Key Dates That Impact Your Research Finding a birth, marriage, or death certificate for one of your ancestors is a crucial step in your family history research, but it can be challenging for ancestors who lived in New York State. You'll have a better chance at success if you're familiar with the history of New York vital records—t he more you know about civil vital record keeping in the time period of interest, the more likely you are to look in the correct place right off the bat. Advanced preparation will save you a lot of time and frustration, and may even steer you completely clear of a brick wall. This article will review the need-to-know history of New York vital records and will help set you on the right path to finding that birth, marriage, or death certificate.    There is a general summary at the end of this article, and the next step is to visit our comprehensive Guide to Finding New York Birth, Marriage, and Death Records , which contains specific instructions for locating vital certificates. Please Note: As of November 2019 we have been informed that processing times for vital records from the state of New York are extremely lengthy (more than 22 months). Therefore, we encourage you to request records from the local jurisdiction where possible.  Timeline of New York Vital Record Keeping Read on for a timeline that traces the evolution of New York's vital record keeping throughout history. It is meant more as a general overview than a comprehensive history of the topic.  Pre-1664: Dutch colonial laws No civil vital records exist for this time period - the colonial Dutch viewed tracking births, marriages, and deaths as a function best served by the church, not the state . 1   For this reason, some good substitute vital records for New York  can be found in records of the Dutch Reformed Church, the primary church governing the earliest New Netherland and some New York settlers. Our New York County Religious Records collection includes colonial baptism and marriage records from this church and many others.  1665: English and early American record keeping After the takeover of New Netherland by the English, the overseers of New York established a law that, “The minister or town clark of every parrish shall well and truly and plainly record all births marriages and burials that shall happen within his respective parrish, in a book to be provided by the churchwardnener for that purpose, and if any master of a family or other person concerned shall omitt the giving notice to the said minister or town clark … such person for his neglect shall be fined five shillings.” 2 Unfortunately, anyone with experience researching colonial families in the New York colony will be able to quickly tell you that town clerks almost never followed this law. 3 There are a few notable exceptions, particularly on Long Island. The digital archive of  The NYG&B Record  has a number of abstracts of records from the 1600s and 1700s, including town clerk records from Huntington, Southold, Hempstead, Gravesend and other locations in Queens (some parts now Nassau) and Suffolk counties. The New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer  contains specific citations to these articles - researchers can also consult an index to The Record or search the digital archive.  Ministers seem to have done better than town clerks, although it’s hard to definitively assess how many congregations kept track as instructed because many religious records have been lost. Religious records are still some of the best early substitutes, and many congregations do have records from the 1700s still in existence. Our eLibrary has a large collection of New York religious records that covers this time period and beyond. Early 1800s: New York City begins recording some vital records Not much happened during the colonial, revolutionary, or early statehood periods that caused New York (colony, then state) as a whole to keep better track of vital records. Out of necessity, New York City began to form its own system for tracking this information. The first lists of New York City deaths were for Yellow Fever victims in 1795. But those lists only contain those who died of the epidemic, not all deaths. Beginning in 1802, the New York City Board of Health began recording burials. These can be found at the New York City Municipal Archives or accessed via microfilm at the New York Public Library and Family History Library. 4    Some digital images may be accessed at Family History Centers. Note that New York City at this time was only the island of Manhattan and a few other small islands, and this is only the date some burials began to be formally recorded. Coverage will vary depending on the specific location. Areas that are now a part of New York City (but weren't during the majority of the 1800s) may have started record keeping at a different time. For a thorough review of all material located at the Municipal Archives, see the New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide .  Some, but not all marriages were recorded by New York City as early as 1829, and are available at the Municipal Archives. These records are fairly scattered until closer to the mid- to late- 1800s. 5   Civil marriage records from around the state are available for certain locations as well - as an example,  The Record holds some civil marriage abstracts from municipalities in Dutchess, Suffolk, Westchester, and Orleans counties. See the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer for specific citations, or search The Record or one of its indexes. Learn about new online records right away: Subscribe to our free email newsletter The latest NY records news, expert genealogy tips, and fascinating stories, delivered twice a month to your inbox! 1847: New York State’s first major vital records law In 1847, the National Medical Convention in Philadelphia issued a call to urge state governments to begin keeping informative and accurate records of births, marriages, and deaths. New York answered the call with “An Act Providing for the Registry of Births, Marriages, and Deaths” the same year. The law directed records to be charted at the school district level, and stored with town or city clerks. As the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer notes, “It also required physicians and professional midwives to record births, physicians to record deaths, clergymen to record funerals and marriages, and sextons to record death and burials... For most municipalities in New York State, this 1847 law marks the date of the earliest extant vital records created systematically by the civil administration ” (emphasis added) Unfortunately, many counties in the state objected to this law, and it didn’t take long for compliance to lapse once again - by 1850, the law was largely ignored in many places throughout New York State. Records generated during this period are often found with local governments or have been transcribed by various organizations and individuals. If you’re seeking records around this time period, it’s a good idea to start by researching the history of vital record keeping in the location of interest. Our county guides contain this information for all counties in NY state. 1860s: New York City vital certificates officially begin In 1866 the New York City Metropolitan Board of Health was created - this marks the official beginning of civil birth, marriage, and death certificates in New York City and Brooklyn (though Brooklyn began keeping death certificates slightly earlier, and earlier birth, marriage, and death recordings were made in registers). In general, compliance was better from this point on in New York City history researchers seeking certificates after this time period can be relatively more hopeful. In general, the New York City Municipal Archives will have records from Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island beginning around this general time period—still, researchers investigating events that occurred before the 1898 consolidation should explore repositories local to the borough/town as well.  For available indexes to New York City vital records (many of which are freely available online), see the New York City section of our online guide to finding birth, marriage, and death records in New York .   1870s: Other major NY State cities begin their own vital record keeping By the 1870s, other cities in New York were getting impatient with the essentially non-existent state of vital record keeping and began rolling out their own systems. Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers all started vital record keeping systems that would remain independent from New York State until 1914: Albany began vital record keeping in 1870 Buffalo began vital record keeping in 1878 Yonkers began vital record keeping in 1875 To learn more about the local repositories for these three cities, see our Guide to Finding New York Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for contact information.  Other municipalities, including Long Island City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica made attempts to keep their own records during this decade, with varying results. 6  Researchers interested in these cities should complete a full study of when records began to be created consistently, and where those records are. One useful resource for tracking this kind of information is the WPA red book - Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in New York State (including New York City). This work, produced by the WPA during the Great Depression, is current up to 1942 and may help researchers locate early vital records. A digital copy can be found in the NYG&B eLibrary WPA collection . Here's a clip from a Facebook Live Genealogy Q&A where we talked about the Red Books: 1880: The “beginning” of modern vital record keeping New York State created a Board of Health and a Bureau of Vital Statistics in 1880. Within the next two years, a series of laws were passed that required every town and village in New York State to record births, marriages, and deaths - this law placed local boards of health in villages, towns, and cities as the primary organizations responsible for keeping these statistics. Over the next couple of decades, more laws were passed that slowly solidified and regularized vital record keeping practices throughout the state. An 1885 law was the first to officially require local authorities to send copies of the original certificates to the State Board of Health in Albany. Unfortunately, the laws were apparently not harsh enough to induce compliance. According to NYFHRGG, “Most reviews of vital records of New York give 1880 and 1881 as the official beginning of modern record-keeping in New York State. As a practical matter, however, these dates are less important than one might assume. Start-up was uneven, and compliance over the next 30+ years was far from perfect.” 7 Despite that disappointing reality, New York State vital record indexes - birth, marriage, and death records each have their own index - all begin in 1880 or 1881. See our Guide to Finding New York Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for details on where to access these indexes. Though record keeping is imperfect until 1914, there are still a significant number of certificates to be found from this time period. As with other time periods, if you cannot find a certificate in the New York State index, it’s a good idea to check with local authorities. 1913: The actual beginning of modern vital record keeping New York State made continual attempts to incentivize compliance with vital record keeping laws since 1880, and the definitive breakthrough occurred in 1913. With “An Act to Amend the Public Health Law, in Relation to Vital Statistics”, New York established substantial fines and even imprisonment for officials found in noncompliance. Additionally, the law outlined processes for the state to take over the vital record keeping practice for jurisdictions that could not comply. The law also precisely spelled out what information should be included in birth, marriage, and death certificates. Experts agree that this date marks the official beginning of the modern system of vital records management in New York State - some mark 1913 as the first year of full compliance, and others believe that true, full compliance didn’t begin until 1914. It is important to note that after this law, the cities of Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers no longer kept separate vital records - certificates created in these municipalities after 1914 can be found with the rest of New York State vital records. As you now know, the history of New York state vital records is quite complex - but by understanding the landscape for each period in history, you'll have a better idea of what to do when you're researching an ancestor in a particular time and place. In very general, high-level terms, here is a summary of NY vital record history. New York City vital records: Kept separately from the rest of New York State. Record keeping generally began in the mid-1800s, but some records can be found from the early part of the century. Records are with the New York City Municipal Archives, and sometimes other more local repositories.  Vital records from all other NY State municipalities: Most researchers will need to seek vital record substitutes - vital records simply did not exist for the majority of NY State before this period. Civil vital records may be found for this period, but there aren’t many. Most towns did not comply, but some did - investigate at the local level. State-wide vital record indexes begin in 1880 - records can be found and ordered from the NYS Department of Health in Albany. Coverage wasn’t perfect during this time period. Certificates after this year are highly likely to exist and can be ordered from the NYS Department of Health. Our Guide to Finding New York Birth, Marriage, and Death Records provides further detail on each time period and location, including methods of ordering certificates, and where to find online indexes to locate the information you need to order a certificate.  More Genealogy Reading Guide to Finding New York Birth, Marriage, and Death Records Find a photo of any NYC Building from 1940 Using Google Earth for genealogy: Putting your ancestors on the map How to use periodicals for New York Dutch genealogy research Researching Irish ancestors in New York State 7 resources to get you started with genetic genealogy Surprising facts about immigration to New York 1.  New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer  (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 2018) p. 15 ^ Return to text 2. Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. 1  (Albany: James B. Lyon, 1894) p. 19 Accessed via Google Books , Jan. 17, 2019.  ^ Return to text 3.  New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer,  p. 15.  ^ Return to text 4. Ibid., 16  ^ Return to text 5. Aaron Goodwin,  New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians . (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 2016) p. 13  ^ Return to text 6.  New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer,  p. 18.  ^ Return to text 7. Ibid.  ^ Return to text The First Colony Foundation New book: excavating the lost colony mystery, new book illuminates haunting mystery and brings the latest research together. As clues unfold, a new book promises to provide readers with the latest findings in the quest to solve America’s most enduring cold case: The fate of Sir Walter Raleigh’s Lost Colony. “Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery,” published by the First Colony Foundation and the University of North Carolina Press, showcases current research by historians, archaeologists and other experts, plus a trove of rare maps, illustrations and photos of never-before-seen artifacts unearthed during recent excavations. “While some of the Lost Colony’s mysteries may never be solved,” says Eric Klingelhofer, First Colony’s vice president for research, who edited and contributed to the book, “important discoveries have been made – and continue to be made – that shed light on this haunting chapter at the very beginning of English settlement in America.” For generations, scholars have speculated on the disappearance of more than a hundred of Raleigh’s intrepid colonists, with the only clue to what happened being cryptic messages carved on a tree and on a gatepost at the entry to their mysteriously vacant settlement. But in 2012, an exciting new line of inquiry opened when a hidden symbol was discovered on an Elizabethan map, marking a place where Lost Colony settlers may have relocated. Called “Site X” by archaeologists, the area has yielded a wealth of Native American and English pottery sherds from the Elizabethan time period. In addition to Klingelhofer, contributors to “Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery” include a roster of esteemed Lost Colony experts, including: Peter Barber, Phillip Evans, James Horn, Karen Ordahl Kupperman, Nicholas Luccketti, Kim Sloan, Beverly Straube, and Edward Clay Swindell. Timely reminder: “’Tis the season,” Klingelhofer says, with a wink. “This book would make a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone interested in the latest information in the Lost Colony story.” To obtain a copy, contact UNC Press, at www.uncpress.org  or local bookstores, including Downtown Books, in Manteo; Buxton Village Books, in Buxton; Island Bookstore, with locations in Corolla, Duck (Scarborough Faire) and Kitty Hawk; and Page After Page Bookstore, in Elizabeth City. ABOUT FIRST COLONY: First Colony Foundation, formed in April 2003, is dedicated to conducting archaeological and historical research, combined with public education and interpretation, relating to the story of America’s beginnings with the attempts by Sir Walter Raleigh to establish English colonies at Roanoke Island in the 1580s under his charter from Queen Elizabeth I. Related Posts Gordon Watts to lead underwater research team on an exploration of Roanoke Island’s Broad Creek in June 2009 First Colony Foundation Archaeologists and NPS Conclude Successful Dig at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island Thomas Harriot 400th Conference Hears About First Colony Foundation Research Roanoke Island Archaeological Find Goes on Exhibition at Fort Raleigh Radar Tomography Conducted on Roanoke Island to Identify Potential Dig Sites PBS’ Time Team America to Debut July 8 with Dig on Roanoke Island Archaeology Dig Reports Virtual Sites Image credits: The National Park Service, Richard Schlecht, The New York Times, Trustees of the British Museum © 2024 The First Colony Foundation, 1501 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27705 | [email protected] Website Design by Outer Banks Media The New York Public Library Archives & manuscripts, new york colony and state naturalization and immigration lists 1740-1814. Toggle Mini Map View as Network Collection Overview Using the collection This collection is consists of New York Colony naturalization statistics (1740-1769), and New York State immigration lists (1802-1814). The documents provide names and other personal details of the naturalized citizens and immigrants Material types Access to materials. Privacy Policy Rules and Regulations Using the Internet Website Terms and Conditions Gifts of Materials to NYPL Dutch Treat Seal of New Amsterdam, 1630 Online Publications The New Netherland Institute is making available digitized versions of translations and transcriptions of documents relating to New Netherland. Written in an archaic hand, these seventeenth-century documents were damaged by fire and water, but they are our best source of knowledge about the former Dutch colony. Available on this website are government records held by the New York State Archives, private and corporate papers from the collections of the New York State Library, and selected documents from other repositories. Scanned originals of many of these documents are available on the websites of the New York State Archives and New York State Library.  Please direct any questions about the publications  here . If you would like to support the continued improvement of and additiions to the Online Publications, please consider  donating . For a full text search of all the  translations  linked from this page, visit  here . Guides and Finding Aids A  Guide to Dutch Manuscripts Relating to New Netherland  is a catalog of primary source material located in repositories throughout the United States. The purposes of the  Guide  are to 1) describe relevant documents and collections and 2) provide researchers with their location. Originally compiled in 1977 and 1978 by Dr. Charles Gehring, the  Guide  was updated in 2010–2012. This compilation of the introductions to the  New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch / New Netherland Documents  series translations contains 13 introductions and allows researchers to quickly acquaint themselves with the content of these publications. •  Introductions The  Annotated Bibliography of New Netherland Archeology in Rensselaer and Albany Counties, New York  summarizes the contents of written resources concerning archeological finds related to Dutch colonial occupation and settlement during the 17th and 18th centuries in Rensselaer and Albany Counties, New York.  The  Annotated Bibliography of the Archaeology of the Delaware River Valley  highlights archaeological research related to the Middle and Lower Delaware River Valley (at and below Trenton, NJ), and encompassing the present-day states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The   Simon Hart Chronology   represents summaries of notarial records relating to New Netherland located in the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam. In the 1650s the notaries of Amsterdam were directed, upon retirement or for other reasons, to deposit their protocols in the municipal archives for safekeeping. Simon Hart, during his tenure as chief archivist, spent his free time in the “Depot” of the archives, searching through the protocols The for references to New Netherland. His findings were typed onto cards which were eventually microfilmed. In 2018, the NYSA had the cards digitized for use of researchers. The information on the cards contains anything that would have required sworn testimony before a notary, such as last wills and testaments, witness testimony, contracts, powers of attorney etc.  The link above takes you to a google drive where the cards may be downloaded.  This link takes you to the New York State Library's interface with the same cards. The  Engel Sluiter Historical Documents Collection at the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library  is an accumulation of research notes and transcriptions of historical documents from archives throughout Europe and Latin America, made between approximately 1930-2001 by Engel Sluiter, former Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, who was of Dutch origin. Subjects range from Dutch, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese voyages to the Americas, imperial finances between the later sixteenth and first half of the seventeenth centuries, Dutch voyages during the early 17 th  century, shipping records, the Dutch presence in North America, the Caribbean and Brazil, the transatlantic slave trade, the Newfoundland fisheries, and the Dutch Arctic exploration and whaling. The  Ulster County Archives Dutch Records Index  is an index to the English translations of the Dutch court records of Wiltwyck 1661-1709. The index was first published by the Albany County Board of Supervisors c. 1900. In 2002, the data was entered into a text searchable database by the Ulster County Archives. In 2008 a new field was added to present the entries in their entirety. These records are the earliest court and land records of Ulster County. From the Collections of the New York State Archives The New Netherland Institute is grateful to the New York State Archives for allowing us to link to the images in their collection.  We are also grateful to the Holland Society, which holds the copyright of the translations of New Netherland Documents at the New York State Archives, for permission to reproduce the translations here. Volumes I–III, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638–1660 , containing a wide range of documents including depositions, contracts, estate inventories, leases, deeds, wills, bonds, powers of attorney, and other private instruments.  Volumes IV–X, Council Minutes, 1638–1665 , containing the executive, legislative, and judicial proceedings of the Director General and Council of New Netherland. Volumes XI–XV, Correspondence, 1646–1664 , containing the correspondence of Director General Stuyvesant with the directors of the West India Company, the governors of neighboring colonies and the subordinate officers in New Netherland. Volume XVI, Part 1, Ordinances, 1647–1658 , ordinances, or laws and regulations written to govern and maintain order in the communities of New Netherland. Volume XVI, Parts 2 and 3, Fort Orange Records, 1656–1660 , ordinances, or laws and regulations written to govern and maintain order in the communities of New Netherland. Volume XVII, Curaçao Papers, 1640–1665 , containing ship manifests, land grants, official reports, and resolutions relating to the administration of the island of Curaçao. These documents chronicle Dutch rule of Curaçao as a Caribbean trading center.  Volumes XVIII–XIX, Delaware Papers (Dutch period), 1648–1664 ,  administrative records created by the Dutch West India Company (WIC) in the Delaware region and sent to New Amsterdam. Volumes XX–XXI, Delaware Papers (English period), 1664–1682 ,  documentation of English colonial New York's judicial and administrative interaction with the Delaware region while that region was in possession of the Duke of York. Volumes XXII, Administrative Papers of Governors Richard Nicolls and Francis Lovelace, 1664–1673 Volume XXIII, Colve Papers, 1673–1674 ,  contains patents issued under the administration of Dutch Governor Anthony Colve, and a few private deeds from the same period. Books GG and HH, Patents and Deeds, 1630–1664 Book II, Land Deeds, 1652–1653 The Andros Papers: Files of the Provincial Secretary of New York During the Administration of Governor Sir Edmund Andros, 1674–1680 (3. vols.) The Andros Papers, 1674-1676 (vol. 1) The Andros Papers, 1677-1678 (vol. 2) The Andros Papers, 1679-1680 (vol. 3) Kingston Papers, 1661–1675 Register of Salomon Lachaire, Notary Public of New Amsterdam, 1661–1662 From the Collections of the Albany County Hall of Records Fort Orange Records , containing the oldest surviving archival papers of the Dutch community that eventually became Albany. •  Volume A, 1656–1678   •  Volume B, 1654–1679   Minutes of the Court of Albany, Rensselaerswyck and Schenectady, 1668–1685  (translation) This series contains similar types of information found in the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwijck minutes; only the name of the court has changed. The volumes summarize the day to day proceedings of the court and document common cases involving property disputes, acknowledgement of debts and slander From the Collections of the New York State Library Van Rensselaer Manor Papers . The court minutes of Rensselaerswijck along with the business and personal correspondence of patroon Jeremias van Rensselaer (1632–1674) and his wife Maria (1645–1688/89) chronicle social, economic, legal, and governmental aspects of life on the patroonship. •  Correspondence of Jeremias van Rensselaer  - (translation and manuscript images) •  Correspondence of Maria van Rensselaer  - (translation and manuscript images) •  Court Minutes of Rensselaerswijck  - (translation and manuscript images) The Memorandum Book of Antony de Hooges  (translation, transcription, and manuscript images) Antony de Hooges served as business manager of Rensselaerswijck, beginning somewhere between March 1645 and February 1646 and running through March 1648. De Hooges recorded the colony’s business and some personal observations in the Memorandum Book. From the Collections of the New York City Muncipal Archives Brooklyn Old Town Records . These are the records that used to be called the Kings County Records at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. They contain much information about the western end of Long Island.  Cautionary norte from Dr. Gehring:   As with most 19th-century translations they need to be used with caution. Eventually, their translations should be revisited. From the Collections of the New-York Historical Society Govert Loockermans: Correspondence and Papers . (transcription, translation, and manuscript images) From the Collections of the New York Public Library The New Netherland Papers of Hans Bontemantel . Hans Bontemantel was a director of the Dutch West India Company's Amsterdam Chamber, which supervised the governance of New Netherland. In addition to official correspondence, this collection contains private communications from Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant and his First Councilor Nicasius de Sille. From the Collections of the Scheepvaart Museum in Amsterdam  Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts . This collection comprises a great variety of papers, including journals of voyages, deeds, leases, contracts, accounts and inventories of cattle; but the most important item is a volume containing copies of letters, memorials and instructions written between the years 1630 and 1643 by Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the founder of the colony of Rensselaerswyck, to his colonists, to officials of the West India Company, to his copartners and to the States General. Nearly all the papers relate primarily to the establishment and the early development of the colony of Rensselaerswyck, but incidentally they touch on many matters relating to settlement in other parts of the province of New Netherland as well. From the Collections of the National Archives of the United Kingdom - The Prize Papers Collection The Prize Papers Project  is dedicated to digitalizing documents that were taken off ships that the English declared prizes in the years 1652-1815.  There are nineteen languages represented in the collection (so far), and by 2037, when the digitization is scheduled to be completed, there will be 3.5 million scans.  At the moment, the portal of the Prize Papers Project allows searches of materials taken from 1793 to 1815.  The Dutch National Archives has scanned materials from the Prize Papers Collection related to the Dutch Republic and its empire as part of the Sailing Letters Project .  Thus far, four letters from New Netherland have been found, all from one vessel, the  Hoop van Middleburg,  which was taken as a prize in 1665.  Digital images of all of the ship's surviving papers can be found here . Charles Gehring has provided introductions and and translations of three of these letters.  The first translated letter, dated October 5, 1664 from Hendrick Meesz Vrooman to relatives in the Netherlands, is  here . The original of this letter can be found here .  The second translated letter, dated October 12, 1664 by Pieter Meesz Vrooman to relatives in the Netherlands, can be found here , and the original is here: page 1 , page 2 , and address .  The third letter, dated October 12, 1664 by Gertruid  Weckmans (the wife of  Pieter Meesz Vrooman) to her former employer in the Netherlands, can be found here .  The original letter can be found here: page 1 , page 2 , and the address . Miscellaneous Peter Stuyvesant's 1665 certification of land grants to manumitted slaves  (transcription with translation ) Guide to Seventeenth-Century Dutch Coins, Weights & Measures  — a glossary of terms that appear in the above records.  A compilation of other published primary sources available online can be found at the site  New Netherland and Beyond. About the New Netherland Institute For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI  is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. More The New Netherland Research Center Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era.  More Subscribe Now Subscribe to NNI's   e-Marcurius and DAG  to receive information about New Netherland-related events, activities, conferences, and research.  Support NNI By supporting NNI you help increase awareness of the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland and its legacy in America.  New Netherland Institute, 272 Broadway Albany, New York 12204 United States Phone: 518-708-8720   Fax: 518-275-0605   Email: [email protected] Board Access Web Site Credits Design: ReZolv Creative Development: Web Instinct 169 IMAGES Exploring the New York Colony (Exploring the 13 Colonies) New York Colony Map 1700 27 Historical Facts About New York Colony [2024] 10 Facts About the New York Colony New York Colony Facts Life in the New York Colony by Jessica Moehle COMMENTS New York Colony 1524-1763. New York Colony history, facts, and timeline. New York was one of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776 and founded the United States of America. King James II was the Duke of York when he was granted land in America by King Charles II. Image Source: Wikipedia. New York Colony, Colonial America, Resources The following year, a second trading post, New Amsterdam, was established on the southern tip of Manhattan Island, at the mouth of the Hudson. In 1664, English forces captured New Amsterdam. Soon after, King Charles II gave the colony to his brother, James, the Duke of York, who renamed it "New York.". Although Dutch control was restored in ... New York Colony NEW YORK COLONY began as the Dutch trading outpost of New Netherland in 1614. On 4 May 1626, officials of the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland founded New Amsterdam, which subsequently became New York City. The English captured the colony in 1664, though a complete ousting of Dutch rule did not occur until 10 November 1674. Founding and History of the New York Colony Updated on April 24, 2021. New York was originally part of New Netherland. This Dutch colony was founded after Henry Hudson explored the area in 1609. He had sailed up the Hudson River. By the following year, the Dutch began trading with Indigenous peoples. They created Fort Orange located at present-day Albany, New York, to increase profit and ... Revolutionary New York New York played a central and imperative role in the American Revolution, and many battles took place in New York State, including: 1. Battle of Golden Hill, January 19, 1770. 2. Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775. 3. Battle of Long Island, 1776. 4. Battle of Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776. 5. Battle of Fort Washington, November 16 ... PDF Research in Colonial New York: A Genealogist's Primer Records in New York's Dutch and British colonial periods contain a wealth of information about some of New York's early inhabitants from 1624 to the start of Revolutionary War. Learn the basic types of records useful to family historians and how to find them—from local, county, and colony records to manuscripts, publications, and online ... Colonial New York: A History Colonial New York stood as a precursor of American society and culture as a whole: a broad model of the American experience we enjoy today. Kammen's history is enlivened by a look at some of the larger-than-life personalities who had tremendous impact on the many social and political adjustments necessary to the colony's continued growth. New York Colony Council Papers A1894 Records include correspondence, reports, petitions, orders, and warrants created by government officials and by private citizens. New York (Colony). Council. New York Colony Council papers. 1664-1781. A1894. With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant number ST-03-27-0006-17) and the William Nelson Cromwell ... Colonial and Revolutionary Governments Colonial and Revolutionary Governments. The New York State Archives holds the surviving administrative records of the Dutch colony of New Netherland and the British colony of New York. Most of the Dutch colonial records survived the New York State Capitol building fire of 1911. Many have been digitized and made available, along with ... New York ‑ Native American tribes, Immigration & the Harlem ... The Dutch first settled along the Hudson River in 1624 and established the colony of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. In 1664, the English took control of the area and renamed it New York. Province of New York The Province of New York was a British proprietary colony and later a royal colony on the northeast coast of North America from 1664 to 1783.. In 1664, the English under Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York raised a fleet to take the colony of New Netherland, then under the Directorship of Peter Stuyvesant, from the Dutch.The Governor surrendered to the English fleet ... Roanoke's 'Lost Colony' Was Never Lost, New Book Says A new book about the colonists, "The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island," published in June and citing 10 years of excavations at nearby Hatteras Island, aims to put the mystery to bed. The book ... New York Colony Timeline This historical timeline showcases the rich and ever-evolving tapestry of the New York Colony, a place that has left an indelible mark on American history and culture. Year. Event. 1609. Henry Hudson explores the region. 1624. Establishment of New Netherland. 1626. Purchase of Manhattan Island. New York's Colonial History New York's Colonial History. New York State's Path Through History (03:37) New York Colonial Records • FamilySearch Many records from the colonial era in New England were kept at the town or county level. Search the catalog at the town or county level to locate those records. 1701- 1774 - Records of the Vice-Admiralty court of the Province of New York - images only. 1701-1847 - Chancery minutes and orders - images only. 1730-1786 wills 1664-1683 - Probate ... New York Colony The New York Colony was classified as one of the Middle Colonies. The Province of New York was an English colony in North America that existed from 1626 until 1776, when it joined the other 12 of the 13 colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of New York. Founding of the New York Colony. The Colonies The Carolinas (Est. 1663) Pennsylvania (Est. 1682) New Jersey (Est. 1702) Georgia (Est. 1732) In the 17th century, New Amsterdam was a small trading and farming settlement on the southern tip of Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River. It had a magnificent harbor and a majestic river that provided access deep into the rich interior of ... New York vital records timeline: Key dates that impact your research New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 2018) p. 15 ^ Return to text. 2. Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. 1 (Albany: James B. Lyon, 1894) p. 19 Accessed via Google Books, Jan. 17, 2019. ^ Return to text. 3. New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer, p. 15 ... archives.nypl.org -- New York Colony Council minutes New York (Colony). Council Call number MssCol 2166 Physical description.13 linear feet (1 volume) Preferred Citation New York Colony Council minutes, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library Repository Manuscripts and Archives Division Location MssCol 2166 Access to materials Request an in-person research appointment. New Book w/ New Findings: Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery As clues unfold, a new book promises to provide readers with the latest findings in the quest to solve America's most enduring cold case: The fate of Sir Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony. "Excavating the Lost Colony Mystery," published by the First Colony Foundation and the University of North Carolina Press, showcases current research by ... Selected Digital Historical Documents: Research Library: NYS Library New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865: This six-volume set compiled by Frederick Phisterer provides detailed information on various aspects of New York State's role in the Civil War and is an important resource for conducting research into New York State regiments during the Civil War. Each regimental history in this set includes ... New York Colony and State naturalization and immigration lists Manuscripts and Archives Division. Access to materials. Request an in-person research appointment. This collection is consists of New York Colony naturalization statistics (1740-1769), and New York State immigration lists (1802-1814). The documents provide names and other personal details of the naturalized citizens and immigrants. Online Publications :: New Netherland Institute The New Netherland Research Center. Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era. ... By supporting NNI you help increase awareness of the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland and its legacy in America ... assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis