Davis Family Donation
Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions Minutes 1705-1712, 1729-1737
When the province was divided into counties in 1683, the Duke of York established the Court of General Sessions to try civil and criminal cases. By 1691, civil jurisdiction went to the Court of Common Pleas. These minutes include the usual cases of debt, theft, and assault “against ye peace of our Sovereign Lady the Queen her Crown and Dignity.” They also reveal how this growing colonial community dealt with its own expansion. There is discussion of the regulation of ring fences, the exchange of gifts to keep the peace with Indians, raising taxes to defend the frontier, and the laying out of public roads. Court orders are both general, like the setting off of a new precinct, and specific, like drivers of sleds in winter giving way to pedestrians.
Sample Entries
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Sept 4, 1706
Trustees of Marbletowne ordered to run their line or else make the road that is defective between Kingstowne and Rosendal to the Rondout Kill. -
Mar 4, 1707
Last will of Pieter Cornelisse Low bearing date December 20, 1690 was signed, sealed and declared to be his last will and testament. -
Sept 3, 1707
Isaac Hasbrouck of New Paltz indicted for assault. He plead guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of 20 shillings and costs. -
Sept 3, 1707
Pierro, Negro man of Albert Rosa of Rochester indicted for assault. He plead guilty and was ordered publicly whipped on his naked back 10 strokes at every corner of Kingston, 10 strokes in front of the county house, and pay costs. -
June 21, 1708
The Commission for laying out public and common highways reports on the condition of roads from Kingstowne to waterside, from Shawankonk to Kingstowne, and from Kingstowne to Albany. -
Sept 8, 1708
The court allows Anthony Crispell to elect and choose Arien Gerritse, Johannis Hardenberg and William Nottingham to be his guardians. -
Feb 22, 1709
£123 tax levied against the townships for a fund for presents to “ye five nations,” defense of the frontier and for salaries for Assessors and Treasurer. Dutchess County to pay over £24 for same. (There are other references to the North and South Ward of Dutchess County that was apparently in the same “shire” as Ulster) -
Mar 3, 1709
Pieter Pieterse, Yeoman of Hurley, is indicted for assaulting John Chambers, weaver of Hurley. Pieterse appears “in drinke” and the trial is referred to the next morning. -
Sept 7, 1709
The road from Waggackemek to Rochester is not sufficient. The court orders the Constable of Waggackemek to command the inhabitants to repair the road from time to time, not to exceed 6 days a year. -
Sept 7, 1709
Andries, an Indian, has assaulted Jan Middaugh, tenant of Colonel Rutse. The constable of Rochester could not find Andries. According to the covenant, the court orders the constable of Shawankonck to give notice to Ankerop and require him and the rest of the Sachems to appear to hear and answer the complaint. -
Sept 7, 1709
Court approves an order presented by Moses DuPuis on behalf of the inhabitants of Rochester that “after what summer grains that are sowed before ye 15th day of May yearly shall be gotten in harvest, that then hoggs have free range until people begin to sow again in the spring.” -
Sept 5, 1710
Benjamin Smedes moves to have the “nabourhood or Jurisdiction of Shawongounck to be separated from the New Paltz and that they might have Constable, Assessors and Collectors. Court orders same. -
Sept 5, 1710
Dirck Valek petitions court to bind him and Joneke Kendall in the holy bond of matrimony.
