Davis Family Donation
Kingston Town Court Minutes 1718-1724
The Kingston Town Court was established in 1688 when the Dongan Patent set up the Corporation of the Town of Kingston. A continuation of the Dutch Court at Wiltwyck, it had the same jurisdiction and was governed by magistrates chosen from the Corporation’s Board of Trustees. In the minutes magistrates settle various matters of livestock damaging fences and crops, debt for cooper’s work, demands for certain sitting places in church, and even who was chosen Inspector of Chimneys in 1723.
Sample Entries
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April 1, 1719
Any magistrate absent from court without good reason shall forfeit 2 shillings.
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March 1, 1721
Johannes Schoonmaker complains that Johannes Maston impounded his
horses. Maston claims that when he took the horses he found his fence in good order and Schoonmaker’s gate open where the horses could run
through. Court gives judgment against the plaintiff.
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Mar 7, 1722
Tjatie Bogardus complains that Petrus Bogardus owes six shillings for passage to New York.
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Sept 5, 1722
Court orders the messenger of the court to serve persons to be summoned personally or in their absence if married to the wife of such person or the court must question the legality of the summons.
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April 3, 1723
Johannes Maston and the Consistory complains that Andries Hermans give up his sitting place in the church because he came by it unlawfully.
