GLEANINGS FROM THE SURROGATE'S OFFICE.

COMMISSION FOR A SPECIAL COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.

Whereas his Royal Highnesse James Duke of Yorke and Albany, Earle of Ulster, &c.; Lord high Admirall of Scotland & Ireland & the Dominion of New England & Virginia, Barbados, St. Christophers, Antego, New Yorke in America &c. hath by his Commission dated at St. James the third day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1682 & in the 34th. yeare of his Maties Raigne constitute and made me his Vice Admirall of New Yorke & Maritime parts & Islands belonging to the same, and hath Authorized & impowered mee to appoint a Judge, Register & Marshall of a Court of Admiralty there; I do therefore hereby make & appoint You Lucas Santen Esqr. Judge of the said Court & William Beekman Deputy Mayor, John Laurence & James Graham Aldermen of the citty of New Yorke, Mr. Cornelis Stenwyck, Mr. Nicholas Bayard, Mr. William Pinhorne, and Mr. Jacob Leysler, and you or any six of you to hear & determine of any or all Treasons, Felonys, Robberys, Piracys, Murders, Manslaughters, Confederacyes, breaches of trust, imbezleing goods or other Transgressions, contempts, misprissions and spoyles whatsoever, done or committed with Maratime Jurisdiction aforesaid, on board the Ship Camelion of London, Nicholas Clough commander & I do also appoint Witl: Nicolls to bee Register & John Collier to bee Marshall of the said Court & this Commission to bee of Force during the time of this tryall only

Given under my hand & seale this 15th. day of September 1683. and in the thirty fifth yeare of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland &c, King, Defender of the Faith &c.

tember

*

THO DONGAN.

Memorandum. That on Thursday the twenty the day of Sep* * * * * * at the Citty Hall of New Yorke in America, A speciall Court of Oyer & Terminer was holden by Virtue of this following Commission viz."*

*This is the Commission issued Sept. 15th, as quoted.

All the Grand

Jurors, except William Pinhorne, being "Present in the Court" they delivered an indictment for piracy "neare the Island of Neavis upon the deep Sea," on the ship named in the Commission, on the 29th and 30th days of June, 1683, against the following named ten persons of the ship's company. "Edward Sharkey, Robert Cokram, John Davvell, Henry Lewin, Daniell Kelly, Robert Dousin, John Morrine, Arthur Davis, Thomas Dickson, and John Hallamore

"To the which the Prisoners pleaded severally nott Guilty & for tryall put themselves on God & their Country Whereupon this Jury was impannelled and sworne. Andrew Bown, John Iniaus, Richard Martin, William Merrit, William Cox, Edward Read, John Rich, John Robinson, John Thurber, Paul Richards, Brant Schuyler, Jacobus Cortland. The Court adjourned till the next day seven of the Clock in the morning"

"Fryday September 21th 1683. The Prisoners being all brought to the barre & the Judgement read to the Jury. Edward Starkey was alone sett to the Barre & the rest of the prisoners remanded." (Here follows the testimony of the witnesses.) "Charge being given to the Jury they were sent out, and the Court adjourned till two of the Clock in the afternoon.

Friday September the 21th. Afternoone. The prisoner being brought to the Barr, and the Jury called over; They bring the Prisoner in, Nott Guilty. The prisoner remanded during the pleasure of the Court. The Court adjourned until next morning Eight of the Clock.

66

Saturday September the 22nd. 1683. Edward Sharkey brought to the Barre. Ordered that hee stand committed until he find two sufficient Suretyes for the good behaviour, in two hundred pounds, for a yeare and a day.

"The Judge informs the Court and the Jury that the Advocate has Order to withdraw the Indictment against Robert Cockram, John Davvell, Henry Lewin, Daniell Kelly, Robert Dousin, John Morrine, Arthur Davis, Thomas Dickson and John Hallamore."

The Court, Grand Jurors and petit jurors continued in session several days, and adjourned each day until "Eight of Clock" in the morning, never until later than nine o'clock.

CERTIFICATE THAT AT THE OPENING OF TRINITY CHURCH THE MINISTER READ THE PRAYERS AND PSALMS PROPERLY.

By his Excelly Coll. Benjamin Fletcher Capt Genll & Govr in cheife of the province of New Yorke &c. These are to certifie unto all to whom these presents shall come or may Consern that on Sunday the 13th of March Instant at the first opening of Trinity Church in New Yorke after ye reading the Morning & Evening Service Mr. William Vesey* did declare before his congregation his unfeigned Assent and Consent to all & Every thing Contained & prescribed in & by the book Entitled the book of Comon prayer & administration of the Sacraments & other rites & Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England together with the Salter or psalms of David printed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches in the form & manner of making, Consecrating & ordayning & Consecrateing of bishops, priestes & deacons & in the Time of divine Service did read a Certificate from the R Reverend father in God Henry Lord Bishop of London that he had subscribed the acknowledgments & Declaration according to the act of uniformity.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand Seale at New Yorke the 25th of March Annoqe Domini 1698.

BEN: FFLETCHER.

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY.

Henry by divine Grace Lord Bishop of London To all to whom these presents Shall or may Consern, health in our Lord God Everlasting WHEREAS by an act of parliament mad in the first year of our Sovereign Lord & Lady King William and Queen Mary Entitled an act for the abrogating of the oaths of Suprem

*The Rev. William Vesey was graduated at Harvard College, Massachusetts, and removed thence to Long Island, where he officiated as a dissenting minister. On the incorporation of Trinity Church, New York, in 1696, he was invited to conform to the Church of England. He proceeded to England, received holy orders, and was appointed Rector of Trinity Church, where he first officiated February 6th, 1697, and which he held until his death in 1746. Mr. Vesey was married in this city in 1698 to Mrs. Mary Reade, a widow.

acy & Allegiance and appointing other oaths; it is provided & Enacted that every person at his or their respective commission to be incumbent in any Ecclesiasticale promotion or dignity in the Church of England Shall Subscribe & declare before his ordinary in manner & form as in the sd Act is Conteined Now Know yee that on the day of the date hereof did personally appear before us Mr. William Vesey to be admitted to the Ministeriall function in ye Citty of New Yorke & Subscribed as followeth as by the said act is required, I William Vesey do declare that i will Conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is Now by law Established In Wittness whereof we have Caused our Seale Manual to be affixed to these presents.

Dated the Second day of August In the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred ninety seaven & in the 22cond year of our Translation.

RECITAL TO A DECREE MADE MAY 9TH, 1701.

By the Honble Wm Smith Esqr President peter Schuyler Abraham Depeyster Samll Staates Robert Livingston, Rob Walters & Thos Weaver Esq of our Council on whom the Administration of the Government is Devolved upon the Death of ye Earle of Bellomont & absence of ye Lieut Governr.

COPY OF A LOTTERY TICKET.

No 812 Lottery for the Year 1777. The Bearer of this Ticket will in pursuance of an Act Made in the Seventeenth of his Majestys Reign be entitled to such beneficial Chance as shall belong thereto in the Lottery to be drawn in Pursuance of the said Act. THOS THOMPSON.

THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Bequest to a Congregation by the Will of Fred'k Wollffes, Glazier:

My Present Estate With Outstanding Debts will amount to about 700£ which I impower my Executors hereafter Named to let on Intrust to the German Evang. Lutheran Congregation at

Christ Church in this City during the Natural Life of my beloved Wife Magdalene Who Shall receive the aforesaid Intrust Yearly as long as she lives.

*

But after the Decease of my Wife Magdalene the one half of the Aforesaid Estate I give and bequeath unto * * and the other half unto Philip Oswald Baker of this City in trust for the Sole use and Benefit of the German Luth Congregation at Christ Church.

And I hereby Nominate and appoint my loving Friend the Rev. Fd'k Mecklenburg [Muhlenberg] and George Loreng Wachtel Executors

Witnesses-Peter Grim Jason Jacob Beittman Leonard Fisher. Dated Ap. 27, 1775 Probated Feby 6, 1776

AN ANTE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT.

Appeared for me William Bogardus Publick Notary Resident in New Yorke Admitted by the Right Honourable Sr Edmond Andross Knight Leiftenant Governor Generall an Vice Admirall Under his Royal Highnesse James Duke of Yorke and Albany &c. of New Yorke and dependencies of the same in America and before these after Following Witnesse Dirck Claesen Pottbaker Bride Groome of the one Side an An Metty Elbert Bride to be of the Other Side Assisted by Bay Crousfeld an Cornelis Vanderburgh her Chossen offerseers Making Acquainted to them Confirmed with them Selfe with god Almightys Permission to mary Each other doe alsoe declare by this to b- agr-d that the Same (Vizt) Writings Should be confirmed upon this after following Conditions an Autentick made b-for- Marriage (Vizt) that boad Parties Collaterall to Subsede of their marriage Intended Shall bringe in All such goods moveable and Immoveable Non-Excepted of which the Almighty god has blessed them With all Whereof dureing the said marriage that there be any getting or Losse in the Estate that they bringe together Shall the Prooffs or Losse b- boren Equally betwixt boad parties Inheritance and dead Charges also shall b- Accounted Under the Expences this is betwixt boad Parties aforesaid Alsoe stipu