Freedom of religion--New York (State)

December 27, 1653 remonstrance of the inhabitants of Gravesend to the Dutch West India Company (continued).

Notes documenting the July 19, 1653 nomination of magistrates for Gravesend by Lady Deborah Moody and John Tilton, and a December 27, 1653 remonstrance of the inhabitants of Gravesend signed before Tilton, town clerk, addressed to the Dutch West India Company and complaining about corruption of the colonial administration and its failure to abide by its promise of religious freedom.

A ca. November 1656 petition from the inhabitants of Flushing to Peter Stuyvesant asking for mercy for their schout (sheriff), William Hallett, who had been deposed from his office and sentenced to banishment for allowing William Wickenden, a Baptist from Rhode Island, to conduct services in Hallett's home; erroneously dated 1648 in a note on the following page where it is wrongly associated with Hallett's earlier troubles relating to his marriage to Elizabeth Feake. Pages 179-180 torn out.

A January 17, 1648 order of Peter Stuyvesant regarding the refusal by John Townsend and several others to contribute to pay for a Dutch Reformed minister for the village of Flushing, and regarding the nomination of candidates for sheriff; he orders them to appear before him and the council the following week; with a note regarding a September 28, 1647 mention of "Forrester ... pretended agent of Lady Mary Stirling" [i.e. James Farrett, agent for the Earl of Stirling] who had clandestinely visited Hempstead and Flushing.

The April 16, 1663 letter from the Dutch West India Company ordering Peter Stuyvesant to permit religious activities beyond those the authorized Dutch Reformed Church; the letter was written as a result of John Bowne's appeal to the Company after being deported by Stuyvesant to the Netherlands for holding Quaker meetings.

Excerpts from the September 14, 1663 [i.e. 1662] order of Peter Stuyvesant to deport John Bowne who, having been jailed for three months, has not paid his fine; and a note regarding the February 1, 1656 order by Stuyvesant banning unauthorized preachers and religious meetings.

Excerpts from Nicasius de Sille's report on Mary Tilton's Quaker activities (continued); from the sentence of banishment pronounced October 5, 1662 by Peter Stuyvesant against John and Mary Tilton; and, from the sentence of banishment pronounced the same day by Stuyvesant against Michal Spicer and her son Samuel.

Excerpts from a September 21, 1662 order prohibiting unauthorized religious meetings and "seditious and seducing books" and requiring all inhabitants to subscribe to the oath of allegiance; from Nicasius de Sille's report on John Tilton's Quaker activities and his recommendation that Tilton be fined 100 Flanders pounds, jailed until his fine had been paid, and banished; and from de Sille's report on Mary Tilton, wife of John, recommending the same sentence.

An August 24, 1662 record of the complaint of the magistrates of Rustdorp (now Jamaica) that a large Quaker meeting is held weekly at John Bowne's home in Flushing; an excerpt of a September 9, 1662 order that the magistrates and residents of the English towns in New Netherland assist the schout (sheriff) Resolved Waldron to arrest those attending the Quaker meeting; an excerpt of the September 14, 1662 sentence pronounced against John Bowne that he be fined 25 Flanders pounds and if he again holds Quaker meetings, he will be fined 50 Flanders pounds and banished for a third offense.

The March 3, [1661] petition of John Townsend and Richard Bridnell (or Brudenell) to Peter Stuyvesant asking that they no longer be required to keep soldiers in their homes (continued); with Stuyvesant's negative response.

A February 15, 1661 order of Peter Stuyvesant in response to the petition of the inhabitants of Rustdorp (now Jamaica) exempting those who swore to report Quaker activity from boarding soldiers, but those whose refused to swear, including John Townsend, were required to house and feed soldiers in their homes, and ordering the town officials to inform Townsend of his sentence of banishment; with a note regarding the fine imposed on Samuel Spicer recorded February 17, [1661]; and the March 3, [1661] petition of John Townsend and Nicholas [i.e.

February 10-11, 1661 petition of Richard Everett, Nathaniel Denton, and Andrew Messenger, magistrates of Rustdorp, representing the inhabitants (continued).

The January 24, 1661 order of Peter Stuyvesant naming new magistrates for Rustdorp (now Jamaica) and quartering soldiers there (continued); and the February 10-11, 1661 petition of Richard Everett, Nathaniel Denton, and Andrew Messenger, magistrates of Rustdorp, representing the inhabitants, in which they request the soldiers be recalled to Manhattan, swear to report any Quakers, and list the six inhabitants who refused to so swear including John Townsend.

The January 20, 1661 sentence of banishment pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against John Townsend; and Stuyvesant's January 24, 1661 order naming Richard Everett, Nathaniel Denton, and Andrew Messenger as new magistrates for Rustdorp (now Jamaica) and ordering the town to pay for soldiers to be quartered among the inhabitants to ensure no illegal meetings were held; Everett and Denton had informed upon his neighbors regarding the Quakers to Stuyvesant.

The January 20, 1661 sentence of banishment pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against John Townsend being a Quaker and refusing to attend Dutch Reformed services.

The sentence pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against Samuel Spicer for attending Quaker meetings and boarding a Quaker in his mother's house (continued); and genealogical notes regarding sisters Rose and Eliphal Wright and Freelove Wilmot, all of whom had Townsend mothers and married Townsend men.

The sentence pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against Henry Townsend for hosting and promoting Quaker meetings (continued) with a note that the fine was paid February 24, 1661; and followed by the [January 20, 1661?] report by Nicasius de Sille to Stuyvesant regarding Samuel Spicer having attended Quaker meetings and boarded a Quaker in his mother's house and Stuyvesant's sentence against Spicer fining him 12 Flanders pounds.

The sentence pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against Henry Townsend for hosting and promoting Quaker meetings (continued).

The sentence pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against Henry Townsend based on the January 20, 1661 report by Nicasius de Sille regarding Townsend's hosting and promoting Quaker meetings; though de Sille had recommended that Townsend be fined 100 Flanders pounds and banished, Stuyvesant ordered a fine of only 25 Flanders pounds.

January 20, 1661 report by Nicasius de Sille to Peter Stuyvesant regarding Henry Townsend (continued).

January 13, 1661 trial of Henry Townsend and Samuel Spicer by Nicasius de Sille (continued); and the January 20, 1661 report by Nicasius de Sille to Peter Stuyvesant regarding Henry Townsend, giving Townsend's criminal history of associating with Quakers and recommending that Townsend be fined 100 Flanders pounds, jailed until the fine paid, and banished from New Netherland as an example to others.

January 9, 1661 report of the Rev. Samuel Drusius, Resolve Waldron, and Nicolas Bayard who had been sent to Rustdorp (now Jamaica) to investigate reported Quaker meetings (continued); and January 13, 1661 trial of Henry Townsend and Samuel Spicer by Nicasius de Sille, attorney general on New Netherland, for having promoted, hosted, and attended Quaker meetings; their excuse that they had only met with friends was rejected and a fine of 600 guilders was recommended and both were jailed awaiting Peter Stuyvesant's final judgement.

January 9, 1661 report of the Rev.

January 8, 1661 letter from Peter Stuyvesant to the inhabitants of Rustdorp (now Jamaica) sending Rev. Samuel Drusius to perform baptisms and with him, Resolve Waldron, substitute schout (Dutch official similar to a sheriff), and Nicolas Bayard, clerk, to investigate reported Quaker meetings including ones hosted by Henry Townsend.

March 26, 1658, order of Peter Stuyvesant to the inhabitants of Flushing (continued); excerpt from the minutes of the New Netherland council for September 30, 1658 regarding three Quakers, Thomas Christian, Thomas Chapman, and John Cook, who were detained while trying to pass through Manhattan to New England; they were returned to Communipaw (Jersey City) and warned not to return to Manhattan; with notes regarding Stuyvesant's February 1, 1656 order prohibiting unauthorized church meetings (conventicles) and the February 12, 1659 arrival in Manhattan of a Joris Jorissen Townsend on the Dutch s

March 26, 1658, order of Peter Stuyvesant to the inhabitants of Flushing directing the appointment of new town officials, banning town meetings, instituting a tax to pay for a Dutch Reformed minister, and swear to obey the governor and his orders; those unwilling to comply would have six weeks to leave New Netherland.

January 28, 1658, sentence pronounced by Peter Stuyvesant against Tobias Feake for his part in the Flushing Remonstrance; Feake, who had already been jailed for a month, is to be stripped of his position as sheriff of Flushing and pay a fine of 200 guilders in lieu of banishment.

Report of the January 15, 1658 trial of Henry Townsend for harboring Quakers (continued); and a note that on January 23, 1658, Edward Hart, having been jailed for three weeks, asking for mercy from the council, successfully petitioned to be released.

Report of the January 9-10, 1658 examination of William Noble and Edward Farrington, magistrates of Flushing, regarding their signing the Flushing Remonstrance; they first argued that the patent for Flushing allowed freedom of conscience, but later confessed, claimed that Tobias Feake had persuaded them, and swore to use better judgement in the future; report of the January 15, 1658 trial of Henry Townsend for harboring Quakers for which he was fined 300 guilders and to be jailed until his fine was paid.

January 8, 1658 summons issued by Peter Stuyvesant to Henry Townsend, Rustdorp (now Jamaica), for hosting Quaker meetings in his home (continued); report of the January 10, 1658 interrogation of John Townsend, Rustdorp, by the governor's council regarding his role in the Flushing Remonstrance and his association with a Quaker at Gravesend; he was ordered to pay bail or else remain jailed until he could be questioned by the attorney general.