USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume II > Part 33
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume II > Part 33
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During the first three years of the occupation there were nu- merous instances of assault and high-handed methods of the soldiery, committed against Whigs (patriots) and Tories (loyalists) indis- criminately. The Hessians, encamped around Jericho, Westbury and Cedar Swamp, stripped boards from houses and entered premises for whatever they wanted when building and furnishing barracks. There was little semblance of justice or order. A Hessian officer in answer- ing a group of insulted citizens, lightly replied that his men were "such a pack of thieves you can keep nothing from them". A farmer, upon hearing a noise in his barnyard late at night shot at random into the dark and wounded a Hessian making off with a cow, and was good-humoredly told by the commanding officer that he would have given the farmer a guinea had he been lucky enough to kill the culprit. Captain Daniel Youngs himself, a loyal officer in His Majesty's service, had great difficulty in preventing the Hessian soldiers stationed at Oyster Bay from stealing juice from his cider press. Henry Onderdonk, to whom modern historians of Long Island owe an immeasurable debt for his collection of historical material in his
320
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
justly famous Revolutionary Incidents, lists many other instances of wanton robbery, murder and seizure of movable property from both homesteads and grocery stores.
The irregular impressment of teams was also frequent and extremely annoying to a people who depended entirely upon their own teams for transportation on land. "No matter how urgent, whether plowing, going to the mill, on a visit, at church, or at a funeral, the team must go. I. R. had a black boy and team impressed,
(Photo Courtesy of F. Kull)
Seaman House, Plain Edge
on the road, to carry baggage to Easthampton, and knew not what had become of them until the boy returned with his feet frozen. I. R. was himself met in his wagon and pressed, but he resolutely refused to go, though a bayonet was put to his breast. They took his team, however, which he gave up for lost. One season the Hempstead troop took off nine loads of his hay, and those from Jericho the rest."
Soon after the British occupation a forage office was set up in New York, and foragers acting for the army would give certificates to Tory civilians, redeemable at the forage office at proclamation prices. However, it was very inconvenient, and usually not advisable, to go to New York at that time.
Whigs, or rebels, had no legal standing whatever. A British proclamation of November 15, 1777, stated that "persons in want of salt to cure necessary provisions for their family use this ensuing
321:
LONG ISLAND CENSUS OF 1781
winter, must produce a certificate of a justice of the peace next their place of residence that they are proper persons to be trusted." This was a most effective way to exert pressure upon rebels, for salt was a necessity to the farmers. Three bushels of salt were rationed to each family, regardless of numbers. The census of 1781 was not yet taken which showed some families to have five adults and seven children, and others to have but two adults. The average size of families for the United States in 1790 was 5.7 persons. On Septem- ber 5, 1778, Governor Tryon made a trip on Long Island to eliminate sympathizers with the Revolutionists. He wrote to his superior, Lord George Germain :
I arrived last evening from the East End of the Island, with a Detachment of near one Thousand provincials, where I had marched to secure the peaceable behavior of the dis- affected inhabitants in that quarter, and assist the Commis- sary in obtaining about one thousand fat cattle for the Army. Enclosed is the oath I administered to all the Inhabitants, on the North side of the Island, giving them the alternative whether to take the oath or remove with their families and furniture to Connecticut; not one of the whole chose the lat- ter, even the hottest Rebels said my proposal was generous, and took the oath, which convinces mne that the acrimony of opposition is much softened by the late concessions of Government.
A month later, however, Governor Tryon felt it necessary to repeat his visit, for he wrote to the same Lord on October 8, 1778, "Hav- ing in a second excursion brought all the Inhabitants on the East end of Long Island as far as Montaulk Point, under an oath of peace- able behavior to His Majesty's Government (and with good humor), I acquainted Sir Henry Clinton therewith. * *
The British soon discovered, however, that a simple oath of loyalty to His Majesty's Government was not sufficient. The hap- hazard, unregulated practice of seizure failed to provide enough food and material. Thus throughout 1777 and 1778, the British began to evolve a more systematic policy for requisitions and set up machinery to carry it into effect. The Long Island farmers were winning in the game with the foragers, as seen by a British procla- mation of December 27, 1777 :
Whereas the farmers of Long Island are possessed of great quantities of wheat, rye and Indian corn, and it is highly unreasonable that those who stand in need of the same should be left at the mercy of the farmer; the price of wheat is fixed at 12s per bushel of 58 pounds. . Farmers are ordered to make a return to the commanding officer of the militia of the county of the quantity they have, and how much they want for family use.
L. I .- II-21
322
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
At the same time, "farmers are ordered to thrash out immediately one-third of their present crop of wheat and rye; and one-third by February next; the residue by May 1. Whoever disobeys will be imprisoned and his crops confiscated."
These orders, harsh enough in themselves, yet permitted inhab- itants to make their own estimate of their crops and of the amounts needed for family consumption during the winter.
Still the farmers held back. Captain Youngs' Order Book con- tains revealing entries as to how desperate the British forces were in their lack of provisions, horses and wagons. On September 20, 1780, the British were still trying to get the farmers to provide grain. On that date Colonel Hamilton ordered all inhabitants of Queens County "to thrash out their oats as fast as possible and bring them to the commissary at Jamaica or Flushing by the 25th. If this order is not complied with they must blame themselves if a foraging party is sent among them."
The 25th arrived, and apparently no oats came in, for three days later, on September 28, Colonel Hamilton gave the order that "the forage be immediately carried into execution and completed by the 20th of October." Furthermore, he summoned the major and all the captains of the Queens County Militia to assemble in Jamaica on October 2 to meet an officer of the Quartermaster General's Depart- ment, in order that the forage be thoroughly conducted.
These efforts were apparently not effectual. The Long Island farmer continued to thwart the occupying army by the methods uni- versally adopted by civilian farmers against hostile powers in their midst. Thus as a last extremity, Governor Robertson established an Office of Police, a sort of Gestapo for Long Island, in the bitter cold days of January, 1781, at the time when Governor Robertson wrote from New York, ". two feet of snow on the ground. I am just returned and hardly able to write." Its primary task was to make or cause to be made a census of all inhabitants and their property, in order that a system might be established which the canny farmers could not circumvent. The three following orders taken from Captain Youngs' Order Book form the basis for the census reports :
Office of Police Jamaicai 31 January 1781
His excellency Leut. General Robertson has Directed us to prouve a regular return of the Number of Inhabitants on the Island Consisting with the Men Women & Children of the Horses Stock Carts and Waggons and the Hay and grain thereon.
You will therefore make a return at this office of your Beat Conformable to the above Order on the 1st of March.
GEO. D. LUDLOW, Supt.
To Capt Youngs
323
LONG ISLAND CENSUS OF 1781
Captain Youngs permitted almost a month to go by before he acted upon this order. Perhaps he did not relish the task of prying into the lives of his neighbors. Probably, however, the heavy snow- fall of January 31 ushered in a bitter February. At any event, one week before the report was due at Jamaica, he issued the following orders to his subordinates :
Oyster Bay 22 February, 1781
To Sargt Joseph Lattin I received Orders from the Police Office of the 31 January to make a registure return of all the Inhabitants both Men Women & Children both White & Black Horses Stock Carts Waggons Hay and Grain of all Sort and you are required to go around and take a Particu- lar a Count of all Beginning at your house to Capt Weekeses So to Birdsall Neighborhood then beginning at Durland all below and the West side of the Brooke by Vanwkes and Hogisland taking a Particular acCount of all their Timber- land of Each and Ordering them to Cut and Cart immediately and those that has not got their Proclamation Wood Down to get it immediately for the fleet is a Coming again & the other wood must be got Down that was Contracted for to the Landing by the 20th of March about 2 cords off each acre- you are required to take an a Count and Deliver it to me by Sunday Morning as I may be able to Make a General return of the hole
DANIEL YOUNGS Capt.
Oyster Bay, 22d February 1781
To Sergt William Bennit I have received Orders from the Police office of the 31 January to make a regular return of all the Inhabitants both Men Women & Children White & black Horses Stock Carts Waggons Hay and grain of all sort & you are required to go round and take a Particular a Count of all Beginning at your house and so to Richard Weekes So to Motton town and taking all on the West Side of the road that leads throe Jerico to Simonsons all in that Quarter not missing any Beginning at John Carpenters at the West Side of the road to Benjamin Townsend and take an account of all the acres of Wood Land Each man has and Bring the account to me by Sunday Morning as I may Be able to make a General One of the Whole.
DANL YOUNGS.
The three charts printed here together with a fourth which is missing but is known by the tabulation at the bottom of the third chart, reveal much precise information concerning the size and
Men
Women
Child
White
Men
Women
Black
Chil 1
hors
Cattle
Sheep
hog3
Carts
Waggons
Fresh
Salt
hay
hay
hay
Wheat
Rye
Corn
Oats
Acres of
17
Miney Suydam.
1
1
5
1
1
3
3
13
35
5
John Suydam.
1
1
5
2
13
7
1
2
3
8
8
10
Edmond Weeks ..
4
5
1
2
2
3
12
10
7
1
1
2
10
6
10
11
Henery Downing. . ..
3
4
5
21
15
9
1
1
1
3
10
14
18
20
12
John Vannostrant ....
2
2
1
2
4
12
12
7
1
1
2
1
10
30
20
12
Nemiah Charshar ... . 2
3
3
3
10
7
1
1
2
7
7
15
6
1
1
16
20
5
Henry Durland.
5
6
3
3
10
4
1
1
1
4
4
2
9
John Miller ..
1
1
5
3
2
1
1
4 20
2
Jeromas Benit.
3
1
2
1
1
2
2
6
1
William Crisel
2
2
6
1
1
5
1
8
12
8 8
Thomas Alsop.
2
3
1
2
Samuel Nickles.
1
3
6
1
3
1
2
Jonathan Rosel .....
1
2
1
Absolom Townsend. .
1
Daniel Sealy ..
1
3
4
1
1
1
Black Jacob.
1
1
2
1
Samuel Bald(w)in ....
2
1
1
2
Samuel Fousdick ..
1
1
5
2
William Ceef.
1
1
2
French Joe. .
1
1
2
1
1
John Townsend.
2
3
1
Henry Townsend. . . .
3
1
2
1
2
8
1
Denias Alin. .
1
2
Nicolis Wacks.
1
1
7
John Henderson.
2
2
5
3
1
2
John Vilito
1
3
5
Jacob Mot.
1
2
1
1
1
10
1
10
10
Jeams Farley .
1
1
2
1
1
3
John Townsend.
1
2
4
Mandwil. . ..
1
1
John Townsend .. . . . .
1
1
4
16
1
1
27
Easter Townsend. .
1
Townsend Parish .. ..
3
2
1
1
5
5
2
3
2
Townsend Weeks. .
2
2
1
1
5
6
1
1
50
John Weeks.
2
3
1
2
1
1
3
Doctor (?) Witson ..
2
2
Robert Colwil.
2
3
1
1
3
68
79
106
6
10
9
70
181
74
119
6
17
2
3
9
21
114
164
235
30
204
324
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
Joseph Latting.
1
2
7
4
8
3
1
2
10
8
5
2
30
30
15
17
1
1
(Cheshire)
2
1
1
1
10
10
4
2
I
3
Mical Butler.
1
1
3
5
2
6
1
7
1
2
Peter Underhill.
1
2
6
2
3
25
1
1
1
10
10
6
12
Nicolas Wright ...
6
10
15
1
3
6
1
8
Thomas Wright.
2
and hody lines. .
.
9
6
1
10
3
4
2
3
1
1
hay
Plain
Sege
Woodland
Daniel Birdsill
3
2
LONG ISLAND CENSUS OF 1781
John Bennet. .
3
3
1
4
8
7
7
1
1
12
10
10
10
Jehanes Bennet. .
3
3
3
1 13
6
9
1
1
16
15
10
8
Nicholas Bennet .....
1
1
1
5
3
Gedian Wright .. ..
1
2
3
2
6
8
8
1
1 10
12
8
10
George Townsend ...
5
4
1
1
1
3
6
18
21
13
1
2
25
4
20
14
John Kirk.
1
3
1
2
8
9
7
1 -
10
Gilbert hair.
3
2
3
5
3
1
6
15
Benjamin Chester. ..
1
1
1
1
Richard Weekes. .
2
2
4
2
6
3
1
12
8
2
Samuel Bur ..
2
3
2
2
6
1
4
3
Daniel Burr ..
2
1
5
2
1
1
1
3
Garret Wortman. ..
2
4
3
6
10
10
CT
1
2
20
20
18
William Bramberg .. .
3
1
1
2
3
5
1
1
4
8
3
5
George Ferrse ..
1
2
4
3
12
1
1
1
6
10
2
5
Jacob Weekes. .
2
3
1
2
2
John Carpenter.
2
3
1
3
8
5
3
1 1
3
10
4
Samuel Willis.
1
1
2
4
4
3
1
1
5
6
Jacob Searing. .
1
1
3
1
2
Samuel Robans.
2
3
8
2
8
10
1
16
10
5
Benjamin Townsend.
1
3
3
2
6
5
22
12
8
1
1
3
20
8
3
25
Jobes hubs
1
1
4
1
7
9
4
Syas Lattin
3
2
2
1
4
21
14
13
1
5
25
10
9
6
William Siniason .
2
3
5
2
2 5
25
50
7
1
1
20
15
10
William Davis.
1
1
6
3
2
2
6
2
2
18
52
80
4
4
11
64
204
146
133
3
2
17
200
112
127
139
Woodland
Men
Women
Child
White
Men
Women
Black
Child
hors
Cattle
Sheep
hogs
Carts
Waggons
Fresh:
hay
Salt
hay
hay
Sege
hay
Wheat
Rye
Corn
Oats
Acres of
William Tapen.
325
Plain
326
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
Samuel Townsed . . . .
3
4
1
3
4
5
20
19
9
1
1
2
50
40
12
Jonathen Cabbs .. ...
1
1
1
1
torn
Lanck Thorn.
1
1
1
Adam Seman.
2
3
2
David Shadin ..
3
2
7
1
Ben Homer
1
1
2
1
Jeney Lines. .
2
1
Timothy Semon.
2
2
4
2
1
4
1
Rogers.
1
1
2
2
Jeams Sambo.
1
1
2
1
1
Thomas Smith.
5
6
3
3,
5
9
30
56
23
1
2
50
30
20
25
Henry Ludlam ..
3
5
2
1
2
7
29
38
20
1
1
5
40
10
20
20
Daniel Ludlam.
1
2.
2
1
7
6
10
4
Joseph Ludlam
3
4
3
1
1
3 11
9
8
1
1
10
10
10
2
Beany Ludlom
2
1
4
Thomas Ludlom.
1
3
4
2
6
20
2
1
1
20
10
Daniel Alin. .
3
3
2
8
10
5
1
1
10
10
10
10
Widow Alin
3
3
2
2
5
6
5
1
1
5
5
5
5
32
39
21
10
16
18
36
118
165
84
6
2
1 12
2
141
30
139
90
84
68
79
106
6
10
9
70
181
74
119
6
17
2
3
9
21 114
164
235
30
204
48
52
80
4
4
11
64
204
146
113
3
5
2
17
200
112
127
139
40
56
70
6
7
13
78
323
153
110
10
9
4
42
37
325
294
99
26
221
188
226
277
26
37
51
248
826
538
426
25
43
3 22
70
58
780
600
600
146
684
Woodland
Men
Women
Child
White
Men
Women
Black
Child
hors
Cattle
Sheep
hogs
Carts
Waggons
Fresh
hay
Salt
hay
Plain
hay
Sege
hay
Wheat
Rye
Corn
Oats
Acres of
327
LONG ISLAND CENSUS OF 1781
resources of eighteenth century farms around Oyster Bay, and of the social and agricultural life of the period. These four charts note 691 white persons and 114 negroes, or a proportion of six white to every one black. Women outnumber the men 226 to 188. Thus there were 16% more women than men. It must be remembered of course that the census was taken during war conditions and many men were probably away from home.
(Photo by Fred H. Selchow, Present Owner)
Homestead at Jericho of Elias Hicks, Showing North Side (now the front), Originally the Rear
Colonial families are often assumed to have been generally large. According to the figures of these charts, the population of 81 families was as follows:
Number of families
Children
10
0
15
1
17
2
12
3
9
4
11
5
4
6
2
7
1
8
Thus it is clear that over half the families in the area had two children or less, and only 8% had more than five children. The weak- ness in these statistics is that we are unable today to discover what
328
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
the census-taker considered a child and what an adult. The earlier census returns used either 10 or 16 as the dividing line between children and adults. 16 was probably the age in 1781. Obviously some of those listed as adults are grown-up children, for Thomas Smith is listed as having no children in his household, yet on May 5, 1781, he wrote to Captain Youngs that his son had taken a horse to Captain Youngs the previous spring. This same ambiguity char- acterizes every colonial census.
According to the United States Census of 1790, the average house in America had seven people living in it. This figure is even higher for the Jericho-Oyster Bay area in the census of 1781, where the figures for the white population there break down as follows:
3 houses had
1 inhabitant inhabitants
3
66
66
2
3
66
4 9
66
4
66
8 12
15
66
66
7 8
66
10
1 house
1
66
66
12
1
13
1
The proportion of negroes per house in the same area is inter- esting. Fifty-eight farms, comprising 58 of the number of houses in the census, had no negroes at all. Of the twenty-four houses with negroes living in them, thirteen had two or less, as shown by the following table :
8 houses had
5
2
66
3
4
2
2
66
66
1 house 1
66
11 8 9
66
5
6
8 5
66
66
66
9 10 11
60
66
14
1 negro - 2 negroes
4
5
The census shows that in spite of persistent requisitioning there were still more cattle in 1781 than people, for there were 826 cows. The hogs numbered 420, or approximately one for every two persons. The holding of sheep was surprisingly small, only 538, as recorded.
2126 acres of land were under cultivation, or 2.64 acres per person. Thomas Smith had the largest farm in the census, containing 100 acres under cultivation, 25 in woodland and 118 animals. Henry Ludlam was second, with 70 acres of grain and 20 acres of woodland
66
329
LONG ISLAND CENSUS OF 1781
and 104 animals. Henry Downing had 62 acres under cultivation, 12 acres of woodland and 51 animals. These are the three largest farms and reveal a very modest farming community far removed from the large estates of the present day in and near the same locality.
In spite of the heavy drain of the British upon the horses on Long Island, the census shows that in 1781 there were still 248 horses, or one for every 3.2 persons. The cart and wagon figures, however, reveal how far the British had depleted the vehicles of the area, for
(Photo Courtesy of The Historic American Building Survey, Library of Congress) Carll Homestead (Barker Estate) South Huntington
only 25 carts and 43 wagons were listed. Many families had no wagons at all. Only one man had both a cart and a wagon. It is likely, however, that lighter vehicles used for travel were not entered in these figures, although the usual travel was on horseback, for the British were primarily interested in heavy wagons that could trans- port bulky foodstuff and cord wood.
These figures cannot be accepted as typical of all Long Island in 1781. No generalizations regarding other areas can be made safely. They show simply the conditions in the one area they comprise, and we should be grateful for even this much rather than vexed that the reports from the other fourteen captains of the militia have not been preserved. Were they to be unearthed, added to these preserved by Captain Youngs and his family they would form a priceless picture of Long Island during one of its most crucial periods.
Other orders in the Youngs' Order Book indicate that the charts were used to equalize the burden among the entire population of supplying provisions and horses for the British. On April 10, 1781,
330
LONG ISLAND-NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
Colonel Hamilton ordered the deficiency in horses to be "made up as usual by a small tax to be levied by the Captain on every person in the county agreeable to the Captain's roll of the value of their estates." This statement indicates that all the captains had a census of their territories similar to these of Daniel Youngs. Other items in the Order Book deal with the almost frantic effort of the British to secure horses. New York was the headquarters of the British Army at this time, and it was evidently short of horses. However, the census lists, while indicating where and in what quantities the horses existed, did not secure horses fast enough.
In spite of the systematic survey, the inhabitants continued to win the game with the occupying forces right up to the sudden end of the war and the withdrawal by sea of the British troops from New York. The statistics presented here indicate clearly that the inhabitants of Long Island, although subscribing to the oath of allegiance to England, were at heart apathetic to Britain's needs and in numerous ways worked towards the ultimate success of the Ameri- can cause in many of the same ways that occupied Europe dealt with its temporary Nazi dominators in World War II. .
CHAPTER XXXV
Long Island Tribunals FREDERIC WHITE SHEPARD Former President of Nassau County Bar Association and of Lawyers Club of Brooklyn
T HE administration of justice among the aboriginal inhabitants, who were Algonkins, was patriarchal and tribal. Disputes within the family or family clan were decided by the head of the family. In disputes between families or clans, or members of different families or clans, the tribe at large acted as the tribunal.
The primitive democratic character of early tribunals, seeking to administer the human desire for justice, in civilizations having no connection with one another, is shown by the fact that this custom originally prevailed in the primitive Greco-Latin and Germanic com- munities. Our jury system is thought to be an evolutionary develop- ment of this custom. Homer (an Asiatic Greek, about 800 B. C.), in the earliest record of a trial, has "The People" administering demo- cratic justice in the market place, to decide the sum which should buy off guilt in a blood-feud case. Possibly the same words now used in criminal and formerly in mandamus and certiorari proceedings date back to that time.
The jurisdiction of the tribe extended over whatever territory the tribe was able to hold; thus these territories were the first judicial districts of Long sland. Prof. John H. Wigmore, in A Kaleidoscope of Justice p. 449, cites "Father Brebeuf's report for 1636 to his superior Father LeJeune on the Mission to the Hurons", part 11, chap. V, which gives an account of an Indian trial. At one stage, the defendant, coming forward, says, "Behold, here is something for him to smoke," speaking of the complainant who would avenge a death caused by the defendant. Father Brebeuf reports that "they believe there is nothing so suitable as tobacco to appease the passions. That is why they never attend a council without a pipe or calumet in their mouths. The smoke, they say, gives them intelligence and enables them to see clearly through the most intricate matters." The peace pipe played an important part in Algonkin tribunals and treaty conferences as it did in those of the tribe with whom William Penn dealt and in most of the other tribes. Possibly, pipe smoking in court, even at this late day, might be of benefit to all concerned.
The West India Company was incorporated in 1621 by the States General of the United Netherlands after fifteen years of agitation for a private trading monopoly to promote the cause of Calvinism and aggressive action against Spain's shipping and colonies. The com- pany was given practically unlimited power to increase commerce and profit, with only passing mention of colonization. Nevertheless some colonization took place although not on the scale attained by the
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English. Under the company's rules, home industries were allowed only for domestic consumption. A housewife who sold products of her spinning wheel to a neighbor would be guilty of breaking her oath to the company and ran the risk of being expelled from the colony as a perjurer.
The laws of the United Netherlands became effective on Long Island and those laws were based on the Code Justinian (the Civil Law) but modified by the laws and customs of the Province of Holland, and came to be known as the Roman-Dutch Law. A sur- vival of the Feudal Law resulted in the establishment in New Nether- land of manors and patroons. The Canon Law, although introduced into Holland contemporaneously with the Roman Law, was, after the Reformation (16th century), restricted to testamentary affairs, matri- monial cases, the administration of oaths and the like. The municipal law of the city of Amsterdam was transferred to this country and governed the Dutch towns on Long Island, except as modified by the director general and council, which was also the court of appeal. The jury system, as we know it, was not in effect. The members of the court performed the functions of a jury.
The first town court of which we have any record was estab- lished in Hempstead in 1646. Then followed Flushing, Middleburg (later known as Newtown), Amesfoort (Flatlands), Midwout (Flat- bush), Breuckelen, Rustdrop (Jamaica), Bushwyck, and New Utrecht in 1661. Each town was a judicial district. The new Amsterdam court of the Schout, Burgomasters & Scheppens had no jurisdiction on Long Island. Cases brought in that court involving real estate on Long Island were referred to the local sessions courts.
The director general and council, which consisted of the chief colonial officers of the West India Company and the skippers of the company's ships who happened to be in New Amsterdam, had execu- tive, legislative, and judicial power. They made many changes in the law and appointed the judges but the English settlements (Gravesend, Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica and Hempstead) under Dutch authority, elected magistrates, constables and clerks. The Dutch governor and council claimed the right to sanction the elections before they became legal, but that authority was exercised only formally until the advent of Petrus Stuyvesant. He ruled with an iron hand and a wooden leg, and was a hard man to get along with-a real dictator while he lasted, i. e., until 1664. On one occasion he ruled that it was treason for private persons to petition against magistrates, with or without cause. The petitioners were indicted and sentenced to fines and banishment. They were also denied the right of appeal to the States General. The West India Company supported the governor's stand but the States General recognized the right of appeal, suspended the sentences and summoned the governor to The Hague to defend his action. The mandamus directed him to restore the petitioners to the full rights of colonists. When the writ of mandamus was being read to him he grabbed the parchment, tore off the seal and sent only a representative to The Hague. But the petitioners were restored to full rights.
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