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| Field name |
Value |
| Collection Reference Number
|
GLC03107.01957
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| From Archive Folder
|
The Livingston Family Papers [012] 1686
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| Title
|
Presentation of inconveniences to Thomas Dongan
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| Date
|
1686
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| Author
|
Grand Jury of Albany
|
| Document Type
|
Government document
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| Content Description
|
The people of Albany condemn the practice of conducting trade with Indians outside of the town, as it has led to a decline in the trade and wealth of Albany, and will eventually bring the town to ruin. They also note that great debauchery has resulted when the youth of Albany enter Indians' houses to conduct trade, and complain of the practice of giving gifts to Indians, which allows them to set the higher value on commodities. They also comment on the poor state of highways in an around Albany.
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| Subjects
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American Indian History Government and Civics Law Merchants and Trade Commerce Economics Finance Corruption and Scandal Gift Infrastructure Road Construction
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| People
|
Dongan, Thomas (1634-1715)
|
| Place written
|
Albany, New York
|
| Theme
|
Native Americans; Merchants & Commerce; Government & Politics
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| Sub-collection
|
The Livingston Family Papers
|
| Copyright
|
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
|
| Module
|
Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
|
| Transcript
|
Show/hide Wee the Grand Jurors for the [inserted: Towne &] County of Albany doe humbly represent to the Consideration of this honble these following inconveniensyes in order to their being redress in such enamer as to yor hon.st shall seeme equall concenient. 1. Wee doe finde that the greate liberty now taken on credence of hunteing [illegible] & the like to trade with the Indians [inserted: without ye town] is [illegible] of the greate decay of trade here & will if continued tend to the utter ruin of this class. 2. Wee doe finde that altho' there are many acts Cordts. against such tradeing without the Towne yett in regard of the difficulty of proveing it by Christian Evidence these acts come farr short of a sufficient remedy - Therefor wee would humbly recomend it to yor honrs. case as a thing very convenient that some provision may bee made that for the future yt upon the testimony of an Indian in the afirmative the early accused so to have transgressed may bee obliged to pursue himselfe by an oath otherwise the acusation taken & confesse. 3. Wee doe finde that great Debauchery happens amongst the youth by goeing to trade with the Indians in their houses. 4. Wee doe finde that greate inconveniencyes not only to our selves but strangers by the generall neglect there is of high wayes in some places quite slopt up in other & changed much to the disadvantage and allmost all wanteing repayre by clearing or the like. 5. Wee doe likewise finde that the giving of gifts to the Indians [struck: here] by particular persons thereby to oblige them to traffique with them is a greate wrong not only to the neighbour but to the publique also by occasioneing the Indians to sett the greater vallue upon their Comodityes doing such contention who shall have them - Corn[elius] van dÿck [illegible] The Coll Recomends the above Agrievances to his honor the Governo.rs Consideration P Cur: John Tudor [illegible] [docket] 1686 Grand Juryes presentmt Of Severall things
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