The Queen’s Acceptance of the Surrender of Government – April 1709 At the Court of St. James’s the 17th day of April, 1709 PRESENT Thee Queen’s most Excellent Majesty His Royal Highness, Prince Earl of Radnor, George of Denmark, … Read More
Penn’s Charter of Liberties – April 25, 1682 To ALL PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come WHEREAS King Charles the second by his Letters, Patents under the Great Seal of England for the Considerations therein mentioned hath… Read More
Patent for Providence Plantations – March 14, 1643 WHEREAS by an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, now assembled in Parliament, bearing Date the Second Day of November, Anno Domini 1643, Robert Earl of Warwick, is constituted, and… Read More
Ordinances for Virginia; July 24-August 3, 1621 An Ordinance and Constitution of the Treasurer, Council, and Company in England, for a Council of State and General Assembly. Dated July 24, 1621 TO all People, to whom these… Read More
Notification of the Purchase of Manhattan by the Dutch – November 5, 1626 High and Mighty Lords: Yesterday arrived here the ship the Arms of Amsterdam, which sailed from New Netherland, out of the river Mauritius, on the 23rd September. They report that… Read More
The King’s Letter Recognizing the Proprietors’ Right to the Soil and Government – 1683 CHARLES, R. WHEREAS his Majesty for divers good causes and considerations him thereunto moving, by Letters Patents bearing date the twenty-ninth day of June, Anno Domini 1674, in the twenty-sixth year… Read More
His Royal Highness’s Grant to the Lords Proprietors, Sir George Carteret, 29th July, 1674 This Indenture made the ninth and twentieth day of JULY, in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, Charles the Second, by the grace of… Read More
Grant of the Province of New Hampshire to Mr. Mason, 22 Apr., 1635, By the Name of New Hampshire This Indenture made the two and twentieth Day of Aprill in the 11th yeare of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lord Charles by ye Grace of God King of England,… Read More
Grant of the Province of New Hampshire to Mr. Mason, 22 April 1635, By the Name of Masonia To all Christian people unto whome these prnts shall come The Councill for ye affaires of New England in America send greeting in our Lord God ever lasting Wereas our… Read More
Grant of the Province of New Hampshire to John Wollaston, Esq., AN. 1635 This Indenture made ye Eighteenth day of Aprill in ye Eleaventh yeare of ye raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by ye Grace of God King of England Scottland France… Read More
Grant of the Province of New Hampshire From Mr. Wollaston to Mr. Mason, 11th June, 1635 This Indenture Made the 11th day of June in the 11th yeare of ye Raigne of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France… Read More
Grant of the Province of Maine – 1664 CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know… Read More
Grant of the Province of Maine – 1639 CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith, &c To all to whom theise Presents shall come Greeting Whereas Sir Ferdinando… Read More
Grant of Land North of the Saco River to Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonighton by the Council for New England – February 12, 1629 To all Christian people to whom these present writing indented shall come, the Council for the affairs of New England in America send greeting in our Lord God everlasting. Whereas… Read More
Grant of Laconia to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason by the Council for New England – November 17, 1629 This Indenture made the seventeenth day of November Anno Dom. 1629, and in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles, by the grace of God, King… Read More
Grant of Hampshire to Capt. John Mason, 7th of Novemr., 1629 This Indenture made ye Seaventh day of Novembr Anno Domini 1629 & in ye Fifth yeeare of ye Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by ye Grace of God King… Read More
Grant of His Interest in New Hampshire by Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Captain John Mason – September 17, 1635 This indenture made the seventeenth day of September, Anno Domini 1635, and in the eleventh year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles, by the grace of God, King… Read More
Grant of Exclusive Trade to New Netherland by the States-General of the United Netherlands – October 11, 1614 The States-General of the United Netherlands, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas Gerrit Jacobz Witssen, ancient Burgomaster of the city Amsterdam, Jonas Witssen, Simon Morrissen, owners… Read More
Government of Rhode Island – March 16-19, 1641 The Generall Court of Election began and held at Portsmouth, from the 16th of March, to the 19th of the same mot, 1641. 1. It was ordered and agreed, before… Read More
Government of New Haven Colony – October 27/November 6, 1643 It was agreed and concluded as a foundamentall order nott to be disputed or questioned hereafter, thatt none shall be admitted to be free burgesses in any of the plantations… Read More
Fundamental Orders of 1639 For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents… Read More
Petition for a Charter of New England by the Northern Company of Adventurers – March 3, 1619/20 To the King’s most excellent Majesty. The most humble petition of your Majesty’s counsel for the second colony and other the adventurers in the western parts of England for the… Read More
The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina – March 1, 1669 Our sovereign lord the King having, out of his royal grace and bounty, granted unto us the province of Carolina, with all the royalties, properties, jurisdictions, and privileges of a… Read More
The Fundamental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey in America, Anno Domini 1683 Since the right of government, as well as soil, is in the four and twenty Proprietors, and that the same is confirmed to them a new by a late patent… Read More
Fundamental Agreement, or Original Constitution of the Colony of New Haven, June 4, 1639 THE 4th day of the 4th month, called June, 1639, all the free planters assembled together in a general meeting, to consult about settling civil government, according to GOD, and… Read More
Plantation Agreement at Providence August 27 – September 6, 1640 Wee, Robert Coles, Chad Browne, William Harris, and John Warner, being freely chosen by the consent of our loving friends and neighbors the Inhabitants of this Towne of Providence, having… Read More
Proclamation Against the Disorderly Transporting His Majesty’s Subjects to the Plantations Within the Parts of America – April 30, 1637 By The King The King’s most excellent majesty being informed that great numbers of his subjects have been and are every year transported into those parts of America, which have… Read More
Province of West New Jersey, in America, The 25th of the Ninth Month Called November. 1681 Forasmuch as it hath pleased God, to bring us into this Province of West New Jersey, and settle us here in safety, that we may be a people to the… Read More
Resolutions of The Germantown Mennonites – February 18, 1688 This is to the monthly meeting held at Richard Worrell’s: These are the reasons why we are against the traffic of men-body, as followeth: Is there any that would be… Read More
The Second Charter of Virginia – May 23, 1609 JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France. and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. WHEREAS, at the… Read More
