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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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1688/03/24

Van Cortlandt, Stephen, 1643-1700

Manuscript document signed

Title: re: Robert Livingston's taxes paid for 1686 and 1687

Stephen Van Cortlandt and James Grahame, managers of "his Majty's Reveune," certify by this document that Robert Livingston had paid his excise of the years 1686 and 1687. P.2 contains a distinct note containing monetary calculations.

GLC03107.00153

1688/08/11-1692/03/11

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document signed

Title: Account of the Excise of Albany

Account sheet of excise money collected by Robert Livingston from 11 August 1688 to 11 March 1692.

GLC03107.00157

1688/12/06

Schuyler, Peter, 1657-1724

Manuscript document signed

Title: Minutes of Albany Council meeting

Livingston had applied to the Town Council of Albany for an increase in salary from £15 to £20, because the county of Albany, which had previously allotted Livingston £5, had discontinued this practice. However, the Council denied the request, claiming the burden of mounting debts.

GLC03107.00158

1689/10/19

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: Rhyme [in Dutch] re: Leysler

Possibly discusses Leisler's Rebellion.

GLC03107.00160

1689/01/16

Pynchon, John, 1626-1703

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston

Pynchon sends news of New England Governor [Edmund Andros's ] excursion to find Indians in Maine, Governor's non-return, leading to fears of his demise. Rumors are passed along about an invasionary fleet sailing from Holland to England carrying the Prince of O[range]. Pynchon hopes that the news of the Dutch invasion of England is untrue, as otherwise Europe would be covered by "yt Efusion of Ch[ris]tian Blood," as all parties would gain more if they were "uniting together agt ye the French who are not ye best Neighbors." He also sends news of a battle between the forces of Prince Louis XIV…

GLC03107.00161

1689/12/28

Leisler, Jacob, fl. 1689-1700

Manuscript document

Title: Commission for a Justice of the Peace [copy]

Leisler appoints Roger Jacobson to the position of Jusice of the Peace. Certified as a true copy by Robert Livingston. Written at Fort William Henry.

GLC03107.00165

1690/06/07

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Bradstreet re: French and Indian encounters on the frontiers

Livingston writes of his regrets for the capture of the settlement at Cascoe Bay by the French and their Indian allies, and his belief of a need to "Subdue Canada." He then mentions writing to the Government at Albany in an effort to discover the strength and readiness of the men assembled of the Iroquois five nations, and an outbreak of Small Pox in the Albany area. He also writes of the take over of the government of New York (by Jacob Leisler, whom Livingston only mentions). Page three is a copy of the letter written by Livingston to Capt. Nicholson, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia,…

GLC03107.00172

1696/11/15

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document signed

Title: Account sheet from ledger book [mostly Dutch with some English]

Includes one page in English, describing an "Account of Money disbursed by Rt. Livingston in Procuring of 10 Barrels of Powder which were taken from him and Major Peter Schuyler by Jacob Leysler in the time of the late Revolution." The remainder is a record of accounts in Dutch.

GLC03107.00175

1690/10/18

Harwood, Jacob, fl. 1686-1695

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: impending arrival of Governor Sloughter

Harwood writes about his receipt of the previously shipped case of beaver, but has yet to receive the packets of bear or boar. He also writes of his friendship with New York's new Governor, Henry Sloughter, and the receipt of spices from Barbados.

GLC03107.00177

1690/03/27

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lord Nottingham re: French intrusions, William and Mary

Livingston writes imploring assistance from England in repulsing the incursions into New York made by the French and their Indian allies. He also sends news of Albany's joyful reaction to the crowning of William and Mary, and the news of Jacob Leisler's requests that Albany submit to his command. Livingston forwards news of the massacre at Schenectady as well.

GLC03107.00182

1690/03/27

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Ferguson re: Leisler's Rebellion

Livingston discusses the joy felt with the ascension of William and Mary to the throne of England, though he admits that joy has been tempered by the actions of Jacob Leisler. Discusses how Albany is dealing with the present situation.

GLC03107.00184

1690/03/25

Bradstreet, Simon, ?-1697

Letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: current affairs of New York Colony

Massachusetts Colony writes declaring that while they understand and sympathize with the situation in New York, the men from Albany should "unite and form against the Common Enemy," namely the French and Indians. Volunteering to mediate between the two factions, Massachusetts cannot allow itself to sway from its course of an upcoming "Naval Expedition against the French of Nova Scotia and L'Acadie." Proposing of a meeting of representatives of the several colonies to discuss manners of dealing with the threat of the French, Massachusetts also requests that Albany converse and renew ties of…

GLC03107.00186

1691/02/28

Jamison, David, fl. 1619-1717

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: news from around the colonies

Jamison, a merchant in New York, reports to Livingston on the state of the Assembly in Albany, which continues in its trend of not remitting bills on time. Jamison also sends word of a fleet of 150 ships sailing "for all parts," and that Sir William Chipps was appointed the Governor "of all from N[ew] Yorke to Nova Scotia." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.00188

1691/06/15

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph document signed

Title: Report on pastures at Albany

Discussion of the actions of the city of Albany with regards to the clearing of lowlands and swamps.

GLC03107.00192

1691/11/05

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Autograph document signed

Title: Decision of the Albany Justices of the Peace

Decision regarding the inheritance of the estate of Jo Barentse Wemp.

GLC03107.00197

1692/04/23

Harwood, Jacob, fl. 1686-1695

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: news concerning past and future shipments

Harwood encloses a bill, and updates Livingston on the state of shipments. Harwood claims that the previously shipped indigo was "trash," and the ship carrying ginger "was lost." Harwood then mentions the new Governor of New York, Col. Fletcher, as "a stranger to all the trade of these parts." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.00208

1692/04/25

Harwood, Jacob, fl. 1686-1695

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: ramifications of the death of Gov. Sloughter

Harwood writes with the reactions to the death of Governor Sloughter, under whose personal signature Livingston's loans to the government were made. Harwood claims, to the hopes of Livingston, that "there be some probability of the Lordships paying those old Debts" and then discusses the corruption of the Court of William III. Harwood hopes for peace and good trade, and ends with the belief that "by the next [letter] from here you will have good or very bad news." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.00209

1692/06/23

Pitkin, William, fl. 1692

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston re: wrongdoings of a servant

Pitkin writes that his son's servant, Edward Blake, has done his master a "great" injury, and requests that Albany redress his "evills." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.00214

1676/08/29

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: Special court proceeding, signed by Livingston's secretary [in Dutch]

Proceedings in the case of Nicolaus van Renselaer v. Jacob Milborne and Jacob Leisler.

GLC03107.00010

1676/08/29

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: Legal proceeding, signed by Livingston's secretary

Proceedings of case of Nicolaus van Renselaer v. Jacob Milborne and Jacob Leisler. Leisler and Milborne have returned to the Court to request that Renselaer redact all statements made about Leisler and Milborne, and that he also pay the amount awarded by the Court. Renselaer is willing to revoke all statements, but refuses to pay Leisler and Milborne. The two therefore request that Renselaer be held "in Security" until he is willing to pay the award.

GLC03107.00011