Council of Assizes
Encyclopedia
The Council of Assizes, also referred to as the Court of Assize, was given power of making, altering and abolishing any law
s of New York
. The Court had yearly meetings. The Governor and Council attended and had complete power of the proceedings. They were joined by the High Sheriff and the Justices of the lower courts who were subservient to the Governor
.
The Council of Assizes in New York was unique. New York had no charter
at the time nor was it a royal province. This was due to the fact it was located on conquered territory, taken from the Dutch.
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
s of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The Court had yearly meetings. The Governor and Council attended and had complete power of the proceedings. They were joined by the High Sheriff and the Justices of the lower courts who were subservient to the Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
.
The Council of Assizes in New York was unique. New York had no charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
at the time nor was it a royal province. This was due to the fact it was located on conquered territory, taken from the Dutch.
Actions of the Council of Assizes
- 1665, at the first Court of Assize, held in New York, in October, 1665, the chief sachems of Long Island came and submitted to Governor Nicoll.
- 1666, Captain John UnderhillCaptain John UnderhillJohn Underhill was an early English settler and soldier in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Province of New Hampshire, the New Haven Colony, New Netherland, and later the Province of New York...
serving as Chief Advisor to the Matinecock IndiansMetoacMetoac is the collective name for the group of culturally and linguistically related Native American settlements roughly east of what is now the Nassau County line on, Long Island in New York at the time of European contact in the 17th century. Metoac does not specifically refer to political,...
presented a petition on their behalf.