Hempstead Convention
Encyclopedia
The Hempstead Convention was a ten-day assembly where 34 delegates met starting on February 28, 1665, "to settle good and known laws" according to a letter by newly appointed Governor Richard Nicolls
. Towns were invited to send two delegates who were "the most sober, able and discrete persons" chosen by taxpayers at their respective Town meetings.
These laws were met by some resistance for the conferees, who had hoped for freedom equal or greater than in the new England colonies. They desired all civil officers be chosen by the freemen, all military officers by the soldiers, and that no magistrate "should have any yearly maintenance." One request that would gain strength nearly a century later was that no tax should be imposed only with the consent of deputies to the General Court. This might be considered an early expression of the concept, no taxation without representation
.
Some compromises were made, though for others Nicolls recommended if delegates wanted a greater share in government than his instructions allowed, they "must go to the King for it."
The Judiciary was also formed at this meeting. The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was to yearly appoint a Deputy for each Riding. Two Justices holding office at the Governor's pleasure, were given to each town. The towns were allowed yearly, on the first day of April, to elect a constable and eight overseers (later reduced to four). Two of the overseers were chosen to "make a rate" for maintenance of the church and clergyman, and support of the poor. From the overseers the Constable selected jurors to attend the Courts of Sessions and Assize. The Court of Assize was the highest tribunal, subordinate only to the Governor and Duke. The Governor, his Council, and the Magistrates of several towns met yearly in New York. The court held jurisdiction in suits of over twenty pounds, and appellate to lesser amounts.
At the close of the Convention, Governor Nicoll appointed William Wells of Southold as High Sheriff, Captain John Underhill
as High Constable and Surveyor-General, and the following as Justices: Daniel Denton of Jamaica, John Hicks of Hempstead, Jonas Wood of Huntington, and James Hubbard of Gravesend.
High Sheriffs of Yorkshire would continue to be appointed, until counties were organized in 1683. High Sheriffs that followed included William Wells (1665-69), Robert Coe (1669-72), John Manning (1672-75), Sylvester Salisbury (1675-76), Thomas Willet (1676-79), Richard Betts, (1679-81), and John Youngs (1681-1683).
Richard Nicolls
Richard Nicolls was the first English colonial governor of New York province....
. Towns were invited to send two delegates who were "the most sober, able and discrete persons" chosen by taxpayers at their respective Town meetings.
History
Nicoll opened the Convention by reading the Duke's Patent and his own commission. He then announced laws similar to those in New England, with one critical difference. They were less severe "in matters of conscience and of Religion." Blasphemy and witchcraft, for instance, were not included among the eleven capital crimes. Other provisions included equal taxation, trial by jury, establishment of land tenure with land bening held from the Duke, and old patents were recalled and new ones required. Significant for future settlement, was that no land purchases from the Indians were to be made without consent. Every parish was required to build and maintain a church, and no minister was to officiate, who "had not received ordination from some Bishop or Minister" of the Anglican Church. Prayers for the English royal family were required and services were to be held on the historic days of Nov. 5th, January 30th, and May 29th. Other laws were enacted to guide the manners of the time and actions of daily life.These laws were met by some resistance for the conferees, who had hoped for freedom equal or greater than in the new England colonies. They desired all civil officers be chosen by the freemen, all military officers by the soldiers, and that no magistrate "should have any yearly maintenance." One request that would gain strength nearly a century later was that no tax should be imposed only with the consent of deputies to the General Court. This might be considered an early expression of the concept, no taxation without representation
No taxation without representation
"No taxation without representation" is a slogan originating during the 1750s and 1760s that summarized a primary grievance of the British colonists in the Thirteen Colonies, which was one of the major causes of the American Revolution...
.
Some compromises were made, though for others Nicolls recommended if delegates wanted a greater share in government than his instructions allowed, they "must go to the King for it."
The Judiciary was also formed at this meeting. The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was to yearly appoint a Deputy for each Riding. Two Justices holding office at the Governor's pleasure, were given to each town. The towns were allowed yearly, on the first day of April, to elect a constable and eight overseers (later reduced to four). Two of the overseers were chosen to "make a rate" for maintenance of the church and clergyman, and support of the poor. From the overseers the Constable selected jurors to attend the Courts of Sessions and Assize. The Court of Assize was the highest tribunal, subordinate only to the Governor and Duke. The Governor, his Council, and the Magistrates of several towns met yearly in New York. The court held jurisdiction in suits of over twenty pounds, and appellate to lesser amounts.
At the close of the Convention, Governor Nicoll appointed William Wells of Southold as High Sheriff, Captain John Underhill
Captain John Underhill
John 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...
as High Constable and Surveyor-General, and the following as Justices: Daniel Denton of Jamaica, John Hicks of Hempstead, Jonas Wood of Huntington, and James Hubbard of Gravesend.
High Sheriffs of Yorkshire would continue to be appointed, until counties were organized in 1683. High Sheriffs that followed included William Wells (1665-69), Robert Coe (1669-72), John Manning (1672-75), Sylvester Salisbury (1675-76), Thomas Willet (1676-79), Richard Betts, (1679-81), and John Youngs (1681-1683).
Delegates to the Hempstead Convention
- Nieuw Utrecht - Jacques CortelyouJacques CortelyouJacques Cortelyou was an influential early citizen of New Amsterdam who was Surveyor General of the early Dutch colony...
, (unnamed) Fosse - Nieuw Amersfoordt - Elbert Elbertsen, Roeleff Martense
- Gravesend - James HubbardJames HubbardJames Barney Hubbard was sentenced to death by the state of Alabama in 1977 for the murder of Lillian Montgomery, with whom he was living after having been released from prison. Hubbard had served a 20-year sentence for murder and called police to report a shooting on January 10, 1977...
, John BowneJohn BowneJohn Bowne was an English immigrant residing in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, who is honored today as a pioneer in the American struggle for religious liberty.... - Flatbasch - Jan Stryker, Hendrick Jorassen
- Boswyck - John Stealman, Guisbert Teunis
- Jamaica - Daniel DentonDaniel DentonDaniel Denton was an early American colonist. Denton led an expedition into the interior of northern New Jersey. He was one of the purchasers of what is known as the Elizabethtown Tract in 1664, in the area of present day Elizabeth, New Jersey...
, Thomas Benedict - Hempstead - John HicksJohn HicksSir John Richard Hicks was a British economist and one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economics were his statement of consumer demand theory in microeconomics, and the IS/LM model , which...
, Robert JacksonRobert JacksonRobert Jackson may refer to:*Robert Jackson , Australian Army general during World War II*Robert Jackson , British musician*Robert Jackson , US political figure in New York City... - Oyster Bay - 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...
, Matthias Harvey - Huntington - Jonas Wood, John Ketchum
- Brookhaven - Daniel Lane, Roger BartonRoger BartonRoger Barton is an American film editor. He has worked on dozens of Hollywood films, including Titanic, Armageddon and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith...
- Southold - William WellsWilliam Wells-Military:* William Wells , U.S. Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient for the Battle of Gettysburg* William Wells , American Civil War sailor and Medal of Honor recipient...
, John YoungsJohn YoungsJohn Youngs was a Puritan minister who founded Southold, New York.-Life:... - Southampton - Thomas Topping, John HowellJohn HowellJohn Thomas Howell is a former professional American football player. He played safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League...
- Easthamton - Thos. Baker, John Stratton
- Westchester - John Quinby, Edward JessupEdward JessupEdward Jessup was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1735 and moved with his family to Dutchess County, New York in 1744. In 1759, he served with Jeffery Amherst in the Lake Champlain region...