My kin were in the New Amsterdam bunch in the Hudson Valley, NY area but I don’t have any knowledge of the arms requirement from that time frame. Anyone? Bueller?
it was something about state militias- and the militias act- back then- basically it stated that folks had to be pepared to defend the state if it came to that if i recall right-
I’m not sure this was what i was thinking of- but it’s similar
“New York — That the People have a right to keep and bear Arms; that a well regulated Militia, including the body of the People capable of bearing Arms, is the proper, natural and safe defence of a free State; that the Militia should not be subject to Martial Law, except in time of War Rebellion or Insurrection.”
https://constitution.org/1-Activism/mil/militia_debate_1789.htm
The left are now arguing that militias need to be made illegal because ‘Jan 6’, claiming that militias are ‘powder kegs waiting to explode’ but militias have been around for many many decades and nothing serious has happened due to militias- infact, BLM is farm ore dangerous than most law abiding militias are
1644 December 16 `the colonists [Dutch in New Netherland] and servants should be bound, under certain penalties,
to provide themselves with good fire-arms, and other weapons for self-defence...But it should be [in New Netherland]
absolutely forbidden, that either the freemen should sell to the Indians, or the licensd traders to the freemen,
any arms or munitions of war, on pain of heavy punishment to be inflicted therefor, lest the Indians, being strengthened
thereby, may hereafter be encouraged to do us more injury than they can now, in their impotency, inflict. But it shall be
obligatory on the freemen to be provide, each with a good musket and side-arms for self-defence, as already mentioned in
the 5th point. An inspection thereof shall be had by the Director every six months.’ O`Callaghan, “Hist. Of New Netherland”,
Vol.1, pp.422-423, “Appendix E, Report and Advice on the condition of New Netherland, drawn up from documents and papers placed by
the commission of the Assembly of the XIX., dated 15 Dec., 1644 in the hands of the General Chambers of Accounts”
1645 in New Netherland: `Means were to be adopted to induce the colonists to form towns and villages, and to provide themselves with arms
for their security and defence.` O`Callaghan, “Hist. Of New Netherland”, Vol.2, p.18
1645: “The persons hereinafter specified shall be maintained to garrison the fort, on such allowances as shall be found most advantageous for the Company, and for greater security, the colonists and their domestics shall be holden, under certain penalties, to provide themselves with good muskets, and other weapons for their own defence, so as to be able, in time of necessity, with the garrison, to resist a general attack, without the Director, colonists, or whosoever it may be, having the power to take into the pay of the Company any soldiers...”
O`Callaghan, “Hist. Of New Netherland”, p.560
1649: “New England is divided into four Colonies, which they style Provinces. Each Colony hath its Governor, and neither Patroons, Lords nor Princes are known there ; only the People. Each Governor is like a Sovereign in his place...; and this is what we have learned from divers of the English respecting New England. In Military affairs they have also some ffeneralia [sic]which we shall pass over with a word or two. All their inhabitants, burghers, farmers, planters and servants bear arms, and thereto each particular place hath its arrangement . They are divided into separate companies, and are commanded by their Majors and-Colonel* who are the Governors. la. case of invasion or other necessity each town knows, according to its strength, the quota either in men or money which it must contribute to the member or members in danger, according to the federation and order agreed upon in the case, among themselves: from this league is excepted only the difference which the Southern English have with the Dutch, in regard to occupation and settlement of boundaries and time may determine ...”
“Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York”; Procured in Holland,. England and France, 1856, London Documents XXVI, Vol. .—p.267
1650 in New Netherland: “IV. Whereas their High mightinesses have learnt that the commonality of New Netherland either were not obliged to cultivate, or had neglected the possession and use of arms for their own defence, each of the said inhabitants shal therefore be bound to provide himself with a good musket, with powder and lead, necessary thereto, and be enrolled and formed into a guard, causing the said guns to be stamped and inspected, and all persons are forbidden to sell his stamped gun, or to deprive himself or his family thereof.” O`Callaghan, “Hist. Of New Netherland”, Vol.2, p.134, `Provisional Order for the Government, Preservation and Peopling of New Netherland`
1650`s New Netherland: also cf. ibid., p.430 “the town contained 40 men capable of bearing arms”
also cf. ibid., p. 126, 1650: “...thirty guns by the Director`s orders. These were delivered to Commissary Keyser, with directions to sell them to the Dutch colonists, who were unprovided with arms, so as to enable them to defend themselves. This Keyser did”
also cf. ibid., p.521 “Staten Island is a two good (Dutch) miles from the fort (Amsterdam). It was settled on the south side, out of sight of the fort, by ten or twelve men capable of bearing arms.”
also cf. ibid., pp312-316 in year 1657: “They finally craved arms and ammunition for self-defence, on paying therefor, and that whatever writings may pass between themselves and the government be in English, so that they “ may fully and perfectly understand them.” Thomas Wheeler, Thomas Newman, and John Lord were Mar.28. selected as magistrates, but the conclusions on the other demands were postponed until the Director and Council should have an opportunity to consult the petitioners. Thus happily terminated a misunderstanding which threatened, at first, a different issue. This settlement was henceforward called “ Oostdorp” by the Dutch, and East-town by the English. footnote:” 1 The Jan. 3. Council thereupon sent them twelve muskets; a dozen pounds of powder ; the same quantity of lead; two bundles of matches, and one writing book for the magistrates.”
Militia 1650
“In this way he is taxed to build and support churches and schools ; to maintain preachers and schoolmasters; to erect public buildings in cities and villages ; to construct and repair all highways and bridges ; to support governors, magistrates, constables, and other officers of justice ; and to pay the several officers of the militia.”
O`Callaghan, Hist. of New Netherland, p.153
1655 “ Considering it wiser to secure one’s own house than to aim at the possession of one at a distance, especially as the loss of the first might be caused thereby,” the Council at Fort Amsterdam dispatched an express to the South River recalling the Director-general, for bodies of savages continued prowling over the island, firing and burning whatever came in their way. Whilst this terror still prevailed, Stuyvesant returned to the Manhattans, and by his energy and zeal aided much in re-assuring the colonists, Chap. He sent soldiers to the out-settlements, laid an embargo on the vessels then about to sail, and ordered such of the passengers as were able to bear arms not to depart “ until it should please God to change the aspect of affairs.” A plank curtain was thrown up, to prevent the Indians scaling the city walls, to meet the expense of which six thousand three hundred guilders were raised “ from the merchants, traders, skippers, factors, passengers and citizens generally.”2 No persons, on any account, were to go into the country without permission, nor unless in a number sufficient to ensure their safety...” ibid, p.293
1656,1664
“At the commencement of Stuyvesant’s administration, the number of persons capable of bearing arms is stated to have been between two hundred and fifty and three hundred, in and around the capital.3 Including Rensselaerswyck, this would give a population of two thousand souls. In 1664, the number is estimated at “ full ten thousand.”4 New of New Amsterdam contained, in 1656, when first surveyed by dam. Capt. de Koninck, one hundred and twenty houses, and one thousand souls. The former increased in 1660, when a map of the capital was made, to over three hundred and fifty,5 whilst the population augmented, in 1664, to fifteen hundred. Of these, not quite two hundred and fifty were male adults; the balance, between twelve and thirteen hundred, consisted of women, and children below eighteen years of age.” ibid, p.540
Militia 1659 New Netherlands
“Nothing could overcome the reluctance of the burghers. “ The one disheartened the other; the more violent maintaining that they were obliged to-defend only their own homes, and that no citizen could be forced to jeopardize his life in fighting barbarous savages.” Discouraged and almost deprived of hope by this opposition, the Director-general again summoned the city magistrates; he informed them that he had now some forty men, and expected between twenty and thirty Englishmen from the adjoining villages. He, therefore, ordered that the three companies of the city militia be paraded next day in his presence, armed and equipped, in order that one last effort be made to obtain volunteers.”
ibid. p.399
Articles of Capitulation of the Dutch to the English 1664 [right-to-bear arms of Dutch guaranteed by surrender treaty to English.
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION. “ I. We consent that the States General, or the West India Company, shall freely injoy all farms and houses (except such as are in the forts) and that within six months, they shall have free liberty to transport all such arms and ammunition, as now does belong to them, or else they shall be paid for them.”
... “ III. All people shall still continue free denizens, and shall injoy their lands, houses, goods, wheresoever they are within this country, and dispose of them as they please.”
‘VIII. The Dutch here shall injoy [sic] the liberty of their consciences in divine worship and church discipline*”
“X. That the townsmen of the Manhattans shall not have any soldiers quartered upon them, without being satisfied and paid for them by their officers, and that at this present, if the fort be not capable of lodging all the soldiers, then the Burgomasters, by their officers, shall appoint some houses capable to receive them.”
” XIX. The officers military, and soldiers, shall march out with their arms, drums beating, and colours flying, and lighted matches; and if any of them will plant, they shall have fifty acres of land set out for them; if any of them will serve as servants, they shall continue with all safety, and become free denizens afterwards.”
1664 New Netherlands
1664 “. The Chap delegates were now called on for supplies. A force of one hundred and fifty soldiers would require thirty thou-[ 1664]. sand guilders per annum. If this could not be furnished, every third man should take up arms. But this would not be exacted. Every fifth or sixth man would suffice. With these and the present soldiers, the Indian war could be terminated in a year. If these were refused, then the responsibility would not rest on the Director and Council.” ibid. p.507