to the fort, and from thence, the same number of feet beyond low water-mark, round the fort, and along the East River, as far as to the north side of a certain hill called Corlaer's Hook; and also for a grant of such other powers, liberties, franchises, rights, free customs, jurisdictions, privileges, immunities, and things, as may be needful for the good rule and government of the said city. And we, considering that the strength and increase of our good subjects, in that our frontier province of New-York, does, in a great measure, depend upon the welfare and prosperity of our said city, wherein the trade and navigation thereof are chiefly and principally carried on, promoted, and encouraged; and we affecting the good and happy estate of our said city, and the steady loyalty and integrity of the inhabitants and citizens thereof, are very desirous and willing to give encouragement to the said city, inhabitants, and citizens, and to remove, utterly abolish, and wholly take away all and all manner of causes, occasions, and matters, whereupon such questions, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, controversies, or debates, as aforesaid, or any other questions or doubts may or can arise; and in order thereunto, we have thought fit, them, the said inhabitants and citizens of the said city of New-York, (by whatsoever name or names they have been or were incorporated, or whether they have been or were heretofore incorporated or not) into one body politic and corporate, by the name of The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New-York, by our letters, to make, constitute, confirm, renew, and of new to creAnd we being also further willing and fully intending and desiring, that the said inhabitants and citizens of our said city, by the name aforesaid, should have perpetual succession, and should hold, possess, and enjoy, all and singular, the rights, privileges, liberties, franchises, pre-eminences, advantages, jurisdic ate. tions, courts, powers, offices, authorities, ferries, fees, fines, perquisites, profits, immunities, rents, possessions, lands, tenements, and other hereditaments, not only which in the before recited grants, confirmations, writings, and letters patent, are mentioned, or intended to be thereby granted, but also, which they have held, or claimed to hold, by prescription or otherwise, with the alterations and enlargements thereof, and additions thereto, in such manner and form as hereinafter is mentioned and contained, notwithstanding the before mentioned, or any other question, doubts, opinions, ambiguities, debates, faults, or imperfections. 1. Wherefore know ye, That we of our especial Charter of grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, have willed, 1730. ordained, constituted, confirmed, given, and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors do will, ordain, constitute, confirm, give and grant, that our said city of New-York, be, and from henceforth forever hereafter shall be and remain a free city of itself; and that the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the said city, and their successors, from henceforth and forever hereafter, shall be and remain one body corporate and politic, in re facto, and nomine, by the name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the Corporacity of New-York, and them and their successors by tion creathe name of, The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty name of, of the City of New-York, one body corporate, in re facto, and nomine, really and fully, we do for us, our men, and heirs and successors, erect, make, ordain, constitute, alty of the confirm, declare, and create, by these presents, and that, city of N. by that name, they shall and may have perpetual succession; and also, that they and their successors, by the said name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New-York, be, and forever hereafter shall be, persons able in law, and capable to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and ted by the The May or, Alder Common York. CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all courts and places before us, our heirs, and successors, and before all and any the judges, justices, officers, and ministers of us, our heirs and successors, and elsewhere in all and all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands, whatsoever, and of what kind or nature soever, in as full and ample manner and form, as any of our other liege subjects of our said Province, being persons able and capable in law, can or may sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, by any lawful ways and means whatsoever. And also, That they and their successors, by the same name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York, be and shall be, forever hereafter, persons capable and able in law, to purchase, take, hold, receive, enjoy, and have, any messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions and other hereditaments, and real estate, within or without our said Province, in fee and forever, or, for time of life, or lives or years, or in any other manner; and also goods, chattels, and all other things, of what kind or quality soever. And also, That they and their successors by the same name of, The Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York, shall and may give, grant, demise, assign, and sell, or otherwise dispose of all or any the messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, possessions, and other hereditaments, and real estate, and all their goods, chattels, and other things aforesaid, as to them shall seem meet, at their own will and pleasure. And also, That the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New-York, for the time being, and their successors, shall and may forever hereafter, have and use a common seal for sealing all and singular, deeds, grants, conveyances, contracts, bonds, articles of agreements, assignments, powers, authorities, and all and singular their affairs and things, touching or concerning the said corporation: And, by virtue of these our letters, it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New York, and their successors, as they shall see cause, to break, change, and new-make the same, or any other common seal, when, and as often as to them it shall seem convenient. T. 2. And we do further, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, order, and appoint, that the said city of New-York, and the compass, precincts, circuit, bounds, liberties, and jurisdictions, of the same, do reach, extend, and stretch forth, and shall and may reach, extend, and stretch forth, as well in length as in breadth and circuit, in and through the limits and boundaries following, to wit: To begin at the river, creek, or run of water, called Spyt den Duyvel, over which King's Bridge is built, where the said river or creek empties itself into the North River, on Westchester side thereof, at low water mark, and so to run along the said river, creek, or run, on Westchester side, at low water mark, unto the East River, or Sound, and from thence to cross over to Nassau-Island, to low water mark there, including Great Barn Island, Little Barn Island, and Manning's Island, and from thence all along Nassau Island shore at low water mark, unto the south side of the Red-Hook; and from thence to run a line across the North River, so as to include Nutten Island, Bedlow's Island, Bucking Island, and the Oyster Island, to low water mark on the west side of the North River, or so far as the limits of our said province extended there, and so to run up along the west side of the said river, T. Note XIX. Extent of the city. vided into wards. CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. at low water mark, or along the limits of our said province, until it comes directly opposite to the first mentioned river or creek, and thence to the place where the City di- said boundaries first began. And also, that the said city, within the limits and jurisdictions thereof as aforesaid, be, and forever hereafter shall be, and remain divided into seven wards,* to wit: the West Ward, the South Ward, the Dock Ward, the East Ward, the North Ward, Montgomerie Ward, and the Out Ward; each and every of which wards, shall contain and comprehend, and reach and extend through the several limits and bounds following, to wit: West Ward. The West Ward to begin at the middle of the east end of the street that goes from the Parade to the North River, between the lot of ground now in fence, belonging to Charles Sleigh, and the house and ground late of Thomas Elde; and from thence to run a direct line over the middle of the west end of Beaver-street, and so along to the middle of Beaver-street, till it comes directly opposite to the middle of the south end of New-street, and to run all along the middle of New-street, to the north end thereof; and from thence to run to the rear of the dwelling-house, now in the possession of Domine Du Bois, and from thence to run all along the rear of the houses that front the Broad Way, up to the north part of the rear of Spring Garden House; and from thence, to run up a line, as the Broadway runs, to the end thereof, including the said Broadway; and John Harris, his house, and to include all other houses, hereafter to be built fronting the said Broadway, and from the north end of the Broad Way to continue and run a line, as the said street runs, until it comes directly opposite to Bestaver's Killitie, or rivulet, and from thence * The number of wards has been since increased to fifteen, and the boundaries altered by Acts of the Legislature. See note XX. |