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Lot 70: Gov. William Cosby Signed Document

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Lot   70: Gov. William Cosby Signed Document
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>The Rensselaer ManorÕs Own Militia</b>

<b>WILLIAM COSBY, Royal Governor of New York.</b>
Document Signed, as Governor, partially-printed and accomplished in manuscript, 1 page, 2.5' by 8', Fort George New York, November 17, 1733. With embossed seal. Choice Very Fine. Gerrardus Baucker is named a 'Second Lieutenant in First Company of Militia Foot for the Manor Rensselaerswyck in the County of Albany...Gerrit Teunisse Van Vechten is Captain.'

The 'Manor at Rensselaerswyck' refers to the large tract of land granted to Killiaen Van Rensselaer - the first such government-sanctioned feudal estate to be founded by the colonial Dutch, and the last to be recognized by the colonial English. Although its exact boundaries defied definition, it included all the land that surrounded the city of Albany; on it, the Rensselaers had full control of the government, courts, schools, church and tenant farmers, and sent , as well, its own representative to the provincial Assembly. Along with these special rights went some responsibilities, however - foremost of which was to provide security for the settlement. Here the colonial governor signs off on the commission of a Second Lieutenant in the Rensselaer militia.