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Mayor ABRAHAM CUYLER 1774 Freemans Agreement Document Signed Last Loyalist Major

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Mayor ABRAHAM CUYLER 1774 Freemans Agreement Document Signed Last Loyalist Major
Autographs
1774 Mayor of Albany New York Signed “Freeman's Agreement” by Abraham C. Cuyler Its Last Loyalist Major
ABRAHAM CUYLER. Last British Loyalist Mayor of Albany New York (1770-1778).
September 27, 1774-Dated, original Manuscript Document Signed, “Abrm. C. Cuyler,” at Albany, New York, Choice Very Fine. This Document is 6” x 11” with light folds, and retains its original, nice official red wax seal of the City of Albany at left. Mayor Abraham Cuyler has signed a rare Freeman's Certificate for Peter Van Bergen, to have all the rights and privileges. In the 18th century and into the early 1800s; men who owned land were considered Freeman; those that did not own property were not allowed the same rights and privileges.

The main one being that only Freemen were allowed to vote; allowing them to set legislation over those that were in servitude, manufacturing laborers or renters. In Albany, many immigrants were tenant dwellers and did not have this right to vote; allowing land holders to always control the conditions and ways of living. There is a small edge chip at the left of the seal, otherwise, it is boldly written and very clear. A lovely, superior quality clean document on period laid paper, having bold brown text on excellent period laid paper.
Petrus Van Bergen was a member of an Albany militia company in 1767 and witnessed a will in March 1771. In 1775, he contributed for the relief of Ticonderoga. His first ward property was configured on the assessment rolls in 1779. After the war, he was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment. In 1785, he was appointed assessor for the first ward and in 1789 served as election inspector. His first ward household was configured on the Albany census in 1790. In 1797, a Peter Van Bergen was identified as a "yeoman" living in the first ward on a list of Albany freeholders. From census records, Peter Van Bergen of Albany was a Slaveholder as well.

Abraham C. Cuyler was the last mayor of colonial Albany. This native son lost everything as a result of the American Revolution. He held a commission in the provincial militia and succeeded to his father's seat on the Albany Common Council. Prospering from importing metalware and the patronage of Sir William Johnson, the city assessment rolls for 1766 and 1767 show him to be among the wealthiest of the young Albany merchants. Unlike other city fathers, he did not inherit extensive family lands. Thus, opportunity for future real property acquisition was dependant on his connection to the royal government. In 1767, he was the captain of an Albany militia company. In September 1770, twenty-eight-year old Abraham C. Cuyler became the third member of his family to be appointed mayor of Albany. What would soon become a dubious honor was based on his standing within the Albany community and on his willingness to cooperate with the royal government during a time of increasing tension between British and American interests.

In 1775 Cuyler's administration was curtailed when escalating conflict between colonists and king led to suspension of royal government across New York. It ended in June 1776 when he was among those arrested by the Revolutionies and exiled to Connecticut. Later transferred to prison at Fishkill, he escaped to the British but made several trips to Albany to visit his family. By 1778, his wife and children had joined him in New York. Abraham C. Cuyler suffered greatly from his attachment to the British government. Deprived of his property and condemned to death under the Act of Attainder in 1779, a destitute Cuyler sailed to England to seek relief. Granted an annuity, he returned to New York. After the peace treaty, he attempted to come home. This American Tory soon learned there was no place for him in the new Albany. Even though many of his kinsmen were prominent revolutionaries, he was unable to reclaim his Albany property. Shunned by the new and old people of his birthplace, Abraham C. Cuyler took his family to upper Canada, founded the town of Yorkfield, and died there in 1810.