The council minutes document civil and criminal cases, as well as executive and legislative matters over which the Council of the Colony of New York had jurisdiction. The minutes constitute a record of ordinances, orders, judgments, writs of appeal, writs of inhibition, appointments, proclamations, instructions, oaths of office, orders on petitions, protests, powers of attorney, proceedings in appeal, summonses, indictments, interrogations, recommendations, sentences, opinions, notices, resolutions, and charters. The minutes also include executive decisions relating to the defense and prosperity of New Netherland, as well as to private cases brought before the director-general and council on appeal from the court decisions of New Amsterdam.

For more on the arrangement and publication of the Dutch Colonial Manuscripts, see the compilation of the introductions to the New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch / New Netherland Documents Series.

Manuscript images in the New York State Archives’ Digital Collections (please note that Volume 1 burned in the 1911 fire)

Volume 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 transcription

Volume 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 translation (published book images)

Volume 5, Council Minutes, 1652-1654 translation (published book images)

Volume 6, Council Minutes, 1655-1656 translation (published book images)
Purchase the translation of Volume 6 (published book) from Syracuse University Press here

Volume 7, Council Minutes (entries in this volume are duplicated in volumes 6 and 8)

Volume 8, Council Minutes, 1656-1658 (published book)
Purchase the translation of Volume 8 (published book) from Syracuse University Press here

Volume 9, Council Minutes, 1660-1661 (translation in process)

Volume 10, Council Minutes, 1661-1665 (translation in process)