This series consists of the ordinances, or laws and regulations written to govern and maintain order in the communities of New Netherland. The ordinances address many aspects of daily life and commerce including personal behavior, customs, marriage, sales, licensing, fees and taxes on goods and services, tobacco, liquor, military service, livestock, construction, fire prevention, currency, ships and shipping, farming, trapping, citizenship, and real estate.

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 (ordinances) in the New York State Archives’ Digital Collections

Manuscript images (writs of appeal) in the New York State Archives’ Digital Collections

Laws & Writs of Appeal, 1647-1663 translation (contains parts 1 and 4 of Volume XVI) (published book images)