Commissioners for Indian Affairs

The Commissioners for Indian Affairs were a group of officials of colonial Albany, New York charged with regulating the fur trade and dealing with the Iroquois.[1]

History

Originally the local magistrates, functioning informally, performed these tasks as part of their official duties.[2] In 1685, Governor Andros organized a board of commissioners, the same officials who had previously performed those duties.[3]

This system was affirmed by charter granted to the City of Albany by Governor Thomas Dongan in 1686. In 1696, Governor Benjamin Fletcher appointed an independent board of four members to take over from the magistrates: Pieter Schuyler, Dirck Wesselse Ten Broeck, Domine Godfrey Dellius, and Evert Bancker. In 1698, Governor Bellomont dissolved the independent group and restored the functions to the city government. After this, however, the commissioners received a special commission from the governor. During King George's War (1744–1748), Governor Clinton preempted the authority of the Commissioners and appointed Sir William Johnson to deal with the Iroquois.[2]

The Commissioners were headed by the Secretary for Indian Affairs. Until 1686, the office of Secretary was filled the Secretary of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck. Robert Livingston was appointed to this post in 1675. Robert Livingston the Younger took over from his uncle in 1710, followed by Philip Livingston from 1725 to 1749. Peter Wraxall was secretary from 1750 to 1759. Witham Marshe was secretary from 1759.

During the American Revolution the British Government took over management of Indian affairs from the colonists, and the commissioners ceased to function.

List of Commissioners
No. Named individual Birth year Death year Total service
(years)		 Dates of commissions[1]
1Evert Bancker16651734201696, 1706, 1710, 1720, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1729, 1732
2John Beeckman31752, 1754
3Hendrick Bleecker21752
4Johannes Bleecker, Jr.1668173841720
5Nicholas Bleecker141728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1742, 1745
6Rutger Bleecker16751756171728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1739, 1742, 1745
7Arent Bradt31739
8Edward Clarke11738
9Edward Collins17041753111734, 1739, 1742, 1745
10John Collins1670172881720, 1724, 1726
11Capt. Cornwell21726
12Abraham Cuyler16631747141728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1742, 1745
13Cornelis Cuyler16971765141734, 1739, 1742, 1745, 1752, 1754
14Johannes Cuyler16611740221706, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1732
15Johannes De Peyster III111734, 1739, 1742, 1742, 1745
16William Dick41734
17Ryer Gerritse16751752101728, 1729, 1732, 1742, 1745
18Jacob Glen71734, 1739
19Peter Groenendyck21752
20Stephanus Groesbeck16621744171728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1739, 1742, 1745
21Hendrick Hansen16651724141710, 1712, 1715, 1720
22Johannes Hansen1695175621754
23Edward Holland1702175661734, 1738, 1739
24Henry Holland16611736161706, 1720, 1724, 1728, 1729, 1732
25Johannes Lansing41728, 1729
26John Lansing, Jr.16871742141734, 1739, 1742, 1745, 1752
27John Lindsey175111738
28Philip Livingston231720, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1738, 1742, 1745
29Capt. Norris21726
30John Rennselaer21754
31Johannes Roseboom1661174581710. 1728, 1729, 1732
32John Rutherford41742, 1745
33Barent Sanders1678175761728, 1729, 1732
34Robert Sanders1705176521752
35Johannes Schuyler16681747161715, 1729, 1734, 1739
36Johannes Schuyler Jr.1697174681734, 1739
37Myndert Schuyler16721755351706, 1710, 1712, 1715, 1728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1739, 1742, 1745, 1752, 1754
38Peter Schuyler16571724201691, 1696, 1706, 1715, 1720
39Philip Schuyler16951745101728, 1729, 1732, 1734
40Dirck Ten Broeck16861751161729, 1732, 1734, 1738, 1739, 1742, 1745
41Hendrick Ten Eyck71739, 1742, 1745
42Jacob Coenraedt Ten Eyck1705179331752, 1754
43Pieter Van Brugh16661740281706, 1710, 1712, 1715, 1720, 1724, 1726, 1728, 1729, 1732
44David Van Duyck21724
45Hendrick van Rensselaer16671740171706, 1724, 1726, 1729, 1732, 1734
46Jeremiah Van Rensselaer131728, 1729, 1732, 1734, 1734
47Stephen Van Rensselaer II21745
48Sybrant G. Van Schaick1708177431752, 1754
49Evert Wendell81724, 1728, 1728, 1732
50Hermanus Wendell61728, 1729, 1732
51Johannes Wendell61720, 1724
52Pieter Winne1690175941739, 1754
53Albany Commandant61738, 1739, 1752
54Assembly member for Albany31738, 1752
55Assembly member for Livingston Manor21752
56Assembly member for Rensselaerswyck31738, 1752
57Assembly member for Schenectady31738, 1752
58New York councillors51739, 1752
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See also

References
  1. Rhoden, Nancy L. (2014). English Atlantics Revisited: Essays Honouring Ian K. Steele. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 240–243. ISBN 9780773560406. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. Sturtevant, William C. (1988). Handbook of North American Indians: History of Indian-white relations. United States Government Printing Office.
  3. Trelease, Allen W. (1997). Indian Affairs in Colonial New York: The Seventeenth Century. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 080329431X.
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