Post-colonial 1784 New York City ARREST WARRANT James Duane Mayor Framed For Sale

This document is a framed1784 New York legal writ ordering the arrest or detention of a man named Christopher Godwin. It is a historical artifact from the immediate post-Revolutionary War era, issued under the authority of James Duane, the first post-colonial Mayor of New York City.Document TranscriptionCITY OF New-York, ss.THE PEOPLE of the State of NEW-YORK, by the Grace of GOD, Free and Independent: To the Sheriff of the City of New-York, GREETING:We Command You, as before we have commanded you, That you take Christopher Godwin if he shall be found within your Bailiwick, and him safely keep, so that You may have his body before our Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of our City of New-York, at our Mayor’s next Court, to be held for the said City, at the City-Hall of the said City, on Tuesday the seventh Day of September next to answer unto Hendrick Arnold Coster and Bohlen of a Plea of Trespass on the Case to their Damage eighty Pounds (as is said)and have you then there this Writ. WITNESS JAMES DUANE, Esquire, Mayor of the said City, the seventeenth Day of August in the ninth *Year of the Independence of the said State, Anno Domini, 1784.[Signed] per Cur. Robt. Benson, Clk.
[Attorneys] Kees & AttyKey Historical & Legal Context

• The Core Legal Issue: Christopher Godwin is being sued by Hendrick Arnold Coster and Bohlen for a "Plea of Trespass on the Case." In early American law, this generally meant a civil wrong or breach of contract that caused financial harm, rather than a physical intrusion. The damages sought are eighty New York Pounds (New York maintained its own pound currency system for a time after the war).
• The "Body" Command: The phrase "that You may have his body before our Mayor" is standard legal language for a capias writ. It required the sheriff to physically arrest the defendant to ensure they would show up to court to answer the debt or lawsuit.
• The Sovereign Transition: Notice the phrase "by the Grace of GOD, Free and Independent." This format aggressively asserts New York's new status as an independent state, explicitly dropping any reference to King George III, who ruled prior to the revolution.
• Dating by Independence: The document is dated August 17, 1784. It notes that this is the "ninth Year of the Independence of the said State," calculating forward from July 1776.
• Prominent Figures Involved:
  • James Duane (Witness): He was a prominent member of the Continental Congress, a signer of the Articles of Confederation, and served as the Mayor of New York City from 1784 to 1789.
  • Robert Benson (Signatory): He was a well-known revolutionary figure who served as the Clerk of the New York State Senate and Clerk of the City of New York.
  • Hendrick Arnold Coster: Coster was a prominent Dutch-American merchant who became highly successful in New York shipping and commerce during this exact era.

Key Historical Elements

Element

Description

Historical Context

Date

August 17, 1784

Issued just months after the British evacuated New York City in late 1783.

James Duane

Witnessing Mayor

A member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Articles of Confederation, and Mayor of NYC (1784–1789).

Robert Benson

Court Clerk (Cl.)

A prominent revolutionary figure who served as Clerk of the New York State Senate and the NYC Mayor's Court.

Currency

Eighty Pounds (£80)

Demonstrates that New York was still utilizing the New York Pound system shortly after the Revolutionary War before the U.S. Dollar was fully adopted.

In 1784, New York was transitioning from a British colony to an independent state, and its legal system was handled primarily by the New York City Mayor's Court (Court of Common Pleas) and the New York Supreme Court of Judicature

The Year & Authority: Though often loosely called "colonial," a document from 1784 is actually from the Early Republic / Revolutionary War aftermath era. It will usually open with "The People of the State of New York..." rather than invoking the British Crown.

Paper & Ink Characteristics: Authentic 1780s documents were handwritten on heavy, coarse laid paper (often showing distinct wire chain lines when held to the light) using iron gall ink, which naturally oxidizes to a distinct dark brown color over centuries.

The Pressed Wax Seal: Look for a folded or embossed paper-covered wax seal in the upper left or lower corner, which the court used to authorize the Sheriff to make the arrest.