PETER DELANOY - FIRST ELECTED MAYOR OF NEW YORK

PETER DELANOY - FIRST ELECTED MAYOR OF NEW YORK
(d. 1690) The first publicly elected mayor of New York, and he would retain that distinction until 1834. Rare manuscript D.S., 2pp. legal folio, [New York], Dec. 28, 1694, the last will of Jeremias Johnson Westerhout, leaving his entire estate to his wife Cathalina Rapalje and making her executor of his estate. Westerhout signs at conclusion. At left, Delanoy signs as a witness, along with JACOBUS VERPLANCK (1671–1699) from the prominent family of the same name. Water stain at top barely detracts, else very good. Matted with an image of Delanoy at his swearing in, the entirety framed between two pieces of glass so that both sides of the document remain visible. PETER DELANOY served from 1689 to 1691 and was the first and only directly-elected Mayor of New York City until 1834. In 1688, King James II of England was overthrown, and this precipitated a revolution in the colonies known as Leisler's Rebellion. Delanoy, one of Leisler's friends and ally, was elected Mayor of New York. German American merchant and militia captain Jacob Leisler seized control of the colony's south and ruled it from 1689 to 1691. The uprising took place in the aftermath of the 1689 Boston revolt in the Dominion of New England, which had included New York, and it reflected colonial resentment against the policies of James II. Royal authority was not restored until 1691 when English troops and a new governor were sent to New York. Leisler was arrested and executed, but the revolt left the colony polarized, bitterly split into two rival factions. On September 29, 1689, by order of the committee of safety, New Yorkers had come together in their wards, and for the first time they had elected their aldermen, councilmen, and Delanoy to be their mayor. On October 14, Delanoy was proclaimed mayor by Governor Jacob Leisler, and on the same day he took the oath of office in city hall at Coenties Slip.