Five manuscripts, one map, and four books formerly belonging to various members of the Van Cortlandt family: New York (Colony) Laws, Statutes, etc. Lawes Establish'd by the Authority of his Majesties Letters Patents.. By virtue of a Commission from.. James Duke of Yorke.. 1664. This first set of laws for New York, commonly known as the "Duke's Laws" were promulgated by Governor Richard Nicolls, after a meeting with representatives in Hempstead, Long Island, on March 1, 1664. Bound with this code are nine additions most of which are "Orders made at the Generall Court of Assizes held in New York" 1664-1672. The texts are written in several different hands and signed variously by Richard Nicolls (1624-1672), first governor of New York, 1664-1668; Matthias Nicolls (1630?-1687), Richard's brother and secretary to the province during the period covered; and Francis Lovelace (1618?-1675?), brother of the poet Richard Lovelace and governor of New York, 1668-1673. Written copies of this code were prepared for all the towns on Long Island. Of these copies only four are apparently extant, including this one and one in the New York Historical Society.

New York (City) Coroner. Minutes of Coroners Proceedings in the City and County of New York, 1747-1758. This manuscript was probably written by an amanuensis for John Burnet who was coroner at the time. The minutes deal with his inquests into unexplained deaths. Edward Newenham Bibby (d. 1882) [Notes on Diseases and Their Symptons, ca. 182?]. Bibby, a prominent Yonkers physician and member of the Van Cortlandt family, attended th College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1809 and wrote this lengthy series of medical notes (190 leaves). There is also a deed signed by Richard Nicolls confirming the rights of Oloff Stevenszen Van Cortlandt (1600-1684) to a property on Stone Street in lower Manhattan. Included with this deed is a Dutch document dated July 6, 1650, pertaining to the land grant for this property and a map, 1897, showing its location in the 17th century. There is also a quadripartite indenture between John Jay, Augustus Van Cortlandt, and many others, which redistributes the land and other assets which Augustus Van Cortland had inherited from Fredrick Van Cortlandt to all of his family. This is signed and sealed by 22 beneficiaries. Also four books formerly belonging to various members of the Van Cortlandt and Bibby families.