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Ye Olden Time - Chapter Twenty
Coxsackie Declaration of Independence

Transcribed by Arlene Goodwin. From the book entitled, "Ye Olden Time, as compiled from the Coxsackie News of 1889" written by Robert Henry Van Bergen, together with notations by Rev. Delber W. Clark, and edited by Francis A. Hallenbeck, 1935

Coxsackie Declaration of Independence

A faded, yellow parchment, just found among the old, cast away things usually stored away in an attic, discloses the fact that the inhabitants of Coxsackie drew up and signed a Declaration of Independence one year before the immortal manifesto, written by a Virginian, was given to the ages at Philadelphia. The historic document was discovered in Albany by Mr. John M. Clarke, president of the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society and by him presented to that society.

The state historian, Dr. Sullivan; the state librarian, Dr. Wyer, and the state archevist, have each examined the parchment and pronounced it unique. Two hundred and twenty-five Dutch signatures are appended to the Declaration.

On the reverse side the parchment is written in diminutive script. "George III, last King of America."

The Coxsackie Declaration of Independence reads:

PERSUADED that the Salvation of the Rights and Liberties of America, depends, under God, on the firm Union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the Measures necessary for its Safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the Anarchy and Confusion which attend a Dissolution of the Powers of the Government:

THAT the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Coxsackie District in the County of Albany, being greatly alarmed at the avowed Design of the Ministry to raise a Revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody Scene acting in the Massachusetts-Bay: DO in the most solemn Manner resolve never to become Slaves; and do also associate under all the Ties of Religon, Honour, and Love to our Country, to adopt and endeaver to carry into Execution whatever Measures may be rendered by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our provisional Convention for the purpose of preserving our Constitution and opposing the Execution of several arbitrary and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America on constitutional principles (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained; and that we will, in all Things, follow the advice of our general Committee, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good Order, and the safety of Individuals and private property.

Dated at Cocksackie the Seventeenth Day in the Year of our Lord One thousands seven hundred and seventy-five.

John Schuneman V. D. S *(V. D. S. for Verbum Dei Servus)	Casperus Halenbeck
Theunis van vechten	Peter Bronck
Jas Barker	Leonard Bronck
Heny Van Bergen	Abraham Hallenbeck
John L. Bronck	Peter X Vanette *(probably Van Elten)
Jacob X Hallenbeck	Wilhelmus Vanderburgh
William X. Hallenbeck	John X Vannette *(probably Van Elten)
Anthony van Bergen	Wessell Salisbury
John A Witbeck	Casperse Hellenbeck
Saml Van Vechten	John Grogg
Pieter Conyne	Abraham Salisbury
Thomas Hoghtelen *(Thomas Hotaling Captain in the Revolution)	Reyckert Van den berk *(Richard Van Den Berg)
Michael X Collyor	Richard Johnson
Francis Salisbury Jr	John Vosburgh
Johannes X Jansen	Henry Irison
Lambert Van X Volkenburgh	Nikols Yare
Caspar Hollenbak	Matthia Van Con Jan
Myndert V. Schaick	Caper Pare *(Perry)
Arcut X Van Schaick	John Romear
Jacob Van Loon	Benjamin X Essex
Jacob Hallenbeck	John Van Stienburg
William Van Bergen	Gared Peresen
P. Friessouser	James X White
John C. Claus	John X Snyder
Jeremiah X Steenburgh	Nicholas Van Loon
John X Wall	Martin Hallenbeck
John V. Schaick	Abraham Van Loon
John W. Bught	Hendrick X Rose
Nicholas V. Schake	William Rea
Peter Van Burgan	Philip Conyne
John Paree *(Perry)	Reychert van den berk
Isaac X Collyer	Coenraet X Hoghtaline
Jacob X Livingston	Richard X Houghtaline
Thomas X. Templar	Philip Conine Jr
Joseph Nisbit	Baltus Van Slyk
William Groom	John van den berck
Henry Knoll	Jeremiah X Conine
John X Schrader	Peter Conine
Arent X Gooss	Peter Van Slyk *(General Peter Van Sylke)
Hendrick X Smith	Jan, Hearn
William X Smith	Philip Bronck
George Rosa	Benjamen Smith
Marten G. V. Bergen	Marten B. Bargin
Wilhelmis X Dederick	Peter Smith
Jary X Van Loon	Petrus X Brandow
Johan Wesdernich	John X Curby
Saml Allen	Jacob Van Vechten
Abraham Camer	Francis Salisbury
Willhelmas Lampman	Abraham Salisbury
Herman X Becker	Cornelius Dubois
Casper Hallenbeck	Heiybartus Dubois
Nicholas Van Loon	John Dubois
Robert Thomas	Benjamin Dubois
Jacob X Shoup	Richard X Vandenburgh
Peter Van Loon Jr	Henry Wabber
Isaak Witbeck	Frederick Schram
William Wells	Wm. Jones
Sml. Stogeles Salisbury	Reuben Stanton
A. Doonhalten	Andrew Van de berk
Ebenezer Stanton	Wilhelme Sammon
Willn Brandow Jr	Jno Moore
Edward Groom	John X Goes
Haederick X Schram	Corneliis Connine
Clement Overbagh	Rich. Ten X Bronck
Benjamin Van gerdener	John X Hallenbeck
John X Munday	John X Van Housan
James Donny	William X Klauw
Joseph Groom	Jon. Spoor
Albert Van Loon	Johannis Sousa
Joachim X Ryal	Petrus Van Loon
David Rose	Albvertus Van Loon
Gererdus Neukerk	John Rouge
Matthias X Hallenbeck	Pet. X Schram
Storm Rosa	Dirk Spoor
Christian Blodaar	Andros X Eaghlar
John Pesaly	William X Cudney
Burent Abbortsen	Frederick Schneck
Benjamin Cornelius Dubois	John Bronk
Benjamin Dubois	John Van Loon
Solomon X Schut	Casper Hellenbeck *(Hallenbeck)
Nicolas V. Scake *(Nicholas Van Schaack)	Matthias X Boom
Dirk Van Veghton	Peter X Janson
John X Vosburgh	John H X Schurmerhorn
Frederick Dederick	Hugh Deniston
Johan Niew	Laurence Winney
J. Wood	Stephen Haight
Wilhelmus X Oorbagh	Cornelius Spoor
Laurance Dubois	Thos, Garnett
John Ellis	Johannis Conyn
John X Lampman	John Casperus X Van Hoefer (probably Van Hoesen)
Mod. Van Sand *(Van Zandt)	Nicholas X Lantman *(Lampman)
Henry Oothaudt	John X Dryver
Thouny D. Van Veghten	Joseph Horsford
Benjamin X Freligh	Johannas X Planke
William X Brandow	Thomas Burdick
Cornielus Schermerhorn	Abraham Van Garde
Gysbert Oosterhoudt	Arent X Feddor
Jacob Egbertsen Jun.	Jam. C. Van Waganem
Garret P. X Steenbergh	Peter Soufer *(Peter Souser)
Thomas Fish	Richard Conways
Egbert Bogardus	William Schutt
Peter Bogardus	John Tayler
Johannes X Van Garde	Jacob X Cook
Thomas Aston	Goefrie Barndow
John Persan	Coenrad Flaake
Johannes X Brandow

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