As far as I know, Jamaica -- or Rustdorp, as the Dutch knew it -- never figured much in colonial politics. Under Stuyvesant, it had its own magistrates for dealing with local matters, but never played a role in New Netherlandish administration. According to Ross' "History of Long Island" (p. 563), the General Assembly of the Province of New York met there in 1702 and 1753 but, in Ross' words, "Jamaica has never figured much in the outside world."

I'd be curious to know what references you have to Jamaica as a colonial administrative post.

Regards,
James Nevius
http://www.walknyc.com/


Nancy Hyden Woodward <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Was Jamaica, across the East River from Manhattan, where the colonial
government had its office in the 1600s? I was under the impression that it
was on Manhattan island but once again, a reference to Jamaica has come up.

Nancy Hyden Woodward

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