New York City Epidemic, 1702

Burying the Dead

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By His Excellency

Edward Lord Cornbury, His Majesty's Capt. General and Governour in Chief of the Province of New-York, and Territories depending thereon in America, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c.

A PROCLAMATION

WHereas it hath pleased Almighty God for our Sins, Immoralities and Prophaneness to visit the City and Province of New-York with great Sickness & Mortality, of a very Dangerous and Infectious Nature, Notwithstanding which Divers of the Inhabitants of the said City have kept their Dead above Ground several days without burying the same, which in all Probability hath been a great occasion of spreading the Malignity of the said Distemper almost Over the whole Province, whereby the greater number of the Inhabitants of the said City dye daily. For Prevention on whereof, through Gods Mercy, for the future, I have thought fit, by & with the advice and Content of her Majesties Council for the said Prov?n? to publish and declare, and I do her by in her Majesties Name Publish and Declare That of any Person or Persons whatsoever within the said City of N. York shall, after Publication hereof, Presume to keep therein any humane Corps or dead Body above Ground and uninterred a longer time then the space of twelve hours, at the furthest, after the decase of such Corps or body aforesaid, shall for every such Default forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Pounds current Money of N. York, for the use of the Poor of the said City. And the Mayor Aldermen High-Sheriff, High Constable, Petty Constable, and all others her Majesties Officers of the said City of New-York, are hereby Required, to the utmost of their Powers, to see this Proclamation put in Effectual Execution, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.

Given at Kings-Bridge the 17th Day of September, in the First Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lady ANNE, by the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, QUEEN, Defender of the Faith, &c. Anno Dom. 1702.

Cornbury.

God Save The Queen.

Printed and Sold by William Bradford, Printer to the Queens Most Excellent Majesty, in New-York.

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