Historical Error: NYC’s Official List Missing Early Mayor, Mamdani Becomes 112th Not 111th

City records overlook second term of 17th-century mayor Matthias Nicolls, researchers discover

Discrepancy in Official Records Surfaces

As Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office, historians have uncovered a significant error in New York City’s official mayoral records. According to research published by the New York Almanack, Mamdani will actually be the city’s 112th mayor, not the 111th as commonly reported. The discrepancy stems from an omission in the city’s official list that fails to account for the second term of Matthias Nicolls, who served as mayor in 1674-1675 following the English regaining control from a brief Dutch occupation.

Colonial Era Documentation Reveals Truth

The accurate accounting of New York City’s mayors can be found in the Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York covering the years 1675-1776, with a comprehensive list appearing in Volume 8. Historian Peter R. Christoph first highlighted this error in an article published in the Record of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in July 1989. Christoph wrote that every mayor after the seventh has been misnumbered, a “mind boggling” error that has persisted for decades. The confusion arose during the tumultuous period of 1673-1674 when the Dutch briefly reoccupied New York before the English regained control in November 1674. According to the official NYC mayor’s list, William Dervall is listed as the eighth mayor serving in 1675, but the historical minutes show that Nicolls served a second term as the eighth mayor from 1674-1675, with Dervall actually being the ninth mayor from 1675-1676.

Historical Context and Implications

The error highlights the complexities of early New York governance during the colonial period when control of the city shifted between Dutch and English rule. The Northeast Slavery Records Index provides additional context about New York City’s mayors and their connection to the institution of slavery during this era, offering a more complete picture of the city’s early leadership. Understanding this history becomes particularly relevant as New York prepares for Mamdani’s inauguration. The correction means that Mamdani, who will be the city’s first Muslim mayor, holds an even more significant place in the long line of New York’s chief executives than initially understood. Several “acting mayors” are also not included in the city’s official list, suggesting that the full history of New York’s municipal leadership may be even more complex than current records indicate. Historians emphasize the importance of maintaining accurate historical records, particularly as they relate to understanding the evolution of democratic governance in America’s largest city. The discovery serves as a reminder that even well-established historical narratives require ongoing scrutiny and correction. As the city prepares for this historic transition of power, the revelation about Nicolls’ missing term offers an opportunity to reflect on the full scope of New York’s mayoral history. For researchers and history enthusiasts, resources like the New York Public Library’s digital archives continue to provide valuable primary source materials for understanding the city’s colonial and early American periods. The correction will likely be incorporated into future official city records and educational materials about New York’s governmental history.