The town of Hempstead nominates Robert Forman for Magistrate for 1659. He is selected by Peter Stuyvesant as indicated in a margin note – top, left.

A LETTER FROM JOHN JAMES TO PETRUS STUYVESANT. Ever honored Sir. After the remembrance of our submission and humble respects; it hath pleased God after A Sickly and sad Summer to give vs A seasonable and comfortable Autumne, wherewith we have beene (thorow mercy) refreshed ourselues and have gained strength of God, soe that we have beene necessarily Imployed in getting winter foode for our Cattell and thereby haue something prolonged our wonted time of chosing Magistrates, for the which wee hope your honor will hold vs Excused: And now according to our Accustomed manner: we haue voted and putt vpon denomination our former Magistrate Mr. Richard Gildersleue, and with him William Schadden, Robert Forman and Henry Persall. They are all of them knowing-men, of honest life and good integrity, therefore we desire your honnor to choose & appoint twoe of them to be our Magistrates And w e shall willingly accept of them, And allways according to our duty & obedience, wee shall pray vnto the Most high God, to bless and presearve your honor with much health with happines And prosperity in all your Noble designe Wherewith wee humbly take our leave.

Ever honored sir
Your Loyall true & obedient Servants
The Inhabitants of Hemsteede.
In their behalfe haue Subscribed,
John James, towne-clerk.

Hemstead this 27th Nov. 1658. Stilo Nouo.
[ADDRESSED] To the Rt. honorable Peter Steuensant Gouernor and Capt. Generall of the Newnetherlands resident att Mannatans.
[ENDORSED:] Hempsteed to Go. Stuyvesant Nov. 1658
[MARGINAL NOTE:] 1658. 9 December. Were selected: Mr. Gildersleve; Mr. Forman.

Robert Forman and Hempstead neighbors balk at a payment of tax without having been given protection from attack or paid for resulting damages. 

LETTER FROM THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD TO PETRUS STUYVESANT. Honoured Sir. Yours wee received Bearing Date the 4 m of July 1656 [This letter no longer exists.] wherein you demand the tenths. Which iff they bee due according to Covenant then wee are ready to pay them iff there bee any deputed to receave them according to Covenant. But wee know off no General peace was made with the Indians till this year. Sir wee allsoe doe expect that you will make good unto us such Damages as you by Covenant have bound your selffe to make good unto us. Sir wee take our Leaves & subscribe our selves. Yours,
Aaron his [mark] mark Forman
Simon Saring
John Smith
Beniamin Coe
John [mark] Smith
Nicholas Taner
John Seaman
John Sturgis
Richard Wodhull
Robert Maruin
Thomas iacop(?)
William Scadding
Thomas [mark]  Ellison
James his [mark]  marke Pine
Francis [mark]  Weeks
Daniell Whythead
John his [mark]  marke
Ellison Richard Willetts
Robert Iackson
Richard Valantine
The mark of John [mark] Stickland
John Hickes
Ri. Gildersleue
William Washborn
The marke of Robert [mark]  Ashmane
Edward [mark] Reiner
Henry his [mark] marke Pearsall
Will: Yeates
Thomas Champion
Richard his [mark]  marke Stiles
His marke [mark]  Jeremiah G. Wood
Laurence [mark]  Ellison
George [mark] Mils
Richard Brudnill
Robert Forman
Joseph Scott
John Smith
Jonas Halsteade
Thomas [mark]  Southard
William [mark] Smith
Robert [mark] Beadles mark

On 18 APR 1658, Robert Forman served as assistant magistrate in the trial of 2 Quaker women, who were found guilt and fined 20 guilders for practicing their religion. Their families moved from Hempstead shortly after. As a point of comparison, Mary Dyer was hung in Boston for the same offense in 1660.

Hempstead ye April AD 1658. At a Court holden this present day stilo novo. 

Present Mr Richard Gilders Leeve, Mr John Hicks, Mr Robert Firmen, Mr Richard Willetts

Foreasmuch as Mary Schott the wife of Joseph Schott together with the wife of Francis Weekes have contrary to the Law of God and the laws established in this place not only absented themselves from public worship of God but have profaned the Lord’s Day by going to a conventicle or meeting in the woods where there were two Quakers the one of them as named the wife of Francis Weekes being there and the other being met with all near the place who upon examination have justified their acts saying they did know no transgression they had done for they went to meet the people of God be it therefore ordered that each party shall paye for this offence twenty guilders and all costs and charges that shall arise therefrom.

Robert Forman is named as 1 of 18 men, mostly English, on the Charter of Flushing 10 OCT 1645.

Know all men, whom these presents may any wayes concerne, That wee William Kieft, Esquire Governor General of the Province called the New Netherlands, with ye Councill of State there Established, by Vertue of a Commission under the hand and Seale of the High and Mighty Lords, the Estates General of ye United Belgick Provinces, His Highnesse, Frederick Hendrick, Prince of Orange, and the Right Honorable Lords, the Lords Bewint Hebbers, of the West India Company, Have given and graunted, And by virtue of these p’nts, do give, graunt and confirm unto Thomas ffarrington, John Townesend, Thomas Stiles, Thomas Saull, John Marston, Robert ffleld, Thomas Applegate, Thomas Beddard, Laurence Dutch, John Laurence, William Laurence, William Thorne, Henry Sautell, William Pigeon, .Michaell Milleard, Robert ffirman, John Hicks, Edward Hart, their heires, Executors Administrators Assignes, Successors or Associates, or any they shall joyne in Associacion with them, a certaine quantity or parcell of Land, with all the Havens, Harbors Rivers, Creekes, Woodland, Marshes, there unto belonging, and being upon the Northside of Long Island, to begin at ye westward part thereof, at the Month of a Creeke upon the East River, now comonly called and knowne by the name of fflushing Creeke, and so to runne Eastward, as farr as Matthew Garretsons Bay; Together with a Neck of Land commonly called Tues Neck, being bounded on the Westward part thereof, with the Land graunted to Mr Francis Doughty and Associates, and on the Eastward part thereof, with the Land graunted to ye Plantacion and Towne of Hempsteed, and so to rune in two direct Lines, unto the South side of ye said Island, that there may be the same Latitude in breadth, on the South side, as on the Northside, for them the said Patentees, Actually, really, and perpetually to enjoy, and Possesse, as their owne free Land of Inheritance, for them the said Patentees, their Associates, heires, Successors and Assignes to Improve and Manure at theire owne best advantage according to their discretions. Aiwayes Provided ye said Patentees or Associates, shall settle such a competent Number of ffamilyes, within the space of two yeare, after the date hereof, as the Governor General of this Province, for the time being, or any hee shall appoint, shall thinke convenient, may bee accommodated, within the said Limitts; Alwayes Provided the first Settlers, to bee sufficiently accommodated, excepting for and to the use of the above said Right Honorable the Lords Bewint Hebbers, a certain Parcell of Land, within the Towne of fflushing, for theire own use; ffurther giving and graunting, And by vertue of these presents, We do give and Graunt, unto the said Patentees, their Associates, Heires, Executors, Administrators, Successors and Assignes, upon the said Land to build a Towne, or Townes, with such necessary ffortifications, as to them shall seeme Expedient and to have and Enjoy the Liberty of Conscience, according of Religion; to the Custome and manner of Holland, without molestacōn or disturbance, from any Magistrate or Magistrates, or any other Ecclesiasticall Minister, that may extend Jurisdiccion over them, with Power likewise, for them the said Patentees, their Associates and Successors to Nominate, Elect and Choose, a certain Officer over them, who may beare the name or Title of Scout, or Constable of ffiushing, to with said Officer, of Scout or Constable, Wee do hereby give graunt and Confirme, as large and ample Power and Authority, as, is usually given to the Scout of any Village in Holland, or Constable in England, for the apprehencion of any Malefactor, or any that shall go about to disturbe the Publique Peace and tranquillity of the said Towne of fflushing, And him or them to bring before the Governor General of this Province, for the time being, and there to make Proces against such delinquents; ffurther giving and graunting, And by vertue of these presents, we do give and graunt unto the said Patentees, their Associates, Heires, Successors to have and enjoy the free Liberty of Hawking, Hunting, ffishing, ffowling within their above said Limitts, And to use and Exercise all manner of Trade and Commerce, according as ye Inhabitants of this Province may or can by vertue of any Priviledge or Graunt made unto them, indueing all and singular the said Patentees, their Associates, Heires, Successors &c. withall and singular the imunityes of this Province, as if they were Natives of the United Belgick Provinces; Alwayes Provided, the said Patentees, their Associates, Heires and Successors shall reverendly respect the abovenamed High and Mighty Lords, for their Superior Lords and Patrons, so long’ as they shall continue within the Jurisdiction of this Province, and at ye expiracōn of ten yeares to begin from the day of the date hereof, to pay or cause to bee paid to an Officer, thereunto deputed by the Governor General of this Province, for the time being, the tenth part of the Revenue, that shall arise by the Ground manured, by the Plough or Howe, in case it bee demanded, to be paid to ye sd Officer, in the ffield, before it bee Housed, Gardens, or Orchards, not exceeding one Holland Acre, being excepted; And in case any of ye sd Patentees, their Associates, Heires, Successors or Assignes, shall onely improve their Stocks, in Grasing or Breeding of Cattle, Then the Party so doing, shall at the expiracōn of the ten yeares aforsaid, Pay or cause to be paid to an Officer, deputed as abovesaid, such reasonable Satisfaction in Butter or Cheese, as other Townes shall do in like Cases; Likewise enjoyning the said Patentees and Associates, their Heires, Successors and so forth, in the dating of all Publick Instruments use the New Stile, together with the Weights and Measures of this place. In Wittnesse whereof, wee have here unto sett our hand and Seale of this Province, dated this tenth day of October, 1645, stilo novo, in the ffort Amsterdam.

Memorandum, before the Ensealing hereof, It was Agreed, and Ordered by the Governor, the Land should rune North and South, but as farr as the Hills.
WILLEM KIEFT.
Ter Ordinnantie,
CORNELYS VAN TIENHOVEN, Secretary