Patroon

A patroon was a proprietor of a tract of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America. In order to encourage emigration to America, the Dutch West India Company granted patroons powerful rights and privileges, close to those of the feudal period.

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A patroon could create civil and criminal courts, appoint local officials and hold land in perpetuity, but in return would be obliged to establish a settlement of at least 50 persons within four years. Settlers on the patroon's estate were relieved of the duty of public taxes for ten years, but were required to pay the patroon in money, goods, or services in kind.

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The largest and the one only truly successful patroonship in New Netherland was Rensselaerwyck, established by Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. Rensselaerwyck covered almost all of present-day Albany and Rensselaer counties and parts of present-day Columbia and Greene counties in New York State.

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New Netherland: New Netherland (Dutch: Nieuw-Nederland, Latin: Nova Belgica or Novum Belgium) was the territory claimed by the United Provinces (the Netherlands) on the eastern coast of North America in the 17th century. New Netherland was part of the Dutch colonization of the Americas....

America: America is usually meant as either:...

Dutch West India Company: Dutch West India Company (Dutch: West-Indische Compagnie or WIC) was a company of Dutch merchants. On June 3, 1621, it was granted a charter for a trade monopoly in the West by the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands and given jurisdiction over the African slave trade, Brazil, the Caribbean, an...