A "patroon" was a term used in the 17th century, particularly in the context of Dutch colonial America. It referred to a landholder or a person who received a large estate in the Dutch colonies, particularly in what is now New York. Patroons were granted land by the Dutch West India Company in exchange for the responsibility of establishing settlements and bringing in settlers to populate and cultivate the land.
The system of patroons was part of a broader effort by the Dutch to encourage colonization and economic development in their overseas territories. Patroons had significant rights and privileges, including the authority to govern their lands and the power to establish their own courts. The most famous patroonship was the Rensselaerswyck in the Hudson Valley, which was founded by the wealthy Van Rensselaer family. The patroon system eventually declined as the English took control of the region and made changes to land ownership laws.
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