New Netherland: Polity Style: 1624-1674 - Archontology
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New Netherland: Polity Style: 1624-1674

May 1624 the West India Company (Westindische Compagnie) took possession of the lands in North America known as New Netherland in accordance with a charter granted by the States General (Staten-Generaal) of the Netherlands on 24 May/3 Jun 1621, effective on 21 Jun/1 Jul 1621 (Nationaal Archief, NL-HaNA_1.05.01.01_13_01; Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, pp. 86-115; New York Charters and Patents, pp. 78-115; Paltsis 1924, pp. 56-57)
May 1624 - 30 Jul/9 Aug 1673 Nieuw-Nederland
12/22 Mar 1664 part of the territory in North America known as New England is granted to James Duke of York in accordance with letters patent issued by command of the King of England on 12/22 Mar 1664 (New York Colonial Documents, 2:295-298; New York Colonial Laws, 1:1-5)
29 Aug/8 Sep 1664 Fort Amsterdam and the possessions of the Netherlands in New England are surrendered to the British Crown in accordance with the conditions agreed on and signed on 27 Aug/6 Sep 1664 (effective on the exchange of ratifications on 29 Aug/8 Sep 1664) (New York State Archives. New York (Colony). Council. Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, 1646-1664. Series A1810-78. Volume 15, NYSA_A1810-78_V15_0145c; Brodhead's History of New York, 1:762-763 (revised edition); New York Colonial Documents, 2:414-415)
29 Aug/8 Sep 1664 - 30 Jul/9 Aug 1673 Territories of the Duke of York in America [1]
30 Jul/9 Aug 1673 the sovereignty of the British Crown over New York is extinguished as a result of the capture of Fort James and the city of New York (30 Jul/9 Aug 1673) by the forces of the Netherlands and subsequent submission of adjacent territories (New York Colonial Documents, 3:199-202; Waard, 41-43)
30 Jul/9 Aug 1673 - 31 Oct/10 Nov 1674 Nieuw-Nederland
24 Feb/6 Mar 1674 the territories seized by either side during a war between the Netherlands and England are restored to the former lords and proprietors in accordance with a treaty signed by the representatives of the States General of the Netherlands and of the King of England at Westminster on 9/19 Feb 1674 (effective on the exchange of the ratifications in The Hague on 24 Feb/6 Mar 1674) (Davenport, 2:229-240)
29 Jun/9 Jul 1674 the grant made to James Duke of York in 1664 is confirmed and expanded in accordance with letters patent issued by command of the King of England on 29 Jun/9 Jul 1674 (New York Colonial Laws, 1:104-105)
31 Oct/10 Nov 1674 New Netherland and dependencies in possession of the Netherlands are surrendered by the Governor General of New Netherland and received by the Governor (Andros) appointed by the Duke of York and representing the King of England (Brodhead's History of New York, Appendix, 2:658; New York Council Minutes Calendar 1668-1783, p. 19; Pennsylvania Archives, Second series, 5:648-649; General Entries Book 1674-1688, pp. 1-2)
  1. The grant of territories in New England to the Duke of York in 1664 defined the boundaries of the possessions, but never specified any common designation for the granted lands. The commission to proprietary governor issued by command of the Duke in 1664 referred to "ye lands islands and places" (as defined in the grant).