Delaware: Polity Style: 1682-1776

1/11 Oct 1664	the territories on the coast of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River, then in possession of the Netherlands as part of New Netherland, are surrendered on 1/11 Oct 1664 to the commissioner of the King of England, in accordance with articles of capitulation signed on that date, and subsequently form part of the Territories of the Duke of York in America (New York Colonial Documents, 3:71; Delaware Papers 1664-1682, pp. 2-3)
28 Oct/7 Nov 1682	the town of New Castle ("otherwise called Delaware") and the adjacent territories upon the Delaware River are surrendered on 28 Oct/7 Nov 1682 to William Penn by the attorneys of James, Duke of York, in accordance with two deeds of feoffment executed by the Duke on 24 Aug/3 Sep 1682 (Laws of Delaware, 1:1-7, Appendix; Hazard's Annals of Pennsylvania, pp. 596-598, 606-607; New Castle County Court Records 1676-1699, 2:21-23)
7/17 Dec 1682	the counties of New Castle, Jones's (Kent) and Whorekills alias New Deal (Sussex) are annexed to the Province of Pennsylvania in accordance with an act passed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania on 6/16 Dec 1682 and promulgated by the Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania on 7/17 Dec 1682 (Laws of Delaware, 1:8-10, Appendix; Pennsylvania Assembly Votes 1682-1776, 1:1-5) [1]
22 Mar/1 Apr 1683	the territories enfeoffed to William Penn on 24 Aug/3 Sep 1682 are formally granted to James Duke of York in accordance with letters patent issued by command of the King of England on 22 Mar/1 Apr 1683 (Delaware Public Archives, RG 0000.006 Charter Documents, online) [2]
23? Nov 1704	the legislative independence of the counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex (Lower Counties) from Pennsylvania was effectively established with the convening of a separate Assembly of the Lower Counties in Nov 1704 (Penn-Logan Correspondence, 1:344-348)
15 Jun 1776	civil and military officers who had previously exercised authority in the name of the King of Great Britain are authorized to continue in their respective functions under the authority of the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Assembly of the Lower Counties on 15 Jun 1776 (Delaware Assembly and Convention Proceedings 1770-1781, pp. 199-200)
4 Jul 1776	the British colonies represented in the Continental Congress are proclaimed free and independent states in accordance with a declaration approved at the session of the Congress held on 4 Jul 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Continental Congress Journals, 5:510-515)
11 Sep 1776	the Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules of the Delaware State, formerly styled the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware, is adopted by the Convention held at New Castle on 11 Sep 1776 (Delaware Convention Proceedings 1776, pp. 17-20)
20 Sep 1776	the Constitution or System of Government is adopted by the Convention held at New Castle on 20 Sep 1776 (Delaware Convention Proceedings 1776, pp. 26-35) [3]

Full title: An Act of Union, for annexing and uniting of the counties of New Castle, Jones's, and Whorekills, alias New-Dale, to the province of Pennsylvania; and of naturalization of all foreigners, in the said province and counties annexed.
At the time when the Duke of York executed the deeds in favor of William Penn (24 Aug/3 Sep 1682), he did not have a royal patent to this territory. The letters patent of 22 Mar/1 Apr 1683 formalized the grant of lands.
Full title: Constitution, or System of Government, agreed to and resolved upon by the Representatives in full Convention of the Delaware State, formerly styled the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, the said Representatives being chosen by the Freemen of the said State for that express Purpose.