It will be noted that under the first article of this Plan, or charter, of Freedoms and Exemptions, the privilege of becoming Patroons, with all their rights, powers, and exemptions, hereditary and otherwise wr.s confined solely to the members, that is the stockholders, of the West India Company. Other persons however, could, with the permission of the Director ard Council of New Netherland, take up as much land as they could improve, "and enjoy the same in full property either for themselves or others," but without any of the advantages and privileges conferred upon the Patroons. These were styled Free Colonists. Under these clauses the colonizing of the territory of New Netherland began.

While the charter was in process of discussion and formation in the Assembly of the XIX., which it will be recollected was composed of directors chosen from the several chambers of the West India Company, certain directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, which had been specially charged with the care and supervision of New Netherland, as soon as it became certain that the charter would be approved by the Company and ratified by the States-General, sent out to agents to purchase for them, the Indian title to certain lands in different parts of New Netherland, so that they might be ready to constitute themselves Patroons under the charter, as soon as it should finally pass and go into cfl'ect. The first of these were Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blommaert, whose agents, sent out some time previously, on June 1st, 1729, a few days before the passing of the charter, bought for them of the Delaware Indians, the lands on the southwest side of Delaware Bay from Cape Henlopen thirty-two miles northwardly in length, and two miles inland in width. As these were Dutch miles, the tract was 128 English miles long and eight miles broad.