This was changed by that of 1640 which threw them open to, "All good inhabitants of the Netherlands and all others inclined to plant any colonies in New, Netherland." The former acknowledged, and granted the rights, powers, and privileges, of Patroons, as they then existed in the United Provinces of the Netherlands, to those who would plant a "colonie," (that is establish a plantation) of fifty souls above fifteen years of age, within four years in New Netherland, after notifying the proper authorities of their intention so to do. The latter reduced the time to three years, and by it all New Netherland was thrown open to the establishment of Patroonships, except the Island of Manhattan, which the Company reserved to itself.

All Patroons under the first charter (Art V.) were permitted, after settling upon a location, to extend the limits of their "colonies," or plantations, four miles Dutch, {equal tn sixteen English) along the shore on one side of a navigable river, or two miles {eight English) on each side of the same, at their option.

This was restricted by the second charter, to one Dutch mile along a navagable river, or two miles landward.

The latter also provided for a class of colonists, not Patroons, in these words "For Masters or Colonists, shall be acknowledged, those who will remove to New Netherland with five souls above fifteen years; to all such, our Governor there shall grant in property one hundred morgens, (two hundred English acres) Rhineland measure, of land, contiguous one to the other, wherever they please to select."