The territories and rights of the original Patroonships on both sides of the Hudson River, with but two exceptions, were subsequently on account of the difficulties of their owners, with the West India Company, and the obstacles they met with in settling their lands, subsequently bought back by the Company. Thus they became again part and parcel of the public domain, and as such were retransported and regranted to various individuals, by the Director and Council. That of New Amstel on the Delaware, was finally conceded to the city of Amsterdam in Holland, as late as 1656, and that city took upon itself the settlement and colonization of that Patroonship.

The two exceptions to the re-purchase of the New York Patroonships, were those of Rensselaers-wyck and Colen-Donck, both of which continued in the possession of their Patroons. Space will not permit of even a brief account of the former, which, changed in 1705 to an English Manor, has continued to our own days, striking and interesting as it is. The latter, the only Patroonship established in Westchester County, will now be described.

The Patroonship of Colen-Donck. ( Yonkers.)

In that portion of New Netherland which now constitutes the county of Westchester there existed under the Dutch dominion but one Patroonship. It was called Colen-Donck, in English "Donck's Colony," from the name of its Patroon, Adriaen van der Donck, to whom it was granted by Director Kieft and his Council in the year 1646.^

It was granted as the sole property of one of the most noted and intelligent of the leading men of New Netherland. Public aftairs in which its Patroon was engaged almost immediately after it was granted, and his necessary absence in Holland, retarded its successful development. His death following shortly after his return, and its sale under the power he obtained to dispose of it by will, practically terminated it after an existence of only twenty years.