History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
This law and this sum marked the beginning of the Quit-rents and their amount or rate paid ever after to the King, and subsequently to the American Revolution to the State, and which only terminated under the State Quit-rent statute of 1815, which commuted them all for gross sums of money, as will be fully explained hereafter.
Governor Lovelace sent a report to the Duke of York on the state of the Province, undated, but which is believed to have been made early in 1669, the year after his arrival in New York. In this he says : "The Tenure of Lands is derived from his Royall Highness who gives and grants Lands to Planters as their freehold forever, they paying the customary rents and duties with others toward the Defraying of
1 This court combined judicial and legislative powers, and was created by the code itself. 2Tl]is court sat annuallyin September. 3 The Duke's Laws, I. X. Y. H. Coll., 359 and 410.
the Publique Charges. Tlie highest Rent, or acknowledgment of his E. H., will be one penny per acre for Lands purchased by His R. H., the least two shillings six pence for each hundred acres, whereof the Planters themselves are purchasers from the Indyans."*
In the year 1666 the "General Court of Assizes" made an order, that all persons who had old patents should bring them in to be renewed, and they that had none should be supplied therewith by a certain time therein limited. A proclamation of the Governor dated at Fort James the 1st of July, 1669, to "the Inhabitants about Delaware" shows us very clearly what this order meant. After quoting the order, it continues in these words: "Which said order did extend itself to Albany, Esopus, and all other places of the Governm', as well as this City and more particularly to all those who had beene under the Dutch, and are now reduced to his Majesties obedience.' These presents doe declare and make Knowne that the Inhabitants in and about Delaware being under this Governm' are likewise concerned as well as the rest ; So that all persons there who hould their lands by Patent or ground briefs of y" Dutch Tenure are to have their Patents renewed.