van Rensselaer did, in the same year 1650, purcliase from the owners and proprietors, and them paid for a certain ])arccl of land, extending up the river South and North off from Fort Orange unto a little besouth of Moeneminnes Castle; and tlic land called Semesseeck lying on the East l)ank opposite Castle Island, up unto the aforesaid fort. Item, from Petanoch the millstream North unto Negagonse, in extent about three leagues, with all the timber, appendices and dependencies thereof. And, accordingly, being entered into possession of said lands, he had there, at his great cost, established a considerable Colonic and from time to time so improved it that a village or hamlet was founded there, first called de Fuyck, afterwards Beverswyck and now Willemstadt, whereabouts the aforesaid Fort Orange was formerly built. That said Rensselaer and afterwards the Petitioners, had also exercised there High, Middle and Low jurisdiction, and accordingly appointed the necessary officers and Magistrates and enjoyed all the Freedoms, Rights and Privileges which were granted by said Company and you. High and Mighty, to him Rensselaer and other Patroons of Colonies; that afterwards, the aforementioned West India Company's Director had indeed disquieted the Petitioners in the possession of the aforesaid hamlet or village, leaving in the meanwhile the Petitioners only in the possession of the remainder of their aforesaid Colonic.

That in the year 1664, New Netherland and consequentlv the Colonic aforesaid fell and remained in the hands of his Majesty the King of Great Britain, when the name of Albany was given to the aforesaid Fort Orange which is situate in the Petitioners' aforesaid Colonic Rensselaerswyck, with said Colonic and other lands lying thereabout, until they were again recovered by their High Mightinesses' glorious arms.