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History of Westchester County, New York — Passage 36

Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900) 272 words View original →

[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] peltry trade at all places where the Company had no trading station, on condition that they should " bring all the peltry they can procure " either to Manhattan Island or direct to the Netherlands, and pay to the company kk one guilder for each merchantable beaver and otter skin." The company engaged to exempt the colonists of the patroons THE EARLIEST SETTLERS 71) from all " customs, taxes, excise, imports, or any other contributions for the space of ten years." In addition to the grants to the patroons, it was provided that private persons, not enjoying the same privileges as the patroons, who should be inclined to settle in New Netherland, should be at liberty to take up as much land as they might be able properly to improve, and to " enjoy the same in full property." The principle of recompense to the Indians for the lands, as a necessary preliminary to legal ownership, was laid down in the stipulation that " whoever shall settle any colonic outside of Manhattan Island shall be obliged to satisfy the Indians for the land they shall settle upon." The patroons and colonists were enjoined " in particular and in the speediest manner " to " endeavor to find out ways and means whereby they may support a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the service of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool and be neglected among them." With an eye to possible infringements upon the com-mercial monopoly of the company, the colonists were prohibited from making any woolen, linen, or cotton cloth, or weaving any other stuffs, on pain of banishment.