Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions |
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 First page of the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions
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| Ratified | June 7, 1629 |
| Location | Netherlands |
| Authors | Dutch West India Company |
| Purpose | Establish patroonships in New Netherland |
The Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions was an important document created by the Dutch West India Company. Its goal was to help settle their colony called New Netherland in North America. The Charter allowed rich members of the company to become "patroons" and set up large land estates.
This document had 31 rules. It explained what patroons and settlers in the new colonies needed to do. The Dutch government, called the States-General, approved it on June 7, 1629.
Contents
Why the Charter Was Needed
In the late 1620s, the colony of New Netherland was still very new. The first settlement was built in 1613. While it was growing, it wasn't growing fast enough for the Dutch West India Company.
The company's main goal was to make money from wars. They captured ships and treasures from the Spanish. For example, they captured a huge amount of silver in 1628. Making money this way was much faster than building new colonies. So, they didn't pay much attention to their settlements in the Hudson River Valley.
What the Charter Said
The company realized they needed to offer more reasons for people to move to New Netherland. This led them to create the "patroon system" in 1629. The Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions explained this system.
Becoming a Patroon
Any company member who brought 50 people (aged 15 or older) to New Netherland could become a patroon. They would get a large piece of land. This land would be like their own small kingdom. The only place they couldn't claim was Manhattan Island.
A patroon's land could be 16 miles (26 km) long if it was on one side of a river. If it was on both sides, it could be 8 miles (13 km) long. The patroon would be the main leader on their land. However, big disagreements (over 50 guilders, which was a type of money) could be taken to the Director in New Amsterdam.
Rules for Settlers
Settlers on a patroon's land would not have to pay taxes for 10 years. But during this time, they could not move to another estate or from the countryside to a town. At least one-fourth of the 50 settlers had to arrive in the first year. The rest had to arrive within three years.
Patroons could buy goods in New Netherland, New England, and New France. But they could not buy furs. The fur trade was kept as a company business because it was very profitable. Also, making cloth was not allowed in New Netherland. This was to make sure Holland's cloth factories had enough raw materials.
Patroon Responsibilities
Patroons had to pay for building barns and other structures. They also had to prepare land for farming. They provided the first farming tools, vehicles, and animals. In return, each settler paid rent and a part of what they grew. Farmers also had to offer their goods to the patroon first before selling them to anyone else.
Patroons were also responsible for hiring a minister and a schoolteacher. They also paid for the buildings needed for church and school. Once the patroonship made money, the patroon was expected to share some of the profits with the settlers.
Special Rules in the Charter
The Charter had some interesting rules. It aimed to make the West India Company rich. But it also gave good reasons for patroons to join. It even showed respect for the local Native Americans.
For example, Article XXVI said that patroons "must satisfy the Indians of that place for the land." This meant the land had to be bought or traded from the local Native Americans. It couldn't just be taken.
Article VI said that the patroon would own the land "forever." This made the patroonship like a fiefdom, a type of inherited land ownership. One patroonship actually lasted until the 1800s!
The Company also promised to protect the patroonships from attacks. They even agreed to provide enslaved people to help the patroonships if needed.
Early Patroonships
Even before the Charter was approved, some people started looking for land. On January 13, 1629, Samuel Godyn, Kiliaen van Rensselaer, and Samuel Blommaert sent people to find good places to settle.
Zwaanendael and Other Attempts
After the Charter was approved, Michael Pauw wanted to settle near the "Sickenames River." On June 19, Samuel Godyn decided to settle the "bay of the South River," which is today's Delaware Bay. He named his settlement Zwaanendael. Sadly, the settlers there were killed by local Native Americans, and Godyn sold his land back to the company.
Patroonships were planned for other places too. Michael Pauw wanted to settle the Fernando de Noronha islands off the coast of Brazil. Albertus Conradus declared himself patroon of the island of Saint Vincent. He also tried to settle the east side of South Bay, but no colony was ever built there.
Samuel Blommaert tried to start a patroonship near the Fresh River, but it was also abandoned. On January 10, 1630, Pauw became patroon of an area near the southern end of the North River. This included land where Jersey City and Staten Island are today. He called it Pavonia. But this project didn't make money, and he sold it back to the company.
Rensselaerswyck: A Success Story
The most successful patroonship was started by Kiliaen van Rensselaer. He was an Amsterdam jeweler and a company member. On November 19, 1629, he decided to settle land on the upper Hudson River.
He bought land from the Mahicans that is now Albany and Rensselaer counties. He named it Rensselaerswyck. He brought many families from his hometown of Nijkerk to settle there.
Rensselaerswyck stayed with the van Rensselaer family for a very long time. It finally ended during the Anti-Rent War in the 1840s. The last patroon, Stephen van Rensselaer III, became very rich. He is still listed as one of the wealthiest Americans in history.
