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History of Troy -- Feudalism in Troy...
The earliest settlers, vs traders, established what may best be described as fifedoms. Moneyed families staked claim to far ranging lands on which other families lived in return for their labor. Van Rensselaer, a wealthy dealer in diamonds and pearls, living in Amsterdam, and an influential director of the (East India Tea) company, having signified his willingness to settle a colony on the Upper Hudson, was, on November 19th, 1629, formally authorized as a patroon to acquire possession of as much land as might be available for the use of the colonists settling on it. (1) 8 Other families followed suit, including Wynant G. Van der Poel (of Wyantskill fame), Philip Schuyler (of Schuylerville fame), Jacob Van der Heyden, (the patroon of the original downtown Troy with many of the same streets). NEXT
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