Duke’s Charter, 1664

By this charter, King Charles II of England granted land that includes present-day New York, New Jersey, most of Maine, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania to his brother James, Duke of York (later James II, King of England). The charter, or royal patent, was awarded on March 12, 1664, and sets up a proprietary colony. It gives James authority to send an armed force to compel the Dutch surrender of the New Netherland province to the English, and allows him to delegate the administration of matters of law, trade, rebellion, and defense in the colony.

New York State Archives [Series B1371, Charter of the proprietary colony from Charles II to the Duke of York, 1664]