A lord of the manor in the Dutch Settlements along the Hudson River.
1758. Marched into the Paterroon Lands to Landlord Lovejoys.—L. Lyon, ‘Military Journals’ (1855) 13. (N.E.D.).
1776. Vast tracts of land on each side of Hudson’s river are held by the proprietaries, or, as they are here styled, the Patrones of manors.—C. Carroll, ‘Journal,’ p. 41–2 (id.). (Italics in the original.)
The N.E.D. also furnishes examples 1790, 1797, &c.
1819. One of those persons that I told to wait until their turns came, was the Young Patroon.—B. F. Butler to Jesse Hoyt, ‘Lives of Butler and Hoyt,’ by W. L. Mackenzie, p. 18 (Boston, 1845).
1824. Mr. Van Rensselaer of Albany, called the Patroon, is reported to be worth $7,000,000.—Woodstock Observer, Vt., March 2.
1832. [The Dutch settlers encouraged] those who should go out to the “Groot Rivier” of Hudson, with the enterprize, force, and capital of Patroons; a name denoting something baronial and lordly in rank and means. They were such as should undertake to plant a colony of fifty souls, upwards of 15 years old; taking them out, if needful, in divisions of a fourth each in four years.—Watson, ‘Historic Tales of New York,’ p. 29. (Italics in the original.)
1835. He [General Van Rensellaer (sic)] is the Patroon, or Lord of the Manor here; and is considered the greatest landlord in the United States.—A. Reed and J. Matheson, ‘Visit to America,’ i. 323.
1841. This is the celebrated Stephen Van Ranssalear [sic], known by the name of “The Patroon,” a word derived from the Dutch, and corresponding in its meaning, it is said, to our English phrase “lord of the manor.”—J. S. Buckingham, ‘America,’ ii. 327.
1902. My father as a young man was making the journey from Albany to Utica, ninety-six miles, in company with the Patroon Van Rensselaer, Martin van Buren, Daniel D. Tompkins, and Chancellor Kent.—Bishop Whipple, ‘Lights and Shadows,’ p. 3.
