In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland on the east coast of North America.
The Dutch West India Company set up the patroon system to attract more settlers. A patroon was a person who brought 50 settlers to New Netherland. As a reward, a patroon received a large land grant. He also received hunting, fishing, and fur trading privileges.
