Patroon

Holders of Dutch grants bore the title patroon, or patron. ❋ Richard Brookhiser (1999)

"He says," announced the Swiss, "that he is cousin and agent of the seignior they call the patroon, and his name is Van Corlaer." ❋ Mary Hartwell Catherwood (1874)

A patroon was a landholder who was granted one of these great estates in exchange for bringing fifty new settlers into the colony. ❋ Maggiemac (2008)

"Billy is 25 years old, and is known as the patroon of my boat for many years; in all probability he may resist; in that event 50 dollars will be paid for his HEAD." ❋ American Anti-Slavery Society (N/A)

Settlers under these lords, who were known as patroons -- a term synonymous with the Scottish "laird" and the Swedish "patroon" -- were to be exempt for ten years from the payment of taxes and tribute for the support of the colonial government, and for the same period every man, woman and child was bound not to leave the service of the patroon without his written consent. ❋ Henry Mann (N/A)

-- The tenants on some of the old "patroon" estates in New York refused to pay the rent. ❋ Unknown (N/A)

Virginian squires; and could we have peeped into the square, solid drawing-room in which, as President, he held his receptions, aided by the matronly grace and dignity of Mrs. Washington, the scene would be far gayer and more imposing than William Penn's house would have displayed, or the company of the richest Dutch "patroon" of New York could have presented in the seventeenth century. ❋ George Makepeace Towle (N/A)

The proprietor of the land was to be called a "patroon," [1] and was absolute ruler of whatever colonies he might plant, for he was at once owner, ruler, and judge. ❋ John Bach McMaster (1892)

The tone she’d used with the patroon was the same she’d have used with Benjamin Lowery in his mercantile store if he’d tried to charge two dollars a yard for calico instead of a dollar seventy-five. ❋ Evan Hunter (1976)

He added that “our friends in the State of New York are anxious beyond description,” and that Stephen Van Rensselaer, the “patroon” of Rensselaer Manor, had asked him to hire an express rider to carry the hoped-for news of ratification to Albany. ❋ Pauline Maier (2010)

Probably another actor might not bring the same multi-layered characterization to the role, and might play the patroon as only conceited or stomping about with one-dimensional meanness. ❋ Jacqueline T Lynch (2008)

Set in 1844, at the height of the land reform battles wherein sharecropping farmers were demanding entitlement to their farms, Vincent Price plays the patroon of the Dragonwyck estate. ❋ Jacqueline T Lynch (2008)

The second is at the end of the film when he notes with prideful satisfaction that the tenants before him are removing their hats, and he assumes it is because of their respect for his position as patroon. ❋ Jacqueline T Lynch (2008)