Province of New York

The Province of New York was a British proprietary colony and later a royal colony on the northeast coast of North America from 1664 to 1783.

In 1664, the English under Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York raised a fleet to take the colony of New Netherland from the Dutch. The Governor surrendered to the English fleet without recognition from the Dutch West Indies Company that had authority over it. The province was renamed for the Duke of York, as its proprietor. England's rule was established ''de facto'' following military control in 1664, and became established ''de jure'' as sovereign rule in 1667 in the Treaty of Breda and the Treaty of Westminster (1674). It was not until 1674 that English common law was applied in the colony.

In the late 18th century, colonists in New York rebelled along with the other Thirteen Colonies, and supported the American Revolutionary War that led to independence and the founding of the United States. British claims in New York were ended by the Treaty of Paris of 1783, with New York establishing its independence from the crown. The final evacuation of New York City by the British Army was followed by the return of General George Washington's Continental Army on November 25, 1783, in a grand parade and celebration. Provided by Wikipedia