colony within five years was given the title of Patroon, and was allowed
to lay claim to and hold all the land he desired and could properly
cultivate.

It was in this way that the Van Rensselaers, the Schuylers, and the Van
Cortlandts became important families in New York.

In 1647 Peter Stuyvesant came out to New Amsterdam as governor. He was
the last governor of the province.

He was familiarly known as "Old Silverleg," because, having lost one
limb in battle, he had it replaced by a sturdy wooden leg securely bound
with silver.

Many of our traditions date back to the time of this hot-tempered,
headstrong, and fine old gentleman.

His estate was called the Great Bouery, and there was a long and
beautiful lane leading from the city to it, which was known as Bouery
Lane--our present Bowery.

The Governor's house is supposed to have stood near Tenth Street, a
little east of Third Avenue, now called Stuyvesant Place.

Beyond Governor Stuyvesant's Great Bouery stretched swamps, woods, and
clearings, until a little village was reached at the junction of the
Haarlem and East rivers, which was called New Haarlem.

Peter Stuyvesant made many improvements in the city of New Amsterdam. In
order better to protect it, he built a high and strong wooden palisade