98 THE GREEN RISING 



contributed to the acquisition by certain individuals 

 of large landed estates. The plantation system was 

 distinctly feudal. The proprietors exacted quit-rents 

 or payment in services for the use of land. This was 

 paid for a time on both cultivated and uncultivated 

 land. But this plan finally became an insufferable 

 burden and quit-rents disappeared after the 

 Revolution. 



Even the feudal policies varied in different 

 colonies. The early policy of the Baltimores was to 

 dispose of their lands in large tracts. The result was 

 a manorial system in which grantees enjoyed great 

 powers and privileges. In time, however, for 

 economic reasons these large holdings were divided 

 and the land was occupied by small owners. In 

 Pennsylvania the land was first sold in large tracts, 

 but later small holdings came to prevail. The largest 

 estates in America were along the Hudson. Some of 

 these ranged from fifty to a hundred thousand acres. 

 These grants were made by the Dutch West India 

 Company to proprietors called "Patroons." After 

 the conquest of New Amsterdam by the English, 

 these grants were confirmed. 



Feudal tenure was never successful in New Eng- 

 land. As a rule, grants of land were made to groups 

 instead of to proprietors. By mutual agreement the 

 land was subsequently divided by the members of 

 the group. The only feudal aspect of the land 

 tenure system in New England resulted from the 

 custom of the group retaining a portion of the land 



