New York: Polity Style: 1674-1688

24 Feb/6 Mar 1674	the territories seized by either side during a war between the Netherlands and England are restored to the former lords and proprietors in accordance with a treaty signed by the representatives of the States General of the Netherlands and of the King of England at Westminster on 9/19 Feb 1674, made effective on the exchange of the ratifications in The Hague on 24 Feb/6 Mar 1674 (Davenport, 2:229-240)
29 Jun/9 Jul 1674	the grant made to James Duke of York in 1664 is confirmed and expanded in accordance with letters patent issued by command of the King of England on 29 Jun/9 Jul 1674 (New York Colonial Laws, 1:104-105)
31 Oct/10 Nov 1674	New Netherland and its dependencies, then in possession of the Netherlands, are surrendered by the Governor General of New Netherland and formally received by the Governor appointed by the Duke of York, acting on behalf of the King of England (Brodhead's History of New York, Appendix, 2:658; New York Council Minutes Calendar 1668-1783, p. 19; Pennsylvania Archives, Second series, 5:648-649; General Entries Book 1674-1688, pp. 1-2)
31 Oct/10 Nov 1674 - 11/21 Aug 1688	Territories of the Duke of York in America :: Colony of New York :: Province of New York [1]
6/16 Feb 1685	the territories granted to the Duke of York by letters patent dated 29 Jun/9 Jul 1674 reverted to the Crown of England upon the Duke's accession as James II, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, on 6/16 Feb 1685; the proclamation of James II in New York took place on 23 Apr/3 May 1685 (Brodhead's History of New York, 2:425)
11/21 Aug 1688	New York is placed under the administration of the Captain General and Governor-in-Chief and the Council of the Territory and Dominion of New England in accordance with a royal commission to Sir Edmund Andros of 7/17 Apr 1688 which was read and published at the meeting of the Council on 11/21 Aug 1688 in New York (New York Colonial Documents, 3:554-555; 3:567)

The grants of territories in New England to the Duke of York in 1664 and 1674 defined the boundaries of the possessions, but never specified any common designation for the granted lands. The commissions to proprietary governors issued by command of the Duke in 1664, 1674 and 1682 referred to "y^e lands islands and places" (as defined in the grants). The style of governors in legislation, commissions and other documents between 1664 and 1683 referred to the possessions as "his [i.e. the Duke of York's] Territories in America." The "Colony of New York and its Dependencies," however, was used in the instructions to Govenor Dongan (27 Jan/6 Feb 1683) and his commission as Vice Admiral (3/13 Oct 1682). After the accession of the Duke of York to the thrones of England and Scotland (6/16 Feb 1685), his former possessions became a crown colony and the "Province of New York" went into official use. The first seal received from the Duke of York in October 1669 bore the inscription Sigill. Provine Novi. Eborac. (the earliest known impression is dated 20 Aug 1670). The royal seals starting from 1687 bore the inscription Sigillum Provinciæ Nostræ Novi Eboraci in America.