In 1664 the Dutch lost their control of New York and New Jersey to the English when James, The Duke of York, was granted all the land between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers by his brother, King Charles II. On June 23, 1664 The Duke of York granted the New Jersey side of the lands to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret who were both loyal supporters of the crown during the English Civil Wars. At the same time, Richard Nicolls, commander of the fleet that captured New Amsterdam, and who the Duke previously appointed governor, also made appointments to others without knowledge of the land grants.
