N.Y. Public Lands Law § 4

§ 4. Vesting of crown lands in the people of the state. The absolute\nproperty of all messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments, and of\nall rents, royalties, franchises, prerogatives, privileges, escheats,\nforfeitures, debts, dues, duties and services by whatsoever names\nrespectively the same are called and known in the law, and all right and\ntitle to the same, which next and immediately before the ninth day of\nJuly, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and\nseventy-six, did vest in, or belong, or was, or were due to the crown of\nGreat Britain be, and the same and each and every of them hereby are\ndeclared to be, and ever since the said ninth day of July, in the year\nof our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, to have been,\nand forever after shall be vested in the people of this state, in whom\nthe sovereignty and seigniory thereof, are and were united and vested,\non and from the said ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one\nthousand seven hundred and seventy-six.\n