N.Y. Public Lands Law § 12: Certain patents and grants ratified

§ 12. Certain patents and grants ratified. All patents of lands

issued before July eleventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, pursuant

to resolutions of the commissioners of the land office, and sold by them

at private sale to purchasers in good faith, purporting to convey the

right, title and interest of the people of this state in and to any

state lands, except lands under water in the bay or harbor of New York

or adjacent thereto, have been ratified and confirmed, to as full an

extent as though the same had been sold at public auction, according to

law, but not so as to affect any action pending July eleventh, eighteen

hundred and eighty-one, or to impair, release or discharge any right,

claim or interest of any person in and to such lands. All grants made

by the commissioners of the land office prior to March twenty-fifth,

eighteen hundred and forty-one, of parts of lots for which payments were

made and certified in the manner prescribed by law, have been confirmed.