Response to G.M. Freeman's query regarding the terms "town" and "township":

Since 1788, when each county in the state was subdivided into towns, "town" has been the term used in New York statutes.    (Prior to 1788, counties were divided into units variously termed "districts," "precincts," and "towns".)

In New York parlance, "township" is a subdivision of a large land tract.  The Military Tract in central New York was surveyed into townships under direction of Surveyor General Simeon DeWitt.  The Phelps and Gorham Purchase and the Holland Purchase in western New York were divided into townships by their owners.

Jim Folts
New York State Archives