Eastchester bay or Long Island Sound, south by the East River, and west by the Bronx. "Its form is defined by waters on three sides, and of course irregular, but its medial extent north and south may be four miles, and east and west about two and a half; with an area of nearly ten square miles." Prior to 1846

This name is probably derived from the city of the same title in Cheshire, England. "Not far from the mouth of the Dee in Cheshire, (says Camden,) stands that noble city, which Ptolemy calls Deunana and Antoninus, Deva, from the river; the Britons Caer-Legion, &c., and by way of pre-eminence Caer; as our ancestors the Saxons called it Legeacerca, from the legion there, and we more contractly Westchester from its westerly situation, and simply Chester according to that

verse,

Cestria de Castris nomen quasi Castria sumpsit.
Chester from Caster (or the camp) was named.

A more appropriate name could not have been selected, as it was situated west of the New England settlements.

Spafford's Gazetteer.

this town embraced West Farms, and the manors of Morrisania and Fordham.

Like the adjoining lands, Westchester was originally purchased by the Dutch West India Company, of the Mohegan sachems and other Indians, who claimed it in 1610.a

Upon the 14th of November, 1654, Thomas Pell of Fairfield, Connecticut, obtained a second grant from the aboriginal proprietors, which also embraced the present town. Thirty years later we find the sachems Maminepoe and Wampage conveying to the inhabitants of Westchester "all that tract of land lying on the east side of Bronckses river."

The principal Indian settlements in this town, were located upon Castle Hill neck and about Bear swamp.b The former is said to have been the site of an Indian castle. On the south-east side of Spicer's neck is situated "Burying Point," their place of sepulture. The extensive "shell banks" on the shores of the East river, afford evidence that the aboriginal population must at one time have been very considerable.

Westchester "was probably first settled in 1642, by a Mr. John Throckmorton and thirty-five associates, who came from New England, with the approbation of the Dutch authorities."c By the Dutch it was denominated "Vredeland," or the " Land of Peace," "a meet appellation (says the historian of the New Netherlands,) for the spot selected as a place of refuge by those who were bruised and broken down by religious persecution."d

In reply to John Throckmorton's petition, soliciting permission to settle down within the limits of the New Netherlands, is the following license, dated 2d October, 1642.

"Whereas Mr. Throckmorton, with his associates, solicits to settle with thirty five families within the limits of the jurisdiction of their High Mighti

Alb. Rec. vol. ii. 147.

The aborigines maintained possession here as late as 1789. The site of their wigwams is now owned by Mr. Jesse Ryer. In this vicinity is a small excavation cut out of a granite rock, (in the form of a mortar,) used by the Indians in pounding their corn.

Hist. Collections of N. Y. by John Barber and Henry Howe. d O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 258.

nesses, to reside there in peace and enjoy the same privileges as our other subjects, and be favored with the free exercise of their religion; having seen the petition of the aforesaid Throckmorton, and consulted with the interests of the Company, as this request can by no means be injurious to the country, more so as the English are to settle at a distance of three miles from us, so it is granted. Mr. Throckmorton, with thirty-five English families, are permitted to settle within three miles of Amsterdam.'

Upon the 6th of July, 1643, the following " land brief" was granted to Jan Throckmorton, &c.

"We, William Kieft, director general, and the council, in behalf of their high mighty lords, the States General of the United Netherlands, his highness the Prince of Orange, and the noble lords, the managers of the General Incorporated West India Company in New Netherlands residing, by these presents, do publish and declare that we, on this day the date underwritten, have given and granted unto Jan Throckmorton a piece of land, (being a portion of Vredeland,) containing as follows, along the East river of New Netherlands, extending from the point half a mile, which piece of land aforesaid is surrounded on one side by a little river, and on the other side by a great hill, which river and hill on high water running, meet each other, surround the said land, as will more clearly appear by a map of the same which has been made and marked off by the surveyor, with the express conditions and terms that the said Jan Throckmorton, or they who by virtue of these presents shall succeed to his action, the noble lords, the managers aforesaid, shall acknowledge as their lords and patroons, under the sovereignty of the high and mighty lords, the States General, and unto their director and council here, shall in all things be confirmed as all good citizens are in duty bound; provided also that the said Jan Throckmorton and his company (associates) shall furthermore be subject to all such burdens and imposts, as already have been enacted by the noble lords, and hereafter may yet be enacted. It is furthermore made an express condition that the aforesaid Jan Throckmorton, according to promise, shall settle on the aforesaid lands as many families as may offer in the same manner, constituting over the said Throckmorton and his company, in our stead, in the real and actual possession of the aforesaid piece of land, lying on the East river aforesaid, giving them by these presents the full and irrevocable might, authority, and special permission the aforesaid parcel of land to enter, cultivate, inhabit, and occupy, in like manner as he may lawfully do with other his patrimonial lands and effects, without our, the grantors in quality aforesaid, thereunto any longer having, reserving or saving any part, action, or control whatever, but to the behoof as aforesaid, from all as

Alb. Rec. from 1638 to 1642.

sisting from this time forth and forever, promising moreover this transport firmly, invariably, and irrevocably to maintain, fulfil, and execute, and to do all that in equity we are bound to do. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, this 6th day of July, 1643.

"WILLIAM Kieft. "By order of the noble lords, the directors and council of the New Netherlands.

"CORNELIS TIENHOVEN, Secretary."

This grant, subsequently called Throckmorton's neck, embraced the eastern part of the present town. It was bounded on the north by Eastchester neck, on the east by the Eastchester bay and Long Island sound, on the south by the East river, and on the west by the Westchester creek.

John Throckmorton, the patentee, originally emigrated from England to Nantaskett, Massachusetts, 5th February, 1631, in the ship Lyon; from this place he removed to Salem in 1639; he afterwards became a Baptist, and a resident of Rhode Island.b From Rhode Island he fled to Vredeland that he might enjoy here (among the Dutch) the free exercise of his religious principles.

The Throckmorton family derive their name from Throckemertona, (Throckmorton) or the Rockmoor town, which is situated in the vale of Evesham, Worcester county, England. John Throckmorton was lord of the manor of Throckmorton, about sixty years after the Norman conquest. The etymology of the name is either British or Saxon, which shows that they held this property before that period. Eighth in descent from John Throck morton, lord of Throckmorton in 1130, was-John Throckmorton, lord of Throckmorton's neck, Vredeland, who left issue John Throckmorton. The patentee is now represented by the Throckmortons of Middletown, New Jersey. Several members of the Throckmorton family appear to have fallen in the Indian massacre which took place on the 6th of October, 1643. Upon the 29th of April, 1652, John Throckmorton petitioned the director

a Alb. Rec. G. G. 98. Ibid. 173, 4.

Farmers' Register.

• See page 514. The war between the Dutch and the Indians of Westchester continued throughout 1644. Alb. Rec. vol. xx. 56.

general for leave to transport Throckmorton's neck. In October following permission was granted, whereupon he conveyed the same to Augustine Hermans.a

On the 5th of December, 1656, Governor Stuyvesant ordered that Throckmorton's and Cornhill's neck (Clason's Point,) might come into their jurisdiction if they please.b

Augustine Hermans, soon after his purchase, conveyed fifty morgen of land situated on Throckmorton's neck, to Thomas Hunt. In 1665 the town of Westchester asserted "that she had always enjoyed Throckmorton's neck."c

The following abstract is taken from a cause in the court of assize, September, 1666, wherein Augustine Hermans was plaintiff, for usurpation of rights; and the inhabitants of ye town of Westchester, defendants.

"They produce the patent to Throckmorton transported to Augustinus Hermans.

"A mappe of ye neck of land is viewed.

"Thomas Hunt, sen., his deposition read, and his deed from Augustinus Hermans.

"A copy of an order is produced by the defendant, made by the Dutch governor, bearing date July 9th, 1657, wherein its exprest that Westchester shall have four English, or one Dutch mile square of land for the towne, which must be taken of this neck. There is also mention made on ye said order of a reservation of one hundred or fifty morgen for Throckmorton's and Cornell's neck, for a farme upon each.

Another order brought in by them, dated 1660, viz., that all persons shall remove from their out farmes, which were at a distance, and settle in townes. Another writing, acknowledged before Mr. van Ruyven, of ye plaintiff's making over his interest in ye land in question to Thomas Hunt, sen.

The court adjudge in lieu of all ye plaintiff's pretences to Throckmorton's neck, hee shall only have fifty morgen of land thereupon, with meadow proporconable thirty-four morgen whereof, with a due proporcon of meadow, being that which was heretofore sold by the plaintiff to Thomas Hunt, sen., who is in possession thereof. The other fifteen morgen at the sale reserved

a Rec. of Assize, vol. ii. 59.

b Alb. Rec. Courts of Assize, vol. i. 60. Alb. Rec. Courts of Assize, vol. ii. 60.