south of the present village of that name. On account of its natural boundaries this section of country was peculiarly adapted for the favorite Indian practice of entrapping wild game. Upon the north the Stony mountains formed an impassable rampart, whilst the long chain of ponds and streams on the east line of the town closed up all avenues of escape in that direction. The Indians therefore availing themselves of these natural barriers, constructed a palisaded pound at the southern extremity of the ponds, into which they drove the wild game from the west. Van der Donck the historian informs us, "that the Indians frequently united in companies of from one to two hundred, when they have rare sport. On these occasions they drive over a large district of land and kill much game. They also make extensive fikes with palisadoes, which are narrow at the terminating angles, wherein they drive multitudes of animals and take great numbers. At a word they are expert hunters for every kind of game, and know how to practice the best methods to insure success."a The shouts and yells of these savage huntsmen must have reverberated in frightful echoes from the neighboring woods and hills, serving no doubt much to bewilder their prey.

Poundridge was originally included in the Indian grant made to John Turner of New Haven, on the 1st of July, 1640. The sale is thus recorded in the town books of Stamford.

"Bought of Ponus, sagamore of Toquams," (Stamford,) "and Wascussue, sagamore of Shippan, by me Nathaniel Turner of Quinnipiacke," (New Haven,) "all the ground that belongs to both the above named sagamores, except a piece of ground which the aforesaid sagamore of Toquams reserved for his and the rest of the said Indians to plant on; all which ground being expressed by meadows, uplands, grass, with the: tiers and trees; and in consideration hereof, I the said Nathaniel Turner am to give and bring or send to the above said sagamores within the space of one month, twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve hatchets, twelve glasses, twelve knives, four kettles, and four fathom of white wampum, all which Land Both we the said sagamores do promise faithfully to perform both for bursites, our heirs, executors or assigns

■ Van der Donck's Hist. of N. N. New York Hist. Soc. Coll. New Series, vol. i. ▸ Capt. Nathaniel Turner purchased in behalf of the people of New Haven.

to the above said Nathaniel Turner of Quinnipiacke, his heirs, executors or assigns, and hereunto we have set our marks in the presence of many of the said Indians, they fully consenting thereto."

Ye marke of M Ponus, sagamore.

Witnessed by us,

William Wilkes,
James, &c.

Ye marke of

Wascussue, sagamore.

Besides Poundridge the above sale also embraced the present townships of Darien, Stamford, New Canaan, and the greater part of Bedford and Greenwich.

The planting grounds reserved by the sachem Ponus, were situated four miles south of Poundridge, in the vicinity of the street still bearing his name. In 1644, "the western Indians being at war with the Dutch, had communicated their hostile feelings to those around Stamford, who at this period numbered one thousand warriors; but the firmness and courage of Capt, John Underhill compelled the whole of them to sue for peace. Upon occasion of its ratification the Wappings of Stamford presented themselves with others at Fort Amsterdam, April 6th, 1644.b In 1655 occurs the following agreement between the inhabitants of Stamford and the Indian Sachem, Ponus, &c.

"Our agreement made with Ponus, Sagamore of Toquams, and with Onox his eldest son. Although there was an agreement made before with the said Indians and Captain Turner, and the purchases paid for, yet the things not being clear, and being very unsatisfied, we come to another agreement with Onox and Ponus for their land from the town plot of Stamford north about sixteen miles, and then to a marked white oak tree with ST, and from that tree we went towards the Mill river side, we marked another white oak tree with ST, and from that tree west we were to run four miles eastward, and from this east and west line we were to have further to the north, for our cattle to feed,

See Bedford.

The Wappings were probably engaged "in the great battle fought between the Dutch and Indians in that part of Horseneck called Strickland's plain, now inclu. ded in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut." O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 302.

full two miles further, the full breadth only, the said Indians reserve for themselves liberty for their planting ground, and the above said Indians, Ponus and Onox, with all other Indians that be concerned in it, have surrendered all the said land &c., for and in consideration hereof, the said town of Stamford is to give the said Indians four coats which the Indians accept of as full satisfaction for the aforesaid lands although it waspaid before. Hereby all Ponus's posterity is cut off from making any claim or having any right to any part of the aforesaid land &c., the said Ponus and Onox his son, having this day received of Richard Lane, four coats, acknowledging themselves fully satisfied for the aforesiad land.

Witness the said Indians hands this fifteenth day of August, A. D. 1655.
Witness William Newman,
Ponus M his mark,
Onox O his mark.

Richard Lewis.

Upon the 7th of January, 1667, Taphance son of Ponus and Powhag or Pinaghag son of Onox, confirmed to the people of Stamford the agreement of 1655. By these sales Poundridge became a part of Stamford township, within Fairfield County.

On the 26th of May, 1685, the general court of Connecticut issued the following patent to the inhabitants of Stamford, embracing all those lands

"Bounded on the south west by ye five mile brook, between Stamford aforesaid and Norwalk, from the mouth of the said brook, till it meet with the cross path, that is, where the county road crosses the said river, and from thence to run up into ye country till twelve miles be run out upon the same line, that is between Stamford and Fairfield, and upon the west, to Totomak brook, where the lowermost path or road that now is to Greenwich, east by ye said brook, and from thence to run in a straight line to the west end of a line drawn from the falls of Stamford mill river, which line is to run a due west point towards Greenwich bounds, a short mile, and from the west end at the said line, to run due north, to the north of ye present country road to Rye, and from thence to run up into the country, the same line that is between Norwalk and Stamford, to the end of the bounds, the said land having been by purchase or otherwise, lawfully obtained of the Indians, native proprietors. And whereas, the proprietors the aforesaid inhabitants of Stamford, in the colony of Connecticut, have made application to the Gov. and company of the said colony of Connecticut, assembled in court, 25th May, 1685, that they may have a patent for confirmation of the aforesaid land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they have stood seized and quietly possessed of for many years late past, without interruption. Now, for a more full confirmation of the aforesaid lands, as it is butted and bounded aforesaid,

unto ye present proprietors of the said town of Stamford, &c. &c. Know ye, that the said Gov. and company aforesaid, in general court, according to the conditions granted to them by his majesty in his charter, have given and granted, and by these presents, do give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto Mr. John Bishop, Mr. Richard Lowe, Capt. Johnathan Silleck, Capt. John Silleck, Lt. Francis Bill, Lt. Jonathan Bull, Ensign John Bales, Mr. Abraham Ambler, Mr. Peter Ferris and Mr. Joshua Hoyt, and the rest of the said present proprietors of the township of Stamford, their heirs, successors and assignees forever, the aforesaid parcel of land as it is butted and bounded together, with, &c. &c., that the aforesaid tract of land, shall be forever hereafter deemed, reputed, and be an entire township of itself, to have and to hold the said tract of land, premises, &c. &c., yielding rendering and paying therefore to our sovereign Lord the king, his heirs and successors, his dues according to charter. In witness whereof, we have caused the seal of the colony to be hereunto affixed, this 26th of May, 1685, in ye first year of the reign of our Lord King James the second, &c. &c.

ROBERT TREAT, Gov.

This patent included the southern portion of Poundridge; for, until the final arrangement of the boundary lines in 1731, Stamford extended four miles into the present town.

Upon the temporary settlement of the colonial lines, A. D. 1701, we find the Indian sachem Catonah, confirming Robert Walters and others in these lands.

"This indenture, made the 25th of Feb. 1701, betwixt Robert Walters John Chollwell, Leigh Atwood, Cornelius Depeyster, Richard Slater, Barne Cosens, Lancaster Symes, Matthew Clarkson, Robert Lurting, Peter Matthews and Caleb Heathcote of the one part, and Sagamore, Katonah, Wakemane and Weewanessege, Indians, of the other, for the consideration of a certain sum in hand paid by the said Robert Walters, &c., at and before the ensealing and delivering of these presents. The receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, &c. &c., have given, granted, bargained and sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released and confirmed, and do by these presents, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bargain and sell, alien, enfeoff, release and confirm, unto the said Robert Walters, &c., a certain parcel or tract of land, lying and being in the county of Westchester, in the province of New York, butted and bounded as followeth, viz., westward by Bedford and by the patent granted to Caleb Heathcote and others, northerly by Col. Cortlandt's purchase and Croton's run, southerly and easterly by colony lines, to have and to hold, &c. &c. The mark of M Catonah.

Indian deeds, Alb. Rec. warrant for Survey, Lib. i. 100.

On the 2d day of March, 1701, William the third, by his royal letters patent, under the great seal of the colony of New York, did grant and confirm unto Robert Walters, John Cholwell, Leigh Atwood, Cornelius Depeyster, Richard Slater, Barne Cosens, Lancaster Symes, Matthew Clarkson, Robert Lurting, Peter Matthews and Caleb Heathcote, a certain tract of land in the county of Westchester.

"Bounded to the south by the east division line between the province of New York and the colony of Connecticut, and on the east by the other division line, and so along the said line, until it meet with the patent of Adolph Philips, and so along his southern boundaries, till it meet the patent of the manor of Cortlandt, and from thence by a line that shall run upon a direct course, until it meet with the end of the first easterly line of twenty miles of the said manor of Cortlandt, and from thence, along the said line westerly, until it meet with the patent granted, to Robert Walters and others: then, southerly, along the said patent, until it meet with the bounds of the township of Bedford, and thence along the said bounds, till it meet with the patent granted to Col. Caleb Heathcote and others; and, along the bounds of the said patent, unto the colony line, which said tract of land, on the 25th day of February, was by the said Robert Walters, in his aforesaid company purchased of the native Indian proprietors, &c. &c.

This grant was subsequently known by the name of the East Patent.

The same year occurs the following confirmation from the Indian sagamore Catonah to the "inhabitants of Stamford, in their former sales under ye hands of Taphance, son of Ponus, and Penaghag, son of Onox."

"We the said Catonah and other Indians do by these presents sell and fix bounds as followeth, that is to say westward as far as ye west bounds of Bedford purchase, bounded north by ye south side of Bedford purchase and by ye Stone hills, upon a straight line eastward unto ye upper end of ye Long Pond, and from thence an east line until it meets with a line drawn north from ye