THE TOWN OK PELHAM. 



35 



bet\.cen Long Island and the main land, together with all the Islands, 

 at tract of land so bounded as before expressed, and so 

 running I ice of beginning, etc., etc. a 



This grant was signed by the Sachems, Maminepoe, Annhoock, Alias 

 Wampage, and five other Indians, beneath the spreading limbs of a 

 venerable white oak ; this formerly stood a little to the westward of the 

 residence of die late Robert Bartow, Esq. This grant was subsequently 

 confirmed in Council. 



Thomas Pell stated before a Court of Assize, held in 1665, that he 

 had obtained license to make the purchase from the authorities of Con- 

 necticut, and that he had paid large sums of money for the same. 2 ' It 

 appears from the very beginning of the disputes between Connecticut 

 and New Netherlands, concerning their respective boundaries, that the 

 former had determined to secure, as far as possible, all the lands within 

 the limits of her charter ; while the latter was just as resolute in resisting 

 any encroachments on her territory. Just nine days previous to Pell's 

 purchase " it was resolved, at a meeting of the Director General and 

 Council of New Netherlands," " that, whereas a few English are begin- 

 ning a settlement, at a great distance from our out-posts, on lands long 

 before bought and paid for, near Vreedlandt, to send their, interdict, 

 and the Attorney-General, Cornelius van Tienhoven, and forbid them to 

 proceed no farther, but to abandon that spot. Done at Fort Amstel on 

 the 5th of November, 1654, in New Netherlands," "on lands purchased 

 from the Indians by the Hon. Thomas Pell, of Fairfield, Conn." c On 

 the 15th cf March, 1656, the Attorney-General of the New Netherlands 

 thus addresses the Director General and Council : — 



Respectful Lords : — It is not only known to your honors, but every one resid- 

 ing in this country, that since many years, the district called Vreedlandt was 

 cultivated and inhabited in letters patent, granted by your Honors and their pre- 

 decessors by the Dutch, under your government, till the period of the general 

 war in 1643. Now it has happened that one Mi-. Pell, residing at Onbeneg, in 

 New England, has dared, against the rights and usages of Christian countries, to 

 pretend that he bought these lands of the natives, (which long since were pur- 

 chased of them and paid by your Honors, as evidently appears from the I 



a This Indian conveyance was seen some years since by the late Mr. John Soulice of New 

 Rochelle, who kindly furnished the author with the above particulars. One Dyckman occurs 

 as a witness to the deed ; uud certain reservations were made by the Indians, for whaling pur- 

 poses. 



b At a session of the General Assembly at Hartford. March 10th 1663, John Winthrop, Esq., 

 Governor, '-This Court doth grant liberty to Mr. Thomas Pell to buy all that landoftne 

 Indian proprietors between West Chester and Hudson's river (that makes Manhadoes an 

 island) and lay it to West C heater, provided that it be not purchased by any before, nor 111 

 their possession." Ccl. Rec- of Conn. 1636-1665, by Trumbull, p. 418. Upon the 13th of Oct., 

 bomas Pell met the Dutch Deputation scut by the Dutch general at Hartford. Holl. 

 Doc, vol. ii., p. 38. 



c Alb. Ilea vol. ix., 275. 



