THE TOWN OF PELrfAM. 71 



1834. a The Rapelycs purchased this property of the Rodman family, 

 the Rodmans having obtained it through the marriage of Samuel Rod- 

 man with Mary Pell, daughter of Caleb Pell, grandson of Hon. John 

 Lord Pell. The property is still vested in the heirs of George Rapelye ; 

 the house is beautifully situated near the eastern shore of the neck, and 

 is justly celebrated for its extensive views of the sound and Long Island. 



Hawkwood, the residence of the late Elisha King, Esq., is i 

 owned by the widow of the late Levin R. Marshall, and adjoins the 

 property of Captain J. R. Steers, on the south. The house is built of 

 stone, in the Grecian style, and presents a fine front of columns to the 

 water. The beauty of the scenery in this vicinity is greatly heightened 

 by the close proximity of City Island, and the richly wooded shores of 

 the Pcint. The grounds, containing a great variety of choice trees, 

 were laid out by the celebrated gardener, Andre Parmenteer. Nearly 

 adjoining Hawkwood, in the south-west, is Longwood, the residence of 

 A. Newbold Morris, Esq. 



Pelham Neck is terminated by the property of the late Gilbert Bowne. 

 On the 3ite of the dwelling-house, stood the residence of Thomas Fell, 

 Esq., fin,t lord of the manor. Perhaps the finest view of City Island 

 and the adjacent waters are to be had from this portion of the Point. 

 It deserves to be mentioned, that this district affords a favorite haunt for 

 the fish hawk (Falco Halitoetus), whose nests may be seen in the lofty 

 summits of the venerable oaks and chestnuts which abound on the neck 

 and neighboring shores. These birds are greatly respected, and a kind 

 of superstition prevails that it is a lucky omen if one builds on the farm. 

 The nest is an immense fabric of rotten sticks — -" Itself a burden for 

 the tallest tree." They subsist altogether on the finny tribes that swim 

 in the bays and creeks adjacant, procuring their prey by their own active 

 skill and industry." 



" The regular arrival of this noted bird at the vernal equinox, when 

 the busy season of fishing commences, adds peculiar interest to its first 

 appearance, and procures it many a benediction from the fishermen" 



"Soon as the sun, great ruler of the year," 

 Iseiids to oar northern climes his bright career, 

 And from the caves of ocean calls from sleep 

 The finny shoals and myriads of the deep ; 



o "Annals of Newtown James Riker, Junr.'' The Rapelye family is descended from that 

 of the de Rapelij, which as early as ihe eleventh Century, possessed large estates in Bretagne 

 and ranked among the arriere— born of the French nobility. Jarvis Jansen de Rapelie, from 

 Rochelk-, in France, who came t 1 this country in 1623, was the father of Pronimus, whose son 

 Tennis, was father of the above George Rapelye. Arms, azure, three bars or, crest — out of a 

 ducal coronet a chapena azure, with three bars, or, surmounted with six ostrich feather* of 

 blue and gold. 



