THE TOWN 



OF 



POUIsTDFLIDG-E, 



Poundridge is situated fifteen miles north-east of the village of White 

 Plains, and distant one hundred and thirty-nine miles from Albany ; 

 bounded north and east by Lewisboro, south-east by the State of Con- 

 necticut, and west by Bedford and North Castle ; and was organized on 

 the 7th of March, 1788. 



The name of this town is, undoubtedly, derived from the ancient 

 " Indian Pound," which formerly stood at the foot of a " high ridge " a 

 little 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, 

 stony mountains formed an impassible rampart ; whilst the long chain 

 of ponds and streams on the east line of the town, closes 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 practise the best methods to 

 insure success."* The shouts and yells of these savage huntsmen must 

 a Van der Donck'a Hist, of N. N. New York Hist. Soc. Coll. New Series, voL L 103 



