THE TOWN OF WESTCHESTER. 2S5 



acquaint him directly or indirectly where I should hide them. I so doing, pre- 

 pared that I might be sure to have them -when forced to send for them, which I 

 can freely take my oath unto when called hereunto, wherefore I humbly beseech 

 your honor's wrath towards me may be purified, and freedom to me granted, soe 

 as that I may proceed in my lawful calling, the short time I have to stay in these 

 par?, being bound for Virginia in September next, humbly crave pardon for 

 what I have done amiss. I remain your honor's petitioner and prisoner, 



RICHARD MILLS. 



The preceding submission and confession of guilt of the prisoner, 

 Richard Mills, made by him verbally and in writing, being heard and 

 read, so is he discharged upon his humble petition, under the express 

 promise, sanctioned by his oath, that he never will undertake any thing 

 either within or out of this government, to the injury of this province, 

 either directly or indirectly. Done in Fort Amsterdam, N. N., iSth of 

 June, 1663. 



By a court of General Assembly, (held at Hartford, 8th of Oct., 1663), 

 it was ordered, that, "this court doth accept of the town of Westchester 

 as a member of this corporation, being received and accepted as such, 

 by a council formerly. 



This court moreover declares, that all the land between the Westches- 

 ter and Stamford, doth also belong to the colony of Connecticut,"" 



In 1664, the inhabitants of Westchester addressed the following peti- 

 tion to the honorable his majesty's commissioners for the affairs of New 

 England, which, 



"Humbly showeth 



1st. That the said tract of land called Westchester, was purchased for large 

 eummes, under the title of England, by Mr. Thomas Pell of the known ancient 

 proprietors, in the year 1654. 



2d. The pretended power of the Manhatoes, did therefore continue protesting 

 : and threatening of the said plantation, keeping the inhabitants at contin- 

 ual watch and ward, until at length the persons of twenty-three inhabitants of 

 Westchester aforesaid, were seized under commission from the said powers, and 

 committed prisoners into the hould of a vessel, where they continued in restraint 

 from all friends, for the space of thirteen days, fed with rotten provisions creep- 

 .h. worms, whereby some of them remained diseased to this day, after 

 v.hich, they were carried away in chains and laid in their dungeon at Manhatoes. 



2d. That the said inhabitants had perished with famine in the said imprison- 

 ment, but for the relief obtained at other hands. 



4th. That all this suffering was inflicted on them, under noe other pretence, 

 but that they were opposers to the Dutch title to the lands aforesaid 



5th. That when the said pretended powers had freed the said prisioners, and 



a Eartford CoL Eec. voL ii. 158. 



