INTRODUCTION. Vll 



The Mohegans were again sub-divided into numerous bands, each 

 known by a distinctive name. Among these, inhabiting the County, may 

 be enumerated the Siwanoys, who occupied the northern shores of the 

 Sound "from Norwalk to 24 miles to the neighborhood of Hellgate." 

 How far they claimed jurisdiction inland is uncertain. 



The Manhattans had their principal settlement on New York island, 

 and from thence north to the bounds of Yonkers, nearly opposite Tap- 

 pan. The Weckquaskecks possessed the country " lying between two 

 rivulets called Sint Sincks and Armonck, lying between the East and 

 North rivers." 



The Sint Sincks occupied the present town of Ossin-ing, and its im- 

 mediate vicinity. 



The Kitchawonks claimed the lands bordering the Kitchawan or Cro- 

 ton River, and as far north as St. Anthony's Nose in the Highlands. 



The Pachami and Wappingers possessed the Highlands. 



The Tankitekes, "resided in the rear of Sing Sing.'"* 



The principal Indian villages appear to have been as follows : 



Nappeckamak, Kestaubaiuck, 



Weecquaesguack, Kitchawan, 



Alipconck, Sackhoes, 



Sinck Sinck, Kekisconck, 



Nanichiestawck, Betuck-quapock, 



Momoronuck, Pasquashic. 

 Noapaim. 



" The three prominent Indian names for the Hudson River (says Mr. 

 Schoolcraft) are 'The Mohegan, b Chatemuc," and the Cahotatea." 



Like their neighbors, the Indians of Westchester were in subjection 

 to the Iroquois, and acknowledged it by the payment of an annual 

 tribute. 



A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY. 



In giving a history of the County, it appears proper to begin, with a 

 recital of the act framing the same, entitled " An Act to divide the 

 Province of New York and dependencies into Shires and Counties, etc." 



"Having taken into consideration the necessity of dividing the 

 Province into respective Countys, for the better governing and settling 



a O'Callahan's Hist, of N. N., 210. 



b Mohegan River. 



c " Shaita, in the cognate dialect of the Objibwa, means a pelican." " Ue is the ordinary 

 inflection for locality."— Mr. Schoolcraft's Paper, Proceedings of N. Y. Hist. Soc. 1844. " The 

 great white pelican (P. trachyrhyncus) was formerly numerous on the Hudson and other rivers 

 and lakes of this State. At thepresent day it has entirely disappeared, and I do not know of 

 its existence even as an accidental visitor."— Nat. Hist, of N. Y. by James De Kay. 



