THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 3 



no settlement was effected under this deed, and it is only of interest as 

 fixing the earliest date at which any part of the present town of Bedford 

 passed out of Indian possession."* Ponus Street, New Canaan, denotes, 

 there can be no doubt, that Sachem's residence, as well as Onox's Ridge, 

 that of his son and successor. There was also a path called Ponassesf 

 in the town of Norwalk, Conn., as early as 1687. The following table 

 will show the descent of Ponus for three generations. 



Ponus, Sachem of Wascussue, 



Bippowams, A. D. 1640. Sachem of Shippan. 



Onox the elder, Taphasse, Owenoke, 



1655. 166T. 1640. 



Onox the 

 166T. younger. 



Sometime subsequent to the Indian sale in 1655, the old township of 

 Bedford was emphatically styled " Catonah' s land," after the Indian 

 chief and proprietor of that name; hence we deduce the origin of the 

 local term "Cantitoe," which yet survives in the northern part of the 

 town. The termination "oe" denoting the place of that Sachem's resi- 

 dence. Catonah must have assumed the supremacy over these lands 

 about 1680, for his first conveyance to the proprietors of the "Hop 

 Grounds" bears date 23d December that year. Some connection doubt- 

 less existed between Catonah and his predecessor Powahag or Penaghag, 

 but what it was is hard to determine at this distant period. About 1700 

 Catonah Or Catoona and Coll confirmed to the English (inhabitants of 

 Stamford) all the previous grants of territory, "westward as far as Bed- 

 ford," and acknowledged the receipt of "considerable and valuable sums 

 of money;" and beside all this make special mention "of deeds or 

 grants made to the English by Taphasse, Ponus, Penchayo, old Onox, 

 young Onox, a deed to Captain Turner and also a deed by Hawatona- 

 man, which the Stamford records have not preserved." J In a convey- 

 ance to John Belden, of Norwalk, and others, Sept. 30th, 1708, Catonah 

 styles himself "Sachem of the Ramapo Indians within his majesty's 

 province of New York," and this is the last we hear of him. Wacham- 

 ane was probably his son and successor in the Sachemdom. 



* Address of Joseph Barratt, Esq., 4th July, 18T6. Recorder Catonah, July, '77. 

 tE. Hall's Hist. Bee. of Norwalk, page 82. 

 tHuntington's History of Stamford. 



