582 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



along the fertile meadows bordering the various fresh water streams, 

 especially in the northern part of the town. One of these was situated 

 on the property of the late John Soulice, where there is also a quarry of 

 quartz from which the Indians manufactured their javelins and arrow- 

 heads. Here also was discovered, a few years ago, the celebrated image- 

 stone, — an object of great veneration with the Aborigines. Beneath this 

 curious object lay a smooth stone (weighing seven pounds) resembling in 

 shape a kidney and encompassed with a circular groove. 



As late as 1695 the Indians were in the habit of coming down into the 

 northern part of New Rochelle from the neighborhood of White Plains, 

 for a cider frolic, which they considered as a kind of usu-fruct title to the 

 soil. The remains of an oak tree which they burnt upon one of these 

 occasions, is still visible on the farm of the late John Soulice. This 

 seems to have been the last chapter in their history connected with New 

 Rochelle; although as late as 1767 a small remnant of the Aborigines 

 (then inhabiting the Highlands) visited the town. 



Upon the sixth day of October, 1666, Richard Nicolls, governor of 

 the province, did give, grant, ratify and confirm unto Thomas Pell, 

 gentleman, all that tract of land lying to the eastward of Westchester 

 bounds (subsequently known as the manor of Pelham.) &c, "which 

 said tract of land hath heretofore been purchased of the Indian pro- 

 prietors, and ample satisfaction given for the same."* 



In 1669 the patentee devised the whole manor of Pelham to his 

 nephew, John Pell (commonly called Lord Pell,) who obtained a further 

 confirmation for the same from Thomas Dongan, governor of the 

 province, on the 29th of October, 1687. & 



There can be no doubt that some of the French Huguenots had al- 

 ready commenced a settlement at New Rochelle prior to the above men- 

 tioned confirmation from Dongan to Pell ; for Maria Graton,' widow of 

 William Cothonneau, had conveyed to Alexander Allaire a tract of 

 land, in what is now New Rochelle, on the 24th of September, 1686; 

 and Allaire also states that he had sold a tract of land to Theophelus 

 Forestier, of New Rochelle, on the 17th of March, 1687. c 



Upon the 20th of September, 1689, we find John Pell, lord of the manor 

 of Pelham, and Rachel, his wife, conveying to Jacob Leisler of the city 

 of New York, merchant, " all that tract of land lying and being within 

 the manor of Pelham containing six thousand acres of land, &c, &c. 

 (the present township of New Rochelle.) The grantee and his heirs 



a See Pelham for Thomas Pell's Patent. 



b See Pelham for John Pell's confirmation. 



c White Plains llec. Book of Deeds, vol., E, p. 29, vol. F p. 2. 



