CLASON'S POINT 



123 



known as "Annes Hoeck," or Ann's Neck. The Hutchinson River 

 perpetuates her name. Here they erected a cabin upon the rising 

 ground of the famous "Split Rock." 



A few months later, Throgg's Neck (named by the Indians 

 Quinnahung) , sometimes styled in old records "Frog's Point," 

 was settled by John Throckmorton (or Throgmorton) and thirty- 

 five Baptist families, who, like the Hutchinsons, had been driven 

 from Rhode Island because of religious persecution. In granting 



Split Rock, Pelham Bay Park 



them a patent in October, 1643, the Dutch authorities in New 

 Amsterdam referred to it as Vriedelandt, or "Land of peace." 



In 1643 the Weckquaesgeek Indians, fleeing before a raid of 

 their dreaded enemies, the Mohawks of the north, abandoned their 

 village in Westchester County and came in a miserable condition 

 to Pavonia on Manhattan Island. Director Kieft, perhaps seeing 

 an opportunity of obtaining easy possession of the lands inhabited 

 by the Indians, ordered that they be surprised at night and merci- 

 lessly massacred. This cruel act aroused the neighboring tribes to 

 such implacable fury that they wildly set about to exterminate all 

 who intruded upon their hunting grounds. Westchester was laid 

 waste. 



