They existed at the first settlement by the whites, and were a subject of pawwa to the Indians."*1 Perhaps they are in some way mysteriously connected with " Satan's toe " and the " stepping stones " off Throckmorton's Neck, by which the evil spirit made good his retreat when worsted by the Mohegans, or enchanted Wolf tribe of Indians, during some unknown period of the stone age.
Within a short distance of the village was situated the estate of the late Col. John R. Hayward, Esq., who in 1846 represented this county in Assembly. His son is the present Robert Hayward, of Rye. Col. Hayward purchased the property of the executors of the late Richard ohute. In 167 1 James Eustice and others were appointed to layout land for Richard Shute (ancestor of the before-mentioned Richard), near Rattlesnake Creek.
Most of the farms in this neighborhood, which once covered the old Lawrence property, embracing at one period nearly five hundred acres, are now included in the most thickly settled portion of Mount Vernon. A part of the Lawrence estate was anciently called Virginia from its beautiful appearance. Its earliest proprietor was Isaac Lawrence, Esq., who originally emigrated from Long Island to Eastchester about 1689. On the 1 2th of May, 1690, Isaac Lawrence was chosen by the inhabitants of this town, one of the pound-masters for the year ensuing. In 1700 he appears to have been town treasurer, and in 1 721, his name a H. 3. Prime'8 History of Long Island.