Harrison, sometimes called " The Purchase " and " Harrison's Precint," is situated three miles east of the village of White Plains, distant thirty miles from New York, and one hundred and thirty-four miles from Albany ; bounded northerly by North Castle, east and southerly by Rye, west by Mamaroneck, White Plains and North Castle. Its length north and south is about nine miles, and its medial width near three miles; but like most of the other towns in this county, its form is irregular -- having no right lines for its boundaries. Prior to 1702 this town formed a part of Rye, but was organized as a separate township on the seventh of March, 1788.

The first proprietor of this land of whom anything is known, was Shanarocke or Shanarockwell, Sagamore of Poningoe, who with other Indians in 1661 conveyed to John Budd, of Southhold, Long Island, " one track of land lying on the mayn called Apawammeis " -- " also range, feeding and grasse for cattell, twenty English miles tiort/naard into the country." In fact, the Indian territory of " Weecquaesqueck," which included Poningoe, was to the northward an unknown and limitless forest waste commonly styled " 2 he Wilderness" held principally by roaming clans of the great Mohegan or " Enchanted wolf tribe."

In 1666 Sanarocke and others conveyed to John Budd a tract of land, between Blind Brook and Mamaroneck River extending north sixteen miles (English miles) from Westchester path up into the country. Under these and other purchases the inhabitants of Rye subsequently claimed the whole territory, consisting of all that tract of land since known as Harrison's Purchase -- situated above Westchester Path between Blind Brook and Mamaroneck River, and extending as far north as Rye Pond;