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 Pelk 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 proprietors, 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. 6

There can be no doubt that some of the French Huguenots had already commenced a settlement at New Rochelle prior to the above mentioned 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/