Presbyterian Church. Bedford.

II I S T O R Y

OF THE

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

BEDFORD.

St. Matthew's Church, Bedford.

The half shire town of the county forms in shape nearly a square, each of its sides being six miles in length. The name is probably derived from the town of the same title in Bedfordshire, England, from whence the early settlers came. The earlier etymology of its name in the Saxon language was Bedanpoxd.^-

Among the Mohegan Indians Bedford formed a portion of tlie great territory of Rippowams, whicii extended eighteen miles north of Stamford on the Sound, also eiglit miles east and west of tlie same.

It will be shown presently that the chief proprietors of Rippo-

^ Camden's Brittania.

Vol. 1.

2 HISTORY OF THE

warns in 1640, were Ponus, sagamore of Toquams, and Wascussue. sagamore of Shippan.

Cornelius van Tienhoven, (an early Dutch authority.) in describing the bounds of the Indian territory of Wechquaesqueck, says, "tiiis land is situate between two rivulets called Sint Sinck and Armonck, lying between the East and North rivers."* The term Armonck (here alluded to,) is supposed to have been the original Indian appellation for the Byrani river, whose springs arise from the Comonck hills in this town, sometimes called Cohamong ridge ;^ the last syllable onck or ong^ when taken in connection with the rest of the word, denotes "the place or locality where shells are manufactured into wampum." From this we infer that the seawan (the specie currency of the natives,) was once manufactured in large quantities upon the banks of the Byram or Armonck.