In 1660 John Richbell, of Mamaroneck; purchased of the Indians, (who claimed to be lords of the soil,) a large tract of land extending twenty miles north of the Sound. This grant comprised the entire township of New Castle.

The next proprietor was Colonel Caleb Heathcote who obtained of Mrs. Anne Richbell, a patent right to purchase lands ''which are already included in her husband's sale of 1660." Upon the 12ih of October, 1696, his Excellency Benjamin Fletcher, Captain General and Governor of his Majesty's Province of New York, &c., did grant unto Caleb Heathcote, Esc^.,

» Beverly's Hist, of Virginia, p. 121.

b The Indians a^e s,^ld io have been very numerous in this town seventy years ago. , ?',-.'

Vol. I. ' 46 . '

352 HISTORY OF THE

"free liberty and license to pnrcliase vacant land in the county of "\^'esIchester, between Cioton's river and the south bounds of j\]r. Harrison's purchase, (fcc."'

Twelve days after the date of the above license, occurs the following deed from the Indians.

"This inueiifure made on the 19th of October, in the eighth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William the Third, by the grace of God, &c., &c., and in ilie year of our Lord Christ, 1696, between Wampus, Indian sachem, and others, whose names are hereunto set and seals affixed, native proprietors of all that tract of land, situate, lying, and being in the county of Westchester in the Province of New York in America, bounded north by Scroton (Croton) river, easterdly with Byram river and Bedford line, southerly by the land of John Harrison and his associates, and the line stretching to Byram river aforesaid, and westerdly ly the land of Frederick Philipse."