The town of New Rochelle, (which formerly constituted a portion of the manor of p Pelham,) is situated on g the south-east side of i the county, distant eight miles south of the village of White Plains, and one hundred and Indian imagp stone a

forty miles from Albany ; bounded by Scarsdale on the north, by Mamaroneck and Scarsdale on the east, by Hutchinson's river and Pelham on the west, and on the south by the Sound.

This tract of land was originally included in the grant made by the Indians, in the year 1640, to the Dutch West India Company, but no settlement was actually commenced upon it until long after Thomas Pell's purchase, which occurred in 1654.^

The aborigines appear to have resided principally on Davenport's Neck, where they had a large settlement, denominated Shippa. Within a very short period there were old persons {living in the town) who could well remember when the neck was covered with Indian wigwams. ^ Of this the extensive "shell beds," on its southern shores afford conclusive evidence.

* This image stone was discovered on the lands of John Soulice some few years since. Beneath it lay a smooth stone, (weighing 7 lbs.) resembling in shape a kidney, and encompassed with a circular grove.

^ J^ee Pelham.

■■- Testimony of Mrs. Le Count, who died January, 1841, aged 105 years; also Mra. Pine.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 375

A few settlements were also scattered along tlie fertile meadows bordering the various fresh water streams, especially in the northern part of the town.^