By her mother, she was connected with the family of the poet Dryden. Her religious views did not harmonize with those of the Puritans, and she was driven out of the colony. She first went to Rhode Island, but afterward sought peace and security near the Dutch settlement in New Netherland. She settled with her family upon Pelham Neck in 1642. Soon afterward John Throckmorton and thirty-five families, who found the intolerance of the Puritans unendurable, asked permission of the Dutch authorities to settle near them. Their request was granted, and they located upon what is now known as Throg's Neck, in the town of Westchester. The Dutch called this section Vredeland -- the land of peace. In the disastrous Indian war, that threatened the destruction of the Dutch settlement and so alarmed Governor Kieft, the Indians murdered Mrs. Hutchinson and her family, except a young granddaughter, who was carried into captivity, but was afterward restored. They also attacked Throckmorton's settlement, destroyed the buildings and cattle and compelled the people to tlee to their boats for .safety.

The English settlements along the Sound steadily grew and soon assumed considerable importance. Locations were chosen at the heads of the numerous bays putting in from the Sound, where water communication was available and where the surrounding lands could be easily reached. The old " Westchester Path " had long been used by the Indians and furnished the whites with the best inland communication. The fields that the Indians had cultivated were already cleared for the whites, and enabled them at once to raise the necessary food for their support. Gradually the settlers pushed inland and made additional purchases from the Indians. In 1683 the inhabitants of Rye bought lands about White Plains. Their claims to these were disputed by John Richbell; but Rye settlers went upon them and considered White Plains a portion of their territory.