October 3, 1642, John Throgmorton (or Throckmorton) and some friends, who had suffered in the persecution against Roger Williams, obtained permission of the authorities of the New Netherlands to settle thirty-five families in what is now the town of Westchester, and doubtless the settlement was made shortly after this date. This territory had been purchased of the Indians in 1640, and bore the name Vredeland -- land of peace. ' This grant was confirmed by William Kieft, director-general, July 6, 1643. John (or Jan) Throckmorton was to receive the land in fee-simple and to be allowed the free exercise of religion, on condition that he, his associates and successors should " acknowledge as their lords and patroons" the Dutch authorities. This grant really made John Throckmorton the patroon of the portion of Vredeland granted to him. The settlement was designated by the Dutch Oostdorp and by the English Easttown. This is the first civil division in what is now Westchester County, ^ in which, doubt-

■O'Callaghan'e "Historj' of the New Netherlaods," vol. ii. p. 312. 2 See " History of Town of Westchester," below.

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

less, English ideas and government, subject to the supremacy of the Dutch, prevailed,

August 3, 1639, the Dutch purchased a large tract of land on the Hudson, north of Manhattan Island, from the Indians. In 1646, Adriaen van der Donck received a grant of this tract, called Nepperhaem, where Yonkers now stands, from the Dutch. ' This grant was made under the " Charter of Privileges and Exemptions," issued June 7, 1629, " which provided that any member of the company who should purchase of the Indians, and found in any part of New Netherland (except Manhattan) a colonic of fifty persons over fifteen years of age, should be in all respects the feudal lord and patroon of the territory of which he should thus take possession." ^ This colony bears the name of Colen Donck.