It appears, however, that the town was once part of a large tract ceded by the Indian owners to one John Richbeli, a native of England, about whom little is known. This tract formed part of the Indian district of "Quaroppas," then occupied by the Mohegans or Mohicans. This was in the year 1660, and Richbeli was probably the first white man to settle in the town. For this purchase Richbeli received a grant and confirmation from Francis Lovelace, Governor of New York, in 16()8, and it had already been confirmed by the government of New Netherlands in 16(52. In his patent Richbeli received possession of " the three necks bounded on the east by Mamaroneck River, and on the west by Stony Brook, together with the land lying north of these bounds, twenty miles into the woods." Hence, afterwardi arose the question as to the ownership of Quaroppas, in the time of Colonel Heathcote. Thirty-six years after this, Richbell's widow, Anne, granted to Caleb Heathcote, of New York, the right to purchase portions of the land included in the above mentioned purchase from the Indians. In 1701 the sale was concluded between Richbell's widow and Colonel Heathcote, the deed dating from March 30th of that year, and being signed by four Indians, -- Patthunck, Beaupo, Kohavvney and Wapetuck, representing the Mohegan tribe, and by a corresponding number of witnesses.

In this deed, which is still in the possession of the descendants of Colonel Heathcote, the said Indians, " for and in consideration of a certain sum of good and lawful money," -- the amount of which is not stated, -- sold to Colonel Heathcote, free of all encumbrance or limitation, " a certain tract of land lying and being in the county of Westchester, bounded as follows: To begin on the west side, at the southernmost end of a ridge known by the name of Richbell's