That they found this a work of no small difliculty, we may conclude from the following letters, written shortly after their arrival. On the 20th of September, 1089, they purchased from John Pell a tract of about six thousand acres, the price for which was not far from one dollar an acre. This was divided into lots on the 20th of November, 1693, by a surveyor ; each occupant paying his just proportion of the total value. The letters, taken from

'These statements as to early localities have been taken, by permission, from an interesting slietch of tlie firat settlement of New Rodielle, by tlie ReT. L. J. Coutant.

NEW ROCHELLE

acres of land more, which the said Juliii Pell and Rachel, his wife, do freely give and grant for the Frem li rliurili, erected, or to be erected, liy the inlial>ilitnt!i of the said tract of land, or liy their assignees, being butted and bounded as herein is after expressed, beginning at the west side of a certain wliito oak tree, marked on all four sides, standing at high water nmrk at the south end of Hog Neck, by shoals, harbour and runs northwesterly through the great fresh meadow lying between the road and the Sound, and from the north side of the said meadow, to run from thencii due north to Bronckes river, which is the west division line iH-tween the said John I'ell's land and the aforesaid tract, bounded on

the " Documentary History of the State of New York,'" are as follows :