It appears to have been purchased from the Indians some time

previous to the year 1666 by Thomas Pell, and by him called Pelham, an old English name composed of Pel (remote) and Ham (mansion). By Governor Nichols it was granted and confirmed, in 1666, " To Thomas Pell. Esq., of Fairfield in Connecticut, together with the island adjacent and all its privileges," and erected into "an enfranchised township or manor" and secured to him and his heirs.

The Pells are of English origin and a family of very old standing in the counties of Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Thomas Pell, commonly known as Lord Pell, the first proprietor of this township, appears to have been an adherent of the popular party

in the great struggle between the Parliament and the crown, called the English Revolution. Having been identified with the Puritans under the protectorship of Cromwell, after the restoration of the monarchy, in 1660, he fled from the vengeance of the Royalists into France. He afterwards removed to Onckaway, or Fairfield, in Connecticut, and from thence came to Pelham, where he purchased of the Indians the right to the soil. After his death, which happened about 1680, the manorial proprietorship descended to John Pell, his nephew, son of the famous Dr. Pell, ambassador of Oliver Cromwell to the Swiss Cantons.' In 1691 the name of John Pell is found on the list of membersreturned by the sherifi" to represent the county ot Westchester, New Y'ork.-

The territory now within the limits of the town of Pelham was claimed both by the Dutch of New Amsterdam and the colony of Connecticut. There can be no doubt that the Dutch were the first to discover and settle upon the island of Manhattan and the territory between the North and East Rivers. Both professed to have purchiised their title from the Indians.