In the year 1654, Thomas Pell bought of the Indians (so he stated in his testimony before a Court of Assize, held in New York, Septeral)er 29, 1665), the title to the lands afterwards known as Pelham, Westchester and New Rochelle. This whole tract of land was originally included in the grant made by the Indians to the Dutch West India Company in the year 1(540.^ What Pell paid to the Indians for it does not clearly appear. Probably not so much as the Dutch had paid them twenty-eight years before for the whole of [Manhattan Island-- twenty-four dollare in beads and trinkets. " A valuable consideration " are Mr. Pell's own words, but as no specification is given, this phrase has little meaning.

In the year 1666 PelTs title was confirmed by royal patent, issued by Richard NichoUs, as follows :

" RlCHARI> XlCHOLLS, Es(j.: " Governor under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, of all his

' Bryant's " Hist, of C. S."

2 The following appeared in the Aeid'oii- buili/ Tribune o( April 23,1886:

RECiLLING A MA.SSACRE OF INDIANS.

" The skeletons which are being uneaithed at t'ouiniunipaw Avenue and Halliday Street, Jersey City, are now believed to be those of Indians. Twenty-eight had been excavated last evening. It was supposed at first that the place Wits the site of an ancient and forgotten buryiiig-ground, but some historical facts were discovered yesterday which throw light on the subject. On the night of February 25, 164:i, Governor Kiuft, of Sew- Anisterdam, sent a company of Dutch soldiers across the river to what was then known as ' Jahn de Dacher's Hoeck,' with orders to exterminate a Tillage of Indians encamped there. The soldiers, so the story goes, surprised the Indians ami massacred nearly every person in the village.