History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
In 1616 all the southermost part of Westchester County and as far north as the Saw-Mill or Nepperhan River, at what is now known as Yonkers, was in possession of that tribe ; and in 1626 - one of the tribe with his nephew, crossed Harlem River and got as far south as the " Kolck Pond, or Canal Street, on New York Island, for the purpose of trading his beaver skins. Governor Minuit's servants met them both and stole the skins and murdered the uncle. The
1 Bancroft's "United States," vol. ii. page 42. Little & Brown's Ed.
2 Broadhead, page 74 ; Schoolcraft, page 101.
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WESTCHESTEK.
young savage, escaped, but swore he would reveuge himself on the Dutch.' -'
In 1640 the progress of enterprising settlers of New England along the shores of Long Island Sound awakened the fears of the governing powers in New Netherland and Director Kieft dispatched his faithful secretary, Van Tieuhoven, to j)urchase the Archipelego at Norwalk, or islands at the mouth of the present Xorwalk Eiver, together with all the adjoining land, " and to prevent any other nation from encroaching on our limits." These instructions were accomplished and the West India Company obtained the Indian title to all the lands between the Norwalk River and the North Eiver.' In the previous year Van Tienhoven witnessed another Indian transfer to the West India Company of Keskeskeck which also covers by its description the town of Westchester.^
Within this grant was included the town now described as Westchester. The present limits (188.")) are, on the north Pelham or East Chester Bay, and a line extending in a westerly direction to Bronx River; the East River and the beginning of Long Island Sound form the south and east boundaries, and Bronx River is its western boundary; but, originally, Westchester township consisted of all that portion of the southern part of Westchester County which was bounded on the north by Pelham Bay, East Chester, and Yonkers; its west, south and east boundaries were Harlem River, Harlem or Brouck's Kills, the East River and Long Island Sound.