First in point of prominence is to be mentioned the noted Anne Hutchinson, whose name, like that of Bronck, has become lastingly identified with Westchester County by being conferred upon a river. Whether she was the first of the immigrants from Xew England into Westchester County, can not be determined with absolute certainty; but there is no question that she was among the very earliest. In the summer of 1612, permission having been granted her by the Dutch authorities to make her home in Xew Xetherland, she came to the district now known as Pelham, and on the side of Hutchinson's River founded a little colony. The company consisted of her own younger children, her son-in-law, Mr. Collins, his wife and family, and a few

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

whole settlement was congenial spirits. In barely a year's time the being killed by the it to ing belong ody swept to destruction, everyb daughter of Mrs Indians with the sole exception of an eight-year-old lady herself The ity. captiv to away borne was HutchSsoni win, was burned to death in the flames of her cottage. .^ . , . . . capital historic The tragical fate of Anne Hutchinson is one of the and career lity persona the to e becaus episodes of Westchester annals, es. It is true of this remarkable woman an abiding interest attach sympathy or that interest in Anne Hutchinson, in the form of special g individual capabilspecial admiration, may vary according to varyin ; but upon one women of type c polemi the of ities for appreciation the foremost point there can be no disagreement-she was among cuous relation conspi a ing sustain a, Americ in times her of ers charact ents, and must to early controversialism in the New England settlem always receive attention from the students of that period.