John Richbell, the original purchaser of all the lands whose history has thus been briefly traced, was " an Englishman of a Hampshire family of Southampton or its neighborhood, who were merchants in London, and who had business transactions with the West lie was engaged for a time in commerIndies or New England." cial enterprises in the British West India Islands of Barbadoes, then In 1656 ho was a mera prominent center of transatlantic trade. The next year he enchant in Charlestown, Mass. (near Boston). tered into a peculiar private understanding with Thomas Mediford, of Barbadoes, and William Sharpe, of Southampton, England, which is supposed to have afforded the basis for his purchase, four years The details of the understanding later, of the Mamaroneck tract. are not stated in terms in any document that is extant; but its nature can readily be conjectured from the wording of the " Instructions " prepared for him by his associates, dated Barbadoes, SeptemHe is advised to inform himself "by sober underber 18, 1657. between Connecticut and standing men'' respecting the seaeoast between Long Island and the Dutch settlements, and the islands the main, ascertaining "within what government it is, and of what kinde that government is, whether very strict or very remisse." Having satisfied himself, in these and other particulars, that he "may with security settle there and without offense to any," he is advised to "buy some small Plantation," which, among other advantages, must be " near some navigable Ryver, or at least some to it neither long nor difficult." safe port or harbour," and " the way title to the land, to settle there He is next to obtain an indisputable with his family, and to clear and cultivate it. Precise directions are given him for his agricultural and economic operations, includ-