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HISTORY
OF
WESTCHESTER COUNTY,
NEW YORK;
INCLUDING
MORRISANIA. KINGS BRIDGE, AND WEST FARMS,
WHICH HAVE BEEN ANNEXED TO NEW YORK CITY.
BY
J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL. D.
Author " History of Marytand," "Chronicles of Baltimore," " History of Baltimore City and County," " History of St. Louis City and County," " History of the City of Philadelphia, Pa.," etc., etc. Corresponding Member of the Historicat Soeicties of New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Historic and Genea- logical Society of New England, Philosphical Society of Ohio, etc., etc.
ASSISTED BY A STAFF OF CAREFULLY SELECTED EXPERTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
IN TWO VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA: L. E. PRESTON & CO. 1886.
F
Copyright, 1886, BY L. E. PRESTON & Co. All Rights Reserved.
PRESS OF IAA. H. RODGERS PRINTING COMPANY. 1'1111. \ ]>F.1.1'111.\
ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME II.
On or opposite page
On or opposite page
Abendroth Brothers, Eagle Iron & Stove Works
698
Abendroth, W. P., Portrait of
706
Acknowledgments of Deeds .
580
Adams, Miles, Portrait of .
564
Agate, Joseph, Residence of .
123
Anderson, James W., Portrait of .
574
Anderson, John, Portrait of . .
308
Andre House, near Peekskill
373
Andre, John, Portrait of .
201
Ambler, Benjamin I., Portrait of 586
Arnold, Benedict, Portrait of .
199
Arnold, Mrs. Benedict
200
Arms of the Van Cortlandts
423
Asbury, Bishop Francis, Portrait of
60
Appleton, D. S., Residence of .
184
Aqueduct Arch at Sing Sing
322
Aqueduct Bridge across the Pocantico
307
Colgate, James B., Residence of .
79
Aqueduct Bridge, Yonkers
38
Baird, Rev. Charles W., Autograph of
701, 719
Barrett, Joseph, Autograph of . .
608, 628, 643
Barron, Dr. John C., Residence of .
246
Barton, William, Residence of . 189
Bashford, Miss Joanna C., Portrait of 144
Bedford, Early Farm Map of .
582
Bedford, Map of .
597
Beekman, Mrs. Cornelia, Portrait of
286
Bischoff, Henry W., Portrait of .
623
Blakslee, Ebenezer G., Portrait of
359
Bleakley, William, Portrait of .
415
Boehm, Rev. Henry, Portrait of . 61
Bradley, D. Ogden, Portrait of .
261
Brady, E. B., Portrait of
561
Brandreth, B., Portrait of
358
Brandreth, William, Portrait of .
360
Brown, Fayette P., Portrait of ..
121
Brown, N., Homestead of
703
Burdsall, Ellwood, Portrait of .
719
Byram Bridge
679
Carpenter, F. M., Portrait of
617
Carpenter, John W., Portrait of .
454
Chivvis, F. W., Portrait of .
759
Clapp, D. F., Portrait of .
408
Clark, A. Mead, Portrait of .
587
Clinton, George, Portrait of .
269
Cobb, Lyman, Jr., Portrait of .
114
Cochran, William F., Residence of .
2
Coffey, William S., Autograph of .
759, 764
Cole, Rev. David, Antograph of .
172
Colgate, James B., Portrait of .
Collins, R. S., Residence of .
714
Conkling, William 11., Portrait of .
761
Corley, Rev. Charles R., Portrait of
74
Cornell, Nathaniel, Portrait of .
460
Cornell, Thomas C., Portrait of
103
Cortlandt, Lieutenaut-Governor Pierre, Portrait of
430
Cortlandt Manor-House, Cortlandt .
426
Cowdin, Elliot C., Portrait of
619
Croton Boarding and Day School
420
Croton Lake .
462
Crosby, Enoch
517
Culver, Charles E., Antograph of
497, 535
Cmnming, Rev. W. J., Autograph of .
423, 469
Dam at Croton Lake
464
Decker, T. W., Residence of .
510
Diagram showing Remains of French Ovens
180
iji
.
iv
ILLUSTRATIONS.
On or opposite page
On or opposite page
Dickey, Andrew, Residence of . 332 Duncomb», Alfred II., l'ortrait of 760
Dunham, Jolin B., Portrait of .
758
Irving, Washington, "Sunnyside," the home of 234
Jay Cemetery, Rye .
698
Early Farmı Map of Sing Sing
325
East Chester, Draft of Boundary
721
731
East Chester, Map of, in 1797
104
Klunder, C. F., Portrait of 330
Eickemeyer, R., Portrait of .
480
Land Gate, Rye, England
Elephant Monument
295
Landrine Hlouse
206
Epitaplis from Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
4.22
Ettlinger, Louis, Residence of .
Farrington, HI. P., Portrait of . 406
Farrington, Ilarvey P., Residence of .
407
Ferris, Benson, Portrait of .
260
Field, Benjamin II., Portrait of .
444
Field, Cyrus W., Portrait of ..
270
Field, Cyrus W., Residence of . 191
Field, Cyrus W., "The Washington Building " 271
Fisher, Dr. George J., Autograph of
365
Flagg, Ethan, Portrait of .
38
Fort, Rye . .
651
Fort, Gable End
652
Fowier, Philemon H., Portrait of 751
Frost, Jolin W., Portrait of .
419
Frost, Jordan C., Portrait of . 443
Getty, Robert P., Portrait of ..
45
Great Stone at the Wading-l'lace, Rye .
657
Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant, Map of .
178
Guiteau, F. W., Residence of . 193
llalsey House, East Chester
.
752
llalstead llouse
671
Ilart, John C., Portrait of .
454
Hlaviland's or Penfield House, Rye 669
Ilepworth, S. S. & Co., Machine Works, Youkers 111
Illgli Bridge .
465
Ilobbs, John, Portrait of.
46
Ilolden, J. G. P., Portrait of . 90
llolder, F. T., Residence of . 26
Holmes, John C., Portrait of . 550
" Ilonte Lot," Rye .
658
llorton, Elias Q., l'ortralt of . 440
llorton, Stephen D., Portrait of . 404
Horton, W. Il., Autograph of . 643
Horton, W. James, Portrait of. 4.11
llopklus, F. T., Portrait of .. .
498
Ilopkins, F. T., Residence of .. 499
Hunt, Danlel, Portrait of . 560
Ilunt, Levl, Portrait of . 613
Hoyt, Jamen E., Portrait of
577
Indian Autographs
Irving Family Burial-Plot.
.
237
Irving's Ilonse, Tablet ou . 236
Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow
289
Keeler, Walter, Residence of
514
Keeler, J. W., Autographı of
561
Kingsland, Ambrose C., Portrait of
309
Lee. Enos, Portrait of .
442
Lewis, George, Jr., Residence of .
232
Lewisboro, Map of
537
Lings, Rev. Albert .A., Portrait of
Livingston, Chancellor Robert R., Portrait of .
455
Livingston, Van Brugh, Ilonse
186
Lord, Frederick A. and W. Addison Burnham, Residence of . 174
Lord & Burnham, Horticultural Building
174
Lounsbery, James, Residence of .
588
Lounsbury, Jolin W., Portrait of . 709
Lounsbery, Richard l'., Residence of .
588
Lowerre, Scaman, Portrait of .
164
Ludlow Street Reformed Church Chapel, Yonkers. 71
Lyon, stephen, l'ortrait of .
584
McComb, J. J., Residence of
188
McCord, Ileury D., Portrait of 325
Mangin, Capt. Jolin, Portrait of . 14
Manor House and Surroundings in 1842
10
Masters', Misses, School, Dobbs Ferry
188
Mead, Solomon, Portrait of 546
Medal, the Captors'
219
Mille, D. O., Portrait of .
512
Monument (old) erected to the Captors of Andre 226
Monument (new) erected to the Captors of Andre 928
Morgan, George D., Residence of . 190
Mount Pleasant, Map of .
317
Moses, David B., Portrait of .
326
Nappeckmack House in 1851, Youkers
143
Newman, Amos, Portrait of .
575
Nisbet, W. F., Residence of .
North Salem, Map of .
503
Noxon, Isaac B., Portrait of . 357
Odell House, Rochambeau's Headquarters
179
Odlell, Isaac, Portrait of .
276
Ollver, Jolın W., Portrait of .
92
Olmsted, Jolin, Portrait of.
116
Otis, Charles R., l'ortrait of
100
(tla, E. G., Portrait of
Law, Walter W., Residence of .
30
Lawrence, W. Fred., Portrait of
119
Mangam, Daniel D., Portrait of 334 Guion's Tavern . 755
V
ILLUSTRATIONS.
On or opposite page
On or opposite page
Otis, Norton P., Portrait of .
101
St. Jolin's Rectory and Glebe in 1809
57
Palmer, Stephen, Portrait of
319
St. Paul's Church, East Chester
725
- Park, Charles, Residence of
712
St. Vincent's Retreat for the Insane, Harrison
711
Park, Joseph, Portrait of .
707
Sanders, James P., Portrait of
136
Park, Joseph, Residence of
672
Patterson, Rev. William, Portrait of .
572
Paulding and Requa Houses
265
Schieffelin, H. Maunsell, Residence of
86
Scriba, Augustus M., Portrait of .
417
Shounard, Mr. and Mrs. Edward F., Portraits of.
168
Silver, David, Portrait of
263
Silver, George, Residence of
251
Skinner, Halcyon, Portrait of .
108
Sleepy Hollow Bridge
306
Smith, Alexander & Sons", Carpet Works, Yonkers
106
Smith, Caleb, Portrait of .
167
Smith, Francis S., Residence of
646
Smith, George T., Autograph of . 574
Smith, M. H., Portrait of .
51
Smith, N. F., Residence of .
515
Smith, Miss Priscilla, Residence of.
158
Sniffin's Hill .
677
Suyder, Edwin, Portrait of
593
Spencer, James E., Portrait of
620
Spencer, John S., Portrait of .
622
Spencer Optical Works
621
Stapler, Joseph, Jr., Residence of
277
Stewart, George, Portrait of .
166
Stewart, James, Portrait of .
165
Stillmau, James, Property of
322
Stoors, Richard A., Residence of
514
Strang, Albert, Portrait of
438
Strang, A. R., Portrait of .
437
Strang, Daniel, Portrait of .
438
Strang, Martin L., Portrait of
439
Strang's Tavern, Rye .
668
Strauge, Theo. A., Portrait of .
244
Strange, Theo. A., Residence of
245
Stuart, Gilbert, Portrait of
191
Tarrytown, View of .
194
Taylor, Alexander, Portrait of .
704
Taylor, Alexander, Jr., Portrait of
704
Taylor, Alexander, Jr., Residence of
64-4
Terry, John T , Portrait of .
242
Terry, John T., Residence of .
243
Tingne, W. J., Hawthorne Woolen-Mills
680
Tingne, W. J., Residence of .
681
Told, Harvey M., Portrait of
486
Todd, John A., Autograph of .
283, 321
Todd, Oliver U., Portrait of .
485
Tompkins, John B., Portrait of .
461
St. John's Episcopal Church, Yonkers, 1752. .
56
Townsend, Saniuel O., Portrait of
638
Satterlee, S. K., Portrait of.
702
Satterlee, S. K., Residence of.
703
Peekskill, View of
389
Peene, Joseplı, Sr., Portrait of
148
Philipse Manor-House and Sleepy Hollow Mill
311
Philipse Manor-House, Putnam Co., N. Y .
175
Philipse, Mary, Portrait of
13
Phraner, Wilson, Portrait of
342
Pierce, Moses, Portrait of
. 318
l'ond, N. C., Portrait of .
705
Potter, O. B., Portrait of
328
Presbyterian Church, Poundridge
571
Presbyterian Church, Rye (exterior).
686
Presbyterian Church, Rye (interior) .
687
Presbyterian Church, Sing Sing .
341
Preston, Right Rev. Monsignor Thos. S., Portrait of .
73
170 a
Purser, Geo. H., Residence of .
170b
Quackenbush, David, Portrait of .
762
Quick, S. B., Portrait of .
508
Quick, S. B., Residence of .
509
Quick, S. Francis, Portrait of
170
Quintard, George W., Portrait of .
700
Quintard. George W., Residence of
. 701
Radford, Thomas, Portrait of
169
Raymond, Aaron, Portrait of .
592
Reformed Church and Parsonage, Yonkers
69
Reid's Mill, built in 1739 .
753
Reynolds, Alvah, Portrait of .
545
Richards, A. C., Residence of 192
Roberts, Lewis, Portrait of 279
Roberts, Lewis, Residence of .
280
Roberts, R. A., Residence of .
132
Robertson, George W., Portrait of 405 Robertson, Henry, Portrait of . 590 Robertson, Jabez, Portrait of 591
Rockwell, Samuel D., Portrait of 113
Roscoe, Caleb, Portrait of .
353
Ryan, William, Portrait of
708
Rye Beach .
672
Rye Ferry . 665
Rye, in Sussex, England . 649 Rye, Map of Indian Tracts 643
Rye Seminary
695
St. John's Episcopal Church and Rectory, 1886 .
59
Purser, Geo. H., Portrait of .
vi
ILLUSTRATIONS.
On or opposite page
On or opposite page
Trevor, John B., Portrait of . 76
Webb, W. H., Residence of . .
248
Trevor, John B., Residence of . 77
Underhill, Edward B., Portrait of . 458
U'nderhill. Edward B, Residence of
459
Weston, Edward, Residence of . 130
Uuderhill House
448
White Plains in 1721 .
661
Van Cortlandt, Catherine E., Autograph of
436
Whitefield, George, Portrait of .
394
Van Cortlandt, Pierre, Portrait of . 436
Williams, J. E., Portrait of . 272
Van Wart, Alexander, Portrait of 320
Willsea, Abram O., Portrait of . 250
274
Vail, Jonathan, Portrait of
118
Worthington, Ilenry R., Portrait of
Worthington, Henry R., Residence of 275
Vane on Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow
173
Worthington Memorial Chapel .
275
Ventilator .
466
Warburton Avenue Baptist Church, Yonkers
80
Wright, C. J., Portrait of .
400
Waring Hat Manufactory .
95
Yonkers City Hall, 1886 (Old Manor-House). 29
Wariug, John T., Portrait of . 96
Washburn, Joshua B., Portrait of .
€25
Youkers, Village of, 1868-72.
26
Washburne, S. Ferris, Portrait of
363
Young, Townsend, Portrait of .
361
Water Tower at High Bridge".
467
Wells, Lemuel, Map of Estate, purchased in 1813 19
Wells, Lemuel, Map of Estate, divided in 1843 21
Yonkers, Map of Central Part of, in 1847 24
CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
YONKERS,
1-172
BY REV. DAVID COLE, D. D.
CHAPTER II.
GREENBURGH, .
. 172-283
BY REV. JOHN A. TODD, D. D.
CHAPTER III.
MOUNT PLEASANT, .
283-321
BY REV. JOHN A. TODD, D. D.
CHAPTER IV.
OSSINING, .
321-365
BY GEORGE JACKSON FISHER, M. D.
CHAPTER V.
CORTLANDT, .
365-436
BY REV. WILLIAM J. CUMMING.
CHAPTER VI.
YORKTOWN, .
436-469
BY REV. WILLIAM J. CUMMING.
CHAPTER VII.
SOMERS,
469-499
BY CHARLES E. CULVER.
CHAPTER VIII.
NORTH SALEM, .
499-535
BY CHARLES E. CULVER.
CHAPTER IX.
PAGE.
LEWISBORO, .
535-561
By J. W. KEELER.
CHAPTER X.
POUNDRIDGE,.
561-574
BY GEORGE THATCHER SMITII.
CHAPTER XI.
BEDFORD, .
. 574-608
BY JOSEPH BARRETT.
CHAPTER XII.
NEW CASTLE,
. 608-629
BY JOSEPH BARRETT.
CHAPTER XIII.
NORTHI CASTLE,
629-643
BY JOSEPH BARRETT and W. II. HORTON.
CHAPTER XIV.
RYE,
643-709
BY REV. CHARLES W. BAIRD, D. D).
CHAPTER XV.
HARRISON,.
709-720
BY REV. CHARLES W. BAIRD, D. D.
CHAPTER XVI.
EAST CHESTER,.
. 720-764
BY REV. WILLIAM S. COFFEY, A. M.
vii
THE
-
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
TOWN HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.
YONKERS.
BY REV. DAVID COLE, D.D., Pastor of the Reformed Church, Yonkers.
SECTION I. Introductory.
THE word " Yonkers " is from the Holland Jonk- heer-Eng., " Young Nobleman,"-applied between 1646 and 1655 by the Hollanders to Adriaen Van Der Donck, first white owner of the territory. They called him "De Jonkheer," and his estate "De Jonkheers land," or briefly, "De Jonkheers." This phrase fixed itself upon the locality and, among the later English-speaking people, easily passed into "The Yonkers." It never gave way to the decisive term "Yonkers " till March 7, 1788, when the Legislature of New York united upon the latter as a designation for this1 as one of the twenty described towns into which it divided the county of Westchester. The town that day defined, remained without change till December 16, 1872, when the southern portion of it was set off as the town of Kingsbridge. Meanwhile, however, from April 12, 1855, the name Yonkers, besides being used of the town, had also been more restrictively applied to a small village of about nine hundred acres laid off within the town, extending one mile and seven-tenths upon the Hudson, and to the east an average of eight-tenths of a mile in breadth. Such, down to December 16, 1872, had been the various applications of the name. It now stands for a county town and a city of identical area, bounded on the north by the town of Greenburgh, on the east
1 The following are the words of the act as relating to this town : " And all that part of the County of Westchester, bounded easterly by Bronx River, southerly by the town of Westchester, westerly by the County of New York and Hudson's River. and northerly by the north bounds of a tract of land called 'The Yonkers,' shall be and hereby is erected into a town by the name of Yonkers."
ii
by the middle of the Bronx River, on the south by the city of New York and on the west by the Hudson. In treating of the history of Yonkers, we shall have to use the word in all the various applications in which we have thus shown that it has been or is em- ployed.
By air-line the city hall of Yonkers is eighteen miles northeast from the southern extremity of New York City, nine and a half miles southwest from the court- house of Westchester County at White Plains, one hundred and twelve miles south from Albany and two hundred and twenty miles northeast from Washington. The length of the west side, or Hudson River bound- ary of the city, is four and a third miles, and that of its east side, or Bronx River boundary, is six and a half miles, while its breadtli is along its northern line a little more than four miles, and along its southern line a little less than three. It contains seventeen and a half square miles, and its population, in 1880, was given as eighteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-two. It is, of course, much larger now. More than half this population is compacted, as to its liomes, within less than one square mile in the south- western part of the city.
The topography of Yonkers, the character of its rocks and soils and the abundance and purity of its streams render it in a wonderful degree pleasing to the eye, conducive to health and adapted to homes and ornamental cultivation. It has a delightful variety of hill and dale that can never be materially changed, and a natural beauty of scenery not to be surpassed. It abounds in rocks with alkaline proper- tics which nourish and stimulate vegetation. Its soil is so various as to produce a very large variety of trees and flora. It is full of the natural stimulants of a luxuriant vegetation, being generally a fine reddish loam which sustains rich carpetings of verdure and an endless profusion of native trees, all of which com- bine to clothe the landscape with beauty. Promi- nent among the native trees are the elm, hickory,
1
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
hemlock and chestnut, to which are added the maple and the oak, both of many varieties. And three very valuable streams-the Nepperhan (or Saw-Mill), the Sprain and the Grassy Sprain-enter the city from the north. The Nepperhan, after flowing nearly parallel with the Hudson many miles, from its rise in the town | of Mount Pleasant, turns sharply to the west and empties into the river about one mile above the south line of the city, while the Sprain and Grassy Sprain, uniting about three miles northeast of the mouth of the Nepperhan, flow on in a southeasterly direc- tion under the name of the Sprain, finally dis- charging into the Bronx. These streams are of very great value to the city. The Nepperhan has been ex- ten-ively used for milling purposes, and from the Sprain brooks Yonkers derives an inexhaustible sup- ply of water of the most excellent quality. Entering the city from the north are also five prominent ridges, which trend southward with considerable regularity, but are sufficiently broken at convenient points to admit of such east and west roads as necessity re- quires. Beginning from the west side, the first of these ridges extends southward along the Hudson, without a break, till it is cut off at Getty Square by the bend of the Nepperhan. On this ridge and its slopes, along North Broadway, Palisade, Warbur- ton aud other avenues and streets crossing them, are located most of the palatial residences of Yonkers. South of the break of this ridge, at Getty Square, the ground between South Broadway and the Hudson, with the exception of the pretty rise on the line of Hawthorne Avenue, is a depressed plateau as far as Ludlow Street. Below this it again rises into a ridge, which enters New York City at Mount St. Vincent, and continues unbroken till it terminates abruptly at Spuyten Duyvil. The second ridge, entering the city from the north, between the Nepperhan and Sprain Rivers, is at some more northerly points sufficiently depressed to admit of eross-roads, but does not de- cidedly break till it reaches Yonkers Avenue, at the south end of Oakland Cemetery. Below this break it soon reappears and continues in a succession of knoll-, of which Nodine and Park Hills are the most prominent. The course of this knoll-chain is still southward between the valley of Tibbett's Brook and South Broadway ; it finally terminates at Van Cort- laud Lake. Except on Nodive Hill, on which a large and thriving community has its homes, this second ridge, with its continuation of knolls, is still largely covered with native forest-trees, though mauy fine farms may be seen along its slopes. The third ridge, entering the city from the north, between the Sprain and Grassy Sprain, is, as to its northern part, com- pletely enclosed by these streams, breaking up ab- ruptly at their junction. Below the junction, how- ever, there is at once a resumption of high ground, beginning with the well-known Valentine's Hill and continning, with occasional slight depressions, all the way down to the Harlem River. This ridge, on both
its northern and southern sections, might be, if used, a very valuable agricultural tract. But it is largely in the hands of wealthy non-residents, who, satisfied with the immense prospective value they see in it, will not lease or rent it at present for farm uses at rates admitting of profits to farmers. It is said that the highest land in the city of Yonkers, four hundred and twenty-five feet above the Hudson, is at the point at which this third ridge comes in from Greenburgh. The fourth and fifth ridges, entering the city from the north, both terminate finally above the mouth of the Sprain. The former lies between the (frassy Sprain and Central Park Avenue, and the latter between Central Park Avenue and the Bronx. Such is the general topography of Yonkers. Direct cast and west roads within it are nowhere possible, but openings a little winding, yet sufficiently couvenient for such roads, are found where they seem to be needed. The easiest and most used of these is that which leaves the Hudson at the foot of Main Street, crosses Getty Square, follows along New Main Street and Nepper- han Avenue to Yonkers Avenue, and along the latter avenue to the Bronx River. The hills of Yonkers form one of its most enchanting features and give the city that eminently healthful character which makes it so desirable as a place for homes, and is attracting to it more and more every year people of wealth and culture. Refinement and capital are turning the sum- mits of these hills into palace-sites, their beautiful slopes into terrace-gardens and the winding roads of the city into fascinating drives, while every year, as it comes, will develop for Yonkers new means of rapid transit to neighboring poiuts, and especially to the business portions of the great metropolis so near at hand. It is to the history and present condition of this beautiful city, thus favored as to topography, soil, streams and general prospects and possibilities, that the following pages are to be devoted. We shall take up the territory it occupies from its first discovery by white men, in 1609, and bring its history down through its succeeding periods to the present time.
SECTION II.
Period of Discovery and Dutch Rule. (1609-1664.)
The discovery of America is assigned to the year 1492. That of this locality, however, was reserved for more than a century later. No white man ever ascended the Hudson River till 1609. At that time the territory hereabout was occupied by Indians. We must speak briefly of some of these former occu- pants of American soil, and especially of those of them who lived here.
The greatest savage nation on this continent three hundred years ago was the Algonquin. Mr. Bancroft thinks it numbered in 1639 about ninety thousand. Its general area extended from the Esquimaux to the southern boundary of South Carolina, and from the
"DUNCRAGGAN .** RESIDENCE OF WM. F. COCHRAN, YONKERS, N. Y.
3
YONKERS.
Atlantic to the Mississippi. It embraced all the present State of New York, except a reservation in the Western, Central and Northern parts, which be- longed to that powerful confederation of Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas and Mohawks, known in history as "The Iroquois," or "The Five Nations." Below this confederation's eastern and southern limit, at the mouth of the Mohawk, on the west side of the Hudson River, perhaps as far south as Haverstraw, and on the east side in length as far south as Spuyten Duyvil, and in breadth all the way from the Hudson to the Connecticut, lay the Mohegans. Over the river, below Haverstraw, were the Tappans in the North and the Monseys in the South. On New York island was the Manhattan tribe, from which the island took its early name.
All Indian tribes were divided into families, and each family had one or more villages. From Pough- keepsie southward, along the east side of the river, the Mohegan tribe had the Wappinger family above, and in the Highlands, the Kitchawank family along the Croton, the Sintsinck family within our present town of Ossining, and the Weekquaskeck family from the Sintsincks down to Spuyten Duyvil, and between the Hudson and the Bronx Rivers. The Weckquas- keck family of the Mohegan tribe of the Algonquin nation were the Indians of this site.1 Their name is
1 Some maintain that on this side of the Hudson, the Mohegans cane down only to the northern boundary of Yonkers, and that Yonkers was Manhattan, not Mohegan ground. This view was taken by the histor- ian, Henry B. Dawson of Morrisania, in his Yonkers "Gazette Series" of' 1866. It evidently rests on the following passages from early writers, which seem to us to have been misunderstood :
(a) De Laet (" Description of the New Netherland," 1625) says : " On the east side, upon the main land, dwell the Manhattans, etc."
The author, in making this statement, is regarding the landscape and river from a point between Nutten (or Governor's) Island and Com- munipaw. It is while looking from this point, that, having just named and still thinking of Governor's Island, he refers to the main land on the east side, evidently meaning Manhattan Island. In the same con- nection, still viewing objects from this point, he says, "On the west side (meaning Communipaw) are the Sanlickans. . . they dwell within the Sandy Hook, and along the bay, as well as in the interior of the country."
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