What We Know of Early So-Called "Indian Deeds" Transferring Pelham Lands

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Most histories of the little Town of Pelham virtually begin with the birth of Thomas Pell and, later, the execution of the Pell Deed between Thomas Pell and local Wiechquaeskeck Natives (not "Siwanoys") on June 27, 1654 (Julian Calendar).  The Town's human history, of course, extends ten thousand or more years before that date, preceded by the eons of fascinating geological history that have shaped modern Pelham and its modern history.  

One confusing and little-considered area of research regarding Pelham history involves so-called "Indian Deeds" that pre-dated the Pell Deed but may have included lands that later became part of the Manor of Pelham.  Today's Historic Pelham Blog article attempts to document a little of this early history of the little Town of Pelham.  

A 1640 Sale to the Dutch of the Lands that Became Pelham?

For two decades this author has struggled to locate an actual copy, or reliably-transcribed text, of the supposed first "Indian Deed" purportedly reflecting the sale of Manor of Pelham lands by local Natives to the Dutch in 1640.  It seems that Dutch authorities merely instructed Cornelis Van Tienhoven to acquire Wiechquaeskeck lands (likely including Pelham) in 1640.  Many believe, or have assumed, that the instructions were discharged and that the acquisition was completed, but no reliable evidence of any such transaction yet seems to have been found.  See: 

Tue., Sep. 02, 2014:  More Research on the First "Indian Deed" Reflecting the Dutch Purchase of Lands that Included Today's Pelham.

Tue., Mar. 18, 2014:  The First "Indian Deed" Reflecting a Sale by Native Americans of Lands that Became Pelham.

Tue., Nov. 06, 2007:  Is This Another Dead End in the Search for the Text of an Indian Deed to Lands That Included Today's Pelham Sold to the Dutch?

Tue., Dec. 05, 2006:  Where is Evidence of the 1640 Dutch Purchase from Native Americans of the Lands That Became Pelham?

Mon., Dec. 26, 2005:  The Dutch Acquired Lands Including Pelham From Local Native Americans in 1640.

Clearly the Dutch believed they had dominion and control of Pelham lands shortly after 1640 because they allowed Anne Hutchinson and her family, among others, to plant budding settlements in the area of today's Pelham Bay Park and Throggs Neck.  (Of course, perhaps the Dutch were more than willing to allow Anne Hutchinson, her family, and other English, to "test" what the Dutch hoped would be an ability to survive such budding settlements without clear Dutch title to the region.)  

Those settlements by New Englanders, of course, were decimated and many of their occupants murdered by Natives in 1643 during the broad and long conflict that included both the Pequot War and Kieft's War.  This suggests, of course, that local Natives believed the Dutch had no formal or recognized dominion or control of Pelham lands at the time.  It further suggests, perhaps, that there never was formalized any Dutch transaction to acquire from local Natives the lands that included a portion (or all) of the Manor of Pelham.

There is another piece of evidence that suggests that no 1640 deed exists and that the Dutch never truly formalized purchase of the lands that included today's Pelham that year.  That evidence suggests that there may have been an effort by the Dutch in 1645 to purchase some or all of the same region in a transaction that, likewise, may not have been properly documented.

Evidence of an Effort to Purchase Local Lands in 1645

As early as 1645, a Native American described as "Sauwenare, sachem of Wieckqueskeck," together with "Amenameck his brother" and "others, all owners, etc." reportedly sold lands north of Manhattan "called Wieckquaeskeck" to a man named "Wouter Van Twiller."  See Ruttenber, Edward Manning, History of the Indian Tribes of Hudson's River:  Their Origin, Manners and Customs; Tribal and Sub-Tribal Organizations; Wars, Treaties, Etc., Etc., p. 366 (Albany, NY: J. Munsell, 1872) (stating "In Albany Records, III, 379, is this entry:  'Personally appeared Sauwenare, sachem of Wieckqueskeck, Amenameck his brother, and others, all owners, etc., of lands situated on North river called Wieckquaeskeck, and declared that they had sold the same to Wouter Van Twiller in 1645.").  Significantly, "Sauwenare" is believed by a number of Munsee scholars (and by this author) to be one of many spelling variants and phonetic corruptions of the name of the "Saggamore" who was the first signer of the Pell Deed on June 27, 1654:  Shawanórõckquot.  See Fri., Jun. 15, 2018:  Who Was Shawanórõckquot, a Native American Sachem Who Signed the Pell Indian Deed on June 27, 1654?

Research has not revealed to this author any extant deed or deed transcription that reflects any such transaction by the great Saggamore of the Wiechquaeskecks selling local lands in 1645 as the entry quoted by Ruttenber suggests.  Moreover, there is evidence that the "transaction" -- if there was one -- was not properly documented.  To make matters even more muddled, a later Dutch document suggests that the 1645 transaction, if there were one, involved a sale to a local Native -- NOT the Dutch.  That later document stated that the 1645 sale was to a "blood relation" of the Native sellers known as "Pechquakor (by the Dutch called Wouter").  See immediately below.

A Possibly-Aborted Effort in 1655 to Document the Supposed Sale to Wouter Van Twiller in 1645


Ten years later, in 1655, the Director General and Council of New Netherland prepared a form of deed that seems to have been intended effectively to nullify this 1645 "transaction" (if there were such). Significantly, the form was never completed, contained blanks that were never filled in, and was designated as "canceled" in the records.  The aborted form would have provided for "Sauwenare, sachem of Wieckqeskeck, [and] Annenameck, his brother" to re-convey the property to the Director and Council.  The canceled form stated that "their deceased brother Pechquakor (by the Dutch called Wouter) and other [of] their blood relations delivered over and donated in the year 1645 to the honorable director general and council."  See New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch Translated and Annotated by Arnold J. F. Van Laer, Vol. III - Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660, pp. 413-15 (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1974). 

This suggested that "Wouter Van Twiller" (to whom Sauwenare, Amenameck, and others supposedly conveyed Wiechquaeskeck lands in 1645) was a "blood relation" related to Sauwenare (i.e., Shawanórõckquot) who, in the same year, reportedly "delivered over and donated in the year 1645 to the honorable director general and council" those lands. Of course, the fact that such a draft "form" was prepared suggests a lack of any meaningful documentation of the 1645 transaction. Moreover, the fact that the form was not completed and was designated "canceled" also calls into question whether the Dutch truly, formally, and effectively acquired Wiechquaeskeck at any time prior to 1655 (or thereafter).

Perhaps Thomas Pell, who paid local Natives 500 Pounds Sterling for the lands that became the Manor of Pelham, had the better title to the lands after his June 27, 1654 transaction. . . . See Fri., Sep. 29, 2006:  Intriguing Evidence of the Amount Thomas Pell Paid Native Americans for the Manor of Pelham.  See also Thu., Oct. 05, 2006:  Additional Evidence That Thomas Pell Paid 500 Pounds Sterling for the Lands That Became the Manor of Pelham.  

"Thomas Pell" by Thom Lafferty from an Original by an Unknown

Artist Who Imagined Pell as He Would Look. There Are No

Known Images of Thomas Pell.NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of the 1655 "form" that seems never to have been completed but addresses the purported sale of Wiechquaeskeck lands to "Wouter Van Twiller" in 1645.

"Deed from the Indians to the director general and council of New Netherland of land on the North River called Wieckquaeskeck

[134e]  On this day, date underwritten, personally appeared Sauwenare, sachem of Wieckqeskeck, Annenameck, his brother [Footnote 1:  "1  The contract is canceled and left incomplete.  It is not listed in the Calendar of Dutch Manuscripts.  1.  Other names left blank.]

all right owners and proprietors of the lands situated on the North river, called Wieckquaeskeck and all the lands appertaining thereto, beginning at [Footnote 2:  Blank space.]

being in length along the North river about [blank] miles, and declared before the honorable director general and council of New Netherland and the undersigned witnesses, although the aforesaid lands were by their deceased brother Pechquakor (by the Dutch called Wouter) and other their blood relations delivered over and donated in the year 1645 to the honorable director general and council, that they now approve of and ratify the aforesaid donation and de novo henceforth convey, transfer, cede and surrender to the Hon. Director General Petrus Stuyvesant and the council in New Netherland all their patrimonial right, authority, jurisdiction, ownership and other prerogatives; therefore constituting the said honorable director general and council and their successors in their stead, real and actual possession thereof, giving them full and irrevocable power and authority to enter upon, possess in peace and use the aforesaid land and its appurtenances thereof as they might do with other their lawfully obtained lands, without the said grantors' having, reserving or retaining any more authority over the same in the least, but the said grantors relinquishing the same forever for themselves, their descendants or those whom it might in any way concern, hereby promising to free the aforesaid parcel of land from all claims and incumbrances to be set up or to be made thereto by any one in the world.  They further declare that in compensation and in satisfaction of their right they have been fully paid and satisfied before the execution hereof by the honorable director general and council for account of the General Chartered West India Company, chamber of Amsterdam, in cargo goods, as is specified below.  All in good faith, without fraud or deceit.

In testimony and token of the truth this is signed by them and the witnesses hereto invited.  Actum in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 26th of July A o. 1655.  [Footnote 3:  "3  The original document is canceled."]

Source:  New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch Translated and Annotated by Arnold J. F. Van Laer, Vol. III - Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660, pp. 413-15 (Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., 1974). 


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Significant Research on the First "Indian Deed" Reflecting the Dutch Purchase of Lands that Included Today's Pelham

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This is one of the most significant and, to me at least, exciting posts I have had the pleasure to publish to the Historic Pelham Blog in years.  

Nearly every Pelhamite with even a passing interest in the history of our Town is familiar with the so-called "Indian Deed" executed by Thomas Pell and local Native Americans on June 27, 1654.  Referred to variously as the "Pell Deed," the "Pell Treaty," the "Pell Indian Deed" and by other names, the deed reflects Thomas Pell's acquisition of the lands that include today's Town of Pelham.  Immediately below is an image of a seventeenth century copy of the original deed.  This copy is believed to be in Thomas Pell's handwriting and is on display at the Thompson-Pell Research Center in Ticonderoga, New York.

17th Century Copy of Pell Deed Signed by

Thomas Pell and Native Americans on June 27,

1654. Believed To Be in Thomas Pell's Handwriting.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

While most Pelhamites are familiar with the Pell Deed, fewer are aware that the Pell Deed likely was not the first "Indian Deed" conveying Native American lands that encompassed today's Town of Pelham to European settlers.  Officials of New Netherland claimed to have acquired the same lands from local Native Americans before Pell obtained his deed.    

For nearly sixteen years I have tried to locate an actual copy, or reliably-transcribed text, of the elusive first "Indian Deed" reflecting the sale by local Native Americans to the Dutch of the lands that included today's Pelham.  Dutch authorities reputedly instructed Cornelis Van Tienhoven to acquire lands that included today's Pelham in 1640.  Some authorities suggest that the acquisition occurred in 1640 and was reaffirmed by deed issued in 1649.  Other authorities suggest that no acquisition actually occurred until 1649.  

I am now able to confirm that my research has located a reliably-translated version of a 1649 "Indian Deed" published as part of the New Netherland Project work of Charles T. Gehring who has been engaged in nearly a fifty-year effort to translate extant New Netherland papers.  I have yet to locate any purported "Indian Deed" executed in 1640 covering the lands that form today's Town of Pelham.  Locating the 1649 deed, however, is a significant step in the right direction.

For those who might wish to learn more about my quest to locate copies, or reliable text, of the purported 1640 and 1649 "Indian Deeds" conveying land to the Dutch and to read more about the 1654 "Indian Deed" reflecting the sale of these lands to English settler Thomas Pell, see: 

Mon., Dec. 26, 2005:  The Dutch Acquired Lands Including Pelham From Local Native Americans in 1640. 

Tue., Dec. 5, 2006:  Where is Evidence of the 1640 Dutch Purchase from Native Americans of the Lands That Became Pelham? 

Tue., Nov. 06, 2007:  Is This Another Dead End in the Search for the Text of an Indian Deed to Lands That Included Today's Pelham Sold to the Dutch? 

Tue., Mar. 18, 2014:  The First "Indian Deed" Reflecting a Sale by Native Americans of Lands that Became Pelham.

Tue., Sep. 02, 2014:  More Research on the First "Indian Deed" Reflecting the Dutch Purchase of Lands that Included Today's Pelham.

Immediately below is the transcription of the "Indian Deed" by which local Native Americans reaffirmed their conveyance of lands that included much of Westchester County to the Directors of the West India Company on July 14, 1649 as translated from the original Dutch records that survived the great New York State Capitol Building and State Library Fire of 1911.  These portions of the records were published in 1980.  This Indian Deed covers all of today's Pelham, the northeast Bronx, and much of today's Westchester County.  It covers basically the eastern half of the mainland beyond the Harlem River and includes lands bounded by today's Byram River all the way to today's Harlem River.

The text of the deed demonstrates that on July 14, 1649 the Director-General and Council of New Netherland acquired a vast swath of land that included today's Pelham, Northeast Bronx and much of Westchester County -- six years before Thomas Pell acquired much of the same lands from different Native Americans.  The so-called "Indian Deed" shows that the Dutch traded the following for the land:  "6 fathoms of duffels [i.e., cloth for jackets], 6 fathoms of seawant [i.e., wampum, a form of shell currency]; 6 kettles, 6 axes; 6 adzes, 10 knives, 10 awls, 10 corals, 10 bells, 1 gun, 2 staves of lead, 2 lbs. of powder; 2 cloth coats."  

This Indian Deed also is significant because it makes clear that those who sold the land and, presumably, controlled it and, perhaps, resided on it lived in an area that they and the Dutch called "Wiequaes Keck" according to the deed.  The area extended throughout much of Westchester County (and all of today's Pelham).  There is no mention of Siwanoys.  This is further evidence that the Native Americans that once populated the area in and around Pelham were Wiechquaeskecks -- not "Siwanoys."  See Wed., Jan. 29, 2014:  There Were No Native Americans Known as Siwanoys.   

While some may scoff at what seems to be a meager offering of items in exchange for thousands and thousands of acres of land, it must not be forgotten that at the time two vastly different cultures were colliding.  The items traded by the Dutch for the land were technological marvels not otherwise available to the Native Americans.  The nature of the exchange was far more complex than over-simplified suggestions that the Native Americans did not understand that they were giving up their land.  

"GG 222 INDIAN DEED TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY FOR LAND IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

On this day, the date underwritten, appeared before us, the Honorable Lords, the Director-General and Council, Megtegichkama, Oteyochque, and Wegtakochken, the rightful owners of the land located on the east bank of the North River of New Netherland called Wiequaes Keck; extending in breadth through the woods until a stream called Seweyruc [Byram River], with a boundary line running north and south from Greenwich on the East River to a stream called Kechkawes [Mianus River].  This same land is located between the two streams, dissecting the woods between the North and East River, so that the western half remains with the aforesaid owners; while the other eastern half, which is divided by a north-south line through the woods, the aforesaid owners acknowledge in the presence of the chief Seyseykimus and all the remaining friends and blood relatives to have sold the aforesaid parcel of land to the honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherland, for a certain amount of merchandise, which they acknowledge to have received  and accepted before approval of this document, namely 6 fathoms of duffels, 6 fathoms of seawant; 6 kettles, 6 axes; 6 adzes, 10 knives, 10 awls, 10 corals, 10 bells, 1 gun, 2 staves of lead, 2 lbs. of powder; 2 cloth coats.  

Therefore, the aforesaid owners transfer, cede and convey the aforesaid land to the Lord-General or his successors in true and lawful ownership, renouncing for themselves and their descendants now and forever all claims thereon, and resigning herewith all rights and jurisdiction, transferring it to the aforesaid Lord-General and his successors, to do with as they please, without being molested by them, the conveyors, or anyone of them, whether it be person or property.  It is further agreed that the western most half may be purchased for the same amount as above whenever the Director-General desires to pay for it; and they, the grantors, promise to sell the part still in their possession on the North River for that price and not to sell it to anyone without informing the Director-General.  They further promise to maintain and uphold this conveyance firmly and inviolably under the penalty prescribed by law.  Thus was this signed in the presence of the witnesses below on 14 July 1649 at New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

This is the mark

[Signed]

of Pomipahan, made himself.

This is the mark

[Signed]

of Meytehickhama.
This is the mark

[Signed]

of Wegtakachkey.

This is the mark made by

[Signed]

the chief, Seyseychkimus, as witness."

Source:  Gehring, Charles T., ed. & trans., New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch Volumes GG, HH & II Land Papers, pp. 62-63 (Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980) (Published under the direction of The Holland Society of New York).
For another earlier translation of the same record, see:   

O'Callaghan, E. B., ed., History of New Netherland; Or, New York Under the Dutch, Vol. II, pp. 96-97, n. 1 (NY, NY:  D. Appleton and Company, 1848) (citing "Book of Patents, G. G. 507.").

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More Research on the First "Indian Deed" Reflecting the Dutch Purchase of Lands that Included Today's Pelham

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Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

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Readers of the Historic Pelham Blog know that I have struggled for nearly fifteen years to locate an actual copy of, or reliably-transcribed text of, the elusive first "Indian Deed" reflecting the sale by local Native Americans to the Dutch of the lands that included today's Pelham.  It seems that Dutch authorities instructed Cornelis Van Tienhoven to acquire the lands in 1640, but no acquisition occurred until 1649 -- though I CONTINUE to be unable to establish the accuracy of these oft-asserted propositions.  To read more about this quest, and about the 1654 "Indian Deed" reflecting the sale of these lands to English settler Thomas Pell, see:

Mon., Dec. 26, 2005:  The Dutch Acquired Lands Including Pelham From Local Native Americans in 1640.  

Tue., Dec. 5, 2006:  Where is Evidence of the 1640 Dutch Purchase from Native Americans of the Lands That Became Pelham?

Tue., Nov. 06, 2007:  Is This Another Dead End in the Search for the Text of an Indian Deed to Lands That Included Today's Pelham Sold to the Dutch?

Tue., Mar. 18, 2014:  The First "Indian Deed" Reflecting a Sale by Native Americans of Lands that Became Pelham.

17th Century Copy of Pell Deed Signed by Thomas Pell

and Native Americans on June 27, 1654.  Believed To Be

in Thomas Pell's Handwriting.

There have been recent references to the purported Dutch purchase of these lands.  None seems to shed any light on a meaningful source, primary or reliable secondary source, for the assertion.  

"CONFLICT, 1640-1645

Although hindsight shows that the first seeds of discord had been sown early, relations between Indians and colonists were generally amicable, at least superficially, during the first decade and a half of intensive colonial settlement on and around Manhattan.  Signs of serious tension appeared only after English settlers moving west from New England began approaching Indians to purchase lands on the still-unsurveyed eastern border of New Netherland.  New Englanders began looking to acquire land beyond the borders of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut during the late 1630s.  In late March 1638, for example, Connecticut government emissaries met near Norwalk with a gathering of 'old [Indian] men and captains from about Milford to Hudson River' to talk about extending their colony's authority over their lands.  They told the assembled sachems that they had been sent to establish a protectorate over 'the Indians along the coast from Quilipioke [Quinnipiac; today's New Haven] to the Manhatoes.'  After consulting among themselves, the sachems reached consensus and agreed to place themselves, their people, and their lands under Connecticut protection.  

Within two years, English colonists from Connecticut were purchasing their first tracts of land from Indians around Norwalk.  News of these purchases alarmed Kieft and his council in New Amsterdam.  On April 19, 1640, Kieft dispatched his second-in-command, [Page 31 / Page 32] Cornelis van Tienhoven, to the Norwalk Archipelago with an order 'to purchase the adjacent lands there; to set up the arms of the Lords States-General; to take the Indians under our protection, and to prevent any other nation from committing any usurpation on our limits and encroaching further on our territory.'

Van Tienhoven failed to purchase any Indian land at Norwalk.  Instead, he appears to have spent much of his time trying to confirm rumors that other men from Connecticut and New Haven (separate colonies at the time) were founding settlements on Long Island, on land placed under Dutch authority the previous year.  Sailing across Long Island Sound from Norwalk to Hempstead Harbor to meet with Penhawitz, Van Tienhoven found that the rumors were true.  Kieft immediately dispatched troops, who succeeded in evicting the English homesteaders."  

Source:  Grumet, Robert S., First Manhattans A History of the Indians of Greater New York, pp. 31-32 (Norman, OK:  Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2011).

The assertion that Van Tienhoven "failed to purchase any Indian land at Norwalk" set forth above is at odds with other secondary sources that likewise fail to cite primary sources for their assertions.  For one example, see footnote 1 on Page 9 of the quoted excerpt from the History of Norwalk immediately below:

"[Page 8]

INDIAN DEED TO CAPT. DANIEL PATRICK

RECORDED IN VOL. I, PAGE 30, NORWALK LAND RECORDS.

Of the meadows and uplands adjoininge, lyinge on the west side of Norwake River.

'An agreement betwixt Daniell Patrick and Mahackem, and Naramake and Pemenate Hewnompom indians of Norwake and Makentoub 3 [Footnote 3 reads:  "3 Seemingly the name of an Indian clan"] the said Daniell Patricke hath bought of the sayed three indians, the ground called Sacunyte napucke, allso Meeanworth, thirdly Asumsowis, fourthly all the land adjoyninge to the aforementioned, as farr up in cuntry as an indian, and all trees, can goe in a day, from sun risinge to sun settinge; and twoe Islands on the east side to the middle of the River of Norwake, and all trees, meadows, waters and naturell adjuncts thereunto belonginge, for him and his forever; for whith Lands the sayed indians are to receive of the sayed Daniell Patricke, of wampum tenn fathoms, hatchetts three, howes three, when shipps come; sixe glasses,, twelfe tobackoe pipes, three knifes, tenn drills, tenn needles; this as full satisfaction for the aforementioned lande, and 

[Page 8 / Page 9]

for the peaceable possession of which the aforementioned mahachemill doth promise and undertake to silence all opposers of this purchase, if any should in his time act, to witnesse which, on both sides, hands are interchangeably hereunto sett, this 20th of Aprill, 1640. 1  [Footnote 1 reads:  "1  The day before this transaction, viz:  April 19, 1640, Ponus or his successors, had granted to the Dutch West India Company all the lands from Norwalk west to the Hudson River.  It should be borne in mind that the Patrick purchase extended on the west to Five Mile River, and that the Runckinheage lands lay within this purchase.  Probably the territory covered by the Partrick deed was originally the domain of Naramake 1st, a predecessor of Naramake 2nd, who signed the Partrick paper.  This second Naramake returned finally, it is believed, to the Mohawks."]."

Source:  Selleck, Charles M., Norwalk, pp. 8-9 (Norwalk, CT:  Published by the Author, 1896).  

I have transcribed these additional resources as part of the ongoing research (and quest) to locate the initial "Indian Deed" to the lands that became today's Town of Pelham and surrounding areas.

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The First "Indian Deed" Reflecting a Sale by Native Americans of Lands that Became Pelham

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The mystery remains. . . . 

The story of how Pelham came to be includes the well-documented story of how Thomas Pell and Native Americans signed a deed on June 27, 1654 by which Pell acquired a vast swath of land including today's Pelham and much of the northeast Bronx.  Indeed, a copy of that deed believed to be in Pell's own handwriting was recently displayed at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.

17th Century Copy of Pell Deed Signed by Thomas Pell

and Native Americans on June 27, 1654.  Believed to be

In Thomas Pell's Handwriting.

It appears, however, that there was an earlier deed .by which Native Americans sold the same lands as part of a larger parcel to others. . . . 

The Dutch purportedly acquired lands including precisely those acquired by Pell some fourteen years before Pell bought them.  I have spent more than a dozen years, however, trying to locate this deed or an actual transcription of its contents.  I have documented many of my efforts.  For example, see:

Mon., Dec. 26, 2005:  The Dutch Acquired Lands Including Pelham From Local Native Americans in 1640.

Tue., Dec. 5, 2006:  Where Is Evidence of the 1640 Dutch Purchase from Native Americans of Lands That Became Pelham?

 Tue., Nov. 6, 2007:  Is This Another Dead End in the Search for the Text of an Indian Deed to Lands that Included Today's Pelham Sold to the Dutch? 

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes references to this supposed deed contained in the text of the 1881 edition of Bolton's History of Westchester County as part of my continued efforts to document my research in this area.  Immediately below is a transcription of the relevant excerpt, followed by a citation to its source.

"Like the greater part of Westchester County, [Pelham] formed originally a portion of the Indian territory of Wykagyl, as laid down in the Dutch carte of 1614.  Its early inhabitants were a clan of the Mohegans or 'Enchanted Wolf Tribe,' called Siwanoys, whose possessions extended, it is well known, from Norwalk to the neighborhood of Hell gate.  The latter place being their winter quarters.  From the Indians this tract of land, with others adjacent, passed to the Dutch West Indian Company in 1640, as appears by the following:  'In order to maintain the charter of this company, Kieft, the Dutch governor, dispatched Secretary Van Fienhoven [sic - Tienhoven], on the 19th day of April, 1640, with instructions to purchase the 'Archipelago' or group of Islands at the mouth of the Norwalk River, together with all the adjoining territory on the main land,' 'and to erect thereon the standard and arms of the high and mighty Lords States General; to take the savages under our protection, and to prevent effectually any other nation encroaching on our limits.'  These directions, we are assured, were fully executed; and the West India Company thus obtained the Indian title to all the lands between Norwalk and the North River. [Fn. "a"] [Footnote "a" at foot of the page reads "a Hist. State of N.Y., by Broadhead, 1st period, 1609-1664.  Alb. Rec. ii, 78, 147; De Lact viii; Hazard ii, 213; O'Call. i, 215."]  This sale was confirmed on the 14th of [Page 28 / Page 29] July, 1649, when the Director General, Peter Stuyvesant, in behalf of the same company, purchased 'WECHQUAESQEECK" -- which, like the former grant, comprehended much of the present County of Westchester -- from the three Indian sachems 'Megtegichkama, Oteyschgue, and Wegtakkockken.'"

Source:  Bolton, Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From its First Settlement to the Present Time, Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, pp. 28-29  (NY, NY:  Chas. F. Roper, 1881).  (Edited by C.W. Bolton).

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