(New York) Extract from

The Indian Tribes of North America
 by John R. Swanton
Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 145-1953
[726 pages-Smithsonian Institution]
(pp. 33-48)

Delaware. Bands of two of the main divisions of the Delaware Indians, the Munsee and Unami, extended into parts of New York State, including the island of Manhattan. (See New Jersey.)

Erie. The Erie occupied parts of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. (See Ohio.)

Iroquois. From Algonkin Irinakhoiw, "real adders," with the French suffix -ois.

Mahican. The name means "wolf." This tribe is not to be confused with the Mohegan of Connecticut (q. v.), though the names are mere varieties of the same word.

    Also called:

      Akochakaneñ, meaning "Those who speak a strange tongue." (Iroquois name.)
      Canoe Indians, so called by Whites.
      Hikanagi or Nhíkana, Shawnee name.
      Loups, so called by the French.
      Orunges, given by Chauvignerie (1736), in Schoolcraft (1851-57, vol. 3, p. 554).
      River Indians, Dutch name.
      Uragees, given by Colden, 1747.

    Connections. -The Mahican belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family, and spoke an r-dialect, their closest connections being with the southern New England Indians to the east.

    Location. -On both banks of the upper Hudson from Catskill Creek to Lake Champlain and eastward to include the valley of the Housatonic. (See also Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Wisconsin.)

    Subdivisions:

      Mahican proper, in the northern part of the territory.
      Mechkentowoon, on the west bank of Hudson River above Catskill Creek.
      Wawyachtonoc, in Dutchess and Columbia Counties and eastward to the Housatonic River in Connecticut.
      Westenhuck (or Housatonic?), near Great Barrington, Mass.
      Wiekagjoc, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River near Hudson.

    Villages:

      Aepjin, at or near Schodac.
      Kaunaumeek, in New York about halfway between Albany and Stockbridge, Mass.
      Kenunckpacook, on the east side of Housatonic River a little above Scaticook.
      Maringoman's Castle, on Murderer's Creek, at Bloominggrove, Ulster County.
      Monemius, on Haver Island, in Hudson River near Cohoes Falls, Albany County.
      Nepaug, on Nepaug River, town of New Hartford, Litchfield County, Conn.
      Peantam, at Bantam Lake, Litchfield County, Conn.
      Potic, west of Athens, Greene County.
      Scaticook, 3 villages in Dutchess and Rensselaer Counties, and in Litchfield County, Conn., the last on Housatonic River near the junction with Ten Mile River.
      Wequadnack, near Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn.
      Wiatiac, near Salisbury, Litchfield County, Conn.
      Wiltmeet, on Esopus Creek, probably near Kingston.
      Winooskeek, on Lake Champlain, probably at the mouth of Winooski River, Vt.
      Wyantenuc, in Litchfield County, Conn.

    History. -The traditional point of origin of the Mahican was in the West. They were found in occupancy of the territory outlined above by the Dutch, and were then at war with the Mohawk who, in 1664, compelled them to move their capital from Schodac near Albany to the present Stockbridge. They gradually sold their territory and in 1721 a band was on Kankakee River, Ind., while in 1730, a large body settled close to the Delaware and Munsee near Wyoming, Pa., afterward becoming merged with those tribes. In 1730 those in the Housatonic Valley were gathered into a mission at Stockbridge and were ever afterward known as Stockbridge Indians. In 1756 a large body of Mahican and Wappinger, along with Nanticoke and other people, settled in Broome and Tioga Counties under Iroquois protection. In 1788 another body of Indians drawn from New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, including Mahican, settled near the Stockbridges at Marshall, N. Y. The Stockbridge and Brotherton Indians later removed to Wisconsin, where they were probably joined by part at least of the band last mentioned. A few Mahican remained about their old home on Hudson River for some years after the Revolution but disappeared unnoticed.

    Population. -Mooney (1928) estimates that there were about 3,000 Mahican in 1600; the Stockbridges among the Iroquois numbered 300 in 1796, and 606 in 1923, including some Munsee. The census of 1910 gave 533 Stockbridges and 172 Brotherton. The census of 1930 indicated about 813.

    Connection in which they have become noted. -The Mahican tribe has probably attained more fame from its appearance in the title of Cooper's novel. "The Last of the Mohegans," than from any circumstance directly connected with its history. There is a village called Mohegan in the northern part of Westchester County, N. Y., and another, known as Mohican in Ashland County, Ohio, while an affluent of the Muskingum also bears the same name.

Mohegan. (See Connecticut.)

Montauk. Meaning "uncertain."

    Connections. -The Montauk belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family and spoke an r-dialect like that of the Wappinger.

    Location. -In the eastern and central parts of Long Island.

    Subdivisions:

      Corchaug, in Riverhead and Southold Townships.
      Manhasset, on Shelter Island.
      Massapequa, in the southern part of Oyster Bay and Huntington Townships.
      Matinecock, in the townships of Flushing, North Hempstead, the northern part of Oyster Bay and Huntington, and the western part of Smithtown.
      Merric, in the eastern part of Hempstead Township.
      Montauk proper, in Southampton Township.
      Nesaquake, in the eastern part of Smithtown and the territory east of it.
      Patchogue, on the southern coast from Patchogue to Westhampton.
      Rockaway, in Newtown, Jamaica, and Hempstead Townships.
      Secatogue, in Islip Township.
      Setauket, on the north shore from Stony Brook to Wading River.
      Shinnecock, on the coast from Shinnecock Bay to Montauk Point.

    Villages:

      Aquebogue, on a creek entering the north side of Great Peconic Bay.
      Ashamomuck, on the site of a White town of the same name in Suffolk County.
      Cutchogue, at Cutchogue in Suffolk County.
      Massapequa, probably at Fort Neck.
      Mattituck, on the site of the present Mattituck, Suffolk County.
      Merric, on the site of Merricks, Queens County.
      Montauk, above Fort Pond, Suffolk County.
      Nesaquake, at the present Nissequague, about Smithtown, Suffolk County.
      Patchogue, near the present Patchogue, Suffolk County.
      Rechquaakie, near the present Rockaway.
      There were also villages at Flushing, Glen Cove, Cold Spring, Huntington, Cow Harbor, Fireplace, Mastic, Moriches, Westhampton, and on Hog Island in Rockaway Bay.

    History. -The Montauk were in some sense made tributary to the Pequot, until the latter were destroyed, when they were subjected to a series of attacks by the Narraganset and took refuge, about 1759, with the Whites at Easthampton. They had, meanwhile, lost the greater part of their numbers by pestilence and, about 1788, most of those that were left went to live with the Brotherton Indians in New York. A very few remained on the island, whose mixed-blood descendants are still officially recognized as a tribe by the State of New York, principally under the name Shinnecock.

    Population. -Including Canarsee, the Montauk are estimated by Mooney (1928) at 6,000 in 1600. In 1658-59 an estimate gives about 500; in 1788, 162 were enumerated; in 1829, 30 were left on Long Island; in 1910, 167 "Shinnecock," 29 "Montauk," and 1 "Possepatuck." In 1923, 250 were returned, including 30 Montauk, 200 Shinnecock, and 20 Poospatock (Patchoag).

    Connection in which they have become noted. -The name of the Montauk is perpetuated in that of the easternmost point of land on Long Island, a post village in the same county, and one in Dent County, Mo. They were among those tribes most active in the manufacture of siwan or wampum.

Neutrals. So called by the French because they remained neutral during the later wars between the Iroquois and Huron.

Saponi. Some years after leaving Fort Christanna, Va., the Saponi settled among the Iroquois and were formally adopted by the Cayuga tribe in 1753. (See Virginia.)

Tuscarora. After their defeat in the Tuscarora War, 1712-13, bands of this tribe began moving north and in course of time the majority settled in New York so that the Iroquois came to be known afterwards as the "Six Nations" instead of the "Five Nations." (See North Carolina.)

Tutelo. The Tutelo accompanied the Saponi from Virginia and were adopted by the Cayuga at the same time. (See Virginia.)

Wappinger. From the same root as Abnaki and Wampanoag, and meaning "Easterners"

    Connections. -The Wappinger belonged to the Algonquian linguistic family and spoke an r-dialect, their nearest allies being the Mahican, the Montauk, and next the New England tribes.

    Location. -The east bank of the Hudson River from Manhattan Island to Poughkeepsie and the territory eastward to the lower Connecticut Valley. (See also Connecticut.)

    Subdivisions or "Sachemships"

      Hammonasset, west of the Connecticut River Conn., at its mouth.
      Kitchawank, in the northern part of Westchester County beyond Croton River and between Hudson River and the Connecticut.
      Massaco, in the present towns of Simsbury and Canton on Farmington River, Conn.
      Menunkatuck, in the present town of Guilford, Conn.
      Nochpeem, in the southern part of Dutchess County, N. Y.
      Paugussett, in the eastern part of Fairfield County and the western edge of New Haven County, Conn.
      Podunk, in the eastern part of Hartford County, Conn., east of Connecticut River.
      Poquonock, in the towns of Windsor, Locks, and Bloomfield, Hartford County, Conn.
      Quinnipiac, in the central part of New Haven County, Conn.
      Sicaog, in Hartford and West Hartford, Conn.
      Sintsink, between Hudson, Croton, and Pocantico Rivers.
      Siwanoy, in Westchester County and part of Fairfield County, Conn., between the Bronx and Five Mile River.
      Tankiteke, mainly in Fairfield County, Conn., between Five Mile River and Fairfield and extending inland to Danbury and even into Putnam and Dutchess Counties, N. Y.
      Tunxis, in the southwestern part of Hartford County, Conn.
      Wangunk, on both sides of Connecticut River from the Hartford city line to about the southern line of the town of Haddam.
      Wappinger proper, about Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, N. Y.
      Wecquaesgeek, between the Hudson, Bronx, and Pocantico Rivers.

    Villages:

      Alipconk, in the Weckquasgeek sachemdom, on the site of Tarrytown, N. Y.
      Appaquag, on the Hockanum River east of Hartford, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Aspetuck, near the present Aspetuck in Fairfield County, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Canopus, in Canopus Hollow, Putnam County.
      Capage, near Beacon Falls on Naugatuck River, Conn., in the Paugusset sachemdom.
      Cassacuhque, near Mianus in the town of Greenwich, Conn., Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Cockaponset, near Haddam in Middlesex County, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Coginchaug, near Durham, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Cossonnacock, near the line between the towns of Haddam and Lyme, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Cupheag, given as the probable name of a town at Stratford, Conn., but this was perhaps Pisquheege.
      Hockanum, at the mouth of Hockanum River, Hartford County, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Keskistkonk, probably on Hudson River, south of the highlands, in Putnam County, in the Nochpeem sachemdom.
      Kitchiwank, about the mouth of Croton River, N. Y., in the Kitchiwank sachemdom.
      Machamodus, on Salmon River in Middlesex County, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Massaco, near Simsbury on Farmington River, Conn., in the Massaco sachemdom.
      Mattabesec, on the site of Middletown, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Mattacomacok, near Rainbow in the town of Windsor, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Mattianock, at the mouth of Farmington River in the Poquonock sachemdom.
      Menunketuck, at Guilford, Conn., in the Menunketuck sachemdom.
      Meshapock, near Middlebury, Conn., in the Paugussett sachemdom.
      Mioonktuck, near New Haven, Conn., in the Quinnipiac sachemdom.
      Namaroake, on Connecticut River in the town of East Windsor, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Naubuc, near Glastonbury, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Naugatuck, near Naugatuck, Conn., in the Paugussett sachemdom.
      Newashe, at the mouth of Scantic River, in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Nochpeem, in the southern part of Dutchess County.
      Noroaton, at the mouth of Noroton River, in the Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Norwauke, at Norwalk, Conn., in the Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Ossingsing, at the site of Ossining, N. Y.
      Pahquioke, near Danbury, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Pashesauke, on Lyndes Neck at the mouth of the Connecticut River in the Hammonassett sachemdom.
      Pasquasheck, probably on the bank of Hudson River in Dutchess County.
      Pataquasak, near Essex Post Office, Conn., in the Hammonassett sachemdom.
      Pattaquonk, near Chester, Conn., in the Hammonassett sachemdom.
      Paugusset, on the bank of Housatonic River about 1 mile above Derby, Conn., in the Paugusset sachemdom.
      Pauquaunuch, in Stratford Township, Fairfield County, Paugusset sachemdom, apparently the same town as Pisquheege.
      Pequabuck, near Bristol, Conn., in the Tunxis sachemdom.
      Pisquheege, near Stratford, Fairfield County, in the Paugusset sachemdom.
      Pocilaug, on Long Island Sound near Westbrook, Conn., in the Hammonassett sachemdom.
      Pocowset, on Connecticut River opposite Middletown, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Podunk, at the mouth of Podunk River, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Pomeraug, near Woodbury, Conn., in the Paugussett sachemdom.
      Poningo, near Rye, N. Y, in the Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Poquannuc, near Poquonock in Hartford County, Conn., in the Poquonock sachemdom.
      Potatuck, the name of one or two towns on or near Potatuck River, in the town of Newtown, Fairfield County, Conn., in the Paugusset sachemdom.
      Pyquag, near Wethersfield, Conn., in the Wangunk sachemdom.
      Quinnipiac, on Quinnipiac River north of New Haven, Conn., in the Quinnipiac sachemdom.
      Ramapo, near Ridgefield, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Sackhoes, on the site of Peekskill, N. Y., in the Kitchawank sachemdom.
      Saugatuck, at the mouth of Saugatuck River, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Scanticook, on Scantic River near its junction with Broad Brook, Hartford County, Conn., in the Podunk sachemdom.
      Senasqua, at the mouth of Croton River, in the Kitchawank sachemdom.
      Shippan, near Stamford, Conn., in the Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Sioascauk, near Greenwich, Conn., in the Siwanoy sachemdom.
      Squantuck, on the Housatonic River, above Derby, Conn., in the Paugussett sachemdom.
      Suckiauk, near W. Hartford, Conn., in the Sicaog sachemdom.
      Titicus, near Titicus in the town of Ridgefield, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Totoket, near Totoket in the town of N. Branford, New Haven County, Conn., in the Quinnipiac sachemdom.
      Tunxis, in the bend of Farmington River near Farmington, Conn., in the Tunxis sachemdom.
      Turkey Hill, near Derby, Conn., in the Paugussett sachemdom, perhaps given under another name.
      Unkawa, between Danbury and Bethel, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Weantinock, near Fairfield, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Wecquaesgeek, at Dobbs Ferry, in the Wecquaesgeek sachemdom.
      Weataug, near Weatogue in the town of Simsbury, Conn., in the Massaco sachemdom.
      Wepowaug, near Milford, Conn., in the Paugusset sachemdom.
      Werawaug, near Danbury, Conn., in the Tankiteke sachemdom.
      Woodtick, near Woodtick in the town of Wolcott, New Haven County Conn., in the Tunxis sachemdom.
      Woronock, near Milford, Conn., in the Paugusset sachemdom, evidently another name for Wepowaug.

    History. -The Wappinger were found by Henry Hudson in 1609 in occupancy of the lands above mentioned. The Connecticut bands gradually sold their territory and joined the Indians at Scaticook and Stockbridge. The western bands suffered heavily in war with the Dutch, 1640-45, but continued to occupy a tract along the coast in Westchester County until 1756, when most of those who were left joined the Nanticoke at Chenango, Broome County, N. Y., and were finally merged, along with them, into the Delaware. Some joined the Moravian and Stockbridge Indians while a few were still living in Dutchess County in 1774, and a few mixed-bloods live now on Housatonic River below Kent. These belong to the old Scaticook settlement founded by a Pequot Indian named Mauwehu or Mahwee, and settled mainly by individuals of the Paugusset, Unkawa, and Potatuck towns of the Paugusset sachemdom.

    Population. -Mooney (1928) estimates the population of the New York divisions of Wappinger at about 3,000 in 1600, and places that of the various Connecticut bands at 1,750, a total of 4,750. The war with the Dutch is said to have cost the western bands 1,600, but we have no estimates of their population at a later date, except as parts of the Stockbridge, Brotherton, and Iroquois Indians, and a few mixed-bloods at Scaticook, Conn., a few miles below Kent.

    Connection in which they have become noted. -The Wappinger bands were among those particularly engaged in the manufacture of siwan or wampum. They occupied much of the mainland territory of the present Greater New York but not Manhattan Island. Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, N.Y., preserves the name.

Wenrohronon. Probably meaning "The people or tribe of the place of floating scum," from the famous oil spring of the town of Cuba, Allegany County.