Home / Ruttenber, E.M. Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names in the Valley of Hudson's River, the Valley of the Mohawk, and on the Delaware. Published in the Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association, Vol. VI. 1906. / Passage

Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names

Ruttenber, E.M. Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names in the Valley of Hudson's River, the Valley of the Mohawk, and on the Delaware. Published in the Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association, Vol. VI. 1906. 350 words

Opcutkontycke, now assigned to a brook entering Northfield Harbor, and primarily given as t^he name of a boundary stream (see Katawamake), seems to be a corruption of Ogkome (Acoom-), "On the other side," and -tuck, "A tidal stream or estuary." It was a place on the other side of the estuary. Aupauquack, the name of a creek in West Hampton, is entered, in 1665, Aupaucock and described as a boundary stream between the Shinnecock and the Unchechauge lands, "Either nation may cutt flags for their use on either side of the river w'ithout molestation." Also given as the name of a "Lily Pond" in East Hampton. Written Appauquauk and App'oquague, and now Paucuck. Tlie name describes a place "Wihere flags grow," and nothing else.^ (See Apocjuague.) Wading River, now so called, was also called "The Iron or Red Creek," "Red Creek" and "Wading Place," and by the Indians Pauquacumsuck and Peqitaockeon, the latter, wrote Dr. Trumbull, "Because Pequaocks, a little thick shell-fish was found there, wfliich the Indians waded for ; hence the name 'Wading River,' Quahaug is from this term, and Pequaock, Oyster Bay." "Iron or Red Creek" explains itself. Wading River is preserved in the name of a village in tihe town of Riverhead. Assawanama -- "a tract of land near the town of Huntington called by the natives Anendesak, in English Eaderneck's Beach, and so along the Sound four miles, or thereabouts, until [to] the fresh pond called by the natives Assaivanauia, where a creek runs into the Sound" -- describes "A creek beyond," /. e. beyond Anendesak; from Assawa-amhames. Aquel?ogue, Aquebauke-- "on the north side of Aquebauke or Piaconnock River " (C'Ol. Hist. N. Y., xiv, 600) -- means, "Land or place on this side," i. e. on the side towards the speaker, as is obvious from fhe description, "On the north side," and from the deed of 1648, which reads : "The whole tract of land called Ocquebauck, together with the lands and meadows lying on the other side of the water as far as the creek," the latter called "The Iron or * Rev.