A reasonable suggestion is that the original was Pom of en, a representative town, or a combination of towns. ^ wihich would readily be converted to Pompton. In 1710, "Memerescum, 'sole sachem of all the nations (towns or families) of Indians on Remopuck River, and on the east and west branches thereof, on Saddle River, Pasqueck River, Narranshunk River and Tappan,' gave title to all the lands in upper or northwestern Bergen and Passaic counties." (Nelson, "Indians of New Jersey," iii), indicating a combination of dlans. Fifty years later the tribal title is entered in the treaty of Easton (1758) as the "Wappings, Opings or Pomptons," - as claimants of an interest in lands in northern New

^ Pomoteneyu, "There are towns." (Zeisb.) Pompotowwut-Muhheakanneau, was the name of the capital town of the Mahicans. ' So recognized in the treaty of Easton.

114 INDIAN GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES.

Jersey/ subordinatively to the "Minsis, Monseys or Minisinks," with whom the treaty was made. The clan was then living at Otsiningfo as ward's of tlie Senecas, and seems to have been composed of representatives of several historic northern New Jersey families. It has been inferred that their designation as "Wappings" classed them as immigrants from the clans on the east side of the Hudson. Obviously, however, the term described them as of the most eastern family of the Minsis or Minisinks, which they were.

Ramapo, now so written and applied to a village and a town in Rockland Coun'ty, and also to a valley, a stream of water and adjacent hills, is written Ramepog in N. Y. Records, 1695 ; Ramepogh, 171 1, and Ramapog in 1775. In New Jersey Records the orthographies are Ramopock, Romopock and Remopuck, and on Smith's map Ramopough. The earliest description of the locative of the name appears in N.