Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names
The Dutch recovered possession in 1673, and changed the name to Swanendale, and the English restored Kingston in 1674. (See Atkarkarton.) Nanoseck, Manoseck, forms of the. name of a small island in Rondout Creek, so "called by the Indians" says the record, may be from Natick Nohoosik, "Pointed or tapering." The Dutch called it "Little Cupper's Island." Clipper, "One w'ho applies a cupping glass." Another island in the same stream, was "called by the Indians Assinke," that is "Stony land" or place. (See Mattassink.) An'other island was called by the Dutch Slypsten Eiland, that is, "Whetstone Island" ; probably from the quality of the stone found on it. It lies in the Hudson next to Magdalen Island. Wildmeet, an Indian "house" so called by the Dutch, means, in the Dutch language, "A place of meeting of savages." It was not a pahsaded village. It was burned by the Dutch forces in the war of 1660, at which time, the narrative states, some sixty Indians had assembled at or were living in it. Its location, by the late John W. Hasbrouck, at the junction of the Vernoy and Rondout kills, is of doubtful correctness, as is also his statement that it was "The council-house of all the Esopus Indians." Its location was about two (Dutch) miles from Wildwyck, or about six or seven English m'iles. Judge Sohoonmaker wrote : "Supposed to have been located in Marbletown." Preumaker's Land, a tract described as "Lying upon Esopus Kil, within the bounds of Hurley," granted to Venike Rosen, April i, 1686, was the place of residence of Preumaker, "The oldest and best" of the Esopus sachems, whose life was tragically ended by Dutch soldiers in the war of 1660. The location of his "house" is described as having been "At the second fall of Kit Davits Kil." ^ ^ "On this day fvizt 25;th) the towne formerly called Sopez was named Kingston." Date Sept. 25th. 1669. (Col.