Footnotes to Long Island History
Origins of Patch.'s Name
Discussed by History Author
by
Thomas R. Bayles
For many years it was accpted by
several historians that “Patchogue” was the name of an Indian tribe that
inhabited the area on the south side of Brookhaven town, but this was
proed false several years ago by the late town historian Osborn Shaw.
Unkechaug was the name of the Indian tribe and their headquarters was at
Mastic, so the following letter to the editor of the Advance in 1896
from William Wallace Tooker, a noted authority on the Long Island
Indians is interesting.
Sag Harbor, June 10 1896
“Dear Mr. Canfield;
Your favor of the the 6th
asking the question, “Did Patchogue get its name from the Patchogue
Indians, came duly to hand. It can be easily proved that there never
was a Patchogue tribe in the early days of our settlements. I am aware
that the contrary is the statement of many of our Long Island
Historians. What is now the south part of Brookhaven township was under
the jurisdiction of the Sachem of Unkechaug on Mastic Neck, while the
land to the west of Blue Point was under the Secatogues.”
“Pochaug Neck” between Patchogue river
and Swan creek, containing 300 acres, was number 3 in the seven necks of
land disposed of in the Avery lottery in 1758. That an Indian who had a
similar name and lived in Brookhaven town is proved by a deed of 1703,
where “Pauchag” makes his mark as one of the grantors. Many of the
necks of land in Brookhaven town have indian names derived from the
Indian who formerly erected his wigwam there. Paushag may take his name
from the neck where he lived, as is sometimes the case. Why the name
was so bestowed on the Long Island neck we shall perhaps never learn. I
conclude that it was the turning place of the canoes when they went from
one place to another around the neck of land. The name in many
instances denotes a boundary mark, that is a “turning aside” place.
Finally the same name, “Pauchogue”,
occurs as the name of a creek (the first one west of Nichols Point), in
the town of Islip, on an early map which is in my possession. It is
possible that this stream takes its name from the point of land, as the
point is between two creeks and is naturally a “turning place”.
Trusting this will answer your
questions and will serve your purpose, I am very truly yours, Wm.
Wallace Tooker