Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Essachias / Wehahamis Creeks

Essachias is a small Islip creek name preserved by Tooker from a 1714 deed. The deed places it east of Great River and southeast of Brickkiln Point, paired with another small creek called Wehahamis. The two small creeks were described together in a 1714 deed: Wehahamis eastward and Essachias westward. Because the exact individual creek channels need review, they are represented together here. Wehahamis is interpreted as the end tree or post, likely a boundary designation. Essachias may preserve a Native personal name or a colonial-era personal-name form. Why Place Names Matter “One of the first acts of colonization and settlement is to name the newly “discovered” land in the language of the colonizers or the “discoverers.”” — Bruce Cutknife, Language (2018), Opening paragraph Essachias is a small Islip creek name preserved by Tooker from a 1714 deed. The deed places it...