Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Pagganck / Governors Island

Pagganck is the name recorded for modern Governors Island in a June 16, 1637 deed. The record names Cacapeteyno and Pewihas as owners acting with the consent of their community at Keshaechquereren and conveys the island to Wouter van Twiller. Later sources also preserve the spelling Pagganch. Pagganck is a recorded Indigenous place name for the island now called Governors Island. The Dutch later called it Nooten or Nutten Island, preserving a related nut-island association in colonial naming. Land Papers GG 17 records that on June 16, 1637, Cacapeteyno and Pewihas appeared as owners acting by order of their leaders and with the consent of the community at Keshaechquereren. The document says they conveyed to Wouter van Twiller “Nut Island, in the Indian tongue called Pagganck,” opposite Manhattan. This colonial deed is evidence of the recorded name and of a colonial land...