Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Papequatunck

Papequatunck is an Oyster Bay placename from a 1653 deed, interpreted as opened or broken-up land and associated with Native planting ground west of Oyster Bay River. Papequatunck is an Oyster Bay placename preserved in the first Indian deed for Oyster Bay. The name marks the western side of the land description and is associated with land cleared for Native planting. Oyster Bay setting, planting-ground association, and correction of an older location error are brought together here. Time-specific boundary context is handled as a Timeline Entry with its own reference. Recorded forms include Papequatunck, Papequtunck, and Papequatun. The name is interpreted as opened land or broken-up land, referring to ground that had been planted or dug over. Why Place Names Matter “Places and place names don’t exist in a vacuum: they are the product of action and interpretation.” —...