Keskaechqueren

Introduction

Keskaechqueren is the traditional placename of today’s Flatlands, Brooklyn. Keskaechqueren was used as a famous council-place, as the name may translate to “a place where public meetings take place” or “the community.”

History

Keskaechqueren is probably related to the Narragansett¹ “Keesaqunnamun, a kind of solemne, publicke meeting wherein they lie under the trees, in a kinde of Religious observation, and have a mixture of Religion and sports: But their Chiefest Idoll of all for sport and games is (if their land be at peace) towards Harvest, when they set up a long house called Quennekamuck, which signifies Long House, sometimes a hundred, sometimes two hundred foot long, upone a plaine neere the Court (which they call Kitteickauick), where many thousands, men and women meet,” [sic] ²

1. R. Williams’ Key, Chap. 28[↩]
2. Daniel Pagano, The City of New York Landmarks Preservation Commission, pp. 7[↩]