Saturday, November 8, 2014

Mohican Place Names


It has been thought that few Mohican place names were known.  Upon listing these place names, one can see that this is not the case.  The names do exist if someone cares to find them.  Further, the recorded names attest to the Mohican people as the original holders of the land. 

The majority of this information comes from “Appendix A:  Recorded Land Transactions” and “Appendix B:  Names, Locations, Relationships” in Shirley Dunn’s book The Mohicans and Their Land 1609-1730, Fleischmanns, N.Y.:  Purple Mountain Press Ltd., 1994.  Other information has been gleaned from additional sources. 

Corresponding present day locations are noted in red.


Mohican Name
English Name or Description
Mohican Owner
Achkoockpeek
Lake in southern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Achneganick
The second of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. or Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Kenachkehantick, Awaankaniss, Taashammik)

Amissohaendiek
The land named in the Saratoga Patent

Assiskowachkok
The fourth of five large flats at Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Awaankaniss
The third of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. or Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Kenachkehantick, Achenganik, Taashammik)

Cachtanaquick
Lower Schodack Island, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Canasenix
Kill in Greene Co., N.Y. (see Pesquanachqua)

Caniskek
Tract of land along the Murderer’s Creek near Athens, Greene Co., N.Y.

Chawtiekignank/Chawtishegnack
Creek in Schoharie Co., N.Y.

Cickhekawick
Land at the mouth of the Kinderhook Creek

Escotak
Schodack, N.Y.

Gastanek
Albany, Albany, Co., N.Y.

Gawamick
Tract of land on the Murderer’s creek near Athens, Greene Co., N.Y.

Gokameko
Ancram, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Hapamewaisck
Largest of three islands opposite Menands, Albany Co., N.Y.
Passenehennewou, Cawichtack
Hiethoock
Lake in northern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Hoseke
Hoosick, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Kaghkamekack
Location in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Kaphack/Kapakagh (probably)
Northernmost of two flats on the west side of the Housatonic River in Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Machachquichkak)

Kaunameek
Indian village near Brainard, N.Y.

Kehantick
Field (maize land) in North Greenbush, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Kenachkehantick
Falls in the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. or Berkshire Co., Mass.

Kewaghteqak
The creek “running into the great Kinderhook hill,” Columbia Co., N.Y.

Kichpa
One of three flats in southern Columbia Co., N.Y. (see Nickan hoek and Wichquaskaha)

Kokohamok
Lake in the Town of Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.

Kyskitam meetshe
Tract of land on the north side of the Katterskill, near Kiskatom, Greene Co., N.Y.

Koxhackhung
Coxsackie, Greene Co., N.Y.
Sioketa, Sachamoes
Mathahenaack
Land at Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N.Y.

Machachquichkak
Southernmost of two flats on the west side of the Housatonic River, Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Kaphack)

Machaktehank
Location in Litchfield Co., Conn.

Machemene Pakak
The fourth and northernmost of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. or Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Pacachkook, Soquawaen, Nanachquak, Taasham)

Mackawameek
Barents’ or Barren Island

Maghtequack
Lower Schodack Island, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Mahaskekook
A cripple bush in southern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Mannanpenokcon
Brook in Berkshire Co., Mass.

Manskuseehoank
Rattlesnake Mountain, Town of Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Mawauaemkaeck
Brook in Washington Co., N.Y.

Maquamsasick
One of two plains on the Catskill Creek, Town of Cairo, Greene Co., N.Y. (see Taghpokight)

Maroomskaak
Creek in Washington Co., N.Y. flowing into the Hoosick River

Mathahenaack
Foremost of the land called Halfe Moone

Mawanaqasick
Woodland and high woods in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Muhheconnetuck
Hudson River, New York State

Nabdskoock
Bears Island

Nachawinasick
Land surrounding and including the Cohoes Falls, N.Y.

Nachawithquaack
Location on the Hoosick River, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.


Nachtemack
Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N.Y.

Makemekassick
Kline Kill, a small creek emptying into the Kinderhook Creek Columbia Co., N.Y.

Nanachquak
The second of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. and Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Pacachkook, Soquawaen, Taasham, Maachemene Pakak)

Nanoseck
Small island near Papscanee Island, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.  Also called Little Coopers Island
Syme, Capachick, Nachonan
Nehanenesick
Green Island, Albany Co., N.Y.

Nickan hooke
One of three flats in southern Columbia Co., N.Y. (see Kichpa and Wichquaskaha)

Noten Hoeck
Nutten Hook

Owseetumac
Housatonic River, Berkshire Co., Mass. And Connecticut

Paanpack
Troy, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.
Peyhaunet, Skiwias (Aepjen)
Pacachkook
The area containing four flats aong the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. and Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Soquawaen, Nanachquak, Taasham, and Maachemene Pakak)

Pachgatgoch
Location 40 miles downstream from Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Pachanhanit
Green Island, Albany Co., N.Y.

Pachkanesecq
Kill in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Pachonakelick
An island one half mile above Castleton, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.  Also called Ghonankenigh Island
Maghsapeet (Machack niemanauw), Sansewaneuwe, Paneensenn, Nipapoa
Pachquyak
Third of five large flats at Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Packwack/Pachwack
Falls in Housatonic River, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Palipapaenpemock
Creek in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Pamshenakasick
Woodland in North Greenbush, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Panamesick
Flat land in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Panhooseck
Land from the Hudson River to the Poestenkill and between the two rivers, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Paponicuck
Muitzeskill Creek
Wanemenhett, Askantha
Papsickene
Papscanee Island, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.
Casehot, Onhaseme, Kamkebock, Sickewope, Nosenack, Ochkock
Paptaneck
Location in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Pasanthkack
Kinderhook Creek, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Paskoecq
Kill near Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Patkook
One of ten flats along the river and kill beyond the Claverack Creek (see Potamhasik and Stichsooch)
Keesieway (Pamitapiet)
Patschachticoke, meaning where the rivers or streams fork
Near Claverack, on Claverack Creek

Pawachtuek
Falls in the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. or Berkshire Co., Mass.

Pegtels
Small island, Albany Co., N.Y.

Pesquanachqua
Tract of land in Greene Co., N.Y. along the Katterskill Creek

Pittanoock
Creek in northern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Pompenick
Land above Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N.Y., on the east side of the Kinderhook Creek

Ponsumpie
Ore Hill (Ancram, Ancramdale?)

Popgassick
Woodland in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Potakuk
Location 20 miles downstream from Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Potamhasik
One of ten flats along the river and kill beyond the  Claverack Creek (see Patkook and Stichsooch)
Keesieway (Pamitapiet)
Potik
The fifth of five large flats at Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Potschotack
Land in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Preeuwen hoeck
Tract of land from the second cliff to the little kill along the  Claverack Creek

Puttanhenck
Small waterfall in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Quachanock
Tract of land in Greene Co., N.Y. near the Katterskill Creek

Quahemesicos
Van Schaick Island, part of Cohoes, Albany Co., N.Y.

Quatawichnaak
A fall on the Katterskill Creek

Quequictenhoecke
Falls on the Hoosic River

Querapogatt
Location in Litchfield Co., Conn.

Quisichkook
Jansens Kill near Tachkanick

Sanchaiek/Sanckhaik
Three flats of land along the western part of the Hoosic River
Also, a tract of land in Washington Co., N.Y.

Sankhasick
Island opposite Bethlehem, Albany Co., N.Y.
Wickepe, Wawwanhusqua, Osquasin, Seepsin, Kanochgape, Kachackpa, Manhachsepite wewan
Sanckhenak
Land at the mouth of the Roelof Jansen Kill, southern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Sapgtnack/Saptanok/Sassgtonack
Falls in Housatonic River, Berkshire Co., Mass. (also called Tapgtonak)

Sasskahampka
Location in southern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Schaahkook
Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Semesseeck
Tract of land on the east bank of the Hudon River between Rensselaer and Castleton, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Sepewechkaseck
Tract of land in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Shekomeko
Shekomeko, Dutchess Co., N.Y.

Siekatom
Hill at Coeymans, N.Y.

Soquawaen
The first of four plains along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. and Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Pacachkook, Nanachquak, Taasham, Machemene Pakak)

Squampamuck
Ghent, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Squegkanekaneck
Location in Berkshire Co., Mass. Or Columbia Co., N.Y.

Squoghantkaneek
Location in Berkshire Co., Mass. Or Columbia Co., N.Y.

Stichsooch
One of ten flats along the river and kill beyond the Claverack Creek (see Potamhasick and Patkook)
Keesieway (Pamitapiet)
Stichtekook
High woods in Greene Co., N.Y.

Styffsink
Hill to the west of the Nutten Hook, N.Y.

Taasham
The third of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. and Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Pacachkook, Soquawaen, Nanaachquak, Maachemene Pakak)

Taashammik
The fourth of four flats along the Housatonic River, Litchfield Co., Conn. and Berkshire Co., Mass. (see Kenachkehantick, Achneganick, Awaankaniss)

Tachkanak/Tachkanik/Taconic/
Taghkanic
Town, village and mountain range in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Taghpokight
One of two plains on the Catskill Creek, Town of Cairo, Greene Co., N.Y. (see Maquamsasick)

Tapgtonak/Sapgtnack
Falls in Housatonic River, Berkshire Co., Mass. 

Taphaes kotassick
One of two flats along the Kinderhook Creek, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Taskichenock
Wet meadows in North Greenbush, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.

Twastawekaksipus, meaning “creek flowing from sweet springs”
Claverack Creek, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Waantinuuk
River in Litchfield Co., Conn.

Wachachkeek
Leeds Flat, one of five flats at Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Wachanekasseck
Small creek opposite Catskill, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Waen Naemka
Tract of land along the Murderer’s Creek near Athens, Greene Co., N.Y.

Wampanicksepoot
Green River in Columbia Co., N.Y. and Berkshire Co., Mass.

Wapakosick
River in Columbia Co., N.Y.

Wappennakvias
Sweet River

Wata Pickkaak
Creek in southern Berkshire Co., Mass. Or northern Litchfield Co., Conn.

Wawanaquasick
Location in Town of Livingston, Columbia Co., N.Y.

Weatogue/Weatock
Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.

Wechquatnach
50 mi. downstream from Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass.

Weeatauwashoke
Hill in the Town of Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.

Weeputting
Mountain in Litchfield Co., Conn.

Wichguanachtikak
Second of five large flats at Leeds, Greene Co., N.Y.

Wichquaskaha
One of three flats in southern Columbia Co., N.Y. (see Nickan hooke and Kichpa)

Wimpeting
Location seven miles south of Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn.

Wishshiag
Wassaic, Dutchess Co., N.Y.

Wogaskewackook
Lake in northern Columbia Co., N.Y.

Womunting
Location in Dutchess Co., N.Y.

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