Wecquaesgeek facts for kids
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The Wecquaesgeek (also called Manhattoe or Manhattan) were a group of Native Americans who spoke the Munsee language. They were part of the larger Wappinger people. They used to live along the east side of the Hudson River. This area is now the southwest part of Westchester County, New York, and also parts of the Bronx.
A Look Back in Time
Native peoples, including the Wecquaesgeek, lived along the southeastern banks of the Hudson River for over 6,000 years. This was from about 4500 BCE until the 17th century. They were known by many similar names. They caught fish in the local streams and lakes using fishing rods and nets.
The Wecquaesgeek often had problems with Dutch and English settlers. In 1609, two dug-out canoes were sent from their Nipinichsen settlement. They tried to stop Hendrik Hudson's ship as he sailed down the river. Like other Wappinger people, the Wecquaesgeek suffered many losses. This happened during Kieft's War between the Dutch colonists and the Native American tribes.
About half of the Wecquaesgeek men who were old enough to fight died. They fought for the American Revolutionary Army. However, they were not given citizenship after the war was won.
Wicker's Creek, in what is now Dobbs Ferry, was the last known home of the tribe. They lived there through the 1600s.
Where They Lived
Historians have found records of these Wecquaesgeek settlements:
- Alipkconk - This name means 'a place of elms'. It is now known as Tarrytown. The Dutch burned it down in 1644.
- Nappeckamak - This was one of the main Wecquaesgeek settlements. It was next to the Saeck Kill, which is now the Saw Mill River. This river meets the Hudson River in today's Yonkers.
- Nipinichsen - This was a strong, protected settlement. It was on the north bank of Spuyten Duyvil Creek.
- Rechouwakie - This place is now known as Rockaway.
- Rechtauck (Rechgawawank, Reckawawana) - This settlement was in the Lower East Side. In 1643, 40 Wecquaesgeek people, including men, women, and children, were killed here. This event is known as the Massacre at Corlears Hook.
- Weckquasguck - This settlement was located in what is now Dobbs Ferry and Hastings-on-Hudson. Many old tools and items have been found there. The settlement was along the Wysquaqua stream, now called Wicker's Creek.
The Wecquaesgeek lands were next to the Sintsink people to the north. This was below today's Ossining. Their land also stretched inland toward Long Island Sound. There, they bordered the Siwanoy, who were also Wappinger bands.
To the south, their land included the western part of today's Bronx. This was along the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. It also included the upper three-quarters of Manhattan island. They did not live there all the time, but used it for hunting. The Canarsee people, from today's Brooklyn, only used the very southern tip of Manhattan island. This area was known as the Manhattoes. The Canarsee people mistakenly sold this land to the Dutch.
The Dutch ended up with the island. Because of this, the Wecquaesgeek became known as the "Manhattoe" or "Manhattan" Indians.
Today's Broadway follows one of their old trails. It was named "Wickquasgeck" after the "birch bark country" that was along it.
Why Names Got Confused
When Europeans first settled in North America, it was common for people to be named after a place. This often replaced their original name among the settlers. Explorers, mapmakers, and officials also used these new names.
Many different spellings of the Wecquaesgeek name can be found on old maps and in documents. These include: Wiechquaeskeck, Wechquaesqueck, Weckquaesqueek, Weekquaesguk, Wickquasgeck, Wickquasgek, Wiequaeskeek, Wiequashook, and Wiquaeskec. The meaning of their name has been said to be "the end of the marsh," "place of the bark kettle," or "birch bark country."
One of their trails, the Wickquasgeck, was mistakenly used to name the people. Another mistake by white settlers further confused their identity. They were wrongly called the Manhattoes after a place on the southern tip of Manhattan Island. What made this even more confusing was that the Manhattoes was the only part of Manhattan not used by the Wecquaesgeek. It was a seasonal hunting ground for the Canarsee, a Metoac people who lived across the East River in today's Brooklyn.
