Metoac (sometimes inaccurately referred to as the 13 tribes of Long Island) is the collective name for the locations of the Algonquian-speaking Native Americans on Long Island in New York in the 1600s at the time of European contact.[1]
The Native American population was estimated at 10,000 at time of first contact, spoke two dialects of the Algonquin language reflecting their different connections to mainland tribes. Those in the west around New York City spoke the R-dialect identical to the Mattabesic in western Connecticut and the Wappani (a Lenape-related tribe in New Jersey). Metoac in the east spoke a Y-dialect similar to the Pequot, Mohegan, Niantic, and Narragansett of eastern Connecticut. The Native Americans were involved in two wars in the 1600s which helped solidify colonial control -- the Pequot War in the east and Kieft's War in the west. The wars along with disease and migration of Native Americans from Long Island was to reduce the total presence to less than 500 by 1659 and 162 in 1788 at the end of the American Revolutionary War after Samson Occom persuaded most of the remaining to renounce their heritage and join the Brothertown Indians off island. No Native American group on Long Island is recognized as a tribe by the federal government although the groups around Southampton (the Shinnecocks) and around Mastic (the Unkechaugs) have been recognized as tribes by the State of New York and have state recognized Indian reservations. A group around Montauk (the Montauketts) are seeking both state and federal recognition. Histories of Long Island had attempted to say there were multiple tribes on Long Island until contemporary historian John A. Strong of Southampton College began showing documents showing that the names commonly associated with tribe names were actually descriptions of place names given to locations/regions, The names are used extensively in place names on Long Island.
The 13 Native American Locations on Long Island
The locations (which in many early histories were described as individual tribes):[2]
- Canarsee - (also known as Canausie) Located in modern day Brooklyn, New York. Members from Carnarsee were the ones who according to legend sold Manhattan to the Dutch Governor Peter Minuit for "24 dollars' worth of beads and trinkets."[3].
- Corchaug (Cochaug) - Located around Riverhead, New York and Southold, New York. The Fort Corchaug Archaeological Site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Manhasset (also known as Manhansick) - Located on Shelter Island, New York. Its name is applied to Manhasset, New York
- Marsapeague (also known as Massapequa, Marsapequa, Maspeth), - Located on the south shore from the Rockaways into Suffolk County. Massapequa, New York and Maspeth, Queens derive their name from this.
- Matinecock (also known as Matinecoc) - Located on the Long Island North Shore from Flushing, New York to Huntington, New York.
- Mericoke (also known as Merrick, Meroke, Merikoke, Meracock) - Located on the south shore from the Rockaway into Suffolk County. Merrick, New York derives its name from the tribe.
- Montaukett (also known as Montauk, Meanticut)- Located in East Hampton, New York. Its Sagamore (title) Wyandanch was to have his name on the title transfer of most of Long Island to the European settlers.
- Nissequaq (also known as Nesaquake, Missaquogue)- Located on the North Shore from Fresh Pond to Stony Brook, New York. Nissequogue, New York and the Nissequogue River are named are derived from this.
- Rockaway (also known as Rechaweygh, Rechquaakie)- Located around Rockaway, New York and portions of Jamaica, New York and Maspeth, New York The Rockaways are named for them.
- Secatague (also known as Secatoag, Secatogue) - Located at Islip, New York on the south shore
- Setauket (also known as Setalcott) - Located on the North Shore from Stony Brook to Wading River, New York. Setauket, New York derives it name from Setauket.
- Shinnecock Indian Nation - Located in Southampton, New York. They occupy the Shinnecock Reservation, New York.
- Unkechaug (also known as Patchogue, Onechechaug, Patchoag, Unchachaug, Unquaches, Unquachog, Unquachock, Unchechauge) - Located on the south shore from Brookhaven, New York to Southampton, New York. They have state but not federal recognition and New York's smallest Indian reservation at Poospatuck Reservation, New York at Mastic, New York.
