Home / Reginald Pelham Bolton, 1922 / Passage

Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis

Reginald Pelham Bolton, 1922 210 words 📕 Download Full PDF

As ocque means "at the end of," or "as far as," aney "a path," and om "over," the name may denote "where the path goes over." The boundary ranged thence northward along Bronx river to a place called Cowangongh (120), which was the crossing of the upper or Shore path at Williamsb ridge. This name is derived from cowang, "a boundary," and ongk, "beyond," indicating the point of passing beyond the boundary of the former owners, which was the river.

From this point the boundary ran west "on Sachkerah," the Shore path, "and so to the first place Muscoota," that is, following the path back to Manhattan, it formed the northerly boundary of the tract. To make the matter more precise the deed stipulated, "so that *from Muscoota to Sackerath [Sachkerah] it runs upon a straight east line to Broncks Ryver." A line due east and west from Williamsbridge touches the end of the Island of Manhattan.

Sachkerah became the old Boston postroad, and as such is traveled today by thousands of automobiles, the modern successors of the swift and silent Siwanoy, whose patient effort and hardened feet wore the track that ultimately brought about their own displacement.