Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis
On the upland above the beach was the Indian burying-ground, where D. B. Austin uncovered interments having the appearance of being regularly disposed, about 35 feet apart.
At this beach Hugh Gerritsen established his home, and all along the margin of the pond from the beach the natives have left abundant evidence of their occupancy of the upland which rises quite abruptly above the high-tide level in the pond (pi. xxn). The pond had other points of access, notably a sandy beach at the promontory near Avenue T, so that the inclusion of the Strome beach, or beaches, in the conveyance of 1664, indicates that the sellers were describing its characteristic features.
The name Shanscomacocke appears to be that which is intended to describe this enclosed pond area, and as such was probably the name of the village on its margin. The marshes "anyway belonging thereto" would have been the extensive tract of INDIAN NOTES BOLTON— INDIAN PATHS OLD GRAVESEND NECK ROAD TO THE STROME BEACH, AT ITS TURN SOUTH TOWARD HUGH GERRITSEN'S MILL AND HOUSE.