THE TOWN 



OF 



OIFLEiEilSrBTJIFL G-H. 



In the Dutch language Grein, (Grain) burgh (borough or town,) liter- 

 ally the Grain town. In some of the early deeds called "Lawrence's 

 Plantation," a name undoubtedly derived from one of its original pro- 

 prietors. 



At the period of the Dutch discovery, this town formed a part of the 

 Indian territory of Wikagyl as laid down in the Dutch caste of 1614. 



The aboriginal name of the town itself was Weckquaskeck; after- 

 wards varied to Weckqucesquesck and Wiequceshook; in pure Algonquin, 

 Weec-quas-guck, the place of the bark kettle."' Opposite Tappaan, (says 

 De Vries, in 1640,) lies a place called Wickquaesqueeck. 



Van Trenhoven describing the place remarks: " Wichquaesqueek, on 

 the North River, five (twenty) miles above New Amsterdam, is a right 

 good and suitable land for cultivation; contains considerable maize land, 

 which the Indians planted, rising from the shore. In the interior the 

 country is flat and mostly even, very abundantly watered with small 

 streams and running fountains. This land is situate between two 

 rivulets called Sintsinck and Armonck, lying between the East and 

 North Rivers. " Bedenkinge over het aenvaerden van de landeryen in 

 N. Nederlant." 6 



To a large current of water which descends through the village of 

 Dobb's Ferry and falls into the Hudson at the upper landing, the 



a Sdi ;. »r Prop. N. Y. Hist Soc. 1844. In the Delaware Language Wl-qui-jeefc, 



Signifies the head of a creek or run. See Essay of Delaware Indian and English spelling book 

 for the use of the schools of the Christian Indians on Muskingum River, by'Dan'l Leisberger. 

 Miss, among Western Indinas, Phila., 1776. 



b O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. p. 240. 



258 



