In 1611 Dutch Explorer, Adriaen Block, sailed what is now known as the Long Island Sound. Being one of the first Europeans to do so, he charted the waters and mapped the land; soon deeming a section of it to be ‘t Lange Eylandt (‘Long Island’). ‘Future Home of The NY Islanders,’ just didn’t make sense at the time.

During Block’s expedition, he found that the Corchaug Indians inhabited the North Fork, from Wading River to Orient Point. They called the land Yennicott, likely named for a Manhasset chief. Life on Yennicott was good for the Corchaug, with what seemed to be an infinite amount of game and seafood, not to mention extremely fertile land, where farming was common practice.

The year 1640 inevitably came about and so did the Puritan Reverend, John Youngs, who was commissioned by the Governor of the New Haven Colony. Youngs arrived on the island with thirteen families of his congregation in tow; settling at Founder’s Landing in the town of Southold. The good Reverend and his followers were en route to establishing the first permanent English settlement in New York.

Not So Fast With All That Tea

Remember though, the land was technically part of New Netherland, meaning it was really Dutch territory and not the property of the British Empire.

Details! Details! Who needs ‘em right? Around the same time Youngs’ flock was settling The North Fork, The New Haven Colony (part of the British Empire), purchased the land from the Corchaug tribe for two fathom of wampum (beads), one iron pot, six coats, ten knives, 10 hooks and forty needles. Imagine buying an apartment today via that financial model;

“We’d like to make an offer on the Lexington Avenue property.”
“Very good Stewart! Now remember – they’ll want to see your finances.”
“Not a problem Serge.”
“Well – let’s just have at it now for a moment. Approximately how many iron pots and needles do you have in the bank?”
“What?”

There were some years of dispute and even military action between the Dutch and British, but ultimately the British gained control of New Netherland in 1674; the area(s) became known as New York and Long Island, and so, ...