Shinnecock Tribe

Shinnecock Indians. An Algonquian tribe or band on Long Island, New York, formerly occupying the south coast from Shinnecock Bay to Montauk Point. Many of them joined the Brotherton Indians in New York. About 150 still remain on a reservation of 750 acres, 3 miles west of Southampton, having intermarried with Negroes until their aboriginal character is almost obliterated. Nowedonah, brother of the noted Wyandanch, was once their chief, and on his death his sister, wife of Cockenoe, became his successor. In Dec. 1876, 28 Shinnecock men lost their lives in an attempt to save a ship stranded off Easthampton, since which time a number, especially the younger people, have left the reservation and become scattered. They have a Presbyterian and an Adventist church; the men gain a livelihood by employment as farm-hands, baymen, berrypickers, etc., and the women as laundresses. A few families make and sell baskets and a sort of brush made of oak splints; there is almost no agriculture. They have lost all their old customs, and but few words of their native language survive even in the memory of the oldest people, although it was in more or less general use 60 or 70 years ago.

For Further Study

The following articles and manuscripts will shed additional light on the Shinnecock as both an ethnological study, and as a people. Consult:

  • Harrington in Jour. Am. Folk-lore, XVI, 37-39, 1903
  • Harrington in So. Workman, XXXII, no. 6, 1903.

Collection:
Hodge, Frederick Webb, Compiler. The Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Bureau of American Ethnology, Government Printing Office. 1906.

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26 thoughts on “Shinnecock Tribe”

  1. I hope someone can shed light on this. I found out tonight that I’m a descendant to a Chief White Eagle. Has to be back in the late 1600’s. I’m hoping someone can direct where I can find more information.
    Thank you

  2. Why does this article sound like a microaggression? Why is the word Negro used to describe African Americans(Descendants of slaves in America) in 2020 (the modern word)?

    “(…)having intermarried with Negroes until their aboriginal character is almost obliterated,” makes it sounds as if the author believes the the tribe was tainted and is less Native American. I doubt the Shinnecock would agree. This article was written in poor taste.

  3. My father was born around 1909 and lived on the Shinnecock reservation. His Shinnecock name was “Running Deer”. When he attended a school near the reservation he was given the name John. He and his brother ran away from the reservation when he was 13 and ended up in Chicago. His mother died after giving birth to him and his father took her last name of Tillery. Looking for any records of him and/or his parents.

  4. Shay Courtney Sills

    Hello All..
    So I also as a child was always told my ancestors from my fathers side were direct relation to Shinnecock tribe. I remember vaguely seeing a picture of my great grandfather and it made me want to find out more especially since my father recently passed and I am feeling as though I wasted my time with him by not inquiring more about my history. Any help would be amazing !!

  5. I found out it was my Paternal Great Grandmother Millie Brewster that was born on the reservation not my Great Great Grandmother Angeline Brewster. I am trying to find out if there are pictures of her and history. Things can get frustrating when you don’t know anyone. Both my parents are gone and I don’t really know my Paternal side. This sucks!!!

  6. I was told my Paternal Great Grandmother is Shinnecock. My Grandmother was Alice White was her maiden name. Her mother was Midley/Millie. Her married name was White but I don’t know her maiden name. Her Mother’s name was Angeline Brewster. I am trying to find my heritage. I did not grow up with my Paternal family. I have been connecting with them over the years but no one seems to answer my questions. I want to know where I came from.

  7. Hello. I found about a few years ago that I may be part Shinnecock, part Montauk. I am looking for the family history, what name I can give is Benjamin F Hendrickson (grandfather) and Clare Smith (grandmother, 2nd wife). My grandfather passed in the fall of either 1989 or 1990. I don’t remember what cemetery they are buried in, but I understand it may be somewhere at Huntington Station, Long Island. Thank you.

    1. He is buried in Huntington rural. My maternal family the Mills, Frazier, Treadwell are related to the Hendricksons and Smiths

    2. Your family lineage is already available on ancestry.com website. Vivian Hendrickson married my uncle Robert M. Day(Beadie Day).

  8. I am a descendent of the deceased Gerald Daniels ( from I believe Riverhead, NY) . His ancestry connects to the Shinnecock Nation. I would love to make a connection. I was recently approached and asked if I was a member of the Shinnecock Nation and I said yes, from the Daniels family I know he had two daughters. Well since someone would ask me that out of the blue and I don’t even know them I wanted to see if I can connect with my family members to please can someone help me I would like more info and to help find out if I could learn more about my family in the tribe and be apart of them. I don’t have names but would love to find a way to confirm and interact with my native family. I would also love to learn more about my history and heritage.

  9. My family is Oscar Worthington Sr. He is from the Shinnecock Tribe. I would like the more info to find out if I could learn more about my family in the tribe and be apart of it.

  10. Thanks, now we know why they just don’t look like Indian’s, evidently their tribes are in Africa mostly, not Long Island.

    1. And just what do “Indians” look like? Darker skinned? Look at the Seminoles. Asian features? Mostly in western tribes. Stick-straight hair? Depends. Beautiful? Absolutely.

  11. Gwendolyn Watson -Sims

    My grandfather’s name was Chancey Jackson a member of the Shinnecock Nation. As a young child his father died and his mother remarried and he took the name of step father whose last name was haymer. But growing up my grandfather took his children to visit the reservation to visit his cousins and other family members. I remember going to Pow-Wow as a child. After my grandfather’s death we went there less and less. Now as an adult I have been searching for my roots and my reconnection with my extended family members. I have wrote to the nation a few times but have been unable to get a response. Help!!!!!

    1. Hello. My grandfather is Abraham Benjamin Jackson. He always said we were Shinnecock, related to Cato and/or Tama. Would appreciate hearing more if you have any information.

  12. Gmorning, my grandmother told me that her father was a shinnecock and she remembers visiting the reservation. They lived in the central Islip part of long island back in the way day of the 1920s . Her maiden name was Jones. I always wanted to find my history, because I do feel the connect in a spiritual way. I also gave myself a name , I AM SMILES LIKE THE SUN. THANK YOU FOR THIS WEBSITE.

  13. MarianA O.JOHNSON

    I am a descendent of the deceased Harry Martin ( from Southampton, NY) . His ancestry connects to the Shinnecock Nation. I would love to make a connection.

    1. My grandfather, Rev. Dr. Braddock Galloway was part of the Mohawk and Shinnecock tribes. I too would love to learn more about my history and heritage. His Methodist church I know was in Long Island. He died in 1969.

  14. A cousin of mine said to me my aunt who often called herself ”princess of running water” and that we’re from the Shinnecock pow wow native tribe of long island., I am slowly finding little information about my Shinnecock indian heritages. My cousins often called my grandfather ” Chief” I know the word ”Chief” is more often associated with the native indian tribes. I believe my family is identified with the Shinnecock indian pow wow tribe of Long island., New York

  15. Hi , want to be more involved , my Mother(maden name Almqiest) is from South Hampton Long Island NY. she was removed from her
    Mother back in the 1950s and put on a Indian Reservation until she was 8 or 9 , she recently found out she is approximately 36% Shinnecock . I want to embrace my Indian Brothers and Sisters . I want schedule a trip to learn more from my people that I was always told to love and Pray for my Indian Brothers and Sisters and my Mother always told us that the white man had taken her illegally from her Mother . I have 6 kids 5 boys and 1 girl . My Mother and my Aunts have fought to keep my Great Grandmother’s house and land it was on . The US courts held them up for years and they seem to make a settlement that sided towards the rich & Government . I hope to meet more and learn more about my people . ? You have a Brother Shinnecock in Philadelphia Pa. I wish you well and send my Love to All of You!!!!

    m

  16. I was told as a little girl that we were a part of the Shinnecock Tribe. I don’t have names but would love to find a way to confirm and interact with my native family. any ideas?

    1. Carolyn miller evans watson

      Mandy Miller is one of our Docents and lives on Long Island in Amityville. I am her cousin and a member of the Shinnecock Tribe from Mantaukett Nation. However, I live in California. Try to make contact via this email: Chief.robert.pharaoh@gmail.com

      Also here is a link to a recent decision about our status as the Nation of Mantaukett: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhv55vava2xg5pc/Status%20of%20Montaukett%20Indian%206-13-18.pdf?dl=0

      I hope this helps you to get in touch with your Shinnecock family members.

    2. Hi, I’m from the Shinnecock and Montauket Tribe still doing research, I did find some family but not the full connection to who, what I found was Jackson, Corse and Bunn connection not who the head person was.

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