Montaukett
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| Stephen Talkhouse | |
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 Stephen Talkhouse was a legendary Montaukett hiker of the 19th century.
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| Background information |
The Montaukett (or improperly as Montauk) is an Algonquian speaking Native American tribe native to eastern of Long Island, New York. In the late 17th Century Chief Wyandanch transferred much of the land to English settler Lion Gardiner. Native relics and ruins are still visible at Theodore Roosevelt County Park just east of the village of Montauk, New York. The language was an Algonquian Y-dialect, similar to their New England neighbors, the Pequot, Narragansett and their island relatives, the Shinnecock. Like other Long Island tribes, they were grouped for geographical convenience as the Metoac.
Long Island, as the main source of wampompeag (or wampum) provided the Montaukett great wealth, but also lead to their demise. As wampompeag was used for trade and payment, by Native Americans and the English and Dutch colonial powers, the Montaukett were raided and politically subject to more powerful New England tribes, who demanded tribute or just stole it. This combined with introduced disease and intertribal warfare during lead to great population losses, similar to other Metoac tribes.
It was said the Montauketts thought they were merely signing an alliance for protection from the Narragansett tribe and were not actually signing away the deed to their land.[citation needed] According to legend, Chief Wyandanch was poisoned in retaliation for this sale.
Mohegan missionary and preacher, Samson Occum formed the Brotherton group along with members of the neighboring Shinnecock tribe and moved to Oneida County, New York before moving on to Wisconsin where they are centered today as part of the Brothertown Indians movement.
Many Montauketts remained in the area around Montauk largely because the land was often considered inaccessible. The most legendary Montaukett at the end of the 19th century was Stephen Talkhouse (Stephen Taukus “Talkhouse” Pharoah) who would regularly walk 30 to 50 miles round trip a day from Montauk to East Hampton or Sag Harbor. Various stones on the routes are now tied to this legend and are part of the Paumanok Path hiking trail. P.T. Barnum displayed Pharaoh as "The Last King of the Montauks", despite his being neither a king, nor the last Montaukett.
In 1879, an extension of the Long Island Rail Road reached Montauk and Arthur W. Benson began buying up land in the area. In the court battles that ensued the Montauketts lost their legal status and right to compensation.
About 500 members are currently listed on the rolls.
The tribe is related to the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton (town), New York.
[edit] Books
The Montaukett Indians of Eastern Long Island (Iroquois and Their Neighbors) by John A. Strong (ISBN 0-8156-2883-8)
