History of Glen Cove, New York, USA

On May 24, 1668 Joseph Carpenter of Warwick Rhode Island purchased about 2,000 acres of land to the northwest of the Town of Oyster Bay from the Matinecock Indians. Later in that year he admitted four co-partners into the project - three brothers, Nathaniel, Daniel, and Robert Coles, and Nicholas Simkins, all residents of Oyster Bay. The five young men named the settlement "Musketa Cove," which in the Matinecock language means "this place of rushes." These settlers have been known forever after as the five original proprietors of Musketa Cove Plantation...

In 1827, Dr. Thomas Garvie opened negotiations with Cornelius Vanderbilt to begin operating a steamboat between Glen Cove and New York City on a regular basis. In 1829 a daily steamboat run was made between Glen Cove and New York City. But many New York residents were reluctant to visit the town because they didn’t realize that there was a difference between "mus-kee-tah" (this place of rushes) and "mosquito" (a rather pesky insect). A public meeting was held in 1834 to discuss the matter. Several possible names were suggested as alternatives. Local legend has always claimed that someone had suggested "Glen Coe," after a rather pretty spot in Scotland, which was misheard as "Glen Cove." The residents agreed to change the name to Glen Cove...