As decreed by the Brookhaven Town fathers in 1671, " there shall be a settlement of eight families or eight men in Wading River." Around 1680 settlers from Southold Town joined the early settlers and attempted to change Wading River's name to Westholde, but failed. Wading River is the closest English translation from the Indian word Pauquaconsuk, or "the river where we wade for thick, round shell clams." By 1792 the village had grown and was known to be the North Shore "shopping center" of the day. In 1789, George Washington spent the night at Horn Tavern on then, Old Post Road, now Middle Country Road while traveling on official business to Boston.