A- Massachusetts Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico.

Acoomemeck. A town, perhaps Nipmuc, in E. Massachusetts in the 17th century. Winthrop (1638) in Drake, Book of Inds., bk. II, 27, 1848.

Acushnet. A village of Praying Indians in 1698, probably about Acushnet, Bristol co., Mass. “Acchusnutt” is said to have been the Indian name of New Bedford. Rawson and Danforth (1698) in Mass. Hist, Soc. Coll., 1st s., x, 129-134, 1809.

Agawam (fish-curing [place] . Hewitt). A name of frequent occurrence in south New England and on Long Island, and by which was designated at least 3 Indian villages or tribes in Massachusetts.

The most important was at Ipswich, Essex co. , Mass. The site was sold by the chief in 1638. Its jurisdiction included the land on Newbury River , and the tribe was a part of the Pennacook confederacy. It was almost extinct in 1658, but as late as 1726 there were still 3 families living near Wigwam hill.

The second tribe or band of that name had its chief town on Long hill, near Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Springfield was sold in 1635 and the Indian town was in existence in 1675. This tribe was commonly classed with the Pacomtuc.

The third was about Wareham, Plymouth County, Mass., the site of which was sold in 1655. It was probably subject to the Wampanoag, but joined in the plot against the English in 1621.

Aquetnet (aquetn-et, “at an island”. Trumbull). A village in 1655 at Skauton neck, Sandwich tp., Barnstable co., Mass., under chief Ackanootus, in the territory of the Nauset. The word seems to be the same as Aquidneck (Quidnick) , R I., which Trumbull thinks means place at the end of the hill, compounded from ukque-adenie-nuke; or possibly place beyond the hill, ogque-adene-auke. Mentioned by a writer of 1815 in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 2d s., iv, 293, 1816. (J. M.)

Ashimuit (from ashim, ‘a spring’, in the Nauset dialect). A village in 1674 at a large spring in Barnstable co., Mass., near the junction of Falmouth, Mash pee, and Sandwich townships. It probably belonged to the Nauset. (J. M. )

Assameekg. A village in 1698, probably near Dartmouth, Bristol co., Mass., in Wampanoag territory. Mentioned in connection with Acushnet and Assawompset by Rawson and Danforth (1698) in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 1st s., x, 129-134, 1809.

Assawompset. A village existing as late as 1674 in Middleborough tp., Ply mouth co., Mass, probably within Wampanoag territory.

Assonet. A river and village in Bristol co., Mass., and probably the name of a former Indian village in the vicinity. Schoolcraft (Ind. Tribes, i, 117, 1851) uses the name “Assonets” to denote the probable Indian authors of the inscriptions on Dighton rock. (J. M. )

 

Villages of the Untied StatesMassachusetts Indian Villages

This site includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes implied .

Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906


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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