Pequawket Tribe

Pequawket Indians (a name of disputed etymology, the most probable rendering, according to Gerard, being ‘at the hole in the ground,’ from pekwakik). A tribe of the Abnaki confederacy, formerly living on the headwaters of Saco River and about Lovell’s Pond, in Carroll County, New Hampshire, and Oxford County, Maine. Their principal village, called Pequawket, was about the present Fryeburg, Maine. The tribe is famous for a battle fought in 1725 near the village, between about 50 English under Capt. Lovewell and 80 Indians, the entire force of the tribe, under their chief, Pangus. Both leaders were killed, together with 36 of the English and a large part of the Indian force. By this loss the Pequawket were so weakened that, together with the Arosaguntacook, they soon after withdrew to the sources of Connecticut River.

After being there for a short while, the Arosaguntacook removed to St Francis in Canada, while the Pequawket remained on the Connecticut, where they were still living under their chief at the time of the Revolution. Some of them seem to have found their way back to their old home some time after the Lovewell fight.

Pequawket Synonmy

• Pâgwâki. Kendall, Trav., III, 173, 1809 (correct form).
• Paquakig. Gyles (1726) in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 358, 1853.
• Peckwalket. Sullivan in N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 27, 1824.
• Peg8akki. French letter (1721) in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 2d s., VIII, 262, 1819.
• Pegouakky. Vaudreuil (1721) in N. Y. Doc. Col. Hist., ix, 904, 1855.
• Pegwacket. Denison (1676) in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 223, 1865.
• Pegwackit. Georgetown treaty (1717), Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 373, 1853.
• Pegwackuk. Martin (1676), Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 223, 1865.
• Pegwaggett.-Winthrop in N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., (, 27, 1824.
• Pegwakets. Kidder in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., vi, 235, 1859.
• Pehqwoket. Drake, Ind. Chron., 173, 1836.
• Pequakets. Drake, Bk. Inds., X, 1848.
• Pequaquaukes. Potter in Schoolcraft, Ind. Tribes, V, 222, 1855.
• Pequauket. Writer in N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., V, 207, 1837.
• Pequawett. Willis in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., IV, 109, 1856.
• Pequawket. Pike (1703) in N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 51, 832.
• Pickpocket. Pike (1704), N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 54.
• Pickwacket. Doc.of 1749 in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., IV, 155, 856.
• Pickwocket. N. H. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 27, note, 1824.
• Picqwaket. Freeman (co. 1830) in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 333, 1865.
• Picwocket. Kendall, Trav.,III, 173, 1809.
• Piggwacket. Symmes (ca. 1725) quoted by Drake, Bk. Inds., bk 3, 131, 1848.
• Pigocket. Jefferys, Fr. Doms pt. 1, 123, 1761.
• Piguachet. McKeen in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 324, 1853.
• Pigwachet. Sullivan in Ma Hist. Soc. Coll., 1st s., IX, 210, 1804.
• Pigwacket. Penhallow (1726) in N. H. Hist. Soc Coll., I, 20, 1824.
• Pigwackitt. Wendell (1749) in N. Y. Doc. Hist., VI, 542, 1855.
• Pigwocket. Portsmouth treaty (1713) in Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., VI, 250, 1859.
• Pigwoket. Drake, Bk. Inds.. bk. 3, 135, 1848.
• Pigwolket. Kendall Trav., III, 173, 1809.
• Piquachet. Me. Hist. Soc. Coll., III, 358, note. 1853.