Massasoit's Town Sowams in Pokanoket, Its History Legends and TraditionsBaker, Virginia
History
Massasoit's Town Sowams in Pokanoket, Its History Legends and Traditions
Baker, Virginia
Massasoit, 1580-1661; Sowams; Wampanoag Indians
Massasoit had a daughter Amie. She married Watuspaquin, or Tuspaquin,
chief of the Assawamset Indians, generally called by the English the
“Black Sachem.” She is probably the “sister of Philip” who was
captured by the English, July 31, 1676. Her husband was put to death
by the Plymouth authorities in September, 1676. Descendants of
Tuspaquin and Amie are living, the last of the royal race of
Massasoit. For an authentic and interesting account of them the reader
is referred to “Indian History, Biography and Geneology” by Ebenezer
W. Pierce of Freetown, Mass. published, 1878, by Zerviah Gould
Mitchell, sixth in line of descent from Tuspaquin and Amie, his wife.
Historic Localities in and About Sowams
TOUISET. Indian name of a neck of land lying between Kickemuit and
Cole’s Rivers. The western portion of it is in Warren, the eastern in
Swansea. Indian relics have been exhumed from its soil, and, perhaps
an Indian village was once located upon it. April 10, 1673,
Tottomommuck, sachem of Seaconnet (Little Compton, R. I.), sold “land
in Swansea called Towsett,”[26] to Nathaniel Paine. In the early
records of Swansea Touiset is generally termed “The Sheep Pasture.” It
was laid out in 106 lots which were divided among the Swansea
proprietors in 1686. In July 1675, a great concourse of Philip’s
warriors gathered at Touiset, near the “narrows” of the Kickemuit
River, “to eat clams, other provisions being scarce.” Captain Benjamin
Church, then at Pocasset (Tiverton), greatly desired to surprise and
capture this body of the enemy; but, as he had peremptory orders to
proceed from Pocasset directly to Mt. Hope, he was compelled to allow
them to remain unmolested.
After the close of Philip’s war, the remnant of the Wampanoags fled to
Maine, and ultimately became merged in the Penobscot tribe. Up to half
a century ago, parties of Penobscot Indians were in the habit of
making periodical visits to Warren, camping for several days in
various parts of the town. Before returning to Maine, they invariably
paid a visit of a few hours to what is known as the “Hicks’ Farm” on
Touiset Neck, though for what purpose this particular locality was
visited they never divulged.
KING’S ROCKS, the “National Grinding Mill” of the Wampanoags. The
following article, contributed by Gen. Guy M. Fessenden, appeared in
the “Warren Telegraph” issue of June 2, 1860.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account