|
Indian Names of Places
in Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Carver Plymouth County
Massachusetts
Wampanoag, The Wampanoag.
The name of the tribe of Indians who occupied the
greater part of Plymouth County and much of the country east of Narragansett
Bay in 1620. The word means "East Land," Wampan-ohke, from "day,"
Wompanand--" The Eastern God" (R. W.), Wompanniyeu--"where the
daylight is."
This name, "the East Land People," was probably applied
to them by tribes living farther west, and Drake, in his history of Indians
of North America, says "This tribe (the Wampanoags) was perhaps the third in
importance in New England when settled by the English." Massasoit was their
sachem.
Wankinco, Wonkinco, Wankinquoak.
A river forming a part of the boundary line between
Plymouth and Carver, also name of a bog at head of the river. Although in
modern maps it is spelled Wankinco, it is usually written
Wankinquoah, which I believe expresses more nearly the Indian name.
Probably from Wonqun, crooked, and may have been first affixed to a
part of the river at its source.
(See Wonquonquay.)
Wauphaneeskitt, Wenphennesaket.
"To a place called Wauphaneeskitt." (Boundary,
Indian deed, Ply. Col. Rec., v. 1, p. 231.) Somewhere near Red Brook in
Plymouth.
Possibly from Woapin--"white," anna-"shell,"
with the diminutive and locative et. "Near the little white shell
place?"
(Compare Wappanucket.)
Wauquanchett.
"The lands lying neare Wauquanchett." (Indian
deed, 1678, Ply. Col. Rec., v. 1, p. 231.)
Probably from Wonqun--"crooked," applied often
to a bend in a river. This land was very near a deep bend in Red Broom on
boundary between Plymouth and Wareham, "at the Bend." (Compare
Wankinco.)
Weakpocoinke.
"Thence southerly to a little pond called by the Indian:,
Weakpocoinke." Indian deed, 1674. From Quachattasett to Will
Hedge or Webaquequaw. The original Indian name of Will Hedge was
probably "Ahaz." This pond was near Little Herring Pond and was
probably the present Hedges Pond. Possibly this name was originally Week
paug-ongque meaning "the wigwam pond on the other side" (of Great
Herring Pond) or "the Wigwam Pond, which is the farthest off."
Week-,"wigwam," paug-"pond," onque
"the other side"-"the farthest off."
Wonammanitt.
Mentioned as a boundary in Indian deed, 1678, Ply. Col.
Rec., v. 1, p. 231.
In Wareham between Red Brook and Agawam River.
Wonquonquauy.
"Voted to let out a sertaine branch of a cedar swamp
about the head of Wonquonquamy. " (Plymouth Town Records, Dee.11,
1699.) This probably is the same name as Wonkinco. Possibly meant a
bend or crooked place in the river. At the cedar swamp and where the Stag
Brook enters Wankinco River there is a very curious bend.
Wauki-"crooked" (R. W.) Wonki-"crooked"
(Cotton) .
Woonki. Wonqun--"crooked."
Wakkichoo--"It is crooked"? (See Wonkinco.)
Previous |
Index | Next
Return
to our Free Genealogy Library
Home |
Search |
Share |
Ancestry |
Shop |
Learn |
Help
|
|