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Indian Names of Places
in Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Carver Plymouth County
Massachusetts
Annasnappet, Annisnippi.
Name of village and also name of brook. Rises in the
south eastern part of Plympton, flows westerly into the Winnetuxett River.
The first mention I find of this name is in Plymouth Town Records, May 1701.
Probably an Indian village. "Noosnippi--Beaver water, Moosup being
one of the names for the beaver in the Indian dialects of New England." (M.
H. S. Coll., s. 2, v. 4, p. 275.) I think this translation very doubtful.
I would suggest Anna-"shell," (diminutive),
nipper -"water," the small shell brook or small shell pond, referring
perhaps to fresh water mussels. Near the source of the brook is a small pond
from which the brook may have taken its name.
Nips, Nipsah-"pond," "ponds." (R.W.)
Nippe-"water."
Asnemscussett.
A pond mentioned as a boundary in "Woods Purchase from
Tuspaquin, Aug. 9th, 1667. "On ye other end by a little pond called
Asnemscussett." The present name is Woods Pond. In the eastern part
of Middleborough north of Tespequin Pond. The meaning of this word maybe
"The rapid brook which flows over small rocks" from Hassunemes
-"small stones " and kussitanip "a quick flowing stream." The pond
taking its name from the brook flowing out of it, now called Woods Brook.
Assawampsett, Assawompsett, Assawamsett.
Was the Indian name of the land in the neighborhood of
Assawompset Pond in Middleborough and Lakeville. Probably from (n)
ashuae-omps-et, "At or near the upright rock that is between," or "in
the middle." Perhaps referring to some large prominent rock between the
ponds, or a rocky land mark that was between two well known localities.
Could be translated "at the middle rock," possibly "at the half way rock." I
believe the accepted translation of the word in Middleborough is "At the
place of the white stone," but the construction of the word or its etymology
does not permit this interpretation.
"Ashawog, Assawaug, Nashawog, et
al., "this name designated a place between (Nashawog, Eliot) 'or
in the middle,' occurs in various forms throughout New England" (J. H. T.,
Indian Names in Connecticut, p. 5).
Nashaue-komuk. (Chilmark--on Martha's Vineyard)
"Half way House "
(J. H. T.).
Assawompsett is the present name of a very large
pond between Middleborough and Lakeville, also was the name of one of the
Indian Praying Villages, also the name of a brook. In a cove of this pond
the Indian murderers concealed the body of John Sassamon in 1675, and the
execution of the murderers hastened the beginning of King Philip's war. In
early records the pond itself was called Namaskett, which probably
meant "the fishing place."
Mr. Thomas Weston in his history of Middleboro says
that " the name of Middleberry may have been given on account of its
location mid way between Plymouth and the residence of Pokanoket Chief." Is
it not very possible that the early settlers knowing the meaning of the
Indian name partially Anglicized it and used it for their own.
Assawompsett--"the middle borough? " The name may have been first used
to designate the very large rock on which stands the present village of
Rock, and later applied to the pond which is only about a mile away.
Originally Assawompsett was not a water name.
Assonettt, Assonet.
The present name of town, bay and river in Freetown.
(Name of Indian town. Ply. Col. Rec.,1639.) The country about Freetown was
called by the Indians Assonet, the river and town taking the same
name. Probably the name Probably the name is a corruption of Hassunet,
"near the rock." Hassun--"a stone or rock "-et -"at" or
"near."
As the Dighton Rock, with its ancient inscription, is
very near the present town of Assonet, and must have been a landmark widely
known to the Indians, the whole country in its vicinity would naturally
refer to the rock. Although the inscription was first attributed to the
Horsemen, later antiquarians have concluded, I believe, that it is the rock
writing of the aborigines. I know of no other rock inscriptions in
Massachusetts and these must have been of very early date. The first tracing
from this rock was made in 1680 by Dr. Danforth.
Cadohunset.
In Carver. Mentioned as the name of a brook as a
boundary line in deed of land to James Cole and John Rickard from Tispequin.
It is described as being near Tippicunnicut. Possibly meaning "at the
boundary?"
Chippopoquet, Chupipoggut.
Indian deed, 1673, from Wattuspaquin to Assowetough.
Another name of Pecksha Pond. A part of Assawompsett
Pond in Middleborough and Lakeville. Chippe--"separated," Paug,
"Pond" et-"at." "The pond that is separated from another. This
interpretation seems to be absolutely descriptive. (See Pocksha.
Compare Coppoanessett.)
Coppoanissett, or Pinguin Hole.
(Ply. Col. Rec., 1664.) A river near the Sandwich line
(A. L. M. P., 153, W. T. D.).
Possibly from Kobpaonk, "a place shut in," "a
haven," with the diminutive -ess and the suffix -et. "At the
little haven." It certainly is very descriptive of the place.
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