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Indian Names of Places
in Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Carver Plymouth County
Massachusetts
Pinguin Hole is the present name of
a small inlet from Buzzard's Bay, a little north of Barlow River, on the
western coast of Bourne.
Kabpaonlc (Eliot Bible, Acts 27:8), "A haven."
From Kuppi--"close-shut in," "enclosed."
Cappacommock or Kabpakoinmock signifies a
place where the squaws and children were hidden on the approach of boats.
Cuppacommock--"the hiding place." A noted place
of refuge of the Pequots, sometimes called Ohomowauke - "the owl's
nest." A swamp in the S. W. part of Ledyard, Conn.
Cuttootquat--"Ales Teticule''
March 26, 1722, Ply. T. Rec., vol. 2, p. 216.
Mentioned in description of land given by the Indians
to Nathan Wood twelve acres.
This description is an apt illustration of some of the
difficulties in the translation of Indian Place Names. It is the same name
as Kehtehticut-"on the great river, "and in this short description is
spelled five different ways- Cuttootquat-Catooquot-Teticut-Tootqut-Catootquot.
Dr. Trumbull states that "the omission or displacement
of a consonant or an emphasized vocal necessarily modifies the signification
of the compound name, the methods of Algonkin synthesis are so exactly
prescribed." (I. N. C., p. 7.)
(See Titicut.)
Mahutchet, Mahuchet.
Now called Rocky Meadow, in Middleborough near Carver
line; also name of pond and brook, now Rocky Meadow Brook. Named probably
from an Indian Chief of that name. Weston History of Middleborough, page 334
and 335.) Mentioned as a boundary "Mahudsett " in south purchase.
In the records of the Town of Plymouth (v. 2, p. 124)
the brook is spelled Mahucket, "Unto Mahuket Brook at the old Indian
path," etc. From this description it seems very probable that the
interpretation is "near " or "at the place of the path" from Mai-,
"path, "auk or uck-- "place," with the locative suffix-et-
"The place on the trail." (See Manyhootset.)
Mohootset Pond, in northwest corner of
Carver. (M. H. 8., s. 2, v. 4, p. 272.)
Mahutchett. Running of town lines in 1700.
Manyhootset.
"A little brook called Manyhootset a boundary in
'Major or Five Men's Purchase.' " (Indian deed, 1663. ) In the Major's
purchase it is described as between a cart path on the north and a new path
on the south from Plymouth to Namesake, and with this spelling the name may
possibly mean near the second small path, from Mai--"path" and
hohtoen--"that which comes next" or second," with the diminutive and the
locative. Present name-Short's Brook.
(See Mahutchet.)
Mashquomoh, Massquamak.
"A little swamp place called Mahquomoh." Indian
deed of 1673 from old Wuttuspaquin to Assowetough (Betty Sassamon). This was
a part of the original grant of Betty's Neck in Lakeville. Probably from
Massek--"harsh," or Maskhet--"grass,"Komuk-"an inclosed
place."
A similar name, -Masquomcossiek," in Deerfield.
Mashucket Brook.
Mentioned as a boundary in "Little Lotmen's Purchase"
-from Wampatuck to Captain William Bradford and others, in 1664, "From
Pochauge Neck to Mashuck Brook." Derived probably from Maskhet--"grass,"
ock--"land," et-at," possibly meaning "at the grass land or
meadow." The brook, taking the name from the meadow, is now called Joses
Brook, in Middleborough.
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