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Indian Names of Places
in Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Carver Plymouth County
Massachusetts
Massapanoch.
Mentioned in boundary deed of South Purchase from
Tuspaquin July 23, 1673. "To a place called by the Indian Massapanoch."
This word is probably a corruption and abbreviation of
Massa-sappan-och "Great miry place" or the "great swamp," the "swamp
country." Derived from Saupae or Saupaun--"made soft by
water," "miry." Massa-, "great," och "place" or "land." In
this "purchase" swamps are mentioned in two places. Probably the swamps near
Double Brook in Middleborough.
Mattapoisett.
A town at the head of Mattapoissett Harbor in Buzzard
Bay, also name of river, neck of land, etc.
"A place of rest." (Mason's Gazetteer.) This is derived
from Mattapu-- "He sits down," with a locative suffix, set--"near.
"The resting place." Used in slightly varying forms in various parts of New
England. Probably used to designate the end of a carry, between rivers,
around falls, etc.
(See Mattapuyet).
Mattapuyst, Mattapuiet.
Mentioned as an Indian town by Edward -Window in March,
1622, as the place where he passed the night with the Indian Chief Corbitant
when he visited Massasoit who was very ill near "Puckanokick." (In
Good News from New England.)
Probably from Mattapu--"he sits down," denoting
a resting place, the end of a carry, between rivers, around falls, etc.,
where, after carrying the canoe, they rested. This word in various forms is
found throughout New England. Mattapoisett--town and harbor in Buzzard's
Bay. "Mattapuyst--a neck of land in the township of Swanzey commonly
pronounced Mattapoiset." (Belk. Biog 2, p. 292.) It was here Weetamo--"the
Squaw
Sachem," or "Queen of Ponasset," was drowned, Aug. 6, 1676. She was the wife
of Alexander (Wamsutta) and sister-in-law of King Philip (Pometacom) both
sons of Massasoit. "Her body was found near the water side, her head was cut
off and set upon a pole in Taunton." (Drake, N. A. Indians.)
Misquitucket--"Seeks the sea at Buttermilk Bay." (M. H. S. Coll., s.
2, v. 8, p. 175.)
It is derived from M'squi-tuck-et, signifying
"at the Red Brook." Mus-qui-"it is red," tuck--"a tidal
stream" and the locative suffix et. The modern name is Red Brook, and
it forms part of the boundary line between Wareham and Plymouth, having its
source in White Island Pond.
Monhiggin
A river mentioned as a boundary in "South Purchase " from
Tuspaquin to Benjamin Church and another, July 23, 1673. "By a river called
Monhiggin which runneth into a pond called Quitquassett." The present name
of the river is Black Brook. (See Monhonkenock.) I believe these two words
were the same. Originally this was probably not the name of the river but
the country in the vicinity of the river and the pond. "The place where the
islands are." From Munnoch "an island," referring to the islands in
Quitticas Pond.
Monhiggon--name of island at the mouth of the
Kennebeck.
Monhonkenock. River in Middleborough. (See
Pookpoawkquachoo.)
Six miles south of wading place over Namasket River.''
(Town Records of Middleborough, April 6,1686.) Present name is Black Brook.
This name must originally have been given to the land about Quitticus Pond.
Munnohhan--"island," ock--"place or country." The whole name
signifying "the place where the islands are." Great Quittacus Pond into
which, Black Brook flows has three large islands.
(See Monhiggin.)
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