|
Indian Names of Places
in Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Carver Plymouth County
Massachusetts
Monponsett, Moonponsett.
Large pond in northeast corner of Halifax, mentioned in
Plymouth Town Records in 1663, where it is spelled Munponsett. It was
the Indian name of the land all about Halifax.
In Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., s. 2, v. 4, p. 281, it is
suggested that the meaning may be "much nets or many ponds." Neither of
these translations are satisfactory; possibly it may be from Moonoi--"deep,"
paug--"pond," and the locative suffix sett, "at or near the
deep pond."
Mattock.
An Indian village in Middleborough. "On the banks of a
high hill on the westerly side of the Namasket River." (Weston's History of
Middleborough, page 2.), The first comers gave it the name of Muttock
from Chesemuttock, one of the last of the Namasket Indians." (Weston's
History of Middleborough) Mr. Weston also says that the Indian name of
Muttock was; Pauwating, "A swift river running between hills."
Kchesemuttugk would mean "great shoulders," and
this may have been the interpretation of the Indian chief's name.
Nahteawanet, In Lakeville.
"A tract of land called Nahteawanet." Indian deed to
Assowetough, alias Betty, from Wattuspaquin, 1673.
The Indian name of "Betty's Neck," given by her to her
daughter Mercy, 1696. Nai--" it makes a corner," yaue-nai -"it
is four angled," "square," or yaite nee-"four corners," tonwag--"a
gap,"a place left open," with the locative suffix et.
Nahteawanet "at a gap that is square"--"at the
place of four corners." This translation is curiously descriptive of the
locality.
Namasket, Namaschet, Nummastaguyt.
The Indian name of Middleborough and present name of
small village in Middleborough. Also name of river rising in Assawompsett
Pond, flows north into Taunton (Titicut) River. It was first visited by
Thomas Dermer in 1619, "a days journey westward (from Plymouth) to a place
called Nummastaguyt." Squanto was his guide and he probably met Massasoit on
this journey. "Namaschet" as first known by the Pilgrims is described
in "Purchase's Pilgrims" published in 1622, in"A journey to Pakanokik" taken
by Stephen Hopkins and Edward Window to meet Massasoit, in July, 1621. The
name probably means "a fishing place," from Namas--"fish," auk-"Place,"
et--"at." It is used in various forms throughout Plymouth County.
Namassakeese, Namassachusett, Namaauskegg, etc. The
Indians in the neighborhood of Middleborough were called Namaseheuks.
Ninipoket.
A pond mentioned as a boundary in deed of "Sixteen
Shillings Purchase." from Witispican. "One (pond) is commonly called by the
name of Ninipoket the other gos by the name of Quitticus Pond," the
ponds being the bounds on the one side and end. Probably the same as
Nunnippoget, "The fresh water pond," or "the cold water pond."
Nunnaquoquitt (Ply. C. R., v. 7, p. 241, 1681). Nunni--"fresh,"
bog-="pond," with the locative et--"at."
Pachusett Brook.
Mentioned in Titicut Purchase 1670
"From Pachusett Brook on the east where it runs into
Titicut or Great River."
Previous |
Index | Next
Return
to our Free Genealogy Library
Home |
Search |
Share |
Ancestry |
Shop |
Learn |
Help
|
|