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Abenaki Chiefs and Leaders
Abbigadasset, An Abnaki sachem whose residence was on the
coast of Maine near the mouth of Kennebec River.
He conveyed tracts of land to Englishmen conjointly
with Kennebis. In 1667 he deeded Swans Island to Humphrey Davy—Drake,
Bk. Inds, bk. 3, 101, 1837
Aspenquid. An Abnaki of Agamenticus, Me., forming a
curious figure in New England tradition. He is said to have been born toward the
end of the 16th century and converted to Christianity, to have preached it to
the Indians, traveled much, and died among his own people at the age of about
100 years. Up to 1775-76 Aspenquid's day was celebrated in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
by a clam dinner. He is said to be buried on the slope of Mt Agamenticus, where
he is reported to have appeared in 1682. He is thought by some to be identical
with Passaconaway. In Drake s New England Legends there is a poem, "St
Aspenquid," by John Albee. See Am. Notes and Queries, n, 1889. (A. F. C.)
Assacumbuit. An Abnaki ("Tarratine") chief who appeared
in history about 1696. He was a faithful adherent of the French and rendered
important aid to Iberville and Montigny in the reduction of Ft St Johns, N. B.,
Nov. 30, 1696. With two other chiefs and a few French soldiers Assacumbuit
attacked the fort at Casco, Me., in 1703, then defended by Capt. March, which
was saved by the timely arrival of an English vessel. He assisted the French in
1704-5 in their attempt to drive out the English who had established themselves
in Newfound land, and in 1706 visited France, where he became known to
Charlevoix and was received by Louis XIV, who knighted him and presented him an
elegant sword, after boasting that he had slain with his own hand 140 of the
King's enemies in New England (Penhallow, Ind. Wars, I, 40, 1824).
Assacumbuit returned from France in 1707 and in the following year was present
with the French in their at tack on Hayerhill, Mass. From that time until his
death in 1727 nothing further in regard to him is recorded. He is some times
mentioned under the name Nescambiouit, and in one instance as Old Escambuit. (C.
T.)
Osunkhirhine, Pierre Paul. An
Abnaki Indian of St Francis, near Pierreville, Quebec, noted for his
translations, especially of religious works, into the Penobscot dialect of
the Abnaki language, published from 1830 to 1844. He received a good
education at Moore's Charity School, Hanover N. H. and returned to his
home as a Protestant missionary. In some of his published works
(Pilling, bibliog. Algonq. Lang., 539-40, 1891) his name appears as
Wzokhilain, because it could not be more exactly transliterated into the
Abnaki language.
Orono. A Penobscot chief, born, according to tradition, on
Penobscot r., Me., in or about 1688. According to one tradition he was a
descendant of Baron de Castine, and although Williamson, who seems to have
seen him and was familiar with his later career, is disposed to reject
this story (Mass. Hist. Soc. ColL, 3d s., ix, 82-91, 1846), yet from
Orono's own admissions it is possible that lie was a son of Castine's
daughter, who married a Frenchman, and with her children was taken captive
in 1704. Nickolar, who was related to Orono by marriage, asserted,
according to Williamson, that Orono was in some way related to old Castine;
moreover he asserts that Orono was not of full blood, but part white-"a
half breed or more." Orono informed Capt. Munsell (Williamson, op. cit.,
83) that his father was a Frenchman and his mother half French and half
Indian. He had none of the physical characteristics of an Indian save that
he was tall, straight, and well proportioned. Very little is known of him
until he had passed his 50th year. That lie embraced the Roman Catholic
faith while comparatively young, and that he was only a subordinate chief
until he had reached his 75th year, are confirmed by the scanty records of
his history. Until 1759 Tomasus, or Tomer, was head-chief of the
Penobscot, when he was succeeded by Osson, who in turn was succeeded by
Orono about 1770 or 1774. These three were ardent advocates of peace at
the commencement of the French and Indian war in 1754, and until war was
declared against the tribe by the English colonists. In 1775 Orono and
three of his colleagues went, with one Andrew Gilman as interpreter, to
profess their friendship and to tender their services to the Massachusetts
government. They met the Provincial Congress at Watertown on June 21,
where they entered into a treaty of amity with that body and offered
assistance, and afterward proved faithful allies of the colonists during
their struggle for independence. Orono was held in as high esteem after
the war as before; and in 1785 and 1796 entered into treaties with
Massachusetts, by which his tribe ceded certain portions of their lands
and fixed permanent limits to the parts reserved. At the time of the
latter treaty Orono is said to have reached his 108th year. He died at his
home at Oldtown, Me., Feb. 5. 1802. His wife. who was a full blood Indian
and his almost lifelong compainon, served him a few years. Orono had
a son, who was accidently shot about 1774, aged 25 years; and a daughter
who married Capt. Nickolar. Orono was buried in the cemetery at
Stillwater. Penobscot County, Maine, in the vicinity of the town
that bears his name.
Moxus. A chief of the Abnaki, called
also Agamagus, the first signer of the treaty of 1699, and seemingly the
successor of Madokawandu (Drake, Inds. of N. Am.,
294, 1880). He signed also the treaty with Gov. Dudley in 1702, but a year
afterward unsuccessfully besieged the English fort at Casco, Me. He
treated with the English in 1713, and again in 1717. It was he who in 1689
captured Pemaquid from the English.
Squando. An Abnaki sachem of
the Sokoki, known generally as the "Sagamore of Saco" He was credited with
seeing visions and was called by Mather "a strange, enthusiastical
sagamore." His wife and child had been insulted by the English, and he
took part in the war of 1675-76 and in the burning of Saco. He
signed the treaty of Cocheco.
Index of Tribes or Nations
Source: Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
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