Molly Ockett facts for kids
Molly Ockett (also known as "Mollyockett" or "Mollocket") was a special Native American woman from the Abenaki nation. She lived a long time ago, during the colonial period, in what is now northern New Hampshire and Maine. Her real name was Mary Agatha, but the Abenaki people called her "Mali Agat." To English speakers, this sounded like "Molly Ockett," and that's how she became known.
Discovering Molly Ockett's Life
Molly Ockett was born sometime between 1725 and 1744. People said she was the daughter of a chief from the Pequaket tribe.
She was known as a very skilled healer and a wise woman. She also had a great sense of humor! Many stories say she saved the life of a baby who later became Hannibal Hamlin, a Vice President of the United States. A Vice President is a high-ranking leader in a country's government, second only to the President.
Molly Ockett was well-known by the European settlers who lived in the area. Her name is still used for many places in the Androscoggin River valley and nearby lands. This shows how important she was to the region.
She was also very good at traditional Abenaki crafts. These were skills passed down through generations.
Molly Ockett passed away on August 2, 1816. She is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Andover, Maine. Some people believed she was the last living member of the Pequaket tribe.
Molly Ockett's Lasting Legacy
Molly Ockett's memory lives on in several ways:
- Molly Ockett Middle School in Fryeburg, Maine, is named after her.
- Bethel, Maine, once held an annual summer festival called 'Molly Ockett Day'.
- The Molly Ockett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Bridgton, Maine, is named in her honor.
