Nanepashemet facts for kids

Nanepashemet (died 1619) was an important leader, called a Great Sachem, of the Pawtucket Confederation. This group of Abenaki people lived in what is now New England, long before the Pilgrims arrived. Nanepashemet ruled over a large area of coastal northeastern Massachusetts.

After he died in 1619, his wife, known to the English as Squaw Sachem of Mistick, and their three sons led the Pawtucket lands. This was during a time when many English Puritans moved to New England, from about 1620 to 1640. By 1633, a terrible smallpox sickness had spread, and only the youngest son, Wenepoykin (also called "Sagamore George"), was left. He became the new sachem, taking over his brothers' lands, except for areas already given to the colonists.

Who Was Nanepashemet?

Around 1607, Nanepashemet was in charge of lands stretching from the Charles River in today's Boston north to the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth. His control also reached west to the Concord River. His influence even extended north to the Pennacook tribe, who lived in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The Pawtucket people controlled many areas. These included Winnisemet (near Chelsea, Massachusetts), Saugus or Swampscott (Lynn), and Naumkeag (Salem). Other areas were Agawam (Ipswich) and Pentucket (Haverhill). His people also lived along the coast and up the Merrimack River.

Nanepashemet was known as a brave warrior and a strong leader by his people. A Puritan named Roger Williams translated Nanepashemet's name as "the Moone God." Most historians today think his name meant "New Moon." Nanepashemet's tribe was skilled at catching fish in rivers and the sea. They also gathered shellfish and grew corn on the Marblehead peninsula.

Conflict and His Death

In 1617, Nanepashemet sent warriors to help the Penobscot tribe. The Penobscot were fighting the Tarrantine tribe from northern Maine. The Tarrantine were a fierce group who did not farm. They often raided other tribes who grew crops.

To get revenge, the Tarrantine sent war parties to attack Nanepashemet's people. Nanepashemet sensed danger. He built a strong fort made of logs near the Mystic River in what is now Medford. He told his wife and children to go live with friendly Native American groups further inland until the danger passed.

In 1618, a terrible smallpox sickness spread through the tribes. Many people died. But Nanepashemet was safe inside his fort. By 1619, the Tarrantines found his hiding place. They attacked the fort, and Nanepashemet was killed. Two years later, a group from the Plymouth Colony, including Edward Winslow, found his fort and his grave.

Nanepashemet's Family

Nanepashemet had a wife whose name is not known. She is called the Squaw Sachem in old records. They had three sons: Sagamore John, Sagamore James, and Sagamore George.

Squaw Sachem: A Powerful Leader

Squaw Sachem of Mistick was a strong leader. She capably ruled the Pawtucket lands after Nanepashemet died. In 1639, she made an agreement to give land to the colonists. This land included what was then Cambridge and Watertown. Today, this area covers much of Greater Boston, including Newton, Arlington, Somerville, and Charlestown. She lived her final years near the Mystic Lakes and died in 1650. She is remembered on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.

Sagamore John

His real name was Wonohaquaham. He controlled areas like Charlestown, Medford, Revere, Winthrop, and Chelsea. In 1631, Governor Thomas Dudley said he led about 30 to 40 men. Sagamore John was friendly with the colonists. He often warned them if other tribes planned to attack. Governor John Winthrop wrote that Sagamore John died in 1633 from smallpox. Almost all of his people died too.

A monument to Sagamore John was placed in Medford at Sagamore Park. Native American remains were found there in 1888. However, some think these remains might be Nanepashemet's. This is because Wonohaquaham spent his last days and was buried by Samuel Maverick in Chelsea.

Sagamore James

His real name was Montowampate. He was in charge of the Saugus, Lynn, and Marblehead areas. Like his brother, he died in 1633 during the terrible smallpox sickness.

Sagamore George

His real name was Wenepoykin. He was the youngest of the three sons. He survived the 1633 smallpox sickness. Because of the disease, he was sometimes called "no-nose" in old records. He inherited the lands of both his brothers, from Charlestown up to Salem. English settlers also called him George Rumney Marsh.

After fighting in King Philip's War, he was sold into slavery. He was sent to the Caribbean island of Barbados. He survived there for eight years. He returned just before he died in 1684. His descendants later signed important land agreements. These included deeds for Marblehead (1684), Lynn, Saugus, Swampscott, Lynnfield, Wakefield, North Reading, and Reading (1686), and Salem (1687).