Pocasset village

Pocasset was a former Wampanoag settlement, located between present-day Tiverton in Newport County, Rhode Island, and Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts.[1][2] Pocasset is also the band of Wampanoag who lived in the settlement.

This village site should not be confused with Pocasset, Massachusetts, a census-designated place within the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts,[3] about 50 miles east of this Pocasset. The site of Bourne, Massasschusetts was first a Praying Town settled in 1674, possibly also known as Pispogutt.[4]

Name

Pocasset is a Wôpanâak name which translates as "Where a strait widens out."[2] It is also spelled Paugusset, Pocasicke, Pocasett, Pocassitt, Pokeesett, and Powakasick.[2]

The band of Wampanoag people associated with Pocasset were also called the Troy Indians, Weetemore Indians,[2] and Fall River Indians.[1]

History

Precontact

The area is part of the Sapowet Point-Almy Brook Area which contains more than 40 archaeological sites, dating back to 4000 years ago.[5]

17th century

From about 1618 to 1630, Corbitant (c. 1595 – 1630) was the chief or sachem of Pocasset.[6]

In 1659, the Plymouth Colony purchased Wampanoag lands near Fall River from Wamsutta (c. 1634 – 1662), a Wampanoag sachem, in the "Freeman's Purchase."[7] Wamsutta was the brother of Metacomet (Wampanoag, 1638–1676),[2] also known as King Philip.[8]

In the 1670s, Westamore (Wampanoag, c. 1635 – 1676), a sunksqua or woman chief, governed the community. Westamore, also known as Weetamoo,[5] was the daughter of Corbitant and widow of Wamsutta.

Leading up to the King Philip's War (1675–1676, the Pocasset populations "were so numerous that her armed men, able to go out upon the war path, were supposed to number three hundred."[1] British colonists encroached on Wampanoag land and cleared forests, which reduced local game for subsistence.[1] When war broke out, Westamore sent warriors in support of Metacomet. Her husband at the time, Petonanuit, sided with the English, and his followers became the Fall River Indian settlement.[9]

A skirmish took place near the village between the Pocasset Wampanoag warriors loyal and English and Fall River Indian volunteers,[9] under the command of Colonel Benjamin Church.[5]

Westamore drowned in the Tehticut River while fleeing English soldiers in 1676.[8] Immediately after the fighting, the Pocasset Wampanoags fled to Narragansett territory for temporary refuse from the English.[10]

After the battle, the Plymouth Colony allowed the Fall River Indians who fought under Church to settle among the English colonists.[9] In 1679 and 1680, the Colony of New Plymouth bought the "Pocasset Purchase."[7]

Notable Pocasset

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Dubuque, Hugo Abelard (1907). Fall River Indian Reservation. Fall River, MA. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 10 April 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Hodge, Frederick Webb (1912). Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 270. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  3. ^ US Census Bureau (March 2003). Massachusetts: 2000. Darby, PA: Diane Publishing. p. 193. ISBN 9781428985841. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  4. ^ Hodge, Frederick Webb (1912). Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 263. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Native American Archaeology in Rhode Island" (PDF). Providence: Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. 2002. p. 56. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. ^ Drake, Samuel G. "Corbitant, Pocasset Sachem". Celebrate Boston. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b Dubuque, 18
  8. ^ a b Hodge, Frederick Webb (1912). Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 936. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Dubuque, Hugo Abelard (1907). Fall River Indian Reservation. Fall River, MA: Dubuque. pp. 43–44. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  10. ^ Judge, Leonard P. (2010). Mary's Master: Colonization and the Indians in 17th Century New England. Judge. p. 149. ISBN 9781440188176. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

References