Assawompset Pond
Encyclopedia
Assawompset Pond is a reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville
and Middleboro
, in southeastern Massachusetts
. It shares its waters with Long Pond and openly-connected with Pocksha Pond
. These lakes provides a source of drinking water
to the city of New Bedford
, the largest city in southeastern Massachusetts
. At almost four square miles, it is the largest natural lake in Massachusetts.
It is known in Wampanoag as Place of the White Stones and is host for the largest Alewife
(Herring
) run in the eastern seaboard. In the early spring the Nemasket River
runs black with fish heading for the spawning grounds. The area known as Betty's Neck was one of the Indian summer encampments, who would traverse the Taunton River
and Nemasket River
to enter the pond. The Nemasket being known as Where the fish are, explains the significance as a food source.
The origins of the King Philip's War
started with the discovery of John Sassamon
's body and the subsequent trial of his suspected murderers. His body was slipped under the ice on the pond and found the following spring. The outcome of the trial sparked the beginning of hostilities.
The pond was dammed in 1894 at the Nemasket River, which raised the existing water level about five feet.
Lakeville, Massachusetts
Lakeville is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,821 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Lakeville, please see the article North Lakeville, Massachusetts.-History:...
and Middleboro
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
, in southeastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It shares its waters with Long Pond and openly-connected with Pocksha Pond
Pocksha Pond
Pocksha Pond is a lake/reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville and Middleboro, in southeastern Massachusetts. It shares its waters with Great Quittacas Pond and openly-connected with Assawompset Pond...
. These lakes provides a source of drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
to the city of New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, the largest city in southeastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. At almost four square miles, it is the largest natural lake in Massachusetts.
It is known in Wampanoag as Place of the White Stones and is host for the largest Alewife
Alewife
The alewife is a species of herring. There are anadromous and landlocked forms. The landlocked form is also called a sawbelly or mooneye...
(Herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
) run in the eastern seaboard. In the early spring the Nemasket River
Nemasket River
The Nemasket or Namasket River is a small river in southeastern Massachusetts. It flows north from Assawompset Pond in Lakeville and through Middleborough where it empties into the Taunton River....
runs black with fish heading for the spawning grounds. The area known as Betty's Neck was one of the Indian summer encampments, who would traverse the Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River , is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater...
and Nemasket River
Nemasket River
The Nemasket or Namasket River is a small river in southeastern Massachusetts. It flows north from Assawompset Pond in Lakeville and through Middleborough where it empties into the Taunton River....
to enter the pond. The Nemasket being known as Where the fish are, explains the significance as a food source.
The origins of the King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
started with the discovery of John Sassamon
John Sassamon
John Sassamon, the shortened and Anglicized version of his actual name, Wassausmon, was born circa 1600 in or about the Blue Hills area, current Canton MA. He was a praying Indian whose intelligence in the service of the Puritans sparked the conflict known as King Philip's War.- Early Biography :He...
's body and the subsequent trial of his suspected murderers. His body was slipped under the ice on the pond and found the following spring. The outcome of the trial sparked the beginning of hostilities.
The pond was dammed in 1894 at the Nemasket River, which raised the existing water level about five feet.