Passaconaway
Encyclopedia
Passaconaway, a name which translates to "Child of the Bear", was a chieftain in the Pennacook
tribe.
, Passaconaway was believed to have been born between 1550 and 1570, and is said to have died in 1679. He was a powerful medicine man and sachem
(chief) of the Penacook tribe, eventually becoming bashaba (chief of chiefs) of a multi-tribal confederation that drew together for mutual protection against the Mohawk
. In his old age Passaconaway relinquished his positions of authority to travel among the tribes and settlers in the New Hampshire-Massachusetts-Maine area. He was revered by both Native Americans
and white settlers.
His native name was "Papoose [or Papisse] Conewa", meaning Child of the Bear, or Son of Bear, but white settlers anglicized the name as Passaconaway. In his later years he was sometimes referred to as St. Aspenquid.
Legend holds that Passaconaway was a giant, genius, and possessed magical powers, such as making water burn, and trees and rocks dance. According to folklore, he could make dried up leaves turn green and make living snakes out of dead snake skin. It was said that he could become invisible and create thunderstorms at will.
Even before the Pilgrims' 1620 landing on the Massachusetts coast, a European ship's captain reported seeing a huge native standing atop a coastal cliff, surmising he was probably the native often referred to as Conway. European history records that Passaconaway lived at the top of the Pawtucket Falls
at what is now Lowell, Massachusetts
; a marker was placed there in 1935. Local New Hampshire history says that he lived and moved seasonally among various fishing and planting spots, including the Merrimack River falls
in present-day Manchester
, fertile islands in the river, coastal spots along the seashore, and other places along the Merrimack
such as present-day Horseshoe Pond.
Another legend indicates that Passaconaway was summoned to the Plymouth
area of Massachusetts by the Wampanoag chief Massasoit
, asking Passaconaway to use his supernatural powers to rid the land of the Pilgrims who were building a village on the shore. At Massasoit's village, says the folklore, Passaconaway was for the first time in his life unable to bring up a storm. After conversing with the Great Spirit
, Passaconaway declared that the Great Spirit had commanded him to live the rest of his life in peace with the white-faced tribes. From this time on, Passaconaway would not allow his sons or his tribe to fight with any white settlers, and counseled peace to all his native associates.
Passaconaway was one of the first native chieftains to lease land to English settlers in New England
. His second son Wonalancet
eventually became sachem
of the Pennacook, and his oldest son Nanamocomuck became chief of the neighboring Wachusett
. Daughter Wanunchus married the sagamore (chief) of the Saugus tribe north of what is now Boston
(their marriage was the topic of John Greenleaf Whittier
's poem, "The Bridal of Penacook"), and daughter Nobhow married the sachem of the Pawtucket. Historical records show that when each of Passaconaway's two oldest sons was arrested and jailed by a local white council, the bashaba worked out with the white governor a peaceful settlement of the false charges and a release for each of his sons. On one occasion white settlers tried to arrest Passaconaway himself, but a sudden thunderstorm arose, slowing the posse, and the native emperor disappeared into the forest.
Local New Hampshire history says that in 1647 a white preacher, John Eliot
, attempted to speak with Passaconaway but was refused audience again and again before he was finally allowed to talk with the bashaba. Eventually the minister was invited to live with the Pennacook tribe and teach the elderly chief about the white man's religion. Legend says that after the preacher died suddenly from an illness, Passaconaway eventually decided to step down from his position of authority, announcing before an enormous crowd at the annual native gathering that his son Wonalancet was now chief of the Pennacook. After this, Passaconaway spent much of his time traveling from village to village for the Great Spirit, counseling prayer and peace to all who would open their homes to him.
In October of 1665, Passaconaway's daughter, Bess, wife of Nobb How, sold the land called Augumtoocooke (present-day Dracut, Massachusetts
) to Captain John Evered, for the sum of four yards of "Duffill
" and one pound of tobacco
. Capt. Evered in turn sold tracts of the land to European families.
Legends of Passaconaway's death say that his body was buried in a cave in the sacred native mountain Agamenticus
in southern Maine, and that at least one member of his tribe saw his spirit carried up to the Great Spirit's earthly abode (Mt. Washington
) atop a sled pulled by wolves and covered with hundreds of animal skins given to him by his people and his fellow sachems. There he burst into flame and was carried up to the heavens to live with the Great Spirit.
The present-day Kancamagus Highway, a scenic two-lane highway through the White Mountains
of New Hampshire, bears the name of Passaconaway's grandson, Kancamagus.
s from 1931 and 1958, consists of an antique home used by former homesteaders, a second-growth forest with a trail that leads to a river
, and a small cemetery
with unique features. The former settlement is located in the incorporated town of Albany, New Hampshire
. The public may visit the site, for a small daily fee.
, a 4,043' summit in the Sandwich Range
of the White Mountains
lying between the village of Wonalancet
and the Kancamagus Highway, bears the sachem's name.
Pennacook
The Pennacook, also known by the names Merrimack and Pawtucket, were a North American people that primarily inhabited the Merrimack River valley of present-day New Hampshire and Massachusetts, as well as portions of southern Maine...
tribe.
Life
One of the key native figures in the colonial history of New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Passaconaway was believed to have been born between 1550 and 1570, and is said to have died in 1679. He was a powerful medicine man and sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
(chief) of the Penacook tribe, eventually becoming bashaba (chief of chiefs) of a multi-tribal confederation that drew together for mutual protection against the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
. In his old age Passaconaway relinquished his positions of authority to travel among the tribes and settlers in the New Hampshire-Massachusetts-Maine area. He was revered by both Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and white settlers.
His native name was "Papoose [or Papisse] Conewa", meaning Child of the Bear, or Son of Bear, but white settlers anglicized the name as Passaconaway. In his later years he was sometimes referred to as St. Aspenquid.
Legend holds that Passaconaway was a giant, genius, and possessed magical powers, such as making water burn, and trees and rocks dance. According to folklore, he could make dried up leaves turn green and make living snakes out of dead snake skin. It was said that he could become invisible and create thunderstorms at will.
Even before the Pilgrims' 1620 landing on the Massachusetts coast, a European ship's captain reported seeing a huge native standing atop a coastal cliff, surmising he was probably the native often referred to as Conway. European history records that Passaconaway lived at the top of the Pawtucket Falls
Pawtucket Falls (Massachusetts)
Pawtucket Falls is the name of a waterfall on the Merrimack River at Lowell, Massachusetts. The waterfall and rapids below it drop a total of 32 feet in a little under a mile., and was an important fishing ground for the Pennacook Indians in pre-colonial times.This location was used as a benchmark...
at what is now Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
; a marker was placed there in 1935. Local New Hampshire history says that he lived and moved seasonally among various fishing and planting spots, including the Merrimack River falls
Amoskeag Falls
The Amoskeag Falls are a set of waterfalls located in Manchester, New Hampshire on the Merrimack River.- History :"Amoskeag" derives from the Pennacook word "Namoskeag," which roughly translates as "good fishing place.” Here, the Merrimack River drops 50 feet...
in present-day Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, fertile islands in the river, coastal spots along the seashore, and other places along the Merrimack
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
such as present-day Horseshoe Pond.
Another legend indicates that Passaconaway was summoned to the Plymouth
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
area of Massachusetts by the Wampanoag chief Massasoit
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
, asking Passaconaway to use his supernatural powers to rid the land of the Pilgrims who were building a village on the shore. At Massasoit's village, says the folklore, Passaconaway was for the first time in his life unable to bring up a storm. After conversing with the Great Spirit
Great Spirit
The Great Spirit, also called Wakan Tanka among the Sioux, the Creator or the Great Maker in English, and Gitchi Manitou in Algonquian, is a conception of a supreme being prevalent among some Native American and First Nations cultures...
, Passaconaway declared that the Great Spirit had commanded him to live the rest of his life in peace with the white-faced tribes. From this time on, Passaconaway would not allow his sons or his tribe to fight with any white settlers, and counseled peace to all his native associates.
Passaconaway was one of the first native chieftains to lease land to English settlers in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. His second son Wonalancet
Wonalancet
Wonalancet — also spelled Wannalancet and Wannalancit and probably Wanaloset and Wanalosett — was a sachem or sagamore of the Penacook Indians. He was the son of Passaconaway.-Biography:...
eventually became sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
of the Pennacook, and his oldest son Nanamocomuck became chief of the neighboring Wachusett
Wachusett
"Wachusett" is a word derived from the Algonquian languages once spoken by the Native Americans of Massachusetts and is believed to approximate "near the mountain" or "mountain place"...
. Daughter Wanunchus married the sagamore (chief) of the Saugus tribe north of what is now Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(their marriage was the topic of John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is usually listed as one of the Fireside Poets...
's poem, "The Bridal of Penacook"), and daughter Nobhow married the sachem of the Pawtucket. Historical records show that when each of Passaconaway's two oldest sons was arrested and jailed by a local white council, the bashaba worked out with the white governor a peaceful settlement of the false charges and a release for each of his sons. On one occasion white settlers tried to arrest Passaconaway himself, but a sudden thunderstorm arose, slowing the posse, and the native emperor disappeared into the forest.
Local New Hampshire history says that in 1647 a white preacher, John Eliot
John Eliot (missionary)
John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians. His efforts earned him the designation “the Indian apostle.”-English education and Massachusetts ministry:...
, attempted to speak with Passaconaway but was refused audience again and again before he was finally allowed to talk with the bashaba. Eventually the minister was invited to live with the Pennacook tribe and teach the elderly chief about the white man's religion. Legend says that after the preacher died suddenly from an illness, Passaconaway eventually decided to step down from his position of authority, announcing before an enormous crowd at the annual native gathering that his son Wonalancet was now chief of the Pennacook. After this, Passaconaway spent much of his time traveling from village to village for the Great Spirit, counseling prayer and peace to all who would open their homes to him.
In October of 1665, Passaconaway's daughter, Bess, wife of Nobb How, sold the land called Augumtoocooke (present-day Dracut, Massachusetts
Dracut, Massachusetts
Dracut is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 29,457. Dracut is primarily a suburban community, belonging to Greater Lowell and bordering southern New Hampshire...
) to Captain John Evered, for the sum of four yards of "Duffill
Duffle Coat
A duffle coat, or duffel coat, is a coat made from duffle, a coarse, thick, woollen material. The name derives from Duffel, a town in the province of Antwerp in Belgium where the material originates...
" and one pound of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. Capt. Evered in turn sold tracts of the land to European families.
Legends of Passaconaway's death say that his body was buried in a cave in the sacred native mountain Agamenticus
Agamenticus
The Mount Agamenticus region covers nearly 30,000 acres in the southern Maine towns of Eliot, Ogunquit, South Berwick, Wells and York. It is now a park reservation which provides habitat for wildlife and a venue for recreation....
in southern Maine, and that at least one member of his tribe saw his spirit carried up to the Great Spirit's earthly abode (Mt. Washington
Mount Washington (New Hampshire)
Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at , famous for dangerously erratic weather. For 76 years, a weather observatory on the summit held the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, , on the afternoon of April 12, 1934...
) atop a sled pulled by wolves and covered with hundreds of animal skins given to him by his people and his fellow sachems. There he burst into flame and was carried up to the heavens to live with the Great Spirit.
The present-day Kancamagus Highway, a scenic two-lane highway through the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
of New Hampshire, bears the name of Passaconaway's grandson, Kancamagus.
Village
The Kancamagus Highway passes the former village of Passaconaway, now a historic site maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. The site, shown as a village on topographic mapTopographic map
A topographic map is a type of map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using contour lines in modern mapping, but historically using a variety of methods. Traditional definitions require a topographic map to show both natural and man-made features...
s from 1931 and 1958, consists of an antique home used by former homesteaders, a second-growth forest with a trail that leads to a river
Swift River (Saco River)
The Swift River is a river in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. It is a tributary of the Saco River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean in Maine....
, and a small cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
with unique features. The former settlement is located in the incorporated town of Albany, New Hampshire
Albany, New Hampshire
Albany is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 735 at the 2010 census.Albany includes Mount Chocorua and Mount Paugus, as well as the southeastern corner of the White Mountain National Forest. Albany is the entrance to the Mount Washington Valley, and features...
. The public may visit the site, for a small daily fee.
Mountain
Mount PassaconawayMount Passaconaway
Mount Passaconaway is a mountain in the Sandwich Range Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest near the eastern boundary of Waterville Valley...
, a 4,043' summit in the Sandwich Range
Sandwich Range
The Sandwich Range is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States, north of the Lakes Region and south of the Kancamagus Highway...
of the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
lying between the village of Wonalancet
Wonalancet, New Hampshire
Wonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
and the Kancamagus Highway, bears the sachem's name.
See also
- Penacook, New HampshirePenacook, New HampshirePenacook, originally called "Fisherville", is a village within the city of Concord in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. It lies along Concord's northern border with Boscawen. The name comes from the Pennacook tribe that lived in the area...
- Wonalancet, New HampshireWonalancet, New HampshireWonalancet is a village in the northwestern corner of the town of Tamworth in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Many popular hiking trails into the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains have trailheads in the area, particularly in the locale known as Ferncroft, up a short spur road...
- Defunct placenames of New HampshireDefunct placenames of New HampshireDefunct placenames are those no longer used officially.Many populated places in New Hampshire once prospered and are now gone, subsumed by adjacent cities or renamed. Similarly, many geophysical features have had their names changed over time. This is an alphabetized list of the names of such...