Nashaway
Encyclopedia
The Nashaway were a tribe of Algonquian
Indian
s inhabiting the upstream portions of the Nashua River
valley in what is now the northern half of Worcester County, Massachusetts
, mainly in the vicinity of Sterling, Lancaster and other towns near Mount Wachusett
. They are often associated with the Nipmuc, which along with variants such as Nipmug or Nipnet was the general term for all bands inhabiting central Massachusetts
away from the coastlines and ending before the Connecticut River
valley. The meaning of Nashaway is "river with a pebbled bottom".
The Nashaway's principal settlement was Waushacum (possibly meaning "surface of the sea"), a parcel of land in what is now Sterling that was located between two ponds of the same name. The territory of the Nashaway was bounded downstream (to the north) on the Nashua River by the Pennacook
, a powerful tribe with which numerous alliances were formed, to the east by tribes related to the Massachusett
, to the south of the headwaters by other Nipmuc bands and to the west by the Connecticut River
where the Pocomtuc
settled.
The first reports of the peoples of Massachusetts' interior were scant, and most of the tribes were grouped under the Nipmuc, the largest tribe in the area, but the sub-divisions had their own sachem
s and functioned independently of each other. Although they shared the similar L-dialect and other common customs, very little evidence is shown of any confederation except for the various skirmishes with English colonists that ultimately led to King Philip's War
. Although now classified as Nipmuc, the bands were heavily allied and possibly confederated with the Pennacook.
The tribes of the interior posed a problem for John Eliot
as the tribes were too far to visit and the area still very much a frontier region. At the time of the first visits of John Prescott, the appointed minister to the tribe, power was passed from Sachem Nashawhonan (Sholan) to a Pennacook chieftain descended from Passaconaway
by the name of Nanomocomuck (Monoco
). Court records indicate that this sachem was charged for debts incurred for goods bought on credit and the high prices charged to them for the colonists' goods. This ultimately led to the loss of land and tensions that led to war. The fate of the Nashaway is not known, but it can be assumed that remnants of the tribe fled the area and merged with other tribes, such as the Pennacook or the Nipmuc proper and intermarried. Whatever the case, the Nashaway as a distinct tribal entity is now extinct. It is also known that many died from exile on Deer Island
in Boston Harbor.. Their descendants can be found amongst the Abenaki of New England and Canada or the Schaghticoke
.
and river
known by "Nashua", and Mount Wachusett. During King Philip's War, the Nashaway sachem
(chief) Monoco
kidnapped a Lancaster villager, Mary Rowlandson
, who later wrote a best-selling narrative about her captivity, forced journey to Canada, and release.
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
Indian
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...
s inhabiting the upstream portions of the Nashua River
Nashua River
The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...
valley in what is now the northern half of Worcester County, Massachusetts
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, mainly in the vicinity of Sterling, Lancaster and other towns near Mount Wachusett
Mount Wachusett
Mount Wachusett is located in the towns of Princeton and Westminster in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It is the highest point in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The mountain is named after a Native American term meaning "near the mountain" or "mountain place". The mountain is a...
. They are often associated with the Nipmuc, which along with variants such as Nipmug or Nipnet was the general term for all bands inhabiting central 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...
away from the coastlines and ending before the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
valley. The meaning of Nashaway is "river with a pebbled bottom".
The Nashaway's principal settlement was Waushacum (possibly meaning "surface of the sea"), a parcel of land in what is now Sterling that was located between two ponds of the same name. The territory of the Nashaway was bounded downstream (to the north) on the Nashua River by the Pennacook
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...
, a powerful tribe with which numerous alliances were formed, to the east by tribes related to the Massachusett
Massachusett
The Massachusett are a tribe of Native Americans who lived in areas surrounding Massachusetts Bay in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in particular present-day Greater Boston; they spoke the Massachusett language...
, to the south of the headwaters by other Nipmuc bands and to the west by the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
where the Pocomtuc
Pocomtuc
The Pocumtuck, also Pocomtuc or Deerfield Indians, were a Native American tribe formerly inhabiting western Massachusetts, especially around the confluence of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers in Franklin County. Their territory also included parts of Hampden and Hampshire County, as well as...
settled.
The first reports of the peoples of Massachusetts' interior were scant, and most of the tribes were grouped under the Nipmuc, the largest tribe in the area, but the sub-divisions had their own 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...
s and functioned independently of each other. Although they shared the similar L-dialect and other common customs, very little evidence is shown of any confederation except for the various skirmishes with English colonists that ultimately led to 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...
. Although now classified as Nipmuc, the bands were heavily allied and possibly confederated with the Pennacook.
The tribes of the interior posed a problem for 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:...
as the tribes were too far to visit and the area still very much a frontier region. At the time of the first visits of John Prescott, the appointed minister to the tribe, power was passed from Sachem Nashawhonan (Sholan) to a Pennacook chieftain descended from Passaconaway
Passaconaway
Passaconaway, a name which translates to "Child of the Bear", was a chieftain in the Pennacook tribe.-Life:One of the key native figures in the colonial history of New Hampshire, Passaconaway was believed to have been born between 1550 and 1570, and is said to have died in 1679...
by the name of Nanomocomuck (Monoco
Monoco
Monoco was a 17th century Nashaway sachem , known among the New England Puritans as “One-eyed John”.After decades of peaceful coexistence, tensions arose between settlers and natives...
). Court records indicate that this sachem was charged for debts incurred for goods bought on credit and the high prices charged to them for the colonists' goods. This ultimately led to the loss of land and tensions that led to war. The fate of the Nashaway is not known, but it can be assumed that remnants of the tribe fled the area and merged with other tribes, such as the Pennacook or the Nipmuc proper and intermarried. Whatever the case, the Nashaway as a distinct tribal entity is now extinct. It is also known that many died from exile on Deer Island
Deer Island (Massachusetts)
Deer Island is a peninsula in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Since 1996 it is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Although still an island by name, Deer Island has been connected to the mainland since the former Shirley Gut channel, which once separated the island from the...
in Boston Harbor.. Their descendants can be found amongst the Abenaki of New England and Canada or the Schaghticoke
Schaghticoke (tribe)
The Schaghticoke are a Native American tribe of the Eastern Woodlands consisting of descendants of Mahican , Potatuck , Weantinock, Tunxis, Podunk, and other people indigenous to what is now Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. They amalgamated after encroachment of white settlers on their...
.
Legacy
The Nashaway have left their imprint in many hydronyms and topographical features, such as the Sholan area of Leominster, the cityNashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
and river
Nashua River
The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...
known by "Nashua", and Mount Wachusett. During King Philip's War, the Nashaway 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) Monoco
Monoco
Monoco was a 17th century Nashaway sachem , known among the New England Puritans as “One-eyed John”.After decades of peaceful coexistence, tensions arose between settlers and natives...
kidnapped a Lancaster villager, Mary Rowlandson
Mary Rowlandson
Mary Rowlandson was a colonial American woman who was captured by Native Americans during King Philip's War and held for 11 weeks before being ransomed. After her release, she wrote a book about her experience, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God: Being a Narrative of the Captivity and...
, who later wrote a best-selling narrative about her captivity, forced journey to Canada, and release.