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Paintings by Geography
Passaconaway (Papisseconewa) (c. 1580 - 1666)
Passaconaway
was chief of the Pennacook tribe, and leader of a federation of over a dozen
tribes from the area that is now New Hampshire. As is often the case with groups
who are conquered, we have limited information on his life, but based on what we
know, Passaconaway was a great leader and a wise man. By the time he became
chief, probably in1620, it is estimated 80% to 90% of the Native American
Abenaki population in New Hampshire had died from diseases brought from Europe.
This
made it easier for the English to establish settlements on land cleared by the
Indians. In his early years Passaconaway fought against the Mohawks.
He is
reported to have been a bitter enemy of the English and to have tried to prevent
their settlement, but, although considered a powerful "prophet and magic
maker," he was powerless to stop the spread of English settlements. One
story says he visited Plymouth Colony and attempted to use his magic skills to
force the English away, but that he was unsuccessful. There was no major war
fought between English and Indians in New Hampshire during Passaconaway’s
rule. It is believed his federation took no part in the infamous Pequot War
fought in Connecticut in 1637 in which the Pequot nation was destroyed. Passaconaway worked to maintain good relations with the settlers and,
apparently, at one time gave up a relative who, while drunk, had murdered an
Englishman. Passaconaway urged the English not to give alcohol to the Indians
since they were not used to its affects. At the end of his life, Passaconaway
urged his tribe and his successor, his son, Wonalancet, to keep peace as that was
the only hope for their future. The advice was followed by Wonalancet and his
successor, Kancamagus. The Penacooks did not participate in the great Indian War
of the 17th century known as King Philip’s War (1675-1677).
Passaconaway means cub or papoose bear. A 17th century etching of Passaconaway which appeared in Potter’s History of Manchester and is reproduced on this page, shows him with a bear skin thrown over his shoulder. Jeremy Belknap in the 1812 edition of his History of New Hampshire, says Passaconaway "excelled the other leaders in sagacity, duplicity and moderation; but his principal qualification was his skill in some of the secret operations of nature, which gave him the reputation of a sorcerer." It was said he could make water burn and trees dance. Belknap also reports Passaconaway repeated often his injunction that peace was the best way to deal with the English.
When the area of New Hampshire along the Merrimack was being surveyed for English settlements, Passaconaway in 1662 made a formal petition to Governor Endicott of Massachusetts for a grant of land. The request is in the Massachusetts Archives. For a fee of 25 English pounds he was granted a piece of land. One report says it was two islands in the Merrimack River, and another that it was a strip six miles wide and a half mile long along the river, but a few years later, whichever piece of land it was, the same piece of land was granted to an Englishman.
John Eliot, known as the Apostle to the Indians, met Passaconaway and describes him in positive terms. There is no record that Passaconaway converted to Christianity in spite of Eliot’s efforts, but the story is that Eliot did convert his son, Wonalancet, in 1674. Other reports indicate that towards the end of his life Passaconaway delivered a "Farewell Address" in which he recalled his youth, his strength with the bow, and the many Mohawk scalps he had taken, but he called for peace with the English.
Little is clear about Passaconaway’s personal life. He was accomplished with the bow and must have had the training given to young men of the Pennacook tribe. It is believed he had seven children and Wonalancet was his second son and third child. One daughter, Weetamo, had an important leadership position in the tribe. In Passaconaway in the White Mountains there is information on the marriages of Passaconaway’s children. There is a legend that on Passaconaway’s death, a sled drawn by wolves carried him from the top of a mountain to heaven.
WOK
Sources:
Beal, Charles Edward. Passaconaway in the White Mountains.
Boston: Richard G. Badger. 1916.
Belknap, Jeremy. History of New Hampshire.
There are many editions including the following: Portsmouth,
N.H.: Peter Randall, 1973 (reprint of 1793 edition.),
Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1992 (reprint of early editions), and Philadelphia,
PA: J Mann & J. K. Remick, 1812.
Carter, George C. Passaconaway: The Greatest of the N.E.
Indians. Manchester, NH: Granite State Press, 1947. Potter, Chandler, Eastman. The History of Manchester.
Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co., 1994 (reprint of 1856 edition).