History Of The Pennacook
The mighty Pennacook peoples lived on the Merrimack River valley of the southern and central New Hampshire, including parts of northeastern Massachusetts and southern Maine. The name "Pennacook" means 'at the bottom of the hill or highland'. The Pennacook Confederacy included the following tribes and villages:
Accominta, Agawam, Morattigan (Monchiggan), Nashua (Nashaway) (sometimes said to be Nipmuc), Natticook, Naumkeag (Amoskeag, Naimkeak, Namaoskeag, Namaske), Newichawawock (Newichawanoc), Pennacook (Merrimac), Pentucket, Piscataqua (Pascataway, Pinataqua, Piscataway), Souhegan (Souheyan, Nacook, Natacook, Natticook), Squamscot (Squam, Squamsauke, Wonnesquam), Wachusett, Wamesit (Pawtucket), Weshacum, Winnecowet, and Winnipesaukee (Wioninebesek, Maunbisek, Muanbissek).
The Pennacook lived for the main part in small, scattered bands which consisted of extended families. Each band would have it's own specifically designated hunting territory. Most dwellings among the Pennacook were of the dome shaped bark, covered wigwam variety. In the winter period the Pennacook would leave their river side villages and head inland towards their winter hunting camps. Here their dwellings were the more conical shaped wigwams reminiscent of the plains Indians.
The Pennacook did not have a central governing body except in times of warfare. Rather each band was relatively autonomous.
They were mostly hunters in the wooded areas, and farmers of maize, corn, and squash. They were ravished by three different waves of diseases, all of which had mortality rate of 75 percent or above. Because of this tragic loss of life, most of the early history with the Pennacook people and interaction with colonists is peaceful. Mistrust and betrayal at the hands of the English made the Pennacook weary of the English and look towards the French for protection. English settlement of New Hampshire began in 1638 with the establishment of a trading post on the Merrimack River at the village of Pennacook. Although the sale of fire arms to natives was illegal in Massachusetts, the Pennacook had gotten their first guns the year before.
Since the arrival of European powers, the balance of power in the region had been greatly upset, during the winter of 1648-1649, the Iroquois overran the Huron Confederacy and in the process upset the balance of power in North America. With their fur trade destroyed and a good possibility the Iroquois would attack their settlements, the French scrambled to protect themselves by creating a new alliance with the Algonquin in northern New England. Following Mohawk raids on the Sokoki and Pocumtuc lands, the French sent a Montagnais chief to encourage the Pennacook, Sokoki, Pocumtuc, and Mahican to form an alliance against the Mohawk. This was accomplished with the promise of French firearms and aid, but when a French delegation visited Boston to ask the English to participate, they refused. For years these alliances lasted, until the Mahican left the alliance. With Mohawk raids and the Iroquois now both attacking the alliance, they were continually pushed back.
The Pennacook took in more and more refugees. Throughout the bloodshed and wars being fought, the Pennacook strove hard to remain neutral, and care for those affected. To the English, this was an act of war, not mercy. Since the war between the Abenaki and English contuined until 1685, few Pennacook went back to New England from where they had been pushed. The settled in small, scattered villages along the upper Merrimack and chose to remain neutral until Chief Wanalacet's death in 1696. Another group of Pennacook immigrated to Acadia during this time. The bulk of the Pennacook, were scattered among the Sokoki at Missisquoi (Lake Champlain) and St. Francois where they were major component within its mixed population. Forced to abandon their homeland by the English, these Pennacook were hardly neutral. As members of the Abenaki Confederation, they had become some of the fieriest of the French Allies and most bitter of enemies for the English in New England.
Accominta, Agawam, Morattigan (Monchiggan), Nashua (Nashaway) (sometimes said to be Nipmuc), Natticook, Naumkeag (Amoskeag, Naimkeak, Namaoskeag, Namaske), Newichawawock (Newichawanoc), Pennacook (Merrimac), Pentucket, Piscataqua (Pascataway, Pinataqua, Piscataway), Souhegan (Souheyan, Nacook, Natacook, Natticook), Squamscot (Squam, Squamsauke, Wonnesquam), Wachusett, Wamesit (Pawtucket), Weshacum, Winnecowet, and Winnipesaukee (Wioninebesek, Maunbisek, Muanbissek).
The Pennacook lived for the main part in small, scattered bands which consisted of extended families. Each band would have it's own specifically designated hunting territory. Most dwellings among the Pennacook were of the dome shaped bark, covered wigwam variety. In the winter period the Pennacook would leave their river side villages and head inland towards their winter hunting camps. Here their dwellings were the more conical shaped wigwams reminiscent of the plains Indians.
The Pennacook did not have a central governing body except in times of warfare. Rather each band was relatively autonomous.
They were mostly hunters in the wooded areas, and farmers of maize, corn, and squash. They were ravished by three different waves of diseases, all of which had mortality rate of 75 percent or above. Because of this tragic loss of life, most of the early history with the Pennacook people and interaction with colonists is peaceful. Mistrust and betrayal at the hands of the English made the Pennacook weary of the English and look towards the French for protection. English settlement of New Hampshire began in 1638 with the establishment of a trading post on the Merrimack River at the village of Pennacook. Although the sale of fire arms to natives was illegal in Massachusetts, the Pennacook had gotten their first guns the year before.
Since the arrival of European powers, the balance of power in the region had been greatly upset, during the winter of 1648-1649, the Iroquois overran the Huron Confederacy and in the process upset the balance of power in North America. With their fur trade destroyed and a good possibility the Iroquois would attack their settlements, the French scrambled to protect themselves by creating a new alliance with the Algonquin in northern New England. Following Mohawk raids on the Sokoki and Pocumtuc lands, the French sent a Montagnais chief to encourage the Pennacook, Sokoki, Pocumtuc, and Mahican to form an alliance against the Mohawk. This was accomplished with the promise of French firearms and aid, but when a French delegation visited Boston to ask the English to participate, they refused. For years these alliances lasted, until the Mahican left the alliance. With Mohawk raids and the Iroquois now both attacking the alliance, they were continually pushed back.
The Pennacook took in more and more refugees. Throughout the bloodshed and wars being fought, the Pennacook strove hard to remain neutral, and care for those affected. To the English, this was an act of war, not mercy. Since the war between the Abenaki and English contuined until 1685, few Pennacook went back to New England from where they had been pushed. The settled in small, scattered villages along the upper Merrimack and chose to remain neutral until Chief Wanalacet's death in 1696. Another group of Pennacook immigrated to Acadia during this time. The bulk of the Pennacook, were scattered among the Sokoki at Missisquoi (Lake Champlain) and St. Francois where they were major component within its mixed population. Forced to abandon their homeland by the English, these Pennacook were hardly neutral. As members of the Abenaki Confederation, they had become some of the fieriest of the French Allies and most bitter of enemies for the English in New England.
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