mile, where it remained with its goods in perfect preser

vation.

The damage sustained at Mattapoiset was great. Vessels floated from the stocks; two ropewalks, several stores and houses were destroyed, and a great amount of salt lost. The total of loss in Rochester is stated at $50,000. The tide there rose fourteen feet above low water mark, and four feet higher than ever known there before; the ordinary tides being about six feet.

A notice of Indian names and claims.

In the year 1682, (after the sale of Rochester) a native brought forward a claim to all the land "from Sepaconnet, alias Cowasset river, to Wancenquag river, and so to Plymouth westerly bounds," which claim the colony court, on due inquiry, admitted, and quieted by a grant of lands elsewhere; probably at Manomet ponds, in Plymouth.

It appears by the words of this claim, that Seipican bore two names. The word Sippiqunnet evidently signifies "long river;" the word Cowasset is applied to many places. Kawassa is "to hunt," and Cowesuck, is "pines," synonymous terms, because it is in pine for ests the deer are generally found.

Mattapoiset. This name we find here, also at Swansey, and at Middletown, in Connecticut; in each place, doubtless, having the same meaning. Mattapash, a plural term, signifies to "sit down;" a courteous colloquial expression. How shall we apply it here? Perhaps at all these places there was that intermixed growth of wood, which afforded the materials for their "sitting mats,' called probably Mattapash, giving name therefore to such places.

Monchauset was the name of the central part of the town. The word Monchisses is used in the sense of "much food;" probably the natives had planted where the colonists first settled.

Quetequas, it appears, was the name of certain hills in this town, and of the great pond in that vicinity, and of the little brook, connecting the ponds. In the year

35

VOL. IV.

1672, "the island of Quetequas was let by the colony to a Mr. Palmer, to plant and to sow." This island was in one of the great ponds in Middleborough, and Aquetequas appears also to be a proper name, and is the same word. As to the island, it is probably one of those points, which, when the pond is full, become insulated, having a low neck. The meaning of this aboriginal word, in our opinion, wherever it is applied, has affinity with planting, and specifically, in many instances, means ""squashes."

About the banks of ponds, and certain points of fertile land, the natives frequently selected to plant; and perhaps tradition will come in aid of our solution on the spot.

There was also an island in one of these great ponds, which, in 1680, the colony court gave in perpetuity to William Bradford, the deputy governour; if it still exists, it should, at least, be called "Governour's Island." A great many other aboriginal names occur in the vicin ity; but we shall not go further into explanations, only remarking that Anequeasset, a place somewhere there, denotes the striped squirrels; and Senepetuit, the name of the pond, seems to denote "rocky water;" and Wewensett, young bucks," a place, probably, where they resorted.

A fac simile of an original drawing made by Philip the Sachem, 1668, copied from the records of Plymouth Colony, and inserted here, because the described land seems to fall within Rochester, on the sea shore.

"This may inform the honourable court that I, Philip, am willing to sell the land within this draught, but the Indians that are upon it may live upon it still; but the land that is mine may be sold, and Watashpoo is of the same mind. I have put down all the principal names of the land we are now willing should be sold."

From Pacanaukett, the

24th of the month, 1668.

Philip: P: his mark.

1

"Know all men by these presents, that Philip has given power unto Watashpoo and Sampson and their brethren, to hold and make sale of to whom they will by my consent, &c. &c." "Witness my hand that I give

it to them."

The mark P of Philip, 1668.

John Sassamon is a witness.

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF PLYMPTON, 1815. PLYMPTON, an interior town of the county of Plym outh, Mass. lies in latitude, 41° 59' N. longitude, 70° 43' W. It is bounded north by Halifax, east by Kingston, south by Carver, and west by Middleborough and Halifax. Of irregular but circumscribed boundaries, it may be an area of three or more miles square. It is distant from Plymouth nine miles, W. and from Boston thirty two, S. S. E. Incorporated 1707.

Description. The original growth of forest trees was rather superior, in size and variety, to any within the lim its of ancient Plymouth town-ship, to which it pertain eth. Upland and swamp oak, and maple, walnut, white pine, white cedar, pitch pine, were common.

In the north part of the town, where the roads are somewhat rocky, and occasionally miry, stone walls form a feature of the topography. In the south, a sandy tract

is marked with pitch pines.

It has been said, occasionally, that the husbandry of this place was not so good as the soil. This remark, if

it were admitted, is equally applicable, doubtless, to all places, where iron works are established, and where sawmills are common, which is peculiarly descriptive of this place, in past and in present times, as well as of its vicinity.

Rivers, Brooks, Ponds. The Winnatuckset, a stream of great utility, passes through the western width of this town, and of Halifax, to a junction with Teticut River. The source of it is in Muddy Pond, in the north section of Carver, where it was the "Six Mile Brook" of the first planters, in their first "path to Namassket," where there is upon it a mill. It has also another source in Carver, both streams being of the same length in that place, about 400 rods, and three small brooks; but in its progress, N. W. through Plympton and Halifax, attains width and volume; yet in dry summers, deficient sometimes in a supply of water for the mills seated upon it. The natural meadows of the banks of this stream (of which its name may be an indication) had early attractions, and first led to the settlement of these then "westerly precincts of Plymouth." There is upon it a number of mills. It may be six miles long in all its course, but may not merit the name of river until it attains the limits of Halifax, where it is not more than 24 feet wide.

Annisnippi Brook, in the S. W. section of the township, a small brook, issues from meadows of the same name. Its source is in the vicinity of springs.

Colchester Brook is common, probably, to Plympton and Kingston; and the source may be in the latter town. It is, probably, a tributary to Jones' River from the south.

Jones' River Head Pond is common to several towns, whose lines terminate on its margin. Plympton has a very short bound upon it.

Indian Pond, on the east section of the town, is common also to Kingston, without any outlet.

The situation of Plympton, relative to the county, is central, being nine miles from Plymouth and Bridgewa ter, east and west, and fifteen from Rochester and Scituate, south and north of it. Hence the monthly probate sittings are held here, with occasional periodical removes at Rochester and Scituate. There is considerable travel through the place, particularly by those who attend the market at Plymouth, to which it has, in times past, furnished some supplies, such as butter and cheese, the soil affording better pasturage than tillage. A great proportion of fresh meadow hay is made in the place, and its orchards have, in former years, yielded a surplus of cyder. There are farms which keep from twenty to twenty five head of cattle.

In military affairs, it is annexed to the first or Plymouth regiment, fifth division. In 1815, Sept. 20th, the first and second regiment were reviewed in Carver; the day was pleasant, when the people, spectators inclusive, were, probably, 1500.

Manufactures. There are four grist mills, five saw mills, one trip hammer forge, a cotton factory, erected 1813, and a cotton and woolen factory, erected 1814.* Many of the proprietors of the factories are nonresidents. Fulling mills were early erected; also iron works (now extinct) by Mr. Joseph Thomas, as early as 1730; afterward owned by Mr. Joseph Scott, a merchant of Boston, and subsequently by Mr. Beacham of the same place.

Saw-mills were early erected on the numerous streams in the vicinage of Plymouth, and found ample employ ; diminished of late years, by the rapid increase of the settlements in Maine; yet occasionally employed for oak, plank, and cedar stuffs.

Birds. Wild turkies, so common to North America, formerly abounded: There is a place (near Loring's

In 1814, about 15,000 lbs. of wool was worked at the woolen factory; but this quantity has diminished since the peace.