Nipmuck

Algonquin word, “nippe” meaning water. Nipmuck – Fresh-water country

Fresh-pond/Fresh-water Indians

Semi-migratory – moving to favorable condtions yearlong

Economic structure built on hunting/fishing and agriculture

Ate fish from the lakes and grew food in the plains

Area refered to as Nipnet, would switch back and forth until early colonial records settle on Nipmuck or
Nipmug

March 28, 1631 – Thomas Dudley of Boston writes about the Nipmucs, 70-80 miles inland, number more
than the Pequots and the Narragansetts

Technically, four different tribes make up the Nipmuck country

The Nashaways or Weshakim Indians, Quabaugs, Wabaquassets, and Nipmuck

All four generally lumped together

Nipmucks generally in our area, their boundary at the Quabaug river

Likely emigrated inland from coastal areas

Sagamore John, or Quacunquasit

Sold land to whites in 1655 and then 1673

1655 – his name is spelled Quoquanqusitt an in 1673 Quiquonassit

1685 – he petitons the general court for land for his son Squamaug, petition denied

He fights during King Philips war but then surrenders near the end july 27, 1676, flees to Canada with
hus family. He visits in 1702 sold land in 1674

Ephraim Curtis ran a trading post out of his home

Owners of wigwam hill would not sell (181) 1652