USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 2
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Crackatuxett. - This place is first mentioned June 26, 1652, in the town records (p. 126). It is called "Crackatukset or Short Neck" in 1681, when Philip Watson sold two shares at Crackatuxet, "late belonging to John Bland, deceased." (Deeds, I, 255.) The letter R in this name is probably an error, as the sound of that letter ought not to appear in the Nope dialect. The appellation originally designated the outlet of the pond, now obliterated by the action of the sea. It should be written Cheke-tuk-es-et, meaning "the violent, swift, or turbulent tidal cove or estuary."
Cataama. - Simon Athearn recites (no date mentioned), that his grandfather, Nicholas Butler, gave him the "neck called Cattwama." (Town Records, 17.) It has various spellings, as Cotamy, Kuttamy, and the modern form is Katama. The same name occurs on Long Island, varied as Catawamuck, Katawamac and Ahkataamuck, (Indian fishing stations upon Long Island, pp. 54-57). It means "a crab-fishing place."
Manadoo. - In her will of June 8, 1690, Elizabeth Norton, widow, gives to her son Joseph, land at a place called "Mana- doo." It is called more frequently Menada, and as such it is known at the present day. It is in the northern part of the town, on the road to Oak Bluffs.
Manequoy. - This is a neck of land, referred to in a sale from Matthew Mayhew to Thomas Daggett, dated Aug. 23, 1680, when it is called "Monequoy," and in 1719 Joseph Daggett sold to Brotherton Daggett one-third of the "short neck lying on the south side of the place between Matewase and Manequoy." (Deeds, II, 19; III, 246.) Manequoy was west from Mattakeese (Ibid., V, 38).
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Mattakeset. - This was also the Indian name of Dux- bury, Massachusetts. (Winsor, History of Duxbury, p. 13.) It is first mentioned in our records under date of March 23, 1646, when John Bland bought of John Pease a tract of land and meadow "lying against Mr. Blands house at Matta- keekset." The derivation of this word is not entirely apparent. It may be formed of Matta(or Mat)-auk-es-et, "at the bad place," meaning a bad or unfavorable place for canoes, or for cultivation. It may be an abbreviated form of Namat- auk-es-et, "at the sitting down, or resting place," as applied to a portage, or ferrying place; where one sits down to rest before crossing to the other side. This may have been a point where the Indians habitually crossed from Nope to Chappaquiddick. The creek which drained into Matta- keeset was called Ameshoak (the Indian word for Herring) Creek (Deeds, XI, 387).
The name Matewase (Deeds, III, 246), described as next to Manequoy, in 1719, is probably a corruption, or mis- spelling of Mattakeese(t).1
Mashakamocket-Mashacket. - The town granted to Philip Tabor, May 20, 1653, "the neck called Ashakomaksett from the bridge that is at the East side of the head of the Swamp" (p. 131). On Aug. 2, 1655, after he had removed to Rhode Island and exchanged property with Thomas Layton, this land was described as bounded on the west side by "Mo- manequins Neck." (Deeds, I, 325.) This name appears as Shokamackset (1655) and Mashacket (1662), which last is the modern spelling. There is a loss of the initial conso- nant in both of the first two forms, which is retained in the later form. The survival of the M indicates that its original form was Masha-komuk-et, meaning "at the great house," or "enclosed place;" probably referring to a palisadoed in- closure built by the native inhabitants for the Sachem's house. The Sachem of Nunnepog may have had his "great house" here. It is the equivalent of the Powhatan Machacamac, meaning "great house," Captain John Smith writes: "For presently they robbed their Machacomocko house of the towne, stole all the Indian treasure thereout, and fled into the woods as the Indians often related." (Historie, Arbers, Reprint, 538.) Eliot gives it Mishikkomukquash(pe), for "palaces."
1Mattakeece plain or neck is mentioned as S. S. E. from Crackatuxet. A short neck in Edgartown, bounded E. by a pond called Mattakeese and on the W. by a pond called Manaquoy is described in an early deed. (Deeds, V, 38.)
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Annals of Edgartown
(Isaiah, XXXII, 14.) The "neck called Shackamoksett, adjoining to Quanomica on the west. .... to Mashackett Pond on the East," occurs in the Town Records of Edgartown (p. 13) under date of Jan. 25, 1671.
Matuhhukqussee. - In a deed of sale, from three Indians to Joseph Norton, they convey "all that neck of land called Acquampache and over a small neck of land called Matuh- hukqussee." (Deeds, III, 98.)
Nonnamesset. - This appears to have been an alias for Pohoganut, or Aquampache, to which reference should be made. (Deeds, II, 32; IV, 157.) It is also a name for one of the Elizabeth Islands. In a deed, the following mention is made of this place: - ". ... called Nonnemassett which said Nonnamessett is a neck of Land lying next and adjoining on the South of the lands in s'd Town called Aquompache." (Ibid., V, 375.)
Nashquite. - Under date of April 14, 1681, this word appears in the Edgartown Records, "a neck called Nashquite lying the Eastward of Mattakes . . . ." (p. 30). Benjamin Smith sold to Benjamin Pease, Oct. 10, 1713, six acres in Edgartown adjacent "to the plain commonly called Nash- akittee." (Deeds, IV, 223.) These place names are probably identical.
Nashawamass or Nashamoiess .- This was in the southern part of Edgartown, and was one of the praying villages of the Indians. Governor Mayhew, in his will, devises land "bought of Felix at Nashowamass," which is undoubtedly the same word. It is probably a name bestowed by Governor Mayhew, especially as it designates one of his "praying towns." Rev. John Cotton called it Nashamoiéss (1674), a name that has survived to the present day. Nashau-wamass means "the spirit he loves," i.e., "He is beloved of the Spirit," and one of Eliot's "praying towns" had a similar derivation, viz :- Nashau-boh, "he is of the spirit." It was next to Poketapace's neck and next to Nashamoies. (Deeds, IV, 38.) Another reading is "Nashowamoiasuk" as in a deed (Ibid., I, 263). This would seem to suggest a different meaning, as Nashowa- means half or divided, seen in Nashowakemmuck (Chilmark). "Natooquan sachem of Nunpoge and of the East end of Nope Island," sold to Thomas Daggett, Sept. 10, 1688, a neck of land "called Nashamoies . . . . bounded by the cart path which is at the head of Wintucket swamp and runes South westerly to Cackatookit (?) swamp." (Ibid., III, 441.)
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Pohoganut. - The first reference to this name is found in a deed, Burchard to Norton, May 2, 1682, when "Pahogg- annot is the spelling (IV, 36). The next mention is in an Indian deed, in 1684, where it is written Pahauknit (Ibid., I, 18). Again, in 1700, as Pahocknit. In 1704, in a conveyance from Joseph Norton to Samuel Smith, the following language occurs: "a cove of water on the east side of a small neck of land called Nonnamesset . . commonly called Pohoganit." (Ibid., II, 32.) This would seem to establish an alias for Pohoganut. The meaning of the word is, "at or on the cleared land," and the same word in its variations appears throughout New Eng- land, as Pokanoket, Pancanauket or Pockenocket. This was the name of King Philip's home near Mount Hope, R. I. Pahauknit was probably a planting field of the Nunnepog Indians.
Paqua. - This is a neck of land adjoining Paqua Pond, called at the present time Faqua. It is mentioned as early as 1704, under the orthography of Paquay. (Deeds, II, 52; III, IO; IV, III.)
Quanomica. - The division of this neck of land was made in 1663 (Town Records, 109), and the name has survived in its first form to the present time. It is from Quan-amaukeag, "the long fishing place," or possibly from Quan-naumkeag, "the long eel fishing place." Either definition would apply. It appears as "Quananamack" in a deed (II, 346,) and "Quenomokey," in 1731. (Athearn Mss., Cong. Lib.) The lots on this point were numbered from the point and contained about two acres each. (Ibid., V, 14I.)
Swanneck. - It is probable that this is an Indian word, and the origin of Swan Neck of modern times. The deriva- tion may be Sowane: south, southern, and ack: land, the southern place, neck or land. It is called Swanneck in 1687 (Deeds, III, 146), and Swan Neck about same time, but it is safe to say that the name was not derived from the bird.
Sopotaminy. - This is first mentioned in the Court rec- cords, under date of June, 1686, when the Indian Job was adjudged to be the lawful owner of the "land, viz at Sapra- taine, in the right of his ancestors as gentlemen in an Indian way." In the Deeds it is called Sopotaminy, as above. Andrew Newcomb bought it of Job, Sept. 24, 1690 (Court Records, I). In later records it is called, " Jobs neck alias Sapotemmy" and "Sapotammy." (Deeds, I, 352; II, 81.) The etymology of this word is Sepohta-may, meaning "the extended or stretched
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Annals of Edgartown
out path," perhaps "the continuing path or road." (Massa- chusetts.) Simon Newcomb's Path is one of the early land- marks in the boundary line between Tisbury and Edgartown.
Wintucket. - This neck of land is first mentioned in the town records, Dec. 28, 1659, when the "first town lots" are to be divided. (p. 134.) The word is from the com- bination Win-ne-tukq-et, meaning "at the good tidal cove," probably referring to its advantages for landing, or protection from storms. Winnetuckquett and Winnetucksett occur in Plymouth county, and are the same words.
Wachusade-Woachet. - This was the name of a neck of land on the south side, now called "Watcha." An instru- ment recorded in the county records recites that a neck of land commonly "caled Woachet was divided, the East half to popmechoa & the west half to Josias alias Keetanumon the known and acknowledged sachem of Takemmy." (Deeds, I, 299.) Josias sold to Thomas Bayes, Feb. 27, 1676, cer- tain land in Tisbury, being the neck "caled Wachusade." (Deeds, I, 309.) This is a variation of the spelling of the name. (comp., Deeds, II, 71.) It may be derived from Wad- chu, "a hill," or as Eliot has it, Wad-chue-me-sik, meaning "little mountains," (Hosea, X, 8): This does not partic- ularly apply to the lowland neck now known as Watcha, and the word may be derived from a like word, Wad-chu, "a keeper" (Eliot, Genesis, IV, 9), and refer to the fact that it was the land of some Indian keeper of cattle. In the Edgar- town Town Records (p. 35), under date of Feb. 5, 1685, it was voted that Thomas Daggett should have "that neck of Land that the horse keeper Lived upon." This may be a clue to the origin of the name - Wadchusate, Horse keeper's Neck. Experience Mayhew wrote it Watshat (Indian Con- verts, p. 83).
Weenomset. - This was, probably, the Indian name for Felix' neck. It occurs as Wynomesett and Weenomsit, the former in 1662 and the latter in 1663. Edward Searle owned a small island, in Sanchacantacket Pond, now called Sarson's Island, described as southeast of Weenomset Neck, which applies to Felix Neck, and Sarson acquired Searles' property by purchase. The meaning of this word is, "at the place of the grape tree," or literally, "vine-berry place." There was probably a native vineyard on this neck when the whites first came to the island.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
ENGLISH PLACE NAMES.
Bayes' Neck. - So-called as early as 1666 from Thomas Bayes, its first owner. Situated on the eastern shore of the Great Herring Pond.
Burying Hill. - It was so-called in 1731 (Athearn, Mss. Lib. Cong.), but it was doubtless the name which had been applied to it for years previous. The first cemetery in town was located here, to the south of Tower Hill, and it has retained the name to the present time.
Codman's Spring. - Mentioned in 1743 (Deeds, VII, 154), and so-called from Robert Codman, the early settler who had a grant of land (opposite Sarson's Island), on which a spring was located.
Eel Pond. - This pond has had other names, viz: - Gurnet Pond (Des Barres Map, 1775), and Daniel's Pond (State Map, 1795).
Felix Neck. - First mentioned in 1664 in the town rec- cords (p. 127), and named for an Indian who was living "near Sanchakantackett," as late as 1683. (Deeds, I, 259; comp., Court Records, I.) It retains the same name at the present time.
The Gurnet. - The extreme north-eastern point, or hook of beach, in the town was very early called the Gurnet. In 1660 "the Gurnetts nose" is mentioned, and in 1712, the "neck called the Gurnet" was referred to in deeds of that date. Gurnet is an obsolute or dialectal form of Gurnard, which is the name of a fish commonly called the Grunter, from the noise it makes on being landed out of the water. Hakluyt says: "the west part of the land was high browed, much like the head of a gurnard." (Voyages, II, II.)
Jacob's Neck. - Sackonets or Jacob's neck is mentioned in a deed (Deeds, V, 323), and Jacob's neck is again referred to in 1736 (Ibid., VI, 168), located on the Great Pond.
Jones' Hill. - In 1689, Samuel Smith sold to Daniel Steward a lot of land on "Jones' Hill," next land, now or late, in the tenure of Edward Hadaway, part of the house lot of the late John Smith, deceased. (Deeds, I, 366.) It is the hill just south of Cleveland Town, and once had a wind- mill on its summit. Thomas Jones, an early settler, lived there and hence its name. (Deeds, XI, 926.)
Lobb's Cove. - Great Pond, Edgartown. Probably named for Ishmael Lobb, a colored man who may have dwelt there. He was baptized in 1801, at the age of 62.
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Annals of Edgartown
Momanequin's Neck .- Philip Tabor,"now being at Ports- mouth in Rhode Island," exchanged his house and lot at Shokamocket, upon the Vineyard, bounded on the side by the land of John Burchard, and on the west side by Momane- quin's Neck, with Thomas Layton, Aug. 2, 1655. (Dukes Deeds, I, 325.) It was named from the "godly" Indian Momanequem. (Indian Converts, 12.)
Mortal's Neck. - This neck of land probably received its name from an Indian sachem named Peter Mortal. In the will of Towanquatuck, dated Jan. 25, 1669, this great sachem decrees that his loving friend, "peter mortall," shall be sachem "in my room." (Town Records, p. 83.) Thomas Mayhew the elder at one time owned this tract of land, and the grant of this neck to him was dated May 20, 1653. (Town Rec- ords, p. 131.) Nicholas Norton, in his will gave to his son Benjamin a piece of meadow at Mortal's Neck, April 17, 1690. (Court Records, I.) The bounds of this neck are thus given :- "S. E. and E. side by the creek that runs into Trapp's pond." (Deeds, VII, 515.) Mortal's Neck pond or Mile Brook rivulet occurs in the records. (Ibid., I, 49.)
Poketapace's Neck. - This was next to Job's Neck. A cove of water ran up between it and Nashamoiess. George Gardner of Nantucket sold land at "Poketapaces neck lying between the lands now in the improvement of Capt. Samuel Smith," in 1725. (Deeds, IV, 38.)
Sarson's Island .- This small marshy island in Sancha- cantocket Pond, southeast of Felix Neck, derived its name from Richard Sarson, who bought it of its first owner, Edward Sale or Searle, before 1664. It appears on current maps errone- ously as Sason's Island.
Starbuck's Neck. - The purchase in 1678, by Nathaniel Starbuck, of Home Lots 2, 3, half of 4 and 5, situated in the north-east part of the town, gave to this section the name of Starbuck's Neck, a title which it has retained to the present day. The first time it was so-called to the knowledge of the author, is in a deed dated 1735. (Dukes Deeds, VI, 169.)
Swan Neck. - Mentioned in a deed, where Namasquin an Indian dwelt in 1673. (Deeds, I, 257.) See under Swanneck.
Turkey Land. - This name appears in 1742 as belong- ing to "certain land on the dividing line between the neck called Mashackett & the land called the Old House Land or Turkey Land." (Deeds, VI, 276.) It may have derived
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History of Martha's Vineyard
this name from the planting of Turkey wheat (corn) there, although a tradition is to the effect that it was paid for in turkies.
Tower Hill .- The origin of this name is not known to the author, but it is about a century old, probably. In 1838 William Mayhew, in a disposition, refers to the "hill which is now called Tower Hill." It may have been the site of some signal tower used for maritime purposes, or a semaphore staff employed in a similar way might have been erected there. Weeks' Neck .- The narrow strip of land between Trapp's Pond and the Sound was called Weeks' Neck.
Will Lay's Plain. - This is commonly called at the present time Willie's Plain, and is said to refer to a son of the first Nicholas Norton, named William, who lost his life there in a well which he was engaged in digging. As Nicholas Norton had no son of that name this legend must be cast aside, and the records appealed to for the true title. "Will Layes pond" is mentioned in 1716 (Deeds, III, 357); Ponit, the sachem of Homes Hole sold to Henry Luce, Feb. 4, 1717 or 1718, a tract of land bounded on the south-west by a cart path running from Chickemmoo "to the place called Will Lays Plain" (Ibid., IV, 183); and "Will lays Plain" is men- tioned in 1726 (Ibid., IV, 151). It got its name from one William Lay, an Indian of Edgartown, known as Pannunnut. In his youth he lived in the family of Governor Thomas Mayhew and in later years became the principal Indian magistrate. He preached at the Indian church at Chilmark about 1690.
THE ORIGINAL "HOME" LOTS.
It seems probable that the first settlers in the town oc- cupied lots of land by assignment of the proprietors, . the metes and bounds of which do not appear of record. It was not until 1646 that the limits of the settlement were defined by the elder Mayhew and his son, at which time there may have been a dozen settlers residing eastward of the line then drawn "from Tequanomen's Point to the Eastermost Chop of Homses Hole." Naturally, these settlers arranged their home lots contiguously and the location afforded the best advantages was bordering on the harbor. Presumably, these home lots were sold to the first comers by the Mayhews, but no record of such sale exists today. Otherwise, it is not possible to see how the original patentees recovered on their
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Annals of Edgartown
investment.1 As was the case at other settlements, the early comers here formed a body of proprietors, limited in number, who were in effect stockholders in a real estate transaction, and these original proprietors admitted others from time to time, either by an increase in their number, or by the dis- posal to the new man of divisions of the individual shares. A proprietor could hold more or less than one share, but its value was always based on such a fractional part of the whole, using the number of shares as the denominator. The entire area outside of the "home lots" was held in "common."
DIVISIONS OF THE TOWN LAND.
The town records afford us but little positive help on the earliest land transactions of the settlers, and the first comers seemed to acquire land without adequate written evidences of the purchase. The sparse community, where everybody knew as much about his neighbor's land as his own, needed no elaborate system of records for the protection of their titles, but a little more definite notation of such events would have saved the author many hours of study. From the scant allusions here and there, and the sequence observed in recording individual holdings in after years, it is believed that the first allotments of the common lands occurred between 1646 and 1652, and including what was termed "Dividend Lots," and the Chappaquiddick division. These dividend lots, probably the first in the point of time, varied in size from ten to forty acres and were situated in the south part of the town, bordering on the Great Pond and Katama. Their extent and bounds were carefully recorded years after by a com- mittee of proprietors, but it was necessary for this body to rely on hearsay and private records to fix the limits of each man's property.2
On Feb. 2, 1652, it was voted to divide twenty acres to a man, "only those that have land already shall have so much less." 3 It is not probable that this can be identified. The first record of the action of the proprietors on this subject occurs under date of Jan. 4, 1652, when it was "Ordered
1" The first of us was admitted by their approbation and some purchased their Lands." (N. Y. Col. Rec. Deeds, I, 72.)
"There were also "thatch lots" taken up on the south shore, but when they were laid out and drawn is not known. They were used for purposes of roofing their houses and barns.
3Edgartown Records, I, 124.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
. that all lands shall be divided by persons and estates: this is the way concluded for the present." 1 This language is somewhat obscure, but the meaning, as shown by their subsequent action based on it, is reasonably clear.
THE PLANTING FIELD.
The first known division of the "common" land was made under date of May 8, 1653, and at that time there were twenty proprietors to participate in this allotment, shown by the following record, and the list establishes the prior settlement of the persons named, viz: - 2
Ordered that the meadows upon the pond is to be devided into twenty equal parts beginning at the path of meadow over the ware, and so to Hannah Mayhews marsh only the Pasture and Hannah Mayhew is to have that meadow that lies upon the Pastures neck: so all the rest of the meadow is to be devided into eighteen parts:
Here followeth an account of the above written Devision of meadow:
Peter Folger
I
Mr. Mayhew the 14
Lay
2
John Daggett the
I5
Sale
3
Nicolas Butler the
I6
Pease
4
John Foulger the
I7
John Butler Jr
5 John Bland the
I8
Browning the
8
Tabor the 19
Burchard the
9
Thomas Daggett the
20
Burchard the
IO
Hannah Mayhew the
6
Weeks the
II
The Pasture the
7
Paine the
12
Smith the
I3
The names in this list require some explanation as to the indentity of the individuals who only appear by surname. Lay was Edward Lay, and the others will be given in full, in order of occurrence: - Edward Searle (Sale), John Pease, Malachi Browning, Thomas Burchard, John Burchard, Thomas Paine, Richard Smith, and Peter Tabor.3 Hannah Mayhew was the oldest daughter of Thomas Mayhew, Sr., and was then scarcely eighteen years of age, but this was the first of the large real estate holdings which she was destined to acquire and manage throughout her long and strenuous life. "The Pasture" is the phonetic disguise under which
'Edgartown Records, I, 125.
2Ibid., I, 172.
3It may be noted here, in this connection, that James Covel, who had been granted land the year previous, was not a proprietor at that date, to participate in the trans- action.
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Annals of Edgartown
Thomas Mayhew, Jr., is intended to be designated as Pastor, and it is one of the few instances in which he is even indefi- nitely referred to as a property holder in the town.
This division of "Meadow" is believed to be what was since known as "The Planting Field," which was situated on the north side of the town between Weeks' Neck and Mills' or Miles' Brook. Each lot consisted of ten acres, and a tract of two hundred acres was therefore thus allotted.
The policy of Mayhew in relation to the Indians led him to regard their rights, as is well known, but it became neces- sary also to protect the proprietary as a whole from the acts of individual members who wished to add to their holdings by private purchases of lands set off to the use of the Indians. Consequently, the following order was passed under date of Jan. 4, 1652: -
No man shall procure from the Indians in any place within the town bounds any land upon Gift or Purchase upon the Penalty of Ten Pounds for every acre so purchased without the consent of the town first had.1
This order was necessary to guard the common interests of all against independent holdings not subject to the pro- prietors' control.
THE "FIVE AND TWENTY" PROPRIETORS.
The limit of eighteen proprietors did not long remain at that number after this division, and within a year the num- ber was increased to "five and twenty." Under date of Feb. 6, 1654, the town voted that "the twenty-five lotts are to Bear Equall Charges & so are to have equal Priviledges." 2 This limit remained in force for many years and represents the number of the home lots bordering on the harbor from Pease's Point to Katama, varying in size from eight to forty acres, the largest number containing about ten acres. Thomas Mayhew and his son held the only lots of forty acres. The lots in this division, which is assumed to be the first distri- bution in severalty of the common property of the townsmen, were called and ever afterwards known as the lots of "Five and Twenty," and became the basis for nearly all the sub- sequent divisions of land in various parts of the town.
1Edgartown Records, I, 140. This afterward was the cause of much trouble to one of the proprietors.
2Edgartown Records, I, 136.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
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