USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 34
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In the charter of Tisbury Manor, dated July 8, 1671, the following description of the bounds of this section are given :- "Another parcell of Land called Ceep-hickon Bounded on the East by the Westermost Bounds of Takem- my from whence it extendeth about a Mile and halfe West- ward along the Sound, which is the North Bounds, and to the South reaching to the middle of the Island."
It is thus described by Matthew Mayhew, May 12, 1685 :- "The whole containing by estimation one English mile and a halfe by the Sound, and extending to the beforesaid rock (Waskosims) and middle Line from the Sound south- erly."
Muckuckhonnike. - In a deed of land from Thomas Mayhew to Daniel Steward, dated March 24, 1680, this name is given to a tract of land in Chilmark, "being on the beach opposite against the point of a neck of Quanaimes which John Mayhews house standeth upon" (Deeds, I, 266). This word is a compound of Mukkonne- and auke, signifying "Land of the congregation or assembly," and probably refers to one of the missions for the natives conducted by one of the Mayhews in this vicinity.
Meshpootacha. - This is the cove at the division line of Quia-naimes and Quanissoowog, first mentioned in a deed dated Aug. 20, 1681, Thomas Mayhew to John Mayhew, as a "cove of watter called by the Indians Mesputache." (Deeds, I, 407.) The modern name for the point designated is Black Point, and it is also applied to the cove adjoining. The word is from Massa-pootoe-ohke, "great swelling-out land." A similar name occurs on Long Island, Masspootupaug, now known as the Great South bay, the definition being "the great spreading-out water place." (Southampton Records, II, 27.)
Mossommoo. - In a deed from some Indians to Hannah Skiffe in 1737, conveying land in Chilmark, a neck called
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"Mossommoo" is mentioned (VII, 247). Massachusetts dialect, Mosommo "where shearing (of sheep) is." Probably a place where it was customary at one time to gather the sheep together for shearing. The word, like many others, is of date subsequent to settlement of the island.
Menemsha. - Monamesha, Unanemshie and Manams- hounk are variations of this name in the records. " Wester- most land of Nope (alias) Martin's Vineyard. which land is distinguished or bounded from the rest of the land of Martin's Vineyard by a certain creek called by the name of Manamshounk, which land is called by the Indians Aquinnah & by the English Gay Head" (Deeds, III, 12). The name originally did not belong to the creek or the pond, but probably indicated a standing tree or pole placed on one of the hills near the creek, or it may have been the name of the locality itself, "as seen from afar." The terminal -unk is an in- separable generic denoting a solitary standing tree, while the adjectival prefix signifies "a vision" (Massachusetts). The reading would therefore be, "the observation tree or pole," erected for the purpose of signalling, when the whales were in sight. Monamansu-auke, meaning, "place of observation," may apply to Prospect hill, the highest on the Vineyard in the region of the Menemsha pond.
Nashowaquidsee. - "Nashawaqueedse" is first mentioned in 1684, and later, in 1703, the neck is called "Nashowaquetset" "Nashaquitsa," "Nashawaqueedsee," "Nashouahquedset." This word in the full Algonquian rendering is Nasawa-aquiden- es-et from the radix, Nazhwi or Nizhwi, the numeral two, which can be translated the divided or doubled; aquiden, meaning an island, es diminuitive, rendering it islet, or a little island, and -et, the locative suffix. The rendering therefore is "at the little divided island," referring, probably to the insular formation between Menemsha and Squibnocket ponds.
Nimpanikhickanuh. - This was the name of the place where the Rev. Experience Mayhew lived in Chilmark. In 1722 he wrote that it signified in English, "the place of thunder clefts," because there was once a tree split by lightning at that spot.
Quinames. - A neck called "Quanaymes" in Nasho- wakemmuck, is mentioned in a deed dated May 17, 1664, and again in a deed dated 1678 (I, 265). The definition of this word is "the long fish" (eel), and refers to a locality where the Indians caught them. In the will of Thomas
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NOMANS LAND IN THE DISTANCE.
WEQUOBSKET CLIFFS.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Annals of Chilmark
Mayhew, Sr., this neck is called Quannaimes or Quanniss- oowauge (Deeds I, 327). Matthew Mayhew sold to his brother John, Nov. 8, 1687, certain "land called Quanso or Quanimset " (Deeds III, 174). In 1712-13 the neck was described as "called by the name of Quansow alias Nomagua" (Deeds III, 104). There was a Quansue on Nantucket, now called Consue. The modern spelling on the Vineyard is Quansoo.
Saphehogasoo. - John Pachaket, Indian of Gay Head, in a deed to Zachary Hosewit, of land in Chilmark, mentions a neck "called Pachok neck or by the Indian name of Saphe- hogasoo, 1738" (Deeds VI, 294). John Phillips, one of the sachems of Nashowakemuck, to John Pachaket "my kins- man," a tract of land at a place "known by the Indians Poka- wamet. . . .small neck called Sapachchogasso" (Deeds IV, 12). This name was intended for Sha-pachaug-as-soo, "at the midway turning place." In 1759 it is called Pechockers neck, near Gunning point (Deeds VIII, 659).
Squeppunnocquat. - Squibnocket, modern. The defin- ition is "A place where the red ground nut grows." M'sque- pun-ock-ut; it was probably the bulb of the orange red lily (Lilium Philadelphicum) which grows in great profusion around this region. In various dialects it is known as the meadow ground nut. The Indians ate the roots, which are long in boiling, and they taste like the liver of sheep.
Tiaskuhkonuh. - In a deed, dated 1719, Experience Mayhew sold land at Quansoo running due north from a cove of water called T(S)iashkuhkonuh (Deeds, III, 248). Experience Mayhew sold to Elishab Adams in 1737 a tract of land in Chilmark and mentions a "cove of water called Siashkakonsett" (VI, 236). It is difficult to say to what this name originally applied. It may have been "a path," "a bridge," "stones laid down for crossing," etc. "a place trodden down," Massachusetts Eliot Tashkuhkan-ah, "he trode down" (2 Chron., 25-8). Tashkuhkon- "Trodden" (Isaiah, 28-8). Tashkuhkon-es-et "at a place trodden down."
Wawaytick. - This was the name of the creek which empties Menemsha pond into the Bight. The first occurence of the work is in the patent of Tisbury Manor, under date of July 8, 1671: "the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick." In Kendall's "Travels" (1807) it is spoken of as "Wawaytick Creek which runs from Menem- sha Pond." In all Algonquian dialects Wawi indicates "round"
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History of Martha's Vineyard
because it refers to the shape of an egg, called by the same word. The last syllable -tukq, tick, is defined as a tidal inlet, or creek, and the whole in its application is freely rendered as "round, or winding-about, creek; the winding creek," which is a correct description of this crooked stream (Deeds I, 384).
Wequobscut. - "Wequobsket" is first mentioned in a deed dated 1695 (I, 385). "Wequobset Cliffs" mentioned in a deed dated 1697 (1, 387). Thomas Mayhew in his will (1725) writes it Weaquabsqua (Probate I, 160). This word is probably an attempt of the Indians to describe an artificial bound-mark. It is from the words: Wequ-obsk-ut, meaning "at the ending rock," and refers to the well-known "Stone Wall" in Chilmark, at the southwestern boundary of Nasha- wakemmuck.
Wachapakesuh. -- This was a small brook, probably the one next west of the "fulling mill brook," and is referred to in a conveyance from Matthew Mayhew to Benjamin Skiffe, July 20, 1682, viz: a neck called Nathaniel's Neck, in Nashaw- kemmuck, containing 18 acres, "bounded Easterly by a brook which runneth into a pond which pond is the South bound: westwardly by a small brook called by the Indians Wachapkesuh: North by the foot path or road which goeth towards the west end of the island, crossing the said brook." It is without doubt the stream known to the English as Pease's brook.
Wakachakoyck. - In the grant of the Manor of Tisbury, dated July 8, 1671, the bounds of Nashowakemmuck are described as "beginning at a place called Wakachakoyck." This word is a compound of Wek-adch-ohke (auke), the meaning of which is "land or place at the end of a hill." This is the only occurrence of the word in our records and its location is in doubt.
ENGLISH PLACE NAMES.
Beetle Bung Corner. - The junction of the Middle road and the Menemsha road has been called by this curious name for nearly two hundred years. A clump of hornbeam trees growing near this spot gave it the name of Beetle Bound Tree corner as early as 1729 (Deeds V, 67), because the trees marked a boundary. The name Beetle "Bung" corner is a clumsy and meaningless corruption of the original signification
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Annals of Chilmark
of the name. Hornbeam wood was used then in the manu- facture of beetles for loosening the bungs of casks and hogs- heads, and the trees were sometimes called beetlewood trees.
Fulling Mill Brook. - The Fulling Mill brook is men- tioned in a deed dated 1694. It starts in a swamp near the middle road and empties into Chilmark pond.
Mile Square. - The "Mile Square" in Chilmark was a tract bought by Matthew Mayhew of Chipnock, an Indian, and his daughter, about 1703, and adjoining Menamsha pond.
Mark's Valley. - Ebenezer Allen in a deed to John Allen sold land in Chilmark, and mentioned "Markes Valley" (Deeds III, 394).
Nabs Corner. - The junction of the Chilmark-Tisbury line and the South road has borne this name for over a century. It derived its name from one Abigail Dunham, single woman, who lived near there, before 1800, and achieved considerable notoriety during her life.
New Mill River. - Matthew Mayhew conveyed to Capt. Benjamin Skiffe in 1696, the right to use "New mill river," "to improve for a mill" (Dukes Deeds I, 125). It flows along easterly, parallel to the Middle road, crosses the Tisbury line and continues its course through that town.
Pease's Brook. - Mentioned in a deed, 1697, as near the Sugar Loaf rock in Chilmark. It empties into the western end of Chilmark pond, after a long circuitous route starting beyond the Middle road. It is not known for whom it was named, as none of this island family owned land there. It may have derived its title from some incident connected with one of them.
Pamehannit's Field. - Mentioned in a deed from Mat- thew Mayhew to Nathan Bassett in 1705. "Pamehannits Field now the top of the Hill," east of the Fulling Mill brook (Deeds II, 25).
Roaring Brook. - This stream of water, emptying into the Sound, is first mentioned in a deed dated in 1681 (I, 263).
Sugar Loaf Rock. - This well-known landmark is first mentioned in 1677, and retains this designation to the present day (Deeds I, 387).
The. Stone Wall. - "A place called the Stone Wall" is mentioned in a deed in 1732. See Wequobsket.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
FIRST PURCHASES OF LAND BY THE MAYHEWS
The first attempt of the Mayhews to acquire the Indian "rights" in the present limits of the town of Chilmark, was made by the younger Mayhew, before 1657, but as the date is not of record, it may only be surmised when it was ac- complished. It was the tract
beginning at a Place called Wakachakoyck & goeth to the River (Wachap) arkessah, running from the said Wakachakoyck by a streight Line to the middle of the Island where is the middle Line that divides the land of Towtoe and others & the Land sold to the said Thomas Mayhew: and from the Place that Line meeteth the middle Line soe dividing the Land as aforesaid to goe to the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick.1
This tract was called by the Indians "Nashawakemmuck," and represents all the territory south of the Middle line, and between the Tisbury bounds on the east and Pease's brook and Menemsha pond on the west. It is not known for what purpose he bought this land, but his early death prevented the carrying out of any design he may have had for the settle- ment of this region. The next purchase was made by the elder Mayhew on Feb. 3, 1663, when he bought of Kemasaoome and Mamooampete, for the sum of five pounds, the neck called Quanames. The conveyance recites that
the said Neck is bounded to the Westward by the Pond: to the East- ward by the midst of Ukquiessa, and so to run up in a straight line into the woods to the path that goes from the school house to Tiasquam, some- where between the bridge and the school house and not further into the woods: and it is to goe to the sea so far as the bounds is according to the line that runs through the midst of Ukquiessa Pond aforesaid.2
This tract was bounded east by the Great Tisbury pond, west by Chilmark pond, and by the South road on the north. On Sept. 20th of the same year, Mayhew made another pur- chase comprising land on the north side of the Middle line. The grantors were three brothers of Towtowee, the sachem of that region, and the land purchased was described in the following terms: -
which land lyeth from the midst of the Pond Kyphiggon to Koyhikkon way in the natural bounds by the seaside between Nashowakemmuck and Takemmy: and so to run into the middle of the island, and be at
'N. Y. Col. Mss., Patents, IV, 73.
2Dukes Deeds, II, 39. He sold this on July 14, 1673, to his two grand sons, Thomas and John.
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the same breadth threw in the midst of the Island as it is by the sound side, for the which land We Konkoononammin, Makekonnit and Kee- squish do hereby acknowledge that the said Thomas Mayhew
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(pond ?) Keephiggon as shall make the breadth by the sea side three
quarters of an English mile Beginning at Keephiggon aforesaid, for which we do acknowledge we have rec'd four pounds in full satisfaction.2
1It is probable that Crevecoeur after viewing a scene like this at the time of his
visit in 1782 reported the valuable observation that "Chilmark contains stone for fencing." (Lettres d'un Cultivateur Americain.)
2Dukes Deeds, I, 93-4.
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shall have as much land by the sea side from the midst of the said poynt
From the U.S. Geological Survey
GLACIAL DRIFT ON CHILMARK HILLS.1
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History of Martha's Vineyard
On May 17, 1664 Mayhew added to this tract, by purchase from Kessukamuh, of a square mile "beginning at the middle of the pond at Keepehiggon" and running a mile by the Sound, and a mile into the "midle of the Island."' This overlapped the other, and increased the tract by a quarter of a mile. It is the land in the extreme northeast part of Chilmark, adjoining the Tisbury line. Likewise on the same day he obtained from Pamehannet, the sachem of Quanames, father of the celebrated Japhet Hannet, a quitclaim of all his rights in that neck.2 Four years later he bought of Josias, the sachem of Takemmy, on June 27, 1668,
all that land that lyeth to the Eastward of Quanaimes, which Peme- hannett and Kemasoome sold to the said Thomas Mayhew ... .. from Quansooway along by the Fresh Pond till it comes to the issuing forth of Tyasquan: and from thence up to the bridge wch is at the path that comes from the mill: and so from the bridge along the school house path till it meets with the land sold the said Mayhew by the said Pamehannett and Kemesoom: so this land is bounded to the Westward by that which was Pamehannetts: by the Sea on the South: by the Fresh Pond to the Eastward: and Northerly by Teeassquan River to the bridge: and then by the school house path till it meet with aforesaid land which was Peme- hannetts.
The consideration for this was a "cow and suit of clothes from top to toe," and seventeen pounds in money.3 This land is on the western shore of Tisbury pond and extends to the South road, and bounded on the west by an imaginary line from "Nab's Corner" to Mesapootacha cove.
THE MIDDLE LINE.
These purchases from the Indians secured to the Mayhews the fee of all of the southern and eastern portions of Chilmark, leaving a section bordering on the Sound and on Menemsha pond under the control of the natives. The reference to the "Middle Line" makes it desirable to have an authoritative definition of its relations to the lands in question, and the following quotation from an agreement concluded between Matthew Mayhew and the Indians as to this well-known bound mark shows its location: -
a Line drawn straight from a great Rock standing by takemie bound to the middle of a line drawn across the island and so to the pond: said
1Dukes Deeds, I, 93. 2Ibid., I, 92. 3Ibid., I, 408.
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Annals of Chilmark
line to be drawn across as near the said pond as may be called Monamesha pond.1
The rock mentioned is the present landmark, known as Waskosims rock, on the dividing line between Tisbury and Chilmark.
It is not believed that at this time there were any white settlers residing within the present limits of Chilmark.
These individual purchases of the "rights" of the Indians by Mayhew gave him undisputed control of by far the largest tract of land in severalty upon the island, and from his sub- sequent movements in regard to it, we are justified in conclud- ing that he intended to retain it as a large landed estate, modeled after the medieval ownerships of the land in England and on the continent.
CREATION OF THE MANOR OF TISBURY
When Thomas Mayhew and his grandson, Matthew, went to New York in the summer of 1671 to settle the questions of jurisdiction and government of this island with Governor Lovelace, as elsewhere related, he probably had in his mind a clear outline of what he wished to secure from the repre- sentative of the Duke of York. He was now an old man, and had risen to a unique position among his colonial con- freres. Doubtless his thoughts harked back to the place of his birth and the scenes of his childhood, and the recollections of Tisbury with its manor aroused in him a desire to become the head of a like social institution, the first of a line of Lords of the Manor in another Tisbury. He had recollected the Arundels of Wardour, the hereditary Lords of Tisbury Manor in Wiltshire, living but a short distance from his boyhood home, and the grandeur of their position, holding dominion over their broad acres, with tenants filling the manor barn every harvest, as acknowledgments of their fealty, in lieu of knightly service; and having already had a taste of the head- ship of a community for many years, upon a sort of mutual agreement, or compact plan, he now wanted the legitimate fruit of his position made distinctive. Thus, when he laid his desires before Governor Lovelace, one of them was nothing less than the creation of a manorial demesne on the Puritan Vineyard, with himself and his grandson Matthew as joint Lords of the Manor, and so in succession to their heirs male.
1Deeds, III, 435.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
This idea did not meet with the least disfavor in the mind of the royal governor, himself son of a knight, and as there were already several manors erected in the Province of New York, a ready acceptance of it was found. 'Doubtless he considered it a good idea to plant before the eyes and under the noses of the Dissenters and Puritans of Massachusetts a conspicuous example of the good old customs of "Merrie England" with its armorial county families and loyal tenantry.
Accordingly on the day in which the two patents of Edgar- town and Tisbury passed the seals, there was issued another, creating Tisbury Manor out of the several purchases made by Mayhew in the present territory of Chilmark, Tisbury and the Elizabeth Islands, heretofore described, the full text of which is herewith incorporated to show the terms and extent of this grant.
The following is a copy of the "Patent or Confirmacon of Tisbury Mannor unto Mr Thomas Mayhew & Mr Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe: - "
FRANCIS LOVELACE Esq: one of the Gentlemen of his Ma'ties Hon'ble Privy Chamb'r and Governor Gen'll under his Royall Highness JAMES Duke of Yorke and Albany &c of all his Territories in America: To all to whom these Presents shall come sendeth Greeting:
WHEREAS there is a certaine Island within these his Royall High- ness his Territoryes in Length over against the Maine neare East and West & being to the North West of the Island Nantuckett wch said Island was heretofore Granted unto Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his Sonn by James Forrett Agent to William Earle of Sterling in whom the Government then was a considerable part or Severall parcells of wch said Island hath by the said Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his Son been purchased of the Indian Proprietors & due satisfaction given for the same whereof for diverse Years past they have been & still are in quiet & Lawfull Possession the Particulars of which said Parcells of Land are as hereafter is sett forth vizt That is to say a Certaine Piece of Land called Chickemote bounded on the East by a Spring called by the Name of Kutta-shim-moo on the West by a Brooke called Each-poo-qua-sitt on the North by the Sound & on the South by the bounds of Ta-kem-my: An other Parcell of Land called Keep-hickon Bounded on the East by the Westermost Bounds of Takemmy from whence it extendeth about a Mile and halfe Westward along the Sound wch is the North Bounds, and to the South reaching to the middle of the Island. Then a piece of Land called Quia-names Bounded on the East by Takemmy Pond on the West by Nashowakemmuck Pond & a foot Path wch Goeth from the said Pond to a Brooke called by the Name of Tyas-quin wch Brooke is its North Bounds: As also the Land called Nashowa-Kemmuck Sold to Thomas Mayhew Jun'r beginning at a Place called Wakachakoyck & goeth to the River Arkessah, running from the said Wakachakoyck by a streight Line to the middle of the Island where
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is the middle Line that divides the Land of Towtoe and others & the Land sold to the said Thomas Mayhew and from the Place that Line meeteth the middle Lyne soe dividing the Land as aforesaid to goe to the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick: Together wth two of the Elizabeth Islands called Kataymuck & Nanname-sitt & other Severall Small & Inconsiderable Islands in Monument Bay: NOW for a Confirmacon unto the Said Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe the Son & Heyre of Thomas Mayhew Jun'r in their Possession & enjoymt of the Premisses KNOW YE that by Vertue of the Commission and Authority unto mee given by his Royall Highness upon whom (as well by the resignacon & Assignmt of the Heyres of the said Wm Earle of Sterling as also by Graunt & Patent from his Royall Majestye CHARLES the second) the Propriety & Governmt of Long Island Martins Vineyard Nantuckett & all the Islands adjacent amongst other things is settled, I have Given and Granted & by these Presents doe hereby Give Ratify Confirme & Graunt unto the said Thomas May- hew & Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe their Heyres & all the aforementioned Pieces & Parcells of Land Islands & Premisses to bee Erected into a Mannor & for the future to be called & knowne by the name of TYSBURY MANNOR Together wth all the Lands Islands Soyles Woods Meadowes Pastures Quarrys Mines Mineralls (Royall Mines excepted) Marshes Lakes Waters Fishing Hawking Hunting & Fowling within the Bounds & Lymitts afore described And all other Profitts Comodityes Emoluments & Hereditamts thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining To bee holden according to the Customs of the Mannor of East Greenwch in the County of Kent in England in free & comon Soccage & by Fealty only: And the said Mannor of Tisbury shall be held Deemed reputed taken & bee an Entire Enfranchized Mannor of itselfe & shall allwayes from time to time have hold & Enjoy like & equal Priviledges wch other Mannors within the Governmt & shall in noe mannor or any wise bee under the Rule Order or Direction of any other place but in all Mattrs of Governmt shall bee Ruled Ordered & Directed according to the Instructions I have already given for that Island in Generall or hereafter shall give for the Good and Wellfare of the In- habitants by the Advice of my Councell: To have and to hold the said Mannor with the Lands thereunto belonging with all & Singular the Appertenances & prmisses unto the said Thomas Mayhew & Matthew Mayhew their Heyres and Assignes to the Proper use and behoofe of the said Thomas Mayhew and Matthew Mayhew their Heyres & Assignes forever Yielding Rendring & Paying therefore Yearly & every Yeare unto his Royall Highness the Duke of Yorke his Heyres & Assignes or unto such Governor or Governors as from time to time shall bee by him Constituted & Appointed as an Acknowledgmt two Barrells of Good Merchantable Cod-Fish to be Delivered at the Bridge in this City.
Given under my Hand and Sealed wth my Seale & wth the Seale of the Province at Forte James in New Yorke on the Island of Manhattans this eighth day of July in the three and twentyeth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c & in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred seaventy & one.
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