Iyannough
Encyclopedia
Iyannough was a Native American
sachem
and leader of the Mattachiest (Mattakeese) tribe of Cummaquid in the area of what is now Barnstable
, Massachusetts
. The village of Hyannis
, the Wianno section of Osterville, and Iyanough Road (Route 132) are all named after him.
Historic records mention the assistance and entertainment offered by him and his tribe towards the Pilgrims
and later colonists. When the son of Mayflower
passenger John Billington
wandered away from the new settlement at Plymouth in January 1621, Iyannough assisted William Bradford
and his party in finding the boy. The sachem impressed the Pilgrims as being personable, gentle, courteous, and fair-conditioned.
He died in 1623 when he was only in his mid-twenties. Following a surprise attack by the Pilgrims on the Massachusett
tribe that winter, many Native Americans in the region including Iyannough grew fearful of the colonists and fled to hide in the area's swamps and remote islands. It is believed that Iyannough himself died of exposure during this time. Upon his early death his lands went to his eldest son Yanno (aka John Hyanno). Yanno is mentioned in several land deeds on Cape Cod
and Martha's Vineyard
and appears to have been a prominent figure in the early settlement of the communities.
In the mid 19th century, a farmer plowing his field discovered what is believed to be Iyannough's grave. The gravesite is just north of Route 6A
in the Cummaquid section of Barnstable and is maintained by a non-profit organization called "Tales of Cape Cod." A sign along Route 6A marks the spot.
A statue of Iyannough can be found today on the village green in downtown Hyannis.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
and leader of the Mattachiest (Mattakeese) tribe of Cummaquid in the area of what is now Barnstable
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The village of Hyannis
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
, the Wianno section of Osterville, and Iyanough Road (Route 132) are all named after him.
Historic records mention the assistance and entertainment offered by him and his tribe towards the Pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
and later colonists. When the son of Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
passenger John Billington
John Billington
John Billington was an Englishman who was convicted of murder in what would become the United States, and the first to be hanged for any crime in New England. Billington was also a signer of the Mayflower Compact....
wandered away from the new settlement at Plymouth in January 1621, Iyannough assisted William Bradford
William Bradford (1590-1657)
William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal was published as Of Plymouth Plantation...
and his party in finding the boy. The sachem impressed the Pilgrims as being personable, gentle, courteous, and fair-conditioned.
He died in 1623 when he was only in his mid-twenties. Following a surprise attack by the Pilgrims on the Massachusett
Massachusett
The Massachusett are a tribe of Native Americans who lived in areas surrounding Massachusetts Bay in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in particular present-day Greater Boston; they spoke the Massachusett language...
tribe that winter, many Native Americans in the region including Iyannough grew fearful of the colonists and fled to hide in the area's swamps and remote islands. It is believed that Iyannough himself died of exposure during this time. Upon his early death his lands went to his eldest son Yanno (aka John Hyanno). Yanno is mentioned in several land deeds on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
and Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
and appears to have been a prominent figure in the early settlement of the communities.
In the mid 19th century, a farmer plowing his field discovered what is believed to be Iyannough's grave. The gravesite is just north of Route 6A
Route 6A (Massachusetts)
Route 6A is the name for parts of former U.S. Route 6 on Cape Cod. Most of "6A", as the locals call it, is also known as the Old King's Highway...
in the Cummaquid section of Barnstable and is maintained by a non-profit organization called "Tales of Cape Cod." A sign along Route 6A marks the spot.
A statue of Iyannough can be found today on the village green in downtown Hyannis.
External links
- Notes on Iyannough at Genealogy.com
- Picture of his gravesite in Cummaquid