Naumkeag people
Encyclopedia
The Naumkeag tribe were a Native American
people that inhabited the area now part of northeastern Massachusetts. The tribe maintained its independence even as it acted as part of the Massachusett
Confederacy of tribes.
The territory of the Naumkeag Indians was primarily Essex County, Massachusetts
. The name is said to refer to "fishing place," from namaas (fish) and ki (place).
The name Naumkeag in modern usage is often used to refer to the original name for Salem, Massachusetts
. Their largest tribal village was located near Salem, but the Native American use of this term applied to the people and not the place.
At the time of the Great Migration
to New England in the early 17th century, the Naumkeag population was already greatly depleted. They engaged in a war with the Tarrantine
people beginning in 1615. A plague broke out in the area 1617 and took a particularly heavy toll with the Naumkeag people. The Tarrantines took advantage of this weakness, and further decimated their numbers, including killing their sachem
, Nanepashemet
, in 1619. Upon this death, the general government of the tribe was continued by his widow, the "squaw sachem." In 1633 there came another plague, probably smallpox
, "which raged to such an extent as to nearly exterminate the tribe."
Numerous precautions were taken by the early Puritan settlers against Indian raids in this territory, including the construction of garrisons and posting of sentries, but there is little historical evidence that this tribe was anything but peaceful in their relationship with the Europeans. Toward the end of the 17th century, several towns in the area had secured deeds from the heirs of Nanepashemet, including Salem and Marblehead.
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...
people that inhabited the area now part of northeastern Massachusetts. The tribe maintained its independence even as it acted as part of 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...
Confederacy of tribes.
The territory of the Naumkeag Indians was primarily Essex County, Massachusetts
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
. The name is said to refer to "fishing place," from namaas (fish) and ki (place).
The name Naumkeag in modern usage is often used to refer to the original name for Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. Their largest tribal village was located near Salem, but the Native American use of this term applied to the people and not the place.
At the time of the Great Migration
Great Migration (Puritan)
The Puritan migration to New England was marked in its effects in the two decades from 1620 to 1640, after which it declined sharply for a while. The term Great Migration usually refers to the migration in this period of English settlers, primarily Puritans to Massachusetts and the warm islands of...
to New England in the early 17th century, the Naumkeag population was already greatly depleted. They engaged in a war with the Tarrantine
Tarrantine
The Tarrantines were a tribe of Native Americans inhabiting northern New England, particularly coastal Maine. The name Tarrantine is the word the Massachusett tribe used to refer to the Abenaki people....
people beginning in 1615. A plague broke out in the area 1617 and took a particularly heavy toll with the Naumkeag people. The Tarrantines took advantage of this weakness, and further decimated their numbers, including killing their 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...
, Nanepashemet
Nanepashemet
Nanepashemet was the leader, or Great Sachem, of the Pawtucket Confederation of Indian tribes before the landing of the Pilgrims. He ruled over a large part of what is now Northeastern Massachusetts. His wife and sons governed the tribe after his death, during the Great Migration to New England by...
, in 1619. Upon this death, the general government of the tribe was continued by his widow, the "squaw sachem." In 1633 there came another plague, probably smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, "which raged to such an extent as to nearly exterminate the tribe."
Numerous precautions were taken by the early Puritan settlers against Indian raids in this territory, including the construction of garrisons and posting of sentries, but there is little historical evidence that this tribe was anything but peaceful in their relationship with the Europeans. Toward the end of the 17th century, several towns in the area had secured deeds from the heirs of Nanepashemet, including Salem and Marblehead.