Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/145

 in an article on Pokanoket says, "The principal seats of Massassoit were at Sowams and Kickemuit. The former (Sowams) is a neck of land formed by the confluence of the Barrington (Sowams) and Palmer's Rivers. The latter, Kickemuit, is Mount Hope." Belknap's Am. Biog. vol. ii, p. 221.

VIII. By the deed of Massassoit, in 1653, it appears that the Indians were then dwelling on New Meadow Neck, for it states that "whensoever the Indians shall remove from the Neck (called Chachacust or New Meadow Neck) that then and from thenceforth the aforesaid Thomas Prince etc. shall enter upon the same," etc.

Prior to this time the people of Rehoboth had built a "Five rayle fence" from Patuckquett (Providence) River across Wannamoisett and New Meadow Neck to Palmer's River, to prevent the cattle on Philip's residence and grounds. This fence was built near the old boundary line between Warren and Bristol. It is well known that the land north of this fence, bounded on the west, north, and partly on the east by water, was a favorable and suitable place for pasturage of horses, cattle and hogs, and was so used by the whites, under the name of Brooks Pasture, until the year 1680, and probably for many years later.

IX. The river which bounds and divides the territory was the Sowams River. This is now the Barrington River, but was known to the settlers as the Sowams, and is often mentioned in the deeds and records. With Barrington as Sowams, it would be the most natural thing to call its principal river by the Indian name of the section where the chief resided.

X. The first white settlement was made near Myles Bridge, on the New Meadow Neck, by people excluded from Rehoboth on account of religious opinions. Settlements were also made at Wannamoisett by John Brown and Thomas Willett. To the Plymouth Government these settlements were known as Sowams and taxed under that name. As