Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/30

12 Little Neck, was first given in the Sowams Records under date of January 26, 1698.

Prof. Adrian Scott, of Brown University, contributes the following suggestions as to the derivation of the name Rumstick, as applied to the point extending into Narragansett Bay:

Rumstokkr in old Norse was a bed-post, but in Provincial English there was a word, Rumistich, adapted from the German language, or possibly the Dutch, and meaning the same as Mawe, i.e., an old-fashioned game of cards. The point might have had a famous game upon it by the first crew of sailors that bethought themselves to name it.

But I should think this far more likely than either of the above, that the long slender point suggested the stick with which ancient sea captains stirred their toddy (differing from the common sailor's grog, inasmuch as it was made of rum sweetened, and so needed stirring): hence English.

Mr. Sidney S. Rider, of Providence, one of the most thorough historical scholars and critics of Rhode Island, is of the opinion that the word is of Norse origin.

.—This name was given by the Indians to the rivers now known as Barrington, Palmer's and Warren. Both branches on the east and west of New Meadow Neck bore the same name, Sowams River. The proprietors often called it the Sowams River and the Great River, and spoke of both branches of this river. The westerly branch was also called the New Meadow River; the easterly Palmer's River.

.—The upper part of the west branch of Sowams or Barrington River, and was often called Bowen's River or Bowen's Bridge River, for Mr. Richard Bowen, who owned a large tract of land along the stream. Runen's was probably not an Indian name.

.—The name of the creek which flows into Providence River about one-fourth of a mile north of Nayatt Point. The branch which flows into the creek from the