Page:Massasoit's town Sowams in Pokanoket, its history, legends and traditions (IA massasoitstownso00bake).pdf/44

38 west came to an Indian cemetery, which he verified by digging, and finding human remains. "

Mr. Francis Loring, known also by the name " Big Thunder" is now living, at an advanced age, on Indian Old Town Island, Maine, and is the custodian of the Penobscot tribe. The writer recently learned from him that the "ancient book made of skins" alluded to by General Fessenden was, a few years ago, accidentally destroyed by fire.

The Penobscot language contains several words which are undoubtedly of Wampanoag or Narragansett origin. This tribe regard Warren, R. I., as the former home of Massasoit. They translate the word Sowams, "Place of the Setting Sun."

Wannamoisett. The northern part of Barrington extending into Seekonk, and including Bullock's Point and Riverside. It was purchased of the Indians by John Brown, 1645. Became a part of Swansea, 1668.

. The neck of land lying between Barrington and Warren, or Palmer's Rivers. Called by the English, New Meadow Neck, or the New Meadows. Under the date December 7, 1647, the "New Meadows " are referred to, in the Plymouth Records, as being "on the west side of Sowams River" which proves that Sowams River and Warren River are identical. King Philip claimed that a portion of Chachacust was not included in the sale of "Sowams and Parts Adjacent," and the English purchased his right in 1668.

. The southerly section of Barrington. It was called by the English "Phebe's Neck," and appears to have been the abode of Pebee, or Thebe, a petty Wampanoag sachem, and one of Philip's counsellors. Thebe was killed by the English July 2, 1675. At the close of Philip's war Plymouth Colony claimed Popanomscut as "conquered land," but the Sowams' proprietors succeeded in establishing their right to the tract under the provisions of the "Grand Deed of Saile" of "Sowams and Parts Adjacent."