Reprinted from the
Weirs Times - Article by Bruce Heald - Ref: Colby’s
Indian History, Solon B. Colby, 1975.
“Previous to the settlement of central
New Hampshire, the Pemigewasset Indians had a village near
the junction of the Winnipesaukee and Pemigewasset Rivers.
The site of their village was made into a public park and
during that process, hundreds of artifacts were discovered,
some of which resemble those used by the so called ‘Red
Paint People’ in Archaic times.
“The Proctor collection, which contains several hundred
specimens from the Franklin-Tilton area, can be seen at
the Dartmouth College Museum in Hanover, NH.
“On the north side of the highway, on Willow Hill
in Franklin, there is a glacial boulder with a large bowl-like
depression that the Indians used as a mortar in which to
pulverize their corn. The first white settlers also used
this primitive mill when meal was needed. Pestles of stone
or hard wood were used in conjunction with mortars. Heavy
pestles were usually suspended from a limp which made the
work much easier for the squaws.
“As their numbers diminished by smallpox, about 1680,
they moved up river to the intervales above Plymouth where
there had been a village many years ago. They were still
known as the Pemigewasset tribe because their headquarters
were still on that river. Abbe Maurault in his Histoire
des Abenakis calls it the ‘Riviere a la Graisse D’Ours.’
(The Bear’s Grease River).
“Musgrove’s History of Bristol mentions the
many artifacts found at Newfound Lake, near Whittemore’s
point and Fowler’s River. The dam at the outlet of
the lake raised the water level enough to cover practically
all of their lakeside campsites. One of their favorite campsites
was at Profile Falls on the Smith River, and another was
at the spring near the old highway from Bristol to Hill,
NH.
“The Pemigewasset and Pass-aqua-nik trails joined
at Bristol with the Mascoma trail which followed the Smith
River in from Danbury and Lebanon, NH. The Kancamagus trail
joined the Pemigewasset trail at Woodstock, and the Asquamchumaukee
trail joined it at their old village site near the mouth
of the Baker River, just above Plymouth, NH.
“In October 1743, an Indian named Coaus came to a
council held in Portsmouth and petitioned His Excellency
the Governor to place a truck house or trading post ‘near
Pemigewasset where they might have such supplies as was
necessary for their furs and that they might not be imposed
on as they often were when they came into the lower towns
and that they thought it reasonable to have some satisfaction
for the lands if the English settled it, they never having
had any as set.’
“His Excellency ask him if, for the present, orders
should be given to some suitable person at Canterbury to
supply them, it would answer their end, to which he answered
it would do very well.
The Governor asked, “How many Indians are there?”
The Indian replied, “There are but three or four that
claim the lands at Pemigewasset.”
His Excellency asked what things would be most suitable.
“Powder, shot, bullets, flints, knives, blankets,
shirts, cloth for stockings, pipes, tobacco and rum,”
he replied.
“On being asked how many would come down, Coaus said
there would be fifteen and they would come in the Spring
when the snow was gone and if the Governor would send them
word at Canterbury, they would give notice to the rest of
the Indians and come at His Excellency’s Time. The
Governor told Coaus that the matter of a truck house would
be brought up at the next meeting of the Assembly.
“The House of Representatives met Thursday, October
29th, and in answer to the written message brought that
day by Mr. Secretary about appointing a truckmaster to trade
with ye Indians. The House unanimously came into this Resolution,
‘That if they can have no voice in appointing a Truck
Master they will not make any supply for that trade. Sent
up. His Excellency’s Message on file.’
“On the fertile intervales by Livermore Falls and
at the junction of Baker’s River and the Pemigewasset,
the early settlers found the hills and ridges of old corn
fields and the ashes of old campfires with arrowheads, stone
mortars, pestles and other implements. Priest Fowle found
many traces of the ancient inhabitants on his land bordering
Squam Lake. A French sword, a relic of the frontier wars,
was dug up in Holderness village many years ago.
“Black bears have always been numerous in the Pemigewasset
Valley. Thomas Locke, an early settler living near Danforth
Brook in the town of Bristol from 1777 to 1782, killed sixteen
bears on fall on Briar Hill. The prevailing growths of oak
and beech trees produced tons of acorns and beechnuts which
attracted bears, deer, raccoons and passenger pigeons. Indians
from Coos, Ossipee, Penacook, and Winnipesaukee came to
hunt with the friendly Pemigewassets who welcomed them with
feasting and rollicking by young and old.”
