The mark of Chickwallop alias Wawhillowa
Sachem at Nonotuck - an area of homelands that includes the settlements called Northampton, Amherst, Hadley, and Hatfield, Massachusetts.
The deed for the area details landscape features and original place names for land on the “west side of Quinetticott River beginninge from ye small river below Minhan called Saukwonk” and up the Connecticut river to a meadow called Capawonk to a brook called Masquomp.
The land transaction reports to cover lands along the river known by these names: Minhan Pochuack, Petowwag, Aspowunck, Luckommuck, Assattayyagg, Nayyagg, Nayumkegg, Masquomp.
The land is transferred “in consideration of One Hundred fathom of wampam … & ten Coates (besides some small gifts).” In exchange for the land, John Pynchon would also plow 16 acres of land on the east side of the River the following summer, but, as the deed stipulates, in the meantime “the Indians” could plant their corn fields that spring and then “ they are wholly to leave that west side of the River & not to plant or molest the English there…” So that Pynchon and his family “shall have & injoy absolutely & clerely for ever from all incumbrances of any Indians or their come feilds.”
Place names spelled as they appear in the document.
Signed September 24, 1653. Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
