#nipnet

James Natonamage his mark

Perhaps Nipmuc, James Natonamage is identified only as an Indian in the text of this document from so-called Cambridge, Massachusetts dated October 25, 1663. In this document James Natonamage indicts Nathaniell Mott for selling gallons or quarts of liquor to several Native folks in exchange for corn. A few other native people are identified by name - one is “of nipnap called mamanequam” and another as “Peter of nippnap an indian.” We are presuming Nipnap to be Nipnet, the name of Nipmuc homelands.

Muttawamp. Mattawmp. The mark of Mattawamppe. 

Nipmuc. His home in and around Quabog, (present-day New Braintree, the Brookfields, and surrounding areas), part of Memamesit. 

Led attacks at New Braintree + Brookfield (or Wheeler’s Surprise + the Brookfield Siege) against Massachusetts Bay Colonizers in August of 1675. Led attacks at present-day “Sudbury,” “Hadley,” “Hatfield,” and “South Deerfield” (Battle of Bloody Brook), Massachusetts, during the War. Mugquompoag (military leader). Executed by colonizers in September 1676.

Place names used in this document: Masquabanick, Nanantomqua, a hill called Asquooch, a brook called Naltaug, Quabaug, Podunk, Lashaway, Massaquoukcumis, Nacommuck, Wullamannuck, Masgpabbanisk and a hill called Agnoack.

Mattawammppe’s mark, a thunderbird, seen here on a deed from 1673 for lands at Quabog. Muttawamp appeared to challenge the sale of the land, staking claim for his own interest in the transaction.