#nonantum

Abraham Speen his mark

Nipmuc. A Christian Indian and proprietor at Natick. Speen’s mark appears here on a petition signed by several Christian Indians at Natick dated May 31, 1699. The petition states that several Natives from the area had been removed from their comminutes and not returned, or had since died following King Philip’s War The native petitioners assert that though many have been “sojourning among the English for their support”’ their community was now impoverished and diminished in number. The group of over a dozen Propriters at Natick offer to exchange a portion of land at Natick (200 acres) for support to build a new meetinghouse where the remaining community can come together (“our meeting house where wee were wont constantly to meet …has fallen downe and we are not able to build us another…”).

Miswaban. Waban. His Mark.

His homes at Nonamtum (present day Newton) and Natick, at the confluence of Nipmuc and Massachusett homelands. Probably born at Musketaquid, near present day “Concord, Massachusetts.” Primary records and contemporary research both confuse and misidentify(?) his tribal identity.  Active as a leader in various Praying Towns in Massachusetts. Despite this, Waban and his family were interred at Deer Island during the First Indian War (or King Philip’s War). Contested the “sale” of some lands in and around Natick. Died 1684. 

The Algonquian word waban can be translated to the English word for wind.

Some kin: a partner, called Tasunsquaw, their son, Weegramomenit or Thomas.

What the fuck is a Mook?

This scene was from the movie ‘Mean Streets’ (1973) directed by Martin Scorcese. The movie is about a small-time hood that struggles to succeed on the “mean streets” of Little Italy… kind of like The Lake. In ‘Mean Streets’ you find Mooks, in The Lake you find Mushes.

See: http://touchmyculture.com/lingo/