#towtaid

[theirmarks]

Androw Pitteme his mark (Andrew Pittimee, Pittomo or Pittame)

Nipmuc. At home in and around Natick. A “Christian Indian,” members of Pittimee’s family including several children murdered by four white settlers in the massacre at Hurtleberry Hill, in 1676, in the midst of the First Indian War, or King Philip’s War. Pittimee was interred on Deer Island (and survived) also in 1676. Following the War, Pittimee appears across several land transfer documents across Nipnet (Nipmuc country) and acts as an interpreter and counselor to Waban and other Nipmucs.

Pittimee’s mark appears here on a deed for land at Towtaid, or so-called Leicester, Massachusetts. Signed January 27, 1686.

Seen at the American Antiquarian Society.

We have previously shared another document with Pittimee’s pictograph signature, from a deed for land at a place today called Sherborn, Massachusetts, dated June 12, 1682.

[theirmarks]

Momekhue Tray her mark

Nipmuc, identified in this deed for land at Towtaid or so-called Leicester, as an heir or Oraskasco or Oaraskaso, Sachem at Towtaid, and the wife of Phillip Tray.

Phillip Tray “with his wife, Momekhue” sign here with others to exchange an area of land eight miles square, bounded on ….“The most souther most corner upon a littoll pound called paupokquomtok then to a hill cauled wekapekatounow & from there to a litoll hill cauled mossonathues & so unto a great hill caulled Aspomstok…” for “fiften pounds curant monye of Nuengland…” The land exchanged to a group of white settlers from so-called Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Momekhue’s kin: presumably, daughter of Oraskasco, Sachem at Towtaid and sister to Waiwaynom or Wawanom. The surname Tray suggests kinship connections to Nipmucs Thomas Tray (Natick) and John Wompas (Hassanamisco).

Deed signed June 20, 1687. Seen at the American Antiquarian Society.

[theirmarks]

Wawanom Wamscon her mark

Nipmuc. Waiwaynom’s (or Wawanom’s or Wawainom’s) homelands in and around Towtaid, or the place more commonly known today as Leicester, Massachusetts. Wawanom’s mark appears on this land deed signed January 27, 1686 for an area of land eight miles square, bounded on ….“The most souther most corner upon a littoll pound called paupokquomtok then to a hill cauled wekapekatounow & from there to a litoll hill cauled mossonathues & so unto a great hill caulled Aspomstok…”

Wawanom’s kin: Daughter of Oraskasco, former Sachem at Towtaid. A partner, Wamscon

Seen at the American Antiquarian Society.