Nedson Family Line

John Nedson (1760-1845) is an ancestor of mine. He was a Pequot Indian, born in Stonington, CT. He lived most of his life in Nipmuc country - taking Nipmuc Mary Pegan as his wife and settling down in Wabaquasset (now Woodstock, CT).

Here are the first three generations of Mary and John Nedson. Is you have corrections or additional information, please let me know!

First Generation

1.  John Nedson was born about 1760 in Stonington, CT. He died on 23 Jan 1845 at the age of 85 in Woodstock, CT.

Mary Pegan was born about 1760.

John Nedson and Mary Pegan had the following children:

              2              i. Polly Pegan Nedson, born abt 1778, Conway, MA or NH; married Joseph Dorous, abt 1805; died 14 Jul 1872, Dudley, MA.

              3             ii. James Nedson, born bef 1785; married Eunice Sampson, abt 1808; died abt 1824.

              4            iii. Asenath Nedson, born abt 1785; married Joshua Buckingham, 23 Sep 1809, Sturbridge, MA.

Second Generation

2.  Polly Pegan Nedson (John-1) was born about 1778 in Conway, MA or NH. She died on 14 Jul 1872 at the age of 94 in Dudley, MA. Polly was buried in Webster, MA.

Polly Pegan Nedson and Joseph Dorus were married about 1805. Joseph Dorus was born about 1770.

Joseph Dorus and Polly Pegan Nedson had the following children:

              5              i. Joe Dorous.

              6             ii. Soloman W./ Esbon B.  Dorous, born abt 1811, Pittsfield, MA; married Angenette Briggs White, 13 Mar 1844 in Sturbridge, MA; died bef 1897.

              7            iii. Charles L. Dorous, born abt 1818, New York; married Mary Ann Dixon, abt 1845.

              8            iv. Diantha Christina Dorous, born abt 1820, Woodstock, CT; married James Nedson, 20 Dec 1847 in Woodstock, CT; married William Waterman, 24 Sep 1853 in Sturbridge, MA.

3.  James Nedson (John-1) was born before 1785. He died about 1824 at the age of 39.

James Nedson and Eunice Sampson were married about 1808. Eunice Sampson, daughter of David Sampson, was born about 1782 in CT. She died before 1830 at the age of 48.

James Nedson and Eunice Sampson had the following children:

              9              i. James Nedson, born abt 1808, Woodstock, CT; married Diantha Christina Dorous, 20 Dec 1847, Woodstock, CT; died 28 Nov 1852, Woodstock, CT.

            10             ii. Ephraim Nedson, born abt 1814, CT; married Susan Dixon, 4 Feb 1845, Woodstock, CT; married Betsey , bef 1830; died 2 Jun 1886, Sturbridge, MA.

            11            iii. Mary Nedson, born abt 1815; married Jedediah Buck, 28 Jan 1835, Griswold, CT; died 27 May 1879, Sturbridge, MA.

4.  Asenath Nedson (John-1) was born about 1785.

Asenath Nedson and Joshua Buckingham were married on 23 Sep 1809 in Sturbridge, MA.Joshua Buckingham died before 1844.

Joshua Buckingham and Asenath Nedson had the following child:

            12              i. Sarah/Sally  Buckingham, born abt 1818, Brimfield, MA; married Samuel White, 30 Apr 1844, *Sturbridge, MA; died bef 1860.

Third Generation

6.  Soloman W./ Esbon B. Dorous (Polly Pegan Nedson-2, John-1) was born about 1811 in Pittsfield, MA. He died before 1897 at the age of 86.

Soloman W./ Esbon B. Dorous and Angenette Briggs White were married on 13 Mar 1844 in Sturbridge, MA. Angenette Briggs White, daughter of Henry White and Betsey Pegan, was born about 1829 in Webster, MA. She died on 11 Jan 1897 at the age of 68 in Woodstock, CT.

Soloman W./ Esbon B.  and Angenette Briggs White had the following children:

            13              i. Hezekial Dorous was born about 1845 in MA. He died on 1 Nov 1864 at the age of 19 in Andersonville, GA.

            14             ii. girl Dorous was born about 1846. She died on 20 Jan 1847 at the age of 1 in Sturbridge, MA.

            15            iii. baby Dorous was born on 24 Feb 1848 in Sturbridge, MA. He/she died before 1859 at the age of 11.

            16            iv. Henry Lafayette Dorous, born Jan 1849, Woodstock, CT; married Emma/Emigene T. G.  Shelley, 11 Jul 1870, Dudley, MA; died 18 Feb 1911, Sturbridge, MA.

            17             v. Esbon B. Dorus was born on 8 May 1851 in Woodstock, CT. He died on 1 Mar 1853 at the age of 1 in Woodstock, CT.

            18            vi. Amelia Cordelia Dorous/ was born about 1852. She died about 1869 at the age of 17 in Webster, MA.

            19          viii. Christiana Dorous, born abt 1855, Woodstock, CT; married Abram/Abraham B.  Jackson, abt 1871.

            20            ix. Matilda A. Dorous, born abt 1858; married Edwin F. A. Jackson, 4 Apr 1875, Dudley, MA; died 24 Mar 1882, Webster, MA.

            21             x. Amanda Edith Dorous, born 30 Apr 1861, Massachusetts; married Edwin W. Vickers, 21 Oct 1890, Berlin, MA.

            22            xi. Elizabeth/Betsey B.  Dorous, born abt 1850, Sturbridge, MA or Union, CT; married Henry Albert Arkless, 7 Sep 1870, Worcester, MA; married E. Gilbert Jackson, abt 1874; married William Henry Noyes, abt 1878; died 3 Feb 1906, Dudley, MA.

               

7.  Charles L. Dorous (Polly Pegan Nedson-2, John-1) was born about 1818 in New York.

Charles L. Dorous and Mary Ann Dixon were married about 1845. Mary Ann Dixon, daughter of Hosea Dixon and Hopey Reynolds, was born on 24 Apr 1830 in Woodstock, CT. She died on 1 Mar 1888 at the age of 57 in Sturbridge, MA. She was buried in Woodstock, CT.

Charles L. Dorous and Mary Ann Dixon had the following children:

            23             i. Franklin Dorus was born about 1846 in NY. He died on 17 Aug 1867 at the age of 21 in Woodstock, CT.

            24             ii. Polly Dorus, born Mar 1848, Woodstock, CT; married Charles K. Vickers, 22 Apr 1868, Woodstock, CT; died 24 Jun 1899, Sturbridge, MA.

            25            iii. child Dorus was born on 9 Nov 1850.

            26            iv. Rhoda Dorus was born on 14 Mar 1851 in Woodstock, CT.

            27             v. Leander Dorus was born about 1852 in CT.

            28            vi. Louisa Dorus was born about 1853 in CT.

            29           vii. Martha A. Dorous, born 9 Sep 1856, Woodstock, CT; married Charles M. Hewitt, 18 Jun 1877, Sturbridge, MA; died 27 Dec 1908, Sturbridge, MA.

            30          viii. MaryAnn M. Dorous, born 9 Sep 1856, Holland, MA; died 25 Feb 1882, Woodstock, CT.

            31            ix. Orrianna Dorus was born about 1858.

            32             x. Ida S. Dorus was born on 30 Jul 1861 in *Woodstock, CT.

            33            xi. Ephram Dorous, born Feb 1863, CT; married Julia L. Crawford, 17 Aug 1882, Woodstock, CT; married Harriet Maria Vickers, 6 Mar 1897, Brooklyn, CT.

            34           xii. Liby Dorus was born on 17 Feb 1864 in Woodstock, CT.

            35          xiii. Mary Ann Dorus was born on 11 Jun 1866 in Woodstock, CT.

            36          xiv. Hannah Dorous was born on 23 Aug 1868 in CT.1 She died after 1880 at the age of 12.

            37           xv. Alice Susan Dorous, born 2 Aug 1870, Union, CT; married Oscar Dean Bates, abt 1888; married Henry Samuel Vickers, 30 Mar 1905, Hampton, CT; died 22 Mar 1940, Hampton, CT.

            38          xvi. Henry Edmund Dorous, born Jun 1871, Woodstock, CT; married Fedelia (Nellie) Anne Vickers, 6 Mar 1897, Brooklyn, CT; died 29 Mar 1942, Hampton, CT.

            39         xvii. Samuel Dorous was born about 1874 in CT.1 He died after 1880 at the age of 6.

               

8.  Diantha Christina Dorous (Polly Pegan Nedson-2, John-1) was born about 1820 in Woodstock, CT.2 She appeared in the census in 1850 Dudley, MA.

Diantha Christina Dorous and James Nedson were married on 20 Dec 1847 in Woodstock, CT. James Nedson, son of James Nedson and Eunice Sampson, was born about 1808 in Woodstock, CT. He died on 28 Nov 1852 at the age of 44 in Woodstock, CT.

James Nedson and Diantha Christina Dorous had the following child:

           40              i. James Nedson was born about 1844 in Woodstock, CT. He died on 2 Jan 1866 at the age of 22 in Dudley, MA.

Diantha Christina Dorous and William Waterman were married on 24 Sep 1853 in Sturbridge, MA.

9.  James Nedson (James-2, John-1) was born about 1808 in Woodstock, CT. He died on 28 Nov 1852 at the age of 44 in Woodstock, CT.

James Nedson and Diantha Christina Dorous were married on 20 Dec 1847 in Woodstock, CT. Diantha Christina Dorous, daughter of Joseph Dorus and Polly Pegan Nedson, was born about 1820 in Woodstock, CT.

James Nedson and Diantha Christina Dorous had the following child:

            40              i. James Nedson, born abt 1844, Woodstock, CT; died 2 Jan 1866, Dudley, MA.

10.  Ephraim Nedson (James-2, John-1) was born about 1814 in CT. He died on 2 Jun 1886 at the age of 72 in Sturbridge, MA.

Ephraim Nedson and Susan Dixon were married on 4 Feb 1845 in Woodstock, CT. Susan Dixon, daughter of Hosea Dixon and Hopey Reynolds, was born about 1825 in MA. She died on 28 Apr 1875 at the age of 50 in Southbridge, MA.

Ephraim Nedson and Susan Dixon had the following children:

            41              i. male Nedson was born on 13 Nov 1845.

            42             ii. Laura Ann Nedson was born about 1846 in Southbridge, MA. She died on 21 Nov 1869 at the age of 23 in Southbridge, MA.

            43            iii. Sarah A. Nedson was born about 1852.

            44            iv. Mary A. Nedson, born abt 1854, MA.

            45             v. Olive Louisa Nedson was born about 1854 in MA. She died on 9 Jun 1871 at the age of 17 in Woodstock, CT.

            46           vi. Cynthia R. Nedson was born about 1856 in MA.

            47           vii. Eunice Amelia Nedson, born abt 1858, Southbridge, MA; married Erastus Henry White, abt 1880, Sturbridge, MA.

            48          viii. Fanny A. Nedson, born abt 1862, Southbridge, MA; married Eugene Hazzard, Jul 1893, Sturbridge, MA.

Ephraim Nedson and Betsey were married before 1830. Betsey died in Apr 1840 in Woodstock, CT.

11.  Mary Nedson (James-2, John-1) was born about 1815. She died on 27 May 1879 at the age of 64 in Sturbridge, MA.1 She was buried in Sturbridge, MA.

Mary Nedson and Jedediah Buck were married on 28 Jan 1835 in Griswold, CT. Jedediah Buck was born in Griswold, CT.

12.  Sarah/Sally Buckingham (Asenath Nedson-2, John-1) was born about 1818 in Brimfield, MA. She died before 1860 at the age of 42.

Sarah/Sally Buckingham and Samuel White were married on 30 Apr 1844 in Sturbridge, MA. Samuel White, son of Henry White, was born in Mar 1818 in Dudley, MA. He died after 1900 at the age of 82.

Samuel White and Sarah/Sally  had the following children:

            49              i. Harriet Jane White, born 2 Mar 1845, Sturbridge, MA; married Jeremiah James Shepard, 1 Jul 1867, Sturbridge, MA; died 28 Oct 1896, Sturbridge, MA.

            50             ii. male White was born on 16 Dec 1846 in Sturbridge, MA.

            51           iii. George Samuel White, born 18 Dec 1847, Sturbridge, MA.

            52           iv. Erastus Henry White, born Jan 1849, Charlton, MA; married Mary Ann Harris/Hanson, 21 Nov 1869, Sturbridge, MA; married Eunice Amelia Nedson, abt 1880, Sturbridge, MA.

            53             v. Sarah Abigail White, born abt 1851, Sturbridge, MA; married Amos T. Jackson, 27 May 1869, Sturbridge, MA; married Amos F. Jackson, 27 May 1869, Sturbridge, MA; died 23 Feb 1933, Brimfield, MA.

            54            vi. Charlotte M. White was born about 1853 in Sturbridge, MA. She appeared in the census in 1855 Sturbridge.

Aquene,
Cher

Nipmuc Nation Family Lines

The Nipmuc Nation recently opened their tribal rolls to new members. Anyone with a direct family member already on the roll can submit an application for enrollment. It's not much but after 10 years of refusing to add anyone other than new births, it is welcome news.

For those of you unaware of what Nipmuc family lines are eligible for enrollment, here is the list.
The Nipmuc family lines on the current tribal roll and their ancestral Nipmuc groups are:

Curliss/Vickers	Non-Reservation/Pegan/Dudley
Dorous/Bates	Wabaquasett
Jaha	Dudley
Humphrey/Belden	Dudley
Pegan/Wilson	Dudley
Printer/Arnold	Hassanamisco
Sprague/L.W. Henries	Dudley
Silva	Non-Reservation/Coffee/Anthony

Aquene,

Cher

Hassanamisco Indians

I love this document. It's a survey of property allotted to Hassanamisco Nipmuc Sarah Robins who married Peter Muckamaug. Though Native, Peter was not from Hassanamesit so the land could not be allotted to (or owned by) him. When Sarah Robins died, the land passed to her children.

Image from the American Antiquarian Society

The Muckamaug allotment was originally 106 acres. The land came from the division of the Hassanamisco Praying Plantation. Praying Plantations, or towns, were the colonial Massachusetts equivalent to today's reservation system. The Praying Town at Hassanamesit was 8000 acres. In 1728, the MA Bay government allowed those 8000 acres to be divided up between 40 English proprietors and 7 Native families. Land was also set aside for a Native church and school and stipulations made for a minister and teacher. The 7 Native families received 1200 acres in separate parcels. The rest was sold to the 40 proprietors and monies from the sale deposited for use by the Hassanamiscos. Since it was not believed that Native people could control their own resources, guardians were appointed to oversee their assets. Native people throughout Massachusetts could not sell their land or spend even the interest on their money without asking their guardians to petition the legislature until 1869.

Another map from the collections of American Antiquarian Society showing part of the 1728 allotments. This was posted on a Grafton, MA town webpage.

Part of the Muckamaug allotment is now owned by the town of Grafton and is preserved as "Hassanamesit Woods".The Fiske Center for Archaeological Research is conducting an archaeological dig in Hassanamesit Woods where the Muckamaug's great-granddaughter's house stood from at least 1790 to 1923 when it was bulldozed over. The story of 4 generations of Nipmuc women living on this land will be coming to this blog soon!

(You may have noticed that sometimes I write Hassanamisco and sometimes Hassanamesit. Hassanamesit refers to the land and means "the place of many small stones". Hassanamisco refers to the people of that land.)

Until next time,
Aquene!

Who is Molly Pegan? (Part 2)

Molly Pegan is my sixth great grandmother and a source of much controversy in my small Nipmuc community.  Some of us believe her to be Nipmuc, especially since her maiden name is Pegan - a known Nipmuc name. Others (including nameless BIA researchers) don't think she is Nipmuc and that the name is simply coincidence. Now her last name is not the only reason folks believe she was Nipmuc but you can read my previous post for more information on that here.

Molly is our tribal brick wall. We have no documentation on who her parents were. Her granddaughter identified her as a Dudley Indian (Dudley Indians are a band or subset of Nipmuc Indians) slightly more than 100 years after Molly's alleged birth. But why take the granddaughter's word for it? I created a research plan to try and crack this brick wall in my previous Molly post. Here's an update on my progress:

Before I move on to records that I haven't researched yet, I want to review the ones I've already read through. I can't help but think I'm missing a clue. Molly's Revolutionary War widow's pension file is full of detail on Molly's life. Perhaps reviewing the file here will lead to a new clue. Page 33 of the file is a favorite of mine so I'll start there. (Yes, I know it would be more orderly to start at page one. But this is my quest!)

I have a paper copy from the National Archive but this .jpg is from Fold3.com. It's the deposition of Sarah Howe Warren, the granddaughter of Rev. Aaron Brown's wife, Damaris Cady Howe Brown. Sarah lived in her grandparents' home during Molly's teenage years. Below is the transcribed document.

           “I Sarah Warren of Killingly in the County of Windham

           and State of Connecticut aged 73 years & able

           & duly sworn according to law. do testify & say

            that the Rev’d Aaron Brown formerly a Minister in

            said Killingly, was my Grandfather & I was

            frequently at his house & I lived [crossed out word] at

            his house when young & went to school. He

            brought up a coloured [sic] Girl named

            Molly Piggen who I knew very well. when

            Molly was about 18 years old she was courted

            by a black man from Thompson and

            my Grandfather was opposed to having

            Molly marry him & he by means of a ladder

            used to visit her unbeknown to most of

            the family. & it was said in the time

            of it that he married her & went to live with

            him, in Thompson. I well remember I

            was there and enquired [sic] for Molly & was told {by my grandmother}She

            had married a negro & gone off To Thompson.

                 After Molly had her first child she

            made a visit to my Grandfather Browns where

            she was brought up & I was there & saw her &

            her child, & remember of asking to hold the

            child & it was put into my arms & I held it

                 I was not at the wedding & did not

            see them married, but have no doubt of

            the fact.       according to recollection Mollys

            husbands name was Pollock.           Sarah Warren

      State of Connecticut Windham p Killingly. March 12” 1838 then

      Personally appeared Sarah Warren signer of the above deposition

      & made solemn oath to the truth of the same. And I

      further Certify the deponent is a person of Credibility & from

      personal knowledge of the [?] truth & veracity

              Before Simon Davis Justice of the Peace”

_________________________________________________________
So, what clues are in this document?
1. Molly was not raised by her parents.
2. Molly was raised by Rev. Aaron Brown of Killingly, CT.
3.Molly's race is referred to as "coloured".
4. Molly's husband's race is called "Black" and "Negro".
5. Molly was 18 when she married.
6. She moved to Thompson (CT) after she married.
7. Rev. Brown was opposed to the union.
8. Molly had more than one child.
9. Her husband's surname was Pollock.
10. A wedding did take place.

I am curious about a couple of things. Sarah specifically states that her grandfather raised Molly. She doesn't include her grandmother in the "raising" of Molly. Also, why was the Rev. opposed to the marriage? Molly was already 18. And, of course, why wasn't Molly with her family? Were they deceased? Was she indentured? Taken from her Native family to be raised "properly"? Also, why the distinction between coloured, Black and Negro?

Until next time-
Aquene!

Bostics, Then and Now, Part 1

My nephew is one of the last in our family with the surname of Bostic. The other day, while driving with my daughter through the local cemetery, he asked to see the monument with his name on it. (Yes! My children consider cemeteries as appropriate sightseeing destinations - after all, they were raised by me.) My daughter called me for the street name it was nearest to, and my nephew got to see the monument with his name on it - again!

My daughter called me later to ask about the some of the names on the monument that were unfamiliar to her. It was a little too complicated to explain the relationships of the eight people listed over the phone. And so, my darling Erica, this post is for you.

My grandfather, Walter A. Bostic placed that 4-sided monument on the site and moved some of his ancestors remains to that plot. Currently, the plot holds the following relations:

Walter A. Bostic and his 2nd wife, Corrine E. (Chase) Bostic occupy one side:

Walter A. Bostic

1919-

Corrine E.

Wife of

W.A. Bostic

1927 -1981

(Walter passed in 1999. This picture was likely taken before then.)

William S. Bostic
1838 - 1911

Rachel A. 

Wife of

W.S. Bostic

1840 - 1887

Eveline F.
Daughter of
W.S. & R.A. Bostic
1882 - 1894
Alice B.
Moore
1888 - 1898

Abbie
Wife of
W.S. Bostic
1839 - 1925
Alice B.
Moore
1866 - 1923

As for the relationships between these folks, William S. and Rachel A. were the great-grandparents of Walter A. Bostic which would make them my 3rd great-grandparents. As indicated on the stone, Eveline F. is the younger daughter of William and Rachel. Abbie is William's 2nd wife. The Alice B. Moore born in 1866 is William and Rachel's eldest daughter and the second Alice is the first Alice's daughter.

Now for a quick genealogical sketch of the names on the tonbstone -

1. William S. Bostic was born about 1838 in Avondale, PA to Peter and Annie (Jones/Kent) Bostic and died on 3 July 1911 in Worcester, MA. He married (1) Rachel A. Steemer about 1865. Rachel was born about 1840 in Oxford, PA to James and Ann (Pierce) Steemer and died 7 December 1887 in Worcester, MA. William married (2) Abbie (Freeman/Hardy) Wiggins on 5 May 1896 in Worcester, MA. Abbie was born about 1839 in Wichendon, MA to Elijah Hardy and Esther Freeman and died 2 March 1925 in Worcester, MA.

The known children of William S. Bostic and Rachel A. Steemer were:
2. i.   Alice Ann Bostic was born 3 May 1866 in Worcester, MA and died 17 August 1923 in New Bedford, MA.
    ii.  Walter St. Clair Bostic was born 4 December 1868 in Worcester, MA and died 15 April 1931 in Worcester, MA.
    iii. William H.J. (Irving) Bostic was born 4 October1872 in Worcester, MA and died most likely between 1913 and 1920 in Boston, MA.                         
    iv. James Franklin (Frank) Bostic was born 16 October 1874 in Worcester, MA and died probably between 1910 and 1920.
    v.  Benjamin F. Bostic was born 1 April 1876 in Worcester, MA and died 15 June 1937 in Shirley, MA.
    vi. Evelyn Florence Bostic was born 5 October 1882 in Worcester, MA and died 11 July 1894 in Worcester, MA.

There are no known children of William S. Bostic and his second wife, Abbie.

2. Alice Ann Bostic was born on 3 May 1866 in Worcester, MA to William S. and Rachel A. (Steemer) Bostic. She married Walter H. Moore, the son of Sylvester and Lucretia D. Moore, on 1 August 1887. Alice and Walter had one known child, Alice B. Moore. Alice B. Moore was born on 23 November 1888 in Worcester, MA and died at age 9 on 17 May 1898 in Boston, MA of tuberculosis. Alice A. Bostic Moore died in New Bedford, MA on 17 August 1923.

3. Abbie (Freeman/Hardy) Wiggins Bostic was born in 1839 according to her tombstone. She was the daughter of Esther Freeman and Elijah Hardy. She married (1) George H. Wiggins on 13 January 1872 in Ayer, MA. George was the son of David and Matilda Wiggins of New Bern, NC. Abbie married (2) William S. Bostic on 5 May 1896 in Worcester, MA.There were no known children from either of Abbie's marriages. She died at 63 Parker St in Worcester, MA on 2 March 1925.

4. Walter Andrew Bostic was born 30 September 1919 in Worcester, MA to Walter Andrew Louis and Harriet McKinley (Anderson) Bostic. He married (1) Angenette Irene Morse on 2 March 1941 in Worcester, MA. Angenette was the daughter of Charles Emerson and Elizabeth Rogers (Henries) Morse and was born on 7 February 1924 in Northborough, MA. She died on 25 May 2005 in New York City. Walter married (2) Corrine Eva Chase who was born in Rhode Island on 28 March 1927. Corrine died on 7 October 1981 in Worcester, MA. She was the daughter of Milton J. and Corinthea (Johnson) Chase.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates.....

Were William and James the Same Man?

One of the quandries in my family tree is following the trail left by my maternal great-great-grandfather, William James Scott of Rutland, Vermont and Worcester, Massachusetts. He was born William James and was married to my great-great-grandmother, Hannah (Scott) Scott, as sometimes William C. Scott and sometimes William S. Scott. After Hannah’s death in 1896, he hangs around as William for a few years but then abruptly becomes James Scott and marries for a second time in 1898.

Hassanamesit

On September 6, 2011, the National Register of Historic Places added the Hassanamisco Reservation to its list of national treasures. Known as Hassanamesit, the under 4 acre reservation serves as the cultural and spiritual center of the Nipmuc Nation, a state-recognized tribe in Massachusetts. Located on the reservation is the Cisco Homestead, which for two centuries served as home to Nipmuc tribal leaders and now houses the Hassanamisco Indian Museum.

Nipmucs occupied Hassanamesit since before recorded time. In the mid 1600s, missionary John Eliot established a "Praying Plantation or Town" in Hassanamesit in an effort to "Christianize" the native population. Metacom's Rebellion (June 1675 - August 1676) brought an end to the praying town era, and in 1728, English settlers divided Hassanamesit into lots reserving some parcels for the Nipmuc families still living there.

Hassanamesit Allotments - 1728

 The current reservation is all that remains of the Moses Printer allotment. A wood frame house was built in 1801 for Moses' great-granddaughter, Lucy Gimby. Lucy's granddaughter, Sarah Arnold Cisco, became the Nipmuc tribal leader in the mid 1850s and the house became known as the Cisco Homestead. In 1962, it became the Hassanamisco Indian Museum although the family still occupied the addition in the back of the building. The last member of the Cisco family to occupy the Homestead was Shelleigh Wilcox who moved from the reservation in 2006.

Cisco Homestead

Hassanamesit has meaning for all Nipmucs as it is the only land in Massachusetts that has never been occupied by non-Natives. And the Homestead is the oldest structure in southern New England to be continuously occupied by Native people.

Thanks to all who assisted and supported this journey, in particular Chief Natachaman of the Nipmuc Nation and the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc Indians.
Many thanks and an abundance of gratitude to our ancestors who kept this land intact for our generations and those to come.