History of the Town of Fitchburg (part 2)

The Indians of New England were divided into five principal
tribes, all of which extended their jurisdiction into the
limits of the present county of Worcester.  There were,
also, several smaller tribes under their own sagamores of
sachetus.  but they were all tributary to the larger tribes.

The Pequods, whose sovereign resided at New London, Ct., had
dominion over the Nipmucks, in the southern and
southwesetern part of the county.  The Narrhagansetts
occupied what was then the colony of Rhode Island.  They
also had tribute from some of the Nipmucks.  The Pokanokets,
or Wampanoags, lived in the Plymouth colony.  Their sachem's
seat was at Mount Hope near Bristol.  The celebrated Philip
or Metacom was their chief.  They extended their authority
over another p;ortion of the Nipmucks.  It is not probable
that either of these tribes extended their jurisdiction so
far noth as Fitchburg.

The Massachusetts were the next great tribe northward, and
extended from the bay of the same name to the Connecticut
river.  The Nashuas, in the vicinity of Lancaster, and the
nothern portion of the Nipmucks were under this tribe.  If
this town was included in the territory of the Nashuas, it
was under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, but this is
not very probable, as the Nashuas consisted of only fifteen
or sixteen families residing on the interval lands of
Lancaster, or near the ponds of Sterling.

The Pawtuckets dwelt in the northeastern parts of the state,
on the banks of the Merrimack and its tributaries.  This
tribe probably extended over the northern part of the
country.  If this supposition be correct, then Fitchburg
undoubtedly formed part of the territory of the Pawtuckets.

Again, it has been supposed that the town was in the
territory of the Penicooks, who principally resided in the
region about Concord, N.H.  But there is not much foundation
for the opinion that their realms extended so far south.

The Nipmucks, if ever an independent, were now a broken down
tribe, as most of the neighboring sachems claimed
sovereignty over them.  They were a harmless, simple minded
race, and many of them became converts to christianity,
through the preaching of the celebrated Indian Apostle,
Elliott.  These Indians and the Nashuas conducted with good
faith towards their white neighbors till King Philip's War
in 1675, when they were induced to unite with him.  When the
Nashuas were broken up, most of them joined the Penicooks at
the north.

(to be continued)

 

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