|
The Pennacook were a confederation of native American peoples living on the Merrimac River Valley in south and central New Hampshire at the time of first European contact in the early Seventeenth Century. At this time there were over ten thousand Pennacook, separated into as many as eighteen different sub tribes. The Pennacook were, however, devastated by a smallpox epidemic in 1620 which dramatically reduced their numbers.
The name Pennacook means ‘at the bottom of the hill’ in the Abenaki tongue. These people were alternatively known as the ‘Merrimac’ with reference to the river alongside which most of their villages were located. The Penacook relied on farming of the land and hunting for their sustenance. Maize beans and squash were the main crops that were planted. Hunting was done mainly in the winter period with deer, bear, elk and small animals being the targets. Fishing was done year round. Wild foods were also gathered.
The Pennacook lived for the main part in small, scattered bands which consisted of extended families. Each band would have it’s own specifically designated hunting territory. Most dwellings among the Pennacook were of the dome shaped bark, covered wigwam variety. In the winter period the Pennacook would leave their river side villages and head inland towards their winter hunting camps. Here their dwellings were the more conical shaped wigwams reminiscent of the plains Indians.
The Pennacook did not have a central governing body except in times of warfare. Rather each band was relatively autonomous. Even before the first European contact the Pennacook had felt the ravages of the white man. In the mid 1560s the Pennacook were affected by an epidemic. By 1617 they were being affected in another way. Bitter rivalry had developed between the tribes over the rights to trade with the French. The victorious Micmac ravaged south and brought death to the Pennacook. The arrival of the English on the scene escalated the incidences of disease. In 1617 an epidemic swept through the Pennacook villages in three waves. The average mortality rate in the villages was 75 %. In some villages it was 100 %, with no survivors at all.
Regular contact between the Pennacook and the English took place from 1620 onwards. Initially these encounters were generally friendly. In 1627 the Pennacook allied themselves with the Abenaki and the Mahicans against the Mohawk. As a result of unfortunate incidents with other tribes, however, the English became increasingly arrogant towards the Pennacook, and all other Native tribes. When it was discovered that the Pennacook had obtained rifles, which was illegal, the English responded by sending troops to arrest the Pennacook sachems. One of these leaders was held for two years and only released when the Pennacook signed a treaty of submission. In the 1650’s the English encouraged the Pennacook to resume their hostilities with the Mohawk. With their attentions thus diverted, the English now set about relieving the Pennacook of their tribal lands. The crafty English also switched sides on the Pennacook, allying themselves with the Iroquois and Mohawk. In 1668 the Pennacook were driven across New Hampshire into southern Maine. At the outbreak of King Philip’s War in 1675 the Pennacook moved north in order to avoid getting involved in the hostilities. Following the War they returned to find that the English, incensed at all Indian tribes because of the casualties inflicted by King Philip’s War, were in no mood for conciliation. The Pennacook suffered an unprovoked attack from the British, resulting in their village being destroyed. The Pennacook now returned to the north in search of peace. Here they joined the Abenaki. Any prospects of peace, however, soon vanished when they saw an opportunity to get even with the English with the outbreak of King William’s War. During this war and the subsequent Queen Anne’s War the Pennacook were effectively absorbed into the Abenaki nation and resided in the southern parts of Canada, where their descendants can still be found today.
|
| |
