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Merrimack Historical Society

Merrimack, New Hampshire

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Merrimack Historical Society

Merrimack, New Hampshire

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Home » Photo Galleries

Gallery #1 – Passaconaway

PASSACONAWAY - Leader of the Algonquin Nation Between 1550 and 1700, New England was populated with Native Americans and was the last of the woodland period of Hunter Gatherers. It is estimated that before the plagues there were as many as 60,000 natives. In 1662 Chief Passaconaway petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for a grant of land to him known as Naticook. It included two islands in the Merrimack River, Minihaha and Miniwawa. In addition, he received land one and one-half mile deep and three miles long on the east side of the river below the islands and on the west side of the river above the islands. This is where he spent his final years on the land, he loved the best. This same land would later be given to the soldier’s who fought in King Philips war and added to the town of Merrimack in our second incorporation on June 5, 1750.

PASSACONAWAY - Tribal Nations People first arrived in the Manchester area about 11,000 years ago, after the last ice age ended. Native campsites along the Merrimack River became well established. By the time European settlers arrived in the 1700’s, the Penacook Indians inhabited the region. It is estimated that before the plagues there were as many as 60,000 natives.

PASSACONAWAY - How they lived Images Courtesy of Millard Museum The Penacook’s principally resided in south central New Hampshire where they followed the seasons for hunting, fishing, and growing. They were a peaceful people and lived in harmony with the land. They took only what they needed and respected the land, water, and sky as the givers of life. In the background of the painting can be seen the Uncanoonucs and Joe English Hill.

PASSACONAWAY - Native Crafts Pennacook belongings were simple and consisted mostly of small woven containers and baskets. They made clay pots, flutes, and larger baskets to catch fish. Many of their artifacts were adorned with quills, feathers, and bear claws etc. to capture the strengths the animals possessed.

PASSACONAWAY - Native Crafts Most of the artifacts that remain are stone tools, clay pots and spearpoints that tell the story of how they hunted and defended themselves from marauding Mohawks. The axes, mortar and pestles, and gouges give some insight into their daily domestic work. Tools allowed the Penacook’s to prosper and survive

PASSACONAWAY - Beauty as an art form Just as we today appreciate beauty in the objects we create, the Natives were equally adept in making utilitarian things magnificently attractive. The world, as they saw it, was spiritually beautiful.

PASSACONAWAY - The Bashaba (Shaman), Diplomat and Warrior Passaconaway proved himself to be the equal of any emperor of the old world. He was called Chief, Sachem and Bashaba. It was said he could make dry leaves green again. He could make water burn and the sun stop in the sky. He had the most powerful medicine and held commune with the Great Spirit. He had the power to drive the white man out of his land but advocated for peace.

PASSACONAWAY - My beautiful Naticook Baboosic Brook was full of fish as well as the Merrimack and Souhegan rivers. He called this place Naticook. In 1660 the now aging Sachem would spend his final days in Naticook. Today many of us in Merrimack can still appreciate the hidden woods and small brooks that must have looked as Passaconaway would have admired them. Baboosic, “Twins” in the Penacook language, rises in the lake of the same name and flows through Merrimack to the geologic cascade of Twin Bridges Park. Passaconaway must surely have stood here and spoken to the spirit of great waters. Twin Bridges park is still a place of awe and beauty as Passaconaway saw it. Stand on the bridge of time and witness the past.

PASSACONAWAY - The final days “Inages Courtesy of Mt Kear The 10,000 square miles that he once knew was now reduced to ten but were his favorite; an island with no insects, pure water springs and enough fish and game to sustain him. Life, though different, was still as he had lived and in three years, he called for his farewell to his people at the great meeting place at Pawtucket falls.

PASSACONAWAY - The child of the bear speaks “The oak will soon break before the whirlwind----it shivers and shakes even now; soon its trunk will be prostrate---the ant and worm will sport upon it! Then think, my children, of what I say: I commune with the Great Spirit. He whispers me now---‘ Tell your people, Peace, Peace, is the only hope of your race. I have given fire and thunder to the pale faces---I have made them plentier than the leaves of the forest, and still shall they increase! These Meadows they shall turn with the plow---these forests shall fall by the axe---the pale faces shall live upon your hunting grounds and make their villages upon your fishing places!’ The Great Spirit says this, and it must be so! We are few and powerless before them! We must bend before the storm! The wind blows hard! The old oak trembles! Its branches are gone! Its sap is frozen! It bends! It falls! Peace, Peace with the white men---It is the command of the Great Spirit---and the wish---the last WISH--- of Passaconaway.”

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Contact Info:

Merrimack (NH) Historical Society
10 Depot Street, Merrimack NH 03054
Telephone: 603-880-4343
Email: info@merrimackhistory.org

Open House Hours - 10:00am to 2:00pm. - First Saturday of every month.

Monthly Meeting - 3rd Tuesday every month.
Doors open at 6:00pm. Guest Speaker at 7:00pm.

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