RESEARCH
FINDINGS
In the
August 1999 newsletter, I discussed James Quanapaug, also known as James
Quannupokkis, Quannaphohit, Rumneymarsh or Wiser, who may be our
ancestor.
I have
been asked why our ancestor would have used multiple names. This is explained in detail in the book,
“Dispossession by Degrees, Indian Land and Identity in Natick, Massachusetts,
1650-1790”, by Jean M. O’Brien.
On page
94; “Mixed use of Massachusett and English is also evident in Natick naming
practices. Since the beginning of
English colonization, Indians throughout New England had blended English and
Indian naming conventions. Into the
early eighteenth century, some Natick Indians continued to use two names: one
Massachusett and one English.
Capt.
Thomas Waban, the most prominent writer of Massachusett and English in Natick,
also used his Indian name, Weegramomenit.
Dual name usage included women and men, such as Susannah Ephraim
(Muttassonshq), and John Thomas Sr. (Naamishcow).
Changing
naming practices did not represent a rejection of Indian identity, but a
blending of English and Massachusett signifiers. Indians
used several methods when altering names to reflect more typically English
usage.
Some
families inscribed a distinctly Indian signifier upon themselves and their
progeny instead of borrowing English names wholesale, by using an aboriginal
name as a surname, such as the Wabans, the Awassamugs, and the Wamsquans. Then they passed surnames down,
patrilineally, in English fashion.
This had been the case for some families since the founding of Natick.
Others used shortened versions of a
Native name, including the Peeguns (Unqunpeegun), Comechos (Sokmecho), and
Paugenits (Kenepaugenit). Still
others adopted an English surname, often choosing names usually thought of as
Christian names, such as Ephraim, Abraham, and Thomas.
Territorial
associations may account for some surnames, such as the Rumneymarsh
family, which had ties to the Pawtucket region and English town of that
name. [there is a Rumney Marsh
Brook, a stream in Bristol County, MA near Pawtucket, RI].
Some
Massachusett surnames may have indicated clan associations, as is likely in the
case of Kenepaugenit (codfish).
Indians
had begun to change their names in the seventeenth century, and this practice
continued into the early eighteenth century. For example, sometime before 1719 John
Takichape became known as John George.”
As
mentioned in previous newsletters, our
James Wiser, alias
Qualapanii, is actually James Wiser, alias Quanapaug, Rumneymarsh, possibly the
son of John Oonsamog and “Princess Yawata”, but more likely the son of Old John
and Joan, as I detailed in the December 1998 newsletter.
So I would
suggest the following for his children with the understanding that much more
proof is needed for an unqualified statement that this is our family. Jean O’Brien helps us understand why his
children had different surnames.
John
Quanahphkit married Joan and lived in Natick, MA. They had at least one
child:
James
Rumneymarsh (alias Quanapaug, Wiser), who married Mary Ponham and was born in
1636.
I believe
that James also had a brother Anthony.
James and
Mary (Ponham) Wiser probably had at least the following four
children:
1) Israel Rumneymarsh, born about 1675, who
died Feb 1744/1745 at Natick, MA.
He married Esther and had at least five children, Samuel, James, Bethiah,
Sarah and Mary. More follows on
this family at the end of the newsletter.
2) Sarah Quanahpohkit (Quanapaug), born
1679, died after 1759.
3) Benjamin Wiser, born about 1680,
died Nov
1737 in Natick.
4) James Wiser, born about 1685, who died
July 1741 in Natick, who probably married Hannah, and was the father of at least
four sons:
a) James Wiser, born about 1715, died about
1744, probably in the Caribbean [on the Expedition to Cartagena, Columbia], possibly married Ruth Bowman, and was
the father of our probable ancestor, Benjamin Wiser, who was born about 1743,
and died after 1812 near Cazenovia, NY.
b) Joseph
Wiser, who died 25 Dec 1745.
c) John Wiser, who was born about 1721 and
died 9 Jan 1746 in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia in a English battle with the
French.
d) Benjamin Wiser, who was born about 1725
in Natick, who married Sarah Printer (daughter of Ammi Printer), 19 Oct 1747 in
Southboro, Massachusetts and who died as a dignified colonist farmer in
Worcester, Massachusetts in 1771.
As I have
mentioned in previous newsletters, Alathea Wiser (known daughter of our Benjamin
Wiser) and wife of Luther Morse, was born 27 Sep 1768 in Westborough, MA
according to Morse family records (sent in by descendants of Luther and Alathea
Morse). Westborough is adjacent to
Hassinamisco (which is now known as Grafton, MA) where the Printers and Wisers
Indians lived.
The more
research I do, the more I am convinced that we are descended from the Wiser
Indians, alias Quanapaug. As I
mentioned in a previous newsletter, I may find that Quanapaug, means “Wise” or
“Wiser” in Algonquin.
Israel
Rumneymarsh (brother of James Wiser) also lived in Natick.
From the
same book by Jean M. O’Brien, on page 159; “Although no evidence survives that
describes proprietor Israel Rumneymarsh’s perspective on the land market, his
land activities suggest that he resisted its influence. Granted sixty acres in the initial
division, Rumneymarsh had no other land laid out in his right until after
1737. A total of just over 220
acres were laid out between 1737 and 1763. [Samuel Rumneymarsh, son of the
proprietor, died three years after his father. No personal estate was inventoried for
him, either. In 1759, at age
eighty, Samuel’s widow, Sarah, petitioned to sell this “unimproved” land (ten
acres) for her support].
During his
lifetime, Rumneymarsh sold a total of 8 ˝ acres in three parcels to two Indians,
and he exchanged land once with an Englishman. Twenty acres more went to his daughter
Sarah and her husband, Jeffrey Henry, for “affection.” [Jeffrey later married
Mary Toss]. He and his wife,
Esther, had five children, who had survived to adulthood (Samuel, James,
Bethiah, Sarah and Mary), but all five had died by the time their father’s
estate was settled in 1750. [The Rumneymarsh family usually used this surname,
or Rumbleymarsh, but sometimes used Pumhammon. An Israel Bumhainun appears on a 1702
petition of Natick Indians, and Samuel Rumneymarsh’s estate settlement is filed
under Pumhammon alias Rumneymarsh].
Israel
Rumneymarsh’s grandchildren inherited land after his death in 1745. Just about 140 acres valued at 1,282
pounds were inventoried as Israel’s estate, including lands laid out in settling
the estate. When the final division of common lands was being negotiated in
1763, the proprietary right of Israel Rumneymarsh was represented alternatively
by Sarah Rumneymarsh, Sarah Lawrence (an Indian with unknown connections to the
family), and Englishman Samuel Morse.”
Notice the
similarity of given names to our family, Samuel, James and Sarah, and some type
of relationship to the Morse family of Natick.
Also on
pages 130-131 of the same book, there is more information on Jeffrey Henry; “
Proprietor Samuel Ompetowin and his wife, Hannah, daughter of original convert
Robin Speen, both died in 1722, leaving no children who have been
identified. In the course of a long
and complicated settlement, Samuel’s sister Mary Toss was made beneficiary of
estate proceeds that were to earn interest for her support, and she became sole
heir to his proprietary right. Mary
and Jeffrey Henry married in 1739 [after the death of his first wife, Sarah
Rumneymarsh], and they attempted to establish an English-style farm in
Natick. Jeffrey moved to sell land
in 1742 so he could procure oxen and some husbandry tools, needed because he had
“cleared, fenced, and Brought to English grass a Good piece of Ground,” and
desired a “convenient Dwelling house.”
He also had care of his father, who was old and had been blind for
twenty-five years. Jeffrey claimed
to be a proprietor, but is was his wife who held the common right.
Mary and
Jeffrey Henry gave up their residence in Natick permanently sometime between
1742 and 1753. In 1755 they moved
to sell “Divers Lotts of Land” in Natick descended to the said Marcy from her
brother Samll Umpinton Late of said Providence” as resident of Providence
themselves. Needing a means of
support because they were, “So far advance in years that they are at present
past hard Labour,” the couple asked that the proceeds be managed by Englishmen
Jonathan Olney and John Andrews of Providence, whom they had chosen as their
English guardians, and John Jones and Jonathan Richardson, English guardians of
the Natick Indians.
When Mary
Henry’s estate went to probate in Middlesex County in 1770, the small proceeds
of her remaining assets went toward paying costs of administration, as well as
Mary’s board and nursing charges brought by her daughter. The tiny inheritance left after
discharging the debts was split between Mary’s daughters, Hannah Toss and Mary
Caesar, the nieces of proprietor Samuel and Hannah Speen
Ompetowin.”
I am also
including a census that was taken in Natick in 1749. Just a few years previous to this, our
Wiser family had left Natick and relocted in Worcester County,
Massachusetts.
It would be
likely that some of the following are relatives of the
family.
This census
is taken from the Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1st
Series, Vol. 10 (1792): pages 134-135.
A LIST OF THE NAMES OF THE INDIANS OLD AND
YOUNG, VIZ. PARENTS WITH THE NUMBER
OF THEIR, CHILDREN BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, WHICH LIVE IN OR BELONG TO NATICK; TAKEN JUNE
16, 1749. FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE THADDEUS
MASON, ESQ., OF CAMBRIDGE, AND PRESENTED BY HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER TO THE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Deacon Ephraim, wife and her 3
children
Isaac Ephraim
Jacob Chalcom, wife and 3 children
Jeremy Comacho, wife and one
child
Joseph Comacho, wife and one child
Daniel Thomas, wife and one
child
Elizabeth, Ann and Unice
Brooks
Abram Spreen, wife and one
child
Widow Comocho
Judith Ephraim and 2
children
Prince Nyar and wife
5 children of Samuel
Abram
Widow of said Samuel Abram
and one child
Widow of Hezekiah Comacho and 2 children
These 42 above named belong to the south side of Charles river by
Dedham.
Peter Brand, wife and 2 children
Peter Ephraim,wife and 4
children
John Ephraim, wife and 3
children
Thomas Awonsamug, Jun. wife and one
child
Widow Rumnemarsh and Zipporah Peegun
3 children of Solomon Thomas
2 Widow Sooducks, Widow Tray and Thomas
Scoggin
Benjamin, Jonas, Hannah and Mary Tray
Joseph Sinee, wife and 3
children
William Thomas and 2 children
Mary George
Nat Hill, wife and 7
children
Widow Womsquon, and 4
children
Solomon Womsquon,wife and 3 children
Jonas Obscow
Widow Pitimee, Ruth and Ruth's 2
children
These 64 south of Sawpit Hill on Peegun Plain and nearer now to meeting than said
hill is, unless there be a mistake in Sol. Womsquon.
Thomas Peegan, wife and 3
children
Josiah Sooduck and wife
Widow Tom and one child and Sarah Francis
5 Pogenits
All before mentioned are within two miles and
an half of our meeting
house.
Nathaniel Coochuck, wife and
child
Josiah Speen, wife, child and grand child
Moses Speen and child
Widow Speen
Betty Babesuck and her niece Rhoda
Patience Pequassis
Zachary son of Hannah Speen
Daniel Speen
Samuel Speen
These 16 live west, or own land most of them
west of Sawpit Hill, and it is to be noted that Deacon Ephraim's wife's 4
children, which by mistake are said to be 3, own land west of said hill, so doth
Samuel Lawrance and it may be Mary Peegun.
Ester Thomas and child
Thomas Awonsamug, wife and 3 children
Sarah Rumnemarsh
Samuel Lawrance, Thomas and Hannah
Waban
Widow Mary Peegun and 5
children
Oliver Sooduck, Job Speen's
child
Bethia Cole
Mary, daughter of Sarah
Wornsquon
Joseph and Joshua Brook
Hannah Peetimee's child
Esther Sooduck
Elizabeth Wages
The most of the last 26 usually resided on
the south east of Peegun plain, and
so are accommodated as the meeting house now stands.
Having carefully considered the within list,
and being well acquainted with Natick, we hereby signify that we are well
assured it may be depended on as a true one, except that perhaps we have not
thought of every one, and we hope some may be alive who have been soldiers or at
sea, not here named. [Many of our
family were lost in military service during this time, see James and John Wiser
mentioned above].
His
Joseph X
Ephraim.
Mark
Jacob
Chalcom.
John
Ephraim.
Daniel
Thomas.
[A note appeared at the bottom of the census
which is a small chronological history of Natick].
In 1651, an Indian town was formed at
Natick.
In 1660, an Indian church was embodied there.
In 1670, there were two teachers, John and Anthony, and between 40 and 50 communicants.
In 1753, in Natick 25 families, beside several individuals.
In 1763, 37 Indians only; but in
this return, probably the wandering
Indians were not included.
In 1797, the Rev. Mr. Badger, of Natick,
estimated the number of 11 “clear blooded" Indians, then in this place, and
belonging to it, to be "near twenty”. The number of church members was then
“reduced to twenty three.”
OBITUARY
Placerville
[CA]Mountain-Democrat, Friday, 8 Oct 1999, p. A-9; Louise Wiser Kiholm (Samuel
Glenn, Samuel Frost, John McCormick, Samuel, Benjamin), 77, died on Oct. 5 in
Burlingame. Mrs. Kiholm was born
Oct. 16, 1921 in Lewiston, Utah.
She was a resident of Camino since 1973. She was preceded in death by her son,
Robert Kiholm. She is survived by
her husband of 57 years, A.T. "Ki" Kiholm of Camino; son Richard Kiholm of
Camino; daughters Teri Ellison of Florence, Ore., Gayle McAllister of Camino and
Mary Lou Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah; brothers Wendall Wiser of Bountiful,
Utah, Farrell Wiser of Centerville, Utah, and Cordell Wiser of Long Beach;
sisters Maretta Jess of St. George, Utah; Cara Lou Vance of Salt Lake City and
Maxine Cummings of Prove, Utah; 25 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at the Lewiston City Cemetery in Utah. Arrangements were made by Green Valley
Mortuary in Cameron Park.
POSTSCRIPT
Thank you for your interest in this newsletter. Let me know how you think it could be better.
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Ron Wiser 6 Baton Rouge Roswell, NM 88201
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