Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-02
Communications.

Mn. EDITOR I'm the December number
of the Mothers Assistant and Young La.
dy's Friend, published in Boston, by VIM.
Z. Brown, is an article headed IVinoos-
H. 1t is ballad written by the Rev.
Edward Otheman of Chelsea, Mass, and
contains nothing, which should deem wor-
thy OF particular remark, were il not stated
that It was founded upon historical facts, which
have no existence. The subject of the bal
lad seems to have been suggested by view
OF an interesting waterfall in the town of
Mansfield, in this state, in one of the head
branches of Winooski River, and near the
road leading from Danve to Montpelier
This natural curiosity is sometimes called
IIinooski Falls. The writer of tho bal
lad, in some preliminary remarks, states
that IVinooski, was the name of an Ind-
ian, who occupied the hill, and who chose
to remain there alone till death, after the
"rest of his tribe had died, or had removed
"to another abode, distant from the en-
croachments of the white man."
Now from The above statement, persons,
VINO are ignorant of the true origin and
meaning of the beautiful name of our beau
tful river Wlnoosk, would be- led to the
conclusion that it was derived from the name
OF an individual Indian, and that a tribe of
Indians formerly had their residence in the
p1 q inf vir.t, f,I..
Tails. But every person at all acquainted
with our early history knows that both these
conclusions are entirely false. At least,
there is not particle of evidence in proof
that that section Of our state was even the
site OF an Indian tribe, or town, and differ
ent origin Of the namo of our river IS we'll
| ascertained.
1t IS true that previous TO, and at the
time of, the settlement of this state, there
was a small branch of the Abenaqni tribe of
indlaas located at Coos on Connecticut riy-
or most OF whom soon went into Canada and
joined their brethren at St. Francis.
'e"' however, remained among whom
were an Indian called Captain Joe and his
wife Molly. Joe and Molly spent much of
their time in hunting about the head branch
es of Wmooski river, and the ponds in that
neighborhood, and Moy's pond in Cabot,
and Joe's pond lying partly in Cabot and
partly in Danville, still bear their names
Capt. Joe lived to be very old, and was sup
ported during the latter part of his life by a
pension from the state. He died at Newbu
ry, in February. 1919.
|'noosk' is compounded of two words
in the Abcnaqui dialect, Ivinoos and H.
IVinoos signifies leeks, or wild onions, and
@t means land so that IVmoos-h signifies
land Astounding in wild onions, and Win
ooski river is the river Of the land of on
ions. Hence it is evident that the name,
Onion" which has been applied to our
river, is merely translation of the Indian
word lViaoos.
1t afnrds me pleasure to pnrceive osn.
eral wish TO revive and perpetuate the swec,
Indian name, Winooski; and it is to nerne,.
uatc, in connexion will, this name, its true
origin and Specification, that | have been in
duced to send you the preceding remarks
We have but few relics of the aborisines of
our state remaining, and those we have we
should carefully cherish and preserves
Il.
'On the subjects embraced in this communication
zee IhomHson's Vermont part II page 2C5 and part
Ill ait. Wlnoosai, MissiscG, &c