Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-24


The recent celebration at Brookfeld has excl
ted considerable interest in regard to the early
settlement of that town, and the proposed meet.
ing in 1860, to notice the two hundredth annivcr
sary of that settlement, makes it a matter Of
much interest to recall, as far as possible, all
the events and circumstances of its early history
The first thing that has attracted the attention
of the writer, in connection with this subject, is,
the old IadiGn deed, obtained from the sachem
Shattooquis, in 1865. This, as a matter of me-
cessity, and it may be somewhat of choice, too,
was very indefinite in its description of metes and
bounds yet, the general features of it cannot
but be readily comprebended. The only difficult
~ or doubt arises from the fact, that of the
Indian names seem to be lost, and others misap
piled For example, the description commences
''at the head of Quihoag Pond, beginning at
little meadow at the North end of the Pond Quo
boag, which meadow is called Podunk.' 1t
then passes on to a "litile hill called Wullaman-
muck; and thence North, and East. about three
miles ); and then it strikes off Westerly, ito
the head of Wickaboag Pond and then down to
Lashaway, viz : the river that comes from Quo
boag Pond )" thence down the Lashaway to "a
brook or stream called Naultaug - and so up
that brook to the head of it "to the verge of hill
| called Asquoach;" thence "Southward, or South
| east, to that pond Quoboag." Such are, in gen.
era terms, the boundaries of the old Indian title
The only important questions of doubt are,
| first, which is Wullamannuck Hill 1t must be
| situated Southeasterly from where the village of
| East Brookheld now is; but which of the hills
| is the true one There is a principal peak
| which we suppose is the one referred to we
! have little doubt on that point still, 1t is de.
sirable that the veritable "Wullamunnuck"
should be ascertained. The next question is the
"book called Naultaug." We believe, at pres
ent, that it is the little stream coming into the
main river, from the South, at the Warren De-
| pot, on which stands one two small mills. 1t
| must be Iecollected, that Warren, or Western
as it was originally called, was made up, in part
from the territory of Brookfeld-so that we might
| expect to find ONE of the boundaries in that
| town besides. this brook must be the one
| referred to in the deed, as we Judge
from its connection with the whole tract convey
| ed. The line runs up that stream to the verge Of
| 1.-THE hill AsquOach." Does any person know of
hill that bore that name, or any name that
sounds like it Iii suggested probable that
| ASQuo0cb is what is now called " Bald HILL" or
| "Bald Mountain" but it would be desirable to
have some traditionary evidence, We have,
therefore, written this article to call the attention
/ OF all concerned, the people of the Brookfeds,
| and adjoining towns. to these facts, in the hope
| that some one may be able and disposed to fur
| nish light on the subject; and, if any person is
IN possession of information in regard to the loca
tion of WWtLGnaannack, NGUltaag, or ASquoasb,
| he is respectfully requested to communicate
/ it to the subscriber.
One thing is made apparent BY the examina.
ton of the old deed from the Indian sachem,
| viz: that the true name of the beautiful river
that passes through Brookheld and West Brook
field has been lost. 1t was called Podunk, fifty
years ago. When young, we never heard it spo.
ken of by any other name: but within the last
thirty years it has been called Quoboag. The
| true Indian name unquestjonaby is "Lashaway'
because it is called in the old deed aforesaid
II is then described "the river that comes from
Quoboag Pond" On this point there can be NO
doubt But it would seem that it was called
Qnoboag in the act Of incorporation for the "pre.
cncts of Brookfeld," in 1854. 1t was neverthe.
less an error.
AS it seems desirable to restore so far as NAV
be, the original names, and Lashaway" is GER
tainly more agreeable name than "Quoboag"-
which is anything but elegant or euphonious-it
is to be hoped that the former will be substituted
for the latter. AMAsA WALKER