Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-21
MollockETr.

Indian character, not Withouo A"hnS
also, and her friendship for the whit
people was strong and kindly. Born b
the Saco, she boosted descent from a
eminent ancestry in the Pequawke
tribe. The name of her Catholic christ
ening, Mary Agatha, Indian lips an
threats shaped into sounds, which tn
English wrote into Molly iOckett, bu
common usage so far established Mo-
lockett that now it is needless refine
ment to retain the former name. Sh
was, perhaps in middle life, a CONVEX
under Methodist influence, but coul'
ever quite get free from sense OF dut,
to confess to the priest, and went t.
Canada for that purpose. In her las
DAYS, questioned about readiness to die
she quoted, 'Straight is the gate" ad
ding, ''Me try to walk very straight TO
good many years"
Mollockett was child of the forest
loved it's freedom, enjoyed its loneliness
was an eager, skillful hunter, lived mucl
in camp far from the homes of settlers
evidently found qualification in those
wild pursuits which exercised her vigor
Gus physical powers, furnished her fooe
and Igave her refreshing sleep on hel
rude bed in the lonely forest camp. Fol
a time domiciled in the home of Bos
ton friend, who had urged the visit, she
grew restless under the CONSTANTS Of
city life and could endure it no longer
declaring she must "die in the grea,
forest amid the trees, the companions OF
her youth" She was large in form and
features, active and strong, with many
endurance in hard tramps and exposure
of her hunters life.
Mollockett was we'll known and lived
at times in Fryeburg, Bethel, Andover
had a camp at the outlet OF
Umbagog, one in Hanover, one in Bethel
and at other points where her fancy led
her to tarry. To those appreciative OF
the facts of Names Indian history, IL Is
a qualification that this woman's name
may be long perpetuated, affixed as il
has been to mountain in Woodstock
near which she used to camp. 1t is
near the southeast corner of the town,
sloping toward the Paris line, and may
be some two miles north of Moose Pond.
The atlas of Oxford County, 1880, ex-
hibits it with the name "Molly Ocketts
mountain" Some citizens of the town
of North Paris might inform the readers
of the Democrat if the name is still IN
common use in the vicinity.~
Only word is allowable respecting
this woman's family life. She had four
children by two husbands, whom she
married in Indian freedom, abandoning
the first ON account of his drunken
worthlessness. Her daughter, Molly
Susup, married Penobscot Indian, who
afterward abandoned her, much to
Mollockett's disgust. The question has
risen if perchance traces of Old Mol
lockett's blood may still exist in the
much diluted currents flowing in the
dusky sons and daughters of the Old
town tribe.
The practice of the healing art after
Indian methods gave her high repute,
and her services were widely sought for.
1t is told that she was the only attend.
ant at the party when the first infant OF
Andover was welcomed to its home. Her
skill in all Indian handicraft was evil
IDENTIFY above the ordinary. Two articles
wrought out by her yet remain to attest
her ability. One is birch bark box
having a rectangular base 8 by 10 inches,
but drawn in at the upper corners so
that the top is elliptical, into which the
Hanged cover shuts. Writing on the IN
side shows that it was probably made
before 1850. The label tells its history
"This box was made by Mollockett, the
last of the Anasagunticooks on the An.
droscoggin River. 1t was made and
presented to Mrs. John Kimball OF
Bethel and by her to the Maine His
torical Society. Attest N. I. I. Bethel,
Me-, Sept. 18th, 1860. .,
DR.. Nathl. r. True of Bethel with
much interest sought out in the several
towns of her abode the facts of her life.
The materials for this sketch are drawn
from what he gathered and published.
Another relic constructed by patient
toll of clever fingers reveals much taste
as we'll as skill. 1t is pocketbook
similar in form to those leather affairs in
which our grandfathers carried their
scanty bank bills. Stretched fully open
it measures IL by 6 inches, but it folds
to nearly 5 inches with portion to lap
over and fasten with clasp. On the
inside the material shows itself to be
thick, closely woven web made from
strands or warn of tow. The outside is
compacted of split porcupine quilts
which evidently were wrought into the
web one by one as it was woven. The
ouills are laid in variously colored lines
and shapes of fanciful design. The
lining making also the two apartments
or pockets is green cloth, probably the
old goods called amlet. The more
closely the affair is examined the more
curious and ingenious the construction
appears. A label attached tells Its
story: "This Pocket Book was made by
Moliocket and presented by her to Col.
Eli Twitchel of Bethel about the year
1855. 1t is made of hedgehog quilts.
The clasp was made by Mr.. Twitchel.
n. r. II. Presented to the Maine Hist.
Soc. by Mrs. Lucia Kimball Aug. ~,
1860" Another slip of paper will at,
tract the eye and one will read,
"Old Mollocket
Made this Pocket
She was Pequaket
And last on the Docket"
Plainly the genial DR.. True wrote sc
quaint legend. People OF Oxford
County in their shopping trips to Port
land can if interested, see these articles
any afternoon in the rooms OF the His
torical Society in tho Public Library
building.
Mollockett lived to an advanced age
variously estimated, and by some ex
apgerated to l2O, even 140 years. The
error was based on Misrepresentation o.
her relation of events in her life, anc
proof was ample in the apparent age O.
her daughter, who went to school al
Bethel, and active and vigorous was NJ
second rate contestant with the boys IL
rude sports. DR.. True said the genera
impression of the aged people of Bethe
would assign to her about century
Mr.. Silvanus Poor told that she frs
came to Andover in 17SS and wa
thought to be go years old, hence would
be hardly 80 at death. A line draw
between the two opinions might b.
nearly correct.
In the last year of her life, Mollockett
very infirm and almost blind, was takel
from Metalluck's camp where she hat
been, to Andover, and first supported
by the charities of her friends, was sool
by the selectmen taken in charge ant
put in the care of Capt. Thos. Bragg
Her native tastes and love for the fire.
air of the hills and the balm of tn
forests made her now in her sickness
lily content to be nursed in the house
She wanted to die in camp where sh
could smell the cedar. So one was bull
by the house, and thus, nearer the sun
..l tho hraoua che 1Vaa mad