Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-02
ORIGIN OF THE INDIAN NAME,
MISSISQUOI.

The Bedford News, published at st.
Johns and Bedford. p. G.. prints in a
recent issue the following from Mr.. f. l..
Watson Of Durham. p. O.:
Sir,-The desire to meet with the true
origin of the word "MissisQuOi' Is now
a subject of great interest to the people
and member Of the M%issisquoi Historical
Society. At their late excursion to Isle
aux Noix. Mr.. William Mead Pattison,
of Clarenceville gave an able treatise
upon the Indian tribes of Canada and
Northern New York. making a suggestion
that the word "MissisGuoi" was with
great probability derived from the Mis-
sissagua tribe, formerly inhabit-
ing Northern New York State.
l was much struck with the
apparent probability, and drew at
| ton to a once very celebrated work Of
travels by Isaac Weld. a man of educa-
ton, means, and influence, who made a
leisurely excursion. under the guidance
of the Indians, from New York into
Canada in 1873, and whose work went
through many editions, and whose cuts
and Illustrations have been copied and
rccopicd in Canada. until the original
source has been lost sight Of. He speaks
Of the "Mississaguis' as freDuenting the
northern border, and the shores Of Lake
Ontario. The spelling of the word only
differs in the insertion of a letter A
! from thai OF the usual one time way of
| spelling. He devotes three pages in his
fourth edition. first volume. to describe
ing their peculiarities. and their modes
| Of fshing n hunting. He says that the
'Mississaguis' supplied Kingston with
fish, md game. Mentions that their
principal village was near Toronto.
lspeaks Of Mississagui Point, near Mia
CARA. Isaac Weld had introductions to
all the celebrities on both sides. includ-
ing Generals Washington and Wade.
"Minsiss'' evidently means water. as
| Mississippi, Missouri, Misstissini, etc,
but what the termination gui or Que
means is not so certain. but as Cataraqui,
Gananoque, and Mississquoi are not dis
tant, a common origin may be implied
May we near more on this subject.
T.. l.. w.
In another column OF the Bedford
News, Mr.. VIM. Mead Pattison. alludins
to MIR. Watson's communication. and Ia
the etyn,ologv of the word Missisquoi,
says:
Before our next annual meeting (of the
Miesisquoi Historical Society much light
will doubtless be shed on the subjec,
and we will have, the results Of the high
est authorities in the State Of Vermont.
asked Mr.. Noyes To communicate with
1Col. Forbes OF st. Adams. VT. Cor. Sec,
of the Vermont Historical Society, ask
ing the Society to Join us In efforts for
q solutiOn OF the question.
The late Rowland Il. Robinson, tho
Vermont author and historian, who gave
much study to the indian names of places
and rivers in this region, saw In n com
munication to this paper, shortly before
his death, that ne had been Informed
by John Wadso. whom he described as
"a very intelligent Indian OF st. Francis
p. O." that "Missisquoi was original,
Masseepskee, the Lane of Arrow Flints
while the river now bearing that nam
was Aizxusatriquake. tho Backward.run
ring Stream.
Zadock Thompson. the Vermont histor
ian, says that the word. which he SPELL
"Missisco." giving also eighteen differen'
spcllings OF it, which he had found IL
PRINT, is derived by some from MISE
meaning much. and "Mskeco.' grass; b!