The story of Martha's Vineyard, from the lips of its inhabitants, newspaper files and those who have visited its shores, including stray notes on local history and industries; . certain merry gentle-men returning late at night from a visit to the sick, or other-wise. INDIAN NOTES. Mittark was the first Indian minister at Gay Head, the sonof Nohtoaksaet, a sachem who came from Massachusetts embraced Christianity in 1663, and after the death ofhis father sold, on May 10, 1687, all his rights in the territoryto Gov. Thomas Dongan, of New York. The first recordeddeed of Squibnocket was
The story of Martha's Vineyard, from the lips of its inhabitants, newspaper files and those who have visited its shores, including stray notes on local history and industries; . certain merry gentle-men returning late at night from a visit to the sick, or other-wise. INDIAN NOTES. Mittark was the first Indian minister at Gay Head, the sonof Nohtoaksaet, a sachem who came from Massachusetts embraced Christianity in 1663, and after the death ofhis father sold, on May 10, 1687, all his rights in the territoryto Gov. Thomas Dongan, of New York. The first recordeddeed of Squibnocket was signed by Dongan. It is claimed that the first church here was Presbyterian,but the Baptist records show that that church was organizedon Gay Head by Thomas Mayhew, Peter Folger and others,about 1693. The Gay Head Indians spend their life on the water andbecome the most expert of boatmen. During the days of whal-ing they were in great demand among the whalemen as boat-steerers; several have become mates and a few masters ofwhaleships. There is a great Indian burial ground on Abies Neck, whereit is supposed Hiacoomes, the first converted Indian, was buried. GAY HEAD. 215. ? -^^:.»rni«iiii ? A Gay Head pasture. The Light in the distance. Able Able was anoted Indian digni-tary ; his signatureas attached to a deedreads: I AbleAble, Indian man. The Indians buriedhis implements ofwar and the chasewith the dead brave,and with the squawher household uten-sils, pestle and otherarticles. On thegrave was arranged a circle of flat stones, and on these a firewas kept burning until the stones were red hot—this to driveaway the evil spirit. From The following Fabulous Traditions and Customs ofthe Indians of Marthas Vineyard were communicated to , Esq., of Chilmark, by Thos. Cooper, a half-bloodedIndian of Gay Head, aged about sixtj^-five years; and which,he says, he obtained of his grandmother, who, to use hisown expression, was a stout girl when the English came to theisland
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmarthas, bookyear1908
