Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 199
that name, and for that reason mail matter is now liable to be
mis-sent. This objection would not be applicable to the name
Che-qua-quet.*
*For the definition of Che-qua-qiiet and many other Indian names, I am indebted to
an intelligent Indian Chief irom the West. He had a perfect knowledge of his native tongue
which was a dialect of the language spoken by the Massachusetts Indians. He could
read withoutmucli difficulty Eliot's ludiau bible, and Cotton's vocabulary. He was very
cautious in giving his opinion. The names of places were often spelt so diflerently from
the manner in which he was accustomed to write the equivalent words that he did not
always recognize them. He asked me several times if the pronunciation of the first sylable
of Che-qua-quet was Che or Tshe, not Wee, because the meaning of the name depended on
that pronunciation. The meaning of the name of a pond in Mashpee, which be gave me,
is confirmed by Mr. Marston, the Indian superintendent, as it« tinae meaning. I have also
attempted to obtain information from members of the Penobscot tribe, out with little