Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTJSS OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 87
bird gave its cognomen to the harbor, we have for its name Swan's
Cove.
I have thus rapidly passed in review the radical words from
which We-qua-quet may be derived. My own preference is clear-
ly indicated. I may be wrong—and, if so, it will not be the first
time. The name affords a practical illustration of the difficulties
that environ the student of the analogies of an unwritten language.
A misplaced letter changes the meaning of a radical
word, and thus the inquirer is misled. Words phonetically the
same have a widely different meaning, when differently accented,
or when accompanied by a different gesture. Cotton and Williams'
vocabularies are valuable aids ; but they are collections of
compounds and of phrases, not of the primary words of the language.
Rasles dictionary of the Canadian dialects gives the radical
words, and exhibits many of their combinations ; but though
printed in a splendid quarto, it is locked up in old Provincial
French which the student has first to learn, and the work is therefore
of little value to the general reader. Schoolcraft's five
splendid folios, elaborately illustrated, is the best work extant on
the history, the language and customs of the Indian tribes ; but it
is too expensive a book ever to become popular.
Whether We-qua-quet is derived from we-ko-ne, the Indian
word for "sweet, delightful, consoling," &c. ; from we-quash,
light, or a torch, also the name of the "swan," and hence associated
in his mind with "graceful" acts, and "aquatic sports," or
from Me-tuk-que, (forming Che-tuk-quet) "an orchard," or from
Wee-koh-quot, "fair weather" is of little importance, either is a
good name.
Looking at the question from a business standpoint, We-quaquett
is better than Centerville, a vile .compound of Latin and
French, unmeaning, inappropriate and unconnected with the
memories and the associations of the past. Commercially it is
objectionable, leading to errors and mistakes. A We-qua-quett
man is in a distant city—he writes to his family or to his employers,
he omits to add after Centerville, "Massachusetts"—there
are many post offices of that name—the postmaster cannot forward
it out of the State in which he resides—he sends it to the
dead letter office, and if it contains no valuable enclosures it is
committed to the fitfmes. If he forwards it to an office of the
same name in his State, a like fate awaits it. Many such miscarriages
occur, and so long as the present name is continued no
ordinary care and precaution will prevent their recurrence. Return
the old name, and the danger is lessened, if it is not entirely
removed.
It may be asked, "of what use?" Of what use is the study
of the Latin, the Greek, the Hebrew, the Chaldee or the Anglo
Saxon?—the value consists mainly in the mental discipline the