Compiled for use in teaching reading and catechism to Indians by
the 17th century missionary. Contains no ethnographic information.
28. Elliot, John, and Thomas Mayhew, “Tears of Repentance: or, A
Further Narrative of the Progress of the Gospel Amongst the Indians
in New England,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series
3, Vol. IV, 1834.
Letters dating ca. 1653; information concerning aboriginal
religious beliefs and the way of becoming a powow.
29. Ellis, G.E., “The Indians of Eastern Massachusetts,” MEMORIAL
HISTORY OF BOSTON, J. Winsor, ed., Vol I. (Boston) 1880, pp. 241-71.
Deals with the history of Anglo-Indian relationships. Not much
ethnographic information.
30. Flannery, R., AN ANALYSIS OF COASTAL ALGONQUIAN CULTURE
(Washington, D. C.; The Catholic University of America Press) 1939.
Trait list for southern New England; very complete, but the
inclusion of tribes other than those in the immediate Plymouth
region—i.e. Connecticut—calls for cross checking before accepting
all things as true of local Indians.
31. Freeman, Frederick, CIVILIZATION AND BARBARISM, (Cambridge: The
Riverside Press) 1878.
Running account of relations between Indians and white men from
1620 to the end of King Philip’s War. Ethnographic information
is nonexistent; however, a general picture of Indian-English
relationships as they unfolded can be gained.
32. Gookin, Daniel, “Historical Collections of the Indians in New
England,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 1, Vol
I, 1792.
This is a basic source, covering all aspects of Indian culture.
Concerns mainly the Massachusetts.
33. Guernsey, S.J., “Notes on the Exploration of Martha’s Vineyard,”
AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns. Vol. XVIII, 1916, pp. 81-97.
Discusses the investigation of some burials and the collection
of some typical artifacts (cord and fabric-impressed and incised
sherds).
34. Hawley, G., “Mashpee Indians,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
COLLECTIONS, Series 1, Vol. X, 1809, p. 113.
Contains 18th. century population records.
35. Hawley, Rev. Mr., “Account of an Indian Visitation, A.D. 1698,”
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 1, Vol. X, 1809,
p. 129.
Concerns the location and religious conditions of various Indian
congregations of 1698.
36. Haynes, H. W., “Agricultural Implements of the New England
Indians,” PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY, Vol.
XXII, 1883, pp. 437-43.
Discusses shell and stone hoes and spades that might have been used
by the Indians in historic times. Information it contains is better
gotten in entirety from original sources than piecemeal here.
37. Higginson, F., “New England’s Plantation,” MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 1, 1806, pp. 117-24.
Brief ethnographic sketch, dealing with appearance, weapons,
houses, seasonal mobility, religion, and labor.
38. Howe, Henry F. PROLOGUE TO NEW ENGLAND (New York, Toronto: Farr
and Rinehart, Inc.) 1943.
This book covers the voyages of exploration and the accounts
of them from the Vikings to the Pilgrims. The author provides
continuity and explanatory passages, but there are extensive
quotations from original sources, making this an excellent source
for such journalists as Verrazano, Champlain, and Smith; most
writings by them relevant to the Indians of this area are included.
39. James, Sydney V., Jr., ed., THREE VISITORS TO EARLY PLYMOUTH
(Plimoth Plantation) 1963.
Contains the accounts of John Pory, Emmanuel Altham, and Issack de
Rasieres.
40. Josselyn, John, “New England’s Rarities Discovered,” TRANSACTIONS
AND COLLECTIONS OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, IV., 1860, pp.
130-238.
Main concern is the natural history of the region, but there is a
description of the dress (acculturated), ornament, and hairstyle of
an “Indian Squa”.
41. Josselyn, John, “Two Voyages to New England,” MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 3, Vol. III, 1833.
Information on Indian culture not extensive; relevant information
covers material for bows and fire-making.
42. Kitteredge, G.L., “Letters of Samuel Lee and Samuell Sewell
Relating to New England and the Indians,” PUBLICATIONS OF THE
COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS XV, 1912, pp. 142-86.
The letters consist of a series of answers to questions about
Indian culture. Unfortunately there is no existing list of the
questions. Subjects covered are mainly appearance, matters of
health, cures, hygiene, and child care. In many cases the questions
asked can be guessed, and the author’s notes as to other primary
sources on similar subjects are useful. There is no information
not already covered in other standard primary sources, but the
information here nicely confirms other writers’ observations. The
time of writing is about 1690. The Indian group of main concern is
the Narragansett.
43. Knight, M.F., “Wampanoag Indian Tales,” JOURNAL OF AMERICAN
FOLKLORE, Vol. XXXVIII, 1925, pp. 134-7.
Information is 19th. and 20th. century; influences of acculturation
are obvious.
44. Leach, Douglas Edward, FLINTLOCK AND TOMAHAWK: NEW ENGLAND IN
KING PHILIP’S WAR (New York: The Macmillan Company) 1959.
Contains a brief introductory sketch of Indian culture. Population
subsistence, houses, physical appearance, division of labor, etc.
are treated generally.
45. Lechford, T., PLAIN DEALING OR NEWS FROM NEW ENGLAND, J.H.
Trumbull, ed., (Boston: J. K. Wiggin & William Parsons Lunt) 1868.
——also MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 3, Vol.
III, 1833.
Originally published in 1642, this work does not contain a great
deal of information about Indian culture. Relevant passages concern
hairdressing, ornament, fire-making, weapons, and government.
46. Macy, Zaccheus, “A Short Journal of the First Settlement of the
Island of Nantucket,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS,
Series 1, Vol. III, 1794, pp. 155-60.
Description of settlement of the island in 1659 speaks briefly
of the Indians as kind and hospitable people. Gives population
figures in 1763 (358) prior to an epidemic in the same year that
substantially eradicated that population.
47. Miller, W.J., NOTES CONCERNING THE WAMPANOAG TRIBE OF INDIANS
(Providence) 1880.
Concerns the history of English dealings with the tribe; no
ethnographic data.
48. Mooney, James, “The Aboriginal Population of America North of
Mexico,” SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS, Vol. LXXX, no. 7,
(February, 1928).
Gives estimate of population for the area. Presumably this is based
on historical sources rather than any formula, although he does not
say how the figures were arrived at.
49. Mooney, J., “Handbook of American Indians,” BULLETIN OF THE
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, XXX, Vols. I and II, 1910, pp. 810
(vol. I), 903-4 (vol. II).
For the Wampanoag there is a brief description concerning matters
of history, linguistics, and population. There is also a list of
town names.
50. Morton, Thomas, THE NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, (Boston: The Prince
Society) 1883.
This work, originally published in 1637, is a basic source for the
study of both early colonists and Indians; covers all aspects of
Indian culture. The tribe being described is the Massachusett.
51. MOURT’S RELATION (in Young CHRONICLES OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS,
etc.)
Originally published in 1622, this is a basic source for Wampanoag
culture in all aspects; also contains the accounts of earliest
Pilgrim dealings with the Indians.
52. Murdock, George Peter, ETHNOGRAPHIC BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NORTH
AMERICA, 2nd. Edition (New Haven: Human Relations Area Files) 1953.
Contains a list of all published sources on North American Indians
through 1953. All sources that are relevant to the Plymouth area
are included in the present list.
53. Pory, John, JOHN PORY’S LOST DESCRIPTION OF PLYMOUTH (Boston and
New York: Houghton Mifflin Company) 1918.
——also in James, THREE VISITORS, etc.
Description of Indians is brief and relates mostly to
interrelationships with English—trade, hostilities, etc. What
comments there are on culture also pertain to Indians outside the
Plymouth area; no information is included that is not gotten better
from other sources.
54. Potter, E.R., “Early History of Narragansetts,” COLLECTIONS OF
THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Vol. III (Providence: Marshall
Brown, and Company) 1835.
A compilation of historical data on the Narragansetts. The main
ethnographic source is Williams. There is considerable data on
Indian-colonial dealings from town records.
55. Prince, J.D., “The Last Living Echoes of the Natick,” AMERICAN
ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., Vol. IX, 1907, pp. 493-98.
Concerns a few remaining Indians during the early 20th. century,
living in Mashpee on Cape Cod; the recollections of old people.
There is also some collected vocabulary.
56. Pring, Martin, “The Voyage of Martin Pring,” (in Winship)
SAILORS’ NARRATIVES also Howe, PROLOGUE TO NEW ENGLAND.
Account by an early (1603) visitor to Plymouth harbor. Information
on general appearance, horticulture, diet, weapons, and birch bark
canoes.
57. Rainey, F.G., “A Compilation of Historical Data Contributing to
the Ethnography of Connecticut and Southern New England Indians,”
BULLETIN OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT (April, 1936).
This is just what the title implies—a collection of some data on
Indians in southeastern New England. The author assumes that all
groups are the same culture-wise, and makes no attempt to segregate
data, for example, of observers in Maine from that of those in
Connecticut. The compilation, moreover, is incomplete. No synthesis
is attempted—information presented in a series of quotations.
58. de Rasieres, Issack, “Letter of Issack de Rasieres to Samuel
Blommaert, 1628,” in James, THREE VISITORS, etc., and also Jameson,
Franklin, J., ed., NARRATIVES OF NEW NETHERLAND (New York, Charles
Scribner’s Sons, 1909).
Information concerning trade with Maine, conduct of the Indians,
education of the young, and male initiation. Also extensive
account of customs of New York Indians.
59. Shepard, Thomas, “The Clear Sun-Shine of the Gospel Breaking
forth upon the Indians in New England,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series 3, Vol. IV, pp. 27-67.
Mainly a description of missionary activities, dating to about
1648. There is little ethnographic information; mainly it tells of
the efforts of religious instruction. Mentions the existence of
female initiation.
60. Smith, John, A DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND, OR OBSERVATIONS AND
DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH OF AMERICA IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1614
(Boston: Williams Veazie) 1875.
Information on Indians is not extensive. Concerns general
distribution of settlements, location of furs, and horticulture
around Massachusetts Bay.
61. Speck, F.G., “Medicine Practices of the Northeastern
Algonquians,” INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICANISTS, XIX, 1917, pp.
303-21.
Ethnographic information concerns Montagnais, Mohegan,
Penobscott—mostly remedy lists, which, since they tend to
be specific at least to tribe are not much help except as
illustrations of the kinds of things used in the general area.
Theory contained therein is relevant to all Algonquians, however,
and should be read by anyone studying in this area.
62. Speck, F.G., “Mythology of the Wampanoag,” EL PALACIO, Vol. XXV,
1928, pp. 83-6.
Acculturated, 19th. century information.
63. Speck, F.G., “Territorial Subdivisions and Boundaries of the
Wampanoag, Massachusetts, and Nauset Indians,” INDIAN NOTES AND
MONOGRAPHS, no. 44, (Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation).
Data on tribal subdivisions is compiled, and most of it relates to
about the time of King Philip’s War. Also genealogical data.
64. Speck, F.G., and Ralph Dexter, “Utilization of Marine Life by
the Wampanoag Indians of Massachusetts,” JOURNAL OF THE WASHINGTON
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, Vol. XXXVIII, 1948, pp. 257-65.
Information in regard to contemporary practices of the Wampanoag of
Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard, on use of sea products for food and
other purposes.
65. Tantaquidgeon, G., “Notes on the Gay Head Indians of
Massachusetts,” INDIAN NOTES, Vol. 7, no. 1 (Museum of the American
Indian, Heye Foundation) January, 1930.
Concerns 19th. century splint and grass basketry-making; describes
some techniques of manufacture.
66. Thatcher, James, HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH, FROM ITS FIRST
SETTLEMENT IN 1620, TO THE PRESENT TIME: WITH A CONCISE HISTORY OF
THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ENGLAND AND THEIR WARS WITH THE ENGLISH, &C.
(Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon) 1835.
Brief cultural summary includes diet, division of labor,
appearance, housing, attitude toward children, effects of strong
drink, treatment of captives, and the general character of Indians.
For its brevity it is quite complete, albeit non-analytical.
Includes history of Indian-Pilgrim contacts. Covers King Philip’s
War. Includes Indian anecdotes and sketches of character and
activities of some of the more well-known Indians of the 17th.
century.
67. Trumbull, J.H., “Natick Dictionary,” BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF
AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, XXV, 1903.
Linguistic material. No ethnographic data.
68. Vaughan, Alden T., NEW ENGLAND FRONTIER: PURITANS AND INDIANS
1620-1675 (Boston: Little, Brown and Company) 1965.
This is a history of relations between Indians and colonists, taken
from the point of view of the colonists. The section relevant to a
study of Wampanoag culture is the introductory chapter on general
Algonquian culture for the New England area. A most articulate and
applicable summary, it is basic reading for a general background in
Indian culture of the region.
69. Verrazano’s Narrative (contained in H. Howe, PROLOGUE TO NEW
ENGLAND).
This narrative represents the first account of contact with
Algonquians of the Plymouth region—area concerned is Narragansett
Bay, date is 1524. Information on general appearance and notation
of dwellings that do not fit the expected pattern for wigwam
construction.
70. Whitfield, Henry, compiler, “The Light Appearing More and More
Towards the Perfect day or, A Farther Discovery of the Present State
of the Indians in New England, Concerning the Progresse of the Gospel
Amongst Them,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTIONS, Series
3, Vol. IV.
Contains letters by John Eliot dating about 1651, with information
on becoming a powow, dreams, and the succession of powows.
71. Wilder, H.H., “Notes on the Indians of Southern Massachusetts,”
AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., Vol. XXV, 1923, pp. 197-218.
This contains some information on the excavation of burials, plus
an attempt at reconstruction of how the face of an Indian might
have looked, based upon skeletal features.
72. Williams, Roger, A KEY INTO THE LANGUAGE OF AMERICA: OR AN HELP
TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE NATIVES IN THAT PART OF AMERICA, CALLED NEW
ENGLAND (Providence: The Narragansett Club) Vol. 1, Ser. 1, 1866.
Originally published in 1643, this is a basic source on all aspects
of Indian culture. Concern is mainly with the Narragansetts.
73. Willoughby, C. C., “The Adze and the Ungrooved Axe of the New
England Indians,” AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns. Vol. IX, 1907, pp.
296-306.
Contains both historic and prehistoric data. Same material is found
in Willoughby, 1935. Perhaps useful in separating historic and
prehistoric forms.
74. Willoughby, Charles C., ANTIQUITIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND INDIANS
(Cambridge: the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology,
Harvard University) 1935.
The area covered here is the entirety of New England, so caution
must be exercised in selecting information to avoid bringing in
details not applicable to the Plymouth area. The relevant section
is that called, “The Later Algonquian Group”. Information covers
textiles, wooden dishes, shell beads, and burials and grave
goods. The sub-section on “General Culture of the Historic New
England Tribes”, has both relevant and irrelevant information—the
discussions of wampum and fortifications are worthy of note. The
archaeology contained in the rest of the book seems rather out of
date, and the conclusions as to the source of copper are wrong.
Illustrations that pertain to historic artifacts are worth looking
at. This book has the advantage of being the major and last of the
author’s works concerning the New England area, and information
contained in earlier articles (of which there are several) can be
found here.
75. Willoughby, C. C., “Certain Earthworks of Eastern Massachusetts,”
AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., Vol. XIII, 1911, pp. 566-76.
The information also appears in Willoughby, 1935, where the author
has revised his thinking on the nature of some of the earthworks;
that source, therefore is better consulted than this.
76. Willoughby, C. C., “Dress and Ornaments of the New England
Indians,” AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., Vol. VII, 1905, pp. 499-508.
All information is covered in Willoughby, 1935.
77. Willoughby, C. C., “Houses and Gardens of the New England
Indians,” AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., VIII, 1906, pp. 115-32.
All information covered in Willoughby, 1935.
78. Willoughby, Charles C., “The Wilderness and the Indian,” in
COMMONWEALTH HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS, Albert Bushnell Hart, ed. (New
York: The States History Company) Vol. I, 1927-28, pp. 127-57.
A general summary of New England Indian culture, which is better
done in the book by Vaughan.
79. Willoughby, C. C., “Wooden Bowls of the Algonquian Indians,”
AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, ns., Vol. X, 1908, pp. 423-34.
Illustrations are interesting for general types, however, objects
relevant to the Plymouth area are also illustrated in Willoughby,
1935.
80. Winship, George Parker, ed., SAILORS’ NARRATIVE OF VOYAGES ALONG
THE NEW ENGLAND COAST 1524-1624 (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Company)
1905.
This book is a collection of early narratives. Especially relevant
are the accounts of Samuel de Champlain, Martin Pring, and John
Brereton; all are basic sources.
81. Winslow, Edward, “The Glorious Progress of the Gospel Amongst
the Indians in New England,” MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
COLLECTIONS, Series 3, Vol. IV, 1834, pp. 69-99.
Originally compiled in 1649, this contains a letter by Eliot,
concerning spring congregations at fishing places.
82. Winslow, Edward, “Good Newes from New England: or A true
Relation of things very Remarkable at the Plantation of Plimoth in
New-England,” (in Young, CHRONICLES OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS, etc.)
Originally published in 1624, this is one of the basic sources on
all aspects of Indian culture; the observations are most insightful.
83. Wood, William, NEW ENGLAND’S PROSPECT, Charles Deane, ed.
(Boston: The Prince Society), 1865.
A basic source on all aspects of Indian culture. Concern is mainly
with the Massachusett.
84. Young, Alexander, CHRONICLES OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS OF THE COLONY
OF PLYMOUTH FROM 1602-1625 (Boston: Charles C. Little and James
Brown), 1841.
Contains MOURT’S RELATION and Winslow’s Relation (“Good Newes from
New England” etc.).