1737 March 23 (Wednesday). Cold northerly wind. P.M. visited old David Monanaow,[1] Indian, he tells me he was 104 last Indian Harvest. Says the name of Boston was not Shawmut but Shanwawmuck. Channcy Pond was called Nawgawwoomcom and Marlborough, [blank]. N.B. Mr. Seth Rice[2] here about this time to discourse with me on the life of his sister Thankful. I visited Mr. D. Brigham’s[3] family, and old Capt. Byles.[4]
[1]Forbes: After King Philip’s War, some of the Marlborough Indians who had been taken prisoners and confined on the islands in Boston harbor, returned to their old homes.
“Among those who returned,” says Rev. Dr. Allen, of Northborough, “was David alias David Munnanaow, who joined Philip and, as he afterwards confessed, assisted in the destruction of Medfield. This treacherous Indian had, it is said, a slit thumb, which circumstance led to his conviction. . . .
“His wigwam was on the borders of the pond near the public house long known as Williams’ Tavern, where he lived with his family many years and died in extreme old age.”
The last members of David’s family still made their homes in the field by the pond, within the memory of many persons now living. Until very lately, an extremely old chestnut has been pointed out as the tree under which these Indians had their wigwam. It was called the Wigwam Tree. At last, like old David himself, it has succumbed to old age.
Walett: Sometimes spelled Munnanaw and Munnanaow. He fought with King Philip but afterwards returned to his home in Marlborough.
[2]Walett: Seth Rice and his sister Thankful were 2 of the children of Edmund Rice, an original settler of Westborough.
[3]Walett: One of Parkman’s neighbors.
[4]Walett: Captain Joseph Byles of Westborough.