Life can be full of lore; legends are born and the years have a way of feeding these legends until the myth might become so entwined that it simply cannot be disputed.
Such is the case with a man that walked across the fields and forests of Concord more than 400 years ago. This man was no ordinary man, and has been referred to as the first governor of New Hampshire. This man was Passaconaway.
Passaconaway is believed to have been born between the years 1550 and 1570 and said to have died in the year 1679. Well known during the early colonial period in New England, Passaconaway was a very powerful man, serving as the shaman and sachem chief of the Pennacook Native Americans and eventually assuming the role of bashaba, the chief of chiefs in our region.
As the bashaba, Passaconaway was responsible for the multi-tribal confederation in our geographic area that was formed for protection against the Mohawk Nation, which was known and documented as attacking the peace loving Pennacooks right her in Concord.
When Passaconaway was born his name, when spoken in the Native American language is said to have meant Papoeis (a child) and Kunnaway (a bear) or translated to Son of the Bear. We first see recorded history when Passaconaway is found to be present at Plymouth when the Pilgrims first landed in 1620. Passaconaway was disturbed by his first encounter with the Europeans and spent a few days in a Cape Cod swamp surrounded by darkness and calling upon his spirits for assistance to rid his land of the unwelcomed Pilgrims. A short period of time passed and eventually Passaconaway found that his efforts were in vain so he told his people that the Manitto had whispered to him telling him; peace, peace with the whites. At this point the Native Americans are found to be rendering assistance to our Pilgrim ancestors to help them survive their very first winter in the new world.
Passaconaway was certainly a man with the ability to gain support from his people. Some say he was magical, or at the very least he did provide the essence of a person with magical abilities and power. He resided here in the Concord area and was said to have selected the widest point of the Merrimack River to swim below the surface and rise on the opposite shore. No Pennacook was able complete this remarkable feat, but Passaconaway did indeed swim this great distance, emerged on the opposite shore among some type of mist described as a black cloud and thunder could be heard in the distance at the precise moment. He made certain to have hundreds of witnesses and this Merrimack River crossing was very well documented as it too became one of the many legends. His followers also told that Passaconaway could make water burn, rocks move, trees dance and metamorphizes himself into a flaming man.
Passaconaway was well documented as a very intelligent and physically strong person. His fortress here in Concord was located on Sugar Ball Hill and he secured his stature as well as the future of his Pennacooks with marriage and diplomacy. Seldom did Passaconaway resort to war to form his alliance over a dozen tribes in Northern New England which included the Wachusetts, Nashuas and the Winnipesaukees. This federation was brought together peacefully with the exception of the League of the Iroquois, the most powerful coalition in the east.
In his position as bashaba, he encouraged agriculture, arts and farmed the fertile land in the Merrimack Valley. The meadows produced an abundance of beans, pumpkins, watermelons, maize and squash too. The Pennacookโs held the crow as sacred and legend tells us they believe the great spirit sent a raven from Kantantowits field in the southwest with the very first seeds so badly needed here to grow crops and feed the people. The Pennacooks were primarily farmers until the settlers arrived, continuing to farm they also fished the Merrimack River, hunted the forest and made their own tools to help in their everyday lives.
The bend in the Merrimack River at Fort Eddy provided a wonderful camp as well as summer fishing to prepare for the long New Hampshire winters. Another location frequented by the Pennacooks was the Merrimack River at Amoskeag Falls, which they considered very sacred ground. It is said that the Amoskeag Falls were used for ceremonial purposes as well as harvesting fish. Holidays were celebrated here, marriages performed and speeches given.
Passaconaway had his official council and discussed the affairs of the state frequently with his council. His ongoing encounters with magic further solidified his standing as he embraced the white man further and himself converted to Christianity. Passaconaway would spend time living and speaking from his home on Sewalls Falls Island during the summer months as well as spending time at his second summer home on the island north of the junction of the Souhegan and Merrimack Rivers.
As the years progressed, Passaconaway became very well known for his support of peace and strongly opposed any hostilities towards the white settlers. His son, Wonalancet, also supported ongoing peace here in our region.
During his final years, it is reported that Passaconaway was seen in the Litchfield area during the winter of his 120 year of life. There are multiple legends regarding his passing with one legend telling us he was made a saint in his later life, Saint Aspenquid. A funeral was held for him at Mount Agementicus near Portsmouth where over 6,000 animals were hunted and consumed over a period of days. There was a feast with many delicacies consumed including woodchucks, rattlesnakes, porcupines, moose and wild cats. His body was sealed in a rocky cave with a door sealing the entrance.
The second legend of the demise of Passaconaway speaks of a great sled being built and 24 wolves of large size were harnessed to the sled. The great sachem wrapped himself in bearskin robes and bid his people farewell. He lashed his wolves and left his people this last time traveling at great speeds to his final rest. It is said that Passaconaway, the first governor of New Hampshire, and his sled with wolves was last seen speeding over the rocky terrain of Mount Washington gaining on the summit as he rode this last time into the clouds hovering above New Hampshire.
Regardless of his demise, Passaconaway lived a long life, embraced peace and loved the people that he led here in the Merrimack Valley.