American Indian Place Names In Rhode Island, Page 2

[7] Also known as Nananawtûnu ("he is ruler, overseer, protector"), Nanuntenoo or Quananshett among other spellings.

[8] Named for Canonicus [1565-1647, the eldest of four sons of Tashtassuck, the first of the recorded chiefs/Sachems of the Narragansett tribe of Indians. He lived on Conanicut Island (see Quononicut for term less corrupted). See Narragansett Tribe.

[9] From An Historical Sketch of The Town of Scituate, R.I., 1877.

[10] Rider (p. 144) believes this is same as Chipachuack.

[11] "Devil" is a good illustration of layperson's misunderstanding of regional Indian languages. The root chepi means "separation" (including physical death). This meaning is illustrated by Roger Williams (1643), where he records: chepeck = "the dead"; Chepassôtam = "the dead Sachim".

[12] Now called Patience Island.

[13] See Wappewassick.

[14] Now called Hog Island.

[15] Includes other places in East Greenwich and Bristol.

[16] Now called Rose Island.

[17] Perhaps not correct (see Pessicus); Mausup is believed to have been the brother of Miantonomi, whereas Miantonomi was the nephew of Canonicus. See Narragansett.

[18] Ancient Nipmuck village in northern RI, west of Blackstone River.

[19] Includes a Post office, East Greenwich.

[20] Includes Shopping Center in Crompton.

Name	Historical & Geographical Information	Translation
Cacauwonch	Kent County	The beginning place
Cachanaquoant	See Cajanaquond
Cachauaquan	See Cajanaquond
Cacumgunsett	Kent County	Whetstone quarry; place of high rocks
Cacumquussuck	See Cocumscusset
Cajacet	POINT, or shore on Canonicut island [in Jamestown], near the north end and facing Portsmouth. [See Benedict Arnold's will.].	See Conanicut
Cajanaquant	See Cajanaquond
Cajanaquond	Narragansett Sachem or Chief	See Narragansett Tribe
Cajaset	See Cajacet
Cajocet	See Cajacet
Cajoot	MINE, of Blacklead, or Carburet of iron, at the foot of Tower Hill in S. Kingstown [at Narragansett Pier].	Fir-tree place?
Canada	Pond, Dam, Providence	Village; group of houses (Mohawk language)
Canangogum	Northwestern Providence County, Burriville	The fence or boundary; highland?
Caneunsquisset	TRACT. North Kingstown, between Wickford and Exeter. It makes the west side of N. Kingstown, and adjoins Cocumscusset, or Wickford.	High place; high rocky cliff
Cannonicus	See Canonicus
Canob	Pond	See Canopaug
Canonchet	Brook, Carolina	See Canonchet
Canonchet[7]	MILL SITE, S. W. of Fenner's hill one mile [& Farm Park and Memorial, Narragansett). The name was lately given in honor of Canonchet	He is ruler, overseer, protector (Narragansett Sachem & warrior, son of Miantonomi)
Canonicus	Spring	Of the long place? (Narragansett Sachem or Chief). See Canonicut
Canonicut[8], Cananicut	or Quonotamaquot ISLAND [& Point, Park, Light], between S. Kingstown Ferry and Newport. It is Jamestown.	The especially long place
Canopaug	BROOK and SWAMP [and VILLAGE], in [North] Scituate, on the east side, sometimes spelled in deeds Quonopaug. The brook rises from the swamp and runs westerly to Moshwansicut river.	A long pond
Capanagansitt	Providence County, Warwick	Place of the enclosed (or plugged-up) well; closed up meadow?
Cap-an-gan-sitt	See Capanagansitt
Cappacommock	SWAMP, three or four miles north from the Pequod shore [in Charlestown]. It signifies hiding-place, to which the squaws and children retired on the approach of boats, Another like it is Owlshead, called Ohomowauke swamp.	Refuge or hiding place
Cappacomuck	See Cappacommock
Cassuckquunsh	Narragansett Sachem or Chief	See Narragansett Tribe
Casuckqunce	See Cassuckquunsh
Caucan	See Caucaujawatchuck
Caucaujawatchuck	Providence County, Cranston	Sharp mountain peak; sharp mountain? Very long hill?
Caucaunjawach	See Caucaujawatchuck
Caucumsquissic	See Cocumscusset
Caucumsqusuk	See Cocumscusset
Caujaniquante	See Cajanaquond
Caunaunacus	See Canonicus
Causumset, Causumsett	See Cawsumsett
Cawaude	Kent County	Pine place
Cawcawmsqussick	See Cocumscusset
Cawncawnjawatchuk	Providence County	Very long hill
Cawsumsett	Bristol (see Cowsumpsit)	Sharp rock place; whetstone rock place
Cepasnetuxet	See Copassanatuxet
Chabatawece	See Chibacoweda
Chachacust	NECK, meadow in Barrington. It is near Warren. [Gen. Fessenden.]	Where stream divides and opens; torrent rocks place
Chachapacaset, Chachapacasett	See Chackapaucasset
Chackacust	See Chachapaucasett
Chackapacauset	See Chackapaucasset
Chackapaucasset	or Chackapacauset, now called Rumstick point or neck, S. of Warren, in Barrington, [Gen. Fessenden.] Rumstick was applied to a portion of it as early as 1697 by whom and wherefore is not known.	Where the steam divides and opens up; at the great widening out place
Chagum	Pond, Newport County	A black bird [bobolink?; redwinged blackbird?]
Chaipuachack	See Chippachooag
Chanananonum	See Chanangongum
Chanangongum	LAND, in Nipmuck. [See Trumbull's History, p. 346, vol. 1.]	Great reed place; great paint place
Chapomeset	See Chopmist
Chapompamiskock	Providence County, Scituate?	Big fishing place near boundary rock?
Chapumishcook[9]	Northern part of Scituate	See Chapompamiskock ?
Chaubatick	Ancient Narragansett Village, Providence	At the forked river; river which bounds
Chechechnessett	See Checkechnusset
Checkechnusset	Brook, Washington County	At the boundary; brook at the place of separation
Cheepauke	Providence County?	A place apart; an isolated island
Cheetoskeunke	Kent County	At the principal wading-place [ford, or bridge?]
Chemagaze	See Chemanguz
Chemangase	See Chemanguz
Chemanguz	POND, or Chemunganoc. Same as Watchaug. Poquient brook runs from it in a N., W, direction. It is in nearly the centre of Charlestown.	Small canoe?; small waterway?; big brant goose?
Chemaunguz	See Chemanguz
Chemunaganoc	See Chemunganock
Chemunaganock	See Chemunganock
Chemunganoc	See Chemunganock
Chemunganock	HILL, in Charlestown, probably near Chemunganset Pond; which is the same as Watchaug Pond. It is in the centre of Charlestown.	At the abode of the brant goose; big stink place (rotting vegetation); place where we put down paddles; big ash-tree place
Chemunganset	See Chemunganock
Chepacchewag	See Chippachooag
Chepachague	Washington County	Principal turning place
Chepachet	RIVER and VILLAGE, or Chepatset. Fifteen miles N. W. of Providence, on Branch river. It means Devil's Bag. A bag or wallet was found here, probably dropped by some hunter, and as no one could tell who, an Indian said it was the Devil. Hence Chepuck, devil; chack, bag; now converted into Chepachet.	Place of separation (where stream divides); boundary place
Chepachewag[10]	See Chippachooag
Chepachuach	See Chepachague
Chepachuack	See Chepachague
Chepatset	Providence County, Burriville	Boundary place
Chepinoxet	ISLAND, off Cowesit shore [in Narragansett Bay], near Baker's station and the summer residence of John Whipple. It means Devil's Island [11].	Little place of departed spirits
Chepiwanoxet	Island & Village, Kent County, East Greenwich	At the small separated place
Cheppuxet	See Chippuxet
Chepuckset	See Chippuxet
Chepuxet	See Chippuxet
Chesawane	See Chisawannock
Chesewanne	See Chisawannock
Chesewannock	See Chisawannock
Chesewanock	See Chisawannock
Chibachuesa	See Chibacoweda
Chibachuwesa	See Chibacoweda
Chibachuwese	See Chibacoweda
Chibachuweset	See Chibacoweda
Chibacoweda[12]	ISLAND, Chibachuweset or Chippacurset, Prudence Island in the [Narragansett], bay, below Warwick neck point. It was presented by sachem Canonicut, to Roger Williams; or rather sold to Williams and Gov. John Winthrop, for twenty fathom wampum and two coats.	Little place separated by a passage (from Prudence Island [13])
Chickamug	Washington County, Westerly	Fish trap; fish weir; a fishing place; principal fishing place
Chickasheen	Brook, Washington County, Kingston	Big spring; fish weir; high water; cedars
Chipachuack	or agne, LAND, is the S. E. corner of Hall's purchase of two miles, near and including S. Kingstown depot.	Where stream divides; place of separation
Chipachuagne	See Chipachuack
Chipacoweda	See Chibacoweda
Chipchug	POND, Duck pond. Probably either Sherman's or Teft's pond, in South Kingstown	Place apart; boundary place (see Chipachuack)
Chiponaug	Kent County, Warwick	Separated or isolated point?; place of large oysters?; principal resting place
Chippachooag	Washington County, West Greenwich	Place of separation; where the stream divides (see Chipachuack
Chippachuachack	See Chippachooag
Chippachuat	See Chepachague
Chippacurset	See Chippecurset
Chippanogset	see Chepinoxet
Chippechuock	See Chipachuack
Chippecurset	ISLAND, Prudence same as Chipacoweda.	See Chibacoweda
Chippuachack	See Chippachooag
Chippuxet	RIVER, or Chepachuack, or Chepacchewag, called also Wawoskepog. [See Potter, page 225,] deed of Nicholas Gardiner Jr., to John Thomas, state records. This river runs near S. Kingstown Depot, between it and the hill or village of S. Kingstown.	Principal turning place (See Chipachuack)
Chipuxet	See Chippuxet
Chisawamicke	See Chisawannock
Chisawannock[14]	ISLAND, or Chesawane. Hog or Perry island [in Narragansett Bay]. Mouth of Bristol harbor, and west of Bristol Ferry about half a mile. Owned by the children of the late Capt. Raymond Perry. There was a contest, for the ownership of this island, -between Plymouth and Rhode Island.	Principal fishing place; muddy bottom
Chisweanocke	See Chisawannock
Chockalaug	RIVER, rises in the south side of Douglas, and runs towards the centre of Burrillville [in Providence], at Wood's mill and Harris factory.	Fox place
Chockalog	See Chockalaug
Chomowauke	See Ohomawauke
Chopequonset	FARM or POINT, a mile S. of Pawtuxet, owned by the heirs of the late Nicholas Brown, Esq.	Isolated plantation; separated fields; fields at boundary place
Chopmist	HILL, north-west corner of Scituate [in Clayville], running three to four miles N. and S.	Boundary or dividing place; principal crossroads
Coaksett	See Cokesit or Acoaxet?
Coaxet	Ancient Wampanoag village, Newport County	See Cokesit
Cockampoag	See Cocumpaug
Cocumcosuck	See Cocumscusset
Cocumcussoc	See Cocumscusset
Cocumcussuc	See Cocumscusset
Cocumpaug	POND, or Cockampoag, on old map, two miles north from General Staunton's in Charlestown, about one mile long. In 1794, it was proposed in the legislature to divert the Pawcatuck river into the sea, by opening a channel from Champlin's bridge in a South East direction, to Cocumpaug pond, two and a half miles and through this to Fort neck, by Meadow Brook, and there at Fort neck enter Pauwanganset-pond, at the N. E. corner of Champlin's farm, near the highway, one and a half miles E. of Gen. Staunton's The pond is in the centre of Charlestown, and one mile N. E. from Wotchaugh pond.	Long (fishing?) pond
Cocumscusset	BROOK, or Cawcawmsqussick, is now called Stoney Brook. It is the south boundary of Quidnesit, and a little north of Wickford. It gives name to the harbor of Wickford, and to the land where the Updike and Congdon house stands. The first English house erected in Narragansett, was here, by Richard Smith, who kept an Indian trading house; as did also Roger Williams, many of whose letters date here. It was here that the Massachusetts troops marched from, and back to, in the Swamp battle. It was the mart of Indian trade of Narragansett shores two hundred years ago.	At the place where there are small sharpening stones; sharp stones in a cove; high cliff?
Cocumussoc	See Cocumscusset
Coesit	See Cowesit
Coessett	See Cowesit
Cogamagooant	See Cajanaquond
Cogamaquoant	See Cajanaquond
Coginaquon	See Cajanaquond
Coginaquond, Coginaquand	See Cajanaquond
Coheassuck	Kent County	Pine tree place?; brook near the pines?
Cohoes	Shopping center, Providence	Small pine tree
Cojonoquant	See Cajanaquond
Cojoot	See Cajoot
Cokesit	TRACT, in Little Compton, near Dartmouth. It seems there were two Indian places of worship in the town in 1700; one in Seconnet, and the other northward and eastward at Cokesit	Pine place
Comnuc	See Cumnuck
Conamicut	See Canonicut
Conanicus	See Canonicus
Conanicut	See Canonicut
Conaquetoque	Island, Washington County	Place of the long stream
Conconchewachet	LAND.	See Caucaujawatchuck
Conectacutt	See Connecticut
Conimicut[15]	Point Beach, Bristol	See Connimicut
Connannicutt	See Canonicut
Connaug	POND, Westconnang. See Stevens's map. S. E. corner of Foster. Westconnaug purchase was south part of Foster, Scituate and Cranston; which lies to the S. West of the North branch of the Pawtuxet river, See plat of it in H. L. Bowen's office.	Long place
Connecticot	See Connecticut
Connecticut	Common name on many geographical references	On the long tidal river
Connimicut	POINT, Warwick, opposite Nayatt. (See Stephen's map); also a map by Des Barres, 1776.	Name of Sachem Canonicus' granddaughter? [Quenimiquet or Quinimikit]
Connitic	See Connecticut
Conob	PONDS a few rods east of Brand's Iron Works, west side of Richmond [in Hope Valley].	Long rock
Conochet	See Canonchet
Conockonoquit[16]	ISLAND, is Rose Island, off Newport [in Narragansett Bay], about one mile S. W. from the almshouse. Sold by Canonicus (formerly called Maussup [17],) to Peleg Sanford, 1675.	Long point place
Conockonquit	See Conockonoquit
Cononicut	See Canonicut
Consamassett, Consamasset	TRACT, a part of Moshantatuck or Pawtuxet river [in Cranston]	Place of sharp rocks?; place of long fish (eels)
Consamset	See Causumset
Conskuet	Island, Newport County	At the long rock or reef; at the long outlet; the long pouring out place
Consumpsit	Rock, Bristol County (see Cowsumpsit)	Sharpening rock; whetstones; sharp rock
Coojoot	See Cajoot
Coonempus	Road, Newport County, Block Island	Long reef; long gravelly place
Cooneymus	See Coonempus
Coonimus	Swamp, Block Island	See Coonempus
Copassanatuxet	LAND. Cepasnetuxet, or Occupassuatuxet. Henry Green farm. It lies on the north side of Gov. Francis's farm, and is of the same breadth, extending from the bay westward. It is the northern boundary line of Warwick	Cove on small tidewater river or inlet
Copassanatuxett	See Copassanatuxet
Copassnetuxit	See Copassanatuxet
Copessnatuxit	See Copassanatuxet
Copessuatuxit	See Copassanatuxet
Cowaude	Kent County, Warwick	Pine Place
Cowekesit	See Cowesit
Cowekesuck	See Cowesit
Coweset[18], Cowesett[19], Cowessett[20]	See Cowesit
Cowesit	LANDS, or kesit or suck. The shore between Apponaug and Greenwich village [in Warwick], including farms from the bay westward to Crompton mills and beyond. Sold to R. I. government, 1639, by Tacommanan and his son Wasewkil, and grandson Namowish.	Pine place
Cowsumpsit	Ancient Wampanoag village in Bristol and nearby	Place of sharp rocks
Cummock	Island, Kingston	See Cumnuck
Cumnuck	Island, Washington County, South Kingston	Shut-in place
Cushena	Little Compton	Wet land; near where the tide runs out
Cushenah	See Cushena
Cussucquunsh	Narragansett Sachem or Chief, alias Pessicus and Maussup	See Narragansett Tribe