Wampanoag history

November 10, 1972

Wampanoag Council: Tribe Organizes to Protect Gay Head’s Future

Vineyard Gazette
To assure that the identity of the Vineyard’s Indians, their history, culture and tribal lands will be preserved, a Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head was organized on Saturday, and Mrs.
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
Wampanoag history
June 29, 2021

Wampanoag Exhibit Highlights Fresh Perspective of History

Kate Dario
A new permanent installation at the Aquinnah Wampanoag Indian Museum museum, Our History in Perspective, had its grand opening on Saturday. It details the over 10,000-year history of the Wampanoag people on the Vineyard.
Wampanoag history
Aquinnah Cultural Center

1942

January 16, 1942

Blockade Runners Once Used This Historic Creek

Lake Tashmoo
Wampanoag history
Herring Runs
Herring
Revolutionary War
The work of dredging now going on at Tashmoo Creek focuses attention upon one of the historical landmarks of the Island and one of which very little is remembered or preserved. Indians called this locality Chappaquansett, and old records refer to the creek as Chappaquansett Creek, rather than Tashmoo. It is evident that the Indians frequented this place in the olden days, as sizable middens have been located nearby and others are presumably buried beneath the shifting sands or have been washed out to sea.

1937

February 26, 1937

When Gay Head Was Still Just a District

Vineyard Gazette
Wampanoag history
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
Aquinnah History
A collection of old documents dating far back in the last century has been unearthed in the old Jeffers house at Gay Head by Lorenzo D. Jeffers, the present owner of the estate of his ancestors. These documents consist of letters, ledgers, bills and notations kept by Thomas Jeffers, grandfather of the present owner.
 

1930

June 24, 1930

First Gay Head Powwow for 250 Years is Held

Vineyard Gazette
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
Wampanoag history
Powwows
The first powwow to be held on Gay Head since the days of King Philip took place in that town last night, and the flavor and spirit of those ancient days was revived so far as possible when Lorenzo Jeffers was made chief of the tribe. Dressed in full Indian regalia, with a war bonnet on his head, but unaccompanied by the sound of the war drums or the spectacle of Indians dancing in the flickering flames of a bonfire, Rev. Leonard C.

1929

September 20, 1929

Lorenzo D. Jeffers Named Head of Gay Head Tribe

Vineyard Gazette
Wampanoag history
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
Lorenzo Jeffers, descendant of Mittark, the last Island Indian chief, was duly elected chief of his tribe at a meeting held at Gay Head last week. The occasion of this election of a chief was the organizing of the tribe in order to gain representation in the Wampanoag Council, in which all the southern New England tribes with their branches were represented at a kindling of the council brand at Mashpee a couple of weeks ago, the first time that the Wampanoags have assembled in tribal council for 200 years.

1887

November 11, 1887

Election of Edwin D. Vanderhoop

Vineyard Gazette
Edwin D Vanderhoop
Elections
Wampanoag history
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head

While the election of Mr. Vanderhoop last Tuesday was not unexpected, the size of the majority by which that result was secured was probably hardly anticipated even by his friends. The campaign for Mr. Vanderhoop developed into a regular craze as it progressed; he became a sort of Buffalo Bill-among-the-British-nobility. People began to glory in the notion of elevating a Gay Head Indian to in some respects the highest place in the gift of the county.

1881

January 27, 1881

Priscilla Freeman

Cottage City Star
Wampanoag history

Mrs. Priscilla Freeman, formerly of Deep Bottom but now of Cottage City, one of the few remaining having Indian blood coursing in her veins, if her story is correct – and we believe it is – is a wronged woman.

Pages