SPECK] INTKODUCTION 175 



wocks and 15 Wawenocks." ^* Tlie fact that these tribal groups were 

 fairly independent politically is shown by their desire to have "sepa- 

 rate seals of the treaty," one for each tribe. Some more Wawc- 

 nock personal names were given by Quinoise, one of the above-men- 

 tioned delegates, when he enumerated Indians whom he knew held 

 some English captives. They were Wauhaway, Acteon, Omboro- 

 wess, Maneerhowhaw, Pier, Sungehaugundo, some of whom were 

 St. Francois, some Wawenocks and some Scattacooks (from Con- 

 necticut).^' 



But the peace did not last long and war again broke out between 

 the English and Wabanaki tribes. Anotiier treaty was consummated 

 at Falmouth in 1749. In this compact, which finally brought an end 

 to the Indian troubles in southern Maine, the "Arresuguntoocooks 

 and AYeweenocks" were represented by "Sa\vwaramet, Aussaado, 

 Waannmiga, Sauquish, Wareedeon, Wawawnunka.^" From this 

 time on the Abenaki relinquished their attempts to retain their claims 

 in Maine and retired to Canada, where the Wawenock came into pos- 

 session of land at Becancour on Becaucour River, while the Nor- 

 ridgewock and Aroosaguntacook, together with survivors of the other 

 smaller tribes, settled permanently about 30 miles away at St. 

 Francis, on St. Francis River. Mauraidt in 1866 *' asserted that 

 onl}' 10 families remained at Becancour, though they were of purer 

 blood than the Abenaki at St. Francis. He says that in 1708 the 

 Indians at Becancour numbered 500, having come from Lake 

 Megantic, with others from the Androscoggin and Chaudiere Rivers. 

 The number probably included Sokoki who had joined them in 1679 

 (see p. 173). 



Although the Indians forming the St. Francis village and the 

 Wawenock had many interests in common they remained inde- 

 pendent of each other, not only in dialect but in political respects, in 

 having their own reservations, chiefs, and administration, both reli- 

 gious and civil. The same conditions hold to-day. At St. Francis 

 the Wawenock from Becancour are regarded as friendly strangers. 



This brings us down to recent times. Politically the Wawenock 

 have now about lost their name, being known in occasional reports 

 as the Abenaki of Becancour. In 1910 they numbered 26,^' includ- 

 ing absentees, upon their reservation of 135^ acres. Most of them 

 have scattered, some having gone to the French towns, while I 



'« Maine Hist. Soc. Coll., vol. ni (1853), p. 413. 



" Ibid., p. 440. Among those names, Acteon for Attean (Etienne), Omborowess for Air.blowess fAni- 

 broise), and Pier for Piel (Pierre) are recognizable as present day Wabanaki family names. The name 

 Omborowess w.as a Wawenock patronyra. (See p. 176.) 



<» Maine Hist. Soc. Coll., Vol. IV, p. 1C4 (1856). 



" Maurault. op. cit., pp. 2ss and 2M. 



" In 1914 when I visited them they numbered 23. 



