Native Peoples

Native Peoples

The native people of this region were the Abenakis, of the Algonquin language group. They were remnants of the Pennacook Federation, made up of tribes from Southern New Hampshire, Northern Massachusetts and Southern Maine.

The Chief of the Pennacook in the 1500s and 1600s was Passaconaway, who was an important influence in the Merrimack Valley. Listen here to learn more about Passaconaway and the legend surrounding his death.