Askamaboo
Wampanoag sachem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Life
The Wampanoag were semisedentary and lived between fixed sites, moving seasonally within eastern Massachusetts and the islands.[5] Askamaboo was one of many women to become a Sunksqua, typically achieved through property amassed, being the eldest female in line of succession without any brothers or as a widow to a deceased Sachem.[6] Askamaboo's family had gained a large amount of land on Nantucket.[1]
Askamaboo was the daughter of the Sachem Nickanoose and his first, highest ranking wife.[2][1] Nickanoose gave her hand in marriage to Nantucket Sachem Spotso, with whom she had her son Daniel.[1] Nickanoose's daughter inherited all of his property, an inheritance with lasting legal documentation and witnessed by the Chappaquiddick Sachem Pakeponessoo, and a second Wampanoag named Papumahchohoo. The will was dated to August 18, 1660 by the Nantucket Historical Association.[4]
Though she recognized the importance of literacy, she herself was not literate–the Massachusetts Historical Society has a letter transferring her power of attorney to her son, Daniel Spatssoo, which she needed to have transcribed.[2] Her son would go on to become Sachem after her.[1]
