Ponkapoag

Ponkapoag /ˈpɒŋkəpɔːɡ/, also Punkapaug,[1] Punkapoag, Ponkhapoag[2] or Punkapog, is the name of a Native American "praying town" settled in the late 17th century western Blue Hills area of eastern Massachusetts by persons who had accepted Christianity.

It was established in 1657, during the colonization of the Atlantic seaboard of the United States by settlers from Britain.

[5] Ponkapoag Plantation was established in 1657 as a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) town parcel formed from Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

[4][7] In 1654 members of the Nemasket Tribe, located in the village of Cohannet in current day Bristol County, were among the first Native Americans relocated to Ponkapoag by missionaries.

[8] From 1657 to his death around 1670, Quashaamit (William) served as a teaching minister in Ponkapoag, and also deeded large parcels of land in modern day Mendon, Milford, Braintree (Quincy), and North Smithfield.