Iyannough Cummaquid Sr (abt. 1595 - 1623)

Born about 1595 in Mattachee Village, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Died 1623 at about age 28 in Cape, Barnstable, Massachusetts

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Biography

Iyanough was the sachem of Cummaquid. At the proper time, the messengers again presented themselves; but the English being always suspicious, and aiming to be prudently cautious, arrangements were made by which they were to retain on board the shallop four of the messengers of Iyanough as hostages, whilst six only of the boat's company should go with the other messengers, to visit the sachem, agreeably to invitation. They found the sachem ready to receive them with great kindness and courtesy. He was "a man very personable, gentle, courteous, and fair conditioned about twenty-six years of age - indeed, not a savage, save in his attire. His entertainment was answerable to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various."

Iyanough was sometimes called Iyanough of Cummaquid, and sometimes Iyanough of Mattachiest. This is accounted for by the fact that Cummaquid was the region about Barnstable harbor proper, and Mattachiest that part of Barnstable bordering directly on Yarmouth, including a part of Yarmouth. These were his possessions.^[1]

The news of this massacre, spreading among the Indians, created the greatest consternation, causing them to feel that no confidence can be reposed in those they have befriended, and that any and every one is liable, at any moment, to become the victim of some false accusation, and, upon the slightest pretence, and without a hearing, to be called to swell the number of those fallen before the spirit of relentless extermination. Among those who now ceased to regard their dwellings as safe resorts, and, in houriy expectation of an attack upon themselves, took to woods and swamps, where they contracted disease and became familiar with death, were several of the Cape Cod tribes. Thus miserably died Caunacun, the sachelm of Manomnet; Aspinet, the sachem of Nauset; and the noble-hearted and courteous lyanough, sachem of Mattachiest; and very many of their people.^[2]

From this time the Cape Indians appear to have had but little intercourse with the English for some time. Indeed, the trade with the natives in every direction fell off; partly owing, no doubt, to the diminution of their numbers by the havoc of death, and to the surviving being disheartened, or finding channels of commerce more to their interest, and less repugnant to their feelings; so that, before the close of 1623, Governor Bradford is heard complaining that, although the pinnace sent, September 10, around the Cape to trade, got some corn and beaver, yet it made a poor voyage. The chief cause, however, is doubtless to be found in the general distrust the Indians now felt of their neighbors.^[3]

Highyannough, Iyannough, and John Hyanno are sometimes confused and combined with each other. Iyannough died in the swamps at a very young age of 28 or so, the same year of his daughters birth. In the early days of the English 1621 to his death in 1623 Iyannough would have not been given the Christian name of John as some say, as there was no missionary contact on the Cape in those early times. His son was most likely given Christian names of John and Mary after his death when the English became more established on the Cape. The grandfather who died in his late 80's is the most likely source of the land given to Austin. The grandson, John Hyanno with other variations of his name, became the leader in the area and also is shown on deeds of land on the Cape as well as on Martha's Vineyard where he died in 1680.

Historical birth and death dates do not indicate that the three men could have been one in the same.

^[4]

Name

Name: /Yanno/

Surname: Yanno

Name: Ihyannough, /Sachem of the Cummaquid/

Name: /Iyanough/

Surname: Iyanough

Name Suffix: Sachem of the Wampanoag

Birth

Date: 1595

Place: Yarmouth, Massachusetts (Barnstable)

Nationality

Nationality: full-blood Wampanoag/Narragansett Indian from father and mother

Marriage

Husband: UNKNOWN Yanno

Wife: Mary Noepe

Child: John Yanno

Marriage:

Date: BEF 1620

Place: Cummaquid, Massachusetts

Husband: UNKNOWN Iyanough

Wife: Wife of Iyanough

Child: UNKNOWN Yanno

Marriage:

Date: BEF 1595

Death

Date: BEF 1622/3

Place: Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Barnstable)

The spring of 1623 Alt Death: july 1621?

Gravestone

His gravestone reads:

Sachem Iyannough 1621 On This Spot Was Buried The Sachem Iyannough The Friend And Entertainer Of The Pilgrims July 1621

Burial

Place: Gay Head, Massachusetts (Dukes). Iyanough Grave Site Land, located in the village of Cummaquid, is also owned and maintained by Tales of Cape Cod. A portion has been used for Indian Burials. The organization is committed to supporting our Native American friends and their local heritage.

Research Notes

In 1933, someone calling himself Swimming Eel - Franklyn Ele-wa-tum BeArce submitted From out of the Past, Who Our Forefathers Really Were Our White and Indian Ancestors back to 1628 to the Library of Congress that included claims of Chief Highyannough being grandfather of the wife of Austin Bearce. These claims were soundly refuted by Donald Lines Jacobus in 1939.

Sources

1. ↑ The history of Cape Cod: the annals of Barnstable County, including the district of Mashpee, pg 96 [1]
2. ↑ The history of Cape Cod: the annals of Barnstable County, including the district of Mashpee, pg 109 [2]
3. ↑ The history of Cape Cod: the annals of Barnstable County, including the district of Mashpee, pg 111 [3]
4. ↑ Thank you for your kindness, "Nunocksuk Matannash" (There are many stars) iootash courtesy of Alice Raven

See also:

• Meadows, Fanny Louisa. Genealogical Records of Austin Bearse (or Bearce) of Barnstable, Cape Cod, MA, Record Number: 929.2 B38176m Cleveland, OH, self-published; 1 Oct 1933 Repository: Allen County Public Library Address: City: Ft Wayne State: IN
• https://talesofcapecod.org/iyannough
• http://www.capecodgravestones.com/barnpixweb/iyan21bcu.html
• http://www.capecodphotoalbum.com/iyanough.jpg
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyannough
• http://wickedyankee.blogspot.com/2012/03/sachem-iyanough-barnstable-ma.html
• http://thewashingtonjunto.blogspot.com/2006/06/discovery-sachem-iyannough_27.html
• Early History of New England: Being a Relation of Hostile Passages Between ... By Increase Mather