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Bidwell Lore – Serendipity, General George Washington, an 1100-pound Ox, Stockbridge Mohican Sachem Solomon Uhhaunnuhwaunnuhmut, and Seeking a Needle in a Haystack

Welcome to week 43 of Bidwell Lore! This week Rick Wilcox shares an article he has written about the search for the site of a 1783 Ox Roast in Stockbridge believed to have been held on the land of “King” Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut, one of the subjects of last week’s Bidwell Lore.  Town of Stockbridge Facilities Manager Chris Marsden, Stockbridge-Munsee Band...

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Bidwell Lore – Magnificent Mohicans “King” Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut and Hendrick Aupaumut

Welcome to week 42 of Bidwell Lore! This week we share stories of two more Magnificent Mohicans, “King” Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut and Hendrick Aupaumut, courtesy once again of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.  “King” Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut, born 1727, was a chief sachem of the Stockbridge Mohicans, serving as a widely-respected community leader, diplomat, military captain, and orator. His name is spelled with many variations, such as Auh-haun-nnu-wau-noniut.   He is the son...

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Bidwell Lore – Magnificent Mohicans Daniel Ninham and Umpachenee

Welcome to week 41 of Bidwell Lore! This week we are sharing the story of two more Magnificent Mohicans, Daniel Ninham and Umpachenee, courtesy of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.  Daniel Ninham—also spelled Nimham—was a Wappinger (Munsee Lenape) sachem from the lower Hudson River Valley who then joined with Mohican kin in Stockbridge in the 1700s. Mohicans had as early...

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Bidwell Lore – William Gregg, The Articles of Agreement, Land, and a Visit to King George

Welcome to week 40 of Bidwell Lore! This week we build on last week’s article to provide a little context and background to help you understand what led the Mohican Sachems to make the long journey to England in 1766. To better understand how Daniel Nimham partnered with three Mohican Sachems, a very short history is offered. Just prior to...

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Bidwell Lore – 1766 Mohican Wisdom on a Life Well Lived

Welcome to week 39 of Bidwell Lore! This week we share the story of a visit to London in 1766 by Stockbridge Mohican Sachems. In an article for the London Chronicle, the author, John Trusler, relates the wisdom he learned from his encounter with the Mohicans that is still very relevant over 250 years later. Mohican Wisdom on...

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Bidwell Lore – Magnificent Mohicans

Welcome to week 38 of Bidwell Lore! This week we are featuring two accounts from a series created by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community called Magnificent Mohicans, where they share the remarkable stories of their Mohican ancestors. Magnificent MohicansJohn Konkapot (c. 1690-1764/5) Pophnehonawoh, also known as John Konkapot, was a highly regarded diplomat and community leader in the Mohican Nation’s experience in “Indiantown,”...

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Bidwell Lore – The Mythology of Indiantown

Welcome to week 36 of Bidwell Lore, where we discuss the Mythology of Indiantown (now Stockbridge).  We will be off next week and back with a new post on January 5th.  “History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.” [1] “A plat of 23,040 acres of land lying...

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Bidwell Lore – Farewell to Barnabas

Welcome to week 33 of Bidwell Lore! This week we say good-bye to Barnabas Bidwell and his fascinating life (at least for now) with a delightful guest post from local historian Bernard Drew. Searching for Barnabas Bidwell’s grave in Ontario by Bernard A. Drew Barnabas Bidwell, while simultaneously serving as Berkshire County treasurer (1791-1810) as well as...