Aponapawquin

Aponapawquin (Jacob Muttamakoog, Old Jacob) was a leader of the Natick living near Framingham, Massachusetts. He had at least one daughter, the wife of John Dublet and appears to have been related to Awassamug. One of Eliot's first converts to Christianity at Nonantum in 1646, Aponapawquin was known to have such a good memory that he could recall the whole catechism "both questions and answers." He later removed to the praying town of Magunkook. In 1662, he, along with John Awassamug, executed a land transfer to lands at Mendon. During King Philip's War, he was among those who left Maunkoog and briefly joined with Metacomet. Aponapawquin was implicated in the murder of Thomas Eames' family but was not convicted. By July of 1676, he was at Lancaster and surrendered himself to Massachusetts authorities, who, upon the recommendation of James Speen, was released and pardoned. According to one town historian, Aponapawquin lived to be ninety years old, "recommending union to his brethren at lard, and an invioable regard for the laws of equity and to the civil authority." His name survives in the landscape of present-day Framingham. The hill upon which he lived is called Indian Head and a meadow to the east of the hill is known as Jacob's Meadow. Barry, History of Framingham, 17, 29. Temple, History of Framingham, 56-58.