Chickatawbut Road

         Chickatawbut Road winds its way through the Blue Hills and is named after the chief of the Massachusetts tribe, who inhabited this area for centuries before the arrival of the English.

So, who was Chickatawbut? Historical records clearly indicate that he was the Sachem (Chief) of the Native American tribe known as the Massachusetts, which had an estimated population of over twenty thousand before it was decimated by disease[1]. He held rule over all the lands in the Massachusetts Bay area[2], which were characterized as a vast wilderness adorned with majestic forests and inhabited by wolves, foxes, bears, and large herds of deer[3].

The tribe's agricultural practices were unmatched, particularly in the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash. He was known for his kindness and compassion, despite being unable to read or write, relying instead on translators employed by the English. Furthermore, he recognized that the newcomers were ill-equipped to face the harsh realities of this wilderness and provided vital assistance for their survival during the early years.

In 1621, he traveled to Plymouth and signed a treaty with the English. By 1630, he had agreed to allow the English to occupy Dorchester. Although the English asserted that they had purchased the land, Chickatawbut consistently insisted that he was permitting the English to use the land rather than selling it to them. It is important to note that Chickatawbut could neither read nor write, and the English took advantage of this fact, using interpreters to manipulate him into making his mark on various documents.

These documents from that time served as evidence of their land purchase, asserting their claim as the rightful owners of the land in the Bay Area. They went on to establish a government complete with laws and penalties.

The English showed little regard for native burial grounds, including the damage inflicted on Chickatawbut’s mother’s grave. This led him to become increasingly suspicious and disillusioned with the new settlers whom he had always assisted. Smallpox was rampant among the native population, which, once robust, dwindled to around two thousand individuals. Chickatawbut’s tribe was confined to just 40 acres of land in Milton Hills[4], where he spent the remainder of his life before succumbing to smallpox in 1633.

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[1] When the Europeans arrived, they brought with them smallpox that decimated the indigenous population.

[2] This area included the present towns of Dorchester, Milton, Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, Braintree, Quincy, and Randolph. His full jurisdiction is not accurately known, but this area was never denied during his lifetime or that his son or grandson, that he held and undisputed possession.

[3] There were no signs of civilization. Take away all the roads and buildings – this is what the area looked like.

[4] The Milton Hills was located near what is presently known as Hutchinson Field.