The Massachusett People, a group of indigenous Native Tribes, have traditional homeland in greater Boston area, including the place we now call Brook Farm.
The Life of the Massachusett
The Massachusett have been here for many thousands of years. They are a confederation of tribes, each ruled by a Sac’hem, with both men and women taking an active role in decision making. Historically, women trapped small animals, gathered shellfish, and gathered plants for food and medicine. They also owned and tended the agricultural fields, built homes, preserved the harvests, made ceramic pots, and weaved baskets among other important tasks. Men of the tribe hunted, mined, and were the primary protectors of the tribe’s people, land, and resources from other Native peoples.
Purportedly to protect British interests in Nova Scotia, Governor Charles Lawrence had decided that the Acadians should be removed and dispersed throughout the American colonies. They were held under guard until hired ships arrived to transport them and what few items they could carry. Their homes and farms were burned to prevent those who escaped from supporting themselves if they remained.
Brook Farm was important as a source of water, fish, and game. The sloping hills of the area would have also afforded beneficial views of the surrounding landscape and the comings and goings of people on the Charles River.
Image courtesy of American Society of Landscape Architects
Image courtesy of American Society of Landscape Architects
The area of Brook Farm provided access to local stone quarries for tools, and the nearby Charles River and wetlands provided food resources and transportation. Test pits dug during the 1990s archaeological excavations at Brook Farm uncovered a number of stone tools.
Stone tools found in some of the test pits
Image courtesy of the Boston City Archaeology Lab
Brewerton Eared Stone Point
Image courtesy of the Boston City Archaeology Lab