Odanak Families

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Last updated 25-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: Schaghticoke [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Nagajois, Nagajoua, Nigajowa, Nigajoua, Nicajoua, Nigajoie, possibly Naquaiya at 3 Rivers.
Probable Native Name: manákazóit 'he who is greedy for news or information' [Day 1981]
Period Family Name Recorded at Odanak: 1794 to 1900's
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Three Rivers
Other Notes: Mahigani is the Abenaki form of 'Mahican'. P. Mahigani (probably Pierre Nagazoa who was listed as captain on 1829 list) appears on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844. [Day 1981] Pierre Nagazoa was wounded during the war. He was s/o Francois Joseph and Marie. Marie was Algonquin. Pierre m.1814 Ursule Gill. They had 7 known children that survived to adulthood - 6 married Abenaki. Their son, Louis Pialsis Nagazoa, m. an Algonquin and was remembered as a storyteller.
In an 1842 marriage record, mother of the bride is Catherine Nagajoua of Trois Rivieres and uncle of the bride is Pierre Nagajoua. Jacques Joseph Naquaiya is chief at Trois Rivieres in 1841 and his widow is listed there in 1850.
see more about Pierre Nagazoa in theSt. Francois Abenaki - War of 1812

Last updated 24-SEP-1997

Last updated 19-Nov-00

Possible Family Origin: Perhaps Algonquin from Oka [Day 1981], possibly Kennebec Abenaki or Maliseet
Other Possibly Spellings: Nicola, Nickless, Coley (Penobscot), Nichols
Western Abenaki pronunciation: Nikola
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Rawdon PQ Canada, Kennebec River ME, Penobscot
Other Notes: Pierre Nicolas signed at petition in 1819. Michel Nicolas is listed on census 1850-2 as living at Rawdon PQ. He had a wife and three dau. over the age of 14 in 1850.
Marie Jeanne Nicolas is given as the mother of the groom in an 1842 marriage record.
Tha name is found in Fort St. Frederick church records in 1735.
A common family name among Penobscot. The Penobscot family origins are from the village of Norridgewock at the time of it's destruction by English in 1724. A Maliseet Nicola family married into the Annance family and was at Greenville ME.

Last updated 25-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: Probably Missisquoi [Day 1981], possibly a white captive, or Kennebec River Abenaki
Other possible spellings & variations: Obomsawine, Obumsawin, Obemsewin, Bowman, Roberts, de Gonzague
Probable Native Name: ponsáwinnó 'fire tending person', nopaosáwinnó 'far walking person, i.e. scout', or naboômsawinnó 'person who keeps following a trail' [Day 1981]
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Missisquoi area of Vermont
Other Notes: In 1765 Joseph Abomsawin signed the Robertson lease of Missisquoi land. Francois Xavier Abemesin was a chief in 1769. Francois de Sale & Joseph Obomsawine appear on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844. Francois received a pension for his service. Joseph Obomzaowine is listed as Captain in 1819. Francois de Sales Obomsawin is grand chief in 1832.
The Robert & de Gonzague families are believed to be a branch of the Obomsawin family. The Bowman family of the Adirondacks is believed to be Obomsawin.
A document written in 1882 and citing Maurault's history claims that the Obomsawin family descends from a white captive brought to Odanak during the colonial wars.
One researcher believes that Pierre Joseph Robert Obomsawin of Odanak is the son of Joseph Robert Namur whose parents were married at Fort St. Frederick in 1751. Other researchers believe the Obomsawins are descendants of Abomazeen, a famous war chief on the Kennebec River during the colonial wars.
see also de Gonzague

Last updated 25-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: A Western Abenaki name [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Ontalawalemôt
Probable Native Name: ôtalewalemôt 'he wishes with power against me' or freely 'he who holds a grudge against me' [Day 1981]
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Durham PQ Canada, Lake Memphremagog
Other Notes: Joachim Ontarawarmin (1734-1814) was granted land at Durham in 1805. He m. Dorothee Annance (1741-1829) and they had at least 5 children. Their dau. Jeanne Ursule (1788-1879) m. Pierre Msadoquis abt 1804. The other children have not been found in Odanak records.
See the 1805 Durham Land Grant Families for more information onJoachim ONTARAWARMIN

Last updated 17-May-00

Last updated 02-Sep-00

Possible Family Origin: A Western Abenaki name [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Osunkilaine, O'Sunkerine, Wzôkhihlain
Probable Native Name: wzôkhihláin 'he approaches flying' [Day 1981]
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Port Huron MI
Other Notes: Francois Joseph Louis 'Kouglolet' m. Catherine Lazare/Vassal. They had 3 known children; Pierre Paul, Marie, and Louis Francois. Catherine's 2nd husband was Toussaint Masta.
Marie (1799-1862) m.1820 to Elijah 'Lazare' Benedict. Louis (1804-1879) m.1829 to Marie Madeleine de Gonzague.
Pierre Paul Osunkherhine (also known as Peter Masta) attended school at Hanover, NH from 1822 to 1829. He later became a schoolmaster and Congregational Minister at Odanak. He wrote and translated books in Abenaki. Sometime between 1858 and 1861 he moved his family to Port Huron MI where he died in 1890. He had at least 14 children by his two wives, but many died in infancy. His daughter, Priscille, remained at Odanak and married in 1866. A son, Silas, (b.1849) died in NH in 1882. Daughter Matilda m. Stephen Jemison, a Seneca.
The family name is also known to have connections with the Penobscot in Maine.
Pierre Paul Osunkhirhine attendedMoor's Charity School & Dartmouth College

Last updated 02-Apr-01

Possible Family Origin: A Western Abenaki name; possibly Wampanoag by Schaghticoke [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings & Variations: Otedosonne, Totoson, Watso
Probable Native Name: otódosán 'he passes by' [Day 1981]
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Saint-Hilaire on the Richelieu River, Adirondacks, Durham PQ, Barton VT
Other Notes: Swassin (Joachim) m.abt 1775, Marie Eulalie Gill (1756-1843). She was known as "Molly Swasin". He died late in 1812 and was buried at Barton VT. They had 6 known children; sons Louis de Gonzague Watso & Lazare Otondosonne and daughters Marie Alaine, Louise Catherine, Marie Anne, & Francoise Angelique. Joachim was granted land at Durham in 1805.
See Watso
See the 1805 Durham Land Grant Families for more information onJoachim Otondosonne
See theCase Study - Chief Louis Watsofor more on the family of Joachim Otondosonne
Angeline Otondosonne - Picture
Louis Otondosonne - Picture