AUGUST 22:

1919 Quebec Quebec Edward Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII 1894-1972 opens the Quebec Bridge, redesigned and rebuilt since two disastrous crash, the first in 1910 that killed 75 workers, many from Caughnawaga, the second, the loss of the complete centre span in 1916.

1777 Fort Stanwix New York Barry St. Leger abandons siege of Fort Stanwix when Benedict Arnold and a force of 1,000 arrive and frighten off Indians; retreats to Oswego.

August 22nd, 1670:   Hiacoomes preached his first sermon to his people on Martha's Vineyard.
 
 

BACKGROUND:
 

From the website of the Wampanoag tribe at http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/education/text/other.htm
 

FIRST PEOPLE OF NOEPE

For over ten thousand years the Wampanoag have inhabited the island of Noepe. When the first Europeans dropped anchor off our shores in the 1500s - just before the Pilgrims - we numbered three thousand or more. To this day we still occupy our aboriginal land of Aquinnah and count 901 members, about 300 of whom live on the Island.

With the European settlers came much adversity for our tribe - disease that virtually wiped out whole villages, systems of government that bore little resemblance to our tribal practices and values, missionaries intent on converting us to Christianity, and private models of land use and ownership that conflicted with our tribe's own communal practices and values. But despite these pressures, much of our Wampanoag way of life and values have survived.

Today, community values are still strong within our tribe. We proudly care for 477 acres of our ancestral lands, much of it set aside for common use and benefit. Land and resource management strategies rely on sustainable practices which are shared with other towns and conservation groups on the island. Traditional arts like beadwork, basket making, and pottery continue to be taught. Celebrations like Cranberry Day and The Legends of Moshup Pageant are held annually. Our tribe continues to be self-governing and is taking great strides toward economic self-sufficiency. Even the Wampanoag language is being taught to tribal members. Through it all we have not forgotten who we are.

The influence of our tribe can be felt island wide. Environmental practices and values taught to the settlers long ago still help inform and maintain the island's pristine beauty. Roads which wind and bend across the island gracefully follow paths once worn smooth by our ancestors. Wampanoag place names pay homage to the earth's bounty. Everywhere on the Island are reminders of our Wampanoag heritage and community.

THE FIRST NATIVE CONVERT

A young Chappaquiddick Wampanoag by the name of Hiacoome is thought to have been the first native convert to Christianity on Noepe. Hiacoome took an interest in the English-men and their ways - eventually converting to Christianity in 1643. He then helped Thomas Mayhew, Jr. to convert his fellow tribesmen. But Sachem Pahkehpunnassoo of Chappaquiddick objected to Hiacoomes' influence in his area. On a fateful afternoon, however, all this changed. While Pahkehpunnassoo was fixing his chimney, a lightning bolt struck and killed his helper. Pahkehpunnassoo himself narrowly escaped death. Pulled from the flames by one of Hiacoome's converts, he saw this as a sign and converted to Christianity. Slowly, many members of the tribe followed. Hiacoome went on to be ordained and became the pastor of the Meeting House