Chickatawbut was the sachem, or leader, of a large group of indigenous people of what is now eastern Massachusetts, United States known as the Massachusett tribe, during the initial period of Englishsettlement in the region in the early seventeenth century. In 1630 Chickatawbut deeded the land that is now Boston to the Puritans. Chickatawbut's home base was Conihasset, near modern Scituate. The sachem's name had many variant spellings in early Massachusetts records. Some argue that he had an alternate name, Oktabiest His brother was Wassapinewat. Chickatawbut maintained a base at a small hill on Quincy Bay in Boston Harbor known as Moswetuset Hummock. He was met there by Plymouth Colony commander Myles Standish and Tisquantum, a Patuxet guide, in 1621. According to Thomas Morton, "Chickatawbut’s mother was buried at Passonagessit, and that the Plymouth people, on one of their visits, incurred his enmity by despoiling her grave of its bear skins," but despite this, Chickatawbut did not get caught alongside his warrior, Pecksuot, in the hostilities at the Wessagusset Colony in 1623/24. Chickatawbut's died of smallpox in 1633 and was succeeded as sachem by his brother, Cutshamekin, who was in turn succeeded around 1655 by Chickatawbut's son, Wompatuck, who became a leader of the Mattakeesett tribe and a friend of the English settlers. Chickatawbut Road, one of the Blue Hills Reservation Parkways, and Chickatawbut Hill, at the highest point in Quincy, Massachusetts, are named for him. In 1650, five Massachusett Indians testified to the tribal bounds over which Chickatawbut reigned:
Pecunke, Ahivmpum, Catscimah, Webacowett, and Masbanomett doe all afferme, that Chickatawbutt his bounds did extend from Nishamagoquanett, near Duxbery mill , to Teghtacutt, neare Taunton , and to Nunckatatesett, and from thence in a straight linne to Wanamampuke, which is the head of Charles Riuer ; this they doe all solomly afferme, saing, God knoweth it to bee true, and knoweth theire harts. Dated the first of the fourth month, 1650. Wittnes : Encrease Nowell, John Eliot, John Hoare.
