A is for the Abenaki

Abenaki Legacy

While several places in Maine reflect the names of early setters and their European origins, many locales still retain their Abenaki roots. The following are a few well-known examples:

Baxter Bible

This Bible was printed in 1628 by Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel, printers of the University of Cambridge. It was translated from the original Greek. John Baxter had brought the Bible here from England. His wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Durrell. Their homesite was near present-day Durrell’s Bridge at The Landing.

In October 1726, a marauding band of Indians from Canada rushed the home of the Baxters and Durrells and captured Mrs. Durrell, her 12-year-old son Benjamin, her unmarried daughters Susan and Rachel, her pregnant daughter Elizabeth Baxter, and Elizabeth's 20-month-old son. Of all their possessions, they left carrying the Baxter Bible.

On their march through the forest, the baby began to fuss, and fearing that the group would be heard, an Indian named Wahwa brutally killed both the baby and his mother. He then ordered his warriors to kill Mrs. Durrell, who died clutching the Bible.

Distraught search parties looked in vain for the group. The onset of winter impeded their long-term recovery efforts. The following spring, after the snow melted, Philip Durrell again went into the woods to search for any trace of his family. Less than a mile from the homesite, he found the Bible and the remains of his wife, daughter and grandson.

Rachel, Susan and Benjamin survived the march to Canada, where Susan and Rachel both eventually married. Benjamin returned to his family a couple years later but was said to never be quite the same.

On long-term loan from the Family of Katherine Adams Brown.

Moccasins

This pair of doeskin moccasins with purple and black beading likely dates to the late 19th century. A heavy leather sole is hand sewn to the upper, which is of one piece.

Brick Store Museum Collection. 440 a, b

Box

This square box is believed to have come from a Native culture in Maine in the late 19th century. The birch bark covering is sewn together with reeds. Scratched onto the sides are designs of deer, people in a canoe, teepees and trees. The lid bears the image of a small animal pelt with leaves at the four corners.

Brick Store Museum Collection. 574

Canoe, c. 1900

This vintage miniature canoe is constructed of bark and was most likely created to appeal to the local tourist trade in the early 20th century.

Brick Store Museum Collection. 2002.I.009