Nonnewaug

Nonnewaug (also Nunnewake or Nunawauk) was a sagamore, or chief, of a Pootatuck tribe of Indigenous Americans that lived near present-day Woodbury, Connecticut. Nonnewaug sold land his land to white settlers who formed the town of Woodbury. His name is eponymized by the Nonnewaug River, Nonnewaug Falls, and Nonnewaug High School.

Biography In the 1687 Quassapaug Purchase, European settlers purchased lands encompassing parts of Woodbury, Middlebury, and Southbury, from eight Native leaders, including Nunawuak.

Nonnewaug was last chief of the clan of his name. In 1700, he conveyed to colonial settlers in Connecticut the territory called Nonnewaug, which had belonged to his people. The sale was confirmed in a deed signed in 1706.

Though on friendly terms with his white neighbors, he had previously resisted all advances towards the purchase of his lands. He yielded, having negotiated the right to fish and hunt over all of the granted lands. It was written that his "haughty spirit seems to have become humbled, and his ambition after any worthy object have been lost."

Nonnewaug enjoyed indulging in alcohol. In one notable instance, he ran afoul with the colonial law, having become "overtaken in fault" while intoxicated with alcohol. He was taken to court, however, Nonnewaug's wit was lauded by the magistrate and he was acquitted of any crime. He was simply asked to "sin no more".

Gravesite

Nonnewaug's ashes were buried at the waterfall which now bears his name. In this location, his fathers' people had been buried before him, true to their instinct of selecting the most beautiful places for their final resting place. An appletree was planted at the head of his grave, which as of 1872, was still standing and in good health.

Nonnewaug is also memorialized in the name of the Nonnewaug River and Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury. The school changed its name to honor the chief in the 1970s. Stephen Paluskas, a member of the regional Board of Education, stated that "we thought it would reflect very well to name the school after a real chief in the area like we name schools after presidents." The school's logo depicted the head of Nonnewaug. In 2000, the logo was redesigned due to perceived cultural insensitivity. However, the school continued to compete as the Chiefs.