John Hyanno was born about
1595 in Matachee
Village. He was a Chief Sachem of the Cummaquid.
"...[T]he pinnace sailed south past Plymouth to the bottom of Cape Cod
Bay, dropping anchor off Cummaquid, a name retained by one of the shore villages
in the township of Barnstable. They were well received by Iyanough, the local
sachem, whom the Pilgrims had met and been so impressed with the year before.
A young man in his twenties, he was 'personable, gentle, courteous, and fair-conditioned;
indeed, not like a savage save for his attire. His entertainment was answerable
to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various.' So it was again, and Iyanough
undertook to gather as large a supply of provisions as the Cummaquid could spare."
((source: George F. Willison, Saints and Strangers, (New York: Time Incorporated,
1964), pp 228-229)
Iyanough was the chief sachem of the the Cummaquid tribe. The Pilgrims had landed
in his area when they were searching for the Nausets. He told them that young
John Billington, whom the Nausets had found lost in the woods and taken, was
just fine. He gave the Pilgrims a big dinner with entertainment. He then came
aboard the shallop and sailed with the Pilgrims leading them to Nauset. When
they arrived, the tide was out and they could not come ashore, but Iyanough swam
ashore to inform Aspinet--the chief sachem of the Nausets--of the Pilgrims arrival.
After the Pilgrims left the Nausets, the wind did not allow them to get home
directly, and so they ended up back with Iyanough again. The Pilgrims being very
thirsty, Iyanough led an expedition in search of some fresh water for them to
drink. The Cummaquid tribe held another celebration of singing and dancing. The
next day Iyanough gave them the water they needed, and the Pilgrims made their
way back to Patuxet (Plymouth). The Pilgrims described Iyanough as follows: "Iyanough,
a man not exceeding twenty-six years of age, but very personable, gentle, courteous,
and fair conditioned, indeed not like a savage, save for his attire. His entertainment
was answerable to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various." Iyanough
died before March 1623 of a disease which swept Cape Cod early that year, probably
brought by Thomas Weston's colonists which settled at Wessgussett in 1622.
(source: Mayflower Web Pages. Caleb Johnson c 1997)
Barnstable was one of the first three towns settled on the Cape, incorporated
in 1639 along with Sandwich and Yarmouth. Named for Barnstaple, England, (the
colonists were not known for their spelling strengths) many place names in the
town actually reflect the early presence of Native Indians of various tribes.
The villages of Cotuit, Cummaquid and Hyannis can trace their names to Indian
roots. Hyannis, for example, is named for Iyannough (also spelled Iyanough, or
Iyanno or a number of other ways), the Cummaquid sachem who extended kind hospitality
to early settlers. His grave, off Route 6A in Cummaquid along the north shore
of Barnstable, is marked (look for the sign), and a bronze statue of him stands
in at the Village Green on Main Street in Hyannis as it rightly should.
(source: Historic Cape Cod, http://www.insiders.com/capecod/main-historic.htm)
Parents: Iyanough (Highyannough, Ihyannough) * Sachem of the Wampanoag and Daughter
of Canonicus * Princess of the Narangasett.
He was married to Mary No-pee. 
Mary No-pee was born about 1600 in
Gay Head. Children were:
i.
John Hyanno was born about
1620 in Cummaquid. He died after
1661.
ii.
Mary Hyanno. |