Willanowit Marker Unveiling

At Gonic Trails

Willanowit Marker Unveiling

On 04/29/2025

at 1pm

Event Location: Gonic Trails 71 Rochester Neck Road Rochester, NH Event Entrance Fee?: none

Details/Comments: Willanowit Marker unveilingOn March 29th, 2025 at 1:00PM, a historical marker honoring a leader from the Newichawannock tribe will be unveiled at Gonic Trails parking lot, on Rochester Neck Road in Rochester, New Hampshire.

Willanowit was murdered by another party of Newichawannocks that were ordered to do so by Major Richard Waldron. Major Waldron had sent Willanowit (sometimes called “Blind Will”) north from Dover to locate some “strange Indians that were operating in the area.” Blind Will was dragged by his hair until he died of his wounds at the confluence of the Isinglass and Cochecho River which is near by this location. The McDuffee family buried Blind Will in their family cemetery near by the Gonic Trails.

In the summer of 2022, Jenny Tibbits (Newichawannock/Pennacook/Abenaki and Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) started the project to install a historical marker to honor one of their tribal leaders. They secured a grant that helped pay for the plaque. They worked with Waste Management of New Hampshire who donated the stone. Waste Management had one of their contractors move the stone and install the plaque.