Robert Norton

A History of Point Connett Robert Norton

Point Connett in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, is a seaside community of 105 houses; most are year-round, and some are summer cottages. It is located on the western shore of Buzzards Bay, which is a large inlet that separates the mainland from Cape Cod to the east. The name Point Connett is from that of a Wampanoag Indian who, in the 1600s, took the anglicized name William Connett. Prior to King Philip's war (1675-1678), he owned much of the land in Rochester and Mattapoisett, including Point Connett, now named for him. Mattapoisett is a Wampanoag word that translates as "A Place of Rest." It has been, since its beginning, a lovely and friendly community. Several families trace their roots on "The Point" back to the beginning, and some third- and fourth-generation descendants still own homes here, peopled with fifth-generation children. The book, overall, is a collection of independent chapters, each written by members of different families about their personal experience of Point Connett. These have been collected and put together by the editor, and added to a Prologue that recounts the Point's early history as assembled from available sources. The collection of stories here very clearly and effectively demonstrates the character and activities of this lovely community by the sea and nicely captures the zeitgeist of Point Connett.