Assawompset Pond is a reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville and Middleboro, in southeastern

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

. It shares its waters with Long Pond and is openly connected with

Pocksha Pond Pocksha Pond is a lake/reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville and Middleboro, in southeastern Massachusetts. It shares its waters with Great Quittacas Pond and openly connected with Assawompset Pond.USGS quad map These lakes provides a sour ...

.USGS Quadrangle Map These lakes provide a source of

drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...

to the city of

New Bedford New Bedford (Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American pe ...

, the largest city in southeastern

. At almost , it is the largest natural lake in Massachusetts. It is known in

Wampanoag The Wampanoag , also rendered Wôpanâak, are an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands based in southeastern Massachusetts and historically parts of eastern Rhode Island,Salwen, "Indians of Southern New England and Long Island," p. 1 ...

as ''Place of the White Stones'' and is host for the largest alewife ( herring) run in the eastern seaboard. In the early spring the Nemasket River runs black with fish heading for the spawning grounds. The area known as ''Betty's Neck'' was one of the summer encampments for Native Americans who would traverse the Taunton River and Nemasket River to enter the pond. The Nemasket, being known as ''Where the fish are'', explains the significance as a food source.

King Philip's War King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...

began with the discovery of

John Sassamon John Sassamon, also known as Wussausmon (), was a Massachusett man who lived in New England during the colonial era. He converted to Christianity and became a praying Indian, helping to serve as an interpreter to New England colonists. In January ...

's body and the subsequent trial of his suspected murderers. His body was slipped under the ice on Assawompset Pond and found the following spring. The outcome of the trial sparked the beginning of hostilities. The pond was dammed in 1894 at the Nemasket River, which raised the water level about . File:Lakeville Assawomsett.jpg, Assawomsett Pond in Lakeville

References

Taunton River watershed Bodies of water of Plymouth County, Massachusetts Lakeville, Massachusetts Middleborough, Massachusetts Ponds of Massachusetts Reservoirs in Massachusetts Wampanoag tribe {{PlymouthCountyMA-geo-stub