Pontiac is a historic village in

Warwick, Rhode Island Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States, and is the third-largest city in the state, with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Warwick is located approximately south of downtown Pr ...

, United States and part of the .

History

Native Americans referred to the area as "Papepieset" or "Toskiounke." After arriving in 1642, the early English settlers called the area "Great Weir" because

fishing weir A fishing weir, fish weir, fishgarth or kiddle is an obstruction placed in tidal waters, or wholly or partially across a river, to direct the passage of, or trap fish. A weir may be used to trap marine fish in the intertidal zone as the tide rec ...

s were used to catch fish near the falls. After a bridge was constructed in the locality, the area became known as "the great bridge near the weir," and eventually " Capt. Benjamin Greene's bridge" then "Arnold's bridge." After Senator John Hopkins Clarke purchased the water rights, the region assumed the name of "Clarksville." After purchasing the area, the Pontiac Manufacturing Company named the area "Pontiac" after

Chief Pontiac Pontiac or Obwaandi'eyaag (c. 1714/20 – April 20, 1769) was an Odawa war chief known for his role in Pontiac's War, the war named for him, from 1763 to 1766 leading Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans in an armed strugg ...

a Northwestern Indian chief. Allegedly, "Mr. Clark, while out in Michigan, saw the picture of the old chief, Pontiac, and on his return had it engraved, to be used as a label on his goods. The name gradually became attached to the village after he left, though many continued to call it " Arnold's Bridge."''The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time: including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c.'', &c by Oliver Payson Fuller (Angell, Burlingame & co., printers, 1875)pg. 25

/ref> In 1863 Benjamin Knight and Robert Knight, two brothers, built the

Pontiac Mills Pontiac Mills is a historic textile mill complex on Knight Street in the village of Pontiac, Rhode Island within the city of Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in E ...

in the village.

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External links

*''The history of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its settlement in 1642 to the present time: including accounts of the early settlement and development of its several villages; sketches of the origin and progress of the different churches of the town, &c.'', &c by Oliver Payson Fuller (Angell, Burlingame & co., printers, 1875)pg. 25

Villages in Kent County, Rhode Island Cranston, Rhode Island Warwick, Rhode Island Villages in Rhode Island {{RhodeIsland-geo-stub

History

See also

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External links