Name/Title
Passamaquoddy/English Temperance Pledge | 1870Description
A large Passamaquoddy/English language temperance pledge broadside that dates to 1870. The pledge is signed by Edward Quick of Eastport, Maine and by Catholic Jesuit priest, Eugene Vetromile, who served the Catholic churches at both Eastport and the nearby Passamaquoddy community at Sipayik, Maine in the mid-19th century. During his time as a Jesuit priest, he wrote several books on Wabanaki history and worked on a Wabanakii language dictionary as well. The Tides Institute acquired the broadside from a descendant of the Quirk family who wanted to see the broadside preserved and accessible in an institution in the region where the broadside originatted. Thanks to Donald Soctomah, historic preservation officer for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the broadside was recently translated by Robert Leavitt and Margarett Apt. Their line by line translation is as follows:
N'dakkabin = Rum
Skudewhambu = firewater
Peseku wonismuhinoh, nanquitchidahamal matchi Niweskum, anda kegus kepkuattasseu, metchinabi, te alihkle Alamkik
If I lose track and drink, I will try to think of God, and not drink anything, otherwise I would die and go to Hell.
Anda Dakkabin = no rum
Anda Skudewhambu = no firewater
Peseku esma wonismiu, nanguitchdahamal ketchi Niweskum,
If I lose track and drink, I will try to think of God,
n’messeli messinemon, sipkauso, tehetch ulitahaso lannihahali.
I publicly show it, he will live a long life, he will be happy, Amen.
Nia … niak’dihlel ndamina gatosmiwon hokbe te messi skudewhambu;
I am going to swear that I will not drink any kind of liquor;
wibitte acquamalsiane, lhite Doctol, niakdihlel ndamina wonsmiu.
as soon as I feel better, I will go to the doctor, and I will not forget.
Pledge No Drinking - Father Vetromile 1870
Translations by Margaret Apt & Robert Leavitt
(2021)
N'dakkabin = Rum
This looks more like ntahkopim “my cold drink” (the word does not appear in the text below)
Skudewhambu = firewater
Sqotewop (literally, “fire-water”)
anda dakkabin = no rum
Ma-te ntahkopim (originally may have been ntama ntahkopim)
anda skudewhambu = no firewater
Ma-te sqotewop (originally may have been ntama sqotewop)
Peseku wonismuhinoh, nanquitchidahamal matchi Niweskum, anda kegus kepkuattasseu, metchinabi, te alihkle Alamkik
Pseqossomiyan, ntoqecitahama kci-Niweskum, ma-te keqoss nkotuwossomiw, nmehcin-op naka ntoli Lamkik.
If I lose track and drink, I will try to think of God, and not drink anything, otherwise I would die and go to Hell.
Peseku esma wonismiu, nanguitchdahamal ketchi Niweskum,
Pseqossomiyan, ntoqecitahama kci-Niweskum,
If I lose track and drink, I will try to think of God,
n’messeli messinemon, sipkauso, tehetch ulitahaso lannihahali.
nmessuwi-messunomon, sipkawsu-tehc, wolitahasu, niyalic.
??? I publicly show it, he will live a long life, he will be happy, ???Amen.
Nia … niak’dihlel ndamina gatosmiwon hokbe te messi skudewhambu;
Nila … Nila nkoti-wolaman, ntama-na nkotuhsomiwon psiw sqotewop;
I am going to swear that I will not drink any kind of liquor;
wibitte acquamalsiane, lhite Doctol, niakdihlel ndamina wonsmiu.
woli-te aqamolsiyan, ihik taktalk nkoti-li, ntama-na nunitahasiw.
as soon as I feel better, I will go to the doctor, and I will not forget.
Temperance Pledge. Edward Quirk has taken the total Temperance Pledge. Eastport [Maine], January 8, 1870. Signed by Edward Quirk and Eugene Vetromile, Pastor. Purchased from Roger Quirk of Lubec, Maine in 2012.
Old Accession Number: 1062