Editing Gosnold, Massachusetts (section)

==History==
The earliest inhabitants of the [[Elizabeth Islands]] were the [[Wampanoag (tribe)|Wampanoag]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. The tribe did not settle permanently on the Elizabeth Islands, but used them in summer for [[hunting]], [[fishing]], and [[gardening]]. Occasionally, [[arrowhead]]s or [[stone tool]]s are discovered on the islands. The islands' names come from the [[Massachusett language|Wampanoag language]].

[[Bartholomew Gosnold]] was among the first Europeans to become aware of the Elizabeth Islands, including Cuttyhunk, in 1602. He and his crew attempted to establish a [[trading post]] on Cuttyhunk so that they could trade with the natives, the first attempt by [[Europe]]ans to do so. The trading post was abandoned after only a few weeks, and Gosnold decided to return home. Upon his return to [[England]], the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British Crown]] claimed jurisdiction of the island chain.

Gosnold was first settled in 1641, the year of purchase of the islands by [[Thomas Mayhew (governor)|Thomas Mayhew, Sr]]. The islands were claimed by the Wampanoag until 1658, when the Wampanoag [[sachem]] transferred{{clarify|date=August 2022}}<!-- the British granted a deed to the Wampanoag?? --> the [[deed|deed of ownership]] to Mayhew. Constituting [[Dukes County, New York|Dukes County]], [[New York (state)|New York]] since 1683, the Elizabeth Islands, [[Martha's Vineyard]], and [[Nantucket]], were transferred to the newly created [[Province of Massachusetts Bay]] in 1691.  Gosnold was separately incorporated as a municipality in 1864; previously it was a part of the town of [[Chilmark, Massachusetts|Chilmark]].<ref>{{cite book | url = http://capecodhistory.us/Mass1890/Gosnold1890.htm |  chapter = Gosnold, Massachusetts 1890 | title = A Gazetteer of the State of Massachusetts with Numerous Illustrations |author1=Elias Nason |author2=George J. Varney | publisher = Publisher: B.B. Russell | year =  1890|  pages =334–336}}</ref>