Molly Molasses (Mary Pelagie)

Molly Molasses (Penobscot) was born around 1775. She lived during a time of great change and hardship for the Penobscot people as their land and traditional lives were altered by the booming timber industry. Molly’s nickname “Molasses” came from a play on the Penobscot pronunciation of her last name. Ironically, some say a lifetime of hardship made Molly bitter and far from “sweet.” Some called her a witch; others acknowledged her as a powerful medicine woman. In any case, she was respected by all and feared by some. She continues to be a powerful symbol of Penobscot traditional ways and survival. Penobscot artists such as Jason Brown and Ruth Francis honor Molly through their art.