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r
HIOGRAIMIY AND UISTOUY
or THB
.-1
r •^
r 1
INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA,
PROM ITS FIRHT DISCOVERY.
Iliftory makolli t young intn to Ixt olH, wilhoiil nilhor wrinklni or irajr haira \ privlllrd(in( him
with the ieared in 1835, with the addition of a catalogue of all the principal
Indian tribes, arranged alphabetically. This was '' iwn, at great expense of time, from an
incredible number ot sources. The second edition .>&A been stereotyped, to the original cost
of which great expense had been added in corrections and additions, coMsidcrably exceedipf^
the profits which had accrued, and I was now beginning to console myself that very little, it
any thing, more would b'; required by way of additions or corrections, and that I should
soon be^in to derive some small advantage from it, as it had been tolerably well re-
ceived; but I found I had "reckoned without my host;" for, on the night of the 30th of
September, 1833, the whole was consumed by fire. This was quite discouraging. However,
I soon determined to stereotyjie it anew. Tnus taking advantage of what I nau considered a
great misfortune, I began to revise the whole througlioul. Parts were rewritten, and addi-
tions made in almost every page, and the page itself was enlarged, although one of the pages
of the former editions contained as much reading as two octavo pages in the common type.
Besides this enlargemeut of the pages, their number was extenuetf to six hundred, buch
were the preparations for the sixth (though printed as the fifth) edition, an impression of
which was issued in 1836. The next year produced a ser.enth. This was the same as the
preceding, excepting a few important corrections. I come now to the eighth and present
edition, which has received very important enlargements in the three la.st books, amounting to
more than one hundred pages; and it may be proper to no!c, that all after pages l-w of
Book III., 96 of Book IV., 168 of Book V., are additions to what has been before published.
And the catalogue of the tribes has been enlarged to more than twice its original amount.
It is now submitted with all its imperfections; and, although I hope to multiply the number
of editions, I have no intention of Turther enlarging the worK.
This edition has been delayed many months in consequence of a hope I had entertained of
living to be assured that the Florida war was at an end. That time may now be considered
to have arrived. On the events of that war, as will be seen, I have been full and particular;
and, if events of importance have escaped me, it was not because I had not used great ex-
ertions to possess myself of them. If, however, a doubt should be raised upon this head, I
would refer the skeptical reader to a document published by order of the U. S. Senate in
1840, purporting to be a report of the secretary of war, " showing the massacres committed
and the property destroyed by the hostile Indians in Florida" since 1835, where a comparison
may be maJe between what I have published, and the amount of information in the possession
of the war department.
The history of the wrongs and suflcrings of the Cherokees has been an important addition
to this edition ; and, whatever judgments may be pronounced upon it by the present genera-
tion, I shall remain silent, under the consciousness that I have done no injustice to the partiei
concerned. I have been an observer through the whole course of it, and registered events as
they passed. I have not used a dirk in the dark, but the broadsword in open day, with fair
warning to the adversary. " Let those who undertake prepare to undergo."
* Ai the word fdition in the title-pace uf a book now-a-dnys may mean any tbin; or nothing, when
a number atandi before it, I will just oMerve that my first edition conai«ted of 1,500 copied, the se«ODd
of 9,000, the third uf 500, tli< fourth, fifth, and sixth of 1,000 each, and the levenlh of 500.
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AN
ALPHABETICAL ENUMERATION
or
THE INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONS,
An attempt is made, in the following Table, to locate the various bands
of Aborigines, at.cient and modem, and to convey the best intbriiiHtion
respecting their numbers our multitiirious sourCv;8 will warrant. Mod-
em writers have been, for several years, endeavoring to divide North
America into certain districts, each of which should include all the In-
dians speaking the some, or dialects of the same, language ; but whoever
has paid any attention to the subject, must undoubtedly have been con-
vinced that it can never be done with any degree of accuracy. This ha»
been undertaken in referel^?e to an approximation of the great question
of the origin of this people, from a comparison of the various languages
used among them. An unwritten language is easily varied, and there
can be no barrier to innovation. A continual intermixing of trilies has
gone on from the period of their origin to the present time, judging from
what we have daily seen ; and when any two tribes unite, speaking dif-
ferent langua^res, or dialects of the same, a new dialect is produced by
such amalgamation. Hence the accumulation of vocabularies would be
like the pursuit of an infinite series in mathematics ; with this difference,
however — in the one we recede from the object in pursuit, while in the
other we approach it. But I would not be understood to speak dispar-
agingly of this attempt at classification ; for, if it be unimportant in the
main design, it will be of considerable service to the student in Indian
history on other accounts. Thus, the Uchus are said to speak a primitive
language, and they wert districted in & small territory south of the Chero-
kees ; but, some 200 years ag ', — if they then existed as a tribe, and their
tradition be tme, — they were bounded on the north by one of the great
lakes. And ^hey are said to be descended from the Shawanees by some
of themselves. We know an important cominunity of them is still in
existence in Florida. Have they created a new language in the course
of their wanderings? or have those firom whom they 8e|»arated done so?
Such are the difficulties we meet with at every step of a classification.
But a dissertation upon these matters cannot now be attempted.
In the following analysis, the names of the tribes have been genv;rally given
in the singular number, for the rjake of brevity ; and the word InSiatu,
after such names, is omitted from the same cause. Few abbreviations
have been used : — W. IL, west of the Rocky Mountains ; m., miUa ; r.,
river ; 1., iake ; and perhaps a few oth'^rs. In some instances, reference
is made to the body of the work, where a more extended account of a
tribe is to be found. Such references are \o the Book and Page, the same
as in the Index.
Abekas, probably MuBkoirees, under the French at Tombeckbee in 1750.
Abbrakikb, over Maine till 1754, then went to Canada; 200 in 1689; 150 in 1780.
Absoroka, (MinetaiA,) S. branch Tellowstone; lat. 4&>, Ion. IQBP. 45,000 in 1834
AccoKEBAw, W. side Colorado, about 200 m. S. W. Nacogdoches.
Aco¥AK, one of thie lix tribea in Virginia when settled by the English in 1607.
AoAiEE, 4 m. fVom Nachitoches, on Lake Macdon ; 40 men in 18w.
Adirordaks, (Algonkin,) along the N. shore St. Lawrence ; 100 in 1 786.
A*
vi
INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONS.
APFAOonr.A, •mnll clan in 17S3, on Mi8HiB«ippi r , 8 m. above Point Coup£.
AflAWoM, (VVninpanoairs,) nt S.indwicli, Muhh. ; otlicrH at Ipxwich ii. 46.
AiiWAiiAWAV, (Minctnri-,) S. W. MisHoori IHWO, ;\ m. iil)i>vc Mandana; 200 in 1806k
Ajoiikh, S. of the MiHsouri, and N. of the Padoucns ; 1,I(H) in I7()<).
Ai.ANHAR, (Fall,) licad branches 8. fork SawkRHbawan ; '.^,.'>()U in 1604.
Ai.fioNKiN. over l^anad'. ; from low down thi* St. Lawrence to Lake of titc Woodi.
Ai.iATAN, tliri'o tribi'H in IHO.'> ainonfj the Rocky MoiintainH, on hc.ulH I'latte.
Ai.iciiK, near .Nacocrdochi-H in IHd.'i, tlicn nearly extinct; itpoke Caddo.
Ai.i.AKAWK.Aii, (I'auncli,) both Hidt-H Ytllowatone, heads IJiir Horn r. ; li,300 in 1805.
Ar.i.iiiAMA, forrnerly on that r., but removed to Red River In 17tJ4.
AMAi.iitTKM, (Alironkins.) once on St. Lawrence; r)00 in I7G0.
ANASACii'NTAKDOK, (Abenaki.) on HoiirceH Androscoggin, in Maine, iii. 13G, ir>2.
A.M)\sTK'<, once on S, shore l^ake Krie, S. VV. Senecas, who ilegtroyed tho:n in l»)72.
Al'Ai HIS, (Lii|iani',) between Rio del Norte and sources of Nuaces r. ; ',\,M)H in lal7.
Apai.aciiicoi.a, once on that r. in VV. Florida ; removed to Red River in I7ll4.
Ai'PAiorsA, .'ihoriginal in the country of their name; but 40 men in 1H05.
AQtiANiisniKiM, llii- name by which the Inxpioia knew themselves, v. 3, &c.
Ak^paiias, S. side main ('anada River; 4,0(K) in 183(), on Kanzas River.
AKMoiMiimrois, or Mahaciiitk, (.\benaki,) on River St. Johns, New Brunswick.
Ahiiknamiisk, on St. Antonio River, near its mouth, in Texas; 120 in 1818.
AssiNN »BoiN, (Sioux,) betw. Assinn. and Missouri r. ; 1,000 on Ottawa r. in 1830.
Atknas, in a village with the FacuUi in 1830, west of the Rocky Muuntaini.
Athapa.scow. about the shores of the great lake of thuir name.
Atnas, next S. of the Alhapascow, about lat. 57° N.
Aitacapas, in a district of their name in Louisiana; but .'iO men in 1805.
Attapiii.oas, (Seminoles,) on Little r., a branch ofOloklikana, 1820, and 220 souls.
Attikamioik.., in N. of Canada, destroyed by pestilence in 1070.
Aucosiseo, (Abenaki,) between the Saoo and Androscoggin River, ii. 48 ; iii. 93.
AuGHqrAGA, on K. branch Sn.squehannah River; 150 in 17(>8; since extinct.
AvAUAis, 40 leagues up the Des Moines, 8. E. side; 800 in ]805.
AvuTANs, 8,000 in 1820, S. W. the Missouri, near the Rocky Mountains.
BAVAaoui.A, W. bank Mississippi, opprtsite the Colipasa; important in 1609.
BeniF.g, on Trinity River, La., about 60 m. S. of Nacogdoches; 100 in 1805.
BiG-i>Kvii.s, ^Yonktons.) 2,.')00 in ISJW; about the heads of Red River.
BiLoxi, at Biloxi, Gulf Mex., 16!>9; a few on Red r., 1804, where they had removed.
Bi.ACKFK.F.T, sources Missouri ; 30,000 in 1834 ; nearly destroyed by small-pox, 1838.
Blanciif., (Ilearded, or White,) upper S. branches of the Missouri.
Bi.iiE-Mun, VV., and in the vicinity, of the Rocky Mountains.
Broth ERTOH, near Oneida Lake ; composed of various tribes; 350 in 1836.
Caddo, on Red River in 1717, powerful ; on Sodo Bay in 1800; in 1804, 100 men.
Cadodaciif, (Nacogdochet,) on Angelina r., 100 m. above the Nechez; 60 in 1820.
Caiwas, or Kaiwa, on main Canada River, and S. of it in 1830.
OALA.STIIOCI.E, N. Columbia. ;n the Pacific, next N. the Chillates; 200 in 1820.
Cali.imix, coast of the Pacific, 40 m. N. Columbia River; 1,200 in 1820.
Camanciies, (Shoshone,) worlike and numerous; in interior of Texas.
Canarsee, on Long Island, N. Y., in 1610, from the W. end to Jamaica.
Cances, (Kansas,) 1805, from Bay of St. Bernard, over Grand r., toward Vera Cruz.
Canibas. (.\benaki,) numerous in 1607, and afler; on both sides Kennebeck River
Carankoija, on peninsula of Bay of St. Bernard, Louisiana; 1,500 in 1805.
Caree, on the coast between the Nuaces and Rio del Norte ; 2,600 in 1817.
Carrieiis, (Nateotetains,) a name given the natives of N. Caledonia by traders.
Castahana, between sources Padouca fork and Yellowstone; 5,000 in 1805.
Cataka, between N. and S. forks of Chien River; about 3,000 in 1804.
Catawba, till late, on their river in S. Carolina; 1,500 in 1743, and 450 in 1764.
Cathlacumups, on main shore Columbia River, S. W. Wappatoo i.; 450 in 1820.
Cathi./.kahikit, at the rapids of the Columbia, IfiO n.. up; 900 in 1820.
Cathi.akamaps, 80 m. up Columbia River ; about 700 in 1820.
Cathlamat, on the Pacific, 30 m. S. mouth of Columbia River; 600 in 1820.
Cathi.anamf.namen, on an island in mouth of Wallaumi t River; 400 in 1820.
Cathi.anaquiah, (VVappatoo,) S. W. side Wappatoo Island; 400 in 1820.
Cathi.apootle, on Columbia River, opposite the Cathlakainaps ; 1,100 in 1820.
Catiii.apoova, 500 in 1820, on the Wallaumut River, 60 m. fromits mouth.
Cathlasko, 900 in 1820, on Columbia River, opposite the Cbippanchikchiks.
Cathlathi.a, 900 in 1820, on Columbia River, opposite the Cathlakahikits.
Catiii.ath, .500 in 1820, on the Wallaumut Ri\er, 60 m. from its mouth.
Cattanahaw, b.:tween the Saskashawan and Missouri Rivers, in 1805.
INDIAN TRI .;S AND NATIONH.
tU
Cacohnewaoa, pUcM where Chrintiani lived wore in called, v. Ilo.
Ohactoo, on Red River; in IHD'i, but 1(H), in(li|renou8 nf thnt [ilacc, it ii uid.
(/HAut)ANO.H'<, the French 80 called the SliawnneHC ; ((.'linwaniir)
(JiiREnr.E, (Cherokees,) 50 tu HO ni. H. ut' them ; called aUo Mid. Settlement, I7ti0.
('iiKiiAWS, ainnll trilie nn Flint River, destroyed by (ieortfia militia in |H|7.
< "iiKPKVA^, clnim from lut. ()0« to G.')", Ion. I(M)^ to 1 10° W. ; 7,r>00 in 18HJ.
('iiK.HoKKK, in Georiria, 8. Carolina, &.e., till I8:M>; then forced beyond the MiniM.
<;ii»!SKiT\i.o\vA, (Seininoles,) 5H0 in le'20, W. Hide ChattalicKM^hee.
TiiiKN, (l)o>x.) near the soiircex Chien River; :MM) in 1^05; 'JOO in 1620.
('iiiiiKKi.KKitii, 40 in. N. of Columbia River; 1,400 in l&M.
(^iiiKAKAW, between heads of Mobilt! River in 1740; once 10,000; now in Arkanua.
('iiipPANciiiKciiiK!!, GO in I'^'JO, N. Hide Coliiinbiu River, '2\Hi in. from its mouth.
CiiiKAiioMiNi, on M.itnpony River, Va., in IO«il ; but It or 4 in I7!I0; now extinrt.
<'uiK AM \i'«iAS, on TemieHsee River, 'M) in. Ih'Iow the ('hi-rokeeii, in 171(0.
^'llll.l.ArK«, ir>0 in IS'M, on the I'acifie, N. Columbia River, b«-yond tln! Quiectsoa.
('iiii.f.rKirrFfirAi;, on the Columbia, next below the Narrows; 1,400 in Icj'JO.
(-'iiii.T/., N. of Columbia River, on the I'acilic, next N. of the Killaxthmilea.
(!iiiiiNAUi'i'M, on Lewis River, N. \V. side of the Columbia; 1,H(M) in l&M.
OiiiNNooK, on N. side Columbia River; in 14'iO, about 400 in IM lod;ri>s.
CiiiPi'KWAs, about Lake Superior, and other vast regions of the N., very numerouf
(JiiiTiMiciiA, on VV. bank Miss River in 1722; once powerful, then slaves.
(yiioKTAW, S. of the Creeks; 15,000 in 1H12; now in Arkansnd. iv. lio.
CiiopuNNisii, on Kooikooskee River ; 4,'.M)0 in IdOG, in 711 lodges.
CiiovvANOK, (Shawanese f) m N. Carolina, on Rennet's Creek, in I70S; 11,000 in 1G30.
CiiowANs, E. of the Tiiscaroras in N. Carolina; GO join the Tuacaroras in 17:i0.
Christknaux, only another spelling of KNisrcNArx, which see.
Ci.AHcLKi.i.AH, 700 in 18'20, on the Columbia River, below the rapids.
('i.AKSTAii, W. R., on a river flowing into the Columbia .. Wappntoo Island.
Ci.AMocTOMicii, on the Pacific, next N. of the Chiltz; *2G0 in \t*'M.
Cla.simatas, on the S. VV. side of Woppatoo Island; 200 in l&M, VV. R.
CLAN.fAiniiNiMU.Ns, S. VV. side of Wappaioo Island; 2d0 in 1820, VV. R.
Cr.ATSops, about 2 in. N. of the mouth of Columbia River ; 1,300 in 1H20.
('i.ARKAMFS, on a river of their name flowing into the VVallaumut ; 1,800 in 1820.
(IsKis,oii a river flowing into S:ibi!ie Lake, ItiSK); theCor.Nis of Hennepin, probably
CoiiAKiKS, nearly destroyed in I'oiitiak's time ; in 181)0, a few near Lake Wiiinebago.
Coi.APissAS, on 1*1 banii Misnissippi in 1721), opposite head of Lake I'ontchartrain.
CoNciiATTAS came to Appnlous.is iii 171I4, from E. the Mississ. ; in 1801, on Sabine.
CoNOAKKKs, a small tribe on Coii:r;iree River, S. Carolina, in 1701 ; long since gone.
CoNOVS, perhaps Kanlmwas, b;'ini^ ouee on that river ; (Canais, and variations.)
CooKKOo-oosK, l,.50i) in I80ii, coast of I'acilic, S. of Columbia r.,and S. of Killawats
CoopspEi.LAii, on a river falling into the Columbia, N. of Clark's ; 1,GOO in lUOG.
CoosADAS, (Creeks,) once resided near t!ie River Tallapoosie.
Copper, so called froiu their co|iper ornaments, on Coppermine River, in the north.
CoREES, (Tuscaroras,) on Neus River, N. Carolina, in 1700, and subsequently.
CoRONKAWA, on St. Jacintlio River, between Trinity and Brazos; ooO in 1820.
CowMTSicK, on Columbia River, ti2 iii. from its mouth, in 3 villages ; 2,400 in 1820.
CREEKd, (Muscogeea,) Savannsh r. to St. Augustine, thence to Flint r., 1730. iv. 54.
Crees, (Lynx, or Cat,) anothi^r name of the Knistcnaux, or a part of them.
Crows. (.Absorokas,) S. branohes of the Yellowstone River; 45,000 in 1834.
CuTSAHNiM, on both sides Columbia River, above the Sokulks ; 1,200 in 1820.
Dahcota, or DocoTA, the name by which the Sioux know themselves.
Delaware, (Lenna-lenape,) those once on Delaware River and Bay ; 500 in 1750.
DiNONDADiEs, (Hurons,) same called by the French 'I'ionontaties.
DoEos, small tribe on the Maryland side Potomac River, in 1G75.
DoQRiRS, (Blackfeet,) but speak a ditferent language.
Does, the Chiens of the French. See Ciiien.
DoTAME, 120 in 1805; about the heads of Chien River, in the open country.
See Emcsas.
, (Canoe-men,) on R. St. Johns ; include Passamaquoddies and St. Johns.
Eamuses.
FcHEMINS,
£distoes, in S. Carolina in 1G70; a place still bears their name there.
Emusas, (Seminoles,) W. side Chattahoochee, 2 m. above the Wekisas; 20 in 1820
Eneshures, at the great Narrows of the Columbia ; 1,200 in 1820, in 41 lodges.
Eries, along E. aide of Lake Erie, destroyed by the Iroquois about 1G54.
EsAws, on River Pedee, S. Carolina, in 1701 ; then powerful ; Catawbas, probably
EsKELooTS, about 1,000 in 1820, in 21 lodges, or clans, on the Columbia.
Es(tuiMAUx, all along the northern coasts of the frozen ocean, N. of G0° N. lat.
Etohusskwakkes, (Semin.,) on Chattahoochee, 3 m. above Ft. Gaines; 100 in 1830
few
vih
INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONU.
Facvlliis, 100 in 1890 ; on Stuart Lake, W. Rocky Mount. ; lat. M", Ion. I2b^ W.
Fai.1., 10 called from their reiidence at the falls of the Kooakooakue. See Alahiari.
FiVB Nations, Mohawka, Senecaa, Cayugaa, Onondagaa, and Oneidaai whirk aee.
Fi.at-IIkadb, (Tutaeewaa,) on a larffe river W. K. ; on 8. fork Columbia r. iv. 8&.
Foi.LBB AvoiNEt, the French m called the Menominiea.
Fond dv Lac, roam fVom Snake River to the Sandy Lakea.
FowL-TowKS, (Seminolea,) I'i m. E. Fort Scott; about 300 in 1890.
Foxes, (Otlagatniei,) called Kcnardiby the French; diipoaaeiaed by B. Hawk's war.
Ganawksf,, on the heads of Potomac River; same as Kanhaways, probably.
Gavhcai), Martha's Vineyard; 900 in 1800; in \im, MO.
Grand River, on Grand r., N. side L. Ontario ; Mohawks, Senecaa, and oth. ; 9,000.
Groi Ventrks, W. Mississippi, on Maria River, in 180(); in 1834, 3,000.
Hark-foot, next S. of the Esquimaux, und in perpetual war with them.
Halmbeer, a tribe of Creeks, destroyed in 1813. iv. 57.
Hannaeai.i.al, coo in 1890, on Pacihc, S. Columbia, next beyond the Luckkarso.
Hassan AMESiTS, a tribe of Nipmuks, embraced Christianity in 164)0. ii. &1, 115.
Hihioiienimmo, 1,:K)0 in 1890, from mouth of Laataw River, up it to the forks.
Hellwits, 100 m. along the Columbia, from the falls upward, on the N- side.
HERRino Pond, a remnant of Wampanoags, in Sandwich, Mass. ; about 40.
Hietans, ^Camanches,) erratic bands; from Trinity to Brazos, and Red River.
HiNi, (Cacodache,) 900 in 1890, on Angelina r., between Red r. and Rio del Norte.
HiTCHiTTBES, once on Chattahoochee r. ; (iOO now in Arkansas; speak Muskogee.
HoHiLPOs, (Tushepahas,) 300 in 1890, above great fali^^ on Clark's River.
HuMAS, (Oumas,^ " Red nation," in Ixsussees Parish, L.\., in IBOG, below Manchak.
Hurons, (Wyanaots, Quatoghies,) adjacent, and N. gt. likes; subd. by iroq., IG&O.
Illinois, '<■ the lake of men," both sides Illinois r. ; 19,000 in 1670; CO towns in 1700.
Inies, or Tachies, rTexasP] branch Sabine; 80 nen in 1806; speak Caddo.
lowAvs, on loway iliver before Black Hawk'i* v;ar; 1,100 beyond the Mississippi.
lRo«tuois, IGOC, on St. Lawrence, below Quebec ; 1687, both sides Ohio, to Miss. v. 3.
IsATis, sometimes a name of the Sioux before 1753,
Ithktemamits, 600 in 1890, on N. side Columbia, near the Cathlaskos.
Jblan, one of three tribes of Camanches, on sources Brazos, del Norte, &c.
Kadapaus, a tribe in N. Carolina in 1707.
Kahunkles, 400 in 1890, W. Rocky Mountains ; abode unknown.
Kaloosas, a tribe found early in Florida, long since extinct.
Kanenavish, on the Padoucas' fork of the Platte; 400 in 1805.
Kanhawas, Ganawese or Canhaways; on the River Kanhawa, formerly.
Kansas, on the Arkansas River; about 1,000 in 1836; in 1890, 1,850.
Kaskaskias, (Illin.,) on a river of same name flowing into the Mississ. ; 950 in 1797.
Kaskavas, between 80urci?a of the Platte and Rocky Mountains; 3,000 in 1836.
Katteka, (Padoucas,) not located by travellers. See Padodcas.
Keek atsa, (Crows,) both sides Yellowstone, above mouth Big Horn r. ; 3,500 in 1805.
Keyche, E. branch Trinity River in 1806; once on the Sabine; 960 in 1890.
KiAWAS, on Padonca River, beyond the Kites; 1,000 in 1806.
Kioene, on the shore of Pacific Ocean in 1891, under the chief Skittegates.
KiKAPOo, formerly in Illinois; now about 300, chiefly beyond the Mississippi.
Killamhk, a branch of the Clatsops, on the coast of Ute Pacific Ocean ; about 1,000.
KiLLAWAT, in a large town on the coast of the Pacific, £. of the Luktons.
Killaxthocles, 100 in 1890, at the mouth of Columbia River, on N. side.
KiMOENiMs, a band of the Chopunnish, on Lewis's River; 800 ',n 1890, in 33 clana.
Kinai, about Cook's Inlet, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Kites, (Staetans,) between sources Platte and Rocky Mountains; about 500 in 1890.
KisKAKONs inhabited Michilimakinak in 1680; a Huron tribe.
Knistenaux, on Assinnaboin River; 5,000 in 1819; numerous; women comely.
KoNAGENS, Esquimaux, inhabiting Kadjak Island, lat. 58°, Ion. 159" W.
KooK-KOO-oosE, on the coast of the Pacific, S. of the Killawats; 1,500 in 1835.
KusKARAWAOKs, One of six tribes on E. shore of Chesapeak in 1607; (Tuscaroras .')
Labanna, 9,000 in 1890, both sides Columbia, above the month of Clark's River.
Lapanne. See Apaches.
Lartiblo, 600 in 1890, at the falls of Lastaw River, below Wayton Lake.
Lbaf, (Sioux,) 600 in 1890, on the Missouri, above Prairie du Chien.
Lbbcb Ritxr, about 350 in 1890, near Sandy Lake, lat. 46° 9' N.
Luif A Lcnapb, once from Hudson to Delaware River ; now scattered in the Wett.
INDIAN TKIIU'.S AND NATIONS. |g
LirAMif , 900 in IdIG, from Kio Grande to the interior of Trxuf ; light hair.
LoucHEUi, npit N. of the ti^nquiiiiaiix, ur •:) of lat GT" l-V N.
LuK«wi», M)4,N. of, and adjacent to, L. Huron and Superior, v. 4, n.
MiA.tiis, (Algonkins,) once on the r. of their name; now 1,500, beyond the Miasiss.
MiKASAUBiKs, (Seniinoles,) about l.OIK) in 1821 ; very warlike, iv. y.i, 128.
MiKMAKS, (Algonkins,) 3,000 in 17liO, in Nova Scotia; the Suriquois of the French.
MiKsuKSEALToK, (Tushepaha,) 300 in 1-420, (Mark's lliver, above great falls, W. R.
Mia<:takes, 2,500 in 18(k>, 5 m. above tlie Mandana, on both aides Knife River.
Mini AWAHCAiiTON, in 1803, on b< th sides MiHsisitippi, from St. Peters upward.
MiNooES, once such of the Iroquois were so culled us resided upon the Scioto River.
MiN&i, Wolf tribe of the Leiina Lena|)e, once over New Jersey and part of Fenn.
MissouRiES, once on that part of the lliver just below Grand River.
MiTCHiGAMiES, one of Uie five tribes of the Illinois; location uncertain.
Mohawks, head of Five Nations; formerly on Mohawk r. ; a few now in Canada.
MoHEOANS, or MoHCAKUNNUKS, in IGIO, Hudson r. from Esopua to Albany, ii. 87, U7.
MonacaN!), (Tuscaroras,) once near where Richmond, Virginia, now is.
MoNoouLATciiES, on the W. aide of the Mississippi. See uavaooulas.
MoNTAONEs, (Algonkina,) N. side St. Lawr., betw. Saguenuy and Tadousac, in 1609.
MoNTADKS, on E. end of Long Island, formerly ; head of 13 tribes of that iaiand.
MoRATOKS, 80 in 1607 ; 40 in 1G6D, in Lancaster and Richmond counties, Virginia.
Mos, 127.
NoTTowAvs, on Nottoway River, in Virginia; but 2 of clear blood in 1817.
NvACKs, (Mohicans,) or Manhattans, once about the Narrows, in New York.
OAKMnLGES, (Muskogees,) to the E. of Flint River; about 200 in 1834.
Ocameches, in Virginia in 1607; had before been powerful; then reduced.
OcHEEs. See Uchees. — Perhaps Ochesoa; 230 in Florida in 1826, at Ochee Bloff.
OooMAS, (Creeka.) See Book iv. 29.
INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONS.
Ojibwas, (Chippeways,) H0,000 in 1836, about the great lakes, and N. of them.
Okatiokinans, (StMuinoles,) 580 in iSW, near Fori Gaines, E. Hide Mississippi.
Omaiias, a,'.iOO in 1820, on Elkhorn River, 80 m. from Council Bluffs, v. 136, 137.
Oneidas, one of tiie Five Nations; chief seat near Oneida Lake, New York. v. 4.
Ononuaoas, one of the Five Nations; formerly in New York; 300 in 1840. v. 4.
OoTLASHooTs, (Tusliepahas,) 400 in 1820, on Clark's River, W. Rocky Mountains.
Osaubs, 4,U00 in 1830, about Arkansas and Osage Rivers; many tribes.
Otagamiks, (VVinnebagoes,) 300 in 1780, betw. Lake of the Woods and the Missis.
Otoes, 1,&00 in 1820; m lcl05, 500; 15 leagues up the River Platte, on S. side.
Otta WAS, 1070, ri'nioved from L. Superior to Michilimakinak ; 2,800 in 1820. v. 41.
OuiATANoNs. or Waas, (Kikupoos,) mouth of Eel r.,Ind., 1791, in a village 3 m. long.
OuMAS, E. 'jank Mississippi in 17' Red r. in 1765
Tetons, (Sioux,) " vile miscreants," on Mississ., Misso., St. Peter's; " real pirates.'
Tionontatiks, or Dinondadies, a tribe of Hurons, or their general name.
Tockwoghs, one of the six tribes on the Chesapeak in 1607.
Tonicas, 20 warriors in 1784, on Mississippi, opp. Point Coup6; once numerous.
ToNKAUANS, a nation or tribe of Texans, said to be cannibals.
'rf
I
{
(
ni
INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIONS.
ToiTKAWA, 700 in 1890, emtio, abont Bay St Bernardo.
ToTEROS, on the mountain! N. of the Saponea, in N. Carolina, in 170O.
ToTO>K«r«. See Mobatoki.
TowACAifRO, or T0WOA8H, one of three tribes on the Brazoi. See Tahvaoara.
TsoMOHTHODARS, Hennepin ao called the Senecas ; by Coz, called Sonnontovana.
TnKABATCHS, OH Tallapoosie Rirer, 30 m. abore Fort Alabama, in 1775.
Tunica, HMobilian,) on Red River, 90 m. above ita mouth ; but ?0 in 1820.
Tdrxib, (Mohegana.) once in Farmington, Conn. ; monument erected to them, 1840.
TusHEPAHAS, and Ootla»hoot», 5,(^ in 1820, on Clark's and Missouri Rivers.
T08CARORA, on NeuB r., N. Carolina, till 1712; a few now in Lewiston, Niagara r.
Tdteloes. See Mahooaks, or Mahooaos.
T0T8EEWA, on a river Yf. Rocky Mts., Bupposed to be a branch of the Colambia.
TwiOHTWEES, (Miamies,) in 1780, on the Great Miami ; so called by the Iroquois.
UcRKx, once on Chattauchee r., 4 towns ; some went to Florida, some west. iv. 141.
Uf ALLAH, (Seminoles,) 670 in 1820, 12 m. above Fort Gaines, on Chattahoochee r.
UoALjACHMUTZi, a tribe abont Prince William's Sound, N. W. coast.
Ulseah, on coast of the Pacific, S. Columbia, beyond the Neekeetoos ; 150 in 1820.
Uralaohtoo, one of the three tribes once composing the Lenna Lenape.
Un AMIES, the head tribe of Lenna Lenape.
Unchaooos, a tribe anciently on Long Island, New York.
Upsaroka, (Minetare,) commonly called Crows.
Waakicum, 3C m. np Columbia River, opposite the Cathlamats ; 400 in 1836.
Wabinoa, (Iroquois,) between W. branch of Delaware and Hudson r. B. iii. 97, n.
Waco, (Panis,) 800 in 1820, on Brazos River, 24 m. from its month.
WiHowpuHS, on N. branch Columbia River, from Lapage r. upward; 700 in 1806.
Wahpatone, (Sioux,) rove in the country on N. W. side St. Peter's River.
Wahpacoota, (Sioux?) in the country S. W. St. Peter's in 1805; never stationary.
Wahesits, (Nipmuks,) once on Memmac River, where Lowell, Mass., now is.
Wamparoag, p/ .
//'/,'.'/
o
Origi
aut
Vol
Tb
hy its
west,
they
had s
pie tl
the ni
matte
and e
us bu
Euro
and A
produ
of an
mean
of vi(
contii
* Sc
of thp
Americ
BOOK I.
ORIGIN, ANTIQUITIES, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS,
&c. OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS.
O eonid their ancient Incus tii« aijiin,
How would they take up [sraol'a taunting i train t
Art thou loo rnllen, Iberia ? Do we fice
The rohber iind llie murderer weak as wo '
Thou, that haot wasted earth, iind dared de«piie
Aliiie the wrath and mercy ui^ the gkieii.
Thy pomp is in the grave, thy glory laid
Low i."! the pits thine uvarico has made.
Wo come with joy from our eternal rest,
To see the oppressor in his turn oppressed.
Art thou the (rod, the thunder of whose band
Uolled over aU -.- desolated land,
Sjhook principuluies aid kingdoms down.
And made the mountoins tremble at his frown?
The sword shiill light upon thy lioasied powers,
And waste tliem as thev wasted ours
Tis thus Omnipotence his law fulfils.
And vengeance executes what justice wills.- -Co wria
CHAPTER I
Origin of the name Indian. — Why applied to the people found in America. — Ancient
auihoTS supposed to have referred to America in their writings — Theopompus —
Voyage of Hanno — Diodorus Siculus — Plato — .Aristotle — Seneca.
The name Indian was erroneously applied to the original man of America*
by its first discoverers. The attempt to arrive at the Enst Indies by sailing
west, caused the discovery of the islands and continent of America. Wlien
they were at first discovered, Columhiis, and many after him, su)>|)oscd they
had arrived at the eastern shore of the continent of India, and hence tlie peo-
ple they found there were called Indians. The error was not discovered until
the name had so obtained, that it could not well be changed. It is true, that it
matters but little to us by what name the indigenes of a country are known,
and especially those of America, in as far as the name is seldom used amoiig
us but in application to the aboriginal Americans. But with the people of
Europe it was not so unimportant. Situated between the two countries, India
and America, the same name for the inhabitants of both must, at first, have
produced considerable inconvenience, if not confusion ; because, in speaking
of an Indian, no one would know whether an American or a Zealander was
meant, unless by the context of the discourse. Therefore, in a historical point
of view, the error is, at least, as much to be deplored as that the name of the
continent itself should have been derived from Americus instead of Columbus..
* So named from VesptUiiu Americus, a Florentine, who maclR a discovery of some part
of tho coast of South America in 1499, two years after Cabot had explored the coast of North
America; but Americus had the fortune to confer his name upon both.
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS,
[Book L
■t
It has been the praoice of ahnost every writer, who has written about the
primitive inhabitants ot a country, to give some wild tiieories of others, con-
cerning their origin, and to clost; the account with his own ; which generally
has been niore visionary, if possible, than those of his predecessors. Long,
laborious, and, we may odd, useless disquisitions have been daily laid before
the world, from the discovery of America by Columbus tc the present time, to
endeavor to explain by what means the inhabitants got from the old to tiie
new world. To act, therefore, in unison with many of our predecessors, we
will begin as far back as they have done, and so shall commence with Theo-
potnpus und others, from intimations in whose writings it is alleged the an-
fients liayond these, which was of immense dimensions, even
without limits ; and that it was so luxuriant, as to produce luiimals of prodi-
gious magnitude, and men grew to double the height of themselves, and that
they lived to a far greater age ;* that they had many great cities ; and their
usages and laws were different from ours ; that in one city there was more
than a million of inhabitants ; that gold nnd silver were there in vas» quanti-
tie8.f This is but an abstract from JEiianus's extract, but contains all of it that
can be said to refer to a country west of Europe and Africa4 Mlian or ^i-
anu» lived about A. D. 200.
Hanno flourished when the Carthaginians were in their greatest prosperity,
but the exact time is unknown. Some place his times 40. and others 140,
years Ixifore the founding of Rome, which would be about 800 years before
our era.§ He was an oflicer of great enter{>rise, having sailed around and ex-
plored the coast of Africa, set out from the Pillars of Hercules, now called
the Straits of Gibraltar, and sailed westward 30 days. Hence it is inferred by
many, that \ e must have visited America, or some of its islands. He wrote a
book, which i.e entitled Periplus, giving an account of his voyagas, which was
translated and published about 1533, in Greet''. ||
Many, and not without tolerably good reaiM)n8, believe that an island or con-
tinent existed in the Atlantic Ocean about this period, but which disappeared
afterwards.
* Buffon and Raynal either had not read this story, or they did not believe it to have been
America ; for they taught that ull animals degenerated here. Many of the first adventurers
to the coasts of unknown countries reported them inhabited by giants. Sviijl wrote Chtllivtr'$
Travels to bring such accounts into ridicule. How well he succeeded is eviiient from a
Komparison of books of voyages and iravel:! before and aAer bis lime. Dtibwria* has this
jiassagc : —
Our fearless sailors, in far voyases
(More led by gain's hope than their compasses),
On th' Indian shore have sometime noted some
Whose bodies covered two broad acres room 5
And in the South Sea they have also seen
Some like high-topped and huge-armed treen ;
And other some, whose monstrous backs did bear
Two mighty wheels, with whirling spokes, that were
Much like the winged and wide-spreading sails
Of any wind-mill turned with merry gales. '
JHvim Wttk; p. 117, ed. 4to, 1613.
t yElian, Variar. Historiar. lib. iii. chap. viii.
X Since the text was written, there has come into my hands a copy of a translation of iEli-
aiys work, " in En^lishe (as well according to the (rutn of the Greeke texte, as of the Latine),
by Abraham Fleming." London, 1576, 4to. It differs not materially from the above, which
is given from a French version of it.
6 Encyclopaedia Perthensis.
II The best account of Hanno and his voyages, with which we are acquainted, is to_be
found in Mariana's Hist, of Spain, vol. i. 93, 109, 119, VOt, 133, and 160, ed,
6 vols. 4to.
. Paris, VTtb,
[Book L
about the
•there, con-
h generally
)rs. Long,
laid before
ent time, to
e old to tiie
iCGBBors, we
with Tfceo-
[ed the an-
the time of
of dialogue
t, but Strabo
e which fol-
>e, Asia and
at there was
nsions, even
als of prodi-
ves, and that
!s ; and their
re was more
vast quanti-
all of it that
Elian or ^t-
Bt prosperity,
d oth«ir8 140,
I years before
ound and ex-
8, now called
is inferred by
1 He wrote a
8, which was
and or con-
disappeared
it to have been
rst adventurers
vrole Gtillwtr't
evkiienl from a
tbsurUu has this
Thap. 1]
ON THE ORUJIN OF THE INDIANS
ed. 4to, 161S.
islalion of MX\-
of the Latine),
le above, which
^nted, is to be
' , Paris, 17M,
(
^udorus Siridua bhvb that Rome " Phwiiicians were cast upon a most f>-rtile
i 111 u|)|)OHite to Ati'icii." Of tiiiH, he tuiyo, they kttpt the niont Mtiidie «1 8tH'r(;cy,
Wiiicli was doubtless occaHion<>d by their jeulutisy of the nitviuitugu the discnv-
ery ii« 'rlit i)c to tliu nei^li.«oriiig natioiiH, and which tli<>y wi^iitni tu iiecure
wlioliy to tlieiTisclves. IModonu Siculru lived about 100 years before Christ.
IhIiiikih lying wost of Kuropu antl Africa are curtuiiily nieiitiuned by Homer
and Hornet. Tlicy were culled Atlanlides, and were supposed to bo about
10,000 lurlongs from AlVicu. ll»'re existed the iwt'is' fabled Elysiun Helds.
Itut to be more pnilirulur with Diodorus, we will let hiu) speak fur himself.
"AtU'r huviiig pusswl the islands which lie beyond the Herculean Strait, we
will speak of those which lit! much further into the ocean. Towards Africa,
and to the west of it, is an iuimc>iL-M island in the broad sea, many days' soil
frout '.ybia. Its soil is very fertiie, and its surface variegated with mountains
and valleys. Its coasts are indented with many navigable rivers, und its lields
are well cultivated: delicious gardens, and various kinds of plants atid trees."
He tinuDy sets it down us the fiiif'St coiaitry . own, where the inhabitants
have spacious dwellings, and every thing in the greatest plenty. To say the
l(!ast of this accoimt of Diodoriut, it corresponds very well with that given of
the Mexicans when first known to the Spaniards, but perhaps it will compare
as well with the Canaries.
Plato's account has more weight, perhaps, than any of the ancients. He
lived about 400 years before the Christian era. A port of his account is as
follows : — " In those firs^ times [time of its being first known], the Atlantic
was a in ..St broad inland, and there were extant most powerful kings in it,
who, with joint forces, appointed to occimy Asia and Europe : And so a most
grievous war was earned on ; in which the Athenians, with the common
"onsent of the Greeks, opposed themselves, and they became the conquerore
Itut that x^tlantic island, by a flood and earthquake, was indeed suddenly
destroyed, and so that warlike people were swallowed up." He adds, in an-
otiier place, " An island in the mouth of the sea, in the passage to those straits,
called the Pillars oi' Hercules, did e.\I.st ; and that island was greater and larger
than Lybia and Asia ; from which there was an easy passage over to other
islands, and from those islands to that continent, which is situated out of that
region." * " JVeptune settled in this island, froii' whose son, ^tlaa, its name
was derived, and divided it among his ten sous. To the youngest fell the
extremity of the island, called Gadir, whicl., in the language of the country,
signifies fertile or abounding in sheep. The descendants of Neptune reigned
here, from father to son, lor a great number of generations in the order of
primogeniture, during the space of 9000 years. They also i)ossessed several
other islands ; and, [Hissing into Europe and Africa, subdued all Lybia as far
as Egypt, and all Europe to Asia Minor. At length the island sunk under
water; and for a long time afterwards the sea thereabouts was full of
rocks and shelves." t This account, although mixed with fiible, cannot, we
think, be entirely rejected; and that the ancients had knowledge of countries
westward of Europe appears as plain and as well authenticated as any [mssage
of history of that period.
Aristotle, or the author of a hook which is generally attributed to him,};
•peaks of an island l)eyoiid the Straits of Gibraltar ; but the passage savors
something of hearsay, and is as follows : — " Some say that, beyond the Pillars
of Hercules, the Carthaginians have found a very fertile island, but without
inhabitants, full of forests, navigable rivers, and fruit in abundance. It is
several days' voyage from the main land. Some Carthaj,"-'ians, charmed by
the fertility of the countiy, thought to marry and settle there ; but some say
that the government of Carthage forbid the settlement upon pain of death,
from the fear that it would increase in power so as to dfiprive the mother-
country r>f her possessions there." If Aristotle had uttered this as a prediction,
* America known to the Ancients, 10, 8vo. Boston, 1773.
t Encyclopaedia Perlhcnsis, art. Atlantis.
i De inirahil. auscultat. Opera, vol. i. VoUaire says of this book, " On en fesait honneur
aux Cart)ia|;inois, et on citait un livre d'Aristote qu'il n'a pas compost." Esiai sur U*
Hours et i'tsprit des natioiu, chap. cxlv. p. 703. vol. iv. of iiis works. Edit. Paris, 1817,
inSvo,
!•
u
ON TIIK ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
[OooR L
I
¥<
that Biich a thing would tnke pincn in n'gard to Homo future nation, no one,
u tiilBc |iri)|i|i<;t, for tlio Amcrioan revolution
This pliilotM •■ lived ubout3):J4 yeare buforo
(jur era. He wrote truge-
pt^rhnpH, would have called l>iin u tidnc |iro|i|i<;t, lor tlio Amerioan revolution
would have been its lultilinent
Christ.
Seneca lived about the commcnrement of tl
dies, and in one of them occurs this imssago : —
-" Venit'nl aniiis
Sacrula seris, quiouii occiiium
Vincula rpriim Inxi'l, ct iiij^ons
PalcHt tclliii, Typliis(]iie nnvos
Delcf^at nrhes ; nee sit tcrris
Ultima Thule."
Mtdea, Act 3. v. 375.
TliiH is nearer prophecy, and may bo rendered in Englisii tlms: — "Tim
time will come when the ocean will looHcn the chaitiH of nature, uiid we shall
behold a vast country. A new Typhis nhall discover new worlds : Thule
ihall no longer be considered the last country of the known world."
Not only these passages from the ancient authors have l)een cited and re-
cited by modems, but many more, though less to the point, to show that, in
some way or other, America mtist have btjtm peopled from some of the eastern
continents. Almost every country has claimed the honor of having been its
first discoverer, and hence the progenitor of the Indians. liut since the recent
discoveries in the north, writers upon the subject say btit little about getting
over inhabitants from Europe, Asia, or Africa, through the difficult woy of the
Atlantic seus and islands, as it is much cosier to pass them over the narrow chan-
nels of the north in canoes, or upon the ice. Grotiiu, C.Mather, Hubbard, and
after them Robertson, are glad to meet with so cnsy a tnethod of solving a
question which they consider as having pu/.zled their predecessors so nmcli.
»###e»"
CHAPTER H.
Of mndem theorists upon the jtcop^n^ oj Jlmericn — St. Gregorij — Herrera — T.
Morton — Williamson — Wood — Jossrhjn — Thormegoud — Jldair — R. Williatiis — C.
Mather — Hubbard — Robertson — Smith — P'oltaire — Mitchill — M' CuUoch — Lord
Kaim — SwiiUon — Cabrera.
St. Gregory, who flourished in the 7th century, in an epistle to St. Clemettt,
said that beyond the ocean there was another world.*
Herrera argues, that the new world could not have been known to the
ancients ; and that what Seneca has said was not true. For that God had kept
it hid from the old world, giving them no certain knowledge of it ; and that,
in the secrecy and incomprehensibility of his providence, he has been pleased
to give it to the Castilian nation. That Seneca's prediction (if so it may be
considered) was a false one, because he said that u new world wotdd be dis-
covered in the north, and that it was found in the west.t Herrera wrote
about 1598, t before which time little knowledge was obtained of North
America. This may account for his iinpeachment of Seneca's prophecy.
Thomas Mortor., who came to New England in 1622, published in 1()37 an
account of its natural history, with much other cuiiotis matter. In speaking
upon the peopling of America, ho thinks it altogether out of the question to
* " S. Gr^oire sur I'epistre ile S. Clement, dit que passe I'ocean, il y a vn autre mond."
' Herrera, I Decade, 2.) This is the whole passage.
t Ihid. 3.
I He died 27 March, 1G26, at the age of about 66 years. His name was Tordesillas Antonio
dt Herrera— one of the best Spanish nislorians. His history of the voyages to, and settlement
of America is very minute, and very valuable. The original in Spanish is very rare. Acqs'
ta's translation (into French) 3 v. 4to., 1660, is also scarce and valuable. It is this we cite.
[OooK L
Chap. II]
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
ion, no one,
I rcvciliition
years bulbro
»rote triij^e-
lus :— " TIiP
iiul wo nlmll
•Ids: Thule
n
ited nnd re-
how titut, ill
ftlieenstcrii
iiig been its
;e tiie recent
bout getting
It way of tlio
larrow cliun-
lubbarJ, and
of solving a
ors 80 niucii.
Hrrrera — T.
Williams— C.
bullock — Lord
St. Gement,
own to tho
•od bad lce})t
; and that,
teen pleased
it may bo
)uld be dis-
rrera wrote
of North
ihecy.
in 1637 an
n speai^ing
Iquestion to
I autre moad."
Isillas Antonio
nd seltlemeDt
I rare. Acos^
Vis we cite.
8ii|)pose tlint it was peopled l»y tiie Tartars from tho north, l>ccaiiAP "ft people,
oiict^ scttb'd, must lie removed by rompnlHioii, or olr«« tempted thereimtt) in
lioptH (if better fortin-vH, upon coiiimeiidatioiin of the |)luce iiiito whieli (hey
(ibdiild be drawn to remnve. And if it may lie thoii^dit that tiiese people ramn
over the froziii sea, then would it be by compulsion. If so, then by whom,
orwhi'ii? Or what part of this main continent may bo tlioiight to iKirder
upon the country of the Tartars? It is yet unknown ; and it is not like that n
people well enough at ease, will, of their own accord, tmdertako to travel over
a sea of ice, considering how many ditticulties they shall encounter with. Ah,
1st, whetlHT there Im any land at the end of their unknown way, no laiuj
being in view; then want of food to sustain lit'; in the mean time upon that
sea of ice. Or how shall they do for fuel, to keen them at night from freezing
to death .' which will not Ix^ had in such a place, lint it may {KTliaps Iw
grantershurg.
What discovery would it be to meet with any of these characters, or others
like them, among the American Indians nearest to Asia ! But as to the Cali-
fornians, if ever they were possessed of any invention to pe -petuate their me-
moirs, they have entirely lost it ; and all that is now foi nd among them,
amounts to no more than some obscure oral traditions, [ robably more and
more adulterated by a long succession of time. They have not so much as
retained any knowledge of the particular country from which they emi-
grated." This is the account of one who lived many years among the Indians
of California.
IMr. William Wood,^ who left New Englai d in 1633,11 after o short stay, says,
"Of their language, which is only peculiar to themselves, not inclining to any
of the refined tongues : Some have thought they might be of the dispersed
* New Canaan, book i, pages 17 and 18. t Iljid- 18.
X In his Hist. N. Carolina, i. 216.
J Hist. Califoniia, i. 60. His work was published at Madrid, in 1758.
The author of a work entitled New England's Prospect published in London, 16S1-, iu
4to. It is a very rare, and, in some respects, a curious and valuable work.
IT Prospect, 61.
ON THE Oftiorisr op THF INDIA Nff.
(Book f.
it!
i
Jews, IwcaiiHc noiiio nf tli*!tr wohIh \m' near unto the Ih'hn'W ; f>iit by tFie mme
ruin, lli**y iiiny coiirliMl*! tlitiiii U \m Hriiiiu of tlit; kI''UI>>»8" "^ ^11 iiutiuiiii, l»e-
caiiHo th<>y Imvu wonU wliich sound hAvt tliu Grevk, Liilin, French, and other
tonjnieK."*
Mr. John Jogsehfn, who n^sided wiriie tiino hi New Kngland, from the year
KKJH, wiVH, "The" Mohawkn are alM)Ut r>00: tlioir »|M'erh a dialect of the I'ar-
tarn (im altto iu the Turkmli tongu<')."f In niinther work,^ he HavR, " N. Kng-
huid iH l>y Home aflirmed to In; an ittlaiiH, iMiomli'd on the north witji the Kiver
of Canada (ho calUnl from Moni«ienr Cam), on th<' iH>iith with the River Mon^
hef(an or HudtntCa River, mi called iHicauM- he wim the first that discovered it«
Home will have America to l>e an iNland, which ont of )|ueHtion miift needs he,
if then) he a north-east passai^ found out into the South Hea. It contains
l,ir)'2,4U<),0(X) acres. The diticovery of the north-weHt |iaiirth,
And forgod lli«ir futlcrs fur this rhild of earth,
And whrn, as oft, he dared expand his view,
And work with nature on the hne she drew.
Some monster, rendered in his fears, unmanned
His o|>eiiin^ soul, and marred the works he planned.
Fear, the first passion of his helpless stale.
Redoubles all the woes that round him wait,
niorks nature's path, and sends him wandering wide,
Without u guarJiaii, and without a guide."
Columinad, ix. 137, &.e.
Reverend Thomas Tliormvgood published a small quarto, in 1652,§ to prove
that the Indians were the Jews, who had been " lost in the world for the space
of near 2000 years." But whoever has read Adair or Bovdinot, has, beside a
good deal that is irrational, read all that in Thorowgood can be termed rational.
Reverend Rogtr Williams wa", at one time, as appears from Tliorowgood's
work,|| of the same opinion. Being written to for his opinion of the origin of
the natives, "ho kindly answers to those letters from Salem in N. Eng. 20tli
of the lOtb month, more than 10 yeers since, in hate verba." That they did
not come into America from the north-east, as some had imagined, he thought
evident for these reasons : 1. their ancestors affirm they came from the south-
west, and return thence when they die : 2. because they " separate their wo-
men in a little wigwam by themselves in their feminine seasons:" and 3. "be-
side their god Kutiand to the S. West, they hold that JVanatoitnatoit}] (a god
over head) made the heavens and the earth ; and some last of affinity with
the Hebrew I have found."
Doctor Cotton Mather is an author of such singular qualities, that we almost
hesitate to name him, lest we be thought without seriousness in so weighty a
matter. But we will assure the reader, that he is an author with whom we
would in no wise part ; and if sometimes we aj)pear not serious in our intro-
duction of him, what is of more importance, we believe him really to be so.
And sve are persuaded that we should not be pardoned did we not allow him
to 6peak upon the matter before us.
Ibid, 112, ed. 1764,
His arcount of two voyages to New England, printed London; 1673, page 124.
New England Rarities, 4, 5, printed London, 1672.
Its title commences, " DigUtu Dei : New DUcmeritt, with ture Argummtt to prcve," Slc,
Pages 5 and 6,
Getannitowit is irod in Vvlayrm^—Heckeweldtr.
Chap. U.]
on THE ORIGIN OF TllE INDIANS.
He «yi, " h ahoiild yot paM witboiit rotiiark, that thrte mMt memorabla
tltiiiga which liave bornn a v«ry grciot uN|)««'t iiiioii hunum affiiirt, did, near the
wiiiic time, iianii'ly, at the coiickiHioii of iUt3 M/tttiUh, and the tH>|(iniiiiig of the
ttijcletntk, century, aritte unto th« world : the tirHt wiw the Uttitrrection qf
LUtrnture ; tlie MM-oiid wua the n|MMiiiif^ (if Jlmerica; the thirl wiw the
HeJ'ormniion of Relif^on." TIi»ih fiu- we have an iimtnictive %'icw of the huIi
ject, euli'ulalitu tu lead tu the eoiirluxion that,iu the dark ajreH, when literature
waM neffli'Cted and forgotten, r»i/, 8el, theu to bo
heard through tlie Roman empire.* If the Deirii hud anv expt'ctation, tiiat, by
the peopling of Anierioa, he Hlionid utterly de|)rive any kiiropeaiiH of the two
ItenetitM, literalure and re/ig'Mit, which dawned uihiu the miHcraye world, (one
jniit before, the other jiiMt iif^erA tln^ first famed uuvigatiou hither, 'tia to be
hoped he will be disappointetl of tJiat expectation."! The learned doctor,
having forgotten what he iiad written in liin tirxt ImhiIc, or wiMhin|: to ineulrato
liiH doctrine more firmly, nearly repeatH a iMMoage which he had at tinit given,
in a distant part of hix work ; { but, there being considenibie addition, we re-
rite it: "TIte uativea of the country now pomeased by the Newenglandertj,
bad b<>en tbrlorn and wn;tchcd heaihen ever since their ArHt Iterding here ; an(i
though we know not token or how these IiMliana first became iiduibitaiits of
this mighty continent, yet vrit may gtu'ss that prohaldy the Deinl decoyed those
miserable salvagtss hither, in hopes that the gospel of the Lord Jeeus Christ
would never come liero to destroy or disturb his absolute empire over thetiL
But our Eliot was in such ill terms with the Devit, as to alarm hiiu with
tMunding tlie tUver trumpets of heaven in his territories, and make some noble
and zealous attempts towards outing him of ancient itosscssions here. There
were, I think, 20 several natmu (if I may call them so) of Indians upon that
fipot of ground which fell under the iiifiuenco of our Three Vniied Colonies;
and our Eliol was willing to rescue as many of them as he could from that
old usurping landlord of America, who is, bv the wrath of God, the |M-ince if
this woriiL** In 8<;veral places be is decidcu in the opinion that Indians are
Scythians, and is confirmed in tlie opinion, on meeting with this puniage of
Jidius Cresar: " DijKcUius Invenire quam interfuxre^ which lie thus renders,
'' It is harder to find tliem than to foil them.'' At least, this is a happy appli-
cation of the passage. Catsar was speaking of the Scythians, and our histo-
rian applies the passage in speaking of the sudden attacks of the Indians, and
their agility in bkliiig themselves from {lursiiit.^ Doctor Mather wrote at the
close of the seventeenth centmy, and his famous book, Magnolia C.jHsti
Americana, was published in 1702.
Adair, who resided 40 years (he says) among the southern Indians, previ-
ous to l??.*), published a huge quarto upon their origin, history, &c. lie tor-
tures every custom and usage into a like one of the Jews, and almost every
word °m their language into a Hebrew one of the came meaning.
Doctor Boxulinol, in his Itook called "The Star in the West," has followed
lip the theory of Adair, with such certainty, as he thinks, as that the "long
lost ten tribes of Israel" are cleaiiy identified in the American Indians. Such
* This, we ap|>rel*end, is no! entirely ori<;lnal with o«r aulbor, but borders upon nlagiarism.
Ward, tUe celebrated author of the " Simple Cohler of Aggawam," sayg of the Irish,
■" These Irish (aiioieatly called anthropophagi, man-eaters) have a tradition ainon"f rticnu. that
when tlie Devil showed our Saviour all the kingdoms of the earth, and thehr glory, that ho
^ would ivrt showfcim freland, but reserved it for himself. It is, probably, true ; (or he hath
H kept it e\er since for his own pectiliar: the old fox foresaw it would eclipse the glory of all
S the rest : he thought it wiidom to keep the land (or a Boggards (or his ui»clean spirits employed
in this hemisphere, and the peojlle to do his son and fieir (the Pope) that service (or which
Lems the Xl kept his Bari)or Oliver, whicli makes them so bloodthirsty." — Siimple Cobler,
86, 87. V.' hy so mtidi gall !s poilrcd out upon the poor Irish, we cannot &ntisfactorilv account
The circtimstance of liis writing in the time of Cromwell will explain a part, if not the whole,
of the enigma. He was the first minister of Ipswich, Massachusetts, but was burn and dietl
III England.
t MafuaJia Ckriit. Amer. b. L i Ibid, b, iiL $ Sec Magnalia, bu viL
n
^iH
n
10
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
[Book I
:
i!
Ill 1.1
theories have gained many supportera. It is of much liigher antiquity than
Adair, and was treated as sucli vic^ionary speculations siioiiid be i)y autliors as
far back as the historian Hubbard, who wrote about 1G80, and has tiiis among
other passages: "If any observation be made of their manners and dis|)08i-
tions, it's easier to say from wliat nations they did not, than from wliom tliey
did, derive their original. Doubtless their conjecture who fancy them to be
descended from the ten trilws of the Israelites, carried captive l)y Salamaneser
and Esarhaddon, hath the least show of reason of any other, there being no
footsteps to be observed of their propinquity to them more than to any otlier of
the tribes of the earth, either as to their language or manners."* This antiior
was one of the best historians of his times ; and, generally, he writes with as
much discenunent upon other matters as upon this.
That because the natives of one country and those of another, and each un-
known to the other, have some customs and practices in common, it has been
urged by some, and not a few, that they must have had a common origin ; but
this, in our apprehension, does not necessarily follow. Who will pretend that
different peoi)le^ vvhen placed under similar circumstances, will not have simi-
lar wants, and hence similar actions? that like wants will not prompt like ex-
ertions? and like causes produce not like effects? This mode of reasoning
we think sufficient to show, that, although the Indians may have some customs
in common with the Scythians, the Tartai-s, Chinese, Hindoos, Welsh, and
indeed every other nation, still, the former, for any reason we can see to the
contrary, have as good right to claim to themselves priority of origin as either
or all of the latter.
Doctor Robertson should have proved that people of color i)rr.duce others
of no color, and the contrary, before he said, " We know with infallible
certainty, that all the human race spring froui the 8an)e source,"! meaning
Adam. He founds this broad assertion upon the false notion that, to admit
any other would be an inroad upon the verity of the holy Scriptures. Now,
in our view of the subject, we leave them equally inviolate in assuming a very
different ground \\ namely, that all habitable parts of the world may have Imjcd
peopled at tim sjmie time, and by different races of men. That it is so peo-
pled, we knoic : that it icas so peo})led as far back as we have any account,
we see no reason to disbelieve. Hence, when it was not so is as futile to
inquire, as it would be impossible to conceive of the annihilation of space.
When a new country was discovered, much inquiry was made to ascertain
from whence came the inhabitants found upon it — not even asking whence
came the other animals. The onswer to us is plain. Man, the other animals,
trees and plants of every kind, were placed there by the supreme directing
hand, which carries on every operation of natui-e by fixed and undeviating
laws. Thip, it must be plain to every reader, is, at least, as reconcilable to the
Bible history as the theory oi Robertson, which is that of Grotius, and all those
who have followed them.
When it has been given in, at least by all who have thought upon the sul)-
ject, that climate does not change the complexion of the human race, to hold
up the idea still that all must have sjjrung from the same source, [Adam,) only
reminds us of our grandmothers, who to this day laugh at us when we tell
them that the earth is a globe. Who, we ask, will argue that the nejrro
changes his color by living among us, or by changing his latitude? Who
have ever become negi'oes by living in their country, or among them ? Has the
Indian ever changed liis complexion by living in London? Do those change
which adopt our manners and customs, and are siuTounded by us ? Until
these questions can be answered in the affirmative, we discard altogetiier that
unitarian system of peopling the Avorld. We would indeed prefer Quid's
method : —
" Ponere durilicm coeperc, suumque rigornm ;
Molliricjue mora, mollitaqiie duccro fnrmam.
Mox ubi prevcrunl, naturaque milior illis
Contigit," &c. dec.
Metamor. lib i. fab. xi.
Hist. New England, 27.
, Why talk of a
teienees of geogra
—.ft. »...., ... f Hist. Amerira, book iv.
X Why talk of a theory's clashing with lioly writ, and say nothing of the cerlaiuly of tha
' iphy> astronomy, geology, ic. 7
Chap. II.]
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
11
That is, Deucalion and Pyrrha performed the office by travelling over the
country and picking up stones, which, as they cast tiieni over their heads,
became young people as they struck the earth.
We mean not to be understood that the exterior of the skin of people is not
changed by climate, for this is very evident: but that the children of pei-sons
would be any lighter or darker, whose residence is in a climate different from
that ill which they were bom, is what we deny, as in the former case. As
astonishing as it may appear to the succinct reasoner, it is no less true, that
Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith has put forth an octavo book of more than 400
pages to prove the tmitif, as he expresses it, ' of the human race,' that is, that
all were originally descended from one man. His reasoning is of this tenor:
"The American and European sailor reside equally at the pole, and under the
ef|uator." Then, in a triumphant air, he demands — "Why then should we,
without necessity, assume the hypothesis that originally there existed diiferent
species of the human kind.'"* What kind of argument is contained here we
leave the reader to make out ; and again, when he would prove that all the
human family are of the same tribe, he says that negro slaves at the suuth,
who live in wliite families, are gradually found to conform in features to the
wiiites with whom they live If Astonishing! and we wonder who, if any,
knew this, beside the author. Again, and we have done with our extraordi-
nary philosopher. He is positive that deformed or disfigured persons will, in
process of time, produce offspring marked in the same way. That is, if a
man practise flattening his nose, his oflTspring will have a flatter nose than he
would have had, had his progenitor not flattened his ; and so, if this offspring
repeat the process, his ofts|)ring will have a less prominent nose ; and so on,
until the nose be driven entirely off* the face! In this, certainly, our author
has taken quite a roundabout way to vanquish or put to flight a nose. We
wish he could tell ns how many ages or generations it would take to make
this formidable conquest. Now, for any reason we can see to the contrary, it
would be a much less tedious business to cut oflT a memi)er at once, and thus
accomplish the object in a short period; for to wait several generations lor
a fjishion seems absurd in the extreme. A man must be monstrously blind
to hi.s prejudices, to maintain a doctrine like this. As well might he nrgiie
that colts would be tailless because it has long been the practice to shcien
the tails of hoi-ses, of both sexes ; but we have never heard that colts' tails are
in the least afiected by this practice which has been performed on tlie horse
.so long. I Ccrtainh', if ever, we should think it time to discover something
of it ! Nor liave we ever heanl that a female child has ever been born with
its ears bored, although its ancestore have endured the painful operation for
many generations — and here we shall close our examination of Mr. Smiih^s
400 pages. §
Peo|)le d(>light in new theories, and often hazard a tolerable reputation for
the sak(! of exhibiting their abilities upon a subject on which they have very
vague, or no clear conceptions. Had Dr. Smith read the writings of Sir
Thomas Broicn^ he could hardly have advanced such absiinl opinions as we
liave before noticed; ifj indeed, lie were poi^sessed of a s-me mind. Dr.
Brown w-as of the age previous to that in which Bvjfon lived. In speaking
of complexion, he says, "If the fervor of the sun were the so'e caiiS! hereof,
iri_ Kthiopia, or any land of negroes, it were also reasonable tiiat inhabitants
of the same latitude, subjected unto the same vicinity of the sun, the same
diiiriial arch and direction of its rays, should also partake of the same hue
aiul coMiplexion, which, notwiths'ai'iding, they do not. For the inhabitants
of the same latitude in Asia are of a different complexion, as are the inhabit-
ants of Cand)ogia and .lava; insomuch that some conceive the negro is
properly a native of Africa ; and that those places in Asia, inhabited now by
* .Smlili on Complexion, N. Rrunwiok, N. J. 1810, p. 11. f H'i''. HO, 171.
t Tlic autlior pleads not piiiliy to liie rliarge of plngiarism ; for il was not until some nionlln
aner the text was written, tliat lie knew tlini even lliis idea had occurred to any one. He has
iinre rca rejjeat any
often copied
1 in some of
^ to the peo-
fiment upon.
* The com-
;re are found
em upon it ?
a the fields;
m we should
> pai^sat^e and
nore like the
at the cater-
lally from an-
s in America
1 always be
what he has
he engages
ks, in which
bllows:§§ —
ieh America
lated flies in
ay be to dis-
ill nature, ||||
the color of
approaching
leards ; and
I, nnH commoii-
vn, Kt. M. I). '
nan and other
avoir n^sflip'^
i et sans poil,"
|vo.
vail donne aux
uies CCS causes
I however, only
(mf.r. $38.)
Riirtinsfton.
buvres, iv. 18.)
Chap. II.]
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
13
in the same latitude, other negroes with beards, bome of them having wool
and some hair on their heads ; and among them other animals quite white,
havin" neither hair nor wool, but a kind of while silk. It does Udt very
clearly appear what should have prevented God from placing on another
continent animals of the same species, of a copper color, in the same hititude
in which, in Africa and Asia, they are found black ; or even from nmking tliem
without beards in the very same latitude in which others jjoi^si'ss them. To
what lengths are we carried by the rage for systems joined with the tyranny
of prejudice! We see these animals; it is agreed that God has had the
power to place them where they are ; yet it is not agreed that he has so
placed them. The same persons who readily admit that the beavers of Canada
are of Canadian origin, assert that the men must have cotne there in boats,
and that Mexico must have been peopled by some of the descendants of
Magog, As well might it be said, that, if there be men in the moon, they
must have been taken there by Astolpho on his hipjiogriff, when he went to
fetch Roland's senses, which were corked up in a bottle. If America had
been discovered in his time, and there had then been men in Europe si/stem-
atic enough to have advanced, with the Jesuit Lajitau,* that the Caril)bees
descended from the inhabitants of Caria, and the Hurons from the Jews, he
would have done well to have brought back the bottle containing the wits of
these reasoners, which he would doubtless have found in the moon, along
with those oWlngelicd's lover. The first thing done when an inhabited island
is discovered in the Indian Ocean, or in the South Sea, is to inquire, Whence
came these people ? but as for the trees and the tortoises, thejf are, without
any hesitation, pronounced to be indigenous ; as if it were more difticult for
nature to make men than to make tortoises. One thing, however, which
seems to comitenance this system, is, that there is scarcely an island in the
eastern or western ocean, which does not contain juggleix, quacks, knaves,
and fools. This, it is probable, gave rise to the opinion, thai these animals
are of the same race with ourselves."
Some account of what the Indians themselves have said upon the subject
of their origin may be very naturally looked for in this place. Their notions
in this respect can no more be relied upon than the fiibled stories of the gods
in ancient mythology. Indeed, their accounts of ])rimitive inhabitants do not
agree beyond their own neighborhood, ami often disagree with themselves at
different limes. Some say their ancestors came from the north, others from
the north-west, others from the east, and othera from the west; some frouj
the regions of the air, and some from under the earth. Hence to raise any
theory upon any thing coming from them upon the subject, would show
only that the theorist himself was as ignorant as his informants. We might
as well ask the forest trees how they came planted upon the soil in which
they grow. Not that the Indians are unmtelligent in other affairs, any further
than the necessary consequence growing out of their situation implies; nor
are they less so than many who have written upon their history.
" In one grave maxim lot iis all agree —
Nature ne'er meant her .secrets should be fonnd,
And man's a riddle, which man can'l expound ! "
Paine's Rut.iNG 1'.\ssion.
The different notions of the Indians will be best gathered from their lives
in their proper places in the following work.
Dr. S. L. Miichill, of New York, a man who wrote learnedly, if not wisely,
on almost every subject, has, in his opinion, like hundreds before him, set tlit;
great question, Hoto was America peopled') at rest. lie has no doulit but the
Indians, in the first i)lace, are of the same color originally as the north-eiistern
nations of Asia, and hence sprung from them. What time he settles them in
the country he does not tell tis, but gets them into Greenland about tin; year 8
or !K)0. Thinks he saw the Scandinavians as far as the shores of the St.
Lawrence, but what time this was lie does not say. He must of course make
* He wr te a history of the savages ol America, and mainlaiued that the Caribbee lan-
guage was radicnlly Hebrew.
./a
^i^'\
m
m
14
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
[Book I.
n
these pooplc tlic builderd of the mounds scattered all over the western coun-
try. Aller all, we apprehend the doctor would have short time for his emi-
grants to do all that nature and ait have done touching these matters. In the
fii-st place, it is evident that many ages passed aAvuy from the time these
tumuli were begun until they were finished: 2d, a multitude of ages must
liavc passed since the use for which they were reared has been known ; for
trees of the age of 200 yeai-s gi-ow fro.n the ruins of others which must have
had us great age: and, 3d, no Indian nation or tribe has the least tradition
concerning them.* Tliis could not have happened had the ancestors of the
present Indians been the erectors of them, in the nature of things.!
The observation of an author in Dr. iZecs'a Encyclopedia, J although saying
no more than has been already said in our synopsis, is, nevertheless, so hajtpy,
that we should not feel clear to omit it: — "As to those who pretend that the
human race has only of late found its way into America, by crossing the sea
at Kanjschutka, or the Straits of Tschutski, either upon the fields of ice or in
canoes, they do not consider that this opinion, besides that it is extremely
(liilieuit of comprehension, has not the least tendency to diminish the i)rodi-
gy ; for it would be siu'prising indeed that one half of our planet should have
remained without inhabitants during thousands of years, while the other half
Wiis peo|)led. What renders this opinion less probable is, that America is
su|)|)oso(l in it to have had animals, since we cannot bring those species of
animals from the old world which do not exist in it, as those of the tapir, the
glama, and the tnjactu. Neither can we admit of the recent organization of
mutter for the western hemisphere ; because, independently of the accuuni-
lated difficulties in this hyj)othesis, and which can by no means be solved,
we shall observe, that the fossil bones discovered in so many parts of Ameri-
ca, and at such emull depths, prove that certain species of animals, so far from
having been rectiutly organized, havo been annihilated a long while ago."
Before we had known, that, if we were in error, it was in the company of
philosophers, such as we have in this chapter introduced to our readers, we
felt a hesitancy in avowing jiir opinions upon a matter of so great moment.
IJiif, after all, as it is only matter of honest opinion, no one should be intoler-
ant, although he may be allowed to make himself and even his friends merry
at our ex|)ense. When, in the days of Chrysoatom, some ventured to assert their
opinions of the rotundity of the earth, that learned father "did laugh at them." §
And, when science shall have progressed sufficiently, (if it be possible,) to set-
tle this question, there is a possibility that the Chrysostoms of these days will
not have the sume excuse for their infidelity. Hut as it is a day of prodigies,
there is some danger of treating lightly even tlie most seemingly absurd con-
jectures. We therefore feel very safe, and more especially as it required con-
eideraitle hardihood to laugh even at the theory of the late Mr. Symmes.
When we lately took up a book entitled "Researches, Philosophical and Anti-
quanan, concemins^ the Moriffinal History of America, by J. H. M'Culloh, Jr.
M. D." II we did think, from the imposing appearance of it, that some new
matters on the subject had been discovered; and nioreparticulmly wnen we
read in the preface, that "his fii*st object was to explain the origin of the men
and animals of America, so far as that question is involved with the apparent
physical iuipedinieiUs that have so long kept the subject in total obscurity."
Now, with what success this has heen done, to do the author justice, he shall
speak for himself, and the reader then may judge for himself.
"Before we attempt to explain in what manner the men and animals of
America reached this continent, it is necessi ry to ascertain, if possible, the
circumstances of their original creation ; for upon this essential partieidar de-
j)ends the great interest of om* present investigation. [We are not able to
discover that he has said any thing fcnther upon it.] It must be evident that
we can arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, if it be doubtful whether the Crea-
tor of the universe made man and the animals but in one locality, from
wi
ea
thi
th(
m(
wl
nil
8p(
* Or none but such as nre at variance wi.h all history and rationalily.
+ Arcliipologia Americana, i. 325, 32(), S'il, &,c.
See Acosta's Hist. E. and \V. Indies, p. 1, ed. London, 1604.
Published at Oaltimore, 1829, in 8vo.
X Art. AxfRicA.
!.i'
[Book I.
vestern coun-
e for ills emi-
tters. In the
le time these
of ages iiiiist
I known ; for
ch must liave
east tradition
ccstors of the
hough saying
ess, so iiappy,
3ten(l that tiie
)ssing the sea
Is of ice or in
is extremely
ish the i)rodi-
it should have
the other half
at America is
ose species of
' the tapir, the
•ganization of
' the accumu-
uis be solved,
irts of Ameri-
Is, so far from
hile ago."
e company of
ir readers, we
»rcat moment.
II Id be intoler-
fricnds merry
to assert their
gh at them." §
ssible,) to set-
se days will
of prodigies,
absurd con-
equired con-
•)}immes.
ical and Anti-
CULLOH, Jr.
at some new
Oily wnen we
of the men
the apparent
til obscurity."
stice, he shall
animals of
possible, the
)artieular de-
not able to
evident that
her the Crea-
ocality, from
t. A\£RICA.
Chap. II.]
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
16
whence they were dispersed over the earth ; or whether he created them in
each of those various situations where wo now find them living. So far as
this inquiry respects mankind, there can be no reasonable ground to doubt
the one origin of the species. This fact may be proved both physically and
morally. [If the reader can discover any thing that amounts to jjroof in
what follows, he will have made a discovery that we could not] That
man, notwithstanding all the diversities of their appearance, are but of one
species, is a truth now universally admitted by every physiological nutimilist.
[That is, notwithstanding a negro be black, an Indian brown, a Europi.-aii
white, still, they are all men. And then fellows a quotation from Doctor
Lawrence* to (!orroboiate the fact that men are all of one species.j It is true,
this i)iiysiologist does not admit that the human species had their origin but
from one pair; for ho observes, the same species might have bcjn created at
the same time in veiy different parts of the earth. But when wo have
anaiyzcul tiie moral hisitory of mankind, to which Mr. Laivrence seems to have
paiillittlo atti'iition, [and if our author has done it, we would thank liini to
show us where we can find it,] we find such strongly- marked analogies in
abstract matters existing among nations the most widely separated from each
other, that we cannot doubt there has been a time, when the whole human
family hav(! intimately participated in one conmion system of thirigs, whether
it he of truth or of error, of science or of prejudice. [This does not at all
agree with what he says afterwards, 'We have been unable to discern any
trac"«: of Asiatic or of European civilization in America prior to the discovery
of Columbus.' And again : 'In comparing the barbarian nations of America
with those of the eastern continent, we perceive no j)oints of resemblance
between them, in their moral institutions or in their hal)its, that are not appar-
ently founded in the necessities of human life.' If, then, there is no affinity,
other than what would accidentally happen from similar circumstances, where-
fore tills prating about ' s/rong"/^-»iarA:e anaZog"ics,' &c. just copied?] As re-
speet.s the origin of animals, [we have given his l)est proofs of the origin of man
and tlK^ir transportation to America,] the subject is much more refractory.
We find thetn living all over the surface of the earth, and suited by their phys-
ical conformity to a great variety of climates and peculiar localities. Every
one will admit the impossibility of ascertaining the history of their original
creation from the mere natural history of the animals themselves." Now,
as " refractory " as this subject is, we did not expect to see it fathered off
upon a miracle, because this was the easy and convenient manner in which
the superstitious of every age accounted for evciy thing w ,ich they at once
could not comprehend. And we do not expect, when it is gravely announced,
that a discovery in any science is to be shown, that the undertaker is going
to tell us it is accomplished by a miracle, and that, therefore, " he knows not
why he should be called upon to answer ohjections," &c.
As it would be tedious to the reader, as well as incompatible with our jilan,
to quote larger from Mr. JWCtUloWs book, we shall finish with him after a few
remarks.
We do not object to the capacity of the ark for all animals, but we do
object to its introduction in the question undertaken by Mr. MCulloh; for
every child knows that affair to have been miraculous ; and if any i)art of the
question de|)ended upon the truth or falsity of a miracle, why plague the world
with a book of some 500 pages, merely to promulgate such a belief, when
a sentence would be all that is required ? No one, that admits an overruling
power, or the existence of God, will doubt of his ability to create a myriad of
men, animals, and all matter, by a breath ; or that an ark ten lt;et square could
contain, comfortably, ten thousand men, as well as one of the dimensions
given in Scripture to contain what that did. Therefore, if one in these days
should make a book expressly to exjilain the cause of the different lengths of
days, or the clinnges of the seasons, and find, afler he had written a vast deal,
that he could in no wise unravel the lUystery, and, to close his account, de-
clares it was all a miracle, such an author would be precisely in the predica-
ment of Mr. MCulloh.
* Tlie celebrated uutlior of Lectures on Physiology, Zoology, and the Natural History of
Man.
|:p
i
::iT
L'J
CI
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
[Book I
We do not pretend that the subject can be pursued with the certainty of
niathrtiir ileal calculations; and so long as it is contended that the wliole spe-
cies .it' 'nun spring from one pair, so long will tlie subject admit of contro-
vnsy : therefore it makes but little or no difference v.hether the inhabitants
are got into America by the north or the south, the east or the v/est, as it
rr'8 of the climate, at any sea-
son of tho year. 3Ioreover, the vocabulary we have given, if it prove any
thing, |)roves that either the inhabitants of North America did not come in
from the north-west, or that, if they did, some unknown cause nnist have, for
ages, suspended all conuniniication between the emigrants and their anc(;slorH
upon the neighboring shores of Asia.
In 1822, there apj)eared in London a work which attracted some attention,
as most works have upon similar subjects. It was entitled, " Description of
the ruins of an ancient city, discovered near Pulen(pie, in the kingdom of
Guatemala, in Spanish America: traiislateing asked
leath before
mt she waa
I, pages 9, lOl
lonneclicut.
Justice. — A missionary residing among a certain tril)e of Indians, w.'S one
day, after he had been preacliing to tiicni, hivitcd by their chief to viait hiii
wigwam. After having been kindly entertained, aii»l lieing ulujut to depart,
th "cliii'f took him by the hand and .siiid, " I have very bad squaw. She had
two little children. One hUv. loved well, the other she hated. In a cold night,
when I was gone hunting in the woo(ls, she shut it out of the wigwam, and
it iVo/e to death. What mii.st Im! done with her?" The missionary replied,
".j
welcomed. On inquiring the way, and the distance to the white settlements,
l)eing told by the Indian that he could not go in the night, and being kindly
oft'ered lodging and victuals, ho gladly n'freshed and repos<3d himself in the
Indian's cabin. Jn the morning, he conducted him through the wilderness,
agreeably to liis promise the night bi'fr»c, until they came in sight of tho
habitations of the whites. As he was about to take his leave of the planter,
he looked him full in the face, and asked him if he did not know him.
Horror-struck at finding himself thus in the power of a man he had so
inhumanly treated, and d'lmb with shame on thinking of the manner it was
requited, he began at lenj,th to make excuses, and beg a thousand pardons,
wlu!n the Indian interrupted liiin, and said, " When you see poor Iiidiaiis
fiiinting for a cup of cold Water, don't say again, 'Get you gone, you Indian
dog!'" He then dismissed him to return to his fiiends. Aly author adds,
"It is not difficult to say, wiiich of these two had the best claim to the name
of Christian."*
Deception. — Tho captain of a vessel, having a desin; to make a present to a
lady of^snme fine oranges which iie had just broiiidit from "the sugar islands,"
gave tliem to an Indian in his employ to carry to her. Lest he should not
])crf()rin the office punctually, he wroto a l-it r to her, to bo taken alon^f with
th;; present, that she might detect the bearer, if he sliould fail to dclivi r the
whole of what ho was intrusted wiih. Tlic Indian, during tiic joiuney,
reflected how he should refresh liiiiiself with the rtiarige.-<, aiut not rie fouiul
out. Not having any apprehension of the manner of coimniinication ny
writing, he concluded that it was only necessary to keep his design secret
froni'tlie letter itself, supposing that would tell of him if he did not; lie tlicre-
fbre laid it upon the ground, and rollcil a large stone upon it, and retired to
some distance, where he regaled himself with several of the oranges, and then
proceeded on his journey. On delivering the remainder and the letter to the
lady, she asked him where the rest of the oranges witc ; he said he had
delivered all ; she told him that the letter said there were several more sent ;
to which he answered that the letter lied, and she must not believe it. But he
was soon confronted in his falsehood, and, begging forgiveness of the offence,
was pardoned, f
Shrewdness. — As Governor Joseph Dudln/ of Massachusetts was siiperin
tending some of his workmen, he took notice of an able-bodied Indian, who,
half-naked, would come and look on, as a pastime, to see his men work. The
governor took occasion one day to ask him why he did not work rind s:et some
clothes, loherewith to cover himself. The Indian answered by asking liim tohy
he did not work. The governor, pointing with his finger to his head, said, "/
work head work, and so have no need to work with my hands as you should."
The Indian then said he would work if any one would employ him. The
?•-• ii
>r
* Carey's Museum, vi. 40.
t Uring's Voyage to N. England in 1709, 8vo. London, 1726.
■1
M
if
1
90
INDIAN ANF.CDOTi:S AND NARRATIVES.
[Book I
l^ovprrior told liim liu wniitcd n calf killed, nnd tliat, if )ie would ^o nnd do it,
lie would ^Mvc liiiii a Hhilliii^r. IIu acooptiid tlio od'cr, mid went iniincdiutvly
and killed tliu cult', and then went Huiintcring about oh hcforc. Tho governor,
on ol)»fer\ ing wliut he hud done, asked him why he i)id not dress the calf
before he left it. The Indian answered, ".\b, no, Coponoh; that was not in
llie biirgain : I was to have a shilling for killing him. Jim he no dead, Copon-
oA?" [i,'overnor.] The governor, seeing himself thus outwitted, told him to
dress it, and he would give him auoiher shilling.
This done, and in |)ossession of two shillings, the Indian goes dircrtly to n
grog-shop for rum. After a slir)rt stay, he returned to the governor, and told
him he liad iriven him a bad shilling-piece, and pres«;nted a brass oik; to be
exchanged. The governor, thinking possibly it might have been the case,
gave him another. It was not long before lie returned a second time with
another brass shilling to be exchanged ; the governor was now convinced of
bis knavery, but, not caring to make words at the time, gave him another ;
and thus the fellow got lour shillings for one.
The governor determined to have tho rogue corrected for his abuse, and,
meeting with liim soon after, told him he must take a letter to Boston for him
[and gave him a halfa crown for the servici;.] * The letter was directed to the
keeper of bridewell, ordering him to give the bearer so many lashes ; but,
mistrusting that all was not exactly agreeable, and meeting a servant of the
governor on the road, ordered him, in the name of his master, to carry the
letter iimnediately, ns he was in haste to return. The consequence was, this
servant got egregiously whipped. When the governor learned what had
taken place, he felt no little chagrin at being thus twice outwitted by the
Indian.
He did not see the follow for some time after this, but at length, falling in
with him, asked him by what means he had cheated and deceived him so
many times. Taking the governor again in his own play, ho answered,
pointing with his finger to his head, " Head work, Coponoh, head work ! " The
governor was now so well pleased that he forgave the whole offence.f
Equality. — An Indian chief, on being asked whether his people were free,
answered, "Why not, since I myself am free, although their king.'"!
Matrimony. — " An aged Indian, who for many years had spent much time
among the white people, both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, one day,
about the yet 1770, observed that the Indians had not only a much easier
way of getting a wife than the whites, but also a more ccitain way of getting
a good one. 'For,' said he in broken English, 'white man court — court —
may be one whole year ! — may be two years betbre he marry ! Well — may
be then he get very good wife — but may be not — may be very cross ! Well,
now suppose cross! scold so soon as get awake in the morning! scold all
day ! — scold until sleej) ! — all one — he must keep liim ! — White people have
law forbidding throw away wife he be ever so cross — must keep him always !
Well, how docs Indian do? Indian, when he see industrious squaw, he
go to him, place his two fore-fingers close aside each other, mako two like
one — then look squaw in the face — see him smile — this is all one he say
yes ! — so he take him home — no danger he be cross I No, no — squaw know
too well what Indian do if he cross! throw him away and take another I —
Squaw love to eat meat — no husband no meat. Squaw do every thing to
please husband, he do every thing to please squaw — live happy.' " §
Toleration. — In the year 1791, two Creek chiefs accompanied an American
to England, where, as usual, they attracted great attention, and many flocked
around them, as well to learn their ideas of certain things as to behold " the
savages." Bteing asked their opinion of religion, or of what religion they were,
one made answer, that they had no priests in their country, or established
religion, for they thought, that, upon a subject where there was no possibility
of people's agreeing m opinion, and as it was altogether matter of mere
* A sentence added in a version of this anecdote in Carey's Museum, vi. 204.
t Uring, tit supra. 120. ^ Carey's Museum, vi. 482.
{i HecktModder'i Hist. Ind. Nations.
']
Tha
Chap. Ill]
INDIAN ANi:CIK>TE.S AND NARRATIVES.
31
oi)iiiinn, " it was l>eHt tlint nvrry one hIiouI«1 paddle his canoe }ii0 own way."
Hero irt a voliitne uf iiihtnictioii in a Hliort answer ot'a suvagu!
Justice. — A white trader sold a qnantity uf |)owder to an Indian, id im
powd ii|ion liini by ninivin^ liitn hcliove it was a grain which grew like wheat,
hy ."owing it noon the ground, lie wan greatly elated hy the pro8|)ect, not
only oi' raising iiiii own powder, hut of being able to supply others, and there-
by Itecotning iniineiidely rieh. Having prtipared his ground with great cans
lie sowed his powder with the utmost exactness in the spring. Motith atler
month passed away, but his powder did not even sprout, and winter came
before he was satisfied that lie had lieen deceived. He said nothing; hut
some time after, when the trader had forgotten the trick, the same Indian suc-
ceeded in getting credit of him to a large amount. The time set for payment
having expired, he sought out the Indian at his residence, and demanded pay-
ment ibr his goods. The Indian heard his demand with great complaisance ;
then, looking him shrewdly in the eye, said, " A7e pay you when my powder
prrow." This was enough. The guilty white man (luickly retraced his steps,
Kutistied, we apprehend, to balance his account with the chagrin he had re
ceived.
Hiinling. — The Indiana had methods to catch game which served them ex-
tremely well. The same month in which the Mayflower brought over the
forefathers, November, 1G20, to the shores of Plimouth, several of the/ii
ranged about the woods near by to leani what the country contained. Having
wandered farther than they were a|)prized, in their endeavor to return, they
say, "We were shrewdly puzzled, and lo.st our way. As we wandered, we
came to a tree, where a yomig sprit was bowed down over a bow, and some
acorns strewed underneath. Stephen Hopkins said, it had been to catch some
deer. So, as we wen; looking at it, fViUiam Bradford being in the rear, when
he came looking also upon it, and as he went about, it gave a sudden jerk up,
and he was immediately caught up by the legs. It was (they continue) a very
pretty device, made with a rope of their own making, [of bark or some kind
of roots probably,] and having a noose as artificially made as any roper in
England can make, and as like ours as can be; which we brought away
with us."*
Preaching against Practice. — Johk Simon was a Sogkonate, who, about the
year 1700, was a settled minister to that tribe. He was a man of strong mind,
generally temperate, but sometimes remiss in the latter particular. The fol-
lowing anecdote is told as characteristic of his notions of justice. Simon,
on account of his deportment, w^as created justice of the peace, and when dif-
ficulties occurred involving any of his people, he sat with the English justice
to aid in making up judgment. It happened that Simon^s squaw, with some
others, had committed some offence. Justice Mmy and ■S'tmmt, ir making up
their riiinds, estimated the amount of the offence differently ; Mmy thought
each should receive eight or ten 8trij)e3, but Simon said, "No, jour or Jive are
enotigh — Poor Indians are ignorant, and it is not Christian-like to punish so
harmy thjse who are ignorant, as those who have knowledge." Siman^s jude-
pient prevailed. When Mr. Jllmy asked John how many his wife should
receive, he said, ^^ Double, because she had knowledge to have done tetter,*" but
Colonel Almy, out of regard to Jchn^s feelings, wholly remitted his wife's
punishment. John looked very serious, and made no reply while in presence
of the court, but, on the first fit opportunity, remonstrated very severely
against his judgment, and said to him, " To xehai purvose do toe preach a relx-
gwn of justice, if we do unrighteousness in judgment 'i
Sam Hide. — There are few, we imagine, who have not heard of this per-
sonage ; but, notwithstanding his great notoriety, we might not be thought
serious in the rest of our work, were we to enter seriously into his biography;
for the reason, that from his day to this, his name has been a by-word in all
New England, and means as much as to say the greatest of liars. It is on
account of the following anecdote that he is noticed.
* Mourt's Relation.
-iiM
■i
U
INDIAN ANECDOTES AND NARRATIVES.
[Rook I,
Sam Hi/fe ubh n ntttorioiis cidnMjriiikrr ns wril iw* liiir, iind iiwd to travel (he
^•oiinlry to niiil fro bi'gpiti^ it from door to door. At ono tirrio he hnpprru-d
til a rt'j^iori ot' fouiitry whrns cider wiw very hard to Ik- procured, eith»'r from
itH Hcnrcity, or frotii Sam'a frequent viNilH. However, cider lie was deteriiiiiied
to have, il' lying, in any shape or color, would tfain it. liein^ not far from
th(! hoiim; of aii acipiaintance, who he knew had cider, hut hi.' knew, or wun
Well HatiHfied, that, in the ordinary way of hugt'in^', h(! could not get it, he MCt
his wits at work to lay a plan to insure it. This did not occupy him long.
On arriving at tin; house of the gentleman, instead of asking for cider, he in-
quired for the man of the house, whom, on appearing, ortanct« to communicate to him.
When they were by themsi'ves, Sttm told him he had that morning shot a fuic
deer, and that, if ho would give him a crown, he would tell him where it was.
Tlu; gentleman did not incline to do this, hut offered half ii crown. Finally,
Sam said, ns he had walked a great distance that morning, and was veiy diy,
for a lialf a crown and a nnig of cider he would tell him. This was agreed
upon, and the i)rice paid. Now Sam was re(|nin'd to point out the sjiot where
the deer was to he found, which he did in this manner. IFe said to his friend,
Yoii know of such a memlotc, describing it — Yt's — You know a higasli tree, witli
a bis! top hif the little brov^ — Yes — ff'ell, under that tree lie.i the deer. This was
satisfactory, and Sam departed. It is unnecessai^ to mention that the meadow
was foimd, and the tree by the brook, but no deer. The duped man could
hardly contain himself on considering what he had been doing. To look
after Sam for satisfaction vvoidd be worse than looking after the deer , so the
farmer concluded to go home contented. Some years after, ho happened to
fall in with the Indian ; and he immediately Ijegon to rally liim for deceiving
him so, and demanded back his money and pay for his cider and trouble.
ffhy, said Sam, would you find faxdl if Indian told tndh half the time ? — No
— tVell, mys Sam, you find him meadow'? — Yes — You find him tree'^ — Yes —
What for then you find faxdt Sam Hide, loAen he told you tico truth to one lie'?
The affair ended here. Sam heard no more from the farmer.
This is but one of the numerous anecdotes of Sam Hide, -vhich, could they
he collected, would fill many pages. He died in Dedham, 5 January, 173^,
at the great age of 105 years. He was a gnat jester, and passed for an un-
common wit. In oil the wars apainst the Indi.nns during his lifetime, he
served the English faithfully, and had the name of a brave soldier. lie had
himself killed 19 of the enemy, and tried hard to make up the 20th, but wos
imable.
Characters contrasted. — "An Indian of the Kenncbeck tribe, remarka-
ble for his good conduct, received a grant of land from the state, and fixed
himself in a new township where a number of families kvere settled. Though
not ill treated, yet the common prejudice against Indians j)revented any sym-
pathy with him. This was shown at the death of his only child, when none
of the people came near him. Shortly afterwards he went to some of the
inhabitants and said to them, IVhen tohite man^a child die, Indian man he smry
— he help bun/ him. — Wnen my child die, no one speak to me — / make his gjavc
alone. I can no live here. He gave up his farm, dug up the body of his child,
and carried it with him 200 miles through the forests, to join the Conada
Indians ! "*
A ludicrous Error. — There was published in London, in 1762, "The
American Gazetteer," &c.t in which is the following account of Bristol,
R. I. " A county and town in N. England. The capital is remarkable for the
King of Spain^s having a palace in it, and being killed there ; and also for
Crown the poet's begging it of Charles II." The blunder did not rest here,
but is found in "The N. American and the West Indian Gazetteer," J &c.
Thus Philip of Spain seems to have liad the misfortune of being mistaken for
Philip of the Wampanoags, alias Pometacom of Pokanoket.
* Tudor's Letters on the Eastern States, 294.
t 2d edition, 12nio, London, 1788, also anonymous.
t 3 vols. 12mo. without name.
ker
[Rook 1.
o trav«'l the
liappt'iicd
oitlitT from
(letrriiiiiH'il
not fur from
[it'W, or wun
got it, \u' Mrt
>y liiiu lon^.
c-iiltT, lie iii-
ucsted to go
icato to liini.
fr shot a lilK!
vlicrc it was.
m. Fiiiully,
vi\H very dry,
S WUH HirrtMil
«• Hiiot wiiore
to liis iVi«'ii(l,
f rt,«/i tref, with
■r. TiiiH was
t tlio iTipatlow
od man cmild
iijr. To look
; deer , so the
e happpiK'd to
for deceiving
• and trouble.
Ihe time?— No
free ■?— Yes—
ruth to one lie ?
ich, could they
(January, 1732,
sed for an un-
its lifetime, he
dier. lie had
20tli, but waa
[ihe, remnrka-
tate, and fixed
Jttled. Though
Inted any sym-
]1d, when none
pome of the
. man he sorry
lake his grave
X of his child,
[n the Canada
1769, "The
ht of Bristol,
Vrkable for the
and also for
Inot rest here,
|ttf.er," X &c.
mistaken for
Chaf. Ill]
OP CUSTOMS ANO MANNERS.
23
vilhoul name.
Oripin or .Xtrnninff of Ihe .Yame Cttnadn.—h is said, that Canada wns diwov-
i-red liy the S|mniard»s iM'f'ore the time of ('artier, and that the |{«y of Cha-
Ifurs was diwroverofl Itv them, and is the sairie as the Hnife ilea h]x])atci\ole» ;
and that the S|KUiianU, not meeting with any apfM-anuices of mines of lh«
precious tnetals, said to one another, nr.n nadn, which in their language signi-
licd, mlhinsr here, and forthwith dc|»arted liom the eoimtry. The Indiuns,
having heard these wonls, retained them in their memories, and, when the
h'rench came among them, made use of tln'm, probably by way of salutation,
not understanding their import; and they >vere supposed by the voyagers t<»
be tlie name of the i-ountry. It was only necessary to dn»p the first letter,
and us»i the two wonis as two syllublcH, and the word Ciinndn was complete.'
JliU as long ago ns when Father Charlevoix wrote his admirable llrsToar
OF Xrw Francf, he added a note u|ion the derivaticm of the name Vanaila^
in which he sjiid some derived it from an Inxpiois word meaning an assem-
blage of houses.f Doctor / R. Forxter has a learned note upon it idso, in his
valualiii; account of Voyae;ts and Dismverivs in the jYorlh. He objects to the
,1ra .Vrt'/rt origin, becau'se, in Spanish, the wonl for here is not aca, but amii,
and that to form Canada from .Iqninada woidd he forced and uimatural. Yet
lie says, " III ancient maps we often tind Ca: daJVaila" that is, Cape Nothing.
" liiit'liom a (.'aiiadian niidiau] vocabulary, annexed to the original edition
of the second voyage of Jtuiiies Curlier, Paris, 1545, it appears, that an assem-
blage of houses, or habitations, i. e. a town, was by the natives called Canada.
Curlier s;iys, Ilz appellent une Ville— Canada" Mr. Heckewelder is of much
the same opinion iw Charlevoix and Forster. He says, that in a iiraycT-book
in th(! Mohawk language, he read ".Ve KA.vADA-g-ong/i Konwayatsk J^'azareth^''
which was a translation of "in a citv called Nazareth."
Origin of the .Varne Yankee. — Anbury, an author who did not respect the
Americans, any more than many others who have Iweii led captive by them, has
the following jiaragraph ujion this word | — "The lower class of these Yan-
kees — apro|)os, it may not be amiss here just to observe to you the etymology
of this term : it is derived from a Cherokee word, eankke, which signifies
coward i-nd slave. This epithet of yank ee was liestowed uj)on the inhal)itants
of N. England by the Virginians, for not assisting them in a war with the
Cherokees, and they have always been held in derision by it. But the name
has been more prevalent since [1775] the commencement of hostilities; the
soldiery at Boston used it as a term of reproach ; but afler the afliiir at Bun-
ker's Hill, the Americans gloried in it. Yankee-doodle is now their pa)an, a
favorite of favorites, played in their army, esteemed as warlike as the grena-
dier's march — it is the lover's spell, the nurse's lullaby. After our rapid suc-
cesses, we held the yankees in great contempt ; but it was not a little morti-
fying to hear them play this tune, when their luiny marched down to our sur-
render." §
But Mr. Hecketcelder thinks that the Indians, in endeavoring to pronounce
the name English, could get that sound no nearer than these letters give it,
yengees. This was perhaps the true origin of Yankee.
A singidar Stratagem to escape Torture. — "Some years ago the Shawano
Indians, being obliged to remove from their habitations, in their way took a
Muskohge warrior, known by the name of old Scmnr/, prisoner ; they bas-
tinadoed him severely, and condemned him to the fiei7 torture. He under-
* The autliors who have adopted this opinion, arc Doctor Matlter, [iMnj^nalia, B. viii. 71 ;1
Harris. [Voyasjes, ii.349 ;] Moll, f(5cog. li. 191-,] J. Long, [Vo^ajjes and Travels, 2 j] Doz-
rnan, [Maryland, 35;] Moulton, [N. York, i. 131 ;] Martin, [Louisiana, i. 7.]
Josselyn and Jetfrys seem to be without company as well as authorities tor their dsrivalid.is.
The former [i\. England Rarities, .5] says, Canada was " so called from Monsieur Cane."
The latter [Ifist. America, 1] says, " Canada, in the Indian language, signifies the Mouth of
thu Country, from can, mouth, and ada, the country."
t Quelques-unes derivent ce nom du mot Iroquois Kannata, qui se prononce Canada, et sig-
nifie un amas de cabannes. Hist. Nouv. France, i. 9.
t Travels through the Interior Parts of North America, 1776, &c. vol. ii. 46,47. Anbury
was an officer in General Burgmjne's army, and was among the captives surrendered at
Saratoga.
$ This derivation is almost as ludicrous as thai given by Irviiig in his Knickerbocker.
:(
24
ANECDOTES, &c., ILLUSTRATIVE
[Book 1.
went n gi'ont deal without Hliowing any con "em ; liis conntcnance and beha-
vior woie U8 if he suffered not the least pain. He told his pereecutora with a
bold voire, that he was a warrior ; that he had gained most of his martial
reputation at the expense of their nation, and was desirous of showing them,
in the act of dying, that he was still as much their sui>erior, as when he headed
his gallant countrymen : that although he had fallen into their hands, and for-
feited the protection of the divine power by some impurity or other, when
carrying the holy ark of war against his devoted enemies, yet he had so much
remaining virtue as would enable him to punish himself more exquisitely than
all their despicable, ignorant crowd possibly could ; and that he would do so,
if they gave him liberty by untying him, and handing him one of the red-hot
gun-barrels out of the fire. The proposal, and his method of address, ap])eared
HO exceedingly bold and uncommon, that his request was granted. Then
suddenly seizing one end of the red-hot barrel, and brandishing it from side
to side, leaped down a prodigious steep and high bank into a branch of tlie
river, dived through it, ran over a small island, and passed the other branch,
amidst a shower of bullets ; and though numbi^rs of his enemies were in close
pursuit of him, he got into a bramble-swamp, through which, though naked
and in a mangled condition, he reached his own country."
.^n unparalleled Case of Suffering. — "The Shawano Indians captured a
warrior of the Anantoocah nation, and put him to the stake, according to their
usual cruel solemnities : having unconcernedly suffered much torture, he told
them, with scorn, they did not know how to punish a noted enemy; therefore
he was willing to teach them, and would confirm the truth of his assertion if
they allowed him the opportunity. Accordingly he requested of them a pipe
and some tobacco, which was given him ; as soon as he had lighted it, he sat
down, naked as he was, on the women's burning torches, that were within his
circle, and continued smoking his pipe without the least discomposure : On
this a head warrior lea[)ed up, and said, they saw plain enough that he was a
warrior, and not afraid of dying, nor should he have died, only that he was
both spoiled by the fire, and devoted to it by their laws ; however, though he
was a very dangerous enemy, and his nation a treacherous people, it should
be seen that they paid a regard to bravery, even in one who was marked with
war streaks at the cost of many of the lives of their l)eloved kindred ; and then
by way of favor, he with his friendly tomahawk instantly put an end to all hia
pains." *
Ignorance lite Offspring of absurd Opinions. — The resolution and courage of
the Lidians, says Colonel Jlogers, " untlcr sickness and pain, is truly surpris-
ing. A young woman Avill be in labor a whole day without uttering one
groan or cry ; should she betray such a weakness, they would immediately
say, that she was unworthy to l>e a mother, and that her offspring could not
fail of being cowards." f
Jl JVorthem Custom. — When Mr. Heame was on the Coppermine River, in
1771, some of the Copper Indians in his company killed a number of p^squi-
manx, by v.hich act they considered themselves unclean ; and all concerned
in the minder were not allowed to cook any provisions, either for themselves
or others. They were, however, allowed to vnt of others' cooking, but not
until they had painted, with a kind of red earth, all the si)ace between their
nose and chin, as well as a greater part of their cheeks, almost to their cars.
Neither would they use any other dish or pipe, than their own. |
Jlnotlwr Pocahontas. — While Lewis und Clarke were on the shore of the
Pacific Ocean, in 1805, one of their men went one evening into a village of
the Killutnuk Indians, alone, a small distance from his party, and on the
opposite side of a creek from that of the encampment. A strange Indian
happened to be there also, who expressed great respect and love for the white
• Tliu Iwo preceding rolalinns are from Lover's Voynges and Travels, 72 and 73, a book of
small prctciisiniH, but one of ilie best on Indian history. Its author lived among the Indiaiu
of the North-Wcst, as an Indian trader, about Id years.
t Concii* Account of N. America, S12. t Journey to tht Northtm Ocean, 205.
[Book 1.
Chap. Ill]
OP MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
25
e and beha-
Litors with a
hia martial
)wing them,
sn he headed
ids, and for-
otlicr, when
lad so much
[uisitely than
would do so,
r the red-hot
BBS, upi)earcd
nted. Then
• it from side
•ranch of the
Bther branch,
were in close
iiough naked
3 captured a
rding to their
)rt«rc, he told
ny; therefore
lis assertion if
f them a pipe
hted it, he sat
ere within his
mposure: On
that he was a
,y that he wob
ver, iliouffh he
lople, it should
i marked with
red ; and then
end to all his
nd courage of
truly surpris-
uttcring one
immediately
fing could not
iiine River, in
[ber of Esqui-
lall concerned
lor themselves
iking, but not
Ibetween their
to their cars.
shore of the
|to a village of
and on the
|trango Indian
for the white
jid 73, a book of
Long (lie Indiani
Ocean, 206.
man ; but in reality he meant to murder him for the articles he had about him.
This happened to come to the knowledge of a Ciiinnook woman, and she
determined at once to save his life : therefore, when the white man was about
to return to his companions, the Indian was going to accompany him, and kill
him in the way. As they were about to sot out, the woman caught the white
man by the clothes, to prevent his going with the Indian. He, not under-
standing her intention, pulled away Irom her ; but as a last resort, she ran out
and shrieked, which raised the men in every direction ; and the Indian
became alarmed for his own safety, and made his escape before the white
man knew he had been in danger.
Self-command m Time of Danger. — There was in Carolina a noted chief of
the Yunioisees, who, in the year 1702, with about GOO of his countrymen,
went with Colonel Daniel and Colonel Moore against the Spaniards in Flori-
da. His naiii^ was Jlrratommakaw. When the English were obliged to
ubaudun their undertaking, and as they were retreating to tlieir boats, they
became alarmed, supposing the Spaniards were u|)on them. Jlrratommakaw,
having arrived ut the boats, was reposing himself upon his oars, and was fast
asleep. The soldiers rallied him for being so slow m his retreat, and ordered
him to make more haste: "Hut he replied, 'No — though your governor
LEAVES YOU, I WItL NOT STIR TILL I HAVE SEEN ALL MY MEN BEFORE ME.' "
Indifference. — ^rehihau was a^ suchem of Maryland, whose residence was
upon tlie Potomack, when that country was settled by the English in 1(533-4.
The place of his residence was named, like the river, Potomack. As usual
with the Indians, he received the English under Governor Calvert with great
attention. It should be noted, that Archikati was not head sachem of the
Potomaeks, but governed instead of his nejihew, who was a child, and who,
like the head men of Virginia, was called uteroioance. From this place the
colonists sailed 20 leagues farther up the river, to a place called Piscattaway.
Here a werowance went on board the governor's pinnace, to treot widi him.
On being asked whether he was willing the English should settle in his
country, in cose they found a place convenient for them, he made answer,
" / will not bid you go, neither will i bid you stay, but you may use your own
discretion." *
Tkeir JVoliona of the Learning of the Whiles. — At the congress at Lancaster,
in 1744, between the government of Virginia and tlie Five Nations, the
Indians were told that, if they would send some of their young men to Vir-
ginia, the English would give them an education at their college. An orator
replied to this offer as follows: — "We know that you highly esteem the kind
of learning taught in those colleges, and that the maintenance of our younr
men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced,
therefore, that you mean to do us good by your proposal, and we thank you
heartily. Ilut you who are wise must know, that different nations have differ-
ent conct'irtions of things ; ond you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas
of this kind of education happen not to be the same with yours. We have
had some experience of it: several of our young peo|)le were formerly brought
ii|) at the colioges of the northern provinces ; tTiey were instructed in all your
sciciMrcH ; but when they came back to us, they were bad runners ; ignorant
of every means of living in the woods; unable to bear either cold or hmiger ;
knew neither how to build a cabiti, take a deer, or kill an enemy ; spoke our
Ian; iiaj/e imperfectly; were therefore ncMther fit for hunters,' warriors, or
counsellors; tluiy were totally good for nothing. We are, however, not the
lew o!)liged by your kind offi-r, though we diiclme accepting it : and to show
mw grateful sen.« of it, if the geiitltjmen of Virginia will send us u . It is the same often toM, and
alluded to by Franklin, in the text. To reward the Iiulians for their kindness, she rauscd
corn to (rrow where her right hand touched the earth, beans where the left rested, aud tobacco
where she was seated.
[Book I
it iinpro|)er,
3 said, a: the
g lioH upon
advantage;
Breutly upon
liaas seldom
By should be
We oftener
ig oin- jndg-
Dr. Franklin,
isqiichnnnah
pal liistorical
3t parents by
his miracles
stood up to
It is indeed
much obliged
m have heard
of his nation,
tobacco,* he
were sacred
chood.' The
lends luive not
m in the ndes
ie those rules,
lur people are
m where they
3 effect of the
; fVe have,^ say
Is, tve wish jfbr
rselves behind
company.^ "
3 exact notice
writing,) and
council, and
years hack ;
act. He that
hen ho has
licet, that, if
add, he may
on convcrsn-
e conduct of
ithont some
|how (liffrrcnt
u-op<', Mhere,
Mit oft" in the
1), and never
FranMin, we
often finrl it
vho consider
lie dcgi-oe, in
', like ship
v-ns fed hy the
I often told, and
\ss, site raugcd
Id, and tobacco
Chap. III.]
OF CUSTOMS AND MANNERS.
27
'5
I
driven by a north-wester, bearing down the small craft in her course, come
upon us by surprise, and if we attempt to proceed by raising our voices a
little, we are sure to be drowned by a much greater elevation ou their |)art.
It is a want of good breeding, which, it is hoped, every young person vvliose
eye this may meet, will not be guilty of through life. There is great oppor-
tunity for niany of n)ature years to profit by it.
Lost Confidence. — An Indian runner, arriving in a village of his country men»
requested the immediate attendance of its iidiabitauts in council, as he wanted
their answer to important information. The |)eo|)le accordingly assembled,
but when the messenger had with great anxiety delivered his message, and
waited lor an answer, none was given, and he soon observed that he was like-
ly to be left alone in his place. A stranger present asked a principal chief the
meaning of this strange proceeding, who gave this answer, " He once told
us a lie."
Comic. — An Indian having been found frozen to death, an inquest of his
countrymen was convened to determine by what means he came to such u
death. Their verdict was, "Death from the freezing of a great quantity of
water inside of him, whicli they were of opinion he had drunken for rum."
Jl serious (^tiestion. — About 1794, an officer presented a western chief with
a medal, on one side of which President Washington was represented as armed
with a sword, and on the other an Indian was seen in the act of burying the
hatchet. The chief at once saw the wrong done his countrymen, and very
wisely asked, " Why does not the President bury his sword too"?"*
Self-esteem. — A white man, meeting an Indian, accosted him as brother. The
red man, with a great expression of meaning in his countenance, in(|uired
how they came to be brothel's; the white man replied, O, by way of Adam, I
suppose. The Indian added, ".We thank him Great Spirit we no nearer brothers.''^
A Preacher taken at his Word. — A certain clergyman had for his text on a
time, " Vow and paif unto the Lord thy vows," An Indian happemxl to he
present, who stepped up to the priest as soon as he had tinished, and saiil to
him, "Now me t>ow me go home with you, Mr. Minister." The priest, having
uo language of evasion at couunand, sitid, " You must go then." When he had
arrived at the home of the minister, the Indian vowed again, saying, "Now
me vou> me have supper." When tJiis was finished he said, " Me vow me stay
all night." The prie.-^t, by this time, thinking himself sufficiently taxed, re-
plied, "It may be so, but I vow you sliall go in the morning." Tiie Itulian,
judging from the tone of his host, that more vows would be useless, departed
in the morning sans cMmonie.
A case of sy^al Barbarity. — It is related by Black Hawk, in his life, that
some tinte before the war of 1812, one of the Indians had killeer took him [»risoner, and
scid they woidd shoot him next day! His family v/ere encamped a short dis-
tance below the mouth of the Ouisconsin. He b^^gged pertnis^ion to go and
see them that night, as he was to die the next day ! They permitted him to go,
after promisiuf^- to return the next morning by sunrise. He visited his fiunily,
which consisted of a wiie and six eliildren. I cannot deseriite their meeting
and parting, to be tmderstood by tlie whites ; as it appears t!iat their leelings
are acted u|)on by certain ndes laid down by their preachers! — whilst ours are
governed only by the monitor within us. He i)arted from his wife and eliil-
dreti, hurried through the |)rairie to tiie fort, and arrived in time! The sol-
diers were ready, and inniiediutely marched out and shot him down !! " — If this
were not cold-hloodtul, deliberate nmrder, on the part of the whites, 1 have
no conception of what constitutes that cri/ne. What were the circumstances
of tiie nnnder we are not informed ; but whatever they may hav(! been, they
cannot excuse a still greater Imrbarity. 1 would not by any means he inider-
stood to advocate the cause of a munlerer; but I will ask, whether crime is
to be prevented by crime : nntrder for minder is oidy a brutal retaliation, ex-
cept whore the safety of a comnumity requires the sacrifice.
» Elliot's Works, 178.
I ■',
P
:^:&
if:,
m
I-
^i
NARRATIVES, &e., ILLUSTRATIVE
[Book I
Mourning tmu:h in a short Time. — " A young widow, whose husband had
been dead aliout eight days, was hastening to finish her grief, in order that
she might be married to a young warrior: she was determined, therefore, to
grievu much in a short time ; to this end she tore lier hair, dranli spirits, and
beat her breast, to make tlie tears flow abundantly, by whicli means, on the
evening of the eighth day, she was ready again to marry, having grieved suf-
ficiently." *
How to evade a hard Question. — " When Mr. Gist went over the Alieganies,
in Feb. 1751, on a tour of discovery for the Ohio Company, 'an Irviian, who
spoifc good English, came to him, and said that their great man, the Beavfr,\ and
Captain Oppamyluah, (two chiefs of the Delawares,) desired to know where
the Indians land Iny; for the French o'uimed all the land on one side of the
Ohio Kivor, and the English on the other.' This question Mr. Gist found it
hard to answer, and ho evaded it by saying, that the Indians and white men
were ul! subjects to the same king, and all had an equal privilege of taking
up and possessing the land in conformity with the conditions prescribed by
the king." I
Credulity its own Punishment. — The traveller Wcmsey, according to his own
account, would not enter into conversation with an eminent chief, because he
had heard that it had been said of him, that he had, in his time, "shed blood
enough to swim in." He had a great desire to become acquainted with the
Indian character, but his credulity debarred him effectually from the gratifi-
cation. The chief was a Creek, named Flamingo, who, in company with
another called Double-head, visited Philadelphia as ambassadors, in the sum-
mer of 1794. Few travellers discover such scrupulousness, especially those
who come to America. That Flamingo was more bloody than other Indian
warriors, is in no wise probable; but a mere report of his being a great shed-
der of blood kept Mr. fVansey from saying any more about him.
Just Indignation. — Hatuat, a powerful chief of Hispaniola, having fled
from thence to avoid slavery or death when that island was ravaged by the
Spaniards, was taken in 1511, when they conquered Cuba, and burnt at the
stake. Afier being bound to the stake, a Franciscan friar labored to convert
him to the Catholic faith, by ])romises of immediate and eternal bliss in the
world to come if lie would believe ; and that, if he would not, eternal tor-
ments were his only portion. The cuzique, with seeming composure, asked
if there were any Spaniards in those regions of bliss. On being answered
that there were, he replied, " Then I ttnll neak nt all ?" added the governor. " No, he no speak at all." "That certainly
looks susmcious," said his excellency, and inquired if he were still there, and
being told that he was, ordered the promised mug of flip. When this ivas
disposed of, and the Indian was about to depart, he mildly said, "Mr. ^iube-
nor, my squaw have child last night;" and thus the governor's alann was
suddenly «;hanged into disappointment, and the strange Indian into a new-
born pap[)oo8e.
Mammoth Bones. — ^The followmg very interesting tradition concerning
lljese bones, among the Indians, will always be read with interest. The ani-
mal to which they once belonged, they called the Big Buffalo ; and on the
Account of the United Slates by Mr. f.iaiic Holmes, 3(;
l^rrkKnKlir ilia cnmA lUA tiaUA jmlmAil in M/u^lf V ao i
t Probably ibe same we have noticed
I Sparks's Washington, ii, 16.
in Book V. as King Beavtr.
[Book I.
lusband had
In order that
therefore, lO
k epu-its, aud
leans, on the
grieved suf-
e Alieganies,
Irvclian, who
! Beaver,\ and
know where
le side of the
Gist found it
id wliite men
ege of taking
prescribed by
ig to bis own
:f, because he
, "shed blood
inted with the
im the gnitifi-
jompany with
s, in the sum-
pecially those
1 other Indian
a great shed-
t.
J, having fled
ivaged by the
burnt at the
Chap. HI.]
EXPLOIT OF HANNAH DUSTON.
29
t
I to convert
bliss in the
eternal tor-
iposure, asked
II g answered
ere 1 may meet
an visited the
took occasion
ifigwani
to let
is fidelity, the
ion, he would
" Well, Mr.
8 the govern-
" What, no
That certainly
till there, and
^hen this was
"Mr. ' tube-
's alarm was
into a new-
concerning
The ani-
: and on the
I''-
early maps of the country of the Ohio, we see marked, " Elephants' bones said
to be found here." They were, for some time, by many supposed to have heea
the bones of that animal ; but they are pretty generally now believed to have
belonged to a 6i)ecies of animal long since extinct. They have been found
in various parts of the country ; but in the greatest abundance about tlu> salt
licks or springs in Kentucky and Ohio. There has never been an entire
skeleton found, although the one in Peale's museum, in Philadelphia, was so
near perfect, that, by a little ingenuity in supplying its defects with wood-
work, it passes extremely well for such.
The tradition of the Indians concerning this animal is, that he was carniv-
orous, and existed, as late as 1780, in the northern |)arts of America. Some
Delawares, in the time of the revolutionary war, visited the governor of Vir-
ginia on business, which having been finished, some questions were put to
them concerning their country, and especially what they knew or had heard
respecting the animals whose bones had been found about the salt licks r-:
the Ohio River. " The chief speaker," continues our author, Mr. Jefftraon,
" immediately put himself into an altitude of oratory, and, with a p« unfi suited
to what he conceived the elevation of his subject," began and rupeated as
follows : — " In ancient times, a herd of these tremendous animals came to the
Big-bone Licks, and began an universal destruction of the bear, deer, elks, buffa-
loes, and other animals, which had been created for the I'^s of the Indians : the
great man above, looking down and seeing this, was so enrajed, that he seized his
liglUning, descended to the earth, and seated himself o^ a neighboring mountain,
on a rock of which his seat and the print of his feet are stiU to be seen, and hurled
his bolts among them till the whole were slaughtered, except the big bull, who,
presenting his forehead to the shafts, shook them off as they fell ; but missiiig one
ai length, it wounded him in the side ; whereon, springing round, he bounded over
the Ohio, over the Wabash, the Illinois, and, finally, over the great lakes, where he
is living at this day^
Such, say the Indians, is the account handed down to them from their
ancestors, and they could furnish no other information.
JVarrative of the Captivity and bold Exploit of Hannah Duston. — The rela-
tion of this affair forms the XXV. article in the Decennium Luctuosiim of the
Magnalia Christi Americana, by Dr. Cotton Mather, and is one of the best-
written articles of all we have read from his pen. At its head is this signifi-
cant sentence — Dux Foemina Facti.
On the 15 March, 1697, a band of about 20 Indians came unexpectedly
upon Haverhill, in Massachusetts ; and, as their numbers were small, they
made their attack with the swiftness of the whirlwind, and as suddenly disap-
peared. The war, of which this irruption was a part, had continued nearly
ten years, and soon afterwards it came to a close. The house which this
party of Indians had singled out as their object of attack, belonged to one Mr.
Thomas * Duston or Dunatan,^ in the outskirts of the town. I >Ir. Duston was
at work, at some distance from his house, at the time, and whether he was
alarmed for the safety of his family by the shouts of the Indians, or other
cause, we are not informed ; but he seems to have arrived there time enough
before the arrival of the Indians, to make some arrangements for the preserva-
tion of his children ; but his wife, who, but about a week before, had been
confined by a child, was unable to rise from her bed, to the distraction of her
agonized husband. No time was to be lost ; Mr. Duston had only time to
direct his children's flight, (seven in numlier,) the extremes of whose uges were
two and seventeen, and the Indians were upon them. With his gun, the
distressed father mounted his horse, and rode away in the direction of the
childi-en, whom he overtook but about 40 rods from the house. His first
intention was to take up one, if possible, and escape with it. He had no
sooner overtaken them, than this resolution was destroyed ; for to rescue either
to the exclusion of the rest, was worae than death itself to him. He therefore
faced about and met the enemy, who had closely pureued him ; each fired
* ^r- Mynck's Hist. Haverhill, 86. f Hutchinson.
{ Eighi houses were destroyed at this time, 27 persons killed, and 13 carried away captive.
In Mr. B. L. Myrick's History of Haverhill, are the names of the slaiu, &c.
a* '
i-lA
' I'-J
i T
•^'v
$>
;«>>•
ao
EXPLOIT OF HANNAH DUSTON.
;.j:u;
[Book I.
upon the other, and it is almost a miracle that none of the little retreating
party were hurt. The Inditms did not pursue long, from fear of raising tlie
neighhoring English before they could complete their object, and hence this
part of the family escaped to a place of safety.
We are now to enter fully into the relation of this verj' tragedy. There
was living in the house of Mr. Duslon, as nurse, Mrs. Mary JVeff,* a widow,
whose heroic conduct in sliaring the fate of her mistress, when escape was
in her power, will always be viewed with admiration. The Indians were
now in the undisturbed possession of tiie house, and having driven the
sick woman from her bed, cojnpelled her to sit quietly in the corner of the
fire-place, while they completed the pillage of the house. This business
being finished, it was set on fire, and Mrs. Duaton, who before considered
herself unable to walk, was, at the approach of night, obliged to march
into the wilderness, and take her bed upon the cold ground. Mrs. JVeff too
late attempted to escape with the infant child, but was intercepted, the child
taken from her, and its brains beat out against a neighboring apple-tree, while
its nurse was compelled to accompany her new and frightful masters also.
The captives amounted in all to 13, some of whom, as they became unable to
travel, were murdered, and left exposed upon the way. Although it was near
night when they quitted Haverhill, they travelled, as they judged, 12 miles
before encamping; "and then," says Dr. Mather, "kept up with their new
masters in a long travel of an hundred and fifty miles, more or less, within a
few days ensuing." f
After journeying awhile, according to their custom, the Indians divided their
prisoners. Mre. Duston, Mrs. J^eff, and a boy named Samuel Leonardson, I who
had been captivated at Worcester, about 18 months before, fell to the lot of
an Indian fannly, consisting of twelve persons, — two men, three women, and
seven children. These, so far as our accounts go, were very kind to their
prisoners, but told them there was one ceremony which tjiey could not avoid,
and to which they would be subjected when they should arrive at their place
of destination, which was to run the gantlet. TJie place where this was to be
pertbrmed, was at an Indian village, 250 miles from Haverhill, according to
the reckoning of the Indians. In their meandering couree, they at length
arrived at an island in the mouth of Contookook River, about six miles above
Concord, in New Hampshire. Here one of the Indian men resided. It had
been determined by the captives, before their arrival, that an eftbrt
should be made to free themselves from their wretched captivity ; and not
only to gain their liberty, but, as we shall presently see, something by way of
remuneration from those who held them in bondage. The heroine, Dttston,
had resolved, upon the firet opj)ortunity that offered any chance of success, to
kill her captora and scalp them, and to return home with such trophies as
would clearly establish her reputation for heroism, as well as insure her a
bounty from the public. She therefore communicated her design to Mrs.
JVeff and the English boy, who, it would seem, readily enough agreed to it.
To tlie art of killing and scalping she was a stranger ; and, that there should
be no failure in the business, Mrs. Diiston instructed the boy, who, from his
long residence with them, had become as one of the Indians, to inquire of one
of the men how it was done. He did so, and the Indian showed him, with-
out mistrusting the origin of the inquiry. It was now March the 31, and in
the dead of the night following, this bloody tragedy was acted. When the
Indians were in the most sound sleep, these three captives arose, and softly
arming themselves with the tomahawks of their masters, allotted the number
each should kill ; and so truly did they direct their blows, that btit one escaped
that they designed to kill. This was a woman, Avhom they badly wounded,
and one boy, for some reason they did not wish to harm, and accordingly ho
was allowe(i to escape unhurt. Mrs. Duston killed her master, and Leonard-
,fon killed the man who had so freely told him, but one day before, where to
(ileal a deadly blow, and how to take off* a scalp.
* She was a dnufrhler of (roor^e Corliss, and married William Ntff, who went aftiT the
army, nnd died at I'ommaqiiid, Feb. 1688. Mijrick, Hist. Havl. 87.
t Their course was probably very iudirect, to elude pijursuit. X Hist. Haver*iill, 89
>^
[Book I.
! retreating
raising tlie
hence tliis
dy. There
* u widow,
escape was
iidians were
driven the
arner of the
tiis business
considered
d to march
Irs. Xeff too
ed, the child
e-tree, while
masters also,
me unable to
h it was near
ed, 12 miles
ih their new
less, within a
i divided their
Mrdson,\ who
to the lot of
5 women, and
kind to their
uld not avoid,
at their place
this was to be
, according to
Ihcy at length
X niiles above
ed. It had
lat an eftbrt
ity ; and not
iig by way of
roine, Duston,
of success, to
1 trophies as
insure her a
esign to Mrs.
agreed to it.
. there should
who, from his
inquire of one
ed him, vvith-
le 31, and in
1. When the
[>se, and softly
d llie number
. one escaped
dly wounded,
ccordingly ho
and Leonard-
ore, where to
CuAr. Ill]
DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY,
M
o went after the
St. Httver^iiU, 89
All was over before tlie dawn of day, and all things w»:n( got ready for
leaving this place of blood. All the boats but one were scutlleil, to prevent
being pursued, and, with what provisions and arms the Indian cump atlbnled,
tliey embarked on board the other, and slowly and silently took the coui>e of
the'Merrimack River for their homes, where they all soon after arrived with-
out accident.
The whole country was astonished at the relation of the affair, the truth of
which was never for a moment doubted. The ten scalps, and the arms of the
Indians, were evidences not to be questioned ; and the general court gave
tlioni fifty pounds as a reward, and numerous other gratuities were showered
upon them. Colonel jVicholson, governor of Maryland, hearuig of the transac-
tion, sent them a generous present also.
Eight other houses were attacked besides Dttston's, the owners of which,
says the historian of that town, Mr. Myrick, in every case, were slain while
defending them, and the blood of each stained his own door-sill.
.Yurraiive of the Destruction of Schenectady*— TWis was an event of great
distress to the whole country, at the time it happened, and we are able to give
some new facts in relation to it from a manuscript, which, we believe, has
never before been )mblished. These facts are contained in a letter from Gov-
ernor Bradstreet, of Massachusetts, to Governor Hinckley, of Plimouth, dated
about a month after the affair. They are as follow: — " Tho' you cannot but
have heard of the horrid massacre committed by the French and Indians at
Senectada, a fortified and well compacted to^vn 20 miles al)ove Albany (which
we harl an account of by an express,) yet we think we have not discharged
oiH- duty till you hear of it from us. 'Twas upon the Eighth of February,
[lG8!)-90] at inidnight when those poor secure wretches were surprised by
the enemy. Their gates were open, no watch kept, and hardly««{iny order
observed in giving and obeying commands. Sixty of them were butchered in
the place; of whom Lieut. Talmage and four more were of Capt. BiUPs com-
pany, besides five of said company carried captive. By this action the French
nave given us to understand what we may expect from them as to the fron-
tier towns and seaports of New England. We are not so well acquainted
what number of convenient Havens yoti have in your colony, besides those of
Plimouth and Bristol. We hope your prudence and vigilance will lead you
to take such measures as to prevent the landing of the enemy at either of
those or any such like plat*:." f
We now proceed to give such other facts as can be gathered from the
numerous printed accounts. It appears that the government of Canada had
planned several expeditions, previous to the setting out of this, againsrt various
important points of the English frontier, — as much to gain the Avarriors of the
Five Nations to their interest, aa to distress the English. Governor De JS/on-
ville had sent over several chief sachems of the Iroquois to France, where,
as usual upon such embassies, great pains were taken to cause them to enter-
tain the highest opinions of the glory and greatness of the French nation.
Among thetn was Taweraket, a renowned warrior, and two others. It appears
that, during their absence in France, the great war between their countrymen
and the French had ended in the destruction of Montreal, and other places, as
will be seen detailed in our Fifth Book. Hence, when Count Frontenac
arrived in Canada, in the fall of 1G89, instead of finding the Iroquois ready to
join him and his forces which he had brought from France for the conquest
of New York, he found himself obliged to set aiiout a reconciliation of them.
He therefore wisely despatched Taweraket, and the two others, upon that
design. The Five Nations, on being railed ii|)on by these chiefs, woidd take
no step without first notifying the English at Albany that a council was to be
called. The blows which had been so lately given the French of Canada,
had lulled tho English into a fatal security, and tliey let this council pass with
too little attention to its proceedings. On the other hand, the French were
* This was the Gprman name of a^ine barren, such as slrclches itself between Albany and
Scheneclaily, over which is now a rail-road.
t Frencii siiips, with land forces aud munitionii, had, but a short lime before, hovered upon
the coast.
):
V '■■ ■
i * <1
W
Vl*(
MiSV
m
m
DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY.
[OuoK I.
f^
i .-
fully and ably represented ; and the rcHult was, the existing breach was set in
a fair way to be closed uj). This great council was begun 22 January, IblK),
and consisted of eighty sachems. It was opened by Sadekanaghiie,* a great
Oneida chief.
Monnwhile, to give employment to the Indians who yet remained their
friends, the ex|»ediiion was begun which ended in the destruction of Schenec-
tady. Chief Justice Sm.ith\ wrote his account of that affair from a manuscript
letter left by Colonel Schuyler, at that time mayor of Albany ; and it is the
most particular of ony account yet published. It is as follows, and boars date
1,5 February, 1689:—
After two-and-twenty days' morch, the enemy fell in with Schenectady,
Fcbruai7 8. There were about 200 French, and perhaps 50 Caughnewaga
Mohawks, and they at first intended to have surprised Albany ; but their
march had been so long and tedious, occasioned by the deepness of the snow
and coldness of the weather, that, instead of attempting any thing offensive,
they httd nearly decided to surrender theins«;lves to the first English they
should meet, such was their distressed situation, in a camp of snow, but a few
miles from the devoted settlement The Indians, however, saved them from
the disgrace. They had sent out a small scout from their party, who entered
Schenectiidy without even exciting suspicion of their errand. When they had
staid as long as the nature of their business required, they withdrew to their
fellows.
Seeing that Schenectady offered such an easy prey, it put new courage into
the French, and they came upon it as abo\e related. The bloody tragedy
commenced between 11 and 12 o'clock, on Saturday night; and, that every
house might be surprised at nearly the same time, the enemy divided them-
selves into {Nirties of six or seven men each. Although the town was impaled,
no one thought it necessary to close the gates, even at night, presuming the
severity of the season was a sufHcient security ; hence the first news of the
approach of the enemy was at every door of every house, which doors were
broken as soon as the profound slumbers of those they were intended to guard.
The satne inhuman barbarities now followed, that were afterwards perpetrated
upon the wretched inhabitants of Montreal.^ "No tongue," said Colonel
Schuyler, " can express the cruelties that were committed." Sixty-three
houses, and the church, § were immediately in a blaze. Enciente women,
in their expiring agonies, saw their infants cast into the flames, being first
delivered by the knife of the midnight assassin ! Sixty-three || persons were
put to death, and twenty-seven were carried into captivity.
A few persons fled towards Albany, with no other covering but their night-
clothes ; the horror of whose condition was greatly enhanced by a great fall
of snow ; 25 of whom lost their limbs from the severity of the frost. With
these poor fugitives came the intelligence to Albany, and that place was in
dismul confusion, having, as usual upon such occasions, supposed the enemy
to have been seven times more numerous than they really were. About noon,
the next day, the enemy set off from Schenectady, taking all the plunder they
could carry with them, among which were forty of the best horses. The rest,
witli all the cattle and other domeatic animals, lay slaughtered in the streets.
One of the most considerable men of Schenectady, at this time, was Captain
Jilexander Glen. H He lived on the opposite side of the river, and was suffered
to escape, because he had delivered many French prisoners from torture and
slavery, who had been taken by the Indians in the former wars. They had
passed his house in the night, and, during the massacre, he had taken the
alarm, and in the morning he was found ready to defend himself. Before
leaving the village, a French officer summoned him to a council, upon the
shore of the river, with the tender of personal safety. He at length adventured
(iown, and had the great satisfaction of having all his captured friends and
relatives delivered to him ; and the enemy departed, keeping good their
promise that no injury should be done him. ||
i
* SudageenaslUie In Pownal on the Colonies, I. 398.
t See Book V. § Spafford.
il Charlevoix calls him The Sieur Cottdre.
t Hist. N. York.
II Colden, 115.
\v:\
Chap. Ill]
DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY.
;j3
Tlifi great Mohawk castle was about 17 miles from Sclicrtcctndy, and tliey
(lifrinninj?of Febninry, tlipy arrived within
two l«!nf,nicH of .SclienictiKJy. Hfi" tlioy Imltctl, and the Greet Jignier, chief
of the lro(|uoisof th(! Tails of St. hoiiist, nindon apeccli to tiicm. 1 1«! exhorted
«v«iy oik; to (orj^et the hiinlnhipH they had endured, in the hojie of Mven}rin{»
the wrongs they had for a long time Hiifii-n d from the j)erfidioii8 Knglish,
who were tli(! uuthoiH of ihetn; and in the close added, that tliey coiihl not
doiiht of the usisistunco of Heaven against the encndea of God, in u cuiiho
so jUHt.
Ihinlly had they taken np their line of nmrch, wlien they met 40 Indian
Women, who gave tliem nil the necei^sary iidormafion for approaching the
|)lac(; in sulety. A Canadian, named Giijuiere, was detached immediately with
nine Iii«liuns upon discovery, who acrputted himself to the entire sutiHtuction
ol' his otlicers. Ho reconnoitred Schenectady at his leisure, ami then rejoined
his comrades.
It had !)( en determined hy the party to put ofF the attack one day longer;
lint on th(! arrival of tlie scout under Giguiere, it was resolved to proceed
wiilumt delay.
ychenei'tady was then in form like that of a long square, and entered by
two gate.s, one at each end. One 0[)ened towards Albany, the other upon the
great road leading into the back country, and which was now possessed by
the French and Indians. Manttt and SI. Helene charged at the second
gate, which the Indian women before mentioned had assured them was
always open, and they found it so. D'IbtnUle and Repentigni passed to the
left, in order to enter by the other gate, but, after losing some time in vainly
endeavoring to find it, were obliged to return and enter with their comrades.
The gate was not oidy open hut unguarded, and the whole party entered
without being discovered. Dividing themselves into several parties, they
waylaid every portal, and then the war-whoop was raised. Mantel formed
and attacked a garrison, where the oidv resistance of any account was made.
The gate of it was soon forced, and all of the English fell by the sword, and
the garrison was burned. Montigni was wounded, in forcing a house, in his
arm and body by two blows of a halberd, which put him hora du combat ; but
St. Helene being come to his assistance, the house was taken, and the wounds
of Montigni revenged by the death of all who had shut themselves up in it.
Nothing was now to be seen but massacre and pillage in eveiy place. At
the end of about two hours, the chiefs, believing it due to their safety, posted
bodies of guards at all the avenues, to prevent surprise, and the rest of the
night was spent in reireshing themselves.
Mantet had given orders that the minister of the place should be spared,
whom he had intended for his own prisoner; but he was found among the
promiscuous dead, an I no one knew when he was killed, and all his papers
were burned.
After the place was destroyed, the chiefs ordered all the casks of intoxicat-
ing liquors to be staved, to prevent their men from getting drunk. They
next t^et all the houses on fire, excepting that of a widow, into which Montigni
had l)een carried, and another belonging to Major Coudre : they were in num-
ber about 40, all well built and fiirnished ; no booty but that which could be
easily transported was saved. The lives of about 60 persons were spared ;
chiefly women, children, and old men, who had escaped the fury of the onset,
and 30 Indians who happened to be then in the place. The lives of the
Indians were spared that tliey might carry the news of what had happened to
their countrymen, whom they were requested to inform, that it was not
against them that they intended any harm, but to the English only, whom
they had now despoiled of property to the amount of four hundred thousand
poimds.
They were too near Albany to remain long among the ruins, and they
decamped about noon. The plunder — Montigni, whom it was necessary
to carry — the prisoners, who were to the number of 40 — and the want of
provisions, with which they had in their hurry neglected to provide them-
selves — retarded much their retreat. Many would nave even died of famine,
had they not had 50 horses, of which there remained but six when they
of
[Book I
fei\ within
nier, cliief
c cxlioitc'cl
;' nv('i)|:ing
s Kii^'lish,
could not
in u cunso
40 Indian
iicliiiij; tliu
liatfly with
BtttiHliiction
en rejoined
lay longer ;
to proceed
entered by
er ui)on the
assessed by
the second
I them was
ussed to the
ne in vainly
If comrades,
arty entered
jartic'S, tliey
tntet formed
it was made.
B sword, and
house, in his
combat; but
I the wounds
;s up in it.
y place. At
alety, posted
e rest of the
d be spared,
i among the
1 his papers
intoxicat-
nnk. They
ich Montigni
ere in num-
ich could be
ere spared;
the onset,
lives of the
happened to
it was not
only, whom
:ed thoiisand
is, and they
his necessary
[the want of
lovide them-
1 of famine,
when they
Chap. Ill ]
MURDER OF MFSS M'CREA.
35
of
arrived at Montreal, upon the 27 March following.* Their want of provisions
ol)lig<'d tlieeu to separate, and in an attack v,.iich was rnndo upon one party,
three ludiaiiH and six Frenchmen were killed or taken ; an attack, which, for
want of proper caution, cost the army more lives than the captin-c; of ScIh;-
necta tli«! fiiinily of Mrs. AkJSi'eil, near Fort Fdward, at the close of tlie week, she was
a.sked to remain until Monday. On Sunday morning, when the Indians came
to the house, she concealed hei"self in the cellar; but they dragged her out by
the hair, and, j)laciug her on a horse, proceeded on the road towards Sandy
Hill. They soon met another |)arty of Indians, re •urning from Argyie, where
they had killed the family of Mr. Bains; these I idians disapproved the jiur-
poso of taking the captive to the Hritish camp, and one of them struck her
with a tomahawk and tore off" her scalp. This is the accotmt given by her
nephew. The accomit of Mrs. McJVeil is, that her lover, nuxious for her
safety, em|)loyed two Indians, with the j)romis!>i of a barrel of rum, to bring
her to him ; and that, in consetpience of tlieir dispute for the rifdit of conduct-
ing her, one of them nnirdered her. Gen. Gates, m his letter to Gen. Burgoyne
of 2 September, says, 'she was dressed to receive her proirised husband.'
" Her brother, on hearing of her fiite, sent his family the next day to Albany,
and, repairing to the American camp, buried his sister, with one Lieutenant
Van Vechten, three miles south of Fort Edward. She was 23 years old, of an
amiable and virtuous character, and highly esteemed by all her acquaintance.
It is said, and was believed, that she was engaged in marriage to Captain
David Jones, of tiie Britisli army, a loyalist, who survived her only a few
years, and died, as was supposed, of grifif for her loss. Her nephew, Colonel
James McCr':a, lived at Saratoga, in l^'28."f
Under the name of Lncinda^ Barlow has dwelt upon this murder in a strain
that may be Imitated, but not surpassed. We select liom him as follows: —
"Ono Heed slinll Ipll what fiime er of Indians surroiaided the
hotiso of one John Merril, which was discovered by the Imrking of a dog.
Merril stepped to the door to see whnt he could discover, and received three
niusket-balls, which caused him to full back into the house with a broken leg
and arm. The Indians rushed on to the door ; btit it being instantly ftisteneu
by his wife, who, with a girl of about 15 years of age, stood against if, the
savages could not immediately enter. They broke one part of tne door, and
one of them crowded j)artly through. The heroic mother, in the midst of her
screaming children and groaning husband, seized an axe, and gave ii fatal
blow to the savage ; and Tie fulling headlong into the hotise, the others, sup-
nosing they had gained their end, rushed afler him, until four of them fell m
like manner before they discovered their mistake. The rest retreated, which
gave opportunity again to secure the door. The conquerors rejoiced in their
victory, hoping they had killed the whole company ; btit their expectations
were soon dashed, by finding the door again attacked, which the bold mother
endeavored once more to secure, with the assistance of the young woman.
Their fears now came on them like a flood ; and they soon heard a noise on
the top of the house, and then fotmd the Indians were coming down the
chimney. All hopes of deliverance seemed now at an end ; but the wounded
man ordered his little child to tumble a couch, that was filled with hair and
feathers, on the fire, which made such a smoke that two stout Indians came
tumbling down into it. The wounded man, at this critical moment, seized a
billet of wood, wounded us he was, and with it succeeded in despatching the
half-smothered Indians. At the same moment, the door was attempted by
another ; but the heroine's arm had become too enfeebled by her over-exertions
to deal a deadly blow. She however caused him to retreat wounded. They
then again set to work to make their house more secure, not knowing but
another attack would be made ; but they were not funher disturbed. This
affair happened in the evening, and the victors carefully watched with their
new family until morning. A prisoner, that escaped immediately afler, said
the Indian last mentioned was the only one that escaped. He, on returning to
liis friends, was asked, 'What news?' said, 'Plaguy- bad news, for the squaws
fight worse than the long-knives.' This affair happened at Newbordstown,
about 15 miles from Sandy Creek, and may be depended upon, as I had the
pleasure to assist in tumbling them into a hole, afler they were stripped of
their head-dresses, and about 20 dollars' worth of silver furniture."
Welsh or White Indians.
" jyarrative of Capt. Isaac Stuart, of the Provincial Cavalry of South Carolina,
taken from his oum mouih, by I, C, Esq., March., 1782.
" I was taken prisoner, about 50 miles to the westward of Fort Pitt, about
18 years ago, by the Indians, and carried to the Wabash, with other white
men. They were executed, with circumstances of horrid barbarity ; but it
was my good fortune to call forth the sympathy of a good woman of the
village, who was permitted to redeem me from those who held me prisoner,
by giving them a horse as a ransom. Afler remaining two years in bondage,
a Spaniard came to the nation, having been sent from Mexico on discoverieBk
CHAr. III.J
WHITE INDIANS.
•7
Ht; iiiuilo appliciuion to tlie rliicfb of the IiitliuiiH fur hiring nic, aiul another
>vhitf man who wuh in the liki> Hitiiation, n native of Wu1i-h, aiu\ named John
Dnvey, which was coniphtul with. We tooi< our dtipartiiru and travclli'd to
tiie vvfHtward, crosHing tiie Mii^stMippi near Ilrd River, op wiiich we travrlU'd
upwards of 700 niiies. Men- we came to a nation of Indians rctnarkubly
white, and whose hair was of a reddi>'li color, at leaist, mostly so. They liv(;d
on a small river which em|itied itself into Red River, which they called tho
River I'ost ; mid in the morning, r'"- /|uy atler our arrival, the Welshman
informed me that he was determined to remain with the nation of Indians,
giving as u reason that he understood their language, it lieiiig very littli^ ditler-
ent fiiim tJie Welsh. My curiosity was excited very much l»y this information,
and I went with my companion to the chief men of the town, who intormeii
liim, ill a language that I liiul no knowledge ot) and which had no atliiiity with
that of any other Indian tongue that I ever heard, that the forefathers of this
nation came from a foreign country, and landed on the east side of the Missis-
sijipi (descrihing particularly the country now called West Florida); ami that,
on the Spaniards taking possession ot the country, they fled to their then
alxxle ; aiuL, as a priM)!' of what they advanced, they brought out rolls of
Imrchment wrote with bine ink, at least it had a bluish cast The cliaracterM
did not understand, and the Welshman being unac(|uainted with letters of
any language^ I was not able to know what the meaning of the writing was.
Tliey were a Itold, liunly, intrepid people, very war' ike, and their women
wttni beautiful, co(n|)arcil with otiier Indians."
Thus we have given so much of Captain Stuart^s narrative ns relates to tho
White Lndians. The remainder of it is taken un in details of several excur
sions, of many hundred mile^, in the interior ot the continent, without any
extraordinary occtirrencc, eju;ept the fuuling of a gold mine. He returned by
way of the Mi^issippi, and was (tonsidcre ' a man of veracity by tho late
Lieiitenant-coiouel Cruger, of iSoutli Carolina, who recommended him to the
gentleman who communicated his narrative.
I had determiiKul formerly to devote a chapter to the examination of the
subject of the White Indians ; but, on reference to all the sources of informa-
tion in mjr possecsion, I found that the whole rested upon no other authority
than such as we have given almve, and therefore concluded to give the most
interesting parts of the accounts without comment, and let the reader draw
liis own conclusions. There seem to have been a good many accounts con-
cerning the White Indians in circulation about the same period, and the next
we shall notice is found in Air. Charlea Bealiy'a journal, the substance of which
ia as follows : —
At the foot of the Alleghany Mountains, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bmity stopped
at the house o( n Mr. John MUkr, where lie " met with one Benjamin Sulton,
who had been taken captive by the Indians, and had l)een in diflerent nations,
and lived many years among them. When he was with the Choctaws, at the
Mississippi Riyer, he went to an Indian town, a very considerable distance
from New Orleans, whose inhabitants were of diflTerent complexions, not so
tawny as those of tlie other Indians, and who spoke Welsh, lie saw a book
among them, which he supposed was a Welsh Bible, which they carefully
kept wrapped up in a skin, but they could not read it ; and he heard some
of those Indians afterwards, in the lower Shawanee town, speak Welsh with
one Lewis, a Welshman, captive there. This Welsh tribe now live on the
west side of the Mississippi, a great way above New Orleans."
At Tuscarora valley he met with another man, named Levi Hicks, who had
lieen a captive from his youth with the Indians. lie said lie was once attend-
ing an ejubassy at an Indian town, on the west side of the Mississippi, where
the inhal)itants spoke Welsh, "as he was told, for he did not understand
them " himselC An Indian, named Joseph Peepy, Mr. Beaitxfs interpreter, sjiid
he once saw some Indians, whom he supposed to be of the same tribe, who
talked Welsh. He was sure they talked Welsh, for he liad been acquainted
with Welsh people, and knew some words they used.
To the above Mr. Beatly adds: "I have been informed, that many years
ago, a clergyman went from Britain to Virginia, and having lived some time
there, went from thence to ^. CaroUna ; but after some time, for some reason,
I'.t.l
\\-:i^
I
|h''*>« '
m:':-^.
Kfi-' .
ISI
!"■;.;
1 / ■
1 •■; ■
'1 '■ ''
1 ^- '■•■
1 ^^:
]• ■■
' !■ :-^
! i I
m
hit
m
I
Hi''
38
WHITE! INDIANS.
[Book I
he resolved to return to Virginia, and accordingly set out by land, accom-
panied with some other persons. In travelling through the back parts of the
coimtry, which was then very thinly inhabited, he fell in with a party of In-
dian warriors, going to attack the inhabitant" of Virginia. Upon examining
the clergyman, and finding he wns going to Virginia, they looked upon him
and his companions as belonjjinglothat province, and took them all prisoners,
and told them they must die. The clergyman, in preparation for another
v/oild, wont to pmyer, and, being a Welshman, prayed in the Welsh langiiage.
One or more of the Indians was much surprised to hear him pray in their
own language. Upon this they spoke to him, and finding he could under-
stand tli< tn, got the sentence ot ' eath reversed, and his life was saved. They
took liiiii with them into their country, where he found a tribe whose native
lan<(uage was Welsh, though the dialect was a little different from his own,
which he soon came to understand. They showed him a book, which he
found to be the Bible, but which they could not read ; and on his reading and
explaining it, their regard for him was much heightened." After some time,
the minister proposed to these people to return to his own country, and prom-
ised to return again to them with others of his friends, who would instruct
them in Christianity ; but not long af\er his return to Englatid, he died, which
put an end to his design.
It is very natm-al to inqtiin bow these Indians, though descended from the
Welsh, came by books ; for 'A is well known that the pciod at which the
WeLdi must have come to Ataorica, was long before printing was discovered,
or that any writings assr (I iM the form of books as we now have them. It
should l>e hvire noted thai Mr. Beatty travelled in the autunm of 17(36.
Major i?og-er», in his "Concise Account of North America," published in
1765, notices the White Indians ; but the geography of their country he leaves
any where on the west of the Mississippi ; probably never having visited them
mself, although he tells us he had travelled very extensively in She interior.
'This fruitful coniitr)'," he says, "is at present inhabited by a nation of In-
dians, called by the others, the White Indians, on account of their complex-
ion ; they heing much the fairest Indians on the continent. They have, how-
ever, Indian eyes, and a certain guilty Jewish cast with them. This nation is
very numerous, being able to raise between 20 and 30,000 fighting men. They
have no weapons but bows ait ) arrows, tomahawks, and a kind of wooden
pikes, for which reason they otlen sutrer greatly from the eastern Indians,
who have the use of rire-arms, a: d fVrqni'ntly visit the white Indians on the
banks of the easterly branch, [of /.Tuddy River '^ and kill or captivate them
in great numbers. Such as fidi abve into their hands, they generally sell for
slaves. These Indians live in large towns, and have commodious houses;
they raise com, tame the wild cows, and use both their milk and flesh ; they
keep great numbers of dogs, and are very dextrous in hunting ; *hey have lit-
tle or no commerce with any nation that we at present are ac(iuaintod with."
In the account of Kentucky, written in 1784, by an excellent writer, Mr. John
Filson, we find as follows: — After noticing the voyage of JWck/oc, who with
his ten shijjs with emigrants sailed west about 1170, and who were, accord-
ing to the Welsh historians, never heard of after, he proceeds: — "Thisaccoimt
has at several times drawn the attention cf the world ; but as no vestiges of
them had then been found, it was concluded, perhaps too rashly, to be a fable,
or at least that no remains of the colony existed. Of late years, however, the
western settlers have received frequent accounts of a natioii, inhabiting at a
great distance >ip the Missouri, in manners « nd ai)j)earance resembling the
other Indians, but speaking Welsh, and retaiiiing some ceremonies of the
Christian worship; and at length this is universally believed there to be a fact.
Capt. Abraham Chaplain, of Kentucky, a gentleman whose veracity may be
entirely depended upon, assured the author that in the late war [revolution]
bsiiig with his company in garrison, at Kaskaskia, some Indians came there,
and, speaking the Welsh dialect, were jierfectly understood and converse(l
with by two Welshmen in his cotnpany, and that they informed them of the
situation of their nation as rnentioiKMl al)ove."
Htnry Ker, who travelled among l:l tribes of Indians in 1810, &c., names
one near a great mountain which he calls Mnacedeus. He said Dr. SiUey
■f
I
[Book I
nd, accom-
Mirts of the
larty of In-
examining
upon liini
1 prisoners,
for another
h language,
ray in their
juld under-
ved. They
rhose native
im liis own,
[, which he
reading and
• some time,
, and prom-
uld instruct
died, which
ed from the
t which the
I discovered,
re them. It
1766.
pultlished in
try he leaves
visited them
I ihe interior,
nation of In-
eir complex-
y have, how-
fhis nation is
; men. They
i of wooden
ern Indians,
idians on the
ptivate them
arally 8«M1 for
ous houses;
1 flesh ; they
hey have lit-
unted with."
ter, Mr. John
)C, who with
vetc, accord-
rhis accoinit
) vestiges of
to he a fable,
lowc'ver, the
Ihahitiug at a
imbling tiie
lonies of the
to be a fact,
[icity may he
[revolution]
came there,
conversed
them of the
&c., names
lid Dr. SibUy
Chap. IV]
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
39
had told him, when at Natchitoches, tliat a number of travellers had assured
him, that there was a strong similarity between the Indian language and many
words of the Welsh. Mr. Ker found nothing among any of the Indians to
indicate a Welsh origin until he arrived among the Mnacedeus. Here he
found many customs which were Welsh, or common to that people, and he
adds; "I did not understand the Welsh language, or I should have been en-
abled to have thrown more light upon m interesting a subject," as they had
"printed books among them which were preserved with great care, they having
a tradition that they were brought there by their forefathers." Upon this, in
another place, he observes, "The books ap|)eared very old, and were evident-
ly printed at a time when there had been very little im|>rovement made in the
casting of types. I obtained a few leaves from one of the chiefs, sufficient to
have thrown light on the subject; but in my subsequent disputes with the
Indians, I lost them, and all my endeavors to obtain more, were ineffectual."
How or at what time these Indians obtained " printed books," Mr. Ker does
not give us his opinion ; although he says much more about them.
There are a great number of others who have noticed these Indians ; but
affer an examination of them all, I am unable to add much to the above stock
of information concerning them. U|)on the whole, we think it may be pretty
safely said, that the existence of a race of Welsh about the regions of the
Missouri does not rest on so good authority as that which has been adduced
to establish the existence of the sea-serpent. Should any one, however,
choose to investigate the subject further, he will find pretty ample references
to authors in which the subject has been noticed, in a note to the life of Ma-
dokawando, in our third book. In addition to which, he may consult the
authorities of MouUon, as pointed out in his History of New York.
-^fffa^
CHAPTER IV.
American Antiquities — Few Indian Antiquities — Of Mounds and their contents —
Account of those in Cincinnati — In the \tiumi country — Worlts supposed to haee
been built for defences or fortifications — Some at Piqua — JVear Hamilton — Milford
— Deerfield — Six miles above Lebanon — On Paint Creek — At Marietta — At Circle-
ville — TVteir age uncertain — Works on Licking River — Ancient excavations or wells
near Newark — Various other works.
To describe the antiquities of America would not require a very great
amount of time or spaie, if we consider only those which are in reality such.
And as to Indian antii uities, they consist ir nothing like monuments, says
Mr. Jefferson; " for," he »bserve8, " I would not honor with that name, arrow-
points, stone hal'hets, stcie pijtcs, and lialf-shapen images. Of labor on the
large scale, I think there ^^ no remain as respectable as would be a common
ditch for the draining of lands, unless indeed it would be the Barrows, of
which many are to l)e found all over in this country. These are of different
sizes, souie of them constructed of earth, and some of hiose stones. That
they were re|)ositories of the dead, has been obvious to all ; but on wiiat pai--
ticnlar occasion constructed, was a matter of doubt. Some have thought they
covered the bones of those who have fallen in battles fought on the spot of
interment, f^ome ascribe them to the custom, said to prevail among tlie In-
dians, of collecting at certain periods the bones of all their dead, wheresoever
deposited at the time of death. Others again suppose them the general sepul-
chris for towns, conjectured to have been on or near these grounds; and this
opinion was supported by the (piality of the lands in which they are found,
(those constructed of earth being cenerally in the soft(!st and most fertile
meadow-grounds on river sides,) and by a tradition, said to be handed down
from the aboriginal Indians, that when they settled in a town, th«! first person
vvho died was [iilaced en!ct, and earth put about him, so as to cover mn\ support
him ; and that when anotlier died, a narrow passage was dug to the finst, the
M-.
i'^jt'
' ' ■■■'^1
...»
'.'5'i j|
■ ■,'■
i\
i ■'%'
-'J^
1
f"S
;1^
■'/ ■j \
:--B
■i^'M
40
\MERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
[Book I.
I^..f'
1 -}-■
rl
t-
second reclined against him, and the cover of earth replaced, and so on. There
being one of these in my neighborhood, I wished to satisfy myself whether
any, and which of tliese opinions were just. For this purpose, I determined
to open and examine it thoroughly. It was siijated on the low grounds of the
Rivanna, about two miles alwve its principal fork, and opposite to some hills,
on which had been an Indian town. It was of a spheroidal form of ahout
40 feet diameter at the base, and had been of about 12 feet altitude, though
now reduced by the plough to seven and a half, having been under cultiva-
tion about a dozen -years. Before this it was covered with trees of 12 inelies
diameter, and rouncl the base was an excavation of five feet depth and widtl),
from whence the earth had been taken of which the hillock was formed."
In this mound my author found abundance of human bones, which, from
their position, it was evident had heen thrown or piled promiscuously there
together; bones of the bead and feet being in contact; "some vertical,
some oblique, some horizontal, and directed to every point of the compass."
These bones, when exposed to the air, crumbled to dust Some of the skulls,
jaw-bones, and teeth, were taken out nearly in a j)erfect state, but would fall to
pieces on being examined. It was evident that this assemblage of bones was
made up from persons of all ages, and at dift'erent periods of time. The
mound was composed of alternate strata of bones, stones, and earth. Hence
it would seem that barrows, or mounds, as they are most usually called, were
formed by the Indians, whose custom it was to collect the bones of their de-
ceased friends at certain periods, and deposit them together in this manner.
" But," Mr. Jefferson observes, " on whatever occasion they may have heen
made, they are of considerable notoriety among the Indians : for a party
passing, about 30 years ago, through the part of the country where this barrow
is, went through the woods directly to it, without any instructions or inquirj',
and having staid about it some time, with expressions which were construed
to be those of sorrow, they returned to the high road, which they had left
about half a dozen miles to pay this visit, and jjui-sued their journey."
In these tumuli are usually found, with the bones, such instruments only as
appear to have been used for superstitious purposes, ornaments or war. Of
the latter kind, no more formidable weapons have been discovered than
tomahawks, spears and arrow-heads, which can be supposed to have been
deposited before the arrival of Europeans in America. What Mr. Jefferson
found in the barrow he dissected besides bones, or whether any thing, he does
not inform us. In several of these depositories in the city of Cincinnati,
which Dr. Daniel Drake examined, numerous utensils were found. He has
ifiven a most aicurate account of them, in which he has shown himself no
ess a philosopher than antiquary. He divides them into two classes, ancient
and modern, or ancient and more ancient. " Among the latter," he says, " there
is not a single edifice, nor any ruins which prove the existence, in former ages,
of a building composed of imperishable materials. No fragment of a column ,
no bricks ; nor a single hewn stone large enough to have been incorporated
into a wall, has been discovered."
There were several of these mounds or tumuli, 20 years ago, within a short
space in and about Cincinnati ; but it is a remarkable fact, tliat the plains on
the opposite side of the River Ohio have no vestiges of the kind. The largest
of those ii Cincinnati was, in 1794, about 3iv feet in height; btit at this time it
was cut down to 27 by order of General Wayne, to make it serve as a watch-
tower for a sentinel. It was about 440 feet in circumference.
Almost every traveller of late years has said something upon the motinds,
or fortifications, scattered over the south and west, from Florida to the lakes,
and from the Hudson to Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. By some they are
reckoned at several thousands. Mr. Brackenridge supposes there may be
3000; but it would not outrage probability, I presume, to set them down at
twice that number. Indeed no one can form any just estimate in respect to
the number of mounds and fortifications which have been built, any more than
of the period of time which has passed since they were originally erected, for
several obvious reasons; one or two of which may be mentioned: — the
K lough, excavations and levellings for towns, roads, and various other works,
ave entirely destroyed hundreds of them, which had never been d(!Bcribed
[Book I.
Chap. IV.]
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
41
on. There
ilf whether
(letermhied
uiuls of the
some hills,
m of about
ude, though
der cuUiva-
)f 12 inclies
1 and widtii,
roriiied."
which, from
uously there
tne vertical,
le compass"
)f the skulls,
would iiiU to
)f bones was
'time. The
irth. Hence
' called, were
3 of their de-
this manner.
ly have been
for a party
re this barrow
ns or inquiry,
2re construed
they had left
rney."
ments only as
3 or war. Of
kcovered than
to have been
t Mr. Jefferson
thing, he does
of Cincinnati,
und. He has
n himself no
asses, ancient
says, " there
In former ages,
It of a column,
incorporated
^vithin a short
the plains on
The largest
I at this time it
fc as a watch-
■i the mounds,
|a to the lakes,
some they are
[here may he
llicm down at
1 in respect to
J\ny more than
|ly erected, for
[itioncd :— the
other works,
ten d(!scribed
and whose sites cannot now be ascertained. Another great destruction of
them has been effected by the changing of the course of rivers.
There are various ojMnions about the uses for which thesie tncient remains
were constructed: while some of them are too much like modem fortifications
to admit of a doid)t of their having been used for defences, others, nearly
similar in design, from their situation entirely exclude the adoption of such au
opinion. Hence we find four kinds of remains formed of errth ; two kinds
of mounds or barrows, and two which have been viewed as fortifications.
The Iwrrows or burial piles are distinguished by such as contain articles
which were inhumed with the dead, and those which do not contain tlienj.
From what cause they differ in this respect it is difficult to determine. Some
have supposed the former to contain bones only of warriors, but in such
mounds the bones of infants are found, und hence that hypothesis is over-
thrown ; and indeed an hypothesis can scarcely be raised upon any one mat-
ter concerning them without almost a positive assurance ti^at it has been
created to be destroyed.
As a specimen of the contents of the mounds generally, the following may
be taken ; being such as Dr. Drake found in those he examined : — 1. Cylin-
drical stones, such as jasper, rock-crystal, and granite ; with a groove near one
end. 2. A circular piece of caimel coal, with a large opening in the centre,
as though made for the reception of an axis ; and a deep groove in the circum-
ference, suitable for a band. 3. A smaller article of the same shape, but
composed of polished argillaceous earth. 4. A bone, ornamented with several
carved lines, supposed by some to be hieroglyphics. 5. A sculptural repre-
sentation oi the head and beak of some rajmciotis bird. G. Lumps of lead ore.
7. Isingla.ss (mica membranacea). This article is very common in mounds,
and seems to have been held in high estimafion among the people that con-
structed them ; hut we know not that modern Indians have any particular
attachment to it. A superior article, though much like it, was also in great
esteem among the ancient Mexicans. 8. Small pieces of sheet-copper, with
perforations. 9. Larger oblong pieces of the same metal, with longitudinal
grooves and ridges. 10. Beads, or sections of small hollow cylinders, appar-
ently of l)one or shell. 11. Teeth of carnivorous animals. ISS. Large marine
shells, belonging, perhaps, to the genus huccinum ; cut in such a manner as
to sei-ve for domestic utensils. These, and also the teeth of animals, are
generally found almost entirely decomposed, or in a state resembling chalk.
13. Earthen ware. This seems to have been made of the same material as that
employed by the Indians of Louisiana within our recollection, viz. pounded
muscle and other river shells, and earth. Some perfect articles have been
found, but they are rare. Pieces, or fragments, are very common. Upon
most of them, confused lines are traced, which doubth.'ss had some meaning;
but no specimen has yet been found having glazing upon it like modern pot-
tery. Some entire vases, of most uncouth appearance, have been found. Mr.
Mipaler of Ohio, who has pretty fully described the western anticpiities, gives
an account of a vessel, which seems to have been used as a jug. It was found
in an ancient work on Cany Fork of Cumberland River, alM)Ut four feet below
the surface. The body of the vessel is made by three heads, all joined together
at their hacks. From these places of contact a neck is formed, which rises
about three inches above the heads. The orifice of this neck is near two
inches in diameter, and the three luicks of the heads form the legs of the vessel
on which it stands when upright. The heads are all of a size, being about
four inches from the top to the chin. The fiices at the eyes are about three
inches broad, which increiiao in breadth all the way to the chin.
Of the works called fortifications, though already mentioned in general
terms, their importance demands a further coiisidoration.
At Piqtia, on the western side of the Great Miami, there is a circular wall
of earth inclosing a space of about 100 feet in diameter, with an opening on
the side most remote from the river. " The adjacent hill, at the distance of
half a mile, and at the greater elevation of about 100 feet, is the site of a stone
wall, nearly circular, and inclosing perhaps '20 acres. The valley of the river
on one side, and a deep ravine on the other, render the access to three fourths
of this fortification extremely difficult. The wall was carried generally along
4*
r.
Ite'd
49
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
[Book 1.
ii 1 ...•
the brow of the hill, in one place descending a short distance so as to include
a spring. The lulicioiis limestone of wliich it was built, must have been trans-
ported from the bed of the river, which, for two tiiiles opposite these works,
does not at present afford one of 10 pounds weight. They exhibit no marks
»f the hammer, or any other tool. The wail was iuid up without mortar, and
is now in ruins.
" Lo'ver down the same river, near the mouth of Hole's Creek, on the plain,
there are remains of great extent. The ])riiici])al wall or bank, which is of
earth, incloses about 160 acres, and is in some parts nearly 12 feet high.
Also below Hamilton there is a fortification upon the top of a high hill, out of
view from the ri' .., of very difficult approach. This incloses about 50 acres.
Adjacent to this work is a tnound 25 feet iu diameter at its base, and about
seven feet pei7)endicular altitude.
" On the elevated point of land above the confluence of the Great I ami
and Ohio, there are extensive and complicated traces, which, in the o^:. ion
of military men, eminently qualified to judge, are the remains of very strong
defensive works."
In the vicinity of Milford, on the Little Miami, are fortifications, the largest
of which are upon the top of the first hill above the confluence of the East Fork
w'th the Miami. " On the opposite side of the Miami River, above Round
Bottom, are similar antiquities of considerable extent. On the Ea.st Fork, at
its heod waters, other remains have been discovered, of which the principal
bears a striking re8embli""ce to those above mentioned ; but within, it differs
from any which have yet Ikjcu exainincd in tiiis quarter, in having nine
parallel banks or long parapets united at one end, exhibiting very exactly the
figure of a ^^ridiroii."
"Further up the Little Miami, at Deerfield, are other interesting remains;
but those which have attracted more atti'iition than any others in the Miami
country, are situated six miles fiom Lebanon, above the mouth of Todd's
Fork, an eastern branch of the Miami. On the summit of a ridge at least 200
feet above the valley of the river, tiiere are two irregular trapezoidal figures,
connected at a point where the ridge is very much narrowed by a ravine. The
wall, which is entirely of earth, is generally eight or ten feet high ; but in one
place, where it is conducted over level ground for a short distance, it rises to
18. Its situation is accurately adjusted to the brow of the hill ; and as there
is, in addition to the Miami on the west, deep ravines on the north, the south-
east, and south, it is a position of great strength. The angles in this wall,
both retreating and salient, are numerous, and generally acute. The openings
or gateways are not less than 80 ! They arc rarely at equal distances, and
are sometimes within two or three rods of one another. They are not
opposite to, or connected with any existing artificial objects or topogra|>hical
peculiarities, and present, therefore, a paradox of some difHc.ilty." These
works inclose almost 100 acres, and one of the state roads from Cincinnati to
Chillicothe pBvSses over its northern part.
On Paint Creek, 10 miles from Chillicothe, are also very extensive as well as
wonderful works. "The wall, which had been conducted along the verge of
the hill, is by estimation about a mile and a half in length. It was formed
entirely of undressed freestone, brought chiefly from the streams 250 feet
below, and laid u|) without mortar or cement of any sort. It is now, like all
the walls of a similar kiiui which have been discovered in the western country,
in a state of ruins. It exhibits the appearance of having been shaken down
by an earthquake, not a sir.^Ie stone being found upon another in such a man-
ner as to indicate that to have been its situation in the wall. In several places
there are openings, immediately of>posite which, inside, lie piles of stone."
Dr. Harris, in 1603, very accurately described the remains at Marietta, at
the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. "The largest square
FORT," he observes, " by some called the town, contains 40 acres, encompassed
by a wall of earth from 6 to 10 feet high, and from 25 to 36 in breadth at the
base. On each side arc three openings at equal distances, resembling 12 gate-
ways. The entrances at the middle are the largest, particulai'ly that on the
side next the Muskingum. From this outlet is a covert way, formed of two
parallel walls of earth. 231 feet distant from each other, measuring from ceu-
[Book 1.
to include
been trans-
ese works,
I no marks
nortar, and
n the plain,
ivhich is of
S feet high,
hill, out of
Ui 50 acres.
, and about
reat I ami
the o^ , ion
very strong
, the largest
e East Fork
liove Round
ast Fork, at
lie principal
I in, it differs
having nine
r exactly the
ng remains ;
n the Miami
h of Todd's
! at least 200
)idal figui-es,
avine. The
; but in one
ce, it rises to
and as there
1, the south-
n this wall,
'he openings
istances, and
hey are not
)pographical
ty." These
Incinnati to
re as well as
le verge of
was formed
ms 250 feet
now, like all
ern country,
laken down
iuch a nian-
veral places
stone."
Marietta, at
;eSt SQUARE
ncompassed
eadth at the
ing 12 gate-
that on the
med of two
g from cen-
Chap. IV.]
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
43
*i
i :
tre to cpntrc. The walls at the most «;l(!vated part on the inside are 21 foet in
height, (uid 42 in breadth at the base, but on the outside average only of five
}e<'t liii,'li. This ibrtns a pas-sage of about 3(J0 feet in length, lending by a
graduiil descent to tiie low grounds, where it, pr(»i)ably, at the time of its con-
struction, renchetl tlic margin of the river. Its walls conunence at tiO feet
froiii tlie rain}>arts of the tort, and increase in elevation jis the way tiesceiids
towanJH the river ; uiid tli;; bottom is crowned in the centre, in the manner of
a \voii-l()rmed turnpike road. Within the walls of the fort, at tli* north-west
corner, i.s an obh)iig, elevated square, 188 /t-et long, 132 broad, and nine feet
Jiigh ; level on the summit, and nearly perpendicular at the sides. At the
centre of each of tlu; sides thi; earth is jjrojected, forming gradual ascents to
the top, equally regular, and about six feet in width. Near the south wall is
another elevated scpiare, 150 feet by 120, and eight feet high. At tlie south-
east corner is the third elevated square, 108 by 54 feet, with ascents at the
end.s. At the south-east corner of the fort is a semicircular j)arapet, crowned
with a mound, which guards the opening in :ue wall. Towariis the south-east
is A SIMILAR FORT, Containing 20 acres, with a gateway in the centre of each
side and at each corner. These o])eiiiiig.'^ are defended with circular mounds."
There are also other works at Miu'iettii, but a mere description of them can-
not interest, as there is so rnuc' M' sameness about them. And to describe
nil that nay be nut with wouli" .*ill a volume of no moderate size: for Dr.
Harris says, " You cannot ride 20 miles in any direction without finding some
of the mounds, or vestiges of the rainj)arts." We shall, therefore, only notice
the most prominent.
Of fii*st importance are doubtless the works upon the Scioto. The most
magnificent is situated 26 miles south from Columbus, and consists of two
nearly exact figures, a circle and a square, which are contiguous to each other.
A town, having been l)nilt within the forn-^r, appropriately received the name
of Circleville from that circumstance. According to Mr. Jltwnler, who has
sur\'eyed these works with great exactness and attention, the circle was origi-
nally 1138i feet in diameter, from external parallel tangents, and the sijuare
was 907re originally projected in strict regard to them ; their variation not
being niore than that of the compass; but a single fact of this kind can
establish nothing, as mere accident may have given them such direction.
" What 8uri)ri8ed me," says my authority, " on measuring these forts, was the
exact manner in which they had laid down their circle and square ; so that
after every effort, by the most careiiil survey, to detect some error in their
measurement, we found that it was impossible."
V
R r'
mt*' '
P\ ' . '. • .;■
44
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
[Book !•
'i".
As it is iiot my design to waste time in conjectures upon the authors of
these antiquities, or the remo'sness of the period in wiiicli they were con-
structed, I will continue my account of them, after en observation upon a
single circumstance. I refer to the fact of the immense trees found growing
upon tlie mounds and other ancient worlds. Tlieir liaving existed for a thou-
sand years, or at least some of tiiem, can scarcely be questioned, when we
know from unerring data that trers have been cut upon them of the age of
near 500 years ; and from the vegetable mould out of which they s[)ring,
there ia every appearance of several generations of decayed trees of the same
kind; and no forest trees of the present day appear older than those upon the
very works under consideration.
There are in the Forks of Licking River, above Newark, in the county of
Licking, very remarkable remains of antiquity, said by many to be as nmcli
so as any in the west. Here, as at Circlevillc, the same singular fact is ob-
servable, respecting the openings into the forts ; the square ones having sev-
eral, but the round ones only one, with a single exceptioii.
Not far below Newark, on the south side of the Licking, are found numer-
ous wells or holes in the earth. "There are," says Mr. wJ/Hw^er, "at least a
thousand of them, many of which are now more than 20 feet deep." Though
called wells, my author says they were not dug for that purpose. They have
the appearance of being of the same ago as the momids, and were doubtless
made by the same people ; but for what purpose they could have been made,
few seem willing to hazard a conjecture.
Four or five miles to the north-west of Somerset, in tha county of Perry,
and southwardly from the works on the Licking, is a stone fort, inclosing
about 40 acres. Its shape is that of a heart, though bounded by straight lines.
In or near its centre is a circular stone mound, which rises, like a sugar-loaf,
from 12 to 15 feet. Near this large work is another small fort, whose walls
are of earth, inclosing but about half an acre. I give these the name of
forts, although Mr. Mwaier says he does not believe they were ever construct-
ed for defence.
There are curious remains on both sides of the Ohio, above and opposite
the mouth of the Scioto. Those on the north side, at Portsmouth, are the
most extensive, and those on the other side, directly opposite Alexandria, are
the most regular. They are not more remarkable than many already de-
scribed.
What the true height of these ruined works originally was, cannot be very
well ascertained, as it is almost impossible to know the rate of their diminu-
tion, even were the space of time given ; but there can l)e no doubt that most
of them are much diminished from the action of tempests which have swept
ov.r them for ages. That they were the works of a different 'ace from the
present Indians, has been pretty confidently asserted ; but as yet, proof is
entirely wanting to support such conclusion. In a few instances, some
European articles have been found deposited in or about some of the works;
but few persons of intelligence pronoimce them older than others of the
same kind belonging to the jjcriod of the French wars.
As it respects inscriptions upon ston be as much
ar fact is ob-
3 having sev-
bund numcr-
fr, " at least a
ip." Though
, They have
ere doubtless
e been made,
inty of Perry,
fort, inclosing
straight lines.
3 a sugar-loaf,
t, whose walls
the name of
ver construct-
3 and opposite
piouth, are the
lexaudria, are
already de-
annoc be very
their diniinu-
)ubt that most
1 have swept
ace from the
yet, proof is
1 stances, some
of the works;
others of the
has been said
if they were
itionably have
; but I would
he inhabitants
IS upon stone
iton, Mass., is
miles below
lis inscription
; but I doubt
it was done
f half-formed
Thewhim-
|ription, might
ie to give an
Chap. IV.]
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
45
A stone, once thought to contain some marvellous inscription, was deposit-
ed a few years since in the Antitpiarian Hall at Worcester, 3Iass. ; and it was
witli some surprise, that, on cxnmiiiiiig it, I found nothing i)ut a few lines of
(piartz uj)on one of its surfaces. The stone Was singular in no respect bVl
li 'fi
M
■' -.1
W'^k^
t|:i;!!P-
i'^'
46
feet.
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
[Book I.
Upon this the Mexicans had an iminenBU wooden temple when Cortcz
overnin tlieir einnire. A city now bears the name of Chohila, in Puebia,
GO uiiles east of Mexico. Yet it aj)peai-s from Dr. Beckys Gazetteer of Ilhiiois,
that there is standing l)etween Belleville and St. Louis, a mound GOO yards in
circuitif(!roiice at its base, and 1)0 feet in height. Mount Joliet, so named from
tlic Sieur Joliet, a Frenchman, who travelleir-
ater broke in
rancis," upon
tge, of Louis-
t of the wails
f these ruins
of the bricks,
ketches; an(i
ed straw, of
of two cities
from what he
composed of.
tuated one of
and 100 feet
Chap. IV.]
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
47
h
high." He speaks of " cities," but descrilies pyramids anlain. In 15 minutes.
1 found myself in the midst of a group of mounds, mosily of a circular phii|te,
and at a distance resend)ling enormous haystacks scattered through a meadow.
One of the largest which 1 ascended was about ^00 paces in circumference at
the bottom, the form nearly stpiare, though it had evidently undergone con-
siderable alteration from the washing of the rains. The to[) was level, with
an area sufhcient to contain several hundnid men."
When Mr. Bartram travelled into South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, be-
tween the years 1773 and 177G, he saw many interesting antiquities. At the
Cherokee town of Cowc;, on the Tennessee River, which then contained about
100 houses, he noticed that "The council or town-house was a large rotunda,
capable of acconniiodating several liundrcd people: it stands on the to|) of an
ancient artificial mount of earth, of about 20 feet ])er|)endicular, and the ro-
tunda on the top of it being about 30 feet more, gives the whole fabric an ele-
vation of about CO feet from the common surface of the ground. But," Mr
Badram contimies, "it may be proper to observe, that this mount, on which
the rotunda stands, is of a much ancientcr date than the building, and perhaps
was raised for another purpose. The Cherokees themselves are as iirnorant
as we are, by what people or for what purpose these aitificial bills were
raised; they have various stories concerni -r them, the best of which amount
to no more than mere conjecture, and leave us entirely in the dark ; but they
have u tradition common with the other nations of Indians, that they found
them in much the same condition as they now appear, when their forefathers
arrived from the west and possessed themselves of the country, after vanipiish-
ing the nations of red men who then inhabited it, who themselves foimd these
mounts when they took possession of the country, the former possessore de-
livering the same story concerning them."
Hence it is to be observed that the mounds in the south are not only the
same as those in the north, but Indian traditions concerning them are the
same also.
At Ottasse, an important town of the Cherokees, the same traveller saw a
most singular column. It stood adjacent to the town, in the centre of an ob-
long square, and was about 40 feet high, and only from two to three feet thick
at its base, and tajjcred gradually from the groinid to its top. What is very
remarkable about this pillar is that, notwithstanding it is formed of a single
stick of pine timber, the Indians or white traders could give no account for
what ])urpose it was erected; and to the inquiries which Mr. Bartram made
of the Indians concerning it, the same answer was given as when questioned
about the mounds; viz. that their ancestors found it there, and the i)eo)»le that
those ancestors dispossessed knew nothing of its origin. This is not singular
when reference is had to mounds of earth, but when the same account is
given concerning perishable material, the shade, at least,'of a suspicion is seen
lurking in the back ground. As another singulai- circumstance, it is observed
that no trees of the kind of which this column was made, (pin. palustris) were
to be found at that time nearer than 12 or 15 miles.
In the great council-houses at Ottasse were observed, upon the pillars an I
walls, various paintings and sculptures, supposed to be hieroglyphics of his-
torical legends, and political and sacerdotal affairs. " They are," obsei-ves
J\Ir. Bartram, " extremely picturesque or caricature, as men in a variety of at-
•..■>»
gx: ■,
.'■'■I
"■.-.■r-'l
^1^-^.^
■\ ■ .""
48
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
[Book 1-
h
titudcs, snmo ludicrous enough, others having the heac^ o<* ading or con-
m led to make
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OF THE
accounts from
lerica 7 or 800
ith to observe
of Welsh In-
hat mentioned
cJcenridge says
5, " at present,
at pains to as-
;sippi, and the
ana, the tribes
ive had inter-
1798, a young
company with
the ancient
een that river
m, is conclu-
stroke at the
lad made the
shall never-
mois, he pro-
and incoiTect
drawn, upon
ther respects
and eyes to-
nounds, forti-
olden time,"
the ancestors
INDIANS OF NOKTH AMERICA.
BOOK II.
S.-'fi;.
i;
w
BOOK II.
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY C7 THE NORTHERN
OR NEW ENGLAND INDIANS.
« >Ti« good to muie on nationi puied away
Forever from the land we call our own."
Y>MOTDBIf.
.i
CHAPTER I.
Conduct of the early voyagers towards the Indiana. — Some account of the individuals
Donacona — Agona — Tasquantum, or Sqnnnto — Dehamda — Skettiearrots — Aasaeu-
met — Manida^Pechmo — Monopet — Pekenimne — Sakaweston — Epanow — Manawet
— Wanape — Coneconam.
The first voyagers to a country were anxious to confirm the truth of their
accounts, and therefore took from their nowly-discovered lauds whatever
seemed best suited to that object. The inhabitants of America carried oflf
by Europeans were not, perhaps, in any instance, taken away by voyagers
merely for this object, but that they might, in time, learn from them tlic value
of the country from whence they took them. Besides thosi forcibly carried
away, there were many, doubtless, who went through overpersuasion, and
ignorance both of the distance and usage they should meet with Ju a land of
strangers ; which was not always as it should have been, and hen-^e such as
were ill used, if they ever returned to tlieir own country, were jvrepared to
be revenged on any strangers of tlie same color, that chanced to come among
them.
Ill the first voyage of Columbus to America, he took along with him, on his
return to Spain, a considerable number of Indians ; how many we uo not
know ; but several died on their passage, and seven were presented to the king.
Vinctrdt Yahez Pinzon, a captain under Columbus, kidnapped four natives,
whom he intended to sell in Spain for slaves ; but Columbus took them from
him, and restored them to their friends. In this first voyage to the islands of
the new world, the blood of several Indians was shed by the hostile arms of
the Spaniards.*
There were three natives presented to Henry VII. by Sebastian Cabot, in
1505J, which he had taken firom Novfoundland. What were their names, or
what became of them, we are not informed ; but from the notice of historians,
we learn that, when found, " they were clothed with the skins of beasts, and
lived on raw flesh ; but after two years, [residence in England,] were seen in
the king's court clothed like Englishmen, and could not be discerned from
• My present concern not beinff with the Indians of South America, I beg leave to refer the
reader to a little work lately published, entitled The Old Indian Chronicle, in which all
the prominent facts concerning the atrocities of the Spaniaj'ds towards them will be found
stated.
". I-
1- ■■■:..
CONDUCT OF EARLY VOYAGERS
[Book II.
Englishmen."* These were the first Indians ever seen in Eng1and.f They
were brought to the English court "m tlieir country hubit," and "spoke u
language ne\ er heard before out of their own country." J
Ihe Frerjch discovered the River St. Lawrence in 1508, and the captain
of the ship who made the discovery, carried several natives to Paris, which
were the iirst ever seen in France. What were their names, or even how
many they were in number, is not set down in tlie accounts of this voyage.
The name of this captain was Thomas Aubert.^
John Verazzini, in the service of France, in 1524, sailuiJ along tlie American
coast, and landed in several places. At one place, which we judge to be
some piut of the coast of Connecticut, "20 of his men landed, and went
about two leagues up into the country. The inhabitants fled l)efore them,
but they caught on old woman who had hid herself in tlie high grass, with a
young woman about 18 years of age. The old woman carried a child on her
back, and had, besides, two little boys with her. The young woman, too,
carried three children of her own sex. Seeing tliemselves discovei*ed, they
begim to shriek, and the old one gave them to understand, by signs, that the
men were fled to the woods. They oflTered her sometliing to eat, wlijch she
acce[)tod, but the maiden refused it. This girl, who was tall and well shaped,
they were desirous of taking along with them, but as she made a violent
outcry, they contented themselves with taking a boy away with tliem."||
The name of New France was given to North America in this voyage. In
another voyage here, Verazzini was killed, and, as some say, eaten by the
Indians.
I ow of the early voyagers were better than demi savages, for they would
retaliate « >nnthe Indians as though they had been on equal footing with them,
in resi)ect to their own ideas of justice. When Capt. Hudson discovered and
sailed up the river which now bears his name, the most flagrant uijustice was
committed on the Indians by some of his men. To set that affair in a clear
light before the reader, we will give the following passages from le journal of
Robart Jiut, one of the voyage.
I(j09, Sept. 6, Our master sent John Caiman with four men to sound the
river, four leagues distant, which they did, but in their return to the ship, they
were set upon by Indians in two canoes, to the nimiber of 26 ; in which aflkir
John Colman was killed by an arrow shot into his throat, and twt) others were
wounded. The next day Colman was buried on a point of land which to this
day hears his name.
What oflence, if any, was given to the Indians to provoke this attack from
tliem, can never be discovered; but from the course of proceedings oi' Hudson^s
men, there can be but little doubt of oftence of some kind on their part.
Sept. 8. The people ■ came on board us, and brought tobacco and Indian
wheat, to exchange for knives and beads, and offered us no violence. So we,
fitting up our boat, did mark them, to see if they would make any show of the
death of our man, but they did not.
Sept. 9. In the morning two great canoes came on board full of men ; one
with bows and arrows, and the other m show of buying knives to betray us ;
bijt we perceived their intention. We took two of them, to have Icept them,
and put red coats on them, and would not suffer the others to come near us,
and soon artor the canoes leave tliern. Immediately two other natives came
on board us ; one we took, and let the other go, but he soon escaped by jump-
m^ overboard.
* Rapin's Hist. England, i. C85. ed. fol.
t Tills is upon the autliority of Berkely. Instead o.' England, however, lie says Europe ;
but, by sayingf llie six, wliicli Columhis had before taken from Si. Salvador, made their
escape, lie siiows l:is supernc'-' '...KwLnlf^e of those affairs. Hear Herrera :—
" En siiitte de cda, [that is, ojier Columbus had replied to the king's letter aboiit a second
voyage,] it [Columhis] partit pour alter h Barcelone auec sept Iiuliens, parce que les autres
estoient marts en chemin. II fit porter aueqite luy aes perroquets verds, et de routes, et
d'autres choses ditrnes d'admiratict qui n'auoienl iamais esti vents en Espagne." Hist, des
Indes Occident, i. 102. Ed. 16C0, 3 tomes, 4to. Sec also Harris,Voyuges,i\.\b,ed,VlM,
2 V. fol. ; Robertson. America, i, 94. ed. 1T78, 4to.
i Berkcly's Naval Hist. BrU. 268. ed. 1756, fol. and Harris, Voyages, ii. 191.
$ Forster, 132. || Ibid. 434, 435.
[Book II.
land.t They
ind "spoko a
d the captain
Paris, which
or even how
f tliis voyage.
tlie American
J judge to be
2(1, and went
before them,
I grass, with a
a child on her
r woman, too,
jcovered, they
signs, tlmt the
eat, winch she
d well shaped,
lade a violent
with tliem."||
is voyage. In
, eaten by the
for they would
ing with them,
discovered and
It uyustice was
iifFair in a clear
1 le journal of
I to sound the
n the ship, they
in which affair
wo others were
d which to this
lis attack from
ngs of HudsaiCa
leir part.
i:co and Indian
ence. So we,
ny show of the
of men ; one
to betray us;
lave kept them,
come near us,
natives came
iaped by jump-
, \\e says Europe;
k'ador, made Iheir
ter ahofit a second
tree que les autres
, et de routes, et
tasne." Hist, iles
ef, ii. 15. ed. 1764.
191.
Chap. I.]
TOWARDS THE INDIANS.
6
Sept. 11. The ship had now anchored ut considerable distance up the
river. The people of the country ciiik! on boai'd, inakhig sliow of love, and
gave iiH tobacco and Indian wheat.
Sept. 12. Thi.s inoniing there came eight-and-twenty canoes full of men,
women and ciiildren to betray us; but we saw their intent, and suffered none
of liiein to come on liounl. They have great tobacco pipes of yellow
copjier, and pots of earth to dress their meat in.
That the Indians came "to betray then i," with their women and childr -n,
was a mistaken notion of our voyagei-s, but they were not acquauited with
the niannei-s of these; peoi)le. It is, and always has l)een their iniivermi
custom to send away or leave at home their fajuilies when they go out uj)on
tui expedition.
Sej)t. 15. Hudson sails 20 leagues farther up the river, "passing by high
moinitains," probalily the iiigh lands of West I'oint. This morning tin; two
captive savages got out of a jtort of the ship und made their escape.
Sept. 18. The master's mate went on shore with an old Indian, a sachem
of the country, who took him to his house and treated him kindly.
Oct. i. The ship, having fallen down the river "seven miles below the
mountain.s," conies to anchor. One man hi a canoe kept hanghig under the
stern of the ship, and would not be driv(-n off. lie soon contrivitd to climb
uj) by the rudder, and got into tiie cabin window, wliieh had been left open,
iiom which he stole a pillow, two shirts, and two biuuloleers. The mate shot
him in the breast and killed him. Many othei-s were in canoes about the ship,
who immediately fled, and some jumped overboard. A boat manned from
the ship pursued them, and coming up with one in the water, he laid hold of
the side of the lK)at, and endeavored to overset it ; at which one in the boat
cut off his hands with a sword, and he was drowned.
Oct. 2. They fall down seven leagues farther, and anchor again. Then, says
Jmt, came one of the savages that swam away from us at our going up the
river, with many othei-s, thinking to betray us, liut we suffered none of them
to enter our sliij). Whereupon two canoes, full of men with their bows and
aiTows, shot at us after our stern ; in recompense whereof we discharged six
muskets, and killed two or three of them. Then above an hundred of them
came to a point of land to shoot at us. There I shot a falcon at them, and
killed two of them; whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Yet they
manned off another canoe with nine or ten men, which came to meet us ; so I
shot at it also a falcon, and shot it through, and killed one of them. Then our
men, with their muskets, killed three or four more of them.
Thus are recorded the Indian events ci' Hudson's voyage in the River
Manna-haia, (as he leiu-ned its name,) hi 1009.
Donacona, a chief upon the River St. Croix, was met with, in 1535, by the
voyager James Cartier, who was well received and kindly treattul by him and
his people ; to repay which, Cartier, " partly l)y stratagem and partly by force,"
carried him to France, where he soon after died.* Notwithstanding, Cartier
was in the country five years after, where he found Agona, the successor of
Donacona, and exchanged jiresents with him, probably reconciling him by
some plausible account of the absence of Donacona.
Tasquantum, or Tisquantum, was one; of the five natives carried from the
coast of New England, in 1005, by Capt. George Waymouih, who had been
sent out to discover a north-west i)assag(\ This Indian was known aftei-wards
to the settlers of Plimouth, by whom he was generally caUed ^Squanto or
^Squantum, by abbreviation. The names of the other four wen; Manida,
Skettwarrocs, Dehamda and .'Issacumet.
Although Gorges does not say Dehamda was one brought over at this time,
it is evident that he was, because, so far as we can discover, there were no
other natives, at that time in England, but these five.
Sir Ferdinando Gorges says, H^aymotUh, "falling short of his course, [in
seeking the N. ^y. passage,] happened into a river on the coast of America,
called Pemmaquid^ from whence lie brought five of the natives." " And it so
pleased our -^reat God that" fVaymoidh^ on his return to England, "came uito
;;.f :>>^
'.•.'■•
m-:'lA
!•
* Forsler, 440— ♦»?
1
'>■■'■■
HA
i-
6
CONDUCT OF EARLY VOYAGERS
[BofK II.
the hnrbor of Plymouth, where I then commandetl." Three* of whose
natives, namely, Manida, Skettwarroes and Tasquantum, "I seized upon.
They were all of one nation, but of several parts, and several families. This
accident must be acknowledged the means, under God, of putting on foot
and giving life to all our plantations."
Paying great attention to these natives, he soon understood enough by them
about the country from whence they came to establish a belief tliat it was of
great value ; not perhaps making due allowance for its being their home. And
Sir Ferdinando adds, " After I had those peojile sometimes in my custody, I
observed in them an inclination to follow tlie example of the better sort ; and
in all their carriages, manifest shoAvs of great civility, far from the rudeness
of our common people. And the longer I conversed with them, the better
hope they ^ave me of those pai-ts where they did inhabit, as proper for oiu*
uses; especially when I found what goodly rivers, stately islands, and safe
harbors, those jiarts abounded with, being the special marks I leveled at as the
only want our nation met with in all their navigations along that Ciast. And
having kept them full three years, I made them able to set me down what
gi'eat rivers run up into the land, what men of note were seated on them,
wliat power they were of, how allied, what enemies they had," &c.
Thus having gained a knowledge of the country. Sir Ferdinando got ready
"a ship furnished with men and all necessaries" for a voyage to America, and
sent as her captain Mr. Henry Cfialloung,\ with whom he also sent two of his
Indians. The names of these wcn-e Assacumet and Manida. Chalons, having
been taken sick in the beginning of the voyage, altered liis course, and lost
some time in the West Indies. After being able to proceed northward, he
departed from Porto Rico, and was soon after taken by a Spanish fleet, and
carried into Spain, "where their ship and goods were confiscate, themselves
made prisoners, the voyage overthrown, and both my natives lost." One,
however, Assacumet, was afterwards recovered, if not the other. This voyage
of Chalons was in 1606.
It appears that the Lord Chief Justice Popham | had agreed to send a vessel
to the aid of Chalons, which was accordingly done before the news of Ids
being taken was known in England. For Sir Ferdinando Gorges says, " It
pleased the lord chief justice, according to his promise, to des|)atch Capt.
[Martin] Prin from Bristol, with hope to have found Cai)t. Challounge ;"
" but not hearing by any means what became of him, after he had made a
perfect discovciy of all those rivers and harbors," "brings with him the most
exact discovery of that coast that ever came to my hands since, and, indeed,
he was the best able to perform it of any I met withal to this present, [time,]
which, with his relation of the country, wrought such an impression in the
lord chief justice, and us all that were his associates, that (notwilhstanding our
first disaster) we set up our resolutions to follow it with effect."
Dehamda and Skettwarroes were »vith Prin§ in this voyage, and were, with-
out doubt, his most efficient aids in surveying the coast. It appears from
Gorges, tliat Dehamda was sent by the chief jus'ice, who we suppose had
considered him his property,|| and Skettwarroes by himself. They returned
again to England with Prin.
*It seems, tromthis pari of his narralivc, thai he had but three of iheiii, but, from subsequent
passages, it appears lie hnd ihoiii ail. See also America painted in Iht Life.
t Challoiis, by some, (ior^cs has him, sometimes, Chalowii.t, Clialon, itc.
I The same who presided at llie trial of Sir IV. Ralegh and his assoriales, in 1603. See
Prince's Worthies of Devon, (172, (i73. Fuller, in his Worthies of England, ii. 284, say. ,
"Travelers owed their safely to ihis judge's severity many years after his death, which
happened Arno Domini Iti**," li .ing, no doubt, he had much enlightened his reader by
definitely staling tliat Sir .lohnPopkam died some lime within a hundred years. The severity
referred to has reference to his importuning King Jatne.i not to pardon so many robbers and
thieves, which, he said, tended to render the judges contemptible, and " which made him
more sparing afterward."
§ (iorges, one of the main springs of these transactions, who wrote the account we give,
makes no mention of any other captain accompanying him ; yet Dr. Holmes's authorities.
Annals, i. Vir), led him to record 1'iiornas llanam as the performer of this voyage. And a
writer of 1(J'22 says, Hanam, or, as he calls him, Ilaman, went commander, and Prinne
master. See 2 Col. Mass. Hist. Soc. ix. 3. This agrees with tl
younger.
II He had probably been given to him by Sir Ferdirumdo,
the account of Gorge* the
[BofK II.
of whose
zed ui)on.
lies. This
ig on foot
t1i by them
It it was of
lome. Aud
• custody, I
r sort ; and
le rudeness
, the l)etter
per for our
Is, and safe
icd at as the
:oast. And
doAVu wliat
id ou them,
io got ready
lUierica, and
It two of his
dons, having
irse, and lost
ortliward, he
sh fleet, and
}, themselves
lost." One,
This voyage
send a vessel
news of liis
res says, "It
spatch Capt.
Challounge ;"
had made a
him the most
and, indeed,
[escnt, [time,]
■ssion in the
Istanding our
were, with-
ippears from
[suppose had
hey returned
Chap I-l
TOWARDS THE INDIANS.
lioin subsequent
in lf)03. See
Id, ii. 284, say. ,
|is death, which
his reader by
Tlie severity
Inv robbers and
llueh made him
[count we ^ve,
lei's authorities,
loyagc. And a
|er, and Pn'nne
. of Gorgt* the
next year, 1607, these two natives piloted the first New England colony
nioutii of Sagadahock River, since the Kennebeck. They left England
The
to the nioutl
30 May, and did not arrive here until 8 August tbllowiiig. " As soon as the
nresidt'iit had taken notice of the place, and given order for landing the
provisions, he despatched away Captain Gilbert, with Skitwarres his guide,
for the thorough discovery of tlie rivers and habitations of the natives, by
whom he Wiis brought to several of theui, where he found civil entertaiiunent,
and kind respects, far from brutish or savage natures, so its they suddenly
b(!canje familiar friends, especially by the means of Dekxtrnda and Skilwarrcrs.^^
" So as the president was earnestly intreated by Sasstnoiv, Meremet, and othei-s,
the principal Sagamores, (as they call their great lords,) to go to tiie Basiiabas,
who it seems was their king." They were prevented, however, by advei-scj
weather, from that journey, and thus the promise to do so was unintentionally
broken, "nmch to the grief of those Sugamores that were to attend him. The
Bashebas, notwithstanduig, hearuig of hiri misfortune, sent his own son to visit
him, and to beat a trade widi him for furs,"
Several sad and melancholy accidents conspired to put an end to this first
colony of New England. The first was the loss of their store-house, contain-
ing most of their supplies, by fire, in the whiter following, and anodier was the
death of Lord Popham. It consisted of 100 men, and its beginning was
auspicious ; but these calamities, together with the death of their president,
broke down their resolutions. So many discouragements, notwithstanduig a
ship with supplies had arrived, determined them to abandon the country,
which they did in the spring.* What became of Ihhamda and Skettwarroes
there is no mention, but they probably remained in the counti7 with their
friends, unless the passage which we shall hereafter extract, be construetl to
mean differeutly.f
To return to ISsquantum. There 's some disagreement in the narratives of
the coteinporary writers in respect to this chief, which shows, either that some
of them are in error, or that there were two of the same name — one carried
away by Waymouth, and the other by Hunt. From a critical examination of
the accounts, it is believed there was but one, and that he was carried away
by Waymouih^ as Sir Ferdinando Gorges relates, whose account we have given
above.J It is impossible tiiat Sir Ferdinando should have been mistaken in
the names of those he received from Waymouth, The names of those carried
off by HutU, are not given, or but (aw of them, nor were they kidnapped until
nine years after WaymoittlCs voyage. It is, therefore, jiossible that Squantum^
having returned home from the service of Gorges, went agahi to England
with some other person, or perhaps even with Hunt. But we are inclined to
think that there was but one of the nmne, and his beuig carried away an error
of inadvertence.
Patuxet, afterward called Plirnouth, was tlio place of residence of Sqtiantum,
who, it is said, was the only person that escaped the great plague of which
we shall particularly speak in the life of Massasoit ; where, at the same time,
we shall take up agahi the life of Sqiiantuin, whose history is so ultimately
connected with it.
It was in 1011 that Captain Kdivard Harloiv§ was sent "to discover an lie
sui)pos(!d about Cape Cod," who " fiilling with Monagigan, they found onely
Cape Cod no He but the niaine ; then; [at Moiihigon Island] they detained
three Saluages aboord them, called Pevlimo, Monopet and Pekenimnc, but
Pechmo leajit ouerboard, and got away ; and not long after, with his consorts,
cut their Boat from their sterne, got her on shore, and so filled her with stmd
and guarded her with bowes and arrowes, the l^nglisli lost lier."||
This exploit of Pechmo is as truly brave as it was daring. To have got
*Th(\v had " sealed tiicmsclves in a peniiisiihi, wliicli is at the mouth of tliis river, [Sagada-
hock.] where ihev built a Ibrtress to deteiid ihciiisolves from tiieir enemies, which lliey named
St. (reorire." America painted to the Life, by Feid. (iorges, Esq. p. 19.
t See life Massasoit.
i It is plain, from Prince, Chron. IM, that liis authors had confounded the names of tJicse
Indians one wilii another.
iiSir Ferd. Gorires is probably wrong in calling him Henry Harley.
Capt. Smith's Gen. Hist. N. Eng.
>,;tt^
:■ .■*•.;. ,"1
P;.:V
',11
■i.;il
n ;l
III
!■ 1X
\ ..
Wii-
(■.*■, 1-
6
HUNT'S VOYAGE,
[Book II.
.indcr the stern of a sliip, in the face of armed men, and at tlie eaiiie time to
have succeeded in his design of cutting away and carrying oft' their boat, was
iu act as bold and daring, to say the least, as that performed in the harbor of
Tripoli by our countryman Decatur.
from Monhigon Harlow, proceeding southward, fell in with an island
called then by the Indians JVohono. From this place " they tooke SakawcS'
ton, that after he liad lived many years in England, went a soldier to the wars
ol" hohemia."* Whether he ever returned we are not told. From this
island they proceeded to Capawick, since called Capoge, [Martha's Vineyard.]
Here "they tooke CoKeconam and Eptnow," and "so, with fiue Saluages, they
returned for England."
Epcnow, or, as some wrote, Epanow, seems to have been much such a
character as Pechmo — artful, cunning, bold and daring. Sir Ferdinando Gorges
is evidently eiToneous in part of his statement about this native, ui as far as it
relates to his having been brouglit away by Hunt. For Harlovi's voyage was
in 1611, and Epanow was sent over to Cape Cod with Captam Hobgon, iu
1614, some months before Hunt left.
As it is peculiarly gratifying to the writer to hear such old venerable writers
as Smith, Gorges, &c. spcuk, the reader perhaj)B would not pardon him were
he to withhold what the ii.tiniatc actipiaiutunce of the interesting Epanow sayg
of him. Hear, then, Sir Ferdinando : —
" While I was laboring by what means 1 might best continue life in my
languishing hopes, there conies one Henry Harley\ unto me, bringing with him
a native of the Island of Capawick, a place s(;ated to the southward of Cape
Cod, whose name avus Epenewe, a person of goodly stature, strong and well
proportioned. This man was taken upon the main, [by force,] with some 29J
others by a ship of London that endeavored to sell thein for slaves in Spaine,
but being understood that they were Americans, and being found to be unapt
for their uses, they would not meddle with them, this behig one of them they
refused, wherein tlipy exprest more worth than those that brought them to the
market, who could not but known that our nation was at that time in travel for
setling of Christian colonies upon that continent, it being an act much tendine
to our prejudice, when we came into that part of the countries, ae it shall
further appear. How Capt. Harley came to be possessed of this savage, I
know not, but I understood by others how he had been shown in Lonuon for
a wonder. It is true ( as I have said) he was a goodly man, of a brave aspect,
stout and sober in his demeanor, and had learned so nmch English as to bid
those that wondered at him, Welcome, welcome ; this being the last and best
use they could make of him, tliat was now grown out of the people's wonder.
The captain, falling further into his familiarity, found him to be of acquaintance
and friendship with those subject to the Baslmba, whom the captain well knew,
being himself one of the p'antation, sent over by the lord chief justice,
[Popham,] and by that means understood much of his language, found out
the place of his birth," &c,
Belore proceeding with the history of Epanow, the account of Capt. Thomas
Hunfs voynge should be related ; because it is said that it was chiefly owing
to his perfidy that the Indians of New England were become so hostile to the
voyagers. Nevertheless, it is plain, that (us we have already saidj Hunt did
not commit his depredations until after Epanow had escaperl out ot the hands
of the English. Capt. John Smith was ni company with Hunt, and we will
hear him relate the whole transaction. After stating that they arrived at Mon-
higon in April, 1614,§ spent a long tinii in trying to catch whales without
success ; and as "for gold, it was rather \\w n'aster's device to get a voyage,
that projected it;" that for trifles they got ^'near 11000 beaver skins, 100
* Capt. Smith's Gen. Hist. N. Enoard, who were, for the
number, as good as our nation did afford. And thus were my hopes of that
particular [voyage] made void and frustrate."
From the whole of this narration it is eviilent that Epunoio was forcibly
retained, if not forcibly carried off, by the English. And some relate^ tliut li«j
attacked Capt. Dermer and his men, supjiosing they had come to seize and
carry him back to England. It is more probable, we think, that he meant
to be revenged for his late captivity, and, according to real Indian custom,
resolved that the first whites should atone for it, cither Avith their life or liberty.
Gorges does not tell us what his brave " musquetteers " did when Epanow
escaped, but from other sources we learn tlmt they fired upon his liberators,
killing and wounding some, but how many, they could onFy conjecture. Hut
there is no room for conjecture about the damage sustained on the part of the
ship's crew, for it is distinctly stated that when they received the "shower of
arrows," Capt. Hobson and many of his men were woundetl.§ And Snnth\\
says, "So well he had contrived his businesse, as many reported he intended
to have surprised the ship ; but seeing it could not be effected to his liking,
before them all he leaped ouer boord."
We next meet with Epanow in 1619. Capt. Tliomas Dormery or Dermer, in
the employ of Sir F. Gorges, met with him at Capoge, the place where, five
years before, he made his escajje from Capl. Hobson, Gorges writes, " This
savage, s|)caking some English, laughed at his owne escape, and rejKjrtcd the
story of it. Mr. Dormer told him he came from me, and was one of my ser-
vants, and that I was much grieved he had been so ill used as to be forced to
steal away. This savage was so cunning, that, after he had questioned iiiiu
about me, and all he knew belonged unto me, conceived he vras oome on j)nr-
pose to betray him ; and [so] conspired with some of his fellows to take the
captain ; thereupon they laid hands upon lum. But he being a brave, stout
gentleman, drew his sword and freed himself, but not without 14 wounds.
This disaster forced him to make nil j)ossihlc haste \o Virginia to be cured of
his wounds. At the second return [he having jtist come from there] he liad
the misfortune to fall sick and die, of the hifirmity many of our nation are
subject unto at their first coming into those jmrts."
The ship's crew being at the same time on shore, a fight ensued, in which
some of Epanoiv^s company were slain. "This is the last time," says a writer
in the Historical Collections, "that the soil of Martha's Vineyard was stained
with human blood ; for from that day to the present [1807] no Indian has been
killed by a white man, nor white man by an Indiuti."
In relation to the fight which Denner and his men had with the Indians at
the Vineyard, Morion H relates that the English vfcnt on shore to trade with
them, when they were assaulted and all the men slain but one that kept the
* The secrets of the snndy isljind Capopjo, or the ncigliboriiij»- shores of Cnpe Cod, v
ihey are now, existed only in faith of such sanffiiiiio minds as Sir Fercfindridomul his ;>(
whatever
ii^iiiio minds as Sir y-Vrfffffcjw/oand his i'dherents.
t We need no better display of the craft ol Epanow, or proof of his ciuinin!'' in deep plots.
X Belhiap, Anicr. Biog. i. 362. ^ Smith's New England.
I Ibid. H N . Eiig. Memorial, 5S, 53.
^
4
i '•• '
[Book II.
nockt oul
charge to
the more
be cv«!r at
old on, if
T all cotne
iince with
they not
1 the fore-
n the two
coniins; to
;eriin slips
f the coni-
1(1 was no
ent such a
, tlMit they
rcre, for the
pes of that
as forcibly
itet tliat ho
» st'ize aiut
t he meant
ian custom,
e or liberty,
len Epanoia
[9 liberators,
cttire. But
I part of the
"shower of
And SmithW
he intended
) his liking,
r Dernier, in
Avhcrc, five
ites, "This
•ei)Orted the
of my ser-
be forced to
Istioned Iiim
rme on pur-
to take the
brave, stout
14 womids.
be cuhmI of
lure] lie iiad
nation are
I'd, in which
jays a writer
Iwas stained
Ian has been
|e Indians at
trade with
[at kept the
Pod, wlmlcvef
lliis i'dlicronts.
1 ill i\ev[y plots.
Chah. U]
FIRST SETTLEMENT AT PLIMOUTII.
hi
boat "But the [captain] himself got on board very sore wounded, and they
had cut off his head upon the cuddy of the boat, had not his man rescued him
with a sword, and so they got him away." Squanto was with Cupt. Dtrmer at
this time, as will be seen hi the life of Massasoit.
CHAPTER II.
drrical and first Proceedings of the English 7cho settle at Plimmtth — Thiir first
disroeery of Indians — Their first battle with them — Swmostt — Squtinto — iMASSAsoiT
— lyanough 'hjiinel — Cauneconiim — Caunbitant — Wittuwamkt — Pkksuot —
HoBOMOK — Tukuiniihamou — Obbutinewat — Na.nkpashamft — Hqimto- Sachem of
Maasachuselts — Wehcowet.
In 1G20 some determined white people, widi the most astonishing and
invincible firnmess, undertook to wander 3000 miles from tlie land of their
birth, and, in the most hay.iu'doua manner, to take up a permanent abode upon
the bordei-s of a lioundless wilderness, — a wilderness a^ great, or far greater,
for aught ti>ey knew, than the expmise of ocean which they were to pass.
IJut all dangej-s and difficulties, tliere to he encountered, weighed nothing in
comparison with the liberty of conscience which they might enjoy when
once J)eyond the control of their bigoted pei-secutors.
Tliese singular jK'ople had liberty from theu" oppressor, Jamet I., to go and
settle in this wilderness, and to possess themselves of some of the lauds ol'
the Indians, luovided they p Ad him or some of his friends for them. No one
seems then to have fpiestioi _ ' how tiiis king cmim by the right and title to
lands here, any more tiian how he came by his crown. They were less scru-
i)iilous, jMirhaiis, in tiiis matter, as the king told them, in a chaiter* which
le granted them, though not till after they had sailed for America, " that he
HAU BEEN Ci.'EN CERTAINLY TO KNOIVE, THAT WITHIN THEiiE LATE YEARES
THERE HATH, BY GoD^S VISITATION, RAIGNED A WONUERKULL PLAGUE, TO-
CETHER WITH MANY HORRIBLE SLAUGHTERS AND MURTHERS, COMMITTED
AMOUNGST THE SAUAGE3 AND BRUTISH PEOPLE THERE UEERTOFORE INHAB-
ITING, IN A MANNER TO THE UTTER DESTRUCTION, DEVASTACION AND DEPOF-
ULACION OF THAT WHOLE TEEHITOHYE, SO THAT THERE IS WOT LEFT, FOR
MANY LEAGUES TOGETHER IN A MANNER, ANY THAT DOE CLAIMS OR CHALLENGE
ANY KIND OF i.^TERESTs THEREiN."f Tliis was, doubtlcss, as Well kiiovvn, if
not better, to the Pilgrims (as they were aptly called) as to King James.
After numerous delays and disappointments, the I'ilgrims, to the number of
41, with their wives, \. children, and servants, sailed from Plimouth, in England,
in one small ship, called the I\Iayflovver, on Wednesday, the tJth of Sefrtember.
Their jjnssage wajs attended with great peril ; but they safely aiTived at CajMi
Cod, 9 Nov. following, without the loss of any of their number. They now
proceeded to make the necessai'y discoveries to seat themselves on the baiTen
roast. One of the first things they found necessary to do, to jireserve order
among themselves, was, to form a kind of constitution, or general outline o:"
government. Having done this, it was signed by the 41, two days after their
arrival, viz. 11 Nov. The stune day, 15 or IG of their number, coveretl with
armor, proceeded to the land, and commenced discoveries. The Indians did
not show themselves to the English until the loth, and then they would have
nothing to say to them. About 5 or G at first only ajmeared, who fied into the
woods as soon as tViey had discovered themselves. The Englishmen followed
tliein many miles, but could not overtake them.
First Bailie with the hnlians. — This was upon 8 Dec. IG20, and we will
give the account of it in the language o{ one that was an actor in it. " We
went rangmg up and down till ttie sun begun to draw low, and then we hasted
* This cliarter bears date 3 Nov. 1G20. Chalmers, Polit. Annals, 81.
t Hazard's Hist, ('ollertioiis, I, '05, wliore the entire charter may be seeu. It wm
afterwards railed Tmk OiiANi) Plimouth Pateht. Clialiners,iU.
J Tlier c were, iu all, 28 females.
■■■^^
■m
."■ .■•■VS
-. 4f
- ''■.'>:\
■-:,;>' >'i»
', \ X, • ■.'
'■!}■
... .'.',* f
12
FIRST BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS.— SAMOSET. (TiooK II.
.!■■■
i.i^'..^
■ f. j:
It;
out of tlie woods tliat we might come to our shallop. By that time we had
done, and our shallop como to us, it was within night [7 Dec], and we l)etook
U8 to our rest, after v/c ho i set our watch.
" Aliout midnight we lieord a great and hideous cry, and our sentinel called
.^nn! nnn! Ho we bestirred ourselves, and shot off a coupl*; of nuiskets, and
[the] noise ceased. We concluded that it was a company of wolves and foxes,
lor one [of our company] told us he had heanl such a ni>ise in Newfoundland.
About r> o'clock in the morning [8 Dec.] wo began to be stirring. U|M)n a
>iU(l(len W( heard a great and strange cry, which we knew to be the smne
voices, though they varied their notes. One of our company, l)eing abroad,
came running hi and cried, Thetf are men! Indians! ImliansH and withol
their arrows came flying amongst us. Our mea ran out with all six^ed to
recover their am 3. The ciy ot our enemies was dreadful, esjjecially when
our inen ran out to recover their iiru Their note was after this manner,
IVoacli ivoach ha ha hack icoach Oi-r luen were no sooner come to their arms,
but the enemy was ready to 't ti • ". There was a lusty man, and no
whit less valiavit, who was tho> ;' to j' their captain, stood lielimd a tree,
within half a musket shot of us, .>'! ther ' !••" his arrows fly at us. He stood
three shots of a musket. At lengin one oi .' iis lie said, taking full aim at
him, he gave an extraordinary cry, and away they went all."
It is not certain that any blood was shed in this battle ; but 'n was pretty
strongly presumed that the big captain of the Indians was Avoiinde«l. The
Indians having reti*eated, the conquerors were left in possession of the I)attle-
ground, and they proceeded to gather together the trophies of this their tirst
victory. They picked up 18 arrows, which they sent to their friends in Eng-
land by the return of the Mayflower. Some of these were curiously "headed
with brass, some with harts' horn, and others with eases' claws."*
It appeared afterwards that this attack was made by the Nauset Tmlians,
whoseen their permanent abode, which now they gladfy exchanged
for the sandy shore of the bay of Cape Cod.
Welcome, Englishmen ! Welcotne, Englishmen! are words so inseparably
associated witii the name of Samoset, that we can never hear the one without
the pleasing n'collection of the other. These were the first accents our pilgrim
fathers heanl, on the American strand, from any native. We mean intelligible
accents, for when they were attacked at Namskeket, on their first arrival, they
ht:nrd only the frightfid war-whoop.
The first time Indians were seen by the pilgrims, was upon 15th Nov. 1620.
" They espied 5 or G i)eople, with a dog, coming towards them, who were
savages; who, when they saw them, ran into the woods, and whistled the dog
after them." t And though the English ran towards them, when the Indians
l)erceived it " they ran away might and main," and the English " could not
come near them." Soon after this, Morion says the Indians "got all the
powaws in the country, who, for three days together, in a horid and devilish
mauer did curse and execrate them with their conjurations, which assembly
* Mourt's Relation, in 1 Mans. Hist. Col. VIII, 218, 219.
t Relation or Jonrnal of a Plantcdion settled at Pltjmouth, in N. E. usually cited Mourt's
Relation. It was, no (loiilu, wriucn by several of iho company, or the writer was assisted by
several. Mourt seems to have b»'en the publisher. I have no scruple but that the suegesliou
of Judge Divis is correct, viz. that Richard Gardner was the principal author. About the
early seiiloinciil of any country, there never was a more important docunienl. It was printed
in 1622, and is now reprinted in the Mass. Hist. Col., and we hope soon to see it printed in it
volume bv itself in a style worthy of its importance. As it stands in the Hist. Collections, it is
very difhcult to consult, a part of it being contained in one volume, and the lemaiuder iu
another.
[Book II.
ne we liad
we betook
;inel railed
jskcts, and
and foxes,
foundland.
',. U|M)n a
3 the sjune
ng abroad,
ind witlial
II siM*d to
iaily when
'\» manner,
their anus,
an, and no
lind a tree.
He stood
full ahn at
Chap. II]
THE PLAGUE.— NEW INTERVIEW.
18
iet Indians,
;his fight, is
jpened wos
t The First
and service they held in a dark and dismal swomp. Behold how Satan labor-
ed to hinder the gospel from coming into New England ! "
It was on Friday, IHtii March, KKiJ, that Samoset suddenly appeared at
Plimoutli, and, says Mourt, " He very boldly came all alone, and along the
houses, strait to the rendezvous, where we interce|)ted him, not sutlering him
to go in, OS imdoubtedly he woidd, out of Ids boklness." He was naked, "only
a leather about his waist, with a fringe about a span long." The weather wad
verj' cold, and this author adds, " VVe east a horseman's eoat about him.'" To
reward them for their hospitality, Samonet gave them whatever information
they desired. "He had, say they, learned some broken English amongst the
Englishmen that came to fish at Motdiiggon, and knew by name the most ot
the ca|»tains, commandei-s, and masters, that usually come [there]. He was a
mail free in spctch, so far as he could (xprc.ss bis mind, and of s«'emiy ciu'-
riage. We questioned him of many things ; he wits the first savage wt^ could
meet withal. He said lie was not of tlios?o witli tlicin, and stayed wjtli us till VVediHssdiiy uioniiug.
Then we SI lit liiui to tlioiu, to know ilic reu-sou they came not accordinfj to
tlicir words ; and we gave tiiin a liat, a pair ol'Htoekings and shoes, a t^hirl, and
a pier'e of plotli to tie ahout his waist."
Sdmosct returned affain, the next day, bringing with him Sqxutnto, mentioned
in the Inst ehajtter. lie was "the oidy native fsays Mourt's Relation) of
I'atiixet, where we now inhabit, who was one ot the 20 [or 24] eaptives, that
by Hunt were earried away, and had been in England, and dwelt in C'ornhill
with master John Slaine, a nKsreliant, and could speak a little l-nglish, with
three othei-s." They brought u few articles for trade, but the more important
news "that their great sagamore, Massasoyt, was hard by," whose introduc-
tion to them accordingly Ibllowed.
In June, Ui'il, a boy, Jolm liUlinglon, having been lost in the woods, several
English, with Sqxianto and Tokamuhainoii, undertook a voyage to Nausct in
search for him. Squanto was th(;ir interpreter; "the other, Tokamaliamon, a
special friend." The weather was liiir when they wt out, "but ere they had
been long at sea, tli(>re arose a storm of wind and rain, with much lightning
and tlnuKler, insomuch that a [water] spout arose not far irom them." How-
ever, they escaped danger, and lunivcd at night at Cumma(|uid. Here they
met with some Indians, who intbrmed them that the boy was at Nauset.
These Indians treated them with great kindness, inviting them on shore to eat
■with them.
Iijunoiiprh was sachem of this place, and these were bis men. " They brought
lis to tlieir saciiim (says jMourt) or governor, whom they call lyanough" who
then ai)peared about 20 years of ag((, " but very personable, gentle, court(;ous,
and fair-conditioned, indeed, not like a savage, save for his attire. His enter-
tainment was answerable to his parts, mid liis cheer plentiful and various."
Tims is portrayed the amiable character, Ii/anouf^h, by those who knew him.
We can add but little of him except his wretched fate. The severity executed
upon M'ittmvamet and Peksuot caused such consternation and dread of the
English among many, that they foreook their wonted habitations, fled into
8wam|)s, and lived in unhealthy places, in a state of starvation, un'il many died
with diseases which they bad thus contracted. Aujong such victims were
hfanough, Aspind, Coneconam, and many n)ore. Hence the English supposed
tliey were in Ptk^not^s conspiracy, as will be more j)articului ly related here-
after.
While the English were with lyanoufrli^ at Cummaquid, they relate that
there was an old woman, whom they judged to be no less than 100 years old,
ivbo came to see them, because she had never seen English; "yet (say they)
[she] could not behold us without breaking forth into great passion, weeping
and crying excessively." They inquired the reason of it, and were told that
she had three sons, " who, when master Hunt was in these parts, went aboard
his ship to trade with him, and he carried tlietn captives into Spain." Squanto
being ]»resent, who was carried away at the same time, was acquainted with
the circumstances, and thus the English became knowing to her distress, and
told her they were sorry, that Hunt was a bad man, but that all the other Eng-
lish were well flisposed, and would never injure her. They then gave her a
few trinkets, wliich consid(!rably ajjpeased her.
Our voyagers now ])roceed to Nauset, accompanied by lyanovgh and two
of his men. Jlspinet was the sachem of this place, to whom Squanto was sent,
Ji/anous;h and his men having gone before. Squajito having informed Aspintt
that his English friends hacl come for the boy, he "came (they relate) with a
great train, and brought the boy with him," one carrying him through the
water. This being at or near the place where an attack was made on the
English, on their firet arrival in the country, as has been related, caused them
to be on their guard at this time.
At this time, Aspinet had in his company "not less than an Inindred ;" half
of whom attended the boy to the boat, and the rest "stood aloof," with their
bows and arrows, looking on. Aspinet delivered up the boy in a formal man-
ner, "bebung with beads, and made peace with us ; we bcrcowing a knife on
him, and likewise on another, tliat first entertained the boy, and brought him
thither."
r •■■
[Rook U
eil himself
y iiiornuig.
icoriliiif; to
u Hhirt, und
, nu iitiniKHl
lation) of
iptivcH, that
in C'onihill
ri{;htih, with
e iiiiportaut
so iiitroiluc-
)0(lf>, soveral
o Nuiistt in
imahamon, a
>re tlicy had
:li liglitniiig
nil." IIow-
Ilerc they
s at Nauset.
sliorc to eat
'hey hrouplit
nough" who
e, courteous,
His eiiter-
iiid various."
J i\uew him.
rity executed
dread of the
)U8, fled into
i'l many died
victims were
ish supposed
related liere-
relate that
00 yeai-s old,
t (say they)
iiou, weeping
ere told that
went aboard
" Sqiutnto
lauited with
listross, and
e other Eng-
n gave her a
gh and two
7ito was sent,
rmed Aspintt
relate) with a
through the
made on the
caused them
ndred;" half
;" with their
formal man-
ng a knife on
brought him
Chap. II] lyANOUGII.—ASPINET.— DEATH OF SQUANTO.
lA
m.
I
■I
Ii/nnough diil not accoinfmny the expeilition in their return from Nauset, hut
went home hy land, and was ready to eiiK'rtain the company on their return.
Trom ''(intniry winuj and a want of fresh water, the voviigcru were obligcil to
touch affiiin at Cummaciuiarty that stole them," ^^or else he would rtverxfre it on thtm before
his departure, and so departed for the night, ^refusinf^ tohatsoever kiiulness they
offered." However, the next morning, ^spinet, attended by many of his men,
went to the English, "in a stately niaiuier," and restored all the "trifles;" for
the exposing of which the English deserved ten tunes as much reprehension
as the man for taking them.
Sqiuinto being the only p(;r8on that escaped the great sickness at Patuxet,
inquirers for an accoimt of that calamity will very reasonably expect to find it
in a history of his life. Wo therefore will relate all that is known of it, not
elsewliere to be noticed in our progniss. The extent of its ravages, as near an
we can judge, was from Narraganset Bay to Kennebeck, or [Hjrhaps Penob-
scot, and was sup|)osed to have commenced about 1617, and the length of its
duration seems to have been between two and three years, as it was nearly
abjited in 1619. The Indians gave a frightfid account of it, saying that they
died so fast " that the living were not able to bury the dead." When the Eng-
lish arrived in the coimtry, their bones were thick upon the ground in many
places. This they looked upon as a great providence, inasmuch as it had
destroyed " multitudes of the barbarous heathen to make way for the chosen
people of God."
" Some had expired in fipht,— the brands
Still rusted in their bony hands,—
In plague and famine some." — Campbell.
All wars and disostei's, in those days, were thought to be preceded by some
stinnge natural appearance, or, as appeared to them, unnatural appearance or
phenomenon ; hence the appearance of a comet, in 1618, was considered by
some the precursor of this pestilence.*
We will give here, from a curious work, f in the language of the author, on
interesting passage, relating to this melancholy period of the history of the
people of Masaasoit, in which he refers to Squanto. After relating the fate of
a French ship's crew among the Wampanoags, as extracted in the life of Mas-
aasoit, in continuation of the accoimt, he proceeds thus : " But contrary wise,
[the Indians having said "they were so many that God could not kill them,"
when one of the Frenchmen rebuked them for their "wickedness," telling
them God would destroy them,] in short time after, the hand of God fell
heavily upon them, with such a mortall stroake, that they died on lieaps, as
they lay in their houses, and the living, that were able to shift for themselves,
would runne away and let them dy, and let their carkases ly above the ground
*The year IfilS seems to have been very iruitful in comets, " as therein no less than four
were observed." /. Mather's Discourse concerninor Comets, 108. lloston, l!2mo. 1083.
There may be seen a curious passage concerning the comel of 1G18 in Rushwortli' s Hist.
Col. of that year.
fNew English Canaan, 23, by Thomas Morton, 4lo. Amsterdnm, K337.
[Book II.
[Tiuch for a
y returned
(• JfOVlTIICtP
muuik: uIho
t uiitl corn
ir piiiiiuce,
stuck of it,
'. Jhpinet
, until tlicy
1. All tliid
iving groat
f^reut wick-
it' not tho
1(1, as usual,
1 huppcning
It guuni, lio
vliicli wlien
til liiui, and
g the sanio
them before
indness they
of his men,
trifles;" for
epreheiision
i at Patuxet,
ect to find it
m of it, not
8, as near at)
laps Penob-
letigth of its
[ was nearly
[g that they
en the Eng-
nd in many
1 as it had
le chosen
ed by some
jearance or
nsidered by
author, an
story of the
the fate of
ife ofMas-
trary wise,
kill them,"
ess," telling
of God fell
)n heaps, as
themselves,
the ground
less than fniir
nmo. 1G83.
hwortli'i Hist.
CHAf. Ill
«(iUANTO— MASSASOIT.
ir
m
without huriiill. For in a place whnrn many inhnliif.l, there hath Imvm hut
one led alive to tell what hccaiiic of the rest ; tin; livinu litiii^^ [tu* it seems) nut
iilili' to iMirv the 'lead. They were leJl li)r erowes, kites, ami vrnniiie to pray
iiiMxi. And the lioties ami Hkiills, upon tlit^ si'verill places of tlicir haliitatioiis,
nia.le Hiicli a spectacle, nW'V my coiiimiiii? into those parts,* that, !is I travailed
ill that tinresl m-rc the Massaciiussits, it s/emed to me a nrw-loimd (iolirotha."
Sir t'cnlinitii'ln (i(ir!!e.i, as we iiave si-eii, wjis Wi II acipiaiiited with tli ■ coast
of New Kiifiiaiid. After his desiifii failed at Sagadaliock, he h'lls us tliat he
sent over a ship upon his own account, which was to leave a company imd. r
one /Vd.s.t to remain and trade in the coiiiifry. Thesi' were his own si-rvants,
and lie ordered "th(!iii to leave the ship ami ship's company, for to follow their
liiisiiirss ill the usual place, (for, he says, I kin'W they would not he drawn to
seek by any means,) hy these, and the help of those natives formerly sriit over,
I colli" to i>e truly iiiloriiied of so miicii as gave me assurance that in time I
slioiild want no undertakers, though as yet [ was forced to liire men to stay
there the winter quarter, at extreme rates, and not without danger, tor that t\).'
wart had consumed the Bashaiia, and the most of the great sagam'sics, with
such men of action as followed them, and tliose that remaiiuil were sore
nrtlicteil with the plague ; for that tin; country Wius in a maimer le'll void of
inhabitants. Notwithstanding, J'tnen, and the rest with him that lay in the
cabins with those pcojili; that died, some more, some less, mightily, (lilessed be
God for it) not one of them (wer felt tlu^ir Inwids to ache while they stayed
there." Here, although we are put in possession of several of tla; most impcn-
tant flicts, yet our venerable author is deficient in one of the main partieiilai-s —
I mean that of dates, Therelbre we giiin no further data as to the time or
coiitiniianee of this jilagiie among the Indian.s ; for Hir Fcrdinando adds to the
above, " and this course I held some years together, but nothing to my private
pkotit," &c.
In Capt. Smithes account of New England, puitlished in l()3l, he has a
passage about tho plague, which is much like that we have given above li-om
Morton. The ship cast away, he says, was a fishing vessel, and the man that
they kept a prisoner, on telling them he feared his (•ml would destroy them,
their king made him stand on the top of a lull, and collected his people about
it that the man might see how numerous tluy were. When tie had doni; this,
he demanded of the Frenchman whether iiis God, that he told so much about,
had so many men, and whether they couhl kill all those. On his assuring the
king that he could, they derided him as before. Soon after, the jilague earrie% ith great variation, as Woosamequin, Jlsuh-
mequin, Oosamequen, Osamekin, Ow)inmfqnin,Owsamequine,Ussameqtien, IVasam-
egin, &c. ; but the name by which he is f^enerally known in history, is that with
which we commence his life.§ Mr. Prince, in his Annals, says of that name,
* Mr. Morton first cnine over in 1()'2"2. He settled near Weymoutli. After great trouble
and losses I'roin those of a dilTerent religion, he was bitnished out of the eountry, and had his
property sequestered, but soon after returned. He died in York, Mc, IG'tfi. If it be pretended
that Morton liiul no relis^ion, we say, " Judge not." He professed to have.
t Mr. Rkhard Vines. Anfrica painted to the Life, by Ferd. Gorges, Esq. 4to. Lond. 1659.
X A great war among the Indians at this time is mentioned by most of the first writers, but
the particulars of it cannot be known. Il seems to have been between the Tarr-uines and
tribes to the west of Pascataqua.
tSome have derived the name of Massachusetts from this chief, but that conjecture is not
e heeded. If any man knew, we may be allowed to suppose that Roger Wiiliams did.
•^•/y
^.,<:'
V
|:
■'/■:
hii I
18
MASSASOIT.
[Book II.
^3^:.^
"the printPfl accoiitits generally spell him Massasoit ; Gov. Bradford writes
him Massnsoyt, and Massasoyet ; but I find the ancient peo|)l(', from their
fathers in Piiiuoiith colony, j)rorioimcc(l his name Ma-sns-so-it." Still we find
no inclination to cl)anf,'e a h^ttf^r in a name so venerahh;, and which has been so
long cstalilishcd; for if a writer sutler the spirit of innovation in nimseltj he
knows not where to stop, and we jironounce him no antiquani.
It has o(h'n hceii thought strange, that so mild a sachem '^.'V/ossasojY should
have; possi'ssf'd so great a country, and our wonder has hjen increased when
We consider, that Indian j)ossessions are generally "'**::.ined by prowess and
great personal courage. We know of none who could boast of such extensive
(iiiminioiis, where all were content47, the Nipmuks were rather uncertain about
tlitnr sachem, and probably belonged at one time to Massasoit, and at another
to the Nanagansets, or others, as circmnstances impelled. "The No|)nat
(Nipnet, or Ni|)muk) Indians having uoe sachem of their own are at liberty ;
part of them, by their own choice, doe appertaine to the Narraganset sachem,
and parte to the Mohegens." * And certainly, in IGtiO, those of Quabaog
belong :;d to Massasoit or Wassamegin, as he was then called (if he be the
same), as will be evident from facts, to be found in the life of Uncas. He
owned Cape Cod, and all that part of Mjissachusetts and Rhode Island between
Narraganset and Massachusetts bays; extending inland between Pawtuckot
and Charles rivers, a distance not satisfactorily ascertained, as was said before,
togetlier witii all the contiguous islands. It was filled with many tribes or
nations, and all lo(>king up to him, to sanction all their ex[)editions, and settle
alt their difliculties. And we may remark, further, with regard to the
Nipnudis, that at one time they were his tribiiiaries. And this seems the more
probable, for in Philip's war there was a constant intercourse between them,
and when any of his men made an escape, their course was directly into the
country of the Nipnmks. No such intercourse subsisted between the Nan-a-
gansets and either of these. But, on the contrary, when a messenger from the
Narragansets arrives! in the country of the Nipmuks, witli the heads of some
of the I'^nglish, to show that they had joined in the war, he was at first fired
upon, though afterwards, when two additional heads were brought, lie was
received with them.
Massasoit had several |)laces of residence, but the principal was Mount Hope,
or Pokanoket. The Eiiglish early gave it tiie name of Mount Hope, In it from
what ciiTumstance we have not lear»;;u. Some SL'ppose the words Mount Hope
corruptcid from the Indian wmus Mon-top,\ but with what reason we are not
informed. Since we have tlius early noticed the seat of the ancient chiefs, be-
fore i)iT)ceeding with the life of the first of the Wampanoags, we will give a
descrijition of it. It ap[)ears to the best tdvantage from the village of Fall
River, in tin; town of Troy, Massachusetts, from winch it is distant about four
miles. From this place, its top very much resembles the dome of the state-
He Icariicil from the Indian ihcmselves, "that the Ma^-i':hisetts were called so from the IJlue
Hills." Ill the vorabulary of Indian words, by Rev. John Cotton, tlie definition of Massa-
chusett is, " an hill in the form of an arrow's head."
* Records of tlio U. Col. in Ilazard, ii. 92.
\ Ahli'n's Collection of l^iiiaphs, iv. ()8.5. President Stiles, in his notes to the second
edition of Chuuch's Hist. I'lOLir's War, p. 7, spells it Mont-hanp ; but it is ot so in the
text of either edition. Moreover, wo have not boon able to discover that Mon-t^p is derived
from Inilian word or words, and do not hesitate to pronounce it a corruption of the two
£i'iglish words commonly used io uaiuiiig it.
■f
[Book II.
lord writes
irom tluMF
till wc find
(US b(M'ii so
uimsclf, he
tsoit t*lionl(l
used when
rowt'ps und
h extensive
frionds and
jro that we
luioii, in an
many trilx'S
1(!W. That
inaiuon is so
account of
lany nations
ans, are not
wevcr, iVom
ertain about
I at nnotlier
riie Nopnat
re at liberty ;
isct siichern,
of Quabaog
if he be the
' Uncas. lie
and between
1 Pawtuckot
3 said before,
any tribes or
ns, and settle
;gard to the
irns the more
[nween them,
:tly into the
( the Narra-
ger from the
•ads of some
at lii-st fired
|ught, he waa
Mount Hope,
kpo, I lit from
I Mouni Hope
In we are not
)it chiefs, be-
will give a
[llage of Fall
It about ibur
|of the state-
T from the Blue
llion of Mussa-
to the second
lis ol so in the
-«,/p is derived
lion of llifi two
Chap. II.]
MASSASOIT.
to
house in Boston, as seen from many places in the vicinity, at four or five miles'
distance. Its height by admeasurement is said to be aitout ^200 feet.* It is
vcrv t^teep on the side towards Pocassct, and its appcaranct! is very regular.
To its natural ajipearance a gentleman of Bristol has contributed to add
matiiially, l»y placing upon its summit a circuhu* sunnuer-house, and this is a
])riMcipai' reason why it so much resembles th Ma.ssiichusetts state-house.
Tliis mount, thcretbre, sinc(! some time previous to ld'^4, does not ai)p('ar as in
tiii~ days uf Mcuisasoit, and as it did to his early frince assert that Ca|)t, Smith named tlic;
country New England. VV(! will now hear Smith f on ti-.ls matter, " New
Engl.md is that part of America, in the Occjan sea, opposite to ..VoHrt Jllhion, in
the South Sea, discovered by the most memorable Sir fYancis Drake, in his
voyage about the world, I'u regard whereof, this is .stiled N(;w England."
Cii\)t, Smith, ill 1()]4, made a survey of the coiist of what is now New l^ig-
land, and because the country was alrennt ^
rgotten in 1(>02,
rn." Forster's
' more surpris-
[, and Aiisiiitch,
hiiard Drake's
[.1882. Queen
liese, or others,
tiness, some of
Iral Portngnesc
\a' to coast up
I, to see if there
nee inallenlive
jng both distin-
lly of the same
[cis, and hence
jelfiOO. fapt.
r any of ihem
Chap. Ill
MASS.\SOIT.
21
cliiisit who tliree years since escaped shipAvreck at the north-east of Cape
Cod."' . ,
Wr' liave mentioned his interview witli J'.fnssasoit, whom wc suppose was
one of tlie kings mentioned in tho Ictti-r, and (^uculequina was no doiil)t the
other.
In nn(4iier letter, Mr. Dermer says tlio Indians woidd have killed hitii at
NaiiKisket, had not Squnnto entreated hard tor him. " Their desire of revenge
(lie addn) was oceasioiicil hy an Kiiglisiimjin, who, having many of them on
hoani, made great slaughter of them with their murderers and small shot, when
(as thfV say) they otli'red no injury on their parts."
IMr. Thomns Morton* the author wlir) inaiU; himself so merry at the exi)ense
of the Pilgrnns of Plimoiith, has the following passage eoncerning these
Frenchmen: — "It fortuned some f(!W ycares hefore tin; Knglish came to
inhal)it at new Plimnioiith in New England, that, tipon soiih^ distast given in
the .'\Iassaehiissets Bay, hy Frenchmen, then trading there with the natives for
heaver, they .set upon the men, at stieji advantage, tjiat they killed manie of
them, litn'ned their shipj), then riding at anchor hy an island there, now called
Peil(lork\'i Island, in memf)ry of Leonard Peddork that landed tht>rhich he drank, and gave us to drink.f His face was painted with a sad red
* lUmirl's narrat' . js here rontinued from the last extrari. in p. iO, without any omission.
1 1 presume Ihat i.j " drinkintf lobaoco," smoking is meant. The pilpjrims were prol)al)ly
not acquaintoit with the practice of smokinf;^ mi all, and hence this sort of misnomer i.s not
sriin;;e, th'ugh it may be thought a lilt ■ odfl. How long srn,okinal>iy
■)f misnomer is nol
Til hy the name r,f
|piimoulh records
I \ip an order con-
Ihe country have a
Ler, u«ed to term
C ;AP. 11]
MASSASOIT.
03
I
ii»' murrey, and oiled both head and face, th:t he looked (jreasily. AH his
followers likewise were, in their faces, in part or in whoie, painted, some black,
jome red, some yellow, and some white ; some with crosses and other imtic
works ; some had skins on them, and some naked ; all strong, tall men in ap-
pearance. The king had in his Inisom, hangmg in a string, a great long knife.
lie marvelled much at our trumpet, and some of his men wouiil sound it a.s
well as they could. Samoset and SquatUo stayed all night with us." MassasoU
ret'ied into the woods, about half a mil'^ from the Englisli, and there encamped
at night with his men, women and children. Thus ended March 2iJd, Ki'il.
Diu-ing his first visit to the English, lie expressed great signs of fear, and
«(uriiig the treaty could not refrain from trembling.* Thus it is easy to see
low much hand he had in making it, but tomild that there had never been toorse
ones made.
It was agreed that some of his peojjle should come and plant near by, in a
few days, and live there all summer. "That night we kept good watch, but
there was no appearance of danger. The next morning divers of their people
eain«! over to us, hoping to get some victuals, as we imagined. Some of them
told us th<" king would have some of us come to see him. Capt. Standish and
Isaac Alderton went venterously, who were welcomed of him after their man-
ner. He gave them three or four ground nuts and some tobacco. VVe cannot
yet conceive, (they continue,) but tliat he is willing to have peace with us ; for
they have seen our people sometimes alone two or three in the woods at work
and fowling, when as they oft'ered them no harm, as they might easily have
done ; and especially liecause he hath a potent advei-sary, the Narrohigansets,t
that are at war with him, against whom he tiiinks we may be some strength to
him ; for our pieces are terrible unto them. This mornhig they stayed till 10
or 11 of the clock; and our govc^rnor bid them send tlie king's kettle, and filled
it witii peas, which pleased them well ; and so they went their way." Thus
ended the first visit of MassasoU to the pilgrims. We should here note that he
ever aft(!r treated the English with kindness, and the peace now concluded
was undisniibed for nearly 40 years. Not that any writing or articles of a
treaty, of which he never had any adequate idea, was the cause of his friendly
behavior, but it was the natm*al goodness of his heart.
The pilgrims report, that at this titiu; he wiis at war with the Narragansets.
But if this were the case, it could have been nothing more than some small
skirmishing.
Meanwhile Squanto and Samx>set remained with the English, instructing them
how to live in their country ; equal in all respects to Robinson Crusoe's man
tyida;/, and had De Foe lived in that age; he might iiave made as good a story
from their history as he did from that of Alexander Selkirk. — "Squanto went to
fish [a day or two after Massasoit left] for eels. At night he came home with
as many as he could lift in one baud, whi('li our people were glad of. They
were fat and sweet. He trod them out with his feet, and so caught them with
his hands, without any other instrument."
It drinking tobacco. Hist. Plim. 34. This we infer was witliin Ihe recollection of tiie au-
thor.
The notion that tobacco is so called from Ihe islnml Tobago, is erroneously entertained by
many. When Sir Fraitcis Drake discovered the country to the north of California, in 1579,
the writer of Ihe account of his voyage says, the Indians presented the admiral with a small
basket made of rushf s, filled with an herb they called tabah. From another passage it
appears, that the Indians of that region, like those of New England, had bags in which tobacco
was carried. Bumet/s Voyages, I. 344-7.
* And, with this fact before him, the author of " Talex of the Indians ' says, the treaty was
made with deliberation and cheerfulness on the part of Afassasoit !
t Few Indian names have been spell more w.iys than this. From the nature of the Indian
language, it is evident that no r should be used in it. Nahigonsik and Nantigansick, R.
Williams. — Nechegansitt, Gookin. — Nanlyggausiks, Caltendcr. — Nanohigganset, Winsloto's
Good News from N. Eng. — Nanhyganset, Jiidire Johnson's Life of Gen. Gnrne. — These are
but few of the pernmlations without the r, and thosi! with it are still more numerous.
The meaning of the name is still uncertain. Madam Knight, in her Journal, 22 and 23,
says, at a place where she happened t I'lt >!> for a night in that country, she heard some of
ihe " town toners" disputing aboii* : ,. ^iii of the word Narragan.tet . "Oneso'd it was so
named by Indians. I -cause there ,i-w .k bher .nere of a prodigious height and bigness, who
quoted an Indian o{ •.;« barbarous . ^ame : r '•■" author that she could nol write it." Another
said it meant a celebrated spring, -i ioh wr very cold in summer, and " as * H as could be
imagined in ihe w'inler."
i'i
•>•■•>, r succeeded in allaying his wmth for that time. Soon
after, he sent a meSvS<3nger to entreat the governor to consent to his being put to
death ; the govenior said he deserved death, but as In; knew not how to get
along without him in his intercourse with the Indians, he would spare lum.
Determined in his pur|)ose, MassMoit soon sent the same messenger again,
accompanied by many otliers, who offered many beaver skins that TisqtiarUum
might be giver, up to thrni. They demanded him in ihe name of Massasoit,
as being one of his subjects, whom, (says fFinsluio,) by our first articles of
peace, we could not retain. But out of respect to the English, they would not
seize him without their consent. Masscvioit had sent his own knife to be used
in cutting off" his head and hands, which were to l)e brought to him.
Meantime Squanto came and delivered himse'f up to the governor, charging
Hobomok with his overthrow, jmd telling him to deliver him or not to the mes-
sengers of MassasoU, as he thought fit. It seems from the narrative that, as
the governor was about to do it, they grew impatient at the delay, and went
oflf in a rage. The delay was occasioned by tlie appearance of a boat in the
harbor, which the govenior protended might be that of an enemy, as there had
iKien a rumor that the French had meditated breaking up the settlement of the
English in this region. This, however, was doubtless only a pretence, and
employed to wtuv out the ])atience of his unwelcome visitors. Hence that
MajsasoU should for some time after "seem to frown" on the English, as they
«;omplaip, is certainly no wonder.
The next summer, in .Tune or July, MassasoU was visited by several of the
English, among whom was Mr. Edivard Winslow, Mr. Stephen Hopkins, and
Sqvanto as their interpreter. Their object was to find out his place of resi-
dence, in casi! they should have to call upon him for a?=istance ; to keep good
the friendly correspondence commenced at Plimouth ; und especially to cause
him to prevent his n a from hanging about them, and living upon them,
which was then considt red very burd<'nsome, as they had bcgim to grow short
of provisions. That their visit itiight be acceptai)le, they took along, for a
present, a trooper's red coat, with some lace upon it, and a copper chain ; with
these MassasoU was exceedingly well pleased. The chain, they told him, he
must send as a signal, when any of his men wished to visit them, so that they
might not be imposed upon by strangera.
When the English arri\e.; at Pokanoket, MassasoU was absent, but was
immediately scut for. Being informed that he was coming, the English began
to prepare to shoot off their guns ; this so frightened the women and chiklren,
that they ran away, and would not return until the interpreter assured them
that they need not fear; "iid wliea MassasoU arrived, they saluted him by a
discharge, at which ! e was very much elated : and "who, after their manner,
(says one of the con",)any,) kindly w.'lcomed us, and took us into his house,
and set us down 'ly hhii, where, having delivered our message and presents,
and having pus ?! ) coat 'm iii' back, and the chain about his neck, he was not
a little proud U. beho'd. hiri^olf, and his men also, to see their king so bravely
attired."* A uv\v tre;iiy W(u> iow held with him, and he very good-naturedly
assented to all that was dc^'rcd, He then made a speech to his men, many of
them behig assembled to s^e tii- PiUglisli, which, as near as they could learn its
meaning, acquainted ticrn vitu what coui-se they might pui-sue in regard to
the English. Among other things, he s:iid, "Jim I not MassasoU, commander
of the country about us 9 Is not such and such places mine, and the people of
them ? Thtu shall take ih. r skins to the Emtlish. This his people applauded.
In his speccii, "he named at least thirty places," over which he had control.
"This bei7.g ended, he li^^htcd tobacco for us, and fell to discoursing of Eng-
land and oi' the king's majestj-, marvelling that he should live without a wife."
He seems to have been embittered against the French, and wished " us not to
Buffer them to come to Narraganset, for it was King James's country, and he
* Mourt's Relation, in Cut. Mass. Hist. Soc,
II
Chap. II
was Kin
lisli, and
bed, if s
and a th
wife, the
*vant of
lodging t
"The
iuid man
skins an
chance
shoot wii
desired f
wondere(
Tiie n
boiled th
small, as
it was, it
English I
"Very
longer,
either be
ages' barb
withhi (1(1
being the
not he abl
ing, befon
grieved lu
Tisquayitu
another, cj
and after \
This fui
kingdom c
against Ca
In 1G23,
was very (
enior desp
Hobbomok ;
London, w
my consort
Pokanoket,
"When w^
men, as v/c
way for us.
such a belli
to cjuxe hiir
his arms, le
of tiu.'ir cha
liiiii. lla\ i
was come,
are iiimlo up v
for llii'lr cover
t \i'ifi.tl(iw'i
feli>l)rato(l Joh
ill an atlcmpt
I)arli;iiiii'iit. .^
It wmild l)e
must acknowli
the names of
sotiiciitties see
Hnmdni's bioj
tbat lie was
[Book II
lian politics,
cians of our
It of Massa-
n, Massasoit
ist Tisquan-
time. Soon
being put to
how to get
pare him.
cnger again,
Tisquardum
)f Massasoit,
il articles of
jy would not
fe to be used
nor, charging
It to the iiies-
■ative that, as
ay, and went
a boat in the
, as there had
lenient of the
pretence, and
Hence that
iglish, as they
several of the
Hopkins, and
place of resi-
to keep good
cially to cause
y upon them,
to grow short
along, for a
r chain ; with
told him, he
they
Chap, II]
MASSASOIT.
25
[1, so that
[sent, but was
['English began
and children,
assured them
ited him by a
1 their manner,
Into his house,
and presents,
•k, he was not
[ing so bravely
rood-naturedly
[men, many of
could learn its
le in regard to
nt, commander
the people of
nle applauded,
[e had control,
irsing of Eng-
itliout a wife."
lied " us not to
)untry, and he
I
was King Jameses man." He had no victuals at this time to give to the Eng-
lish, and night coming on, they retired to rest KU|)[)(Tlt's.s. He had but one
bed, if so it might be called, 'Mming only planks laid a foot from the ground,
and a thin mat upon them,"* "lie laid us on the bed with himself and his
wifi', they at the one end, and we at the other. Two more of his men, for
♦vaiit of room, pressed l)y and upon us; so that we were worse weary of our
lodging than of our journey."
"The next day, many of their sachims or petty gover?iors came to see us,
and many of tlx'ir men also. Th(;re they went to their maimer of games for
skin.s and knives." It is amusing to learn that tlii' English trie(l to get a
chance in this gaml)ling afliiir. Tiiey say, "There wc^ clialli iiged them to
shoot with them for skins," but they were too cunning tor them, "only they
desired to .see one of us shoot at a mark ; who shooting with hail shot, they
wondered to see the mark so full of holes."
The next day, about one o'clock, Massasoit brought two large fishes and
boiled them ; but the pilgrims still thought their chance for refreshment very
small, a.s "there were at least forty looking for a share in them ;" but .scanty as
it wits, it came vei-y timely, as they liad fa.sted two nights and a day. The
English now left him, at which he was very sorrowful.
" Very im|)ortunate he was (says our author) to have us stay with them
longer. But we desired to keep the sabbath at home, and fean^d we shoidd
cither be liglit-heach-d for want of sleep ; for what with bad lodging, the sav-
ages' barban)us singing, (for they used to sing themselvt's aslee|),j lice and fleas
within (looi-s, and musketoc^ without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our
being there; we nuich fearing, that if we shoulil stay any longer, we should
not be al)le to recover home for want of strength. So that, on Friday morn-
ing, before sunrising, we took our leave, and departed, Massasojft being both
grieved and a.sl)amed, that he coidd no better enteitain us. And retaining
Tisquantum to send (rom plact^ to |)lac(; to procure truck for us, and ap[)ointing
another, called Tohamahamon, in his place, whom we had foiuid faithful before
and after upon all occasions."
This faithfid servant, Tokamahamon, was in the famous " voyage to the
kingdom of Nauset," and wi\& conspicuous for his courage in the expedition
against Caunhitant.
In 1(523, Massasoit sent to his friends in Plimouth to inform them that he
was very dangerously sick. Desiring to render him aid if |M)ssible, the gov-
ernor despatched Mr. Winslnw again, with sotne medicines and cordials, and
//o66o/nofc as int(!rpreter ; "having one Master /o/m Hamdcn, a gentleman of
London, who then wintered with us, and desired much to see the country, for
my consort." t In tlieir way they found many of his subjects were gone to
Pokanoket, it being tlx'ir custom for all fricjids to atton.
'■;}■ ■■■::'
98
MASSASOIT.
LtiooK II.
1
^^1 ':;■•.:.■
■ : i-
I'll t
but ordinarily n in the place thereof.)* He desired to speak with me. When
I cauH! to him, and they told him of it, he [int forth his liarid to me, which 1
took. Tlieri hv said twice, though very inwanily, A'een JVinsnoic? v ch is to
say, .Irt thou Whisloio'i I aiiawered, Ahhe, tliat is. Yes. Then >.e doubled
these words : Malta neen wonckantt namen, ffvisnoio ! — that is to say, O Wins-
low, I shall never see thee again !^ But contmry to his own expectations, as
well as all his friends, by t!ie kind exertions of Mr. fVinsluw, he in a short time
entirely recovered. This bein|^ a passagt; of great interest in the life of the great
MassasoU, we will here go more into detail concerning it. Wlsen ti i had become
able to speak, he desired Mr. Winsloir to provide him a broth from some kind
of fowl : " so (says be) I took a man with me, and made a shot at a couple of
ducks, some sixscore paces off, and killed one, at which he wondered : so we
returned forthwith, and dressed it, making more broij therewith, which he
much desired ; never did I .see a man so low brought, recover in that measure
in so short a time. The fowl Ix'ing extraordinarj' iiit, I told Hobbamock 1 iiuist
take off the top thereof, saying it would make him very sick again if he did eat
it ; this ho acquainted Massassowat therewith, who would not he persuaded to
it, though I i)ressed it very much, showing the strength thereof, antl the weak-
ness of his stomach, which could not possibly lK;ar it. Notwithstanding, he
made a gross meal of it, and ate as nuich as would well have satisfied a man in
health." As Winslow had said, it made him very sick, and he vomited with
such violence that it made the blood stream from his nose. This bleeding
caused them great alarm, as it continued for four hours. Wiien nis nose ceased
bleeding, he fell asleep, and did not awake for G or 8 hours more. After he
awoke, Mr. Winslow washed his face "and supplied his beard and no.se with a
linnen cloth," \\\un\ taking a quantity of water into liis nose, by fiercely eject-
ing it, the blood began again to flow, and again his attendants thought he could
not recover, but, to their great satisfaction, it soon stopped, and he gained
strength rapidly.
For this attention of the English he was very grateful, and always believed
that his preservation at this time was owing to the benefit he received from
Mr. Winsloio. In his way on his visit to Massasoit, Mr. Winslow broke a botth;
containing some preparation, and, deeming it necessary to the sachem's recov-
ery, wrote a letter to the governor of Plimouth for another, and some chickens ;
in which he gave him an account of his success thus far. The intention was
no sooner made kiiown to Massasoii, than one of his men was sent off, at two
o'clock at night, f' i' resi
listened n
between
called llhi
Provide/K
w'iat<;v(!r
this is tliei
It appet
means or
For at th
autumn of
Woosame(j
Nanohiggt
ifiay be pn
rest as of ]
agreement!
Under d
meek, on t
present of
beyond Co
were abou
present. '
^vronged tl
and, giving
satisfifid.f
In 1(349,
Diixbury, '
This wfis t
preemption
hiilf each, i
and a half
By a dec!
[fCaimidta,
those seven
aliiis Reholi
and soe run
metjuin and
[Hook II.
me. When
ne, wliich I
V, . eh is to
Ke doubled
CHAf. II.]
MASSASOIT.
27
«y:
O fVirui-
jcctntions, b»
a short time
■ of tlie pn>at
'. had bocoiiie
n some kind
t a coti[)le of
lon!d : so we,
ii, wliicli he
tliut measure
tmock 1 must
1 if ho did oat
persuaded to
ud tli(! weak-
hstandinj:;, he
fied a man in
vomited with
riiis bleeding
is nose ceastut
in'. Ailer he
d nose with a
fiercely ejeet-
ugiit he eould
nd he gained
tvays believed
received from
broke a bottle
chem's recov-
ime chickens ;
intention was
ent off", at two
ing quickness,
and, being
idea of rais-
re about to
subordinate
)ns, which he
ssasoit stated
nto, but had
ulars of the
le history of
les of Massa-
is peojtle was
" expresses it,
le.sthig nie to
me,] and give
e good folk"
Rnron Lahon-
Ihirmis el (/<■«
; cU^af n (lire.
h Ml sen tout a
asst' ifiiatre Jourf
llssir, et je crois
; cctr (Tit lieu ih
nonsieur, caoun-
ages are analo
vei
.!'d, of the Narragansit saehem.s. It was in Jtkl.') that Mr.
IfiUiums (led to that country, to avoid being seized and sent to England, lie
found that Canonicus and Mianlunnonwh were at bitter enmity witli Ousaim-
(juiit, but by his great exertions he restored peace, without which he could not
iiave been secure, in a border of the d(jminion of either. Ousameijuin was
well ac(iuaintettled. f
From the "Relation" of Dr. /. Mother, it is clear tliat lie lived until l(j(!2.
His words are, ".^/fxa?w/frb('ing dead, [ha\ing died in l()(i2,] his brother P/ii'/j^,
of late cursed memory, rosi; up in his stead, and ne was no sooner styled
sachem, hut immediately, in the year Klti'J, there were vehement suspicions of
his bloody trciichery agjiinst the English." j
Hence, as we do not hear of Alcxnnder as sachem until 1662, which is also
the year of his death, it is fiiir to concludt; that he could not have been long hi
otlice !it the time of his death ; nor coidd he have been styled "chief sachem"
until athM- the death of his father.
Whether Massasoit had more than two sons, is not certain, although it is
contidently believed that he had. It is probable tliat his family was large. A
com|)any of soldiers from liridgewater, in a skirmish with Philip, took his
sister, and killed a brother of Oiummeijuiii, whose name was Unkompocn, § or
Akknmpoin. || That he had another brother, called Qiiadequina, has been
mentioned.
Gov. yVlnihrop gives the following anecdote of Ousamequin. As Mr. Ed-
ward JVinslow was returning from a trading voyage southward, having left his
vessel, he traveled home by land, and in the way stoj)ped witli his >id friend
Massiisoit, who agreed to accomj)any him the rest of the way. In the mean
time, Ousmiwjuin sent one of his men forward to Plimouth, to surprise the
people with the news of Mr. fVinsloiv^s death. By his maimer of relating it,
and tin; particular circumstances attending, no one doubted of its truth, and
every one was grieved and mourned exceedingly at their great loss. But
* 8(iino recorHs which Mr. Daffffclt consnllod in prci-aring his History of Attlcborough, led
him If) concliiilu that Afa.ssusoil died prfvioiis to .tunc, IGtiO.
t Original maniiscnjit doriHTiciils. The particulars of these matters will be given at largey
when we come to treat of tlie life of Uncas.
t Relation, 72. ^ /. Mather, U, j) Church, 38, edit. 4to.
Ml I
yL_
■»ii
[Book II
ifir|n(uit ; and, i)eiug at
Namasket seeking, say the Pilgrims, "to draw the hearts of M(tfi.miii)jjl''s sid)-
jects fi-oni him ; speaking also disdainfully of us, storming at tin; jieace be-
tween Nauset, Cumniaquid and us, and at Tismifintuin, the w«,;ker of it ;
also at Tnkamithnmon, and oiu^ llaliomok, (two Indians or T murdered a little iieliire, being a sjiecial
and trusty man of MassnsoijCs,) Tokamnhamon weiit to hiui, but tiie otiier
two wduld not ; yet put their lives in their hniuls, privately went to see if
they could hear of their king, and, lodging at Namasciiet, were dicovered to
Coubatnnt, who set a guard to beset the house, and took Tisqitantum, {\'i)r he
had said, il'he wen; dead, the English had lost tlaur tongu(\) Ilohliiimok see-
ing tliat Tisqunnlum was taken, and Conhalant held [holding] a kniti" at his
breast, iieing a strong and stout man, lirake Irom them, and came to New Pli-
moinh, full of fear and sorrow for T/.ti/iwni/um, whom he thought to be slain."
Upon this the Plimonth people sent an cxpediti»»n, under Stundi.ih, of 14
men,f " and Uohhamok for their guide, to revenge the sujijiosed death of
Tiiqwinlum on CoubaUint our bitter enemy, and to retain .Yepeof, another
sachem, or governor, who was of this confederacy, till we heard what was
become of our friend JtffMsasoi/'."
Atler much toil, the little army arrived near the place they expected to find
CavnhitnnI, "IJeibre we came to the town (says llie narrator) we sat down
and eat such as our knajisacks afforded ; that being done, we threw them
aside, and all such things as might hinder us, and so went on and beset the
hous(!, according to our last resolution. Those that entered, demanded if
C'o«fca/«n< were not there ; but fear had berelHhe savages of speech. We
(diarged them not to stir, lor if Couhatant were not there, we would not nied
die with them ; if he were, we came princi|mlly for him, to be avenged on
him lor the snjiposed death of Tisscaped, but with some
wouiuls. At length jierceiving our iirincijial ends, they told us (^oubatant
was returned [home] with all his train, and that Tisquantiim was yet living,
and in the town ; [then] oflering some tobacco, [and] other, such as they
had to eat."
In this hurley hurley, (as they call it,) two gims were fired " at random,"
to the great terror of all but Sqimnto and Tokamnhamon, "who, l' ongh they
knew not our end in coming, yet assured them [so frightened] of oiir honesty,
[and] that we would not ' irt them." The Indian boys, seemg the sipiaws
protected, cried out, JVeeriA pines ! jVeensqiiaes ! that is, I am a sq^iaw! I am a
squaw! and the women tried to screen themselves in Hobomok^s presence,
reminding him that he was their triend.
This attack uj)on a defenceless house was made at midnight, and nmst
have been terrible, in an inconceivable degree, to its inmates, especially the
sound of the English guns, which few, if any of them, had ever heard before.
The relator proceeds : "But to be short, we kept them we had, ami made
them make a fire that we might see to search the house ; in the meantime,
* Corbitant, Coubatant, and CoiibitarU, were ways of writing Ills name also, by his con
lomporaries.
t Ten, says the Relation.
3*
' ':m
)^ vr v^
->
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
itt IM 12.2
2? 114 ■"
£ L£ 12.0
m
1 m IIIJ4 IJ4
<
6"
>.
^
'/]
^.^•
>
/
Hiotographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WiST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 1 4580
(716) •73-4S03
Z
V
SO
TREATY WITH THE INDIANS.
[Book n
Ir'-
\;:-[
■ . 1-
ji?
n.f*:
I .
Hobbamokgat on the top of the house, and cnlled TSsqtumium and Tokama-
hatnon." They tmon came, with some others with them, some armed and
otherH naked. The English took away the bows and arrows from tliose that
were nrmed, but promised to return them as soon as it was day, which they
I)rohiii)ly did.
Tliey kept possession of the captured wipwam until daylight, when they
reVnsed their prisoners, and marched into tiie town (as they call it) of the
Ndirinskcts. Here, it appears, Squanto had a house, to which they >vent, and
r >ok breakfast, and held a court afterward, from wliich they issued ibrth the
fbl lowing decree against Caunbitant : —
" Thither came all wliose hearts were upright towards us, but all Couba-
tarWa faction were fled away. Tliere in the midst of tliem we manifested
again onr intendment, assuring them, that, although Coubitanl had now
escaped us, yet there was no place should secure him and his from us, if he
continued his threatening us, and provoking others against us, who had
kiiuily entertained him, and never intended evil towards him till he now so
justly deserved it. Moreover, ii'Masaaaoyt did not return in safety from Nar-
rohigganset, or if hereafter he should make any insurrection against him, or
offer violence to TisqxutrUum, Hobomok, or any of MataasorfCa subjects, we
would revenge it upon him, to the overthrow of him and his. As ibr tiiose
[who] were wounded, [how many is not mentioned,] we wore sorry lor it,
though themselves procured it in not staying in the house at our command :
yet, if they would return home with us, our surgeon should heal them. At
this ofl'er one man and a woman that were wounded went home with us,
Tisqunntum and many other known friends accompanying us, and offering
all help that might l)e by carriage of any thing we had to ease us. So that
by Ciod's good |)rovidence we safely returned home the morrow night after
we set forth."*
Notwithstanding these rough passages, Caunbitant became in appearance
reconciled to the English, and on the 13th Se|>t. following (1621) went to
Plimouth and signed a treaty of amity. It was through the intercession of
Massasoit that he became again reconciled, but the English always doubted
his sincerity, as most probably they had reason to. The treaty or submission
was in these words : —
" Know all men by these presents, that we whose names are underwritten,
,
Apannow."
ansaction, and
Hrhere Boston
'as Coneconam
uis Jlspintt of
ne Naahoonon.
untry to trade
fs ; who, thev
: tiie Indians,
weather, came
ide tlieir bows
;h is supposed (o
le of Uic pronouo
CnAP. II.]
CAUNBITANT.
31
t
1
and (]uivcrs, according to their manner, sat down by the Are, and took a pifw
of tobacco, not using any words in that time, nor any other to them, but all
remnined silent, expecting when they would speak. At length they looked
toward Canacuw ; and one of them made a short speech, and delivered o
firesent to him, from his sachim, which was a basket of tobacco, and many
beads, which the other received thankfully. After which he made a long
s[)e)-ch to him," the meaning of which Hobomok said was, that two of their
men fell out in a game, " for they use gaming as much as any where, and
will piny away all, even their skin from their backs, yea their wive's skins
also," and one killed the other. That the murderer was a powow, "one of
special note ar-^ngst them," and one whom they did not like to part with ;
yet they were threatened with war, if they did not kill the murderer. That,
therefore, their sachem deferred acting until the advice of Coneconatn was
first obtained.
After consulting with this chief, and some of his head men, these messen-
gers desired A/o6omoA'» judgment upon the matter. With some delerence
he replied, that ** he thought it was better that one should die than many,
since he hud deser^-ed it;" "whereupon he passed the sentence of death
upon him."
We shall have occasion again to notice this chief, at whose house the first
act of a tragic scene was acted, which in its course brought ruin upon its
[)roj«?ctors.
When Mr. Edivard JVitulow and Mr. John Hamdtn went to visit Massaaoit
in his sickness, in 1(>2(), they heard by some Indians, when near Caunbitant'$
resi(i<>nce, that Masaasoil was really dead : they, theretbre, though with nuich
hesitation, ventured to his house, hoping they might treat with him, he being
then thought the successor of Maasaaoit. But he was not at home. The
squaw sachem, his wife, treated them with great kindness, and learning here
that MnasaaoU was still alive, they made tnl haste to Pokanoket When they
returned, tliey stiiid all night with CaunbtvU'?^, rit his liousc, who acconi tanied
them there from Maataaoifa.
Mr. Winalow gives the account in these words : — " That night, through the
earnest request of Conbalant, who, till now, remained at Sowaams, or
Puckanokick, we lodged with him at Mattapuyst. By the way, I had much
conference with him, so likewise at his house, he being a notable politician,
vet fiiil of merry jests and squibs, and never better jtleased than when the
like are returned again upon him. Amongst other thin^^s he asked me, if in
rase ht were thus dangerously sick, us Maasaaoit had been, and should send
word thereof to Patuxet, fbr maakieat,* [that is, physic,] whether their master
governor would send it; and if he would, whether I would come therewith
to him. To both which I answered, yea ; whereat he gave me many joyful
thanks." He then expressed his surprise that two Englishmen should ad-
venture so far alone into their country, and asked them if they were not
afraid. Mr. Winalow said, "where was true love, there was no fear." "But,"
said Caunhitant, "if your love be auch, and it bring forth auchfruila, how cometh
it to paas, that when we come to Patuxet, you aland upon your guard, toith the
nwuth of your piecea preaented towarda t«?" Mr. Winalow told him that was a
mark of respect, and that they received their best friends in that manner ;
but to this he shook his head, and answered, thut he did not like such salu-
talimis. f
When Caunbitant saw his visiters crave a blessing before eating, and
return thanks afterwards, he desired to know what it meant "Hereupon 1
took occasion (says our author) to tell them of God's works of creation and
presorvntion, of the laws and ordinances, especially of the ten command-
ments." They found no particular fault with the commandments, except
the seventh, but said there were many inconveniences in that a man should
be tied to one woman. About which they reasoned a good while.
When Mr. fVinalow explained the goodness of God in bestowing on them
all their comforts, and that for this reason they thanked and blessed him,
mm
^■^'i^i
ifm-"' J
• In Williams's Key, .Vaskit is translalcH, " Oive me some physic."
t Good News from N. Englan'-
■
'v.;
» •
1
n
■ s
■i '■
;r^^
' , *"
''}■
■•;|
' :
vV'
i
' ■ ■ 'J L
i;
33
WITTUWAMET.— PEKSUOT.
[Book II-
Chaf.
I' r
» .* '
.»'•.,
..r^i
:&
"this nil of ♦hem connludnd to l)e very well ; and said they helieved almost
all the same things, aiul that the same jKiwer that we call God they called
Kichtan." "Here we remained only that night, but never had better enter-
tainment amongst any of them."
\\ iiat became of this chief is unknown. His name appearing no more in
our records, leads us to suppose that he either fled his country on the mur-
der of Hillutcamet, Peksuot, and others, or that he died about that time.
WiTTUWAMEr was a Massachusetts chief, as was his companion Peksuot,
but their particular residence has not been assigned. fViiluwamd was a des-
perate and Iwld fellow, and, like most other warriors, delighted in shedding
the blood of his eniimies. It is not improbable but that he became exasper-
ated against the English from the many abuses some of them bad |)ractised
upon his countrymen. This will account, perhaps, for all the severity and
malignity portrayed by the fbrelathers in his character. He was one of those,
they say, wiio murdered some of the crew of the French ship, cast away
uj)on Cape Cod, as we have before mentioned.
That H'ittuwamet, Peksuot, and some other chiefs, intended to have freed
their country of intruders in the year 1G23, there can be no doubt, and in re-
lating the rise, progress and termination of their league to effect this object,
we shall, to avoid the charge of partiality, adhere closely to the record.
We have before, in s|)eaKiiig of Caunecum, or Coneconam, mentioned the
voyage of the governor of Flimouth to that sachem's country to trade for
corn ; that was in January, 11)23. Not lacing able to bring away all he ob-
tained, Captaiti Miles Standiah was sent the next riionth to take it to Plimoutli,
also to purchase more at the same |)iace, but he did not meet with very good
reception, which led him to apprehend there was mischief at hand. And
immediately after, while at Coneconam^s house with two or three of his com-
pany, " in came two of the Massachusetts men. The chief of them was
called fVittuwamat, a notable insulting villain, one who had formerly iml'ued
his hands in the blood of English and French, and had oft boasted oi his
own valor, and derided their weakness, especially because, as he said, they
died crying, making four faces, more like children than men. This villain
took a dagger from about his neck, which he had gotten of Master Wealon^a
people, and presented it to the sachem, [Coneconam^ and after made a long
speech in an audacious manner, framing it in such sort as the captain, though
he be the best linguist among us, could not gather any thing from it. The
end of it was afterwards discovered to be as iblloweth. The Massachu-
seucks formerly concluded to ruinate Mr. WtstoiCs colony; and thought
themselves, being about 30 or 40 men, strong enough to execute the same :
yet they durst not attem])t it, till such time as they had gathered more
strength to themselves, to make their party good against us at Plimouth;
conchuling that if we remained, though they had no other arguments to use
against us, yet we would never leave tlie death of our countrjnien unre-
venged ; and therefore their safety could not be without the overthrow of
both plantations. To this end they had formerly solicited this sachem, as
also the other, called lanoiigh, and many others, to assist them ; and now
again came to prosecute the sanie ; and since there was so fair an o[)portu-
nity offered by the captain's presence, they thought best to make sure of him
and his company."
Coneconam, after this speech, treated Standish with neglect, and was veiy
partial to JVittuwamet, whi^'h much increosed the jealousy of the former.
These Ir.dians meantime coiitrived to kill Standish, having employed a "lusty
Indian of Paomet " to execute the plan. The weather was severely cold,
and Standish lodged on shore at night, and this was the time he was to have
been killed. But the extreme coldness o.''ihe night kept him from sleeping,
and thus he avoided assassination.
We have had occasion, in the life of Massasoit, to mention that that chief
had been solicited to engage in this confederacy, and of his charging Hobomok
to warn the English of it. The people of the places named at that time by
Massasoit, as in the plot, were Nnuset, Paomet, Succonet, Mattachiest, Mnno-
met, Agowaywam, and the Island of Cnpawack. "Therefore, (says Mr.
fVinslow in his Relation,) as we respected the lives of our countrymen and
■M
!vcd alnioet
they culled
etter enter-
no more in
n tlie niur-
t time,
ion Peksuot,
t was u dc8-
n Blieddiug
ne exupper-
id practised
severity and
ine of tliose,
I, cast away
have IVeed
t, and in re-
this object,
ecord.
ntioned the
to trade lor
f all he ob-
o Plinioutli,
th very goo«l
hand. And
of his com-
f them was
srly iml 'ued
isted ot his
c said, they
Tliis villain
ter WestorCs
lade a long
tain, though
it. The
Vlassachu-
nd thought
the same :
lered more
Pliniouth ;
ents to use
men unre-
ertlirow of
sachem, as
and now
u opportu-
iure of him
m
tlint chief
ig Hohomok
lit time by
iest, Mano-
(s«ys Mr.
rynien and
Chap. 11]
WITTIJWAMET— WI'.STONT COLONY.
our own mifoty, he advised us to kill the men of Mnssjwhufet, who were liie
authorH of this intended mischief. And wiiereas we were wont to say, we
would not strike a stroke till they first began, If, 8;ti«i he, [MtMiuvnt to
Jlohomok,] Mjion tliis intelligence, tliey make that answer, tell them, when
tli"ir countrymen at Wichaguscnsset are killed, they not being able to «lereiid
theiiisrives, that then it will be too late to recover their lives," and it would
l)e with (litficiilty that they preserved their own; "and tlierelbre he coun-
selled, without delay, to take away the principals, aiul then the |ilot would
cense."
IMeiuiwIiile Weslon^s men had fallen into a niisend)le and wretched condi-
tion ; some, to procure a daily sustenance, became servants to the Indians,
"fetciiing them wood and water, &c., an«l all for a meal's meat." Those
who were thus degraded, wtjre, of course, oidy a few who had abandoned
themselves to riot ami dissipation, but whose conduct had ailectcd the well
being of the whole, notwithstanding. Some of these wretches, in their ex-
tremities, had stolen corn from the Indians, on whose complaint they had
been put in the stcu:ks and whi]iped. This not giving the Indians sntisfac-
tion, one was hnnged. This was in February, i^'fSl.
About this capital punishment much has been written ; some doubting the
fact that any one was hanged, others that it was the real ottender, &c. But
in our o[)inion the facts are incontestable that one was haugeil; but whether
the one really guilty or not, is not quite s(» easily settled. The liict that one
was hanged for another a()pears to have been of common notoriety, both in
Old and New England, from shortly alter the affair until tiie beginning of
the next century.*
Mr. Hubbard] lias this passage upon the affair: — "Certiun it is, they [the
Indians] were so provoked with their filching and stealing, that they threat-
ened them, as the Philistines did SamsorCa liither-in-law, alter the loss of their
corn ; iusonuich that the company, as some report, p:eten«Ied, in way of satis-
faction, to punish him that did the theft, but, in his stead, hanged a poor, de-
crepit old man, that was unserv iceable to the company, [an old bed-rid
weaver,^] and burdeneome to keep alive, which was the ground of the story
with which the merry gentleman, that wrote the poem called Hldibras, did,
in his poetical fancy, make so much sport." And from the same author it ap-
pears that the circumstance was well known at Pliniouth, but they pretended
that the right person was hanged, or, in our author's own words, "as if the
jierson hangr ' 'vas really guil»y of stealing, as may be were many of the rest,
and if they wtic driven by necessity to content the Indians, at that time, to
do justice, there being some of Mr. fVeaton's company living, it is possible it
might be executed not on him that most deserved, but on liim that could be
best s[mred, or who was not like to live long if he had l)een let alone."
It will now be expected that we produce the passage of Iludibras. Here
it if :—
" Though nice and dark the point appear,
(Quoili Kaiph,) it may hold up, and clear.
That f.-5
'Vi ' •'•.' '{..1 J
'■■'■ * *
.r'r:\
94
WrrrUWA MET— WESTON'S COLONY.
[Book II.
I'-
1^
r-
h ,.' ••
(!•'.
Tho following note was early printed to tliis passage: — "The history of
the cobbler had been attested by persons of good credit, who were iiiMin the
piano when it was done." Mr. ButUr wrote this part of his lliidibras
before miH.
Thonu.18 Morton, who was one of the company, though perhaps alwont at
the time, pretends that there was no plot of the Indians, and insmuutiiH that
the I'iimoutheans caused all the trouble, and tliat their rashness caused the
Indians to massacre some of their men, as we shall presently relate li'om a
book which Mr. Morton pid)lished.*
" Master fVeston^s plantation being settled at Wessaguscus, his servants,
many of them la/.y persons, that would use no endeavor to take the benefit
of the cnuntr}', some of them fell sick and died.
" One amongst the rest, an able-bodied man, that ranged the woods, to sec
what it would atlord, lighted bv accident on an Indian barn, and from thence
did take a cap full of corn, 'l^he salvage owner of it, Auding by the loot
[track] some English hud been there, came to the plantation, and made com-
plaint atXvr this manner. The chief conmiauder of the company, on this
occasion, called u Parliament of all his peo])le, but those that were sick and
ill at ease.f And wisely now they nnist consult, upon this huge complaint,
that a itrivy [paltry] knife or string of beads would well enough have quali-
fied: And Edward lohnson was a special judge of this business. The fact
was there in repetition, construction made, that it was fellony, and by the
laws of England punished with death, and this in execution must be put for
an example, and likewise to appease the salvage ; when straightways one
arose, moved as it were with some compassion, and said he could not well
gainsay the former sentence ; yet he had conceived, within the compass of
his brain, an embrio, that was of special consequence to be delivered, and
cherished, he said ; that it would most aptly serve to pacify the salvage's
complaint, and save the life of one that might (if need should be) stand them
in some good stead ; being young and strong, fit for resistance against an
enemy, which might come unex|iectedly, for any thing they knew.
"The oration made was liked of every one, and he intreated to show the
means how this may be performed. Says he, you all a^ree diat rrie must
die, and one siiall die. This young man's clothes we wdl take off, and put
upon one that is old and impotent, a sickly person that cannot escape death ;
8uch is the disease on him confirmed, that die he must. Put the young
man's clothes on this man, and let the sick person be hanged in the other's
stead. Amen, says one, and so says many more. And this had like to have
proved their final sentence ; and being there confirmed by act of Parliament
to afler ac:es for a precedent. But tliat one, with a ravenous voice, begim to
croak and bellow for revenge, and put by that conclusive motion ; alleging
such deceits might be a means hereafter to exasperate the minds of the com-
plaining salvages, and that, by his death, the salvages should see their zeal
to justice, and, therefore, he should die. This was concluded ; yet, never-
theless, a scruple was made ; now to countermand this act did represent
itself unto their minds, which was how they should do to get the man s good
will : this was indeed a special obstacle : for without that (they all agreed) it
would be dangerous, for any man to attempt the execution of it, lest mis-
chief shoidd l^fall them every man. He was a person that, in his wrath,
did seem to be a second Sampton, able to beat out their brains with the jaw-
bone of an ass: therefore they called the man, and by persuasion got him
fiist bound in jest, and then hanged him up hard by m ^ood earnest, who
with a weapon, and at liberty, would have put all these wise judges of this
Parliament to a pittifid non plus, (as it hath been credibly reported,) and
made the chief judge of them all buckle to him."
This is an entire chapter of the New Canaan, which, on account of its
great rarity, we have given in full. In his next chapter Mr. Morion proceeds
to narrate the circumstances of the " massacre " of^ fVittutoamet, Peksuot, and
other Massachusetts Indians, and the consequences of it But we shall now
* Entitled New English Canaan, 4to. Amiterdam, 1637.
t Against thit seuteoce, in the margin, i»— " A poor complaint."
fTeslo
yj
(Book II.
) history of
re u|M)n the
B lliidihras
ps ahsont at
niuatcH tliat
cauHCti the
slate li'oin u
is BervaiiLs,
the heiieiit
oods, to gee
Iruin tiituice
hy the loot
made com-
iny, on this
re sick and
complaint,
have qiiali-
i. The fact
and by the
St be ])ut for
htways one
uld not well
coniiMiss of
slivered, and
he salvage's
) stand them
against an
w.
to show the
It cue must
off, and put
|icape death ;
the young
I the other's
ike to have
Parliament
:e, begun to
>n; alleging
of the com-
their zeal
yet, never-
i represent
man^s good
II agreed) it
it, lest mis-
his wrath,
ith the jaw-
in got him
arnest, who
ges of this
rorted,) and
ount of its
m proceeds
^eksuot, and
shall now
Chap, ll-l WASSAPINEWAT.— MASSACRE AT WESSAGUSCUS.
a-
draw from the Plimouth historian, and afterwards use Mortori'a chapter as
we tind occasion.
iMr. H'indow says that Mr. Wtston'a men "knew not of tliis conspiracy of
the Iiuliaus before his [John Sanders, their 'overseer '1 going; neither was it
known to any of us till our return from Bowaams, or I'uckanokick : at which
time also another sacliim, called IVaasnjnntwat, brother to Obtakiest, the
sarhiin of the Massachusets, wlio had formerly smarted for partaking with
Conhatant, and fearing the like again, to purge himself, revealed the same
thing," [hs MassasoU had done.]
It was now the 23d March, 1G23, " a yearly court day " at Plimouth, on
wliieh war was proclaimed, " in public court," against the MassacliUMetts
IndiauH. " We came to this conclunion, (says WtnaLw,) that Captain Slandxsh
sliduhi take so many men, as he thought sufficient to make his party •;ood
against all the Indians in the Massachusetts Bay ; and as because, as all
men know that have to do with them in tiiat kind, it is unposHible to deal
with them upou open defiance, but to take them in such traps as they lay
for others : tiiereforc he should pretend trade as at other times : but first go
to the English, [at Wessaguscus,] and acquaint tliein with the ])lut, and tiie
end of their own coming, that, comparing it with their own carriiu^es
towards them, he might l)etter judge of the certainty of it, and more fitly
take opportunity to revenge the same: but should forliare, if it were
possible, till such time as he could make sure Wittuwamat, that bloody and
bold villain before spoken of; whose head he had order to bring with him,
that lie might be a warning and terror to all that disposition."
We will now hear a word of what Mr. Morton has to say upon this trans-
action. "After the end of that Parliament, [which ended in the hanging
of one,*] son of the plantation there, about three persons, went to live
with Checatawback and his company, and had very good quarter, for all the
former qtiarrel with the Plimouth planters.f I'hey are not like ff'iU Som-
mars, | to take one for another. There they purposed to stay until Muster
Wtstor^a arrival : but the Plimouth men inteudmg no good to him, (us
api)cared by the consequence,) came in the mean time to Wessaguscus, and
tliere pretended to feast the salvages of those parts, bringing with them
pork, and things for the |>urpoae, which they sot before the salvages. They
eat thereof without suspicion uf any mischief, [and] who were taken upon
a watchword given, and with their own knives (hanging about their necks)
were, by the Plimouth planters, stabbed and slain. One of Avhich was
hanged up there, after the slaughter."^ When this came to the knowledge
of (JhikaiauhuCs people, they nuirdered the tlirce English who had tuken up
their residence with them, us they lay asleep, in revenge for tlie nmrder of
their countr}'men.||
After Standish was ready to proceed against WiHwcamet, but before he
set out, one arrived from Wessaguscus almost famished,1[ and gave the
people of Plimouth a lamentable account of the situation of his fellows ;
that not the least of their calamities was their being insulted by the Indians,
" whose boldness increased abundantly ; insomuch as tlie victuals they got,
* As mentioned in our last extract from this author.
t Referring, it is supposed, to the quarrel with Caunbitunt.
t The person who proposed hanging a sick man instead of the rsal oiTender.
A New English Canaan, 111. I| Ibid.
V His name was Phinenas Prat. An Indian followed nim (o kill him, but, hy losing the
direct path, the Indian missed him. In 1662, the general court of Massaebusells, in answer
to a petition of Phituhas Prat, then of Charleslown, which was accompanied " with a nar-
rative of the straights and hardships thut the first planters of this colony underwent in llieir
endeavors to plant themselves at Plimouth, and since, whereof he was one, the court judgeth
it meet to grant him 300 acres of land, where it is to be had, not hindering a plantation.''
M8. among theJiU» in our tleUe-houie.
I have not been able to discover the narrative of Prat, aAer long search. Mr. Hubbard
probably used it in compiling his Hist, of New England.
At the court, 3 May, 1665, land was ordered to l>e laid out for Prat, "in the wilderness on
the east of tlie Merrimack R'"er, near the upper end of Nacook Brook, on the south-east of it."
Court FiltM, ut tupra.
Prat married, in Plimouth, a daughter of Cuthbtrt Cuthbertton, in 1630. See 2 Col. HUL
Boe. vii. m.
■ ■■:' .':'■' V
:■-,< J
v.".
■*■•■?"•.■. ■
■■■S'M
'■ V'H
t
3C
MASSACUE AT WnsSAGCMClTS.
[Hook II.
^ ... T. '
f
''-^v;
■SI '■■■
'*••
I I'^i:
In
[I
111,!'.
V. ■■ ■
tliry [tliJi IiidiniiH] would tnkc it out of tlirir potH, and <'nt Fit] l)rforo tlieir
f'lKM'M, (111(1 tliut if tln'y tried to pri'vciit liicm, tln-y woidd hold u knife at
tin'ir brriiNtR: nnd to nntisty tlinii, thoy lind liniigi>d on*- of tlicir roiii|iuny:
"Tliut tlu-y had Bold tlirir rlothrB lor corn, tivid were ready to Htnne lioth
vritli cold and hunger alHO, because they could not endure to get victnnJH by
rcHMon of their niUrol)ablv *ome of the Wessagus-
cus men warned them of it, who did not believe there was any plot.
Meantime, ou Indian came to trade, and aOerwards went away in friend-
ship. Standiahj more sagacious than the rest, said he saw treachery in his
^e, and suspected his end in coming there was discovered. Shortly after,
Pekauot, " who was a panicse,* being a man of a notable spirit," came to
Hobonwk, and told him. He ■undrrstood th« captain was come to kill him and the
real of the Indiana there. "Tell him, (said Pekauot,) we know it, but feur him
not, neither will we shun liim ; but let him begin when he dare [s], he will
not take us unawares."
The Indians now, as we might expect, began to prepare to meet the
danger, and the English say many of them came divers times into their
presence, and " would whet and snarpen the poinc of their knives," "and
use many other insulting gesttires and speeches. Amongst the rest, Wittu-
toamat bragged of the excellency of his knife. On the end of the handle there
was pictured a woman's face ; but, said he, / liave another at home, wheretuith 1
have killed both French and English, and that hath a man^aface on it ; and by and
by these two must marry.^ To this he added, Hinnaim namen, hinnaim mi-
CHEN, MATTA CUTS ! that is, By and by it ahoxdd, see, and h/ and by it should eat,
but not apeak. " ALio Pecksuot, (continues Winaloto,) being a man of greater
stature tlian the captain, told him though he were a great captain, yet he was
but a little man : aid, ^aid he, though I be, no aachtm, yet I am a man of great
strength and courage. These things the captain observed, yet bare with pa-
tience for the present."
It will l)e seen, \n what we hove related, as well as what we are about to
add, that Thomas Morton^s account, in some of the main facts, agrees with
that of Winalow. From thu latter it appears that Standish, afler considerable
manoeuvering, could get advantage over but few of the Indians. At kugth,
having got Peksuot and Wittuwamat " both together, with cnother man, and
a youth of some eighteen years of age, which was brother to Wittuwamat,
and, villain like, trod in his steps, daily putting many tricks upon the weaker
sort of men, and having about as many of his own company in a rooni with
them, gave the word to his men, and, the door being fast shut, began himself
with Pecksuot, and, anatching his own knife from his neck, though with much
• " Tlic Paiiiescs are men of prcal courag'c and wisedoine, and to these also llie Druilt
appcarcth more familiarly than to others, and ns wee ronreiue, makelh rouenant with them to
preserue them from death by wrnnds with arrows, knives, iiatchets, &c." Winalmo's Rtla'
tion. In sueaking of the origin of calumet, Charhroix say some IndianR told \\\~ that it
uas given oy tJic sun to I'ants, a nation U|)on the Missouri. Voyage dans V Ameriqw..
Chap. II.
strugglin
as a neei
man thf
We r.
to keep
how man},
fearful m
'^'Hobh,
men deiii
said to
stature, s
but to-da
Stnrutis
to kill til)
some of
this biisiii
negliiTeiir
crossed
swaiiip
[KooK II.
fore tlirir
1 kni(R at
roiii|iuny:
an«' lioth
ictunlH by
iarhii»ett8,
(foiM'iit to
dish, with
* tiikiii^ HO
<> huliiins.
tlish would
t lie riin.e
rn'iit vitlor.
K-llttlTod
liry nfliiirs.
1, tliry said
lod^< and killed him thereicUK — the jHtint wln'reof Im had made an xharp
an a tieedle, and ground the Iwi'k uIho to up fd^e. fVilltuoamet and tht^ other
man Ihf rod killed, and took the youth, whttm the ea|>taiii cauucd to he haii)re«l."
\V*> coidd now wish this hhmdy ude w tiniHhed, hnt we have promised
to ke('[> i-loHO to the rec«)rd. Mr. tf'intiloiv ('ontiniieH, ^^ But it is incredible
how many wounds there two panieaea received before the>i died, not nutkinu; any
fearful lioiae, bul cnlciinf at their weapons, and striving to the last,
^ Hohhnmock Htood hy all thin time,* luul ine«idied not, ohHervin<; how our
men d(>meaneeginiiing war 7
■'•'•/*'.i
in, «
vj-i
■:«'. 'J
^ X0
' ^ "J
^m
38
HOBOMOK.— SQUANTO'S PERFIDY.
[Book II.
I I
I
1. '. '•'
it
j a- -:■:.;■
.'■
ii' ' '
I", , ■■'
it la fltran'Xfl to hear how mnny of lato have, and ntill daily dio aniongst
thctn ; neither is there any hknlihood it will oiiNily ci^asn ; hecuiiHe through
fear they set littl<3 or no corn, which is the HtufT of life, and without which
they (;annot long preserve health and strength."
Th<*H0 afTairs call for no commentary, that muflt accom[mny every mind
throiijfh every step of the relation. It would be weakness, as appears to us,
to attempt a vindication of the rash conduct of the English. Amid their
sutl'crings, some poor Indians resolved to attempt to nppcase the wrath of
the Kurdish governor by |)resi>nts. Four set out by water in a boat for
I'limouth, but by accident were overset, and three ut them were drowned ;
the other returned back.
When Mr. Robinson, the father of the Plimouth church, heard how his
peo[ile had conducted in this affair with the Indians, he wrote to them, to
consider of the dis(tosition of Captain Standiah, " who was of a warm tem-
per," but he hoped the Lord had sent him among them for a good end, if
they used him as they ought " Ho doubted," he said, " whether there was
not wanting that tenderness of the life of man, made aller God's image,"
which was so necessary; and above all, that "it would have been happy if
they hod converted some before they had killed any."
The reader has now passed through a period of Indian history of much
interest, wherein he will doubtless have found much to admire, and more
that ho could have wished otherwise. Our business, however, we will
here remind him, is that of a dealer in facts altogether, and he must take
them, dry as they are, without any labored commentaries from us. Although
we have had occasion to introduce Hobmnok several times, yet there remain
transactions of considerable interest in his life yet to be noticed.
HoBOMOK, or Hohbamock, was a great paniese or war captain among the
Warnpanoags, as we have already hod occaflion to observe. He came to
Plimoutti about the end of July, 1621, and continued with the English as
long OS he lived. He was a principal means of the lasting friendship of
Masaaaoit, which Morton says, he " much furthered ; and that he was n
proper lusty young man, and one that was in account among the Indians in
those parts for his valor." He was of the greatest service in learning them
how to cultivate such fruits- as were peculiar to the country, such as corn,
beans, &c. The account of his mission to Masaaaoit^ to learn the tnith of a
report that the Narrogansets had made war upon him, and his interruption
and trouble from Caunbitant are already related.
Being a favorite of Maaaaaoit, and one of his chief captains, the pilgrims
found that they need not apjjrehend any treachery on his part, as Hobomok
was so completely in their interest, and also in that of the great sachem,
that he would odvisc them if any thing evil were on foot against them.
What strengthened them in this opinion was the following circumstance.
The Massachusetts Indians had for some time been inviting the English
into their country to trade for furs. When, in March, 1623, they began to
make ready for the voyage, Hobomok "told us, (says fVinslow,) that he feared
the Massachusetts, or Massachuseuks, for they so called the people of that
RIace, were joined in confederacy with the Nonohigganneuks, a people of
anohigganset, and that they, therefore, would take this opportunity to cut
off Capt. Standiah and his company abroad ; but howsoever, in the mean-
time, it was to be feared, [he said,] that the Nanohigganeuks would assault
the tovtni at home ; giving many reasons for his jealousy ; as also that Tia-
qtiantum was in the confederacy, who, [he said,] we should find, would use
many persuasions to draw us from our shallops to the Indians' houses for
their better advantage."
Nevertheless, they proceeded on their voyage, and when they had turned
the point calle 1 the Gumefa JVbse, a false messenger came running into
Plimouth town, apparently in a great fright, out of breath, and bleeding
from a wound in his face. He told them that CaufUtitant, with many of the
Narragansets, and he believed Maaaasoit with them, were coming to de-
stroy the English. No one doubted of his sincerity, and the first thought of
the people was to bring back their military leader, who had just gone in
the boat with Hobomok. A piece of cannon was immediately discharged
CnAr. n.
which, t(
of hcorii
no truth
them, am
undi-rtak
(li'Ut, her
lors. Sin
Thf F.iigl
low |)lot I
which nif
the more
they withl
ration lius
his wife t(
onlv verifi
"Thus 1
whose ent
by moans
stood. In
ponce or v
them won
thereby he
had him i
selves sou;
protection
were wont
now they
understood
innocency
no cause U
should pun
gave the In
abuses, the
profitable a
To the ei
English, 7^
store-house
destroy wh
stirred not
this tale, wl
was not, it i
There is
and lived ai
pretended, i
sible for the
lous to outv
satisfied ; fo
that it was (
sagamore hj
that he migl
But the En
life, more t
evaded the «
Hobomok ^
Erofessed CI
imself! It
was the agei
Caunbitant,
was the pile
whom befon
festations of
their way, «
Chap. 11
nOBOMOK— SQUANTO'S PERHDY.
n{»
which to their (rr?nt joy, soon rmiwd tlie lioat to irtiirn, not hnvirifr pot out
of honVinp. Thi-y hadiu* wmhmt orrivi'd, than Hobomnk told tlxiii tht-r*- was
no truth in the rrport, and Hni«l it was a plot of Siputnto, who wa« th»Mi with
thoni and pvpu otn' of tliow^ in thi' hoat ; that h« kn«?w Mn»m»oU would not
undrrtak«' hiicIi an «'nt('ritris«^ without rotisultinff hirn. Holmmok waw coriti-
di'fit, hcrausc h« wan hiiuself a frrcat rhief, and one of Mn»naiioil\i ronUHi-l-
loro.' Sijunnto denied all knowh-dft«' of any plot, and tliUH «!ndfd the afliiir.
Th«! P'tinliwh, howc-viT, wenu-d Wfll watisfu'd that Si/tutnto had laid this shal-
low plot to Hot thoin apiinst MitsiHisoU, thinking; thev would dostroy him, hy
which iiicans ho expected to hccoine chief nacheni Inninelf; and thi;) mcciuh
the more prohnhle, as Miumisoil wan for houu; time irrecoiu-ilahle lM-caiine
they withheld him fnim him, when he had forfeito*! hiH life, aH in our nar-
ration has Ix-en set forth. But entirely to satisfy the Kn>(lish, Holmmok sent
his wife to Pokanoket orivately to gain exact intelligence, and her return
onlv verified what her hushand had Haiti.
"Thus by dewrees (contimies fVituloic) wo Ito.gnn to dincover Tiaquantum,
whose ends were «)idy to make himself great in tho eyes of his countrymen,
by means of his nearness and favor w ith uh ; not C4iring who fell, so he
stood. In genend, his course was, to persuade th(!m he could lead us to
peace or war at his pleasure ; and would oil threaten the Indians, sending
them word, in a private maimer, vvn were intended shortly to kill them, that
thereby he might get gifls to himself, to work their peace, insonmch as they
had him in greater esteem than many of their sachems , yea, they them-
selves sought to him, who |)roinised them peace in respect of tis; yea, and
protection also, so as they would resort to hinri. So that whereas divers
were wont to rely on Mas: -isoioat for protection, and resort to his abode,
now they liegan to leave him, and seek al\er T\aqxuirUum. But when we
understood his dealings, we certified all tho Indians of our ignorance and
innocency therein ; assuring them, till they liegun with us, they should have
no cause to fear : and if any hereafter should raise any such reports, they
should punish them as liars, and seekers of their and our disturbance; which
gave the Indians good satisfaction on all sides." " For these and the like
abuses, the governor sharply reproved him, y«!t was he so necessary and
profitaide an instrument, as at that time we could not miss him."
To the end that he might possess his countrymen with great fear of the
English, THsquantum told them the English kept the plague buried in their
store-house, and that they could send it, at any time, and to any place, to
destroy whatever persons or people they would, though they themselves
stirred not out of doors. Among the rest, he had made Hobomok believe
this tale, who asked the English if it were true, and l)cing informed that it
was not, it exploded like his other impostures.
There is but little doubt that SqtiarUo was in the interest of CaunbitatU,
and lived among the English as a spy, while Hobomok was honestly, as he
pretended, a strong friend to them ; but for some time it was nearly impos-
sible for them to know which was their best friend, as each seemed emu-
lous to outvie the other in good offices. They were, hoHrever, at this time
satisfied ; for, HobomoKt wife having told MassasoU what had happened, and
that it was one of SqiiatUo's men that gave the alarm, satisfied hnn that that
sagamore had caused it, and he therefore demanded him of the English,
that he might put him to death, according to their law, as lias been related.
But the English, regarding the benefit resulting to theni from saving his
life, more than keeping inviolate the treaty before made with MassasoU,
evaded the demand, and thus Sqiianto was permitted to escape.
Hobomok was greatly beloved by Massasoit, notwithstanding he became a
Erofessed Christian, and Massasoit was always opposed to the English religion
imself. It has been told in the life of the great MassasoU, how valuable
was the agency of Hobomok, in faithfully revealing the mischievous plot of
CaunbitatU, which terminated in the death of fVututoamet and Ptksuot. He
was the pilot of the English when they visited MassasoU in his sickness,
whom before their arrival they considered dead, which caused great mani-
festations of grief in Hobomok. He often exclaimed, as they were on
their way, ** A'een toomasu Sagimvs, ruen womasu Sc^m,ua,^ &C., which is,
■ * -.'7
','■ '•''
■i ■'»!
V
••.. ; "^-i
' ;>
^U'.'^^
■':-.C
/f.*-:.,-,'-fr£
-V r.-,ii|
T
!i
V:
'i
41 A VOVAOE.— NANEPASIIKMET.— oniUTINKWAT. [Book II
"My loving Sachem, my loving Hocliem ! many liavo I known, hut never any
like thee." Then, turning to Mr. h'iiulow, Miu\, "While you live you will
never Hee his like among thtj IndiauH; that he v,nn no liar, nor hloo«ly and
cruel like other Inilianx. In anger uiiil |»HHHion he waH ttoon reclaimed ; eaHy
to \m reconciled towardH Huch aH had otli'ndiul him ; that hiH reason was
Huch iiH to CJIUH43 him to receive advice of mean men ; and that he governed
liiM people iMttter with lew IiIowh, than otIierH did with many."
In the diviHion of the land at I'limouth among the inhahitautH, Hobomok
received a lot aH hia Hhare, on which he rcHided after the English manner
and died a ChriHtian among them. The year of hiu death does not appear,
hut wan previouH to U'A'i.
it haa already been mentioned that the pilgrimn made a voyage to Mafi)OHed waa what has
Uien aince called C'onp'n Ilill,f now the noriii (tnrt of^ik)Hton. This was on
20th Sept. Ib'^l. '1 hey Haw no IndintiH until nome time afler they went
ashore, but found a parcel of lohnterH which they had collected, with which
they refr^ehe'l themnelveH. Soon alter, an they were proceeding on an
excursion, " they met a woman coming for her lohstern." They told her
what they had «lone, and paid her tor tliem. She told them when to find
Indiana, and SqtMnto went to them to prepare them for meeting with the
EuK-liah.
Obbatrnetpot now received the vovagera. Tliia aachem (if he be the
same) had made peace with the EngliHh at Plimouth only aeven days pre-
vious, as we have had occasion to notice. He told them he was sachem of
the place, and was subject to Massasott ; and that he dared not remain long
in any place, from fear of the Tarratinca, who were ** wont to come at har-
vest and take away their corn, and many times kill them." Also that Sqtuiw-
^SocA^m of Massachusetts was his enemy. Thia S(]tiaw-Sa4:hem,i aewe be-
lieve, was chief of those inland Indiana since denominated the Nipnets, or
Nipmucks, and lived at this time near Wachuset Mountain. The English
intended § to have viaited her at this time, but found the distance too great
to proceed. They received the greatest kindness from all the Indians they
met with, and mentioned that of Obbatinetoat in particular. And they say,
" We told him of divers sachims that had acknowledged themselves to be
King Jamu his men, and if he also xooxdd submit himadf, || we would be his
safeguard from his enemies, which he did."
At another place, *< having gone three milea, in arms, up in the country,
we came (say they) to a place where com had been newly gathered, a house
pulled down, and the people gone. A mile from hence, ^anepashemd,
tlieir king, in his life-time had lived.lf His house was not like others, but a
scaflbld was largely built, with poles and ])lanka, some six foot from [the]
ground, and the house upon that, being situated on the top of a hill. Not
tar from hence, in a bottom, we came to a fort," built by Minepashtmet. It
* Dr. Belknap appears to have been (he first who suggested this. See his Biog. ii. 224.
f Wo had supposed this eminence to have been so called from a copse or clump of trees,
which for a long lime remained upon it, after it became known to the whiles ; out Shaw,
Detcrip. Boiton, G7, says it was named from one Copp, a shoemaker. And Snmo, Hut.
Boston, 105, says WxUxam Copp was the proprietor of " a portion of the hill."
X "Sachems or sagamores, — which are but one and the same title, — the first more usual
with the southward, the other with the northward Indians, to express the title of him that hath
the chief command of a place or people." Hist. N. E. 60,
^ Shattuck (Hist. Concord, 2) says she was visited at this time by these voyagers, but I
am not able to arrive at any such conclusion from any source of information in my pos-
session.
II It does not seem from this that he is the same who before had submitted at Plimouth, ai
Mr. Prince tujpp»te».
H Mr. ShauiKk inbii Hitt. Concord, says, this " was in Medford, near Mystic Pond."
f'MAP II
wan mnd«
a-H they r<
some 40 <
One wa)
Hn«lo 8t(M
About II II
of nil liill
time of li
AcconI
hia widow
He lefl fiv
Hiatory o
James. 1 1
ham, lallr
S^yranwre
Suiigiia.
Sqiutw-f
of nappat
after, UW
land wiiic
all which
town, after
"the man;
Captain Ei
H'ebcoicU
next in imj
his death ;
not appear,
ly by his w
to have be
events, we
been in fasi
countable f
In 1(;43, 1
amaquin, M
fit might ai
goveriimeni
should he ii
of tlieir jier
to extend tl
8ubiects.1f
What hai
was off pow
We hear of
ill tiie endei
asked the E
never taugh
he,) we mig
have been
* Might not,
t Hist. I,yni
X Slialtuck,
residence.
6 His name
Wibhacowitt*,
II III Ihe Hi
^ashaxoanon,
i. 212.
II See Gonk
Chap IT |
NANEPASIIEMF.T— HIS DEATH, tie
41
wan rnnd*^ with " polnn noinn HO or 40 (out long, stuck in the ground, fw thick
afl they ooiihi \tei Nrt one hv unotli«>r, iiiul with thprnt th«>y »nch)Huil u ring
Bomi" 40 or TiO loot (»vrr. A tn-nch, iHra.st hi^h, wu« digged on euch Hide.'
One wu> tlierc wiih *o get into it with u hridge. In the inidHt f>l' thin puii'
Hndo skVmI the fhune of an houw, wherein, lieing (U'ad, he lay buried.
About n inih* from hence, we came to Niicii another, but aeated ou the tup
of nn liill. Mere Nanepruhemet wau killed, none dwelling in it Hince the
time of his death."
According to Mr. Jttina, J^nnrpaxhnntt waw killed alwiit the year lGl<.),and
hiH widow, who wa.s Sijtutio-Snchem itefore named, continued the goveriiment+
He led five children,^ four of whowe naitieH weigatht** from the intercHting
Mintory of Lynn^ viz. 1. Montowampale, cidled by the English Sa^nmort
Jamts. He WUH sachem of Suugus. 'i. .^//iig-att, a (laughter. 'A. Wonohanua-
hnm, called Sn^anunr John, Hacliem of WiniicHimeU 4. Winnepurkitt, called
Sftfritmore Georf^e, or Uforge. liumntytnarxfi, the HUccesHor of Montoummpnte at
Suugus. Of most of these we sliall speak in detail hereafler.
SiJiMW-Sa/^hem, according to the authority last mentioned, waa the spouse
of n(ipparoic€l,(f or Wthrount, in KKW. She and her huslmnd, four years
atler, KKfi', deetled to Jotham Gibboms " the reversion of all that parctd of
land which lies against the ponds of Mystic, toffcther with the said ponds,
all which we reserved from Charlestown and Cambridge, late called New-
town, arter the death «)f me, the said Siniaw-Scuchem.^ The consideration was,
"the many kindnesses and beiwfits we have received from the hands of
Captam Edward Gibbones^ of boston."
The Squa-Sachem's mark ^^■^
Webco wit's mark -• — >-
■ ,«. .•if
■ '■■'■}"
\ .,
ffebcowU was a powrwow priest, or magical physician, and was considered
next in importance to Nianepashemd among the subjects of that chief, atler
his death ; ub a matter of course, his widow took him to her bed. It does
not appear, that he was cither much respected or thought much of; especial-
ly by his wife, as in the alM)ve extract from their deed, no provision seems
to have been made for him after her death, if he outlived her. At all
events, we may conclude, without hazard we think, that if breeches tiad
been in fashion among Indians, the wife of fVebcowit would have been ac-
countable for the article in this case.
In 1(54^}, Massachusetta covenaiit«!d with " H^assamequin, JVaahoonoru, KiUch-
amaquin, Moisaconomet, and Sqiiatv-S(ju:hem,"\\ to the end that mutual bene-
fit might accrue to each party. The sachems put themselves under the
government of the English, agreeit:g to observe their laws, in as far as they
should be made to understand thenu For this confidence and concession
of their jtersons and lands into their hands, the English on their part agreed
to extend the same protection to them and their i)eople as to tlieir English
8ubjects.1I
What had become of Wtbcomt at this time does not appear; perhaiis he
was off powwowing, or at home, doing the ordinary labor of the household.
We hear of him, however, four years aller, (1047,) "taking an active part"
in the endeavors made by the English to Christianize his countrvmeu. " He
asked the English why some of them had been 27 years in the land, and
never taught them to know God till then. Had you done it sooner, (said
he,] we nnght have known much of God by this time, and much sin might
have been prevented, but now some of us are grown [too] old in sin."
* Might not, iben, the western mounds have be. n formed by Indians ?
t Hist. Lynn, 16.
{ Slialtuck, it), who 6xe8 her residence at Concord ; she, doubtless, had several places of
residence.
& His name is spelt Webcowits to MS. deed in my possession, and in Mr. Shattuck's MSS.
WibhacowitU, as appears from his History.
II In the History of the Narragamet Country, these names are written Wasmmegun,
fnashawanon, Cutsliamacke, Massanomell, and Squa- Sachem. See 3 Col. Mass Hist. Soc.
i. 212.
U See Gonkin's MS. Hitt. Praying Indiatu.
■ " '. ■ "'ill
■ ''''•■'■:'■ Hij
. ■' ■ '-^.'."^
12
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS.
[Book II.
The English said they repented of their neglect ; hut recollecting themselves
answered, "You were not willing to heare till now," and tliat God had not
turned their hearts till then.*
Of the sachems who made the covenant above named, the first we suppose
to have been Massasoit, on the part of the Wanipanoags, who at this time
was, perhaps, among the Nipmuks ; JVashoonon, a Nipmuk chief, with whom
Massasoit now resided. His residence was near what was since Magus Hill,
in Worcester county. He was probably at Plimouth, 13 Sept, 1G21, whore
he signed a treaty with eight others, as we have set down in the life of Caun-
bitant His name is there spelt JMatiaivahunt. In Winthrop^s Journal,
it is N'aahacotoanu, and we suppose he was father of JStassowanno, mentioned
by fVhitney.\ Kvichamaquin was sachem of Dorchester and vicinity, and
Massaconomtt was Masconoromo.
m§t
xA--
II iil
CHAPTER in.
Some account of the Mussachusttts — Geography of their amniry — Chikataubot —
Wampatuck- '.ds war with the Mnhawks — Mascononomo — Canonicus — Mo.n-
TowAMP> fE — Small-pox distresses the Indians — WoNoiiAqcAHAM — Winiiepub-
KIT MANATAH(iaA--SclTTERYOU»SET — NaTTAHATTA WANTS — WaHGCMACUT-
Jack-Straw — James.
Not long before the settlement of Plimouth, the Massachusetts had been
a numerous people, but were greatly reduced at this time ; partly from tlie
great plague, of which we have already spoken, and subsetpiently from their
wars with the Tarratines. Of this war none but the scanty records of the
first settlers are to be had, and in them few particulars are preserved; J
therefore it will not be expected that ever a complete accotmt of the territo-
ries and power of the Massachusetts can be given ; broken down as they
were at the time they becan-3 known to the Europeans ; for we have seen that
thoir sachems, when first visited by the Plimouth people, were shilling for
their lives — not daring to lodge a second night in the same place, from their
fear of the Tarratines. Hence, if these Indians had existed as an independ-
ent tribe, their history was long since swept away " in gloomy tempests,"
and obscured in " a night of clouds," and nothing but a meagre tradition re-
mained. For some time after the country was settled, they would fly for
protection from the Tarratines to the houses of the English.
It is said, by Mr. Gookin, that " their chief sachem held dominion over
many other petty governors ; as tl e of Weechagaskas, Neponsitt, Punku-
paog, Nonantum, Nashaway, some 01 the Nipmuck people, as far as Pokoni-
takuke, as the old men of Massachusetts affirmed. This people could, in
former times, arm for war about 3000 men, as the old Indians declare.
They were in hostility very often with the Narragansitts ; but held nmitv,
for the most part, with the Pawkunnawktitts."^ Near the mouth of Charles-
River " used to be the general rendezvous of all the Indians, both on the
south and north side of the country ."|| Hutchinson^ says, "That circle
which now makes the harbors of Boston and Charlestown, round l)y Mai-
den, Chelsea, Nantasket, Hingliam, Wejniouth, Braintree, and Dorchester,
was the capital of a great sachem,** much revered by all the plantations
round about The tradition is, tliat this sachem had his principal seat upon
a small hill, or rising upland, in the midst of a body of salt marsh in tlie
township of Dorchester, near to a place called Squantum."tf Hence it will
• Hist. Concord, 25. t Hist. Worcester Co. 174.
X This war wa.s caused, says Mr. Iliib'tard," upon the account of some treacliery " on
the part of the western tribes, 1. e. the tribes west of the Merrimark. Hist. New Eng. 30.
& 1 Coll. Mass. Hisi. Soc. i. 148. || Hist. N. Eng. 3^2
TT From l\ral's Hist. N. Eng., probabl;/, which see.
** It will be a good while before the present possessors of the country can boast of such a
capital.
H Hist. Mass. i, 460. And here it was, I suppose, that the Plimouth people landed in their
[Book II.
ng themselves
(^(1 had not
8t we suppose
at this time
if, with whom
;e Mugus Hill,
1621, w'iore
s life of Caun-
vp's Journal,
no, mentioned
[ vicinity, and
HIKATAUBUT —
(iONICUS — Mo.>-
M — WlNIIEPUR-
i^AHGUMACUT-
letts had heen
irtly from tlie
iitly from their
records of the
B preserved ; X
of the territo-
down as they
have seen that
e shifting for
ice, from their
an independ-
my temyiests,"
e tradition re-
would fly for
ominion over
onsitt, Punka-
far as Pokoni-
)ple could, in
dians declare,
held nmity,
ith of Clinrles
I, both on the
"That circle
ouiid hv Mal-
Dorchcstcr,
plantations
pal seat upon
marsh in the
Hence it will
treacliery " on
X,w Eng.30.
n boast of such a
le landed in their
Chap. DL]
CHIKATAUBUT— VISITS BOSTON.
43
be ol>8erved, that among the accounts of the earliest writers, the dominions
of tl different sachems were considered as comprehended within very
different limits ; a kind of general idea, therefore, can oidy be had of the
extent of their possessions. It is evident that the Massachusetts were either
subject to the Narragansetts, or in alliance with thcin ; for when the latter
were at war with the Pe«i ts, Chikaiaubut and Sagamore John both went
with manv men to aid Cr. nicus, who had sent for them. This war began
in hhh, and ended in IC^o, to the advantage of the Pequots.
We shall now proceed to speak of the cliiefs agreeably Ui our plan.
Chikaiaubut, or Chikkatahak, — in English, a house-a-Jire, — ^vas a sachem of
considerable note, and generally supposed to have had dominion over the
Massachusetts Indians. Thomas Morton mentions him in his New Canaan,
as sachem of Passonagesit, (about VVeymouth,) and says his mother was
buried there. I need make no comments upon the authority, or warn the
rea«ler concerning the stories of Morton, as this is done in almost every
book, early and late, about New England; but shall relate the ibllowing
from him.
In the first settlin"; of Plimouth, some of the company, in wandering about
upon discovery, came upon an Indian grave, which was that of the mother
of Chikaiaubut. Over the body a stake was set in the ground, and
two bear-skins, sewed together, spread over it; these the English took
away. When this came to the knowledge of Chikataubut, he complained to
his people, and demanded immediate vengeance. When they were as-
sembled, he thus harangued them : " When last the glorious light of all the
sky was underneath this globe, and birds grew silent, I began to settle, as
my custom is, to take repose. Before mine eyes were fast closed, me tho't
I saw a vision, at which my spirit was much troubled, and trembling at that
doleful sight, a spirit cried aloud, ' Behold ! my son, whom I have cherished ;
see the paps that gave thee suck, tlie hands that clasped thee warm, and ivt]
thee oft ; canst thou forget to take revenge of those wild people, that hath
my monument defaced in a despiteful manner; disdaining our ancient anti-
quities, and honorable customs. See now the sachem's grave lies like tinto
the common people, of ignoble race defaced. Thy mother doth complain,
implores thy aid against this thievish people new come hither ; if this be
suffered, I shall not rest in quiet within my everlasting habitation.'"*
Battle was the unanimous resolve, and the English were watched, and
followed from place to place, until at length, a.s some were going ashore in
a iMvat, they fell upon them, but gained no advantage. After maintaining
the fight for some time, and being driven from tree to tree, the chief captain
was wounded in the arm, and the whole took to flight This action caused
the natives about Plimouth to look upon the English as invincible, and this
was the reason why peace was so long maintained between them. Of the
time and circumstances of this battle or fight we have detailed at length in
a previous chapter.
Mo'Sii's Relation goes far to establish the main facts in the al»ove accotmt.
It says, " We brougiit sundry of the prettiest things away with us, and cov-
ered the corpse up again," and, " there was variety of opinions amongst us
ahout the embalmed person," but no mention of the bear-skins.
From a comparison of th(? different accounts, there is hut little doid)t, that
the English were attacked at Namskekit, in consequence of tlieir depreda-
tions u[M»n the graves, corn, &.c. of tiie Indians.
In 1(?21, Chikataubut, with eight other sachems, acknowledged, by n writ-
ten insiniment, which we have already given, them-selves the subjects of
Kit',.' James. Ten years after i.iis, 23 March, 1631, he visited Governor
Winlhrop at Boston, and presented him with a hogshead of corn. Many of
"his saimops and squaws" came with him, but were most of them sent
away, "n!>«>r they had all dined." although it thundered and rained, and the
governor urged their stay; Chikataubut probably feared they would be
voya^p lo Massachusetts before spoken o(, and from SquatUo who was with them it probably
received its name.
* If this he fiction, a modern compiler has deceived some of his readers. The article in
the AnaJertic Afa^zine may have been his source of information, but the original may b«
»een i;; Mr.-im' ^Nrw Cnnwin, lOft and Jn7.
'"'«''*
w:,
:•/- 'i^
■b-M- ^
-31*
i-'^'-V;^
(,■■
,.» .
■. *p. '•■.'-■- .
Ir
44
CHIKATAUBUT— HIS DEATH.
[Book II.
burdensome. At this time he wore English clothes, and sat at the govern-
or's tuble, " where he behaved himself as soberly, &c. as an Englishman."
Not long after, he called on Governor Winthrop, and desired to buy clothes
for himself; the governor informed hin. that " En«rlish sagamores did not
use to truck ; * but he called his tailor, and gave him order to make him a
Kuit of clothes ; whereupon he gave the governor two large skins of coat
beaver." In a few days his clothes were ready, and the governor " put hinj
into a very good new suit from head to foot, and after, he set meat before
them ; but he would not eat till the governor had given thanks, and after meat
he desired him to do the like, and so departed."
June 14, 1(>J1, at a court, ChikataufnU was ordered to pay a small skin of
beaver, to satisfy for one of his men's having killed a pig, — which he com-
plieJ with. A man by the name of Plastotoe, and some others, having stolen
corn from him, the same year, the court. Sept 27, ordered thn' Ptastoioc should
restore " two-fold," and lose his title of gentleman, and pay £5. This I sup-
pose tiiey deemed emiivalent to four-lbld. His accoiiij'ices were whipped,
to the same amount. The next year we find him engaged with other sachems
in an «'xi)edition against the Pequots. The same year two of his men were
convicted of assaulting some persons of Dorchester in their houses. " They
were put in the bilboes," and himself required to beat them, which he did.t
The small-pox was very prevalent among the Indians in 1633, in which
year, some time in November, Chikataiibut died.
The residence of the family of ChikulaubiU was at Tehticut, now included
in Middleborough. He was in obedieri> e to Massasoit, and, like other chiefs,
had various i)laces of resort, to suit the , " the
war having now continued between the Maqiias and our Indians, about six
years, divers Indians, our neighbors, united their forces together, and made
an army of about 6 or 700 men, and marched into the Maquas' coimtry, to
take revenge of them. This enterprise was contrived and undertaken
without the privity, and contrary to the advice of their English friends. Mr.
Eliot and myself, in particular, dissuaded them, and gave them several
reasons against it, but they would not hear us." Five of the Christian
Indians went out with them, and but one only returned alive. "The chief-
est general in this expedition was the principal sachem of Massachusetts,
named Josiah, aliqs Chekatabutt, a wise and stout man, of middle age, hut a
very vicious person. He had considerable knowledge in the Christian
religion ; and sometime, when he was younger, seemed to profess it for a
time ; — for he was bred up by his uncle, Kuchamakin, who was the first
sachem and his people to whom Mr. Eliot preached." §
Of those who went out with Wampatuk from other tribes we huve no rec-
ord ; but there were many, probably, as usual upon such expeditions.
This army arrived at the Mohawk fort after a journey of about 200 miles ;
when, upon besieging it some time, and having some of their men killed in
sallies, and sundry others sick, they gave up the siege and retreated. Mean-
while the Mohawks pursued them, got in their front, and, from an ambush,
* Printed at length in Snow's Hist. Boston, 389, et cet.
t Df ant's Hist. Scituate, 144.
t Ibid. Smtanmug was a brother of Josiah, and ruled " as sachem during the minority "
o( Jeremy. Dr. Harris, Hist. Dorchester, 16, 17.
$ 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 166.
i' \ .'* J [ i
*> * ■ ■ xTi
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46
MASCONONOMO OF AOAWAM.
[Book II
attacked them in a defile, and a great fight ensued. Finally the Mohawk?
were put to flight by the extraordinary bravery and prowess of Chikatanbvi
and his captains. But wliat was most calamitous in this disastrous expedi-
tion, was, the loss of the great chief Chikatavlnit, who, afler performing prodi-
gies of valor, was killed in repelling the Alohawks in their last attack, witli
almost all his captains, in number about 50, as was supposed.* This was a
severe stroke to these Indians, and they suffered much from chagrin on
their return home. The Mohawks considered themselves their masters,
and although a [^'=ce was brought about between them, by the mediation of
tiie English and Dutch on each side, yet the Massachusetts and otliers oflen
suffered from their incursions.
A chief of much the same importance as ChikatavJnit and his sons, was
Masconononu), or Masconomo, sachem of Aguwam, since called Ipavnch.
When the fleet which brought over the colony that settled Boston, in 1630,
anchored near Cape Ann, he wtlcomed them to his shores, and spent some
time on board one of the ships.t
On the tj8th June, 1G38, Mascononomet | executed a deed of " all his lands
in Ipswich," to John H'intkrop, jr., for the sum of £20.§
At a court in July, 1631, it was ordered, that "the sagamore of Agawam is
banished from coming into any Englishman's house for a year, under penalty
of ten beaver-skins." II This was probably don( in retaliation for his having
committed acts of violence on the Tarratines, who soon afler cai>ie out
with great force nguinst Mascononomo ; he having, "as was usually said,
treacherously killed some of those Tarratine families."1f It would seem
that lu> expected an attack, and had therefore called to his aid some of the
saciii ins near Boston; for it so happened that Montowampate and Wonoha-
quahum were at Agawam when the Tarratines made au attack, but whether
by concert or accident is not clear.
To the nriiibfr of 100 men, in three canoes, the Tarratines came out on
this enterprise, on iJ-e 8 August following. They attacked Mascononomo and
his guests in his wigwam in the night, killed seven men, wounded Mascono-
nomo liinisclf, and Montowampate^ ui\A JFonohaqiiaham, and several others who
aflerwards died. They took the wife of Montowampate captive, but it so hap-
pened that Abraham Shurd of Pemmaquid ransomed her, and sent her home,
where slie arrived on the 17 Septen/oer the same autumn.** From Mr. Coh-
hePs account, it appears that th-^y came against the English, who, but for an
Indian, named Robin, would have been cut off, as the able men at this time,
belonging to Ip»wich, did not exceed 30; and most of these were from home
on the day the attack was to have been made. Robin, having by some means
found out their intentions, went to John Ferkins,\\ and told him that on such
a day four Tarratines would conie and invite the English to trade, "and draw
them down the hill to the water sid»^ when 40 canoes full of armed Indians
would be ready, under " the brow of the hill," to fall upon them. It turned
out as Robin hud reported ; but the Indians were frightened off by a false
show of numbers, an old drum, and a few guns, without effecting their
objeet,tt
We hear no more of him until 1644, March 8, when, at a court held in
Boston, " Cuisliamekin and Smutw-Sachem^ Masconomo, JVashacowam and Has-
samagin, two sachems near the great hill to the west, called Wachuaeit, came
into tiic court, and, according to their former tender to the governor, desired
to be received luider our protectiou§§ and government, upon the same terms
It is scarce spelt twice alike
* 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i, 1G7.
t llisl. N. England.
\ This is (loubiless the most correct spelling of liis name,
the MS. records.
^ Records of Gen. Court, v. 381, || Prince, 367.
IT Huhbard-s N. E. 145.
*» H'intlirop's Jour.— Leteis's Hist. Lynn, 39, 'V).— Felt's Hist. Ipswich, 3.
fi Quarter-master, " living then in a lillle hut upon his father's island on this side of Jeof-
Neck." MS. Narrative.
i\ Cohbel's MS. Narrative.
$} 'I'hey desirud this from their great fear of the Mohawks, it is said.
ry's
fBooK II
he Mohawk?
Chikataubul
rou8 expedi-
iriiiiiig prodi-
t uttuck, with
This wa8 a
1 chugrin ou
lieir masters,
i/iediatiou of
otliers often
lis sons, was
illed Ipamch.
ston, ill 1630,
spent some
a]l his lands
if Agawom is
mder penahy
)r his having
er came out
usually said,
would seem
some of the
and Wonoha-
, but whether
came out on
tononomo and
led Mascono-
il others who
Jut it so hap-
nt her home,
•oni Mr. Cob-
, but for an
It this time,
! from home
some means
that on such
e, "and draw
'nied Indians
It turned
ff by a false
fecting their
court held in
im and fVas-
chusett, came
ruor, desired
same terms
twice alike in
s side of Jeof-
Chap. Ill]
MONTOWAMPATE.— WONOHAQUAHAM.
47
a melancholy picture of the distresses caused by the small-pox aiiinng the
•etched natives." "There are," says Mather, "some old planters surviving
_^ that Pumham and Sacononoco were. So we causing them to understand the
'9 articles, and all the ten commandments of God, and they freely assenting to
^ all,* they were solemnly received, and then presented the court with twenty-
six' fathom of wampum, and the court gave each of them a coat of two yards
of cloth, and their dinner ; and to them and their men, every one of them, a
cup of sac at their departure ; so they took leave, and went away very joyful."t
In the Town Records of Ipswich, under date 18 June 11558, a grant is made to
the widow of JWoacononomo, of "tliat parcel of land which her husband had
J fenced in," so long as she should remain a widow. Her husband was the last
of the sachems of Agawam, and with him, says Mr. Fell, descended " his feble
and broken scepter to the grave." He died on the 6 March, 1G58, and was
buried on Sagamore Hill, now within the liounds of Hamilton. His gun and
other valuable implements were interred with him. " Idle curiosity, wanton,
sacrilegious sport, prompted an individual to dig up the remains of this chieti
and to carry his scull on a [mjIc through I[)swicli streets. Such an act of bar-
barity was severely frowned upon, and speedily visited with retributive civil
justice.'' I
M ONTOW AMP ATE, sagamore of Lynn and Marbleheatl, was known more
generally among the whites as Sagamore James. He was son of JVarKpashemei,
and brother of fVonohaquaham and tVinnepurkitt.^ He died in l(x33, of the
small-pox, "with most of his people. It is said that these two promised, if
ever they recovered, to live with the Elnglish, and serve their God."||
Montowampate, having been defrauded of 20 beaver-skins, by a man named
fVatts, who had since gone to England, he went to Gov. fVinthrop on the 26
March, 1631, to know how he should obtain recompense. The governor gave
liim a letter to Emanuel Djuming, Esq. of London, from which circumstance
it would seem that the chief determined to go there ; and it is said that he
actually visited England and received his due.lf The histories of those times
give
" wretc
to this day, who helped to bury the dead Indians; even whole families of
them all dead at once. In one of the wigwams they found a poor infant suck-
ing at the breast of the dead mother."** The same author observes that, before
the di8<;ase liegan, the Indians had begun to quarrel with tlie English about
the bounds of their lands, " but God ended the controversy by sending the
small-pox among the Indians at Saugus, who were before that time exceeding-
ly numerous."
We have mentioned another of the family of JVanepashemet, also a sachem.
This was fVonohaquaham, called by the English Sagatiiore John, of VVinisimet.
His residence was at what was then called Rumneymarsk, part of which is
now in Chelsea and part in SRUgus.§ As early as 1631, he had cause to com-
plain that some of the En^ sh settlers had burnt two of his wigwams.
" Which wigwams," says Governor Dudley,]} " were not inhabited, but stootl in
a place convenient for their shelter, when, upon occasion, they should travel
that way." The court, upon examination, found that a servant of Sir R. ScU-
tonstall had been the means of the mischief, whose master was ordered to
make satisfaction, " which he did by seven yards of cloth, and that his servant
pay him, at the end of his time, fifty shillings storling."|J Sagamore John died
at Winisimet, in 1633, of the small-pox.§§ He desired to become acquainted
with the Englishmen's God, in his sickiies.s, and requested them to take his
two sons and instruct them in Christiniiity, which they did.||||
Winnepurkitt,^^ who married a daughter of Pussaconaway, makes f sidera-
ble figure also in our Indian annals. He was bom about 1616, and succeeded
Montowampate at his deeth, in 1633. The English called him George Rumney-
* The articles wiiich they subscribed, will be seen at larq^e when the AfatiHscripl Hist, of the
Prayincr Indians, by Daniel Gookin, shall be published. They do not read precisely as
rendered by ^Vinthrop.
t Winthrop's Juurnal. X Hist. Ipswich, 5. 6 Lewis's Hist. Lynn, 16, 17.
j Hist, of New England, 195. f History of Lynn, 38. *• Ilelatioo, &-C. 23.
tt Letter to the Countess of Lincoln, 25, edition IG96.
ii Pi-ince's Chronology. $$ History of New England, 195, (550.
II II Wonder-working Providence. HIT Spelt also WinnaperieL
"^^C^
t -.i" ' ! '41
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1 X
^ k.
II
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s ■
I-;;-
48
MANATAHQUA.—NATTAHATTA WANTS.
[Book U.
marsh, and at one time he was proprietor of Deer Island, in Boston harbor.
*' In the latter part of hw life, he went to Barbadoeo. It i» suppowd tliat he
was carried there with the prisonera wiio wei^e sold for sla''»>8, at tiie end of
Philip's war. He died soon after his return, in 1(>34, at the hou'w' of Mumin-
qiuuh^ aged 68 years." Matoayetsm'aine, daughtei' of Poquanumf is also men-
tioned as liis wife, l)y whom he had several children.*
ManatahqiM, called alno BUuk-ieHliam, was a sachem, and propiietor of Na-
liant, when the adjacent country was settled by the whites. His father lived
at Swnrnpscot, and . ■ also a sagamore, but probably was dead before the
ICnglisli settled in the country .f A traveller in thif then % wilderness world,
thus notices M'iUiam, and his possessing Nahant "One Black-william, aii
Indian Duke, out of his generosity gave this place in general to the plantation
of Saugus, so that no other can appropriate it to himself." He was a great
friend to the whites, but his friendship was repaid, as was that df many others
of that and c en much later times. There was c man by the name ot tValkr
Bagnall, nicknamed Ctreat Wot, "a wicked fellow," who had much wronged
the Indian.s,§ killed near the mouth of Saco River, probably by some of
those whom he had defrauded. This was in October, 16S1. As some vessels
were upon the eastern coast in search of pirates, in January, 1633, they put in
at Richmond's Island, where they fell in with Black-william. This was the
[)lace where Bagnall had been killed about two years before ; but whether he
lad aiiy thing to do with it, does not appear, nor do I find that any one, even
his mnrderers, pretended he was any way implicated ; but, out of revenge for
BagnaWs death, these pirate-hunters hanged Black-toilliam. On the contraiy,
it was particularly mentioned || that Bagnall was killed by Squidrayset and his
men, some Indians belonging to that part of the country.
This Squidrayset, or Scitterypisset, for whose act Manatahqua suffered, was
the first sachem who deedct land in Falmouth, Maine. A creek near the
mouth of Prcsumpscot River pr^rpetuates his name to this day. Mr. tVillis
flupj)oses he was sachem cf the Aucocisco tribe, who inhabited between the
Androscoggin and Saco rivers; and that from Aucocisco comes Casco.ir
There can be but litde doubt that Bagnall deserved his fate,** if any deserve
such ; but the other was the act of white men, and we leave the reader to
draw the parallel between the two : perhaps he will inquire, fVere the murderers
of MANATAHqoA brought to justice? All we can answer is. The records are si-
lent. Perhaps it was considered an offset to the murder of Bagnall.
JVatlahattawants, in the year 1642, sold to Simon fVillard, in behalf of " Mr.
Winlhrop, Mr. Dudley, Mr. JVowell, and Mr. Alden" a large tract of land upon
both sides Concord River. "Mr. Winthrop, our present governor, 1260 acres,
Mr. Dudley, 1500 acres, on the S. E. side of the river, Mr. J^ouxll, 500 acres,
and Mr. Allen, 500 acres, on the N. E. side of the river, and in consideration
hereof the said Simon giueth to the said JS/attahattawmits six fadom of waom-
pam]>ege, one wast'^oat, and one breeches, and the said JVattahattatvanis doth
covenant and bind himself, that hee nor any other Indians shall set traps with-
in this ground, so as any cattle might recieve hurt thereby, and what cattle
shall receive hurt by this meanes, hee shal' be lyable to make it good." fin
the deed, J^/attahattaioants is called sachem of that land.]
Witnessed by The mark of % Natahatta wants.
three whites. The mark of % Winnipin, an Indian
that traded/or Aim.ff
The name of this chief, as appears from documents copied by Mr. Shattuck,Xl
was understood Tahattmoan, Tahaftateanls, Attaivan, Attawanee, and Ahatawa-
nee. He was sachem of Mus.ietaquid, since Concord, and a supporter and
tHist. N.Eiig.
II Winthrop, ib.
*Ki.st. Lynn.
t lfi3S William Wood, author of New Eng. Prosptct.
^ WiiUlirop's Journal, i. 62, 63,
TT Col. Maine Hisl. Soc. i. G8.
•* K iiarl, in about three years, by extortion, =*« we infer from Winlhrop, accumulated
about £400 from amon? the Indiaiis. See Journal itl mpra.
ft Si'lfulk Records of Deeds, vol. i. No. 34. W Hist. Concord, Mass. pastim chap. i.
ch Kt. in ]
WAHGUMACUT. -JACK-STRAW.
49
#
nrnpni^tor o" Christianity auiDiig his people, luid an honcBt and iiftri^lir man.
The i-elebrated fVtiban married hiH eldest daiif(hter. John Tahatlawan was his
fon, who lived at Nashoba, where he was i-hiei' ruler of the praying; Indians —
» dfS4-rvin^ Indian. He died al)out lb7(. His widow wan daughter of John.
wjpfimon' of Patucket, uj)on the Men-ir la^K, who married Oomimoe-, another
lult'i- of the ])raying Indians, of MarilK)rough. II. . .)nly son l»y Tnhatlitwan *
was killed by some white rutHans, who came u{)on then) while in their wig-
wams, «uid his laother was bailly wounded at the same time. Of this aftiiir
we shall have occasion elsewhere to be more |)artirular. JSTaannahqumv, an-
other daughter, married JS/'aaniaheouf, called John Thomas, \vho died at N'atick,
aged 1 10 years.
We know very little of a sachem of the name of Wahffiimacut,] excefit that
he lived uf>on Connecticut River, and came to boston ii lOJll, with a rest
to the governor " to have some English to plant in his country;" and as iin
inducement, said he would "find them corn, and give them, yearly, 80 skins
of beaver." The governor, however, dismissed him without giving him any
encouragement ; doubting, it seems, the reality of Ins fri^^ndship. Kut it is
more probable that he was sincere, as he was at this time in great fear of the
Pequots, and judged that if some of the English would reside with him, he
sl.ould be able to maintain his countiy.
There accompanied fVahgumacut to Boston an Indian named Jackstrmo^
who was his interpreter, and Sagamore John. We have labored to iind some
further particulars of him, but all that we can ascertain with certainty, is, that
he had lived some time in England with Sir Walter RalegL§ How Sir Waller
* Mr. Gookin wriles this name Tohatooner, thai of the father Taliattau-arre. MS. Hist.
Proving Indians, 105.
t Wahginnarul, according to Mr. Surge's reading; of Winllirop. Our text is according
to Pnvce, who also used winthrov in MS. It is truly diverting to see how the author o?
Talt- 'if the Indians has displaveu his invention upon the passage in Winthrop'.i Journal
bringing to our knowledge this chief. We will give the passage of iVijithrop, that the rriidcr
may judge whether great ignorance, or misrepresentation " of set purpose " l)c chargeaMe
to hiin. " He [Gov. Winthrop] discovered after [ VVahginnaciit was gone], that the said
sagamore is a very treacherous man, and at war with the Pekoath (a far greater sagamore.")
Now, every cbilcl that has rcai! about the Indians, it seems to us, ought to know that the
meaning of Pekoath was mistaken by the governor, and no more meant a chief than the
Massasoits meant what the Plimoutli people first supposed it to mean. In the one case, the
name of a tfibe was mistaken for that of a chief, and in the other the chief for the tribe.
Mistakes of this kind were not uncommon before our fathers became acquainted with the
country. Winthrop says, too, the Mohawks was a great sachem. Now, who ever thought
there was a chief of that name 7
X Probably so named from the Maidstone minister, who flourished in Wat Tyler's rebellion,
and whose real name was John Ball, but afterwards nick-named Jack Straw. He became
chaplain to Wat's army, they having let him out of prison. A text which he made great use
of in preaching to his liberators was this : —
When Adam dalfe and Eve span,
Who waa then a gentleman .'
This we apprehend waa construed, Down with the nobility! See Rapin's Eng. i. 457. In
Ketmet, i. 247, John Wram is called Jack Straw. He was beheaded.
^" The imputation of the first bringing in o{ tobacco into England lies on this heroic knight."
IVivslanlry's Worthies, 259. " Besides the consumption of the purse, and impairing of our
inward parts, the immoderate, vain and phantastical abuse of the hellish weed, corrupteth the
natural sweetness of the breath, stupifieth the brain : and indeed is so prejudicial to the
general esteem of our country." Ibid. 211. Whether Jack-straw were the servant who
acted a part in the often-told anecdote of Sir Walter Ralegh's smoking tobacco, on its first
being taken to England, we shall not presume to assert ; but, for the sake of the anecdote, we
\yill admit the fact; it is variously related, but is said to be. in substance, as follows. At one
lime, It was so very unpopular to use tobacco in any wav in England, that many who had got
attached to itj used it only privately. Sir Walter was smoking in his study, at a certain time,
and, bcuig thirsty, called to his servant to bring him a tankard of beer. Jack hastily obeyed
the summons, and Sir Walter, forgetting to cease smoking, was in the act of spouting a
volume of smoke from his mouth when his servant entered. Jack, seeing his master smoking
prodigiously at the mouth, thought no other but he was all on fire inside, having never seen
such a phenomenon in all England before ; dashed the quart of liquor at once in his face, and
ran out screaming, " Massa's a fire I Massa's a fire ! "
Having dismissed the servant, every one might reasonably expect a few words concerning
his niaster. Sir Walter Ralegh may truly be said to have lived in an age fruitful in great and
worthy characteis. Captain John Smith comes to our notice through bis agency, and th«
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JAMES-PRINTER, OR JAMES-THEPRINTER.
[Book II
came by him, does not satisfactorily appear. Captains Amidas and Bariotn
Bailed t<) Anierica in his employ, and on their return carried over V ' natives
fnjin Virginia, whose names were Wanchtse and Manteo.* It is ban oossible
that one of these was afterwards Jack-straw.
A Nifirnuck Indian, of no small note in his time, it may in the next plo *e bo
proi)er to notice.
Jamta Printer, or Jameg-the-vrinter, was the son of J^aont, brother of Tuka-
peieillin] and Anawtakiru When a child, he was instructed at the Indian
cliarity school, nt Cumbridffc. In 1G59, he was put apprentice to Samuel
Green, to learn the printer s business ; { and he is s[)oken of as having run
away from his miiHtcr in 1()75. If, allcr an apprenticeship of 16 years, one
could not leave his master without the charge of absconding, at least, both the
master and apprentice should be pitied. In relation to this matter, Mr. Hub-
renownoil first Kii^lish rircumnavie;ator was his conlemporarv. He, like the last named, was
born ill llic cuiinty of Devonshire, in 1552, in the parish ot Budley. Sir Humphrey Gilbert,
so well known in our annals, was his half-brother, his father having; mariied 8ir llumphretfs
mother, a widow*, by whom he had Walter, a fourth son.t The ^•»eat successes and dis-
coverirs of tlio celebrated admiral Sir Francis Drake gave a nsw impetus to the English
nation in mnritimc affairs, and consequent thereupon was the settlement of North America ;
as G^reat an era, to say the least, &s was ever recorded in history. No one shone more
ronspici'inus in those undertakings than Sir Waller Ralegh. After persevering a long time,
he established a colony in Virginia, in XCXfl. He was a man of great valor and address, and
a favorite with the great Queen Elizabeth, th« promoter of his u>idertakings, one of whose
" maids of honor " he married. In this affair some charge him with having first dishonored
that ladv, and was for a time under the queen's displeasure in consequence, out marrying her
restorcif him to favor. The city of Ralegh in Virginia was so named by his direction. He
was conspicuous with Drake and Hotvard in the destruction of the Spanish armada in 1588.
On the death of the queen, he was imprisoned almost 13 years in the tower of London, upo:!
the charge of treason. It was during his imprisonment that he wrote his great and learned
work, the History of the World. The alleged crime of treason has loiig since been viewed
by all the world as without foundation, and the punishment of Ralegh reflects all its blackntjs
upon the character of James I. The ground of the charge was, that Ralegh and others were
in a conspiracy against the king, and were designing to place on the throne Arabella Stetoart.\
He was never pardoned, although the king set him at liberty, anc* permitted him to go on an
expedition to South America in search of a gold mine of which he had gained some intima-
tions in a prpvious visit to those countries. His attempt to find gold failed, but he took the
town of St. Thomas, and established in it a garrison. This was r. depredation, as Spain
and England vfere then at peace, bu; Ralegh had the king's commi&sioii. The Spanish
nmbassailor con- ;)lained loudly against the transaction, and the miserable •/am:.«, to extricate
himself, and a|)pease the Spanish king, ordered Ralegh to be seized on hh return, who, upon
the old charge of treason, was sentenced to be beheaded, which was executed upon him z9th
Ocl. 1618.$ " I shall only hint," says Dr. Poholiele,^ "that the execuliuii of this great man,
whom JamesMiiHs advised to sacrifice to the advancement of the peace with Spain, hath left an
indelible stain on the memory of that misguidec! monarch." It appears from another account IT
that Sir Walter, on arriving at the mouth of the Oronoko, was taken " desperately sick," and
tent forward a company under one of his captains in search of the gold mine. That they
were met by the Spaniards, who attacked them, and that this was the cause of their assault-
m^ St. Thomas, and being obliged to descend the river without effecting the object they
were upon.
The following circumstance respecting the celebrated History of the Worid, not 'jei."!g
generally known, cannot but be acceptable to the reader. The first volume (which is what
we have of it) was published before he was imprisoned the last time. Just before his execu-
tion, he sent for the publisher of it. When he came, Sir Wcdter took him by the hand, and,
" after some discourse, askt him how that work of his sold. Mr. Burre f'tho name of the
publisher] returned this answer, that it had sold so slowly that it had undi.. . him. At which
words of his, Sir Walter Ralegh, stepping to his desk, reaches his other pr.it of his history to
Mr. Burre, which he had brought down to the limes he lived in ; clapping his hand on his
breast, he took the other unprinted part of his works ir.io his hand, with a sigh, saying, ' Ah,
my friend, hath the first part undone thee, the second volume shpM undo no more ; this
ungrateful worid is unworthy of it.' When, immediately going to the fire-side, threw it in
and set his foot on it till it was consumed."**
»See Cayley's Life Sir W. Ralegh, i. 70. ed. Lond. 1616, 2 vols. 8vo.
t Some author of Indian tales might delight himself for a long lime in ringing changes on
lis Indian preacher's name, without inventing any new ones ; for it is not, as I remember,
this
spelt twice alike in our authorities.
t Thomas, Hist. Printing.
* " Of Otho ailheH, of Compton, Esq." PolvohtUU Hint. Devon, il. 219.
t Stith, Hist. Virginia, 7. Second son, says Mr. PoHkelt, Devon, U. 919.
T Rapin's Eitg. ii. 161. A Tindal's notes in Rapin, ii. 195.
jl Hist. Devonshire, i. S5». IT Winstanley, Worthies, 950.
** Winstanley, Worthies, 257.
time wi
Bii|H>nuii
'Jr. /.
the coui
Indiuiis
divers ()
others, J
t!ie art o
name
[Book D
ind Barhw
V ' natives
t oossiblo
Bxt pb "e be
;r of Tuka-
the Indian
to Samuel
having run
i yearw, one
ist, both the
T, Mr. Hvb-
M named, was
plirey Gilbert,
ir Humph'-e^s
cases and dis-
o the English
orth America ;
in shone more
ig a long time,
i address, and
one of whose
rst dishonored
t marrying her
iireclion. He
'mada in 1588.
London, upcr.
It and learned
e been viewed
II its blackncJS
id others were
bella Stewart.t
im to go on an
i some intima-
^t he took the
lion, as Spain
The Spanish
I, to extricate
im. who, upon
upon him 29lh
lis great man,
in, hath left an
ther account IT
ely sick," and
. That they
their assault-
object ihey
rid, not '5€in^
which is what
>re his execu-
he hand, and,
name of the
m. At which
' his history to
s hand on his
, sayir-g, ' Ah,
more ; this
threw it in
ig changes on
I remember,
chaf. nt]
JAMES-THE PRINTER.-KUTCHMAKIN.
51
Jorrf mys,* "He had attained Bon:'^ skill in printing, and might have attained
more had he not, HInulded to distinguish him from others named James.
"Jr. I. Mather \ has this record of James-printer. "July 8, [lfi76.] Whereas
the council at Boston had lately emitted n declaration, signifying, that such
Indiuiis IIS did, within 14 days, come in to the Knglish, might liojie for mercy,
divers of them did this day return frotn attioiig the Nipmucks. Among
others, James, an Indian, who could not only read and write, but had learned
tlie art of nrhiting, notwithstanding his apostasy, did venture hims<>lf upon the
mercy and trutli of the Knglish declaration, which he had seen and read,
pmmising for the future to venture his life against the common en«'my. lie
uikI •he other now come in, affirm that very many of the Indians an; dead
since tint) war began ; and that more have died by the hand of God, in respect
of diseases, fluxes and fevers, which have been amongst them, than have b«.'en
killed with the sword."
Mr. Thomas says. * it was owing to tlie amor patrite of Jamxs-printfr that he
left his mast'- and jOinf;d in Philip''8 war. But how much amor palricB he
must have htt.i to have kept him an opprentice 16 years is not mentioned.
It was in 1(185 that the second edition of the famous Indian Biblit wa.'^
completed. From the following testimony of Mr. Eliot will be seen how
much the snccess of that undertaking was considered to depend on James-
the-printer. In 1(583, in writing to the Hon. Robert Boyle at London, Mr. Eliot
says, " I desire to see it done before I die, and I am so deep in years, that I
cannot cxpeci to live long; besitles, we have but one man, viz. the Indian
Printer, that is able to compose the sheets, and correct the press with under-
standing." In another, from the same to the same, dated a year after, he says,
" Our slow progress needeth an apology. We have been tnuch hindered by
the sickness the last year. Our workmen hove been all sick, and we have but
few hands, (at printing,) one Englishman, and a boy, and one Indian," &c.
This Indian was undoubtedly James-the-printer. And Mr. Thomas adds,
" Some of James's descendants were not long since living in Grafton ; the\
bore the surname of Printer.'"^
There was an Indian named Job JS/esutart, who was also concerned in the
first edition of the Indian Bible. He was a valiant soldier, and went with the
English of Massachusetts, in the first exj»edition to Mount Hope, where he
was slain in Iwttle. " He was a veiy goo.<'';■' V--'. 'I-V.l
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KUTCIIMAKIN— WAR WITH THE PEQUOTS.
[BooE II.
tlitlcront partH of our work, extracts will DKCOHmrily show. He wm oiio of
tliuHi; HucliciiiH who, in l(i4.')^, hIkiiuiI u subiiiiaaiou to the English, na hatt
been irinitio' " in a prncediug chapter.
In Ki-'Xi, ^hamakin Hold to the people of Dorchester, Uncataquiwet,
iM'ing the par at town Hince called Milton. This, it app<>nrH, was at ttotno
|N>rio(l hin nssiut, . Though he waa a Hucheni under Wooaamtquin, yet, lilto
Citunbitatil, he was op|>oc)ed to the Hettleinent of the English in his country.
He Hvn, they inquired for the sachem,* wishing to
[tarley with him : his iieople said " he was from home, but within three hours
he would come ; and so from three to six, and thence to nine, there came
none." But the Indians came fearlessly, in great numbers, and spoke to them,
through the interpreter, Kvlshamakin, for some time. This delay was a strata-
gem which succeeded well ; for they rightly guessed that the English had
come to injure them in their persons, or pro[)erty, or both. Therefore, while
some were enteitaining the English with words, others carried off* their efl!ects
and hid them. When they had done this, a signal was given, and all the
Indians ran away. The English then fell to burning and destroying every
thing they could meet with. Gardener had sent some of his men with the
others, who were unaccountably left on shore when the others reembarked,
mid were pursued, and two of them wounded by tlie Indians.
" The Bay-men killed not a man, save that one, Kichomiquim^ an Indian
sachem of the Bay, killed a Pequit ; and tlirs began the war between the
Indians and us, in these parts." f The Pequots henceforth used every means
to kill tlie English, and many were token by them, and some tortured in their
manner. "Thus far," adds Gardener, "I had written in a book, that all men
* Sassacus, says Wintlirop (i. 194.) ; but bein? told he was gone to Long Island, the gene-
ral demanded to see " the other sachem, &c." which was doubtless MoTKmoUo.
i 3 Coll. Hut. Soc. iii. 141, &c.
r»Kr. IV
and |M)st(>i
Mlird, yen,
(>mI\ lit-nii
'i'ti s;iy
informed \<'riii
innslimtlv
W'dttrtowi
mar Doirl
<'|" K lit slut I
III IthlH,
to a drt-il
firijjin Wf
Thf trai't
vvliioli Vail
Of the grtm
— MiA.vri
Sells lifwi
nanimitij
rrpt's it —
Ills profile
errculion-
Trnilition.'
— Clinrarl
of plotdnc
H'lir lictwr
Further ac
The lioiii
" Puutuckit
liy a brook i
tiie SCO, or r
iiiuiiy island
Niiintick, thi
within it. 1
about 30 or
Rliode Islaii
them from 1
at tlie ztuiitli
of thirtif the
futiier, lived
III 17t>6, <
Narragunset
sfiii."^. Mr. .
sciioolmastei
lished I canr
A census (
Feb. 1832, 1
themselves n
Of the en
learned from
named Tash
* Suffolk Re|
piclure of son.c
t See 3 Cell.
J See Beatty
CH*r. IV.) OF TFIK NARRAOANSKTS— TASIITASSUCK.
AS
and iMwtcrity iiiitflit know liow uiiil wliy so iimiiy lionoHt nifii lind tlit-ir lilmwl
Hhfd, vtii, aiitl Hoiiii" llavi«l ulivr, otlurs rut in |ticn'M, ami wurii' roiwtrtl alive,
times of this nation, some of the first English inhabitants
learned from the old Indians, that they had, previous to their arrival, a sachem
named Tasklassuck^ and their encomiums upon his wisdom and valor were
* Suffolk Reg. Deeds. There is no name signed to the deed, but in the place thereof, is the
picture of soinc foui -legged animal drawn on his back.
t See 3 Cell. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 210. t Four or five miles, says Gookin.
J See lieatty's Journal, 106. || MS. letter of Rev. Mr. Ely.
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v-jfiil
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1
54
rANONICI'S.
[RonK II
Nifric rm th»i Drlnwiin-H n-portcd of tlu'ir grvnt i'liirf Tanuinij ; that
<• liail imt Imth hiH <'(|iml, &<•. Tn.thtiij^xuik lmnii ami ilan^'htir; thi'H«> he joiiinl in inarria;;)', hiraiiw h<' could tiiid imur
worthy of iht-rn out ot' liin family, 'riir pnnhict of thi.s iiiurriu^^n wiw four
WHiH, of whom Caiumiriu wiw the oldrst.*
("A.voMci's.f tlir >{rci»t wichciM of the i\«rni^aiiMjj(Moi7
tied iM'foni Cnnoninui, and applied to die Kn^rlinli for pniteetion.
Hdward h'initloic n'lnU'M, 'u\ h'lH (ioon Nkwh krom Nf.w Knoland, that, in
Feh. I(>*yj, Cnnonicus went into Plimoiith, hy one of hin men, a himdie of
arrows, lM)und with a mltlesnake's skin, and there led them, and retired. The
i\arnif,'ansets, who were reported at this timc! "many thousuid strong'," hearini?
of the weakness of the hjifrlinh, "hcfjan, (says the ahove-named author,) to
hreath forth many threats a^minst us," althoui,di they had tin; lust smnmer
"desinid luid ohtuined |M'aco with us." — "Insomuch as the conunon talk of
our nei^hhor Indians on ull sides was of the preparation they niud<; to com>-
aj^iinst us." They were now iml>oldeneriiHliin<'n fnivi-l aJuiH' with Hiif'cty mid loving kintlntM ?"
Tin* tiillowinf,' Ktiinint-nt <>l' Hofjrr H'illinmt is in a ili'iKi.xitioii, iJHtcd Nuitu-
ifiuiHt't, IH June, M'tK'l, iiiid, although varyiiif; a littlr rnnii tin- alio\<-, runiains
t:ir-ts vVry |»rrtiiitiit to our |Mir|M»s«'. Mr Mays," I tcstifv llinl it was the piicral
iuiot hy the Kn>;hsh to sisccrtain thr niunh'rcrs, tiny were fully satisfied
that Citnoninu and Miantumiomok had no hand in the aUair, hut that "the six
other \arraf,'anset sachems had." No wonder In; took f,'reat offence at the
conduct of the |'',n^lish coni"erniii>; the death of Aliitntunnoinoh. 'I'he \\ arwick
settlers considered it a ffreat piece of injustice, and IMr. Sdinuel dtirlon wrote u
letter for Cammiciui to the ^ntvcrnment of lMa.s«aclnisi'tls, notilyinj? them that
Ik; had resolvinl to In; roven^'ed upon tho Mohe^ans. I'pon tluH the l''n;,'lish
dcs|Mitched inessenficrs to Narrapmset to incpiire of ('aiioniciis whetlnr In;
authori/ed the letn-r. lie treated them with great coldness, and would not
admit them into his wigwam lor the space of two hours ulh-r their arrival,
altliou>fli it was exceediiifily rainy. Vvlien they were admitted. In; frowneil
upon them, inid >(ave them answers f()reij(n to the purpose, and referred tliern
to Pessanis. This was ii very cold reception, eomparcMl \,ith that whirii tin;
niesMeiip-rs received when sent to hiui t<)r information re8|)e(;ting the death
of IMr. Oldham. "They returned with acceptance ntid go(»d success of their
husiness; ohserving in the sachem much state, great command of his men,
and marvellous wisdom in his answers; and in the carriage of the whole
treaty, clearing himself and his neighbors of the munler, and offering revenge
of it, yet upon very safe mid wary conditions."
This sach«;tn is said to h.ive governed in great hurinony with his nephew.
"The chiefest goverinn(;nt in the country is divided between a younger saciiem,
.Miantunnomu, and an ehlersar-hem, Caunaunacxm, of about fourscore years old,"
this young mt'.n's unch; ; and their agreement in tlu; government is remarkable.
The old saeiiem will not be offend(!(l at what the young sjichein doth ; and the
young sachem will not do what he conceives will displease his ii icle."f With
this passage before him, Mr. Durfee versifies as follows, in his poem c^illeil
Whatchecr : —
" Two miglity chiefs, one cautiouf wise, and old.
One younsf, and slronji, and terrible in tiglil,
All Narragiui.sol and ("owi'sul hold ;
One lodge lliey build — one romisi'l fire ihoy liglil."
" At a meeting of the commissioners of the United Colonies nt Ronton, vij
.Sept., lf)43," it was agreed that .'Maasaclmsetts, in behalf of the other colonies,
"give Conoonac^is and the Nanohiggunsets to understand, that from time to
time " they have taken notice of their violation nf the covenant between them,
notwithstanding the great mnnifestations of their love to them by the English ;
that tiiey had concurred with Mlantunvnmoh in his late mischievous plots, by
which he had intended "to root out the body of the English" from the coun-
try, l»y gifts and allurements to other Indians; and that he had invaderl Unm.i,
contrary to the "tripartie covenant" between himself, Unca/t, and Connecticut.
Therefore, knowing "how peaceable Connnncvs nnd Masnis, the late fath»>r of
Mi/antemmo, governed that great people," they ascribed the late "tumults nnd
outbrenkings" to the malicious, rash nnd ambitions spirit of Miantiinnomoh,
more than to "any af!(;cted way of their own."
Notwithstanding, Miantunnomoh being now put to death, the English and
their confederate Indian sachems, namely, " J ncus, sagamore of the Mohegins,
' This was written about lG4d.
tCol. R.I. Hist. Soc. vol. i.
V.' *
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S6
CANOMCUS.— HIS WAR WITH THE PEQUOTS.
[Book II
and liis jicoplc, ffoosamequine and his pooplo, Sncanocoe and his people, P«n»-
h/tm ant) his people, Avere disposed, they said, still to have {)eace with the
Namigansets; but should exjiect a iriore iiiitiitid olwervanee of their agree-
ment than they had shown hitherto." This determination was to be imme-
diately laid before them, and a prompt answer demanded.
In a trave assembly, upon a certain oeeasion, Canoninis thus addressed
Rogtr yi'illiams: "I have never siiHered any wronj: to be offered to tlie
English since they landed, nor never will ; " and oil i. repeated the word
fytmnaunewayean. "If the Englishman s|)eak true, if lie mean truly, then
fhall I go to my grave in peace, and lioj)e tliat the English and my posterity
shall live in love and peace together."
When Mr. Williams said he hoped he had no cause to question the English-
men's wannaumioaiwnck,X\mi is, faithfidness, having long been acquainted with
it, Canonicus took a stick, and, breaking it into ten pi(!ees, related ten instances
wherein they had proved false ; laying down a j)i('ce at each instance. Mr.
WUliavis satisfied him that he was mistaken in some of them, and as to others
he agreed to intercede with the governor, who, he doubted not, would make
satisfaction for them.
In 1635, Rev. Roger WUliams foimd Canoninis and Mianlunnomoh carrying
on a bloody war against the Wampanoags. By his intercession an end was
put to it, and he grew much in fiivor with all the sacln!ms ; especially Canoninut,
whose "heart (he says) was stirred up to love me as his son to his last gasp."
He sold the Island of Rhode Island to William Coildington, Roger Williams,
and others. A son of Canonicus, named Mriksah, is named by Williams as
inheriting his father's spirit. This son is also called Meika^ who, after his
father's death, was chief sachem of the Narragansets, and was said to have
been his eldest son. Many particulai-s of him will lie found in our progress
onward. •
At the time of the Pequot war, much pains was taken to secure the friend-
ship of Canonicus more firndy. Mr. Williams wrote to Crovernor Winthrop
concerning him as follows: "Sir, if any thing be sent to the princes, I find
Canounicus would gladly accept of a box of eight or ten pounds of sugar, and
indeed he told me he would thank Mr. Governor for a box full." In another
letter which Mr. Williams sent to the same by Mianlunnomoh himself, he sjiys,
" I am bold to retpiest a word of ad to tlie
the word
truly, then
f posterity
e English-
liiited with
I instances
mce. Mr.
IS to others
ould nuike
>h carrying
n end was*
Canonicus,
lust gasp."
r JVilliams,
Williams as
3, after his
lid to have
ir progress
the friend-
ir fVinlhrop
nces, I find
* sugar, and
In another
slf, he says,
sition made
^aunoiinicus
iwese, upon
em." The
ley offered
to know
isrtts, and
lid he told
but if he
and ])ut in
)od feeding
lusetts men
desired he
a mile or
e had any,
war, which
which Mr,
and who,
(Is by the
life was
immediate
M"
Pe(iuots, on
Weca|)aug
t ten miles
onging to this
Chap. FV]
CANONICUS.— SOKOSO.
67
wide, and fifteen or twenty long. Canonicus drew along with him, besides his
own men, several of the Massachusetts .sagamores. This was maintained with
ferocitvaiid various succes,s, mitil K).'}.!, when the Peqiiots were driven from it,
but who, it would seem, coiisidei»;d th(>msclves but little worsted ; for Canonicus,
doulning his ability to hold possession long, and ashamed to have it nitnken from
him, made a present of it to one of liis captains, who had fought heroically in
coiKiuering it; but he never held ])oss('.ssi(in : however, alter the Pequots were
sulMliied 'ly the English, these lands were possessed by the Narragausets again.
The name of this Pequot captain was Sokoso, sometimes call«^d Soso, Sosoa,
&CC. He had killed one of his countrymen and fleul of peace ihe friend;
His Itreast a treasury of maxims sage —
His arm, a host^to piiiiisli or defend."
Canonicus, at the age of 84 years, is i .ide to announce his approaching
dissolution to his people thus: —
" I die. — My friends, you have no cause to grieve :
To aWer hands my regal power I leave.
Our god commands — lo fertile realms I haste,
Compared with which your gardens are a waste.
There in full bloom eternal spring abides,
And swanning fishes glide through azure tides ;
Continual sunshine giUls the cloudless skies,
No mists conceal Kecsuckqnand from our eyes."
About im% a son of Canoninis died, at which his grief was very great;
insotuuch that, "having buried his son, he burned his own palace, and all his
goods in it, to a great value, in solemn remembrance of his son."
Like other miii igiiorjint of science, Canonicus was superstitious, and was
<:n;itly in fear of the English, chiefly, perhaps, from a belief in their ability to
li'irt liim In' enchantment, which belief, very probably, was occasioned by th(!
>tory tliat Squantn circidated, of which, in a previous chapter, we have spoken.
Winn Roirer Williams fled into his country, he at first viewed hitn with dis-
tnist, and would only frown u|)oii him; at hrngth he accused him, as well as
till' other English, of sending the plague among the Indians ; but, as Ave have
said before, he soon became reconciled to him, gave hitn lands, and even
protected him. They became nmtual Imlps to each other, and, but for ani-
mosities among the l-'nglish themselves, it may he fair to conclude, friendship
would have continued with the Narragausets through several generations.
<>t thai prince or people, even to a river, brook, &c. .And I have kno.vn them make bargain
■ind Side amongst themselves, for a sinidl piece, or quanlily of ground ; nolwillislandlng a
sinful opinion amongst many. Iliat Chrisiians linve riffht to lieallien's lands." /{. Williams.
*Si'o Potter's History of Narragaiisol, in Col. U. I. Hi«l. Soc. iii. 218.
♦ 15v John Latkrop, A. M. in 8vo.
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68
flIIANTUNNuMOH.— THE PEQUOT WAR.
[Book IF.
MiANTUNiVOMoii * was the son of a chief called Mascus, nephew of Canoni-
cus, brother or brother-in-law to JVinigret,\ and brother of Olash. And, from
a manust^ript I among the papers of the late Dr. Trumbull, it apijears that
Mossup, or Mosipe,^ and CanjanaquoiiJ,\\ were also his brothers.
"This Miantonimo" says Mr. //uitan/, " was a very good personage, [that
is, well made,] of tall stature, subtil and cunning in his contrivements, as wjU
as haughty in his dcHign8."1[
As early as 3 Aug. I(i32, this chief cam(! with his wife to Uoston, where ho
staid two nights. He was then known by the name of Mecumeh. While hero
he went to church with the English, and in the mean while, some of hie men,
twelve of whom had accompanied him, it seems, broke into a house, and
committtjd a theft, on 5 3Iarch. Complahit was made to the English gov-
ernor, wiio "told the sachem of it, and with some difficulty caused him to
make one of his sjmnaps ** beat them." The authora of the mischief were
immediately sent out of town, but Miantunnomoh and the others, the governor
took to his house, " and made much of them."tf
The English seem always to have been more favorably inclined towards
other tribes than to the Narragansets, as appears from the stand they took in
the ware between tiiem and their enemies. And so long as other tribes suc-
ceeded against them, the English were idle spectators; but whenever th<;
scale turned in their favor, they were not slow to intercede.
In the Life of Canonictis, the part Miantunnomoh exercised in the govern-
ment of the gi-eat nation of the Narragansets is related.
In 1634, Captains Stone and JVorton were kille. ** A name the sachems gave their allendanls.
ft yViiUhrop's Juuraal. H Miantunnomoh. received eighty. Mather's Relalioa, 39.
■ 'A
[Book II.
of Canoni-
Aiifl, from
^l^ars that
muge, [that
nts, as w-oll
1, where ho
While hero
)f hio riieii,
house, and
[iglish gov-
sed liitri to
»chief were
le governor
ed towards
hey took in
■ tribes snc-
lenever the
the govcrn-
ind in 1036,
wioh did all
imich jtains
i'oin time to
)f hostilities
cdialely or-
assist theni
the English
ine.
etts that he
ent him, by
le war witii
lem to such
of tlie Nar-
lent, and re-
len the war
upon such
led tlieni to
I, and other
insiilered as
liad grown
id, as usual,
inoin corrcpl,
is rolniiUMl in
or prdiiiiiii'ia-
's Cent. Ihs-
'list. Sor.
:s. He •' was
ntn(|iiii, in liis
.1 wore biirieil
,] and ihe rest
gs as gratuity
y two seiicrali
mnrk."
t<. Di uments.
Rflatiun, 39.
Chap. IV]
MIANTUNNOMOH.— INTRIGUES OF UNCAS.
59
Roger Williams exercised all his skill to restore tranquillity. Many of the
Petiuots who had escaped the sword of the war of 1037, were among the
Mohe"ans, and seem to have taken part with them against Miantunnomoh.
Thcv did this, no doubt, that the Mohegans might screen them from the
iMiglish, who were still seizing on all of that nation against whom they could
Hiid any cau>«e of suspicion of having been engaged in murderhig the English,
or in arms against them.
.MiatUunnomoh, it is probable, had been ordered btifore the magistrates of
(Jonnecficut, to give some account of the Petjuot refugees in the hands of the
3Ii)li('gaiis, as well iiii of those in his nation ; which may have been a main
cause of the war they had now waged against him. For, when he set out lor
Hartford, he had a guard of "upwards of 150 men, and many »ich"iiis, and
his wife and children." Mr. Williuiiis was with him, and strongly urged liim
ntit to venture ujjon the journey, even with this fbrci', because of the hostility
of tiie IVIohegans; but the sachem woidd not be dissuaded, although he had
no dotibt that the Mohegans and their I'etiuots were in great force not liir olll
And while they were on their march, "about 000" of them fell upon the
Wunntu^howatuckoogs, a trii)e under Canonicus, where they committed exten-
sive robberies, and destroyed "about 23 fields of corn."
Pvotwithstaiiding this great Mohegan army had jirejiared an ambush tf>
iiitereipt and cut olT Miantunnomoh^ and gave out a threat thai they would boil
him in a kettle, yet he went to, and returned safe from, Connecticut.*
On this occa.sion he discovers great bravery, if it border not too closely
u|)on temerity; for, when ffilliams urged him to retreat, they had pertbrmed
lialf their journey, or about 50 miles; and j>/iaw/wn»iomo/i'3 answer was, after
liolding a council with hi.s chiefs, "that no man should turn back, resolving
ratlier all to die."
The Mohegan sachem, Uncas, was at the same time ordered to appear at
Hartford, to give an account of the IV<(uot warriors, or murderers, as the
liiiglisli culled them, in his ktM jiing, as well as to effect a reconciliation of
(iiliirences between him and Miantunnomoh; but, instead of appearing, lie
sent a messenger, with word that he was lame and could not come. The
governor of Comiectictit, Mr. Ilaynes, at once saw throu.^h the artifice, and
observ(!d that it was a tame excuse, and immediately sent for him to come
without delay.
Whether cured of his lameness or not before coming, we .ire not informed;
but, in a few days afk-r, the sui»tle sachem appeared, not daring to forfeit the
friendship of the English, which, it si-eins, he preferred to hilling longer his
guilty fiice from the presence of the magiiiuiimous Miantunnomoh,
Now before the English, Uncas was charged with the dejiredationi , some
of which were too well attested to admit of a denial, and others were dis-
owned in [lart. The inquiry seems to htive ended afte'r the parties wen; tii(;d
of it, without any advantage to the injured Nurragansets, and we hear of no
measures taken for their relief.
The next thing in order was a call upon Uncas for an account of the
INquots which he was sheltering, which resulted only in a new series of
liilschoods from him. When he was reiiuested to give their names, he said he
knc'ii none of them, and that there were but 20 in his dominions. Whereupon
v.itiies.ses were called, whose testimonies prov(>il, in his presence, that his
statement was false. "Then he acknowledged that he had 30." At length
Mr. Hai/nes dismissed him, with orders to bring in their names in 10 days, ui
lie would take those Indians by force out of his i;■.■
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60
MIANTUNNOMOli SELLS AQUIDNICK.
[Book II
Rev. Samuel Gorton and his assoc'mtcs purchaBcd Shaomet, afterwarus
railed Warwick, from the Earl of Warwieit, of Miantunnomoh ; but, as
Gorton could do nothing right in the eyes of the Puritans of Massachusetts,
Piimham was instigatt^d to claim said tract of country ; anu, although a
sacii(>iri under Miantunnomoh,* did not liesitate, when supimrted by the Eng-
lish, to assert his claitii as chief sachem. And the government of Massachu-
setts, .0 give to their interference the appearance of disinterestedness, which it
would seem, from their own vindication, they thought there was a chance to
doubt, ■' Send for the foresaid sachems, [who had complained of Mr. Gorton
and others, througli the instigation of the English,] and upon examination
find, both by English and Indian testimony, that Miantonomo was only a
nsur|)er, anrl had no title to the foresaid lands." f This is against the testi-
mony of every record, and could no more have been believed then, than that
Philip was not sachem ol' I'okanoket. In all cases of purchase, in thosi>
times, the chief Siichem's grant was valid, and maintained, in almost eveiy
instance, by the purchaser or grantee. It wjts "ustomary, generally, to make
tlif! inferior sachems, and sometimes all their men, presents, but it was by no
means a law. The chief sjicIkmus oih>n permitted those under them to
dispose of lands also, without IxMug called to account. This was precisely
the situation of things in the Warwick controversy, of which we shall have
occasion again to speak, when we come to the life of Ptimham,
In March, KKJS, Miantunnomoh, with four other sachems, sold to William
Coddins^ton and othei-s, the island now called Rhode Island, also most of the
otheiij in Narraganset bay, "for the full payment of 40 fathom of white peag,
to be equally divided" between them. Hence JWion/u/jnomoA received eight
fathom. He was to "have ten coats and twenty hoes to give to the present in-
habitants, that they shall remove themselves from the island before next winter."
The deed of this purchase, a copy of which is in my possession, is dated
'24tii March, and runs thus: "Wi-, Canonicas and Meantinomie, the two chief
sachems of Naragansets, by virtue of our genend command of this Bay, as
also the paiticidar subjecting of the dead sachems of Aqnednick, Kitacka-
mucknut, themselves and lands unto us, have sold unto Mr. Coddington and
his friends * * the great Island of A(iMi(lnick, lying from hence [Providence]
eastward * * also tlie marshes, grass upon Qunnonigat and the rest of the
islands in the bay, excepting Chabatewece, fornierly sold unto Mr. Winthrop,
the now Gov. oi' Mass. and Mr. Williams of Providence, also the grass
npon the rivers and coves about Kitaekamuckqut, and from thence to Pau-
pasqiiat."
" The mark of ^ Cononicus.
The mark of ^ Yotnesh, [Otash,
hotlier of Miantunnomoh.]
The mark of A, Meantinomie.
The mark of , — ^ Asotamnet.
T/io iiiark of v-..^^ Meihammoh,
Canonic us his sou.
"This witnesscth that I, Wanamatanamet, the present sachem of the island,
have received five fathom of wampum and consent to the contents.
The mark of «J? Wanasiatanamet.
"Memorandum. I, Osemequon, freely consent" tha^ they may "make use
of any grass or trees on the main land on Pocasicke side," having rcceiued
five fathom of wampum also.
The mark of /\ Osameqoen.
As late as 21 Sejit. I(i38, the hand of Miantunnomoh is set to an instrument,
with that of Uncas, Said instrument was a treaty of peace, a bond for the
settling of difliculties between these two sachems and their men, and an
* " 'riii^ liiw of llie liidinns in nil Amerira is, that ihe iiitVrior sacliems ai\(l suhjorls shall
plaiU and rcniovo at the plcnsiiro of iho lii(r|icst and supremo sacliems." Roger Williams.
This is aiithorily, and we need no other con>".icMtary on ttic arbitrary proceedings of the court
of Massarliiiscit-;.
t III manuscript on file, at the slatc-liousc, lioston.
-ft
i
Chap. IV.]
obligation
between tl
follows :
1st. Pt!a
of tlu! Niu-
part of till
and never i
2d. Eac
side, they
whose dec
lawfiil for t
M. The
their peopl<
have niun
soon as tht
Pea(iiiots, t
take; of" hi
us that are
heads."
4th. Ant
and Molieg!
to provide,
the 11 thej
Pi-aqiiots, s
Narragansei
of wainpori
papon.sc out
and shall ni
but is now
possess any
John Ha
Rog'r Ltl
Edw'rd ]
The wife
as a[)peare b
right of Soh
On a tune
Indians at t
tunnomoh Wi
WUlinms, be
remtiined to
"Otir father
mo/i rcgoinet
ever see a S(
Williams ha
other atlded
heaven or d<
We have
of the mint
edticiition.
When it
the English
several Engl
would not ta
fit war with
and tri;ateil i
of the govc
This they v
We shall pn
Chap. IV] MIANTUNNOMOH.— TREATY WITH UNCAS.
61
obligation from both to appeal to the English when any difficulty should arise
betwetjn them. This treaty was done at Harttbrd, the substance ui' which
follows :
1st. Peace and friendship is established iMHween Miantunnomoh on the jMirt
of the Narragansets, and Poquhn^ as IJnciui was then 8<»metiines called, on the
part of the Mohegans. And all former injuries and wrongs to \ni forgiven,
and never to be renewed.
2d. Each of the sachems agree, "that if there fall out injuries" from either
side, they will not revenge them, but that they will ap|M>al to tlii; Knglish,
whose decision shall stand ; and if either piu-ty refuse to submit, " it shall bo
lawful for the Eiiglisli to compel him."
3(1. The sachems further covenant with the English, that they nor none of
their people shall harbor any Indians who shull be enemies to them, or shall
have murdered any white peo|)lf. Tlmy further agree that they will, "jis
.soon as they can, either bring the chief .sach(Mu of our late; eiieniies the
Peacpiots, that had the chief hand in killing tins English, to the sd English, or
take of " his head. As to the"nnn*ders that are now agre(;d upon amongst
us that are living, they shall, as soon jis they can possibly, take off their
heads."
4tli. And whereas it is agreed that there ait! now among the Narragansets
and Mohegans, 200 Pequot men, i)e,sides scjuaws and papooses; thic; article is
to ])rovide, that the Narragansets have enough of them to make up Hi), with
the 11 tliey have already, "and Po'/ia'tfie his number, and that atk-r thej, the
PeaquoLs, shall be divided as above, shall no more be called Peaquots, but
Narragan.sets and Mohegans." They agree to pay for every sanop one tiitiiom
of wanipom, and for every youth half as much — "and for every Siinop
papoose one hand to be paid at killing-time of corn at Connecticut yearly,
and .*liall not suffer them for to live in the country that was formerly theirs,
hut is now the English's. Neither shall the Narragansets or Mohegans
possess any part of the Pequot country without leaue of them."
. . ■<"'■>"
*>,V ■■.■■■■ »"!
^ •,-.■;(• -;■•';
^'''-
|S;>r';r:i:'-.'v-v,.-,:
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John Haines,
Rog'r Ludlow,
Edw'rd Hopkins.
MlANTINOMMV, •)
PoQuiAM, alias Unk_as. -(-"
The wife of Miantunnomoh, named Wawaloam, was alive as late as 1601
as appeal's by an information wIil-Ii she gave, dated 25 June, concerning the
riglit of Sokoso to sell the lands u.ljacent to Wccapaug.
On a time previous to 1G43, Rof^er Willia'tis delivered a discoui-se to some
Indians at their resilience, as he was i)assing through their country. Mian-
tunnomoh was present, and seemed inclined to believe in Christianity. Mr.
Williams, being much fatigued, retired to rest, wliile Miantunnomoh and othei-s
remained to converse upon what they had heard. One said to the i-hief,
"Our fiitliers have told us that our souls go to the south-west ; " Miantunnc-
vwh rejoined, "How do you know your souls go to the south-west? did you
ever see a soul go that way?" (Still he was rather inclined to believe, as Mr.
Williams had just said, that they went up to heaven or down to hell.) The
other added, " When (lid he (meaning Williams) ever see a .soul go up to
heaven or down to hell ? "
We have given the above anecdote, which is thought a good illustration
of the mind of man under the influence of a superstitious or pn-judiced
education.
Wiie'.i it was reported, in IG-IO, that Miantunnomoh was plotting to cut off
the English, as will be found mentioned in the account of .Viniirret, and
several English were sent to him in July, to know the truth of the i.iaiter, lie
would not talk with them through a Pe(piot interpreter, bi-cause he was then
at war with that nation. In other respin-ts h(> complied with their wishes,
and treated them respectfully, agreeing to comi; to Hostoii, for the gratification
of the government, if they would allow Mr. Williatm to accompany him.
This they would not consent to, and yet Ik; came, agre(?ably to their desii's.
We shall presently sec who acted bi;st the part of civilized men in this uliiur
Ai' :■■< . . •■■'
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62
MIANTUNNOMOH ACCUSED OF A CONSPIRACY. [Book U
He Imd refused to use a Pequot interpreter for good reiisons, but when he was
at Boston, and surrounded by armed men, lie was obliged to submit. "The
governor being as rrsohite as he, refused to use any other interpreter, tiiinkin;;
it a dishonor to us to give so much way to them ! " The great wisdom of tin;
governnient now displayed itself in the person of Governor Thomas Dudley.
It is not to be expected but that Miantunnomoh should resent their pioceedings;
for to the above insult they added others; "would show him no countenance,
nor admit him to dine at our table, Jis formerly he had done, l.ii be had
acknowli'dged his failing, &c., which he readily did." * By their own ibily,
the English had made themselves jealous of a powerful chief, and they appear
ever ready afterwards to cnsilit evil re|)oi1s of him.
That an independent chief should be obliged to conform to tninsitory
notions u|ion such an occasion, is absolutely ridicidous ; and the justness of
the following remark from him was enough to have shamed good men into
their senses. He said, " IF hen your people come to me, they are p'^milted to use
their own fcufhions, and I expect the same liberty when I come to j/oit."
In \M% Connecticut became very suspicions of Miantunnomoh, and urged
Massachusetts to join them in a war against him. Their feare no doubt grew
out of the consideration of the probable issue of a war with Uncos in his
favor, which was now on the point of breaking out. Even Massachusetts did
not think their suspicions well founded ; yet, according to their re(|ucst, they
sent to Miantunnomoh, who, as usual, gave them satisfactoiy answei>, and,
agreeably to their request, came agaiii to Boston. Two days were employed
by the coint of Massachusetts in deliberating with him, and we are aston-
ished at the wisdom of the great chief, even as reported by his enemies.
Tliat a simple man of nature, who never knew courts or law, should cause
such acknowledgments as Ibllow, from the civilized and tvise, will always be
cont«'mplat(!d with intense admiration. "When he came," says fi'inthrop,
"the court was assembled, and before his admission, we considered how to
tn-at with him, for we knew him to be a very subtle man." When he was
admitted, " he was set down at the lower eu(l of the table, over against the
governor," but wotdd not at any time speak upon business, unless some of his
counselloi-s were present; saying, "he would have them present, that they
might bear witness with him, at bis return home, of all his sayings." The
same author further says, "In all his answera he was very deliberate, and
showed good understjuiding in the principles of justice and ecjuity, and
ingenuity witlml."
lie now asked for his accusers, nrging, that if they conld not establish their
allegations, tliey ought to suffer what lie expected to, if they did; but the
court said they kneio of none; that is, they knew not whom they were, and
tlieret'oH! gave no credit to the reports until they had advised him accordini;
to a n)rmir agreement. He then said, "If you did not give credit to it, why
then (lid you disarm the Indians?" Massachusetts having just then disarmed
some of the Merrimacks under some j)retence. "He gave divers reasons,"
says Goviuiior ,*f7nlace,
to Waiandan
" Brothera
destroyed,
plains were ]
tish. Hut, b
cut down tl
horees eat u
we shall sta
you, but rest
luid \vest ha
[Book II
when he was
ibinit. "The
cter, thinking
r'isdorn ol' tin;
omiis Dudley.
])iocccdiiig8;
countenance,
, l.il liu liiul
eir own i'olly,
J tiiey appear
to transitory
ic justnetw of
00(1 men into
'•tnitted to use
>/i, and urged
o doubt grew
Uncos in his
sachusetts did
re(|ucst, they
inswei-b, and,
;re (iinphiyed
ve are aiitoii-
meiuies.
should cause
id always be
lys H'inthrop,
lered how to
Vhen he avus
r against the
s some of hi.s
■lit, that thev
yings." The
.'liberate, and
e(juity, and
stablish tlieir
did; but tlie
ey were, and
iin accorditii,'
(lit to it, why
len disarmed
ers reasons,"
ny such con-
V Uncos, &c.
his trcacheiy
my time," al-
nglish would
:' tlie charges
bore heavily
e it had been
lifter them to
tion." Arter
English,
which Mian-
'etiis: — " Pmir-
talionis,"'&c,
Chap. IV] MIANTUNNOMOH.— HIS WAR WITH UNCAS.
63
tunnomoh appears not to have liked, and " would not eat, until some food had
been sent lim from that of the governor's."
That wistloni seems to have dictated to Massachusetts, in her answer to
Connecticut, must be acknowitidged ; l)ut, as justice to JMiontunnomoh abun-
dantlv demanded such decision, credit in this case is du(! only to them, as to
him who does a good act because it was his interest so to do. Tiiey urged
Connecticut not to commence war alone, "alleging how dishonorable it «(>uld
111- to us all, that, while we were upon treaty with the Indians, they should
make war upon them ; for they would account their act as our own, seeing
we had formerly professed to the Indians, that we wen; all as one ; and in our
lust iiiessagf! to Miantunnnmoh, had remembered him again of the same, and
he had answered that he did so account us. Upon receipt of this our answer,
tliev forliare to enter into a war, but (it seemed) unwillingly, and as not well
pleased with us." The main consideration which caused Massachusetts to
decide iigainst war was, "That all those informations [furnished by ( /onnecti-
nut] might arise from a false ground, and out of the (?nmity which was
Unween the Narraganset and Mo'iigaii" sachems. Tiiis was no doubt one
of the real causes j and, had Miantunnomoh overcome Uncus, the English
would, from jwlicy, as gladly have leagued with him as with the latter; lor it
was constantly pleaded in those days, that their safety must dejtend on a
union with some of the most powerful tribes.
Tiiere !ohawk5,
"and Indi'-ns beyond the Dutch, and all the northern and eastern Indians,
woidd e>Lsily destroy us, man and mother's son."
Mr. Gardener next relates that he met with Miantunnomoh at Meanticut,
Waiandance's country, on the east end of Long Island. That Miantunnomoh
W!us there, as fVaiandance said, to break up the intercoui-se with those Indians.
There wtn'(! oth(!rs with Miantuntiomoh, and what they said to FVaiandance was
as follows: —
" You must give no more wampum, to the English, for they are no sachems, nor
none of their children shall be m their place if they die. They have no tribute
fCiven them. There is but one king in England, lolio is over them all, and if you
should send him 100,000 fathom of wampum, he looxdd not give you a knife for if,
nor thank you." Then said ffaianrfauce, " They will come and kill us all, as
liiey did the Pequits;" but replied the Narragansets, "Ao, the Pe({uots gave
them wampum and beaver, ivhich they loved so tvell, but they sent it them again,
and killed them because they had killed an Englishman ; but you have killed none,
thenfore give them nothing."
Some time after, .Wan''^^
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64
MIANTUNNOMOH DEFEATED AND TAKEN PRISONER. [Book II.
day apiKiinted, mid therefore I have come secretly to yon, because you can
ptjrsuiuie llie Indians to do what you will. Brothers, I will send over 50
Jndian.s to Manisses, and liU to you from thence, and take an lUU of
Soutliani[>ton Indians, with an 100 of your own here. And, when you
mm til*' three fins that will he made at the end of 40 days hence, in a
clear night, then act as we a(!t, and the next day fall on and kill men, women
and children, hut no cows; they must be killed as we need them for pro-
visions, till the deer come again."
To this speech all the old men said, " /Furre/scen," i. e. "It is well." But
this pniat plot, if the account given by fVaiaruiance he true, was by him
brought to the knowledge of the English, and so fail(!d. "And the plotter,"
says GarJemr, "ne.\t spring ufhT, did as il'uib did at llainoth-(jil<:ad. — So he
to Mohegaii,* and there had his fall."t
Capture and ikitth of Mmntutmotnoh. — The war brought on between Uncos
and Miantuniiomoh was not within the jurisdiction of tlie English, nor is it to
be exi»ectn Miarihinno
That there-
d daiigerouslj
t.
Chap. IV.] MIANTUN.NOMOII.-CONDUCT OF THF, F.NCI.ISII.
(Vi
|irivnt<
Iv with (liivction that he should execute hiiri within liis own j' rivlir-
,i(Hi, niiii without torture. , . , . >
I'roiM their own aci-oiuit of this affair, the Knglish (ot the I luted ( (ihimr.-<)
stiiiid cutideiniied ill the trial of lime at the l>nr of history. It is nhmvcil ihnt
luniH had made war upon Secfuasson, in July, HI4M, and done him minli
ii,|iii'v : * and that, according to a previous aL'reemcnt with the l'',ii!,'lisli, Miiiii-
hiiinniiirih iiad com|ilaiiied to t!ie governor of Massaciinsi'tts of the c(iU(hu-t
(.(' rnnt.i,n\u\ iiad received answer from him, "that, if i'nriis liitd doiic him
nr Ills liicnds wrong, and would not giv(( satisfaction, lie was left to take his
(wn course." No account is given that .Sc/iw.ssoH had injured Vnrns, but that
I'nat.i "sit upon Sequasson, and killed 7 or 8 of his men, wounded i;i, burnt
liis wigwams, and carried away the booty."*
We will now go to the record, which will {'liable u.-, to judge of the jiistiiess
(f tills matter. When the English had determined that Unrns should e.\e( iite
Minnlunnomoh, Uncos wm ordered to be; sent fiu" to Hartford, "with some
considerable number of his best and trustiest men," to take him to a place for
( xrcnlion, "carrying him into the next part of his own government, and there
put liim to death: jirovided that some discreet and faithful peixtiis of the
I'liglisli accompany them, and see the execution, for our more full satisfac-
tion ; and that the Engli.sh meddle not with the head or body at all."t
The commis.sioners at the same time tmlered, "that Ilartibrd furnish Unrrts
with a competent strength of English to defend him against any present fury
or assault, of the NanohiggimsiUts or any other." And "that in «'ase Uncus
shall refiis.; o execute justice upon Mi/nnlenomo, that then Mifontennmo be sent
by sea to the Massachusetts, there to be kept in safe durance till the com-
missioners may consider further how to dispose of him,"t
Here, then, we see fully developed the real state of the ca.se. The Mohe-
gaiis liJid, by accident, captured Miantunnomoh, after which event, they were
>>\r\v in fear of his nation than before; which proves, beyond doubt, that they
would never have dured to put him to (h.-atli, had they not been jiromised the
protection of the English.
No one can read this account without being reminded of the fate of .Vapo-
'eon. We do not say that the English of New England dreaded the jiower
I)'' MianlurrMtnoh as much as those of Old England tlid that of .Yapoleon
atl< .i..tr(ls; hut that both were sacrificed in consequence of the liars of t* se
into whose power the fortune of wars cast them, will not, we presume, lie
denied.
AVIien the determination of the commissioners and elders was made known
to Uncos, he "readily undertook the execution, and taking Miantunnomoh
along with him, in the way between Hartford and Windsor, (where Uncos
liutli some men dwell,) Uncos' brother, following after Miantunnomoh, clave
Ills head with an hatchet."]; Mather says, they "veiy fairly cut oft" hi«
hpa(l."§
Dr. Trumbull || records an account of cannibalism, at this time, which we
ought to caution the reader against receiving as true history, as it no doubt
rests on the authority of tradition, which is wont to transfer even the transac-
tions of one continent to another, which is this: — " Uncus cut out a large jiiece
of his shoulder, and ate it in savage triumph;" saying, "'it was the sweetest
moat he ever ate ; it made his heart strong.' "H
* ffiihlmrd, N. E. 450. f Records of the U. Colonies.
} Winthrop's Journal, ii. 134. As to the plare of Miantunnomoh's execution, Winthrop
?i'i'ms 10 liave been in a mistake. It is not very likely that he was taken in the opposite
ilirt'ciion, from Uncas's own country, as Windsor was from Hartford. It is also unlikely that
/ 'nets imd men dwell so far from his country upon llie Tiiames.
A geiilliMnan who lately visited his sepulrlire, says the wandering Indians have made a
henp of stones upon his eravc. It is a well-known custom of the lacc, to add to a nionu-
mi'iiia! pile of the dead whenever they pass by it. See 3 Coll. Afass. Hist. iSV. iii. 1.35. and
J''ft'frsoii's Notes. [0° Some wretchealy iy'
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history, frnm a "iimmisrript of IMr. llifle" \h only tradition. Ilavinj^ iM-rti [tut
III puxscssion of a coiiy of liiat inannscript,* we dct^ni it highly ini|»ortant that
il fli' ••' ' '■ ' ' ' ' ' ■
vll ul
r>y way of
in^f IJu'ts Initi!,' coiiiMiiniicati'd to iiic from some of tin! ancient fathers of this
town, will) Wen; cojitcnipurary with Uncas" &-c. "That hcfore the Kcttlrmcnt
ot" Norwich, the sachrni of tiie NiUTapanBct trilx! [MiantunnoJtinh] had a p»'r-
sun.il <|narn'l wiili Uncas, and jiroclnimed war with thn IMoln'p[an]M: and
iimniird with an army of !K)0 fi^jhtinp iiirn, e(|nip|H;d witli hows anci arrows
niid halclii'ts. Unran lM'[ini,'] iidormcd hy H|)i((H of their rnareh towards his
seat, Vnrns calltd iiis warriors together, al)oiit GOO, stout, hard men, li<:ht of
foot, and skilled in the tise of tin; how; and, upon n conference, Unctt.i told
ids men that it would not do to let y" Namigansets come to tlieir town, hut
they must j.'o and meet them. Accordingly, they marched, and ahont three
miles, on a larjr(! plain, tin; armies met, and both halted within bow-shot. A
parley was sounded, (uid gallant Unras pro|)ose(l a cotderence with the \arni-
yansi t sachem, who agreed. And being met, Uncas saith to his enemy word[sj
to this edi-et: ' I'oit have f2;ot a nutnber of brave men toilh you, and so have J.
%Tnl it a ptiif that such brave men sliould be killed for a quarrel between you and
I / Only come like a man, as you pretend to be, and we willfyrht it out. If you
kill mc, my tnen shall be yours ; but if I kill you^ your men shall be mine.'' Upon
which the Narraganset sacdiem replied: ^My men came to fght, and they shall
Jk'd.'
" I'ncas having befon; told his men, that if his enemy should refuse to fight
him, he would fall down, and then they were to discharge their aitillerj'
[arrows] on them, and fall right on them ns fast as they coidd ;" this was
done, and the Mohegans rushed upon JWtan^unnomoA'a army " like lions," put
them to flight, and killed "a number on the spot." They "pursued the rest
snniing upon \m uunilM'i of nini, would huvt; notliint^ hut u
hatlle.""
It doj'H not ai)pour from tliesc recordM, that bnras had any ifU-a of putting
Miiiiiliinnomok to di-afli, hut to rxtort a jrn'at price from his countrynirii, (Iir
his iimMiMi. That a lar^re amount in wamiimn waH collected for this pnrposi-,
aiiiMiirs certain; i»ut, l)et()re it was paid, Unriu rcH-eived the decision oi' the
Kn^'lisli, and then pretended that lie had made no wiich aj^ei'inent, or that the
(|Manlity or ijiiality wuh not iim agreetl upon, um will more ut length lie neen in
the lili' of Uncns,
MM(i"|{l''/[' was ollen called JVinicraJl, and BometimoH .Venektiniitjf JSTini-
frliitt, \(iiit(ddt ; and his namc! was written almost as many other wa\s as
tiiiit s nioiitioned, l»y some early writers. J(tnrirut\ was tlit; fust name by
wiiich he was known to the Hnglish. lie was ;renerally styled sachem of tlic
Niaiiticks, a trihc! of the Niwragansets, whose principal residence was at W'e-
kapaiifr, now Westerly, in Rhode Island. Il«! was cousin tn Mianluiinomoh,^
and is commonly Mieiitioned in history as the chief sachem of the Niaiiticks,
which always inude a part of tiio gniat nation of the iNarraganscts. jVini^rtt
married a sister of Cashaioaahett, otlierwisi; called Htrmon Garret, w ho wu.s
his uncle.
The relation in which the Nianticks s'ood to the Narra'fnnsrts is plain, from
the representation given by JMianttmnomoh to the government of Massachu-
setts in U'A2. In treating with liim, at that time, (Governor IVinthrup says,
" Some dirticnlty we hud, to bring him to desert the Nianticks, if we had just
cause of war with them. They were," he siiid, "as his own flesh, being allied
by continual intermarriages, &c. IJut ut last lit; condescended, that if they
sliot'ld do lis wrong, as he could not draw them to give us satisfaction (or, nor
himself could satisfy, as if it were for blood, &c. then he would leave them
to us."
On the 12 Jidy, 1(537, Jlyanemo, ns his name was written by Governor
Winlhrop at this time, came to IJestou with 17 men. The objects of his visit
being stated to the governor, be promised him an answer the next day; but
the governor, undei-standii^g nieaiiwliile, that lic^ had received many of the
IV'ciMots, who had taken refuge in his country aftir their ''■'" '
'■■/'■'<'.
•^ ;.•':'■■
,1
* See Hazard's Historical Collcciioiis, ii. 7, 10.
t iSo wrillcii by Roger Williams.
t Mr. Prince, in his edition of Hubbard's Narrative, probably mistook Winthrop's MS.,
anil wrote Aganemo instead of Ayanemo. See liie edition lT/5, of Nar. p. 40, and Winthrop,
Jour. i. 232."
^ Prince says he was uttcle to Miantunnomoh, (Chronology, ii. 59.) but that could no4
nave been.
Ij WiiUhrop's Journal, i. 243. 1[ Ibid. i. 267
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09
NINKJUKT— DUTCH AND INDIAN WAR.
[Rook II.
1 , »
'':•■. ■'
■i ' • t.
Kiitrlisli, and iiHiiif^ IiIh nidoavora to unit*! ntiirr trilM>H in tlio cntfTpriHi*, the
KnV'lJMli !«'tit r«'|Mirt, aH will li«> thntui
tl;^, or to yield to any tiling; oidy, hr naid, he
^^,'rew out of a rtinjfle murder,
an IndiiUi having' killed a Dutchman in a drunken frolic. Tla; murderer was
immediately demanded, hnt could not Ix^ olitained; atid the ){overnor whh
nri^ed to retaliate, and ollen called upon to tak*- revenue. He w.iiveil th(>
suhject, forcHeeinj,', no doulit, that retaliation wa.s a had courHe to |»ursu(> for
^ali^'t!u•lion, e(*|)ecially with Indians. However, it !«oon happened that the
.Mohawks ti'll upon those Indians, killed ahoiit 'M of them, and the rest fled
their country ; many of whom souf,'ht protection from the Dutch themselvcH.
Some evil-minded pei-HouH now thou<;ht to revenj^'tr thcmHelves on ihew!
In ♦' their settlements, and the
J)utch were contined to their fort. IJy employinj? I'aptnin Underhill, however,
an experienced Knglish olVjcer in the Indian wars, and some others of the
I'Ji^dish, the Dutch were enabled to maintain their >fround ; and, fortiinatcdy,
8oon al>er, Rofrer ff'iUiams accidentally arrived there, through whose; mediation
a peac(! was etH'<'ted, and an end wjw put to a bloody war. This Marine, who
wiLS th(^ principal cause of it, quarrelled with tli«; governor, on account of his
•■mploying llnderhill instead of him, and even attempted Ids life on the
nccotint of it. He presented n pistol at his breast, wliicli, l)eing turned aside
by a bystander, the governor's life was prescrvt;(l. A wrvant of Mariners
♦hc:i discharged a gun at the governor, but nussing him, one of the governor's
guard shot the servant dead, and Marine was made prisoner, and foithwith
sent into Holland. Williams, having b(!en denied a passage through N. Eng-
land by the law of banishni(>nt, was forced to take passage for England at N.
York in n Dutch ship, by way of Holland ; and this was the reason of his
being there in the time of this war.
Kefore this war was b; ought to a close, Captain Underhill, with his company
of Dutch and English, killed about 300 Indians on the main, and V20 more ois
Long Island. The Dutch governor's employing the English was charged
ti|)on him as a "plot" to engage the English in his quarrel with the Indians ;
" which," sjiys ffinlhrop,^ " we had wholly declined, as doubting of the justice
of the cause."
It was aliont the beginning of this war, Sept. 104.3, that "tlie Indians killed
and drove away all the English" on the coast, from Manhattan to Stamford,
the extent of the Dutch claim to the eastward. They then jiassed over " to
Long Island, and there assaulted the Lady Moodey in her house divers times;"
but she, having about 40 men at her place at that time, was able to defend
lierself. "These Indians at the same time," continues ^'i'n^Arop,}: "set upon
the Dutch with at. implacable fury, and killed all they could come by, and
burnt their houses, and killed their cattle W'.thout any resistance, so as the
governor and such as escajied, betook themselves to their fort at Monhaton,
and there lived and eat up their cattle."
Among the English people who were murdered when this war began, was
a Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, from whom was descended the historian of Massa-
chusetts. She, having given offence to the Puritans of the Bay state, (aa
Massachusetts was then called,) by her peculiar religious notions, to avoid
fnip. IV.]
persi'sntiori
xions, not
broke up I
this wornaii
cept niw da
of' two olh
all I)i persi
them on tin
made at thii
was acting,
the boat's cr
people. Tl
when she w
lier to her fr
to he taken
gotten, sent
to get sever
int<)rined thi
girl was dc
accordingly
Notwitlist
yet it was ol
laid hid in it
Tiie series o
my research
guinary battl
York, about
not known,
the curious 1
To return
We liear li
tlu! NaiTagai
time obliged
This affair
given all the
hy a letter fi
the time, tha
had been sev
" I, with y^
dressed sevei
wounded in
one common
and one com
bullets. Unc
won them tin
forces out by
hush, who pi
fought vario i
the Narragani
own play. 1
[Uncas^ men]
Sir, whatever
brake the cor
one Tantiqui
Mlantinomio.
Tantiquieaoti'i
through the c
hojie could \h
"The Engl
him to be swi
• IVinthrop's Journal, ii. 8.
t Ibid. ii. 157.
t Ibid. ii. 136.
. ' -I
[nonK II.
•|»rim', the
l>*> tiiiiiui
irriiiifi^ of
il liiiiiwlf
i*> Niid, liR
It tiiriri an
ctcd with
• imirdor,
(Icrcr wiis
■riKir wiiH
aivfd thr
)iirHiif! (or
tliiit tlio
rest tied
iciiisclvftH.
(Ill tlit'M;
lortc'd tliiit
■OlIHfllt of
iiidir that
tiit'ii, and
i(> liidiiiMS
with such
hiifoic the
ts, and the
, liowf^ver,
crs of the
irtuiiattily,
iiu'diatiori
rtmie, who
Hint of hiH
ife on the
•nod aside
Mariners
tfovernor'H
foitliwith
h N. Eng-
;land at N.
joii of his
company
more on
cliarged
Iiuiians ;
the justice
lans killed
Stamford,
over " to
re times;"
to defend
"set upon
He hy, and
so as the
Mduhaton,
rpan, was
of Massa-
state, (aa
to avoid
rH*r. IV 1
NINIGRET.— MOIIEGAN WAR.
iciHi sutioii, fled first to Rhode Island, and afterwards to llic Dutch poH»
ions, not liir heyond Stamford. This was in I*i4'^. Wiien the Indi
OHSPS-
iaiiH
Hctilements tiiere, in Sept. I(U;{, they t<>ll upon the family of
lirokf up tin
this woriiaii, killed her, a Mr, Collins, her son-in-law, and all her family ex-
cept oMi' daii^'hter lijfht years old, whom thtfy carried into captivity, and such
nf two other families, Throrktturrlon and VomhiWs, as were at home; in
all ill persons. They then collected their cattle into tin; liouses and si-t
tiieiiMiii tire and Iniriied tiiem alive! A greater slaii^ht(;r would have lieen
iiiaile at this time and place, hut for the arrival of a hoat while the tra^redy
was acting, into which several women and children escaped. Itiit two of
the hoat's crew wen; killed in their humane exertions to save these distressed
jicojile. The daughter of Mrs. Hutrhinson remained a prisoiuT four years,
when she was delivered to the Dutch governor at New Vork, who restored
her to Iter friends. She had forgotten her native language, and was unwilling
to he taken from the Indians. This governor, with a kindness not to he liir-
gotten, sent a vessel into Coiinecticmt River, where its captain contrived
to get several Petpiots on hoard, whom he secured as prisoners. He then
iiitormed their friends, that they would not he set at liheriy until the captive
girl was delivered to him. This Jiad the desired etl'ect, and she was
accordingly rescued.
Notwithstanding a |H>ace was brought ahont in the manner before stated,
yet it was of short duration, and the sparks of war which had for a short time
laid hid in its own emhers, was hy sordid spirits limned again into a Hanie.
The series of murderous acts which followed, are nowhere recorded within
my researches, but an end was not put to it until li)4(i. It ended in a san-
guinary battle at Strickland's Plain, near what is since Horse Neck in New
York, about 87 miles ti-om the city. The numbers engaged on each side are
not known, nor the numbers slain, but their graves are still pointed out to
tlie curious traveller.
To return to our more immediate subject.
We hear little oiWiniffrd until alter the death oi ^riardunnomoh. In 1644,
the NaiTagansets and Nianticks united against the Mohegans, and for some
time obliged Unras to confine himself and men to his fort.
This affair proiiably took place early in the spring, and we have elsewhere
given all the (larticulars of it, lioth autheiitii; anil traditionary. It appears,
hy a letter from Tho. Peters, atldressed to Governor Wirdhrop, written about
the time, that there bad lieen some hard lighting ; and that the Mohegans
liad been severely beaten by the Narragansets. Mr. Pders writes: —
" I, with your son, [John Winthrop of Con.,] were at Uncas^ fort, where 1
dressed seventeen men, and lell plasters to dress seventeen more, who were
wounded in Uncos' brother's wigwam before we came. Two captains and
one common soldier were buried, and since we came thence two captains
and one common man more, are dead also, most of which are wounded with
l)ullets. Ujkos and his brother told me, the Narragansets had 30 guns which
won them the day, else would not care a rush for them. They drew Uncos'
forces out by a wile, of 40 appearing only, but a thousand [lay hid] in am-
bush, who pursued Uncos' men into their own land, where the battle was
fought vario morle, till God put fresh spirit into the Moheagues, and so drave
the Narragansets back again." So it seems that Uncos bad been taken in his
own play. Tho letter goes on : — " 'Tv/ould pity your hearts to see them
[Uncos' men] lie, like so niauy new circumcised Sechemites, in their blood.
Sir, whatever information yoa have, I dare boldly say, the Narragansets first
lirake the contract they made with tho English last year, for I helped to cure
one Tantiquieson, a Moheague captain, who first fingered [laid hands on]
Miantinomio. Some cunning squaws of Narraganset led two of them to
Tantiquieson's wigwaiii, where, in the night, they struck him on the breast
through the coat with an hatchet, and had lie not fenced it with his ai'in, no
hope could be had of his life," &c. *
" The English thought it their concern," says Dr. /. Mather,\ " not to sufifer
him to be swallowed up by those adversaries, since he had, (though for his
WitUhrop't Jour. ii. 380, 381.
t Relation, 58.
• 1 ." ' 1
ifr
■.L(
#>
'^ .?*,•■ ■.-•(J ■-.i-'.i.l'
»
'•;»4
:■
'ft-:
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70
NINIGRET.— NARRAGANSET WAR.
[nooK II.
■■■.•'?■"■■'..
I
'^m
■ i
i ■•■-,' i *
li ■■ ■ -v •
■ '»■.*• "1
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own ends,) sipproved himself faitlifnl to the English from time to time." An
army wa.s accordingly raised for tlie relief of Uncas. " But as they were
jiist marching out of Boston, many of the principal Narraganset Indians, viz.
Pesseais, Mexano, * and Witawash, sagamores, and Awastquin, dej)uty lor the
Nianticks ; these, with a large train, came to Boston, suing for peace, being
willing to submit to what terms the English should see cause to impose
upon them. It was demanded of them, that they should defray the charges
they had put the English to, \ and that the sachems should send their son.s
to be kept as hostages in the hands of the English, until such time as the
money should be paid." After remarking that from this time the Narragan-
sets harbored venom in their hearts against the English, Mr. Mather pro-
ceeds : — "In the first place, they endeavored to play legerdemain in their
sending hostages; for, instead of sachems' children, they thought to send
some other, and to make the English believe that those ba.se papooses were
of a royal progeny ; but they had those to deal with, who were too wise to b(;
so eliuicd. After the exjtected hostages were in the hands of the Englisii,
the Narragansets, iiotwitlistjmding that, were slow in the performance of
what they stood engaged for. And when, upon an impartial discharge of
the debt, their hostages were restored to them, they became more backward
than formerly, until they were, by hostile prefmrations, again and again
terrified into better obedience. At last, Capt. Jltherton, of Dorchester, was
sent with a small party \ of 20 English soldiers to demand what was due.
He at first entered into the wigwatn, where old JSfinigrct resided, with only
two or three soldiers, appointing the rest by degrees to follow him, two or
three dropping in at once ; when his small company were come about liim, the
Indians in the mean time supposing that there had been many more behind,
he caught the sachem by the hair of his head, and setting a pistol to his
breast, protesting whoever escaped he should snrely die, if he did not fortli-
with comply with what was required. Hereupon a great trembling and
consternation surjH-i.sed the Indians ; albeit, multitudes of them were then
present, Avith spiked arrows at their bow-strings ready to let fly. The event
was, the Indians submitted, and not one drop of blood was shed.'^ This, it
must be confessed, was a high-handed proceeding.
"Some sjjace after that, JS/inigret was raising new trouble against ut-,
amongst his Nianticks and other Indians ; but upon the speedy sending up
of Capt. Davis, with a party of horse to reduce him to the former peace,
who, ui)on the news of the captain's approach, was put into such a panic
fear, that he durst not come otit of his wigwam to treat with the captain, till
secured of his life by him, which he was, if he quietly yielded to his message,
about which he was sent from the Bay. To which he freely consenting, that
storm was graciously blown over." ||
Thus having, through these extracts, summarily glanced at some prominent
pas.sages in the life of JVinigret, we will now go more into particulars.
The case of the Narragansets, at the period of the treaty before spoken of^
had become rather desperate ; two years having passed since they agreed to
pay 2000 fathom of "good white wampum," as a rennnieration for the
trouble and damage they had caused the English and Mohcgans, and they
were now pressed to fulfil their engagements. JVinigret, then called Janemo,
was not at Boston at that time, but Jlumsaaquen was his deputy, ai)d signed
the treaty then made, with Pessaais and others. At their meeting, in July,
1647, Pessacus and others, chiefs of the Narragansets and Nianticks, were
* The editor of Johnson's Wonder-working Providence, in Coll. Mass. Htst. Soc. makes a
great mistake in noting this cliiel' as Mianlunnomoh. Mriksuli, Mixanno. Meika, (fee, arc
names of the same person, wlio was the eldest son of Canonicus. Aller the leath of his (athcr.
he was chief sachem of tiie IVarragaiiscls. He married a sister of Nini^ret, wlio was " a
woman of great power," and no otlicr than tlie famous Qnaiapen, at one time called Malan-
tufk, from which, probably. wa,s derived Magnus. By sonie writers mistaking him for Mian-
tunnomoh, an error has spread, that has occasioned much confusion in accounts of tiicir gene-
alogy.
t A yearly tribute in wampum was agreed upon. Manuscript Narrative of the Rev. T
Cobbet, which places the afTair in 1645.
1 MS. document among our state papers.
\ Relation of the Troubles, &c., 4lo, 16T7. || Cobbet'i MS. Narrativ*?.
Chap. IV
.setit to b;
Being wf
flier into
draw up,
leave all I
and we si
ini.«sioner
"Augiii
of Pe.tsad
i'rnm Peqi
ini.«sion('r!
on the be!
only for h
spoke will
had not h
from .^Ir.
.'imold hrr
" it appear
in Ptssack
to stand t
ceeded to (
covenant \\
did not km
his doj)uty
tr}-, and hi
all times re
" There co
.yinigrft
wampum ?
sinners the
messengers
that he kne
Hartfo-d, W
that if the
kill them an
Kinigret di(
their inessei
In order 1
or wished tl
he might
they hari re
wards sorm
some, was
gcrs had so
pound. Tl
might be Iim
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72
MNIGRET.— MOHEGAN CONTROVERSY.
[Book II.
sidered, or whether it should be taken in payment of the debt. JS/inigret said
the governor sliould do as he pleased about it. It was then inquired how
much he had sent ; (it being deposited in Cutghamokiri's hands, as we have
elscwliere stated ;) he said he had sent 30 fathom of black, and 45 of white, in
value together 105 fathom. Cuishamokin was sent for to state what he had
received in trust. He had produced two girdles, "with a string of wampum,
all which himself rated at 45 fathom, affirming he had received no more,
except 8s. which he had used, and would repay." He was brought before
Ninigret and questioned, as there appeared a great difference in their ac-
counts. "He at first jrersisted," says our record, " and added to his lyes, but
was at last convinced [confronted] by Ninir^rtt^ and his messengers who then
brought the present, and besides Cutshamokin had sent him at the same time
10 fathom as a present also." It still remained to be settled, \yhether this
wampum should be received as a part of the debt, or as a present; and
Ninigrtt was urged to say how it should be. With great magnanimity he
answered : —
" My tongue shall not belie my heart, JVhether the debt be paid or not, I in-
tendeait as a present to the governor,"
It is unpleasant to contrast the characters of the two chiefs, Cutshamokin
and JVtnigret, because the former had long had the advantage of a civilized
neighborhood, and the latter was from the depths of the forest, where he saw
an Englishman but seldom. VVe could say much upon it; but, as it is
thought by many that such disquisitions are unprofitable, we decline going
into them here.
What we have related seems to have finished the business of the day, and
doubtless the shades of night were very welcome to Cutshamokin. The next
day, .Mnigret came into court, with the deputies of Pessacus, and spoke to the
following effect : —
"Before I came here I expected the burden had been thro^vn upon me,
Pessacus not having done what he agreed to do. However, I have considered
upon the treaty of 1645, and am n^solved to give the English satisfaction in
all things. I will send some of my men immediately to Narraganset and
Niantick, to raise the wampum now due to them, and hope to hear what they
will do in three days. In ten days I think the wampum will arrive, and I
will stay here until it comes. I will tell this to the Narraganset confederates.
But if there should not enough at tliis time be raised, I desire some forbear-
iincc as to time, as I assure you that the remainder shall be shortly paid, and
you shall see me true to the English, ^lenceforth."
This speech gave the commissioners great satisfaction, and they proceeded
to other business.
The messengers sent out by Ninigrel did not return so soon as was ex-
pected ; but, on the 16 August, notice was given of their arrival ; sadly,
however, to the disappointment of the commissioners, for they brought only
200 fathom of wampum. The feelings of the court were somewhat changed,
and they rather sternly demanded " what tlie reason was, that, so much being
due, so little was brought, and from whon> this 200 fathom came." Ninigret
answered that he was disappointed tliat more liad not been brought, but said,
if he had been at home, more would have been obtained : that 100 fathom
was sent by Pessacus, and the other 100 by hie people.
The commissioners say, that, "not thinking it meet to begin a present war,
if satisfiiction, (though with a little forbearance, may be had otherwise,)" told
JVtni^et, that, since he had said the wami)uin would have been gathered and
j)aid if he had been at home himself, they would now give him 20 days to go
and get it in ; and, if he could not procure enough by 500 fathom, still they
would not molest him until " next spring planting time." That, as so much
was still due, they would reckon the present before mentioned ; but, if they
did not bring 1000 fathom in twenty days, the commissioners would send no
more messengnrr into his country, "but take course to right themselves."
That, if they were " forced to seek satisfaction by arms, he and his confede-
rates must not expect to make their peace, as late iy they had done, by a little
wampum. In the mean time, though for breach o;' covenants they might put
tlieir hostages to death, yet the commissioners would forthwith deliver the
Chap. IV
children
meuts ful
charge; a
from JVir
whole re
promised
Notwit
their deb
about 110
" the con
aguitist ti:
seeking Ji
vppoii l)ii
A Nurrag)
River, ran
mortal wo
a consider
hired to at
Mejinwl
appeared
of deiinqu
it respecte
neither he
drawn thei
assailant, t
fact was c
confirmed,
that were i
since he hi
one apperti
and no pro
desperate c
great engaj
tity of wan
his life."
The judf
find tliem (
got the con
They say tl
fatiiom hiil
more to aj)]
wlii<-ii he a
comiiiissioi
(and tlioug
were williii
due 408 tilt
<'/id(!nvoriii^
prfiiiises, a
to tlicfn, th(
sfavc iiim
uii^'-lit go lii
to their trc-
Tiio com
aftiiirs looko
in readinest
{•resent to c(
of a niarriaj
brother's so
" (ilnd, no I
I'cred, llmt llie
•»u expense.
t<
[Book II.
nigret snid
Hired liow
18 we have
f white, in
hat he had
wampum,
I no more,
ght before
1 their ac-
lis lyes, but
s who then
same time
hether this
resent; and
animity he
)r not, I in-
Jutshamokin
r a civihzed
dere he saw
mt, as it is
icline going
the day, and
The next
spoke to the
n upon me,
e considered
itisfaction in
■aganset and
ir what they
arrive, and I
confederates.
Dme forbear-
tly paid, and
ly proceeded
as was ex-
rival; sadly,
)rought only
lat changed,
much being
J^nigret
^ht, but said,
100 fathum
^resent war,
r^vi8e,)" told
gathered and
JO days to go
om, still tli'ey
as BO much
but, if they
Buld pend no
themselves."
his confede-
le, by a little
ey might put
deliver the
Chap. IV.] NINIGRET.— THE ENGLISH PREPARE FOR WAR.
73
children to Ninigret,* expecting from him the more care to see engage-
ments fully satisfied. And, if they find liitn real in his performance, they will
charge all former neglects u|)on Pessaciis^^ and " in such case they expect
from Ninigrd his be.st assistance, when he shall be required to recover the
whole remainder from him. All which JVinigrd cheerfully accepted, and
promised to perform accoixliugly."
Notwithsuinding all their pi-omises, the Narragausets had not discharged
their debt at the end of two yeai"s more, though in that time they had paid
about 1100 fathom of wampum. At their meeting this year, 1(34!), at Boston,
"the commi.ssionere were minded of the continued complaint of Uncos"
against the Narragansets, that they were "still vndermining his peace and
seekiii>{ lii^ ruine," and had lately endeavored " to bring in the Mowhaukes
vp|)oii him," which failing, they next tried to take away Ids life by witchcraft.
A Nurraganset Indian, named Cidtaquin, " in an English vessel, in Mohegan
River, ran a sword into his breast, wlierby hce receeved, to all appearance, o
mortal wound, which murdierus acte the assalant then confessed bee was, foi
a considerable sum of wampum, by the Narragansett and Nianticke sachems,
hired to atlenifit."
Mejmwhile JVinigrd, understanding what was to be urged against him,
appeared suddenly at Boston before the conunissioners. The old caUtlogue
of delinquencies was read over to him, with several new ones appended. As
it respected Cuttaquin's attenjpt ujmn tlie life of Uncos, JVinigrd said that
neither he nor Pessacus hail any hand in it, but that "he [Cu/tm/utJi] was
drawn thereunto by torture from the Mohegans ;" "but he was told, that the
assailant, before he came into the hands of the Mohegans, presently atb;r the
fact was committed, layed the charge upon him, with tlie rest, which he
confirmed, the day following, to Capt. Mason, in the presence of the English
that were in the l>ark with him, and often reiterated it at Hartford, though
since he hath denied it : that he was presente■■ :. VI,
■A.wV;'>-„>T".> r?w.
»y V.'.; ■ ,.■•(,, ■'.;'■' i,%
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-Jvi. 4
''^s ^ ,%■■
r^l\.
74 WAIANDANCE SEIZES MIANTUXNOMOII'S MESSENGER. [Book II,
their aims are to gather together, and reunite the scattered conquered Pe-
quates into one iKuiy, and sot them \x\) airaiu as a distinct nation, which hath
always been witnessed against hy tlie Liiglisli, and may hazard the peace
of the colonies."
The four years next succeeding are full of events, but as they happened
chiefly among the Indians themselves, it is very diflicult to learn the particu-
lars. Ninigret claimed dominion of the Indians of a part of Long Island, as
did his predecessors ; but those Indians, seeing the English domineering
over the Narragansets, became altogether independent of them, and even
waged wars upon them.
Ascassasotick was at this period the chief of those Indians, a warlike and
courageous chief, but as treacherous and barbarous as he was brave. These
islanders had, from the time of the Pequot troubles, been protected by the
English, which much increased their insolence. Not only hud Ninigret, and
the rest of the NaiTagansets, suffered liom his insidts, but the Moliegans had
also, as we shall more fully make appear herealler.
When the English commissioners had met at Hartford in 1G50, Uncos
came with a comidaint to them, " that the Mohansick sachem, in Long
Island, had killed som of his men ; bewitched diners others and himself
also," which was doubtless as true as were most of his charges against tlm
Narragansets, "and desired the commissioners that hee might be righted
therin. But because the said sachem of Long Island was not there to an-
swer for himself," several Englishmen were appointed to examine into it,
and if they found him guilty to let him know that they "^will bring trouble
upon themselves."
At the same meeting an order was passed, "that 20 men well armed be
Gent out of the jurisdiction of the MassaclniFctts to Pessicus, to demand the
said wampum, [then in arrears,] which is 308 fathom;" hut in case they
could not get the wampum, they were ordered " to take the same, or the
vallew therof, in the best and most suitable goods they can find." Or, if
they could not find enough to satisfy all demands, they were ordered to seize
and " bring away either Pessacus or his children, or such other considerable
sachem or jjersons, as they prize, and may more probably bow them to
reason."
From Pessacus, they were ordered to go to JVinigret, and inform him that
the commissioners had heard " that he had given his daughter in marriage to
Sasecos his brother, who gathers Pequois wider him, as if either he would become
their sachem, or again possess the Pequot country," which was contrary to
" engagements," and what they would not allow, and he must inform them
whether it were so. To inform him also that If'equash Cool' " complains of
sundry wrongs." And that, as to his hunting in the Pequot country, to uiform
him he had no right to do so, as that country belonged to the English. The
termination of tliis expedition, in which JVinigrtt was taken " by the hair,"
has been previously mentioneil in our extr«f!t tiom Dr. Mather.
We have in the life of Mimitunnomoh given some account of the acts of a
chief called JVaiandanee, especially relating to the disorganization of the
plans of that great chief. We come, in this place, to a ])arallel act in relation
to JVinigret. About a year after the death of Miantunnomoh, JVinigret under-
took to organize a plan for expatriating the English ; and sent a messenger
to Waiandance, the Long Island sachem, to engage him in it. Instead of
listening to his message, Waiandarce seized upon JVinigreCs messenger,
bound him, and sent him to Captain Oardener at Saybrook fort. From thence
he was sent, under a guard of 10 men, ibr Hartlbrd. lint they were wind-
bound in their passage, and were obliged to put in to Shelter Island, where
an old sachem lived, who was Waiandance'' s elder brother. Here they let
J^nigreVs ambassador escape, and thus he had knowledge that his plan was
discovered and overthrown.
Since we have here introduced the sachem Waiandance, we will add the
account of his last acts and death. One William Hammond lu'ing killed "hy
a giant-like Indian" near New York, about 1037, Captain Gardener told
Waiandance that he must kill that Indian ; but this being agauist the advice
of tlie great sachem, his brother, he declined it, and told the captain that that
I
CUAP. IV.
indian vi
that he h
Farringtc
undertooi
the servif
he (lied, 1
Island dl
have."
.Yinigri
This caii.s
the Dutch
had rc|)or
English ;
.siotiens at
had lengu
upon a let
conr.'iitiing
and Meeks
to h(! in.>m
The qiK
1. VVhethc
'2. Whethe
5. Whethe
Dut<;h.— 4.
trary to th(
6. W they
diey had n
were their
better com(
had hired t;
"The am
queries anc
Barrell, the
Mexam a
he said : —
" I speak
know of no
Dutch gov(
ginis, powd
English, m
intention to
friends. AV
English sac
g(»0(l.«, guns
of us and o
of no such
reports agai
UfMiessary to
nii!.sseng(!r8
niy.i;'lf,"l an
to speak wit
to S|)cak to
and all En^
" The third
ilio |)r()[)oiin(lei
t I'^yt'ry one
'.vorlhics, Josfp
ihoiiijli not nil
^"iilil exert
" I am not won
to do it." Dr.
I Vdl'tntiiu I
v>
[Book IL
lered Pe-
liich hutli
iiu peace
liappened
[", purticu-
iHiuixl, us
nineering
und even
irlike and
.. Thfse
ed by tlio
ligret, and
sgans hud
50, Uncas
ill Long
1 himselt"
gainst tli<^
>o righted
ere to aii-
ne into it,
ng trouble
armed be
>inand the
case they
lie, or tlie
[." Or, if
ed to seize
msiderable
V them to
1 him that
narriage to
vld btcotiie
ontrary to
Ibrni tlieni
Tiplains of
to uilbrm
ish. The
the hair,"
e acts of a
ion of the
ill relation
•ret iinder-
niessenger
usteud (if
icssenger,
GUI tlieuce
^erc wind-
md, wliero
re they let
l>lan was
11 add the
killed "by
■dener told
the advice
a that that
I
Chap. IV] NINIGRET ACCUSED OF A PLOT WITH THE DUTCH.
75
■•r (-':•'■ -^l^
indian was a mighty great man, and no man dared meddle with him, anti
that he had many friends. Some time after, he killed another, one Thomas
Farrirufton, and in the mean time, JVaiandanct'a brother having died, he
undertook hi? execution, which he accomplished. This was his last act in
the service of the English ; "for in tiie thiie of a great mortality among them,
he died, but it was by poison ; also two-thirds of the Indians upon Long
Island died, else the Narragansets had not made such havoc here as they
have."
.M'inigret passed the winter of 1G52 — 3 among the Dutch of New York.
Tills caused tlie English great suspicion, especially as they were enemies to
the Dutch at that time ; and several sagamores who resided near the Diitcii
liiiii rejtorted that the Dutch governor was trying to hire them to cut ofl" the
Knjilisli ; consequently, there was a special meeting of the English comniis-
siiiners at Boston, in April, 1053, occasioned by a rumor that the Narragansets
had leagued with the Dutch to break up the liiiglish si;ttleineiit.s. Where-
upon a letter was sent by them to their agent ., Narraganset, Thomas Slantun,
<;()iif.Mitiiiig "divei-s queries," by him to be interpreted "to .Vinefrrelt, Pessiciiit
and Meeksam, three of the chiefest Narraganset sachems," and their answers
to he immediately obtained and rei>orted to the commissioners.
Tlie questions to be put to the sachems were, in substance, as follows : —
1. Whether the Dutch had engaged them* to tight against the English. —
2. Whether the Dutch governor did not endeavor such a cousjiiracy. —
3. Whether they hiul no: received arms and munitions of war from tlie
Dut. If they are so resolved, wJiat tlieu lldiik the Enfrliah will do. — 7. Whether
diey had not better be true to the English. — 8. Similar to the tirst. — !). What
were their grounds of war against the English. — 10. Whether t'ley had not
better come or send messengers to treat with the English. — 11. Whether they
had hired the Mohawks to help them.
"The answai'e of the sachems, viz. JVtniffrett, Pessecus and jXUxavi, vnto the
queries and letters sent by the inessengei-s, Sarjeaut ff^aile and Sarjeant John
Barrdl, the 18tli of the second month, 1(>53."
Mexam seems to have been the first that anawered ; and of the firet query
he said : —
"I speak unfeignedly, from my heart, and say, witiiout dissimulation, that I
know of no such plot against the English, my friends; implicating eithiir the
Dutch governor or any other |)ers()n. Though I be poor, it is not goods,
guns, powder nor shot, that shall draw me to such a plot as this against the
English, my friends, f If tlie Dutch governor had made known any such
intention to me, I would have told it, without delay, to the English, my
friends. With respect to your second question, I answer, Ao. What do the
English sachems, my friends, think of us.? — do they think we should prefer
goods, guns, powder and shot, iKjfbre our lives? our means of living? both
of us and ours ? As to the 4tli query, I speak from my heart, and say, I know
of no such plot by the Dutch governor. There may come fiilse news and
reports against us; let them say what they will, they are false. It is un-
necessary to say more. But in answer to tlie iOtli query I will say, It is just
messengers should be sent to treat with the English saeheiiiB, but as for
iiiys;'lf, I am old, and (tannot travel two days togedier, but a man shall Im; sent
to speak with the sachems. I have sent to Mr. Smith, and IW/t his man,
to speak to Mr. Brown, and to say to him, that I love the English .sachems,
and all Englishmen in the Bay : And desire Mr. Bi own to tell the sachems
* The thin! person singular, he, is used throughout, in the original, as it was supposed by
tlie propounders that each oliief would l)e (jucsliuned separately.
t Kvery one must be forcibly reminded of the answer given by one of our revolutionary
worthies, Joscplt Reed, Esq., to a Urilish agent, on read'iig this answer of the chief Me.rnm.
ihougli not under circumstances exactly similar. .Mr. Reed was promised a forlune if he
ivonid exert himself on the side of the king. Viewing •'. in if>e light of a bribe, he replied
" I am not vorth purchasing, but, such as I am, the kintr of Gr,-at Hrilain is nut rich enougl
to do it." Dr. Gordon's America, iii. 172. etl. London, 4 vols. 8vo. 1788,
t Vallerdiju Whitnuin, an interpreter, elsewhere liauieij.
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76
MESSAGE TO NINIGRET.- ^ ANSWER,
I Book II.
of the Bay, that the child that is now bom, or that is to be bom in time to
come, sliali see no war made by ns against the Eiighsli."
Pessacus spoke to this j)urpo8e : —
" I am very thankful to these two men that came from the Massachusetts,
and to you Thomas, and to you Poll,* and to you Mr. Smith, you that are
come so far as frouj tlie Bay to bring us this message, and to inform us of
these things we knew not of bM^^I
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NLMGRET.— UNCASS PERFIDY.
[DooK II.
had bren preferred against JS/tnigret by Uncas. we bave reason to tbiiik it
would bave been fortliwitb "inquired into," at lea.st, witiiout an if.
A Htory, it cannot be called evide;ice, told by Uncas, relating to NinifrreVs
visit to the Diitcb, is recorded by the conunissioners, and which, if it amount
to any thing, gocw to prove himself guilty, and is indeed an acknowledgment
of bis own perfidy in taking JMinigieCs boat and goods, as charged by Awa-
sliaip. It is as follows : —
" Uncas, theMohegan sachem, came lately to Mr. Hains^ house at Hartford,
and ini'ormed him that JVinnigrett, sachem of the Niantick Narragansetts,
went tiiis winter to the JVlonbatoes" and made a league witli the Dutch gov-
ernor, and for a large jjresent of wam|)Uin received §0 guns and a great box
of powder and bullets. jVintgrel toid him of the great injuries he had
sustained from Uncus and the English. That on the other side of Hudson's
River, JVinigret bad a conference with a great many Indian sagamores, and
•iesircd their aid to cut off tbeMohegans and English. Also, that, about two
years since, JVinigret " sent to the Monheage sachem, and gave him a present
of wampum, pressing him to procure a man skilful in magic workings, and
an artist in poisoning, and send unto him ; and he should receive mrre one
bimdredth liithom of wampum, which was to have been conveyed to the
Monheage sachem, and the powaugh at the return of him that was to bring
the j)oison. Uncas having intelligence of these things, caused a narrow
watch to be set, by sea and land, for the apprehending of those persons; and
accordingly took tlieui rt!turning in a canoe to the number of seven: whereof
lour of them were Narragansets, two strangers and one Pequatt. This was
done in his absence, while he was with Mr. Haines, at Conecticott, and carried
by those of his men that took them to Mohegan. Being there examined, two
of them, the [VVampeagc;*] sachem's brother, and one Narraganset freely con-
f('s,xe(l the whole plot formerly expressed, and that one of their company was
that (lowaugh and prisoner, pointing out the man. Upon this, his men in a
rag(! slew him, fearing, as he said, least he should make an escape, or other-
wise do either mischief to Uncas or the English, in case they should carry
him with the rest before them, to Conecticott to be further examined. And
being brought to Conecticott before Mr. Haines, and examined, did assert
these [)articulars."
An Indian squaw also informed "an inhabitant of Wethersfield, that the
Dutch and Indians generally were" confederating to cut off the English, and
that election day, [1G54,] was the time s(;t, "because then it is apprehended
the |)iautations will b(! left naked and unable to defend themselves, the strength
of the English colonics being gatiiered from the several towns. And the
aforesaid squaw atlvised tiic said inhabitants to acquaint the rest of the Eng-
lish witli it, desiring they would remember how dear their slighting of her
former information of the Pequots coming u|)on the English cost them."t
It would seem, from a careful examination of the records, that something
had been suggested either by the Dutch or Indians, about " cutting off the
lOiigiisli," which justice to JVinigret requires us to state, might have been the
case without his knowledge or participation. For, the testiinony of the mes-
sengers of "nine Indian sagamores who live about the Monhatoes " no how
inqilicates him, and, therefore, cannot be taken into account, any more than
* Soo nt to a pi
thence to M
tlicnce to F
tlience he sr
with him m
to the sagan
iMi'M ; and w
lie woidd g(!
.sciirii of the
cut off the 1
iinil he was I
lie sent one (
the s!igamor<
J{|it the sagai
Govert gave
liad htit 20 n
vium\ to fighi
the Dutch gc
and tliere wn
of fire, f or tl
liaiid, and he
the governor
Neverthele
the English,
his physician
111 a long I
dam, Pder S
ill part true,
slruiige India
sets. But he
pass, as we r<
he cured and
aiiv a.ssemblv
[of- it.] We'
lie hath beer
with him, bu
only tiiis we
reports, and f
'file war w
finssi'ssion, \,
J\%igret.
In 1G54, th
tliat tlie last s
allfge, fell up
killed many o
"'I'liis simim
killed a man
* A Dutch ofT
t To liffht the
with the fiidians
[DOOK 11.
to think it
I j\ini^refs
[' it umouiit
vvlculgiiuiiit
•d by Awa-
it Ilurtford,
•rajfuusetts,
Dutch gov-
i great box
ies tie had
f IIikIhou'k
mores, and
, about two
II a present
rkings, and
e iiif re one
3yed to the
'as to bring
I a narrow
Tsous; and
i: whereof
This was
anil carried
imiiied, two
; freely con-
mpany was
s ineu in a
)e, or other-
liould carry
lined. And
, did assert
Id, that the
■English, and
pprehended
the strength
And the
of the Eng-
iting of her
lern." f
something
ting otf the
ve been the
of the ines-
is" no how
f more than
n the inlerini.
lit to a place
Ihe Indians of
people of that
own, were set
horses, and
•Dr. Trumbull
Chap. IV.]
NINIGRET.— .\DDAM.
79
s. An Indian
them and he
1 wigwam, il'c
plotted their
y
what an Indian named Ronnessoke told J\/^cholu3 Tanner, ns interpreted by
another Indian called Addam ; tht; latter, though relating to JSTmi^rtCs visit,
was only a hearsay affair. Ronnessoke was a sagamore of Long Island.
Aldam also interpreted the story of another Indian, called Powancife, " who
Hfiitli lie ranie from the Indians who dwell over the river, over against the
Miiiiliatoes, where the plot is a working, that was this: that the Dutchmen
asked the Indians whether they would leave them at the last cast, or stand up
wirli them. And told the Indians they should fear nothing, and not be dis-
(•(imaifcd because the plot was discovered," «fec.
.Uilnm the interpreter had also a story to tell. He said, " this s|»riiig f l(i.">:J,
(). S.] the Dutch governor went to Fort Aumnia, [since Albany,] and firat
went to a |»lace called Ackicksack, [Hackinsack,] a great place of Indian.s, fniia
theiici; to Monnesick, [Minisink,] thence to Opingona, thence to Waininoke,
tliciH'c to Fort Aurama: And so far he went in his own person. From
tlience he sent to Pocomtock, [Deerfield, on the Connecticut,] and he carried
with him many note of sewan, that is, bags of wampum, and delivered them
to llie sagamores of the places, and they were to distribute them amongst their
Miin; and withal he carried powder, shot, ctoth, lead and guns; and told them
lie would get all the great Indians under him, and the English should have thu
^('uiii of th(; Indian.s, and he would have tho.se saga; ires with tlieit iiiiii to
cut ^ett, commander of the Narragan-
fiots. But he came hither with a pass from Mr. John H'inthrop. Upon which
pass, as we remember, the occasion of his coming was expressed, namely, to
he cured and healed ; and if, upon the other side of the river, there hath been
any assembly or meeting of the Indians, or of their sagamores, we know not
[of it.] We heard that he hath been upon Long Island, about Nayacke, where
lie hath been for the most part of the winter, a
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80
NINIGRKT.— ASCASSASOTICK'S WAR.
[Book II.
i\r^!;^)
K- t
II
• •' v». V^
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• >
oim of tlieir to^vnH^lipH; nnd another Indian, tlmt kcja the cows of the En^r-
linh." lie liiut drawn many of the foreign IndiiuiH down from Connecticut
nnti lliidrtoii RiverH, wlio rendezvoimed n|K)n VVinthrop's Island, wiiere tlicy
kill«Ml some of liis cattle.* This war hegaii in 105.% and continued "sevi'ral
years." f
Tlie commis.sionerH of the United Colonies seemed Wind to all com|)laintH
against Vnaut ; hut the Narra^anstns were watched and harassed without
ceasing. Wherever we meet with an unnuhlished document uf those times,
llie (iict is very apparent. The chief ot the writers of the history of that
period copy fhun tlie records of the United Colonies, wliich accounts for
their making out a good ca.se for the Knglish and Mohegans. The spirit
which actuated the grave comniissiotiers is easily discovered, and I ne«;d oidy
refer my readers to the case of Miantunnomoh. Desjierate errors require
oth<.'r.s, otlentimes .still more desperate, until tJie first appear small cotiipared
with the magnitude of the la>4t ! It is all along discoverahle, that those
venerahle records are made up from one kind of evidence, and that when a
Narraganset appeared in his own defence, so many of his enemies stood
ready to give him the lie, that his indignant spirit could not stoop to contra-
dict or parley with them ; and thus his assumed guilt pas.sed on for history.
The long-silenced and lM)rue-down friend of the Indians of Moosehausic,^ no
longer sleeps. Amidst his toils and perils, he foutid time to raise his pen in
tlu.-ir defence ; and though his letters for a season slept with him, they are now
awaking at the voice of day.
When the English had resolved, in 1G54, to send a force against the Nar-
ragunset.s, hecause they had had ditiiculties and wars with Aacassas6tic, as we
liave related, Mr. Williams ex|)res8ed his views of the matter in a letter to the
governor of Massachusetts as follows : — "The cause and root of all the present
mischiefs is the pride of two harharians, ^«c«M9CMuh'cL t!>e Long Island sachem,
and J^'tnekunal of the Narigenset. Tlie former is proud and foolish, the latter
is ])roud and fierce. 1 have not seen him these many years, yet, from their
sober men, I hear he pleads, Ist. that Jlacassasotick, a very inferior sachem,
(hearing lumself u|)on the English,) hath slain three or four of his people,
and since that sent him challenges and darings to f.ght and mend himself.
2d. He, J^enekunnt, consulted by solemn messengers, with the chief of the Eng-
lish governors, Maj. £n(/tcof, then governor of the Massachusetts, who sent him
an implicit consent to right himself: upon which they all plead that the English
have just occasion of disjihsasure. 3d. After he had taken revenge ujjon the
Long Islanders, and brought away about 14 captives, (divers of them chief
women,) yet lie restored them all again, upon the mediation and desire of the
English. 4th. After this peace [was] made, the Long Islanders pretending
to visit JVenekunat at Block Island, slaughtered of his Narragonsets near 30
persons, at midnight ; two of them of great note, especially WepiteammocKs
son, to whom JVenekunat was uncle. 5th. In the prosecution of this war,
although he had drawn down tlie inlanders to his assistance, yet, upon pro-
testation of the English against his proceedings, he retreated and dissolved his
army. §
The great Indian apostle looked not so much into these particulars, being
entirely engaged in the cause of the praying Indians : but yet we occasionally
meet with him, and will here introduce him, as an evidence against the
proceedings of Uncos, and his friends the commissioners :
" The case of the Nipmuk Indians, so far as by the best and most credible in-
telligence, I have understood, jiresented to the honored general court, [of Mas-
sachusetts,] 1. Uncos his men, at unawares, set upon an unarmed poor people,
and slew eight persons, and carried captive twenty-four women nnd children.
2. Some of these were subjects to Massachusetts government, by being the
subjects of Josias, || 3. They sued for relief to the worshipful governor and
majristrates. 4. They were jileased to send, (by some Indians,) a commission
to Capt. Denison, [of Stoniiigton,] to demand these captives. 5. Uncos hia
Manusi-ripl documents. f Wood's Hist. Lonpf Island. \ Providfince.
From tlie original letter, in manuscript, among the files in our state-house.
Son of Chikataubut.
\ I
CThap. IV.]
answer wb,'
by tilthiner':
of tliose cnj
do. 8, Voii
mid they sli
I'. ^\'iuiroJ)
matter." *
'riii."* mci
which it is
by tlic hau;.'
any wav, >m
In l(i(K), "
the commi
intoicnihie
complained
that .''ome Ii
an English 1
Of wliich ii
send a sligh
allow of su
asked the pi
time they gii
could not hi
and messeii
ft'oquacatioo.
four of the
they should
They were
iiaiit, and hi<
since, not to
8urj)rising tli
to be an iusi
These are oi
ninety-five J
general cour
company of
same above i
persons be d
It appears
nor secure th
of all the Na
were ]jaid in
deed.
jWiniffret di
Dr. MaUier **
withdrawn h
sachem," for
Although
must have s
people to the
to appear hin
to Boston, "
* Manuscript
t The additio
Mr. Brewster's,
Hiid slealinff cor
6 Records of
11 The same
witnesses. The
tl Grandson c
** Brief HisJc
tt Captain R
him there 15 yee
iiK?
[Book II.
the Elip-
niicctii'iit
here they
" uevcriil
omplaintH
I witlioiit
0H«' tinu'H,
ry of thnt
omits for
riie 8|iiiit
iK.-eil only
rs require
eoinjiared
liut those
ut when ii
[lies stood
to coritru-
br history,
luusic,! no
his pen in
sy are now
!t the Nar-
idlic, as W(!
3tter to the
the present
tid sachem,
1, tlie latter
from their
9r sachem,
lis peo',)le,
id himself.
)ftheEiig-
lo sent him
he English
e upon tiie
them chief
:8ire of the
pretending
ts near 30
\teammocKs
f this war,
upon pro-
issolved his
ars, being
ccasionally
igainst the
rcdible in-
rt, [of Mas-
oor people,
d children.
being the
vernor and
ommission
Uncas his
'rovidf:nce.
Ciuf. IV.]
NiNir.RF/r.
61
answer was, (as I heard,) insolent. ^oine or all
of those captives. 7. Tlie poor bereavetl Indians wait to see what you pirasc to
do. 8. Vou were pleased to tell them, you would present it to the free cect their answer from tliem, which they now wait for.
!•. .Wnctrojl, yea, all the Indians of the coiuitrv wait to see the issue of this
matter." *
'I'liis memorial is dated 12th May, KmH, and signed by Juhn Eliot ; from
wliicli it is evident there had lieen gn^at delay in relieving those distressed
liv till' haughty Unr.aa. And yet, if lie were caused to make remuneration in
any way, we do not find any account of it.
In lliiO, "the general court of Connecticut did, by their letters directed to
the coniniissioners of the other colonies, this last slimmer, repn^seiit an
intolerable afl'ront done by the Narragan.set Indians, and the same was now
coiiiplained of by the English living at a new |)laiitation at Mohegaii, vi/ :
that some Indians did, in the dead time of the night, shoot eight bullets into
an English hou.se, and tired the same ; wherein five Englislmien were asleep.
Of which insolency ihe Narraganset sachems have so far taken notice, as to
send a slight excuse by Maj. ^rltherton, that they did neither consent to nor-
allow of such practices, but make no tender of satisfaction." t Hut they
asked the privilege to meet the commissioners at their next session, at whicFi
time they gave them to understand that satisfaction should be made. This
could not Iiave been other than a reasonable recpiest, but it was not granted ;
and messengers wer« forthwuh ordered to " repair to jViniffrd, Pessicvs,
fVoquacatioose, and the rest of the Nui-ragunset sachems," to diunand " at least
four of the chief of them that shot into the English house." And in case
they should not be delivered, to demand five hundred fathoms of wam])um.
They were directed, in particular, to " charge JVinigret with breach of cove-
nant, and high neglect of their order, sent them by Maj. WiUaril, six years
since, not to invade the Long Island Indians ; and [that they] do account the
surprising the Long Island Indians at Gull Island, and murdering of them,
to be an insolent carriage to the English, and a barbarous and inhuman act."
These are only a few of the most prominent charges, and five hundred and
ninety-five J fathoms of wampum was the prict demanded for them ; and " the
general court of Connecticut is desired and empo.vered to send a convenient
(;ompauy of men, under some discreet leader, to force satisfiiction of the
same above said, and the charges of recovering the same ; and in case the
persons be delivered, they shall be sent to ilarbadoes," § and sold for slaves.
It a[)pear8 that the force sent by Connecticut could not collect the wampum,
nor secure the offenders ; but for the payment, condesctndtd to take a mortgage
of all the Narraganset countir, with the provision that it should be void, if it
were jiaid in four months. Quisroqum, || .Venegfitrf, and Scuttup, % signed the
deed.
Ninigret did not engage with the other Narraganset chiefs, in Philip's war.
Dr. Malhtr ** calls him an " old crafly sachem, who had with some of liis men
withdrawn himself from the rest." He must at this time have been "an old
sachem," for we meet with him as a chief, as early as lfi33.
Although jVtjiigTe/ was not peisonally engaged in Philip's war, still he
must have suflered considei ably from it; often being obliged to send his
people to the English, to gratify some whim or caprice, and at other times
to appear himself. On 10 Sept. 1675, eight of his men came as ambassadors
to Boston, " having a certificate from Capt. Smith," f f who owned a large
* Manuscript state paper. f Record of the United Colonics, in Hazard.
t The additional ninety-five was for another otTcnce, viz. '• for liie insolencies committed at
Mr. Brewster's, in killing an Ino.'an servant at Mrs. Brewster's feet, to her great afTrightment,
iiid stealing corn, &c., and other afTronts." Hazard, ii. 433. i
S Records of the United Colonics, in Hazard.
The same called Quequegunent, the son of Magnus. Newcom and Awashars were
witnesses. The deed itself may be seen on tile among our State Papers.
H Grandson of Canonicus, son of Magnus, and brother of Quequeguneni .
** Brief History, 20.
tt Captain Richard Smith, probably, who settled quite early in that country. We find
him there 15 years before this.
':
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MNKJRKT— DIVISION OP TIIF PIiaUOTS.
[DuoK II.
.%..■.
1 r..'.-'.
1'-^;^^^;:
r
V-.7
-"> 1.- '•'.■
...I .
^
THtntP in NiirrnjfMriHot. Aflrr having fiiiislicd tlii-ir hiiHinesH, tlioy rcrcived
(I [xiMs troiii til); aiulioriticH to rctiirii to tluiir own country. TIiIh rcitilicato
nr puss WHS (hstciiotl to a stafl" and earned hv one in li-ont of tlio rent. Ah
tJiey were (.roinjr out of Hoston " a l»nck way,"** two men met tlieni, and seized
»i|>on liim tliat earrierl tlie jiass. Tliese men were hrotliern, wlio liad hail a
lirotlier killed Ity Philip'x men some time Itefore. This Indian tliey aeensed
of killiiip liini, and in eonrt swort; to iuH identity, and lie was i:: ;k few davs
lianjred,*
Notwithstanilinir these affaim, nnntiier emhaxRy was soon after sent to
Rdston. On the 15 Sepfemher " the authority of Boston sent a jtarty " to order
.Minvsrrl to appear there in person, to jrive an aeeount of his shelterinj^
(limiftprn, the sipiiiw-saehem of Narrapanset. He sent word that he would
eome "provided he mi<;lit he safely nfturned hack." Mr. Sinitli, "livin^j near
him, oOrM-ed iiimself, wife and children, and estate, as hostages" for his sjde
return, and the eniliassy forthwith departed for Hoston. A son, f liowever, of
^Yinifrrd, was dejtuted prime minister, "he himself heinj; very afred."
Captain Smith iirconi|miii('d them, mid when they came to Koxhin-y they
were niet hy a company of Eufrlish soldiers, whose martial appearance so
frightened them, that, had it not been tor the presence of Mr. Smith, they
would have escaped as from an enemy.
They remained at Boston several davs, until " hy degrees they came to this
nffrerment: That they were to deliver the squaw-sachem within so many
days at JJoston ; and the leaosea; but if the
anecdote there given be true, it related doubtless to Chmies JVinigret^ who, I
su[»poHe, was his son. He is mentioned by Mason, in his histoiy of the Pequot
war, as liaving received a part of the goocis taken from Captain Stone, at the
time he was killed by the Pecjuots, in lt)34. The time of his death has not
been ascertained.
The burying-places of the family of J^nigret are in Charlestown, R. I. It
is said that the old chief was buried at a place called Burying Hill, "a mile
from tlie street," A stone in one of the places of interment has this inscrip-
tion : —
" Here leth the Body of George, the son of Charles JVinigret, King of the
.\ativcs, and of Hannah his Wife. Died Decenf. y 22, 17J?2: aged 6 mo."
" George, the last king, was brother of Mary Sachem, who is now, [1832,]
sole heir to tlu; crown. Mary does not know her age ; but from data giv(!n hy
her husband, John Harry, she must be alwnt 66. Her mother's father wos
George J^inigret. Thomas his son was the next king. Esther, sister of Thomas.
George, the brother of Mary above named, and the last king crowned, died
«ged"about 20 years. George was son of Esther. Mary has daughters, but no
sons." ^
On a division of the captive Pequots, in 1637, JVinigret was to have twenty,
" when he should satisfy for a man; of Eltweed** Pomroyr^s killed by his men."
This remained unsettled in 1659, a space of twenty-two yeai-s. This debt
certainly teas oy.tlawed.' Poquin, or Poquoiam, was the name of the man who
killed the mare.ff He was a Pequot, and brother-in-law to Miantunnomoh,
and was atnong those captives assigned to him at their final dispersion, when
* Old Indian Chronicle, 30. t Probably Catapazat.
X Old Indian Chronicle, 32. $ Douglas's Summary, ii. 118.
II In I Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. ix. 83. H MS. communication of Rev. IVm. Ely.
•* Familiarly called Elty, probably from Elltoood. ft Hazard, ii. 188, 189.
CHAf. IV.]
the Peqiif
wcri' ut ai
his death
coiisidcral
of Wlldtll
brother to .
I'kmhac I
of ntiincs.
when ,'iw (
we liave s(
Kiijflisli, )i
,to\v(irds ,>
record of |
wlioiM .VT«
war agains
meet at Bo
under Mr.
cotiiiiiaiidei
" WHS to SOI
met by depi
took place.
The conn
according t(
larized in tli
remaining d
and none a|i
should be ta
in all the art
sent, us if tli
old kettles."
the Niantick
to file Nurraj
of Mas-sachii
what WHS dii
He told tlie
performed
coinmissione
saclicins hai
appeared, tliu
anil with the
tlie English a
open to right
they prize ]wi\
long Sllffi'l-ill;;
present sliouh
At the sam<
"Mr. Pe/Aam
tliey had con
Relioboth, prt
the f)rocedure
Thus the N
year, anrl we i
others to ass:
thing else but
principall can
1647,1 being,"
the Narragans
at tlio previo
* See Hazard
t IMS. letter, SI
t MS. Narrali
CBxr.lV] PESSACUS— COMPLAINTS imodnilT A(JAINST llOf.
83
me to this
so iiiunv
ed, whicli
I of them,
» disbelief
When Mr.
snffiw'ious
Mayhew for
il jS/tnigrd.
jne would
but if the
ret, wlio, I
the Pequot
one, at the
h has not
R. I. It
"a mile
is inscrip-
ing of the
vior
)w, [1832,]
ta givcm by
ather was
f Thomas.
lied, died
era, but no
ive twenty,
his men."
This debt
man who
ttunnomoh,
lion, when
ii. 118.
Vm. Ely.
the Pequot war wns emled ; at which titiie Pomernif Htntcs "nil norts nf liorxfn
were at an hi^h |)rii>e." Minntunnomoh had a<;r<'t'tl to pay the diinand, hut
his (leiith |)rrvented him. \inifrrit wan railed u|)i)ii, im he irilniiifd a
coiisidt'ial)!"' [mrt of .\liaittn)nioinoh\s es^fate, especially his part of the l*ci|U<»ts,
of wlidtn Pouuninm >vus one. lie was atlerwanJH culled a .Niantick and
brother to .Miiiprii."
I'k.hhac I -i, often mi'iitioiied iti the precedjuj,' |mfres, tlioufrh under a variety
of niitncH. »viiM horn about l(iV}.'l, and, eoiiHe(|uently, was aitout iiO years of ii!r<;
when Iks hmthcr, JMuintiinnomoh, was killed. f The saine arbitrary course, as
wi' have Hceii alrciady in llie presi'iit chapter, was |)ursued towards liiiu by the
llii^disli, as had been before towards .Mutntxinnomiih, an<{ still cniiliiiucd
^towards A7ni'/c/r/, and other i\arra;ran.set chiefs. Mr. Cohhell makes ilii,>i
record of him: " In the year H'M, proud Pis.viru.i with his Narrajransi ts, with
whom .Vini^nt and his iViaiitiffs join ; so aw to provoke the i-l'
>'v>;,
.' '1
■•i.;^v-
« -...".'i^y
J.V:
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i.V, ■■'»
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84
PESSACUS KILLED BY THE MOHAWKS.
II
!
1 f ':-■:■■•
■■ ... it: '-■':
i, ■
,rj,j ;«••;■: ■■■''-,
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[Book II.
Benedirt .Arnold, and Sergeant IVaile should be sent to Peasacks, JVenegrate
and JVehelfimuk, to know why they had not paid the wampum as they agreed,
and wliy they did not come to New Haven ; and that now they might meet
i^ncaa at Br.^ton; and therefore were advised to attend there without delay;
hut "yf they refuse or delay, they intend to send no more," and they must
abide the consequences. When the English messengers had delivered their
message to Pessacus, he spoke to them as follows : —
" The reason I did not meet the Englisli sachems at New Haven last year,
is, they did not notify me. It is true I have broken my covenant these two
years, and that now is, and constantly has been, the grief of my spirit. And
the reason I do not meet them now at Boston is because I am sick. If I were
but pretty well I would go. I have sent my mind in full to Ninigret, and
what he does I will abide by. I have sent Potcpynamett and Pomumska to go
and hear, and testify that I have betrusted my full mind with JVenegratt. You
know well, however, that when I made that covenant two years ago, I did it
in fear of the army that I did see ; and though the English kept their cove-
nant with me, yet they were ready to go to Narraganset and kill me, and
the commissioners said they would do it, if I did not sign what they had
written."
Moyanno, another chief, said he had confided the business with Ninigret last
sj)ring, and would now abide by whatever he should do.
When the English mc-sengers returned and made known what had been
done, the commis.sioners said that Pessacws' speech contained "seuerall pas-
sages of vntruth and guile, and [they] were vnsatisfyed."
What measures the Whites took "to right themselues," or whether any,
iminialiately, is nut very distinctly stated ; but, the next year, 1648, there were
some military movements of the English, and a company of soldiers was sent
into Narraganset, occasioned by the non-payment of the tribute, and some
other less important matters. Ptssacus, having knowledge of their approach,
fled to Rhode Island. ^^JVinicraJl entertained them courteously, (there they
staid the Lord's day,) and came back with them to Mr. Williams', and then
Pessacus and Canonicus^ son, being delivered of their fear, came to them • and
being demanded about hiring the Mohawks against Uncos, they solemnly
■ienied it; only they confessed, that the Mohawks, being a great sachem, and
their ancient friend, and being come so near them, they sent some 20 fathom
of wainpum for him to tread upon, as the manner of Indians is."* The
.natter seems to have rested here ; Pessacus, as usual, having promised what
vas desired.
This chief was killed by the Mohawks, as we have stated in the life of Ca-
nonicus. His life was a scene of almost perpetual troid)les. As late as Sep-
tember, ]6G8, his name stands first among others of his nation, in a complaint
sent to them by Massach usee's. The messengers sent with it were. Rich''.
Wayt, C?,ptain "fV. Wright, ana Captain Sam'. Mossly ; and it was in terms
thus : —
" Whereas Capt. Wm. Hudson and John Viidl of Boston, in the name of
themselves and others, proprietors of lands and farms in the Narraganset
country, have complained unto us, [the court of Mass.,] of the great insolen-
cies and injuries offered unto them and their people by several, as burning
their hay, killing sundry horses, and in special manner, about one month since,
forced some of their people from their labore in mowing grass upon their own
land, and assaulted others in the high way, as they rode about their occasions ;
by iJirowin^ ^nany stones at them and their horses, and beating their horses as
they rode upon them," &c. The remonstrance then goes on warning them to
desist, or otherwise they might expect severity. Had Mosely been as well
known then among the Indians, as he was afterwards, his presence would
doubtless have been enough to have caused cfuietness, as perhaps it did even
ut this time.
Winthrop's Journal.
Chap. V.]
U»CAS — fi
account i
chirf III
vicn of It
moll — £j
sachem s
— Tiinclij
Uiicas — I
U.NCAS, (
whom we
favorable «
< " those I
erroi-s. M
Jnmes Fitcl
"I am apt
fucliem of
man, a drt
o|)po.«er an
^lv. Hubbai
that he wai
than those i
Uncus lii
was alive i
"He is aliv
before I;:::;.
From an
wo do not
Uncas " was
waggish En
himself an(
follows: —
The com
several of t
Chieko, a soi
lu the be
and to surn
neutrality oi
Wanipanoag
make this r
Uncas and
SOILS were tj
were remain
l)een at this
* 1 Coll. Ma
north of i\ew I
Ibid. ^
t Hist. New
coiilimic paffa)]
} The writer
Imve meant anj
$ A genuine
me stir my insi
Was viitrregen '
•fi.
[Book II.
^enegrate
y agreed,
ght meet
jt delay;
ley inu8t
red their
last year,
these two
fit. And
If I were
igret, and
nsks to go
att. You
ro, I did it
heir cove-
I me, and
; they had
inigret last
t had been
uerall pas-
lether any,
there were
rs was sent
and some
■ approach,
(there they
i', and then
them- and
y solemnly
achem, and
20 fathom
18." * The
nised what
life of Ca-
itc as Sep-
complaint
■err. Rich''.
lis in terras
|f name of
Sfarraganset
eat insolen-
as btmiing
^onth since,
their own
occasions ;
|r horses as
ing them to
jen as well
mce would
it (?id even
Chap. V.] UNCAS.— HIS CHARACTER AND CONNECTIONS. 95
CHAPTER V.
(jjjCAS His fhariicler — Convections — Geoffra/ihy of the. Molingan country — General
account of thiit nut'on — Uncus joins the Enirlish ojraiast the FequDt.t — Captures a
chief lit ' '' irhem's Head — Visits Boston — His speech to Governor Winthrop — Sped-
vicn of the .Mohegaii lanifuaire — Set/iiusson — The war between Uncus and Miantunno
fiiQ/i — Examination of its ciiuse — The JWirragansets determine to avenge iheit
saihrm's death — Forces raised to protect Uncas — Pessuriis — Great distress of Uncas
Timely relief from Connecticut — Treaty of ]()4r) — Frequent complaints against
Uncus — IVequash — Ohechickwod — Nowehua — IVoosaviequin.
Uncas, cnllcd also Poquin, Poquoiam, Poquim, sjichoni of the Mohegnns, of
whom wo liavo ain-ady had occasion to sny coiisidertible, has Icfl no very
favoral)!c character upon record. Mis life is a series of cliangos, without any
( / those brilliant acts of magnanimity, which tlu'ow a veil over numerous
erroi-s. Mr. Gookin gives us this character of him in the year lfi74 : (Mr.
James Filch having been sent about this time to preach among the Mohegans:)
"I am apt to fear," says he, "that a great obstruction unto his labors is in the
sachem of those Indians, whose name is Unkaa; an old and wicked, wilful
man, a drunkaiil, and otherwise very vicious; who hath always been an
o|)i)oser and underminer of praying to God." * Nevertheless, the charittxble
jMr. Hubbard, when he wrote his Narrative, seems to have had some ho|)es
that he was a Christian, with about the same grounds, nay better, perhaps,
tiian those on which IJisImp Warbtirton declared Pope to be such.
Uncas lived to a great age. lie was a sachem before the Pcjquot wars, and
was alive in 1680. At this time, Mr. Hubbard makes this remark upon liim:
"He is alive and well, and may probably live to see all his enemies buried
before !;i::^."t
From an epitaph on one of his sons, copied in the Historical Collections,
we do not infer, as the writer there seems to have done, " that the race of
t/ncM " was " obnoxious in collonial histoi-y;" but rather attribute it to some
waggish Englishman, who had no other design than that of making sport for
iiiinself and othere of like humor. It is upon his tomb-stone, and is as
follows : —
" Here lies ihe body of Sunseeto
Own son to Uncas grandson to OrtekoX
Wlio were the famous sachems of Mohegan
But now they are all dead I think it is werheegen." ^
The connections of Uncas were somewhat numerous, and the names of
several of them will be found as we proceed with his life, and elsewhere.
Oneko, a son, was the most noted of them.
Ill the begimiing of August, 1675, Uncas wjis ordered to appear at Boston,
and to siuTetider his arms to the English, and give such other sectu'ity for his
neutrality or coo|)eration in the war now begun between the English and
Wampanoags, as might be required of him. The messenger who was sent to
make this re(]uisition, soon nnurned to Boston, accompanied by three sons of
Uncas and about 60 of his men, luul a quantity of anus. The two younger
sons were taken into custody as hostages, and sent to Cambridge, where they
were remaining as late as the 10 November following. They are said to have
been at this time not far from 30 years of age, but tlieir names are not men-
* 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 208. Mohcok, since Mimlrille, Connecticut, about 10 miles
norlii of New London, is the place "where Unkas, and his sons, and Wiinnko, are siichcins.''
Ibid.
t Hist. New Eng. VA. — " Allhouffh ho be a friend to the English, yet he and all his men
continue pagans still," 167G. Dr. I. Mather, Brief Hist. 45.
} The writer or sculptor no doubt meant the contrary of this, if, indeed, he may bo said to
have meant any thing.
} A genuine Indian word, and, as it is used here, means, simply, well. " Then they bid
me stir my instep, to see if that were frozen : I did so. When they saw that, they said that
was wtrregen." Stockweil's Nar. of his Captivity among tht Indiiuu m 1677.
8
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86
UNCAS ASSISTS IN DESTROYING THE PEQUOTS. [Rook II.
tioned.* Oneko waa employed with his GO men, and proceeded on an expe^
•lition, as will be found stated elsewhere.
Uncas was originally a Pequot, and one of the 26 war captains of that
famous, but ill-fated nation. Upon some intestine commotions, he revolted
against his sachem, and set up for himself. This took place about the time
that nation became known to the English, perhaps in 1634 or 5; or, as it
would seem from some circumstances, in the beginning of the Pequot war.
Peters, f an author of not much authority, says, that the " colonists declared
liim King of Mohegan, to reward him for deserting Sassacits," We are told,
by the same author, that, after the death of Uncas, Oneko would not deed any
lands to the colony ; upon which he was deposed, and his natural brother,
Ahimileck, was, by the English, advanced to the office of chief sachem.
Omko, lint acknowledging the validity of this procedure, sold, in process of
time, all his lands to two individuals, named Mason and Harrison. But,
meantime, Jlbimileck sold the same lands to the colony. A lawsuit followed,
jind was, at first, decided in favor of the colony ; but, on a second trial, Mason
and Harrison got the case — but not the property ; for, as Peters tells us, " the
colony kept possession under Abimilerk, their created King of Mohegan," and
"found means to confound the claiui of those competitoi-s witliout establishing
their own,"
By the revolt of Uncas, the Pequot territories became divided, and that part
called MoJieag, or Mohegan, fell generally imder his dominion, and extended
from near the Connecticui River on the south, to a space of disputed country
on the north, next the Narragansets. By a recurrence to our account o*" the
dominions of the Pequots and Nariagansets, a pretty clear idea may be had
of all three.
This sachem seems early to have courted the favor of the English, which,
it is reasonable to suppose, was occasioned by the fear he was in from his
potent and warlike neighbors, both on the north and on the south. In May,
1637, he was prevailed upon to join the English in their war upon the
Pequots. Knowing the relation in which he stood to them, the English at
first v/ere nearly as afraierfidious villain, one that could speak English Avell, having in times past
ived in the fort, and knowing all the English there, hacl been at the slaughter-
ing of all the English that were slaughtered thereabouts. He was a contin-
ual spy about the fort, informing Sassacus of what he could learn. When
this bloody traitor was executed, his limbs were by violence pulled from one
another, and binned to ashes. Some of the Indian executioners barbarously
taking his flesh, they gave it to one another, and did eat it, withal singing
about the fire." I
Notwithstanding, both Uticas and Miantunnomoh were accused of harboring
fugitive Pequots, after the Mystic fight, as our accounts will nbundantly prove.
It is true they had agreed not to harbor them, but perhaps the philanthropist
will not judge them harder for erring on the score of mercy, than their Eng-
lish friends for their strictly religious perseverance in revenge.
A traditionary story of Uncas pursuing, overtaking, and executing a Pequot
sachem, as given in the Historical Collections, may not b(! unqualifiedly true.
It was after Mystic fight, and is as follows: Most of the English forces pur-
sued the fugitives by water, westward, while some followed by land with
Uncas and his Indians. At a point of land in Guilford, they came upon a
great Pequot sachem, and a few of his men. Knowing they were pursued,
* Old Indian Chronicle, 16.
\ Relaliun of the Troubles, &c. 4C.
t In his Hist, of Connecticut.
Chap. V.]
they had go
have passed
liis tueii to S(
sued, swam (
waylaid, and
di.'atli. Unca
tlie crotch of
a great man;
name the hai
Dr. Mather
Uncas. He s
jiursiiit of the
of Mouonowi
" .Some scattc
iiuclieni, betbr
the name of i
Uncases fea
tlieni ; and wJ
unprovoked s
nliitions ; ant
from their mo
hki8, '• U7ikus
River, came t(
Hiii/nes, and
Tills was at c
liad given sat
much directed
after, having r
iug to subjnit
the differences
And about hal
ing speech. J
" This Iieart
mand me anyd
against the En^
death, were he i
" So the gov
diet, and gave
to all men, &c.
For the grati
tious on the M
dialect. " Nog
ne-an-ne an-nu-
tveh noh pum-m,
ne aun-chu-wut
nau-nuh noo-no
Ohq-u-ut-a-moi
mou-woi-e-auk
(]iutii-chth-si-u-}
maum-teh-keh.
an-woi; es-tah
i)i-noi-een."
Such was th(
Nipniucks; or i
Ktaiid the other
Uncas was st
nieti, on the pa
the infant settlei
* Hist. Guilford
t His name is no
{ Winlhrop, So\
Book II.
in expe^
i of that
revolted
the time
or, as it
|uot war.
declared
are tokl,
deed any
brother,
sachem,
•ocess <)t"
HI. But,
followed,
il, Manon
i us, " the
gan," and
tablishing
[ that part
extended
d coimtry
jDt o*" the
ly be had
ih, which,
from his
In May,
upon the
English at
e Pequots.
ook fort, a
3ns, and is
ig then at
[)ied seven
lie prisoii-
jn and en-
ars touch-
jner was a
times past
slaughter-
a contin-
. When
from one
arbarously
al singing
harboring
ntly prove,
anthropist
their Eng-
g a Pequot
fiedly true,
forces pur-
land with
me upon a
pursued,
necticut.
Chap. V.]
UNC.4S.— MOHEGAN LANGUAGE.
87
tliev had gone into an adjacent peninsula, "hoping their pursuers would
have passed by them. But Uncos knew Indian's cruil, and ordered some of
his men to search that point. The Pecjuots perceiving that they were pur-
siK'd, swam over the mouth of thj harbor, wliich is narrow. Bui they were
waylaid, and taken as they lande.l. The sachem was sentenced to be shot to
-*
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88
UNCAS— TREATMENT OF MIANTUIVNOMOH.
[Book II.
To the inhubitants of this town the Mohegans seenied more particularly
iittHcheil, probably from the circimiHtaiicc of some of its settler* having
relieved them when besieged by JVini/p-et, as will b*; found related in the
ensuing history. The remnant of the Mohegans, in 17G8, was settled in the
noith-east comer of New London, about five miles south of Norwich; at
which place they had a reservation.
The Mohegans had a burying-i)lac(? called the Royal buruing-ground, and
this was set apart for the family of Uncas. It is close by the ialls of the stream
called Yantic River, in Norwich city ; " a beautiful and romantic spot." The
ground containing the grave of Cncas is at present owned by C. Goddard, Esq.
ol" Norwich. This gentleman has, very laudably, caused an inclosure to \h;
set about it.*
When the commissioners of the uifod Colonies had met in 1643, com-
plaint was made to them by Uncas, \.h \ Mianhmnomoh had employed a Pequot
to kill him, and that this P(!quot was one of his own subjects. He shot Uncas
with an arrow, and, not doubting but tliat he hail accomplished his purpose,
"fled to the Nanohiggansets, or their confederates," and proclaimed that In;
had killed him. " But when it was known Fncas was not dead, though
wounded, the traitor was tnught to say that Uncus had cut through his own
arm with a fluit, and hired the l'■, ■ ;
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UNCAS— PESSACLS.
[Book II.
wampum, that is, their money, giving them to underfrtund tliat he would not
Be liard with them ; in so fur, that tliey had trusted to his generosity, and sent
hi/n a considerable amount. The very face of it shows clearly, that it was u
trick of Uncos to leave the amount indefinitely stated, which gave him tiie
chance, (that a knave will always seize upon,) to act according to the cajtrice
of his own mind on any j)retence afterwards.
The commissioners say, that "no such parcels were brought," though, in
a few lines after, in their records, we read: "And ibr that wampiuns und
goods sent, [to Uncos,] as they were but small parcels, and scarce considcrubie
for such a purpose," namely, the redemption of their chief: and still, they
add ; " But Uncos denieth, and the Narraganset deputies did not alledj;!'.
much less prove that any ransom was agreed, nor so much as any treatv
begun to redeem their imprisoned sachem." Therefore it appears ((uite
clear that Uncos had all the English in his liivor, who, to preserve his frientl-
sliip, caressed and called him their iriend ; while, on the other hand, the
agents from the Narragansets were frowned upon, and no doubt labored under
the disadvantage of not being personally known to the English.
As to the goods which imcas had received, the commissioners say, "A
part of them [were] disposed [of] by Miantunnomoh himself, to Uncas^ coun-
sellors and captains, lor some favor, either past or hoped lor, and part were
given and sent to Uncos, and to his squaw for preserving his life so long, and
using him courteously during his imprisonment."
Here ended this matter ; but before the Narraganset deputies left the court,
the English made them sign an agreement, that they would not make war
upon Uncos, "vntill after the next jdanting of corn." And even then, that
they should give 30 days' notice to the English before commencing hostili-
ties. Also that if "any of the Nayantick Pecotts should make any assault
upon Uncos or any of his, they would deliver them up to the English to be
punished according to their demerits. And that they would not use any
means to procure the Mawhakes to come against Uncus during this truce."
At the same time the English took due care to notify the Narraganset com-
missioners, by way of awing them into terms, that if they did molest the
Mohegans, all the English would be upon them.
The date of tliis agreement, if so we may call it, is, " Hartford, the xviijth
of September, lf)44," and way signed by four Indians ; one besides those
named above, called Chimough.
That no passage might be left open for excuse, in case of war, it was also
mentioned, that "proof of the ransom charged " must be made satistiictory
to the English before war was begun.
The power of Pessacus and J^inigret at this time was much feared by the
English, and they were ready to believe any rei)orts of the hostile doings of
the Narraganst ts, who, since the subjection of the Pequots, had made them-
selves masters of all their neighbors, except the English, as the Pequots had
done before them. The Mohegans were also in great fear of them, as well
after as before the death of Miantunnomoh ; but for whose misfortune in
being made a prisoner by a stratagem of Uncos, or his captains, the Englis^li
might have seen far greater troubles from them than they did, judging lioni
the known abilities of that great chief.
There was "a meeting extraordinary" of the commissioners of the United
Colonies, in July, 1G45, at Boston, "concerning the French but-iness, and tlic
wars between Pissicus nnd Vncus being begun." Their first business was to
despatch away messengers to request the appearance of the head men of tiie
belligerents to appear themselves at Boston, or to send some of their chief
men, that the difficulties between tiicm might \)e settled.
These messengers. Sergeant John Dames, [Davis '^] Benedict Arnold, and
Francis Smyth, on their first arrival at Narraganset, were welcomed by the
sachems, who ofTercd them guides to conduct them to Uncas ; but, either
having understood their intentions, or judging li-om their appearance tlmt
the English messengers meant them no good, changed their deportment
altogether, and in the n)ean time secretly despatched messengers to the
Nianticks before them, giving them to understand what was going forward.
After this, say the messengers, " tliere was notliing but proud and insolent
r
Chap. V.]
passages [fi
tlieni fi'om i
di.^couraged
sachems sa
English wo
ti'ilhoul Unc
were resolv
soldiers fro
and woidd
against thci
chiu'ging it i
now, if he d
fore, not bei
ragan.sets, ai
furnish tliei
them an old
Th.! mes
sacred ; " tin
suspicious m
and express
without miK
Pfssacus, the
ofl'tliat nighl
to them. In
them with gu
to risk the jo
tcstihed that
be lx)rne in i
veracity of Ji
J\Ieunwhil€
hazards. Tc
provocations
upon the Na
weigiit and g
to all tiie coI(
eldei-s of the
chief militan
Fii-st, that ou
Secondly, the
Jiis fort or 1
covenants or
to aid him as
tills aid nuist
and so come
" Ac<;ordin,
considering t
been divers
agr(!(Hl to lia\
tenant Mhvrlo
" Cutcliamuki)
"attenijtt upo
of C'oiinectic
were ordered
teiiiu.t Seali).
now aim at tli
neglected to
of iiif'n, their
the Nianticks
glad they mig
particularly tr
time that Mas
to invade the
niut
Chap. V.]
UNCAS.— DEFENDED BY THE ENGLISH.
01
passajjes [from JVTn^e/.] The Indian guides which they had brou{,'lit with
them from Pumham and Sokakanoco were, by frowns and tiireatuning speeches,
discouraged, and returned; no otlicr guides couki he obtained." Tlie
sachems said they knew, by what was done nt Hartford hist year, tliat the
English would urge peace, " but they were resolved, they said, to have no peace
tctthout Uncas his head." As to wlio began the war, they cai-ed not, but tliey
were resolved to continue it; that if the English did not witiulraw tlieiV
soldiore from Uncas, they should consider it a breach of former covenants,
and would procure as many Mohawks as the English liad soldiers to biing
against tliem. They reviled Uncas lor having wounded him.sclf, and tiien
charging it upon them, and said he was no friend of the English, but would
now, if he durst, kill the English messengers, and lay that to them. There-
fore, not being able to proceed, the English messengers returned to the Nar-
ragansets, and acquainted Pessacus of what had passinl, desiring he would
furnish them with guides; "he, (in scorn, as they apprehended it,) offered
them an old Peacott squaw."
Th(! messengere now thought themselves in danger of being mas-
sacred ; " three Indians with hatchets standing behind th(! inter|)reter in a
suspicious manner, wliile he was speaking with Pessacus, and tlie rest, frowning
and expressing n\uch distemper in their coimtenance and carriage." So,
without much loss of time, they began to retrace their steps. On leaving
Prxsacus, they told him they should lodge at an English trading lious(! not far
ofl'tiiat night, and if he wanted to send any word to the English, he might send
to tliein. In the morning, he invited them to return, and said he would furnish
them with guides to visit Uncas, but he would not suspend iiostilities. Not daring
to risk the journey, tlie messengers retiu'ned home. Arnold, the inter|)reter,
tcstilied that this was a true relation of what had (lassed, which is necessary to
be lx)rne in mind, as something may apjKjar, as we proceed, impeaching the
veracity of Arnold.
J\Ieuiiwhile the comnnssioners set forth an armament to defend f/nco.?, ataJI
hazards. To justify this movenient, they declare, that, " considering the great
provocations offered, and the necessity we should be put unto of making wiu*
upon the Nai-rohiggin, &c. and being also careful in a matter of so great
weight and general concernment to see the way cleared and to give satisfaction
to all the colonists, did think fit to advise with such of the tnagistrates and
eldere of the Massachusetts as were then at hand, and also with some of the
chief military connnanders there, who being assembled, it was then agreed :
Fii-st, that our engagement bound us to aid and defend the Mohegan sachem.
Secondly, that this aid could not be intended oidy to defend him and his, in
his fort or habitation, but, (according to the common acceptation of such
covenants or engagements considered with the ground or occ!:sion thereof,) so
to aid him as bee might be preserved in his liberty and estate. Thu'dl y, that
this aid iiuist he speedy, least he might be swallowed up in the mean time,
and so come too late."
" According to the counsel and determinadon aforesaid, the comnnssioners,
considering the present danger of Uncas the Mohegan siichem, (his fort having
been divers times assaulted l)y a great army of the Narrohiggausets, ikc.)
agreed to have 40 soldiers sent witli all (ixpi'dition for his defense." Lieu-
tenuiit Jltherlon and Sergeant John Davis I'd this company, conductid by two of
" CulcJmmakin^s" Indians as guides. Alherton was ordered not to make an
"attempt u|K)n the town otherwise tiian in Uncus' defence." Cajitain Mason
of (Jonnecticnt wsis to join him, and take the chief coiumand. Eoity men
were ordered also from Connecticut, and 80 from New Haven uiuler Lieu-
tenai.t Sealy. In their instructions to Mason, the commissioners say, " W^e so
now aim at the protection of the Mohegans, that we would liavt; no opportiniity
neglected to weaken tlie Narragansets and their confederates, in their nundier
of men, their cane canoes, wigwams, wampum and goorls. We look U|)on
the Nianticks us the chief incendiaries and causes of tli(i war, and should be
glad tii(!y might first feel the smart of it." The Nianticks, therefore, were
particidarly to be had in view by Mason, and he was informed at the same
tiuK! that Massachusetts and Plimouth were forthwith to send "another arniy
to invade the Narragansets."
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92
UNCAS.— BESEIGED IN HIS FORT.
[Book II.
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The romni'iHflionera now proceodnd to make choice of a commnnder in
diicC of the two armies. Major Edward Gibbons was unanimously elected.
In his instructions is this jmssanrc : " Whereas the scope and cause of this
expedition is not only to aid the Moheffans, hut to oflTend the NarrafTJUisets,
Nianticks, and other their confederates." He was dirrsctcd also to conclude a
peace witli them, if tiiey desired it, j)rovided it were made with 8|>ecinl
reference to damages, &c. And they sav, "But withal, accordiiifr to our
en. Tlie messenger, nametl Washose,* also a sachem, told the governor tliat
his chief desired to continue in peace with the English; but that he was
about to make war upon Uncus, to avenge the death of his brother, and hoped
they would not interfere, nor aid Uncos. The governor said they wished to
hi! at peace with all Indians, and that all Indians would be at peace airiong
themselves, and that they must agree to this, or they could not accept their
j)resent. fVfuihose said be was instructed no further than to make known his
mission and leave the present, which he did, and returned to his own country.
This was in February, 1(544, N. S. Within the same month, the same messenger
a])peared again at Boston ; and " his errand was, (says Governor Wiitlhrop,) tliat,
seeing they, at our request, had set still this year, that now this next year we
would grant their request, and suffer them to fight with Onkus, with many
argumi'iits." But he was answered, that the English would not allow such a
proceeding, and if they persisted all the English woidd fall upon them.
Planting time, and 30 days besides, had passed before the English sent an
army to invade the Narragansets. Pessacus and the otiicr chiefs had done all
they coidd do to cause the English to remain neutral, but now determined to
wait no longer, and hostile acts were committed on both sides.
The traditionary account of Uncases being besieged in his fort by the
Narmgansets will very properly be looked for in this connection, as it lias
not only adorned some ioles of the Indians, but has been seriously urged as
truth in more imposing forms. What we are a])Out to give is contained in
a letter, dated at New Haven, IS) Septemlier, 179G, by fVm. Leffingwell, and di-
rected Wr. Trumbull.
"At the time the Mohegan tribe of Indians were besieged by the Narragan-
set tril)e, in a fort near the River Thames, between Norwich and New
London, tiie provisions of tlie besieged being nearly exhausted. Uncos, their
sachem, found means to inform the settlers at Saybroo'k of their distress, and the
danger they would be in from the Narragansets, if the Mohegan tribe were cut
off. Ensign Thomas I^rffingwell, one of the first settlers then^, loaded a canoe
with beef, com and peas, and in the night time paddled from Saybrook into the
Thames, and had the address to get the whole into the fort of the besieged ; —
received a deed from Uncos of the town of Norwich, and made his escape
that very night. In consequence of which, the besiegers, finding Uncos had
procured relief, raised the siege, and the Mohegan tribe were saved, and have
ever proved strict friends to the N. England 8ettlei's."f
The above agrees very well with Mr. Hide's account. " When Uncas and
tribe were attacked by a potent enemy, and blocked up in their fort on a liill,
by the side of the great river, and almost starved to death, Lieut. Thos.
Leffingwell, Capt. Btnj. Brewster, of said Norwich, and others, secretly carried
* Peril. |)s '.he same as Awasliers,
t r'opicd from llie original, for llie autlior, by Rev. IFm. Ely, who thus remarks upon it :
"This tmdilloii, from a hig-hly respectable source, Tnindndl states as history; yet, in some
minor points, at least, it would seem obvious that the tradition could not have been strictly
preserved for 150 years." MS. letler.
Chap. V.]
their provisioi
In considerafi
At the coiif
it was ascertai
and therefore
with their des
stood, Captaii
coininissioned
" Pisctis, Cam
liet()re mentio
tlicir begimiii
wounded and
I)ri.>«)nerH, spo
I'd th(; Englisl
Boston, they s
('Xce|)t themsc
English were
them.
Harding ant
them. But h(
venture amon^
with them, or i
the retider to ji
Reverend Mr.
by the comniis
sfichems, and c
to ciiarge thei
charges, it app
Till' chiefs sai(
htu had now se
iiis assent and
lisli sliould agr
It was i. tl:
otliers, should
which they did
the old present,
They arrived at
for their counti
treaty should b(
It appeared, <
not fully under!
their country, a
record goes, tlu
parties concernt
against Uncas,
* Some ver}' bei
"hich it seems the
DtliiT observations :
which still retains
ptTishina^ with hun{
from it: —
t MS. letter to E
Chap. V]
INTERFERENCE OF THE ENGLISH.
93
:as and
a hill,
Thos.
carried
ipon It :
in some
slriclly
their provision, in the night seasons, upon which the enemy raised the siege." •
In conHiderution ot'wliich, " Uncas gave sundry donations of land," &.e.t
At the congress of the conunissioners at Boston, in 1(545, above mentioned,
it was ascertained that the present from Pesscmis still remained among them,
and therefore he might think it was probable that the English had complied
with their desires, as they had not returned it. Lest this sliould be so under-
stood, Ca[)tain Hardiiif^, Mr. fVelhorne, and Benedict Arnold, were ordered and
(•,()tnmis.>■ ,-••"
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94
UNCAS— TREATY MADE AT BOSTON.
[nooK II.
llicre t(» spoiik for liiirisclf , , ."I thnt tliey lin«J tiiiidfirod Jiis Iwiinp notified of
tlieir roriiiiif^. Ah to a Itroii ■ .if coveiiuiit, tlicy iiiniritained, for 8ome lime,
tlioy liad coiiiniittod iioiio, Ui ihat tlioir treatment of t)ie I0nf,'li8li liud been
mi.sn|)re.si'nt('d. "Hut, (says our record,) atlcr a long debate; and Home
priiiate eorifcrrcnre, they bad with Serjeant Cidliniit, they acknowledged
they had brookeii promise or couenant in the afore nienconed warre,
ancl ofl'erred to make another truce with Vncas, either till next planting
tyine, as they had done last yeare at Hartford, or for a yeare, or a yeare and
a cuiarter."
They had been indticed to make this admission, no doubt, by the persua-
sion i)i' CtUlicut, who, j)rol)ably, was in.strticted to inform them that the nafcty
of their eountry depended upon their compliance with the wishes ol'the Eng-
lish at this time. An army of soldiers was at that moment parading the
streets, in all the pomjKj.sity of a modern training, which must have naniiided
them of the horrible destruction of their kindred at Mystic eight years
before.
The pro[iosition of a truce being objected to by the English, "one of tlie
sachems ofl'ereil a stick or a wand to the commissioners, ex|»ressiiig himself,
that therewith they j)ut the power and disposition of the war into their handN
and desired to know what the English would require of them." They were
answered that the expenses and trouble thev had caused the English were
very great, "besides the damage Vncas had sustained; j'et to show their
moiJeracon, tlusy would require of^ them but tivoo thousand fathome of white
wanipon for their owne satisfaoeon," but that they should restore to Uncus nil
the captives and canoes taken from him, and make restitution for all the corn
they had spoiled. As for the last-mentioned ofience, the sachems asserted
there had been none such ; for ii ivas not the manner of the Indians to de-
strou com.
'lliis most excellent and indirect reproof must have had no small effect on
tliose who heard if, as no doubt some of the actors as well as the advisers of
the destruction of the Indians' corn, pnivious to and during the Pequot war,
were now present: Block Island, and the fertile fields upon the shores of tht-
Coimectieut, must have magnified before their imaginations.
Considering, therefore, tiiat this charge was merely imaginary, and that
Uncus had taken and killed some of their people, the English consented that
Uncus "might" restore such captives and canoes as he had talten from them.
Finally, they agreed to pay the wampum, "cmuing onely some ease in the
manner and tymes of payment," and on the evening of "the xxvij/A of the G
j«oni/i, (August,) 1()4.')," articles to the following eti'ect were signed by the
princijial Indians present : —
1. That the Narragansets and Nianticks had made war upon the Mohegans
contrary to former treaties; that the English had sent messengera to them
without success, which had made them prepai'e for war.
2. That chiefs duly authorized were now at Boston, and having acknowl-
edged their breach of treaties, having " thereby not only endamaged Vncas,
but had i)rought much charge and trouble v|)on all the English colonies,
which they conf.st were just they should satisfy."
3. That the sachems agree for their nations to pay to the English 2000
fathom "of good white wampum, or a third part of good black wampem-
peage, in four payments, namely," 500 fathom in 20 days, 500 in four months,
500 at or before next j)lanting time, and 500 in two years, which the English
agree to accept as full " satistaccon,"
4. That each party of the Indians was to restore to the other all thing.s
taken, and where canoes were destroyed, others "in the roome of them, full
as good," were to be given in return. The English obligated themselves for
Uncus.
5. That as many matterii cannot be treated of on account of the absence of
Unrcts, they are to be d-f erred until the next meeting of the commissioners
at Hartford, in Sept. 1()46, where both parties should be heard.
6. The Narraganset and Niantic sachems bind themselves to keep peact
with the English and their successors, " and with Vncas the Mohegaii sachcin
Chaf. v.]
and his nu
Passuronat
to apply to
7. They
time be fbi
harvest, ev«
tlieni," ace
watnpimi <
and one ha
imsh Cuke{
)iii.'ganset s
uj) to the £
a The s(
the Englisl
brother to j
l)e kept as f
had met Ur
rlcs. A.s tli
If'aughwam^
aenej)ted.
0. Both t
the English,
10. That
and before ii
tioii thereof,
11. They
eoiiimissioni
12. If any
li.«h, they W(
a mark to ea
We do no
he is mentlo
him. There
Seigeant Cu
From this
semis not to
without any
selves under
alleged ofj'en
Morton and
accounts of
tlint Uncas w
01(1 ur to a tri
Meanwhile
not appearin_
Naineoke, si
was the seen
edged iiimse
near to the p
lish there hat
* Oitsavieqiti
t Sep pag-e yai
1k! k('|)t as pl»!(lg(!8 or liostagon," until tlie wampiini hIiouIiI Ite all paid, i
lind met Lticas at Hartforil, and Junemo and H'ifpetorkn had si<.'ned tin
{'Irs, As the cliildron were to he sent for, IVilotoajih, Pomnmse, Jawaa
and his men, witJi Vsaamequin,* Pomham, SohaJcnooco, CtUrhamnJciv, Shnnnnn,^
Pasmconawny, and all others. And that, in case diHicultieM occur, they are
to aj)j)ly to the English.
7. riiey promise to deliver up to the English all fugitives who shall at any
time he found ainonj' them ; to pay a yearly trihute, "a inonlh hefore Indian
harvest, every year after this, at Boston," " tor all such I'erotts as live amongst
them," according to the treaty of l({.'}8;t "namely, one fathom of white
warii|)um "or each Pequot man, and half a fathom for each I'eaeott youth,
niid one hand length of wamjuim for each Peacott nian-ehild ; and if Hitk'
wash Cake^ refuse to pay this trihute for any Peacotts with him, the Nnrro-
hii'ganset sagamores |)r«>jnise to assist the English against him ;" and lo yield
U]) to the English the whole Pequot country.
8. The sachems promise to dcdiver four of their children into the lumdsof
the I'nglish, " vi/'. Plssacus liis eldest sonn, the sonn of Tasswjwtniimlt,
hrotlier to Pissanui, ^Iwashaiioe his sonn, and Eioniuresai's sonn, a Nyantirk, to
, and they
hese arti-
xssof, luid
ffaus^hivamino offered their persons as security f!)r their delivery, who were
ucrepted.
9. Both the securities and hostages were to be supported at the charge of
the English.
10. That if any hostilities were committed while this treaty was making,
and hefore its provisions were kiiowu, such acts not to be considered a viola-
tion thereof.
11. They agree not to sell Any of their lands without the consent of the
commissioners.
12. If any Pequots should be found among them who had rmirdered Eng-
lish, they were to he delivered to the English. Here follow the names, with
a mark to each,
Pessecus,
AuMSAAQUEN, IT ihpxity
for the J^anticks,
Abdas,
POMMUSH,
cutchamakins,
Weekesanno,
WiTTOWASH.
We do not see Mexam^s or Mixannol's name among the signers, although
he is mentioned as being present, unless another name was then applied to
liini. There were four interpreters enii)loyed upon the occasion, namely,
Sergeant Cullicut and his Indian man, Culcharnakin and Josias.^*
From this time to the next meeting of the commissioners, the country
seems not to have been much disturbed. In the mean time, however, Uncaa,
witiiout any regard to the promise and obligations the English had laid them-
si'lves under for him, undertook to chastise a Narraganset sachem for some
alleged offence. On opening their congress, at New Haven, letters from Mr.
Morion and Mr. Peters, at Pequot, were read by the commissioners, giving
accounts of Uncas'a perfidy. The complainants were sent to, and informed
that Uncas was shortly to be there, and that they should bring theii* proof in
order to a trial.
Meanwhile Uncas came, who, after waiting a few days, and his accusers
not appearing, was examined and dismissed. It appears that the English at
Naineoke, since Saybrook, were the suffering party, as their neighborhood
was the scene of Uncas's depredations. Of some of the charges he acknowl-
edged himself guilty, especially of fighting JVeckwash [Wequash] Cooke so
near to the plantation at Pequot ; although he alleged that some of the Eng-
lish there had encouraged Wequash to hunt upon his lands. He was informed
* Otisavifqnin,
t Sep page (51, ante.
If Awusequin.
t Perlmps Slwsltanim, or Sholan.
& IVequash Cook. 11 Wepileamock
** Son of Chit
Chikatauhut, probably.
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98
UNCAS— NUMEROUS CHARGES AGAINST IlIM.
[nooK II
I J .::•'-•■'•■■■
■ .^•''v
A-^ii
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w
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•'•'■rum, to cost the plot u|>on Vnniui, and that the
English plantacon and l'e(|uats knew it. The commissioners uhhorring this
diuihsh fulshoode, mid udvisinge Fncus, if he expected any favoure and respect
from th(! English, to liuue no liund in any such desigties or vniiist vvuycs."
Hence it appears that the court did not doubt much of the villun^ of Uncus,
but, for reasons not required here to be named, he was treated as a fond
parent often treats a disobedient child ; reminded of the end to which such
crimes lead ; and seem to threaten chastisement in their words, while their
deportment holds out quite dift'erent lunguuge.
At the congress of the United Colonies, ut Boston, in July, 1647, IMr John
/rinZ/iropof Connecticut presented u petition, "in the name of many Pecjuutts,"
in the preamble of which Casmnmon and Obechiquod are named, requesting
that they might have liberty to dwell somewhere under the protection of the
English, which they might ap|)oint. They acknowledged that their sachems
and people had done very ill against the English formerly, for which they liad
justly suft'cred and been rightfully con(|uere(l by tlie English ; but that they had
had no hand, by consent or otlmrAvise, in shedding the blood of the English,
and that it was by the advice of JVecf/uflwAt that they fled from their country,
being jjromised by him that the English would not hurt them, if they did not
join against them. The names of 62 craving pardon and protection were at
the same time communicnted.
In answer the commissioners say, that while Wequash lived he had made no
mention of "such innocent Pcquats, or from any other person since;" and on
" enquiiy from Thomas Stanton, from Foxon, one of Uncus his men, and at last
by confession of the Pcquats present, found that some of the petitioners were
in Mistick fort in fight against the English, and fled away in the smoke," and
that others were at other times in arms against the English and Mohegans,
and, therefore, the ground of their petition was false and deceitful.
It appears that they had taken refuge under Uncos, who had promised them
good usage, which was probably on condition that they should pay him a
tribute. They resided at this time at Namyok.
At the same court, Obechiquod complained that Uncos had forcibly taken
away his wife, and criminally obliged her to live with him. " Foxon being
present, as Uncases deputy, was questioned about this base and iinsufterable
outrage ; he denied that linear either took or kept UAvay Obechiquod's wife by
force, and affirmed that [on] Obechiquod's withdrawing, with other Pequots,
* His Indian name was Casnuimon, perhaps the same as Cassassinnamon, or Casamnemoii,
t Wequash, the traitor. He became a noted praying Indian, after the Pcquot war, aiid
was supposed to have died by poijoii. Frequent luenliou will be found of him elsewhere in
our work.
Chap. V ]
from fincax
ii^ur.l Nvli(>n
nflirmed th
her will."
Though
liii/ii,^' iliat
iiiittigateo I
(Hifc'iiipiod
l\\f\ sliould
(■oiiipiairi
he ('(puceive
(if, •ire (III rr
v(l tiiat he l<
that Ik' had
(•lyiiit say th
corn and hi
Peepiol, in
seeiiiH not n
guilty; and
should makf
necticut Iiid
also.
To the ch
drawiiiffo w
ghien him w
sent wampai
ever deliven
num divers
liiin fur the
altogether ii\,
There wei
Pequots, wlii
that Fnciu! h
owiie or prot
courses." A
rascality of i
distressed Pe
liiu's of such
of which, it :
people had n
the ca[)rice o
Mr. John
qiiaiter: the
JVowequa, a h
hut robbed tl
•'35 fathom of
hear skins, df
for that he ki
it [Septembei
commissionei
time robbed e
It was also
niissioners in
to Fisher's Isli
alarmed his n
next "hovere
or 50 of his
onely of the
goods to the '.
* This chief i
Abbachickwood.
the Pocomptuck
Chap. V )
UNCAS ArrUSED OF PF.RFIDY.
97
from Ihirn.t, liin wifo refiistMl to go with Iiiiti ; niid that, (tmnng tho Indinii!', it id
iiMiinl whrn ii wiH" so dt'sertH Iht hnHhiitid, another may taki- htr. ( Xtfi hvjuod
nfhniK'd that L'nca.1 hud doalt rriiniiiallv Ik for*', iiiid Htill k<>pt h<>r nguiimt
hrr will."
'riioiiLdi not HHtisfifd in point of proof, tiic coininiHsioiUTH waiil, "Yi-t ah-
Imiii.^' that lustful adidtf-roiis^ cnmnirf <>f f'/irrt*, as it in alainf8 nt this time were ns tliirk upon the; head of Vncns an ran well
he roneeived of, und Mtill we do not iniajrine that half the erimcH he waiJ trnilty
of, 'ire on rneord. Another Indian named .SW »«»,», at the sjime time, complain-
ed that he h. d dealt in like manner with the wife of another ihicf, since dead;
that h'' had laken away hin corn and heims, and alteinpted his life also. The
c«t or last, of theMi- ehiir>,'>s," still, as to the
corn and heans. " Foxon conceives Unca.i wci/ed it hecanse Siiiinojf, with a
Pe(|not, in a disorderly manner withdrew himself from i^imtny llcnce it
seems not much evidence was required, as l't)(nn\t deputy uniformly piraded
friiilty; and the court could do no less than order that, on investijriitioti, he
should make restitution. As to .San ko;;, who was "no I'eqiiot," hut a "(Con-
necticut Indian," he had liheity to live under the protection of the English
also.
To the charges of the Pequots agaiiist Unras, of "his vnju.'stico and tyranny,
drawinire wampjuu from them v)K)n new pretences," "they say they haue
gnien him wampam 40 times since they came vnder him, and that they haue
sent wampam hy him to the English 25 times," "'"' '"'•' "'• •>'"coimt that he
ever delivered it ; it was answered hy Foxon, that Uncas had received wem-
j)um divers times as trihute, hut denied that, in particular, any iiad hceii given
liim for the English, und that "he thinks tlie numher of 25 times to be
altogether false."
There were u long train of charges against Uncas for his oppression of the
Pequots, which when the comiTiissioners had heard through, they "ordered
that Vncus be duly reproved, and seriously etiformed that llie English cannot
owne or protect him in any vnlawlul, miicli lesse trecherous aiui outrageous
courses." And notwithstanding the commissioners seem not to doubt of the
rasculity of their ally, yet nothing erenis to huve been done to relieve the
distressed Pequots, because that "after the [Pequot] warre they spared the
lines of such as hud nor hand in the bloude of the English." To say the least
of which, it is a most extraordinary consideration, that because some innocent
people had not been destroyed in war, they might be !iarassed according as
the cujiricc of abandoned mindn might dictate.
Mr. Jo/in Winthrop next prefers a complaint against Uncas from another
quarter : the Niumuks had been attacked, in KMG, by 130 Mohegans, under
.Votvequa, a brother of Uncas. It does not ap^'ear that he killed any of them,
hut robbed them of effects to a great amount ; among which are enmneratcd
35 fathom of wampum, 10 copper kettles, 10 " great hempen baskets," many
hoar skins, deer skins, &c. Of this cnarge Foxon said Uncas was not guilty,
for that he knew nothing of JVoivequn^s j)rocecdings in it ; that at the time of
it [September] Uncas, with his chief counsellors, was at New Haven with the
commissioners of the United Colonies ; and that Mwequa had at the same
time robbed some of Uncas's own people.
It was also urged by Ml.nthrop, that not long before the meeting of the com-
missioners in September, 1647, this same JVowequa had been with 40 or 50 men
to Fisher's Island, where he had broken uj) a canoe belonging to him, and greatly
alarmed his man and an Indian who were there at that time. That JYowequa
next "hovered against the English plantation, in a suspicious manner, with 40
or 50 of his men, many of them armed with gunns, to the affrightment not
oncly of the Indians on the shore [soe that some of them began to bring their
goods to the English houses) but divers of the English themselues."
* This chief is the same, we believe, called in a later part of the records (Hazard, ii. 413)
Abbachickwoocl. He was fined, with seven others, ten fathom of wampum for going to fight
the Pocomptuck Indians with UncaB, in the summer of 1669.
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99
UNCAS.— WAR WITH THE NIPMUKS.
[Book II.
lomas Stantnn^s einployiiiont
ond ill ten years inorr, and
Hitlierto all male children
These charges being admitted by Foxon, the commissioners " ordered that
Vncus from them be fully informed, that he must either regulate and continue
his brother in a righteous and peaceable frame for tl)e future vnderstandinge,
jmd providing that vpon due proof due restitution to be made to such us liaue
been wronged by him, or else wholy dist'-t and Icaue him, that the Narrageii-
sett and others may reciuere and recouer satisfaction as they can."
We pass now to the y<''tr KI51, omitting to notice some few events more or
less connected with our &uli|> ct, which, in another chapter, may properly |)ass
under review.
Jja.>, /F«s«r7nagi«, i>s set forth in the
iiarrative. That, tlierel()re, tlicy now desireil him to gi\e up the captives and
make restitution for all iIk; goods taken from them, and to forbear i()r time to
come all such unlawtiil acts. That, if H'nss(imn. Also that Uncus be given to under-
stand and a.ssurcd, that if he refuse to comply with the request, they were
then resolved to right the injuries upon him luid his, and for all costs they
might be put to in the service. "That for the encouragement and safl-ty of
the sayd Wassamagin and his subjects, there be by order of Major H'illard
three or four armed men, well acconiodate in all respects, with a proporcon
of ])owder, bulletts and match sent from Lancaster to Quabaconk vnto the
wi\(l JFassamagin, there to stay a night or two, and to shootc of their mus-
tiuets so often, and in such wise, as the major shall direct, to terrific the
eni'mies of IVassmnngin, and so to rennn home again." To iiifonn Wassnma-
f^n ;u)d his subjects, that the authorities of IMassachusetts would esteem it an
acknowledgment of their regani, if they would permit them to have the
rn|)tives to be recovered from Uiira.i, to bring them uj) in a pro|)er manner,
that th(!y might be serviceable to tlnir friends, &c. Also, "aduice aiul re-
quire fVassamoffin and his men to be verie carefull of iniuring or any ways
prouoking of Vncas, or any of his men, as he will answer our dLspleasure
•Vi,'.'«t.',- •■•,,-'•.
. ,»«*_,:.-'?,•.>■. ,.^n^i
'S > ■■■•"■ '.vT
■• : • . V ■ • iV
ft
i
I J-
100
UNCAS WAR WITFI ALKXANDER.
[Book II.
tlieroiii, and iiiriirr due piinisliin<;iit for the same." That if Uncos committed
any otiicr liosiilo acts, iw rrnist complain to them, &c.* Thus Waasamegin
waw as much threatened as Uncos.
INlntlcrs seem to have remained thus until the meetinjf of tJie commission-
ers in S(|)teml)cr Ibllowing; when, in due course, the business was called up,
and acted upon as follows : —
" Vpon ('otn|»laint made to the comissionars of th i Massachusetts against
liikiis, tills Ibllowing message was sent to liitri : —
" J')tc(us, wee haue receiued information and complaint from the gencrall
court of the Mnssncluisetts of yoiier hostile invading of Wosamtquin imd the
Indians of Quabakntt, whoe are and longe haue bine subjects to the English,
killing some and carrying away others; spoyling theire goods to the valine of
'A'.\[h. as they allege." That he had done this contrary to his covenants, and
had taken no notice of the demands of the Massachusetts, though some time
since they had ordered him to s'eliver up the captives, make remuneration,
&.C. And to all he had retm'iHsd no answer ; " which," continues the letter,
" seemes to bee an insolent and j)roud carriage of youcrs. We cainiot but
wonder att it, and must beare witness against it." lie was, as before, required
to return the ca|)tives, &c. and give reasons for his operations; and if he
neglected to do so, the Massachusetts were at lilMirty to right themselves.
In the mean time, as we ap})relK}ntl, a lett«u' from Uncas was received, writ-
ten by Captain Mason, which was as Ihllows : —
' Whereas there was a warrant sent from the court of Boston, dated in my
last to fiicas, sachem of Mohegen, wherin it was declared vpon the com-
jdaint of f('esamequen,j a sachem sid)j('ct to the Massachusetts, that the said
Vncas had otli-red great violence to theire subjects at Quabauk, killing some and
taking others captiue ; which warrant came not to Uncas, not aboue 20 daies
before these ])resents, who, l)eing simunoned by Major John Mason, in full
scope of the said warrant, wherein he was deeply charged if he did not return
the capliues, and £33 damage, then the Massachusetts would recouer it by
force of amies, which to him was iiery gricuous : professing he was altogether
ignorant that they were sid)jects belonging to the Massachusetts ; and liirther
said that they were none of IVtsamequen's men, but belonging to Onopequin, his
deadly enemie, whoe was there borne ; one of tiie men then taken was his
own cousin, wlio had formerly fought agiiinst him in his own person ; and yett
sett him att libertie; and further saith that all the captiues were sent hom«i.
Alsoe that /resamf(/im?['s] son \ and diners of his men had fought against him
diuers times. This he desired might bee returned as his answare to the
comissionei-s.
^'^ Allexander allis Wamsutta, sachem of Sowamsett, being now att Plymouth,
hee challenged Quabauke Indians to belong to him ; and further said that hee
did warr against Vncas this summer on that accoimt. §
Signed by
John Mason."
* Here end our MS'S. relnt'mg to this affair.
\ \\y this it would so'-!!> iliai Massasoit had, for some time, resided among the Nipmucks.
He had, |)robat)ly, given up Poi-.anoki'l to his sons.
t Tliere can sVarce he a doubt that this refers to Alexander, and that the next paragraph
oonfirnis it ; hence Massasoit was ahve in May, '.fi61, as we have before stated. And the
above loiter of Masmt was probably written in September, or while the commissiouers were
in session.
6 It seems always to have been uncertain to whom the Nipmncks belonged. Roger
TViV/wHii- says, in fl)()i!, "Thai all the Neepmucks were unquestionably subject to the Nan-
higonset saciioms, and, in a special manner, lo Mejksah, the son of Camioimcns, and late
husband to this old Squaw- Sachem, now only surviving. I have abundant and daily proof of
it," &c. MS. letter. See life Massasoit, b. ii. ch. ii.
At one lime, Kutshaiiuxicin claimed some of the Nipmucks, or consented to be made a tool
of by some oflliem, for some iirivate end. But Mr. Pynchon said they would not own him as
a sachem any longer " than the sun shined upon him." Had they belonged to him, Massa-
chusetts must have owned them, which would have involved them in much difficulty in 1648
by reason of several murders among tliem.
much about Unc
:«»»
nucks.
Roger
lie Nan-
and late
proof of
[Ic a tool
II him as
Massa-
in 1648
Chap. VI] UISCAS.— SASSACUS. 101
Th(! iKirticulars of tlie issue of tlirsn troubles were not recorilrd, and tho
j»resinii|)tiou is, tliut Uncas coinplit'd with the r(!nsonubie requests of the Knjj-
lisli, and the old, peuceuhle Ousamequin, heiuf? unwilhng to get into difhculty,
put up witli the result without avenging liis wrongs. His son, H'ainaulta, aa
will li(^ seen, about this time fbinid hitnself itivolved in difliculties nearer
lioini', which probably prevented l)ini from continuing the war against Uncas,
had he been otherwise disposed.
CHAPTER VI.
Of llu P.-t/tiot nation — Gr.ograjiliy of tlirir country — Sassacus, their first chief, known
to Ihr Eiiirl'sh — Tassaqunnoit — War — Thr. cmise of it — WEquASii — Canonicus and
Mianlunnomnh accused of htirlwriTi"^ fugitive I'cqiwts — Sassamon — Mononotto —
Otash — Cassassinnamon.
" Hut siiici! I'vp niRntioned Samacus' grn;il name,
'J^liiit (lay HO iiiucli a tt?rr(»r whore it camo j
I,et 111!', in proseriiltoii of my Blnry,
Say soiiictliiii!; of lii» priile and kiiij;(l(im'!i glory." — Woi-cott.
It is said by Mr. Hubbard,* that the Pe(piots,f "being a more fierce, cruel,
and warlike f)eople than the rest of the Indians, came down out of the more
inland parts of the continent, and by force seized upon one of the goodliest
places near the sea, and became a terror to ail their neighbors." The time of
the""" emigration is unknown. They madt; all the other tribes "stand in awe,
though fewer in number than the Narragansets, that bordered next u{)on
thetn." t
Their country, according to Mr. Gookin,§ "the English of Connecticut
jurisdiction, doth now, [1()74,] lor the most part, jwssess." Their dominion,
or that of their chief sachem, was, according to the same author, "over divers
))etty sagamores ; as over part of Long Island, over the Mohegans, an'•<■•*'• ' ■ ■■■'■■
.■■*St-l'<../' ;. ■■'.
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102
SASSACUS.— PEQUOT WARS.
[Hook 11,
We are informed,* that Connecticut was claimed by right of conquest at
sne time by the first white settlers, who found much of it cultivated and set-
tled by its Indian inhabitants, although they entieavored that it should be
understood otherwise. The numbers of the natives in that region were
"thousands, who had three kings, viz. Connecticote, Quinnirnofi;, and Sassa-
cus." Connecticote was "emperor," or chief of chiefs, an elevation in which
he and his ancestors had stood for about 400 years, according to their tra-
ditions.
About the time the English had determined on the subjugation of the Pc-
quots, Roger Williams wrote to Governor ff'inthrop of Massachusetts, giving
him important directions how they should proceed to advantage, and what
was very important then, gave the ibllowing rude draft of their country : —
River Qimnihlicut.t
O a loft of the Niantttquit| men, confcileralc witli the Pequts.
Mohiganic River.
Ohom- I
swamp I
n\vaukc,$ thn
3 ur 4 miles from
O Weinsliaukfl, where
Sasacous, the chief saeliim, is.
Mis- ^ic^t where is Jfamofto,|| another chief sacbim.
River.
Nayan- Q laquit,! where is iVcpitcammok ami our fiiendg
River.
In the same letter, Mr. WiUiamt urges the necessity of employing faithful
guides for the English forces; "as shall be best liked of [to] be taken along
to direct, especially two Pequts; viz. fVequash, [whose nan)e signified a swan,]
and Widtackquiackommin, valiant men, csj)ecially the latter, who have lived
these three or four years with the Nanhifrgonticks, and know every pass and
passage amongst them, who desire armor to enter their houses."
In 1()34, as has been before incidentally mentioned, one Captain Stone was
killed by the Pequots, while upon a trading expedition in Connecticut River.
Without knowing the reason of their killing Stone the English demanded the
murderers soon after, and as Sassacus was involved in troubles with the Nar-
ragansets and all his neighbors, he thought it not best entirely to slight the
dematid of the English ; he therefore sent messengers to Boston, where they
arrived 6 November, with offers of peace, which, after considerable delibera-
tion on the part of the English, were accepted, and a treaty was entered into
on the 9th following.
A messenger had been sent, in October, upon the same errand, but was
dismissed with orders to inform Sassacus, that he must send i)ersons of greater
(juality, and then the English would treat with him. "lie brought," says
Winthrop, "two bundles of sticks, whereby he signified how many beaver and
otter skins he would give us for that end, and great store of wam[>ompeage,
(about two bushels, by his description.)" He had a small ])resinit witii him,
which was accepted by the English, who gave him in return, " a moose coat
of as good value."
The treaty entered into on the 9 November, 1G34, between the Pequots and
EiMflish, stipulated that the murderers of Captain Stone should be given up to
the ''"iUglish, of v/hom there were at that time left, but two, as attested by the
ambab.-iJor8 jf SaasacMS, who further observed in explanation, that the sachem
in whosL ti ne the act was committed, was dead, having been slain in a war
with the Dutch, and that all the men concerned in it, except two, had also
died of the small-pox. This, together with the facts given in concerning the
death of S/one, inclined the English to believe the account altogether; and.
but for what liappened afterwards, it is probable that the historians of that
• But witli what truth I know not, for it rests upon the nulhoiity of Peters.
t Connecticut. | Niantick. ^ A name signifying an Oic/'s nest.
II Probably Mvnonotto.
Same letter
Chap. VI.]
period would
eral rumor. I
fate, nay, the
tions! liut
In the pros
men then livir
death, they wc
as lo themselv
of their act v
seized upon t
sittiation, oblif
far as he desi
Indians, went
who, when the
them and mas;
Considering
this act ; two c
who, from eve
an act of pure
hands of an ini
Therefore, I
peace with the
send for them
and 40 beaver
send a vessel v
The namer c
with the mariv
The same c
who had marc
discovery bein^
at Roxhiny, an
the fiirtherance
with a poition
coming from t
The Narragani
retired satisfiec;
Di.stru.«t soon
and those witl
gone on hoard
Slone asleep in
except Captain
defended himsc
which for the
exploded, by w
could hold but
This matter
according to tli
circumstances o
."Mr. John Oldha
Island, in a sma
made hi.screw[
IiidiaiLS. The s
in a hark of 20
seeing a vessel
mediately knew
received no ans
full of men and
her fastening, ai
Chap. VI]
SASSACUS.— TREATY.
103
period would have relied more upon the Pequots' own account than the gen-
eral rumor. Such are th»! events of time — a circutnstiaice may change the
fate, nay, the character of a nation, for a period, in the eyes of many genera
lions! But
" O Time ! the beaiilifier of the dead !
Aitoriier of llic riiiii 1— comforlcr,
And only healer, ulien the heart halli bled !
Time, llie corructer where our judpnenls err."
In the progress of the treaty, the Pequot ambassadors said, that if the two
men then living who had been concerned in Stone's death, " were worthy of
«leath, they would move their sachem to deliver them" to the Englisli, i)ut that
as lo themselves, they had no {lower to do so, and at once lU'gcd the justness
of their act without qualification. Stone, they said, came into their river and
seized upon two of their men, and bound them hand and foot, and, in that
situation, obliged them to pilot him up the river. When he had gone uf) as
far as he desired, himself and two other white men, and the two manacled
Indians, went on shore. Meanwhile tiiey had been watched by nine Indians,
who, when they fotmd the Englishmen asleep on the following night, fell upon
tiiem and massacred them.
Considering the state of the Indians, no blame could be attached to them for
this act; two of their countrymen were in the hands of an unknovvii people,
who, from every ap|)earance, were about to put them to death, and it was by
an act of pure benevolence and heroism that they delivered them out of the
hands of an invading foe.
Therefore, being satisfied with the ac( ount, the English agreed to have
peace with them, provided they would give up the two men when they should
send for them; "to yeld up Connecticut;" to give 400 fathom of wampom,
and 40 beaver and 30 otter skins ; and that the English should immediately
send a vessel with a cargo of cloth to trade with them.
The namer of these ambassiidors are not recorded ; but one signed the treaty
with the maru of a bow and arrow, atid the other with that of a hand.
The same day about 2 or 300 Narragansets were discovered at iVeponset,
who had marched out for the |)urj)ose of killing these aml»ass«idor3. This
discovery being made !»efore the treaty was concluded, the English met them
at Roxbuiy, and there negotiated a treaty between the Petjuots and them. For
the furtherance of which, the Pe(|uots instructetl the English to pre«"!nt them
with a portion of the wampom which they were to give to them ; but not as
coming from them, because they disdained to purchase peace of that nation.
The Narragansets readily conceding to the wishes of the English, all parties
retired satisfied.
Distrust soon grew again into antipathy ; it having l)een reported that Stone
and those with him were treacherously surprised by the Pequots who had
gone on board his vessel in a friendly manner to trade ; and seeing Captain
Stone asleep in his caljin, tliey killed him, and the other men one ailer the other,
except Captain J^orton, who, it seems, was with him ; he b(!iiig a resolute man,
defended himself for some time in the cook-room, but at length, some powder,
which for the more ready use he had placed in an open vessel, took fire and
exploded, by which he was so seriously injured, especially in his eyes, that he
could hold out no longer, and he was forthwith despatched by them.
Tins matter at length having become fixed in the minds of the English
according to the latter relation, they were th(! more ready to charge other
circumstances of a like nature upon the Pequots. On the 20 .luly, IGiiii, as
Mr. John Oldham was on his pass}ig':-:ii> .
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104
SEA-FIGHT.— JOHN GALLOP.
[Book II.
set Notwithstanding some of the Indians were armed with sfuns and swords,
GcUlop, heinj^ in a stouter vessel, resolved on rinniing tiieni down ; he there-
fore made all aail, and immediately stemmed the pirate vessel on the quarter
with sneh force as nearly to overset her, and in their Irij^fht six Indians jumped
overheard and were drowned. The rest standinjr upon the defensive, and
h(!ingyet far superior in nun/.^ers to Gallop^s crew, which consisted of two little
hoys and one man, to hoard them was thougiit too hazardous; Ga//op therefore
stood off to n^peat his hroadside luctliod of atfick. Meanwhile he contrived
to lash his anchor to his bows in such a manner, that when he came down
upon the Indians a second lime, the force was sufHcient to drive the fluke of
the anchor through their quarter; which, holding there, both vessels floated
along together. The Indians had now become so terrified, that they snod not
to the fight, hut kej)t in the hold of the pinnjicc. Gallop fired in upon them
sundry times, hut without much execution, and meniitinH! the vessels got loose
from one another, and GitUop stood off again for a tiiird attack. As soon as he
was clear of them, four i>iore of the Indians junip<^d overboard, and were also
drowned. Gallop now ventured to board his prize. One of the remaining
Indians came up and surrendered, and was bound ; another came up and
submitted, whom they also bound, but faring to have both on board, this last
was cast into the sea. Two out of the 14 now remained, who had got posses-
sion of the hold of the pinnace, and there successfully defended themselves
with their swordo against their enemy. Captain Oldham waa found dead in
the vessel, concealed under an old soiiie, and as his Ixjdy was not entirely cold,
it was evident that he had been killed aboi'.t the time his pinnace was discov-
ered by Gallop.
From the condition in which Oldham's body was found, it was quite uncer-
tain whether he had fallen in an affray, or been murdered deliberately ; but it
is very probable that the former was the fiict, Ijccause it was unconunon for
the Indians to disfigure the slain, unless killed as enemies, and Oldham's body
was shockingly mangled. But Captain Oldhnm had l)een killed by the Indians,
and the cry of vengeance was up, and cool investigation must not be looked
for. The murder had been committed by the IiKlians of Manisses, but Ma-
nisses was under the Narragansets ; therefore it was believed that the Narra-
ganaets had contrived his death because he was carrying into eftect the articles
of the late treaty between the Pequots and r'nglish.
The two boys who were with Mr. Oldham were not injured, and were
immediately given !?p and sent to Boston, where they arrived the 30th of the
same month. As soon as Miantunnomoh heard of the affair of Captain Oldham,
he ordered JVinigret to send for the boys and goods to Block Island. The
l)oys he caused to be delivered to Mr. HilUams, and the goods he held subject
to the order of the English of Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, 26 July, the two Indians who were in Mr. Oldham's pinnace
when she was taken, were sent by Canonicus to Governor Vane. They
brought a letter from Roger Williams, which gave an account of the whole
affair, and some circumstances led the English to believe these messengers
were accessory to the death of Oldham ; but we know not if any thing further
were ever done about it. The same letter informed the governor that Mian-
tunnomoh had gone, with 200 men in 17 canoes, "to take revenge, &c."
Thesn events and transjictions soon caused tht; convening of the governor
pnd co\n)cil of Massachusetts, who forthwith declared war against the Indians
of Manisses. Accordingly 90 men w<>re raised and ])Ut under the command
of Caf»tain John Endecoti, who was general of the exptidition. John UnderhUl
and JVathamel Turner were captains, and Jenijson and Davenport ensigns.
EndecotVs instructions were to put to death the men of Block Island, but to
make captives of the women and children. This armament set forth in three
pinnaces, with two Indians as guides, 25 September, 1(>36.
On arriving at Manisses they saw many Indians, but could not get near
them. At Pequot harbor, a part of the armament seized a quantity of com
Iwlonging to the Pecpiots, and were attacked and obliged to fly. However, the
Narragansets reported that there were 13 Pequots killed during the expedition.
The English were satisfied that they had harbored the murderers of Oldham,
which occasioned their sailing to Pequot harbor. It being now late ui tlie
season, the expedition was given up, to be resumed early in the spring.
Chap. VI.]
The Pequc
ever they da
Haybrook we
were attackec
which circun
two men wen
six of the whi
but two. Th
bowshot of S
others.
On the 210
came to Bostc
about 20 men
of soldiers mei
into a treaty w
should make j
put to death oi
About the i
most barbarou
bark, he landec
fowl, the repoi
IM-isoner at firs
his hands wck
him the reput
facts were repc
T^Uey was at tl
On I' .. 22 F«
fort, and were d
escaped with g
On A|)ril 12,
the sjune time I
Alarm was n
having sent a ii
sent away theii
sent to Narragn
of faJliiig upon
In the meai
raised by Con
pani(Hi by Urn
Say brook, 1,5 ]
hi'ing taken ali
English cause on the walls of the fort.*
Immediately after Captains Mason and Underhill set out to attack one of the
flirts of Sassacus. This fort svas situated upon an eminence in the present
town of Grotoii, Connecticut. The English arrived in its vicinity on the 25th
ol May ; and on the 2Gtb, before day, with about 500 Indians, encompassed it,
and began a furious attack. The Mohega'is and Narragansets discovered great
fiar oti approaching the fort, and coul.i not btslieve that the English would
dare to attack it When they came to the foot of the hill on which it was
situated. Captain Mason was apprehensive of being abandoned by them, and,
making a halt, sent for Uncas. who led the; Mohegans, and Wequash, their [»ilot,
who Wfis a fugitive Peqiiot chief,f and lU'ged them not to desert him, but to
follow him at any distance they pleased. These Indians had all along told the
Engiisli tiiey dared not fight the Pequots, but boasted how they themselves
ivonld fight Mason told them now they should see whether Englishmen
* Winthrop's Joiirnnl, and Mason's Flisl. Pcquol War. — Dr. Mather's account of this atFair
lias been given in the life of Uiiras.
t 'I'lie same, it is believed, elsewhere called VVaqnash Cook ; "which W'equash (savs Dr.
/. Afallifr) was by birlh a sachem of tiiat place [where Sassacus lived], but upon some disgust
received, he went from the FequoLs to llio Narragansets, and became a chief captain under
MiatUiiniwinok." — Rdalioti, 1\.
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106
DESTRUCTION OF THE PEQUOTS.
[Book II
would fight or not. Notwitiistantling tlioir honstings, tfiey could not overcome
the terror which tlic name of Sassaciis had iiis|)ired in tliem, and they kept at
a safe distance until the fight was over; hut assisted considerahiy in n;f)elliiig
the attacks of the Pequots, in the retreat from the fort ; — for their warriors, on
recovering from their consternation, colleetijd in a considcrahle body, and
fought the confederates for niany miles.
The English had but 77 men, which were divided into two com{)anies, one
led by Mason, un,and about yO wounded.
Sassacus himself was in another fort; and, being informed of the ravages of
the English, destroyed his habitations, and, with about 80 others, fled to the
Mohawks, who treacherously beheaded him, and sent his scalp to the English.
The author of the following lines in " Yamoy den," alludes to this melan-
choly event happily, though not truly : —
" And Sassacnus, now no more,
Lord of a thousand bowmen, fled ;
And all the chiefs, his boast l>eforc,
Were mingled wiili the unhonored dead.
Saiump and Saguinore were slain,
On Mystic's banks, in one red night:
The oiicc far-dreaded king in vain
Sought safety in inglorious flight ;
.\nd reft of all his regal pride,
\\y the fierce Mnqua's hand he died."
m
One of the most unfeeling passages flows from the pen of Hubbard, in his
account of this war ; which, together with the fact he records, forms a most
distressing picture of depravity. We would gladly turn front it, but justice
to the Indians demands it, and we give it in his own words : —
The NiUTagansets had surrounded "some hundi-eds" of the Pefjiiots, and
kept them until some of Captain Sloitghton^s soldiers "made an easy con-
quest of thein." "The men among them to the number of 30, wen; presently
turned into Charon's feny-boat, under the coimnand of Skij)j)er Gallop, who
dis|)atched them a little without the harbor!"
Thus were 'SO Indians taken into a vessel, carried out to sea, murdered, and,
in the agonies of death, thrown overboard, to be buried under the siiciit
waves! Whereabouts they were captured, or " without" what "harbor" t!i( y
]»erished, we are not informed ; but, from the nature of the circtnustances, it
would seein that they were taken on the bonlers of the Nan'aganset country,
and murdered at the mouth of some of the adjacent harbors.
That these poor wretches were thus revengefully sacrificed, should hav(;
been enough to allay the hatred in the human breast of all who knew it,
especially the /ttsfon'on.' But he must imagine tliat, in their passfjge to their
grave, they did not go in a vesvsel of human contrivance, but in a boat belong-
ing to a river of hell ! thereby forestalling his reader's mind that they had
been sent to that abode.
* Allen's History of the Peqiiot War. It signifierl, Eiifflishmen! Englishmen! XnMitson't
history, it is written Oteantix. Allen merely copied from Mason, wilh a few such variations.
+ "It was supposed," says Mather, " that no less than 500 or 600 Pequot souls were brought
down to hell that day." tielation, 47. We in charity suppose, that by hell lUe doctor ouly
meant death.
If:
Chap. VI.]
LETTER OF CAPTAIN STOUGHTON.
107
Notwithstanding the great slaughter at Mistick, there were great niiiiibers
of Peqiiots in the country, wlio were hunted from Bwunip to Nwuinp, and tlieir
inuMliers thinned continually, until a renuiant promised to appear no more U8
a nation.
The Englisli, luider Captain Slouirhlon, came into Pequot River alwiit a
fortnight ailer the Mistick tigiit, and a.-^sisted in the work of tht^ir (extermina-
tion. Atler his arrival in the enemy's countrj', he wrote to th(! gjivcrnur of
]M(is.sarhu8ette, as follows : " By this pinnace, you shall receive 4rt or .")()
women and children, mJess tiiere stay any Ihtc to be lR'l|)fid, &.<;. Cun<'tTii-
ing wliich, there is one, I Ibrmerly nKtntioned, that i.s the fiiinst and largest
that I saw amongst them, to whom I have given a (;oate to cloathe her. It is
niy desire to have her for a servant, if it may stand with your good liking, else
not. There is a little squaw that .steward CiUaciU desireth, to whom he hath
given a coate. Lieut. Davenport also dtisireth one, to wit, a small one, that
iiatii three strokes upon her stomach, thus: — ||| +• He desiretJi her, if it
will stiuid with your goinl likuig. Sosomon, the Indian, desireth a young littlf
«|iia\v, wliieh I know not.
" At ])resent, Mr. Ilaipies, Mr. Lmllo, Ca|)tain Mdson, and 30 men are with
us in Pequot River, juid we shall the next week joine in seeing what we can
do against Sasaacus, and another great .sagamore, Almowaltuck, [Mononotto,]
Here is yet goo«l work to be done, and how dear vvi'i cost is unknown.
Sassacus is resolved to sell his lite, and so the othc. wi' their company, a.H
deiu- as they can." *
Perhaps it will be judged tliat .S'."
These chiefs gave Mr. Williams to understand, that, when Mr, Governor
understood what they had to say, he would be satisfied with their conduct ;
tliat they did not wish to make trouble, btit they "cowW relate many particulars
wherein the English had broken their promises " since the war.
In regard to some squaws that bad escaped from the English, Canonicus
said he had not seen any, but heard of some, and immediately ordered tliem to
be carried back again, and had not since heard of them, but would now have
the country searched for them, to satisfy the governor.
Miantunnomoh said he had never heard of but six, nor saw but foin-of them ;
* Mai''*.^-npl letter of Captain Stovghton, on lile among our state papers.
* i w/(Mi/i, 3Ir. )ri//w/;ii writes his name.
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108
OF THE PEQUOT NATION.
[Book II.
which Iwinpr hrou(»ht to Jiim, he wns niipT» nn*' nski'd thosn who broiiglit thorn
why they iUd not carry thcin to Mr. IfitiinmK, ihut ho iiiigtit roiivoy tlioiii to
tho I'ligli.sli. They told him the s(|iin\v,s wore laiiic, utid could not go ; upon
which .Minntuniwmoli went to Mr. WilliitDis to coitio and take thcni. Mr. nil-
linms could not attend to it, and in Iuh turn ordered Minntunnomoh to do it,
who said ho was huwy and could not; "as indeed lie was (miyn ff'illianut) in a
strange; kind of Hoieninity, wlierein tho HnchiniH cat nothing but ut night, and
all the natives roiuid about tho country were feasted." In the mean tinje the
squaws escape*!.
Mifmtunnomoh siiid he was .sorry that thr Ik; did not. Mr. H'illinms told him he knew ot" his sending
tor one. Of this charge he fairly cleared himself, eaj iig, the on(! sent for was
not li)r hiuiw.lf, but tor Sasaamun,* who wiw lying lame at his hou.^o ; that
Siuisrimrin fcdl in tlien; in his way to Pequt, whither he had been sent by the
govcnior. The s(iuaw he wanted was n sjichem's daughter, who had In^eii a
particular friend of Mianlunnomoh during his lifetime ; therefore, in kindnesss
to his dead friend, li«; wished to nuisom her.
Moreover, Mianlunnomoh sjiid, ht; and his people wore tnie "to tho F'nglisii
in life or death," and but for which, he said, Okast [Unkus] and his Mohigo-
iieucks had long since proved lidse, us he still fean!d they would. P"'or, he
said, they had never found a I'equot, and added, " Chenock ejuse tvelompati-
viurkji'.f" that is, "Did ever fri(!nds deal so with friend.s.'" Mr. h'iuiams
requiring nifire ])articular explanation, Miantunnomoh proceeded : —
"flly brother, Yotaujih, had seized upon Pnttaquppuunck, Qiime, and 20
I'equots, and tiO squaws ; they killed three and bound the rest, whom they
watched all night. Then they sent for the English, and delivered them in
the nioniing to iheni. 1 cutne by land, according to promise, with :200 men,
killing 10 Pe(juots by tho way. I desired to see the great snehem Pultaquppu-
unck, whom niy brother had takm, who was now in the English houses, but
the i'nglish thrust ut uie with a pike many times, that I durst not come near
the door."
Mr. Willinms told him they did not know him, else they would not ; but
Minntunnomoh answered, "AH my company were disheartened, and they all,
and C'Htshamof/uene, desired to be gone." Besides, he said, "two of my men,
Haf^onckwhitt j annl>ly llie snino mciilioned afterwards.
mon, or his brother liowUiml.
t Perhaps Hii/ijijMmacH/, oi WuhginnactU.
He might have been the famous John Sassa-
Chap. VI. I
MONONOTTO.
109
Long
Sassa-
F.iiplicli nnd Indians, nccordinj^ to the p{|iiity of the rnse.' " IVinthrop liiid no
writing from Snsancus, nnd full ten y<;arH had clnpsed v,\ncv tlx- transiirtion, but
Fromittush, IVtiinhirqun.ike, ntu\ Jinluppo tcHtififd Honic time artcr, that "u|»oii
thfiir knowl(>d>^»> liefort! thf> wars were against the IV-iiiiots, S'l.iHnru.i llu'ii
saclxMU of Niantif* di %M
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MO.NONOTTO,— CASSASSINNAMON.
IHooK II
ii|K)ii ( oniHTtirnt Rivrr. "Ah they were nniliiiff up the rivor, wiysj Dr. /.
Mntlier, tiumy ot'tiic I'i'(|ii(itH on hotli s'kIch (>ftli<> river ciillt'd to tlwMii, tliniroiiB
to know ulidt WHS tlit'ir riid in I'oiniii^ tliittuM'." * 'I'lii'} iinswin d, tliat tlH'\
(icsirnl to H|ii'iik with Snnadnix ; Ix-iiig tohi thiit San.vinia liiul ^oiic to Loup
IsIiiikI, thrv then (liiiiaiidi'd tliut JMononollo nlioiild apiiiar, and tiicy itntiiidi-d
h*! W(H troiii lioini- also. Ilowtvcr, they w*>iit on tshorr and diniandcd the
innrdrn IS (tf Captain Sloiir, and were tohl that if they woidd wait they would
send tiir thi'Mi, and that Minutnollo would conii' iinniiMliatdy. lint very wisely,
the l'r(|iiots, in the mean time, "transported their poods, women and ehildntn
to another piaee." f One oC th*Mn then told the liiipiish that MunonttUi) would
not come. Then the Knplish hepan to do whut rnisehii't' they eoidd to tiiem,
:md a skirmish followed, wherein one Indian wuh killed, uiid un En^lidhman
was wounded." {
'I'lie name of Mononollo^s wife appears to have been Wincumbo.nk. .She
slionld not he overlooked in s|ieaking (tt'Munonotto, uh she was instrinniMital in
s.i\iiii' the life of an I'in^lishman, as disinterestedly U8 fof»/ion^M saved that
of Cajjtain Smitli. Some Knglish had gone to tradi; with tla; I'e(|nots, and to
recover some horses wiiich they had stolen, or picked up on tiieir lands. Two
of the I'nijiish W(;iit on shore, and one went into the sachem's wigwam and
demanded the Jiorses. The Indians within slyly absented themselves, and
IHnniinhonc, knowing their intention, told him to Hy, for the Indians were
m;.kiiig preparations to kill him. He barely escaped to the boat, being follow-
ed liy a crowd to the shore.
( 'assassi.vnamon was a noted Petinot chief, of whom we have some account
i;s early as K!;")'.), fn that year a difhcidty arose about the limits of Southerton,
since called Stoniiigton, in Connecticut, and several Knglish were sent to settle
;he (litliculty, whicli was concerning the location of Wekapauge. "For to
I. rip us (they say) to understand where Wekapauge is, we desired some Po-
i;iialucke Indians to go with us." Cassassinnainon was one who assisted.
They told the English that '■'■ Ca^hawassvt (the governor of Wekapauge) did
charge! them that they should not go any further than the east side of a little
swamp, near the east end of the first great pond, where they did pitch down a
stake, and told us [the English] that Cushawussd said that that very place was
Wekapauge ; said that he saicf it and not them ; and if they should say that
Wekapauge did go any further, Cashawasset would be angry." Cashawassel
ailer this liad confirmed to him and those under hitn, 8000 acres of lanliii Kliot — VVahhan the Ji rut Lhrislinn .iniraniurr—lniliun lairs
— UliciiH inotrsti against the attim/it to ronrirt hin iifople — Ninijfri't rrj'tmrs to
rfciirr. vu.isionariii — The Indian liiblr — Piamhiiuiiou — Si'kkn — I'kmn ah anmi- —
Tl'KAI'KWII.I.IN — OoNAMOO — AllATAWANCK — W ATTAgSACOMI'ONUM — lllACOUMKS
— MioiiHSoo — OccuM — TrruBA,
'■ "■«•■<
It must bn oxrccdiiifrly ditririilt, as all cxiMrienci! lias shown, t<» cans*! any
pi'opli' to ahaiidnn a hciiet' or faitli in u matter, unless it he m\v on whicii the
r*-iLi'H of tlie mind can he hrou^ht to art. 'Y\\v most iifiioinnt
jii(i|ilc must he ••oiivinc(!(l, that many ('trcets whicii they witnrss are jn'oiinced
liy oh\iiiiis causes; hut there are so many others for whicli they cannot dis-
cover a cause, that they hesitate not to deny any nntunil cause for tliem at
once. And notwithstanilini; that, fr(»m day to day, causes are developing,'
tlienisclvcs. and showinj; tiiem, that many results wiiich tiu'y had viewed .iS
liroceedin;.' from a super natural causi; hitherto, was nothing hut a natural
one, luid which, when discovered, apiieared perfectly sim|»le, too, yet, (or the
want of the incims oi' investigation, they would he looked upon as miraiidoiis.
Tliitse tiicts iiavo l)eon more than enouf,'li, amonon them-
selves, also, the important atlair of determining the happiness each was to
enjoy aller death; assurhig the brave and the virtuous that they should go to
a |)lac(! of jierpetual spring, where game in the greatest plenty abounded, and
every thing that the most perfect hap[)iness recpiired. Now, as a belief in
any other religion |)roniised no more, is it strange that a new one should be
slow in gaining credence?
Considerations of this nature inevitably press in ui)on us, and cause us not
to wonder, as many have done, that, lor the first thirty yeius after tfie settle-
ment of New England, so little was effected by the gospel among the Indians.
The great dirticulty of conununicathig with them hy inter|>reters nuist have
been slow in the extreme; and it nnist be considered, also, that a great lei,, h
of time must have been consumed beibre any of these could perform ' ir
ofhce with any degree of accuracy; the Indian language being unlike ' - y
other, and bearing no analogy to any known tongue whatever ; and then, (lie
peculiar custom of the Indians must be considered ; their long delays before
they would answer to any proi)Ositioii ; but more than all, we have to coa-
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h.y
112
PRAYING INDIANS— NESU IAN.
i •
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[l!i)lt!v II.
sider the natural diptnist thiit ninst iiocessarily arise in tlie minds of every
people, at tli(! sudden inthix of stranjrers anu)ii'in-istiaii fiiitli. At the next nu'etinir all t!ie Indinns jiresent
'■ ol!i nd their eiiildren to !)e eatiM-hised and instructed hy the l!iif;lish, ulio
njinii this motion ri'solvtid tf> set u|> a school amonij; them."
i\Ii\ />7/o^ notwithstanding ids /(-al, s;'enis well to have understood, that
simiething h^side preaching was necessary to rel'orm tht; lives of the Indians ;
and that was, theii- civilization hy (!ilncation. It is said that oni; of his iiotcd
sayings \\as, Tin- In'tinna mu^t he civilizid as well af, if not in ordei In their
beimr, Chnatianize, L* Therefiire, the reipie.-t of the Indi.ins at Noiiantum
was not carried into (dfei't until a place could he ti\ed upmi whcr.' a icgidar
S'tdenieut should In- made, and the catechumens had shown their zeal for
the cause hy «s.send)ling themselves there, and coiUiirmini.' to ihe Mie.dish
ni(>de of living. In th;' end this was agreed upon, and Natick svas (ixed as
the place for u town, and the I'ollowing siiort code of laws was set up and
agreed to: — I. If any man h ■ idle a week, or at most a fortnight, li«! shall y;\y
five shillings.- -II. If any unmarried man shall lie with a veiiuir woman
unmarried, he lall pay twenty shillings. — III. If any man shall hiat his wife,
his hands shall his tii'd behind him, and In; shall \)(' carritul 'o the |)laei' of
'MStice to be severely punished. — IV. Kvery young man, if not anotlier's
i: -mt, and if unmarried, shall be comjxdUul tf) set up a wigwam, and plant
. ( unself, and not shift up and down in other wigwams. — V. If any woman
sli„ i not havs in and helps." {
The chiefs and powwows would not have suffered even so nmeli groiinligion of their ancestors, and tlie ])rejudices of education § are insupera-
ble witliout the ext'-'ioidinary grrce of God."
"TheMonbegin Indians were so jealous of the general court's obliging
them tfi pray to God, that Uncas, their sachem, went to the eouit at llarttiird
to jirotest against it. Cutshamoquin, another sachem, (;ame to the Indian
lecture, and opeidy protested against their bifilding a town, telling the Eng-
lish, that all the sachems in the country were against it. He was so honest
as to tell Mr. Eliot the reason of it ; for (says he) the Indians that |)ray to God
do not pay me tribute, as formerly they did ; which was in part true, lor
whereas before the sachem was absohU(^ mast(>r of his subjects; their lives
and tortunes being at his dispo.sal ; they gave him now no mor(> than they
thought reasonable ; but to wipe off the re|)roach that CiUshamoquin had laid
upon tlvm, those few praying Indians present, told Mr. Eliot what they had
* Hittckinaon, Hist. Mass. i. 1(53, t Neal, i. 22()— 230. | Mairnalia, ill. 196.
} Tliis word, when ap|ilied lo the education of llie Indians among theinst'lvus, is to bu un-
derstood in an opposite sense froip its common acceptation : tliu.«, to instruct iu superstitions
and idolatry, is wiiat is not meant by education amoni; us.
10*
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114
PRAYING INDIANS.— INDIAN BIBLE.
[Book II.
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(lone for thoir sachem tho two last years, leaving him to judge wlietlier their
prince had any reiuson to complain." They said tln^y had given him yfi
imshejs of corn at one time, and si.x at another; that, in hunting for him two
days, they liad killed him 15 fiimilie.s in which periiaps were about 145 jiersons. The name
JVatick signified a place of hills. H'aban was the chief man here, " who,"
says Mr. Gookin, " is now about 70 ycu-s oi' age. He is a jterson of great
prudence and pitity : I do not know any Indian that excels him."
Pakemitt, or Punkapaog, ("which takes its name from a spring, that riseth
out of red earth,") is the next town in order, and contained 12 families, or
* N'-al's N. Eii^hiiiii, i. '2,57. f Sec hook ii. chap. iii. p. 57, ante.
t Moore's Lir<' l:ii(il, \n. \S Man-nalia, b. iii. 197. || Ibid.
11 I'liiliuiwn lloltdud \v;is rnllnil ilio Iranslator-goncral of liis age ; he wrote several of his
transliitiuns with one pen, iinon wliicli he made the following' verses:
With one .sole pen I writ this book,
Made of a grey goose (juill ;
A pen it was, when I it took,
And a pen I leave it still.
Fuller's Worthies of England.
** Douglass, Ilist. America, i. 172, note. See aisu Haiket, Hist. Notes, 248, &c. Doug-
lass wrote about 1745.
m--
I'll
Chap. Vll]
PRAYING INDIANS— VVAUnAN.
115
about no j)ersons. It was 14 miles south of Boston, and is now included in
Stoiigliton. The Indians here removed from the Neponset. Hassannmesil
is the third town, and is now included in (Jniftoii, and contained, like the
second, (JO souls. Okonnnakaniesit, now in ]Maril>orouyli, <'ontained ahout
50 people, and was the fourth town. Wamesit, sinct! included in Tewks-
hury, tiie titlh town, was upon a neck of land in Merrimack River, and
contained ahout 75 souls, of five to a family. Nashohaii, now liittleton, was
till' sixth, and contained hut ahout 50 inhai)itants. Magunkaipu)!.'', now l!o[t-
kinton, sijrnitied a place of great trees. Here were ai)out 55 jx-rsons, anil
this \\as the seventh town.
There were, hi'sides these, seven other towns, which were called th(> new
prayiuff towns. These wen? amonjr tlii^ Niptnuks. The first was .'Manclia<;e,
since Oxtord, and contained ahout (iO inhahitants. The second was ahout
six miles ti"om the first, and its name was Chahanakon^rkonniii, since Dudley,
and contained ahout 45 pei-sons. The third was !\Iaanexit, in the north-east
part of Woodstock, and contained ahout iOO soids. The fourth was Ciuan-
tisset, also in Woodstock, ami coiitainiuir 100 jm rsons likewise. AValiipiissit,
tli(! fil'th town, also in Wondsiock, (hut now included in Connecticut,) i-on-
tained 1.50 soids. Pakachooir, a sixtii town, partly in Worcester anil j)artly
in Ward, also contained ]0() jxjople. Weshakim, or Nashaway, a seventh,
contaiiu'd ahout 75 persons. Waeimtuji was also a |)rayinj.' town, included
now by Uxhridge ; hut the numher of peojde there is not set down hy Mr.
Godkin, our chief authority.
Hence it seems there were now suppose I to he ahout 1150 praying' Indians
in the ])laces enmnerated ahove. There is, however, not the least prohahility,
that even one iburth of these were (wer sincere believers in Christianity.
This calculation, or rather su])position, was made tln3 yt!ar Ixdbre Philip's
war beratik, or Natick, he was one of the most eflicient otlicers until his
death.
When a kind of civil conmiimity was established at Natik, JVnuhan was
made a ruler of fitly, and subsequently a justice of the peace. The follow-
ing is said to be u copy of a warrant which he issued against sonu- of iho
'i
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PllAVING INDIANS.— PIAMBO.-^rUKAPWWILi, IN. tR«<>K '».
iransjfre.ssors. " lou, _j/ou hi^ constable^ quick, ymi, mif.k um J(f;»emiah Offscow
stroni! you hold um, safe i/oa bring um^ iifim nu , VN'alm/i, juntii e peace" *
A yoiiiif,' jiiHticc !isK(!(l fVaulinn wliut he would do w)i(;ii Indians got drunk
juid (|iiarrell«d ; lie rejilied, " 7V'e uin all up, ami whip um plaintiff, and whip
nmfendmd, and whip um iinlne.is."
We liav(i not lcaru(!d the (yreeise tiriK" f)f iVauUavUs death, f but he was
ccitaiMly alive; in the end of the year Ieople ;v^ a spy; f, ' , . ' it hajtpened, in the attempt, they fell in with an
English scout, under Cajitain Gibbs, who treated them as prisoners, and with
not a little barbarity; robl)ing them of every thing they had, even tli(i nfinis-
ler of a pewter cup which he used at sacraments. At Marlborough, though
under the protection of ofiicers, they were so insulted and abused, "espe-
cially by women," that Tukapeivillin^s wife, from fear of being murdered,
escaped into the woods, ieaving a sucki'ig child to be taken curt; of by its
father. With her went also her son, 12 years old, and two others. The
others, JVaoas and Tukapexoillin, with six or "even children, were, soon
alter, sent to Deer Island. Mtoits was, at this time, about 80 years old.
Oonamog was rider at Marlborough, and a sa(;hem, who died in the
sunnner of 1(574. His de.-vth "was a great blow to the ])lace. He was a
]»ious and discreet man, and tiie very soul, as it were, of the place." The
troubles of the war ffdl very heaxily upon his fiunily. A barn containing
corn and hay wa,, burnt at Chelmsford, liy .some of the war party, as it
proved afterwards; hut some of the violent lOnglish of that j)lace determined
to make the Wamesits suffer for it. Accordingly, about 14 men armed
' Allen's Hiog. Diet. art. Waban.
t Dr. Unmcr, Hist. Newloii, says iiR rlipd in lf)7'l', liiit f^ivcs no iiiitiiority. Wo liavc cited
se
veral aiilliorilics, showhif; tlmt lie was alive a year later, (see I), iii. p|». 10 and 79.)
X Piam Boolian, Ovokin's Hist. Coll. IH.—Piambow, [m Hist. Praying Indians.
Chap. VII.]
PRAYING INDIANS.- WANNALANCET.
117
was a
' The
tliemselvo; and, under a prt'teiico of Hroiitiiip, went t(» tlio W'l^wams of tlie
VV^aniesil.s, (uid onlcnul them to come out. Tliev obeyed \vit!i(iiit licHitation,
being chiefly helpless women and ehildren, and not eoneeivinff any liarni
could lie intended them; hut they were no sooner out than tired upon, when
five were wounded and one kilieil. Whi'ther the eouriigi ot' tli(! brav" i''.ug-
li.sii now failed them, or whethe-r they were satisfied with what Itlood Wiis
iilrcady shed, is not clear; hut they did no more at this time. The one t-laiti
was a little; son oi Tahalooner ; and Oonnin()u;'s widow wa.s s»!verely wounded,
whose name wa.s Sarah, "a woman of I'ood report lor religion." fcjhe was
daughter of Sngnniure-John, who lived and died at the same place, belore the
war, "a great friend to the English." Sarah had had two husl)ands: the tirst
was OoTiamog-, the si'coii.l Tah/itooncr, who was sou iti' Tahallawan, sachem of
Muski'ta(piid. This afliur took ])la(re on the ]5 Nf.vemher, 1(57").
J\''umphotv was ruler of the praying Indians at W'amesit, and Samuel, his son,
wa-s teacher, "a young man of good parts," s^iys Mr. (lookhi, "and can sjn-ak,
read and write English and Indian com|)etently ;" heing on>V
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PRAYING INDIANS.— HIACOOMES.
[Book II.
\npsit ; but by former appointment, calleth here, together with some others."
Captain Tom was among Tuknpemllin^s company, that went off with tlie
enemy, a.s in speaking of him we have made mention. In that company there
were about 200, men, women and children. The enemy, lieing about 300
strong, obhged tiie praying Indians to go off with, or be i.') ; at Codtarnruit, in Mashpee, Ashimuit, on the west
line of Mashpee, Wees(pi()bs, in Sandwich, 22 ; Pispogutt, Wawayoutat, in
Waifiham, Sokones, in Falmouth, 36. In all these places were 4(52 souls ; 142
of whom could read, and 72 write Indian, and 9 could read J^nglish. This
account was furnished Major Gookin in 1674, by the Rev. Richard Bourne of
Sandwich. Pliilip^s war broke uj) many of the^e communities, but the work
continued long alter it dwindled to almost nothing in Massachusetts. In 1685
till -e were 143'J considered as Christian Indians in i^limouth colony.
Mr. Thomas Mayhew Jr. settled in Martha's Vineyard, called by the Indians
JVope, in 1642. lie was accompanied by a few English families, who made
him their minister; but not being satisfied with so limited usefulness, he learn-
ed tin; Indian langiia ;■ , and began to preach to them. His first convert was
Iliacoomes, in 1(543, a man of small repute among his own people, whose
residence was at Great Harbor, near wherr, ihe English first settled. He was
regula'-'.y ordained 22 August, 1(570, but he began to preach in 1646. John
Tok nosh was at the same time ordained teacher. His residence was at Nuni-
pa.ng, on th(; east eri and many more, and was better off by so doing, Miohqsoo said, he would
forthwith throw away his, which he did, and becatne one of the most eminent
of the Indian converts. One of his children, a son, sfiiled for England in
1(557, with Mr. Thomas Mayhew Jr., in a ship commanded by Captain James
Garrrtt, and was never heard of after. The time of the death of Miohqsoo is
unknown, but he lived to a great age.
Among the Mohegans and Narragansets nothing of any account was effect-
ed, in the Wi>y of Christianizing them, for a long time. The chief sachems of
those nations were determined and fixed agu' ■•t it, and though it was from
time to time urged upon them, yet very little v ever done.
yet
OIAP. VIl]
PRAYING INDIANS.— OCCUM
no
Sampson Occum, or, as his name is spelt in a sermon * of liis, Occom, wns a
Moliegan, of tlie family of Benoni Occum, who resided near New Lcindon, in
(^'onnecticut. He was the first of that tribe who was conspicnoiis in reliwioii,
if not the oidy one. He was l)om in 172.M, and becoming attached to the Rev.
Elecaar Whedock^ the minister of Lebanon in Coiniecticut, in 1741 he became
a Christian.f Possessing talents and great piety, Mr. ^Vheelock entertained
sanguine hopes that he would be able to effect much among his countrym"ii
as a {)reMcher of the gos|)ei. He went to England in ]7().5 to procure aid for
the keeping up of a s(diool for the instruction of Indian children, whicli wiis
begun by Mr. Wheelock, and furthered by a Mr. Moore, by a donation of a
iiiiool house and Ituid, al)out 17G3. Wiiile in England he was introduc^'d Ui
Lord Dartmouth, ut\d other eminent [tersons. He preached there to crowds
of peo|)le, and returned to America in September, 17t)8, having lan, a [)reacher to tiie Montaiiks on L.
Island. About this time he visited the Cherokees. He finally settled among
the Oneida Indians, with many of his Mohegan brethren, about 17()8 ; thi y
having l)een invited by the Oneidas. He died in .Tuly, 17!.)2, at N. Stork-
hriflge, N. York, ageil 69.
Tituba is noticed in the aimals of New England, from her participation in
the witch tragedies acted here in 1()91. In a valuable work giving a history of
tliat horrible delusion, § mention is thus made of her. " It Wiis the latter end of
February, 1G91, when divers young persons belonging to [Rev.] Mr. Parris' ||
family, and one more of the neighborhood, began to act afler a strange and
nnusnal manner, viz., as by getting into holes, and creeping under chairs and
stools, and to use other sundry ochl postures, and antic gestures, utterinir fool-
ish, ridiculous speeches, whicli neither they themselves nor any others could
make sense of." " March the 11th, Mr. Parris invited several neighboring
ministers to join with him in keeping a solenni day of prayer at liis own
house ; the time of the exercise those persons were, for the most part, silent,
(mi afler any one prayer was ended, they woidd act and s))eak strangely, ;inu
ridiculously, yet were such as had been well educated and of good behavior,
the one a girl of 1 1 or 12 y(>ars old, would sometimes seem to be in a convul-
sion fit, her limbs being twisted several ways, and very stiff, but presently her
tit would be over. A few days before this solemn day of prayer, Mr. Parris'
Indi.in man and woman, made a cake of rye numl, with the ehildn-n's water,
itnd l)ak(!d it in the ashes, and, as it is said, gave to the dog ; this was done as
ii means to discover witchcrafh Soon after which those ill-afl'ected or afflicted
persons named several that tney said they saw, wrrcn in their fits, afllicting fif
tlietn. The first complained of, w;\s the said Indiii!! wnnian, natneil Titiibd.
She confessed that the devil in*ged her to sign a book, wiiich he presented to
her, and also to work mischit^f to th<' children, &c. She was afterwards com-
mitted to |)rison, and lay there till sold for her fi'es. The accoiuit she since
gives ot it is, that her master did i)eat her, juid otherwise abuse her, to make
her i-onfess and accuse (sucli as he called) her sister witches ; and that what-
soever she said by way of confessing or accusing others, was the effect of
sii(;h usage ; her master refused to pay her fees, uidess she woidd stand to
what she liad said."
We are able to add to our information of Tituha f > ii another old and
curious work,1f as follows: — That when she was examined she "confessed
the making a cake, as is above mentioned, and said her mistress in her own
I'ountry was a witch, and had taught her some means to be used for the
discovery of a witch and for the prevention of being bewitched, &c., but said
"that she herself was not a witch." TIk; (diildren who accused her said "that
she did pinch, prick, and grievously torment them ; and that they saw her here
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* At the excoulioii of Moses Pauf, for murder, at New Haven, 2 September, 1772. To liis
letter to Mr. Keen, his name is Occum.
+ Life Dr. Wheelock. Ifi. X His liCttor to Mr. Keen, in Life Wlieelock, 175.
4 Wonders of the hivisihle World, by R- Calef, 90, 91, 4lo. London, 1700.
II " i^amucl Paris, pastor of the church in .Salem- villaije." Modest Enquiry into the Nafurt
nf Witrhcnift. by John Halo, pastor of the church in Beverly, p. 23, IGmo. Boston, 1702.
IT Modest Enquiry, &c. 25.
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TITUBA.— WITCHCRAFT.
[Book ]I
find thoro, wliere nobody else could. Yea, they co>dd tell where she was, and
what she did, when out of their human sight." Whether the author was a
witness to this he does not say ; but probably he was not Co through the
wliole of our early writers, and you will scarce find one who witnessed such
matters : (Dr. Cotton Mather is nearest to an exception.) But they generally
preface such marvellous accounts by observing, "I am slow to Itelieve rumors
of this nature, nevertheless, some thmgs I have had certain information of." *
The Rev. Mr. Felt t gives the following extract from the *' Quarterly Court
Papers." "March 1st. Sarcth nsbom, Sarah and Dorothy Good, Titiiha^ servant
of Mr. Parris, Martha Cory, Reucrxa Mirse, Sarah Cloyce, John Proctor and his
wife Elizabeth, all of Salem village, are committed to Boston jail on charge of
witchcraft."
The other servant of Mr. Parris was the husband of Tituba, whose name
was John. It was a cl..irge against them that they had tried means to discover
witches. But there is little probability that these ignorant and simple Indians
would ever have thought of "trying a project" for the detection of witches,
had they not learned it from some more miserably superstitious .^'hite i)er8ons.
We have the very record to justify this stricture. | Take the words. "Mary
Sibly having confessed, that she innocently counselled John, the Indian, to
attempt a discovery of witches, is permitted to commune with Mr. Parris'
church. She had been previously disciplined for such counsel and appeared
well." We are not told who disciplined her for the examination. Was it Mr.
Parris'?
This is tlie only instance I have met with of Indians being implicated in
white witchcraft.
» /. Mather's Brief Hist. Philip's War, 34.
t In his valuable Annals of Salem, 303.
\ Danvers Records, published by (he author last cited.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OF THE
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SAM ON — His CO
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Alexander vi
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lastly Alexander.
"*T '^'- ..' H W(! tiiid hull noti
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came to Plimoutl
the records.
" I, J^amumpi
[1659,] before th(
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appecres by dee
promise to remDi
court the said /F
BOOK III.
''<^^-
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF THE NEW ENG-
LAND INDIANS CONTINUED.
CHAPTER I.
Life of Alexander alias Wamsutta — Events trhich led to the tear with Philip —
Wkktamoo his toife — Earbj events in hir life — Pf.tananuf.t, her second hushand
— H'ectamoo's latter career and death — JVinigret — Death of Alexander — John Sas-
SAMON — His country and connections — Becomes a christian — Schoolmaster — Min-
ister — Settles nt Assatoomset — Felix marries his dauirhtcr — Sassamon discuters
tJie plots of Philip — Is murdered — Proceedings against tlie murderers — They art
londcmned and executed.
Alexander was tlie English name of the elder son of Massaaott. His real
iiniiic u|)])enrs at first to have been Mooanam, and afterwanln WamsuUa, and
lastly Alexander. The name of Mooanam he bore as early iis lG3iJ ; in IMl
W(! tiiid him noticed under the name Wamsvtla. About the year Kkkl, he and
his yoiing(>r brother, Metacomety or rather Pometacom, were brought to the
court of Plimouth, and beuig solicitous to receive English names, the gov-
ernor called the elder Mexander, and the younger Philip, probably from the
two Maeedoniun heroes, which, on being explained to them, might have flat-
tered their vanities ; and which was '.irobably the intention of the governor.
Alexander appears pretty early to have set up for himself, as will be seen in
the course of this chapter ; occasioned, perhaps, by his marrying a female
sacliem of very considerable authority, and in great esteem among her
neighbors.
Namumpcm, afterwards called Weetamoo, squaw-sachem of Pocasset, was
the wife of Alexander ; and who, as says an anonymous writer,* was more
willing to join Philip when he began war upon the English, being persuaded
by him diat they had poisoned her husband. This author calls her " as potent
a [)rince as any round about her, and hath as much com, land, and men, at
her command."
Alexander having, in 1653, so\J a tract of the territory acquired by his wife,
a.s has been related in the life of Massasoit, about six years after, Weetamoo
came to Plimouth, and the following account of her business is contained in
the records.
" I, JVamumpum, of Pokeesett, hauing, in open court, June last, fifty-nine,
[1659,1 before the governour and majestrates, surrendered up all that right and
title of such lands as Woosamequin and Wamselta sould to the purchastirs ; as
appeeres by deeds giuen vnder theire hands, as alsoe the said JVamumpum
promise to remoue the Indians of from those lands ; and alsoe att the same
court the said Wamauita promised JVamumpum the third part of the pay, as is
* Old Indian Chronicle, p. G.
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ALEXANDER.— WEETAMO.
[Book III.
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expressed ic the deed of which payment .Vatnumpum haue recoiued of John
Cookt, this 6 of Ocu 1659 : these purticulara as folluweth : item ; 20 yardt blew
trading clothe 2 yarcb red cotton, 2 paire of ahooet, 2 paire stockingt,6 broade
hoes and 1 axe ; And doo acknowledge receiued by me, Namomfum."
Witnesaed by Squabsen, WahatunchqwUt, and two English.
Thus this land affair seems to have been amicably settled ; but the same
year of Alexander's death, whether Iwfore or after we are not assured, JVamum-
pum appeared at Plimouth, and complained tliat WamsvUta had tiold some of
her land without her consent " The court agreed to doe what they could
in conuenient time fur her relief.**
We apprehend there was some little difficulty between Alexander and his
wife al)out this time, especially if her complaint were before his death, and
we are rather of the opinion that it was, for it was June when her complaint
was made, and we should assign a little later date for the death of her husband ;
and therefore all difficulty was settled in his death.
On the 8 April, 1661, Wamsulla deeded the tract of country since called
Rehoboth to Thomas fViUet " for a valuable consideration."* What that was
the deed does not inform us ; but we may venture to question the fact, for if
the consideration had in truth been valuable, it would have appeared in the
deed, and not have been kept out of sight.
What time JVamumpum deeded land to John Sanford and John Archer, we
are not informed, but it was probably about the beginning of 1G62. It was a
deed of gift, and appears to have been only deeded to uiem to prevent her
husband's selling it ; but these men, it seems, attempted to hold the land in
violation of their promise ; however, being a woman of perseverance, she so
managed the matter, that, in the year 1666, she found witnesses who deposed
to the true meaning of the deed, and thus was, we presume, restored to her
rightful possessions.
Since we have been thus particular in acquainting the reader with the wife
of IVamsxUta, we will, before proceeding^ with our account of the husband,
say all that we have to say of the interesting H^eetamoo.
Soon after the death or Alexander, we find ATamumpum, or ffeetatnoo, asso-
ciated with another husband, named Petonowowet. He was well known to
the English, and went by the familiar name of Ben. Now, unless Peto-now-
owet, or Pe-tam-a-nMut has been corrupted into Peter Nckwcit, we must
allow her to have had a third husband in 1675. We, however, are well satis-
fied that these two names are, as they appear to be, one and the same name.
This husband of Weetamoo does not appear to have been of so much impor-
tance as her first, fVatnsvita ; and as he only appears o. casionallv in the
crowd, we are of opinion that she took eood care in taking a second husband,
and fixed upon >ii; that she was better M)le to manage than she was the de-
termined namstiii^
On the 8 May, 1673. Tatamomoek, PetonowotoeU, and JVUliam alias ^asoekt,
sold to J^athamd Patne of Rehoboth, anJ Hugh Cole of Swansey, a lot of
land in Swansey, near Mattapoiset, and Showamet neck, for £35 5s. ffeetatnoo,
Philip alias fVaguaoke, and Steven alias JVAtcano, were the Indian witnesses.
Al)oiit the same time, one Piowant was intruded upon by some others
claiiiiing his lands, or other .(rise molesting him, and the business seems to
have undergone a legal scrutiny ; in this funair both Weetamoo and her hiis-
Imnd appear upon our records. They testify that the tract of land bounded
by a small river or brook called Mastucksett, which compaseeth said tract to
Assonett River, and so to Taunton River, [by trees, &c.] hath for many years
been :n the possession of Piowant. The place of the bounds on Taunton Kiver
was called Chippascttitt, wliich was a little south of Mastucksett Pantatuet,
Quanomn, JVeffconoo, and Panoxnoin, testified the same.
It does not appear that Peta-nan-M-et was at all con »med in Philip*s war
against the English, but, on the contrary, forsook his vnfe and joined them
against her. Under such a leader as Ckurch, he must have been employed
ageiitst his eouBtrjmaen with great advantage. At the time he came over to
* See ibo Hut. of Attleborough, by John Daggett, Esq., p. 6, where the deed i* preserved.
• Old I."«di
Crap. I.]
ALEXANI^R.— WEETAMO.
the English, he no doubt expected his wife would do the same, as she gave
Chunk to understand as much. After the war he was honored with a com-
mand over the prisoners, who were permitted to reside in the country be-
tween Sepecan and Dartmouth. JVumpiw, or JVompcwA, and haac were also
in the same oflSce.
After Mr. Ckurch left Awathonka^ council, a few days before the war broke
out, he met with bot>> Wtetamoo and her husband at Pocasset He first met
with the husband, 'fuananuet, who had just arrived in a canoe from PkUip'a
head quarters at Mount Hope. He told Chta-ch there would certainly be war,
for that Philip had held a war dance of e)<*- and weeks, and hod entertained
the young men from all parts of the couiitiy. He said, also, that Philip ex-
pected to be sent for to Plimouth, about Satsamon^a death, knowing himself
guilty of contriving that murder. Petanamul further said, that he saw Mr.
Janua Broum of Swansey, and Mr. Samuel Gorton^ who was an interpreter,
and two other men that brought a letter from the governor of Plimouth to
Philip. Philip'a young warriors, he said, would have killed Mr. Brown, but
PhUip told them uiey must not, for his father had charged him to show kind-
ness to him ; but to satisfy them, told them, that on the next Sunday, when
the English hod gone to meeting, they might plunder their houses, and after-
wards kill their cattle.
Meanwhile Wedamoo was at her camp just back from Pocasset shore, on
the high hill a little to the north of what is now Howland's ferry, and Petana-
nuet requested Mr. Church to go up and see her. He did so, and found her in
rather a melancholy mood, all her men having left her and gone to Philip'a
war dance, much, she sud, against her will.
Church, elated with his success at Awaahonka' camp, and thinking both
"queens" secured to the English interest, hastened to Plimouth to give the
governor an account of his discoveries. — This was a day big to Phtlip ; he
immediately took measures to reclaim ^ettomoo, and had nearly I'nvwn otT
Aioaahonka with the vivid hopes of conquest and booty.
Wedamoo could no longer remain neutral ; the idea still harrowed upon her
mind, that the authorities of Plimouth had poisoned her former husband,* and
was now sure that they had seduced her present one ; therefore, from the
power of such arguments, when urged by the artful Philip, there was no
escape or resistance. Hence his fortune became her own, and she moved
with liim ftvm place to place about her dominions, in the country of Pocasset,
until the 30 July, when all the Wampanoags escaped out of a swamp, and
retired uito the country of the Nipmuks. From this time ff'eetamoo'a opera-
tions become so blended with those of her allies, that the life of Philip takes
up the narration.
When, by intestine divisions, the power of PhUip was destroyed among the
Nipmucks, fVeetamoo seems to have been deserted l)y almost all her followers,
and, like Philip, she sought refuge again in her own country. It was upon the
a August, 167o, when she arrived u|)on the western bonk of Tehticut River in
Mettupoiset, where, as was then supposed, she v/as drowned by accident, in
attem|)ting to cross the river to Pocasset, at the same point she had crossed
the year before in her flight with Philip.
ih'.r coraiMiny consisted now of no more than 26 men, whereas, in the be-
ginning of the war, they amounted to 300 ; and she was considered by the
[English " next unto PhUip in respect of the mischief that hath been donc^f
The English at Taunton were notified by a deserter of her situation, who
offered to lead any that would go, in a way that they might easily surprise her
and her company. Accordingly, 20 men volunteered upon this enterprise,
and succeeded in capturing all but fVeetamoo, ** who," acrx>rding to Mr. Hub-
ftardt " intending to make an escape from the danger, attempted to get over a
river or arm of the sea near by, upon a rafl, or some pieces of broken wood ;
but whether tired and spent with swimming, or starved with cold and hunger,
she was found stark naked in Metapoiset, not far from the water side, which
made some think she was first half drowned, and so ended her wretched life."
" Her head being cut off and set upon a fwle in Taunton, was knov/n by some
s'wi
* Old Indian Chronicle, p. 8.
U. Mather.
t Narrative, 103 and 109.
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ALEXANDER.
[Rook III
Indiana then pi isoners [there,] which set them into a horrible lami^ntation."
Mr. Mather im])rove8 upon this jNissage, giving it in a style more to suit the
taste of the times : " They made a most horid and diabolical lamentation,
crying out that it was their queen's head."
The authors of Yamotden thus represent Philip escaping firom the cold
grasp of the ghostly form of Wetlamoo : —
" As from the water's depth she came,
With dripping locks and bloated frame,
Wild her tliscolorud arms she threw
To grasp him ; and, as swil\ he flew,
Ilcr hollow scream be beard behind
Come mingling with the howling wind :
' Wh^ fly from W'elamoe ? she died
Bearing the war-axe on thy tide.' "
Although fVeetamoo doubtless escaped from Pocasset with Philip, yet it
appears tnat instead of flying to thr Nipmuks she soon >vent down into the
Niantic country, and the English immediately had news of it, which occa-
sioned their sending for JVinigret to answer for harboring their enemy, us in
his life has been related.
In this connection it should be noted, that the time had expired, in which
.Viniffrtt by his deputies ugreetl to deliver up Weetamoo, some time previous to
the great fight in Narraganset, and hence this was sei<.ed upon, as one pretext
for uivading the Narragansets. And moreover, it was said, that if she were
taken by that formidable army of a 1000 men, " her lands would more than
pay all the charge " the English had iK'en at in the whole war.*
fVeetamoo, it is presumed, left J\/inigret and joined the hostile Narragansets
and the Wampanoags in their strong fort, some time previous to the Lnglish
expedition against it, in December. And it was about this time that she
connected herself with the Narragans«'t chief Quinnapin, as will be found
related in his life. She is mentioned by some %vriters as Philip^a kinswoman,
which seems to have l)een the case in a two-fold manner; first from her
being sister to his wife, and secondly from her marrying Alexander, his brother.
To return to fVamsiitta.
A lasting and permanent interest will always be felt, and peculiar feelings
associated with the name of tiiis chief. Not on account of a career of battles,
devastations or murders, for there were few of thesc,t but there is left for tis
to relate the melancholy account of his death. Mr. HubbariTa account of this
event is in the hands of almost every reader, and cited by every writer upon
our early histoi")', and hence is too extensively known to be repeated here.
Dr. /. Mather agrees very nearly in his accotmt with Mr. Hubbard, but being
more minute, and mrely to be met with, we give it entire : —
"In A. D. I(]cen. For some of Boston, Living been occasionally
at Narraganset, wrote to Mr. Prince, who was then governor of Plimouth, that
Alexander was contriving mischief against the English, and that he had solicit-
ed the Narragansets to engage with him in his design77]
governor of that colony,^ to take a party of men, and fetch down Jliexaiuler.
The major considering tiiat asmpernocuU deferre paratis, he took hut lU armed
men with iiim from Aiarshfield, intending to have taken more at the towns
that lay nearer Mount Hope. But Divine Providence ho ordered, as titat when
tliey were ahout tlie midway hetween PHmoutli and Bridgewnter,* olMerving
an hunting house, tht
house. The major, with his small party, possessed themselves of the Indians'
arms, and Iteset the house ; then did he go in amongst them, acquainting iht;
sachem with the reason of his coming in such a way : desiring Alexander
with his interpreter to walk out with him, who s-ng ap|)canuice at Plimouth
court, and, uistead thereof, going at the same time to his pretended enemies,
augmented jealousies concerning him. In fine, tlie major told him, that his
order was to bring him to PUmuuth, and that, by the help of God, he would
do it, or else lie would die on the place ; also declaring to hun that if he would
submit, he might expect respective usage, but if he once more denied to go,
he should never stir from the ground whereon he stood ; and with a pistol at
the sachem's breast, required that his next words should \m a |K>sitive and
clear answer to what was denianil«Ml. Hereupon his interpn;ter, a discrei t
Indian, brother to John Saiisaman,l being sensible of Jllexander'a (msiiionate
«li ,)osition, entreated that he might speak a few words to the sachem before
he gave his answer. The prudent discourse of this Indian |)revailed so far as
that Alexander yielded to go, only requesting that he miglit go like a sachem,
with his men attending him, which, altliough there was some hazard ui it,
they being many, and tlie English but a few, was granted to him. The
weather lieuig hot, the major ofi'ered him an horse to ride on, but his sijuaw
and divers Indian women lieing in company, he refused, saying he could go on
foot as well as they, entreating only that there might be a complying with
their pace, which was done. And iv ^ several tunes by the way, Alexan-
der and his Indians wore refreshed by tlie English. No other discourse hap-
pening while they werv. upon their march, but what was pleasant and amicalile.
The major sent a man before, to entreat that as many of the magistrates of
that colony as could would meet at Duxbury. Wherefore having thi^re had
some treaty with Alexander, not willing to commit him to prison, timy i-n-
treated Major irimlow to i>.'cuivehim to his house, until the governor, who
then lived at Eastham, couhl con.e up. Accordingly, he and his train wen.-
couiteously entertained by the major. And albeit, not so much as an angry
word |Kissed between them whilst at Miu'shfield ; yet proud JUexatukr, vexing
uiul fretting in his spirit, tiiat such a heck was given him, he suddenly fell
sick of a fever. He was then nursed as a choice friend. Mr. Fidler, the
piiysician, coming providentially thither at that time, the sachem and his men
earnestly desired that he would administer to hhn, which he was unwilling to
do, but by their importunity was prevailed with to do the best lie could to
help him, and therefore gave him a portion of working physic, which thi^
Itidians thought did him gooil. But his distemper atk>r\vards prevailing, they
entreated^ to dismiss huu, in order to a return home, which upon engagement
* Within six miles of the English (owns. Hubbard, 10, (Edition, 1677.) Massasoit. iiikI
likewise J'hiiip, used to have temporary residcnres in eligible places for fishing, at vnrious
sil'.'s between the two bays, Narraganset and Massarhiisctts, as at Kaynliam, Nainasket, Titi-
fut, [in iVliddleborough,] and Munponset Pond in Halifax. At which of these places he was,
we ruiinut, with certainty, decide : thai at Ualifdx would, perhaps, agree best with Mr. Hub-
bard's arrount.
t Eighty, says Hubbard, 6.
i He had a brother by lite name of Roland.
^ " Eutreating those that held him prisoner, that he might have liberty to return bomoi,
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ALEXANDER.
[Book IIL
of a|)|M-unuM*o at tho next court was grunted to Iiim. Soon after his being
n-tiirii(>(i lioim- lio iiied." *
'Vl\H» t'iu\» Dr. Malher'a " relation " of the short reign of Alexander. And
iilthoiigh a doeiirnent lotely publislied by Judge Davis of Boston sets the con-
on the conduct of tiie gov-
ernment of Plimouth, by some of the English, who were more in the habit of
using or recommending mild mcasunts towards In«linns than the Plinwuth
peo|)ic appear to have been, seems to have been indulged in. After thus
'premising, we will offer the document, which is a letter written by the Rev,
John Cotton, of Plimouth, to Dr. /. Mather, and now printed by Judge Davis,
in his edition of Morton's Memorial. There is no date to it, at least the editor
gives none ; but if it were written in answer to one from Mr. Mather ti^
him, desiring information on that head, dated 2l8t April, 1677,t we may
Cyonclude it was about this time ; but Mr. Mather's " Relation " would not lead
us to 8up()ose that he was in possession of such information, and, there-
fore, he either was not in possession of it when he published his account, or
that he had other testimony which invalidated it.
The letter begins, "Major Bradford, [who was with Mr. Winalovf when
Alexander was surprised,] confidently assures me, that in the nornitive de
,'ilexandro | there are many mistakes, and, fearing lest you should, through
misinformation, print some mistakes on that subject, from his mouth I this
write. R<;ports being here that Alexander was plotting or privy to plots,
against the English, authority sent to him to come down. He came not.
Whereupon Major IVinslow was sent to fetch him. Major Bradford, with
some others, went with him. At Munponset River, a place not many miles
hence, they found Alexander with about eight men and sundry squaws. He
was there about getting canoes. He and his men were at breakfast under
their shelter, their gims being witiiof :t. They saw the English coming, but
continued eating ; and Mr. ninsloio telling their business, Alexander, freely
and n?ttdily, without the least hesitancy, consented to go, giving his reason
why lion tiiis head, to limit the time
uf his sacheinship to a portion of the year Hiii.
It will have app<;areu already, that trnough had transpired to inflame the
minds of the Indiana, and especially that of the sachem Philip, if, indeed,
the evidence adduced be considered valid, regarding the blainahleness of the
English. Neverthel^-ss, our next step onward will more fully di^velop the
causes of Philip's deep-rooted animosities.
We come now to s|>eak of John Sassamoa, who deserves a |)articular
notice \ more e8|>ccially as, from several manuscripts, we are able not only to
correct some im|)ortant errors in former histories, but to give a more minute
uccoiiiit of a character which must always be noticed in entering upon tlie
study of this part of our history. Not tliat he would otherwise demand
more notice than many of his brethren almost silently passed over, but for his
agency in bringing about a war, the interest of which uicreases in pro|>(»rtion
ns time carries us from its ]>eriod.
John Sassamon was a subject of Philip, an unstable-minded fellow ; and,
living in the neighborhood* of the English, Ix-came a convert to Christianity,
learned their language, and w&s able to read and write, and had translatetj
some of the Bible into Indian. Being rather insinuating and artful, he was
employed to teach his countrymen at Natick, in the capacity of a school-
master. How long l)efore the war this was, is not mentioned, but must have
l)een alwut 1660, as he was Philip's secretary, or interpreter, in 1662, and tliis
was af\er he had become a Christian. H lell the English, from some dislike,
and went to reside with AltxamUr, and ailerwards with Philip, who, it ap-
pears, employed him on account of his learning. Always restless, Scissamon
did not remain long with Philip before he returned again to tlie English ; ^ and
he manifested such evident signs of repentance, as that he was, after his re-
turn from pagan Philip, reconciled to the praying Indians and baptized, and
received, as a member, into one of the Indian churches ; yea, and employed
as an instructor amongsi them every Lord's day."f
Previous to the war, we presume in the winter of 1672, Sassamon was sent
to preach to the Namaskets,^ and other Indians of Middleborough, who, at
this time, were very numerous. The famous fVatuspaquin was then the
chief of this region and who appears to have l)een disposed to encourage
the new religion taught by Sassamon. For, in 1674, he gave him a tract of
land near his own residence, to induce him to remain among his people. The
deed of gift of this land was, no doubt, drawn by Sasaamonj and is in these
words : —
"Know all men by these presents, that I, Old fVatuspaquin, doe graunt
vnto John Scusamon, allies Ifassasoman, 27 acrees of land for a home lott at
Assowamsett necke. This is my gift, giuen to him the said John Sassamon,
by me the said H^atuspaauin, in Anno 1673, [or 1674, if between 1 Jan. and
25 March.]
Old WATDSPAqoiN ® his marht.
William TusPAquiN Q V hia marke.
Witness, alaoe, Nanehecnt § -f" ^** marke.**
As a further inducement for Sassatnon to settle here. Old Tuspaquin and
his son deeded to Felix, an Indian who married Sassamows daughter, 58 and
an half acres of land ; as " a home lott," also. This deed was dated 11
March, 1673, 0. S., which doubtless was done at the same time with the other.
* " This Sassavum was by birth a Massachuselt, his father aiid mother living in Dorchester,
and they both died Christiana." — /. Matlur.
t Mathtr'i Relation, 74.
I The inhabitants of the place call it Nenuuket. In tlie records, it is almost always writtea
Kamassakett.
t ISpelt also Menuheutt.
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[Book HI.
This (lauphtcr of fiaaaanum was cnllp«l by thn English name Betty,* but hn- orig-
inal nanu! was AflsowETOUoii. To his son-in-law, >S'a.Mamon gave his land, hy n
kind of will, which he wrote hiniS4>lf, not long before his death ; p.'ol)al)ly
alMHit the time he became tired of his new situation, which we auppoHo was also
alMxit the time that he discovered the design of Philip and his captains to
brinj,' about their war of extermination.
Old Tuapaqvin, as he called hiniH<-lf, and his son, not only confirmed Saaaa-
mon'a will, out alM)Ut the same time made a l>equest thems«;lve8 to his daugh-
ter, which, they say, was "with the consent of all the chietie men of Asso-
wamsett." Tliis deed of git\ from them wjls dated 23 Dec. 1673. It was of
a neck of land at Assowamsett, called Nahtcawumet. The names of somt?
of the places which bounded this tract were Mashquoinoh, a swamp, Sason-
kuHiisett, a pond, and another lartre pond calle«l Chupipoggut Totnaa, Old
Thiimaa, Pohonoho, and Kankunuki, were u|)on this deed as witnesses.
Fki.ix served the English in Philip^a war, and was living in 107}), in which
year Gfjvenior Wijia/ow onlered, "that nil such lands as were formerly ^oAn
Saaaamon'a in our colonie, shall be settled on Felix his son-in-law," and to re-
main his and his heirs " fon'uer." Felix^a wife survived him, and willed her
land to a daughter, named Merry. This v/as in KKH!, and laacke fVanno v/it-
nessed said will. There was at a later period an Indian preacher ht Titicutf
named Thomaa Felix, perhaps a son of tiie former.^ But to return to the
more immediate subject of our «liscourse.
There was a Saaaaman, or, as my manuscript has it, Soaomon, known to the
English as early as 1H37 ; but as we have no means of knowing how old John
Saaaamon was when he was murdenul, it cannot be decided with prolmbility,
whether or not it wt^re he. This •S^oAomon, as will be seen in the life of Saaaa-
cua, went with the English to fight the Pcquots
Saaaamon acted as interjireter, witness or scribe, as the case required, on
many occasions. When Philip anil H'ootonekantiake hia wife, sold, in l(iG4,
Mattapoisett to fVilliam Brenton, Saaaamon was a witness and interpreter.
The same year he was Pkdip'a agent " in mtttling the bounds of Acushenok,
Coaks«>tt, and places adjacent." Again, in KKiS, he witnessed the receipt of
£10 paid to Philip on account of sn wen; only waiting for th«' trees
to get leaved out, that they might prosecute their design with niore etfert.
To return to Snssamon :
In the mean time, some circiunstances happened that gav(; further grounds
of 8us|)icion, that war was meditutetl, and il was intended that messengers
slioidd be sent to Philip, to gain, if |)ossibIe, the real state of the case, iiut
Ijflbre this was effiicted, much of the winter of 1674 had passed away, and
the Rev. Sassamot still resiited with the Namaskets, and others i>f his
coinitrvmen in tiiu* iieighlxM'hood. And notwithstanding he had enjoined
the strictest secrecy ui>on his English friends at I ii'iiouth, of what he had
revealed, assuring them that if it came to Philip's knowledge, he should be
iinniediatcly murdered by him, yet it by sor.ic means got to the chief's
knowledge, and Sassnmon was considered a traitor ami an outlaw; and, by
the laws of the Indians, be had forfeited his life, and was doomed to siifTcr
death. The manner of effecting it was of no cons«'(iuence with them, so
long as it was brought aboiu, and it is nrobable that Philip had ordered any
uf liis subjects who might meet with hini, to kill him.
Early in the spring of 1075, Sassamon was missing, and, on search being
made, his body was found in Assawoinset Pond, in Middlel>orotigb.f Those
that killed him not caring to be known to tin; English, led his hat and gun
upon tiio ice, that it might be sup[>osed that he had drowned himself; but
from several marks upon his Imdy, and the fact that his neck was brtken,
it was evident lie had been muniered. | Several jicrsons were suspected,
and, upon the information of one called Palxu:kson, Tobias^ one of rhilip's
counsellors, his son, and Maltashinnamy, were apprehended, tried by n Jury,
consisting of half Indians,|| and in June, ](t75, wsre all executed at Plimouth ;
"one of them before his execution confe.ssiuj; the murder," but the other
two denied all knowledge of the act, to their last breath. The truth of
their guilt may reasonably l)e called in question, if the circumstance of the
bleeding of the dead body at the approach of the murderer, had any influence
upon the Jury. And we are fea. ful it was the case, for, if the most learned were
misled by such hallucinations in those days, we are not to suppose that the
more ignoran' were free from them. Dr. Increase Mather wrote within two
years of the affair, and he has this passage : " When Tobias (the suspected
murderer) came near the dead body, it fell a bleeding on fresli, as if it h«d
been nowly slain ; albeit, it was buriad a considerable time before that."^
Nothing of this part of the story is upon record among the manuscripts,
as we can find, but still we do not question the authenticity of Dr. Mather,
who, we believe, is the first that printed an account of it Nor do the
records of Plimouth notice Sassamon imtil some time afler his death. The
first record is in these words : " The court seeing cause to require the per-
* Nut yet published, Imt is now, (Apri!, K,m,) printing with notes by the author of this
work, muler llic direction of the American Aiitiijua-ian Society. It will form a lasting monu-
ment of one of the best men of those days. Tlic iiuihor was, as Mr. Eliot expresses himself,
" a pillar in our Indian work." He died in 1G87, aged 75.
t Some would like to know, perhaps, on what authority Mr. GraJiame {Hist. N. Amer. i.
402.) states thai Sassamon's boay teas found in a field.
\ Gookin's MS. Hist, of Christian Indians. This author says, " SasBamaatd was the first
Christian martyr," and that " it is evidci. he suffered death upon the account of his Christi^P
profession, and fidelity to the English."
J His Indian name ;vas Po^gapanofoo.
jl Mather's Relation, 74. Judge Davis retains the sane account, (liorton't Memorial^
2o9.) which we shall presently show to be erroneous.
V Mather's Relation, 75.
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SASSAMON.
[Book III.
Honnl ap[>earance of an Iixlian called Tobuu licfon; the roiirt, to make fur-
ther answer to mirh iiitirrru^ittorieH oh dIiuII Ih) re<|uin>d of him, in reference
to the sndden and violent death of an Indian called John Saiattnum, late
deceaBod." This was in March, 1(174, O. 8.
It appearH that Tobias was pr«>H«>nt, althon^h it is not so stated, from Iho
fact that Ttupaquin and his son WUliam entered into hoiids of £100 for the
appearance of Tobias at the next court in June following. A mortgage
of land was taken as security for the £100.
June having arrived, three insteatl of one are arraigned as the murderers
of Sassamon. I'iiere was no intimation of any one hut Tobias heing guilty
at the previous court. Now, tfampapaquan, the son of Tobias, and Malta-
shunannamo * are arraigned with luni, and the hill of indictment runs as fol-
lows : " For that lieing accused that they did with joynt consent vpon tlm
29 of January ann" 1()74, [or lUHiirueM Pond,
wilfully and of sett purpose, and of mullice fore thought, and hy force uud
arines, murder John Sasaamon, an other Indian, hy laying violent hands on
him, and striking him, or twisting his necke vntill lieu was dead ; and to hyde
and conccale this theire said nnirder, att the tynic and place aforesaid, did
cast his dead body through a hole of the iyce into the said pond."
To this they pleaded ^ not guilty," and put themselves on trial, say the
records. The jurj', however, were not long in fuiding them guilty, which
thev express in these words : " Wee of the jury one and all, both English
and Indians doe joyntly and with one consent agree upon a verdict."
Upon this they were immediately remanded to prison, ^ and from thence
[taken] to the place of execution and there to l>e hanged by the head f vntill
theire bodies are dead." Accordingly, Tobias and Maitashunannatno were
executed on the 8 June, 1(>75. " Rut tlio said Wampapaqmtn, on some con-
siderations was reprieued until a montii he expired." He was, however, shot
within the month.
It is an error that the jury that found them guilty was composed of half
Indians ; tliere were bat Ibnr, while there were twelve Englishmen. We
will again hear the record : —
** Itt was judged very expedient by the court, tliat, together with this
English pury abouo named, some of the most indifi'erentest, grauest and
sage Indians should Ih; admitted to be with the said jury, and to healp to
consult and aduice with, of^ and concerning the prennses: there names
are as followeth, viz. one called by an English name Hopt, and Maskifpague,
IVannoo, George Wamoyt and Jcanootus; these fully conciu-red with the
jury in theure verdict."
The names af the jurymen were fVUliam Sabine, WiUiatn Crocker, Edward
Shtfgis, fyHliam Brookes, JVaih'. fVinslow, John fVadnuorth, Andrew Ringe,
Robert Fixon, John Done, Jon". Bangs, Jon". Shaw and Benj"^. Higgina.
That nothing which can throw light upon this important affair be passed
over, we will here add, from a hitherto exceeding scarce tract, the ibllowiug
particulars, although some parts of them ore evidently erroneous : " About
five or six years since, there was brought up, amongst others, at the college
At Cambridge, (Mass.) on Indian, named Sosomon ; who, after some time Be
had spent in preaching the gospel to Uncas, a sagamore Christian in his ter-
ritories, was, by the authority of New Plimouth, stjnt to itreach in like man-
ner to King Philip, and hia Indians. But King Philip, (heathen-like,)
instead of receiving the gospel, would immediately liave killed this Sosomon,
but by the persuasion of some about him, did not do it, but sent him by the
hands of three men to prison ; who, as he was going to prison, exhorted
and taught them in the Christian religion. They, not liking his discourse,
immediately murthered him alter a i nost barbarous manner. They, return-
ing to King Philip, acquainted him with what they had done. About two
or three months after this murther, being discovered to the authority of
JtW
* The same called Maltashinnamy. His name in (he records is spell four ways.
t This old phraseology reminds us of the French mode of expression, cowper It cou, (hat i>t
lo cut oflT the neck instead of the head ; but the French say, U itra penau par son cou, and w
do modern hangmen, aiioi jurutt, of our times.
Chap. II]
LIFF. O'' KINO I'llIUr
18
N'«'W I'liiiioiitli, Josiah liinalow bciiij; llicn K«»voriior of that roloiiy, onro uns
tukfii to ruiii out tlif! iiiiirtlion'rH, wlio, ii|h>ii H<>urcli, wuru IoiiimI uikI npiin!-
Ii('iixaM|»c'ratril King
Philij), that, iWiiii that day al)«>r, hr Htialii'tl to Im) revenged oti the EiigliMli —
jiiil<;iii.!; that the Kti;,di.>4h authority hud nothing to du tu hong lui Indiiui for
killing another." •
9*in
ClIAl'TKR II.
Life of KING PllllilP — His mil namr — The name of his trife — Makes frn/utiU
fairs of his liinils — .lirnuiit of fhrin — His first trriili/ at FUmouth — ErprilUiim to
yaiUifihrt—Ktents of \iM\—lifgin.i the WAR if U't7r>— First arts of hostilitij—
Sirim/i Fight lit Porassrt — Xiirroirlij rsai/irs out of his men roiitUnj — is pursued
by Onrko — Fight at Hrhnhnth Plain — Cuts off a compnnij of English under Captain
Ikers — Incidents — Fight at Siigar-loiif Uili, and destruction oj Captain Ijithrop's
cumpanij — Fights the English under Mosriij — English raise VM) men — Philip
retires to .\iirraganset — Strongly fortifies himself in a great sicamp — Description
of his fortress — Kng'ish marcii to attack him — The great Fight ot .Varragunset —
Again flies hisroun/rij — I'isits the Mohawks — lll-dectsed alriUagem — Eventsof I(i7(i
— Rrturnsiigainto his country — Reduced to a wretched condition — Is hunted hy Church
— Uis chief counsellor, Akkoinpoin, killed, and his sister raptured — His icfe and son
full into the hands of Church — Flies to Piikuniiket — /* surprised and slain. — Speci-
men of the Wampanoag Language — Other curious mutter.
\s regard to the native or Indian name ofl'iiiLii it Rcema a miHtnke ha.s al-
ways prevailed, in printed accounts. Pomkt acom gives an iw.»x its Indian sound
lis can be approaelKul hy our letters. The first syllable was dropp«!il in (ainiliar
discourse, and h(;nce, in u short time, no one iniagined but what it had always
Iteen so ; in nearly every original deed executed by hini, which we have seen,
aiul they are many, his name so apptmrs. It is true that, in those of different
years, it is spelt with some little variation, all which, however, conveyed very
nearly the same sound. The variations are Puinatacom, Pamatacom, Pometa-
rome, and Pomclacom ; the last of which prevails in the records.
We have anotht^r important discovery to coumiunicate :f it is no other than
the name of the wife ol' Ponietacom — the innocent Wootonekanuske ! This
wiLS the name of her who, with her little son, fell into the hands of Captain
Church. No wonder that Philip was "now ready to die," as some of his trai-
torous men told Church, and that " his heart wufa now ready to break ! " All
(hat was dear to him was now swallowed up in the vortex ! But they still
iivetl, and tliis most harrowed his soul — lived for what .'* to servo as slaves in
uii iniknown land ! could it be otherwise than that madness should seize upon
liiin, and despair tortncnt him in every place ? that in his sleep he should hear
tlie anguishing cries and lamentations of fVoolonekaniuike and his son ? But
we must change the scene.
It seems as though, for niaiiy years b(;fore the war of 1G75, Pometaconi, and
nearly all of his people sold on their lands as fust as purchasers presented them-
selves. They saw the prosperity of the English, and they were just such phi-
losophers 08 are easily captivated by any show of ostentation. They were forsa-
king their maimer of life, to which the proximity of the whites was a deadly
|K)ison, and were eager to obtain such things as their neighbors possessed ; these
were only to be obtained by |)arting with their lands. That the reader may
t()mi some idea of the rapidity with which the Indians' lands in Phmoutii
colony were disposed of, we add the following items : —
* Present State of New England, by a inereliant of ISoston, in respect to tlie present
Illnodij Mian [Vars, page 3, folio, l^ondoii, 1676. This, wilh four other tracts upon
Philip's War, (roveruig the whole period of it, wilh notes by myself, accompanied by a
Chronology of all Indian events in .\mcrica from its discovery to toe present lime, (March
7th, 183(>,) has just been published under the title of the Oi.u Indian Ciikonicle.
t The author feels a peculiar satisfaction that it has fallen to his lot to be the first to publish
the real name of the great sachem of the Wumpaiioags, and also that of the sharer of hit
perils, Wbotonekanuske.
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14
PIIIUP— SAI.F.S OF HIS LANDS
[Rook III.
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Ill n iIo«»ginn, " I, Pnmntnrnm nlinH Philip, cliiof naclM in of Moniil IIoim-,
("owniiinpsit and nf all 'crriloricB llH-ri'iinto lM'lonf{iiif(." Philip u]»\ lim wifi>
Im)|Ii Hi^K'd thin deoil, and Torkomork, H'fcopauhim,* jYtuflmiuason, Pompa-
ifunsf, Jlptminxak, Taquankirirkr, Ptvpionark, fVntnpntithur, .ImirUuiuiah, John
Sasmmon l\\v. intcrpnfUT, Rowlaml Sananmon, and two I'ligliNniiu'ii, Mij;;iHMl lu*
witlH'HW'B.
In Kkl,'), ho. Hold tlip rountry al)oiit ArtiHlu-iia, [now New Hcdford,] uju!
('oaxct, [now in Coinpton.] Philip^s fallx-r iiaving prcvioimly Kold uoinc of
tlif mini', £10 waH now givi'ii liini to pirvfiit any riaiiii from liiin, and to pay
for Ilia iMurkiiii' out the Mtino. John H'ooaavaman [oni> of tlit* iiunicH of Sassa
tnori] witiu'Hmui tliiH deed.
'Vw Hanie year the court of Plinioutli pnHented Philip with a lioree, hut on
wliat acroiint we an; not infoniied.
In KMta, Wrentlinni was purrham'd of Philip liy the KngliHh of Dedlinni.
It waH then called Hulloniononoair, and, hy the aiiionnt aMH
tiiereat)outH,not yet purciiuw'd,"theHelectiiieii appoint five |)erw)nH t«) negotialp
with him " for hii< remuining right, provided he can sliow that he hiiK any." |
Whether his right were qucstioiuiiile or .'lot, it seems a purchasu was made, at
that time, of the; tract called IVoollommomippo^ne," within the town hounds (of
Dcdhain] not yet purchas«thren to hold and make sale of to whom
they will hy nrjy consent, and they shall not haue itt without they be willing to
lett it goe it shal he sol by my consent, but without my knowledge they cannot
safely to : but with my consent there is none that can lay claiinc to that land
which they haue marked out, it is theires foreucr, soe therefore none can safely
pmv.hase any otherwise but by Watachpoo and Sampson and their hretheren.
Philip 166U."
Whether the following letter were written earlier or later than this we have
no means of knowing ; it is plain, however, from its contents, that it was written
at a time when he was strongly opposed to selling his lands, and that the jieo-
pie of Plimouth were endeavoring to get hin to their cotirt, where they had
reason to l)clieve they could succeed better in getting them than by a negotia-
tion in his own country. The letter follows : —
" To the mtuh honored Govemer, Mr. Thomas Prince, dwelling at Plimovih.
" King Philip desire to let you understand that he could not come to the
court, for Tom, his interpreter, has a pain in his back, that he could not travil
* I'orhaps Uncompoin.
t Worlhington's Hist. Dedham, 20— from wliich work it would seem that the negotiation had
been carried on with Philip, but Philip was not sachem until this year.
j Ibid.
ft General Court Files.
H Sometimes Tukpoo by abbreviation.
TtUoton.
A further account of him will be found in the life of
. vf.
CitAr. 11.1
PHILIP— SALES OF IIIS LANDS.
15
<« fur, Rnd Philip xinfcr in vory Bick. Philip wfMilcl intrcnt tlint favor of yon,
niul Hiiy of till' riinjt'HtratH, if aiM-y Kiif^lloli or Kiif(iiiti.sH|M'ak alHiiit unr>y Iniiil, h«)
jtniy you to ((ii!fi tlwin no ntifwwor at all. TJiIn lant Hiiiniiirr lio maid tlinl
|l^lrni^4 with ye t lliat In* would nut ni-|| no land in 7 y*>arH titnc, for tiiat Iw
u'onid have no Kngiinli tmultlr him iM't'orr tiiat tim<>, In- han not forgot that
you promiH him. lIi; will come a Huno an \totiDt'bln he can to .><|N;ak with yon,
and Mt I rest,
y«Hir very lovring friend
I'liii.ip |>
dwelling nt mount ho|H; mk." '
III ir>fl7, Philip 8pI1h to Cowitant Snulhworlh, and othrrn, all th»' mi-adow
lamtH from DurtnH>utli to Mata|H>i:«Mt, tor whirh lin had £15. Particular
ImiiuuIh to all iractH arc nii>ntioncd in the ducds, but a.s they wi>rc gcncnill\ or
otlcii Htukcs, triH's, and hcu|>8 of htoncM, no one al tliiH time can truce many o|'
llictn.
The Maine year, for " £10 ptcrling," lie scIIh to Thos. }VxUtt and others, » all
that tract of lam! lying between the lliiicr Wanawottaqut'tt and CawafoiiuL-isctt,
being two miicH long and one Itroad." Pawsai/uens, one of Philip^s commscI-
lors, and Tom aliuH Saw.iudt, an interpreter, wen^ witnesses to the wile.
In 1(J<)8, " Philip Poinitarom, and Tiitamumatpu f alia.« Ciuhrwashrd, HjicheniH,"
for a " valuable consideration," kcII to sundry Kngii.sli a tract of some s(|nan!
n McH. A part of it was adjacent to I'okanoket. In descriliing it, Memcnuck-
qii ig<;niid Towansett neck an mentioned, which we <-onclud«' to be in Swan-
8CV'. It«>si«»!s t<) this sale.
Th(^ next year, thf; same sachems sell 500 acres in Swunsey fur £20. f^'anuto,
a coinisellor, and Tom tiie interpreter, were witnesses.
In l()(i8, Philip and Uncomnawen laid claim to ayiart of New-meadows necJt,
alleging that it was not intended to lie conveyed in a former deed, by Ossanu-
(/utaand fftinwutta, to certain English, " although it ap|>cars, says the record,
pretty clearly so expressed in said de■'••■.■
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16
Wanascohochetl.
PHILIP.— SALES OF HIS LANDS.
Wewcnset.
[Bmk in.
7^ line is a patk
Panhanet
PalantaloBP*.,
Sepa-
conell.
Atcopompamocke
^i
Ascoochames.
Macbapquake.
Apoiiecrtt.
This is a path.
Aiioqiieassctt.
Cottoyowsekccsett.
•* OsOTnequen'^ faavine, Tor Taluable considerations," in the year 1641, sold
to John Brown and Edward Winslow a tract of land eight miles square, situ-
ated on both sides of Paliuer's River, Philip, on the 30 Mar. 1668, was re-
quired to sign a quit-claim of the same, "niis he did in presence of Umpta-
kisokty Phillip, and Peebt,* counsellors, Sonconewheio, Phillip's brother, and
Tojii the interpreter.! This tract includes the i)rcfcent town of Rchoboth.
Also in IGCy, for£10 "andanother valuable and snlhcient gratuity," he sells
to John Cook of Akusenag in Daitmouth,^ "one whole island uere the towne,"
called Nokatay.
The same year, Philip and Ttitpaquin sell a considerable tract of land in
Middleborough, ibr £13. Thomas the intei preter, fi'illiam, the son of Ttis-
paquin, and Benjamin Church, were witnesses.
In 1(?71, Philip and " Monjokam of Mattapoisott," for £5, sell to Hugh Cole, of
Swansej', 8hi|)wright, land lying near a place culled Acashewah, in Dartnioutlu
In 1(J72, Philip sold to fViUiam Brenton ajid others, of Taunton, a tract to
the southward of that town, containing twelve sipiarc miles, ibr £14i'}; and,
a few days after, adjoining it, four square uiilos more, to Con nt Sovihworth.
Others were concerned in the sale of the larger tract, as is judged by the
deeds being signed by JVunkampahooneU, Umnathum, alias JVimrod, Chee-
Tnaughton, and Captain Annawam., i)csideB one Philip. Thomas, alias Saiik-
suit, was among the witnesses. The sale of the last tract was witnessed by
Munashum, alias JVimrod, JVoackornpawhan,^ and Captain Annowan.
These are but a part of the sales of land by Pometacom : many other chiefs
sold vtiry largely, particularly h'aiuapaquin and Josias Wampaiudc.
At the court of Plimouth, 1G73, " Mr. Peter Talmon of Rhode Land com-
plained against Philip allies Wewasoivanueit, surhem of Mount Hope, brother
or jjredecessor oi' Pakanawhctl as heirc adminnoatrator or successor vnto his
brother or predecessor Wamsitta, Sopaquitt,^ or Alexander deceased, in an
action on the case, to the damage of £800 forfeiture of a bond of such a viilue,
bearing date, Jiuie the 28th, 1(561, giuen to the said Peter Talmon, obliging
* Called, in Mr. Hubbard's history, Thehe ; he was afterwards killed at Swanscy, in liic
beginning of the war. Tliere is a puiid in Narra^anset of the same name.
t Mr. Blis$, in his Histouy ok llKHOiiorn, (54, C5, has printed this deed from the
ori^iial.
{ The place where Cook lived is ntw included in New Bedford.
^ Probably " Philip's old uncle Ahkompoin."
(I Tli.Tit is, nicknamed Alexander, according to the French mode of expression ; oii par sobri-
quet Alexander, as I imagine. Mr. Hubbard says of J'liilii), (Narrative, 10,) that, "for hij
vnibitious and haughty spirit, [h« was] nicknamed King Philip."
I. .iy'
Chap. II.]
PHILIP— MAKES A TREATY AT PLIMOUTII.
17
him the said Wamaitta aJlies Mwrider to make good to him, his heircs and a
deed of gift of a considerable tiiu k of land alt Sajwwett and places adjacent,
as in the said deed is more particidarly expressed ; for want wherof the
coni|)lainant is greatly daiiuiifyed."
Whether the conduct of the j»eople of Plimoi towards WamstMa,
Pometacom^a elder brother, and other neighboring 1ml as, made them always
(itispicious of tiie chief sachem, as it had their neighlwrs before in the case
of Jfian/unnoTnoik, or whether PAi7i;» were in reality "contriving mischief,"
the same year of his coming in chief sachem, remains a question, to this day,
with those best acquainted with tlie history of those times.
The old benevolent sachem Massagoit, alias Woosavaxquin, liaving died in
the winter of l()()l-2, as we believe, but few mouths after died also Jlltxander,
Philip's elder brother and predecessor, when Philip himself, by tlie order of
succession, came to be chief of the Wampanoags.
Philip having by letter complained to the court of Plimouth of some in-
jiu'ies, at their October term, ir»G8, they say, " In answer unto a letter from
Philip, the sachem of Pokanokett, &c., by wny of petition requesting the
court for justice against Francis IVast, [/rest,] for wrong done by him to one
of his men about a gun taken from him by the said IVist ; as also for wrung
done unto some swine of the said Indian's. The court have ordered tlie
case to be heard and determined by the selectmen of Taunton ; and in case
it be not by them ended, that it be referred unto the next March court at
Plimouth to be ended." How the case turned we have not found. But for
an Indian to gain his point at an English court, unless his case were an ex-
ceeding strong one, was, we apprehend, a rare occurrence.
"He was no sooner styled sachem," says Dr. /. Mather,* "but immediately,
in the year l(j62, there were \ehcnient suspicions of his bloody treachery
against the English." This author wrote at the close of Philip's war, when
very lew could speak of Indians, without discovering great bitterness. Mr.
Morton t is the first who mentions Metacomet in a printed work, which, being
l)efore any difficulty with bins, is in a more becoming manner. "This year,
(1()()2,) he observes, "tipon occasion of some suspicion of some plot intended
by the Indians against the Englisli, Philip, the sacliem of Pokanoket, other-
wise called Metacom, made his apj)earance at the court held at Plimouth,
August 6, did earnestly desire the continuance of that amity and friendship
that hath formerly been between tlic governor of Plimouth and his deceafied
father and brother."
The court expressing their willingness to remain his friends, he signed the
articles prepared by them, acknowledging himself a subject of tlie king of
England, thus : —
" The mark of ^ Phillip, sachem
of Poeanakett,
The mark of <] Vncumpowett,
vnkell to the aboue said sachem.""
Tlie following persons were present, and witnessed this act of Philip, and
Ills great cji[)tain Uncompoin : —
"John Sassamon,
77ic niarfc rn. <>/" Francis, sachem o/JVauset,
The mark DI o/'Nimrod alias Pumfasa,
The mark y o/^Punckjjuaneck,
The mark ^ of Aq^vKTEqvESH." I
Of the uneasiness and concern of the English at this jwriod, from the
liostile movements of Philip, Mr. Hubbard, we presume, was not informed*
or so im|>flrtant an event would i:oi Iiave l)ecn omitted in his minute and
valuable history. Mr. Morton, as we before states!, and Mr, Mather mention
it, l)ut neither of these, or any writer since, to this day, has iiiaJ
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16
PHILIP.— PURSUIT OF GIBBS.
[Book IH
For about nine years succeeding 1662, very little is recorded concernin!»
Philip. During this time, lie became more intimately acquainted with lii^
English neighbors, learned their weakness and his own strength, whirl)
rather increased than diminished, until his fatal war of 1675. For, during
this period, not only their additional numbers gained them power, but their
arms were greatly strengthened by the Englisli instruments of war put into
their hands. Roger fi'iUiams had early brought the Narragansets into frioiul-
ship with Massaaoit, which alliance gained additional strength on the acces-
sion of the ymm^ Metacomtt. And here we may look for a main cause of tliut
war, although the death oi' Alexander is generally looked upon by the earlv
historians, as almost the only one. The continual broils bet^veen the En<;-
lish and Narragansets, ^we name the English first, as they were generally
the aggressors,) could not be unknown to Philip ; and if his countrymen
were wronged he knew it. And what friend will see another abused, with-
out feeling a glow of resentment in his breast.' And who wll wonder, if,
when these abuses had followed each other, repetition upon repetition, for
a series of years, that they should at last break out into open war.' The
Narraganset chiefs were not conspicuous at the period of which we sjieuk ;
there were several of them, but no one appears to have had a general com-
mand or ascendency over the rest ; and there can be little doubt but tlmt
*.hey unanimously reposed their cause in the hands of Philip. Ninigrtt was
at this time grown old, and though, for many years after the murder of
Miantunnomok, he seems to have had the chief authority, yet pusillanimity
was always rather a i)redominant trait in his ciiaracter. His age had prob-
ably caused his withdrawal from the others, on their resolution to second
Philip. Canonchet was at this period the most conspicuous ; Pumham next ;
PotoK, Magnus, the squaw-sachem, whose husband, Mriksah, had been dead
several years ; and lastly Maltaloag.
Before proceeding Avith later events, the following short narrative, illus-
trative of a peculiar custom, may not be improperly introduced. Philip, as
tradition reports, made an expedition to Nantucket in 1665, to punish an
Indian who had profaned the name of Maamsoit, his father ; and, as it was
an observance or law among them, that wiioever should speak evil of the
dead should be put to death, Philip Avert there with an armed force to exe-
cute this law upon Gibba. He was, however, defeated in his design, for one
of Gibba^a friei'ds, understanding Philip^s intention, ran to him and gave him
notice of it, just in time for him to escape ; not, hoAvever, without great ex-
ertions, for Philip came once in sight of him, after pursuing him some time
among the English from house to liouse ; but Gibha, by leaping a bank, got
out of sight, and so escaped. PAi7yj Avould not leave the island until the
English had ransomed John at the exorbitant price of nearly >.ll the money
upon the island."* Gibbs Avas a Christian Indian, and his Indian name wus
Aaaasainoogh. He Avas a })reriCher to his countrymen in 1674, at Avhich time
(here were belonging to his church 30 members.
What grounds the English had, in the spring of tlie year 1671, for susjit rt-
mg that a plot Avas going forAvuid for their destruction, cannot satisfactorily
be ascertained ; but it is evident there Avere some AAarlike preparations niiulf^
by the great chief, Avlreh very mucli alarmed the English, as in the life of
Aimahonka we shall have occasion again to notice. Their suspicions Avcrc
further confirmed when they sent for him to come to Taunton and niako
knoAvn the causes for his operations ; as he discovered " shyness," and a re-
luctance to comply. At length, on the 10th of April, this year, he came to a
place about four miles from Taunton, accompanied Avith a baud of his A\ar-
riors, attired, armed and painted as for a warlike expedition. From this
place he sent messengers to Taunton, to invite the English to come and
treat Avith him. The governor either Avas afraid to meet the chief, or tliouglit
it beneath his dignity to comply with his request, and therefore sent several
* For some of what we hnve given above, see 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 159, furnislied
for that work by Mr. Zaccheus Macij, whose aiicusior, it is said, assisted in secreting
Assasamon/rh.
Ill a late work, Hist. N.iiituckctt by Obed Manj, an account of the aOTair is given, but with
Komc variation from the .'''-ve.
61" !,:>'
Chap. II.]
PHILIP.— TREATY AT TAUNTON.
19
• >^i
persons, among whom was Roger WUliama, to inform him of tlieir determi-
nation, and tlu'ir good disposition towards liim, and to urge his attendance at
Taunton. He agreed to go, and liostages were leil in tht; hands of liis
warriors to warrant his sate return. On coming near tlu^ village with a teu
of his warriors, he made a stop, whicli apjiears to liave been occasioned bv
the warlike parade of the English, many of whonj were lor immediately at-
tacking him. These were the I'limoiitli people that recommended this rasli-
neiis, hut they were prevented by the commissioners from Massachusetts, who
met here with the governor of I'limouth to conli'r with Phili}).
In tlie end it was agreed that a council should be held ni tin; meeting-
house, one side of which siiould be occupied by the Indians, and tiie otiier by
the English. PAi7)/7 had alleged that the English injur name's were Tavoser, Caj)tain fflspoke, fFoonkuponehunt, [Uakom-
poinA and JViinrod, he sigmd a submission, and an engagement of frienoahip,
which also sti|>uiated that he should give up all the ai'ms among his people,
into the hantbi of the governor of Pliuiouth, to be kept as long as the govern-
ment sliould "see reason." f
The English of Alassachas^tts, having acted as umpires in this affair, wen;
looked to, by both parties, on tiie next cause of complaint Philip having
delivered the arms which himself and men had with them at Taunton,;
promised to deliver the ixst at Plimouth by a certain time. But they not
being delivered according to agreement, and some other differences occurring,
a messenger was sent to Boston from I'limouth, to make complaint ; but
Philip, perhaps, understanding what was intended, was quite as early at Bos-
ton in person ;v, and, by his address, did not fail to be well received, and a
favorable report of liiiu was rt turned to Plimouth ; and, at the same time,
projjosals that commissifanc^rs li-om sdl the United Colonies should meet
Philip at Plimouth, where aJl difficulties might be settled. This meeting took
l)laci! the same yeaz", September, ltJ71, and the issue of the meeting was very
nearly the same as that at Taunton. "The conclusion was," says Mr.
.Mather,^ ^^ Philip acknowledged his offence, and was appointed to give a sum
of money to defray the charges which his insolent clamors had put the colo-
ny unto."
As usual, s(!veral articles were drawn up by the English, of what Philip
was to submit to, to wliich we fnid the names of three only of his ca])tains or
counsellors, Uiicompaen, who was his uncle,1[ Ifotokom, and Samkama.
Great stress in those days was laid on the Indians submitting themselves
as "subjex^ts to his majesty the king of England." This they did only to get
rid of the importunity of the English, as their course inunediately allerwards
invariably showed.
The articles which the government of Plimoutii drew up at this time, for
Philip to sign, were not so illiberal as might bei imagined, were we not to
produce some of them. Article second reads, —
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• Sept. 1671, and were signed by
7%e mark P 0/ Phillip ;
The mark T o/'Wohkowpahenitt;
The mark V o/'Wuttakooseeim;
The murk T o/^Sonkanuuoo ;
The mark Q,^ Woo jiASHVw,
altaa Nibirod;
The mark '^ ofWooHVASVCK,
alioi Captain.
On tlic 3 Nov. following, Philip accomjpanied Takanumma to Plimoiitli, to
make his submission, wliich he did, and acknowledged, by a \vriting, that he
would adhere to the articles signed by Philip and the o Jiers, the 29 Sept.
before. Toknmana was brother to Jticashonks, and, at this time, was sachem
of Seconet, or Saconett. He was afterwards killed by the Narraganscts.f
A general disiiriniiig of the neighboring Lidians was undertaken during the
spring and summer ot 1671, and nothing but trouble could have been expect-
ed to follow.
That notliing may be omitted which can throw light upon this import it
era in the biography of Philip, we will lay before the reader all the unpiih-
lishcd information furnished by the n'cords.f Having met in June, 1671,
" The court [of Plimouth] dctermins all tlie guns in our hands, that did be-
long to Philip, are justly forfeit : and do at the present order the dividing of
them, to be kept at the several kmvhs, according to their equal proportions,
until Octol)er court next, and then to be at the court's dispose, as reason may
appear to them, and then to belong unto the towns, if not otlierwise disposed
of by the court.
" That which the court grounds thtir judgment upon is, — For that at the
treaty at Taunton, Philip and his council did acknowledge that they had been
in a preparation for war against us; and that not groiuided upon any injury
sustained Irom us, nor j)rovocation given by »is, but from tlieir naughty hearts,
and because he hud formerly violated and broken solenui covenants made
and renewed to us ; he then freely tendered, (not being in a uipacity to be
ke])t Ihithful by any other bonds,) to resign up all his English arms, for our
future security in that respect. He failed greatly in the performance thereof,
by secret[ly] conveving away, and carrying home several guns, that might and
should have been tlien delivered, and not giving them up since, according to
his engagement ; nor so fiir as is in his power ; as appears in that many guns
are known still to be amongst the Indians that live by him, and [he] not so
nuicli as giving order to some of his men, that are under his immediate com-
mand, about the bringing in of their arms.
" In his endeavoring, since the treaty [at Taunton,] to render us odious to
our neighbor colony hy false reports, complaints and suggestions ; and his
refusing or avoiding a treaty with us concerning those and other matters that
ai'o justly offensive to us, notwithstanding his late engagement, as well as for-
mer, to submit to the king's authority, and the authority of this colony.
" It was also ordered by the court that the arir ) of the Indians of Namas-
sakett and Assowamsett, that were fetched in by Major IVinslow, and those that
were with him, are confiscated, and forfeit, from the said Indians, for the
grounds above expressed ; they being in a compliance with PMUipe in his
late plot : And yet would neither by our governor's order, nor by Phillipe's
desire, bring in their arms, as was engage*! by the treaty ; and the said guns
are ordered by tlie court to the major and his company for their satisfaction,
in that expedition.
" This court have agreed and voted " to send "some" forces to " Saconett to
fetch in " the arms among tiie Indians there.
* Tliere is no dale, but llie year, set to any printed copy of this treaty. Mr. Hubbard by
niistHke omiited it, and those who have since written, have not given themselves the pleasure
ol rociirriiifr lo ibo recort' .
♦ See Church, 3'J. t Plimouth Colony Records, in titamiscript.
■•-■»: ■■.
I ,1 v\.
CHAr. 11.]
PHILIP.— PLIMOUTH ACCUSATIONS OF 1671.
21
:-:¥:n.
If then, therefore, these Indians had not already become hostile, no one wonhl
marvel had it now become the case. Bows an«l arrows were almost entirely
out of use. Guns had so far superseded them, that undoubtedly many scarce
could use them with effect, in procuring themselves game: Nor could it l)e
expected otherwise, for the English had, by nearly 40 years' intercourse, ren-
dered their arms far more necessary to the existence of the Indians than to their
own : hence their unwillingness to part with them. Philip, it is said, directed
the Middleborough Indians to give up their guns. His object in this was to
|)acifv the English, judging that if war should begin, these Indians would join
the li^nglish, or at least many of them ; and, therefore, it affected his cause but
little which paity possessed them ; but not so with his immediate followers, as
we have just seen in the record.
A council of war having convened at Plimouth, 23 August, 1G71, the follow-
ing, Ix-sides the matters already expressed, they took into consideration : Philip's
" entertaining of many strange Indians, whicli might portend danger towards
us. In 8j)ecial by his entertaining of divers Saconett Indians, proli^ssed ene-
mies to this colony, and this against good counsel given hun by his friends.
The premises considered [the council] do ummimonsly agree and conclude,
that the said Phillip hath violated [the] covenant ])lighted with this colony at
Taunton in April last.
"2. It is unanimously agreed and concluded by the said council, that we are
necessarily called to cause the said sachem to make his personal ap|)eui-ahce to
make bis purgation, in reference to the premises; which, in case of his refusal,
the council, according to what at i>reseut appears, do detcrmiu it necessary to
endeavor his reducement by force ; inasmuch as tb*" controversy which bath
seemed to lie more immediately between him and us, doth concern all the Eng-
lish plantations. It is, therefore, determined to state the case to our neightrar
colonies of the Massachusetts and Ktiode Island ; and if, by their weighty ad-
vice to the contrary, we are not diverted from our present determinations, to
signify unto them, that if they look upon themselves concerned to engage in the
case with us agiunst a common enemy, it shall be well accepted as a neigh-
borly kindness, which we shall hold ourselves obliged to rejMiy, when Provi-
dence may so disjiose that we have opportunity.
"Accordingly, letters were despatched and sent from the council, one unto
the said Phillip the said sachem, to require his personal appearance at Plymouth,
on the 13th day of September next, in reference to the particulars above men-
tioned against him. This letter was sent by Mr. James Walker, one of the
council, and he was ordered to request the company of Rlr. Roeer Williams
and Mr. James Brown, to go with liim at the delivery of the said letter. And
another letter Mas sent to the governor and council of the Massachusetts by the
hands of Mr. John Freeman, one of our magistrates, anfl r. ^hird was directed to
the governor and council of Rhode Island, and sent by ^±t. Thomas Hinckley
and Mr. Constant Sovthworth, two other of our magistrates, who are orderetl by
our council with the letter, to unfold our present state of matters relating to the
premises, and to certify them, also, more certainly of the time of the meeting
together, in reference to engagement with the Indians, if there be a going forth,
which will he on the 20 of September next,
" It was further ordered by the council, that those formerly pressed shall
remain under the same impressment, until the next meeting of the said coun-
cil, on the 13 day of SepL next, and so also until the intended expedition is
issued, unless they shall see cause to alter them, or add or detract from them,
as occasion may require : And that all other matters remain as they were,
in way of preparation to the said expedition, until wo shall see the mind of
God further by the particulars forcnamed, improved (or that purpose.
" It was further ordered by the council, that all the to aus within this juristlic-
tion sholl, in the interim, be solicitously careful to provide for their 8alt;ty, by
convenient watches and wordings, and carrying their arms to the meetings on
the Lord's days, in such manner, as will best stand with their particulars, and
the common safety.
" And in particular they order, that a guard shall be provided for the safety
of the governor's person, during the time of the above-named troubles and ex-
peditions.
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22
PHILIP.— PLIMOUTH ACCUSATIONS OF 1671.
[Book III.
" And tlie council were siunmoned by the president, [the gvwemor of Piirn-
outh,] to make their personal appeurunce at IMyiiiouth, on the 13th day el"
Sept. next, to attend Huch further business us shall be then presented by Prnvi-
dencc, in reference to the premises. [Without any intennediate entry, tin
records proceed:]
" On the 13 Sept. 1671, the council of war appeared, according to their sum-
mons, but Phillip the stichem appeared not; but instead thereof repaired to the
Massticliusetts, ond made complaint agains "*< to divers of the gentlemen in
plac(! there • who wrote to our governor, by way of persuasion, to advise the
cuuneii to a compliance with the said sachem, and tendered their help in the
uchi(;ving thereof; declaruig, in sum, that they resented not his ofi'ence so
deej)ly us we did, aiid that they doubted whether the covenants and eiigage-
inents t'lat Phillip and his predecessors had plighted with us, would plainly
import that he had subjected himself, and jHJople, and country to us any furthei
than a.s in a neighborly and friendly correspondency."
Thus, whether Philip hud been able by nusrepresentation to lead the court
of Mussuchiisetts into a conviction that his designs had not been fairlv set forth
by Piimouth, or whether it be more reasonable to conclude that that body were
thon Highly acquainted with the whole grounds of complaint, and, therefore,
considered Piimouth nearly as much in eiTor us Philip, by assuming authority
not belonging to them, is a case, we apprehend, not diliicult to be settled by the
reader. The record continues : —
" The council having deliberated upon the premises, despatched away letters,
declaring their thi kful acceptance of their kind proffer, and invited the com-
missioners of the Massachusetts and Connecticut, they [the latter] then being
there in the Bay, [Boston,] and some other gentlemen to come to Plymouth and
afford us their help: And, accordingly, on the 24 oi'Scpt. 1G71, Mr. John H'in-
throp, Gov. of Connecticut, Maj. Gen. Levtrett, Mr. Th*.?. Danforlk, Capt. Wm.
Davis, with divers others, came to Piimouth, and hud a fair and deliberate
hearing of the controversy between our colony and the se.ld suchem Phillip, he
being personally present ; there being also com|ietent interpreteit, botli English
and Indians. At which meeting it was proved by sufficient testimony to the
conviction of the said Phillip, and satisfaction of all that audience, both [to] the
said gendemen and others, that he hud broken his covenant made with our
colony at Taunton in April last, in divera particulars: as also carried very un-
kindly unto us divers ways.
"1. In that he "hud neglected to bring in his arms, although " competent
time, yea his time enlarged " to do it in, as before stated. " 2. That he had
carried insolently and i)roudly towards us on several occasions, in refusing to
come down to our coi:rt (when sent lor) to have speech with him, to procure
a right understanding of matters in diffijrence l)etwixt us."
This, to say the least, was a wretchedly sorry complaint. That an independ
ent chief shouhl refuse to obey his neighbors whenever they had a mind to
command him, of the justness of whose mandates he was not to inquire, sureh
calls lor no comment of oura. Besides, did Philip not do as he agreed at
Taunton ? — which was, that in case of future troubles, both parties should lay
their complaints before Massachusetts, and abide by their decision .''
The 3d charge is only a repetition of what was stated by the council of war.
namely, harboring and abetting divers Indians not his own men, but " vagji-
bonds, our professed enemies, who leaving tlieir own sachem were harbored
by him."
The 4th has likewise been stated, which contains the complaint of his going
to Massachusetts, " with several of his council, endeavoring to insinuate him-
self into tiie magistrates, and to misrepresent matters un.o them," which amounts
to little else but an accusation i^gainst M;i8sachusetts, as, from what has been
before stated, it seems that the "gentlemen in place there" had, at least in part,
been convinced that Philip wts not so much in fault as their friends of Piim-
outh had pretended.
" 5. That he had shewed gr" t incivility to divers of ours at several times ; in
special unto Mr. James Brmvn, who was sent by the court on special occasion,
as a messenger unto him ; and unto Hugh Colt at another time, &c.
" The gentletneu forenamed taking notice of the pretnises, havuig fully heard
what the said
Chap. II.]
PHILIP.
what the said Phillip could say for himself, having free liberty so to do without
interruption, adjudged that be i ..d done us u great deal of wrong and injury,
(res|)ecting the preniir^s,) and also abused them by carrying liei and falr-o
stories to then, and so misrepresenting matters unto them ; and they persuaded
him to make an acknowledgment ot his Itiult, and to seek for rec^.iciliation,
expressing themselves, that there is a great difference between what he asserted
to the government in the Bay, and wh *, he could now make out concerning
his pretended wrongs ; and such had been the wrong and damage that he had
done and procured unto the colony, as ought not to be borne without compe-
tent reparation and satisfaction ; yuo, that he, by his insolencies, had (in proba-
bility) orcasioned more mischief from the Indians amongst tlieni, than hud
iullon out in many years l)efore ; tliey persuaded him, therefore, to humble him-
self uiito the magistrates, and to amend his ways, if he ex[)ected peace ; and
that, if he went on in his refractory way, he must expect to smart for it."
The commissioners finally drew up the treaty of which we have before spo-
k■
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34
PHILIP— BEGINS THE WAR OF 1675.
[Book III.
killed one, which wan n Hit^al tw commence the war, and what they had de>
sired ; tor the Hn,)crstitiou8 noti<>ti prevailed among the Lidians, that the (rnrty
who fired the firBt f,nin would Im; conquered.* They had probably l>een niudo
to believe thit* by the English the iiselves.
It W!i« u|Km a liwt day lliiit this great drama was opened. As the people
wert; returning from meeting, they were fired u|»on by the Indians, when one
was killed and two wounded. Two others, going for a surgeon, were kilifd
on their way. In another part of the town, six others were killed the sunie
day. Swansey was in the midst o{ Philip' a country, and Ids men were as well
acquainted with all the walks of the English as they were themselves.
It is not sup])08ed that Philip directed this attack, but, on the other hand, it
has been suid that it was against his wishes. But there can be no doubt of his
hostility and great desire tu rid his country of the white intruders ; f(T had he
not reason to say,
" Exarscre ignes .inimo : siibil ira, cadcnlcm
Ulfisci pairiain, et sccleralas lumerc pwims ? "
The die was cost. No other alternative appeared, but to ravage, bum and
destroy as fust as was in his power. There had been no considerable war for
a long time, either among themselves or with the English, and, therefore, nu-
merous young warriors from the neighboring tribes, entered into his cause
with great ardor ; eager to {Kirtbnn exploits, such as had been recounted to
them by their sires, and such as they had long waited an opportunity to ochieve.
The time, they conceived, hud now arrived, and their souls expanded in pro-
portion to the greatness of the undertaking. To conquer the English ! to lead
captive their haughty lords ! must have been to them thoughts of vast magni-
tude, and exhJaniting in the highest degree.
Town after town fell liefore them, and when the English forces marched in
one direction, they were burning and laying waste in another. A i>art of
Taunton, Middlcborough, and Dartmouth, in the vicinity of Pocasset, upon
Narraganset Bay, soon followed the destruction of Swansey, which was burnt
iitunediutcly after the 24th of June, on being abandoned by the inhabitants.
Though now in great consternation, the jieople of Swansey and its vicinity
did noi lorget to make known their distressed situation by sending runners with
the utmost despatch to Boston and Pl'mouth for ossistance. "But," says our
chronicler of that day, " before any came to them, they of both towns, Reho-
both and Swansey, were gathered together into three houses, men, women, and
children, and there had all jirovisions in common, so that they who had nothing
wanted nothing. Immediately after notice hereof came to Boston, drums l)eat
up for volunteers, and in 3 hours time were mustered up about 110 men, Capt.
Samtiel Mostly l)eing their commander. This Capt. Mostly hath been an
old privateer at Jamaica, an excellent soldier, and an uiidrnnted s[)irit, one
whose memory will be honorable in New England for his many eminent ser-
vices he hath done the public.
"There were also among these men, about 10 or 12 privateers, that had been
there some time before. They curried with them several dogs, that proved
serviceable to them, in finding out the enemy in their swamps ; one whereof
would, for several days together, go out and bring to them 6, 8 or 10 young
pigs of King Philip's herds. There went out olso amongst these men, one
ComeliiiSjU. Dutchman, who had lately been condemned to die for piracy, but
afterwurds received a pardon ; he, willing to show his gratitude therefor, went
out and did several good services abroad against the enemy."
All who have sought after truth in matters of this kind, are well aware of the
of June last, seven or eight of King Philip's men came to Swansey on »he Lord's day, and
would grind a hatchet at an inlmhiianl's house there; the master told them, it was the sab-
bath day, and their {iod would be very angry if he should let them do it. Tiicy returned
this answer : They knew not who his God was, and that they would do it, for all him, or his
God cither. From thence tliey went to another house, and took away some victuals, but hurl
no man. Immediately they met a man travelling on the road, kept him in custody a siiort
time, then dismist him quietly ; giving him this caution, that he should not work on his God's
day, and that he should tell no lies." Chronicle, 8, 9.
■ C^Hendar's Discourse on the Hist, of R. Island,
Chai. II]
PHILII'— HIS WAR OF UwJ.
35
xtri'ine difRoilty of invrstipution. Twenty pt'i-nons may write an ncroimt of
n iHiiir, to the puKsjif^i' oi" wliicli all iiitiy liiivc Imm-ii witiicsHCH, uiid no two ot
liiciii iifjrce in many ot'it.-* iMuliciilai-s. 'hi<' author of" tins trnclH which wn ritn
uikI'T tlu! name ot'Tho C^., Lnoian Ciiho.mci.k, wrote hit* aceoimtH in Konton,
and wo have no (loiii)t of hit* intention to rreonl every event with the KtrieteKt
ntranl to truth ; if ne had erred, it is doulitiertn from his reeordiiiff the first news
of an event, whieh often varies in point of fact aflerwards. Huohard and .Ma-
thrr, two contem|)orarj' historians, liad the ailvantngn of a comparison of rp-
|M)rts, and of revising tin ir works in their passage tiiroiigh iho press; whereas
the aiitlior of the tracts wrote theiii as lettci-s to a friend in London, where they
were innnediately printed. Witii allowances for these circumstances, as full
credit sliould Im; given to his rotation, as to either of the others. His accounts
of »he firet even^ at Swansey are detailed in his own words in a previous note,
and we here proceed with another portion of his narrative.
" Ity this time tlie Indians have killed :u>veral of our men, but the first that
was killed was June li;i, a man at Swansey : 'hat he and his family had left his
iionst; amongst the rest of the inhabitants, a^ i ac!>-enturing with his wife and
80!i (about twenty years old) to go to his house to fetch them corn, and such
like things: (he having just bcfon; sent his wife and son away) as he was going
out of the house, was s<>t on and shot by Indians. His wife tH>ing not far ofI|
heard the guns go off, went back," and fell into their hands. Dishonored, and
aflerwards scalped by them, she immediately died, and her son was at the same
time scalped. "They also the next day [24 Jime] killed six or seven n>en at
Sw:!.:sey, and two more at one of the garrisons; and ais two men went out of
one of the garrisons to draw a bucket of wattjr, tln'y were shot and carried
away, and aiierwards were found with their fingers and feet cut off, and the
skin of their heads flayed off," that is, scalped.
" About 14 daysaflcT that they sent for more help ; whereupon the authority
of Boston made Capt. Thomaa Savn^e the major general in that expedition,
who, with GO horse, and as many foot, went out of Boston ; having pressed horses
for the footmen, and six carts to cany provisions with them." " They traveled
day and night till they came to their garrisons, and within thre«! days atler
inarched, horse and foot, leaving guards in the garrisons, towards Mount Hope,
where King Philip and his wife was. Tlujy came on him at imawares, so that
he was forced to rise from dinner, and he •'•".i all with him fled out of that land
called Mount Hope, up further into the cotmtry. They pursued them as far as
they could go for swamps, and killed 15 or 16 in that expedition, then n-tumed
and took what he had that was worth taking, and spoiled the rest ; taking all his
cattle and hogs that they could find, and also took possession of Mount Hope,
which had then t. thousand acres under com, which is since cut down by the
English, and disposed of according to their discretion. Cornelius [i)efore mer.-
fioiied] was in this exploit, and pursued Philip so hard, that he got his cap ofl
liis head, and now wears it"
It v/as June 36, that the English marched out of Boston for Swansey ; and
they an-ived there two days afler, namely, June 28, a little before night,**
Twelve men immediately marched out to invade Philip\t territories, who were
attacked by about the same number of Philip's men. The invaders were re-
pulsed, having one killed, and one wounded, and his horse killed under him.
Of the Indians two were killed.
The next day, June 29, the Indians appeared boldly in view of the English,
and by their shouts, it would seem, dared them to come out and fight. Mostly
sallied out at the head of a company of volunteers, and rushed furiously upon
them. They fled to their coverts, but even here m. 'e a stand only for a mo-
ment ; for after one fire they all fled. One of the English, Ensign Savage, was
wounded, the Iwill lodging in his thigh, and anotlier passed through the brim
of his hatf Moscly pursued the Indians above a mile, and killed five or six of
them, as they were making their retreat into a swamp. It was in this pursuit
that the exploit of Cornelius took place, just related, and Philip was not seen at
•* Hubbard, Narrative, 18.
t CImrch, who was in this action, says Saveij^e was wounded by his own party :
divided themselves into two wings, in (heir conrusion one fired upon the other.
o
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PHILIP— BATTLE OF PUNKATEF.SET.
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vx>M}\\ jVIuiint Ilo|M! Neck, fouml PhUip\f •vijfwnm, Itiit hiniHelf luiil all his |m c-
pie IiikI tnnde gcxHl their retn-at. Tin nd the lit^ndHnf eight of the KngliNli
liiat had l)cen killed, set U|K)n |K)leH, at ; MMUtt, whirii they tuuk down niu'
intern'd.
On the morning ofjnly 1, tv* Lieutenant t/akea waH retiiniing to head-qiinr-
ters at S\van(4»'y, having eneaniped at KehoiK>th the preceding night, he dis-
cover«>d a coni|mny of tndiantsund attacked them. How many were killed Im
not Htated, hut two of Philifl'a chief ('nptainn were among the nnmher, one of
whom wan nam* J TiiRnR, '• n sachem of Monnf lIo|w." Of tho EngiiHli one
wiLs killed. The scalpH of three Indiakiathat were killed were taken otl'hy the
Kngiisli and sent to Hii»ton, which were the first taken liy them in this war.*
At the solicitation of Henjamin Ciiurcii, a company of {JO men were put
hume, whii*h acciduntully Htood jiint l>e(bre "tlie iiiithih; of hix hrcuMt ! '*
Thiifl thiH littitt Sand, aller a tigiit of ulioiit six hoiirH, fHni|MMl. Tht* party
under Captain /VWer met witli ttiinilar fortune ; tliey were attaeked hy jrreat
iiniiiiterH, but eHcaped by getting poHHeHNion of an ohi houne cUiHe upon the
wutcr'n ('d«re and were early taken oti" by boatH. IJut two of tiie party were
wounded. Some of tlie IndiauH were killed and wounded tliiH day, but how
many m not known.
Tht! Hame day tliiH fijfht took place, a boat's crew went from Rhode Inland
to PocaHHet to look aller Home cattle, and were fired upon by the IiiiiiniiH, and
one of their nundxtr, a servant of Captain Church, was severely wounded.
Some of the acts of the Knglish, in retrospect, do not discover that judfr-
iiient the circuiiiHtances seem to have elicited, especiallv that in reliilion to
the NarrapansetB. They had now driven Philip out of Aloiint Hope Neck,
and, not knowiii<,' exactly where to find him, the forces in that (piarter re-
Tiiained doubtin<; what next to do. At this juncture Ca|)tain Uutrhinnon
arrived from IJoston with orders from the government there, "for them to
pass into Narragaiiset, to treat with the sacliems, and if it might be, to pre-
vent their joining with Philip.^ Accordingly they marched into that country,
hut all the chief nien and warriors fled on their approach. The liiHtorical
conclusion is, therefore, that this act was viewed by them as a declaration of
war, and it is rational that they should have so considered it ; because the
army assumed a most hostile attitude, " resolving they would go to make
peace with a sword in their batids." Having arrived in the Narraganset
country, three or four days were spent in finding Indians with whom to
treat ; (lor they could find none to fight ;) at !■ ngth, four men were found, whom
the English styled sachems, and u treaty was drawn up at great length and
Higned by the parties. To ensure its observance the following hostages were
taken into custody by the army: Joh.\ Wobequob, Weowthim,* Pewkes,
and Weenew, "four of the sacliems near kinsmen and choice friends."
Among the stipulations of the treaty we find these :
The said sachems shall carefully seize all and every of Philip's subject"
and deliver them up to the English, alive or dead; that they shall use t.
acts of hostility against Philip and his subjects, to kill them wherever thf y
can be found; that if they seize Philip, ana deliver him alive to the English,
tlicy shall receive 40 trucking cloth coats ; and for his head alone, 20 of
Miid coats ; and lor every subject of said sachem 2 coats, if alive, and one if
dead. This treaty is dated Petaquanscot, 15 July, 1G75 ;
In presence of and signed by the marka of
Daniel Henchman, Tawageson,
Thomas Prentice, Taytson,
Nicholas Paige, Aqamauo,
Joseph Stanton, Interpreter. . Wampsh, alias
Henry Hatolaws, \ [Indians, Corman.
Pecoe Bucow, \ probably.]
Job JVeff.
Philip commanded in person upon Pocasset, when , upon the 18th of July,
he was discovered in a " dismal swamp." He had retired to this i)lace,
which is adjacent to Taunton River, with most of his Wami)anoags, and
such others as had joined him, to avoid falling in with the English army,
which was now pursuing him. From their numbers, the English were
nearly able to encompass the swamp, and the fate of Philip they now thought
sealed. On arriving at its edge, a ■ :;w of Philip's warriors showed them-
selves, and the English rushed in upon them with ardor, and bv this feint
were drawn far into an ambush, and " about 15 were slain." "the leaves
upon the trees were so thick, and the hour of the day so late, that a friend
could not be distinguished from a foe, " whereby 'tis veri!y feared," says Dr.
Mather, " that [the English themselves] did sometimes unhappily shoot Eng-
* Probably the same called in another place NowECtUA,
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PHILIP.— FlOlir AT IlKllonoTH PLAIN.
[Book III.
liMliiiii-ii inNtt;a(l of IiidiuiiM." A rutrent wan now ordtirnd, and, conHidoring
Philip'x cm-iipe iiii|H)N!«iliN!, the inoHt ol' tint t'orccN l«!tl tlio plu('«>, a tew only
ri>niiiiiiinf(, "to HKirve out tiie nnerny." Tlint Philip's lore? wm* irreut ut tliJH
titnu JH OM-tiiin, froni the liict tliut u hundred wi^^vvutriH were found near the
edjfe of the Nwanip, newly cotiHtrurted of fjreen Iwirk. In one of thowe the
Kn^liHJi liiund an old man, who informed them that Philip wan there, lie
lont i)nt few ineti in tliu encounter, tliouirh, it la Haid, hu had a brother
killed.*
Tlie i(IU) notion of liuildinjir a fort here to tttnrvu out Philip, was huITi-
oiently ceriNured by tiie hiMtoriauH of liiut ilay. For, as Cantain Church ex-
preHses it, /o huitd a fort for nothing to cover the people from nohodjf,^ waH rather
a ridieuhniH idea. ThiH obnervation he made upon a fort'H bein^ built upon
Mount Hope Neck, mime time atler every Indian hud lell that Hide of the
country, and who, in thet, were laying waHte the tow iih before mentioned.
The riwatnp where Philip waH now confuied, wiw upon a piece of country
which projected into Taunton liivcr, and wau nearly Heven mileii in extent.
.\ller beiiiff guarded liere 1.3 dayH, which, in the end, wuh gn-atly to hiH advan-
tugany, and immerol)ably, supposing the war might
be ended without their direct interference. This measure, as it jiroved,
was very detrimental to the end in view ; for if they had proceeded dirctly
to Seekonk, tiiey would have been there in season to have met Philip in his
retreat from Pocasset ; and this force, being joined with the other English
forces, then in the vicinity, they in all probability might have finished the
war by a single fight with him. At least, his chance of escape would have
been small, us he had to cross a large extent of clear and open country,
where many of his men must have been cut down in flight, or fought man
to man witii their pursuers. Whereas Oneko was encamped at some dis-
tance, having arrived late the night before, and some time was lost in rally-
ingj after Pliilip was discovered. They overtook him, however, about 10
o'clock in the morning of the 1st of August, and a smart fight ensued.
Philip having brought bis best men into the rear, many of them were slain ;
among these was JVimrod, alias fVoonashum, a, great captain and counsellor,
who hud signed the treaty at Taunton, four years before.
From what cause the hght was suspended is unknown, though it would
seem from some relations, that it was owing to Oneko'a men, who, seeing
themselves in possession of considerable plunder, fell to loading themselves
with it, and thus gave Philip time to escape. From this view of the case,
it would appear that the Mohcgans were the chief actors in the oftensivc.
It is said that the Naticks urged immediate and further pursuit, which did
not take place, in consequence of the extreme heat of the weather ; and
thus the main body were permitted to escape.
Mr. jVeiwnan, of Rehoboth, gave an account of the affair in a letter, in
which he said that " 14 of the enemy's principal men were slain." He also
mentioned, in terms of great praise, the Naticks and Mohegaus under Oneko.
Philip having now t^tken a position to annoy the back settlements of
• This is upon the authority of the anonymous author of the " Present State," Slc, of
which wc shall elsewhere have occasion to take notice. That author seems to have con^
founded the fight between Thehe and Lieut. Oa/ces with that of Rehoboth Plain.
t Hist. Philip's War, p. C. e tlit) work. On 14 July, five
|M!0|ili! an) killi.'il at Mtttiiloii, in Ma.ss., whirli i.s tliu firMt lilorxl hIkmI hi tin-
cdloriy ill tlii.s war. TIiohc that wcr*; killrii wvm aliuiit tlifir work in tlir
tiuld, Hint know not their inunlcrurs; ami whether they wen; killed li\
l'hili|)'H men Ih nnknown.
Soon iiller tiie war he^aii, iMnsMieliu.'U'tt!', fearing the NipniiikH might join
with Philip, Hciit ineHMeiigerH to treat with them. Tin; young linlian.H were
foiniil ".surly," hut the old men were lor a renewal of Iriendshiji; lint the
pt^rHon or perHoim sein n|ion thin hiirtinesH did not aei|nit thenistdveH i.i a
iiiunner that gave Mati.sl'aelion ; and Philip, lieing now in the CMMintry of the
Ni|iinnkH, it waH eonchided by the uiithuritieH of MmwaehudetlH to make a
t'lirtlier teut uf their inieiitioiiH. Aueordingly, on the 28 Jnly, Captains
Hukhinson and fVlueltr, with a company of !2U mounted men, and '.i ChriKtiaii
Indians its pilots and interpreterH, vi/. Mtmtcho, Joseph, and Sumpson, went
with some of tiio inhahitant.s of Itrookfield, agreoahly to a|ipointnu;nt, to
meet the Nipinuk HaelieiiiH. It had been agreed by these HaclK^ms to
meet the Knglish in a treaty at a certain true at Uuabaog on the 2 August,
on a plain 3 iiiilen from llrookfield village. Having arrived here aecording
tu agreement, the EngliHh found no IndiuiiH to treat with. It whh now u
i|iiestiou with all but the Hrookticid men, whether or not they Hhnuld pro-
coed to u certain place where they iM-lieved tlie Indian.s to lie; at length the
coiifidenee of the lirooklield ])eo|il<; in the pacific ditipoHition of the IndiaiiM,
prevailed, and they marched on. The way was so bad that they could march
only in Hinglc file, &» they approached the place where th(;y expected to find
tlie Indians, and when they came near VVikabaiig Pond, bt;tween a Bwainp
oil the letl and a very abrupt and high hill on the right,'* Kuddenlv 2 or :{(I0
Indians rose up, encompassed, and tired upon them. Eight were killed out-
right, and three fell mortally wound. ^d. Of the latter tiimiber was Captain
Hutchinson, who, though carried off by the survivors, died on the 19 August
following. Captain frheder bad his horse shot under him, and himself was
shot tlii'ough the body ; but his life was saved through the bravery and presence
of mind of a son then with liim. This son, though his own artn was broken
by a liullot, seeing the peril of his father, dismounted from his horse, and suc-
ci.'eded in mouiitiug his father upon it. A retreat now be<^an, and, by cutting
their way through the Indians, the small remnant of English got back t'-■•■■
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[Rook Ilf
"hnnpcd iiis course for Brookfirld, di.stnnt about 30 miles, which, hyn forced
march, he reached in safety the night following. That he was not attacked
»« he approached the distressed garrison, is most extraordinary, fiir the
hostile Indians are said to have guarded every passage to it ; and there are
diflerent reasons stated for that neglect: one is, that the guard through
which the English passed, suffered them to proceed, expecting another
guard stationed still nearer the garrison would attack them in front whiK
they should tail on them in the rear ; another is, that they were deceived
Jis to the numi)crs of the English, thinking them many more than they
really were, and diu*ed not attack them. It would seem, howev«!r, more
probable, that the Indians had no guard at all at the ])oint in which tliey
approached at the time they arrived; for a drove of cattle, which had liecii
frightened from Brookfield into the woods, followed the rear of ffillnnrn
company to the garrison, and were not attacked, which would not have been
the cas in all probability, had the Indians been aware of their approacli.
No sooner was it known to the besiegers tliat relief wa.s come, but they
fell with more fury, if ])ossible, upon the devoted garrison than before ;
shooting continually from all (piarters upon it, which shows that they Iind
accidentally let the reinforcement gt^t into the; garrison. Thus to a mos't
fortunate circumstance did this assemblage of English owe their safety.
At the vei"y time Willard arrived at Brookfield the Indians were con-
triving some machinery to set the garrison on fire ; and this may account
for their renussuess in suffering him to come in unmolested. They first
endeavored by fire arrows, and rags dipped in brimstone tied to long poles
spliced together, to fire the garrison, but not succeeding, those within tiriiij;
upon them often with such deadly effect, they next, in the language of ."Mr.
Hubbard, " used this devilish stratagem, to fill a cart with liemp, flax, and
other combustible matter, and so thrusting it backward Avith poles together
spliced a great length, afler they had kindled it ; but as soon as it had begun
to take fire, a storm of rain, unexpectedly falling, put it out." *
During this siege several of the whites were wounded, though but one
was killed. Of the Indians 80 were snjtposcd to have been killed,t but this
was doubtless setting the number much too hi<;h, although they exposed
themselves beyond what was common on similar occasions. On the .">
August they quitted the place, satisfied they could not take it, and joined
Philip, who was now about G miles from the place where Hutchinson was
ambushed.
After George Memecho^s return to the English, he gave the following in-
formation : " L'pon Friday, August 5, Philip and his company came to us at
a swamj), 6 miles from the swamp where they killed our men. Philip
brought with liim about 48 men, but women and children many more.
Philip's men were, about 30 of them, armed with guns, the rest had hows
and arrows. He observed there were about 10 of Philip's men wouiidefl.
Philip was conducted to the swamp by two Indians, one of them [was]
Caleb of Tatumasket, beyond Mendon. The Indians told Philip, at his first
coming, what they had done to the English at Quabaog ; then he presented
and gave to three Sagamores, viz. John, alias Apeent, at which
time a cart containing ammunition fell into the hands of the Indians, and,
liie captain being killed, all who were able took to flight. The hi" to which
the English fled, at the beginning of the fight, was known aflerwdrds by the
name of Beers''s Mountain. " Here," says Mr, //uiftarrf, "the barlwirous vil-
lains showed their insolent rajre nml cruelty, more than ev(!r before; cutting
off the heads of some of the slain, and fixing them upon poles near the
highway, and not only so, but one, if not more, was found with e chain
hooked into his under-jaw, and so hung up on the bough of a tree, ('tis feared
he was hung up alive,) by which means they thought to daunt and discourage
any that might cotne to their relief."
Th(! place where this fight occurred was within about two miles of the gar-
rison at Squakkeag, (Northfield,) and the [)lain on which it began is called
Ikers\i Plain. Meanwhile the garrison was reduced to the brink of ruin, and,
Hke that at Brookfield, was saved by tln^ arrival of a comjiany of soldiers.
Two days afler Captain Beers was cut off. Major TVeat arrived there with 100
men, and conveyed th(^ garrison safe to Hadley.
Philip probably condiicted both afliiirs ; this of Captain Beers, and that of
Captain Thomas Lothrop, about to be related, although it is not positively
known to be the fact.
Some time in the month of Atigust, "Kmg PhUip''s men had tJikcn a young
lad alive, about 14 years old, and bound him to a tr(!e two nights and two
'lays, intending to be merry with him the next day, and that they would roast
him alive to make sport with him ; but God, over night, touched the lujart of
one Indian, so that he came and loosed him, and bid him run grande, (i. e. run
apace,) and by that means he escaped." §
About this time, some English found a single Indiiui, an old man, near
Quabaog, whom they captured. As he would not give them any information
n^spccting his countrymen, or, j)erliaps, sucli as they desired, they pro-
nounced him worthy of death ; so "they laid him down, Come/iiw, the Dutch-
man, liiling up his sword to cut off his head, tiie Indian lifted up his hand be-
tween, so tliat his hand was first cut ofl', and partly his head, and the second
blow finished the execution." ||
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t Hubbard, Nar.36, 37.— Chronicle, 28.—Hoyl, 102, 103.
{ Manuscript documents,
i Chronicle, 25.
Manuscript in library of Mass. Hist. Soc.
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PHILIP.— LOTHROP CUT OFF.
[Rook III.
It was about this time, as the author of tho " Prf.sbnt State " relates, that
" Kiug Philip, now beginning to want money, having a coat made all of
Mamimmpeag, (i. e. Indian money,) cuts his coat to pieces and distributes it
pluntiiully among the Nipmoog sachems and others, as well as to the east-
ward as southward, and all round about." *
On the 18 Sept. Captain Loihrop, of Beverly, was sent from Hadley with
about 88 men, to bring away the corn, grain, and other valuable articles,
from Deertield. Having loaded their teams and commenced their march
homewird, they Vvere attacked at a place called Sugarloaf Hill, where almost
every man was slain. This company consisted of "choice young men, the
very flower of Essex county, 'none of whom were ashamed to spoak with the
enemy in the gate.'"t Eighteen of tlie men belonged to Deerfield.| Cap-
tain Mosely, being not far off| upon a scout, was drawn to the scene of action
by the report of the guns, and, having with him 70 njen, charged the Indiaiiw
with great resolution, although he computed their numbers at 1000. He
had two of his men killed and eleven w ounded. The Indians dared him to
l)egin the fight, and exultingly said to him, " Come, Mosely, come, you seek In-
dians, you want Indians ; here is Indians enough for ynu.''^ § On this occaBioii
the conduct ofMosely's lieutenants. Savage and Pickering, are mentioned in
high terms of praise, "as deserving no little part of the honor of that day's
service." After continuing a fight with them, from eleven o' clock until
almost night, he was obliged to retreat. || The Indians cut open the bags of
wheat and the feather-beds, and scattered their contents to the winds. §
After Mosely had commenced a retreat, Major Treat, with 100 English and
60 Mohegans, came to his assistance. Tlieir united Ibrces obliged the IndiunB
to retreat in their turn.lf The Lidians were said to have lost, in tlie variouH
encounters, 96 men. It was a great oversight, that Captain Lotkrop should
have suffered his men to stroll about, while passing a dangerous d file.
"Many of the soldiers having been so Ibolish and secure, as to put their arni8
in the carts, and step aside to gather gra[)es, which proved dear and deadly
grapes to them." ** The same author observes, " This was a black imd Jtital
day, wherein there were eight persons made widows, and six-and-tweuty
children made fatherless, all in one little ])lantation and in one day ; and
above sixty persons buried in one dreadfi'! grave ! "
The place of this fight and ambush is in the southerly part of Deerfield, on
which is now the village called Bloody Brook, so named from this memora-
ble tragedy. A brook which passes through the village is crossed i)y the
road not far from the centre of it, and it was at the point of crossing that it
happened, ff
Until this period the Indians near Springfield remained friendly, and re
fused the solicitations of Philip, to undertake hi his cause. But, noM' that
Northfield and Deerfield had tallen into his hands, they were watched closer
by the whites, whose cause these great successes of Philip had occasioned
them to look upon as rather precarious. They therefore, auout 40 in number,
on the night of the 4 Oct., admitted about 300 o( Philip's men into their fort,
which was situated at a place called Longhill, about a mile below the village
of Springfield, and a plan was concerted for the destruction of that place.
But, as in ma"iy cases afterwards, one of their number betrayed them. ToTO,Jt
* Old bid. Chronicle. If lliis were the case, Philip must have had aii immense big coat—
yea, even bigger tluui Dr. Johnson's ^reat coal, ns represented by Bosivell ; the side pociicls
of which, he said, were large enough each to contain one of the huge volumes of his fol'
dictionary !
t Hubbard's Narrative, ,38. I These were the teamsters.
^ Manuscript letter, written at the time.
11 " Whereupon, afler havii'^ killed several of the Indians, he was forced to retreat, and con-
tinued fighting for all the tinn. that he and his men were retreating nine miles. Capt, Mostly
lost out of his company 9, and 13 wounded." — Old. Ind. Chrou. 29. This author has
blended the two accounts officers and Lnthrop together, and relates them as one.
If /. 7l/a//ier'« History of the War, 12. ** Ibid.
ft Last year, (1835), a splendid celebration was held at Bloody Brook, in commemoration
of the event, and an oration was pronounced by our Prince of Orators, the present governor
of this commonwealth. His Excellency Euwaru Everett, LL. D.
XX Hubbard,— Tor , Hutchinion.
Chap. II.]
PHILIP.— SURPRISE OF HATFIELD.
33
an Indian at Windsor, revealed the ])lot, and the people of Springfield had
time only to escape into their garrisons. The whole force of the Indians
came like a torrent upon the jilace the next day, and burnt the deserted
houses and barns, in all 57 buildings, lu this business, however, some of
their number were killed * by the peoj)le in the garrisons ; but it is not known
how many. They would have succeeded against the lives of the English as
well as against their property, had not a force arrived about the same time
for their relief
Animated by his successes, Philip aimed his next blow at the head-quar-
ters of the whites in this region. With 7 or 800 of his men he fell \ipon
Hatfield on the 19 Oct., which, had it not been well provided with men, would
iiuve shared the fate of Springfield ; but Captain Mosehf and Captain Poole,
with their companies, were in the place, and Captain Samtiel Jippleton was at
Hadley on the opposite side of the river; and against such commanders they
could hardly have expected success. Ilowever, they made a bold attempt
on all sides at once ; but their greatest force fell on the point where Captain
Appklon commanded. His sergeant was mortally wounded by his side, and
a bullet passed through the hair of his own head; "by that whisper telling
him," says Hubbard, "that death was very near, but did him no other harm.
Niglit coming on, it could not be discerned what loss the enemy sustained ;
(livers were seen to fall, some run through a small river, [now called jyrdl
River.] others cast their guns into the water, (it being their manner to ven-
ture as much to recover the dead bodies of their friends, as to defend them
wheii alive.)" And tlnis they were driven from the place, alter killing but
three, and wounding 10 of the whites, and burning a small number of
buildings. They had, before tlicir attack on the town, killed three belonging
to some scouts, and seven others of Ca])tain Moselifs men. This was among
their last important efforts on the Connecticut River before retiring to the
country of the Narragansets.
Tlie Nipmuck sachems had well contrived their attack on Hatfield; having
made fires in the woods about seven miles from it, to draw out the soldiers,
lor whom they had j)rei)a.>-ed amlmshes ; but only ten of Mosehfs men were
sent out to learn the cause of the fires. These were all cut of^" except one,
according to the Chronicle, but according to Hubbard, seven only were
killed. The Indians probably suppo.sed the main body was cut ofl^ and
therefore proceeded directly to the assault of the town, where a new force
had just arrived ; and hence they met with a brave resistance and final defeat.f
The Narragansets had not yet heartily engaged in the war, though there is
no doubt but they stood pledged so to do. Therefore, having done all that
could be expected upon the western frontier of Massachusetts, and conclu-
•liiiL' that his presence among his allies, the Narragansets, was necessary to
lvcc[» them from abandoning his cause, Philip was next ktiown to be in their
country.
All sirmy of 1.5(X) Eiisdish was rais"d by the three colonies, Massachusetts,
Pliniouth, and Connecticut, for the jiurpose of breaking down the power of
Philip among the Narragansets. They determined upon this course, as they
had been assured that, the next spring, that nation would come with all their
loicc upon them. It was not known tliat Philip was among them when this
nsoiiition was taken, and it was but a rumor that they had taken part with
him. It was true, that they had ])romi.se»l to deliver up all the Wanqianoags,
who should flee to them, either alive or dead ; but it is also true, that those
who made this pi'«)mise, had it not in their power to do it; being persons,
cliirfly ill subordinate! stations, who had no right or authority to bind any but
thciiisclves. And, therefore, as doubtless was foreseiui by many, none of
Philip's people were delivered up, although many were known to have been
among them. Thus, in few words, have we exhibited the main grounds of
the mighty expedition against the Narragansets in the winter of 1675.
• A pewter plaltcr is still exiiibiti ' in Spriiijrlicld with a hole through the midrlle of it, made
by n ' ill from the garrisoH at this . ic An Imlian had taken it uom one of the deserted
hou'ii . and wore it before his breaiU as a shield. Thus shielded, he veutured toward* the
(farri^dii. .md was shot. Hoyt, 110.
t Oil) Indiam Chronicle, 36, 37.
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34
rillLIP.— NARRAGANSET SWAMP FIGHT.
[Book IIJ
Upon a Biiiall island, in an immense swamp, in South Kingston, Rhode
Island, Philip had fortified himself, in a manner superior to what was com-
mon among liis countrymen. Here he intended to pass the winter, with tlic
chief of his friends. They had erected about 500 wigwams of a superior
construction, in which was deposited a great store of provisions. Baskets
and tubs of corn * were piled one upon another, about the inside of tlicni,
which rendered them bullet proof. It was supposed that about 3000 persons
had hei-e taken up their residence.
But, to Ix! more particular upon the situation of "the scene of the destruc-
tion of the Narragansets," we will add as follows from the notes of a fren-
tleman lately upon the spot, for the express purpose of gaining information.
" What was called The Island is now an upland meadow, a few feet higher
than the low meadow with which it it surroinidod. T'le island, by my esti-
mate, contains from three to four acres. One ibuith of a mile west, is the
Usquepaug ; a small stream also at a short distance on the east." Tiie et Ic-
brated island on which the fort was built is now in the farm of /. G. Chirk,
Esq. a descendant of John Clark, of R. I. and about 30 rods west of the line
of the " Pettyswaniscot Purchase." Water still surrounds it in wet seusoiiK
It was cleared by tiie fiither of llie present possessor about 1780, and, altlioii<:li
improved from that time to the i»resent, chaned corn and Indian implemeiiis
are yet ploughed ujj.t
President Stiles, in his edition of Church's History of Philip's War,
states that the Narraganset fort is seven miles nearly due west from tlie
South Ferry. This agrees with data furnished by Air. Ely, in stating the
returning inarch of tlie English army. Pine and cedar were said to liave
been the former growth.J An oak 300 years old, standing upon the island,
was cut down in 1782, two feet in diameter, 11 leet from the ground. From
another, a bullet was cut out, sur.ounded by about 100 annuli, at the same
time. The bullet was lodged there, no doubt, at the time of the fight. We
will now return to our nairative of the expedition to this place in Decem-
ber, 1675.
Aller nearly a month from their setting out, tlie English army arrived in
the Nai'raganset country, and made their head-quarters about 18 miles lioin
Philip's fort. Tiiey had been so long upon their march, that tlie Indians
were well enougli apprized of their approach, and had made the best ar-
rangements in their power to withstand them. The army hud already sut-
fered iniieh from the severity of the season, being obliged to encamp in the
open field, and without tents to cover them !
The 19th of December, 1675, is a memoraide day in the annals ol New
England. Cold, in the extreme, — the air filled with snow, — the Englisii
were obliged, from the low siate of their provisions, to inoi-ch to aitiuk
Philip in his fort. Treachery hastened his ruin. One of his men, by hope
of reward, betrayed his country into their hands. This man had, probuhly,
lived among the English, ns he had an English name. He w.*«e called Pekr,^
and it .vas by accident that himself, with thirty-five otiicrs, had just before
lallcn into the hands of the fortunate Captain Mostly. No Englishman was
acquainted with the situation of Philip's fort ; and, but for tlieir pilot, Pdtr,
there is very little probability that they could have even found, mucli Ics •
effected any thing against it. For it was one o'clock on that short day ul
the year, before they arrived wiihui the vicinity of the swamp. There v.iis
but one jjoint where it could be assailed with the least probability of snc-
cess ; and this was fortified by a kind of block-house, directly in front ol"
the entrance, and had also flankers to - over a cross fire. Besides high pal-
isades, an immense hedge of flillen trees, of nearly u rod in thickness,
* 300 Imsliols, says Dr. /. Mather. Hollow trees, nit otT about the length of a barrel, were
used l)V the Indians fur tubs. In such they sucureil tliuir rvu and other grains.
t MS. connnunicatioii of Reverend Mr. F.li), accompanied by a drawing of llie island. Its
shape is very similar to the shell of an oyster. Average rectatigular lines through it measure,
one 3d rods, another 20.
X Holmes's Annals, i. 376.
^ The name of Peter among the Indians was so rommon, that it is perhaps past delermina-
lion ti'tci this one was. Mr. Hubbard calls him a fugitive from Uic Narragau^ctd.
[Book IIJ
u, Rliotle
va8 coin-
witlj tlic
superior
Buskits
of tlu'in,
) persons
Chap. 11.]
I'HlLir.— NARUAGANSET SWAMP FIGHT.
35
surrounued it, enconipiissiug uu area of about five acres. IJetwccu tlje
fort and the main laud was a body of water, over wliich a great tree had
Ixicu felled, ou wliich all iiiu.st pa.s.s and repass, to and from it. On coming
to this place, the Engli.-^h soldiers, as many as could j)ass upon the tree,
which would not admit two abreast, rushed forward upon it, but were swept
off in a moment i»y the fire of Philip'a men. Still, the English soldiers, led
by their captains, supplied the places of the slain. Hut again anj)ly
of provisions. IJut one of the caj)taius * and a surgeon opposed the ni(!as-
ure; probably from the a|)})rehensiou that the woods was full of Indians,
v.ho would continue their attack-s upon them, and drive thetn out in their
turn. There Wiis, doubtless, some reajjon for this, which was strengthened
from the fact that many English were killed alter they had possessed
themselves of the fort, by those whom they had just dispossessed of it.
Notwithstanding, had ChurcKs advice been Ibllowcd, perhaps many oi' tie;
lives of the wounded woidd have been saved ; for he was seldom out in his
judgment, as his continued successes jtroved afterwards.
After fighting three hours, the English wi!re obliged to march 18 miles,
before the wounded could be dressed, and in a most dismal and boisterous
uight. Eighty English were killed in the fight, and 150 woimded, many of
whom died aflerwarils. The shattered army left the ground in considerable
haste, leaving eight of their dead in the Ibrt.
Philip, and such of his warriors as escaped unhurt, fled into u place of
safety, until the enemy had retired ; when they returned again to the fort.
The English, no doubt, apprehended a j)ursuit, but Philip, not knowing
their distressed situation, and, perhaj)s, judging of tb ur loss from the few
dead which they left behind, made no attempt to narass them in their
retreat. Before the fight was over, many of the wigwams were set on fire.
Into these, hundreds of iunoceut women and children had crowded them-
selves, and perished in the general conflagration ! And, as a writer of that
day expresses himself, "no man knoweth how many." The English ieariied
afterwards, from some that fell into their hands, that in all about 700
perished.f
The sufierings of the English, after the fight, are ahnost without a par-
allel in history. The horrors of Moscow will not longer be remembered.
The myriads of modern Europe, assembled there, bear but snjall propor-
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fairs when present.
t 'fliire is printed iu Hutchitaoii's Hist. Mass. i. 300. a letter which gives llie parlicalars of
iho N'arriigaiiscl tight. I iiave compared it willi the original, ajid lind i. correct in the main
piiiliciilars. He mistakes in ascribing it to Major liradjurd, for it is signed by .l,fm''s Oliver,
Dill' of the IMimouth captains. Hiitchin.ion copied fiom a copy, whicii was wilhoiit signature.
lie omits a passage couo<>rning Tift, or 7V//c, who, Oliver says, confirmod his narrative.
'I'liat iiuiii iiad ■' married an Indian, a Wompanoag — and, says Oliver, he siiol '-() times at ns
in tlie >wam|) — was laken at Providence, fby Captain Femur,] Jan. I Uli — liroiiglit to us the
Itilli — cxecuied tlie Dflli ; a sad wrote!- lie never heard a sermon but once tliis I t years ; he
never heard of the name of Jesus Christ. His fallior going to recall hiin, lost his head, and
lies iinbiiried," Hubbard says, (Narrative, .W,) that "he was condemiii.'d to die the death of
a lra:lor," ami traitors of those days were quartered. "' As to iiis religion, he was found as
iguiirant as an heathen, which, no doubi, caused the fewer tears to be sned ai his funeral.''
.\ jorrowful record !
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38
PHII IP— SUDBURY FIGHT.
IBOOK III
Philip had for some time directed matters with such address thut his
enemies could not tell where or how to meet him, or whether he actually
were in the vicinity of the frontii'ra or not. But there can be little doubt of
his special agency and direction in all the important enterprises. On the 18
March, Norlliampton was assaulted, but not with quite as good success us
was anticipated by the besiegers ; for they lost eleven men, while the whites
had but three killed and six wounded.
On the 27 March, a large body of 800 Indians, as was supposed, were
discovered encamped not far from Marlborough, which they had burnt the
day before. A company of men belonging to that town, attached thenisplvcs
to a number of soldiers under one Lieutenant Jacobs, who, falling upon them
in the night while they were asleep in their wigwams, killed and v ounded
about 40 of ihcm, without any loss to themselves.
The Indians seem to have resolved that this midnight assassination should
not go long unrequited, and events so determined, as what we are about to
relate will fully exemplify. On the morning of the 20 April, the largest
body of Indians which had at any time appeared, attacked Sudbury, and
beibre resistance could be made, set fire to several buildings, whicii were
consumed. The inhabitants, however, made a brare stand, and were soon
joined by some soldiers f>-om Watertown, under Captain Hugh .Mason ; and
the Indians retreated over the bridge, and were prevented from doing any
further mischief during the day, against Sudburj'.
Some of tiie people of Concord hearing of the distress at Sudbury, sallied
forth for its protection. As they approached a garrison house, they discovered
a few Indians, and pursued them. These, as it proved, were a decoy, and
they soon found themselves ambushed on every side. They fought with
desperation, but were all, except one, cut off, being eleven in number. This
affair took place immediately af\cr Captain Wadsieorth had marched from
Sudbury with 70 men to strengthen the garrison at JMarlborougli ; and the
news of the situation of the i)lace he had just left reached his destination as
soon as he did ; and although he had marched all the day and night beibre, and
his men almost exhausted with fatigue, yet, taking Captain Brocklebank and
about ten men from the garrison at Marlborough, he marched directly back
lor Sudbury. On the morning of the 21st, they arrived within about a mile
and a half of the town, near where a body of about 500 Indians had pre-
pared an ambush behind the hills. From thence they sent out two or three
of their party, who crossed the march of the English, and, being discovered
by them, affected to fly through feai', to decoy them into a pursuit. This
stratagem succeeded, and with great boldness the Indians began the attack.
For some time the English maintained good order, and, having retreated to
an adjacent hill, lost but five njen for near four hours. Meantime the Indians
had lost a great mmiber, which so increased their rage that they resolved to
put in practice another stratagem, which it seems they had not before thought
of. They immediately set the woods on fire to windward of the English,
which spread with great rapidity, owing to an exceeding high wind and
the dryness of the grass and other combustibles. This stratagem likewise
succeeded, even better than the first ; that, although it served to bring on the
attack, was near proving fatal to its originators, but this was crowned with
com[)lete success. The fury of the flames soon drove the English from their
advantageous position, which gave the Indians an opportunity to fall upon
them Avith their tomahawks ! Many were now able to fall upon one, and
resistance fast diminished. All but about twenty were killed or fell into the
hands of the conquerors ; among the former were the two captains ; some
of those that escaped took shelter in a mill not far off, and were saved by
the arrival of a few men under Captain Prentice, and a company under
Cajttuin Croicell. Both of these officers and their men very narrowly es-
caped the fate of Wadsworth.* As the former was about to fall into a fatal
house was burnt first, and that " afterwards tliey destroyed 65 more there, leaving but six
houses slaiidiirg in the whole town."
* " So insolent were the Indians grown upon their first success against Captain Wadsworth,
that they sent us word, to provide store of good cheer j for they intended to dine with us [at
Boston] on the election day." Chronicle, 95.
CfSn'-W.: ':■'
1:31 .»,. ,^v
Ill
Chap. II.]
LIFE OF KING PHILIP.
39
gnare, he was rescued by a coiiipoiiy from a gurrison ; and ns tiic luttur ap-
proaclied Sudbury, he uuved himself by pursuiug an unexpected rout<< ; and,
though attacked, he succeeded in fighting iiis way througli tlie Indians with
u los8 oidy of dix or seven of his men. Captain CroxctWa arrival at this time
was accidental, though fortunate ; being on his return fromCiuaiiaog, whither
he had been sent to reinforce that garrison.* With this great achievement
ended the chief operations in Massachusetts ; and we have now to return
towurtls Plimouth.
VVlien success no longer attended Philip in Massachusetts, tliose of his
allies whom he had seduced into the war, upbraided and accused him of
brinffing all their misfortunes upon them ; that they had no cause of war
against the Englisli, and imd not engaged in it but tor his solicitations ; and
many of the tribes scattered themselves in different directions. VVitii all
that would follow him, as a last retreat, Philip returned to I'okanoket. The
Peconi[)tuck or Deerfield Indians were among the first who abandomul his
cause, and many of the other Nipniucks and Narragansets soon followed
tlieir example.
On the 11th of July, he attempted to surprise Taunton, but was repulaedf.
His camp was now at MatapoiseL The English came upon him here, under
Captain Church, who captured many of his people, but be escaped over
Taunton River, us he had done a year before, but in the oi)posite direction,
and screened himself once more m the woods of Pocasset. He used many
stratagems to cut off Captain Chwch, and seems to have watched and fol-
lowed him from place to place, until the end of this month ; but he was
coutiiiually losing one company of his men after another. Some scouts
a!:.'
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•?3
LIFE OF KINCf PMH.IP.
[Book 111.
! 'jing nvnr ni;rlif, nrid tlic firinp of Hliort continuanco, they misHfld the plnce,
;.ii(l \vi lit iiiMt Hri(ljr«\viii(!r town."
On the 1 Anjfust, th(» intrepid Church cnnip upon Philip's ficnd-qunrtprs,
killfd and t«iok nl)out l.'W of hiH people, Philip liiniwelf very narrowly e.srn|i.
invhen they came near enough to observe them, and ^^ Philip soon came to a
ftop, and fell to breaking and chop[)ing wood, to make fires; and a great
i loise they made." Church, conceutratinjr his followers, formed them into a
kjircle, and set down " without any noise or fire." Their prisoners showed
,'.»T^^|igns of fear, but were easily put in confidence by the conciliatory con-
iii^KgChurch. Thus stood matters in ChurcKs camp through the night of
thflK^'gust, lG7fi. At dawn of day, he told his prisoners they must remain
jstil^Wnere they were, until the fight was over, (for he now had every reason
lO expect a severe one shortly to follow,) "or, as soon as the firing ceased,
they must follow the tracks of his company, and come to them. (An Indian
id lilfc;^ a bloodhound to follow a track.) "f
HHR^ now light enough to make the onset, Church sent forward two
BoldicS^ learn Philip's i)osition. Philip, no less wary, had, at the same
time, sent out two spies, to see if any were in pursuit of him. The re-
* Hist. PhUip's War, 38, ed. 4to,
t Ibid. 39.
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Chap. II.]
MI'F. Ol" KIN(! Pini.FP.
4U
npprtivn npion of tlx; two I'iiiiiimm rliicts ^'iivf tlii> nhiriii to both rnmpH fit tin-
(4UIIII* tiiiK! ; but, iiiilitip|iily lor I'hilip, liin uiita^oiiiNt was prcpurt'd lor tlw
event, wliil«5 bo was !iot. " All llid at tin- lirst tidiii^H, fof tlio Hpics,] Icll
their kittlt-H boilin^r, and nuMit r()aHtiii<; upon tbtir woouon npitf, ani, by
the exertions of Church. J
Philip, having now but few followers left, was driven from place to place,
and lastly to his ancient seat near Pokanoket. The English, for a long time,
had endeavored to kill him, but could not find bim oif bis guard ; for he
was always the fii'st who was apprized of their approach. He having put to
death one of his own men for advising bim to make peace, this man's
brother, whose name was Mdtrman, fearing the same fate, deserted him,
and gave Captain Church un account of his situation, and ottered to lead bim
to his camp. Early on Saturday morning, 12 Aug., Church came to the
swamp where Philip was encamped, and, before be was discovered, had
placed a guard about it, so as to encompass it, except a small place. He
then ordered Captain Oolding § to rush into the swamp, and fall u|)on Philip
in his camp ; which he immediately did — but was discovered as lie ap-
proached, and, as usual, Philip was the first to fly. Having but just awaked
from sleep, and having on but a part of his clothes, he fled with all his
might. Coming directly upon an Englishman and an Indian, who composed
a part of the ambush at the edge of the swamp, the Englisiiman's gun missed
fire, but Alderman, the Indian, whose gun was loaded with two balls, * gent
*■ One of Church's Indian soldiers, but of whom he makes no mention.
t An improvident fellow, given to intoxication, and, from Church's expression about his
being killeu, " not being so careful as he might have been," it leaves room to doubt whether
he were not, at this tmie, under the effects of liciuor. He had been often fined, and once
whipped, for getting drunk, beating his wife and children, defaming the character of deceased
magistrates, and other misdemeanors.
I Church, 41. In the account of Tatoson, Church's narrative is continued.
& Captain Roger Goutden, of R. I. Plimouth granted him 100 acres of laud on Pocasset,
in 1676, for his eminent services. Plim, Records.
4*
I, vi
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42
IJFE OF KING PHILIP.
[Book III.
He fell
onfi tlirniiffh liis heart, and nnotlier not above two inches from it.
•ipoii hid iiioe in the mud and water, with his gun under him."
" Cold, with the boast he slew, he sleeps ;
O'er him no tilial spirit weeps ;
F.voii lliitt lie lived, is for his conqiicror's tongue,
^^\ (oos alone his cicalh-sonp must be sung;
No I'lironicles l)ul ihoirs shall tell
His inoiirnful doom to future times j
May those upon his virtues dwell,
And ill his falo forgot his crimes." — Sprague.
The name of the man stationed with Alderman was Caleb Cook,* who had
shtirctl in many of Churches hazardous expeditions before the present. See-
jiif,' that lie could not have the honor of killing Philip, he was desirous, if
possible, (if liMviiig a memento of the mighty exploit. He therefore prevailed
lipcin Jllilcrinnn to exchange guns with htm. This gun was kejjt in the I'amily
iinti! the pres(;nt century, when the late Isaac Lothrop, Esq. of Plimouth ob-
taine scaired, occasioned
by the splitting of a pistol in it Ibrmcrly, Capt. Church gave the head and
that liand to Alderman, the Indian who shot him, to show to sucli ge:itlemeri
as would bestow gratuities upon him ; and accordingly he got many a
penny by it."t
The hi -barons usage of beheading and quartering traitors was now exe-
cuted upon the fallen Philip. Church, "calling his old Indian executioner,
bid liim behead and quarter him. Accordingly, he came witii iiis hatchet,
and stood over him, but before he struck, he made a small s{)ecch, dire(;tiug
it to Philip," saying, " You have been a very /rreat man, and have made nuiny a
man afraid of you ; but so big as you be I toill noio chop your ass for you." He
then proceeded to the execution of his orders.
His heafl was sent to Plimouth, where it was exposed upon a gibbet for
20 years, and one of his hands to Uoston, where it was exhibit(!d in savage
triumph, and his mangled body was denied the right of sepultiu'e. It liaving
been quancred, was hung upon ibur trees, and there left as a monument of
shocking barl)arity.
Church and his company returned to the island the same day, and arrived
with the prisoners at Plimouth two days after, namely, Tuesda}', August 15,
"rangiii^,' througli all the woods in their way." They now "received their
l)reniium, which was 30 shillings per head, for all enemies killed or taken,
" instead of all wages, and Philips head went at the same price." This
amounted to only four and si.xj)ence a-piece, " which was all the reward tliey
had, except the honor of killing Philip."
Having in the year 1824 visiccd the memorable retreat of the Wampanoag
sachems, we can give the reader some idea of its situation. There is a
natural angular excavation, in an almost perpendicular rock, about 6 or 7 feet
from its base, where it is said Philip and some of his chief men were sur-
prised on the morning of the 12 Auoust. We liave in the Lift! of Massasoit
(kscribed Momit Hope, and it is at the north pait of it that the high rock is
situated ; variously estimated from 30 to 50 feet in height, and is nearly 2
miles from the village of Bristol. From the seat, or throne of King Philip,
as some have called it, a fine view of Mount Hope Bay opens upon us. Near
the foot of the rock is a fine spring of water, known to this day by the
name of Philip's Spring.
Mr. Alden, the curious collector of epitaphs, sa^s " the late Lieut Gov.
Bradford, [who died at Bristol in 1808,] in early life, knew an aged squaw,
who was one of Philip's tribe, Avas well acquainted with this sagamore in
her youthful days, and had often been in his wigwam. The information,
through her, is, therefore, very direct, as to the identical spot, where he fixed
his abode. It was a few steps south of Capt. Jam^ De JVolfe's summer
house, near the brow of a hill, but no vestige of the wigAvim remains.
The eastern side of this hill is veiy steep, vastly more so than tliat at Horse
Neck, down which the intrepid PxUnam trotted his sure-footed steed, in a
manner worthy of a knight of the tenth century." "When Churches men
wen; about to rush upon Philip, he is said to have evaded them by spring-
ing from his wigwam as they were entering it, and rolling, like a hogshead,
down the precipice, which looks towai'ds the bay. Having reached the
lower part of this frightful ledge of rocks, without breaking his bones, ho
got upon his feet, and ran along the shore in a north-eastern direction, about
100 rods, and endeavored to screen himself in a swamp, then a quagmire,
but now terra firina."
Very probably a son of Uncompoin, or Woonashum,
t Philip'* War,
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LIFE OF KING rillLIP.
How much of the above
[Book III.
of it
,e is anocryplial is uncertain, but that a part ol
is I liavc no doubt. That Philips camp was nem* tlie top of Mount Hope at
the time lie was surprised, is contrary to rational conclusion, but soeins
rather to have been fixed there by the imagination of some one, for the
pleasure it iniglit afford them in contemplating the manner of the chiefB
escape by rolling down a rugged precipice.
During the bloody contest, the pious fathers wrestled long and often with
their God, in prayer, that he would prosper their arms and deliver their
enemies into their hands ; and when, upon stated days of prayer, the Indians
gained advantage, it was looked upon as a rebuke of Providence, and ani-
mat(;d fhem to greater sincerity and fervor ; and on the contrary, ',/liei: their
amis prevailed upon such days, it was viewed as an immediate interposition
in their favor. The philosophic mind will be shocked at the ex|)res8ions of
some, very eminent in that day for piety and excellence of moral life. Dr.
Increase Mather,* in speaking of the efficacy of prayer, in bringing about the
ilestruction of the Indians, says, " Nor could they [the English] cease crying
to the Lord against Philip, until they had prayed the bullet into his heart."
And in speaking of the slaughter of Philip's people, at Narraganset, he says,
" We have heard of two-and-twenty Lidian captains, slain all of them, and
brought down to hell in one day." Again, in speaking of a chief who had
sneered at the English religion, and who had, " withal, added a most hideous
blasphemy, immediately upon which a bullet took him in the head, and
dashed out his brains, sending his cursed soul in a moment amongst the
devils, and blasphemere, in hell forever." f
The low and vulgar epithets | sneeringly cast upon the Indians by their
English contemporaries are not to be attributed to a single individual, but to
the English in general.§ It is too obvious tliat the early historians viewed
the Indians as inferior beings, and some went so far as hardly to allow them
to be human.
Like Massasoit, Philip always opposed the introduction of Christianity
among his people. When Mr. Eliot urged upon him its great importance,
he said he cared no more for the gospel than he did for a button upon his
coat. II This does not very well agree with the account of Mr. Gookin,
respecting Philip^s feelings upon rehgious matters; at least, it shows that
there was a time when he was willing to listen to such men as the excellent
and benevolent Gookin. In speaking of the Wampanoags, he says, " There
are some that have hopes of their greatest and chiefest sachem, named Philip,
living at Pawkunnawkutt. Some of his chief men, as I hear, stand well
inclined to hear the gospel : and himself is a peraon of good understanding
and knowledge in the best things. I have heard him speak very good words,
arguing that his conscience is convicted: but yet, though his will is bowed to
embrace Jesxis Christ, his sensual and carnal lusts are strong bands to hold
him fast under Satan^s dominions." IT And Dr. Mather adds, " It was not long,
before the hand which now writes, [1700,] upon a certain occasion took off
the jaw from the exposed skuU of that blasphemous leviathan; and tlie re-
nowned Samuel Lee hath since been a pastor to an English congregation,
sounding and showing the praises of heaven, upon that very spot of ground,
where Philip and his Indians were lately worshipping of the devil." **
The error that Philip was grandson to Massasoit, is so well known to be
such, that it would hardly seem to have required notice, but to inform the
* In his " Pfvalency of Prayer," page 10. t Ibid, page 7.
X Such as dogs, wolves, blood-hounds, demons, demls-incamale, caitiffs, hclL-hmmas, Jiends,
fiumsters, beasts, &c. Occasional quotations will show what authors have used these.
§ The author of " Indian Tales" has fathered all he could think of upon Mr. Huhbard. He
may be called upon to pouit out the passage in that valuable author'.s works where he has
called one or any of the Indians " hell-hounds." Such loose, gratuitous expressions will not
do at the bar of history.
IMagnnlia.
1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 200.
** Mr. Lee was taken by the French in a vo3'agc to England, and corried into their col itry,
where he (lied, in 1691. This event, it was tiionght, hastened his end. Perhaps the sur-
viving natives did not attribute the disaster to his usurping their territory, and teaching •
religion they could not believe} but might llicy "ot with equal propriety ?
•d. He
icre he has
)ns will not
teaching •
Chap. H]
LIFE OF KING rillLIP.
45
reader of its origin. The following passjige from John Josselyn^s work *
will, besides proving him to ho the uuthor of the error, at least the first writer
tlmt HO (ieiiOMiiuiites him, furnish some vuluuble information. Speaking of
the Indians in general, he says, " Their heads are their money ; of these,
tliir.' iiH! two sorts, blue heads and white beads; the first is their gold, the
last their silver. These they work out of certain shells, so cunningly, that
neither Jew nor Deuil can counterfeit, f They drill them and string tiiem,
i.iid make many curious works with them, to adorn the persons of their sag-
amores and principal men, and young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders
for their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to hang in their ears.
I'rincf! Philip, a little before I came for England, [1671,] coming to Boston,
liad a coat on and buskins set tliiek with these beads, in pleasant wild works,
and a broad belt of the same ; his accoutrements were valued at £20. The
Eiiglisli merchant givelh them 10*. a fathom for their white, and as much
more, or near upon, for their blue beads." " The roytelet now of the Pocau-
i.kets is prince Philip, alias Melacon, the grandson of Massasoit." \
Wiiile Mrs. Roivlandson was a captive in the wilderness with the allies of
Philip, she mentions meeting with him ; and although she speaks often with
hltteniess of the Indians in general, yet of hitJi nothing of that nature appears
ill her journal. The party she was with visited Philip on the west side of
ilio Connecticut, about five miles above Northfield, tlien called Squakeag.
Having arrived at the point of crossing, Mrs. Rowlaiidson says, " We must go
(iver the river to Philip^s crew. When I was in the canoe, I could not but be
amazed at the numerous crew of ptvgans that were on the bank on the other
side." She was much afraid they meant to kill her here, hut, being assured
to the contrary, become more resigned to her fate. "Then came one of
them, (she says,) and gave me two spoonfuls of meal (to comfort me,) and
another gave me half a pint of peas, which was worth more than many
Imshels at another time. Then I went to see King Philip ; he bade me come
in and sit down ; and asked me whether I would smoke it ; (a usual compli-
ment now a days, among the saints and sinners ;) but this no ways suited
me."§
"During my abode in this place, Philip spake to me to make a shirt for
!iis boy, which I did ; for which he gave me a shilling." " Afterward he
asked me to make a cap for his boy, for which he invited me to dinner ; I
went, and he gave me a pancake, about as big as two fingers ; it was made
of parched wheat, beaten and fried in bears' grease; but I thought I never
tasted pleasanter meat in my life." {{
It is extremely gratifying to hear any testimony in favor of the humanity
of a ciiief who in his time was so nuich execrated. To say the least of
Philip's humanity, it was as great towards captives, so far as we have any
knowledge, as was that of any of the English to the captive Indians.
As the Indians were returning from their recesses upon the Connecticut,
'ill what is now New Hampshire and Vermont,) towards Wachuset, "having
indeed my life, (says Mrs. Rowandson,) but lit'le spirit, PhUip, who v.'as in the
company, came up, and took me by the hand, and said, * T^wo weeks more and
•Jim shall he rp.istress againJ' I asked him if he spoke true : he said, ' Yes, and
(juickly you shall come to your master ^ again^ who Imd been gone from \m
three weeks."**
In bringing our account of this truly great man towards a close, we must
not forget to present the reader with a specimen of the language in which he
>)ioke. The following is the Lord's prayer in Wampanoag : —
Xoo-shun kes-uk-qvi, qut-tian-at-am-unch hoo-we-su-onk, kuk-ket-as-soo-tam-
oonk pey-au-moo-utch, kut-te-nan-tam-oo-onk ne nai, ne-ya-ne ke-svJc-qui
" Account of two Voyages to New England, 142, 143.
1 Ot liii^ he was misinTormed. There was nnuch spurious wampum, whirli became a sub-
ject of legislation. See Hazard's Hist. Col. vol. ii,
\ Accoun* of two Voyages to New England, 146. He is also calle.»••%
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46 LIVES OF PHILIP'S CHIEF CAPTAINS— NANUXTENOO. [Book III,
kah ohrke-it. ^-sa-ma-i-in-ne-an ho-ko-ke-suk-o-da-t niU-as-e-suk-ok-ke pt-
ttik-qun-neg. Kah ah-quo-an-tam-a-i-in-ne-an num-match-e-ae-ong-an-on-ash,
ne-mitch-e ne-na-wun wonk nvi-ah-quo-an-tam-au-o-un-non-og nun-noh pcmik
noo-na-mnn-tuk-qttoh-who-naii, kah ahqut sag-kom-pa-gin-ne-an en q%Uch-e-htt-
tti-ong-a-nit, qui poh-qua-vma-sin-nt-an toutch tnatm-i-ttU.*
Since we are upon curiosities, the following may very properly be added.
There is to be seen in the library of the Mass. Hist. Society a large skimmer,
which some have mistaken for a bowl, cut out of the root of ash, that will
dold about two quarts. On this article is this historical inscription, in gilt
letters: "^ trophy from the wjgtoam of Kino Philip; ichtn he was slain in
lfi76, by Richard ; presented by Ebenezer Richard, his grandson." \
CHAPTER m.
LIVES OF PHILIP'S CHIEF CAPTAINS.
Nanontenoo — Reasons for his aiding Philip — His former name — Meets Ike English
and Indians under Captain Peirse — Fights and destroys his whole company at Fme-
tucket — Incidents relating to that fight — JYotice of Captain Peirse — Jfanuntenoo sur-
prised and taken — His magnanimity — Speech to his captors — Is executed and his
oody burnt — Cassassinnamon — Catapazet - - Mvnopoide — Anna won — His escape
from the swamp when Philip zoos killed — Captain Church sent out *o capture him
Discovers his retreat — Takes him prisoner — His magnanimous behavior — His
speech to Church — Presents him with Philip's ornaments — Description of them —
Church takes jlnnawon to Plimouth, where he is put to death — Quinnapin — His
connections and marriage — ^'It the capture of Lancaster — Account of his wives —
Weetamxto — He is taken and shot — Tuspaquin — His sales of lands — His opera-
tions in Philip's War — Surrenders himself, and is put to death — Reflections upon
his executioners — Tatoson — Early notices of — Captures a garrison in Plim-
outh — Trial and execution of Keiceenam — Totuson dies of a broken heart — Bar-
row cruelly murdered — Tyasks.
NANUNTENOO, son of Miantunnomoh, " was chief sachem of all the
Narragansets, and heir of all his father's pride and insolency, as well as of
his malice against the English." | Notwithstanding this branding character,
drawn by a contemporary, we need only look into the life of Mianlunnonuih,
to find excuse for " malice and insolency " tenfold more than was contained
in the breast of JS/anuntenoo.
The English had cut to pieces the women and children of his tribe, burned
them to death in their wigwams, and left their mangled bodies bleaching in
the wintry blast ! The swamp fight of the 19 Dec. 1675, could not be for-
gotten ! JVanuntenoo escaped from this scene, but we cannot doubt that he
a auitted himself agreeably to the character we haA'e of him.
The first name by which he was known to the English was Canonchet,
though, like others, his name was written with many variations. In 1674, he
was styled "chief surviving sachem of Narraganset," and in a deed in which
he was so styled his name is written " JSTaumavmoarUonneio alias Q^ananckii,
eldest son now living of Miantomomio." § He had been in Boston the Octo-
ber before the war, upon a treaty, at which time he receiv jd, among other
presents, a silver-laced coat. Dr. Mather says, speaking of ..he Narragansets,
" their great sachem called Quanonchet, was a principal ringleader in the
Narraganset war, and had as great an interest and influence, as can be said of
* Eliot's Indian Bible, Luke xi. 2—4.
t No mention is made to whom, or when it was presented. It does not appear to us to be
of such antiquity as its inscription pretends ; and the truth of which may very reasonahiy be
questioned, in this particular, when the more glaring error of the name of the person said to
have killed Philip, is staring us in the face.
X Hubbard, 67. — Mr. Olamixon calls him " the mighty sachem of Narrag^set,"— £n(,
Empire.
$ Potter's Hist. Narraganset, CoU. R. Hist. 8oc. iii. 172.
Chap, m.]
any among th
amazing strolt
The name
alluded, whicl
Narragansets
of the said Int
Saconett Indi
hniie bin or ar
tors."t The
Witnesses.
Richard Shit
James Brown
Samuel Gort
Interpreien
John Nowheh
Indian int
The Indians
Plimouth, cans
fornily in the r
US many of thei
men, 20 of wl
thought himsel
Meanwhile tl
noo,^ learning, i
ing assembled
point adjacent t
from Pawtucke
to attack Plimoi
at upwards of
On arriving
selves retiring,
ed,— Peir*e folk
warriors ofMtr
upon him ; nor
fought them fac
A part of JVm
vent the retrea
event will appej
bers on every si
ranks, back to b
slain. Peirse hi
although the dis
some inexplicab
Solomon saith, i
This dreadful
8ays,«CapLPe7l
(or more,) Indiai
Rehoboth wrote
* Brief Hist. 26.
} It may be seen
$ That Nammten
been a (juestion ; in
Postscript 7.) who
divertizmg himself >
days before."
I Dr. Mather (B
lubllely ran away fi
lame," and thus effe
IT Dtan^s Hist. £
e, burned
liing in
be for-
that he
Chap, m.]
NANUNTENOO— PAVVTUCKET FIGHT.
47
Witnesses.
Richard Smith,
James Browne,
Samuel Gorton,
Interpreiers.
John Nowhenett's X mark,
Indian interpreter.
Jr.
any among the Indians ; " * and that, " when he was taken and slain, it was an
amazing stroke to the enemy." f
Tiie name of Canonchet stands first to the treaty, to which we have just
alhided, wliich was entered into at Boston, 18 Oct. 1675. By that treaty, the
Nnrragansets agreed to deliver to the English in 10 days, " all and eiicry one
of the said Indians, whether belonging vnto Philip, the Pocasset Sqva, or the
Saconett Indians, Quabaug, Hadley, or any other sachems or people that
iiaiie bin or are in hostillitie with the English, or any of their allies or abet-
tors." X The names to the treaty are as follows :
" Quananchett's \/ mark,
sachem in behalf of himself and Conanaciis and the Old
Queen and Pomharn and Quaunapeen, (seal)
Manatannoo couiicetler his -f-
mark, and Cunnonacus in his behalf, (seal)
Ahanmanpoweti's -\- mnr'-,
counceller and his (seal)
CoKNMAN, cheiff:, councellcr to
Ninnegrett, in Ais behalfe, and a seal (S.)"
The Indians having carried their whirlwind of war to the very doors of
Plimouth, caused the sending out of Captain Peirce, (or as his name is uni-
formly in the records, Peirse,) to divert them from those ravages, and destroy
as many of them as he was able. He had a larg^ 'Company, consisting of 70
men, 20 of whom were friendly Indians. With these, no doubt, Peirse
thought himself safe against any power of the Indians in that region.
Meanwhile this most valiant chief captain of the Narr^ansets, JVanuTi/e
mo,§ learning, we presume, by his spies, the direction the English were tak
ing assembled his warriors at a crossing place on Pawtucket River, at a
point adjacent to a place since called ^ttleborough- Gore, and not far distant
from Pawtucket falls. It is judged that JVanuntenoo was upon an expedition
to attack Plimouth, or some of the adjacent towns, for his force was estimated
at upwards of 300 men.
On arriving at this fatal place, some of JS/anuntenoo''s men showed them
selves retiring, on the opposite side of the river. This stratagem succeed-
ed, — Peirse followed. || No sooner was he upon the western side, than the
warriors of JSTanuntenoo, like an avalanche from a mountain, rushed down
upon him ; nor striving for coverts from which to fight, more than their foes,
fought them face to face with the most determined bravery.
A part oi' ^anuntenoo's force remained on the east side of the river, to pre-
vent the retreat of the English, which they most eflfectually did, as in the
event will appear. When Captain Peirse saw himself hemmed in by num-
bers on every side, he drew up his men upon the margin of the river, in two
ranks, back to back,1f and in this manner fought until nearly all of them were
slain. Petrae had timely sent a messenger to Providence for assistance, and
although the distance could not have been more than six or eight miles, from
some inexplicable cause, no succor arrived; and Mr. Hubbard** adds, "As
Solomon saith, a faithfijl messenger is as snow in Jiarvest."
This dreadful fight was on Sunday, 26 March, l(i7(), when, as Dr. Mather
says, "Capt Peirse was slain and forty and nine English with him, and eight,
(or more,) Indians, who did assist the English." The Rev. Mr. JVewmnn of
kehoboth wrote a letter to Plimouth, dated the day after the slaughter, in
* Brief Hist. K. t Prevalency of Prayer, 11.
t II may be seen at large in Hazard's Collections, i. 636, 637.
^ That NanutUenoo commanded in person in the fight with the force under Capt. Peirse has
been a cjuestion ; indeed, our only authority is not very explicit upon the matter, (Huhbard,
Postscript 7.) who observes that when Denison surprised him, he " was, at that moment,
diverlizing himself with the recital of Capt. Peirs^s slaughter, surprized by his men a few
davs before."
H Dr. Mather (Brief Hist. 24.) says, " a small number of the enemy who in desperate
subtlety ran away from them, and they went limping to make the Eoglisn believe they wera
lame," and thus effected their object.
V J}tan^s Hist. Scituate, It!
•* NarraUve, 64.
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48
NANUNl'ENOO.— PAWTtCKF/r FIGHT.
V
III.
which he says, "52 of our English, and 11 Indians," were slain.* The com-
pany was, no doubt, increased by some wi;o vohuiteered us they inarclied
through the country, or by such as were talien for pilots.
N'anuviaioo's victory was complete, but, as usual on such occasions, the
English consoled themselves by making the loss of the Indians appear as
large as possible. Dr. Mather says, that some Lidians that were after\vard8
taken confessed they lost 140, which, no doubt, is not far from the truth. +
An Englishman, and perhaps the only one who escaped I'rom this disas-
trous fight, was saved by one of the friendly Indians in this manner : The
friendly Indian being taken for a Narraganset, as he was pursuing with an
upiilled tomahawk the English soldier, no oik' interfered, seeing him pursue
an unarmed Englishman at such great advantage. In this manner, covering
themselves in the woods, they escaped.
A friendly Indian, being pursued by one of JVanuntenoo^s men, got behind
the roots of a fallen tree. Thus screened by the earth raised upon them, the
Indian that pursued waited for hiui to run Iroin his natural fort, knowing he
would not daro to maintain it long. The other soon thought of an expe-
dient, which was to make a port-hole in his breast-work, which he easily did
by digging through the dirt. When lie had done this, he put his gun
through, and shot his pursuer, then fled in perfect safety.
Another escaped in a manner very similar. In his flight he got behind a
large rock. This affor 'ed him a good shelter, but in the end he saw nothing
but certain death, and the longer lie held out the more misery he must suffer.
In this deplorable situation, he bethought himself to tiT the following device.
Putting his cap upon his gun, he raised it very gradually above the rock, as
though to discover the position of his enemy : it hud the desired efltect — he
fired upon it. The one behind the rock now rushed upon him, before he
could reload his gun, and despatched him. Thus, as Mr. Hubbard says, " it is
worth the noting, what faithfulness and courage sotne of the Christian Indians
showed in this fight." That this most excellent author did not approve of the
severity exercised towards those who lippeared friendly, is abundantly proved
by his writings. In another place; hr says, " Possibly if some of the English
had not been too shy in making use of sucli of them as were well affected to
their interest, they never need have suffered so much from their enemies."
A notice may be reasonably expected of the unfortunate Captain Michael
Peirse, of Scituate. He was one of those adventurous spirits " who never
knew fear," and who sought rather than shrunk from dangers. He was, like
his great antagonist, in the Narraganset fight ; and in 1673, when the govern-
ment of Plirnouth raised a force to go against the Dutch, who had encroached
upon them in Connecticut, he was appointed ensign in one of the companies.
He resided in several places before going to Plirnouth. Mr. Deane, in his
History of Scituate, gives a genealogical account of his family, from which we
leam that he had a second wife, and several sons and daughters. Of what
family he was, there is no mention.]: He possessed considerable estate, and
made his will on engaging in the war with the Lidians.
The "sore defeat" of Captain Peirse, and the tide of the Indians' successes
about this time, caused the United Colonies to send out almost their whole
strength.
JVanuntenoo came down from the country upon Connecticut River, early in
March, for the purpose of collecting seed corn to plant such ground as the
English had been driven from, and to effect any other object he might meet
with. Whether he had effJicted the first-named object before falling in with
Peirse, we ai-e not able to state ; but certain it is, that he was but few days after
encamped very near the ground where the fight had been, and was there fallen
* See the letter giving the names of the company iu Deane' s Scituate, 122 123.
t Mr. Hubbard's account is the same.
t In the Records of Plirnouth, under date March, 1669, there is this dnlry :— " Micne.
Peirse of Scitluate" was presented at the court for vnaeemly carriages towards Sarah Nichdt
of Scitluate," aod " forasmuch as there appeared but one testimony to tlie p'sentment, and
tliat the testimony was written and not read vnto the ileponant, the cour» saw cause to remit
the said p'sentment."
possessed the I
A.'./
Chap. HI] NANUNTENOO.— HI3 CAPTURE AND DEATH.
49
upon at unawares, when but a few of his men were present, and there taken
prisoner.
J^anufUenoo was nearly as much (Ireaded as PhUip himself, and consequently
his capture caused great rejoicing among his enemies, and requires to be jmu--
ticiilarly related.
Four volunteer companies from Connecticut began their march into the
enemy's country the next day after I'awtucket fight. Among the captains
of tliese companies, Georf^e Denison of Soiuherton was the most conspicuous.
The others were commanded by James Avery, John Staunton, and Major Palms,
who also had the chief command. With these were three companies of
Indians ; one led by Oneko, composed of Mohegans ; one of Pequots, by Cas-
sasinnamon ; and the other of Nianticks, by Catapazd; in all about 80.
When this formidable army came near to JS/'anunlenoo^s camp, on the first
week in April, 1676, " they met with a stout Indian of the enemie's, whom they
presently slew, and two old squaws," who informed them of the situation of
J^anuntenoo. At the same time, their own scouts brought the same intelligence.
The news of the enemy's approach reached the chief in his tent when but
seven of his men were about him ; the rest were probably in the neighborhood
attending to their ordinary affairs. And although he had stationed two senti-
nels upon an adjacent hill, to give him timely notice if any appeared, their
surprise was so great, at the sudden approach of the English, that, in their
fright, they ran by their sachem's wigwam, " as if they wanted time to tell
what they saw." Seeing this, the sachem sent a third, to learn the cause of
the flight of the two first, but he fled in the same maimer ; and lastly he sent
two more, one of which, " either endued with more courage, or a better sense
of his duty, informed him in great haste that all the English army was upon
him : whereupon, having no time to consult, imd but little to attempt an esca|>e,
and no means to defend himself, he began " * to fly with all speed. Running
with great swiftness around the hill, to get out of sight upon the opposite side,
he was distinguished by his wary pursuers, and they immediately followed
liitn with that eagerness their important object was calculated to inspire.
The pursuers of the flying chief were Calapazet and his Nianticks, " and a
few of the English lightest of foot." Seeing these were gaining upon him, he
first cast off his blanket, then his silver-laced coat, and lastly his belt of peag.
On seeing these, a doubt no longer remained of its being JVcmuntenoo, which
urged them, if possible, faster in the chase. There was in the company of
Catapazd, one Mono^toide, a Pequot, who outran all his companions, and who,
gaining upon J^anuntenoo, as he fled ui)on the side of the river, obliged him to
attempt to cross it sooner than he intended. Nevertheless, but for an accident
in liis passage, he would doubtless have effected his escaf)e. As he was wa-
ding through the river, his foot slipped upon a stone, which brought his gun
under water. Thus losing some time in recovering himself, and also the use
of his gun, it probably made him despair of escaping; for Monopoide came
u]) and seized upon him, " within 30 rods of the river side."
JVanuntenoo, having made up his mind to suirender, made no resistance,
aitliough he was a man of great physical strength, of superior stature, an(l
.•iikiiowledged bravery ; and thcionewho seized upon him very ordinary in
tliat respect. One of the firet Englishmen that came up was Robert Staunton,
a young man, who presumed to ask the captured chief some questions. lie
ai)p('ared at first to regard the young man with silent indignity, but at length,
casting a dis■■•^«v*,^f .
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50
NANUNTENOO.
(Book in.
would not accept of his own life, whon it was tendered him." This tender of
life to MmurUenoo was, no douht, upon the condition of his obtaining the sul)-
mission of his nation. He met the idea with indignation; and when thi>
English told him that he should be put to death if he did not comply, in the
most composed manner he replied, that killing him would not end the war.
Some of his captors endeavored to reflect upon him, by telling him, that he
had said he wovld bum the English in their Aoiuej, and that he had boasttil,
in defiance of his promise last made to the English, which was to deliver tin'
Wamj)anoags to them, that he would not deliver up a fVampanoas; or the pnrivir
of a Wampunonff's nail. To this he only replied, " OTHERS WERE AS
FORWARD FOR THE WAR AS MYSELF, AND I DESIRE TO HEAR
NO MORE ABOUT IT."
Had the English not burned his people in their houses? Did theyoAir
deliver up any that had committed depredations upon the NarraganseLs ? No!
— Who, then, will ask for an excuse for the magnanimous JVamtTifenoo? So
indignant was he at their conduct, that he would hear nothing about peace ;
"renising to send an old counsellor of his to make any motion that way," on
a promise of life if he would do so.
Under the eye of Denison, JVanuntenoo was taken to Stonington, where,
by the " advice of the English commanders, he was shot." His head was
cut off and carried to Hartford, and his body consumed by fire. The Englisli
prevailed upon some of each tribe of their allies, viz. Pequots, Mohegans urid
Nianticks, to be his executioners, " thereby the more firmly to engage the
said Indians against the treacherous Narragansets." * "Herein," says
another writer f of that day, "tlie English dealt wisely, for by this means tlie
three Indian nations are become abominable to tlie other Indians." And a
respectable writer J of our own times says, "It may be pleasing to the reader
to be informed " of the fate of JVanuntenoo !
When it was announced to the noble chief that he must be put to deatii,
he was not in the least daunted, and all he is reported to have said is this :—
« I LIKE IT WELL ; I SHALL DIE BEFORE MY HEART IS SOFT,
OR HAVE SAID ANY THING UNWORTHY OF MYSELF." With
.VariMn/enoo, fell into the hands of the English 4^} others. §
The author of the anonymous ^^Letters to London " || says the Indians w«'it!
" commanded by that famous but very bloudy and cruel sachem, Quononshot,
otherwise called Mmntonomy" whose "carriage was strangely proud and
lofty after he was taken ; being examined why he did foment that war, which
would certainly be the destruction of him and all the heathen Indians in
the country, &c., he would make no other reply to any interrogatories, but
this : that he was born a prince, and if princes came to speak \v\t\\ him he
would answer, but none present being such, he thought himself oblige d, in
honor, to hold his tongue ; " and that he said he would rather die tiian
remain a prisoner, and requested that Oneko might put him to death, us lie
was of equal rank. " Yet withall threatened, he had 2000 men, [who] would
revenge his death severely. Wherefore our forces, fearing an escape, put tlie
stoutest men to the sword, but preserved Myantonomy till they returned to
Stoneington ; where our Indian friends, and most of the English soldiers,
declaring to the commanders their fear that the English should, ujjon con-
ditions, release him, and that then he would, (though the English niigiit
ginians, 231 years B. C They sent him to Rome to use his endeavors to efTect a peace, liv
his solemn promise to return within a given period. The most excruciating tortures iiwailcd
him, should he not execute his mission according to his instructions. When arrived at Rome.
he exhorted his countrymen to hold out, and maintain the w£tr against the Carthaginians,
stating their situation, and the great advantages that would accrue. He knew what would
be his fate on roturning to Carthage, and many a noble Roman besought him not to relnni,
and thus sacrifice his life ; but he would not break his promise, even with his barbarous ene-
mies. This is what is meant by not accepting his own life when tendered him. He returned,
and, if history be true, no Indian nation ever tortured a prisoner, beyond what the Cartha-
ginians inflicted upon Marcus Auilius Res^tlus, See EchariTs Roman Hist. i. 188 — ^9.
* Hubbard. f /. Mather. | Deane, Hist. Sciluate, 124.
^ Manuscript letter in Hist, Library. Both Hubbard and Mather say 44; perhaps llicy in-
cluded Nanuntenoo.
II Elsewhere cited as The Old Indian Chronicle.
Chap. HI.]
ANNAWON.
61
have peace with him,) be very perniciouH to tliose Indians tiiat now assisted
us, the said Indians, (on these ronsidcrations, and tlie mischiefs and mur-
thcrs he had done during this war,) permitted to put him to deatli.* And tliai
all might share in the glory of destroying so great a prince, and come under
the obligation of fidelity, each to other, the Pe(iuods shot him, tlie Mohegins
cut off his head and quartered his body, and the Ninnicrojls men made thi
tire and burned his quarters, and, as a token of their love and fidelity to the
English, presented liis head to the council at Hartford! "
JJjVjYJlfVO.Y was a Wampanoag, and one of PhUip^a most famous coun-
sellors and cafjtains. He was his fust friend, and resisted as long as there
was a beam of hope ; and when at last every chance of success had failed,
he gave tiimsclf up in the most heroic manner, as will appear in the follow-
ing account
At the swamp, when PhUip was killed, he escaped with most of his men,
as has been related, by his thoroughly understanding the situation of his
enemies. " Perceiving (says Church) they were waylaid on the east side of
the swamp, tacked short about. One of the enemy, who seemed to be a
great surly old fellow, hallooed with a loud voice, and oflen called out, I-oo-
tash, I-oo-iash. Captain Church called to his Indian Pe(er, f and asked him
who that was that called so. He answered that it was old Jlnnawon, Philip's
great captain, culling on his soldiers to stand to it, and fight stoutly."
"Captain Church had been but little while at Plimouth, [after the death
of Philip,] before a post from Rehoboth came to inform the governor that
old Annaioon, Philip's chief captain, was with his company ranging about
their woods, and was very offensive and pernicioi"; iu Reliobotli and
Svvansey. Captain Church wa.s immediately sent for again, and treated with
to engage in one expedition more. He told them their encouragement was
so poor, he feared his soldiers would be dull about going again. But being
a hearty friend to the cause, he rallies again, goes to Mr. Jabez Howland, his
old lieutenant, and some of his soldiers that used to go out with him, told
tliem how the case was circumstanced, and that he Iiad intelligence of old
AnnnioorCs walk and haunt, and wanted hands to hunt him. They did not
want much entreating, but told him they would go with him as long as
there was an Indian lefl in the woods. He moved and ranged through the
woods to Pocasset"
In the early part of this expedition, some of Captain Church's Indian
scouts captured a number of JlnnaioorCs company, but from whom they
could learn nothing of the old chief^ only that he did not lodge " twice in a
place."
" Now a certain Indian soldier, that Captain Church had gained over to
be on his side, prayed that he might have liberty to go and fetch in his
iiither, who, he said, was about four miles from that place, in a swamp, with
no other than a young squaw. Captain Church inclined to go with him,
thinking it might be in his way to gain some intelligence of Jlnnawon; and
so taking one Englishman and a few Indians with him, leaving the rest
liiore, he went with his new soldier to look his father. When he came to
the swamp, he bid the Indian go and see if he could find his father. He
was no sooner gone, but Captain Church discovered a track coming down
out of the woods, upon which he and his little company lay close, some on
one side of the track, and some on the other. They heard the Indian
soldier making a howling for his father, and at length somebody answered
him ; but while they were listening, they thought they heard somebody com-
ing towards them. Presently they saw an old man coming up, with a gun
on Ills shoulder, and a young woman following in the track which they lay
by. Tliey let them come between them, and then started up and laid hold
of them both. Captain Church immediately examined them apart, telling
them what they must trust to if they told false stories. He asked the young
woman what company they came from last. She said from Captain l^nna-
icon^s. He asked her how many were in company with him when she lefl
* This seems to us the most probable account of tlie diTuir of all we have seen.
i The son of Awashonks, it is supposed.
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Si
ANNAWON.
[Book III.
Iiim. She said * fifty or sixty.' He asked her how many inileH it was to the
l»luce where she left him. She said she did not iitiderHtnnd miles, hnt he whh
lip in Siiuannuconk swamp. The old man, who had heen one of Philip^n
council, upon examination, gave exactly the same aceoimt." On hcinjf
usked whether they could get there that night, answered, "If we go pres
ently, and travtd stoutly, vve may get there hy sunst^t." The old man snid
he was of Jlnnawori's company, and that Jinnnwon had sent him down to
find some Indians that were gone down into Mount Hope neck to kill jiro-
visioiis. Captain Church let him know that that company were all his
prisoners.
The Indian who had been permitted to go after his father, now returned
Avith him and another man. Captain Church wjw now at great loss what lie
should do. He was unwilling to miss of so good an opportunity of giving
u tinishing blow to the Indian power. He had, as himself says, but " half a
do/en men l)eside himself," and yet was under the necessity of sending
some one back to give Lieutenant Howland, whom he \v.\\ at the old fort in
I'ocasset, notice, if he should proceed. But, without wasting time in i)on-
dering upon what course to pursue, he put the question to his men,
" whether they would willingly go with him and give Jlnnaumn a visit."
All answered in the alhrmative, but reminded him "that they knew this
Cajitain Annaioon was a great soldier ; that he had lieen a valiant captain
under Jisuhmaquin, [Woosamtquin,'] Philip's father; and that he had been
Philip's chieftain all this war." And they further told Captain Church, (and
these men knew him well,) that he was "a very subtle man, of great resolu-
tion, and had often said that he would never be taken alive by the English."
They also reminded him that those with ^nnaivon were " resolute fellows,
some of Philip's chief soldiers," and very much feared that to make the
attempt with such a handful of soldiers, would l)e hazardous in the extreme.
But nothing could shake the resolution of Captain Church, who remarked
to them, " tliat he had a long time sought for Annaivon, but in vain," and
doubted not in the least but Providence would protect them. All with one
consent now desired to jiroceed.
A num by the name of Cook,* liclonging to Plimouth, was the only
Englishman in the company, except the ca[itain. Captain Church asked
Mr. Cook what his opinion of the undertaking was. He made no other reply
than this : "I am never afraid of going any where when you are with me."
The Indian who brought in his father informed Captain Church, that it was
impossible for him to take his horse with him, which he had brought thus
far. He therefore sent him and his father, with the horse, bjick to Lieuten-
ant Hoidand, and ordered them to tell him to take his prisoners immediately
to Taunton, and then to come out the next morning in the Rehoboth road,
whore, if ulive, he hoped to meet him.
Things being thus settled, all were ready for the journey. Captain Church
turned to the old man, whom he took with the young woman, and asked
him whether he would be their jiilot. He said, "You having given me my
life. I am under obligations to serve you." They now marched for Squan-
naconk. In leading the way, this old man would travel so much faster than
the rest, as sometimes to l)e nearly out of sight, and consequently might
have escaped without fear of being recaptured, but he was true to his word,
and would stop until his wearied followers came up.
Having travelled through swamjis and thickets until the sun was setting,
the pilot ordered a stop. The captain asked him if he had made anj dis-
covery. He said, " About that hour of the day, ^nnawon usually sent out
his scouts to see if the coast was clear, and as soon as it began to grow
dark the scouts returned, nnd then we may move securely." When it was
sufficiently dark, and they were about to proceed, Captain Church asked the
old man if he would take a gun and fight for him. He bowed very low,
and said, "I pray you not to impose such a thing upon me as to fight against
Captain Annawon, my old friend, but I will go along with you, and be heli)ful
to you, and will lay hands on any man that shall offer to hurt you." They
* Caleb, doubtless, who was present a( the time Philip was killed.
Chap. Ill]
ANNAWON.— HIS CAPTURE AND DEATH.
&?
bad proceeded but a short apace, when they heard a noise, which tiics
conciude-;.
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14
ANNA WON.
inooK HI,
Ono rirciimfltance murh facilitatnd thia daring project. It haa l)coii Ix-fore
montioiUMl, that thny li);anl tin; poutuliii)^' of u tiiurtur, on tlitir approach.
TliiH (■oiitinucil (luring tlioir iluHcrtit down thi; rock. A ncpiuw wuh potiiidin^r
green dried corn for tiuiir Hupfior, an*l vvlion Hh(« ceiiNud pounding, to turn
tn« corn, thoy coaHcd to procetid, and wlien bIu; |)ounded again, tluy moved.
This WUH the reaHon they worn not heard as they lowered tlieniHelveH down,
from crag to crag, BU|iported by sniall buHlicH tiiat grew from the ncuuih
of the rock. Tliu pounded corn served aflorwarda Tor a supper to the
captors.
Jlnnawon would not have iMicn taken at this time but for the trea(!hpry
of thoHe of his own company. And well may their hucan exclaim, as did
the Jioman,
" A rare renowned, the worhl's victorious lords,
'I'lirncd on themselves with their own hostile swor<.\a."—Rowt's Trans,
i ; •
«> ■
"K^,
.'■'(h.
«.
The two companies situated nt a short distance from the rock knew not the
fate of their captain, until those sent by Church announced it to them. And,
to prevent their making resistance, they were told, that Captain Church had
encotti|)asH('d thent with his army, and that to make resistance would be
immediatt; death ; but if they all submitted peaceably, they should have good
quarter. " Now they being old acquaintance, and many of them relations,"
readily consented : delivering up thtiir guns and hatchets, tin y were all con-
ducted to head-quarters.
" Things being thus far settled. Captain Church asked Jlnnawon what
he had for sut)p('r, 'for,' said he, *I am come to sup with you.'" Jlnnawon
replied, " Taubut," with a " big voice," and, looking around upon his women,
ordered them to hasten and provide Captain Church and his company some
supper. He asked Captain Church " whether he would eat cow bej-f or
horse beef." Church said he would prefer cow beef. It was soon ready,
and, by the aid of some salt be had in his pocket, he made a good meal.
And here it should be told, that a small bag of salt (which ho carri(*^:#
Chap, ril]
QIJINNAPIN.
ra
lieiriff ctMbroidenul all over vvitli inniiry, tliiit if, wanipiirnponj;,* of viirioiiH
colors, ciirioiiHly wrought into tigiiroH of binlH, hcuHtH niid flowcrH. A hi'cuiuI
iKilt, of no 1(!88 cxqiiiHite workinutiHliip, wns ru'-xt prrHeiiK-d, which brlongrd
also to Philip. This, that chitjf usjid to oninint'iit hiH head with ; from the
l»ucl< piut of whi(^h flowed two flagH, which dccorntcd hiu back. A third wub
(I HirmiliT one, with a star upon the end of it, which he wore upon bin breawt.
All tiiree were edged with rod hair, which, ^nnmcon saicl, was got in the
country of the Moliawks. The- , LdtH, or soinc! of them, it is bt^licvcd, re-
niuiii, at this day, the property of a family in Swansey. He next took from
his p;irk two horns of gla/.ed powder, and a red cloth blanket. These, it
iippi'urs, were all that remained of the effects of the great chief. He told
Cuptairi Church that those were Philip's royalties, which ho was wont to adoi»i
himself with, when he sat in state, and he thought himself hapi)y in having
an opportunity to present them to him.
The remainder of the night they spent in discourse, in which JInnawon
"gave an accoimt of what mighty success be had had formerly in wars
against many nations of Indians, when tie served Aai-hmequin, Philip'a
father."
Morning lieing come, they took up their march for Taunton. In the way
they tiiet Lieutenant Hoioland, according to appointment, ut his no small sur-
prise. Tfiey lodged at Taunton that night. Th« next day " Capt. C'AurcA
took old Jlnnawon, and half a dozen Indian soldie s, and his own men, and
went to Rhode Island ; the rest were sent to Plimouth, under Lieutenant
Howlnnd.
Jlnnawon,\t is said, had confessed "that he had put to death several of the
English, that had been taken alive ; ten in one day, and could not deiiy but
that some of them had been tortured ;"f and therefore no mercy was to be
expected from those into whose hands he lad now fallen. His captor. Captain
Church, did not mean that he should have been put to death, and had en-
treated hard for him ; but in his absence frotn Plimouth, not long atler, ho
was remorselessly executed. We shall again have occasion to advert to the
execution oi' Annaumn, and shall now pass to consider the events iu the life
of a sachem of nearly equal interest.
Qf//JVlYj3P/A* was by birth a noble Narraganset, being the son of Cogina-
(pmn, otherwise Conjanaquond, who was nei)hew to Canonims. Therefore
Miantunnomoh was uncle to Ouinnapin, and Canonicvs was his great uncle.
We find his name spelled in almost every possible way, and for the
amusement of the reader will offer a few of them — Quanopin, Quonopin,
Qunnapin, Quannoptn, Qu«noguin, Panoquin, Sowaa^omsh, and ^anepin.
His name has also been confounded with that of Quaiapen, the " old queen "
of Narraganset.
In 1672, Quinnapin confirmed, by a writing, tlie sale of a tract of land pre-
viously granted by Coginaquan, his father.
This sachem took part with the Wampanoags in Philip's war, and from
the punishment which the English executed upon him, on his falling into
their hands, we may suppose he acted well his part in that war, although but
little is recorded of'^him by the historians of that period. From Mrs. Row-
landsori's account of him, we must conclude he was not wanting in attentions
to the fair sex, as he had certainly three wives, one of whom was a sister of
IVootonekanuske ; consequently he was, according to the English method of
calculating relationships, brother-in-law to the famous Mdacomet himself
Quinnapin was one of the chiefs who directed the attack on Lancaster,
the 10 Feb. 1675, O. S., and he purchased Mrs. Rowlandson from a Naragan-
set Indian who had seized her when she came out of the garrison, among
the captives of that place. And it was this circumstance which caused her
to notice him in her Narrative. J fVettimore, whom she mentions in the follow-
ing extract, as his wife, we have said, was Weetavwo, the " queen of Pocasset"
In the winter of 1676, when the Narragansets were at such " great straits,"
from the loss of their provisions, in the great swamp light, (" corn being two
* An Ijoquois word signifying a muscle. Gordon's Hist. Pennsvlvania, page 598.
t Hubbard, Nar. 108. J Mr. WiUard's edition of it, (p. 25.) Lancaster,
1828.
t
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56
QUINNAPIN.
[Book 111.
Bhilling?) n pint with them,") the English tried to bring about a peace with
them ; but tlioir terms were too hard, or some other cause prevented. " Ca-
vonchet and Panoquin said they vvould fight it out, to the last man, rather
than they would become servants to the English."* A truly noble resolution,
and well worthy of the character we have of" Canonchet.
"My master (says Mrs. Rowlandson) had three squaws, living sometimes
with one and sometimes with another. Onux, this old squaw at whose wig-
wam I was, and with whom my master [Quinnapin] had been these three
weeks. Another w - fVettimore, with whom I had lived and served all this
while. A severe and proud dame she was ; bestowing eveiy day in dressing
herself near as much time as any of the gentry of the land — powdering her
lia-r and painting her face, going with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears,
and bracelets upon her hands. When she had dressed herself, lior work
was to make girdles of wampum and beads. The third squaw [or wile] was
a young one, by whom he bad two papooses." f
While the Narragansets and Nipnnicks were encamped at a])lace on Con-
necticut River at considerable distance above Northampton, perhaps near as
tar as Bellows Falls, Mrs. Rowlandson says, " My master's maid canio home :
she had been gonf* three weeks into the Narraganset country to fetch corn,
where they had nt-.red up some in the ground. She brought home about a
peck and a half of • "trn " .'
We shall rrJiUe, in the Life of JS/epanet, the mission of Mr. Hoar to Philip's
quarters foi ''le redemption of Mrs. Rowlmidson. This was not long after
Sudbury fight, and the Indiai's were preparing to commemorate it by a great
dance, " viiich was carried un by eight ol'them, (as Mrs. R. relates,) four men
and ibur squaws; my master and mistress [(^mnnoptn and Weetatnoo] being
two. He was dressed in his Holland shirt, with great stockings, his garters
hung round with shillings, and had girdles of tvampom upon his head and
shoulders. She had a kearsey coat, covered with girdles of tvampom from
the loins upward. Her arms, from her elbows to her hands, were covered
with bracelets ; there were handfuls of necklaces about her neck, and sev-
eral sorts of jev. r?ls in li;'r ears. She had fine red stockings, and white shoes,
her hair powdered, nud her face painted red, that was always before b!yk.
And all the dancers were ul^er the same manner. There were two others
singing and knocking on a kettle for their music. They kept hopj)ing up
and down one atler n;io'her, with r. kettle of water in the midst, standing
warm uj)on some emb; rs, to drink of when they were dry. They held on
till almost night, throwing out their wompom to the standers-by. At night
J asked them again, if I should go home : they all as one said, No, except my
husband would come lor me. When we were lain down, my master went
out of the wigwam, and by and by sont in an Lidiai "ailed James-the-printer,
who told Mr. Hoar, that my master would let me go home to-morrow, if he
would let him have one pint of liquor. Then Mr. Hoar called his own
Indians, Tom and Peter, and bid them all go and see if he would promise it
before them three ; and if he would he should have it, which he did, and had
it. Philip smelling the busii;ess, called me to him, and asked me what I
would give him, to tell me some good news, and to speak a good word for
me, that I might go home to-morrow? I told l.im I could not tell what to
give him, I would any thing I had, and asked him what he would have. He
said two coats and 20 shillings in money, half a bushel of seed corn, and
some tobacco. I thanked him for Ms love, but I knew that good news as well
as that crafly fox. My master, after he had his drink, quickly came ranting
into the wigwam again, and called for Mr. Hoar, drinking to him and saying
he was a good man ; and then again he would say. Hang him a rogue. Being
almost drunk, he would drink to him, and yet presently say he should be
hanged. Then he called for me ; I trembled to hear him, and yet I was fain
to go to him, and he drank to me, shewing no incivility. He was the first
Indian I saw drunk, all the time I was among them. At last his squaw ran
out, and he after her, round the wigwam, with his money jingling at lii>
* Hubbard.
t Narrative, G3, 64.
Chap. IIIl
DEATH OF QUINNAI'IN.— TLSPAQUIV.
57
knees, but she escaped him; hut hoviiig an old sfjuaw, lie ran to her,"* and
troubled the others no more that night.
A day or two after, the sagamore.^ liad a council, or genercd court, as they
called it, in whicih the giving up of Mrs. R. was debatt'd. Ail seemed to
consent for her to go, except Philip, who would not come to tiie council.
However, she was soon dismisse
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58
TUSPAQUIN— BURNS BRIDGEWATER.
[Book III.
June 10, 1670, Tuapa^uin and his son WUliam sold for £6, to Edward Gratf,
"in tlio behalf of the court of Plimouth," " all that our meddow that lyeth
in or neare the town of Middleberry," on the west side of a tract belonging
to John Jlldtn and Constant SoiUhworth, " and is between Assowamsett Pond
and Taunton path, being in three parsells vpon three brookes;" also another
parcel on the other side of Taunton path. Witnessed by " Amie" the wile
of Tuspaqvin, and two English.
30 .June, 1672, Tuspaquin, " sachem of Namassakett, and Mantowapuct
alias fVilliam his son," sell to Edward Gray and Josias Winalow, lands on
the easterly side of Assowamsett, to begin where Namasket River fulleth
out of the pond, and so south by th«i pond ; thence by perishable bounds
to TuspaquMa Pond, and so home to the lands formerly sold to Henry
Wood.
'A .luly, 1673, Tiispaquin and his son WUliam sell to Benjamin Church of
Duxhorough, house carpenter, and John Tompson of Barnstable, lands about
Middleborough, lor which they paid him £15. It is described as " lying att
and iieare the township of Middleberry," bounded westerly by a river called
Monhiggen, which runs into a pond called Q^uinquaaett, and so by a cedar
swamp to Tuspaquin^s Pond ; thence by Henry Wood's land to a place
called Pochaboqitett. Nahudset River is named as a northern boundary ; and
tlie two " places " called Tuscomanest and Massapanoh are also named, like-
wise a i»ond called Sniptuett, and a " river's mouth called Tvppatuett which
runneth into a pond called Qiiittuwashett" T\.'o English, Sam Harry, and
Joseph of Namasket, were witnesses.
1 November 1673, Willmm Watuspaquin, Aasaioeta, Tobias and Bewat, for
£10 sell to three English of Barnstable a tract of land bounded by Que-
taquash Pond northerly, by Quetaijuash River easterly, Snepetuitt Pond, &c.
14 May, 1675, the two Tuspaquins, father and son, " make over to John
Tompson, Constant Sovihworth " and others, of Middleborough, " all that tract
of land which we now have in possession, called commonly Assoicamset
neck or necks, and places adjacent," as a security against the clanns of others,
&c. of other lands deeded at the same time ; if, therefore, they are not dis-
turbed in the possession of the former lands deeded, then they " are not to
be outed of Assawamsett neck." FoHawo, alias Daniel, Poyman, Pagatt,* alias
Joseph, were witnesses.
For the land deeded they received £33, " sterling." It consisted of uplands
and meadows about the pond called JVinipoket, QuUicus,\ &c., and, judging
from th(i price paid, was, no doubt, a very large tract
Thus are a few of the acts of Watuspaquin sketched previous to the war.
We ar(! now to trace his operations in quite another sphere. In our of)inion,
Mr. Hubbard was right in styling him " the next noted captain to Philip," but
erron(>ously calls Old Tuspaqutn " the Black-sachem's son." He does not
appear to have known of the son William. Indeed, we hear nothing of him
in th(! war, but it is probable he shared the fate of his father.
In the spring of 1676, Tuspaquin was marching from place to place with
about 300 men, and was doubtless in high expectation of humbling the
pride of his enemies, and, but for Philip's western disasters, occasioned by
the disaffection of his Pocomptucks and others, his expectations might have
been realized. It was doubtless under his direction that 19 buildings in
Scituate were burnt on 20 April ; and on the 8 May, had not a shower pre-
vented, most, if not all, the houses in Bridgewater would have shared the
same fate. Tuspaquin was known to have led his men in this attack.t
The inhabitants exerted themselves to repel the Indians, but, conscious of
their strength, they maintained their ground until the next day, when they
retreated. Notwithstanding the rain, they succeeded in burning 17 buildings
before they decamped.
On 11 May, 1676, there were eleven houses and five barns burnt in Plim-
outh, and a few weeks after, seven houses more and two barns. These
* Two names, probably ; but in the MS. there is no comma between, as is often the case,
t TUicut, probably, now.
i Mr. Hubbard says, (NaT. 71.) the laUians were led by one Txugnogtn, but we are satis-
"fled Tutpaguin is meaul.
Chap. Ill]
TUSPAQUIN.— HIS COMPANY StIRPRISED.
59
%::;4f^::^3^:5'M;.-.;|'
were probably sucli as were at a considerable distance from the village, and
had chiefly been deserted. This " mischief" was attributed to Thtspaquin
and his men.
About this time, Benjamin Church was commissioned by the government
of Plimouth to lead parties in different directions over ibe colony; and from
the time he commenced operations, the Lidiaus found huf few opportunities
to do mischief in Plimouth colony.
Tuspaquin still kept his ground in the Assawoinset country, nnd for a long
time baffled all the skill Captain Church was master of in his endeavors to take
him prisoner. Church received his commission 24 July, 1676, and the same-
night set out on an expedition against Tuspaquin, Ilis Indian scouts brought
him before day upon a company of his people in Middleborough, every one
of whom fell mto his hands. How many there were, Church does not say.
He took them directly to Plimouth, "and disposed of them all," except "one
Jeffhy, who, proving very ingenious and faitl:ful to hici in informing where
other parcels of the Indians harbored, Capt. Church promised him, tliat if
he continued to be faithful to him, he should not be sold out of the country,
but should be his waiting man, to take care of liis horse, &c,, and accord-
ingly he served him faithfully as long as he lived." *
Thus strengthened by Tuspaquin's own men. Church pursued his successes
with manifold advantage. There was a small tribe residing near Munponset
Pond, which was next captured without loss on either side, and there was
henceforth scarcely a week passed wherein he did not capture some of these
people.
Ivot long after this, it was found that Tvspaquin had encamped about
Assawomset, and Church set out on an expedition there ; but finding Old
Tuspaquin was ready for him at the neck between the two great ponds, f he
was glad to make the best of his way on towards Acushnet and Dartmouth.
As he was crossing Assawomset neck, a scout from Tuspaquin's camp fired
upon him, but did him no injury.
Meanwhile the great Annawon having been surprised by the indefatigable
Church, Tuspaquin saw no chance of holding out long ; he therefore api)ears
aftt^rwiirds only intent upon keeping out of the way of the English. Tliis
could not he long reasonably expected, as their scouts were ranging in every
direction.
On 4 Sept. 1676, according to ChurcWs account, Tuspaquin^s company
were encamped near Sippican, doing "great daniugi; to the En";lish in kill-
ing their cattle, horses and swine." The next day, Church and his rangers
were in their neighl)()rhood, and, after observing their situation, which was
"sitting round their fires in a thick j)lace of bruch,"! in seeming safety, the
captain "ordered every man to creep as ho did; and surrounded them by
creeping as near as tiicy could, till tlu-y should he discovered, and then to
run on upon them, and take them alive, if j)ossib!c, (for their prisoners were
their pay.) They did so, taking every one that was at the fires, not one
escaping. Upon examination, tliey agreed in their story, that tlw.y belonged
to Tispaquin, who was gone with John Bump and one more to Agawoin and
Si[)ican to kill horses, and were not ex[)ected back in two or three days."§
Church proceeds : " This same Tispaquin had been a great captain, and the
Indians reported that he was such a great pouwau, [priest or conjurer,] that
no bullet could enter him. Capt. Church said he would not have him killed,
for there was a war broke out in the eastcu-n part of the country, and he
would have him saved to go with them to fight the eastern Indians. Agree-
ably, he left two old squaws of the prisoners, and bid them tarry there until
their Captain Tispaquin returned, and to tell him, that Church had been
there, and had taken his wife, children and company, and carried them
down to Plymouth ; and would spare all their lives, and his too, if he would
* Church, Narrative, .31.
t Judl below where Sampson's tavern now stands.
t 1 suspect Mr. Hubbard mistakes the situation of this place, in saying it was " in Laken-
ham, upon Pocassct neck.'' Church is so unrewarding of all geography, that it is quite un-
certain where it was. If it were near Sippican, it was a long way from any part of Pocasiet
( By this it seems the place might have been as far offas Pocasset.
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60
TUSPAQIJIN JIURDERED AT PLIMOUTH.— TATOSON. [Book III.
come down to tlicm and bring the otlier two that were with him, and they
should l)e his soldiers, &c. Capt. Church then returned to Plymouth, leav-
ing the old sqiiuws well provided for, and biskct for Tiipaquin when he
returned."
Tliis Church called laying a trap for Tuspaquin, and it turned ont as he
expected. We shall now nee with what faith the English acted on thin
occasion. Church had assured him ihnt, if he gave himself up, he should
not be killed, but he was not at Plimouth when Tugpaquin came in, liuvinp
gone to Boston on business for a few days; "but when he returned he
found, to his grief, the heads of Annaioon, THspaquirij &.•. cut oft] which
were ..ic last of Philip's friends" !
It is true that those who were known to have been personally engaged in
killing the En"lish were, in the time of the greatest danger, cut off from
I»ard()n by a law ; that time had now passed away, and, '"ke many other
laws of exigency, it should then have been considered a de* letter ; leaving
out of the case the faith and promise of their best servant. Church. View
it, therefore, in any light, and nothing can be found to justify this flagrant
inroad upon that promise. To give to the conduct of the Plimouth govern-
ment a pretext for this murder, (a milder expression I cannot use,) Mr.
Hubbard says, Tuspaquin having pretended that a bullet could not penetrate
him, trial of his invulnerableness was resolved upon. So he was placed as*
a mark to shoot at, and " he fell down at the first shot" !
This was doubtless the end of numerous others, as we infer from the
following passage in Dr. Mather's Prevalency of Prater. He asks,
" Where are the six Narraganset sachems, with all their captains and coun-
sellors ? Where are the Nipmuck sachems, with their captains and coun-
sel htrs? Where is Philip and Squaw-sachem of Pocasset, with all their
captains and counsellors? God do so to all the implacable enemies of
Christ, and of his people in N. England " ! ! The next of Philip's captains,
in our arrangement, is
TATOSOJV, also a great captain in the war of 1675. It seems rather un-
certain whether he were a Narraganset or Wampanoag. He (or one
bearing the same name) signed the treaty made with the Narragansets in
the beginning of the war. It is quite certain that his residence afterwards
was in Sandwich, since Rochester ; * and when he signed the treaty just
named, it is probable he was only among the Narragansets upon a mission
or visit. He was a son of the " noted Saj/i Barrow," but of liis own
iamily, or whether he had any, we are not informed.
We first meet with Tatoson,^ or, as his name is commonly printed, Toto-
son, in 166G, in tlie respectable company of Mr. Secretary Morton of Plim-
outh, and Acanootus, Wannoo, two " graue and sage Indians," and a number
more, of whose characters we are not so well prepared to speak. Among
this assemblage he is only conspicuous, however, as a witness to a deed of
the lands upon H^eequancett neck. Mr. Morton's name follows Tatoson's, on
this instrument.
There was a general disarming of the Indians in 1671, as will elsewhere
be mentioned. Among a great number ordered to appear at Plimotith the
same year, to bind themselves more strongly in allegiance to the English,
we find tlie name of Tatoson, or, as his name was then written, Tautozen,
Also Toby, alias JS/auhnocomunt, f and Will, alias Washaxoanna.
On the 12th of June, 1676, several Indians, who had been sent in by
fira/brd ami G'turcft, were "convented before the councell" at Plimouth;
being " such of them as were accused of working vnsufFerable mischeifte
vpon some of ours." Among them was one named Watukpoo, or, as he
* On Ihe right of the main rood, as you pass from Matapoiset to Rochester village, and
about two miles from the former, at a small distance from the road, is a kind of island in a
miry swamp. Upon this, it is said, was Tatoson's camp. This island is connected by an
isthmus to trie mam land.
t So almost always in the MSS.
X Somelimts called Toby Cole. The same, we conclude, who joined Philip afterwards,
iuid fell into the hands of Captain Church, as clid his mother, and many more at tiie same time.
Chap. III.] TA'
lived at Sandwit
m.
^.i>r ■■•■
Chap. III.] TATOSON— TAKKS A GARRISON AT PLIMOUTIL
61
%v;is often called, Ttikpoo.* Against liim, spveral charges were brought, such
;iH his goiug off to the enemy> ""•' trying to deceive the governor about the
prospect of war ; telling him tlmt I'liilip^s men had deserted him, and that
lii' had only a few old ni'jn unil hoys r inaining. At this time were present
three other Indians, whose names were H'oodcock, Quanapawhan and John-
num. The two first were accused ))y a scjuaw of destroying ClarKa garrison
it E '1 River in Plimouth, and murdering the inhabitants. This had been
(lone on tlic 12 March j)revious, and with such secrecy and effect, that the
EiiLdisli knew not whom to accuse of it. Many supposed that Wataspaquin
coiulurted the affair, and Mr. Hubbard charges it upon him without hesita-
tiuii, hut it is now quite certain tiiat he hud nothing to do with it, as in the
-:(fliicl we shall show.
Tiio two just mentioned, fuiding themselves detected, accused their fellow
prism K-r, John-num. It appears that wVu/n not only owned himself guilty of
this cliarge, but acknowledged, also, that he; was concerned in the murder of
'•Jacob M'Uchtl and his wife, and Jokn P'^pe,^ and soe centiuice of death was
pronounced against them, wliich accordingly emediately was executed."
lii'fore these were executed, they implicated a fourth, whose name was
Krweenam. Althougli Tatoson couuaanded the company that put to death
the people at Clark^s garrison, yet Keweeiiam set the expedition on foot. He
lived at Sandwich, and w... probably one of Tatosori's men. However, on
(Saturday, the 1 1 Miu-ch, iie was at Mr. William Clark's, and observed how
( vory part of the garrison was conditioned. He then went to his chief,
Tatuson, and told him that it could be easily taken, as it was but slightly
I'oriified; and that the next day, being Sunday, would be the proper time to
execute their plan, as the residents would mostly be gone to meeting ; " aiul
in case they lett a man at home, or so, they might soon dispatch him."
Tliis intelligence was pleasing *o Tatoson, and he found liimself at the
liead of ten warriors the same day. Their names were as follows : fFoo-
nrishenah^ Musquash, Wapanpoioett, Tom, "tlie son of Tatoson's brother,"
UUsooiceest, and Tom Piant ; which, with the three before named, made up
thi.' whole company. Commencing their march before night, they arrived
in the Iwrders of Plimouth, where they lay concealed until the people had
troiie to public worship. About 10 o'clock in the morning, they came upon
tlie garrison, which fell easily into their hands. After killing all they met
with, they took what plunder they could carry, and biuned the buildings ;
then again dispersed into the woods.
There were some of two other families in this garrison, mostly women
and children. Three only were of Mr. Clark^s family, but there were eight
others l>elonging to the other two. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, 1 one of the heads
of the family, was among the slain. §
* This Indian, whom we shall have occasion several times to mention, was not one of those
ieM'mhy Bradford, as appears from Mather, (Brief Hist. 40.) but they "informed that a
bloudy Indian called Tuckpoo, (who the last summer murdered a mail of Boston, at Namas-
ket,) with about 20 Indians more, was at a place within 16 miles of Plimouth." Eif,kt
English and fourteen Indians succeeded ui takmg them all, and Tuckpoo was immcdia'.uly
executed.
t The murder of these people is supposed to be referred to by Mr. Hubbard in his
•• Table." The passage follows : " In June. 1076, [1675 ?] a man and a woman were slain by
the Indians ; another woman was wounded and taken ; but because she had kept an Indian
child before, so much kindness was showed her, as that she was sent back, after they had
dressed her wound ; the Indians guarded her till she came within sight of the English." Mr.
Mitchel informs us that the name of the woiuided woman was Dorothy Haywood. See 1 Coll.
Mass. Hist. Soc. vii. 169.
+ " Who was the daughter of a godly father and mother, that came to N. England on the
account of religion." "They also Killed her sucking child, and knocked another child (who
was about eight years old) in the head, supposing they had killed him, but afterwards he
came to himself." /. Mather, Brief Hist. 24.
^ We relate all that is to be found in the MS. records, but the author of the Present Slate,
iic. furnishes the following valuable facts : " About this time, [his last date mentioned being
l-t March,] one Mr. Clarke's wife, children, and all his family, at his farm-house, two miles
from Plimouth, were surprised and killed, except one boy, who was knockt down, and left for
dead, but aftenvards taken up and revived. The house they plundered of provision and
goods to a great value ; eight complete arms, 30/. [lb.] of powder, with an answerable quaa
6
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62
TATOSON— SWAiMP FIGHT.
[Book III
Keioeenam was beheaded, but how thu othc-^r three were disposed of, we
are not informed ; it is very probable that the whole number suffered in diip
time. At the trial of Keioeenam and the otlier three, some of them pleaded
that the povernor's proclamation was now their protection ; from which it
woidd seem that they had surrendered themselves. But there was none to
plead their case, except their accusers, and they explained things in their
own way. The court said, "Forasmuch as the council had before this
engaged to several Indians desirous to come in and tender themselves lo
mercy, that they should find favor in so doing : it was fully made known to
such Indians as were then present, that the said engagement was to be wukr-
stood tmth exception against such as by murder as above said had so acted,
and not against such as killed his enemie in the field in a souldierlike way."
This kind of argument would answer among duelists, but when did the
Indians agree to fight the English according to their rules of war ? The
former might with equal propriety demand that the English should conform
to their manner, and not depend on their numbers, forts, and superior
weapons.
Although the murder at Clark's garrison was one of those horrible acts
in Indian warfare, which would justify the most rigid retaliation, still, as the
English began the war, they had no right to exjiect but that it would be
prosecuted by tiie Indians in all the ways at their command. On this ground
the philanthropist will ever condemn the severity of the English.
When Captain Church came upon PMKp and a great number of his people,
the 3d of August, l(i76, " Tispaquin^ Totoson, &c." prevented the entire
destruction of some of them, oy combating the English while their chief
and others extricated themselves from a small swamp into which they liaii
fled. "In this swamp skirmish Capt. Church with his two men which
always ran by his side as his guard, met with three of the enemy, two or'
which surrendered themselves, and the captain's guard seized them : but
the other, being a great stout surly fellow, with his two locks ty'd up witl:
red, and a great rattlesnake's skm hanging to the back part of his head,
(whom Capt. Church concluded to be Totoson,) ran from them into the
swamp. Capt. Church in person pursued him close, till, coming pretty near
up with him, presented his gun between his shoulders, but it missing fire,
the Indian perceiving it, turned avid presented at Capt Church, and missing
fire also, (their guns taking wet with the fog and dew of the morning,) bur
the Indian turning short lor another run, his foot trip'd in a small grape-
vine, and he fell fiat on his face. Capt. Church was by this time up with.
him and struck the muzzle of his gun an inch and an half into the back
part of his head, which dispatched him without another blow. But Capt.
Church looking behind him saw Totoson, the Indian whom he tho't he had
killed, come flying at him like a dragon ; but this happened to be fiiir in
sight of the guard that were set to keep the prisoners, who spying Totoson
and others that were following him, in the very seasonable juncture made
a shot upon them, and rescued their captain, though he was in no small
danger from his friends' bullets, for some came so near him that he thought
he felt the wind of them." * The celebrated Church, in the skirmishes he
had in these two days, August 1 and 2, took and killed 173 Indians.
Little more than a month after the fall of Philip, Church surprised Taio-
sons whole company, about 50 persons. He was the last that was left of the
family of Barrow ; and, says Church, " the wretch reflecting upon the miser-
able condition he had brought himself into, his heart became a stone within
him, and he died. The old squaw [that Church had employed to persuade
him to submit] flung a few leaves and brush over him — came into Sandwich,
and gave this account of his death ; and offered to show them where she left
his body, but never had an opportunity, for she immediately fell sick and
died also."
The fate of the father of Totoson does not so much excite sympathy, us
tity of lead for bullets, and 150/. in ready money ; the .said Mr. Clark himself narrowly
escaping their cruelty, by being at that instant at a meeting."
'H\i\.PhUip'sWaT,^l.
him quarter, " In
Chap. TI]
MURDER OF BARROW. -TIASHQ.
(joes that of the son, but is one of those cases more calculated to arouse the
tiercor passions. The old chief fell into the hands of Captuin Church, m one
af liis successful expeditions in the vicinity of Cape Cod. Church says, in
his histoi*y, that he was " as noted a rogue aa any among the enemy." Cap-
tain Church told him that the government would not permit him to grant
liim quarter, " because of his inhuman murders and barbarities," and tliere
lore ordered him to prepare for execution. *^Barroic repHed, that the sen
ii'iice of death against him was just, and tliut indeed he was ashamed to live
i\iiy longer, and desired no more tiivor, than to smoke a whiff of tobacco
lictore liis execution. When he had taken a few whilfs, he said, ' I am
ready ;' upon vvhicii one of Cajnain Churches Indians sunk his hatchet into
his brains."
TUSHQ,* or TYASKS^ "was the ii. xt man to PhUip," says Church; there
were otiiers also said to be " next to liini," and it maybe all reconciled by
siipitosiiig these chiefs as having tlic chief command over particidar tribes.
Mr. Hubba^'l\ s;iy8 only this oftlie famous THash/j : " In Jutie last, [1670,] one
7\a.ihq, a great captain of Philip's, bis wife and child, or children, being
i;ik"ii, tliough he escaped himself at first, yet came since and surrendered
liiinsiUr' Dr. /. Malher, writing uiulr date of 22 July, 167(5, says it was "this
week" that Captain Church nud his Indian soldiers fell upon Tiashq and his
coiiipany. It appears therefore that Mr. Hubbard is in error, as the account
;:iveii hy Church con-oborates that oi' Mather, who spc;iks thus of his opera-
tions: "It having been his maimer when he taketh any Indians by a promise
of tiivor to them, in case they Jic(piit tin inst'lves well, to set them an hunting
aCtir more of these wolves, whereby the worst of lliem sometimes do sin-
jriilar good service in finding out the rest of their bI()ody fellows. In one of
tlies" skirmishes, THashq, Philip's chief cajHain, ran awav leaving his gun be-
hind him, and his squaw, who was taken." § The.se Indian soldiers, who
jjprfornied this exploit, were forced upon it by Church. They had been
seeking Indians about Aponaganset River, and discovered that a large com-
pany of them had just been gathering the apples at a deserted settlement on
ilie oast side of it. The English and Indians immediately pursued in their
track.|| "Traveling three miles or more, they came into the country road,
where the track parted : one parcel steered towards the west end of the
;rreat cedar swamp, and the other to the east end. The captain halted and
told his Indian souldici-s that they had heard as well as he what some men
had said at Plymouth about them,1I &e., that now was a good opportunity for
each party to prove themselves. The track being divided, they should fol-
low one, and the English the other, being equal in number. The Indians
(leelined the motion, and were not willing to move any where without him:
said thcij should not think themselves safe withoid him. But the captain insisting
upon it, they submitted. He gave the Indians their choice to follow which
track they pleased. They replied, They were ligld atid able to travel, therefore
if he pleased they would take the west tracL And aj)pointing the ruins of John
Cooks house at Cushnet ** for the place to meet at, each company set out
briskly to try their fortunes." ft When the parties met, " they very remark-
al)ly found that the number that each company had taken and slain was
equal. The Indians had killed three of the eneuiy, and taken 63 prisoners,
as the English had done before them."j:t Both parties were nnich
rejoiced at their successes, but the Indians, told Captain Church " that they had
missed a brave opportunity by parting. They came upon a great town of
the enemy, viz: Captain rj/asfts' company. (Ti/asks was the next man to
♦ Huhbard, Mather. + Church. J Narrative, 106.
4 Hrief Mist. 42. || Church, 33.
IF The detestation in which the Indians were held by " some men." in many other phices as
well as in Plimoulh, will often appear in this work. Such people could know nothing of
human nature, and many would not have believed the Indians capable of good actions, though
enefrom the dead had assured them t'ley were.
** Abbreviated from Acushnet. See Dmglans, Summary, i. 403, who writes it Accushnot.
Thus many Indian names are changed. Instead of Aponaganset, we hear Ponaganset, and
fnr Asonet, Sonet, &c. Cushnel is the river on which New Bedford and Fairhaven stand.
ti Church, 34. tt Ibid. 36.
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64
MAGNUS.— HER SUKPKISE AND DEATTII.
[Book II;.
PhUip.) They fin;d upon the oneiriy l)elbre tlioy were diecovered, and run
up«)ii tlioni witJi a flliont. Tiie imn run and h^ft their wives and children,
and many of theiri their guns. They took Tyaak^ wife and son, and thought
that if their captain and tiie English company had been with them tiiey
might have taken some hundreds «)f thenj, and now they determined not to
part any more." • This transaction, in the opinion of Captain Ch'irch, wiis a
"remarkable providence," inasmuch, perhaps, as the equality of their (suc-
cesses i)revented either j)arty from boasting, or claiming superiority over the
other. Nevertheless, Church adds, — "But the Indians had the fortune to
take more arms than the English." It would add not a little, perhaps, to
the gratification of the reader, could he know the name of the Indian captain
in this far-famed e.\ploit, or even timt of one of his men ; but at present they
are bid alike from us and from bun.
CHAPTER IV.
Chief women consnicunus in Philip's wnr — Maokus — Her country and relations—
Her capture »n« death — Awashonks — fs greatly annaijed in the events of 1071—
Her men disarmed — Philip's endeavors to engage her against the English — Church
prevents her — Is finally in the poicicr of Philip — Reclaimed by Church — Some par-
ticulars of her family.
Although, before we had finished the life of Weetamoo, we deemed it
proper to have deferred it to this chapter, but as we had been led rather im-
perceptibly into many particulars concerning her in that place,f we could
not break oflT our narrative without a greater iin|)ropriety than an omission
here would have been, and shall thereibre begin here with one of her con-
temporaries, the bare facts in whose life are sufficient to maintain a high
interest, we believe, in the mind of eveiT reader.
MjIGJVUS was squaw-sachem of some part of the extensive country ol'
the Narragansets, and was known by sev(>ral names at difl!erent and the same
times ; as Old Queen, Sunk Sqvaw,\ Quaiapen, and Matantuck. She marrieil
Mriksah, or Mexam, a son of Canonicus, and was sister to JVinigret, She had
two sons, Scultup and Quequaqttenuct otherwise Qiiequegunent, called by the
English Gideon, and a daughter named Quinemiquet. These two died young.
Gideon was alive as late as 1661 ; Scidtup, and a sister also, in 1664. She
was, in 1675, one " of the six present sachems of the whole Narraganset
country."
In the beginning of Philip's war, the English army, to cause the Narragan-
sets to fight for them, whom they had always abused and treated with con-
tempt, since before the cutting off of MiantunnomoKs head, marched into
their country, but could not meet with a single sachem of the nation. Tliey
fell in with a few of their people, who couhl not well secrete themselves,
and who concluded a long treaty of n)ere verbosity, the import of which they
could know but little, and doubtless cared less ; for when the army left their
country, they joined again in tl.ie war.
We hear no more of her until the next year, when herself and a large
comptmy of her men were discovered by Major Talcot, on the 2 July, in
Narraganset. The English scouts discovered tliem from a hill, having
pitched their tents in a valley in the vicinity of a swamp, as was usually
their custom. About 300 of the English, mounted upon fleet horses, divided
into two squadrons, and fell upon them before they were aware of their ap-
proach, and made a great slaughter of tliem. The Mohegans and Pequots came
upon them in the centre, while the horsemen beset them on each side, and
* Church, 36. t Book iii. chap. 1.
X Trumbidl, i. 347. fi->m Hubbard, I suppose, i. 61. Female chiefs were called saunkshi
the Indians, which signified wife of the sachem ; but writers, bein^ i(;noranl of that fact,
Ihouf hi it a proper name of a particular person, and heuce the appellations of Snuke, Sunkt.
Snake, &c. applied to Magints.
JFitnessed at tht
Chap. IV.] AWASHO.NKS.— TREATS WITH THE ENOLISH.
es
thus prevented many from escaping into the swamp. When all were kiUed
anil taken within the encampment, Captain N'ewbtiry, who commanded the
liorsemen, dismounted, and with his men rushed mto the swamp, where,
witiiont resistance, they killed a hundred, and made many prisoners. In all,
they killed and took 171 * in this swamp fight, or rath»fr massacre. Not an
Englishman was htirt in the affair, and but one Mohegan killed, and one
wounded, which we can hardly suppose was done by JWagWM'a people, as they
innfle no resistance, but rather by themselves, 'n their fury mistaking one
another. Ninety of" the captives were put to death ! among whom was Mas^-
)i((,».t The swamp where this affiiir took place is near the present town of
Warwick, in Rhode Island ; and thus ends our short history of Mofrmis.
.IfVJSHOjVKS, squaw-sachem of Sogkonate,^ was the wife of an Indian
lallod ToLONT, btit of him we learn very little. From her importiuit stand-
ins among the Indians, few deserve a more particular attention ; and we
sliiiil, therefore, go as minutely into her history as our documents will
I'linhlc us.
The first notice we have of Axeashonht is in 1671, when she entered into
articles of agreement with the court of Plimouth as follows : — " In admitting
tliat the court are in some measure satisfied with your voluntary coming in
now nt last, and submiasion of herself unto us ; yet this we expect that she
irive some meet satisfaction for the charge and trouble she has put us upon
bv her too long standing out against the many tenders of peace we have
made to her and her people. And that we yet see an intention to endeavor
tlip rcduccment of such as have been tlie incendiaries of the trouble and
disturbance of her people and ours. And as many of her people as shall
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AWASHONKS— HER CORRESPONDENCE
c
tlioniBcIvcs ill like inuiiiu-r. Out of -12, \Vv
Totalomd, Tunuvkum niul Sausaman.
It uppeuru from tin; following luttur from Jlwn
thoHe who submitted thuiuaelvcrt, duliv«rud up
(Book III.
give nam«s of throe only —
iks to CJovcriior Prinrr, tliui
,jr uniis to the Eii^'lisli : —
"August 11, 1G71, Honored sir, I huve received u very great favor from
your honor, in yours of the 7tli instant, and as you are pieiiMid to ni-initV,
that if 1 contiinie faithful to the agrettiiient madt; with yourselves ut Flini-
outli, I may expect all just favors f/oni your honor. I am fully resolved,
while I live, with uU fidelity to stand to my engagement, and in a peactiiliii'
Huhmission to your connuands, according to the best of my poor aliility.
It is true, and 1 um very sensible thereof, that there are some Indians \\\\i,
do seek an advantage against m<;, formy submitting to his majesty's aiitlioriiv
in your jurisdiction, but being conscious to myself of my integrity an«i niil
intentions of peac'c, I doubt not but you will atlord me all due encouraifc-
niiMit and protection. I bad resolved to send in all my gims, being six in
number, according to the intimation of my letter; but two of them were so
large, the messengers were not able to carry them. I since prolliietl to
leave them with Mr. liarker, but he not having any order to receive tlicm,
told me lie conceived I might do well to send them to Mr. Jllmij, who is u
person concerned in the jurisdiction, which I resolved to do ; but since
then au Indian, known by the name of Broad-fated- will, stole one of iliiiit
out of the wigwam in the night, and is run away with it to Mount Ilupo;
the other I think to send to Mr. Jllmy. A list of those that are obedient to
me, and, I hope, and am persuaded, faithful to you, is here enclosed. Hon-
ored sir, I shall not trouble you further, but desiring your peace and jiros-
l)erity, in which I look ut my own to bo iikcluded, I remain, your unfeigned
servant, X Awasuncks."
This letter was very probably written by Mr. Barker, named in it,
October 20, 1071, Governor Prince wrt)te to Awashonka, that he had received
the list of namrs of her men and huslmnd, tliat freely submitted themselves
to his majesty's authority ; and assured her that the English would befriend
her on all just occasions ; but intimutcs her disap])oiutment and his own,
that she had succeeded no better in procuring the submission of lier
subjects. " Though," he continued, " I fault not yon, with any failing to
endeavor, only to notice your good persuasions of them outwent their
deserts, for niiglit yet appcareth. I could have wished they bad been wiser
lor themselves, especially your two sons, that may probably succeed you in
your government, and your brother also, who is so nearly tied unto you by
iiuturo. Do they think themselves so great as to disregard and affront his
majesty's interest and authority here; and the amity of the English? Cer-
tainly, if they do, I think they did much disservice, and wish they would
yet show themselves wiser, before it be too late." He closed by recom-
mending her to send some of hers to t!ic next court, to desire their arms,
that her people might have the use of them in the approaching season.
Desires her to let him hear from her and her husband.
On the 20 June, 1G72, the following writing appears on record : Wliercas
Awashunckes, squa-sacheni, stand indebted vuto Mr. John Almey the sume of
£25 to be paid in porke att three pence a pound, or peage att IG peney, and
20 pole of stone wall att £4, which stone wall, or £4, is to b(! vnderstood to
he i)rte of the fiue and twenty pound," therefore Awashonks, having failed
to jiay agreeably to her promise, agrees to set off land on the north side of
"the Indian field," next Punkateesett, on i.hc east line till it meets with "a
great runing brooke," thence northerly to a fresh meadow, thence bounded to
the river by a .salt cove: — this "ismorgaged vnto the court of Plymouth" for
the payment of said debt, which debt is to be paid 10 of Februai-y, 1G72, 0. S.
"The mark X of AwashCiNkes."
To illustrate the connections and genealogy of the family of Awashonks,
we give from the Records of Plimouth the Ibllowiug exceedingly viUuuble
farts : —
Chap. IV.] AWASUONKS— UEJIiCTS. IMIILII'ri UVIORTUUES.
67
iHCNKES.
July 14, 1673. " Wherouw Maiitanewaif [u son of ^Iwushutiks] Imtli by full
uud ck'ur tostiiiioiiy |»rov«ul to thin court, in Iwliulf of liiniscll und hrctlircn,
tiiti sonH of Tolontji, uiul u kinr«uian iA' ttu iro cull)-il AnumiHtsli, [d wbo
art! of tiie sninc stock, tiit! more remote may Jiave sonic rif,'bt to lund.s tberc,
iis tlicy are relations to tlie above said J\T(tmam.w(% &c. and bav(^ been lonjf
iniiabitanta of tbat place. Tiiis d irt advisttb that convtjnieiit pro|)()rtions
ol' land Iw settled on tlic al)ove said Titlacamuna Jluuisluink^, iScc. at Saconett
ulbnsaid ; concerning wlfiisb, tlie above suid Mairutncwaij and bis bretbreii
and kinsman wbo bave proved tbeir ri^'bt to tbose lands do not or cannot
airree, tlii« court do apj)oiiit tbat some meet persons, by order of tliLs court,
siiall repair to tbe place, and make settlement of tbe said buida by certain
ami known boundaries to intent tliat peace may be continued ajnoni; tbe
»74, Mamunawachy, or, us bis name was belbre written, JJfcwna-
neivi% suiTeudered bis riglil: also. Tbe rigbts of tbese Indiaiw, it is suid,
htui iieen sold by otberd.
\Ve lieur no more oi" JJivaslwiiL-i until about tbe cornmencenient oi' Philip^ a
war. Tbe year before tliis war, Air. Iknjamin Churcli, al'tiirvvards tbe itimous
and well-known (Colonel CVmrcA f settled uptui tlie peninsula of Irsogkonate, in
tiie iniilst ui' JiwasJionkss people. Tlii.s peninsula is on tbe nortb-eust side of
.N'arrugauset iJiiy, agaiast tiie soutii-eiist end of tbe island of Rliode island.
Here lie lived in tbe ^retUest friendsliip witb tbese Indians, until the spring ot'
llie year ll)75, wben suddenly a war was talked of) antl messengers were sent
by Philip to Jlwasfionks, to engage lier in it. Sbe so liir listened to tbeir j)ersuu-
jiious, as to cali lier princij)id people tog(;tlier, and make a great dance ; and be-
caufcic slie resiwcted Mr. Church, slie sent privately lor iiim also. Church took vvitli
him a man tliat well understood Indian, und went directly to the pluce uppoint-
»jii. Here tbey fomul bundreils o[' Indians gathered together ii'omall i)arts of
lier dominions. jlwashoiUcs lierseltj in a ibaming sweat, was leading the dunce :
but vviien it was announced tliat Mr. Church was come, she stopped short, and
sat down ; ordered lier cliieltj into her presence, and then invited Mr. Church.
All being seatetl, she inlbruied him that Melacomct, that is, Philip, had sent
six if liis men to urge her to join with hiai in prosecuting a war against the
iMifilisli. She suid these messengers iutbrmed her that the Uinpanie8,\ that
is, i'limoutii men, were gathering u great army to iiivuile his country, and
wished to know of him if this were truly the case. He told her that it was
entirely without (buiidation, lor he litul but just come lii-ojn riimoutli, und no
jircparations of any kind were making, nor did he believe any thoughts of
war were entertained by any of the head men there. "He asked her
wlietli(!r she thought he wotild have brought up his goods to settle in that
place," if he in the least apprehended a war ; at which she seemed some-
what convinced. Jlwashonks then ordered the six Pokanokets into their
presence. These made an imposing appearance, having their liices painted,
and their hair so cut as to represent a cock's comb; it being all shaved from
each side of the head, left only a tuit uj)on the crown, which extended from
the Ibrehead to the occiput. They had jiowder-horns aiid shot-bags at their
* Or Tokamona, killed by the Marraf^aiisets, not long alter, probably in lfi74.
t After an active lile, spent chietly in hie country's service, ht! died Buddeiily at his resi-
deure in Compton, then called Little Coniptoii, 17 Jaii. 1718, in the lii year of liis ajje. He
had btconie cjjrpulent, and seemed impressed with the idea that he should not live long. The
nidrning before his death, he rode 2 miles to visit an only sister. On leaving her, he bid her
■a last farewell." As he was returning home, his horse stumbled and threw Tiim, In the fall
« blood-vessel was ruptured, and he died in about 12 hours,
L'mpame and Apaum were Indian names ol'Plinioulh.
,lli
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AWA8H0NKS.— TKKATS Wrni CHURCH.
[IV)<)K III.
Pi''* . • * ,r
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Jmckfi, which denoted wnrlik*! incHscnjrfrH of th«!ir nntioii. She now in-
tornif'd tJK'tii of wimt Cnptaiii Churrli iitolHaul. [Ipoii which thoy (liscovprrd
disHiitiHliii*tion, nnd n wnriii talk followtd, hut J1iv(utid murder, and a lasting re-
memhrance is due to the wisdom of ^'hcnshunks, that his unadvised counsel
was not put in execution.
These- six Pokanokets came over to Sogkonate with two of Jlw(tshonh\i
men, who seemiid very favorably inclined to the measures of Philip. Tlie\
expressed themscdves with great indignation, at the rash advice of Chiirrh.
Another of her men, calletl Little-eyes, «)ne of her council, was so enrngcd,
that he woidd then have taken Chmrh^s life, if he had not iM'en prevented.
His design was to get Mi". Church asitle from the rest, under a pretence of
private talk, and to have ass-'issinated iiim when he was off liis guard. But
some of his friends, seeing through the artifice, prevented it.
The advice of Church was adopted, or that |)art which directed that
Aivashonks should immediately put herself tnider the protection of the Eng-
lish, and she desired him to go innnenevoIent
Aionahonkn was carried away in the tide; of Philiji's successes, which, as she
was circuHhnancrd, was her only alternative.
Mr. Church was wounded at the great swamp fight, 19 December follow-
ing, aird remained upon Rhode Island until about the middle of May 1()7C.
He now resolved to engage again in the war, and, taking passage in a sloop
bound to Barnstable, arrived at Plimouth the first Tuesday in June. The
governor and other officers of government were highly pleased to see him,
and desired him to take the command of a eor.pany of men to be imme-
diately sent out, to which he consented. We thus notice Church\i proceed-
ing, because it led to important matters connected with the history of Jlwa-
.ihoiik'i. Before he set out with the soldiers raised at Plimouth, it was agreed
that he should first return to Rhode Island, for the purpose of raising other
forces to be joined with them. In his return to the island, as he passed from
Sogkonesset, now called fVoo('^s Hole, to the island, and when he came against
Sogkonate Point, some of the enemy were seen fishing upon the rocks. He
was now in an open canoe, which lie had hired at Sogkonesset, and t^vo
Indians to paddle it. He ordered them to go so near the rocks that he might
speak with those upon them ; being persuaded that if he could have an op-
portunity, he might still gain over the Sogkonates to the side of the English,
* This may strengilieii llie belief ihat Philip pill in practice a similar expeilieni to gain the
Mohawks to nis cause, as we have seen in his life.
Chap. IV.] AWAHHONKa.— rHURCH'S HA7A.RDOUS VISIT.
69
'■..•' r
ilie
for he know tliny never htui any real attaeliment to Philip, and were now in
liis intereHt only I'roni neceHnity. Tliey ncror(iin|;ly paiidled towards tiiem,
who made n\uu» I'or them to approach ; hut when they had ^<>t pn'tty
near, they Hkuiked away amon^' the rockH, and could not In* seen. The canoe
then paddh'd ott' a^'ahi, leHt they should h; tired u])on ; which wiiiii thoHM
iinionj,' tiie rocks ohaerved, they showed theniHeives a^'ain,and called to theni
to come ashore ; and said thity wished to speak with them. The Indians in
the canoe answered them, bnt those on shore informed them that the waves
ilushed so upon the rocks t.iat they couhl not understand a word they said.
Church now made signs H>r two of them to jro along upon the shore to u
heuch, where one could 8»!e a <;()od space round, whether any others were
near. Immediately two ran to the i>tace, one without any arms, but the
other had a lance. Knowing (Ihii. :h to Ite in the Itoat, they urged him to
come on shore, and said they wanted to discourse with him. He told him
that had tin; lance, that if he would carry it away at consid(;ral)le distance,
and leave it, he would. This he readily did. Mr. Church then went ashore,
lell one of his Indians to guard the canoe, and the other he stationed upon
the beach to give notice if any siiould a|>proach. He was surprised to find
that Gcorire was one of them, a very good man, and the luiH riogkonate he
liud spoken with, Ixung one of those sent to guard him to his house, and to
whom he had given ciiurge of bis goods when hi^ und(;rtook his mission to
Pliniouth. On being asked what he wanted that he called him ashore,
answered, "that he took him ti)r Church, as soon as he heard hia voici! in the
canoe, and that he was glad to see him alive." He also told him timtJlwa-
shonks was in a swamf) about three miles off" and that she had I(;ll Philip and
did not intend to return to hitn any mon^ ; and wished Mr. Church to stay
while he should go and call her. This Church did not think prudent, but
said he woidd come again and speak with Jlwushonkjt, i\tu\ some other Indians
that he should name. He therei()re told Georsrc to notify Jlwnshmi}C
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70
AWASHONKS.— CHURCH ENGAGES HER MEN. [Book III.
said, " Yes." Then, said Mr. Church, " it i.s customary when people meet to
trtiat of peace, to lay aside their anas, and not to appear in such Jiostilo loiin
ait your people do." At tliis there was inucli murmuring among them, and
Awitshonks asked him what arms they should lay aside. Seeing their dis-
pleasure, he said, only their guns, lor Ibrm's sake. With one consent tliey
then laid away tht:. guns, and came and sat down. He then drew out liis
bottle of rum, and asked Awashonks whetin'r she had lived so long up at
Wachusett* as to ibrget to drink occapechea- I lien, drinking to her, lie ob-
served siie watched him very narrowly to see whether he swallowed, and,
on offering it to her, she wislied him to drink again. He then told her tlKMC
was no poison in it, and, pouring some into the palm of his hand, sipped it
up. After he had taken a second hearty dram, Jlwashonks ventured to do
likewise ; then she j)asse(l it among her attendants. The tobacco was next
passed round, and tliey began to talk. Jlwashonks wanted to know wliy lie
had not come, as he i)romised, the year beibre, observing that, if he had, she
and her j)eo|)le had not joined with Philip. He tohl her he was prevented
by the breaking out of tlie war, and mentioned that he made an atteiiipi,
notwithstjinding, soon after he lell her, and got as far as Pankatesse, when
a multitude of enemies set tipon him, and obliged him to rdtreat. A great
munnur now arose among the warriors, and one, a fierce and gigantic fel-
low, raised las war club, with intention to have killed Mr. Church, but some
laid hold on him and prevented him. They informed liim that this fellowV
brother was killed in the fight at Punkateese, and that he said it wa.' CkurcU
tliat killed him, and he would now have his blood. Church told then to tell
him that his brother began first, and that if he had done as he had dirt'cted
him, he would not have been hurt. The ciiief captain now order •' silence,
telling them they should talk no more about old matters, which pui an end
to the tunndt, and an agreement was soon concluded. Jiwaslwnka agreed to
serve the English '• in what way she was able," pr' ided " Plimouth would
firndy engage to her that she and all of her peopu', and their wives and
children should have their lives spared, and none of them transported out oJ"
the country." This, Church told her he did not doubt in the least but Plinioutli
would consent to.
Things beiu!!- i!nis matured, the chief captain stood up, and, afler express-
ing Mie great respect he had fbr Mr. Churck, said, " Sir, if you will pleasr
accept of me and my men, and will head iiS; we will fight fbr you, and will
help you to Philip\i head before the Indian corn be ripe." We do not ex-
pect that tills chief pretended to possess the spirit of prophecy, but certaiidy
lie was !i truer propiiet tiian many who have made the pretension.
3Ir. Church would have taken a few of t, e men with him, and gone di-
rectly through the woods to Plimouth ; but Awashonks insisted that it would
be very hai:ardous. He therefore agreed to return to the island and jiroceed
by water, and so would take in some of their company at Sogkonate Point,
which was accordingly brought about. And here it should be mentioned
that the friendshij), now renewed by the industry of Mr. Church, was never
afterward broken. iMany of these Indians always accompanied Church in hi.<
memorable expeditions, and rendered great service to the English. When
Philip\'i war was over, Church went to reside again among them, and the
gioatest harmony always prevailed. But to return to the thread of our nar-
rative : —
On retiu-ning to the i.^Iand. Mr. Church " was at greav pains and charge to
get a vessel, but with unaccountable disappointments; sometimes by the
falseness, and sometimes by the faint-heartedness of men that he bargained
with, and soinctiix'j by wind and weather, &c." ho was hindered a long
time. At length, Mr. Jnthoni/ Low, o*' Swansey, hai»pening to put into the
l'arl)or, and although 1)oin)d to the westward, on being made acciuainted with
Mr. Church's case, said he would run the venture of his vessel and cargo to
wait upon him. IJut when they arrived at Sogkonate J*oint, althougli the
Indians were there according to agreeujcnt waiting upon the rocks, they met
* She liail parsed the Dreceiiinef winter, it would seem, with Philip's people on the fron
tiers of Massacimseils
Chap.
Ji,
Jk III.
Chap. IV.] AWASHONKS.— SURRENDERS TO THE ENGLISH.
71
with a contrary wind, and so rough a sea, that none but Peter Awashonks
could get on board. Ttiis he did at great peril, having only an old broken
canoe to get off in. The wind and rain now forced them up into Pocasset
Sound, and they were obliged to bear away, and return round the north end
ot' the island, to Newport.
Church now dismissed Mr. Low, as he viewed their effort against the wil'
of Providence. He next drew up an account of what had passed, and de-
.spatched Peter, on the 9 July, by way of Sogkonate, to Plimoiiti..
Major Bradford* having now arrived with an army at Pocanset, Mr. Church
repaired to him, and told him of his transactions and engagements with
.fiiiHUthonks. Bradford directed him to go and inform her of his arrival, which
lie did. Jlwashonks doubtless now discovered much uneasiness and anxiety,
hut Mr. Church told her "that if she would be advised and observe order, she
nor her people need not tear being hurt." lie directed her to get all her
people together, "lest, if they should be Ibund straggling about, mischief
might light on them;" and that the next day the army would march down
into till! neck to receive her. After begging him to consider the short time
siie had to collect them together, she promised to do the best she could, and
he lelt her.
Accordingly, two days after, she met the army at Punkateese. Awashoiiks
was now unnecessarily perplexed by the stern carriage of Major Bradford.
For she expected her men would have been employed in the army ; but
iiifitead of that he " presently gave Ibrth orders lor Jlwashonks, and all her
subjects, both men, women and children, to repair to Sandwich, and to be
then; upon peril, in six days." Church was also quite disconcerted by this
unexpected order, but ail reasoning or remonstrance was of no avail with
the conmiauder in chief. He told Mr. Church he would employ him if he
chose, but as lor tiie Indians, "he would not he concerned with them," a::d
accordingly sent them off with a flag oi' truce, under the direction of Jack
Havens, an Indian who had never been engaged in the war. Mr. Church told
Awashonks not to be concerned, but it was best to obey orders, and he ^vould
shortly meet her at Sandwich.
According to promise. Church went by way of Plimouth to meet the Sog-
lionates. The governor of Plimouth was highly pleased at the account
Church gave him of the Indians, and so much was he now satisfied of his
superior abilities and skill, that he desired him to be commissioned in the
country's service. He left Plimouth the same day with six attendants,
among whom were Mr. Jabez Rowland, and Mr. JVathanied Southworth. They
slept at Sandwich the firsv itight, and here taking a few more men, agreeably
to the governor's orders, proceeded to As;awam, a small river of Rochester,
where they expected to meet the Indians. Some of his comjiany now
became discouraged, presunfing, perhaps, the Indians were treacherous, and
half of them returned home. When they came to Si[)pican liiver, which
eni[)ties into Buzzard's Bay in Rochester, Mr. Howland was so fatigued that
they were obliged to leave him, he being in years, and somewhat corpulent.
Church left two more with him as a reserve, in case he should be obliged to
retreat. They soon came to the shore of Buzzard's Bay, and, hearing a
great noise at considerable distance from them, upon the hank, were pres-
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* Out of a curious bock we lake llie followiug note, as, bo.siiles glvini;^ us an inlcrcsliiig
fad coni'criiiiiti; the major, it oonlaius others ol' vnhie. It was wriuoii in Iti'.H. At that
time, souie pre'.emleii that tiie aj^e of people was iniirh sliorler in Anierira than in Europe;
whicli p;ave rise to what we are about to cxtrarl. — Mivij Droirn was liie tirst-born of New-
liiiry, Mass., who married a Godfry , rnd, says our book, slie '• is yet ahve, anil is l)ecome
the mother and ijrandmother of many ciiihlrcn.'' " The mention of Munj Brown brings to
our mind an idle whim.sey, as if persons born in New Knglaud would be short-lived ; whereas,
the natives livelong. And a judgment eoucerning Knghshmen raimol well be made till ^20
or 30 yenrs hence. Opt. Peregrine White, born [on board the Mayjlower] Nov. Ifi20,
is yet alive, and like to live. [lie died 7 years after, in 1701.] Major Wi/liarn Itradford
is more than 73 years old, and liath worn a bullet in his flesh above 20 of them, [whicii he
doublleHS received in Philip's war. He died aged 7S(.] Elizabeth Alden, (now Paybody,
whose granddaughter is a mother,) Capt. John Aldi-n, her brother, Alex''. Sttindish, and
John Ifoivliind, iiave lived inoic tliun 70 years." S. Suwall's New Heaven upon tlie Nm
Earth, m, 60.
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72
AWASHONKS.— MANNER OF ftlAKING SOLDIERS. [Rook 111.
ently in sight of a "vast company of Indians, of all ages and sexes, some on
horseback, rmining races, some ut foot-ball, some catching eels and flat tish
in the water, some clamming, &c." Tliey now had to find out what
Indians these were, before they dared make themselves known to them.
Church therefore halloed, and two Indians that were at a distance Irom the
rest, rode np to him, to find out what the noise meant. They were ver\
much surprised wheu they found themselves so near Englishmen, and turueu
their horses to run, but. Church making himself known to them, they gave
Jiim the desired information. He sent for Jack Havens, who immediately
came. And when he had confirmed what the others had related, tliere
arrived a large number of them on horseback, well armed. These treated
the English very respectfully. Church then sent Jack to Awashonks, to inlbrni
her that he wouid sup with her that night, and lodge in her tent. In tiie
mcian time, the English returned with their friends they had lelt at Sippican.
When they came to the Indian company, they "were iiimediately conducted
to a shelter, open on one side, whither Jlwashonka and her chiefs soon came
and paid tiieir respects." When this had taken j)lace, there were great
shouts made by the "multitudes," which "made the heavens to ring." Aljout
sunset, " the N'etops * came running from all quarters, laden with tlie tops of
dry pines, and the like combustible matter, making a huge pile thereot| near
Mr. Churches shelter, on the ojien side thereof. But by this time supper was
brought in, in three dishes, viz. a curious young bass in one dish, eels and
flat fish in a second, and siiell fish in a third ; " but .salt was wanting.
When the supper was finished, " the mighty i)ile of pine knots and tops,
&.C. was fired, and all the Indians, great and small, gathered in a ring around
it. Awashonks, with the eldest of her i)eople, men and women mixed, kneel-
ing down, made the first ring next the fire, and all the lusty stout men
standing up made the next ; and then all the rabble, in a confused crew,
surrounded on the outside. Then the chief captain stepped in between the
rings and tlie fire, with a spear in one hand, and a hatchet in the other,
danced round the fire, and began to fight with it, making mention of all the
several nations and companies of Indians in the country that were enemies
to the English. And at naming of every particular tribe of Indians, lie
would draw out and fight a new fire-brand, and at his finishing his fight with
each particular fire-brand, would bow to Mr. C7mrc/i and thank him." When
he had named over all the tribes at war with the English, he stuck his spear
and hatchet in the ground, and left the ring, and then another stepped in,
and acted over tlie same farce ; trying to act with more fury than the first.
Aller alwiit a half a dozen had gone through with the performance, their
chief cajitain stepped to Mr. Churchy and told him "they were making
soldiers lor him, and Avhat they had lieen doing was all one swearing of
them." Awashonks and her chiefs next came and told him " that now they
were all engaged to fight for the English." At this time Awashonks presented
to Mr. Church a very fine gun. The next day, July S'i, he selected a number
of her men, and jiroceeded to Plimoui'h. A commission was given lihn,
and, being joined with a number of English, volunteers, commenced a suc-
cessful series of exploits, in which these Sogkonates bore a conspicuous
j)art, but have never, since the days of Church, been any where noticed as
they (leserved.
It is said f that Awashonks had two sons ; the youngest was William Mom-
mynewit, who was put to a grammar school, and learned the Latin language,
and was intended "^r college, but was prevented by being seized with the
palsy. We have been able to extend the interesting memoir of the family
of Awashonks in the early ])art of this article much beyond any before
printed account ; of Tokamona we have no printed notice, except what
ChurchX incidentally mentions. Some of his Indian soldiers requested
liberty to pursue the Narragansets and other enemy Indians, innnediately
* Signit'viii" friends, in Indian. t Coll. Mass. Hut. iS'iic.
I Hist. I'liilip's War, 39. Il is usual to pile Captain Church as th'- author or rccoriler of
his (mn actions ; it i.i so, allhouffh his son Thomas appears as the writer of the history. 'I'lie
truili is. the father diclatedto the son, and corrected what appeared erroneous after the work
was written.
fiionicler »
Chap. V.]
PUMHAM.
^;>:^'|SS^^i^'- .;.i
after they had cupfiired Philip^s wife uml eon. " Tliej said the Narraguusctd
were great rogii h, and tliey wanted to be revenged on tlicin, lor killing some
of tlieir relations ; named Tokkamona, (^IwaslioiUc^s brother,) and some olheres."
About 130 years ago, i. e. 1700, tliere were 100 Indian men of the Ssog-
konate tribe, a^id the general assembly appointed J^'umuuus their eaptain,
who lived to h-; an old man, and died about 174tf, after the taking ot Cape
Breton, 1745. At the connneneeinent of the eighteenth eentury, they made
quite a respiJi; table religious eongregation ; had a meeting-house of their
own, in whic i they were instructed by Rev. Mr. Billings, once a month, on
Sundays. Iney had a steady preacher among themselves, whose name was
John iiimon. :t man of a strong mind.
About 17 >0, a very distressing fever carried off" many of this tribe, and in
1803 tliere t\ere not above ten iu Compton, their principal residence.
CHAPTER V.
A furticr account of chiefs conspicuous in Philip's war — Pumham — Taken and
slain — His son Ql'aquai.h — Chickon — Socononoco — Potock — His residence —
Com'ilaint against Wildbow's encroachments — Delivers himself up — Put to death —
Stone-wall-john — ^ great captain — Jl mason — His men greatly annoy the
English army in A'arragariset — Kills several of them — They burn a garrison, and
kill fifteen persons — Jl traffic in Indian prisoners — The burning of Rehobolh and
Providence — John's discourse with Roger Williams — Is killed— Hag AMOiir, John —
Frtt« o/ Matoonas — Put to death on Boston Common — His son hanged for mur-
der — MoNoco — David — Andrew — James-the-printer — Olu-jetiiero — Saoamokk-
sAHfUiias Shoshakim — Visited by Eliot in Hm2 — Anecdote — Pkter-jetheko.
PUMHAM, it may be truly said, "was a mighty man of valor." Our
history has several times heretol'ore brought him belbre us, and we shall
now proceed to relate such lacts concerning him as we have been able to
collect, lie was sachem of Shawomet, the country where the old squaw-
sacliem Magnus was taken and slain, as in her life we have shown.
As in almost every other case, we can only learn how to estimate the
consequence of a chief Irom the story of his enemies. It is peculiarly so iu
the hiograpljy of PumJiam. When it was reported that he was slain, every
chronicler seems to have stood ready, with the ink of exultation in his pen,
to record all the particulars of his tail ; and to make it appear the greater, it
IS to be feared, they have sornetimes raised many to a height to which they
were not entitled, for that object. But it was not so in the case of PunUianu
When it was reported at Boston that he was killed, an author in our ChjonicU
said, " if it is so, the glory of that nation is sunk with him forever."
This chief was brought into considerable dilHculty by the English as eai'ly
as 1(J45. In 1642, the Rev. Samud Gorton took refuge in his country, and
was kindly treated by him; and in January the next year, Miatxtunnomoh
and Canonicus deeded to him Mishawomet, or Shaomet, which he afterward
called IVarwick, after the earl of that name. This settlement was grievous
to the Puritan fathers of Massachusetts, as they soon showed by then'
resentment to Miantunnomoh ; and here we cannot but discover the germ of
all the subsequent disasters of that sachem. Mr. Gorton was kindly treated
by him, as well as Piunluim, until the latter was urged by Mr. Goiion^s
enemies to lay claim to the lands he had purchased of Miantunnonwh, whom
the court of Massachusetts declared an usurper,* as in his lile has been told.
By the letters of the unimpeachable Roger miliams, the above conclu-
sions will appear evident In 1056, he wrote to Massaciiusetts, showhig
them the wretched state Warwick was in from their difticulties with the
Indians, as Ibliows : — " Your wisdoms know the uihuman insultations of
these wild creatures, and you may be pleased also to imagine, that they have
not been sparing of your name as the patron of all their wickeduesB against
• MS. state paper.
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74
PUMHAM.— SOCONONOCO.— QUAQUALH.
[Book III,
our English men, women and children, and cattle, to the yearly damage of
(JO, 80 and 100 £. The remedy is, (under God,) only your pleasure tiiat
Pvmham shall come to an agreement witii the town or colony." * Now it
should be remembered, that wlien Warwick was purchased, Pumham and
some other inferior sachems received presents for their particular interests in
what was sold, agreeably to the laws and usages of the Indians.
The Plimouth people had their share in the Warwick controversy, having
caused Ousamaqiiin to lay claim to the same place, or a sachem who lived
with hun, named JVawwashxiwsuck ; between whom and Pumham the quarrel
ran so h'jih that the Ibrmer st^ibbed the latter.
The aflliirs of Warwick had been under consideration by the conmiis-
sioners of the ( Jnited Colonies for several years belbre this, and in lti49,
tiioy say, "Vpjjon a question betwixt the two collonies of the Massachusets
and Plymouth, ibnnerly [)ropounded, and now again renewed by the com-
missioners of the Massachusetts, concerning a tract ot land now or lately
beloufiing to Pamham and Saconoco, two Indian sagamores who had sub-
mitted themselves and their jjeojile to the Massachusetts goverment, vppon
part of whifiii land som English, (besides the said Indians,) in anno 164;5, were
!)lanted and settled." Tlie decision was, that though the said tract of land
all within I'limouth bounds, it should henceforth belong to Massachusetts.
About 1()46, we find the Ibllowing record f of these chiefs: — " Pomihom
and Saconanoco complaining to us [the court of Mass.] that many Indians
dwelling 20 miles beyond them, (being friends and helpers to the Narragau-
setts in their j)resent wars with Uncas,) are come upon their lands, and
planted upon the same against their wills, they not being able of themselves
to remove them, and therefore desire our counsel and help. We shall
therefore advise them, if the deputies agree thereunto, to send a messenger
to the sachem of those intruders to come to us to give an account of such
his intention ; and if he come to us, then to offer him protection upon the
same te'-ms that Pumham hath it, provided they satisfy Uncas lor any injury
they have done him. If he refuse to come, then we would have our mes-
senger charge them to depart from Pomham and Soconanocho their lands,
which also if they refuse, then we shall account them our enemies."!
Though, by the aid of the English, Pumham had been able to maintain a
kind of independence for some years after the death c " the chief sachem,
yet he was among the first who espoused the cause of Philip in his wui,
as it would seem from his not attending at the treaty in June, immediately
after hostilities commenced. The army who went to make that treaty piissed
through his country in their march, and, as Mr. Hubbard states, " They found the
Indians in Pomham's country (next adjoining to Philip's borders) all fled, and
their wigwams without any people in them." The English army also march-
ed through his co-nitry, in their return from the attack on Philip and his con-
federates in Narraganset, in December, 1075. At this time a small fight took
place between some of the English and a number of Pumham's men, under
« chief whose name was QUAtiUALH, who gained some advantage of the
English, wounding lour of their men. The whites, however, report that they
killed five of the fiidians. Quaqualh himself was wounded in the knee. At
the same time they burnt Pumham^s town, | which contained near 100 wig-
wams. The English were commanded by Captain Prentice. §
Pumham was not the chief captain in the fight at the great falls in the Con-
necticut, which took place 19 May, 1(576, although we presume, from the
known character of him, th> t he was the most conspicuous in it on the side
of the Indians; being a man c^" vast nnysical powers and of extraordinary
bravery. In this affair the English acted a most cowardly part, having every
advantage of their enemy, who acquired credit upon the occasion, even at
the time, from the historian. The English came upon them before day,
while none were awake to give the alarm, and, " finding them secure indeed,
yea, all asleep, without having any scouts abroad, so tliat our soldiers came
* Hutchinson's papers, and Hazard.
t III manuscript, among the papers on file in the secretary's office, Mass. without date.
X Old Indian Chron. 68. This author has his name Bumham. There were many in.
Btances, at this time, of ihe use of B. for P, $ Hubbard, Nar. 67.
Chap, v.]
PUMHAM.— THE FALL FIGHT.
75
and put their guus into their wigwairis, before the Indians were aware of
them, and made a great and notable slaujrhter amongst tliem." * x\lauy in
their friglit ran into the river, and were Jiurled down tlie falls,f some of
wliom, doul)tles3, were drowned. As soon as the English, who were led by
Captains Turner and Holioke, had murdered the unresisting, and the Indians
having begun to rally to o[)pose them, they fled in the greatest conllision,
altiiough tliey had "about an iiundred and lour score" men, J of whom but
one was wounded when the flight began. This enhances the valor of the
Indians, in our mind, especially as we read the following passage, in Mr.
Mather's Brief llistoiy : — 'In the mean while, a j)arty of Indians li-om an
island, (whose coming on shore migiit easily have been prevented, and the
soldiers, before they set out t'rom Iladley, were earnestly admonished to take
care about tiiat matter,) assaulted our men ; yea, to the great dishonor of the
English, a few Lidians pursued oiu" soldiers lour or five miles, who were in
number near twice as many as the enemy." In tliis flight Captain Turner was
killed, as he was crossing (Jreen Itivijr. Holioke exerted himsr-lf Avith great
valor, and seems well calculated to o])j)Ose such u chief as Pumhnnu We
hear of no other bravery among the English in this massacre, but the follow-
ing passage concerning Holioke, which we are sorry is so sadly eclipsed.
During the fight, some old persons, (whether m. or women is not men-
tioned,) and childi'en, had hid themselves under the bank of the river. Captain
Holioke discovered them, and with his own liands put five of them, "young
and old," to death. § This English cjiptain did not long survive his antago-
nist, ibr, by his great exertions in this fight, a fever was brought upon him,
of which he died in September following, " about Boston."||
It would seem from the several accounts, that, although the English were
sadly distressed in this fight, the Indians could never have repaired their
loss ; which, says the author of the Present State, "was almost as much,
nay, in some respects more considerable, than their lives." lie continues,
"We destroyed all their ammunition and provision, which we think they
can hardly be so soon and eas.iy recruited with, as possibly they may be
with men. We likewise here demolished two forges they had to mend
their arms, took away all their materials and tools, and drove many of them
into the river, where they were drowned, and threw two great pigs of lead
of theirs, (intended fbr making of bullets.) into the said river." 11 — "As our
men were returning to Iladley, in a dangerous j)ass, which they were not
sufficiently aware of, the skulking Indians, (out ot' the woods,) killed, at one
volley, the said captain, and eight-and-thirty of his men, but immediately
alter they had discharged, tliey fled."
In relating the capture and dcnlh of Pumhnm, '^1r. Hubbard says,** "He
was one of the stoutest and most valiant sachems that belonged to tlie Nar-
ragansets ; whose courage and strength was so great that, after he had been
mortally wounded in the fight, so as himself could not stand ; yet catching
hold of an Englishman that by accident came near him, had done him
mischief, if he had not been presently rescued by one of his fellows."
This was on 25 July, ll>7(). Pumham, with a few followers, had fbr some
time secreted themselves in Dedliam woods, where it was supposed tliey
were " almost starved fbr want of victuals." In this sad condition, they
were fallen upon by the English under Captain Hunting, who killed fifteen
* /. Matlier, 30.
t Wc cannot agree with our friend Gen. IToijt, that these falls should be named Turner's
Falls, altlmi^^h we once thnnght it well cnoU]i,'-h. We would rather call them the Massacrf
Falls, IF, indeed, their Indian name cannot be recovered. A beaulifiil view of these cele-
brated falls is given by Professor Hitchcock, in the volume of plates accompanying his
Geology of Mass.
t I. katlier, 30. $ Hubbard, Nar. 88. |l Ibid.
TI Many of the Inuljns learned trades of the English, and in the wars turned their knowl-
edge to good accoun*. They had a forge in their fort at Narraganset, and the Indian black-
smith was killed when that was taken. The author of the Present State, &,c. says, he was
the only man amongst them that filled their guns and arrow-heads ; that among other housei
they burnt his, demolished his forge, and carried away his tools.
** Narrative, 100. 4to. edition.
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76
POTOK.— DEAIH OF I'UiVUlAM.
[Book III.
and took tliirty-five of tliem without resistance.* They found here con-
siderable itlunder ; " besides kettles, there was about Imif a bushel of wain-
puujpeag, which the enemy lost, and twelve pounds of powder, which the
captives say they had received from Albany but two days belbre." \ A son
of PumJiain was among the captives, " a very likely youtli," gays Hubbard, i
" and one whose countenance would have bespoke liivor for him, had he
not iKilonged to so bloody and barbarous an Indian as his father was," h
would seem irom this unleeling account that he was put to death. Dr.
Mather says he was carried ))risoner to Boston. From the same autlior wf
must add to the revolting picture of the lather's death. " This Pumlium,
alter he was wounded so as tliat he could not stand upon his legs, and WMb
thought to have been dead, made a shift, (as the soldiers were pursuing
others,) to crawl a little out of the way, but was Ibund again, and when an
Englishman drew near to him, thougli he could not stand, he did, (like a
beast,) in rage and revenge, get hold on the soldier's head, and had like to
have Rilled him, had not another come in to his help, and rescued hiui out
of the enraged dying hands of that bloody harbarianJ'^ f
That it may be seen how the same story, recorded at the same time, at
the same place, and by different individuals, varies on comparison, Ave give
here the account of the fight in which Pumham was slain, from an author in
the Clu"onicle ; in which it will be observed that a different date is given to
the event. " Upon the 27 of" July it was, that about 20 Indians were slain,
and 30 taken prisoners. We had 5 and 20 English, and 20 of our Indian
friends in this ex[)ioit. One of these that were slain was Pomham. Alter
he had received a deadly shot in liis back, he withdrew himself Irom liis
men, (lor they were all his relations and subjects that were slain and t:;r <:'•:- 1'*''^ :.•■■•: y*-
•? ;*^ V-- "VA^. ,-..•■ .
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78
STONE-WAlI-JOriN.— PROVIDENCE, .fee. BURNT. [Book III.
(miiy running down upon tJieni, killed ono of tluitn and Bcattered tlit* rest."
Tlnm did tlio Hcoiits Ironi the iniiin hoiiy of tlio Indians, iifidfi* »\\cU capiuiuii
ad tin- Sto) e-laycr, annoy the Eni/'ish in thpir niarcii into tJieir country. Im-
inediatel} alU:r tiicso siiirinishes, "tiicy bnrnt ^em/ /i«/rs* lioiiw, and killed
Heventecn [poiBons.] t Dec. IG, ca»ne that news. Dee. J7, eanie iie\v,«i ilmt
Conneeticut TorcoH were at Petacpiauiseiit ; killed ("our Indians and took six
jiriHonoifl. That di-y we sold Capt. Davenport 47 Indians, young and old, lijr
£80 in money." I
How nmch John had to do in the devastation.s which had been j^erpctiated
the previous season, is unknown, hut we are told that he ii»d no small
ajioncy in "the sackinjf of Providence," § and RcholMitli alfo, without doubt.
In the fornicr about :it) houses || were burned, and in the latter place "near
y\\ .in 40" hous{;s and W barns.
SlnnC' wall- John wa : .'oMl)tless one who conversed with tlie Reverend Mr.
Williams at the '•iie PrctvideiKn; was burned. The sulx tance of that conver-
.«ation is relat <; i< nonynious author, already cit> d, in tliese words:—
"iJut indeed tb( son :i ;t the inhabitants oi' the towns of Seaconick and
Providence gcnei v escapi'c' with their lives, is not to be attributed to aii>
(;onipassion or goon luiture <■': ^ •:■ Indians, (whose ' cry mercies are inliuiiiaiie
cruelties,) but, [the author soon contradicts hiinw If, as will Im! seen,] next to
God's providence to their own prudence in avoiding their fury, when they
found themselves too Aveak, and unable to resist it, l)y a timely {light into
Rhode Island, which now became the common 'Aoar, or place of refuge for
tiie distressed ; yet some remained till their coming to destroy the »aid towns ;
as in particular Mr. fVilliams at Providence, who, knowing SM'veral of the
chief Indians that came to fire that town, discoursed with them a consider-
able time, who |)retended, their greatest quarrel was against Pliinouth ; and
as for what they attempted against the other colonies, they were constrained
to it, by the s|)oil that was done them at Narraganscit.H They told hitn, that
wh(!n Capt. Pierce engaged them near Mr. Blackstone^s, they were bouiui
for Plimoiith. They gloried much in their success, promising themselves tiic
conquest of the whole country, and rooting out of all the English. Mr. JVil-
liams reproved their confidence, minded them of their cruelties, and told
them, that the Bay, viz. Boston, could yet spare 10,000 men; and, if tliey
should destroy all them, yet it was not to be doubted, but our king would
send as many every year from Old England, rather than they should share
the countr}'.** They answered j»rotidIy, that they should be ready for tlieiii,
or to that effect, but told Mr. Williams that he was a good man, and had been
kind to them formerly, and therefore they would not hurt him."
This agrees well with Mr. HuhbarcTs account of the carriage of John at the
time he went to the English army to talk about peace, already mentioned.
His words are, "yet could the messenger, [Jo/m,] hardly forbear threatening',
vaporing of their numbers and strength, adding, withal, that the Engli:*li
durst not fight them."
We have now to close the career of this Indian captain, for which it re-
quires but a word, as lie was killed on the 2 July, 1G70, at the same time the
old squaw-sachem Qjiaiapen and most of her people were fallen ujwn by
Major Talcot, as we have related in a Ibrmer chapter.
Many Indians bore the name of JoJm, but when they were any ways con-
spicuous, some distinguishing prefix or affix was generally added, as we
have seen in several instances in the preceding chapters. We have already
* Jerah was probably his name.
t Ten men and five women and children. Hubbard, 50. " About 14," 1. Mather, 20,
" Eighteen, men, women and children." Chronicle, 46.
X Capiain Oliver's MS. letter.
6 Old Indian Chiioniclk, 98.
if The building conlaining the records of R, I. was consumed at this time, and part of its
contents. Some of them were saved by being thrown out of a window mto some water.
They bear to this time the marks of their imii;■.
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80
NET[;s.-M()NO(;o.— MlRDFJtS AT SL'WIUKV.
[Book in
liiHtciicd to a polf iit oiui fiid oftlip jriillows. This old Mnlloonus' Callu r Imd
frivpii it out that ho would ho iivonjfcd of uk )br Imm son's death, which coining; tr
tho kiiowled^'o of tin; council, ho wnH sent lor uiid examined ahout it ; and haviiii/
dcnird it, and there not hoin«t HUtfH-icnt •■viiU-nro of it, lie vvaH ditsniiisKeil.
liMvinjr only confessed tliis, that nnindcrins; Hit death of his snm, ht found his
hrnrl so his; hot tvithin hirtiy but thai he rcsotvvii to abide a faithful frieiut to tin
lhiL';l!,ih, and so that accusation ended. Itut alter sar hem Philip liad 1k'j,'iiii
his iniu'ders in I'limoutli colony, this savajje lirst appeared an euemy to Uf;,
and slew the two first men that were killed within the liinitH of our colony
(to wit, at IVfendliam) und in that cruel and uutra^'eous attempt ut Unalmo^^
this old Mnttoonus was the princijial ringleader. lk'inf( now brou;:lit u
jirisoner to Boston, he was by the counc^il the sanu? day, ["^8 July,] adjiiil;.'td.
lo Ihj shot to death, which was executed in iloston coHunon, by three Jiuiiuns.
His head was cut oft" and placed upon a poU; on the jrallows, opposite to liis
.son's that was there formerly hanged. His son, brought along with him,
remains still a prisoner."
While Jl/ffr singin'■■■ :
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82
MONOCO.— FIVE CHIEFS EXECUTED.
[Book III
liel'orrthrnflliir itt LuiifusU^r. Tim roamm lie staid atrion<{ tlio iiostilo IiidiniiH
is vtrv olivioiis: ii*; was ul'raid to ve about his neck to the gallows. When he came there, the executioiiur.«
(t(>r there were many) Hung one eiul over the; |K»st, and so hoistett irun up
like u dog, three or four times, he being yet half alive, and half dead; tlu n
came an liulian, n friend of his, and w ith his knife made a hole in his hrciist
to his heart, and sucked out his heart-blood. Iteing asked bis reason tlieri'-
(br, his answer [was] UitJi, Unilt nu, mt; stronger as i was Iw-lbre ; me Ik- kh
strong asJ me and he too; he be ver strong man fore he die. Thus with
the dog-like death (good enough) of one poor heathen, was the p«!ople nige
laid, in some measure."
We have yet to add u word concerning Monaco. When ({unnapoldt wu8
out as a spy, .1/o/ioto kindly entertained him, on account of former ac(|imiiit-
ance not knowing his character, 'i'hey had served together in their wai>
aguiiii^t tlje Mohawks. On 10 Feb. l()7(i, about (iOO Indians It'll ii|iou
Lancaster, and, uiler burning the town, carried the iidiabitants into captivity.
Among them was the fiinmy of lleverend Mr. Rowlandaon. Mrs. Rmi-
lanilson, after her redemption, published an amusing account of the atiiiir
.Monaco, or One-cijed-john, it is said, was among the actors of this traircdy.
On 13 March lollowing, Groton was .-Jurpri-sed. In this affair, too, John
Monoca was principal ; and on his own word we set him down as the ilcstroy-
er of Medfield. Aller he bad burned Groton, except one garrison house, lie
called to the cajjtain in it, and told him he would burn in succession Cliehns-
tbrd, Concord, VV^atertown, Cambridge, Charlestown, Koxbury and Boston.
He boasted nuicli of the men at his command; said he had 4riO warriors:
and added — " IVhal me ivill vie do." The report of this very much emaL^cd
the English, and occasioned his being entitled a •' bragadocio " by the histo-
rian. At the close of Philip's war, with others, he gave himself up to Miijor
WcMron at Cochecho; or, having come in tiiere, at the recjuest of Ptkr-
jethro, to make peace, was seized and sent to Boston, where, in the lauguaire
of Mr. //it66ar, lie, " with a few mf)re bragadocios like himself, Suiritmort:-
sam, Old-jelhro, and the sachem of (iuahaog, [Mautamp,]] were taken by tlu
English, and was seen, (not long before the writing of this,) marching towanis
the gallows, (through Boston streets, which he threatened to bum at iiis
pleasure,) with a halter ai)out his neck, Avith which he was Juiuged at tiic
town's end, Sept. 2(5, in this present year, l()7fi."J:
On the 24 July, iG75, five of the principal Nipmuk sachems signed an
agreement to meet the governor of Massiichusetts to treat of peace soon alter.
but not appearing according to agreement Captain Ilutchinsan was sent ou'.
* In the Indian Ciihonmcle, 2(), 27.
t Compare Hubbard, 3j and 73. — Tlie same, probably, called Mattaieamppe, wlio, in
1G65, wimassed llie sale of Brooklield, Mass., deetled at that tinfie by a chief named Siinl-
toockmtis. MaiUamp claimed aa interest in said lands, and received part of the pay. — Kev.
Mr. Foot's Hist. Brook Held.
t This, so far as it goes, agrees with an entry in Seicairs MS. Diary, dted in Sliattucl^s
Concord, C3 — " Sagamore Sam goes, One-ey'd John, Mai iompe [Mautamp] Sagamore ol
Qnabaog. General at Lancaster, &.c, Jethro (the father) walked to the gallows. Oiir-ry'd
Jolt/I accuses Sagamore John to liave fired tke first gun at Quabac^ and killed Capt. Hutch-
illSOIL."
\,r. savs, " it
■)'■■:
Chap. V.]
8IIOSI1AMM.— OLD JETIIRO.
83
to (lact^rtain the caum^ and wan ainbiuihnd by tlinm, as wo liavR in thu lit'u of
/^/ii7i// n-liil(!(l. At this liinc, " Sam, wirlii-iii of VVcslmcuin," uiul Nktaump.
urt! particularly inrniioiDMl a.s liasin^' hi.-ii lianf^t'd at ItoHtoii.
It waH n-|Htrt<'(l, (no doiilit liy the Indiana, to vc\ tlit-ir ciicniioH,) tliat IMrH.
Jiowhttulsun l. "JJiit," tlic aiitlior of tlic I'iiksk.nt Statk.
&n: KUVH, "it UIU4 soon contradict' d," and, " tliat mIk' a|i|MMin>d and lifliaved
iicrMtll anion^'Ht tlu;ni vvitii so niucli coiira^'i; and niaji-stic ^'raviiy, that none
dnrKt od'cr any viult>nc(; tii froin Mr. Hubbard, we iinv«; mIiowh at what tiini'
!<(ni'ral of tiie Nijiniiick chiitls were put to death liesidc Mmoco.
<)Li>-JHi'IIK(> was little lesis noted, thoii^di of ipiite a different cliaractRr.
it is Indian name was Tanlnmowi. lie was present at the uah* of Conconl
(Muss) to the Knglish, idtoiit wiiich time he lived at Natick. in lit? i, he wa!<
)ippi>iiitelaiid, on the hreaki'i^ out of the w.it
the next year. Tlieir n sideini- then was at Nohscut Hill, lu'iir Siulhiiry
His spirit could not lirook the iiidif;nity offered hy tlios<^ Miifrlish wlio were
sent to conduct the |ii'ayiiiir Inihaiis to lloston, and in the ni;7(], sent an Indian
iiicsseii^rer to the En<,dish with a white flajr. Jle came, says our Chronicle,
" liMin Sagamore Sam of Nassoway (a proud Salvage, wlio two months since
insulted over the Kn;:lisli, and said, if the English would first biigge i'eace
of liim, he would let them have Peace, but that he would never lusk it of
liiem ;) This Indian was Ken i from him with Letters, desiring I'eace of us,
and exjiressely praying u>- in the name of Jesus Christ, and for liiw sake to
grant it wlujsc holy name 'nv.y have so much blasphemed. Thus doth the
Lord Jesus make tiiein to Ijow belbre him, and to lick the dust. And having
made mention of his letter it will not be unaccejjtable to transcribe some
copies of the Letters sent by him, and others on this subjeitt, which take as
followeth. The reiuler must bear with their barbarisms, and excuse the
omission of some expressions in them, that can liurdly admit of good
Eu'disL"
•';-h':S
•■I
pay.-
« The first Letter, July the 6th, 1676.\
"Mr. John Leveretl, my Lord, Mr. Waban, and all the chief men our Breth-
ren, Praying to God : [This Mr. Wuhan is a Praying Indian, faithfid, and a
Rukr anvonst them; by their Brethren praying to God, they mean ilwse oj'tlie same
Xalion.] We beBPcch you all to help us ; my wife she is but one, I)ut there
he more Prisouen which we pray you keep well : Mattamuck his wife, we
entreat you lor her, ynd not onely that man, but it is the Request of two Sa-
chems, Sam Sachem of Weshakum, and the Pakashoag Sachem.
" And that further you will consider about the making Peace : We have
spoken to the People oi IVashobab (viz. Tom Duhler and Peter,) that we would
agree with you, and make a Covenant of Peace with you. We have been
destroyed by your Souldiers, but still we Remember it now, to sit still ; do
• Mr. Sliattuck'i Hist. Concord, fW.
t The tenor of the following lelters, is very diflereni from those in -^pril previous, w4iich I
had discovered in MS. and priulcd iu the former editions of the Book oi the lodiaiis. These
were iheu unknown to mt;.
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84
SHOSHANIM.— INDIAN LETTERS.
[OooK III.
you consider it again; we do earnestly entreat you, that it may be so by
Jesus Christ, O ! let it bie so ! Jimtn, Jlmen,*
It was signed
Mattamuck, his Mark N.
, f^AM Sachf.m, his Mark 'I'.
Simon Pottoquam, Smhe.\
Uppanfppaquem, his — V.
Pakaskokag his Mark '•!'."
'■'• Superscribed,^' " To all Englishmen and Indians, a// of you hear Mr. Wiibaii,
Mr. Eliott."
" Second Letter.
"My I^ord, ]\Ir. Leveret at Boston, ^h•. WnJmn., Mr. Eliott, Mr. Gookin. ni;tl
Conucil, liear ye.'u 1 went to Coiiuectirot about tlie Captives, that 1 niiiflit
brinjr thorn into your hands, and whon wo wore almost there, the Ev!i;lish lui'i
destroyed those Indians: wlien I heard it, I rotnriuul back a^ain; tdfn wIk^
I camo home, we were also dostroyod ; after we wen; destroy'd, then Philip
and (^itanipnn went away into their own Coiintrey ajraine ; and I knew tlicy
were much afraid, b(u,'niise of our offer to joy n witli tJie English, and tlicre-
Ibre tliey went back into their own Couiitrey, and I know they will make no
Warre ; therefore liecause wht'n some Ens^lish men came to us, Philip amS
(^uanapun sent to kill them; but I said, if any kill them, I'll ki!l th(>ni4
Sam Sachem.
/rriiten t?/ Simon Boshokum Scribe." §
Hard Letter.
" For Mr. Eliat, Mr. GooJcin, and Mr. Wabcn.
Consider of this I entreat you, consider of this great bTisincsse that is done;
and my wonder co?icerning Philip ; but his name is lVewesawannii\\
he "ngagetii all the people that were none of his subjects: Then when I was
at Pcnnkool\ JS'vmpho John, Alline,M Sum J^Pumpho, and others who were ani;^;.- if?
V"'-' i! ^ V /•■'■•' ■• . ,
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Hiet
CHAPTER VI.
Friendly Indians — Captain Amos — Pursues Tntoson and Penachason- -Escapes th«
sliiughtcr at Pmctuckei — Commands a company in the eastern war — Captain
LiOHTFOOT — J .is services in Philip's war — In the i 'stern war — Kkttesanit —
His services — Quannapohit — His important services as a spy — Mautamp —
Monaco — Nkpankt — Employed to treat with th' enemy — lirinis letters from them--
Effectt an exchange of prisoners — Peteu Conwav — Pktku ErauAiM.
AMOS, commonly called Captain Amos, was a Wampanoa^, whose residence
was about Cape Cod. We have no notice of him until Philip's war, at which
time he was entirely devoted to the service of the I'^-nglish. Ailer the Plim-
Duth people had found that Tatoson was concerned in the destruction of
Clark's garrison, they sought lor some friendly Indians who would tmder-
take to deliver him and his abettors into their hands. Captain Amos ten-
•lered his services, and was didy commissioned to prosecute the enterprise,
'^C
* In 1G47, three Indians were killed between Qiiabaog' and Springfiel: ,' --v
i1 r^ -,11, ^ , ,;:
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86
INDIAN STRATAGEMS.— LIGHTFOOT.
[Book III.
and to take into that service any of liis friends. Meantime, Tatoson had fled
to Elizabeth Island, in coin[)any with Penacltason, another chief who was
also to he taken, if lie could be found. 'J'his Penacfuison was probably Talo-
TO/i'.? brother's son, sometimes called Tom, who, if the same, was also at tlie
destroying,' of ClarKs garrison. Yet the wily chiefs eluded the vigilance of
r.'aptuiii ,'lnws, by flying from that region into the Nipmuks' country, vvliere
tliey joined Philip.
To (■iicourage greater exertion on the part of the friendly Indiiiiis, to
execute their commission, it was ordered, that izi case they captured and
brought in either Taloson or Penathason, "they may expect lor tlieir reward,
for each of tliem four coats, and a coat apiece lor every other Lidi in tliat
siiall prove merchantable."
\Ve Jiave mentioned in a former chapter the liorrid catastro|)hc of
(Captain J'eirse and liis men at Pawtucket. Captain JImos escaped that
dreadful slaughter. lie fought there with 20 o*' his warriors, and wiien
Cajdaiii Peirse was shot down by a l)all which wounded him in the tliigli,
he stood by his side, and delended him as long as there was a gleam of
hope. At length, seeing nearly all his friends slain, with admirable presence
of mind he made his escafx;, by the Ibllowing subtle stratagem: —
JVanunlcnoo's warriors had l)lackened their faces, which Captain Jhnos had
oi)servc(l, and by means of powder contrived to discolor his own unohs(;rved
by tliem. Wiien he had done this, he managed, by a dextrous maua'uvre,
to pass among the enemy for one of them, and by these means escaped.
\Vliat were Caj)tain Amos's other acts in this wai-, if any, we liave not
learned ; nor do we meet again with him until 1G8!). In that year, lie went
with Col, Church against the eastern Lidiaiis and French, in which expedi-
tion h(! also had the command of a company. Church arrived a\ itii his
forces in Bept. at Caseo, now Portland, and, having landed secretly uiuler
cover of the night, surprised, on the following morning, about four huiuhed
Inilians, who had come to destroy the jilace. Although the Indians did not
receive much damage, yet, Governor Sullivan says,* the whole eastern countrj-
was siived by the timely arrival of this expedition. In the fight at Casco,
21 SeptiMnber, eight of the P^nglish were killed and many wounded. Two of
Captain Amos's men were badly wounded, and Sam Moses, another friendly
Inclian, was killed. Tliere was another Indian company in this expedition,
eotiimanded by Captain Daniel, out of which one man was killed, who was
of Yarmoiitii on Cajie Cod.f
LIGHTFOOT, of the tribe of the Sogkonates, distinguish(>d in Philip's
war, was also in the service under Church at Casco ; a mciiioraltle expedition,
on more! than one account. One circumstance; we will name, us it well nigh
jiroved the; ruin of the undertaking. ^VIlen, on the following morning, after
the arrival of the forces, th
war, when that chit.'fs men made a descent upon the pla(!e, with the intention
of carrying away those Christian Indians prisoners. Job made his escape
from them at this time, and came in to the English at Mendon. lie had still
liirei' cliildren in the enemy's hands, and he was willing to rim any venture
to release them. Me therelbre a])plied for and obtained a pass, assuring hin;
safiity, ])rovided that, in his return, lie should tiill into the hands of the Eng-
lish scouts. Besides liberating his children, consideral)le hopes were enter-
tained, that he might be enabled to furnish intbrmation of the enemy. It
unfortunately ha|)pened, that, before he had jjassed the frontier, he fell in
with souK! English soldiers, who treated him as a prisoner, and an enem\,
even taking from him his clothes and gun, s ■nding him to the governor of
Boston; "who, more to satisfy the clamors of tlit^ jieople thanfiir any oflenct;
committed," assigned him to the common jail, where he sufii-red exceedingly ;
himself and many others being crowded into a narrow and filthy place. Af-
ter about three weeks, he was taken out and sent to Deer Island. The clam-
ors of the people were indeed liigh at this time, and many accused Major
Goob'n, who gave him the [lass, of being guilty of furnishing the enemy with
intelligence.
After the Narraganset fight, 19 December, 1675, the English were very
anxious to gain information relative to the position of the enemy, and accord-
ingly instructed Major Gookin to use his endeavors to employ some fiierdly
Indian si)ies; who, after considerable negotiation among those at Deer Island,
engaged Job again, and James Ouannnnohit, -dias (^nanapaiur. Their reward
was to be /(j)c pounds f'liece! They defiarted ii|)on this service before day.
the nOtli of December, and, during their mission, behaved with great pru-
executed at Bostun, at llio
same linie willi Hagamore'Sam. See Hubbard, 36.
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KATTENANIT.
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mtenflcii shnrvJy to visit Philip ; niid insisted that Quannapohit Bliould v'.
conr|!;itiy liim, mid it w;ls with no small difficidty lie was able to elrnle uir
vigilant eye of Maidamp, and make liis escape, which, liowevc", -.vas ettlirtd
only by a nmninp stratagem, as follows: — He told Maviamp \.\m\. he liaci
fou<,'ht air.'iiiist Philip in the commencement of the war, and that Philip knew
him, and that, nnless he cfudd ro, in the first jdace, and kill some English, and take the ir
heads along with liim, and then he should consider himself safe. Tiiis
being consented to, he lost no time in retracing his steps to the frontiers of
the English.
He mentions Monaco, or Ove-ejjed-john, as a great cajitain among tlie ene-
my, who also treated him kindly, and entertained him in his wigwam (hiriii:;
his stay there ; tliey being old acciuaintance, having served together in their
wai-s against th(! Mohawks, ten jears before.*
And here ah-o Mr. Gookin gives afiivorable account of Jlfonoco. Philip Iiail
ordered that the persons above named should be brought to him, if taken
alive, "that he might put them to some tormenting death, which had hitherto
been prevented by th(^ care and kiinhu^ss of a great captain ainong thein,
named John-nnth-one-eye, belonging to Nashua,t who had civilly treated and
protected James, and entertained him at his wigwam, all the time of liis
being there." t
Job was requested to come away with Qtianapohit, but saw no way of
getting away bis children, which was a main object with him. He kii!s,
^ ilel'iTriii^ probably, to Thebk. Sfu Bo k III. chap. II.
§ Cotton Manuscripts.
CliA.-. VI.]
summer, Afti
their assi.staiici
Itiiitre h(! If
and sundry otl
filh'rwai'iis mci
tiie council for
new (iiliicuhii!
one -M' the win
had aci|iiittrd
sent tlirin fortl
enemy, and tl
r.'tnrn<.'d in saf
This so interlL'
tliat gr-.-at sufi
tiiat evijr he si
much sooner li
way. About t
court of iMass,
Thomas Savas;i
iudess he couli
ants. On a m
bravest men v(
The army mar
horougii. Job \
attempt the fin
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t Mno: U.i
CliAr". VI.]
KATl'KTAMT.
f^
Fimimcr. Afterwartis two nicssonpiTs came with twclvt; iieads, < i'aviniv h()st()ii liarbor, consented, at the imminent risk of his life, to proceed to
meet tlie Jufiians in the western wilderness, in the service, and for the
benefit, of those who had caused his sufferings.
jVeimtict set out, :j April, 107(5, to makcj overtures to the enemy for the re-
lease of prisoners, especially the fiuuily of Mr. lioivlandson, which was taken
at Lancaster, n^turned on the V2 following, with a written answer ii-om the
enemy, saying, " /f if Jtou^^'ve answer Ay this one man., hut if you like vv/ answer
sent ovc more man besides this one Tom Ne[)anet, and send ivith all true heart
and with all your mind bif tico men; because you know and we know your heart
fp-eal sonvw/'ul with cryins; for your lost many many hundred man ami nil your
house and all your land and woman child and cattle as all your thing that you
have lost and on your backside stand.
Signed by Sam, Sachem,
KUTQUEN, OTld
QuANOHiT, Sagamores.
Peter Jethro, scribe.
At the same time, mid I conclude in the same letter, they wrote a few
worr wu'sts, iu,'> ribbons upcii their shotilders. But when they came
near, there was '•. wis? "lifference between the lovely faces of Christians, and
the foul looks i/t thosr heathen, wluch much damped my spirits again." §
Having, afitir groat distress, arrived at Wachuset, our authoress adds,
*'Then came Tom and Peter with the second letter from the council, about
the captives." " I asked them how my husband did, and all my friends and
* Gookin's MS. Hist. Christian Indians.
\ Or Pav )ua?e, now Miller's River. Its confluence with the Connecticut is bctweea
Northfield Bnil Montague.
X Narrative of her Captivity, 6!J.
^ Ihid. fiO. The reg-imcntals in which I' cy were now tricked out, were probab'» taken
from the Englisii whom they bad k4lle) if
Chap. VI.J
NEPANET— SECOND EMBASSY.
91
acquaintance. They said they were well, but very melancholy." They
brought her two biscuits and a pound of tobacco. The tobacco she jnive t(»
the Indians, and, when it was all gone, one threatened her b(!canse sh(; hail
no more to give ; probably not believing her. Slie told liim when h'-r
liiisbniul came, she would give him some. "Hang him, rogue, says he, I
will knock out his brains, if he comes here." "Again, at the same breath,
tlicy would say, if there s)u)uld come an hundred without guns they would
(!() iliem no hurt. So unstable and like madmen they wen-." * Tiicre had
lu'cn something talked about Mr. Jtotolandson^s going himself to ransom his
will', but slie says she dared not send ibr him, " for there was little more
trust to them than to the master they served." *
.Vpand learned by tlu; enemy that they lost in the fight when Capt. Peirse
wiis kilhsd, " scores of their men that sabbath day."t
As they refused to treat with Tom JVepanet alone, Peter Conivai/ was joined
with him on a second eXf)eS
They would not at lirst si.ili-r her to see Mr. //bar, but when tiiey had
gratified their tantalizing whim siiflicicntly, she was [)ermitted to see hiin.
lie brought her a j)oun(l ol' tobacco, which she sold for nine shillings. " Tiie
next morning, Mr. Hoar invited tii^Qs'r
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t Narraii\ e, ut supra, 65. $ Ibid. 71, 72, || Ibid. 72. 73.
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PETER KPHUAlM.-QUANAl'OIIIT.
IIJOOK HI.
It \v;is iliiuiiffli Al/wners moans fliat a jiarty of Enjrlisli, uihUt Captain
IIcn<:lim(ni,\\('f*'V[m\)Uf\ to surprise a body < t'liis coiintryKHMi at W«sliakom*
Ponds near Laiirastcr, MO May, l<)7(i. Followiiifr in a track jHiintcd out by
^Vrpdiiet, tlic Indians were (idlcn n|)on wliilo fishiufTt imd, ln'irifr entirely un-
prcjpiired, seven were kili«'(l, and 2!> taken, cbiefly women and children.
i'K'n;i{-i;iMII{AIiM and ANDIHOW-IMTYMK were also two other
considerably disiii'^Miislied Nipmnk Indians. They rendered mn<"h service
to the Kn^dish in Philip's war. They went out in January, ]<)7(), and bronffht
in many of the Ni|)ni'ts, wlio liad endeavored to shtdter themsidves under
Unctis. But, Mr. Huhbjrd t)bserves, that UiiCaS, havi'iji: "shabbed" them ofl',
"they were, in the be;:i.niinf^ of th(^ winter, [1()7(!,] bronjrht in to IJoston,
many oC tiiem, iiy Ptter-cplimim and ,/lndrao-piiiime" Kphraim commanded
an Indian com|iaiiy, and had a commission (i'om froveinmenf. The news
tliat many of the en<>niy were doin;.' miscli',"fabont Hehoboih caused a partv
ol" Enjilisii ol" Medlicid to march ont to their relict'; Ephraim went vvitli
tlicm, will) iiis comiiany, which consisted of yj). The snow beinff deep, tlie
J'^,ni;li>ii soon ^'rew disr()nra^fed,and returned, but (.'aptain J>y>/iraim continued
the march, and came n|K)n a ixaly of tliem, encamp*'d, in the id^dit. Karlv
the next mornin>:, he successfully suirotnided tliem, and ofil-red them (piar-
ter. " lOijiht resolute fellows refused, who wen^ presently sliot;" the others
yielded, and wire broujrht in, being in number 4'^. Other minor exploits of
this Indian captain are recorded.
T1K)MA8 UUANAPOHIT, called also Itumney-mnrsh, was a brother of
James, and was also a Christian Indian. In the begiiuiini; of liostilitics
against Philip, Major Gookin received orders to raise a comjiany of praying
Indians to be employed against him. This company was immediately
raised, and consisted of 52 men, who were conducted to Mount Hope by
Captain Isaac Johnson. Quanapohit was one of these. Tlie officers under
whom they served testified to their credit as faithful soUliers ; yet many of
the ami}', ofiicers and men, tried all in their power to bring them into disre-
]iuto with the country. Such ]noceedlngs, we should naturally conclude,
would tend much to dishearten those friendly Iiulians ; but, on the contrary,
they used every exertion to win the afiections of their op{)res8ors. Q)/ana-
pohit, with the other two, received from government a reward for the scalps
which they brought in. Though not exactly in order, yet it must be men-
tioned, that when Thomas was out, at or near Swanscy, in the begiiniing of
the V nr, he by accident had one of his hands shot off. He was one of tti«
troo|)c5S, and carrieil a gun of remarkable length. The weather being ex-
ct'ssively hot, his horse was very uneasy, being disturbed by flies, and struck
the lock of tlie gun as the breech rested upon the ground, and caused it to
gooff, which horribly mangled the hand that held it; and, notwithstanding
it was a long time in getting well, yet he rendered great service in the war
afterward. The account of one signal exploit having been preserved, shall
here be -'.'laicu. AVhile Cajttahi Henchmnn was in the enemy's countiy, he
ii""^c un excursion from Hassanamesit to I'ackachoog, which lies about ten
miles north-west from it. Meeting here with no enemy, he inarched again
for Hassanamesit ; and having got a few miles on his way, discovered that
he had lost a tin case, which contained his commission, and other instructions.
He therefore despatched Thomas and two Englishmen in search of it. They
made no discovery of the lost article until they came in sight of an old wig-
wam at Packachoog, where, to their no small surprise, they discovered some
of the enemy in possession of it. They were but a few rods from them, and
being so f ^w in number, that to have given them battle would have been
desperate in the extreme, as neither of them was armed for such an occasion;
stratagem, therefore, could only save them. The wigwam was situated upon
an eminence ; and some were standing in the door, when they a[)proached,
who iliscovered them as soon as they came in sight. One presented his
gun, l)ut, the weather being stormy, it did not go off. At this moment our
chief, looking back, called, and made many g«!stures, as though he were dis-
posing of a large force to encompass them. At this manoeuvre they all fled
* Ro^er Williams sets down sea as the cltfuikion of Wecliecum,
1 !
Chap. VII.]
PASSACONAWAY.
9:J
boinjr six in numbor, Icavinnr owr lierocs to piiisuc their object. Tbiis their
preservation was ihio to i^uanapuhit ; ami is tiie more to be admired, as tiiey
were in so fur destitute of tiie ;iieans of delcnce. Captain ({uanapolul liad
himself only a ])istol, and one of bis men a gun without u tlint, and thu
(itlier no <;un at all.*
It was about the time these events (xrcnrred, that Captain Tom, of wliom
we have spoken, his danj^hter, and two ehildren, were taken by a scout sent out
1»V Captain //e/ic/iTmirt, about 1(J miles south-east of Marlborough. They ajjpear
10 have been taken on the 11 Jime, and on the !JG of the same month Captain
Tom was executed.
CHAPTER VII.
''.•'■ «; ; .
J-;.-:.-
of the, Indians in A'ew Hampahirr, and Miiine prrrioiis to their wars with the whilrs —
Dominions of the hashuba — Prrinhcs in war — I'assaconawav — His dominions —
His last speech tu his people — His life — H s dmiifhtcr imirries Winnapurket — Peti-
tions the court of Massachusetts — Liinds iilloUed to him — English send a force to
ilisarm him — Their fears of his rnmitij unfounded — they seize and illtreat his son —
He escapes — Passaconawaij delirrrs his arms, and makes pence with the English —
Traditions concerning — Life if Wannai.anckt — His situation in I'/iilip's war —
Messengers and letters sent him hijthe English — Leaves his residence — His humanitij
— Fate q/' JosiAii NouF.f, — IVannalaaret returns to his country — His lands seized
in his absence — He again retires into the loHilerness — Mosely destroys his village,
^■c. — Imprisoned for debt — Favors Christianity — j3 speech — Wkha.nownowit,
saehiin of jVew Hampshire — IIoiiinhouu — His sales of land in Maine — MoNQeiNK
— Kennkbis — AssiMCNAstiuA — Abbuj AUASSKT — Thciv residences and sales of land
— Melancholy fate of CuoconuA.
Some knowledge of the Indians eastward of the Massachusetts was
very early obtained by Captain John Smithy which, however, was very
general ; as that they were divided into several tribes, each of which had
Uieir own sachem, or, as these more northern Indians pronounced that
word, sachemo, which the English understood sagamore ; and yet all the
sachemos acknowledged «ubjection to one still greater, vhich they called
hashaba.
Of the dominions of the bashaba, writers differ much in respect to their
extent Some suppose that his authority did not extend this s''1e the Pas-
ciitnqut, but it is evident that it did, from Captain Smith's account.! VVars
and postilence had greatly wasted the eiustern Indians but a short time before
tiie JjUglish settled in the country ; and it was then difficult to determine the
relalion the tribes had stood in one to the other. As to the bashaba of Penob-
scot tradition states that he was killed by the Tarratines, who lived still
lartlier east, in a war which was at its height in 1615.
P/iSSACONAWAY seems to have been a bashaba. He lived upon the
Merrimack River, at a place called Pemmkook, and his dominions, at the
period of the English settlements, were very extensive, even over the sachems
living upon the Pascataqua and its branches. The Abenaqucs ii labited
between the Pascataqua and Penobscot, and the residence of the chief
sachem was upon Indian Island.| Fluelkn and Captain Sunday were early
known as chiefs among the Abenaques, and Squando at a later period ; but
* Gookin's MS. Hist. Prayi'.i^ Indians.
t " Tlie principal habitations 1 saw at norlhwaril, was Penobscot, who are in wars with liie
Terciiliiies, tiieir next northerly neighbors. Soiuherly up the rivers, and along the coast, we
found Mecadacut, Segockct, Pemmaqnid, Niisconcus, Sagadahork, Satqiiiii, Auinaunjhcaw-
!;ei\ and Kenabeca. To those belong the countries and people of Segotago, Pauhunlanuck,
I'ocopassuin, Taughtanakagnet, Wabigganus, Nassaque, Masherosqueck, Wawrigwick,
-M -liiimen, Waccogo, Pusharanaek, &,c. To those are allied in confederacy, the countries
•if Aiicocisco, Accominticus, Passataquak, Augawoam and Nacmkeek, all these, for any
thing I could perceive, differ little in language or any thing ; though most of them be sagamos
and lords of themselves, yet they hold the bashabes of Penobscot the chief and greatest
amongst them." 3 Coll Mass. Hist. Soc. iii. 21, '22.
I WUliainson's Hist. Maine, ii. 4.
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94
PASSACONAWAY.
[Boot Jli
of tlioae wp slinll be more norticuJiii liereal\or: the finit 8nrhoni we istioiild
notice is Pajmacnnawav. Ho " I'ivimI to a very jfroat uge ; for," Buys iln- uuilior
«»r my muruiHcript, "l Baw him alivo at Pawttickct, when he wuh uhout u
hundrorl and twenty yoarH old."* HeCore his death, he dehvi red tim follow-
ing speech to his children and friends : " / am now f^oina; the way oj'alljkuli, or
rem/;/ to die, and not likthj to see yon evir meet tof!;ether any more. I mil now leave
thi.i irnrd of counsel tvith yo u, that yov may lake heed how i/ou quarrel with the Eniflinh,
for thoxLSfh you may do them much mischiif, yet assuredly you will all he deslroijtd,
and rooled off' the. earth if you do ; for, I was as much an enemy to the Eiif^lislt, at
their first nmina; into these parts, a.s any one whatsoever, and did try idl ways and
means posxible, to have destroyed them, at least to have prevenhd thcmsclllinirdoiim
here, but I coiUd no way effect it ; therefore I adinse you never to contend with the
Enifli.sh, nor make war tvith the.m.^' And Mr. Hubbard adds, " it is to he nou^d.
that this Passaconawa was the most noted powow and sorcerer of all ihc
country."
A story of the marriage of a daughter of Passaconaway, in l(i()2, is thim
related. fVinnepurket, commoidy called Georire, sachetn of Saugus, niudc
known to the (diief of Pennakook, that he desired to marry his dim^ilitcr.
which, hcing agreeable to all parties, was soon consummated, at the resi-
dence of PflMaconaM-'ai/, and t(i42, there was great alarm throughout the
English settlements, from the belief that all the Indians in the countiy were
about to make a general massacre of the whites. The government of Mas-
sachusetts took prompt measures " to strike a terror into the Indians." They
therefore " sent men to Cutshamdkin, at Braintree, to fetch him and his guns,
* Gookin's Hist, of Prayinfr Indians. This history was drawn up during the year 1677,
and how long before this the author saw him, is unknown ; but there can be no doubt but he
was dead some years before PhiHp's war. Nevertheless, with Mr. Hubbard and our text
tefore him, the author of Tales of the Indians has made Passaconmoay appear in the person
of Aspinquid, in 1682, at Agamentacus in Maine.
t Deduced from facts in Morton's N, Canaan,
\ Another version of Nahum-keag.
rn*P. VII.] WAl
Thap. VIl.) WANNAI.ANCET MADE PRISONER BY THE ENGLISH.
95
Ikiws, &.C., wliich wns done; and ho came willingly: And l»oing Inte in the
iiif'ht vvhon th(\v caiiu! to HohIoii, ho was put into l\w, prison ; hut tlio next
inorninjr, tindiiij,'. upon cvaniination orhiin and divors of hin ujen, no ground
of suspicion <»f liis partakiiij; in any sucli conH[»ira(;y, ho wits disiuidsod.
Upon the warrant which went to Ipuwich, Ilovvh'y and Nnwl)ury, to dinarni
PuiMconanv), who livod hy Mcrriuiack, they sf'nt forth 10 nn-n arrnt'd tlit;
ni-xt day." ThcHo lOnj^lifh were hindorcd from visitin;; the vvi<;wam of
Pasmronawd'j, hy rainy weather, " hut Ihi'y cami! to hi.s ,'^oii's and took liim."
Tliis son w(> pri^sumi' was IVnrDwlnnai. This thi'y Jiad oniers to do ; hut
for takiii"? a sipjaw an(i her child, llicy had none, and were ordiTcd to si-nd
tlieui hack a/^ain iimnechately. Fearim,' lVann(danceCn e>cap»^, they " led him
in n liiii', hut he takin;,' an opportunity, nlipp'iii his lint! and erfcapnd Irotn
tiicrn, Init one very indiscreetly made a shot at him, and missed him nar-
rowly." These wen; called, then, "unwarranted i)ro(;eedin<;;s," as we shoidd
say they very well mi^dit have heeu. The English now liad somt! actual
re.'ifion to fear that Fdrew, in the time of the war with Philip, and took up his
quarters among the Pennakooks, who were also his people.
About the beginning of Se{)tember, 1(j75, Captain Mosely, with about 100
men, was ordered to march up into the country of the Merrimack to ascertain
the state of affairs under Wanrmlancd. These men scouted in warlike array
as far a^ Pennakook, now Concord, N. H. They cmld not find an Indian,
i)ut came upon their wigwams, and burned them, ansi also a quantity of dried
fish and other articles. Although this was a most wanton and unwarrantable,
not to say unnecessary act of these whites, yet no retaliation took place on
tlie part of the Lidians. And whether to attribute their forbearance to cow-
ardice, or to the great respect in which the dying advice of PossacoTiaioa?/ was
* Winthrop's Journal. f Ibid.
{ Among other stanzas in Farmer and Moore's Collections, the following very happiljr
introduces Passaconaway : —
" Once did my throbbing bosom deep receive
The sketch, which one of PaMacemawai/ drew.
Well may the muse his memory retrieve
From dark oblivion, and, with pencil true,
Retouch that picture strange, with tints and honors due."
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WANNAl.ANCEr.— WniANS gEIZKD AT DOVER. [Book III.
hehl, js not -ortaiii ; for Wnnnlancd and his men had ntrticn of tl»« approach
oi Mostly, iiikI Iny coiiri'iilwd while ho was destroyinfj their eflects ; and
might iiuvc cut ort" hw eompuny, whicli the young warriors advised, but
fVannnlancet wonhl not permit a gun to bo fired.
Having nlHUiihint reiiHon now to fenr the resentment of the Pawtnclcett and
Pennukook Indians, tiie rouneii of Mussnchusctts, 7 8eftteml)cr, IG75, ordered
tliat Lieutenunt Thomns Henchman, of Chelmsford, should send some messen-
gers to find him, mid persuade him of their friendship, and urge hisri'turn to his
jdace of residence. With this order, a l<'tter was sent to tVannalancet at the
same time. They are as follows : " It is ordered by the council that Lieut.
Tho*. Henchman do forthwith endeavor to procure by hire, one or twe
suitable Indians of VVamesit, to tnivel and seek to find otit and speak with
tVantudancet the sachem, and carry with titcm a writing from the council,
l)cing a safe conduct unto the said saciiem, or any other principal men be-
longmg to Natahook, I'enagooge, or other |>eople of thoeo northern Indians,
giving (not exceeding six persons) free liberty to come into the house of the
said Henchman, where the council will appoint Cjipt Gookin and Mr. Eliot to
treat with them about terms of amity and peace between tlien» and the Eng-
lish ; and in ease agreements and conclusions be not nuule to mutual satis-
faction, then the said sachem ami all others that accompany him shall have
free lilterty to return back again ; and this offer the council are induced to
make, l)ceause the suiil fVamudancet naciiem, as they are informed, hath dc-
clare«l himself that the English never ditt any wrong to him, or his father
Paasaconaicay, but always lived in amity, and that his father charged him so to
do, ond that said Wannalaiicet will not l»egin to do any wrong to the English."
The following is the letter to Wannalanctt : —
"This our writing or safe conduct doth declare, tliat the governor and
coimcil of Massachusetts do give you aiul every of you, provided you exceed
not six persons,, firee liberty of coming unto and returning iu safety from
the house of Lieut. T. Henchman at Nmimkeuke, and there to treat witit
Capt. Daniel Gookin and Mr. John Eliot, whom you know, and [whom] we
will fully empower to treat and conclude with you, upon such meet terms
and articles of frirndship, amity and subjection, as were formerly made and
concluded between the English and old Passaconaway, your father, and his
SODS and people ; and for this end we have sent these messengers \hlank in
the MS.] to convey these unto you, and to bring your answer, whom we
desire you to treat kindly, and si>ee«lily to despatch them back to us with
your answer. Dated in Boston, 1 Oct. llJ75. Signed by order of the
council. Joi. .N Leverctt, Gov^
EdwK Rawson, Seer."
The me. i ,jger8 who went out with this letter, to find Wannakmcet, could
not meet with him, but employed another to find him, and returned ; and
whether he ever received it is not distinctly stated. However, with a few
followers, he retired into the wilderness near the source of the Connecticut,
and there passed the winter. The next summer he was joined !>y parties of
Nipmuks under Sagamore sam, One-eyed-John, and others, who, coming in
with him, were in li'pes of receiving jiardon, bat their fate has been
stated.
Major Waldron of Cochecho had many Indians in his interest during the
war with Philip. Some of these wore omi)loyed to entice men from the
enemy's ranks, and they succeede
Chip. VII.]
WANNALANCET RETIRES TO CANADA.
9f
The Btnitagem made use of to trepan those Indians was as follows: It was
proposed by the English that they should join with the Indians in a training,
and have sham-fights. While {MTforniing tlieir evolutions, a movement was
inadi! by the whites, which entirely Kiirroundcd the Indians, and they were
all secured without violence or bloodsheiL
On the 3 May, 1676, Thamaa Kimbal of Bradford was killellowing extract, which goes to show
thnt fVanniikincd was ever tlio friend of the English, and also his di8{M)Hition
to hiuiiane actions. Mr. Cobbet says, " though she [Mrs. Kimbal,] and her
sucking child were twice condemned by the Indians, and the fires ready
made to burn them, yet, both times, saved by the request of one of their own
jrrandeps ; and afterwards by the intercession of the siichem of Pennicook,
stirred up thereunto by Major tValdron, was she and her five children, together
with PhUif Eastman of Haverliill, taken captive when she and her children
were, set at lilicrty, without ransom."
The 400 Indians surjirised at Cochecho, by Haihome, Frost, SUL, and Wal-
dron, inchuled IVannalancti with his people, who did not probably exceed
lOO. This chief, then, with a few of iiis people, being set at liberty, was per-
suaded to return to his former residence at Naomkeke, Imt he never felt rec-
onciled here afterwards, for it IumI become almost us another place : some
lawless whites hod seized upon his lands, and looked u;)on him with envious
eyes, astliough he had been an intruder and had no right there. He, however,
continued for about a year afterwards, when, upon the 19 September, 1677,
lie wos visited by a party of Iinlians from Canada, wIk) urged him to accom-
pany them to their country. He fiiioJIy consented, and with aj ^^f Lis people,
except two, in number about 50, of whom not above eight were men, depart-
ed for Canada, and was noC heard of after, f
It was on this very same day, viz. 19 September, that a party of Indians M[
npou Hatfield, the particulars of which irru()tion, though in one view of the
case does not strictly belong to the life of (Vaxmalancd, we give here in the
words of Mr. Hubbard, X ^ About Sept. 1 Otli, 40 or 50 River Indians § fell sud-
denly upon the town of Hatfield, whose inhabitants were a little too secure,
and too ready to say the bitterness of death was past, because they had neither
seen nor heard of un enemy in tho»e |arts for half a year befonis. liut at this
time, as a considerable ntnnber of the inhabitants of that small village were
employed in raising the frame of an house without the palisadoes, tiiat defend-
ed their houses fjrom any sudden incursions of the enemy, they were violent-
ly and suddenly assaulted by 40 orSOLidiana, whom they were in no capacity
to resist or detisnd themselves, so as several were shot down from the top of
the house which they were raising, and sumlry were carried away captive, to
the number of 20 or more, which was made up 24 with them they carried away
tlic same or the next day from Deerfield, whither some of the inhabitants had
unudviseiUy too soon returned. One of the com|Miny escaped out of their hands
two or three days after, who infbi-me^l that they had passed with their poor
eaptives two or three times over the Connecticut to prevent being i)ursue(l."
At first this attack was supposed to have been made by a party of Mohawks,
neconlitig to Goo&tn, because it took place tlie next day after stmie of that
nation had {nesed through the place with some Cliristian Indians prisoners,
and a scalp, which was afterwards foimd to have been taken from the head
of an Indian named Josiah Novxl, \ near Sudbury. But one of the captives
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• By Rev. T. Cohbft of Ipswich.
i (•ookin's MS. Hist. I'rajrinir Indians. X Hist. N. England, CM.
^ They inhabited chiefly in New York aioui^ the Hudson ; a few in ijie N. W. corner of
Ctoimeclicat, and a few on the Houfsaiunnuk River. Hopkin's Memoir of the Ifounatunnuk
/rMfiant, n. 1,— ."The Wabin^a, sometimes called River Indians, sometimes Mohicanders,
and who nad their dwellings Seiween the west branch of Delaware and lludiion's River, from
the Killatinney ridge clown to the Rarilon." Jefferson's Notes, 308.
11 By hit d«aih four imall ciiildiea wete left iklbcfless. Nouel and JamtM Seen haii beea
.>■■■•■>. ■:. ■
" •*"1
ASHPELON.— STOCKWELL'S CAPTIVITY.
[Book III.
^f:
taken at Hatfield escaped, and returned soon after, and reported that the com-
pany of Indians that attacked Hatfield consisted of '^3 men and four women,
and were some of those who had belonged to Philip's party, but had tukfi)
up their residence in Canada, from whence they made this ex|)editiui).*
Another party left Canada at the same time, who, after separating from the
former, du-ected tlieir course towards Merrimack, and this was the company
who persuaded or compelled IVannalaneet to go with them. That he went
not by compulsion is very probable ; for the party with whom he went off
" were his kindred and relations, one of them was his wife's brother, and his
eldest son also lived with the French " in Canada, f
While at Puwtucket, and not long before his final departure, Wannalantet
went to the Reverend Mr. Fiske of Chelmsford, and inquired of him con-
cerning the welfare of his former acquaintances, and whether the place iiuil
suflTered much during the war. Mr. Fiske answered that they had bctn
highly favored in that respect, and for which he thanked God. " Me next,"
said the chief, thereby intimating that he was conscious of having prevent( d
mischief from falling u])on them. |
In 1G59, JVannalansit was thrown into prison for a debt of about £45. His
people, who owned on ishmd in Merrimack River, three miles above Paw-
tuckett Falls, containing 60 acres, half of which was under cultivation,
relinquished it, to obtain nis release. About 1G70, ho removed to Pawtuckett
Falls, where, upon an eminence, he built a ibrt, and resided until Philip's
war. He was about 55 years of age in 1674 ; always friendly to the Engiisii,
but unwilling to be importuned about adojitiiig their religion. When he had
got to be very old, however, he submitted to their desires in that rcsjM rt.
Upon that occasion he is reported to have said, " / rmist acknowledge I have alt
my days been used to pass in an old canoe, and notoyou exhort me to change and
leave my old canoe am embark in a netoone, to which J have hitherto been unuill-
ing, bvi now I yield up myself to your advice^ and enter into a new canoe, and
do engage to pray to God ntreaJUr.
Reverend John Eliot thus writes to the Honorable Robert Boyle § in England,
together but half an hour before the former was killed, and by appointment were to liave met
again. But when Spten came to the place, he could find nothiug of his friend. They were
brothers-in-law.
* It seems from the narrative of QuiiUin Stoclcwell, that the party who rnmmittrd iliis
depredation was led by a great and magnanimous sachem railed AbHPELOI^, of whnm,
further than the events of this famous expedition, I have learned nothing. " Sept. 19, ir)77.
about sunset," says Stockwell, " 1 and nnother man being together, the Indians witli great
shouting and shooting came upon us, [at Deeificld,] and sonic other of the English hard by, at
which we ran to a swamp for refuge ; which they perceiving, made alter us, and shot iii u.v
tliree guns being discharged upon me. The swamp being miry I slipt in and fell dnwn ;
whereupon an Indian stept to me, with his hatchet lifted up to Knock me on the liead, sup-
posing I was wounded, and uiilit for travel. It happened I had a pistol in my pocket, wtilrh
though uncharged, I presented to him, who presently stept bark, and told me, if I would
yield I should nave no hurt ; boasted that they had destroyed all Hattirld, and that Ihn \\oo(h
were full of Indians ; whereupon I )>ielded myself" H'" was then taken bark to DerrlirlH.
where he was pinioned, and with other captives marched into the wilderness. Their siifl'rr-
ings, as usual m Indian captivity', were most cruel and severe ; for many nights together they
were " staked down " to the cold ground, in this manner : The captive l)eiiig laid upon his
back, his arms and feet were extended, and with cords or withr.s lashed to stakes driveii
into the ground for that purpos<^. Besides lashing the arms and legs, the nerk and body wen
also secured in the same way, and oAen so tight as to caii.se swellings and the most exrriiri-
ating paius. While on their march, the captives had frequent oppoitnniiicj of csrapins
singly, but would not, for fear Pi emiangering the lives of the rest ; out at length Ilfvjamm
Subhins, in a journey with hir Indian master to Wachuset hill, made jiii escape. Wli''n ilie
rest knew this, they were fo- i)urning the remaining captives, but some being opposed te the
measure, they agreed to have a court and debate lli«i sunjcrt. Ashpelon told the English not
to fear, for he would speak last, and would frustrate the design of burning, for he would show
that it was not Stebbins's fault for running away, but the fault of the Indian who had him in
charge ; and he brought it to pass, as he had promised. Having at length arrived among the
French, Stockwell was pawned to one of them, and in the end sold for 21 beaver skir.s, and
lome time the next year got home again. RtmarkabU Proridencea. Blome's America, 231
t Gookin's MS. History. X Alltn's Hist. Chelmsford, 167.
^ For many years at the head of the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indianii.
He was a great benefactor of N. England, and one of iTie founders of the Koval Surieiv of
London. He was by birth an Irishman, out aciUed fiually at Oxford, England. He dieu in Lou
Chap. VII.]
WANNALANCET.
99
in 1677: — "We had a sachem of the greatest blood in the country submitted
to pray to God, a little before the wure : his name is fVaruUauncet : in the
time of the wars he fled, by reason of the wicked actings of some English
youth, who causelessly and basely killed and wounded some of them. He
>\us persuaded to come in again. But the English having plowed and sown
with rye all their lands, they had but little corn to e-ul>sist by. A party of
French Indians, (of whom some were of the kindred of this sachem's wife,)
very lately fell U|)on tliis people, being but few and unarmed, and piu-tly by
|)erHUusion, |>artly by force, carried them away. One, with liis wifi.*, child
and kinswoman, who were of our praying Indians, made their escape, came
in to the English, and discovered what was done. These things keep some
in a continual disgust nnd jealousy of all the Indians." *
It may be proper to add a word upon the name of the place which wi;
have ofix-n mentioned in this lilL;, ^h the same woni, difl'erently prunounced,
was a|>plied to a great many places $).v the Indians, and is the same word
whii'li Dr. L M(Uher and some others made many believe was made ii|> of
two Hebrew words, to prove that the Iiu'ians were really tlie desireiidaiits of
the dispersed Jews ; but for which pur|)Ose, if we are not misinfornieil, any
other Indian word would answer the same pur|M>so. The doctor writes
the name JVahumheik, and adds that jVahum signiiies consolation, and keik a
bosom, or heaven ; aiul hence the settlers of places bearing this name were
seated in the bosom of consolation, f He points out tliis i-tymological anal-
ogy in speaking of the settlement of Salem, which was called liy tlic liidian>
J\/'aumkuig, JVamkeff;, JSTaamhok, JS/aumkuk, or something a lUtle somttwhac
like it A sad busome of consolation, did it prove in the days of Tiluba, (t«»
say nothing of some more modern events,) and even in Dr. Mather's own
days. [Though a digre^ion, we shall, I doubt not, be pardoned f(.>r insekting
heie Dr. C. Matha's account of a curiosity at Amoskeag Falls, which he gav.-
in a letter to Louden, and which allerwards appeared in the Philosophical
TronsaetionH : X " At a place called Aninuskeag, a iiiile above the hidedus ^
falls of Meriinack River, there is a huj;e rock in the midst of the stream, on
the top of whicli are a great number ot pits, made exactly round, like iMirrels
or hogsheads of different capacities, some so large as to hold several tuns.
The natives know nothing of the time they were made ; but the neighboring
Indiiuis have Iteen wont to hide their provisions in them, in their wars with the
jMaquos ; affirnung, (iod had cut 'n out for that use fur them. They seem
plainly to be artificial." It could ccrtniiily have re<]uiied no great sagacity
to have supposed -hat one stone placed upon another in the water, so as to
have been constantly rolled from side to side by the current, would, in time,
occasion such cavities. One quite as remarkable we have seen near the
source of this river, in its descent from the F^ranconia Mountains ; also upon
the Mohawk, a shon t isiance below Little F'alls. They may be seen as you
pass upon tlie canal.
Early purchases of lands bring to our notice a host of Indians, many of
(Ion, 1691, aged 64 years. The rolloT 'iig lines are no less well conceived by the poet Ihau
deserved by liiis benevolent philosopher :
How much (o Hoti.k the learned world does owe,
The learned world does only know.
He (raced great nature's seciet springs ;
The causes and the seeds of (hings ;
What strange elastic power the air contains,
What mother earth secures within her secret veins.
Athenian Oracle, i. 67.
• 1 CM. Matt. Hist. Soc. iii. 179.
t Relation of the Troubles, &c 20. Dr. Increase Mather was the author of a great many
works, chiefly sermons, many of which have become curious for (heir singularity, and some
others valuable for the facts the v contain. His sermons, like many others of tha( day, had
very li((le meaning in (bcm, and consequently are now forgo(ten. He was son of H'charcl
Mather, preached m Bosioii above 60 years, died in 1723, aged 84 years. See hit life, by hi*
ton, lit. Cotton Mather, who was bom 12 Feb. 1662— 3, died 13 Feb. 1727—8, aged GH. Se«
his life by 8ai:Mel Mather.
\ Vol. v. of Jones's Abridgement, part ii. 164.
^ We cannot say what they were in those days, but should espect to be laughed at if wa
should call ihem hadeous at tne present time.
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WEHANOWNOWIT.-ROBINHOOD.
[Book III.
St.'. -J
whom, tiiough sachetna, but for such circumstances of trade, would ncTcr
have (Mime to our knowledge. There an? some, however, of whom we shall
in this chapter take notice, ,\a such notices assist in enabling us to judge how
the natives regarded their lands, and the territories of their neighboring
countrymen.
WirHANOWNOWIT was a New Hampshire sachem, whose name has
been considerably handled within a few years, from its l»cing found to the
nuich-talked-of deed conveying lands in New Hauipshrre to the Revcrrnd
John Whedimsht, and others, 3 April, 1(5.'?8. If H'thanmcnomt were sachem of
the tract said to have been by him conveyed, his " kingdom " was larg«;r
than some can boast of at this day who call themselves kings. It was to
contain 30 miles scjuare, and its boundaries were thus described : " lying and
situate within three miles on the northerne side of y« River Merenioke,
extending thirty miles along by the river from the sea side, and frou) tl»e
sayd river side to Pisscataqua Patents, 30 miles up into the coimtrey north-
to the deed above mentioned ; ajid another Indian, belonging to that 'ract of
country, namod Wtdthtnowet : these both relinquished their title to^ oi con-
curred in the sale of said tract.
KoiiiNuooDf wasthe ttither of a more noted chief, whose Imlian name
was fyohawa, but commonly known among tlie English as Hopehood. His
territories, as will appear, were upon the Keuuebeck River in the first settle-
ment of N. England.
Our iirst notice of Robinhood runs as follows: "Be it known** — "that I,
Ramef^n,X soe called by njy Indian name, or Robinhood, soe called by
English name, sagamore of Negusset, [or Neguasseag,] doe freely sell vnto
JanKS Smilk," — " part of my land, beginning att Merrv -meeting Cove, and
soe downward the maine riuer vnto a rockc, called IVtndoive's lioeke, in the
ionge reach, and in breadth eastward ouer the little riuer, runinge tlirough
tlie {(reat mersh, with the priuilidgcs [reserved to me] as hunting, fowlinge,
tishiug, and other games." Smith was to pay him or his heirs, on the 1 No-
vember anrmally, " one peck of Indian corn." Ttiis deed bears date 8 May,
1(J48, and is signed and witnessed as follows : — §
Neowinis his -f mark. RoaiwHOoo "VJ hia nuark.
SoNoREEKooD kis I' wiort .flfr. Thomas a his mark.
Pewazeosake SL '^** marL
The mark v-/'^ of RoBis.
Tho next year, 1G49, he sold the island of Jeremysquam, on the east side
of the Kunnebeck, and in 1654 we find him selling his place of residence,
which was in what is now Woolwich, to Edward Bateman and John Brown.
In 1(>(>3, Robinlutod is mentioned as one of the principal chiefs among the
eastern Indians. ||
Li l(>(i7, the inhabitants upon Coimecticut River, about Hadley, sustained
some injury from Lidians, in their lands and domestic animals, and satistiic-
tion therefor was demanded of Rohinhnod; at the same time tlireatening him
with the utmost severity, if the like should be repeated. But whether his
peopUj were the perjjetrators we are not toid ; but from the following facts
it may be thought otherwise. " To promote amity with them, license was at
length given to the traders in fur and iu peltries, to sell unto Indian friends
and tivc English.
* MS. communicalion of (hnt geuUeman.
\ This uame was a,
lie sold to Christopher Latoson all the land on the Kennebeck River up as
high as Taconnet fulls, now Winslow, which was the residence of the great
chief Essiminaaqua, or Jissiminat m, elsewhere mentioned. About the
same time, he sold the same tract, or a part of it, to Sntmxr and Clark. The
residence of Kennehia was upon Swan Island, " in a delightful situation, and
that of Ahbigudojiaet between a river of his name and the Kennebeck, u[ion
tlie northern borders of Merry-meeting Bay."§ Swan Island was |)iirchased
of Mbigadasaet in 1667, by Humphry Dcvie, and allerwards claimed by Sir
John Davy, a Serjeant at law. ||
We shall proceed to notice here one, of another age, whose melancholy
fate has long since commanded the attention of writers.
Sotne time previous to the settlement of Burton, N. II., that is, previous to
176(), there resided in that region a small tribe of Indians, among whom was
une named
CnocoRUA, and ho was the last of the primitives of those romantic scenes.
This region was attracting to them on account of the beaver which were
found in its pellucid waters, and its cragged cliffs afforded safe retreats to a
plentiful game. It is handed to us by tradition, that Chocorua was the last
of this region, and that he was murdered by a miserable white hunter, who,
with others of his complexion, had wandered here in quest of game. This
solitary tnan had retired to a neighboring mountain, and was there discovered
and shot The eminence to which it is said this Indian had retired, is the
highest mountain in Burton, and commands a beautiful view of u great
extent of surrounding country. One of the most superb engravings that
has appeared in all our annuals, is that representing Chocorua in his last
retreat.
It is a fact well known in all the neighboring parts of the country, that
cattle cannot long survive in Burton, although there appears abundance of
all that is necessary for their support. They lose their appetite, pine and
• WUliamton's Maine, i. 428, from 3 Mass. Rfc.
t II appears from the " Answer to tlie Remarks of the Plymouth Company," that Esseme-
No^^uE was also one that consented to the sale. He is the same whom we shall notice as
Assiminasqua in our next chaoter.
X I'eople of Plimouth. — Wuliam Paddy dtxcA 9.\ Boston. His gravestone was dug out of
the nihhish uni'er the old stale-house in 1830.
« Williamson, i. 467.
I VVilliimson, i, 331. Dr. Holmes, in his Annals, places the sale of Swan Island under
k»8.
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102
SQUANDO.— BURNING Ot SACO.
[Book III.
'■ys^T^i'
die. It is said that Choeorua cursed the English before he expired, and the
Bupcrstitioiis, to this dny, attribute the disease of cettle to the ^rurse of Cho-
eorua. But a much inoru rational one, we apprehsnd, will be found in the
affection of the waters by niiueruls.
CHAPTER Vm.
Sqoando, sachem ofSaco — Atlacks the town of Saro — Singvlar account of him by a
contemiinrarij — The ill treatment of his wife a cauteof war — His humanity in restor-
ing a captive — Madokawanuo — Causes of hit hostility — Assiminasijua — Hit
speech — Speech of Tarumkin — Miioo — /» carried to Boston to execute a treatif — Is
Mudukuirando's ambasswivr- -Release of Thomas Cobbet — Madokawanilo' s kindntti
to prisoners — Mow i attacks Wells and is beaten off — .Attacked the next year by the
Indians under Madokatoando and a company of frenchmen — .^re repulsed with
great loss — Incidents of the siege — Mons. Casteins — A further account of Minus
Wanunoonet — AssAcoMBUiT — Further account of Mug^ — His d-ath — Svmon,
Anurkw, Jf.ofkrev, Petkr and Joskpii — Account of their depredations — L'ife of
Kankamagvs — Treated with neglect — Flies his country — Hicomes an enemy-
Surprise of Dover and murder of Maj. tValdnm — Masandowet — Worl-mbo—
Ills fort captured by Church — Kankamagus's leife and children taken — Hupehood
Conspiruaius in the ina. taere at Salmon Fall* — His death — Mattahanoo—
Megunneway.
The first chief which will here be properly noticed is Squando, a Tur-
ratine, sachem of the Socokis, conmionly called sagamore of Suco. Me In
mentioned with a good deal of singularity by the writers of his times. And
wo will here, by way of exordium, extract what Mr. Mi/Aer, in his Brief
History, &c., says of him. "After this, [the burning of Casco,] they [the
Indians] set upon Saco, where they slew 13 men, and at la^t burnt the town.
A principal actor in the destruction of Saco was a strange enlhusiaslical saga-
more called Squando, who, some years before, pretended that God appeared
to him in the form of a tall man, in black clothes, declaring to him that he
was God, and commanded him to leave his drinking of strong li(|uors, and
to pniy, and to k<;ep sabbaths, and to go to hear the word preached ; all
which things the Indian ilid for some years, with great seeming devotion
and conscience, observe. But the God which appeared to him said nothing
to him about Jesus Christ; and therefore it is not to be marvelled at, that at
last he discovered himself to be no i>therwise than a child of him that wom
a murderer and a liar from the beginning." Mr. Hubbard sr.ys that he was
"the chief actor or rather the be,;;::!ner " of the eastern war of 1G75 — 6;
tut rather contradicts the statemvuit, as we apprehend, in the same para-
fraph, by attributing the same caiise to the " rune and indiscrete act of some
Inglish seamen," who either for mischief overset a canoe in which was
SqvaruWs wife and child, or to nae if yoimg Indians could swim naturally
like animals of the brute creation, as some had reported. * The child went
to the bottom, but was saved fr^m drowning by the mother's diving down
and bringing it up, yet "within a while alter the said child died." "The
said Squando, father of the child, hath been so provoked thereat, that he hatli
ever since set himself to do all the iniBchief he can to tlie English." The
whites did not believe that the death of the child waB owing to its immer-
sion ; still we must allow the Indians to know as well as they. As the
most memorable exploit in which Squando was engaged was the burning
of Saco, it will be j)roper to enter here more in detail into it The two prin-
cipal inhabitants of the place were Captain Bonithon and Major Philips,
whose dwellings were situated on opposite sides of Saco River; the former
on the east and the latter on the west. On 18 Geptember, 1675, Captain Bon-
ilhon's house was discovered to be on fire, but himself and family had just
* " They can swim naiurally, strikiiis; their paws under their throat like a dog, and not
spreading their arms as yve do." Josselyn's Voyage to N. E. 142.
English.
CKAr. VIII.]
BURNINn OF SACO.
103
before escaped across the river to Major Phillip's, and thus fortunately de-
feated a part of the deBi^n of their enemies. For thin fortunate escape,
however, they were under deep obiifration to a friendly Indian who lived
uear by ; he having been some how made acquainted with the decigu of
Stptanlo, immediately imparte..d instantly discovered themselves on all sides ut' the
garrison ; but the English, being well pn-pared, tired upon tiiem from all
quarters of their works, kilUng some and wounding otiiers. Among the
latter was a chief who died in his retreat, three or four miles fron the place.
He advised liis fellows to desist from the enterprise, '>ut they refused, and
after continuing the siege for about an hour longer, they began to devise
some means to set the garrison en fire. IJ'it in order to draw out the men
from it in the first place, they set a house on fire near it, and also a suiv and
grist mill ; that rot huvi.ng the desired effect, they called to them in an
exulting tone, and said, " You rowartUy English doga, come out and put out the
fin!"
The attack had begun about 11 o'clock in the day, aiid though the night
partially put an en 1 to it, yet the English were alarmed every half hour,
until about lour or five o'clock in the morning, when the work of the preced-
ing night discovered itself. A noise of axes and other tools had been heard
in the neighborhood of the saw-mill, and it was expected tlie Lidiuus were
preparing some engine with which to accomplish their object, and it proved
true. A cart with lour wheels had been constructed, and on one end they
had erected a breastwork, while the body of the cart was tilled with birch,
straw, (lowder, and such like matters tor the ready consummation of their
stratagem. The approach of this formidable machine dismayed some of
tlie Englishmen in the garrison ; but being encouraged by their officers, they
stood to their quarters, and awaited its approach. Their orders were not to
tire until it came within pistol shot. When it had got witliin about that
distance, one of the wheels stuck tiist in a gutter, which its impellers not
observing in season, tliey forced the other wheels onward, and brought them-
selves into a position to be effectually raked by the right tiank of the garri-
son. This mistake of the enemy was improved to great advantage by the
English. They poured in a sudden fire upon them, killing six and wound-
ing 15 mure. This sudden and unexpected reverse decided the fate of the
garrii )n. The Indians immediately retreated, and the garrison received no
further molestation.
As was generally the case in sieges of this kind, the English learned what
dumuge they did their enemy, their numbers, &c., some time at\er the affair
happened. In this case, however, nothing more is related concerning the loss
of the Indians than we have given, and theii numbers Mr. Hubbard does not
expr.ssly state, but says the people in the garrison " espied 40 of them
marching awuy the next morning at sunrise, but how many more were in
their company they could not tell." * There were 50 persons in the garri-
son, though but 15 of them were able to act in its defence.
But tew days before the affau* at Saco, viz. on 12 f September, the family of
Tkoioa^ fVakely at Presumpscot R.'ver were massacred in a revolting manner.
The '^ old man," his son, and his daughter-in-law, then enceinte, with three
grandchildren, were all murdered, and when discovered by their neiglibors,
partly burned in tlie ruins of their habitation, to which the Indians hud set
lire on leaving the place. One of the family was tiUcen captive, a girl about
11 years old, who, alter Laving {mssed through all the tribes from the Sokokia
to the NatTagansets, was restored to the English at Dover by Squando. But
* Mr. Potiom, Hist. Saco and Biddeford, 155, says they -^ere computed at 100
t Williamson's Hist. Maine, i. 620.
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MAIX)KA\VANDO.
(n<>iii. III
t-iim^
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it d<)CM not nppoar wlmthcr tliiM rliiuf had any thing fiirtliRr to do in the
tnuttur, alliiungti it niuy b«) inlfrnui, thut hu hud homim runtrol or roniiiiniid
ovtT liuwe tiiut held hnr priHoncr. i'Voni the circiiniBtance thut thJH child
wuM Hticwti to thu iioHtiii) triltvM tliroiigh the country, it would Hcvni thtit the
«!UKtern Indians wero in coni-tTt with thoHo to the went ; and it iH proltuhle
thnt thlH ca])tive wuh thuM vxiiibitud to prove thut they hod talinn up th«>
hutclutt. lf|)on her \>c\ug ntturnud, Mr. Hubbard nMnurkH, " Hhe huvinj; Itcen
curried up and down tiie country, Houie huiidruda of Iniles, as (iir oh Narra-
{rnnaet Ibrt, wuh, tiiiM last June, returned Iwck to Major ffa/erly regarding their own safety, and totally disregard-
ing whatever evils might accrue from the measure to the Indians. Knowing
enough hud been done to excite their resentment, agents were sent to parley
with them, in the spring and siunmer of 1670, to huider, if iwssible, their
taking offence at these proceedings.
Meanwhile the Indians hud complained to some friendly English of the
outrage upon their fi-iends, who were unacquainted with the circumstance,
and hardly l)elieved it : still, told the Indians, that if it were so, those kid-
napped should l)e restored, and the perpetrators punished. But knowing
the circumstance to be us they had represented, it is rather marvellous, that
Indiana, instead of at once retaliating, should hearken to unsatisfactory par-
leyings, as will appear ; for when the English agents went to treat with them,
or rather to excuse themselves for what they could not, or pretended they could
not, amend, the Indians, in the course of the interview, said, " We irere rfn'ren
from our com last year by the people (dmut Kennebeck, and many of u» died. We
liod no powder and shot to kill venison and fowl tcith to prevent U. If you English
tvere our friends, aayou pretend you are, i/ou would not suffer ua to starve as we did."
» However," says Mr. Huhbarcl, "the said agent, making the best he could of a bad
cause, used all means to pacify the complainants." The great " all means " was,
that they should try to get the Androscoggin Indians to come and hold a treaty !
BO that if the English could effect a treaty with them, then there would be a
general peace with the eastern Indians. This talk, it was said, they received
with joy. " Yet," adds the same author, still by one fatal accident or other,
jealousies still seemed to increase in their minds, or else the former injuries
began to boil afresh in their spirits, as not being easily digested," &c.
A meeting had been agreed upon at Totononnock, or Taconnet, and
immediately ufler the meeting just mentioned a runner was sent down from
thence, with word that Squamio would be there with " divers Amonoscoggau
Chap. VIII]
MADOKAWANIKl
105
mclinnm," Muifg Imvinir iMcn nnnt ni a nicssciifrnf tn him. Acrnrdiiiftly the
Kii^lixh procfioilod to Tnronnnt. On thoir nrrivnl, thoy wcro hoiiontd willi
n salute, luxi roiuhirteil into the conucll hoiiiw, wlinre they t'oinid Mwhkn-
icnndo, Aisimiruuqxut, Torumkin, Uopthonil^ •I^f'U^ffi tuul tnnny atteiidnntH.
Mnlokaimndo wiih nriine negotiator, Hnd Jhsiminnthiua diiof H|M>akni-, who
Hooti after proceeded to niai, on Hii<;h irrt>);nlnr
nctioiis, whinh coidd not well he hiHtificd, they told theiri, the pt>n«oiiH who
had so done • were not within the liniita of tlu'ir f.'ov?ierve, was a Kanibas sachem,
whose residence was at or near the place where the treaty was held.
What had been said hy Jlasiminasqua \n the morning was merely prelimi*
nnry, and it was his intention in the ailernoon to enter more particularly into
details ; but the English cut the matter short, and proceeded to trent with
such of the Androscoggins as were present. Torumkin was their orator, and
he spoke to this effect :-~
" / have been to the loeatward, where I have found many Indians unwillin/r to
ma'te peace ; but for my own part, lam unllir^,^ which he confirmed by taking
the English by the hand, as did seven or eight of his men, among whom
were Mugg and liobinhood's son. The English had now, as thetf supposed,
got matters into a regular train ; but Madokatvando, it appears, was not will-
ing tn leave things in quite so loose a manner, as it regarded his people.
He tlicrefore interrupted : —
" IVkat are we to do for powder and shot, when our com is consumed^ what
ahall we do for a winter^s fnpply ? Must we perish, or must we abandon our coun-
try, and fly to the French for protection ? "
The English replied that they would do what they could with the gov-
ernor ; " aonu might be alloieed them for necesrity.'" Madohawando added :
" We have waited a great while already, and now we expci you will say yes or no."
The English rejoined : " You say yourselves that maiiy of the western In-
dians would not have peace, and, therefore, if we sell you powder, and you
give it to the western men, w^hat do we but cut our oion throats ? It is not in
our power, withoxU leave, if you shoidd wait ten years nwre, to let you have
powder." Here, as might reasonably have been expected, ended the nego-
tiation, and massacres and bloot'.^B
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MADOKAWANDa—DESTRUCTION OF YORK.
[Book III
P
WW-
s:fci:^^
as tlio Knglinh dictated.* It in no wonder, therefore, if the great chief ■oon
apiM^nnt again tiieir enemy. Htill, whnu Muffg was sent home, Madokawando
ttgn-ud to the treaty, more roudily, perhapfi, aa two armed vcwelH of the Kng-
liah conveyiMi him.
A Hoii ol K«;V(;ri;nd Thomas Cobbel had lieen taken, and wbh among the Indiann
nt Mount Dt'sert. It do hapix-ned tiiut hiu muHt«!r liud at that time sent hirti
down to CfuUrih'a trading-hoiiw, to l)ny |H>wd(tr (or liim. Murr tooit liiin hy
(liM hand, and told him ho hud lM!c>n ut hiH iiither'a houHC, anu liad pronusvii
to H(;nd him home. Madokaxvandu demanded a ranHom, iirohahly to wiiiMfy
the owner ofttie ca|*iive, "yeannj|f," lie Haid ^ to be killed bii nim, \f ke yielded km
H/) wilhout he were there to coruent ; for he toot a demerate man, \f crossed, and
hiul in\\nM\ tuM or three in that tcay." Iteing on iKuird one of the vcHseln,
and troatcd to Home litpinr, "he wa/Kud awhile," huvh C'o66e(, "toundaguiiion
the deck, and on a nndden made a stand, and said to Captain Mvore, * Well
captain, Hince it ia ho, take thirf man : I freely give him up to you ; carrj' him
home to hin friends.' " | A red cout was given to Madokaicando, which gnve
him great sutinfaction.
The liiHtoriaiiH of the War have all ohnerved that the prisoners under Ma-
iLikawando wen; rcmarkahly well treated.
In Fehrnary, 11)77, Major H'aldron, and Ca|ttain Frost, witli a l)ody of men,
were Hent into the euHtern coast to ohserve the motions of the Indians, who
still remained hostile. At I'emmaqnid, they Avere invited on shore to hold a
treaty, hut the English finding some weapons concealed among them, thought
it a sufficient umbrage *o treat theui as enemies, and a consideiahio tight
ensued, in which many of the Indians were killed, and several taken prison-
ers ; among whom was u iMstcr of Madokateando. He had no knowhulgc of
the aftiiir, having been gone for several mouths at a great distance into the
country, on a hunting voyage.
We hear no more of Mmlokawando until 1601. It will be found mentioned
in the account of Es^eremet, that in that year a treaty was made with hirii and
other eastern chioti). This was in NovefuU-r, and it was agreed by thetii,
that, on the first of May following, they would deliver all the captives in their
(lossesaion, at Wells. " But," says Dr. Mather,^ "as it was not upon the firm
land, hut in their canoes upon the water, that tliey signed and sealed this in-
strument ; so, reader, we will be jealous that it will prove but a fluctuating
and unstable sort of business ; and that tlie Indians will do a lie ta they used
to do."
Meanwhile Madokaicando, among other important expeditions which he
planned, attempted one upon York, in which he succeeded nearly to his
wishes, if not beyond his expectations. Such was his manner of attack, that
the Knglish scarce knew their enemy; from whence they came, or their
numbers. But it was alterwards ibund by the Indians' own confession, and
soine captives they had liberated, that Madokawando was the leader in the
business. Whether he had during the winter been to Canada, and got the
assistance of some Frenchmen, or whether Castiens, his son-in-law, and some
otlier Frenchmen who then resided among his people at Penobscot, were
with hun, we cannot take it upon us to state ; but certain it is, some French
were in his company, but how many is also uncertain, but the number of
Indians was stated at almut 250. It was on Monday, Febniary 5, in the year
1692, early in the morning, rhat York was laid in ashes, all except three or
four garrisoned houses, and about 75 of its inhabitants killed, and 85 taken
captive.
Such only escaped as reached the garrisons, and these were summoned to
surrender, but the besiegers dared not to continue long enough to make any
effectual assault upon them, and thus they escaped. The wretched captives
• A treaty was siened 9th of Dec. 1676. JUanuteript Nar. of Rev. T. Cobbet. It may be
seen in Hubbard's Narrative.
t The Indian word for killed. Wood's N. E. Prospect.
X Manuscript Narrative, before cited. Perhaps this was the Mme Captain Moore who car-
ried the news ofPhilip't defeat and death to London aAerwards. S«e Old Indiah Cukor
ICLE, 105.
4 Magaalia, vik 76.
Chap. VIII]
MADDKAWANDO.
107
were lii^rried into the wildernoRH, nn
'•• tS..'
108
madokawando.
[Book III.
■Pip?
tured out of the gorrieon on some occasion, whom they tortured in a mo8t
barbarous nianmr. About the time of their retreating, they fired upoc the
sloops, .:iid kilk'd tlie only man lust by the vessels during the assault. In
the attack upon the vessels, among other stratagems, they prepared a breast-
work upon wheels, which, notwithstanding their previous experitucc in this
kind ot engine, at hirookfield and Saco, they again resolved to try, and tiiere-
tore endeavored to brmg it close to the edge of the river. Wlien they
had got it pretty near, one wheel sunk in the ground, and a l-'ren'^h soldier,
end«;avoring to lilt it nut with his shoulder, was shot down ; a second was
ulso killed in the like attempt, and it was abandoned. They also built a raft
in the creek above the vessels, and placed on it an immense pile of combus-
tibles, and, setting them on fire, floated it down towards them. But when
within a few rods of tiie sloops, the wind drove it on shore, and thus they
were delivered from the most dangerous artifice of the whole. For it was
said that, had it come down agahist them, they could not have saved them-
selves irom the fury of its flames.
As late as 1736 an attempt was made to j)rove that Madokcucndo was not
chief sachem of the Penobscots, which it pecins no one in his lilctime
thought of questioning. Nor had tlw; liict at tliis time been questioned but
from mercenary motives. A claim iiuving been set up to lands upon St.
George's River, in opposition to that of the heirs of Governor Leverett, that
falsehood was resorted to, to maintain it. i'he foundation of Leverett's claim
was in a de»d dated Pennnaquid, 9 May, lti94, by which Madokawando con-
veyed to Sir JfiUiam Phips the tract of land on both sides of St. George's
River, bounded east by Wessamesskek River, west by Hatthett's Cove Island,
thence by a line to the upper fiills of St George's River; also Mastomqiioog
Island in the mouth of said river, and St. Greorge's Islands. A valuable con-
iiideration is said to have been paid, but what it was does not appear from the
deed. The deponents called upon afterwards to prove Madokawando's [)ower
to sell that tract, state the cousidoration variously, tliough none of them defi-
nitely ; some said Sir IVilliam Phips gave a large amount in money,* and
one tliat he gave a hatfull.] To this deed were the following signatures :—
The mark of
WAND'
of Penobscot,
Madokawando, ^ Sagamore
and a seal.
Signed, sealed and delivered in
presence of
The mark 21 of Ldgar Emit,
Sagamore of Kenrubek.
The mark ft ©/"Wknemouet,
cozin to Madokaicando.
The mark X of Jonn Saugmore,
of Sheepsgui River, interpreter.
Also 6 or 7 whites.
From an examination of the various aflidavits before mentioned we derive
the following interesting historical facts in the life of Madokawando ; viz.
that he died in 1698, and was succeeded by fVenamouet, or, as his name is
sometimes spelled, fVenoggonet. Thie appears from the deposition of Cap-
tain Cyprian Sotiihack, who further savs " that he was with Madokawando,
when a [tresent of 10 barrels of guifpowder, a quantity of fire-arms, and
some clothes, were delivered him by Governor Hillebone, which was a present
sent him by the King of France." "And that Monsieur Castain married
the said Madokawando's daughter."
Joseph Baiu dci)osed, *' that, in 1G91, he was with Theodore Atkinson, late
of Newcastle, in ^{. Hampshire, Esq., said Atkinson's wife, and Mrs. Elizabeth
Alcock of Portsmojith, widow, and many others at the house of Joseph
Moidton of York in the county of York, when they were taken captive by
a large number of Indians," that Madokawando was then commander of
said Lidians, and was then reputed chief sachem of Penobscot Bane
further relates that he was sold to an Amaroscoggen Indian, with whom he
lived till 1699, and that he was present when Mcuiokawando ordered Theodore
^ .}*^^.C■■•
mU■■
Deposition otJolm Phillips, 2 July, nX.-—Waldo'i Defence, 3.
t Ibid. 35.
i we derive
loando ; viz.
ra*p. VIII.]
MADOKAWANDO.—BARON CASTEINS.
109
Jtkinson, who was his cnpt' e, to write to the governor of Massachusetts t«
srnd a vessel to Sagadahok with goods to redeem the captives ; tliat it was
iiccordin^'ly sent there, and Atkinson, his wile, and about 40 others were
icd«eiri(d.
Jokn Longley was taken prisoner .at Groton ii iily, 1GJ)4, and was servant
ta MaiMiawando two years and a halK
The inhabitants of Black Point gave, yearlj, a peck of com each to Ma
ilokmcando^ as jin acknowiedgnient that he was sactiern of Penolwcot.
hi 1()!X) Tobias Oakman was taken by the Indians at Black Point. At
which time he says he " personally knew Edsar Emet who was then chief
siichttin of Kenebeck and Squando who was then chief sachem of Saco, and
M'\rut who was then chief sachem of Noridgawock, and Shepcot John who
was t'len chief sachem of Shepscot and with Ooniniby, who was then chief
jjachem of Pejemscot." Oakman was taken prisoner by JJO Iridians in ii
|rarti^'8 undor '3 chiels ; one from Penobscot, one from Norridgewok and the
other Iroiii Pejepscot ; Madokawando, Moxus and Oorwnby being the respec-
tive sachems ; hence Madokawando was sachem of Penobscot at that time.
hi the treaty which the eastern chiefs made with Sir. M'Uliam Phips at
Penimaquid, 11 August, ItJPS, the following hostages were delivered to the
English to ensure its obsei-vance. " Ahassamhamst, brother to Edger Emet ;
We.vomouett, cousin to Madokawando ; Bagatawa woNGO.v,and Sheepscott
John." *
A daughter of Madokawando, as we have seen, married the Baron De Cos-
Idns, by whom he had several cliildren.
hi all of our former editions we gave Lahontan's account of Casteins in a
note, and in the French language ; but it having been suggested by triends,
jhat it should not only occupy a place in the text, but be rendered in English,
I improve the opportunity to make the change.
The Baron De St. Casteins^ a gentleman of Oleron in Beam, having for
about 20 years resided among the Abenakis, gained so much of their esteem,
tliat they regarded him as their tutelar deity. He had been an officer of the
Carignan regiment in Canada ; but when that regiment was disbanded, he
cast himself among the savages, of whom he learned their language. He
took I'rom them a wife after their manner, preferring the forests of Acadie,
to the Pyrenean mountains, which environ his native coimtry. He lived,
(luring the first years of his abode with the Indians, in such a manner as to
min a respect from them, above whot can be imagined. They made him
jn'eat chietj which is the same as sovereign of the nation, and by little and
little ho has worked up a fortune, which any other man would have turned
to good account, and withdrawn from the country with two or three hundred
thousand crowns of gold in his coffers. However, lie only uses it to buy
meicliandise, with wliich to make presents to his Indian brethren, who,
when they return from their hunting excursions, reimburse him for his
presents with a triple amotmt in beaver.f The governors of Canada
direct him, and those of New England fear him. He has several daughters,
all of whom are advantageously married to Frenchmen, with each a rich
dowry. He has never changed his wife,| showing the Indians by his
€xam])le that God is not pleased with inconstant men. It is said t.iat he has
endeavored to convert these poor people, but that his words produce no
irood fruit, and hence it is of no use for the Jesuits to preach tlie truths of
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MOXUS.— DEATH OF MUGG.
[Book III
The town now called CcuAint, on tlie Penobscot River, was the place of
the residence of the French baron, and a son of his succeeded him in the
sachemdom of the Penobecots. He was with IberviUe at the ca])ture of
Pemmaqiiid in 169(5, in whicli expedition lie led 200 Indians. Captain Chubb,
of whom we have spoken belore, commanded the Ibrt, which was well
manned and sup])lied, having 13 pieces ci' cannon and 90 men, but surreii-
dered it in a cowardly manner. He helped defend Port Royvl in 170(), in
defence of which he was wounded in 1707. He finally retired to his native
country, where he ended his days. In ltJ88, Governor Jlndros^ with an arma-
ment, took possession ofCagtaiti's village, plundered his house, and committed
other depredations, but himself escaped. In 1721, his sou was seized b}
the English, and carried to Boston ; but they not long alter set him at liberty-
Some have endeavored to ground an argument upon the similarity of tti'e
name of this chief to that of Madock the Welshman, that the eastern In-
dians were descended from a Welsh colony, who, in 1170, left that country,
and were never heard of after. The story of some white Indians speaking
Welsh, on the Missouri River, has gained supporters in former and latter
jieriods. *
Moxus, or, as he was sometimes called, Jlgamagvjt, was also a noted chief.
We can add little concerning him, to what has already been said. After
Madokawando was dead, and the war between the French and English natioas
had ceased, the eastern chiefs were ready to submit to terms. Moxus seems
the successor of Madokawando, and when delegates were ent into the east-
ern country to make peace with the Indians, in 1699, his name stood first
among the signers of the treaty .f He concluded another treaty with Governor
Dudley, in 1702. The next year, in company with ff'anungonet, Jlasacambmt,
and a number of French, he invested Captain March in tlie fort at Caaco.
After using every endeavor to take it by assault, they had recourse to the
following stratagem. They began at the water's edge to imdermine it by
digging, but were prevented by the timely arrival of an armed vessel under
Captain Southack. They had taken a vessel and a great quantity of plunder.
About 200 canoes were destroyed, and the vessel retaken. From which
circumstance it may be inferred that their number was great
Moxus was at Casco in 1713, to ticjat with the English, and at Georgetown,
upon Arowsike Island, in 1717. There were seven other chiefs who attended
also at the time and place last mentioned.
MuGG was a chief among the Androscoggins, and very conspicuous in the
eastern war of 1676-7, into whicli he seems to have been brought by the
same cause as Madokawando, already stated. He had been very friendly to
tlie English, and had lived some time with them.
On the 12 October, 1676, he made an assault upon Klack Point, now in
Scarborough, with about 100 warriors. All the inhabitants being gathered into
one fortified place upon that point, a few hands might have defienaed h against
all the Indians on that side of the country.}: While the captain of the garri-
son was gone out to hold a talk with Mugg, the people fled from the garrison
and took all their effects along with theiri. A few of his own servants, how-
ever, remained, who fell into the hands of the chief, who treated them kindly.
When Fraticis Card was a prisoner among his men, he told him "that he had
found out the wan to hum Boston," and laughed much about the English;
saying he would have all their vessels, fishing islands, and whole country,
and bragged about his great numbers. He was killed at Black Point, on 16
May, the same place where, the year before, he had had such good success. He
had besieged the garrison three days, killed three men, and taken one captive.
The celebrated Symon, who had done so much mischief in many places, was
with him here. Lieutenant Tippin, who commanded the garrison, " made a
* See Janson's Stranger in America, TIO, ed. 4to. I-ondon, 1807; Universal Magazine, yo\.
xciii. 21 j Dr. Soulhey's Preface to his Madock ; Bouquet's Exped. as;ainst Ohio Indians, 69
ed. 4lo. London, 1766 ; K«^r'» Travels in America, 167 — 172 -, Burk, Hist. Vtjjgtma, ii. 84
Beatty, Jour. 24; Moulton':: New-York, i. 45.; Barton's Physical Jow. i. pi. ii. 79
ColumI}. Mag. for ?7?7.
t Magnalia, vii. '«. It is dated 7 Jan. 16:;<'«; . '■-■ ■
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JI9
112
SYMON.— ESCAPE OF CAPTIVES.
(Book IIL
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"The good Lord pardon ua." * Thus some considered they had need or par'
ion for not dealing with more rigor tovvurds the Indians !
One of the most important actions in which Symon was engaged remains
to be related. Mr. Anthony Brackett, who lived at Back Cove, upon a large
estate now owned in part by Mr. During of Portland, had been visited by
Sumon, occasionally, who, liKe Tototon, in the case of Clark* at Eel River, in
Plimouth, had made himself well uc<{uai<>tpd with the situation of his house
and family. On the 9th of August, l(i7(j, some ludiaus hud killed one o{ Brack-
«tP» cows. Brackttt immediately compluiued to Symon of the outrage, who
promised to bring to him the perpetrators. Meanwhile a complaint was de-
spatched to Ma^or Waldron at Dover, which might have been the cause of the
course Symon immediately after pursued ; for, if, when he had promised to
aid in adjusting the affair, he learned thut, at the same time, a force had been
secretly applied for, it is a sufficient reason, in tliis ruffled state of '.hings,
that he should show himself an enemy, as he did, on the morning of the
11th, two days alter the injury was done. Friday was the 11 August, and it
was early in the morning that Symon appeared at the head of a party, at the
house of Captain Anthony Brackett. "■ 'ihesc are the ludiaus," said he, "that
killed the cow." No sooner was this suid, than the house was entered, and
the guns seized upon belonging to the iimiily. Brackett then asked what was the
meaning of their carriage, and Symon replied, " So it must be," and demanded
of him whether he would go with them, us u captive, or be killed ; to which
he answered, that if th<>, case were so, he prcierred to serve as a cap-
tive ; Symon then said tlit^ must be hound, and, accordingly, Mr. Bradcttl,
hia wife, (who was a daughter of Michael Milton,) and a negro, were bound.
Mrs. BrackdCa brother JVaihaniel, only son of M. Mittony was of the
family, and nude some resistancj .-.hen they were about to bind him, and
was killed upon the spot. The /est, hi crhett, his wife and five children were
carried away prisoners. They continued in captivity until the November
following, when some of them found means to effect an escape ; which was
singularly fortunate, and worth relating. In their Avanderiugs, those who
held them captive, came to the nortii side of Casco Bay. Here news reached
the Indians that Arowsike Island had been captured by their br^hren, and
they at once determined to share in the booty ; »o, in th.cir hurry, their eager-
ness for the spoil of Arowsike outweighed their fears of losing their prison-
ers. Therefore they promised Captain Brackett and the rest, that if they would
come after them, they should have a share in the good things which had
been taken ; and accordingly set off and left them. Mrs. Bratkett, taking ad-
vantage of their good feeling, just before they left, asked them for some
meat, which was readily granted ; she found an old birchen canoe, which had
been probably abandoned by the Indians, by reason of its being nearly brok-
en up, but in which it was resolved to attempt an escape : and with the help of
a needle which Mrs. Brackett also found in an old house at that place, she
was enabled so to mend the canoe, that it wafted herself and child, her hus-
band and thc; negro man to the opposite shore of the bay, a distance of eight
or nine m'^les, in safety. They hardly could have exjiected but what, on
landing nciur Black Point, they would have been in the very presence of In-
dians, yet it so happened that although they had but just destroyed the settle-
ments there, they had all left the place. And a vessel, which happened very
fortunately in that neighborhood, took them in safety to Portsmouth.
The wife of Captain Anthony Brackett should not be overlooked in enume-
rating the heroines of our country. Her name was Ann. She died after this
war, but the time is not ascertained. Her husband married again, a daughter
of Abraham Drake, Senior, of Hampton, whose name was Susannah,^ by whom
he had several children. When Colonel Church had the memorable fight
with the Indians at Casco, 21 September, 1089, Captain Brackett was killed.
After this his wife and children went to her fathers at Hampton, but finally
returned to their possessions.
We are now to commence upon the recital of one of the most horrid mas-
sacres cny where recorded — the sacking of Dover by the famous chiefs Kati'
• HUt.N.Ei>flaml,i.l6S.
t Hubbard'* Nar. and iViUu'* PorUaod, i. 143— 15d.
Chap. VDI.]
KANKAMAGU3.— INDIAN LETTERa.
113
kttmagui and Miuacmdoted, and the barbarous murder of Major Watdron and
many of his people.
KANKAMAGUS, commonly in the histories called Hogkins, Hawkins, or
HakiHS, was a Pennakook sachem, and an arttiil, persevering, faithful man, as
long as he could depend ujpon the English for protection. Jkit when Crovemor
Cranjwld, of New Hampshire, used his endeavors to bring down the Mohawks
to destroy the eastern Indians, in lt)84, who were constantly stirnnl up by the
French to commit depredations upon the English, Kardcamagua, knowing the
Mohawks made no distiaction whi^e tiiey came, fled to the eoHtward, and
joined th<3 Androscoggins. He had a Ibrt upon that river, where his family
and that of another sachem, called fVorombos, or fVorombo, lived. But before
he fled his country, he addressed several letters to the governor, which dis-
cover his fidelity as well as his fears ; ai>d from which there is no doubt but
he would always gladly have lived in Uia own country, and on the most inti-
mate and friendly terms with the English, to whom he had become attached,
and had adopted much of their manner, and could read and write, but foi
the reasons just stated. Tlie IbUowing letters fully explain the situation of
his mind and his feelisgs, at the time he expec/ted the Mohawks would ravage
his country : —
" Mm/ 15th, 1685. Honor governor my Jriend. Y-• .^ i '.1 ■' • ■
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The same day, as appears by the Aate of it, tt gkint wrote the followinjr
letter, which bears the same signature as the above : —
" Honor Mr. Governor, — JVbw this day I com your house, I vant se you, and I
brin^ my hand at before you I want shake hand to you if your worship when please,
then receive my hand then shake your hand and my hand. You my friend because
Iremetnber at old time lohen live my grant father and grant mother then English-
men com this country, then my grant father and Englishmen they make a good
government, they friend allwayes, my grant father living at place called Malamake-
revtr, other name chef jYatukko and Panukkog, that one rever great many names
and I bring you this few skins .'-*.
•'. ■?■■■■■-'.;■:.■
* The same called Betokom la Gookin, probablj. — See ante, Book ii. Chap. viL
i Pexbaps Ffoixhood.
ID*
> ' ''H pi- A- ; ■,
114
KANKAHAGUS.— INDIAN TREATY.
[Book FIL
a
''feS''?fS:^i:^*'^i
Ami about what he haut dotu, you, you my /rUnd ij you duin my hutiness, then
sent mt I will help you if lean. Jou» HooKi.Ni.''
"Mr. Mason, — Pray / want tpeak you a few words if yowr worship when pltnst
btcause I com parfas fwill speake this governor but he go away so he say ai last
night, and so far I underHand this governor his power that your power noin, so he
speak, his own mouth. Pray if you taf ^ifhat I want pray com to me becami I
tvant go horn at this day. lour humble servant,
"May IG, 1G85. John Uookiks, Indian sagrimr."
About tlie time these letters were writteu, persons w«>re sent amoDg the
Indians to ascertain whether, as was reported, they were assuming a warlike
attiiiide. Tliose to whom the inquiry was intrusted, on their return report-
ed, " that four Indians came from fort Albany to the fort at Penaeook,an(l in-
formed them [the Indians there] that all the Mohawks did declare they would
kill all Indians from Uncus at Mount Hope to the eastward as far as Pegypscou
'■^ The reason of JVatombamat, sagamore of Saco, departed his phiee was, be-
cause the same news was brought there, as himself declared, upon readiiij;
my orders at Penacook. JVatombamat is gone to carry the Indians down to
thie same place, where they were before departed from ua on Sunday morn-
ing, and desired Ca])taiu Hoolie to meet him at Saco five days alter. Botii
sagamores of Penacook, viz. Wonalanset and Mesandowit, the latter of vrliich
is come dnw \ did then declare they had no intention ^' war, neither indeed
are they in any posture for war, hieing about 24 men, besides squaws and
papooses. The reason, they aaic^ why they did not come among the English
as formerly, was, their fear, that if the Mohcvks came and fought them, and
they should fly for succor to the English, that ti^^u the Mohawks would kill
all the English for harboring them.''
Notwithstanding this state of aiiairs, commissir/ners met the Indians on
the 8 September, IG85, and a peace was concluded " between the subjects o('
his Majesty King Jaine« II, inhabiting N. Hampshire and Maine, and the In-
dians inhabiting the said provinces." The articles were subscribed on the
part of the Indians by
The mark ^ of Mesandowit.
'* X of WaHOWaH,
cdias HopGHOoiv
•* vj/ of Tecamorisick,
alias JusiAS.
The mark ^ of John Nomont,
alias Ufsawah.
"■ B of Umbesnowah,
alias Robin.
Tho fbllowinc signer* agree to comply with the terms of ths treaty
their neighbors have done."
■as
7%e mark '\S of Netamboket.
« of Wahowah, alias
HOPSHOOD.
of Ned Hiuoon
of NsweoMK
C
KANCAMAGUS, oKas
John Hawkics^ sagamore,
signed this instrianeni, 19th 7ber,
1685, his □ irtc:xk.
BAes:ssoN,,a/-a« Joseph Taaske,
hia ^ mark.
within written.
And agreed to all
Whether Hogkins were among the Penakooks seized by Major Waldron
about ton years before, is not certain, or, if he were, ii is not probable any
resentment remained in his Iwreast against him in that account, as the Pen-
nakooks were all permitted to return home ; but it is certain that he was the
director and leader in the dreadful calamity whieh fell upon H'atdron not
long afterward, and which i» as much chargeable upon the maltreatment
they received from the English^ at leasts as upon any agency of the French.
It may be true that manv belonging to the eastward, who were seized with
the Pennakooks, and soiu or leit in foreign countries, had found their way
back among their friends a^ain, and were gled of the first opportunity of
reven^ng themselves upon the author of their unjust expatriatiuii.
Miyor naldxon Uy^id at Dover^ then called by its Indian name, QiiocAec^.
<«'
Chap. VIII.l KANKAMAGUS.—DESTRUCTION OF DOVER.
115
in New Hampshire, in a strong garrison-house, at which place were also
four others. Kanknmagtut had artfully contrived a stratagr in to effi'ct the
surprise of the place, and had others lieside the Pcnnakoohs f''oni diHerent
places ready in great numbers, to prosecute the undertaking' The plan was
this. Two squaws were sent to each garrison-housu to get lilierty to stjiy for
the night, and when all should hr asleep, they were to open the gates to the
warriors. Masandowet, who was next to KmJcamagua, went to Major Jf'al-
dron's, and informed him that the Indians would come the next day and trade
with iiiin. While at supper with the major, Masandowet said to him, with an air
of furr.liarity, "Brother Waldron, what would you do if the strange Indians
should come ? " To which he vauntingly replied, " that lie could usHend>le
an hundred men by lifting up his finger." In this security the gates were
opened at midnight, and the work of death raged in all its fury. One garri-
son only escaped, who would not admit the squaws. They rushed into
fValdron's house in groat nuntbcrs, and while some guarded the door, others
commenced the slaught'-r of ail who resisted, h'aldron was now HO years
of age, yet, seizing his sword, defended himself with great resolution, and at
first drove the Indians before him from room to room, until one gutting be-
iiiiui hiiM, knocked him down with his hatchet. They now seized U|K>n, and
ilrtig<,a;(i him into tiie great room, and placed hi[n in an armed chair upon a
table. While they were thus dealing Avith the master of tiie house, they
obliged the family to provide them a f uppor, which when they had eaten, they
took off his clothes, and proceeded to torture him in the most dreadful man-
ner. Some gashed his breast with knives, saying, " / cross otU my account ; "
others cut on joints of his fingers, and said to him, " JVow will your fist weigh
a pound ? "
Afler cutting off his nose and eai-s, and forcing them into his mouth, he
became faint from loss of blood ; and some holding his own sword on end
upon the floor, let him fall upon it, and thus ended his misery.
The Indiana had been greatly abused and wronged in their trading with
the whites, and it is a tradition to this day all over that part of the country,
tliat Major fValdron took great advantage of them in trade, and did not cross
out their accounts when they had paid him ; and that, in buying beaver, his
fist was accounted to weigh a pound. Although he may have taken no more
advantage of the Indians than the majority of Indian traders, yet, at this dis-
tant day, extenuation will not be looked for in impartial accounts of the
truiisactions of our ancestors with the Indians.
To enumerate the villanies practised upon this devoted people, would be
to expose to everlasting odium the majority of frontier traders from the
earliest to the present time ; but true history, now-a-days, is but little read,
and little indeed where the facts militate against the pride of ancestry. A
history of wrongs and sufferings preserved only to be read by those who
have committed them, must be an unwelcome record ! It was, and to this
day is, in many places, a uniform practice among speculators or land-jobbers,
to get the Indians drunk, and then make their bargains with them ! In the
time of Philip's war, an Androscoggin Indian said " that he had given an
hundred pound for water drawn out of Mr. P. [Purchas] his well."* But to
return to our narrative.
Several were killed at each of the garrison-houses that fell into their hands.
They kept the place until the next morning, when, after collecting all the
plunder they could carry, took up their march, with 29 captives, into the wil-
derness towards Canada ; whera the chief of them were bought Uy the French,
and in time got home to their country again. Twenty-three were killed be-
fore they left the place. This affair took place on the night of the 27th of
June, 1689. Several friendly Indians informed the English at Chelmsford
of the certainty of an attack upon Dover, and they caused a letter to be de-
* Hubbard, ii. Tl.—Tliomas Purchase's house at Peg^ypsrot was among the first ihat fell a
prey to the eastern Indians in Pliilip's war. In the beginning of September, about 20 of them
went there, and at first oflTeied to trade, but Mr. Purchase and his son being from home, they
took what they liked without even asking the price of it, killed a few sheep and calves, and
departed. Ibid, 14, 15.
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216
HOPEHOOD.. -ATTACK ON NEWICHEWANNOK. [Book 111
,1'
§
spatchrd in season to hav» notified the people, but on account of soiiie delay
at Newbury terry, tne b<>nefit of that iiifurniation was lost.
Four years after, ("oloncl Church tooi< Worombd's fort, in wliich were Kan-
kamagvji'a wife and children. This fort was upon the Androscoggin, about
25 or 30 miles from its mouth. In another place, we have given a iiinturv
of Churches expedition to this fort The })riHoner8 taken here informed Church
that there had been lately a great council held there by the Indians, in wliii-h
" ninny were for peace and many against it ; " but they finally agreed to go
with tiOO warriors to Wells with a flag of truce, and to offer the F-iipli8li
peacOf which if not accepted, they would then fall upon them. " If tlipy
rould not take Wells, then they resolved to attack Piscataqua. The wliicli,
says Churchy when we were well informed of, we left two old squaws that
were not able to march, gaue them victuals enough for one week of their own
corn, boiled, and a littleof our pruisions, and buried their dead, and left tli<;iii
clothes enough to keep them warme, and left the wigwams for them to lye
in : guue them orders to tell their friends how kind we were to them, hidiiif;
them doe the like to ours. Also if they were for peace to come to goodiniui
Smairs, att Barwick, within 14 days, who would attend to discourac them;
then we came away with our own five captiues, [English that they had de-
livered,] and n>ue of theirs."*
In tlie same letter we are informed that among these prisoners were
Kankamagjis's wife and four children. His brother-in-law was taken, but he
" ran away frpm them." Among the slain was Kanhnmagus's own sister. A
girl was Inought away whose father and mother had been slain before her
eyes. Two of the children of Woromho were also among the prisoners, all of
whom were carried to riimouth. This expedition upon the Androscoggin
was on Sunday, 14 September, 1G90.
A few days after this. Church landed at Casco, where the Indians fell upon
him by surprise, and were not beaten off for some time, and then only by
hard fighting. This was on the 21 September. Church had seven men k'.ileil
and 24 wounded, two of whom died in a day or two after. The Irdians who
.nade this attack were probably led by Kankamagus and Worombo.
HoPEHOOD was a chief nearly as celebrated, and as much detested in his
time, as the chiefs of whom we nave just spoken. He was chief of the tribe
of the Kennebecks generally known as the Nerigwoks. He was the son ot'
Robinhood, a sachem of whom we have spoken in a former chapter. Accord-
ing to some writers Hopehood was also known by the name fVohawa.\ The
career of his warlike exploits was long and bloody. Our first notice of him
is in Philip's war, at the attack of a house at Newichewannok, since Berwick,
in Maine. Fifteen persons, all women and children, were in the house, aud
Hopehood, with one only beside himself, Andrew of Sac»), whom we have be-
fore mentioned as an accomplice with Sifmon, thought to surprise them, and
but for the timely discovery of their approach by a young woman withio,
would liave cftected their purpose. She fixstened and held the door, while
all the others escaped unobserved. Hopehood and his companion hewed
down the door, and knocked the girl on the head, and, otherwise wounding
her, left her for dead. They took two children, which a fence had kept from
escui»iug. One they killed, the other they carried off alive. The young
woman recovered, and was entirely well afterwards.
One of the most important actions in which Hopehood was engaged was
that against Salmon Falls in New Hampshire, which is minutely detailed by
Charlevoix, from whose history we translate as follows. Three expeditions had
been set on foot by Governor Frontenac, the troops for which had been raised
at three places, Montreal, Three Rivers, and Quebeck. Those raised at
Three Rivers were ordered against New England ; and such was the insig-
nificance of that place, that but 52 men could be raised, including 5 Algon-
quins and 20 Sokokis : these Indians had lately returned from an eastern
exiiedition. They had at their head one of the ofiicers of the colony, to
* Manuscript letter written at the lime by Church, and sent to Governor Hinckley of
PUmouth.
t Harris, in his Voyagres, ii. 302, who says he was a Huron j but as he cites no authorities,
we know not how he came by his iuformaiiun.
Chap. VIII.] HOPEHOOD.— DESTRUCTION OF SALMON FALLS.
117
;:•'■:■-;' ^
whom could be intruHted the execution of an entorprisfl of such a nuture,
with the greatest confidence ; such is the tefltimonv which Count Frontenac
gave in u letter whi h he wrote at the time to M. at Seignelay. That officer
waa tlie Sieur Hertd. In the small company which he commanded, lie had
three of his sons and two of his nephews ; viz. The Sieur Crevier, Lord
of S. Francois, and the Sieur Gatineait,
He left Three Rivers the 28 January 1(590, proceeding directly south into
the country, leaving Lake Champlain to his left, then turning to the oust, and
after a lon^ and rugged march he arrived on the 27 * March, near Salmon
Falls,t which he had reconnoitred by his spies. He then divided his men
into three companies ; the first, composed of 15 men, was onlered to attack
a large fortified house. The second, consisting of 1 1 men, was ordered to
seize upon a fort, defended by four bastions. The third, wliich Hertd com-
iiiaiideu in person, marched to atuick a still greater fort, which whs defended
by cannon. All was executed with o "Oiidiict and brovery which astonished
the Knglish, who made at first stout esislance; but they could not with-
stand the fire of the assailants : the bravest were cut to pieces, I and the
rest, to the numlier of 54, were made prisoners of war. It cost tlie victors
but one Frenchman, who had his thigh broken, and who died the next day :
27 houses were reduced to ashes, and 2000 § domestic animals perished in
tlic burns, which had been set on fire.
Salmon FiUls was but six leagues from a great town called Puscataqua,)!
from whence men enough might be sent to swallow up Hertd, and cut oft
his retreat In fact, upon the evening of the same day two savages gave
notice tliat 200 5 English were advancing to attack them. Hertel expected
it, and hud taken his measures to frustrate those of his enemy. He drew
i.p bis men in order of battle upon the edge of a river,** over which there
was a very narrow bridge, one extremity of which he had secured, and it
was impossible for the Lnglish to come upon him ot any other point They,
however, attempted it, despising the small numbers of the French, whom
tliey engaged with great confidence. Hertd suffered them to advance with-
out firing a gun, and all at once fell upon them, sword in hand ; 8 were
killed and 10 wounded in the first shock, and the rest fled with precipita-
tion, tt He lost in this encounter *>^'^ brave Crevier, his nephew, and one of
the Sokokis. La Fresniere, his elder son, was shot in the knee ; the scar of
which wound he Iwre for 50 years. |t
As Hertd §§ was returning to Canada, he fell in with another party of his
countrymen, which proved to be that raised at Quebec, before mentioned,
under M. de Portmuf, || || and with him agreed upon an expedition against
* Belknap, Hist. N. H. i. 132, following; Mather, Magnalia, viL G8, dates this afTair IS
March : there is in reality no error, allowin^Tor the difference of stvie, (except one day ;) the
Ei)glisli not yet having adopted the Gregorian method, which the French haa. — See UuoK H.
Cap. il
t Pr^s d'une bourgade Angloise, appetite SemenleU.
i About 30 were killed, according to Belknap, Hist. N. H. i. 132.
^ Charlevoix has been misconstrued by some authors, and made to say 2000 head of cattle
weie burned. — ^See Williamson, Hist. Maine, i. 619, who probably did not refer to the text of
Charlevoix, or perhaps used an exceptionable translation. " Denx miJle pieces de hetait peri-
rent dans les etables, oit I'on avail mis le/eu." Nouvelle France, ii. 61.
II Sementels n'^toit qu'i six lieues d'une assez grosse bourgade de la Nouvelle Angleterre,
nommee Pescadouit. NowielU France, ii. 51.
ir " About 140 men." Belknav, ii. 132.
** VVoosler's River, in Berwick. Ibid.
ft The English advanced with ^reat intrepidity, and a warm engagement ensued, whirh
lasted till night, when they retired with the loss of four or five killed. Rid.
tt The English, although warned by the fate of Schenectaday, " dreamt," says Mather, " that
while the deep snow of the winter continued, they were safe enough; but this proved as vain
as a dream of a dry summer. On March 18, the French and Indians, bftin^ half one, half
t'other, half Iiidianised French, a:id half Frenchified Indians, commaiided byltfonsieur Artel
and Hoop-Hood, fell suddenly upon Salmon-falls," &c. Magnolia, vii. 68.
6& The English called him Artel, as his name was pronounced. See Magnolia, ibid.
1] Il The French wrote English na.-nes queer enough, but really I should be sadly puzzled to
tell which should laugh at the other ; however, modern writers should not couy old errors of
ignorance. It is easy to see now we come by the name of Bumeffe in our Histories of Neio
England.— Sno Hist. Maine, i. 621.
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118
lIOPEIlt)OD— DESTRUCTION OF CA8CO.
[Book III
>^ ■ ' i)
iii
(y'asco. Am Porttieuf marched thro"((li the rountry of the AlMnakiH, manv
of tiieiii joiiivd him, hikI he cum« > tlie iieif{tihorhoud of Cum-o, utrcortf-
iii^ to the t'reurh account, on the ny. On the following night, he pre-
jiured un unibiiMh, und towurdH nioi. in Eugliehmun fell iiito it und wao
killed. The Indiana tlicn ruitied the \vu.'-whoup, und about uoon .'jO Knglish
marched (>iit trum tlic garriaon t> leurn what wua the occuttion of it ; the)
made no discovery until they worn within a few puces of the ambuHh, when
they were fired upon ; und betbre they could resiHt were fallen upon bv the
French und Indiuntt with their bwordH und toutaliawks with greut uluugiiter:
but lour CHCuped, and theue were badly wounded.
The J'^ni(liHh aeeiiig now they must stand a eiege, abandoned four gnrri-
80im, and all retired into one, which waH provided with cannon. Uclore tiiesc
were ubundoned, un nttuck wuti made upon one of them, in which tiic
French were repulsed, with the loss ol' one Indian killed and one French-
man wounded. Portneuf began now to doubt of his ability to Uike Cuoco.
l()uring tiie issue ; lor ids couunission only ordered him to luv wume thi-
Knirlish settleinerts, and not to attempt fortified places ; but in this diUtmniu
Hekel und Hopehood arrived.* It was now determined to press the m-w.
In the deserted Ibrts they tbund all the necessary tools for carrying on the
work, and thev begun a mine within 50 feet of the fort, under a steep hunk,
which entirely protected them from its guns. The English became dis-
couraged, and on the ^8 f May surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
There were 70 men, und probubly a much greater number of women and
children. All of whom, except Captain Davia, who commanded the gurrison,
and throe or lour others, were given up to the Indians, who murdered niOKt
of them in their cruel manner; and if the accounts be true, Hopelvood
excelled all other savages in acts of cruelty. In the course of the Hunie
month, with a small party he foil upon Fox Point, in New Ilnmpshire, killed
alraut fourteen persons, und curried away six, alter burning several houses.
This was as easily done, says Cotton Mather, X " as to have spoiled an ordinary
iien-rooal" Two companies ol English soon collected und pursued them ;
came up with them, killed some, and recovered considerable plunder. In
this action Hopehood was wounded, and lost his gun. §
Many were the horrid acts of barbarity inflicted on the prisoners taken
at this time. Not long alter this, Hopeliood went to the westward, " with u
design, says Mather, to bewitch another crew at Aquadocta into his atisist-
uuce." The Indians of Canada and tlie Five Nations were then at war,
and he being in their country, was met by some of the Canada Indiutm,
who, tuking Iiini to be of the Iroquois nation, slow him and many of his
compuuions. He hud been once a captive to the English, and served a time
in Boston us a slave. There a])pears to have been another Nerigwok chief
of the same name, who treated with Grovernor Dudley at Casco, in 1703. |
We have, in narrating the events in the life of Mndokawando, noticed the
voyage of Major JValdron to the eastern coast of Maine, which was ut the
close of Philip's war. IIow much treachery was manifested at that time by
the Indians, which caused the English to niussacre many of them, we shall
not take upon us to declare ; yet this we should bear in mind, that we have
only the account of those who performed the tragedy, and not that of those
who suflTered in it
Captain Charles Frost, of Kittery, was with JValdron upon that expedition,
and, next to him, a [trincipal actor in it ; and, like him, was killed by the
Indians afterwards. || Mr. Hubbard gives this account of his taking a noted
warrior as follows : — " Capt Frost seized an Indian called Megvnnewau, a
notorious rogue, that had been in arms at Connecticut last June, at the folis,
* Madokatoando was also at the taking of Casco, as were the Doneys and the Higiiers
[Higgins] Captain Davis'a Nar. in 3 Coll. Mas. Hist. Soc. 104, 5.— -Hopeliood bad been taken
prisoner, and held as a hostage, with about a dozen others, and was set at libert}' by Attdros,
some time before. Ibid.
t This agrees with the English accounts, abating 10 days, as observed in a note on the last page.
i Magnalia Christ. Americana, b. vii. 73.
" An heathen Indian would rather part with his head than with his gun." LoskUl, ii. Sll.
At his native place, 4 July, 1697. MS. Utter of John Farmer, Esq.
um
Crap. IX.]
BOMAZEEN.
119
and (WW that brave and resolute Capt l\imer, when he was alnin aliout
Green River; and helped to kill Thomas Bracket* at Curco, [Hth] Auf;uHt
latt, [1<>7(>.1 And with the help of Lieut A^t/ler, aocordinx to the mujor'H
order, carried him iilraard " their vesseL " By thi^^ tinir," the tiaine author
contimu'H, " some of the aoldieni were got aahorc, and instantly, occordinf;
to th(!ir niiijor'fl command, puraued the enemy towards their caiioca. In tiie
chnHe, several of the enemy were slain, whose IxMlies these [soldiers] Ibuiid
at their return, to the number of seven ; amongst whom was Mattahando,
the Migamore, with an old powow, to whom the Devil had revealed, aH Home-
times he did to Saul, that on the same day he should be with him ; for he
had a little l>efore told the Indians, that within two days the English would
come uiul kill them all, which was at the very same time verified upon
himself." M«;re we must acknowledge, notwithstanding our great reH|iect
for this author, that his conunentary u|>on that passage was rather gratuitous.
He might have considered that Sauls among the English would not l)e want-
ing ot whom parallels might be made. Indeed, the historian of Kankumntfus
might say the Devil was less deceitful with tliis powwow than he was after-
wards in the case of Major IValdrotu
The English took much plunder from the Indians at this time, among
'.vhich were about 1000 lbs. of dried l)eef, and various other commodities.
Meffunneway, alter having tuUen into their huuds as we have stated, was shot
without ceremony.
CHAPTER IX.
I ••
»\-
BoMAZREir — Treachery of the whites Uneards him — Is imjtrisoned at Boston — Saves
the life of a female cavtive — Captures Seued to be passing, and rus-
cued her.
We hoar of him just afler the death of Anrvhavnkwabemty in October,
1710, when he fell upon Saco with (X) or 70 men, and killed several ]i«-o|i|«-,
and carried away some captives. He is mentioned as a ** notorious felluw,"
and yet btit few of his acts are upon record. 8ome time alter the pe»c(> of
1701, it seemed to be confirmed by the a|)pearance of Bomazeen, and unotiier
principal chief, who said the French friars were urging them to break their
union with the English, " but that they had made no tmpreaaion on them, for
they were aafirrn as the mounlainjt, and ahoxdd conlintu. so as long as the sun and
moon endured." On peace being made known to the Indians, as having taken
place t)ctween tlie F'rench and English nations, they came into Cusco, with
a flag of truce, and soon alter concluded a treaty at Portsmouth, N. H.,
dated 13 July, 171;). Bomazeen^s name and mark are to this treaty.
When Captain Moidton was sent up to Nerigwok, in 1724, tliey fell in with
Bomazeen alH)ut Taconnet, where they shot him as lie was escaping through
the river. Near the town of Nerigwok, his wife and daughter were, iu a
barbarous manner, fired upon, the daughter killed, and the mother taken.
We purposely omit Dr. C. Mathers account of Bomazeen's conversation
with a Minister of Boston, while a prisoner there, which amounts to little
else thnn his recounting some of the extravagant notions which the French
of Caiiada had made many Indians believe, to their great detriment, as he
said ; as that Jesus Christ was a French man, and the Virgin Mary a French
woman ; that the French gave them poison to drink, to inflame them against
the English, which made them run mad. We hear of others, who, to excite
them against the English, endeavon-d to make them believe, among other
absurdities, that they put Jesus Christ to death in London.
Arruhawikwabemt, just mentioned, was a sachem of the same tribe, and
was said to be of Norridgewock also. We can find but very few particulars
of him, but, from the fate be met with, it is presumed he had been very
instrumental in continuing or bringing about the eastern war of 1710. In
that year, Colonel Walton made an expedition to the eastern coast of Maine
with 170 men. As they were encamped upon an island, the smoke of their
fires decoyed some of the Indians into their hands, among whom was .^Trru-
haioikwahemt. Penhallow says, he was " an active, bold fellow, and one of an
undaunted spirit ; for when they asked him several questions, he made them
no reply, and when they threatened him with death, ht laughed eit it with con-
tempt! At which they delivered him up unto our friendly Indians, who soon
became hia executioners. But when the squaw saw the destiny of her
husband, she became more flexible, and freely discovered where each |)arty
of them encamped." The savage perpetrators of this act called themselves
Christian warriors! and it must be acknowledged that civilization gains
nothing in contrasting the conduct of the whites, imder fVdlton, and that
of Bomazeen towards a captive, just related.
EoEREMET, as wc havc seen, was chief sachem of Keimebeck in 1690,
and his principal residence appears to have been at Machias. This chief,
and HoivquiD, with three or four others, having been invited to a conference at
Pemmaquid, were treacherously muniered there, 16 February, 1696. Their
seizure and mui'der could not have been outdone, by the greatest barbarians,
* Bomazeen was supposed to have led the party that attacked the south part of Oyster River,
now Durham, in which 10 persons were killed. This was ou 27 April.
ClIAF. IX.J
BOEREMGT.
m
for faithloosnoRA ; and wc Hhnll lenfii tliat itn niithor |mi«l for it in duu time
with IiIh life. VV« urn not oii«!(l to luld to traiimictiona wliicii uru in
t>i<-niH<'lv*.>H Pii(!ici<>ntly horritilu, liut wo will vcnturu to givu the account uii
wt! find it in IJr. C. jHnlKei't dreennium lucluotum :— *
** J<)'t IIS, befnn; th«! yoar tii! (|iiitu uniw, hv« Hoiiie vcngcaiico tukni upon
the htaub in the htiuat of the mcktd. Know tht-ii, reudiT, tliul Cupi. .lA/rcA
|)t>titioniii^ to be diHnnHHod fVoin Ida roniinuiid ot' thu fort ut l'nniiii>i|nid,
nun CUuh Huc«:«udvd iiiiii. TIiIh ('huh toinid nil o|)|tortunity, in u pretty
chubbed manner, to kill thn liiinouii EJiferemH und ^'IIkiu/uuI, h i-oiipif of
priiR'ipid Ha^umorcM, with one or two other Indiuii!*, on u Lord's day. Some
that well enougli liked the thir^ which wuh now done, did not alto^rctlitT
like the numner of doing it, becuiiHe there wuh a pretence of trrMtu bftw(;eu
Ckub and tiie HugamoreH, whereof ho took his advantage to lay violent Imnds
oil them."
Thus tho manner is nccn in whicli this liorri i> /•>■■*»»-■ •
>•» !.■ ,'•'■-■
j»Ja>f>'
139
EUEREMET.— KILLED AT PEMAQUID.
[Book III.
Chap.
which is in these words : — " Signed and sealed interchangeably, upon the
water, in canoes, at Sackatehock, ichen the wind bltw." It was headed, " At a
treaty of peace with the eastward Indian enemy sagamores." The other fiv«
sachems, beside Esceremet, were Toquelmut, Watumbomt, fVatombamet, JVcdumbt,
[fVoromhns,] and John Haiokins, [or Kankantagus.] The places for whicli they
stipulatftd are, according to the treaty, " Pennecook,WJnnepis8eockeege, Ossejm,
Pigwocket, Anioscungen, Pechepscut, Kennebeck River, and all other places
adjacent, within the territory and dominions of the above-nained sagamores."
The wilnessps Were, Deteatuh, [the same called Miwando, by Penhallow,
probably,] JVed Higon, John Jilden, jr., and N'athanitl Aldtn,
TIk! next year, Ef^eremet was with Madokaicando, Moxus, and a body of
French under liobrocre, and made the notable attack upon the garrison at
Wells, which Will be found recorded in the last chapter.
Wo will now inlbrni the reader of the wretched fate of Captain Pasco Chub.
It w'Vo; t^ is Sabbalh day.' They said,
' We loill have rum, or we will have rurn and you too.' Two Indians laid hold on
the captain. Then he called to his men, to fall on, fbr God's sake. Then he
made signs to his men, to come from the fort One of the English had a
hatchet under his coat, took it out and killed an Indian; and then ours
killed two more Indians, and took another alive, and wounded another, sup-
posed mortally. Then many of the enemy came near to the English, who
retreated all safe to the fort." J
There wivs another sagamore of the same name, noticed in the following
wars with the eastern Indians, who was friendly to the whites; it was proba-
bly he who sometimes bore the name of Moxut,
• Ifarris's Voya{!«s, ii. 305, (ed. 1764,) says Chtb was arrested by Colonel Gedney, who was
sent east with three ships of war, on hearing of the surrender of the fort, and that no French or
Indians could be found 5 that after he strengthened the garrison, he returned home.
" Col. Gedttetj had been by land with .500 men, to secure the eastern frontiers. Finding the
enemy (rone, he strenjthenea the garrisons, which were not taken. He also arrested Pasco
Chubb, for surrendering Pemuquid Fort, while under his command in July, and had him
brought to Boston. Here Captain C/(mIi6 was confined, till it was decided thai he should
lose his commission, and not be eligible for aiiy other. This unfortunate man, with his wife
Hannah, and three others, were killed by the Indians at Andover, Feb. 22, 1698." Rev. Mr.
Fell's Annals vf Salem.
A naval force was sent at the same time ; hence the ftccounts are hut altogether irrecon-
cilable. Three men-of-war were sent out in purauit of the French, " but meeting' with con-
trary winds, they could never gel sight of them." Neal, His. N. Eng. ii. 661.
t British Empire in America, i. 77, 78.
i Manuscript letter in library Mass. Hist. Soc. written in the following month. As it was
written at a ^reat distance from the place, and from a report of the day, ultle reliance can be
placed upon it. It may have been Cltub's report of tbe c«se.
Chaf. IX.]
CAPTAIN TOM— nONEV.
123
In the Indian war of 1703, there was a great Indian captain who resided
somewliere to the east of Pascataqiia River, who made his name dreaded
among tlie settlements in that region, by some bloody expeditions which he
conducted. He was called, by tlie English,
Captaix Tom. On 17 August of this year, this daring war-captain, with
al)out 30 others, surprised a part of Ham|)ton, killed five persons, wliercof
one was a widow Hussey, " who was a remarkable speaking Quaker, and tnuch
lamented by her sect." After sacking two iiouscs near the garrison, they
drew off.*
Many Indians bore the name of Tom. Indian Hill, in Newburj', was owned
by Grtai Tom. He is 8U|)[)osed to have been the last Indian proprietor ot
lands in that town. In written instruments, he styles himself, " / (treat Tom
Indian." \
We come, in the next place, to an interesting portion of our eastern history.
It has been generally supposed that the name uonij, or Doiey, was the name
of an Indian chief, but it is now quite certain that he was a Frenchman, who
took up his residence among tlie Indians, as Baron de St. Casteina did. There
appears in our history, in 1G45, a "Monsieur Dony" who had some difficulty
wth Lord de la Tour, about their eastern possessions, and he was, doubtless,
the same of whom we have an account afterwards, in the war of ItiUO, with
the eastorn Indians. At this time, there were two of the name in Maine,
father and son. The son, perhaps, like Casteins the yoimger, was half Indian,
but of this we are not sure ; nevertheless, to preserve our narrative of the
events of Colonel Churches expedition of 1690, wo shall notice them among
others.
Church landed at Maquait, 12 September, before day, and, after a wet,
fatiguing march into the woods of about two days, on the south-west side of
the Androscoggin, came into the neighborhood of a fbrt. They came upon
an Indian and nis wiic who were leading two captives ; and immediately pur*
suing and firing upon them, killed the Indian woman, who proved to be the
wifi; of Young Doney.\ We can ordy hope it was not their design thus to have
killed an innocent woman. Which party it was that fired upon them (lor they
divided themselves into three) is unknown, and we in cha^ "y must suppose
that, at considerable distance, and in much confusion, it was di*!icidt 't know
an Indian man from a woman.
As Church expeetod, Doney ran into one gate of the fort, and out at the
other, giving the alarm so effectually, that nearly all within it escaped. They
found and took prisoners " but two men and a lad of about 18, with some
women and children. Five ran into the river, three or four of whi(;h were
killed. The lad of 18 madi> his escape up the river." The whole number
killed in this action was " six or seven." The English had but one wounded.
Tliey took here, at this time,§ a roiisiderable quantity of corn, gims, and ammu-
niiion, and liberated Mrs. Huckinga, widow of Lieutenant Robert Huckings,
taken at Oyster River, Mrs. Barnard, wife of Benjamin Barnard, of Salmon
Falls, Jlnne Heard, of Cocheco. a young woman, daughter of one Willis, of
Oyster River, and a Ijoy belonging to Exeter. These captives, says Church,
" were in a miserable condition." They learned by them that most of their
men were gone to Winter Harbor to get provisions for the Bay of Fundy In-
dians. This information was gi\en by a prisoner taken in the tort, who also said
that the Bay of Fundy Indians were to join them against the English, in the
spring. "The soldiers, being very rude, would hardly 8[mre the Indian's life,
while in examination ; intending, when he had done, that he should be exe-
cuted. But Capt Hucking's wife, and another woman, down on their knees
and begged for him, saying, that he had been a means of saving their lives,
and a great many more ; and had helped sevend to opportuinties to nm away
and make their escape ; and that never, since ho came amongst them, had
fought against the English, but being related to Hakin^s || wife, kept at the
" Penhatlmo, Ind. Wars, 8 j Farmer's Belknap, i. 167.
t Manuscript Hist. Newbury, by J. Coffin.
i Ami the same called in llie IVfagiialia Robin Doney.
i Says my record, which is a manuscript letter from Church, written at (hat tiiM.
II The same called Kankamagus,
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■ He learning that an English army was
thereabout, made his escape from the Indians, with whom he had been some
time a prisoner. The fleet now proceeded to Winter Harbor, from whence
they despatched a detachment of GO men to Saco Falls. When ihey came
neai', they discovered Doney's company on the opposite side of the river, who
chiefly made their escape. A canoe, with three Indians, was observe*! coming
over the river ; they did not see the English, and were fired upon, and " all
three perished." This gave the first alarm to Doney's company. They did
not, however, leave their ground without returning the fire of the English, by
which Lieutenant Hunnewell was shot through the thigh-f When the parties
fired upon each other. Old Doney, with an English captive, was higher up
the river, who, hearing the firing, came down to see what it meant ; and thus
he discovered the English time enough to escape. Doney fled from the
canoe, leaving his captive, who came to the English. His name was Thomas
Baker, who had lived before at Scarborough.
There were many otlier movements of the English after this, iu which
they got much plunder, and which tended to cause an uneasiness a nong
them, and their final determination to return home. Church urged a longer
continuance, but was outvoted in a council of officers, and thus ended the
expedition. Many in the country reproached Church with cowardice, and
almost every thing but what we should have looked for. If putting to death
captives had been the charge, many might have ac( orded Amen! But we do
not find that urged against him.
Two years alter this, in 1693, Rohin Doney became reconciled to the Eng-
lish, and signed a treaty with them at Pemmaquid. But within a year after,
he became suspected, whether with or without reason, we know not, anfl
coming to the Ibrt at Saco, probably to settle the difficulty, was seized by the
English. What his fate was is rather uncertain, but the days of forgiveness
and mercy were not yet.
Among the chiefs which we shall next proceed to notice, there were seve-
ral of nearly equal notoriety.
Captain Simmo's name should, perhaps, stand most conspicuous. Wc
shall, therefore, go on to narrate the events in his life, after a few preliminary
observations.
Whenever war commenced between the English and French in Europe,
their colonies in America were involved in its calamities, to an unknown and
fearful extent. This was the aspect which afl&irs wore in 1703. With the
first news, therefore, of its flame, the New Englanders' thoughts were turned
towards the Indians. Governor Dudley immediately despatched messenger? :o
most of the eastern tril)es, inviting them to meet him in council upon the pen-
insula in Falmouth, on the 20 June. His object was so to attach them to tl ^
English, that, in the event of hostilities between the rival powers on this f !
of the Atlantic, they would not take arms against them. Agreeably to ue
wishes of the English, a vast multitude assembled at the time appointed :
the chiefs Adiwando md Hegan for the Pennakooks, Wattanummon for the
Pequakets, Mesambomett and fVexar for the Androscoggins, Moras and Hope-
hood (perhaps sou of him killed by the Mohawks) for the Nerigwoks, Boma-
zeen and Captain Samuel for the Kennebecks, and Warrungunt and Wanadu-
* Son of AfUlumy, who was killed by the Indians, as we have related, ante
t Official letter in MS. rrom the expedition.
scene:
:«
Chap. IX.]
CAPTAIN SAMUEL.
125
eunbuent for the Penobsoots. \ftor a short speecli to them, in which the
jfovernor expressed brotherly afiectioti, and a desire to settle every difficulty
•« which had happened since the last treaty," Captain Sinuno replied as
follows : —
« fVe iluink you, good brot1itr,for coming so far to talk loith us. It is a great
favor. The clouds Jfty and darken-^but we still sing with love the songs of peace.
Believe my words. — So far as the sun is above the earth are our
THOHiHTS FROM WAR, OR THE LEAST RUPTURE BETWEEN US." *
Tlie governor was then presented with a belt of wiuii[)iuu, was to confurni
the truth of what had been said. At a previous treaty, two heaps of small
stones had been thrown together, near by the treaty ground, and called the
Two-brothers, to signify that the Indians and English were brothers, and were
fonsidcri'd by the pai-ties in the light of seals to their treaties. They now
repaired to these heaps of stones, and each increased their magnitude, by the
addition of other stones. Thus was happily terminated this lamous treatj'.
Sonic p«irade and rejoicing now commenced, and a circumstance transpired
which threw the English into great f.jar, and, perhaps, greater suspicion. A
grtind salute was to be fired upon each side, at parting, and the English, ad-
visedly, and very wm-iiy, it must be confessed, but in appearance compliment-
ary, expressed their desire that the Indians would fire first. The Indians
received the coniplnnent, and discharged their guns ; to their great surprise,
the English found they had been loaded with bullets. They had before
doubted of their sincerity, but, owing to this discovery, considered their
treachery certain, and mai"velled at their escape. However, it can only be
presunie either alive 20 years after these transactions, or another
* This is Mr. WUiiamson's version of (he speech, Hist. Maiue, ii. 36.
t MS. commuuicelioB of/. Farmer, iilMi.
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126
HEGAN.— MOGG.
[Book III.
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of the name made himself conspicuous. In June, 1722, this warrior cliief, at
the head of five others, boarded Lieutenant THlton, as he lay at anchor a fishing,
near Damaris Cove. They pinioned him and his brother, and beat them
very sorely ; but, at last, one got clear and released the other, who tlien fell
with great fury upon the Indians, threw one overboard, and mortally wound-
ed two more.* Whether Captain Samuel were among those killed is not
mentioned.
There was a Captain Sam in the wars of 1745. In the vicinity of St.
George's, Lieutenant Prodor, at the head of 19 militia, had a skirmish with the
Indians, 5 Sept., in which two of their leaders were killed, viz. Colonel Morris
and Captain Sam, and one Colonel Job was taken captive ; the latter being sent
to B ston, he died in prison. To quiet the resentment of his relatives, the
government made his widow a valuable present after the peace, f
We should not, perhaps, omit to speak separately of another chief, who
was present at the famous treaty mentioned above ; we i-efir to
Hegan. His name is also spelt Hegon and Heieon. There were several
of the name. One, called Moggheigon, son of iFalter, was a sachem at
Saco, in 16()4. This chief, in that year, sold to ffm. Phillips, " a iruct of
land, benig bounded with Saco River on the N. E. side, and Keunehunk
River on the S. W. side." To extend from the sea up Saco River to Salmon
Falls, and up the Kcnnebunk to a point opposite the Ibrmer. No amount is
mentioned for which the land was sold, but merely "a ceitain sum in
goods." I One Sampson Hegon attended tlie treaty of Pemmaquid, in 1()98 ;
John, that at Casco, m 1727 ; JVcd was a Pennukook ; JValter, brother of
Mogg ; § The fate of one of the name of Ilegon is remembered amop>/ the
inhabitants of some parts of Maine to this day. He was tied upon a horse
with spurs on his heels, in such a manner that the spurs continually goaded
the animal. When the horse was set at liberty, he ran furiously through an
orchard, and the craggy limbs of the trees tore him to pieces. Mather, in
his Decennium Luctcosum, 1| seems to confirm something of the kind,
which took place at Casco, in 1C94, where the Indians, having taken some
horses, made a bridle of the mane and tail of one, on which " a son of the
famous Hegon was ambitious to mount." "But being a pitiful horseman, he
ordered tHem, for fear of his falling, to tie his legs fas^t under the horse's
belly. No sooner was this beggar set on horseback, and the spark, in his own
opinion, thoroughly equipped, but the nettlesome horse furiously and presently
ran with him out of sight. Neither horse nor nmn was ever seen any more.
The astonished tawnies howled after one of their nobility, disappearing bv
such an unexpected accident A few days after, they found one of his legs,
(and that was all,) which they buried in Capt Bracket s cellar, with abundance
of lamentation."
Here We cannot but too plainly discover the same spirit in the narrator,
which must have actuated the authors of the deed. He v. ho laughs at crime
is a participator in it. — From these, we pass to affairs of far greater notoriety
in our eastern history ; and shall close this chapter with two of the most
memorable events in its Indian warfsire.
Mogg, the chief sachem of Norridgewok in 1724, may very apf-opri-
ately stand at the head of the history of the first event. How long he had
been sachem at that period, we have not discovered, but he is mentioned
by the English historians, as *he old chief of Norridgewok at that tine.
Notwithstanding Mogg was the chief Indian of the village of Nerigwok, or,
as Father Cluirlevoix writes it, Naiantsoak, there was a French priest settled
here, to whom the Indians were all devotedness ; and it is believed that
they undertook no enterprise without his knowledge and consent. The
name of this man, according to om* English authors, was BalU, but accord-
ing to his own historian, Charlevoix, it was ilcwZe.1I The de[)redations of
the Abenaquis, as these Indians were called by those who lived among them,
• Penhallmo's Ind. Wars, 86.
t MS. among the files io our state-house.
b Magnalia, vii. 87.
ir Hiat. Gen. de la Noav. Ft. ii. 380; et tuiv.
t Williamson's Hist. Me. ii, 241.
$ MS. letter ofJohn Farmer, Esq.
!UAP. IX.]
MOGG.— DESTRUCTION OF NERIDGWOK.
127
were, therefore, directly charged by the English upon Father Rash ; hence
their first step was to ofter a reward for his head.* The object of the expe-
dition of Colonel fVestbrook, iu 1722, was ostensibly to seize upon him, but he
found the village deserted, mid nothing was effected by the ex()ediiion but
the hiirning of the place. Fatiier Raale was the last that led it, which he
did at the same titne it was enteren the pillagers. In one of
his discharges he killed a Mohawk, whose brotner observing it, rushed upon
and killed him ; and thus ended tbo strife. There were about 60 Avarriors
in the place, about one half of whom were killed.
The famous Rasle shut himself up in his house, from which he fired upon
the English ; and, having wouuded one. Lieutenant Jaques,] of Nfcwbury, X burst
open the door, and shot him through the head ; although Moulton had given
orders that none shoidd kill hiin. He had an English boy with him, about
14 years old, who had been taken some time before from the frontiers, and
wliom the P^nglLsh reported Rasle was about to kill. Grei;t brutality and
ferocity are chargeable to the English in this affair, according to their own
account ; such as killing women and children, and scalping and mangling
the body of Father Rask.
There was here a handsome church, with a bell, on which the Englisii
committed a double sacrilege, first robbing it, then setting it on fire ; herein
surpassing the act of the first English circumnavigator, in his depredations
upon the Spaniards in South America ; for he only took away the gold an^r^^ ■'■■■•■ t
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silver vessels of a church, and its crucifix, because it was of massy gold, set
about with diamonds, and that, too, upon tlie advice of his chaplain. " This
might pass," says a reverend author, " for sea divinity, but justice is quite
another thing.'' Perhaps it will be as well not to inquire here what kind of
divinity would authorize the acts recorded in these wars, or indeed any wars.
Upon this memorable event in our early annals, Father Charlevoix should
he heard. There were not, says he, at the' time the attack was made, above
50 wa)Tiors at Neridgewok ; these seized their arms, nnd run in disorder, not
to defend the place against an enemy, who was alreaily in it, but to favor the
flight of the women, the old men and the children, and to give them time to
gam the side of the river, which was not yet in possession of the English.
Father Rasle, warned by the clamors and tumult, and the danger in which
he found his proselytes, ran to present himself to the assailants, hoping to
draw all their fury upon him, that thereby he might prove the salvation of
his flock. His hope was vain ; V * ..
I* ' »f *•'
»
It"?'
80, while that of tho English consisted of no more than 34, having leA ten
in a fort, which they built at O88i[>eo ; and one, an Indian named Toby, liud
before returned home, on account of lameness. Tho fort at Ossipee was for
a retreat in case of emergency, and to serve as a deposit of part of their
provisions, of which they disencumbered themselves before leaving it.
After marchin^r a considerable distance from the place of their eiicaniii-
ment on the morning of the 8 * May, Ensign ft'ipnan discovered an Indian,
who was out hunting, having in one hand some towls he had just killed, and
in the other, two guns. There can be no probability that he thought of tncctiii;;
an enemy, but no sooner was he discovered by tlie English, than several gunw
were fired at liim, but missed him. Seeing that sure death was his lot, tins
valiant Indian resolved to defend himself to his last breath ; and the action whs
as speedy as the thought : his gun was levelled at the English, and Lovewell
was mortally wounded. Ensign M^yman, taking deliberate aim, killed tiie poor
hunter; which action our poet describes in glowing terms as follows :
11. Seth Wifman, wlio in VVobuni lived,
A marksman he of courage true,
Shot tlie tirst Indian whom they saw ;
Sheer through his heart '.he bullet flew.
12. The savage had been seeking fjame ;
'I'wo guns, and eke a knile, he hort-,
And two black ducks were in his hand ;
He shrieked, and fell to rise no mure.
He was scalped by the chaplain and another, and then they marched
again by the way they came, to recover their paeks. This movement was
expected by tlie wily Paugus, and he accordingly prepared an ambush to
cut them off, or to take them prisoners, as fortune should will.
13. Anon, there eighty Indiatts rose,
Who'd hid themselves in ambush dread \
Their knives they shook, their guns tliey
aimed,
The famous Paugus at their head.
14. John Lovewell, captain of the band.
His sword he wavi'd, that ghlterccHwight,
For the last time he cheered his men,
And led tbem onward to the 'ight.
Wlien the Indians rose from their coverts, they nearly encircled the
English, but seemed loath to begin the fight ; and were, no doubt, in hopes
that the English, seeing their numbers, would yield without a battle ; and,
therefore, made towards them with their guns presented, and threw away
their first fire. They then held up rojjes which they had provided for secur-
ing captives, and asked them if they would have quarter. This only encour-
aged the Engliali, who answered "only at the muzzles of their guns;" and
they rushed toward the Indians, fired as they pressed on, and, killing many,
drove them several rods. But they soon rallied and fued vigorously in
their turn, and obliged the English to retreat, leaving nine dead and three
wounded, where the battle began. LoveweUy tliough mortally wounded be-
fore, had led his men until this time, but fell before the retreat.
Although we transpose the verses in the song, to acconnnodate them to
the circmnstances of the fight, yet we cannot avoid entirely their irregular-
ity in reference to it. By the next that follow, it wotdd seem, tliat Lovewell
received a second wound before he fell.
Good heavens ! is this a lime for prayer ?
Is this a time to worship God ;
When Lovewell's men aie dying fast.
And Pausrus' tribe hath felt" the rod ?
15. " Fight on, fight on," brave Lovewell said ; IG.
" Fight on, while Heaven shall give you
breath ! "
An Indian ball then pierced him through,
And LovetixeU closed his eyes in dcal'ii.
In this 16th verse the poet, perhaps, had reference to the morning prayer,
which Mr. Frye, the chaplain, made before mai'chiug, on the day of the
battle ; or, perhaps, more probably, to the ejaculations he made on the field
alter he was mortally wounded. In the morning he prayed thus patriotically :
" We came out to meet the enemy ; we have all along prayed God we might
find them ; we had rather trust Providence with our lives ; yea, die for our
country, than try to return without seeing them, if we might ; and be called
cowards for our pains." f
* This was O. S. and corresponds to Way I'J, N. B. — See tiote in last cliapicr.
t Address of C. S. Davis, (p. 17,) delivered at Fryeburg, 100 years after the fishu
Chap. IX.]
PAUGUS.— LOVEWELL'S FIGHT.
131
17. The chaplain's name was Jonathan Frye ;
In Andover his father dwell,
And oft with LoveujeU's men he'd prayed,
Before the mortal wound he fell.
18. A man was he of comely form,
I'uiishcd and brave, well learnt and kind ;
Uld Harvard's learned halls he left.
Fur in the wilds a grave to find.
1!). Ah ! now hi4 blond-red arm he lifts.
His closing lids he tries to raise ;
And speak once more before he dies,
III supplication and in praise.
m. He prays kind Heaven to {;rant success,
Bruvii Luveivell's men to (juide a'ld bless,
And wlien they've shed tiieir hearts'-blood
true,
To raise ihcin ail to happiness.
21 . " Come hither, Farwell," said voung Frye.
" You see that I'm about to cfie ;
Now for Ihe love I hear lo you,
When cold in il<>aih my bones shall lie ;
22. " Go Ihou and see my parents dear,
And tell them you stood by nic here ;
Console them when tlicy cry, Alas '.
And wipe away the fulling tear.''
23. Lieutenant Farwfll took his hniul,
His arm around his neck he threw,
And said, " ISravc chaplain, I could wish
That Hearen had made me die for you.'
24. The chaplain on kind Farwll's breast.
Bloody, and lant^uishing, he fell;
Nor after lliul, said more but this,
'■ I love thee, soldier; fare thee well I "
" The fight continued," says the RevtMcnd Mr. Sjfmmes, " veiy fiiiious and
obstinate till towards night. The Indians roaring and y•'• .t>.i«''l.'> '^.' I- ■•■j^
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182
PAUGU8.— LOVEWELL'8 nOHT.
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29. With Toolstcps slow shall travellers go,
Wlierc l,ovnBfH'» pond shines clear ai.'J
bright,
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Wliu lull iu LovewtWt b)uu
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CHAPTER X.
77i« S/. Franns Indians — Rogers' expfditum against them — Philip — SAntris—
Arnold's expedition — Natanis — The modern I'tnnbseots — Aittkon — Nkhtune—
Captain Fhancis — Susup murders an Englishmtin — Specimen of the, I'enobseoi
lan/ruitire. — Rowi.r.s — Aw projihr.cu — Hi.ind vVii.i. — Killed hij the Muhatcks — As-
»ACAMiii;ir — t^isils France and is knighted by the king — Attacks and burns Haver-
hill — His death.
TowARns tlio cloHo of tilt! last chapter, mention was made of tlic St-
Fruiicis liuliiiMH, nnd, as thoy were, a j)art of tliein, the remnant of the onc(>
rnHpi'ctahh! AiidioHco{,'^'ini<,* their history will here Ik; rt'suined. We have
already rtlati'd some of their hurdshioH and sufferings, both in Philip\i war
and the Frenclj wars allcrwards, wlien thoy had to contend with the old
experienced chief. Colonel Church ; and also their (00 persons." Accordingly Major Rogers was despatched upon this entor-
t»rise with 142 efl'ective men, including oflicers, and a few Indians of the
'equawket tribe, under Philip, their chief. It was a most perilous undertak-
ing ; near 300 miles of wild country to be passed, late in October, 175^'.
Whcii they came in sight of the town, towards evening, on the 5 October,
the inhabitants were dancing about in great glee, celebrating a weddinp.
Half an hour before sunrise the next morning, the English tell suddenly
upon them, in three divisions, and completely surprised them, killing 200
Indianfc and capturing a few women and children.f With such secrecy and
}irompti,ude did the English act on this occasion, says our author, "that the
enemy bad no time to recover themselves, or take arms in their own defence,
until they were mostly destroyed." Some few ran down to the river to es-
cape by swinmiing or in their canoes, but were pursued and destroyed.
Their village, except three houses, was burnt, and many persons in it. By
seven o'clock the butchery was ended, and a retreat was immediately com-
menced. Two bidian boys were brought away prisonere, one of whom was
' ''At St. Franpais, from some of Zanglie'darankiac, or people from the mouth of this river.
1 lociriicrl, iliat iliey call il, or rather its hanks, Amilcungantiquoke, or banis of the river
ahomulinfr in dried meat." Kendal's Travelii, iii. 143.
t 1 lately received a letter from a ^endeman who subscribed himself " Joseph Alex.
Masta, an Indian of the St. Francis tribe,'' complaining of the inaccurate account given bv
Major Rogers of the destruction of that tribe ; but as the author of the letter docs not give
an account himself, nor direct me where I can obtain one, better than I have used, I am con-
strained to reprint mv account without much emendation. The only facts which I can gather
from his letter, are, tfiat, " before this event [Rogers's Expedition] took place, the St. Francis
tribe numbered from 1800 to 2000 inhabitants ; but since, this number has made rapid decline,
and at present on the point of total dissolution." Letter, dated Vincennes, Vt. 25 April, 1836.
nup. X] PHILIP OF PIGWOKET— ARNOLD'S KXPKDITION.
135
>»■
nntncd Stbaii$. The English commander Hays, " We found 600 §calpH hang-
lilt; iipnn |iol(>8 over tho doors of thtiir wi^wuuiH."
Although tho EngliHh had madu Huch havoc ainorig the iiidians, yet u
wrtlierH. liut
Pkilip, at the head of his company, made good his retreat without losing a
mail ill the way.
Bisides this expedition, in which Philip was one of "Rogers' rangers," he
was at the capture of Louishurgh, under (Jeneral Jlviherat, and was tho
tirst man that took possession of tho Ibrtress.*
In the winter of 1757, when the English and French armies had gone into
winter quarters, Colonel Rofrera wa« lill in command of Fort I'Alvvurd,
and had several severe hattles with the F'rench and Indians in scouting
cxpiditions. In ono of these, ho fell in with a superior forct; to his own,
near Ticonderoga, and lost many of his men, in killed and prisoners. This
was on 21 January. The chief, Philip, was in that affair, and acted as ser-
tteant. Concerning this ciiief, it is further snid that he was hut "half Indian,"
and that in the revolution, he joined the Americans, saying " he was a whig
inilian."
Mention has been made of an Indian of the name of Sebatis or Sauatis.
There were several of the name, and douhtless it was peculiar to the Ahena-
i|uies ; and hence that Sabaiia, captured at St. Francis, was descended
t'roni an Ahcnaquis family, who had settled there. It is possible also, that
ho may bo tho same who al\erwards resided, near the head waters of the
Kennebeck, with a brother named JVaianis, who is brought to our notice
ill the accounts f of General JhrnoltVa expedition through that region in the
tall of 1775 ; but this is conjecture. However, what is known of these two
brothi-rs follows.
General Arnold having, on his arrival in the Kennebeck River, ordered a
small hand to proceed in advance o( the army, to discover and mark out a
route for it, gave strict orders that J^atania should be captured or killed. This
order had been given, because the general had been infbrtned that he had
been fixed there by the English of Canada, as a 8[)y, to give information
if mi enemy should approach in that direction. But this, as it proved, was
false information, and JSfatania was the friend of the Americans, as also was
liis brother Sabatis, who lived about seven miles higher up the river, above
liim.
The residence of JVatania was a lonesome place, upon the bank of the
river ; his cabin, situated in the centre of a green, the border of which was
beyond musket shot from it, was a discovery whicli added to the susfiicions
of the party, who, having arrived in the neighborhood, 4 October, surrounded
it at every point, and run in upon it with great eagerness ; expecting, without
doubt, to have taken him prisoner. In this they were disappointed, for it ap-
peared that the place had been deserted a week. Near by, at tlie shore
of the river, a map drawn upon birch bark, was found in the top
of a stake, very accurately delineating the courses of the rivers towards
Canada, and lines denoting places of crossing from one to another. This
{jreatly surprised them, but they profited much by it Nothing was seen of
any Indians during t le excursion of the exploring party, who, after about 22
days, in which they suffered every thing hut death, rejomcd the army.
Wiien the army had arrived within the bounds of Canada, which was on
-the 4 November, " we for the first time," says Mr. Henry, " had the pleasure
of seeing the worthy and respectable Lidian, JVatania, and his brother, Saba-
.■?■■•
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V: ;
♦ ■. ,
<
• *
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* Rof^ers' Reminiscences, Appendix to new edition.
t Sue that of Judge John J. Ileriry, 32, to 3G, and 74, &,c. See also Sliallu's Tables, ii.
509, and Col. Maine Hist. Soc. i. 394.
:.i '(« ,f .,,
A ■•»;!
• ■ ,csi-.-^Si' ; ■■.■■
136
NATANIS.—SABATIS.— PENOBSCOT INDIANS.
[Cook III.
III! ■ t.. ■•5 .;-^;4"?*;\; V
^^^ ■*''f ^V*« -A''.^'
Sp'i'lti .'*'•'■■■ '
fis, with some others of their tribe." Catania went to each of the companiea
of spies, and shook them by the hand, as though he had been formerly
acquainted with them. He explained himself by telling them, that he had
kept close to them all the time they were making their discovery beyond iiig
residence, and until they returned, but did not dare to make himself
known, for fear they would kill him — a wise resolution.
Natanis and Sabatis, with 17 others of their tribe, joined the army
on the River Chaudiere, and marched with it to Canada. When the attack
on Quebec was made, 31 Deceniber, 1775, JVatonis was wounded by a shot
through the wrist, and iell into the hands of the British general, Carleton,
who immediately set him at liberty. These were the first Indians employed
in the revolutionaiy contest by the Americans.*
We cannot pass over the momentous undertaking of AmoU, without re-
questing the reader to notice how many men of note and eminence survived
its ruins — General Daniel Morgan of Virginia, then a captain — General Henry
Dearborn of Massachusetts, of like rank — Timothy Bigelow of Massachusetts,
a major — Return J. Meigs, father of the late postmaster-general, of the same
rank — Samtiel Spring, t>. D. of Newburvport, a chaplain— ./3aron jBwrr of New
Jersey, and General Benedict Arnold of Connecticutf Numerous others de-
serve' equal notice ; but it is not our province to enumerate them here. And
from this digression we return to notice another chief nearly similar in name
to the last.
At the treaty of Gfeorgetown, on Arrowsik Island, held by the eastern
tribes with the English, 9 August, 1717, Sabbadia, as his name was then writ-
ten, appeared for the Androscoggin s. Also at the treaty of Casco, dated
25 July, 1727, we find among the signers Sahatiats of Arresagontacook.|
What j)art Sabatis acted in the tragedies from 1722 to 1725, does not appear.
In the History of Maine§ we find the following passage concerning Sab-
batist, as he is there called. " Li 1730, a chaplain was allowed at Fort George ;
and it was in this place, where Sabbatist, the Anasagunticook sagamore, re-
quested government to keep some supplies: for, said he, in ^cold vxinters and
deep snows, my Indians, unable to go to Fort Richmond, sometimes suffer,^ "
We now pass to our own times to notice some modern Indians in the
state of Maine. In 1816, the Penobscot tribe at Old Town,|| having lost its
sachem, entered upon the election of another. It was some montlis before
they could agree upon a successor, although it is their custom to elect a near
relation of the deceased. At length party spirit having run unreasonably
high, their priest, who is a Roman Catholic, interfered, and they forsook tlie
rival candidates, and elected John JUtteon. This m^n, it is said, was a de-
scendant of Baron de Saint Castiena. The induction into office took place
19 September, 1816. At the same time John JVeptune was constituted his
lieutenant, and Captain Francis and another were confirmed as chief
captains.
A specimen of modern oratory among these Indians is given by Mr. Wii-
r.iAMSoN, who heai*d it, in his History op Maine. It was made in a court,
by John JVeptune, in extenuation of thn murder of one Knight, by Peol Susup.
The cose was nearly as follows : In the evening of 28 June, 1816, this Indian
was intoxicated, and at the tavern of said Knight at Bangor, (whether he had
procured liquor there with which to intoxicate himself, we are not informed,)
and being noisy and turbulent, Knight endeavored to expel him from his
house. Having thrust him out of iloor, he endeavored to drive him nway,
and in the attempt was stabbed, and immediately died. On his arrest, Susup
acknowledged his guilt, but said he was in liquor, and that Knight abused
* Judge llewy, 7a.
t Henry, our uutliurity before mentioned, was a private, ae'ed but 16, who rnn awav from
his father, and joined the army clandestinely; ho died in IS 10, aged fi2. Mcrgan died in
1802, uet. (i3 i Dearborn in 1829, ael. 78 ; Mngs in 1823 ; Spring in 1819, ael. 73 ; Arnold in
1801, at London, ael. 61 ; Purr died in New York, in 1836.
t Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. ii, 242. 260. $ WiUianum, ii. 159.
II In 1811, this tribe consisted of but 57 families, and 241 persons. In 1820 there were 277
(ouls. Their increase, says Dr. Morse, Appendix to Indian Rkport, 65, is owing to aa
obligation of the chiefs imposed upon their young men to marry early.
o
CiixP. X]
Castillo,
CinP. X]
AlTTEON.-Ni:rT(JNE.
137
him, or he had not done it Being bronjrht to trial in June the next yenr at
Custiiic, by udvire of counsel, he pleaded not guilh/; and idler a day spent in
his trial, a verdict was rendertd, accorditig to the delence set up, nuin-
tlaughier. Susup had a wife and several children ; four of whom, with their
mother, were present, as were many other Indians from St. Johns and Passn-
inaquoddy, hesides a great crowd of Whites.
After sentence was declared, Susup was asked by the court if he had any
tiling to s!iy for himself; to which he replied, "John Neptune ivill speak for
me" Neptune rose up, and, having advanced towards the judges, delib-
pnitely said, in English,
" You knoto your people do my Indians great deal ivrong. They abuse thtm
wnj nuch — yes they murder them ; then they walk right off— nobody touches them.
This makes my heart bum. Well, then my Indians say, we toill go kill your very
bad and wicked men. JVo, IteWem nemr do that thing, we are brothers. S.nne
time ago a very bad man * about Boston, shot an Indian dead. Your people said,
surely he should die, but it was not so. In the great prison house he eats and lives
to this day. Certainly he never dies for killing Indian. My brothers say let that
bloody man go free — reol Susup too. So we unsh. HopefdLi the hearts of us
all— 'Peace m good. These, my Indians, love it well. They smile under its shade.
The white men and red men must be always friends. Tlie Great Spirit is our
father. — / speak what Ifeel,^
"Susup was sentenced to another year's imprisonment, and required to find
sureties for keeping the peace two years, in the penal sum of 500 dollars ;
when John Neptune, Squire Jo Merry JVeptune, of his own tribe, Ca[rt. Solmxtnd,
from Passamaqtioddy, and Capt Jo Tomer, from the River St. Johns, became
his sureties in the cognizance." t
Ca{)tain Francis, the first captain of the tribe, has been mentioned, and
who, according to the historian of Maine, is a man of good understanding. If
the iidbrmation he has given concerning the eastern Indians be correct, — and
we see no cause to doub* it, — it is of much value, and no less interest. He
ossured Mr. Williamson, *^ that all the tribes between the Saco and the St.
Johns, both inclusive, are brothers; that the oldest lived on the Saco; that
each tribe is younger as we pass eastward, like the sons of the same father,
though the one at Passamaquoddy | is the youngest of all, proceeding from
those upon the River St. Johns and Penobscot§ ' Always^ he afiirnis, ' / could
understand all these brothers very well when they speak ; but when the Mickmaks or
the Algonquins, or Canada Indians talk, I cannot tell all what they say.'' "
fielore dismissing the interesting Tarratines, it may be proper to present a
specimen of their language.
Metunk^senah, ouwaSie, spum^keag-aio, kee^uck Ue-we-seh, keah'^-dabeV-dock,
mw-do^-seh, keah^-olct-hautta-mon-a, numah-zee, m'se-tah^-mah, Vhah-lah-wee^-
keunah, spum^-keag-aio, me-lea^h, neoSwh, ne-quem-pe-bemrgeesWcoque, maje^-
me, gees^-cool, ar^mn, muS'See-aHos^see, neo WA, commonl^en-esk-sock, t-hah-lah-
tvee-keunah, num-e-se-comele^ent, tah-hah-la-we-u-keah-ma-che-ke^-cheek, a-que-he\
a-que-ah-lah-ke-me-sah^iMque, n^gahiie, numarzee\ nea-nah, neo'je, saw^-got.
* " He alluded to one Livermore, who had received sentence ol death for killing an In-
dian, which was commuted to hard labor for life in the state's prison." Williamson.
An Indian named Crevat, a Penobscot of the tribe of St. Francis, to avoid being dis-
tressed by ihe war on the frontiers of Canada, wiih his wife wandered down into Massachu-
setts, and erected a wigwam on the shore of Spot Pond, in the town of Stoneham, where they
lived. At length some abominable while rultians, on the night of the 23 November, 1813,
shot him while he was asleep, and badly wounded his squaw. Not being killed outright, this
Indian crawled from his wigwam, and was found the next day almost lifeless and in great
agony, and he expired in a lew days after. The names of the murderers I will not give, for
I abhor to sully my page with them. Four were guilty. One fled from justice, two were
tried and condemned to be hanged, December 25th, following. Report of the Trial.
t Ibid.
X The Indians %iaA.PascodmnfOqwn-keag. Pascodura mawaXpoUotk; oquon, catch 'tm
great many ; eag, lana or place.
i Penops, rocks ; keag, a place of,
18*
-■ /^
■4..; ^'■. .?fi^r
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' 1 / ■ ■ '.■«' ¥* ,-^ ,; - ' ■
' 1, . ^v
• .j/i:^' V-^V.**/ [JIM
138
ROWLS.-BLIND-WILL.
[Book III.
UH)o-saw^me, kedh^dabdd^-ock, ego-mah, kedoah\ noa^chee, done-ahHe, aazoog,
neak^lds, qvuts^-qut.*
In sjieaking of the New Hampshire sachem?, it was not intended that so
«-on8|)icuous a chief ns Rowls should have been silently passed over, and
thereiore we will give him a i)lacehere. This chief has of late years becoinp
noted, fn)ni the circumstjince of his name's being found to the celebrated
Wheehmisrht deed of 1(5^!). That deed, it maybe proper to remark, pnri)orted
to have been given hy Passaconawajj, RunaawiU, fVdmnoumoioit, und Howls.
The tnict nf country conveyed was included between the i'aiifataqua and
Merriiimck Rivers, j.nd bounded inland by aline from "Pawtucket" Fail,-*
in the latter, atui Newichawannok in the ibrmer. It is pretty certain,, now,
tlint tlicise siicheiris gave no such deed at the time specified.
Rowj.s was saeliiiii of the Newichawannoks, and his dwelling-place was
Upon the north side of the Pascataqua, not ftir from Quampeagan Falls, in
lierwick, then Kiuery. "In 1(543, he conveyed the lands of his vicinity to
Humplimf Ch(idl)oxirn ; and others afterwards, to Spencer ; the former beiuc
the earlief^t Iiidiaji deed Ibund u[)on our records. It is certain that all the
Indians U])oii the river to its mouth, were his subjects, though he was under
Pas8aconawuy."t Mr. Hubbard J says, "There was within the compass of the
8ev«;n years now current, [about l(i70,] a sagamore about Kittary, called
Roiils or Rolles: who laying very sick, and bedrid, (being an old man,) he ex-
pected some of the English, that seized upon his land, should have shown
him that civility, as to have given him a visit in his aged infirmities and sick-
ness. It matters not much whether it was totally neglected or not ; to be
sure at the last, he sent for the chiefs of the town and desired a favor of them,
viz. that though he might, as he said, challenge [claim] all the plantation ibr
his own, where they dwelt, that yet they would please to sell or give liim a
small tract of land, possil)ly an hundred or two of acres, and withall desired
it mi^ht be recorded in the town book, as a public act, that so his children,
which he left behind, might not be turned out, like vagabonds, as destitute of
an habitation amongst, or near the English, adding this as a reason : Thut he
knew there would shortly fall out a war between the Indians and the English,
all over the country, and that the Indians at the first should prevail, and do
much mischief to the English, and kill many of them : But after the third
year, or after three years, all the Lidians which so did, should be rooted out,
and utterly destroyed." This account, the same author says, " is reported by
Maj. tValdron, Mr. Joshua Moody, Capt. /Vosf, that live upon, or near the
place."
A chief named Blind-toiU was successor to Rolls, and in Philip's war served
the English. Why the word blind was prefixed to his name is no; mentioned,
but probably he had lost an eye.
In l(i77, the wretched expedient was resorted to by the whites, of employing
the Mohawks against the Tarratines, and two messengers, Majors Pinckon
and Richards, were despatched to their country. They were kindly received
by them, and promised their assistance. "Accordingly some parties of
them came down the country, about the middle of March, and the first
alarm was given at Amuskeeg Falls ; where the son of fVonolanset being
hunting, discovered 15 Indians on the other side, who called to him in a lan-
guage which he did not understand ; upon which he fled, and they fired
near 30 guns at him without effect. Presently after this they were discovered
in the woods near Cochecho. Major Waldron sent out eight of his Indians,
whereof Blind-vMl was one, to make further discovery. They were all
surprised together by a company of the Mohawks ; two or three escaped,
the others were either killed or taken. Will was dragged away by his hair ;
and being wounded, perished in the woods, on a neck of land, formed by the
confluence of Cochecho and Ising- glass Rivers, which still bears the name
of Blind-uriWs Neck."§ Such were the exploits of the allies of the English
• Williamson's Maine, i. 513.
( Belknap, Hist. N. U. i. 125,
t Williamson, i. 46a t Indian Wars, ii. 81.
ix-f
><•
Chap. X.]
ASSACAMBUIT.
\lVJ
at this time ; nor do we find tliat any othera were performed of a different
character. Notwithstanding, the same miserable poliey was talked of again
tiboiit nine years afler ; but we do not learn that it was carried into practice.
It was, perhaps, at the time of which we have been speaking, that the Nar-
ragunsct chief Pessactix was murdered, as hixs been mentioned.*
We had not thus long delayed our notice of one of the most renowned
cliiefs, but from the untoward circumstance of having mislaid a valuable
coinniunication concerning him.t The sachem of whom we are now to
speak was known among the French by the name of J^escambioiiit, but
among the English he was called
AssACAMBuiT,! and .^ssacornbuii.l This chief was as faithful to the
French as one of their own nation ; and oiu* account of him begins in HJiXi,
when, with Iberville and the fairious Montigny, he rendered im[)orta!it service
in tlie reduction of the English Fort St. Joluis, 30 November, of that year.
Being ai)[)rized of the approach of the French and Indians, the English sent
out H8 men to oppose them, who, on the 28, were met and attacked by a part
of Iberville's army, under Monligny atul JVescambioiiit, and defeated with the
loss of 55 men. On the night before St. Johns capitidated, Iberville, with
JVescambioiiit as his second, at the head of 80 men, made a sally to burn on(!
])art of the town, while D\Muys and Montigny, with (JO others, were ordered
to fire it at another point. Both parties succeeded. §
In 1(599, he is noticed for some cruelty, which, it was said, he inflicted upon
a child, named Thomasin Rouse. He having ordered it to cany something to
the water side, it cried ; he took a stick and struck her down, and she lay
for dead. He then threw her into the water, but she was saved by another
Indian. She was an EnD;lish captive, and was soon after restored. This
account was handed Dr. Mather, by one who had just returned from Casco
Bay, where he had been to hold a treaty with the Indians. The accoiuit
closes in these words : "This Assacomluit hath killed and taken this war,
(they tell tne,) 150 men, women and children. A bloody Devil." ||
It is said that Mauxis, JVanungonet, and Jlssacoinlmitf were "three of the
most valiant and i)uissant sachems" of the east.H Their attack upon the fort
at Casco, in August, 1703, has been mentioned.** In 1704, sorne of the Abe*
iinquis, having established themselves in Newfoundland, were attacked by the
Knglish, and some of them killed. Whereupon they applied to Governor
Vaudreuil \m assistance to repel them, and he s(;nt Montigny with a few
Canadians, who joined themsrhes with about 50 Abenaquis under JVescnmbi'
oi'iit, and attackedf the English with great success. They pillaged and burnt
one fort, and took many i)risoners. ft
lu 1705, M, Sttbercase, having succeeded M. Brouillon in the government
of Newfoundland, endeavorod to make thorough work with the remainitig
English there. Their success was nearly c()mi)lete, and here again JS/escarri'
hiouit is noticed as acting a conspicm us part. Subercase^s army consisted of
400 nien,tt in all, and they set out Tom Placentia 15 January, upon snow-
shoes, with 20 days' provisions. Tl.ey suffered much from the rigor of the
weather, and did not fall upon the English until the 2G, which was at a place
Culled Rebou. They next took Petit llavre. At St. Johns they found some
resistance, where the English now had two forts, which were supplied with
cannon and mortars, and, after losing five men in killed and wounded, were
obliged to raise the siege, in consequence of want of powder ; having dam-
aged much of what they brought with them in wading rivers. They next
attacked Forrillon and took it. >§§ Tliis was 5 March. Here was also a fort,
* See n. IT. p. 68. note § . f From Rev. Mr. Felt, of Hamilton. t Penhallow.
4 Chark\)oix, ii. 193. || Magnalia, vii. 95, IT Peithntlmo 6.
** Page Vn, lib. iii. It Charlevoix, ii. 29't.
it This is according to Cliarlevoix, hul Penhallow says 500, and Anspach, (ll\%\.. Newfound
land, 1-23.) oAott/ 600. Charlevoix is, doubtless, nearest the truth.
JiJ L« Bmirg/tU brUli^i apr^s qnoi MoNTiGNY, qui avoit amenS ^ cette expedition sonJieUU
NescambiouiTj/m^ detach! a^'ec les saunages, et une partie des Canadiens, peur alter du c6ti
de Carbormiere, et de Bnnnexnste, avec order de br&ter et de ditruire toute le cute, ce qu'il
'xicuta sans perdre un seul liomme, tant la terreur itmt grande parmi le* Angloit, N.
Fraiice, ii. 300.
''V.*-
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140
ASSACAMBUIT.
[Book III.
life' A;.-:
into wliicli the Inhabitants at first retired, and endeavored to defend themselves
but soon surrendered priHonera of war.*
Not long after these services JVescambioilU sailed for France, and in 1706
visited liis majesty. King Louis XiV, at Versailles. Here, among other emi-
nent personages, he became known to the historian Charlevoix, f The
king having presented him an elegant sword, he is reported to have said,
holding up his hand, "This hand has slain one hundred and forty of your majea-
Ufa enemies in JVew England ; " | and that who.reupon, the king forthwitii
knighted him, and ordered that henceforth a pension of eight livrea a day be
allowed him for life.
J^escamMoilit returned to America in 1707, and the next year accompanied
Rouville to attack Haverhill in Massachusetts. The French had intended a
much more tbrmidable conquest, and liud engaged bands of Indians from
four nations to cooperate with them, and all were to rendezvous at Laite
Nikisipique, as they called Winnipesauke or Winnipisiogeo. But all except
tlie Algonquins and Abenaquis under JVescambiouit, having failed and deserted
them, they were on the point of abandoning their enterprise altogether.
Having made known their situation to Governor Vaudreuil, and requested
his orders, he directed, that though all the Indians deserted them, they should
not give over the expedition. Des Chaillons having communicated this intel-
ligence to the Indians, they entreated him to lead them forward, and said they
would follow him wherever he chose to go.
From Nikisipique they marched, at last, with 200 men, fell upon Haver-
hill,§ and sacked it. The attack was made, sun about an hour high, 2d
August, 1708. The contest was short as the opposition was feeble. The
English lost about 100 persons by this irruption, 40 or 50 of whom were
killed at Haverhill. Nescambioiiit, in this affair, fought by the side of the
commander-in-chief, and performed prodigies of vulor witli the sword which
he brought from France.
Having burned the fort and many of the buildings in the village,|| they
l)egan to retrace their steps, with precipitation. The English, having rallied,
Ibrujed an ambush in the edge of the woods, about a mde and a half from
the town, attacked them vigorously, killing and woimding many of thetn. In
the ambush were 60 or 70 English, who, after lianging upon tlieir flanks for
near an hour, retreated. In this last affair the French suffered most. In
both encounters, 18 men were wounded, three Indians and five Frenchmen
killed. lu the ambush fell Hertel of Chambly, and Vercheres, both officers of
experience ; and the renowned Jissacamhuit, as though, elsewhere, like Aund
me naked, as I was, in my shirt, and so I stood for near the space of an
hour." Meanwhile the work of destruction and pillage was carried on with
great fury. One of the three who captured Mr. Williams was a captain,
.Si
.^.■,v..f:--
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143
DESTRUCTION OF DEERFIELD.
[Book III.
Hguai!- 1 wFiom, hnys our captive, " the judgment of God did not long sliimlmr ;
for by sun-rising he received a mortal siiot from my next neighbor's house."
This, tliough not a garrison, and containing but seven men, witiistood tlin
efforts of the 300 French and Indians whicli now beset them. That house
remains to this day, bearing upon its I'ront door the marks of tiie hatchet.*
Alter about two hours the enemy took up their march froiri tiie town,
having phindered and burnt :t, and put 47 persons to death, including thos«;
killed in making defence. Mrs. fVilHams having lately lain in, was fccblp,
which, without the scene now acting before her, rendered her case hopeless ;
but to this was added the most shocking murders in her presence — two
of her children were taken to the door iiid killed, also a black woman be-
longing to the family.
"About sun an hour high," continues the redeemed captive, "we were all
carried out of the house for a march, and saw many of the houses of my
neighbors in flames, perceiving the whole fort, one house excepted, to hi-
taken !" " We were carried over the river, to the foot of the mountain, about
a mile from my house, where we found a great number of our cliristiun
neighbors, men, women, and children, to the number of 100; nineteen of
whom were afterward murdered by the Avay, and two starved to deutli near
Coo3, in a time of great scarcity, or famine, the savages underwent there.
When we came to the foot of our mountain, they took away our shoes, and
gave us Indian sh )es, to prepare us for our journey." The army had lett
their packs at this place, and wliile they were getting ready to decamp, the
few English that had escaped at the town, and a few from Hatfield, who had
been notified of the fate of Deerfield by one or two^ who had escaped there,
pursued, and in a meadow between the town and the main body, met a party
of the enemy, and a sharp fight ensued. The small band of Englishmen
did not retreat until the main body under Rouvilk were about to encircle
them, and then they left nine of their number slain. Such was the success
of the English in the beginning of the fight, that, fearing a defeat, RouvUle
had ordered the captives to be jiut to death ; bi:":•
" il
^^^B'-.
-PL
I^^^Kui
ff'
HRPv '
Mt
B|<
■ h', '^
r:;|j
144
MONEY OF THK INDfANif.
[Book m.
dians, made several cxcursiona into tliuir country, and masHacred uli hucIi as
they could purprise. Upon tliia, the chiefs deinunded aid ol'M, de VaudreuU,
and he sent tiieni during the winter '^50 men under liic conwiiund of Uie
Sieur Hertel dc Kouville, a reformed lieutenant, wlio took the place of iii»
already renowned father, whose age and infirmities prevented his undci-
takin^ such great ex|>udition9. Four others of his children ucconipaiiied
RouvUle, who in their tour surprised the English, killed many of them, and
made 140 of them prisoners. The French lost but three soldiers, and bome
savages, hut RouvUle was himself wounded.*
'^ii$es^
CHAPTER Xa
Variova incidents in the history of the JVeio England Indians, embracing settrai
important events, with a sequel to some previous memoirs,
H« felt hiii lifn'i lilonil frcpziiig fast ;
Ifo gmspeil III!) I)uw, liin Imicc, uml stee) ;
Ho was or Wampiino:iK'ii Inst.
To dio were eaay — not to yield.
Ilia oycB wniu fixed upon the iiky ;
He easpod rb on tlit: ground lio full ;
None Lot hia (oe» lo seu him die —
None but bin foes liia deutli to toll.
The performances of one Cornelius, " the Dutchman," in Philip's war, are
Very obscurely noticed in the histories of the times, none of them giving ii»
even his surname ; and we have, in a former chapter, given tlie amount of
what has before been published. I am now able to add concerning him, that
his nan« was Cornelius Concert; that the last time he went out against the
Indians, he served about six weeks; was captain of the forlorn hope in the
Quabaog expedition, in the autumn of the first year of Philip's war ; marched
also to Groton and Chelmsford, and was discharged from service, "being
ready to depart the country," October 13, 1G75. It was probably in his^
Quabaog expedition that he committed the barbarous exploit upon " an old
Indian," the account of which has been given ; it was doubtless during the
same expedition, which appears to have terminated in September, that "he
brought round five Indians to Boston," who, being cast into prison, were
afterwards " delivered to Mr. Samuel Shrimpton, to be under his employ on
Noddle's Island," subject "to the order of tlie council." I shall here pass to
8ome further account of the money of the Indians.
We have quoted the comical account of the money of the Indians of New
England, by John Josselyn, and will now quote the graphic and sensible one
given by the unfortunate John Lawson, in his account of Carolina, of the
money in use among the southern Indians. " Their money," he says, " is of
different sorts, but all made of shells, which are found on the coast of Caro-
lina, being very large and hard, and difficult to cut, Some English smiths
have tried to drill this sort of shell money, and thereby thought to get an
advantage, but it proved so hard that notViing could be gained ; and Morton,
in his New English Canaan, says that, although some of the English in New
England have tried "by example to make the like, yet none hath ever attained
to any perfection in the composure of them, so but that the salvages have
found a great difference to be in tlte one and the other ; and have known the
counterfeit beads from those of their own making ; and have, and doe slight
them." Hence the conclusion of Josselyn, before extracted, namely, that
" neither Jew nor devil could counterfeit the money of the Indians." Mr.
Lawson continues: "The tidians often make, of the same kind of shells as
those of which their money is made, a sort of gorget, which they wear about
* Histoire Gencraii! de la Nouv. France, ii. 290.
^",
\N
■I il.
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mf
w.
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iM'.
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CHAP. Xll]
their neck)
engraven n
Tliere arc
for three o
them go re
Indinns in
Mexico, is
Tliia is th
current nic
of this pui
skin. To
they could
no value u
others wil
the piei'-cs
pipe, or In
one is to I
bends nre.
will reach
to (juestioii
wanipum-[
twice the
inanufoctu
upon their
hit of she!
which will
Indians, w
money is
their capti
cliastity.
is ill, this
and virtuoi
Of the N
noticed be
" cheiffe c(
in the moi
been sent
Ninigrct;
how impli(
luce ugains
among the
28th of S(
of the 8tr«
named ffi
from those
in such a
the gronni
tlie govcri
tliein the
tlio cvidei
court, in 1
such nbus
sum of fc
Cormnn f(
cult to un
they serio
hurt four
forty shill
As new
put in a s
daily reflf
Unoo at t
M[
Chap. Xll]
GORMAN.— NANUNTENOO.
their necks in a string; so it hnntrs on their collar, whereon somptimcB is
enijravcn a cross, or some odd 8ort of figure whicli comes next in their fancy.
Tlicrc are otiier sortn vahied at n doeskin, yet the gorgets will someiinies sell
for three or four hiickskins rcnily dresHed. There be othet-8, that eight of
them go readily for a doeskin ; but the general and current specien of all the
Indians in Carolina, and I iK^licve, all ov(;r the continent, as tiir an *he hay of
Mexico, is that which we call Peak, aneak be black or pur|»lt\ as so.iic part of that shell is, then it is
twice the value. The drilling is the most difficult and tedious part of the
manufacture. It is done by sticking a nail in a cane or reed, which they roll
upon their thighs with their right hand, while with their lefl they apply the
bit of shell to the iron point But es|>ecially in making their ronoak, four of
which will scarce make one length of watni>um. Such \s the money of the
Iiuliuns, with which you may buy all they have. It is their mammon, (lu^ our
money is to us,) that entices and persuades them to do any thing, part with
their captives or slaves, and, sometimes, even their wives' and daughters'
clia.stity. With it they buy off mtirderers ; and whatever a man can do that
is ill, this wampum will quit him of, and make him, in their opinion, good
and virtuous, though never so black before." To return to the chiefs.
Of the Narraganset Indian Carman very little had been found when he was
tioticed before, and it is but little that we can now a^ld concr. ning the
"cheiffe counceller" of the "old crafty sachem" of Niantik. It appears that
in the month of September, 1675, Corman was in Boston, whither he had
been sent as an ambassador by the Narraganset sachems, and especially by
Ninigret; and although Ninigret was a peace-maker, and had not been any
how implicated in tlie war then going on, yet, such was the rage of the popu-
lace iigainst all Indians, that it was not deemed safe for even a friend from
among them to walk alone in the streets of the town. On the evening of the
28th of September, as Corman, now an old maa was walking through one
of the streets, guarded by persons on each side of hitn, a certain miscreant,
named William Smith, ran furiously against him, and thus separating him
from those about him, did, by anotlier motion, strike his feet from under him
in such a manner that his bead and shoulders came in violent contact with
tlie ground, very seriously injuring him. Complaint having been made to
the governor and council, they had both Sn 'ih and Corman brought before
tliem the next dav, and the charge against the former being established by
the evidence of Mrs. Sarah Pickering;, who saw the fact committed, "the
court, in hearing of the case, judged it meet to bear due testimony against
such abuse, and sentence the said Smith to pay, as a fine to the country, the
sum of forty shillings, or be whipt with ten stripes; also to pay the said
Corman for his damage the sum ot ten shillings in montj." It is very diffi-
cult to understand the grounds of the decision of the honorable court, unless
they .seriously thought that the ground on which poor old Carman fell was
hurt four times as much as he was ! If this was not its reason, why should
forty shillings be paid to the country and only ten to Corman ?
As new local and other histories appear, and the decaying manuscripts are
put in a situation and condition to be conveniently consulted, new lights are
daily reflected on the dark passages of our history. The presence ot'JVanun'
tenoo at the battle of Pawtucket, or, as it is more commonly called, Peirst^i
13
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146
COLONEL CHURCH— INDIAN LnTTERS.
[HooE III
fi^ht, has hern qiK'HtiniuMl by ii vtuy rxrttllont local historian, Mr. Bliss, in
liiH hintory of Ueli<)lM>tli, but, uh I apprelK-iiil, from a riiiHconstructiun of hdihc
)>»KMiK*!H in lliibbartl'H Narrative, «'M|H:t-iallv from that |)aMtiaKlau){liter, surpriKed by hin men u
few (laVN lieforo." It in true that tliis isentenee will admit of two ronxirue-
tionH, either that the chief was (li\ertiri<; hiniHelf by recounting tu IiIm men
Imh parlicuhir actH in that tragedy, or by a general aeeount of its pro^fresx, or
that they were diverting him; the former would Ih; by no meant> nnprobulilr,
especially if uome of those aliout liim had not l)een in the action, wliirh
would not be ut all strange, as nundiers of them were, doubtless, ^trollin);
upon hunting and other expeditions when the battle was Ibnglit. Thnt
Mununtenoo did not leave the Connecticut River until the "lirst week in
April" cannot be true, nor by that loosely stated date does llubbanl retir to
his leaving the Connecticut, but to "about the time" of his capture. If he
refers to the time of his leaving the river, he refers to his men also, who, he
says, did not leave until alter he did ; but it was his men that deieated IVirse.
These are all the lights we are able to throw on that great event, and tumt
here hiave it in the same doubt we found it, and which is ever, most lil;*;|y.
to shroud it.
It would bo highly gratifying to Ih; able to give sketrhes of some oi the
prominent English captains, or others, who were conspicuous in Indian
history, but our design and limits both preclude such digressions, anti we
cannot indulge in but a few. In a recent ramble in the Hill burying-ground.
in Middleborough, I i9, and not long aller removed to
Duxbury with his father.* lie was a housewright by trade, as were his (iitlicr
and one or two of his brothers. How many he had I am not sure, but Ciiiel*
and Joseph are mentioned, and a sister who married an Irish, and lived in
Compton. In 1674 he bought land of the government and removed to
Sogkonate, the then Indian name of the tract of country since Compton.
Here he was prosperously making a farm when Philip's war broke out, and
was obliged to quit his improvements. Possessing a remarkably active mind.
vigorous body, and glowing patriotism, he was not long an idle spectator of
the war, engaging in it without reward as a volunteer; and our jjrevious
pages have shown that he raised himself to the chief military place in tlip
country, and several civil offices of honor. After Philip's war Colonel Church
resided ut Bristol, then at Fall River, and, lastly, again at Hogkonate ; in earh
of which places he left a good estate. In his latter years he had beconic
very corpulent, and burdensome to himself. The morning before his death
he visited his sister, Mrs. Irish, about two miles from his residence, on horst-
back ; returning home, his horse stumbled, and threw him with such lorce
upon the ground that a blood-vessel was broken, and he died in about Vi
hours after. He married Mrs. Alice Southworth, by whom he had five sons
and one daughter. One of his sons, Thomas, published "The Euteitainin;;
History of Philip's War," which has been published in 4to., 8vo., 12nio., and
is authority in all matters where Church was himself concerned.
We have next to recur to the subject of the Indian letters, pending the
redemption of Mrs. Rowlandson. Those given in the third chopter of tiiis
book were copied from a transcript made at the time they were received from
the Indians, but a recurrence to the originals has supplied the following
additions. JVepanet, when sent out on the 3 April, 1676, as noted on page
90, had with him the following letter from Governor Leverett:
* His biographers have said that he was bom at Duxbury ; but Judge Davis informed me
that he was buru at Plymouth, and that some records he had seen there were bis autliority.
Ch4p. XII.]
INDIAN LETTERS — MAIJOKAWANDO.
147
•• fbr the Indian Sof^amora and people that are in wnrrt against wi. — Int«>lli-
genct! IH conio to im that you tiuvi^ hohio Kii^liwh, *-«pt;i-ially woiiii-ii and
chiltirMh, in captivity among you. Wo have tlionrtortt wnt tins MM-s.-ciijfi'r
oiTi'ring to rudn«-in them, eitlicr tor |myin«!itt in ^ooiIm or watnporn, or t»y
exchange of priHotxtrH. VVo «h;Hiro your aimwor l»y thiH our incMrtcnucr, what
price you dumand lor every man, woman, and cliiUI, or if you will rxchange
lor IndiauH. If you hav" -ny among you that can write your answer to this
our nicHsage, we dewire it in writing; anti to that end have Kent paper, pen,
and incke hy the muHHenger. If you lett our me«Henger have fr»"e ucceKno to
you, freedomo of a safe returne, wee are willing to doe the like hy any mon-
rien^'er of yours, provided he come unarmed, and carry a white tlag U|)on a
Htutfe, viHible to he Heene, which we take ufl n iiagge of truce, and is UNed by
civilized nations in time of warre, when any mcNsengerH are Motit in a way
of treaty, which we have done by our mesHenger. In testimony whereof 1
have 80t to my hand and seal.
Joiiif Leverett, (lOVV,
Boston, 31 March, l()7t>. Passed by the council.
Edward Rawson, Sea-elan/.''''
The answer returned to this letter is that printed on page 90, which docs
not diflfer essentially from the original; uid the English at Koston imme-
diately complied with the request of the Indians, by sending two tnessengerw
to renew the negotiation. By these messengers an answer was returned,
written by James the Printer, as follows:
" For the Governor ami Council at Boston: — Tlje Indians, Tom JVepenomp
and Peter Tatatiqunca, hath hrxight us letter from you about the English
captives, especially for Mrs. Imlanson. The answer is, 1 am sorrow that I
have don much wrong to vou: and yet, I say, the fault is lay upon you ; for
when we begun to qiiarrefl at first with I'limouth men, I did not tliink that
you should have so much trouble as now is: therefore I am willing to heare
yoiu" desire about the ca|)tives. Therefore we desire you to sent Mr. Kolon-
son and goodman Kettle (for their wives) and these Indians, Tom and Peter,
to redeeme their wives: They shall come and go very safely : Whereupon,
wee ask Mrs. Rolonson, how much your husband willing to give for you ?
Shee give on answer, 20 pound in goods: but John Kettel's wife could not
tel. And the rest, captives, may he spoken of hcreuiler."
When this letter was taken to Boston, the governor immediately despatched
another. " To the Mian Sachems about IVachuset. — We received your letter
by Tom and Peter, which doth not answer ours to you ; neither is it sid)-
scribed by the sachems; nor hath it any date, which we know your scribe,
James Printer, doth well understand should be. We have sent the said Tom
and Peter againe to you, expecting you will, speedily, by them, give us a pluine
and direct answer to our last letter, and if you have any thing more to pro-
pound to us, wee desire to have it from you under your hands, by these our
messengers, and you shall have a speedy answer. Datt;d at Boston, iJ8 April,
]()7rt." Such are all the additions we are able to make to that memorable
negotiation, which was one of the immediate causes of Philip's reverses and
final overthrow.
Of a chief so prominent as Madokawando, we are glad to be able at any
time to extend our memoir, for, in our opinion, few leaders of any country
appear to better advantage. Taking nothing but what his enemic'S have said
of him, we have much to admire. No warrior was ever more huniane to
prisoners than Madokawando, where he commanded in person. lie entered
into the war against the English with the greatest reluctance, but when he
had once "stepped in," they found him no common foe. Repeutecl de[)reda-
tions from the whites ot length brought him into the field ; the desolation of
York followed ; its inhabitants were nearly all killed or led into captivity, the
particulars of which we have already related. Before Wells he was not so
successful, but for that failure he is not accountable, as the expedition against
it was under the direction of two prominent French officers. His preserva-
tion and liberation of Thomas Gobbet were acts of pure humanity.
;,.*" ,
fei[||
■Mm
I-
148
MOXUS TAKES PEMSIAQUID.
[Book III.
K.V/
Wlietlior the expedition against Groton was under the immediate direction
of Mudoiiawando, or not, we are not informed, but it was, without doubt,
executed under tlie command of one of his chief captains, the noted Moxus,
or, as lie was sometimes called, Toxvts. Tliat place was laid waste on the
27th of July, 1G94; 22 people were killed, and 13 led into captivity. Tl>e
scalps of the unfortunate slain were said to have been presented to Governor
Frontenac by Madokawando himself
At the destruction of York was taken the family of the Rev. Mr, Dummer,
and our author' i made us say that Mrs. Dummer died in captivity, but we
are now assured, by other testimony,* that she lived to return out of captivity,
having betiu redeemed. For such termination of a wretched fate she was,
no doubt, indebted to Madokawando.
This chief seems to have iiad unlimited control over the country upon the
Penolwcot River, as has been seen from what we have already before stati-d ;
judging from the amount of property jiaid him, from time to time, for sumlrj-
tracts of iiis country. Yet, though we are satisfied that the amounts he
received were large, still they are expressed in such vague terms that it is
impossible to arrive at any thing like u tolerable notion of their extent. One
testifies that, for a certain tract of land, Madokawando "received a liirge
amount of ni'j!ey ;" another, that he received a hatful; and a third states it
to have been ' a hatful of pieces ofeis^hi."\
We have said that the great sat hem was succeeded at his death by fVena-
movfJ, a; -l ut the same time ^ Moxus seemed his successor." We find nothing
yet to vary this statement, but in explanation we would note that Wenamovd
appears not to have been a war cliiefj or in any other way very conspicuous^
except as a counsellor; and though in name the successor of Madokawando^
yet was willing to let "fierce Moxus" bear his well-earned title of chief iu
all matters of waj'.
One of the most signal exploits ofMoxvs was the capture of Peanmaquid,
on the 2d of August, 1681). From this place his men led 16 of the P^nglish
into a most miserable captivity, whence but very few ever returned. A con-
sideralile number w re killed before the fort was taken, among whom was
the worthy Capta;:i Gi/les ; three other captains were also slain, and *)>f' fort
capitulated the second day, and all within it were sutFered to leave it and
return to the English settlements in safety. 1
We have seen (i)!t the cb'ir.f Bomazeen was intrapped and thrown into
prison in Boston, in 1694. Ho was also a prisoner there four years after,
having probably been retained all this time to restrain acts of barbarity on
white captives ; and it was rumored that he had been the leader at Groton,
which probably had some influence in lengthening his captivity, but it is not
now a question who the leader was in that s* guinary exploit. Mr. John
Gyles returned out of a tei* years' captivity in 1698, and on the 14th of Octo-
ber of that year, he says he was sent for by Lieutenant-Governor SfoughtoTu,
to interpret a conference with Bomazecn an^ other Indians then in jail. This
same Mr. Gyles, afterwards cajjlain of Fort George, went as interpreter with
Captain Sonthack in the j:vovince galley to the eastern shores, for the ransom
and exchange of ca|)lives. Our chief was at this time exchanged, and the
galley retiu'ned to Boston in December, 1698.
Whether, upon mere suspicion, injury was added to crime in the case of
Bomnzeen, we cannot, upon our slender evidence, aver ; but if it were a parallel
case to that of the seizure an.', death of Ee;tremet and Honquid, or, as others
write his name, .'Ihanquid, Ahenquid, Sec, it could scarcely be surpassed in
atroeity. There are no facts to show that Ahenquid had been an enemy to
the English, or, if an enemj', that he bad been engaged in any depredutions.
Notwithstanding it is a custom among some tribes of Indians to obliterate
all remembrance of the dead,' their near coimections, it was by no means
common among all tribes, for we have had occasion to mention many
instances where the name of a noted chief has been perpetuated, both
* frrepiileaf's Ecclesiastical Sketches of Maine, p. 10.
i The priiiied treaty of 1742, nnd aulhorilics ut supra.
\ Narrative ot John Gyles, as published ia our " ludiaa Captivities."
[Book HI.
Chap. Xil.]
ABENQUID.— INDIAN TREATY OF 1725.
149
both
among the western ns well as among the eastern Indians. Jibtnqtnd was
killed by Captain Chubb in 1696, and in 1725 there was another chief of the
same name, of equal distinction. And he deserves some notice in this place,
as do many others. While Captain Loveivell was on his march against the
Pequawkets, measures wern being devised in Boston for a peace with the
eastern Indians. There wf j, at the same time, several Indians there, some
as prisoners and others as hostages, and the English concluded to send some
of them out to invite their countrymen to come to Boston to settle diffii.-ulties ;
accordingly Saqttarexia and JVebine, one a hostage and the other a captive,
were despatclied upon that business. They, "after some time," returned and
reported, "that the Indians were generally di8|)osed to a peace, for tliat the
losses tliey met with, and the daily terror they were under, made their lives
miserable. After this they went out ^gain," and meeting with several others
of their countrymen, received further assurances of a general desire for
peace. Whereupon commissioners were sent with those two Indians to
Fort St. George, to procure a meeting of chwi's and to make a treaty. They
arrived there on the 2d July, and on the 14th thirteen chiefs had assembled,
not at tlie fort, but at a safe distance thereli'om, fearing treachery from tiieir
white brethren on a more extended scale than they had experienced not
many days before.* However, afler considerable parleying, in which the
Indians made the English swi-ar by their God, in the most solemn manner,
that their intentions were of a tenor with their pretensions, the parties came
together.
Tlie battle of Pequawket was recent, and it was evident that the Indians
had become conscious of their weakness, and did not urge their wrongs at
this meeting, although, as it were, in their own country, but seemed deter-
mined to have peace on any terms. They did indeed, to the demand of the
English, " Why they had mrde war upon them ?" reply, that it was because
they had taken up th( ir land, even to Cape Newagen ; and not only seized
upon their lands to that place westward, but that they had there beaten two
of their men to death. To this the English commissioners answered : " Tiie
lands are ours, and we can show you they were fairly bought of your fathers ;
and if your men were beaten to death by the English, it was your business
to complain to our government, and not to make war." This seems to have
silenced the poor Indians, and we hear nothing further from them at tliis
time but an earnest desire that peace might be concluded, or that a cessation
of arms might take place. The commissioners informed them that they had
not power to grant a cessation of artns, but said that, probably, if a deputation
of their chiefs would go to Boston, it might be granted by their government.
It was finally agreed that the two chiefs, Loron, or, as he was sometim< s
called, SafTuaaram, now an old and venerable chief, and Manquid, should
return with the English to Boston, and see what could be done towards a
general peace.
LoRON and Ahanquid having come to Boston, it was soon afler settled
that these two chiefs should go into their country, and return in 40 days with
a sufficient number of chiefs, with whom a proper treaty might be maae.
Meanwhile s'lverai depredations having been committed on both sides, the
time of the retiirn of the Indians was considerably protracted iti consecjuence i
and, as we have in a previous chapter mentioned, the forty days had nearly
twice expired before their reappearance; but, in the beginning of November,
the faithful Loron and Jihanquid returned to Boston, bringing with them
Jlrexm, Francis Xavier, and Mes^anumba, representatives from the eastern
Indians, clothed with full power to negotiate of peace. More than a month
was passed by these chiefs in Boston before a treaty was signed. This was
done on the 15 December, 1725, and peace was thereby restored to the
eastern frontiers.
• " And indeed tliey had cause of being so, for that about 10 days before, [20 June, says
Williamson, ii. 114,] under a flajf of truce, some of the Knj^lisli treacherously attempted to
lay violent hands upon them, hut lost one in the skirmish and had another wounded, which
was the occasion of the like unhappy disaster that af\erwards happened unto Captain Saunders
n Penobscot Bay." Fenliailow, 120.
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150
CAPTAIN TOM. — WAHWA.
[Book ni.
m
"ii.
Il iPa i'- li'. »'•■■'."'■■,'.
^;i:>o-v- ■■■,
In oitr notice of Captain Tom in a previous chapter, and his depredation at
Hampton, it should have been stated that he had abundant excuse for retalia-
tions of the nature there described. Length of time, to whatever number
of years extended, is no guaranty that an injury will not be repaid by an
Indian, with Indian interest; and Hannibal did not more strictly observe liis
vow to war against the Romans, than the savage of America adhered to his
resohition of revenging an insult, even though its origin were removed
several generations from him. In the chapter already referred to, we have
detailed the expedition of Colonel Church upon the Androscoggin, and bis
capture and destruction of a fort some 30 or 40 miles up that river.* This
fort was the residence of Agamcus, more generally known umong the English
as Great Tom. This chief, according to my authority, was taken cajitive at
the time of the assault by Church, "but he slipt away from the hands of his
too careless keepers, which was a disaster they much complained of. But
if this piece of carelessness did any harm, there was another which did some
good; for Great Tom having terribly scared a part of his men with the
tidings of what had hapf)cned, and an English lad in their hands also telling
them some truth, they betook themselves to such a Jlight in their fright, as
gave Mr. Anthony Bracket, then a prisoner with them, an opportunity to fly
four score miles another >vay," But we have recorded the escape of poor
Anthony Bracket _ who, says Dr. Mather, "if he had not found one of ChurcliV
vessels iit^'nund at Maqiiait, would have been miserably aground himself,"
after all his severe travel and sufferings to effect an escape.f And now we
have arrived at the extent of onr information concerning Agamcus.
Waiiwa shall here receive additional notice. He may be the same spoken
of before,}: though there the name, if it be the same, has another syllable in
it. Ho was the renowned Hopehood, doubly celebrated by the stroke of
oblivion aimed at his head by the classic Magnalian. But fVahwa could
hardly have been Hoprhond of 1675, § as he would have been very old at
LoveweWs fight, in ITd.'i; yet it is not impossible, notwithstanding he is made
to die,|| by the hand of t!ie Mohawks, not long after the capture of Salmon
Falls, in 1600, "while on his way westward to bewitch another crew at
Aquadocta." His name of Hopehood had, very probably, been manuliictured
out of an Indian name approaching it in sound, as are many others we
possess.
He did not leave the scenes of his exploits until the summer of ICOO, as
we have seen : f lie was the leader at Fox Point, in Newington, in May of
that year; and he very probably hod the direction of the part^-, if he did not
lead it, who, on the 4th of July, killed eight people os they were mowing in
a field near Lamprey River, and took a boy captive. On the 5th they
attacked Captain Hilton's garrison at Exeter, but Lieutenant Bancroft, arrivinjf
to its relief, beat off the Indians "with the loss of a lew of his men." One
man they were forced to leave without scalping, and though shot in '
places, was still alive. To these desperate woiuids they had added two
blows with the tomahawk at his neck, endeavoring to sever his head from
his body; " which blows, you may be sure," says Mather, "ai'ded more enor-
mous wounds unto the p-^rt-holes of death already opened, and from which
his life was rimning out as fast as it could." When discovered by his friends
he was looked upon as dead, but on being stirred was observed to gasp;
••whereupon an Irish fellow then present, advised them to give him another
dab with a hatchet, and so bury him with the rest" Yet this man recovered,
and was afterwards well. His name was Simon Stone. Tfiere are daily
occnrrences, which in those days would have been viewed as miracles, or as
retaliotions of the Creator upon miserable wretches for thoughtless acts or
expressions. Upon all such as came to the knowledge of Cotton Mniher he
laid his potent hand with manifest satisfiiction. Doid)tless the poor Irishman
thought it woidd have been a favor to thf wounded man, who could not live,
to put him out of hig misery ; but this weighed nothing in the mind of the
* Fort " Amonoscoggin," aororHing to tlie Magnalia, about 40 miles up tlio river.
^ Miiznalia, ih. | Pago 105, 114, 124, ante. * Page 116. 11 By AfaJ/i«r, Magnalia
M Pago 118.
Chap. XII]
HOPEHOOD.- 3EVERE BATTLE.
151
historian. "Teague," he says, "as he was foolishly pulling a canoe ashore,
about this time, with the cock of his gun, it went off, breaking his arm with
a fearful wound, by which he was made a cripple ever after."
By a council ot' war held at Portsmouth, occnsiar.ed by these depredations of
» that memorable tiger Hopehood," it was decided ihat Captain fViawall should
go out in search of him with a large scouting pai^y. Several other prom-
inent men, being emulous of the service, offVring to join him in command
with another party, it by lot fell on Captain Floyd. Having rendezvoused at
Dover to the immber of about one hundred nen, they marched into the woods
on the since memorable day, July 4th, KiOO. On the 6th, huving sent out
their scouts " before breakfast " in the morning, they " immediately returned
with tidings of breakfast enough for those who had their stomachs sharp set
for fighting." The parties immediately met at a place called Wheelwright's
Pond, in Lee, and an obstinate battle ensued, Avhich lasted from two to three
hours. Owing, however, to the Indian mode of fighting, adopted by the
Eu^lish, comparatively but few were killed. Neither party could boast of a
victory, for, as at Pequawket, each was glad to retreat from the other. Of
the whites above 30 were killed and wounded, of which 15 were of the former
number. Among these were included Cai)tain JVinoall, his lieutenant, Flae^,
and Sergeant Walker. Captain Floyd maintained the fight until most of his
men had retreated, which obliged lum to retreat also, " For this some blamed
hirn, who, probably, would not have continued it as long as he did." Captain
Converse visited the battle ground the next morning, and brought off seven
wounded still alive, but the Indians had removed all of theirs, and it could
never be known how many of them were killed. There was no doubt about
the precipitancy of their retreat, as they left much of their plunder upon
the field.
The same week " these rovers made their descent as far as Amesbury,
wiiere Captain Foot being ensnared by them, they tortured him to death.
This so alarmed the other inhabitants, that they flew from their beds to their
garrisons, otherwise before the next morning they had found their beds their
graves. However, they killed three persons, burnt three houses, and many
cattle. In fine, from the first mischief done at Lamprey-eel River, (on July
4th,) to this last at Amesburv, all belonging to one Indian expedition, forty
English people were cut off.
Thus Hopehood is considered the leader in all these transactions, although
our ciironiclers of that day do not mention him, excepting where we have
done so, nor do they mention the names of any other Indians, lie was the
commander of his countrymen at the taking of Casco, on which event the
garri.sons of Purpooduck, Spurwink, Black Point, and Blue Point, drew off'
to Saco, and in a few days from Saco they retreated to Wells, " twenty miles
within the said Saco, and about half Wells drew off as far as Lieutenant
Storer''s. But the arrival of orders and soldiers from government stopped
them from retiring any farther; and Hopehood, with a party that staid for
farther mischief, meeting with some resistance here, turned about, and having
first had a skirmish with Captain Sherburn, they appeared the next Lord's-
(lay at Newichawannok or Berwick, where they burnt some houses and slew
a man." This last event was three days jjrevious to the massacre at Fox
Point, before related.
We now are to speak again of fVahiva, and as we have before considered
him a different chief from Hopehood Wahowah, we shall still do so. yet the
character of his exploits agrees well with those of that chief; but that argues
nothing as to his identity, for numerous other chiefs correspond equally
as well.
On the 27th of October, 1726, a band of seven Indians surprised the family
of Philip Durell at Kennebunk, capturing ten persons, eight women and two
children, and carried them off. The attack was made late in the afternoon,
while Mr. Durell was absent. On his return he found his house in flames,
chairs piled on the fire, trunks split to pieces, but no traces of his wife and
children. The Indians had been watching for an opportunity to attack when
Mr. Durell should be absent, fearing, it was thought, his powerful arm, if made
when he was at home. Twenty-three years tefore Mrs. Durill had been a
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ACTEON. — WAHWA.
[Book IIL
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captive,* but unlike most of her sex in like circumstances, she foreboded no
evil of a like kind from the Indians, but looked upon her former capture by
them as wo do upon a malady that never attacks a second time ; but in thiu
case it was otherwise.
The ]jeq)etrators were pursued with vigor the next morning, which caused
the Indians to put most of their captives to death, by which means they were
able to make good their flight
It was tor some time doubtful what Indians, or how many, had committed
t' "^ iiorrid act, but it was finally ascertained that the bloody " Wahtvn, Pau-
caunaumpoijte, formerly a Mohegan, Jldeon, afterwards known as Captain
Mosts, an Arisaguntacook, Omboroivees, Manneenkoivhau, Pier, Surtfrebaugundo,
probal)ly of the same tribe, though one or more was of Wowenok, but then
residing among the St. Francis Indians. Yet five-and' enty years or more
afterwards, Colonel Job, a noted orator and chief speaker at Governor Shirley's
treaty in 1754, denied that Jldecn was an Arisaguntacook, and said he was un
Albany Indian ; but as Job was accused of telling lies in his talk at the treaty
by one of his own party, not much dependence can be given to what he did
say.f But it ai)pears that he was a Norridgewok, but having taken an Aris-
aguntacook woman for a Avife, became one of them. He was the same chief
who, on the 28 April, 1752, with a party of 10 or 12 of that tribe, fell upon
four men on a branch of Contoocook River, shot one of them dead, one
escaped, and the other two were taken and carried to Canada ; but this affair
we shall notice more at large presently.
We hear cf but one that ever returned of those taken at Kennebunk. His
name was Jchn Durell, son of Philip, whose family were destroyed; and he,
though he wi's redeemed in about two years, was, according to the historian
of Kemiebunk, " ever after more of an Indian than a white man." He was
.^live when Governor SiUlivan wrote his history, and resided there. It was
not long after fVahwa^s depredation, that two friendly Indians, Q;ninoise, of
Wowenok, and Ogicsand, were sent by the governor of Massachusetts to
learn the fate of the captives, as well as what Indians had done the mischief;
these ambassadors, fi'om causes not explained, though doubtless no unoommoii
ones on such undertakings, were not heard of for nearly a year after, and then
could give no satisfactory account in the business they undertook. At the
treaty of Casco, in 1727, Auyaummowett, chief speaker of the Arisaguntacooks,
said he had learned that a boy taken at that time was among the French.
This was probably John Durell.
After peace was made, and intercourse commenced again between the
Indians and the settlers, it seems Wahwa used frequently to visit Kennebunk,
and often talked familiarly with the friends of those he had massacred. Like
most other Lidians, he would get drunk when he could get liquor. On one
occasion, as he lay drunk at the house of a Mr. Baxter, whose wife was among
the miirdered in the exploit above related, some of Baxter's acquaintances
advised him to tumble him into the well,| but he had too much humanity to
wish to immortalize his name by an act so dastardly. And Wahwa remained
a monument of his own crueltj^, but not a more despised one than the
advisers of his death; while the mjured man, deprived of his nearest friends,
remained a monument of humanity.
We now return to Adeon, and his expedition to Contoocook. A small
company of young men, four in number only, went out early in the spring
of the year 1752, to hunt in the north-western part of New Hampshire. Their
names were, Amos Eastman, of Concord, John and William Stark, of Dinihar-
ton, and David Stijison, of Londonderry. What we are about to relate will be
of more interest to the reader, doubtless, if he is told that John Stark, of this
i)arty of hunters, was the same who afterwards defeated Colonel Bnum, at
iennington, in the early part of the revolutionary war. These young men,
wandering for beyond the confines of civilization, were, on the 28th of April,
* Bradbury's History of Kennebunk I'of, 120, f21.
t He WHS a fearless, bold fellow ; accused Governor Shirley of " letting his young men act
the Demi's part by doing mischief to the Indians," notwithstanding his protestations of juslic«
to them.
t History of Kennebunk Port. 121.
Chap. Xll.l
STARK'S CAPTIVITV.
153
pursuing their ardiioiig employment on a branch of the PemigeWaset, called
Milker's River, in what is since Ruinney, when suddenly they were surprised
by ten Indiana imder the famous Acleon, who at this time was known by the
name of Captain Moses, The whites had, but little while before, jlifcovered
traces of Indians, and had become alarmed, and were determined to leave
their position. Accordingly, John Stark went out very early in the morning
to collect their traps, and while thus separated from his coinpanions, was
made |>risoner. As soon as he was secured, he was ordered to direct them
to his friends, This he undertook to do, but purposely led them two miles
ikrthcr irom them, hoping that, by some means, they might take the alarm
and escape ; but it was not to be ended so. They seem not to have im-
agined that John was taken by Indians, and soon liegan to shoot otl" their
funs to direct him where they were. This also directed the Indians, and
they immediately proceeded down the river, beyond the whites, and taking a
station, waylaid them as they came down. All that had now passed liad not
taken up much time, for abotit sunrise the party appeared, two in a boat, Wil-
liam Stark and Stinson, and Eastman on the shore, who next fell into the In-
dians' hands. They now ordered John to hail his friends in the boat, to decoy
them to the shore ; but, with a boldness characteristic of great minds, he
called to them, b instead of requesting them to land, told them he was
taken, and ordereu them to save themselves by ptdling to the opposite shore.
They pulled accordingly, and were quickly fired ui)on l)y four of the Indians,
whose guns were loaded. Like a truly heroic spirit, without regarding the
risk he ran, at the moment of the shot John knocked up two of the Indians'
guns, and repeated the mancBuvre when the rest of the party fired a second
volley. He then hallooed to his brother in the boat to fly with alliiis might,
for all the guns were discharged. He did so successfully ; regained the shore
and escaped. Poor Stinson was killed, and the boat and oars were i)ierced
with bullets. John was sorely beaten and ill used at first, for the liberties he
had taken in giving their shots' a false direction ; but they aftei-wards used
him kindly.
The whites had collected a considerable quantity of furs, of which the In-
dians possessed themselves, and coumienced their retreat. They miide a
stop at Lower Coos, about the present vicinity of Haverhill, N. H., where they
had left two of their party to prepare provisions against their return. After
one night's stay here they proceeded to Upper Coos. From this place Cap-
tain Moses despatched three of his men with Eastman to St. Francis, while
the rest of the company hun,'3d on a small stream in that neighborhood.
Stark was meantime closely w itched, and every night confined. They al-
lowed him to hunt, and he, ha\ ',ng shot one beaver and caught another in a
trap, was approbated by a preseit of their skins.
At length, on the 9 of July, Captain Moses returned with his prisoner to St.
Francis. Here the two captives were compelled to run tlie gantlet East-
man fared hard in that business ; but Stark, understanding bidian play better,
seized a club from an Indian at the head of one of the ranks through which
he was to run, and laid it about him with such force, that running the gant-
let was wholly on the part of the Lidians ; for they were glad to escape and
leave the ground to him, much to the delight of the old Indians, who were
seated at a distance to witness the sport
Fortunately, Stark and Eastman^s captivity was not a long one. In about
six weeks from Stark^s arrival at St Francis, there an-ived Captain Stevens, of
No. Four, and Mr. Wheelwright, of Boston, in search of some captives, who
had been taken from Massachusetts, and not finding any, redeemed Stark and
Eastman, who arrived home, by way of Albany, in AtJgust following. The
same Indians accompanied them to Albany, where they sold the furs they
had taken from them, to the amount of £560, old tenor. Stark paid lor his
ransom 103 dollars, and Eastman 60 dollars. The names of two others of the
Indians who did this mischief, were Francis Titigaw, and Peer, a young chief,
each of whom has been mentioned as chief in the capture ; but it is not
material.
At the treaty of 1727, which the preceding relation required us to notice,
mention was made by the chieft, at that treaty, of a great many Indians, and
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SIEGE OF WALPOLE, N. H.
[Book 111
among othere, of one of conaiderable note, of whom we have before* said
something, ifj indeed, he lie the same, namely, Sabatis. This Indian had pre-
viously, though perhaps not long beibre that treaty, with others, taken many
eaptives in their de[)redalion8 on the English frontiers. At this time he was
livuig ut St Francis in Canada, and had two captives with him ; but their
names wc cannot learn. He was of a bloody disfwsition, and the act which
terminated his career was by a hand not less bloody, though, perhaps, more
neccss(u-ily so. We have, on another occasion, and in another work,f related
the circumstances of it, and shall therefore pass it over here. He was killed
in IT.W, and we have before expressed the opinion that he was the fiither of
liim brought away a captive from St. Francis by Captain Rogers in 175'J, and
who in 1775 followed the fortunes of Arnold's expedition against Quebec.
As noted an exploit as we have passed over in our history is that which
was enacted at Walpole, IS. H., in the year 1755. If Philip, the leader of the
Indians on that oc(rasioii, he the same that we have beibre given some account
ui] his patriotism as well as liis courage must have undergone an important
change ; but as we caimot settle that iiiatter to the satisfaction of the critical
anticpiary without spending more time than we shall get credit for, we will
relate the afiair at Walpole as we have heard it.
One Jokii Kilbum had settled at that place in 1749, and though far beyond
any other settlement, and frequently watched, and sometimes annoyed by the
Indians, yet no hostile act was attempted upon him until 1755. When it be-
came certain that war would soon begin between England and France, meas-
ures were taken by General Shirley to wai'n the settlers along the extensive
frontier of New England of the approaching calamity. But the Indians seem
to have known or ex{)ected it sooner than the English, for before the latter
had received word from General Shirley, the cunning Philip, in the capacity
of a spy, had visited every principal settlement, under the pretence of trading
for flints and other hunting munitions, all along the Connecticut River ; and
it Avas not until two Indians, employed by General Shirley, had informed the
settlers that 400 or 500 Lidians were preparing in Canada to make a descent
upon them, tliat Philip's expedition for trade was understood in its real char-
acter.
Kilbum lived in a good garrison-house, and on the day Philip appeared
cigainst it with some 300 Indians, he, with three other men, were at work
some distance from it ; but keeping a good watch, the Indians were discov-
ered in time to afford them sufficient opportunity to regain the garrison with-
out molestation. The timely discovery was made about mid-day, August 17,
and in less than half an hour afler, they were surromided by 197 fierce war-
riors, flushed with confideuce of an easy and speedy victory ; the remainder
of the Lidians forming an ambush of reserve at the mouth of Cold River,
about half a mile from the garrison.
Meanwhile Philip had endeavored to cut off Colonel Bellows, who, with
30 men, was milling about a mile east of KiUmnCs ; but in this he was foiled
by a masterly manoeuvre of the colonel. Hie men were returning from the
mill, each with a bag of meal upon his back, when his dogs by their growling
gav(! timely notice of the neighborhood of an enemy, and the thoughts of an
ambush at the same moment passed through his mind: he as soon knew
what to do. He ordered his men to tlirow off their bags, advance to a cer-
tain eminence over which their path lay, and about which he doubted not the
Lidians were prepared for him. The ground contiguous was covered with
high sweet fern. Up to these Bellows and his men crawled, into the very
presence of the enemy. They now, agreeably to the plan proposed at the
discovery, spnmg upon their feet, and giving a tremendous whoop, after the
manner of their adversary, dropped down again the same instant The In-
dians at the very moment rose up, forming a thick front across the path in a
semicircle. Each of Bellows's men had now an Indian in his power ; and
such was the effect of the fii-st fire of these 30 men, that Philip and his whole
pai-ty precipitately retreated, and the victors, without waiting for a further
* Ante, page 135, 136 of this Book.
t Id the Appendix to my edition of Church's Philip'* War, tie., pag',«■.,
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NATANiS.—S ABATIS.
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lands, ctieating them in trade, &c. The committee returned an affectionate
address ; and altiiough the groans of the dying, from the late terrible field of
battle, were sounding in their ears, they say nothing about engaging the Indians
in the war, but assured them that " as soon as they could tiuie breath from
their present fight," their complaints should receive attention. Some of the
Penobscots did eventually engage in the war, but we have no particulars of
them.
We have said before,* upon authority which will generally be received,
that JVatanis and Sabalia were the first Indians employed by the Anjericans
in the revolution, and we see no reason yet to form a different opinion, al-
though our attention has been called again to the Bubject,f and some facts
stated for our consideration, which have elicited fiirther investigations and
comparisons, of which the following is the resultl Of a chief named Swau-
sen, or Swaahan, well known on the borders of New Hampshire in the latter
French wars, we have before given some notice ;§ at that time, or about the
close of those wars, he retired to St. Francis. When tiie revolution began, he
seems to have decided on taking the part of the Americans ; and with a few
followers marched to Kennebeck, and with some of the Norridgewoks ren-
dezvoused at Cobbossee, now Gardiner, at the mouth of the Cobbosseecontn
River. Over the Norridgewoks, or Pequawkets, or some of both, was a chief,
named Paxil Hig^ns, who, though a white man, had lived so lone among In-
dians, that to alfmtenta he was one of them. He was bom tx Berwick, but
had been token captive when quite young, and spent most of his days with
them. This company set out for (Cambridge, the head quarters of General
Washington, about the beginning of August, 1775, under the direction of one
Revhen Cobum. There were 20 or 30 of them, " and they were rowed down
in canoes to Merrymeeting Bay by their squaws ; " here they lefl them, and
proceeded to Cambridge on foot, where they arrived about the 13 Augu8t||
They tendered their services to the general, who gave them all the encour-
agement he could, consistently, but evidently advised them to remain neu-
tral.lf Swashan said half of his tribe was ready to join the Americans, and
that four or five other tribes stood ready, if wanted, and that the Canadians
were in favor of the Americans also ; and this was the general opinion, and
corresponds with accoimts given by intelligent settlers on the frontiers.
They say, " We have had positive accounts from many of the Indian tribes,
who have been applied to by Governor Carleton to distress the settlements ;
but they say they have no oftence from tlie people, and will not make war on
them. The French, too, say it is a war of our own raising, and they will
have no part in it."** We hear no more of Stvashan.
Of AssACAMBuiT, an extended account has been given,tt and we should
not again recur to him, but to correct the statement, that " nothing was heard
of him from 1708 to the time of his death." We have since found that in
1714, he was at Portsmouth, upon a friendly visit with several other Indians.
On the 10 May of that year, as the Indians were about to leave the place,
" the council of N. H. ordered their treasurer to furnish him and his compan-
ions with necessary provisions and liquors to carry them to their several
habitations."
* Page 136, ante, of this Book.
t In a polite and obliging manner, by Wm. S. Bartlett, Esq., of Little Falls, N. Y.
I As early as May 19th, 1775, the provincial congress of MassachuseUs " Voted, That
Captain John Lane nave enlisting pap«r8 delivered to him, for raising a company of In-
dians at the eastward."
6 Cols. N. H. See. iii. 76, 7.
II MS. communication of W. S. Bartlett, Esq.
II Botta, i. 228.
** Almon's Remembrancer, i. 147—149.
ft Book III. p. 139"]41.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OP THE
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INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA.
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BOOK TV.
...;^.
BOOK IV.
BIOGRAPHY AND >iISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN
INDIANS.
' I will go to mjr tent, and lie down in despair ;
I will pnint tne with black, anil will tevcr my hair ;
I will Hit on the ahore whnre the hurricane blowi,
And reveal to the God of this tompcat my wooi ;
I will weep tor a leaaon, on hitternoaa feil.
For my kindred are i^onu to the mounda of the dead ;
But they died not by hunger, or waiting decay ;
The iteel of the white man hath awept them away."
Anoitmoua.
CHAPTER L
-4 y •^
■•■Mi ■
PrdimiTUiry observations respecting the country of the southern Indians — Winoin4,
the first Virginia thief known to the English — Destroys the first colony settled
there — Mfnatonon — Skiko — Ensenore — Second rolony abandons the country —
Tobacco first carried to England by thevi — Curious account of pryudices against it
— Gkanganeheo — His kindnesses — His family — His death — Po viiatan — Doun-
darifs of his country — Surprisiis the Payankatanks — Captain Smith fights his people
— Oprkankanough takes Smith irrisoner — T'le particulars of that affair — He marcnes
liiiu about the country — Takes him, at length, to Powlmtan, who condemns him to be
jmt to death — Smith s life saved at the intererssioii of Pocahontas — Insolerce of
I'mrhatan increased by J^ewport's folly — Smith brings him to terms — A crorcn sent
urer to him from England — Is croioned emperor — Speech — Uses every siiatagem to
kill Smith — Is baffled in every attempt — Smith visits him — Speeches — Pocahontas
again sates Smith and his comrades from being murdered iiy her father —
ToMOCOMO.
The difficulty of rightly partitioning between the s-^uthern nations and the
Iroquois, or Five Nations, can easily bo seen by all such as have but very
I»artiiilly taken a survey of them, and considered their wanderinj; habits.
Therefore, should we, in this book, not always assign a sachem to his original
family or nation, we can only plead in excuse, that we have gone according
to our best information. But we have endeavored to draw a kind of natural
boundary between the above-mentioned nations, distinguishing those people
beyond the Chesapeake and some of its tributaries, as the southern Indians,
and those between that boundary and the Hudson, by the name Iroquois.
To their respective territories inland, we shall not, nor is it necessary to, fix
bounds, in our present business. We are aware that some writers suppose
that all the Indians, from the Mississippi to the vicinity of the Hudson, and
even to the Connecticut, were originally of the same stock. If this were the
fase, the period is so remote when they spread themselves over ihe countrpr,
iliat these great natural divisions had long since caused quite a difference m
the inhabitants which they separated ; and hence the propriety of noticing
tliem according to our plan.
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WINGINA— SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA.
FRooK IV.
It is said that the territory from the sea-coast to the River Alleghany, and
from the most eoutliern waters of Jumes River up to Patuxent, in tlie state
of Maryland, was inhabited by three different nations, and that the language
of each differed essentially from the others. The English called these
nations by t' ■ names Poivhatans, Manahoacs, and Monucans ; these were tlio
Ttisoaroras. The Powhatans were the most powerful, and consisted of
several tribes, or communities, who pohHCHScd the country from the sea-coast
to the fulls of the rivers.*
To
a tolerable catrJogue of the names of the various nations of
Virginia, the Carolinas, and thence to the Mississippi, would far exceed our
plan. We shall, therefore, puss to notice the chiefs of such of those nations
as are distinguished in history, pointing out, by the way, their localities, iind
whatever shall appear necessary in way of elucidation, as we pass, and as we
have done in the preceding books.
WiNGiNA was first known to tho English voyagers Jlmidas and Barlow,
who landed in Virginia in the summer of 1584, upoi) an island called, by tiie
Indians, Wokokon. They saw none of the natives until the third day, \\ Ik n
tln'cc! were observed in a canoe. One of them got on sliore, and the Eng'i;-;li
went to him. He sJiowed no signs of fear, "but sj)oke much to them," tiiiii
went boldly on board the vessels. Afler they had given him a shirt, imt,
wine, and some meat, "he went away, and in half an hour he had loaded liis
canoe with fish," which he immediately brought, and gave to th*' Englii?h.
Wingina, at this time, was confined to his cabin from wounds he 'md lately
received iji Ijottle, jjrobably in his war with Piomacum, a desper ite and bloody
chief
Upon the death of Granganemeo, in 1585, Wingina chan^ • . his name to
Pemissapan. He never had much faith in the good intentions of the English,
and to him was mainly attributed the breakin" up of the first colony which
settled in Virginia.
It was upon the return to England of the Captains Jlmidas and Barlow,
from the country of fVingina, that Queen Elizabeth, from the wonderful
accoiitits of that fruitful and delightful place, named it, out of respect to
herself, Virginia; she being called the virgin queen, from her living unmar-
ried. Tint, with more honor to her, some have said, "Because it still seemed
to ret'iin the virgin purity and plenty of the first creation, and the people
their primitive innocency of life and manners." f Waller referred to this
country when he wrote this : —
" So sweet the air, so moderate the clime,
None sickly lives, or <"ies before his time.
Heav'ii sure has kept tuis spot of earlii unrurst,
To show how all things were created first."
Sir Richard Greenvil, stimulated by the love of gain, next intruded himself
upon the shores of Wingina. It was he who committed the first outrage
upon the natives, which occasioned the breaking up of the colony which he
left behind him. He made but one short excursion into the country, during
which, by foolishly exposing his comtnodities, some native took from him a
silver ctip, to revenge the loss of which, a town was burned. lie left 108
men, Avho seated themselves tipon the island of Roanoke. Ralph Lane, a
military character of note, was governor, and Capiain Philip Amidas, lieutenant-
governor of thih colony. They made various exr-tirsions about the conntrj',
in hopes of discovering mines of precious metals; in which they were a long
time duped by the Indians, for their ill conduct towards them, in cotiipclling
them to pilot 'l.-m about. Wingina bore, as well as he could, the provoca-
tions Uy liie intruders, until tin* death of the old chief Ensenore, his futlier.
Under i)retence of honoring his fimeral, he assembled 1800 of his i)eoplc,
with the intention, as the F^.nglish say, of destroying them. They, therefore,
upon the information of Skiho, son of the chief Menatonon, J fell upon them,
and, after killing five or six, the rest made their escape into tlie woods. This
* From a rommiinicntion of Secretary Thompson to Mr. Jefferson, and appended to the
Notes on Virginia, ed. of 1801.
t Stith, 11. t Smith calls him the " lame king of Moratoc."
Chap. I ]
WINGINA— DEATH OP ENSENOllE.
5
was (lone upon tlie island where Winginn lived, nnd the Enplisli first s(;izfd
upon tlic lioafs of liis visitnnta, to prevent their escape from tlie island, wiih
tiie intention, no douljt, of murdering tliem all. Not long after, " Wingina
vii\* cntrapiied !iy the Englisii, and slain, with eight of his chief men."
Mk.nat()><).v was king of the Cliawonocks, and Okisko of the Weopo-
ineokcs, "a j)OW(!rl'nl nation, possessing all that country from Alheniiile
Sowiul and Chowan River, ipiite to the Chesnpeakes and our hay."* At this
time, Menatunon was lame, and is mentioned as the most Fcrsible and undi-r-
standing Indian with wiioiii the English were at first acquainted. It was ho
that made Lane and his lullowers helieve in the existence of the mine already
lueiitioned. " So eager were they," says Mr, Stith, "and resolutely bent n|)ou
this golden discovery, that they could not he pereuaded tti retiun, as long as
they liad one pint of corn a man left, and two mastiff dogs, which, being
boiled with sassafras leaves, might atlbrd them some sustenance in their way
back." After great sufferings, they arrived upon the coast again.
Tiie reason why Mcnatonon deeeiv(!d the English, was because t!i(>y made
him a prisoner lor tlie purpose of assisting tliem in making discoverit^s.
After hi! was set at liberty, he was very kind to them. Two years after,
when Governor Jfhite was in the country, they mention his wife and child rs
belonging to Croatan, but nothing of him.
h'hite and his company landed at Roanoke, 22 July, 1587, and sent 20 men
to Croatan, on Point Lookout, witli a friendly native called Maxteo, to see
ifany iiitelligenec could be had of a former colony of 50 men left there by
vSir Ri:hnr(l Greenvil. Tiiey learned, from some natives whom they met, that
the people of Dassa>!ionpeak, on what is now Alligator River, had attacked
tlieni, killed one, and driven the otiiers away, but whither they had gone
iioni' conid tell. One of their present company, a principal man of their
govenuneiit, had also been killed by the same Indians. This tribe and
several others had agreed to come to Roanoke, and submit themselves to the
English ; but not coming according to ap|jointment, gave the English an
opportunity to take revenge for former injuries. Therefore, Captain Stafford
and 24 men, with Manteo as a guide, set out upon that business. On coming
to their village, " where seeing them sit by the fire, we assaulted them. The
miserable eoules amazed, fled into the reeds, where one was shot through,
and we thought to have been fully revenged, but we were deceived, for they
were our friends come from Croatan to gather their corn ! " " Being thus
disappointed of our pur|)0Me, we gathered the fruit we found ripe, left the
rest unspoiled, and took Menatonon, his wife with her child, and the rest w ith
US to Roanoak." f Bot io return to fVingina.
While the English were upon the errand we have been speaking of, Win-
ghia {)retended to bi; dieir friend, but deceived them on every opportunity,
by giving notice to his countrymen of their course and purpose, and urging
them to cut them off. He thought, at one time, that the English were
destroyed, and thereupon scoffed and mocked at such a God as theirs, who
would sulier it. This caused bis father, £/isenr>?e, to join their enemies, but on
their return he was their friend again. He, and many of his people, now
Ijilieved, say the voyagers, tliat " we could do them more hurt l)eing dead,
than lining, and that, being an hundred myles from them, shot, and struck
them sick to death, and that when we die it is but for a titne, then we return
again." Many of the chiefs now came and submitted themselves to the Eng-
lish, and, among others, Ensenore was persuaded again to become their friend,
who, when they were in great straits for provisions, came and planted their
fields, and made wears in the streams to catch fish, which were of infinite
benefit to them. This was in the spring of 1586, and, says Lane, " we not
Iiaving one corn till the next harvest to sustain us." What added greatly to
their distresses, was the death of their excellent friend Enaenore, who died
20th of April following. The Indians began anew their conspiracies, and the
colony availed themselves of the first opportunity of returning to England,
* StWi's Viffpnia, 14. By "our bay" is meaM Jamet River Btty,
\ Smith's Hint. Virginia.
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6
GRANGANEMEO.—HIS KINDNESS TO THE ENGLISH. [Book IV
■which was in the fleet of Sir Francis Drake, which touched there in its way
from an expedition against the Spaniards in the West Indies.*
Tiie conduct of Lane and his company in this fruitless attempt to estabhsh
themselves in Virginia, was, in the higliest degree, reprehensible. Tliey put
to death some of the natives on the most frivolous charges, and no wonder
they were driven out of the country, as they ought to have been.f While
they were there, they became acquainted with the use of tobacco, and. takinj;
it to England, its introduction into general use soon rendered it a great article;
of commerce. And here it will not be improper to notice how many ditlererit
father it u[-on whom he pleases, as it is evident Sir Francis Drake took Ralph
Lane and tohucco both together into England ; and no one will dispute the
agency of the gallant knight. Sir Walter Ralegh, for he sent out La7ie in hi?
employ. ]\Ir. John Jos.ielyn, in Jfis " Two Voyages to N. England," has this
passjige: " Others will liave tobacco to be first brought into England from
reru, by Sir Francis Drake's mariners."
There were many wlio affected i. violent disgust towards the use of tobac-
co ; the most conspicuous was King James, whose mind seems to have been
just weak enough to fight windmills. He even wrote a book denouncing its
use in the severest terms he couid command. It grew spontaneously in Wiii-
gandacoa, (V'irginia,) and the natives called it Uppowoc. It is generally sup-
posed to be called ijbacco from the island Tobago, but this derivation is much
questioned, |
Granganemeo was a chief very favorably spoken of As soon as the arrival
of the English was made knoAvn to him, he visited them with about 40 of his
men, who were very civil, and of a remarkably robust and fine appearance.
When they had left their boat, and came upon the shore near the ship,
Granscanemeo spread a mat and sat down upon it. The English went to him
armed, but he discovered no fear, and invited them to sit down ; after which
he performed some tokens of friendship ; then making a speech to them, they
presented him with some toys. None but four of his people spoke a word,
or sat down, but maintained the most perfect silence. On being shown a
pewter dish, he was much pleased with it, and purchased it with 20 deer-
skins, which were worth, in England, one hundred shillings sterling! ! The
dish he used as an ornament, making a hole through it, and wearing it about
his neck. While here, the English entertained him, with his wife and
children, on board their ship. His wife had in her ears bracelets of pearl,
which reached to her middle. Shortly after, many of the people came out of
the country to trade, " but when Granganemeo was present, none durst trade
but himself, and them that wore red copper on their heads as he did." He
was remarkably exact in keeping his promise, " for oft we trusted him, and
he would come witliin his day to keep his word." And these voyagers ftu-ther
report, that " "ommonly he sent them every day a brace of bucks, conies,
hares, and fish, and sometimes me'ons, walnuts, cucumbers, pease, and divers
roots."
In their wanderings, Captain Jim das and seven others visited the island of
Roanoake, where thoy found the faitiily of Granganemeo living in great com-
fort and plenty, in a little town of nine houses. The chief was not at home,
" but his wife entertauied them with wonderful courtesy and kindness. She
made some of her people draw their l)oat up, to prevent its being injured by
the beating ,." the surge ; some she ordered to bring them ashore on their
backs, and others to carry their oars to the house, for fear of being stole.
When they came into the house, she took off' their cloathes and stockings,
and washed tliem, as likewise their feet in warm water. When their dinner
■*A as ready, they were conducted into an inner room, (for there were five in
* Relation of Lane, printed in Smith's Virginia.
t Herriot's Observations, (one o( Lane's company,) printed '"n StnUh,
I Siith's Hist. Virginia, 19. — See Book ii. Chap. ii.
^il,^^:.;vV^;-
Chap. 1]
DEATH OP MANTEO— POWHATAN.
the house, divided by mats,) Avhere they foiind hominy,* boiled venison, and
roasted fish; and, as a desert, melons, boiled roots, and frtiits of various sorts.
While they were at meat, two or three of her men came in with their bows
and arrows, which made the English take to their arms. But she, perceiving
their distrust, ordered their l)ows and arrows to be broken, and themselves to
be beaten out of the gate. In tiie evening, the English returned to their boat ;
and, putting a little off from shore, lay at anchor ; at which she was much
concerned, and brought their supper, half boiled, pots and all to the shore :
and, seeing their jealousy, si)e ordered several men, and 30 Women, to sit all
night upon the shore, as a guard : and sent five mats to cover tliem from tlie
weather." t Well hath the poet demanded, "Call ye them savage?" If tlie
wife of Grangancmeo wa.s savage, in the conunon acceptation of the term,
where shall w<> look for civilization ?
Siri?. Greenvil, ha\in.<; arrived on the coast in 1585, anchored off the island
Wokokon, 2(i May, and, by means of Manteo, had some intercourse with the
inhabitants. At Hatteras, where they staid u short time, soon after. Gran-
ganemeo, with Manteo, went on board their shijis. This was the last visit he
incde to the English, for he died veiy soon alter.
This must close our account of the excelhsnt fiimily of Granganemeo, and
would that tlie account of the English would balance as well, — but they exhibit
their own, — and one item more from it, and we close the comparison. For a
small kettle they took 50 skins, worth in England £12 10s. sterling, t
We have now arrived at tlie most interesting article in Virginia history.
Powhatan was, of all the chiefs of his age, the most famous in the regions
of Virginia. The English supposed, at first, that his was the name of the
country; a common error, as we have seen in several cases in the previous
books of our biog-aphy, but, in this case, unlike the others, the error jire*
vailed, and a part of his people, ever after the settlement of the English, w^n.
called the Powhatnns. A great river, since called the James, and a bay re-
I'eived his name also. § He had three brothers, Opitchepan, Opekankanougk,
and Catatanugh, and two sisters. His principal residence was at a place
called fVeroivocomoco, when the English came into the countiy ; which was
upon the north side of what is now York River, in the county of Gloucester,
nearly ojipo-site the mouth of Queen's Creek, and about 25 miles l)elow the
fork of the river. |! He lived hero until the English began to intrude them.'
siilves into his vicinity, when lie took up his resiclencc at Orakakes.
Powhatan was not iiis Indian name, or ratiier original name ; that was
Wahunsonacock. He is descrilied ms tall and well-projiortioned — bearing an
ispoct of sadness— exceedingly vigorou.-', and pu.sses.-=ing a body capable of
sustaining great hardships. He was, in l(i()7, !il)oiit (50 years of age, and his
hair was considerably gray, wliieJi gave hiiii a majestic appearance. At his
residence, he had a kind of wooden form to sit upon, and his ornamental
robe was of raccoon skins, and his head-dress was composed or many feath-
ers wrought into a kind of crown. He swayed many nations upon the great
rivers and bays, the chief of whom he had conquered. He originally claimed
only the places called Powhatan, (since named Haddihaddocks,) Arrohattock,
iiiow Appomattox,) Youghtanund, Pamunky, Mattapony, Werowocomoco,
and Kiskiak; at which time, his chief seat was at Powhatan, near the falls of
James River. But when he had extended his conquests a great way north,
he removed to Werowocomoco, as a more commodious situation.
At the termination of his warlike career, the country upon James River,
iioni its mouth to the falls, and all its branches, was the boundary of his
country, southerly — and so across the country, " nearly as high as the falls of
•ill the great rivers, over Potowmack, even to Patuxent, in Maryland," and
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* " A food made of Indian corn, or maize, beaten and carefully husked, something like
furmely in England ; and is an excellent dish various ways."
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some of the nations on the north shore of the Chesapeake. His dominions,
according to his law of succession, did not fall to his children, but to ItiH
brothers, and then to his sisters, (the oldest first,) thence to the heirs of the
oldest ; but never to the heirs of the males.
He usnully kept a guard of 40 or 50 of the most resolute and well-formed
men about him, especially when he slept; but, after the English came into his
country, he increased them to about 200. He had as many, and such women
us he pleased ; and, when he slept, one sat at his head and another at his feet.
When he was tired of any of his wives, he bestowed them upon such of liin
men as most pleased him. Like the New England chiefs, lie had many places
wliere he passed certain seasons of the year ; at some of which he had verv
spacious wigwams, 30 or 40 yards in extent, where he had victuals provideil
against his coming.
In 1608, he surprised the people of PayankatJink, who were his neisrhboi-M
and subjects. Captain Smith, in the account, " writ with his own hand^^ says,
" the occasion was to vs vnknowne, but the manner was thus." He sent sev-
eral of his men to lodge with them the uijtht on which he meant to full upon
tliem ; then, secretly surrounding them in their wigwams^ conunenced u iioi rid
slaughter. They killed 24 men, took off their sculps, and, with the women
and children prisoners, returned to the sachem's village. The 8cal[)s tliev
exhibited upon a line between two trees, as a trophy, and the weroioance (iheiV
name of a chief) and his wife Powhatan made his servants.
Up to the year 1607, every attempt to settle a colony in V^irginia had failed;
and, at this tmie, would have failed also, but for the unexampled pei-severancc
of one man. I need but pronounce the name of Captain John Smith. Tim
colony with which he came did not arrive until the planting season was over ;
and, in a short time, they found themselves in a suffering condition, from want
of suitable provisions. Smith, therefore, undertook to gam a supply by traffick-
ing with the Indians back in the countrj', who, bemg acquainted with his
tjKimtion, insulted him and his men wherever they came ; offering him but u
handful of corn, or a piece of bread, for a gun or a sword. "But seeing by
trade and courtesie there was nothing to be had, he made bold to try siicii
conclusions as necessitie inforced, though contrary to his commission." So
he fired upon them, and drove them into the woods. He then marched
to their village. There they found corn in abunuance, which, af>er some
manoeuvring, he succeeded in trading for, and returned with a supply to
Jamestown.
Smith, soon after, proceeded to discover the source of the Chikahamania.
When he had passed up as far as it was navigable for his barge, he left it in a
wide place, at a safe distance from the shore, and ordered his men not to go
on shore on any condition. Taking two of his own men and two Indians, he
proceeded to complete his discovery. As soon as he was gone, his men went
on shore ; one was killed, and the rest hardly escaped. Smith was now 20
miles into the wilderness. Opekankanovgh, with ;?00 warriors, having learned,
from the men they had just taken, which way he was gone, followed after him,
and came upon the two Englishmen belonging to his company, and killed
them both while asleep, he bemg absent to shoot some fowls for provisions ;
they then continued their pursuit after him. He was not far from his canoe,
and endeavored to retreat to it, but, being hard pressed, made a shield of one
of his Indians, and, in this manner, fought upon the retreat, until he had killed
three, and wounded divers others. Being obliged to give all his attention to
his pursuers, he accioontally fell 'nto a creek, where the mud was so deep that
he could not extricate himijelf Even now, none dared to lay hands upon him ;
and those whom their owi' r.umbers forced nearest to him, were observed to
tremble with fear. The Indian he had bound to his arm with his garters,
doubtless saved him from being killed by their arrows, from which, owing lo
his Indian shield, he received but very little hurt, except a wound in hia
thigh, though his clothes were shot full of them.
When he could stand no longer in the mire, without perishing with cold,
he threw away his arms, and suffered them to come and take nim. After
pulling him out of the mire, they took him to the place where his men had
just b«en killed, where there was a fire. They now showed him kindnest,
Chap. 1.]
POWHATAN.— SMITH'S CAPTIVITY.
rubbing bis benumbed limbs, and warming him by tbe fire, lie asked fi'.r
their chief, and Opekanknnon•
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POCAHONTAS SAVES THE LIPK OF SMITH.
[Book IV.
Chap. I]
"^v
Bw' '.1 ■T V.' -
•^■iC*-!-'--''--- ■ ' '
Kf^:■^,^.••^i;^••■,
till Poivhatan and his trayne had put themselves in their greatest braveries."
He was .seated boforo a fire, upon a seat like a bedstead, having on a robe of
raccoon .skins, "and all the taylea hanging by." On each side of him sat a
young woman ; and upon each side of the house two rows of men, and with
as many vvomc^n behind them. These last had their heads and shouldere
painted red — some of whose heads were adoniotl with white down ; and about
their n(!cks white b«!ads. On Smith's being brouglit into the presence of
Powhatan, all present joined in a great shout. "The queen of Apamatuck was
appointed to bring hini water to wash his hands, and another brought him a
bunch of feathers, instead of u towel, to dry them." Then, having feasted him
again, " afler their best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was
lield, but the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before Poivhatan
— then as many as could lay hands on him, dragged him to them and tliereon
laid his head, and being ready, with their clubs, to beat out his brains, Poca-
hontas, the king's dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his
head in her amies, and laid her own upon his, to save him from death."
Poivhatan was unable to resist the extraordinary solicitations and sympathetic
entreaties of iiis kind-hearted little daughter, and thus was saved tiie life of
Captain Smilh ; a character, who, without this astonishing deliverance, was
sutficiently n^nowned for escapes and adventures.
The old sachem, having set the sentence of death aside, made up his mind
to employ Smith as an artisan ; to make, for himself, robes, shoes, bows, arrows,
and pots ; and, for Pocahontas, bells, beads, and copper trinkets. Powhatan's
son, named JS''antaquau8, was very friendly to Smith, and rendered him many
important services, as well after as during his captivity.
" Two days after, Powhatan, having disguised himself in tht most fearfullest
manner he could, caused Captain Smith to be brought forth to a great house in
the woods, and there, upon a mat by the fire, to be left alone. Net long after,
from behiude a mat that divided the house, was made the tnost dolefullest
uoyse he ever heard ; then Powhatan, more like a Devill than a man, witli
some 200 more, as black as himselfe, came unto liim, and told him, now they
were friends ; and presently he should go to Jamestowne, to send him two
great gunnes, and a gryndestone, lor which he would give him the country of
Capahowosick [Capahowsick], and forever esteem him his sonne, JVantuquond.
So to Jamestowne, with 12 guides, Powhatan sent him. That night they
quartered in the woods, he still exjiecting, (as he had done all this long time of
his imprisonment,) every hour to be put to one death or another." Early the
next morning, they came to the fort at Jamestown. Here Ik; treated his
guides with the greatest attention and kindness, and ofl'ered Rawhunt, in a
jestmg manner, and for the sake .)f a little sport, a huge mill-stone, and two
demi-culverins, or nine pound cannons, to take to Powhatan, his master ; thus
fulfilling his engagement to send him a grindstone and two guns. This
Rawhunt was a sadiem under Poivhatan, and one of his most faithful captains,
and who, it seems, accompanied Smith in his return out of captivity.
"They found them somevvl at too heavie, but when they did see him dis-
charge them, being loaded with stones, among the boughs of a great tree
loaded with isicklcs, the yce and branches came so tumbling down, that the
poore salvages ran away half dead with fear. But, at last, we regained some
conference with them, and gave them such toyes, and sent to Powhatan, his
women, and children, such presents, and gave them in generall full content." *
Powhatan was now completely in the English interest, and almost every
other day sent his daugliter, Pocahontas, with victuals, to Jamestown, of which
they were greatly in need. Smith had told Poivhatan itiat a great chief, which
was Caj)tain J'^ewport, would arrive from England about that time, which
coming to pass as he had said, greatly increased his admiration ot the wisdom
of the English, and he was ready to do as they desired in every thing, and,
but for the vanity and ostentation of J^ewport, matters would have gone on
.. jll, and trade flourished greatly to their advantage. But he lavished so many
presents upon Powhatan, that he was in no way inclined to trade, and soon
* This is Captain Smith's own account, wiiicb I shall follow minutely ; adding occasionally
from Stith, to illustrate the geography of the country.
granted.
Chap. I.]
POWHAl AN.— NEWPORT'S FOLLY.
u
was
, arrow.*.
; tliu.s
This
begnn to show his haughtiness, by demanding five times the vahie of un article,
or Ills contempt for what was offered.
By JVetvpoii's imprudence and lolly, what had cost Smith so much toil and
pains to achieve, was lilown away by a single breath of vanity. Nevertiielesn,
his great mind, continually exercised in difficult matters, brought the subtle
chief again to his own terms. Himself, with JSTexoport, and ai)()ut ^0 others,
went to Powhatnv^s residence to trade with him. " Wherein Powhatan carried
himself so pmudly, yet discreetly, (in his salvage manner,) as made us all to
admire his natural gifls." He pretended that it was far l)encath his dignity to
trade as his mi-n did. Thus his cnill to obtain from N'ewport his goods for
whatever he pleased to give iis return. Smith saw through Powh/Umi's craft,
and told JVeivport how it would turn out, but l>eing determined to show him-
self as dignified as the Indian chief, repented of his folly, like too many otlier.><,
when it was too late. SmiVi was the interpreter in the business, and .Vewport
the chief. Poiohatan made a speecli to hitn, when they were about to enter
upon trading. He said, "Captain JSfnoport, it is not figreeable to my greatness,
in this peddling manner, to trade for trilks; and I esteem you also a great
werowance. Thenifore, lay me down all your coimnodities together ; wlint J
like I will take, and in recompense give you what I think fitting their v.ulue."
Accordingly, J^eicport gave him all his goods, and received in return only
about three bushels of corn ; whereas they expected to have obtained twenty
hogsheads. This transaction created some hard thoughts between Smith and
Xtivport.
If it add to raise Powhatan in our admiration, it can detract nothing flx)m
the chara'-ter of Smith, to say, that he was as wily as the great Indian chief
For, with i few blue bead.*!, which he prtJtended that he had shown liim only by
accident, mJ which ht would hardly part with, as he pretended, because they
were of great price, and worn only by great kings, he completely got his end,
at this time, answered. Tantalization had tlie desired eftect, and Powhatan was
so infatuated with the lure, that he was almost beside himself, and was ready
to give all he had to possess them. " So that, ere we departed," says my
relation, " for a pound or two of blew beades, he brought over my king for 2
or 300 bushells of corne."
An English boy was left with Powhatan, by Captain JVewport, to learn the
language, manners, customs and geography of his country ; and, in return,
Powhatan gave him J^amontack, one of his ser\'ants, of a shrewd and subtle
ca|)acity, whom he afterwards carried to England. Powhatan became offended
with Captain Smith, when JVewport left the country, in 1608 ; at whose depart-
ure he sent him 20 turkeys, and demanded, in return, 20 swords, which were
granted. Shortly after, he sent tb.e same number to Smith, expecting the like
return ; but, being disappointed, ordered his men to seize the English wher-
ever they could find them. This caused difliculty — many of the English
being robbed of their swords, in the vicinity of their forts. They contitnied
their depredations until Smith surprised a number of them, from whom he
learned that Powhatan was endeavoring to get all the arms in his power, to be
able to massacre the English. When he found that liis plot was discovered,
he sent Pocahontas, with presents, to excuse himself, and pretended that the
mischief was done by some of his ungovernable chiefs. He directed her to
eud(!uvor to effect the release of his men that were prisoners, which Smith
consented to, wholly, as he ])retended, on her account ; and thus peace was
restored, which had been continually interrupted for a considerable time before,
Ou the 10th of September, 1008, Smith was elected governor of Virginia.
Ktxopori, going often to England, had a large share in directing the affaii-s of
tiio colony, from his interest with the proprietors. He arrived about this time,
and, among other baubles, brought ovtir a crown for Powhatan, with directions
for his coronation ; which had the ill effect to make him value hims"' ''■' ' ■ ' ■■.
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12
POWHATAN.— ORDERS THE DEATH OF SMITH.
[Book IV.
I
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Eiglit diys I will stay to receive them. Your father [meaning JVeivport] is to
come fj me, not I to him, nor yet to your fort — neither wil! I bite at siicli a
bate. As for the Monacans, I can revenge my own injuries; and as for ^<-
quanachuck, wliere you say your brother was slain, it is a contrary way from
those imrts you suppose it ; but, for any salt water l>eyond the mountains, the
relations you have had from my people are fidse." Home of tlie Indians hud
made the Eoplii^h believe that fhi; South Hen, now called the Pacific Ocean,
was hut a short distance back. To kIiow ,*-!mith the absurdity of the storv, he
drew a map ol' the country, upon the ground. Smith returned as wise as lie
went.
A house was built for Powhatan, about this time, by some Germans, who came
over with JVewport. These inyn, tiiinkiM;f that the English could not snhsist
in the country, wi; o'lly betrayed alltlie tiecrets of their condition to Powhatan,
which was ' ""ain the iource of much trouble. They even urged him lo put
all the En '4 1 o d^.^fh, agreeing to live with hhn, '^nd assist him in the exe-
cution of tli *'>ml c project. Powhatun was pleased at the proposition, and
thought, by » > Husit.»u"c, to effect what he had formerly hoped to do by
engaging Smith in such ' i 'iiterpi-ise. Their first object was to kill Captaiii
Smith ; by which act, the chief obstacle to su jcess would be removed ; and,
accordingly, they took every means in their pr wer to effect it
In the first place, he invited him to come and trade for com, hoping an
opportunity, in that business, would ofliir. That his design might not be mis-
trusted, Powhatan promised to load liiy ship with corn, if he would bring him
a grindstone, 50 swords, some muskets, a cock and a hen, and a quantity of
copper and beads. Smith went accordingly, but guarded, as though sure of
meeting an enemy.
In their way, the English stopped at Warraaqueake, and were informed,
by the sachem of that place, of Poivhatan^s intentions. That sachem kindly
entertained them, and, when they dej)arted, furnished them with guides. On
account of extreme bad weather, they W(!re obliged to spend near a week at
Kicquotan. This obliged them to keep their Christmas among the Indians,
and, according to our authorities, a merry Christmas it was ; having been
" never more merry in their lives, lodged by better fires, or fed with greater
plenty of good bread, oysters, fish, flesh, and wild fowl."
Having arrived at Werowocomoco, after much hardship, they sent to Pow
hatan for provisions, being in great want, not having taken but three or four
days' supply along with them. The old chief sent them immediately a supply
of bread, turkeys, and venison, and soon after made a feast for them, accord-
ing to custom.
Meanwhile, Poichatan pretended he had not sent for the English ; telling
them he had no corn, "and his people umch less," * and, therefore, intimated
tiiat he wished they would go off again. But Smith produced the messenger
that he had sent, and so confronted him ; Powhatan then laughed heartily,
and thus it passed for a joke. He then asked for their commodities, " but he
liked nothing, except guns and swords, and valued a basket of corn higher
than a basket of copper ; saying, he could rate his corn, but not the copper."
Captain Smith then made a speech to him, in which he endeavored to work
upon his feelings and sense of honor ; said he had sent his men to build him
a house while his own was neglected ; that, because of his promising to sup-
ply him with corn, he had neglected to suj)]dy himself with provisions when
he might have done it. Finally, Smith reproached him of divers negligences,
deceptions, and prevarications ; but the main cause of Powhatan's refusing
to trade seems to have been because the English did not bring the articles
he most wanted.
When Smith had done, Pmvhatan answered him as follows: — "We have
but little com, but what we can spare shall be brought two days hence. As
to your coming here, I have some doubt about the reason of it. I am told, by
my men, that you came, not to trade, but to invade my people, and to possess
my country. This makes me less ready to relieve you, and frightens ray
* The reader may wonder bow this could be, but it is so in the old history, by Stith, 86.
love J
Chap. 11
POWHATAN— HIS SPEECHES.
13
accord-
.mrhy*
. rit • a
people from bringing in their com. And, therefore, to relieve tlicm of that
fear, leave your ariiis aboard your boats, Ninco they ore needless here, where
we are all friends, and forever Powhatans."
In these, and other speeches of like amount, they spent the first day. " But,
whilst they expected the coming in of the country, they wrangled Powhatan
out of 80 bushels of corn, for a copper kettle ; which the president s«'oiiig
him much affect, [value,] he told him it was of much greater vaUie ; yet, in
regard of his scarcity, he would acc('|)t that quantity at present ; provided he
should have as much more the next year, or the Manakin country," were that
condition not complied with.
This transaction will enual any thing of the kind in the history of New
England, but we will l^ave thc! reader to makis his own comment.
At the same time, Powhatan made another speech, in which were some
very singular passages, as reported by Smith, One was, that he had seen the
deatli of all his people* three times ; and that none of those three generations
was then living, exropt himself. This was evidently only to make the Eng-
lish think him something more tiian human. The old chief then went on
and said,
"lam now grown old, and nnist soon die; and the succession I'-'st de-
scend, in order, to my brothers, Opitcliapan, Opekankarwu^h, and C'c/
and then to my two sisters, and their two duugliters. I wish their exp
was equal to mine; and that your love to us might not be less th 'i oui.-. i
you. Why should you take by force that from us which you ca.j have by
love ? Vf'hy shoida you destroy us, who have provided you with food ?
What can you get by war? We can hide our provisions, and fly into the
woods; and then you must consequently famish by wronging your /riends.
What is the cause of your jealousy? You see us unarmed, Rid willing to
8U[)pIy your wants, if you will come in a friendly manner, d not with
Hwonis and guns, as to invade an enemy. I am not so simple, ab not to know
it is l)etter to eat good moat, lie well, and sleep quietly with my women and
children ; to laugh and be nieriy with the English ; and, being their friend,
to have copper, hatchets, and whatever else I want, than to fly from all, to lie
cold in the woods, feed upon acorns, roots, and such trash, and to be so
hunted, that I cannot rest, eat, or sleep. In such circumstances, my men
must watch, and if a twig should but break, all would cry out, * Here comes
Capt. Smith ; ' and so, in this miserable manner, to end my miserable life ;
and, Capt. Smith, this might be soon your fate too, through your rashness and
unadvisedness. I, therefore, exhort you to peaceable councils ; and, above all,
I insist that the guns and swords, the cause of all our jealousy and uneasiness,
be removed and sent away."
Smith interpreted this speech to mean directly contrary to what it expressed,
and it rather confirmed, than lessoned, his former suspicions. He, however,
made a speech to Powhatan, in bis turn, in which he endeavored to convince
him that the English intended him no hurt; urging, that, if they bad, how
easily they Jiiight have effected it long before; and that, as to their perishing
witii want, be would have him to imdei-stand that the English had ways to
supply themselves unknown to the Indians; that as to his sending away the
arms, there was no reason in that, since the Indians were always allowed to
bring thciis to Jamestown, and to keep them in their hands. Seeing SmitWs
inflexibility, and des|)airing of accomplishing his intended massacre, be sj)oke
again to Smith as follows : —
"Cajjt. Smith, I never use any werowance so kindly as yourself; yet from
you I receive the least kindness of any. CapL JS/etoport gave me swords, cop-
per, clothes, or whatever else I desired, ever accepting what I offered him ;
and would send away his guns when requested. No one refuses to lie at my
feet, or do what I demand!, but you only. Of you I can have nothing, but
what you value not ; and yet, you will have whatsoever you please. Capt.
JVewport you call father, and so you call me ; but I see, in spite of us both,
you will do what you will, and we must both study to humor and content you.
But if you intend so friendly, as you say, send away youi arms ; for you see
a
Catanaugh, Slith.
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14
POWHATAN— HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO TOMOCOMO. [Book IV,
my undesigning siinplicity and friendship cause me thus nakedly to forgot
myHclf."
Smith now whh out of all patience, seeing Poivluitan only trifled awuy the
time, that ho might, by some iiioanR, accuinpllHh Ihh deuign. The IwatH of
the English were kept at a distance from the shore, by reason of ice. Smith,
therefore, resorted to deceotioii ; he got the Indians to break the ice, that his
men might come in and take on board the corn they had bought, and, at tiie
same time, gave orders to tJKjni to sei/e Powhittmi ; Smith, in the mean time,
was to amuse him with false promiHes. Jhii SrnUh''a talk was too full of
flattery not to be seen through by the sagacious sachem ; and, l)ef<)rt' it wjim
too late, he conveyed himself, his women, children, and effects, into the
woods; having succeeded in his decc^ption better than Smith; for two or
three squaws amused him while Powhatan and the rest escaped. l'nwillinW«;i, that his people caino from all directions, and desired
peace;* many of whom returned stolen articles that the English had never
before missed. Pouhatan would now send to Jamestown such of his men
as had injured the English, that they might be dealt with as they deservtul
The same year, 1609, he sent them nern-ly half his crop of corn, knowing
them to he in great want.
Captaki Smith, having, by accident, l)een shockingly burned by his powdcr-
Iwigs taking fire, for want of sui-gical aid, was obliged to leave the country
and go to England, from whence he never returned. He published the
account of the first voyages to Virginia, and his own adventures, w hieh is
almost the only authority for the early history of that country. He tlied in
London, in 1631, f in the 52d year ol his age.
The Dutchmen of whom we have spoken, and who had been so assiduous
to bring ruin upon the colony, came to a miserable end. One of them died
in wretchedness, and two others had their brains beat out by order of Powha-
tan, for their deception.
After Smith had lefl Virginia, the Indians were made to believe liiat he was
dead. Powhatan doubted the report, and, some time after, ordered one of his
counsellors, named Uttamatomakin,^ or Tomocomo, § Avhom he sent to Enghuul,
to find out, if possible, where he was. He instructed him, also, to note the
nund)er of the people, to learn the state of the country, and, if he found Smilh,
to make him show him tlie God of the English, and the king and queen.
When he arrived at Plimouth, he took a long stick, and began to perform a
part of his mission by ctitting a notch for every person he should see. But
* Did not Ihc En^lsh of New England owe thnir safety to Massasoil and Miantunnomoh/s
fear of the same article ?
t Josselyn, N. Eng. Rarities, lOG.
t Or Uttainaccomack, Smith.
^ Purchas.
■!;•
Chap. II.]
DEATH OF POWHATAN.— HIS SUCCESSORS.
15
he soon gave up that business. And, when he returned to hu own re uiitry,
hiri cliicf UHked him, among other things, to give him an account of the num-
ber of the inhabitants in England. IIIh anHwer to that inquiry, vvtt hazard not
much in saying, is nearly as extensiv^^ly known as the golden rule of Confu-
cius, It was as follows: " Count the, xlitra in the nktf, tlie leaves on fin- trees, and
the snrui upon the sea-shore,— for such U llie numbir of the people of Ihii^lnml."'
ToMocoMO hat! married a sister of Pocahontas, and, |)rol)al>ly, iiicoinpiuiied
her to Englantl.* While there, the famous anti()uary, Samuel Punhasi; had
an interview with hiriMuid from whom he collected many fact.s relating to
the rniinners and customs of his countrymen ; the result of which Ik- utb-r-
wards judilished in liis Pilgrims, f
The diiliculties were almost perpetual between Powhatan and the English ;
very little tiuK! passed, while he lived, but what was full of broils and dissiitis-
fuction, on the one part or the other. Few Indian chiefs have liillen imder
our notices, possessing such extraordinary characteristics as Powluttan. He
died at |)eace with the English, hi April, 1018, and was sncceeded by Opitcha-
pan, his second brother, who was known afterwards by the name Itopalin.
Our readers will Ikj compelltul to a<"knowledg« that Captain Smith was
barbarous enough towards the ludiiins, but we have not met with any thing
quite so borribli', in the course of nis proceedings, as was exiiibiti'd by his
successor, Lord I)e La /Far. Tiiis frtntleman, itisteud of taking a nictin
course between the practices of Smith and JVewpoii, went into th(! worst
extreme. Finding Powhatan insolent, on his arrival in tht; country, bt;
determined, by severity, to bring biin to unconditional submission. Having,
therefore, got into bis bands an Indian prisoner, his lordship cau.sed bis right
hand to be cut of!'. In this maitned and horrid condition, be sent bini to
Potohatan ; at the; same time giving the sachem to understand, that all his
subjects would be served in this manner, if he refused obedience any longer;
telling him, also, that all the corn in tlie country should be immediately
destroyed, which was just then ripe. J This wretched act increased, as
reasonal)ly it should, the indiguatiun o£ Powhatan, and his acts were governed
accordingly.
♦t?..
••, .v".]t:'
■'■•.'•1
;:^
H§0t
CHAPTER n.
Reflection upon the character of Powhatan — Pocahontas — She singulurhj entertains
Captain Smith — Disaster of a boat's crerr — Smitfi's attempt to surprise Powhatan
friistrated in conseijuenre — Pocahontas saves the life of Wijffin — Brtraijr.d into the
hands of the English — Japazaws — Mr. Rolfe marries Pocahontas — Oi-achisco —
Pocahontas visits England — Her interview with Smith — Dies at Gnivescnd — Her
son — Gpekankanoit.h — Made prisoner by Smith — Is set at liberty — Nkmattanow
— Murders an Englishman — Is murdered in his turn — His singular conduct at his
death — Conducts the massacre of 1(122 — Plots the extirpation of the English — Co7i-
ducts the horrid massacre of 1644 — Is taken prisoner — His conduct upon the
occasion — Barbarously wounded by the guard — Lost spierh, and magnaninuty in
death — Reflections — Nickotawanck — Totopotomoi — Joins the Englith against
the Rechahccrians — Is defeated ami slain.
It is impossible to say what would have been the conduct of the great
Powhatan towards the English, bad he been treated by them as he ought to
have; been. The uncommonly nMiial)le, virtuous, and feeling disposition of
his daughter, will always be brought to mind in reading his liistory ; and, jiot-
wiibstanding he is described by the historians as pos.sessing a sour, morose,
and savage disposition, full of treachery, deceit and cunning — and whose
word was never to be depended upon — yet, on the very page that be is thus
* Mr. OWmijron (Brit. I'.mpire, i. 2S.5.) says, " That when the princess Pocahnritris came
for EiiKJaud, a coucarousa, or lord of her own nation, attended her ; his name was Vttamacco-
mack.
t Vol. V. b. viii, chap. vi. page 955,
t Harris, Voyages, 11. 226.
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16
POCAHONTAS— SAVKS TflK IJFR OF A CAPTIVE. [Hooit IV.
rpprrst'iitnd, wo hIihII find the uainn fmiltB H<-t him oh i!.xntii|>li>H by tlin Kii^IIhIi
lliotiiwIvfH.
Till! fiFHt nrul most memonihln evoiitH in the Ufe of Pocahontas have iktch.
Mirily ho'ii di^tiiihul in the iiocount of h*>i' tiithcr; thcrcfoni wo hIiiiII, under \wx
own niiiric, >{ivc ihow; wliirh nns moro (h.-roinifctt'd with \m.
I'OCAIIONTAS wiiH horn uht)nt thf yciir 1594 or 5, nnd honce wax no more
llian l*.i or IM ycnrs old when nho wivod the hfo of Captain Smith, in ](!07.
IOv( ly parliL'ular of thai inont extraordinary 8r«!nt! has ht-on exhibited. The
imtiir Pocohi'niti.s or Pomolu'tntts, Hays lle('keweider,«M,'anH a run Ijetween two
liill.x. It has biM?n mentioned, that, at thi? snpjre.stion or Captain JVetcport, Smith
went Willi a few men to Werowoeonioeo, to invite Powiuttan to JameNtown
to receive proKiuitN, hoping thereby to intiiienro him to open a trade in corn
wii.i them.
When he arrived at that jilace, Powhatan wa.s not at home, hut wa.s at the
distance of.'JO miles off. Pocahontas and her women recc^ived him, and while
he waited for her liither, they thus entertained him: — " In a fayre plaine lield, (says
Siiiilh,) they made a tire, befori! whieh, he sitting upon a mat, suddainly anion^THt
the woods was heard Niieji a hydeoiis noisi; and slireckinp, that the En^lisli
ItctooUc themselves to their arms, and seized on two or three old men by
t!irm, siipposiiif,' Powhatan, with all his power, wa.s eonie to surprise
iheiii. Ihit presently Pocahontas came, williiif< him to kill hiir if any hurt
were intended ; and tlie beiioldeis, which were men, women and childnjii,
satisfied the captain then; was no such matter. Then presently they were
pre.sentiul with this anticke ; 'iO youiif,' womiiii came naked out of the woods,
onely covered iK^iiiiid and before with a few preene leaues, their iKxIies all
)ainted, some of one color, sonn! of another, but all diUeriiif^. Their leader
lad a fayie payie of buck's lionies on her head, and an otter-skinne at her
girdle, and another at her nrme, a quiver of arrowes at her backe, a how and
arrows in her hand. Tli<; next had in her hand a sword, and another a cliih,
another a pot-sticke, all horned alike ; the rest every one with their seuerail
devises. These tiends, with most li(!liisli shouts and cryes, rushing from
among the trees, east themselves in a ring about the tire, singing and dancing
with most excellent ill varietie, oft falling into their infernall piussions, aiul
solemnly again to sing and daunce. Having spent neare an Jioure in this
mascarado, as they iMitred, in like manner tJiey departed." After a short time,
they came and took the English to their wigwams. Here they were more
tormented than before, "with crowding, pressing, hanging about them, most
tediously crying, 'Love you not nie ? love you not me .'' " When they had
finished their caresses, they set before them the best victuals their country
afforded, and then showed them to their lodgings.
While Captain Smith was upon an expedition into the country, with an
intention of surprising Powhatan, there happened a melaticholy accident at
home, to a boat's crew, which had been sent out in very severe weather, by
one who was impatient to have the direction of mutters. In the bout were
Captain fValdo, ftlaster Scrivener, the projector of the expedition, Mr. Anthony
Gosnold, brother of the well-known Bartholomew Gosnold,* and eight others.
IJy the sinking of the boat, these all perished, and none knew what had become
of them, until their bodies were found by the Indians. The very men on
whom Smith depended to remain at the fort for his succor, in case he sent for
them, were among the number. Therefore, to prevent the failure of this
expedition, somebody must be sent to apprize Smith of the catastrophe. None
volunteered for the hazardous service, but Mr. Richard Wifffin, who was
obliged to undertake it alone. This was a time when Powliatan was very
insolent, and urged daily the killing of Smith upon his men. Nevertheless,
after many difiiciilties, he arrived at Wcrowocomoco. Here he found himself
amidst prejiarations for war, and in still greaKT danger than he had yet been.
But Pocahhntas apjieared as his savior. Knowing the intention of the war-
riors to kill him, she first secreted him in the woods, and then directed those
who sought him in an op[)osite direction from that he had gone ; so, by this
* Who li;ul inisoriil)ly ncrislied by disease and famine at Jamestown, 22 Aug., 1607. See
Bancroft, U. Slates, i. 14 1.
!
r I
latr>/7,:s (lis
JmvJiii/tiii
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Jinv/iii/iiii I'jiiifirrrur af ^ l//iirii f/i
VI ff/ 1 n If/
/ ' , 11)11/
~\\>iii'
\r"' /.ji J/ (.'///:
Chat. II.]
Ca.u'. 11] rOCAllONTAS— BETRAYED TO Ti'E ENGLISH.
17
nieaiis, he psraped, and got safe to Smith at PamunKoy. This was in the
winter of 160!).
We next hear of her saving the life of Henry Spilman, wlio was one of SI
thiit went to trade, npon the confidence of Powhatan, but wlio were all, except
Spilman, killed by his peo[)le.
Such was the wretched stati to which the colony of \'ir<;inia was now
reduced, that scarce a parallel in the annals of the world e;in be found. No
sooner had S^nith lert the country, but all was in ('(jutiision. (Jflicers jpint
their time in riotings, while the nmn seem to have taken no means fur defence
or preservation ; so that the Indians made constant spoil upon their domestic
animals, and whate\<'r else had been provided for tlieir support. Insonuich,
that when Captain Smith had been gone six montlis, the colony was reduci-cl
from above o(X) to about GO persons. Herbs and roots were eaten to sustain
life, in the early part of their di.strcsses ; but as the funinc increased, tlit; skins
of liorses were eagerly devourtHl, and an Indian, wln) bad been some time
dead, was disinterred and eaten by these miserable creatures. In one instance,
a wretched man killed his own wife, and preserved the body by salt, which
enormity was not discovered until it liiid bin'U cliiefly devoured.*
It was during this season of horror that Ca|)taiii Ralcliff went out with 30
men, who were trepanned as we have related. This was in the beginning of
tile year IGIO. Spilman lived m: ny yeai-s aAerwards among the Patowamack
Iiulians, by the care ot" Porahontas.\
Vnnu KiO*.), tli'" 'ime Smith left the country, until 1011, Pocahontas vv.'is not
seen at .ramestow; In the latter year, she was treacherously taken prisoner
by Cajttaiii ^'Ir^ral, i kept by the Eng!ish~to prevent Powhatan from doing
tliein injury, and to ^ .tort a great ransom from him, and such terms of peace
a.s they should dictate. At tht; time she was betrayed into the hands of ('ap-
taiii .,2;;£r"/, she was in the neighborhood of the chief of Potomack, whose name
was Jerfidy, were sent asliore, and Argal,
with his pearl of great price, sailed lor Jamestown. On being informcHl of the
reason why she was thus captivated, her grief, by degrees, subsided.
The first step of the English was to inform Powhatan of the captivity of his
daughter, and to dema?id of him their men, guns and tools, which he and his
people had, from lime to time, taken and stolen from them. This unexpected
news threw tlie old, stern, calculating chief into a great dilemma, and what
course to take he knew not ; and it was three months before he returned any
^VjSk
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Keith's Hist. Virginia, 121.
2»
f Stilh, Hist. Virginia, 116.
18
POCAHONTAS— MA" RIF.S AN ENGLISHMAN.
[Book IV
I. '.'' •'•*■•■)* ■*,•■*■•'■
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answer. At tlic end of this time, by the advice of his council, he sent baci<
Hcvon Knglishrrioii, with oacli a gun whicli had been spoiled, and this aiinwor:
that whon they should return his daughter, he would make full satisfaction,
and give them 300 bushels of corn, and b(! their friend forever ; that he Imd
no more guns to return, the rest being lost. They sent liim word, tiiat the\
would not restore her, until he had complied with their demand; and tJiat, sl-s
for the gims, ihey .ir l(il:}, Sir Thomas Dale took Pocahontr.3, and vvoiir,
with a ship, up Powhatan's River to VVtirowocomoco, the residenc*; of inr
liitber, in lio|)(s to eifeet an exchange, and bring about a peace. Powhatan
was not at home, and they met with notlung but bravadoes, and a disjtosition
to liglit from all tiie Indians they saw. After burning many of their lialiita-
tioos, and giving out tlireats, some of tlu; Indians came and made peace, as they
e.al'ed it, which o|)ened the Way for two of Pocahontas's brotliers to conn; ori
boai'd the shi|). Their joy at secMiig tin'ir sister may be imagined.
A particular frienilshi[) had some time existed between Pocahontas and u
worthy young Englishman, by the name of John Rolfe ; which, at Iciigtii,
growing into a sincere attachment, and being mutual bcstween them, lie iiiadi-
known his desire to take her for his com-panion. This being highly approved
of by Sir Thomas Dale, and other gentlemeji of high standing and authority, a
consutrnnafion Wiis soon agreed upon. Acquainting her brother with lier
determination, it soon came to the knowledge of hoi.pii, and those bearing that name in
Virginia, at this day.*
BarloiD thus notices Pocahontas :—
' ■..'',v:.v- , ^.
» U'
" Rlost Pocahmitas ! fenr no lurking guile ;
Thy liero's love shall well rp\vnrir virlim uiih iniceasiiig \xl —
And tho' liieir llm-als lliy .'.turtled ear assail,
Let virtue's vo.ee o'er lilial (ears prevail."— Coi.umbiad.
OPEK.\NKANOlJG]f has already received onr notice. He was a very
ronsi)icuous character in his time, a.id was .styled, by the Virginians, King of
the Pamunkies. The dreadful n assacre, of which he was author, brings to
mind his name oftener than almrst any other chief of his times.
There seems to be some coiinidiction, or difference of opinion, with regard
to the origin of this chief. Some of the Indians reported that he enme from
the west, and was not a brother of Poivfiatan ; but that story, we judge, is
merely a fable, invented and told by his enemies, to influence the English
against him, that they might destroy him.
Opekankanough seems to have borne the name of Mangopeomen in 1621, f a
rircuinstance unnoticed by most historians, and, therefore, we conclude that it
prevailed only among his own tribe, and, perhaps, even among them fell int<»
disuse soon after.
Opitchapan, called also Oetan, and lastly Sasaiiopcomen,l was the successor
of Powhatan, but he seems never to have been otherwise noted. "The defects
nf the new emperor." says Mr. Burk, " wtre aggi'avated hi the minds of th(!
Iiidiiuis, by a comparison with the accomplished Opekanlcanovgh, who, in the
council and the field, was the most conspicuous warrior amongst the I'owlia-
tiuis ; atid who, during he lifetime of the late eni])eror, had procured from the
lice tribe of the Chickahominies, the title of their king." The same author
i-alis Opitchapan a "feble and decrepid" chief, who "was little calculated to
.secure respect, or enforce obedience." §
In 1(!08, the Indians had become imivenuilly at variance with tho English,
luul iusidted them whenever they ap|)eared abroad ; knowing their miserable,
liaif-starved condition. Insult followed ijistilt, tijion both sides, and, but for
the iiever-tiring perseverance of Smith, this colony, like the first, would have
lii'i'ii soon destroyed. The Indians would promise to trade with them, but
wlii'ii rliey went to them for that purpo.se, they only "laughed at their calam-
ities;" sometimes putting jokes upon them, and at others, running away into
till' woods.
hi tliisextremity of their circumstances, though in the dej)th of winter, iSmi7/j
resolved to make Inmself master of some of the Indians' store of provisions, by
sniM(> means or other. He, therefore, proceeded to I'amunkey, the residence
* .Ions Randolph, of Roanoke, died in Philadelphia, 24 May, 1834. He had come there
in ver ,■ low health, intending to emlnirk for lM\rope in a few days. Having met with .^onio
[H'r|iloxily in procuring lodgi.igs on his arrival in Philadelphia, beuig taken from the steam-boat
In on;' hotel after another, ni a bad hack, in bad weather, he was much irritated, and, from his
f'rc(iuenl allusions to it in his sickness, il was supposed to have hastened his end. He was
ahoiu (10 years of age at his death.
t Burk's Va. i. 228. X Ibid. J Hist, Virginia, i, 233.
Mil
■■ "%r>-
li. ■• •.••.;"-'i*v!lT;^.-.'
« IV- ,5. •/•■,'■■.•,
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30
OPEKANKANOirGH— NEMATTANOWS DEATIT. [[:m%
(»r Opekankanou^h, with 15 men, where he tried to trade wit)( him (or rorr;
hut, not Hucceediiif^, lie, iu a '• Ins
lis i)i\'a8l.
llis 1)(!0-
wjis the
Meanwiiilo, OpekanJiaiwVi^h, tlio better U> increase the rage of his warriors,
affcetcd great grief at .Yernntlanote's death, wliieh liad tiie ;'lH'ct he intended ;
owing, especially, to the favor in which that warrior had stood aniniig the
Indians. But the English were satisfied that this was only |)retence, as we
have jjefon; observed ; because they were informed of his tidying to eng; gi-
some of his neighbors against them, and otherwise acted suspiciously, sonx;
time bi^fore JVemaltanoio's death ; of the jiistic*? of which, however, the Eng-
li.sii tried arguments at first, and threats afterwards, to convince them. Hy
llis dissimulation, OpcAajiAa/ioiig/i coiipletelv deceived them, and, just hrCori-
the massacre, treated a messenger that .vas sent to him, with much kindness
and civility; and assured him that the i)eace, which had been some ti/ne
hcfore concluded, was held so firm by hitn, that the sky shoidd fall sooner
tiian it shoidd be violated on his part. .And such was the eoueert and secrecy
.iiuoiig all i\w Indian.s, that, only two days before the fatal '2:2 March, some
kindly conducted the English thrf)ugh the woods, and sent one of their youth
ro live with the English, and learn their languagt;. Moreover, on the morn-
ing of that very day, they came unarmed among them, and tradiid a.s usual,
.ind even sal down to bntakfast with their victims, in several instanccM. Never,
perhaps, was a massacre so well contrived and (conducted, to eu.sure success,
lis was this of Opcknnkn7iou<^L The English wtTe lulhul into a tiital security,
.ind even unknowingly assisted the Indians in their design; leading them
;heir hoats to communicati; with distant tribes, and fiiriushing them with
various utensils, wliieli were couvertcnl at once into weapons of death.
Th in ii litter, led his warriors llir-
~.\ar(l, and commenced the bloody worL They began at the fi-ontiers with a
di;ti j-iiiination to slay all before them, to the sea. Aft(,'r continuing the iiia.'-
Micret\\o da_\s, in which time about 500"' j)ersons'. nMuurden'tl, f'ir iiiHiam
lirrkik;), at the hejid of an m*med iorc(>, checkiid thi progress. The destriic-
iion of the iidnibitants was the greate.^'t U|>on Yoii imd Patnimkey Rivers,
where '^jnh —nkanough commai^led in person. The Indians now, in their
tu'M, w ,0 driveii to great extremity, and their old chief was takei! prisoner.
■•'' ''i.'
, ■>
1 his is •••.e li initior ffencrally set ilovMi in llic liisiories, hul tlm prol)ablv jmhI scfUliay of
Mr, "c'ic vyi, Jjisi. U. «. i. tiX, caused Ijiai to iii uj.ou the uuiubcr aOO.
J*
99
DEATH OF OPEKANKANOUGH.— TOTOPOTOMOI. [Book IV.
m-
»:<.';
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■ r
■:^'-''s, be acknowledged, as did Leoiiidas at Thermopyla,-.
Sir fViltinm Berkeley intended to have si;nt him, ius a present, to the king
ot' England; but assas.sination deprived him of the WTCtched saiistaetiou, and
saved the chief from the mortification, f
None of the Virginia historians Lin to have been informed of the true
date of this last war of Opekankanou<<;h ; the ancient records of Virginia, says
Mr. Hurk, are silent even upon the events of it, (an extraordinary omission.)
Mr. Beverly tbi'^lcs it began in 1(539, and, alttiougli Mr. Burk is satisfied that it
took jilace after 1641, yet he relates it under the date lt!-10. And we ai-e not
certain that the re.-d date would t^ver have been fixed, but for the inestimable
treasury of New England history, Winlhrojfs Journal, i
That it took place subsequent to 1(141, Mr. Burk a.ssm'es us, upon the evi-
dence o! tie MS. records; for they relate that, in l(j40, oik; John Burton had
been (convicted of the nuirder ol' on Indian, and that his puiushment was
remitted, "at the inljrcession of Omkankanough, and his great men." And
that, in the cud of the year 1041, Thomas Rotjc, the son of PocaJiontas, peti-
tioned the governor for [)ermission to visit his kinsman, Opekunkanovgh, and
Chopalre, the sister (;f his motbej". That, therefore, these events hapi)ene(l
previous to the war, and death of Opekankanough.^
Ni-'KOTAWANCE succceded Opekankanoiigh, as a tribtitarv' to the English.
In 1G48, lie came to Jamestown, with live other chiefs, and brought 20 beaver
skins lo be sent to Kmg Charles. He made a long oration, which he con-
cliiir, d wit; the protestation, "that the sun and moon should first loost; their
glorious lig'.w, and shining, before he, or his pe()[)le, should ever more here-
after vwong '.be English."
Tivroj;iTtiv;oi probably succeeded JVickotawancty a.s- he wjis king of Pa-
iuunkey in lt>56. In that year, a large body of strange Indians, called
Rechiihccrians, came down fi-om the inland mountainous country, and forcibly
■► licr, ihi^ Hist. Virg. 51. t Sp'' Rrilisli Empire in America, i. 210, 1.
X Whether it be preserved iu Hcning's Slatulos, I liavo iiol leiinieil, liut prcsunu;il it, from
ti;o iiili-reiice of Hiini:rn/t.
^ Like most of ihc early writers, tlie autlior of A New Description of Virginia, (2 Coll
.Mass. llisl. Soc. ix. 111.) speaks of liie buliaiis in terms dictated t>y ituliflrnatioi). " Thcii
ffreal kinjr." he says, " Opechattkinmc , that bloody monster upon a luindred years oUl
taken liy Sir IViUiam Berkely." This tract was published ui lGa9, but date is gi\
heir
was
veil to
the massacre.
I-
I
Chap. Ill] THE CREEK NATION.— ORIGIN OF THE NAME.
23
possessed tliemselves of the country about the fulls of James River, Tho
legisluturc of Virginia was in session, wlieii tlie news of tiieir coming vvu^
received. VViiat cuirse the English nad to .send out an army against them,
our scanty records do not satisliictorily sliow ; ' hut, at all events, they
determined at once to dispossess them. To that en>.^.fe:y
i-v-.*;*'--!,
. •:••■<'■■/, •.,•»■;•'.■•,
,'■<■>■)■-■ J-''-'
I'. '
J •.•■;i'.'''*"!.v ;':;'.
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24
CREEK LANGUAGE— CIIEUOKF.E INVENTION. [Book IV.
Tlio nution of most irii|K)rtaiii'o i'tiioiif; llie Creeks was, in 1775, the
MiiHknp((t's. TImt cointmiiiity, or imiioii, lik«; tlie Iro(|iioin, vvu.s more jmliiic
than tlicir imigliliors, and vastly iMcrctuscil their strnngth and iinponniice l)\
encouraging small ilecliiiing tribes to incorporate themselves \vith them. At
oni- time, another most wise resolntion wits aes had another excellent regiiliitiua,
namely, liie men assisted tlu^ir women in their j)Ianting beti)re setting out mi
their warlikt; and other e.xpeditioiis. This was called the Creek natidii,
wiiicli, in what was called its best da.s. about 1780, contained 17,000 souls;*
bnt they were reckoned, in lti2i», at '^0,000.
Sonx! have, latterly, given the nanu' of Cre«!ks oidy to a part of the nations
of which w(; have bi-gmi to treat; hut it is here intended to include imder iliat
head, all tin; tribes between thi! Savannah on the east, the Mi!*si,ssip|>i on ihe
wt ,st, and the country bordering on the Ojiift on the north.
Th towns. They bad dominion al.so over oni! town of thi! Shawanese.
Their chief places were upon the bninchi'S of the Alabama and the Apalaclii-
cola rivers: the people upon the latter b(>ing called the /oM'cr C^reeks. Tiiis,
i\:^ Wi'll as the other nations whoiri we call Oeeks, are generally su|)pose(l to
have originally coinc from the south or south-west; but the Indians tliem-
•sflves Ix'lieve, or pretend to believe, that they came from the east, or i)lace of
the smi's rising; concerning which opinion we may observe once for all, that
it most |)robably had the same origin among all ignonint people, which arose
from no other than a desire that otlicn's should think them descended from the
* It is poinmoii to reckon a third warrior.s.
t 'I'liis speriiTipi) I tiike from a lilllc vnlnmo. railed tlio " Miisko^ne (Creek) Assistant,"
publislicd ill Posloii, VMo, >v the Am. Hoan) of Coin, for Foreiga Missions.
t ("lioklau .Arithmetic, pr; :;o\ver Choktau towns;
die tiirmer were situated aboiu 1(10 miles from the Chikasans, and the latter
about 200 above New Orleans. The people of this nation flattened their hfjads
by wearing bags of sand on them,f and, according to Father Henn('mn,\ the
heads of all tlie Indians ujion the Mississippi an; flatter than those of Canada.
It is said also that they are of a lighter complexion ; but this has rterence
only to the Muskogees, according to some writers. The C'lioktaiis jirinci-
pally inhabit Mississippi. They were, in 1820, set down at 2."),000 souls, and
are rather increasing.
The Cliikasfuis are supposed to have come from the westof th«; MissiHsi[)pi,
and as it v/as a custom among the Creeks for their unoccupied lands to b«
taken by any that came among them, as emigrants, the Chikasans found no
iibstacles in the way of estal)lishing themselves on this side the Mississi|»pi.
Wliere they first established themselves is unknown, but in 1770 they were a
powerful and warl'.Ice nation, and were seated u])on the western branches of
the Mobile, The tribe of Yazoos belonged to this nation. The (Jhikasaus
reside in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They do not exceed 4900
in nnnd)(!r.
Tile Seminoles were a nation made up similar to many others, and chiefly
of Mui^kogees. The Creeks called them Beminoles, which signified wild,
iiecausi; they had estranged themselves from their former country. This
nation was jirincipally seated, 40 yeai*s ago, upon th«; rivers A])alai'hicola and
Flint, and had a large town on Calos Bay, on the west side of Kast Florida,
They now reside in Florida, a scattered remnant of about 1200,
The names alone of the different clans or tribes of these nations would fill
several pages, and it is not necessary here to enumerate them , »ve siiall th(!re-
fbre, afler some general observations, pass to the consideration of those chiefs
who have been conspicuous.
There are upon the east bank of the Oakmiilge, near its confluence with
the Ocoiie, beautil'ul fields, extensively known ;is the Oakmulge fields ; they
are upon the rich low lands of tlie river, and U|)on the elevated jtart of them
are yet visible reTuains of n town. These fields extend 20 miles along the river.
The Creek Indians give this accoimt of them, naiiirly, that here was the |)lace
where they first set down afliT crossing thi; !Mississi|)|)i ; that their journey
from the west had been attend'd with incredible sufleriiig, and that they were
opposed at every step by various hostile bauds of Indians, and that on reach -
,-»•»..
* Dr. Morse's Report.
t Adair. — " As soon as the cliiKl is born, tfio nurse provides a cradle or wooden case, hol-
lowed and fashioned, to receive the infant, lying prostrate on its back, thai part of the case
where the head reposes, beiii^ fashioned hke a l)ri(k-in■ ■••'-.. ■'•:■
. ■■-■■ •-■ i-'-i'i^-ti • ■
I'l .V 'Ha-.: ■' •
■.I'.. ...,'■>■
injr this place tliey fortified tliemsdves, and could proceed no further, and at
I(;ii^'tli •riiiii' (1 ground and hecaiiio coiiqucrorH in their turn.
'i'licn! an; few jjreaUr enriositi^m in tiie soutli, than tiic ^Teat highwajsoi
n)averrun (iotn
time to time by bands of mercenary whites. In the year 1538, Ftrdinand tk
Solo, witli a commission frotn the Emperor Charles V., sailed with a con.^id-
erable lleet for America, lb- was u Portuguese gentiiinan, and had been
with Pizttrro in the coiupiest (as it is calleil) of Peru. His commission coti-
htitiiti'd hitn governor of (-'ulm and general of Florida, f Although he siiilod
from St. liUcar in ].');{H, he did not land in Florida | until May, 15;V.). With
about 1000 uKMi, '2\li of whom were provided with horses, be undertook the
coiKpiest of Florida and , lOstdotowif, Kcyo-
wee, uiitl Nocycoee. Four of tliew! towiiH vvi-rc without kiii^n at lliitt litne,
they liaviii<; (lied. Souiu town.s had princt.H, uh our author lailfd iImmu ;
iiunu!l>, 'I'oiuawso, otH!; Sutteclio, oiii; ; Tassf tliduo, one ; Iwawset', out' ; Tel-
li(luo, two; Tainiassie, two ; CuiuioHtee, out; ; Cowco, one.
Tilt' fhit;t" .Moj/toi/ was calhjtl euiptMor, and prt-sithtl ovt-r thti Ht'vtiu ttiwtis,
ill 17.'{(). lli.s rf!sitltnit!e wils at Tfliitiuo. On tiit- ',i April, lliin ytar, tifpiitifjt
I'roiii ail parts of tiit; nation int>t at Nei|U)is.>^i(', and in pri'siiict' tif ^'ir
.Ih.ntniler Cumiiihi^ aiitl J!i othiT Eni,dishinfn, tU'ciarcd Moi/tuij t'iii|)frt)r; iif
iiu\ iiiir htM'ii noininatfd hy Sir ^hcxandtr* Tiii^ nation fonHfiitttl to riM-iivf
M(>;ili>;i as tiit-ir kin^', nrovidt'tl he wa,s held actrountahit; to Sir .ilijuniltr. At
till! ffit'iiioiiy of deflarin^' Moijluif kiiij; t)r einptiior, hy who.st- ortlcr Sir
iUeiitiulir wuf, plact'd in a eliuir, hiiii.seli' ami the fonjurcrs Htaiidiiiff aiiotit
iiiiii, anil a thitiiif,' of warrioirt "strokfd him with l;{ t!af,'l.-,s' tails, and tlitir
siiifriis ^mif^ from morniiif,' till !ii;;ht." AIUt this was tloiii' with, lit- made a
sprtt'll to till! great concoiirsi! of Indians ; in whifli, among a good ileal hisiiles,
lit' ilisplavi'd the power and goodness of the king heyond tlit! gnat water ;
and "ie()uired jMo_i/ - ■■•'
i-
W
US
CREEK CHIEFS VISIT ENGLAND.
[Book IV.
of (he Chnrok«e nation, leaving the Indians l)chind to corne up with the man-
of-war. He let the secretary of state iinmediatelv ioy ; you, Oucounacou, have l)een deputed by the
whole nation of the Cherokee Indians, to com«) to Great Britain,"* &c. Afler
the treaty was finished, a certificid copy was pn^sented to the chiefs by .Sir
Mexandtr Cumminff ; upon which Skijagustah, in the name of the whole,
made the following 8|)eech : —
" We are come hither from a mountainous place, wln're nothing but dark-
ness is to be fbiuid ; but we are now in a place where there is light. There
was a ])erson in our country, he gave us a yellow token of warlike honor,
which is left with Moyloy of Tellicpio, and as warriors we received it. He
came to us like a warrior i'rom you. A man he is ; his talk is upright, and the
token he left pw^serves his niemorj' among us. We look upon you as if the
great king were pnisent ; we love you as representing the great king. We
shall die in the same way of thinking. The crown of our nation is (liffenMit
from that which the great King George wears, and from that we saw in the
tower. Hut to us it is all one. The chain of friendship shall be carried to
our people. We look ujmn the great King Georgt as the sun, and as our
father, and upon ourselves as bis children. For though we are red, and you
are white, yet our bands and hearts are joined together. When we shall have
acquainted our people with what we have s«!ei. our children from generation
to generation will always remember it. In war we shall always be one with
you The enemies of the great king shall be our enemies. His people and
ouit < .i\\\ be one, and shall die together. We came hither naked and poor as
the wonrs of the earth, but you have every thing, and we that have nothing
must love you, and will never break tho! chain of friendship whi<;h is between
US. Here stands the governor of Carolina, whom we know.f This siiiall
ro|>e \ we show you is all that we have to bind our slaves with, and it may be
broken. But have iron chains for yours. However if we catch your slaves,
we will bind them as well as we can, and deliver them to our friends, and take
no pay for it. We have looked round for the person that was in our country
— he is not here : However, we must say he talked uprightly to us, and we
shall never forget him. Your white peo[)le may very safely build houses m^ar
us, W^«^ shall hurt nothing that belongs to them, for we are children of one
father, the great king, and shall live and di«! together."
When Skijafruatnh had proceeded thus far, he laid his feathers upon a tai)le,
and closed as follows : —
* Report of the Comniissioncrs (17.T(i) on (lie Aflairs of Georgia, p. bA.—M Attahilhknila
were nmoiig lliese cliicis, ho wont under nnotlier nninc, as did also Outacite. See a few pages
forward.
t Tlipre was al lliis time no governor, tlioup^li Robert Johnson wa.s nominally such. In 1729
the frovi'rnnii'iit of C;iroliiia was delivered to the crown of England, for about -^17,000. yc/iif
tcni was reapjioinled in 1731.
I Siring or wampum, probably.
■'l';.'
CHir. IV]
TOMociiirm.
39
"TMis ia our way of talking, whicli i« tin- muv tiling' to uf ns your lotton* in
tlie book an; to you, mid to yon, beloved men, we ileliver thew; leatbers in
confirmation of all we liave said."
In October, tlie Ind at I'ortsmontli with Mr. Johnsoru, the
;:overnor of Carolina, for their own country, and in the same islii|> in wliicli
the" went over.
Srdjnsu^tah, or, aa ho was sometimes called, KUta^usta, "was brother of
Oiiccimuostola, or the great warrior, and also chief of Chote. He lived to Ihj
\ery old, and died in May 17(id.
fii^es"
CHAPTER IV.
Sii/thvicnt of Carolina and Georgia — Tomociiichi rercircs the English — 6'o<.v t'l Kn^
land with General Oglethorpe — Makes a speech to the Kini^ — Uis death — l\ar with
the Spaniards — Outacitik — Mai.achtv — ATTAKi.i.i.AKti.i.A — Indians murdered
— ArTAKULLAKULi.A prevents retaliation upon whitis in his power — Chirnhir War
liririns — Governor Littleton's expedition — Impiisons their ^hnbassudors — Thnj are
massacred — Colonel Montgomery sent against thrni — hattle mar Kroirte — ( lirro-
l;ci\om the tribe of
Clieeciiaws, Outhleteboa, their mico, ThlaiUho-thlukee, Figeer, Sootamilln, war
captains, with three attendants. From the tribe of Echetas, Chutabeeche and
Robin, two war captains, (the latter was bred among the English,) with four
attendants. From the tribe of Polachucolas, Gillattee, their head warrior, and
five attendants. From the tribe of Oconas, Oueekachumpn, called by the Eng-
lish Long-king, Kooiooo, a warrior. From the tril)e of Eufaule, Tomaumi, head
warrior, and tnree attendants.
* Many gciiilemcn in Enslaud conlributcd, in various ways, (his year, for the ntlviiiircincut
of tiie colony ; some in caltTe, some in labor, some in provisions, ana olhers as soldiers. The
coiitrilmlion of one gentleman, for its singularity, shall lie muiitioncd. " Mr. Hmne gave u
silver boat and spoon for the first child bom in Georgia, which being bom of Mrs. Close, wcro
given accordingly." — Commisiionera' Report on Georgia Affairs, p. 119,
* Report of the Commigsionen, ut lupra, 11, IIG, 117,
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TOMOCHICni AND OTHERS VISIT ENGLAND. [Rook IV.
** TliP IrulifitiH Ix-iiig nil sentod, Ourfkarhumpn, a very toll old rnnn, Ptood,
•nd rimdi! n Hpt'ccli, wliicli wjih iiitfrpriUctt hy Mr. H'ipgan uiid Mr. Musfrroyf^*^
iu which he suid nil th(; IuikIh to the southward of 8uvaiinali River iM^Toiiged
to thr, but the same Power that giivp
the KiiffliHli hrenth, pave then, breath also. That that Power iiad piven the
Kiiffiifh the most wimiotii. That, as they had come to instruet them, they should
liuve all the lands which they did not us«) themselvcR. That tliis wtts not onh
bis mind, but the minds of the eight towns of Creeks, who bad, aOer consult-
inj; toircther, sent some of their chief men with skins, which was t!ieir wealth.
At this p(?ri«)d of Ouecknchumpft's spijecb, some of the chiefs of the cijilit
towns broii^dit caeh a bundh^ of buck's skins, and laid them down lieliirc Mr.
Ofrldlinr/ir. Then the chief said, " These are the hist thhip;s we possess, hut irr
f^ir tlirm ii'itli ii ifixtd henrf. I thank you for your kindness to 'I'oniochiclii, and
his prnple. lie is mi/ kivsnwn, and, t)iough he tvas banished from his unlion, hr
is a }>-(i(nl man and a gnid warrior. It was on account of his wisdom anilju.stin,
that the banished men chose him their kini^. 1 hear that the Cherokces have
killed some Knplishmen. Ifijou [addressing Mr. Oglethorpe] will command tis,
we nv'tl fro against them teith all our force, kill their people, and destroy their
livintr."
VVhen Oueekachumpa liad done sjieakirig, Tomochichi drew near witli iils
men, and, after making a low bow, said, — "/ was a banished man, and I came
here poor and helpless to look for good land near the tombs of my ancestors, itwl
when }jnu came to this plact. I feared i/ou would drive t« aioay ; for lee were weak
and wanted rora. But J/oii confirmed our land to us, and gave us food," The
other chiclk spoke in the sai.ie manner as Oueekachumpa had, and then agreed
upon and exeeutetl an amicable treaty.
IJy the assistance of bis interj^reter, Maru Musgrove, General Oglethorpe had
b(;en able to draw together, at oi c time, 50 chiels from the upper and lower
Creek towns, and, by bis conciliatory conduct, bad secured their friendshi}).
He next resolved to take a deputation of them to England, hoping what tiiey
might witness and experience there, woidd result in lasting benefits to both
their nations and the English. Accordingly, measures having been taken for
the fimheraiico of this project, the general and the Indian chiefs endmrked
for Kngiaiid, in the Aldborougb man-of-war, and arrived nt St. Hellens, in
the Isle of Wight, Hi Jime, 1734. The names of the Indians were Tomo-
ciiicni, Senawki, his consort, and Toonakowi, the prince, his nephew;
also HiLLispiLLi, a war captain, and Apakowtski, Stimalechi, Sintouchi,
HiNuuiTHi, and Umphychi, five other chiefs, with their interpreter.
Inniiediately after their arrival, orders were given for preparing pro|)er
habits lor them, in order to their I)eing introduced at court. Tliis having
been done, Sir Clement Cotterel, knight, master of the ceremonies, was sent,
Augu.st 1, witli three of the king's coaches, drawn by six horses each, to the
Cicorgia office, where the chiefs, all except one, were taken in and carried to
Kensington, where their introduction to his majesty. King George II., took
phu'c. The on(; left at the Georgia o.Tce was sick with the small-pox, of
wliich lu; died the next day. Tomochicui, after presenting the king with sev-
eral eagle's feathers, which were considered, by his nation, the most respectful
j>resent they could send, delivered the following speech to his majesty : —
" This day I see iImj majesty of you face, the greatness of your house, and
the niunber of your peo[)le. I am come for the good of the whole nation of
the Creeks, to renew the peace they bud long ago made with the English. 1
am come over in my old days; and, though I cannot live to see any advantage
to myself, I am come for tlie good of the children of all the nations of the
Upper and Lower Creeks, that they may be instructed in the knowledge of
the English. These are the feathers of the eagle, which is the SAiftest of
birds, and who flicth all round our nations. 'TheBe feathers are a sign of
peace in our land, and we have brought them over to leave them with you,
great king, as a sign of everlasting peace. O ! great king, whatsoever words
* Ills wife was Ihe interpreter, acroriliiiff to AfCa//, i. 35, who was a half breed named
Martj. Oglfthorpe first purchased her friendship with presents, and aAerwards allowed her a
hundred pounds a year for her services. — Commissioners' Report on Georgia Affairs,
Chap. '.v.] TOMOCIIICHI AND OTllKRS V IsJlT F.NC.I.AND.
ni
yon slinll hiiv unto me, I will tell tliern faithfully to nil \\u\ kin>rH of tlie Crook
iiMiions." 'I'lic kind's nnswi-r, though short, was, in tho iiighcut dt'grce, con-
cilialory, uiui what was teruied gracious.*
Wluii the cliiefs wore introduced at court, his umjesty received them upon
Ills thioiic, in the jm-sence chauilK-r, attended hy the oHiccrs of state, and a
iiiiMK rons court. They were introduced hy the Duke of Grafton, chanil>erlain
iif liis niajrsty's household ; and, utler the ceremonies, they returned to tluir
jijKirliiients, at the Georgia office.
Tluir first «'are, after returning from court, was to inter their deceased
(•i)iii|i('nioii, whii'h was accordingly done with great (rereinony, in the hurial-
)irtiiii;d of rit. John the Kvangclist, Westminster, according to the custom of
ill!' "('lu-rok. ■ €n>eks," which wils in the following niaiuier: — "The deceased
li iiig sewed up in two hlunkcts, with one deal hoard under and uiiotlier over
lii!!!, and tied down wilh a (*or.. cath, and expressed but little desire to live longer,
as he should be unable to aid his allies any more against the Spaniards.
For General Oglethorpe he expressed the greatest tenderness, and entreated
the Indians to l»ear in retnembrance the kindnesses with which the king of
Etigland had treated him, and hoped they would alwiiys remain his subjects.
Ihiving exprrsped a wish that his body might be buried among the English in
Savannah, accordingly, his corpse was there interred in Percival S(]U!ue, with
military parade, an»l Genenil Oglethorpe ordered a pyratnid to be erected over
it, with an appropriate inscription. |
Thus are traced the first steps in the history of Georgia, and thus did every
thing promise a contii.junce of that friendship so well begim by General
Oglethorpe. Nothing was lefl undone, while the Creek chiefs were in Eng-
land, to impress upon their minds exalted ideas of the power and greatness of
the English nation. The nobility were not only curious to see them, but
entertained them at their tables in the most magnificent style. Multitudes
flocked around them, conferring gifls and marks of respect upon them. The
king allowed them £20 sterling a week, during their stay, and it was computed
that, at their return to America, they brought presents to the atnount of £400
sterling. After remaining in England four monilia, they embarked at ftrave-
send for Georgia. They were conveyed to the place of embarkation in hia
majesty's carriages. §
In the invasion of Georgia by the Spaniards, in 174.% many Indians were
drawn into the controversy, on Iwth sides. Toeaiweoxd, || or Tooanohowi, a
nepl-.ew of Tomochichi, was shot through the right arm, in an encounter with
T-'K^r
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t M'CaU, Hist. Georgia, i. 19C, 197.
t Kalm's Travels in America, i. 210.
$ lb. i. 45. U Harru.
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OUTA("ITF..-I\Ti;ilVIF,\V WITH (iOV. NICHOLSON. [n„oK IV
•/!-,
tlip P|)»tni;inls, liy n S|mtiisli niptiiin. Toonnohowi dn'W \i\s pistol witli li'm left
hand, and slmf the caittain tlirniij.'li the ln-ad.
Tliiis, with tlic S| aiiiards ii|iiiii oik; hand, and llio ['Jiplisli ii|K)n thr othrr
«nd fJn" I'n iicli in the midst (if thi-ni, tin; Cn'fi-h tlic rapricc of thow> scv«'ral nntinnH jfavc
rinc. Ill I7*.':{, a cliicf, whose name we find in writers of tliat day, fl'oulng.tilnn'.
ff'oosataanfi; IVonUuinitau, H'ronetfuatow,* &(*. is styled "(Joveriiorof the Lower
mid Middle SettlenientB of the Cjiiirikees." He is presiiiiied to he ilir siine
with Olan't'^ or Ofit.isilr^ one of the prisoners aliove eniinierated, and from
what we ;\rf iihont to relate of liini, his eminenee will ho apparent. In IT'^j,
/VrtJim A'irlitilsoii went o\er as governor of S. Carolina, who was said to liave
been very siiceessnil in iiianairinjf afliiirs with the Indians, Hoon after iiis
arrival, tlie Cherokees dispatched niessenf,'erN to Charleston to adjust some
diflicnliies which had for some lime existed ; and, not loiijr after, another inorf
liill and complete depiiiiitiun arrived. (Joveriair JVirholsun opened the council
hy a Iftiip speech to " //'of^^.f.yiVr, Kill}.', and to tht; heads of the Lower and
Middle Settlements of the ( 'harokee Nations."
In the course of Ms speech, lie ohserves, that, when they delivered their
acknowledgments and paid their suhmissioii to tin; governi lent, "tfie other
day," they had made mention of '.]7 towns that had s«nt down tlicir chi( r> liir
that jinrpose, and wished to he satisfied that thew towns were reprcsinted.
that his words might lie carried to all their inhahitants. Alter laying nmrh
stress on llieir submission and respect to the king of F.nglaiid, he speaks thus
st'nsihiy upon their tniding with the whites, which at the same time discovers
to IIS the origin of former troubles.
After ordering that if either party injured the other, restitiitinn should l»r
made by the nggres8f)r, lie says, " Frequent complaints have been made tiiat
your people have often broke open the stores lielonging to our traders, and
carry d away their goods ; and also pillaged several of their packs, wiien
cniploy'd and entrusted to carry them up ; and restitution has never liecn
made, which ai*e great faults : Wc therefore recommend to you, to take all
possible precautions to prevent such ill practices for the future," &c. *• And to
j)rev«;nt any injury or misunderstanding, we have pass'd a law, whicji appoints
commissioners that are to go twice a year to the Congaree, or Savaiia garrison,
to hear and redress ail grievances."
" IVoosatitsnte being a man in great esteem amongst you, having given fre-
quent testimonies of his affection and firm adherence to this goveriimeiit, and
beech ; but it apjwars by our account that it was the
middle of March before the Indian deputies left Charleston.
Although there were events, in every year, of importance, yet, in tbis place,
we sbtill take up the period rendered more memorable by the distinguished
chiefii
• //eioa«, I. 298.
t James Moore, who, according to Itewatt (I. 27r>), was put into ofKcc in opposition lo the
regtiliir rmirsc, by a kind of revolutionary spirit. See Oldmixon, who is far niDrc particular,
1. ;J-W. — Mooin was electee! in 1701. 'I'he aiitlior of " The Brilisii Dominions,"
the Indians were cruelly treated during his administration,
ors before Nicholton, beside Moore.
(115,) says
There were several other govern-
m.^.
[Hook IV
ill) liiH IcO
the mlirr
niriH- fsiih-
tioilH jraV)'
iiodixsilitiB,
tli<' Lower
llu' S'ltllC
.■ii;(l Iroin
In 1721,
iiri'sciifc(!.
nii>itored, I
lu'j iis'd to
the (late to
; it was the
I this pinre,
stiiiguiiihed
v.>.l
>osition 10 the
re |i
iy>
r,iAP. iv.j
ATTAKII.I.VKII.I.A.
:):)
ArTAKIJLIw\Ki;LLA nml orKifNOSTOTA/ Tho fnmo cf Caioliim
had, ill ITTiii, druwii n iiniliituii*! of l^iin>|Mtiiis to her NluircH. 'i'lir Hmiit; jfar,
oil the 2t! May, Mala* iiTV, Hlt(;ii>i)-il li\ the lf'ol/-kiu:idiictc(i thiMii to
till' (own, by tlio g«i\cnicir'rt onler, in jfr-at Matf. Tltin w««» to iiidiirc tli>!iii
to iiiaktr |Mmnu anil rtMiinin their aliic!', and, to thi^ iiid, thi; pivcrnor, (//•«(/<,
iiiHih^ a very iiacitii- ^iH-n-h, in llic Indian nianncr. Mitlnrhly, who, at thiy
time, HC'CiiiH to liavt; lirvn ilic h<-ad t'hivt' ainon^ (li<' ('neks, prL'.sentfd the
i,'o\rriior with a quantity of fkiiif, and n-adily i-oiiM-ntcd to a jMacc with the
Kiigiish; but, in rrgard t<> a peace with llie t'hin>k''< h, he sjiid, that wms a
rtiiitter of great .iionieiit, and he must dehlieraii- witli liiH people, bel'oie !ie
could >,'ive an answer. The f'lieiokee.x w.re alpady under the protection of
'.lit I'.ii^li.sh, and m>iiie ot'ili*'iii liad, not loii<; hetore, iKM>n killed liy tli<- Creeks,
ill the very iieighliorhood of Charleston. The party wlii* h eoinniitted this
iiiitruge waw led by .Malnrht^f. .\ot^vith>taiidiii}r, ?" eessalion if iiotitilities sertns
'o luive taken place, for numbers ot'eai-h nation joined tlie I'liigliah iinmedi;;tely
iillcr ihe capture of Oswejro, by the Fri'nch, in I7.H>. Tbf Cherokees an;
|iarti(-ularly named, as liaviiif^ reiideri-il esoential service in tiie ex|M;dition
:.i!aiiist Fcrt Duqnesne : but a eireumstiuice happened, while tluxte warriors
were retiiriiing iionie from that e ^|M-ilition, which involved ilieni it*, an iiiiint-
Hiile war with the I'.n-^Iish, in whose service they had been enga^rcd. Having
jii-it tlieir horses, and bein^ worn out with toil anil fatigut;, on coming tu the
tnnitiers of Vrr^inia, they picked ii|) several of tbo8«r aiiimals, which iMdongjnl
to the in'iiabttants of the places tiiruugii which they travelled. This, Dr. Ram-
.?(^f siiys, was the •■aus<' of the massacre which they siifTered at that time.
lint Mr. Mair,\ who liv(Hl then among the Indians iu those jtarts, says,
— " Several companies of tlic Cheerake, who joined our forces under Gen.
Staiucix, at the unfortunate Ohio, atlinned that their alienation from U8 watt
htraiise they were confine*! to our martial arrangenieiit, by unjust suspicion of
ilu'iii — weriB very much contenmcout 40 of their warriors, iu dili'erciit places
—though each party was under the coininaiid of a British subject." It must
he ri'iiiembered that, upon Braddock^a defeat, Virginia tiad offered a reward
for the scal[>s o** hostile Indians. Here, then, was an inducement for remorse-
i<'S!^ villains to murder, and ir. was impossible, in many cases, to know whether
u ^caip were taken from a friend or an enemy. Out of this, then, we have no
iivsitation iu saying, grew the excessive calamities, which soon after distressed
tlie southern provinces. Forty iimocent men, and friends, too, murdered in
cold blood by the backwoodsuieu of Virginia, brought on a war, which caused
as much distress and misery among the parties engaged, as any since that
region of country was planted by the whites.
At one place, a monster entertained a party of Indians, and treated thern
kindly, while, at the some time, he caused a gang of his kindred ruilians to lie
in iiiiibush where they were to pass, and, when tliey arrived, barbarously shot
them down to a mat; ! The news was forthwith carried to the Cherokee
nntion, and the effect of it upon the minds of the warriors, was like that of
electricity. They 8<:izcd fheir tomahawks and war clubs, and, but for the
wisdom of Jtlakxdlakxdla, vould have murdered several Englishmen, then in
their country upon some matters respecting a treaty. As JMakvUakuUa was a
chief sachem, he was among the first apprized of the murders, and the design
* Ouconnostotah, Oucoiinostota, Ouconnosiata, ll^yniK.— Occonostola, Ramiay.—Attakui-
lakulla was g«iierally called ibe Little carpenter.
) Hist. South Carolina, i. 169.
\ Hist. Amer. Ind'ins, 245. That the Indians' taking horses was no pretext for the murders,
evc.i at the lime, appears evident. "As (says Caplaii. WCatl, i. 267.) the horses in ihose
partis ran wild in the woods, it was customary, t>otli amcng the LmIIbiu and while people on the
uoDtiers, to catch them and appropriate them to their o wn use."
\
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ATTAKUIXAKUI.I,\ — l.rni,i;iON S 11,1, CONIMICT. [Book IV
orvrnp-niirp. Ho thdvf'in' pfu-s iinriioliiituly to tlwm, and iiiforriicd (hcin of
llH'ir flanpT, mnl n.xxisicil tlirtn to snTi-ic iliciiiHclvrs ; tlioii, witliout |iiv< (if
tiiiu', hi' n;«criiililri| his wnrriors, ami inadr a («|i('»'cli to tlicrii, in wlndi ||(i
nivfi!,'fn'(l, witli firi-n\ liitK-rnt-Ks, aptiiist tlm iniinlt-riMiei Knfflihli, and nrind
iniMM-diati' war au'ainst ihi-in ; <■' nml nn'ir (wiid In-) ifhiill Ihr fuilihrt ttr hunett
itutil Ihr hlooil of our rounlrifmrn hr iilntud fur. IM un iinl (In- cimtiiiiKd) n.i/(i//
our Jiiilh, or Ihr liiir.t of hospilnlili/. In/ imhriiinir our hitnils in llu blooil »f thu$f
\rhn an now in our jimnr. The}! rnmr to ns in the roujidmcr of J'rirndnhiu, with
'/r//.» «/■ irampinn to nmi nt a prrpiiind itllinnrf with n.t. Ijet uit ntrrif ihrm hnrk
to thnr own xdHrmmtx : rowlurt Hum xii/ilif ivilliin thiir ronfinrit, ninl tlirn talu
up Ihr hnlrhil, nnil rmlrnror In irlirmiivitr thr whotr ran' tij'thiin." 'I'liis rouii.vl
wa.s adoplt'd. lirfurf roinniciu-itiu liostililirs, liowrvcr, llm iniirdrrfrH wi re
'(•■triandrd, lint urn- hiindly ri't)is4'd tlinn, and wi; liav*; ndatt-d tlit- ronri-.
c|iii'ni'fs.
TIk- I'Vi-nrli, it was -^lid, n^M•d iluir intlufticc to rnrai.'<' tlic IndtanH; Itiit if
;iiMt \vi'r<> the i*aH<>, \vf> should not derm it Wditii nairiiii^, as it apixars in us
that tinthin^' inon- conlil !)«■ m-n-sHary to inflainn thciii tliau tin; horrid oiit-
ra;.TS of whirji wi- havi- s|ii>k('n.
h a|»|icars from anoihrr sonrrc,* that (Jovcrnor Littleton was tiict atCliarh's-
ron liy a deputation of .'W CluTokiM' chicls, ainon^r whoni wan (hkononlila,
who, on htann<;of th<^ warlike movements at lii.-it place, hud set out in visit
the i'',ii<;lish, and if |Kissilile to prevent a war with iliem. I'or allliou^h so.ik
of their yoim;r warriors had romniitted si-veral nets of violenr«>, yei tlie unat
lM)dy of the nation were friendly towards the Kn^'lisli, and desired peace.
Kilt instead of sei/in^ on this opportunity of treating with the chiefs, ho
tnsiiltinsly told them, '*Thnt lie would soon he in their country, where
he woiihi let them know his demands." Ockonostola heffuii to speak in
reply, "hut the governor lM>in^ determined that notliiiid lie woidd hear no talk he had to make, neither
in vindication of his nation, nor any proposalH with re^^ard to peace." 'J'lic
F/ieiitenniit-(Jovernor Ilri.L saw the had policy of this st»;p, and iirged the
necessity of hearing what Ockono.itoln, the Great IVnrrior, as lie was calietl,
had to say, and seltliiif; their ditliciilties; hut this p>od advice had no etU-ct
on Littleton^ nnd he marched from Charleston in Octoher, a few days alter.
At a place of rendey.voiis, ahoiit 140 mile8 from that place, his force aiiioiiiited
t<» aliout 1400 men. The chiefs, by order of the frovernor, had inarched witli
the army to this place, and, alihoiiph hiirnin^ with reseiitiiieiitat their treainuiit.
yet they discovercfl no sijjiis of discontent. When the urmy was about to march
*'roiii Coiigare)"}*, (this iM'injr their place of rendezvoiis,) the ehiels were all iiiade
jirisoners, nnd imd'^'r miard were marched to Fort I'riiico (j'oorjrc. f
Their res<>ntmciit now showed itself; "stung to the heart by such !«.<«■
treatment," they cringed in sullen silence, nnd we may Kuppose that "they
spent their time in concerting plots for obtuiiiing tli(;ir liberty, nnd sutisliiction
for the injuries done them." j
Keing now at Fort I'rinci! George with his :irmy, Littklon (bund himself in
about the sauie repute with his own men as with the injured Indians; lie
theretbrc concluded not to carry his conquests any further at proHcnt, but to
make a treaty, nnd retain captive Indinns enough an hostages to insure its
observance. He therefon? sent a messenger to Jlttak.ullnk\dla, who was reck-
oned the wisN« »f
irwhhtji, i/i/'i
rrif thfin hnrk
7/i(/ thrn tali,
This i-iiiiii.x I
nliri'rs wf n-
ll till! I-OIIH'^'-
iliiiim; Itiit if
itpprao to u»
t! iiorriil uiit-
rt atCli.irlf's-
Orkono-itnta,
^t out lo visit
tlion^li so:m)
yi'l llu' L'icat
?sin'rokees
prcM-nt, ohservinjj what was jroinjr torward, willxlrew into the woods, and.//-
//r)tiiy/'rA-ii//ff, presuming the iiusines-i mtisi end here, wilhdn w als4i. || hml l>i i>ii
l>nuiised,or rather di inanded, in the ;.'overnor's s|wecli, that 'i-\ Indian.*, wim
were known to have killnl white p.-nple, slioidd Im- ^'iveii into his hands lo \ii as LUtlrtiiii knew of .////.i///<»/li///rt'« departure, lie sent for him, and
he iinmeiliately returned, and ilie liiisinciM uf a treaty was renewed, and on
ihu Uti DucoiuImt, I7"»!*, it was si^rned hy
ATTAKn.I.AKll.l.A, OtAHSITE, OtONNOPCA, aiid
OlK.dN.NOSroTA, KiTAUL'STA, Kll.I.CA.NNOK KA.
By article III. of ihe treaty,* it was ai^n-ed that 'ti chiefs, (those who had
tMMii treacherously sei/nl,) slioiild remain as hostii^'es, to ensure the deliMM-y
iif the like nnmliir of murderers to the lOn^disli. There seems, however, to
li.'ive lieeii l)Ut i2l retained, wiiose names we an; able to ^'jve In-Iow, and who,
uiid'r the name (d* hosta^ns, were thrown into ii dismal, cUts<; prison, scarce
!;ir;re enough for six men, where they remained alKint two months, and were
llien iiinsiicred, as in the seipiel we shall show:—
Chniultr, Ouitnmitnnith, Talllrhitiiut, I\tllilahe, (^uarraaaiiithe, ConiuutitialtUi,
K^itiiitiii, OtaJt.titr of \Valof,'o, lhi»(inin thus settled, Mr. fMUeton n>turii(;d to Charleston, where
iif was recoiv(!ar,
was woi-se than if he had done nothing.
(kkotioftota, for good reason, no di.ulit, cntertiiined a iiceji-rmited hatred
.'ii'iiiist Captain Cotynwre, an idTicer of the garrison, and the army had but Just
li'tl the country, when it was fuiiiid that he wu8 bovcring almiit tin; garrisoii
with a large niiiiiber of warriors. Itut it was unci.'rtuin, for wnne time, wheth-
er ihey intended to attack the fort, or whether tlury wished to contiiuK! near
ilt< ir ti'ieiids, who were iinprisoiiiMl in it. IIowev<;r, it is said, tliut, by some
nil .IMS, n plan was concerted between the Indians without and thosi; conlined
within the fort, for surprising it. lie this as it may, Ochnwsiottu, on the Ki
IMiniary, I7G0, practised the following wile lo ellect tbi! object. Having
placed a |MUty of bia warriors in a dark cane-braki; near at hand, be sent a
M|iiiiw to the gnri'ison to invite the conimander to come out, tiir be bud some-
iliing of importance to eoinmmiiuuK! to him. Ca|itaiii Cohfmore imprudently
went o;it, accom|Kinied by two of his otficcrs, and Orkonoatola appeared upon
the opiiositc bank of the Savannah, with a bridle in hid band, t!ie better to
<-i>ni-eiil his intentions. He tohl the captain he was going tefore slated, and an will be seen by comparing the names
above wiih those named in the treaty.
\ "Two Indian women appeared at Keowee, on the other side of the river. Mr. Doherty
went out, and accosting them, asked what news 7 Ockortottota joined ibem, pretending some
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CilRKOKRE WAR— MONTCIOMKRV'S KXriiniTlON. (Ho«k IV
iMMtn^foN in iriiiirf. An Kiif(liHh!iiaii, win* liiiit liulil ..n our of tlit'tn for i|in(
pHrpoHi-, wiiN Mtalihril iind xluin ; and, in ilii> wiitlli', iwii or ilm-f nion- wt-rf
wonnil<>il, and drivtn out of iIh; plart- of ronfnii-nii-nr. The tni^i-dy in ihi;
liirt iiad now ordy roinint'iicod ; tlir niixiialtU' |M'iHoncrM had n |N'II<'H.
The h^iderM in ever; town H(;i/ed t!ie hiitehet, telling their followern tliat the
xpiriirt of innrdered lirotiierH were flying' around them, and rallintr out for veii-
geniire. All hiiii^ the wur>Hun^, and, Itiirnin;; witii imputienee to imhriie their
hands in the blood of their enemii >, rushed down among innocent and de-
feneelt'Ms families on tiif frontiia'.< vl' Caroiinn, where men, women, and
e.hildn;ii, witliont ^listinction, fell a Nieriliee to their niereth-HH finy. Such
of the whitufl us iied to the woods, and eH<-a|NMl the Hral|iing-knife, |H'rished
with hungur. Every Uny brought froii areuiints to the eapitul of their
ravages and desohitions. Dut, while the hack wtttlura impatiently loiiketl tu
thiiir govvninr for relief, the oinulUpox raged to hiicIi u degree in town, thiit
lew of the militia could be prevaihul on to leave their distrewed lalllilie^i to
serve the public. In this extremity, an express was sent to (General Amher^,
the comniauder-in-(diief in America, for assistjince, in ternm too pn.-twiiig to
be denied. Accordingly, he ordered a battalion of Highlanders, and lour
companies of Koyal hkot8,t under tiie command of (y'olonel jMontgomeri/,
aflcrwiu-ds Earl K^Iiiiton, to embark at New York for ('an)lina. In the
mean time, Littleton, having Imicii appointed governor (d* Jamaica, William
Hull succeeded him ; a (diange much to the advantage of the province.
Colonel Montfrovurt/ arrive«l in Canditia towards the «;nd of April, to the
great joy of the people, who bad taken niciisures to coiiperate with him tu the
best advantage ; but, sm the conquest of Canada was the grand object now,
General Amherst bad ordered Colonel Montgomerif to strike a euddeii blow tor
the relief of the (yaroliniaiis, and then to return to head-(|uarters at Alhany,
without losK of time; and we have scarce an example in military history.
wltere an otficcr fullilled his commission with greater promptitude. He mmhi
uller ren«le/vou8ed at tlie Cungarees ; aiitl, being joined by many geritleincn
of distinction as volunteers, besides the principid strength of the coinitry, he
mar bed for the heart of the Cherokee country. Atler i-eacliing a place
called Twelve Mile River, be encampe*! upon advantageous ground, hikI
marched with n party tu surprise Kstatoe, about 30 miles from his cainn. In
the way, be took Little Keowee, and |)ut every man to the sword. Lstntoe
be found abandoned, except by a f(;w that could not escape, and it was
reduced to ashes, as was Sugar Town, and every other settlement in the
lower nation. About 60 Indiana were killed, and 40 taken prisoners ; but the
matters of business ; he drew from the foil several of llie oHicers to converse wiili ihcm.'' —
HaywoodPi Hist. Tennessee, 30.
* " A bottle of poison was found with one of the dead hostages, prohahly intended lo be
dropped into (be well ; and several tomahawks were found buried in the earth." Ihificood.
Hist. Tennessee, 30.— Any stories would gain credence among the whiles, which wciii to
make the Indians as bad an themselves. Whelher the bolile .spdken of contained [wison.
may be questioned ; and, if it did, it may be reasonably doubled whether the Indians knew
any thing about it.
1 1 am following Htvatt, but the Atmuod Register, iii. 62, says, "a regimeat of Uighlaud'
•n, a battalion ot Royal American*, a body of grenadiers, tic.
l'n»p.
( iiAf rv]
rUF.nOKFF, W\n— RATITE (>F FT<'IIf>r
n?
L- Willi Ik'll).''—
warrinrM \uu\ fft'in-mlly ownjM'il to tlio tiimmtninfl nml ili'»<|MTiiiH with the wliitoH, Imt ihrtT nr Iniir iiifii hnvitiK
:,<'('ii killi'il ; Imt it had no othtr rtlict ii|miii tlic IiuliniiH thiiii to inrivniH* ili4'ir
Mtaiiwhilt', Fort F*riiicvo tnitiilly rhi^Cn
win- di'Mimtchrd to th« middle wttlctiicntM, to ofTi-r ix-nc*- to tin* [woplf tht'ri-,
,iiid ordi'i-M win' wiit to thoH<> in coiiitnnnd nt Fort LtMidon, to hhc uMiinit
to hiiii;; ahoiit an ni'roMMnodation with thn IJ[)|M'r Townn ; luit th<> Indiaim
\Miiild not hear to any terms, and C'lloncl Mitntf^omrrif wim ronntniiiifd to
Minnh nKitiii to find the ciicniy. iff hiul now the most dittir\i<'i- to prrfiinn. Tht* (*onntry through whicli li(> had to tnandi was
(iivrrcd hy dark thirkflH, niunrroiiH drr|t niviticH, and hi^h river iMinkN;
where a small nuiidH>r ot' tneii nii^'ht distreMt and wear out the lN>Nt ap|Miinied
.'irtiiv.
Iliiviiif,' arrived within five mihtt of FtehoR, the nctireHt town of t>M( middle
Of tlli'inents, the army was atiiu-ked on the 'i7 Jniie, in a most udvantap-onN
pliici' for the attaekiii^' jmHy. It was a low valley, in whieli the hu»ihe»< wer«
•o tliick, that the soldier* <'oidd .see senreely tlm'e ynrdn U-foiv them ; and in
the hottoni ol' this valley flowed a muddy river, with Htei'p clny binikH.
'riiroii^h this plare the army niUHt mareh. Kii^htly jiid<(in^ tlin enemy had
not omitted s4i impMrtimt a pass, Cojoni I .Motttfrnmen/ onleitMl ont u eompany
iif r.injrew, nnder Taptaiti .HormoH, to eiitf'r the ravine and innkp diMoovery.
\() .-ooiier hai. he enterixl it, Imt the fieir^* wnr-whonp wan niiiMvl, anil t\t»:
Indians darted from covert to covert, nt the wimi! time firing npon the whites.
<'ii|itaiii Morrison was immediately shot down, and him men clowly enpafl"d;
Imt, hcin^ without delay Hiip|M)rted hy the infantry mid grenadiers, they were
niilc to maintain their ;rroiind, and thi^ Imttle beraine olintinate; nor could the
liiiiiaiiR Im< dislodged, until near an hour of hard fightin;;. In the mean time,
llie Koyal HcolH took possesHion of a place iM'tween the IndiaiiH and a rising
','roiiiid on their rijrht, while the IliirhlanderH Rii8tained the light intiintr^' and
!:r(iiiidiers on the leO. As the lell iH-came too warm lor them, and not well
understanding the |)OHitioii of the Koyal Hcots, the Indiana, in their retreat,
li.'ll in witii them, and were 8lKii-{)ly encoiintered ; biit they noon i-flw-tejl their
ivtrtat to liill, and could no more he hroiight to action. In thi^i tight, iXJ of
the whites were killed and woiindeil, of whom 20 wen* of the former niim-
Ikt. Of the ('herokecB, 40 were said to liave iMien killed.
The IndiaiiH had now been driven from oii« nivine, witli ?< finuill Utcn; hut
riiloiiel Monlf^nmrry was in no conditinn to (MirHue )iis advantage fiirther, and
he tlierefore, utter destroying ho mnch of his provisioiw n8 wonid aflord
horses for the wounded, l)egan his retreat ont of the Indian ccxintry, and, in
olii'diiiice to his commission, sf)on after ntiirned to New York; tiot, how-
over, without leaving 400 men for the .sociirity of the (irovinre. itiit it was
siioii men, that what liad yet been donit only increas«'d the rage of the
Inrrwiiis, and their depredation cojitiiiiKul at the very heelfi of the retreating
army. They immeiliately cut off all communication with Fort liondon,
wliirli was garrisoned with liOO men.* OrkonosMn, with his niimeroi's
wnrriora, kept strict watch, ins«imnch that there was no means of eHrajie. At
li'Uirtli, the garrispeci«4
(liat li)e Cbocktaws were about to join tiieto.
':\^
a
■"'J ,'■
v< ■■
38
OCKONOSTOTA.— MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH. [Book IV
u-P:
• ? (
Mi-
out with their arms and drums, each soldier having as much powder and hall
as his ofBcers should think necessary, and tliat they should march fc: Virginiu
unmolcstiid.
Accordingly, on 7 August, 17G0, the English took up their march for Fnrt
Prince George. They liad proceeded hut about 15 miles, when they enca.np-
ed, for the nijiht, upon a small plain near Taliquo. They were aecouipuuicd
thus far by Ockonostoia in person, and many others, in a friendly nianm i.
but at niglit they withdrew without giving any notice. The army wa.« imi
molested durhig the night, hut, at dawn of day, a sentinel came running into
••amp with the information that a host of Indians were creeping up to SMnoiiiMl
them. Captain Demere had scarce tiiu" to ndly, belbre tlie Indians broke iuii.
his camp witJi great fury. riic [)oor emaciated soldiers made but leclilc
resistance. Thirty of their nuu»ber fell in the first onset, among vvlioin was
their captain. Those that were able, endeavored to save tliemst.'lves by tli;:lit.
!iiid others surrendered themselves ujion tiic jdace. Tliis miissjicre, it will not
bo forgotten, was in retaliation for that of the hostages alre;Mly rehited. Anion:;
the prisoners was Captain Skuart^ They were conducted to Fort Loudon,
which now became Ockonoslola's hi-ad-tjuarters.
.'IttftkuUakuiln, learning iM-.t his friend Steunrt was among the captives, pro-
ceeded immediately to i'ort Loudon, when; he ransomed him at the exptiise
)f all tlje ))roperty he could eomn and, and took care of him with tlie greatest
enderuess and affection.
The restUiss OcUonoalola next resolved to invest Fort Prince George. lie
was induced to undertake that project, as foilune had thrown in his way some
of the meuns for such an undeitaking, hitherto beyond his reach. Belbre
aMicatiug Foit Loudon, the English had hid in the ground several b<)gs of
powder. This his men had foun«l. Several cannon had also been lell beliiml,
and lie designed to force his English jirisoners to get them through the woods,
and manage tliem in the attack upon Fort Prince George, fiut Jlitakulla-
kidla defeated these operations, by assisting Captain Sleuart to escape, lie
even accompanied luiu to the English settlements, and returned loaded witii
presents.
The French were said to have had their emissaries busily employed in spir-
iting on the Indians. One, named Leiins LatinaCf ar\ olHcer, is particularly
meiitioHed. He persuaded them that the English had nothing less in view
tlian thcii' total extermination, and, furnishing them with arms and ammuni-
tion, urged them to war. At a great council of the nation, after brandishing
his hatchet, ho struck it into a log of wood, calling out,. " HIm is the man ihcU
will take this vpfor the king of France ? "
SALOUE or Silouee^ a young warrior of 1. "toe, instantly laid hold of it,
aiul cried out, " / am for iv(m: The spirits ofoxir brothers who Imve been slain,
still call upon us to avenge their death. He is no better than a woinjui that
refuses to follow me." Others were not wanting to follow his example, and
the war continued.
Sildme was a Cherokee chie^ and was introduced by Mr, Jefferson, to illus-
trate the observation in his Notes on Virginia, that the Indian "is affectionuto
to his children, careful of them, and indulgent in the extreme ; that his affec-
tions comprehend bis other connections, weakening, as with us, from cucle to
circle, as they recede from the centre ; that his friendships are strong and
faithful to the uttermost extremity." "A remarkable instance of this appeared
in the case of tl>e late Col. Btfrd,* who was sent to the Clu'rokee nation to
transact some business with them. It happened that some of our disorderly
people had just killed one or two of that nation. It was therefore proposed
in the council of the (^hm-okees, that Col. Bjird should be put to death, in
revt-nge for the loss of their countrymen. Among them was a chief called
Silintee, who, on somi! former occasion, had contracted an acquaintance and
friendship with Col. Bip-d. He came to him every night in his tent, and told
him not to be afrai me 8|)oke to me, and said, that is tlu; great Ata-cul-cuUa."
jMr. Bartram adde'd, that he was of Pennsylvania, and though that was a great
way ofT, yet tlie name of Altakullakidla was dear to his white brothers of
Pennsylvania. The chief then asked him if he came directly from Charleston,
laid if his friend '■'^John Stetcart were well." Mr. Bartram said he saw him
liitcly, and that he was well. This was, ])rohably, the same person whom
JUlitkvllakulla had assisted to make an escape, as we have just related.
Ill carrying out the history of the two cluei's, AttaknllakuUa and '.kkono.itotu,
we have omitted to notice Chtucco, better known by the name of the Z«o?ig-
warrior, king or mico of the Scmiinofes. He went out with Colonel Montifom-
m/, luid rendered him essential service in his unsuccessful exi)editioii, of which
we have spol'n. A large band of Creeks accompanied him, and then; is but
little doubt, if it had not l)een for him anil his warriors, lew of the I'^nglish
would have returned to their friends. Hut, as usual, the English leader, in his
time, had all the honor of successfully encountering many diflicuities, and
returning witli his own life and many of his men's. It was by the aid of
ClUucco, that the army escaped ambush iifter ambush, destroyed many ol' the
Cherokee villages, and finally his warriors covered its retreat out of one of the
most dangerous countries through which an army could pass. Lovg-tvarrior
ivas what the New England Indians tiTmed a great powwow. That he was
* DocloT Bui-naby. f llewalt. \ Annual Register, iv. 58; Hen-att, ii. 2U)— 51.
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40
MONCACHTAPE.
[Book IV.
H niun possessing n good mind, may fairly be inferred from his al)ility to
witlistand the temptation of intoxicating liquore. He had luen known to
remain sober, when all his tribe, and many whitts among tliem, had all been
wallowing in the mire of drunkenness together. In the year 1773, at the
head of about 40 warriors, he ma'-ched agamst the Chocktaws of West Flor-
ida. What was the issue of this expedition we have not learned. We niav
have uguiu occasion to notice CHucco.
Hi9t
Chap. V.l
CHAPTER V.
it ♦
Vf^}'-
MoNc ACiiTAPE, the Yazoo — Karrtitive of his adventures to the Pacific Ocean — Gnhnn-
SUN, chief of the jXalchcz — Receives ifrent injustice from the French — Concerts their
destruction — 700 French are rut off — fVar with them — The jVatchez destroyed in their
turn — Grkat-mohtar — M'Gif.f.iVRAV — His birth and education — Visits j\no Ycrrk
— Troul/lcs of his iiation — His death — Tamk-kinc — Mad-doo.
MONCACHT.APE was a Yazoo, whose name signified, in the language of
that nation, killer of pain and fatifctie. How well 1 ■• deserved this name, the
seqncl will nn(i)ld. He was well known to the historian Du Pratz, about
17()0, and it was owing to his singular good intelligence, that that traveller
was abl;! to add much valuable information to his work. "This u)an (says
Du Pratz^) was remarkable for his solid understanding and elevation of
sentiment ; and i may justly compare him to those lirst Greeks, who travellcil
chifHy into the east, to examine tlie manners and cnstoms of different natioii.-i,
and to communicate to tlieir fellow citizens, upon their return, the knowledge
which tliey had ac()uind." He was known to the French by the name of the
Interjtrder, as he could comnumicate with several other nations, having . Monsieur Du Pratz usr. Accordingly, when the snows were melted, and the weather wns
settled, we |)rocceded ea.stwanl, and, afier several days* journey, 1 at length
saw the groat water, wiiich filled me with such joy and admiration, that I
could not speak. Night draw ing on, we took up our lodging on a high bank
abov(> the water, which was .sorely vexed by the wind, and n)ade so great a
noise that I could not sleep. Next day, the ebbing and flowing of the water
filled me with gn^at apprehension ; but my companion quieted my fears, by
BSfluring me that ♦he water observed certain boimds, both in advancing and
* I.!itt. Louisiana, ii. 121.
ii
-4 .
■f ■^'i
Chaf. V.l
ADVCNTURES OF MONCACHTAPE.
41
retiring. Having satisfied our curiosity in viewing the great water, we returned
to the village ol" the Abenaqiiis, where I continued the Ibilowing winter; and,
after the snows were melted, my coin]mnion and I went and viewed the great fall
of the River St. Lawrence, at Niagara, which was distiuit from the village several
days' journey. The view of this great fall, at firet, made my hair stand on end,
and my heart almost leap out of its place ; but afterwards, before I left it, I
had the courage to walk under it. Next day, we took the shortest roatl to tlie
Ohio, and my companion and I, cutting down a tree on the banks of the river,
we formed it into a pettiaugre, which served to conduct me down the Ohio
and the Mi88issi[)pi, after which, with much difficulty, 1 went up our mail
river, and at length arrived safe among my relations, who were r..joiceH
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42
GRAND-SUN.
[Book IV.
V -
,i-.iU,' . V
their fret, wore covered with red or yellow stuff. Their arms mndo a f;rput
fire uiid n great noise ; and when they saw themselves outnumbered by nsd
men, tbey rctin'd on board their large pettiaugre, their number soiiietimes
amounting to thirty, but never more.
"Those strangers came from the sun-setting, in search of a yellow simkinp
wood, which dyes a fine yellow color; but the people of this nation, tliat they
might not be tempted to visit tiieni, had destroyed all those kind of trees.
Two other nations in their neighborhood, however, having no tuber wood,
could not destroy the trees, and were still visited by the strangers; and being
greatly ineoinniodcd by them, had invited their allies to assist them in iimking
an aftaek upon them, the next time they should return. The following sum-
mer I aeeordingly joined in this expedition, and, after travelling five long days'
journey, we came to the \}\nce where the bidrded men usually land(;d, where
we waited seventeen days for tiieir arrival. The red men, by my iidvice.
jdaced themselves in audiuseade to surprise the strangera, and accordingly
when they landed to cut the wood, we were so successful as to kill eleven of
them, the rest immediately escaping on board two large pettiaugres, and flying
westward upon the great water.
" lJ|)on examining those whom we had killed, we found th m much smaller
than ourselves, and very white ; they had a large head, and in the middle of
the crown the; hair was very long ; their head was wrapt in a great many folds
of stuff, and their clothes seemed to be made neither of wool nor silk ; they
were very soft, jtiul of different colors. Two only, of the eleven who were
slain, had fire-arms, with powder and ball. I trierl their pieces, and found
that they were much heavier than yours, and did not kill at so great a
distance.
"After this expeditiori. i thought of nothing but proceeding on my journey,
and, with that design, i let the '•ed men return home, and joined myself to
those who iidiabited more westward on the coast, with whom I travelled
along the shore of the gi'eat water, which bends directly betwixt the north
and the sun-setting. When I arrived at the villages of my fellow-travellers,
where I found the days very long, and the nights verv short, I was advised by
the old men to give over all thoughts of continuing my journey. They tokl
me that the land extended still a long way in a direction between the north
and sun-setting, after which it ran directly west, and at length was cut by the
givat water from north to south. One of them added, that, wiien he wns
young, he knew a vei-y old man who had seen that distant land belbre it wns
eat away by the great water, and that when the great water was low, many
rocks still appeared in those parts. Finding it, therefore, impracticable to
proceed nnieli further, on account of the severity of the climate, and the want
of game, I returned by the same route by which 1 had set out; and, reducing
my whole travels westward to days' journeys, I compute that they would
have employed me 3(5 moons; but, on account of my frequent delays, it was
five yetJB before I returned to my relations among the Yazoos."
This ends the narrative of the famous traveller Moncachtape, which seems
to have satisfied Du Pralz, that the Indians came from the continent of Asia,
by Avay of Bchnnfifs Straits. And he soon after left him, and returned to hi.-
own country. It would have been gratifying, could we have known more oi
the history of this veiT intelligent man. The s; '•, ■
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44 GREAT-MORTAR.— IS ATTACKED BV THE CHICKASAUy. [iJook IV.
woiihl not iiid in it, nnd tho governor of Louisiana, jiromptiy wsronded l)v the
}M>o|>l(; of'Niiw OrleaiiH, shortly aJler nearly unniliilattul the whole tribe of the
iNatclie/. Tho Clioctaws otiered ihetnHelveti, to the niimltcr oi' 15 or ](»00
men, and, in the following Kei)ruary, advanced into the country of the; Natch-
ez, and were shortly atler joined Ity tlie French, and encamped near the oln
fort, then in possession of the Graiul-sun. Here flaji^ passisd Itetween them,
and terms of peace were agi.,, " upon, whicli were very honorat)le to the
Indians ; hut, in tho tbilowing night, they liecamped, taking ail iheir jirisoners
and boggage, leaving nothing but the cannons of the fort and balls liehind Jieni.
Some time now |>assed before the French could ascertain the retreat of the
Natch(!Z. At length, they learned that tlniy had crossed tiie Mississippi, and
«i!ttled upon the west side, near IHO miles al)ove the mouth of Red jRiver.
Here they built a fort, anr\ remained quietly until the next year.
The weakness of the colony caused the inhabitants to resign themselves into
the liands of the king, who soon sent over a suOicient force, add^d to those
still in the country, to liumble the Natchez. They were accordingly invested
in their fort, and, struck witli consternation at the sudden approach of the
French, seem to havt; lost tlu'ir former prudence. They made a desjx-nite
sally upon tho camp of the enemy, hut v,ere repulsed with grei:t loss. They
then attempted to gain time by negotiation, na they had the year before, hut
could not escajjo from the vigilance of the French officer; yet th«; attempt
was r-.nde, and many were killed, very few escaped, and the greater niunber
dnvei. within their fort. Mortarf were used by their enemies in this siege,
and the third bomb, falling in the centre of the fort, made great havoc,
but still greater constisrnation. Drowned by the cries of the women and
children, Graml-aun cauMul the sign *.*' capitulation to be given. Himself,
with the rest of his company, were carri.'i prisoners to New Orleans, and
thrown into prison. An increasing infection caused the women and children
to be taken out and emi»loyed as slaves on the king's plantations ; among
whom was the woman who had used every endeavor to notify the connnand-
ar;t, Chopart, of the intend(Hl massacre, and from whom the particulars of the
affiiir were learned. Her name was Stung-arm, These slaves were shortly
after embarked for St. Domingo, entirely to rid the country of the Natchez.*
The men, it is probable, were all put to death.
CKKAT-!\IORTAR,or Yah-yah-tustnnage, was a very celebrated Muskogee
chief, who, before the revolutionary war, was in the Frent-h interest, and
received his supplies from their garrison at Alabania, which was not fiir dis-
tant from his place of abode, called Okchai. There was a time when he
inclined tu the English, and but for the very haughty and imprudent conduct
of the sup(>rintend( or ](,00
»' Naicfi-
ir the old
Ben them,
)h! to the
prisoners
ind ihem.
eat of the
sippi, ami
ed Kiver.
n pciMrnl rondo/i mis for nil the MirwiHsippi Indians. Fortunntely, however,
ti.r the l'',rifi:liNh, tlie ChickiisjiWH in their interest phirited njt tliis Buhon iipfu
licfdi-i' its hrniiclieH were yet extenth'd. They lull upon tiieni l»y Murpriw;,
killed the hrolher of (Irent-mortar^ and eompletely d 'Ht.oyed the design. He
tied, not to his tinlive i»laee, hut to one from wlience he eould best annoy the
Mii^flish settleineiitH, and coinnieneed anew the work of death. Anyiistn, in
(Jeorfiia, and many senfterin/nf settletncnts were destroyed.* Those ravafi;e!i
were eentitnied nntil their nnited forees were defeated by the Atnericans under
(Jeneral Grant, in ]7()1, as We have narrated.
We have next to notiee n ehief, king, or emperor ns he was at diOerent
times entitled, whos(;omi.sHion, in a bio^raphieal work upon the Indians, would
iiirur a« much eriniinality, on the part of the hiogi-apher, as an omifwion of
liuokoiiffdulas, H'hilc-e.yes, Pipe, or (jckonostotn ; yea, tnen more. VVe mean
ALEXANDEIl M'iilLLIVRAY, who was, perhaps, one of the most eon-
Hpiruoiis, if not one of the great(!8t, chiet's that has ever borne that title among
the Creeks ; at least, firiee they have Ijeen known to the Europeans. He
flonrislied during lialf of the last century, and sueh was the exalted opinion
entertained of him by his countrymen, that they styled him "king of kings."
His mother was his |)redecessor, and the governess of the nation, and he had
several sisters, who maiTied leading men. On the death of his mother, he
came in chief sjichem by the usages of his ancc-stoix, but such was his disinter-
ested |)atriotism, that he left it to the nation to say whether he should suee«fed
to the sachemship. The |)eopl8 elected him "emperor." He was at the head
of the Creeks during the revolutionniy war, and was in the hritisb interest.
After the peace, he l)ecame reconciled to the Americans, and expressed a
(iesin; to renounce his |iublic lifi^and reside in the II. States, but was hindered
by the earnest solicitations of his countrymen, to remain among them, and
direct their ..iikirs.
His residence, according to General Milfort,i who married his sister, was
near Tallahassee, about half a league from what was formerly Tort Toulouse.
He lived in u handsome house, and owned 00 negroes, each of whom In; pro-
vided with a separate habitation, Avhich gave his estate the aftpejirance of a
little town. {
M^ (HUivray was a son of an Englishman of that name who married a Creek
woman, and hence was what is called a half breed. He was born about 17;{!>,
and, at the age often, was sent by his father to school in Charleston, where lie
was in the care of Mr. Farquhar jWGUlwray, who was a relation of his father.
His tutor was a Mr. SAee' . A.
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46
MfUlMVR.VY— ins VrsIT TO NKW YORK.
[Book IV.
edtipation. Iln di.l ni)t rctiirii for some titrif; to liis nntinri) which wan nt tho
coiiirnriid-iiiciit of the rovohitioiuiry war; nntl ho thoii w«iit, coinniiHHiniic(J hv
thfi n>yaliHL'«, lo 'ut^\ of his chiefs. Owinp to some niJMiin-
derstaiidinj,', he had refused to treat at llock Landing a Hhort time liefore,
where eommissiniiei-s from thi' ('. States had attended ; and the f;overiiment,
justly fearing; a rii|)tiire, imliss a s|teedy reeoncihation stiould take place,
despatched (Colonel Mnrinui^ fVillit itito the (.'reek country, with a pacific letter
to (leiieral .M'aillivro}). lie siicce«'(led in his misnion, and the chiefs arrived
in New York 'i.{ .Inly, I7!K). { They were conducted to the residence of the
secretary of war, (feneral Knof, who conducted them to the house <>( the
president of the I '. States, and introduced them to hinu President Was 'i/rajp-
ton received them " in a very handsome maimer, cnngrattilated them on their
Mife arrival, and expressed a hope; thnt the interview would j'irove hent-licial
l)oth to the U, StJites and to the (,'reek nation," They next visited the governor
of the state, from whom they received a most cordial welcome. They then
proceeiied to the t;ity Tavern, when; they dined in company witti General
KnoT, and other olllcers of poviMimient A correspondence hd in a settlement of difficulties. From
the followiiii; (ixtract from .W GilliiTm/^a letter, n very juat idea may he formed
of the stat(! of the affairs of liis nation previous to his visit to New York. "Im
answer to yours, 1 liave to ol)serve, that, as a peace was not concluded on
hetvveen us at tli«i Kock-lauding meeting, your demand for property taken by
our warriors fVom off the dis])uted lands ca;.not be admitted. We, also, have
had our losses, by captures made by your people. We arc willing ♦o conclude
a peace with you, but you mtist not expect extraordinary concessions from us.
In order to spare the further efl'iision of human blood, and to finally determine
the war, I am willing to concede, in some measure, if you arc disposed to tr"at
on the ground of mutual concession. It will save trouble and exp<5n8(!. if the
negotiations are managed in the nation. Any person from you can be as.«;ired
of jiei-sonal safety and friendly treatment in this country." It was dated at
Little Tellassee, 130 March, 171X), and directed to "His Excellencv Edwurd
Telfair, Esq." and signed 'M/er. MGUlitray.^
This chief seeuis atlerwards to have met with the censure of his people, at
least some of them, in a manner similar to that of Aflntosh recently ; and was
donhth'ss overcome by the persuasions of designing whites, to treat for the
disjmsal of his lands, against the general voice of his nation. One Bowles, a
white man, led the councils in opposition to his proceedings, and, for a time,
M'Gillivray absented himself from his own tribe. In 1792, his party took
Bowles prisoner, and sent him out of the coimtry, and solicited the general to
retiuii. § To this he consented, and they became more attached to him than
ever. He now endeavored to better their condition by the introductio* of
teachers among them. In an advertisement for a teacher, in the summer of
171)2, he styles himself emperor of the Creek nation. His quiet was soon
dist)irbed, and the famous John Watts, the same summev, with 500 warriors,
Creeks, and five towns of the Chickamawagas, committijd many depredations.
The Spaniards were supposed to be the movers of the hostile party. JWGti-
liway died at Pc isacola, February 17, 1793, || and is thus noticed 'n the
Pennsylvania Gazette: — "This idolized chief of the Creeks styled himself
king of kings. But, alas, he could neither restrain the meanest fellow of his
* Milfort, 32.3, 324. t See Holmrs, Amcr. Annals, ii. 384.
X Colonel Willet's Narrative, 1 12. " They were rcce'ved with great spioiidor by the Tam-
many t^orii-iy, in the dress of their order," on iheir landing, lb.
§ In 1791, this Bowles, with five chiefs, was in England, and we find this notice of him in
the European Magazine of that year, vol. 19, p. 268 : — "The ambassadors consisted of two
Creeks, and of Mr. Bmoles, (a native of .Haiylaud, who is a Creek by adoption, and the pres-
ent general of that nation,} and three Cherokees. j] Milfort, Ji&.
Chap. V]
MAD-DOG— THE SOUTHERN IIOH.ND.VRV.
4t
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Im'h exen-isti? vi-ry tliirtTriit sway (tv« r lln'ir jM-opIc, ufniniiiijj hh
8 fiiilowcil witii ilic spirit of govtriimeiit, by iiutiirc nr cirrimi-
nation from the rninn]id.sioii of a oriine, nor piiiiisli him aftor !'♦' hml roiniiiit-
teil it ! ill' might |M>r!4iiail); or advim*, ail tht; good an Indian king or rhi<-t
iiiii ilo." This is, grnerally s|H>akiiifr, a toU-ralily correct estimate of tiir extent
(if the po.vei of chiefs; hot it shonhl lie n'memlMTcd tliat thi- chiefs of
.li.r " " .....
stance. There is propriate ; or, perhaps, tliej had
uiiiitlier reason, namely, that ol' ma:;iiityin;j^' their own exploits on their return
I'l ilicir own c(ji:::tri'S, hy n-purtin.' their interviews with, or conciiieHts over,
"iimiiy kiiif^s of an unknown country."
('niiti'nijMirary with (Jeneral .WG'(7/ijt«i/ wjls a chief called tim
T.V.MIvKI.Nti, who.se n-sidvnce wa.s among the Upper Creeks, in 1791;
aiiil he is tioliced in our piil/' do:MimentH of that year, ns a conspicuous chief
in matters connected with esiahlisiiing the soiithern hoimdiiry. At this time
one Howies, an l^nglish trader, had giirat iiithieiice among the Lower Creeks,
aiui used great endea\ors, liy putting hiinstif forward as their chief, to enlist
all tiie nations in opposition to the .Vmericans. lie had made large promises to
the I'pp'r (Jreeks, to induce them not to he4u* to the American irommissioners
Tlii'y so tiir listened to him, as to eon.sent to receive his talk, and accordingly
the chiefs tif the upper and lower towns ni(!t at a place calli;d the Hnlf-way-
^oiMc, where thijy expected BowLa in (K'rson, or some letters containing (lefinitti
.staies'ients. When the chiefs had assembled, Tnine-kinf^ and Mad-dog, of the
upper lowns, asked the chiefs of tlie lower, »' whether Ihey had taken liowU'i's
talks, and where the letters were which this srenl man had siMit them, and
where the white man was, to read tliem." Aiilndian in Bowleses employ said,
"III! was to give them the talk." They laughed at tlii.s, and said, "they could
hear his mouth ever}' day; that they had come there to stse those h'tters and
hear tiieiii ivuil." Most of the chiefs of this upper towns now led the coiiii-
(•ii, which wiLS about the termination of BoivU.s''s successes. He was shortly
nftinvards obliged to abdicate, as we have already declared in the life of
.^rGUIiimy. lie returnetl a.. prison.*
Mr. EUirotl observes,! that, at the close of a confenince with sundry tribes
held 15 August, ITUi), hi which objects were discussed concerning his pa.>»sage
through their country, that "the business appeared to terminate as favoraiily
as coiihl be expecti'd, and the Indians declared themselves perfectly satisfied ;
but 1 nevertheless had my doubts of their sincerity, from thi^ deiiredations
they were constantly making upon our horses, which Ix'gan upon the
Coeneuck, and had continued ever since; and added to their insolence, from
their stealing every article in our camp they could lay their hands on." Mr.
EUicott excepts the Upper Oeeks, generally, from participating in these rob-
beries, all but Tame-kin^ and his people.
Though we have named Tame-king first, yet .Mad-dog was (piite as con-
spicuous at this time. His son fought for the Americans in the last war, and
wa.s mentioned by General Jackson us an active and valuable chief in his
ex|)editions. His real name we have not learned, and the gent.-ral mentions
him only as Mad-dog's son.
In the case of the boundary already mentioned, the surveyors met with fre-
quent difficulties from the various trilies of Indians, some of whom were
influenced by the Spanish governor, Folch, of Louisiana. Mad-dog appeared
their friend, and undeceived them respecting the governor's pretensions.
A conference was to be held alwut the 4 May, between the Indians, Governor
Folch, and the American commissioners. The place of meeting was to be upon
Coenecuh River, near the southern estuary of the bay of Pensacola. When
* He was confined in the Moro castle in the Havana, with three Cherokecs that accom-
panicH him. This was ir. 1792. It was said that this inveterate enemy of the United StateS;
Bowles, was with the Indians, at St. Clair's defeat. — Carey's Museum, xi. 40 f.
t In his Jouroal, 2i4.
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48
WKATIIKinoRD.
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uitli liad tiilkx Iroiii tlie . iiur. Tlit; (miIoiicI told liiiii it could not In- |m>>4.
sihUu Hliortly uI\Vli«'ii it wiw I'ouiid that tin- jjoveriior wo\ild not atttrici,
till- chill' went to Colonel Hawkins and Mr, Kllicott, and, i>y way of idntsantrv,
("iiid, " Iff It, the governor has not come. I told you so, A man with two lonffurs
ran onli/ s/inik to one at d time." Thi« ohscrvalion haH rcfc niice to the j(o\.
crnor's du|ilicity, in holding out tu the IndiauM liia detcnnination not to j^iiffer
8 survey of the lN>undary, while, at the wune time, hu pretended to tiic Aineri-
cuns that he would tueilitate it.*
.Mad-dog was uii upper town Creek, of the Tuokuubutchces tribe.
9iiee
CHAPTER VI.
Weatherford— //i* character and country — Tlie corner-stone of the Crerk conftd-
eracij — Fucors the daivus of Ttcumsth — Cajiturea Fort Mlvima — Dreadful mat
Sucre — Subjection of the Creeks — IVeatherford surrenders himself — His speeches —
M'lxTosii — .lids the .imericans — Buttle of .luttssre — Great slauffhter of the Indians
— Buttle of the Horte-shoe-bend — Lute troubles in the Creek tuition — M' Intosh makes
ille.gul sale of lunds — Executed for breakintr the laics of his country — Mknawwav
— TusTKxi oGE — IIawkms — Cmillv M'I.ntosii, son of Williuvi — Murriajfe of his
sister — LovETT.
WEATIIERFORD, one of the most conspicuous war chiefs of the Cn-rk
nation, deniands an early attention, in the biographical history of the late war.
Mr. Claiborne, in his Notes on the War in the South, intbruis us that,
" among the tirst who entered into the views of the Itritish commissioners was
the since celebrated Weatherford i^ that he was born in the Creek nation, and
whose " father was an itinerant pedler, srirdid, treacherous, and revengeful ;
liis mother a fuU-blootled savage, of the triUi of the Seminoles. He partook
(says the same author) of all the bni(iii.«ly amiriKi'd, spoak an aciivf aii«l diHi-iplirird ininil. I'at*^
^ioiiatt'l.V (luvotDil to wialtli, lir liait a|i|iri)|iriatiMl to liiiiisi-ll' a fine tract ot
lali.!, iiii|iro\r(| and Mrltlvd it; and iVoiii tin* |irrlliflM-d it. 'I'd it h)> i-ftin-d (ir(-af vimvM of TccuntSfh, and
that, it' Ik' li'id I'litcnd iipim liis disi^ns wilhont thlay, li<> woidst advanced
iiio the enemy's comitry. On his way, he wrote to IMajor Heaslei/, the coin-
;iiaiiiler of .Minims, iidi>riiiiii<; him of tin- dan<(er of an attack; and, strange
is it may appear, the next day aller the letter was reoeivi'd, (HO August,
l-'l'l.) U'eathcrford, lit the head of ahoiit loOO warriors, entered the fort at
niMin-day, when a shockini; carna^'e ensued. The gate iiad heeii letl open
: iid unguarded ; l»nt, hefore many of the warriors hud entered, they were
;iiet hy Major Beaalei/, at the head of hie men, and for some time the contest
Wis hlowly and doiihttid; each striving for tlie mastery of the entrance.
Hero, nian to man, tiie tight (continued loi a ipiurter of an hour, with toma-
hawks, knives, swords and havonotx : a seeiie there presented itself almost
witliiiiit a pamllel in the annals of Indian warfare! The garrison consisted
i>i'>7'i: of these oidy IGO were soldiers; the rest were old men, women and
i;liildreti, who hud hero taken refuge. It is worthy of very einphutic^l
rpiiiiirk, that every ollicer expired fighting at the gate. A 1 tenant, having
It en hiidlv woimded, was carried hy two women to a hlock- lOUse, but when
lie was a little revived, he insisted on Iwing carried hack to the faUil scene,
which was done hy the same heroines, wlut placed him hy the side of a deacl
•'itnpanion, where he was soon despatched.
Tlie defenders of the garrison being now nearly all slain, the women and
rliiliiren shut themselves up in the block-houses, and, seizing upon what
wea|K>ns they could find, began, in thut perilous and hoptdess situation, to
liefend themselves. Ilut the Indiatis soon succeeded in setting these houses
en fire, and all such as refused to meet death without, perished in the flames
within ! ! Seventeen oidy escaped of all the garrison, and many of those
were desperately wounded. It was judged that, during the contest at the
gate, near 400 of Wtatherford^s warriors were wounded and slain.
The horrid calamity at Fort Mimms, in the Tenstui settlement, as it is
called, was not the commencement of the bloody war with the Creek Indians.
The motions of the Shavvanee Prophtt had been scrntini/ed by people upon
the frontiers of severni states, unci memorials from Indiana and Ilhnois had
Iveii sent to the president of the United States by some of their principal
inhabitants, in 1811, calling on him to send out an armed force for their
security.
In the summer of 1812, some families were cut ofT near the mouth of the
Ohio, and soon afYcr upon the border of Tennessee, two otlicr families,
consisting of women and children, were butchered in a manner too shocking
for description! Georgia was also a sufTerer in the same kind.
In resjwct to the bloody affair at Fort Mimms, a diflferent aspect has l)een
lhro\vn around it from that generally given in the histories of the war. The
severe, though probably just reflections of Judge Martin U|>on the conduct
of the unfortunate Beasky, has passed without contradiction. Not only had
that officer been warned by General Claiborne of his danger, as already
stated, but a Creek Indian informed him in a friendly nuumer that he must
'^iii
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w r. vTiir-RFOFin simRrNi)i,Rs--ni.s si'f.fch {Rook iv
rxpcrt an attiick in U'm^ tlian two dayN. When lie liud nuwlo hin roinnniiiicH-
tion, III- It'll iIh- plait!, "ami was lianlly ntit nf si|;lil, wlirn 'i() or •'{() nt' Inn
countryiiu'ii i-arnr in vidW, ami I'orriMy rntcml tlii' fort. In tli»' ntlciript to
Hhiit tiic vatr, Hiunlnj wnit killcil : tlii' piriiHon r>>vi-ii^i'(l liis ili-ath hy that
of all till' asHailaiitH. 'I'liis lirxt party was, liuwcvrr, hdoii liillowRil hy a hoily
of aliont H(M): tln^ j^nrrisim was uvrrpnwcifil, the Tort tnkm, anti rvrry (mm,
woman ami rliilit in it, nlan^liti ml, with the fxn-ptioii nf four privati-s, who,
lliou>;li hcvrrcly wf)unil«'(l, cIU'iIimI llii-ir ••Krapc, and rrachcil l''r»rl Stod-
daril." * Ihimliif liimwdf wan carriiMl into lh<> kitidun of i>m> of lln' Iiihisri*
within iIh; fort, and waH tli«rt>, with tnuny oiIkth, roiiMuniod in tli« biiriiiiiir
niinM! f
Whi'n tilt! ncwM of thlH uffair was ciri-ulatiMl tlrnm^rh tho country, rnniiy
••riiul alond li)r >«'n>r«'am'«% and two |iowi>rful armi»>H were soon upon th';ir
iiian-ji into tin- Indian country, and tin- roinplftc di-strm-tion of tht- Indiiin
|)o\MT .loon lidlowrd. Tlir ImlianM si'<>iii;r all rt'sist.-inri- was at an I'tiij,
i/rcat nnnilicrs of thi'in canu' t'orwnrd and inadr thrir Md»mission. II utllm-
funl, liow.vir, and many who wcri' known to he dcNprratr, still stmul mit;
perhaps from fnar. (ii-nrral Jackson drliTmincd to test the fidolity o|' thiis<>
rhii'fs who had snhmittid, and, thircforc, or the last : hut I have notu.
.\I}l people are all gone. I can only iveep oivr the misfortunes of my nation."
Geiieml Jarkson was pleased with his boldness, and told him that though
he was in his power, yet he would take no advantage ; that he might yiJt join
the war party, and contend against the Americans, if he chose, but to de[)eiul
upon no quarter if taken afterward ; and that uncondition)il submission was
his and his people's only safi'ty. If'eatlwrford rejoined, in a tone as dignified
as it was indignant, — " You can safely address me in such terms note. There
was a time when I could have answered you — there was a lime when I had a choice
— / hnve none now. I have not even a hope. I coidd once animate my warriors
to battle — but I cannot animate the dead. My warriors can no longer hear my
voice. Their bones are at Ttdlailega, Tallushatches, Emuckfato and Tohopeka.
I have not surrendered myself without thought. iVhile there was a single chance
of success, I never left my post, nor supplicated peace. But my people are gone,
and I now ask it for my nation, not for myself J look hack iinth deep sorrow,
and urish to avert still greater calamities. If I had been left to contend with the
Georgia army, I woxdd have raised my com on one bank of the river, and fought
them on the other. But your people have destroyed my nation. You are a brave
man. I rely upon your generosity. You toill exact no terms of a conquered
veople, but such as they should accede to. Whatever they may be, it wovld now be
madness and folly to oppose them. If they are opposed, you shall find me
* Martin's Hist. Louisiana, ii. 3tG.
t Perkins's Late War, 198.
-^^'A%^
CMAP. VII nATTI.E OP \ITOS. Held, and, it' W)> can
idliivo iIk^ \viitvifable destruction. Jt is ditlicidt to give a precise
iiccomit of ihn loss of tho eniMny ; hut from the rnimber which we/e lying
srjiltcrcd over the tiokl, together with those destroyed in the towns, and the
iimny slain on the bank of the river, which respectaide ofiieers uflirm that
tin y saw lying in heaps at the water's edge, wIktc they had been precipitated
l)y their surviving friends, [! !] their loss in kiiUnI, independent of their wound-
id, must have been at leiLst 200, (among whom were the Autos.see und Tallassee
kiags,) und from the circumstance of their making no cfl'ortH to molest our
ivtnni, prol)ably greater. The ntimhi r of buildings burnt, some of a superior
order for the dwellings of savages, and tilled with valuable articles, is supposed
to b- 400." This was on the '-39 November, I81H.
.WIntosh was also very conspicuous in the memorable battle of the Horse-
shoe-bend, in tlic Tallapoosie River. At tliis place the disconsolate tribes of tin-
south had made a last great stand, and had a tolerably regular fortified camp.
It was said that they were 1000 strong. They luul constructed their works
with such ingenuity, that little coidd be eflected against them but by storm.
" Determined to exterminate thc'in," says (Jcnend Jacfcon, " I detached (Jeneral
Coffee with the mounted, and nearly tiie whole of the Indian force, early on
tlM> morning of yesterday, [March 27, 1814,1 to cross the river about two miles
Iteiow their encatnpment, and to surround the bend, in such a manner, as
that none of them should escape by att(;mpting t(» cross the river." " Bean's
rnmpany of spies, who had accom|)anied (icn. Coffee, crossed over in canoes
to the extremity of the bend, and set fin; to a few of the buildings which were
iliure situated ; they then advanced with great gallantry towards the breast-
work, and commenced a spirited fire upon the enemy behind it." Tliis force
not being alile to effect tlicir object, many others of the army showed great
arilor to participate in the asstuilt. " The sjtirit which unitnated them was a
sure augury of the success which was to follow." " The regulars, led on by
tlicir intrepid and skilful commander. Col. H'lUiams, and by the gallant Maj.
Monlffomtry, soon goined possession of the works iti the midst of a most tre-
incndoiis fire from behind tiiem, and the militia of the venerable Gen. Doherty's
brigade accompanied them in the charge with a vivacity and firmness which
would have done honor to regulars. The enemy was completely routed.
Five hundred and fifty seven | were left dead on the peninsula, and a great
ni'inher were killed by the horsemen in attempting to cross tlie river. It is
believed that not more than twenty have escaped.
" The fighting continued with some severity about five hours ; but we con-
* Brannan's official leuers. | Tuckabalche. Bartram, 447.
i These are the general's italics j at least, Brannan so prints his official letter.
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M'rNTOSII'S TREATIES.
[Book IV
tinned to destroy many of them, wlio Iiad concealed themselves under the
banks of the river, until we were prevented by the night. This mortiing we
killed 1(5 who had been eonceulod. We took about 250 prisoners, all women
and children, except two or tliree. Our loss is 10(3 wounded, and 25 killed.
Major jWInlosh, the Cowetau, who joined my urmy with a part of his tribe
irri'iitly distinguished himself,"* Truly, this was a war of exttrminution ! '
The friend of liumunity may inquire whether all those poor wretches who had
secreted themselves here and there in the "caves and reeds," had deserved
death ?
Th(! most melancholy part of the life of the uiifortimate Mcintosh remains to
b(! recorded. The late troubles of the Creek nation have drawn forth tnnnv
a sym])athetic tear from the eye of the philanthropist. These troubles were
only the consequences of those of a higher date. Those of 1825, we dioiight.
completed the climax of their rfHiction, but 1832 must sully her annals with
records of their 0[)pre»sion also. If is the former period with which our article
brings us in collision in closing tliis account. In that year, the government
of the U. States, by its agents, seemed determined on possessing a large tract
of their country, to satisfy the state of Georgia. .WIntosh, and a small pait of
the nation, were for conceding to their wishes, but a large majority of his
countiyujen woidd not hear to the proposal. The commissionei-s employed
were satisfied of the fact, and coiumunicatcul to the president the residt of a
meeting they had had for the piu'pose. He was well satisfied, also, that
Mlnlosh could not convey the lands, as he represented but a small part of his
nation, but still the negotiation was ordered to be renewed. A council was
called by the commissioners, (who were Georgians,) which assembled at a
place called Indian-spring. Here the chi(!f of the Tuckaubatcheese spoke to
them as follows : " We met you at Broken Arrow, and then told you we iiad
no land to stdl. I then heard of no claims against the nation, nor have I since.
We have met you here at a very short notice, and do not think that the chiefs
who are here have any authority to treat. General M'Intosh knows that we
are bound by our laws, and that what is not done in the public square, in tlie
general council, is not binding on the nation. I am, therefore, under the
necessity of repeating the same answer as given at Broken Arrow, that we
have no land to sell. I know that there are but few here from the upper
towns, and many are absent from the lower towns. Gen. Mlnlosh knows that
no part of the land can be sold without a full council, and with the consent of
all the nation, and if a part of the natiou choose to leave the country, they
cannot sell the land they have, but it belongs to the nation." " This is the
only talk I have for you, and I shall return home innuediately." He did so.
The ill-advised commissioners informed .WIntosh luul his party, that the Creek
nation was sufficiently represented by them, and that the United States would
bear them out in a treaty of sale. The idea of receiving the whole of the pay
for the lands among themselves, was doubtless the cause of the concession of
AFIntosh and his party, "Thirteen only of the signers of the treaty were
chiefs. The rest were such as had been degraded from that rank, and un-
known persons ; 30 chiefs present refused to sign. The whole party of
Mlntosh amounted to about 300, not the tenth part of the nation." Still 'hey
executed the articles, in direct violation to the laws of their nation, which
themselves had helped to form. It must be remembered that the Creeks had
made no inconsiderable advances in what is termed civilization. They had
towns, and even })rinted laws by which they were to be governed, similar to
those of the United States.
The treaty of Indian-spring, dated 8 January, 1821, gave universal uneasi-
ness ; and, from that day, Mcintosh lost popidarity. It was generally believed
that he had been tampered with by the whites to convey to them the inher-
itance of his nation ! and the following letter pretty clearly proves such
suspicions had been justly grounded. It is dated
" Newtown, 21s< October, 1823,
"My Friend: I am going to inform you a few lines, as a friend. Itvantyon
Ut give jne your opinion about the treaty ; \ whether the chiefs mil be imiling or noL
* Brannan, ut supra.
t Tliat at ludioH-spriDg, 8 January, 1881.
Chap. VI.]
M'lNTOSH— HIS VILLANY DETECTEO.
53
If the chief i fed disposed to let the Unilrd States have the land, part of it, Iioant you
to let me know ; I will make the U. States commissioners f^ive you yOOO dollars,
A. M'Coy the same, and Charles Hicks 3000 dollars, for present, and nobody
shall /enow it ; and if you think the land woulden [shoxikVnt ?] sold, I will be sat-
isfied. If the land should be sold, I will get you tJie amount before the treaty sign
fw sis^ned ,•] and if you get any friend you want him to received, they sliall receive.
.Vothing more to inform you at present.
" I remain your affectionate friend, WM. McINTOSH.
"JoHJf Ross,*
" .'Jn answer return.
" N. B. The whole amount is $12,000, you eon divide among your friends,
ndusive, $7,000."
Hence tlicro can be no question oc to tlie guilty conscien ^e of jWIntosh,
illliougli some parts of the above letter are scarcely intelligible. He bad
Miisttiken bis friend ; Ross was not to be bought; for three days after the letter
was written, viz. ^4 October, a council was held, and Mcintosh was present ;
tlic letter was read, and he was publicly exposed.
Notwithstanding what had been dont; at Indian-Spring, it appears, from the
above letter, that anoth(;r attempt at selling land was made in 1823, but could
not be carried into effect, the villany of AFIniosh was so ap[)an!nt ; and it
i|)[)i'uis that it could not be brought about until 12 February, 1825, which is
tliii date of the last treaty made by .WIntosh.
'■ .Wliitosh was aware, that, after signing the treaty, his life was forfeited.
He, and others of his coadjutors, repaired to Milledgeville, stated their fears,
and claimed the protection of Georgia, which was promised by Gov. Troup.^
It must be observed that the greater part of the purchased territory was within
the claimed limits of Georgia ;| and that the Georgians had no small share in
the whole transaction. It is not stranger that the people of Georgiji should
conduct as they have, tlian that the United States' government should place it
in her power so to act. To take, therefore, into account the whole merits of
the case, it must be remembered, that, by a compact b(!tween the two parties
in 1802, the former, in consideration of the latter's n intiuisbing her claim to
the .Mississippi territory, agreed to extinguish, at the nationf' expense!, the
Indian title to the lands occuj)ied by them, in Georgia, lohenever it could ht
done, upon reasonable terms. X Who was to decide when the practicable time
iiad arrived, we believe was not mentioned. However, jwevious to 182.'), the
United States had succeeded in extinguishing the alKjriginal title of 1.5,000,000
aeries, and there were yet alwut 10,000,000 to be bought oft'. § The changt; of
lite from wandering to stationary, which the arts of civilization had eft'ected
Hinuiig the Indians, made them prize their possessions far more highly than
hererofore, and hence their reluctance and opposition to relinquish them.
Tlius much it seemed necessai-y to premise, that the true cause of the fate
of M'Intosh should be understood. It appears that when the whole of the
nation saw that the treaty which he and his party had made could not be
•il)roirated, forty-nine fiftieths of them were violent against them ; and there-
lore resolved that the sentence of the law should bo executed upon him.
Till! execution, and circumstances attending it, are thus relateil: || "About
:\vo hours before day, on Sunday morning, 1 May, H the house of Gen.
Mlnlosh was surrounded by Menaw-way, and about JOO Oakfii.xkee warriors.
M'liitosh was within, as likewise were his women and ehikiren, imd some
ivhite men, Menaw-way directed an interpreter to request the whites, and
the women and children, to come out, as the warriors did not wish to liarm
tlii'ii) : that Gen. .WInlosh had broken the law that lie himself had long
-inc.- made, aiid they had come to execute him accordingly. Tliey came
out of the house, leaving jWIntosh and Etomi-tustenugge, one of his adherents,
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t I'friiitt, Hist. IF. Slates, a wofi;, by itie way, of fjreal value, and which we are surprised
shoulil have issued from the press with little or no nolioe.
t .\iner. Au. Rcgr. i. 4 Ibid. || In the Annual Register, ut supra.
^ M April is mentioned, in another part of the same work, a.s the date of the execution,
au(J so il is set down bv Mr. Perkins, iu his llisL U. H,
51
M'INTOSH ANF> OTHERS PUT TO DEATH.
[Book IV.
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therein. The warriors then set fire to the liousc ; and as M'lnioah and \m
comrade [Tustemiggt] attempted to come out at the door, tliey shot tlieni
botli down. The same day, about 12 o'chn-k, tliey hung Sam Hawkins, a half
breed, in the HuckhosseHga Square. On Monday, the 2 May, a party of
llahbee Indians fired on and wounded Ben Hawkins, another half breed, very
t)adly. The cliiefs stated, at the time, that no danger whatever was to lie
apprehended by persons travelling through the nation ; that they were friends
to tlie whites, and wished them not to be alarmed by tiiis execution, wlii( h
was only a compliance with the laws that the great chiefs of the nation nijule
at Polecat Spring. Chilly M'Jntosh escaped from the house with the wiiite.s
and was not tired at or wouiided." He is now chief among tiie western
Creeks, and some time since increased his notoriety by beating a member of
Congress, in Watsliington.
The great agitation which the execution of the head chiefs of tlie JWInlosh
party caused was allayed only by the interference of the Unite*! States' gov-
ernment. Governor Troup of Georgia declared vengeance agahist the Creek
nation, denouncing the execution of the chiefs as an act of murder ; however,
he, by some means, learned that his judgment was gratuitous, and, by advice
of President Adams, desisted from acts of hostilit}', the survey of the disputed
lands, &c.
We have not learned much of the family of M'hitosh. His prineij»ii} resi-
dence was on the Chattahooehie, where he had two wives, Susannah mid
Peggy, one a Creek, the other a Cherokee woman, and this is the place win re
he was killed. About 50 miles from this place, on the western branch of the
Tallapoosa, he had a plantation ; here lived another of his wives, nnmed Eliza.
She was the daughter of Stephen Haiokins, and sister to Samuet ami Btnjnmin
Hawkins,* whose fate we have just related. On 14 Augi'jt, 1818, Jenny, liw
eldest daughter, was married to h'illiam S. Milehel, Esq., assistant ItidiaK
agent of the Creek nation. They were mairied at a place called Theacakkkuh
near Fort Mitchel, in that nation, f
General M'Jntosh participated in the Seminole campaigns, as did another
chief of the name of Lovett, with about 2000 of their warriors. They joined
the American army at Fort Scott in the spring of 1818. J:
9egtie
CHAPTER VII.
Creek war continued — View of the Creek country — General Jackson ordtrcil out
against them — Relieves Chinnabv — Shelokta — Path-killer — Capture of Lata
fittche — The Talluskutches destroyed hy General Coflec — Buttle of TalltiJri'a —
.Anecdote — Massacre of the Hallibces — Further account of Autossee liuttit — Battle iif
Camp Defiance — Timpoockie — Battle of Eckanakaka — Pe sua. mat a — M'tatlu rfnid
— Jim FiFK — Buttle of Emnkfau — '1 second halite — Fife's ivtnpidity — Battle nf
Enotoctwpko — Tohopeka — End of tlie Creek war — Death ff three Pro/ilids —
MoNOHoi — M'QuEEN — CoLBEUT, uUas PioMiN(;o — His exploits — 'Jiiecdati— Mur-
der o/Jolui Morris — Mushalatubec — Pushamata — Speech of Muflialaialikr unit
of Pushamata to Lafuyettc at Washington — Pushamata dies the-'. — Hii.i.imiaoi'
visits England — Excites the Seminoles to war — £ modern PocaUonta.t — Hoknui-
LniED — Massacres a boat's crew in Jipalachicola River — h captu -d with FIimi?-
r\kGO,and hanged — Neamathla — Removal of the Florida Indiui -Their wrelrlmi
condition — M'Queen — Rich in lands and slaves — Flies to Flat m, and loses hu
effects.
At thi. j)eriod the Creek Indians occupied a country contiiining about 900
square miles; bounded on the north by Tennessee, east by Georgia, south by
the Floridas, and west by the Mississippi ; the soil and climate of wliicli
could not be considered inferior to any in the United States. These Indiaiip,
consisting of Creeks, [)roperly so called, Chikasaws, Choktaws, and Chero-
* Report of ihc Select Committee of llie House of Rcpresentativi's, U. S., 578, &c.
\ Mes's R( gistet, 14, 407. i N- Y. Monthly J>lag. iii. 1^
:•*,
Chap. Vn.]
8HELOKTA.— PATH-KILLKR.
«
kees, had for a long time been on amicable terms with their white neighbors,
exchanging their furs and other articles witii them fur such otiiers us their
wants required. This state of things, but for the breaking out of tlie war in
Canada, might, and would, in reason, have continued, and the great Creek
nation would have increased, and at tliis day have gained vastly in population
and importance, instead of being dismembered, its inhabitauts si lit into
banishment, and finally ruined. Intertnarriages between Indiaus and whites
had become frequent, from which a race of hall-breeds were .springing up,
and instead of slavery, the Indian women were taking their proper places in
society, and the men were cultivating the lields. And notwithstainling tlie
Propliet and Ttcumach had used all their eloquence to engage tliern in an
early quarrel, it was not until they heard of the success of the Hritish at .Mai-
den, that they decided on taking up the hatchet, generally. Such was the
alacrity among the northern Indians on the capture of General Hull, on the
IG August, 1812, that runners arrived from among them to the Creeks some
time before it was known to their white neighbors.
For the horrid butchery at Tensuu, the Ibllowere of JVeatherford, Moiiokoe,
and .WQuin, or jU'Qucen, were shortly to atone, in the mo.st summary man-
ner. There was a great encam|)ment of Creeks under fVeaHierJord, at the
Tallaliasse. or Tallushatches towns, on the Coosa River, a northern branch of
the Alabama. The eyes of the south seemed to centre upon General Jackson
to execute vengeance on the Indians, and notwithstaniling he was confined to
his room, from a wound in the arm, which he had lately received in a private
quarrel, when the news of the massacre arrived in Tennessee, the governor of
that state issued an order to him to raise 2000 men with all possible despatch,
and rendezvous at Fayetteville. Colonel Coffee was already in tlie field.
Jacksoii's march into the enemy's country was hastened by a false alarm, and
when he had got into the Indian country, he foun.i himself almost destitute
of jjrovisions for his army, which caus((i considerable delay. At a place on
the Tennessee River, called Ditto's Landing, General Jackson met with Colonel
Coffee's regiment. Ilere he remaitied several days, but desjjatched Coffee
with 700 men to scour the Black Warrior River. At Ten Islands, on the
Coosa, was a baud of frienilly Creeks, at whose head was a chief named
Chinnabif. This chief had a kind of fort there, and was now blockaded in it
by the war party. Chinnahy, hearing of Jacksoti's position, sent his son, She-
LOKTA, also a princitioi chief, to the general's camp, for relief, who, without
loss of time, marched up the river, but was obliged to encamp at the distance
of 24 miles from Ditto's, from the failure of his supplies. While here. Path-
killer,* a Cherokee chief, sent two runners to him, confirming the former
news, and that without immediate relief, they said, they should be immediate-
ly cut off, for the hostile Indians were assembling in great force from nine
towns. Jackson now resolved to move on, and told the messengers ot' Path-
killer to speak thus to their chief from him : —
" The hostile Creeks will not attack you until they have had a bntsh with me,
and that, I think, uxill put tficm out of the notion of fighting for some time."
When the army )iad arrived within a few miles of the Ten Islands, it was
met by Chinnahy. This old chief had succeeded in capturing two hostile
Creeks, whicii he gave up to General Jackson. The army was yet about IG
miles from Uie Indian encampment, and in a lamentable condition for want of
provisions ; insomuch, that almost any one but Jackson would have despaired,
and given up the campaign ; but his resolution was not to be shaken, and he
liiippily diffused his spirit into his men. He said, in a . Uer to Governor
JBlouni, that tohilst they could procure an ear of com apiece, they would not give
up the expedition.
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* We would liere ol)serve that Path-killer was, in 1822, a Christian chief, and governed
in llie same Irihe with ihc famous Mr. Cliarlfs Hicks ; and his residcnri! was in that year 25
miles from Tiirkcylown. The missionary, Mr. Butrick, notes in his Journal, that J'aih-killer
was " the k ■ ot ^rst belotvd man, of llie t'iicrokee nation," ami that Mr. Hicks was "the
second belovea man." Palli-kUler had had a son ;iurdcred by some white man, before thi«
visit, and complained of the outrage, and saial part of the enemy's arms
for vvarfiue ; every man having a bow with a bimdle of arrows, which is used
after th»? first fire with the gim, until a leisure time for loading offers."
The destruction at Tallushatchcs wus rendei-ed the more complete by their
being entirely suiTOimdt;d on every side by the troops. Some have said that
even the women united with the warriors, and contended in the battle with
fearless bnivery. This may account for many that were killed : but General
Coffee do«!s not meiiiion it.
Meanwhile GencMul fVliite had liccn detached to Turkeytown, for the rrliel
of Path-killer, and he was now ordered to join the main army, with as much
exjjedition as he was able. This request was transmitted on the 4, and
renewed ot) the 7 Nov(!ml)er, 1818 ; and on the evening of tl>e same day, ar>
Indian lirought new:s to tiie general, that Talladega was besieged by a great
body of tile eJiemy, and would certainly l)e destroyed, unless immediately
reliev(>d. Talladega was a fart occupitnl by friendly Creeks, about 30 miles
below Ten Islands.
VViihout loss of time, Cfeneral Jarkson inarched to relieve Talladega. His
operations were conducted wiih such pn)mptitude, that by midnight li)llowing
the same day, he; was within six miles of his enemy. Here he encamped
tnitil al)out daylight. Then moving on, at sunrise he came within half a mile
of the Indian encampment, which was only about 80 rods from Fort Talla-
dega. The gi;neral, ha' ing formed his line of bfxttle like the S|Minish Armada,
moved on to the attack. The Indians were not taken by surprise, but rushed
ujion their adversaries with such impetuosity that they made considerable
impression in om; jmrt of the liui; ; insomuch, that a considerable body of
militia gave way. Their places being immediately supplied by the mounted
men, the Indians fought but a short time, bcfon; they were obliged to fly for
the mountains, about three miles distant. In their flight they were hard pressed
by the right wing of the Americans, and great numbers were cut down. In
the whole affair, 21>!) were kilhul, that were found, of the Indians ; and the
whites lost 15 in killed, and 85 were wounded, several of whom afterwards
died. Over 1080 Indians were said to have been engaged, and some of them
afterwards said their loss at the battle of Talladega was 600.
■'i^(-'.:
[Book IV.
of a towi
:o the ('oosa
rouglit in 21)
iken post at
ini mediately
t Novetnlier,
vance of the
i from iheir
! wny l)y fall-
1, which iiad
tlavinj^ tin!(J
ni to sliclter
iiy retreated
inntle all the
long as oni?
n rushed up
t warrior of
1 its horroi-s,
tit fought as
■|)eir houses,
)ut intention
sanguinary
t there were
make up in
one. They
lors escaped
whites had
ly, a number
lemy's arms
hich is used
!rs."
!ete hy tlieir
^ve said lliat
'i battle with
but General
or the relief
ith as much
the 4, and
ame day, an
hy a great
immediately
•ut 30 miles
udega. His
ht following
e encamped
lialf a ttiile
Fort Talla-
tsh Armada,
hut rushed
considerable
)le body of
he mounted
ed to fly for
lard pressed
: down. In
IS ; and the
afterwards
me of them
CHAr. VII.1
BATTLE OF AUTOSSEE
57
It was expected that a supply of provisions would arrive at C.nmp Strothe**-
at Ten Islands, before the army sliould return there ; but on its arrival, a total
failure was experienced by the hungry soldiers ; even wliat had been left
Itehind of the general's private stores had been distributed- -it was a tnelan-
eholy time, indeed, and reminds us of the sufferings of captives in the old
Indian wars, who were obliged to subsist upon b(!rries and roots. It was
during this campaign that a circumstance occurred which has been variously
related ; and, as it is an excellent anecdote, we will lay it before our readers."
One morning, a soldier, with a doleful countenance, approached General
Jackson, and told him he was almost famished, and knew not what to do. The
•general was seated at the foot of a tree, and was observed by the |)oor half-
starved soldier to be eating something. This no doubt caused liini to make
his complaint, thinking it a favorable tin;^ to have his wants relieved. The
general observed, that it was never his custom to turn away a hungry person,
when he had it in his power to relieve him ; then, putting his hand into his
jtocket, took out a handful of acorns, and, offering them to his astonished
guest, observed, that such was his fare, and all he had, but to that he was
welcome. The soldier went away contented, and told liis companions diey
ought no more to complahi, so long as their general was obliged to subsir-t
upon nothing but acorns. Out of this grew the story, that the general having
invited his officers to dine with him, set nothing before tliem but a tray of
acorns and some water.
Meanwhile mutiny after mutiny took place in General Jackson's army, and
the campaign came near being abuudoned. A circumstance, too, occurred
about this tiirie, ever to be lamented. General Cocke, of East Tennessee,
considering himself possessed of a command independent of Jackson, gave
liis orders to some brigadiers, at the same time that General Jackson did.
General fVhite chose to act under General Cocke's orders, and this occasioned
Home confusion, and, in the end, the lamentable affair to which we have just
alluded, and of which we now proceed to give an account.
The Ilallibee Indians, who had been the principal sufierers at Talladega,
liad d(^spatched ambassadors for General Jackson's camp, to sue for peace,
which they would accept on any terms he might please to grant them. At
the same titne these proposals were out. General fVhite marched against their
towns, and on the 18 November completely surprised thetn ; killed GO war-
riors, took 256 prisoners, and made good his retreat without the loss of a
man.
The Indians thought they had been attacked by General Jackson^s army,
and that therefore they were now to expect nothing but extermination ; and
this was thought to be tho reason why they fought with such desperation
afterwards. And truly they had reason for their fears : they knew none but
Jackson, vcaA supposed now that nothing short of their total destruction would
satisfy him, as their conduct exemplified on every occasion. They knew
they had asked peace on amy terms, and their immediate answer was the
sword and bayonet. A company of Cherokees aided not a little in this affair.
We have given the chief features of the battle of Autoss(;e, when drawing
a sketch of the life of M'Intosh. Here may be added some other niatters of
liistory, for the better understanding the events of the memorai)le Creek war.
Autossee is situated on the south bank of the Talltipoosie, 18 miles from the
Hickory Groimd, and 20 above the junction of that river with the Coosa.
Witli General Floyd's white troops were four companies of fricuidly Indians.
M'Intosh led the Cowetaus, and Mad-doa;s-3on the Tookaubatchians, or Tuka-
l)alcliies. The names of the other leaders are not set down, but there were
doubtless several of them, as there were about 350 warriors wlio accompanied
the expedition. That sure work was intended, will not be doubted, when it
is known that the force, exclusive of Indians, was 950 men. When the arn'V
arrived near the place where it was expected Indians would be found, and
having discovered one small town before it was light in the morning, the
:reneral was surprised immediately after by the discovery of another. This
W!i8 filled with men who had been apprized of his approach, and w«'re pre-
jiared for battle. The order of battle was immediately changed, aiul the army
proceeded in two divisions to attack both towns at once. The boBiegers,
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fBooK IV.
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being provided with artillery, soon accomplished their work, and all the
resistniice the Indians seem to have made, was in endeavoring to efiict a
retreat into caves and other Jiiding-places. Nevertheless, the Georgians hud
11 killi'd outright, and 54 wounded. Among the latter was General Floyd
himHcIf severely, and Adjutant-General JVeieman slightly.
M'lntosh and Mad-dos^s-son's lo.ss was eonsidenihle, hut was not thought of
importance enough to he communicated by their allies, who were greatly
indebted to them, if, indeed, destroying their own countrymen made tlieni so.
They did not, however, do ivith greater success than before. They atUurked a pi(;ket at
advantage, at a small distance fram the main body, and General Coffee, in his
turn, attacked the left flank of the attacking |)arfy. As his muuber of men was
small, Ik; soon found himself in imminent danger of being entin-ly cut oft",
(ieneral Jackson, st;eing this, ordered /"Y/e to advance to his rescue, whieli lie
did with the utmost promptitude. This attack of the enemy was upon the
right flank, and was, as it turned out, only a feint to weaken the left by draw-
ing th(! force from that quarter to its support ; but the general was not to be
outwitted by such a manccuvre. He kept the left flank firm, and the alarm
gun soon gave notice, that that part was assailed. The general here nwt the
enemy in j)erson, seconded by Colonel Carroll, who ordered the charge, and
led on the pui-suers. The friendly Indians were successful at this thue also,
slaying many of their countrymen as they fled.
Meanwhile General Coffee had got deeper into difficulty, and was contend-
ing at fearful odds with a brave band of warriore, and was again relieved by
the Indians under Captain Fife, This, Fife was enabled to do, only by charg-
ing them with the bayonet. The enemy seemed dttermined to wrest their
country froiri the invaders, and retired slowly, at fii-st, as tnen driven from
their country will always do. Fife and liis comrades pui"sued them about
three miles, killing 45 of them, which they found afterwards. The reason of
Coffee's great peril, was this, iTi/e having been ordered to his rescue before the
attiick on the left was made the second time ; and now, hearing the firing in
that direction, supposed his aid was more needed in that quarter; and thus
Coffee was left without support He was severely woiuided, and his aid-de-
camp. Colonel A. Donaldson, and three others, were slain.
General Jackson, not having provisions for a longer stay, and being con-
siderably crippled, began a retreat to Fort Strother. The most memorable
jiart of this expedition is yet to be related. The Indians now supposed the
Americans were beaten, or they would not retreat. They therefore resolved
to pursue and harass them. Jackson expected this, and marched, in order of
l)attle, through one dangerous defile after another. At length, on the morning
of the '24, after having nearly passed one of the most dangerous places, at
Enotochopko Creek, his rear was attacked in a spiriti'd manner ; and although
it was not at all unexpected, yet the columns gave way, and a good deal of
confusion and slaughter ensued. At length, a six-pounder was, with groat
tlifhciilty, dragged up a small eminence which commanded the battle-ground,
and being charged with grape-shot, did great execution, and was a principal
menus of putting the enemy to flight.
The getting the cannon up the hill was done at the greatest peril ; the men
who undertook it being sure marks for the enemy, having nothing to screen
them in the least. By the time they had discharged it once, Lieutenant Jlmi^
strojijcr, Caf)tain Hamilton, of East Tennessee, Ca|)tairis Bru'lford and AFCnvDck,
had all fallen. Bradford exclaimed, as he lay, " JWi/ brave flloivs, some of i/ou
null/ fid I, but yo". must save the cannon."
The army having, meantime, recovered from their panic, attacked in their
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60
DEATH OF MONOHOE THE PROPHET.
[Book IV.
■ I-
turn, and tlic Inrtinns were every wliere put to flight, and pursued about two
miles. The Indinns' loss in this battle was 189, that were found. The Amer-
icans )iad, in both days' fights. 24 killed, and 71 wounded. It was evident
now, that the Indians were satisfied that they were not victors, fiir in their
flight they threw away their packs and arms in abundance, and the army met
with no further molestation during their return march.
We liave now arrived to the termination of the Creek war. It ended in the
Iwttle of the Great Bend of the Talla|)oosie, as we have related in the life of
Mintosh. This bend, usually called the Horse-Shoe, by the whites, was
called by the Indians Tohopeka, which, in their language, it is said, signified a
horse-shoe : therefore the battle of Tohopeka, the Great liend, and the Iloree-
Shoe, are one and the same.
Nothing could be more disastrous to the deluded Creeks than this battle.
The loss of their great jn-ophets was, however, the least. Three of them, and
the hist u|)on the Tallapoosie, fell among those whom they had made believe
that no wounds could be inflicted upon them by the wliites; and incredible
as it may seem, that although they had witnessed a total failure of all their
I)rophecies hitherto, sudi was the influence those miserable impostors held
over the niiiuis of the warriors, that they still believed in their soothsayings,
and that their incantations would at last save them, and that they should finally
root out the whites and possess their country. Such are the errors of delu-
sions in all ages — it is visible in all history, and will continue to be so until a
knowledge of the nature of things shall diffuse itself, and the relation of cause
and effect be more extensively known.
Mo.NOHOE was one, and we believe the son of Sinqutstur was another, who
fell in the great battle of Tohopeka. In one of his accounts of the battle,
General Jackson observes : " Among the dead was found their famous pro])het,
Monohooe, shot in the mouth by a grape shot, as if Heaven designed to chastise
his impostures by an appropriate punishment." The manner in which he was
killed, nupiired but little aid from the whites to satisfy the Indians that he was
a false |»ro[)het, and it was soon generally believed among them.
These prophets were decorated, says Colonel Eaton, " in the most fantastic
manner — the plumage of various birds about their heads and shoulders; with
savage grimaces, and horrid contortions of the body, they danced and howled
their cantations." Moiwhoe, in the very act of divination, muttering to the
sun, with eyes almost strained from their sockets, and his limbs distorted in
every possible unnatural direction, received his death wound. The faith of
the warriors in such abominable fooleries must now have been shaken ; hut
the llallibee tnassacre was alone suflicient to account for their desperation — as
we have seen, their most submissive offers of peace had been met by the
sword — all confidence therefore in the humanity and integrity of the whites,
had, in their minds, been forfeited. From every appearance it was evident
that they had determined to conquer at Tohopeka, or never to survive a defeat ;
for they did not, as on former occasions, send away their women and children :
about 300 of these were taken.
Whether the famous prophet Hillishago, or Francis, were in this battle, is
not known. On 18 April, 1814, General Jackson wrote from his camp, at the
junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosie, saying, "Peter JWQutn has been taken,
but escaped ; he must be taken again. HUlishagee, their great prophet, has
also absconded ; but he will be found." In this, however, as will be seen,
the general was no prophet ; for Francis and McQueen were both alive in 1817.
The friendly Indians rendered the Americans most efiicient aid in this
battle, and tlieir loss in killed and wounded was greater in proportion to their
numbers than that of the whites. In all 23 were killed, and many more were
wounded.
It was supposed by General Floyd, that in the battle of Autossee he had
killed the famous prophet and king of Tallassee, but it turned out not to be so,
for he fell into the hands of the Americans afterwards. He was supposed to
be a iiiindred years old, his head being entirely white, and bowed almost to
the ground. His name, we believe, was Eneah-thlukkohopoiee. He was taken
about tli(^ tiuie of yVeatherfonrs surrender ; and but for the protection afforded
hiu) by the whites, their friends, the Creeks, would have put him to death
Chap. VU.]
COLHERT.— PlAMINGt).
61
M';-i
but
without mercy But H'ealher/ord liad notliiiifr to ft'nr from tliem : they carc-
t'lilly av()iiifiin<,- into bia
preneiicf, tbey were observed to truiiibie with feur. Such is the (IHlerence in
the fiirriagc ami aspect of tiieii.
We will cUir^e ibe prcwiit chapter by detailing some particulai-H in the liveH
of .-it'N'cral tiistiiijjuifihcd rhict^.
It was very Hildoni that the names of any chiefs ap|)eared in the accoiiiils
of till- late war, but they were many, enpt-cially in the south, and deserved uh
Miuch iiniicc, and often more than many that did receive it When the war
was over, some of them occasionally visited Washington, and the novelty of
fheir a|>iH;arance somctiines caused them to receive such notices a^i follows:
"On the tfth ultimo, [Feb. IdKJ,] arrived Col. ilctuni /. JJ/e^a, the agent of
the V. States in the Cherokee nation, with a deptitation from the nation, con-
sisting of Col. Lowry, Maj. Walker, Maj. Ridf^e, Capt. Taylor, Adjt. Ross, and
Kunnesce, These Indians are men of cultivated understandings, were nearly
all olHeers of the Cherokee forces which served under General Jrtcfcsort during
the late war, and have distinguished themselves as well by their bravery as by
their attachment to the L'. Slutes."
In Jime following, another deputation visited the capital of the United
States, of whon) it was said, tluiir ap|)earance was such as entitled them to
the highest respect. The delegates were from the Chickosaws, and consistetl
of General lyUliam Colbert, t\ie great war chief of that nation, Major ya/ne«
Colburt, interpr-ier; EUissue; Minffo, the great warrior; AppasanlulMe, a
chief; Chastauny and CoUtetchee, warriors. Most of these lought for the
whites in the south. General Colbert was now aged, liaving fouglit with the
Americans in St. Clair's army, with seven others of his countrymen ; one of
whose names was Piomingo, or tlie Mounlain-lader, of whom we shall pret-
milv speak.
In the late war, while his men wore preparing to join the Americans, Col-
bert, impatient to l>e unemployed, joined the third regiment of the United
States infantry. When he bad served with them nine months, he returne•■<•,
.t. .'■■■
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62
MUSHAI.ATUnEE.— PUSHAMATA.
[Book rv
Jnnu!t Jlnderion, aii(l was brother to the chief John Morris, who, 23 Juno,
17!t;{, \vn.x niiinlenid not above lf in these words: "There has passed nearly 50 snows since
you drew the sword as a compaidon of Washington. With him you have
combated the enemies of America. Thou hast generously n)ingled thy blood
with that of the enemy, and hast proved thy devotedness to the cause which
thou defendedst. After thou hadst finished that war, thou hadst returned
into thy country, an
HIM IN A IIELEUATION KROM TlfEIR NATIOM I.N THE YEAR 18'i4, TO THE (lE.NERAI.
OUVEK.NMCNT OF THE U.MTED STATES."
■v-j
y'.t
And on the otlicr:
"PuBII-MA-TAIfA WAS A WARRIOR OE OREAT niSTINCTIO.V. He WAS WIHE
IN COU.NCIL, EI.OQl'E.NT I.V A\ EXTRAORDI.NARY I>E(iREE ; AND ON AI,I. OCCA-
SIONS, A.M) C.M>ER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE wmiE man's fuiend. Hi: I)Iei>
I.N Wasiii.noton, on THE 24th ok Decemkkr, lrivi4, of the cramp, i.n the
(i(hll VEAR OK his age."
That Pmhnmitta, or Pitshmattthn, wns n warrior, lias horn said. In the lad-
war vvi!h Kiijrlaiul, lie a.s.sistod in snhdiiiiijr liis coiiiitrynicn at the soiiih. in
(iiiural Ctiiibonie^s army hi- distiiifrni.sluMi hiniscll', |iarticnlarly in the hatlli-
of iIh; Holy (iroiiiid, (callod hy tlir Indians Kccanachaca,) noon the .M.-dianm
Uivir, HO iiiiU's from l''i>rt Clailioriu!. Here the celehraleci f^'edlliirj'ord le-
sided, also Hillinliaf^o tlie |»ropliet.
Ill till! tnuity which the ehiefs and warriors of the Chokt.uis held with tiie
U. S. roniinissioiiers, 18 Oetoher, 1H'.20, "at the treaty frroiind, in said nation,
near Doak's Stand, on tiie Natelie.s Roud," the followiiifj imHsiiire ocnirs:
"Wh(!reus the liither of the beloved ehief J\Iunhiilaluhee, of the lower towim,
for and diirinj? his life, did nMieive from the United States the cum of \M
dollars, annually ; it is hereby stipulated, that his son and snecessor, Mushvln-
tubie, flmW annually be paid the same uinonnt during his natural life." lieneit
it would lead us to suppose, without fuither investigation, that both tlie father
and .son had rendered the country very iniponant services.
As has been tiie case in all former Indian wars, so in the present, etery
iKji^jhboriii!^ Indian is viewed with distrust. No sooner had the present
existinff Seminole war begun, than, by rejtort at ieitst, hundreds of the (^reek"
were leaving their country for Florida, to join tJK ir hostile neighbors. lOarly
tiii.^j spring, i83(>, it wua nsportcd far and wide; that iIk; Cliocktaws iiad taken
up the hatchet. This occasioned u national i ouiicil to be called, whicii
ussembliHl on the 12 May. The venerable chief Musihtlatubee was present,
and, among other things, said, '• It makes mij heart bleed to be arciuieil of litis
treacherij, lohen it is well known I and mif tribe lutve J'oufrht side bi/ side mlh
Gen. Wayne, Jackson, and others, Uicainst the Seininolcs, Creeks and lirilish:^
Hii.LiSHAOo, or IIILLIS IIADJO, it ap[iear.-i, survived General Jacksnn''s
campaigns, and, not long after, went to liiigland, siill hoping to gain assist-
ance I'rom that nation to enulih; him to o|)erat(! wiih effuet against tiu; Ameri-
cans, lie was, upon his return, the immediate instigator and cause of the
Seminole war, having taken nj) his residence among that nation, unable to
stay longer in Ida own country. Tiie belief was imnosed upon him by some
abandoned English traders, that there was a provision in the treaty of (rhent
for the restoration of their country. He received much attention while in
England, and some encouragement, but nothing absolute. An English
journal thus mentions his arrival: — "The sound of trumpets announced the
ap[)roach of the patriot Francis, who fought so gloriously in our cause in
America during the late war. Being drest in a most splendid suit of red and
gold, and wearing a tomahawk set with gold, gave him a higluy imposing
appearance."
He received large presents from the king's stores, but, it is said, that of
these he was chiefly defrauded afterwards by the notorious Woodbine, who,
it seems, accompanied him in his travels.*
About the end of Novemlier, or beginning of December, 1817, a war party
of Seminoles captured an American, and conveyed him immediately to their
principal village, called Mikasauky. Here it ap|)ears dwelt Francis and his
family. The American, whose name was M'Knmmon, was ordered to be
immediately burnt to death. The stake was set, MKrimmon, with his head
* Seminole War Documents, p. 23, published by order of coi.gress.
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64
HORNOTLIMKI).— NKAMATIILA.
[Book IV.
»hnvp(i, was Imiirul t« it, niiil woo«l wax piU-tl up ahoiit liiin. When the
IrhliariH had liiii.shcd their daiirc, and (hid
tlie use of the satne name in French. Hence the Indiap'4 who madi^ this
their (pnirters, were culled RtuI Sticks. At this period they had res ived the
))ractice of setting up poles or sticks, and striping them with red paint, which
was oidy when they inteiuled war. The Americans, not knowing then- jtrac-
tice, supposed these poles were j)ainted witii red stripes in derision of tli(;ir
libtjrty poles. Mikasunky, now Red Sticks, was upon a border of Mikasauky
Lake.
IIORNOTLTMRD, or as General Jackjion called him, "Homattlkmico,
nn old Red Stick," was another princi])al Seminole chief, whose residence
was at Foil! Town in the hegimiing of tlie war ; but, being drivi^n from
ihence, he repaired to Mikasauky. Three vessels having aiTived ut the
inoutli of the Apaluchicola on the 30 November, 1817, with military stores for
the supply of tho garrison, were, from contrary winds, unable to ascend.
Lieutenant Scolt was despatched for their assi'-tance, in a boat with forty men.
The old chief Hornotlimed, who had just before been driven froni Foul Town,
by a detachment of General Gaines^s army, with a band of his warriors, had
concealed themselves in the bank of the river ; and when Lieutenant Srott
and his men returned, they fired upon them, and all except six soldiers, who
jumped overboard and swam to the opposite shore, were killed. Twenty of
tlie soldiers had been left for the aid of the ascending vessels, and about the
same number of women and sick were in their places. These fell into the
lands oi' Homotliined and his warriors, who dashed out their brains upon the
sides of the boat, took off their scalps, and carried them to Mikasauky, where
they exhibited them upon their red pole, in memory of their victory. This
chief and his companion, Hiltiahago, were doomed shortly to expiate with
their lives for this massacre.
The Mikasauky town was soon after visited by the army, but the Indians
had all fled, their red pole was left standing, and the scalps upon it ; many of
■which were recognized as having been taken from Lieutenant ScoWs men.
At length a vessel cruising near tne mouth of Apalachicola River, to prevent
the escape of the Indians ii> that direction, with English colors dis|)luyed,
decoyed on board the famous chiefs, Homotlimedy and the prophet tVancis.
These the AmericanB hanged without trial or delay.
NEAMATHLA was a warrior of note and renown, before the war of 1812
with Great Britain. He was a Seminole chief; but where his residence was
previous to that war we have not heard ; but after the Seminole war, he lived
upon a good estate, at Tallahassee, of which estate a mile square was under
improvement. This, in 1823, JVeamathla, at the head of the chiefs of his
nation, gave up, with other lands, for the benefit of the United States, by a
Chap.
IHooK IV.
(MAT.
VII.J
NEAMATIll.A— Tin: sr,.VIIN{)l,l'H.
65
VVIicn tlir
kihillcd, H
'»'|mrullonH
'-ilH*'i\ that
cflchriitfd
her latlur
ti'titimi, it'
irnur pnr-
VlaiKs, till
libt;ration
lun^fil, hiH
MIKclvfN Id
It IniirH'cn
tor having'
liaiMlsilMIC.
tiiiiliilVrrcd
liiiii, until
vcH lliaii :i
er.
l'oii known
lis ^'ivi'ii It
cs, t') avoid
niadt^ thiH
•c'\ ivt'd the
[lint, which
their piac-
ori of their
Mikusauky
lttlkmico,
; rcfidcnc*'
rivmi I'nim
Hid at the
V stores for
to ascind.
forty men.
'on I Town,
irrior.s, hud
oiiuiit S
18 Si'ptenilx'r ol that yt-ar.
Ill ail additional ailiele of Haid treaty, we nad^" Wherean .Via MallUa,
John lUoniit, Timki Hnjo, JMitlliilo Kiiitr, IliiuUhloclur, and Hroiu-li(itimicit, wiv
iif the principal eliieiH of llut Florida Indiaiiis, and parties to tin- treaty (o
u hli'li this artiele has Ix en annexed, have warmly a|ipealed to the eoniiiiis-
»ii)iiers liir periniMsiuii to remaiii in the distriet of eoiintry now inhabited by
l!i«'iii, and in eonsideration of their friendly disposition, and pa.st berviees to
the V. SlateM," it was ajifreed lliat ,Vvtiiiiallda and lii.s liiilowers should liav««
t'liir si|iiar(! miles, embraein<( 'rn|*linl^a village, on Koeky (-''<*ml<)rt Creek ;
lUuiinl and lI({jo n tract on Apalai'iiiceda lliver; MiUlnlo /vi;i;f and llinnllilmlut
upon the same river; and tkunchidimiio on tiie (Jlialahooeliie. With AV«-
■,:iiM(i there settled 'M men; with UlounI, l.'}; .Miillnlo A'l/ii,'", MO ; with Kmnth-
Itifhce, '^ \ with Kfonrhatiiiuco, >iS; the other Florida liitlians, by the sam«?
treaty, were to remove to the Amaznra, or Uiiithlacooelie river, upon the
jieiiinsula of Floriihi.
Itiit whether "the other Florida Indians" had any band in makin;r this
ti-.'iit}', doe.s not appear, though from alter circniiistances, thtire is no proba-
hility that tliity liud. lleiiee two facts are duly tu be considered eoiieerning
iliis transaction, as tliey have led to fatal mistakes: one is, as it coiieerns the
iiiiiiiiier of the rieminoles; and it will be tusked, Were their iiiiniberH ^'reatly
iiiidirrated, that it iiii^bt seem that those who made the treaty were the iiiohC
iiiportant part of the nation ? If this |>robleiii come out allirmative, then,
I say, this mistake, or imposition upon the inbabitaiits of the United States,
lias been u /alal one. The other liiet or eiirumstanee res«)lve8 itself into
niiotlur problem, but not more diiricult of .solution than the oth(>r. It may be
thus Ktattul : Had these few ebiofs any authority to stipulate for, or bind any
'jlhers but themselves? If not, where is the obligation lor them to leave
their country and habitations ? But 1 forbear tu pursue this subject further
ill this place, and will return to JVeamathla.
The United States agreed by the same treaty to award 500 dollars to JVea-
mallda, as u compensation for the improvements altaiidoned by him, as well
Hs to meet tlio expenses of his removal.
.\ word more of the countrymen of JVeamaUda, who emigrated to the
western coast of the peninsula, btfore we proceed to other sulijeets. " The
land," says Mr. }yUliama,* to which they are ^^ legally banished, consists of dry
suud ridges and interminable swuin|)s, almost wholly uutit tor cultivation ;
where it has cost the U. States more than their land was worth to support them.
They are now in a starving condition ; they have killed the stock of the
American settlers, in every \mrt of the territory, to sup|)oi-t them.selves,
already; and there is no present prospect of their situation becoming im-
proved." What is calcidated to add to their miserable condition, is the limits
within which they are restricted ; they are not allowed to go nearer than within
15 miles of the sea. A garrison was established at Tampa to supply them with
necessaries, and keep them in order. Recent c-venLs, however, had consid-
erably changed their condition betbre the cominencement of the present dis-
tressing war, and they are found much more numerous, and far better ofT, as
to resources, than was supposed they could be.
A chief, whom the whites called Peter M^Qfieen, has been incidentally
mentioned, in our account of the Creek war. His Indian name was Talmu-
cHEs IIatcho, and he belonged to the tribe of Tukabatchie. In 1814 be fled
before the Americans under General Jaxkson, and took up his residence in
Florida, and was among others declared an outlaw. In 1817 he was chief of
the Tallapoosies, and resided upon the Oklokue or Okoloknee River, and was
styled "an old Red Stick." He was one of the 12 Creek chiefs who gave Mr.
Alexander ArbvthnoU power of attorney to manage tneir aflliiirs. This was done
on the 17 June, 1817. He was a chief of consequence, possessed a valuable
property, in lands and negroes. HisetFects were seized upon as lawful booty,
about the time of his escape from Tukabatchie. A hall-breed, by the name
of Barney, shared 10 negroes that had belonged to him, and a chief called
6»
Account of Florida, 72, 73,
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60
KINT..PATNF- IS KILLED IN BATTLE.
[Book IV.
i
Jixichi-hatr.hc, jilina Colonel, had 20 more. To the persons who had made
pliiiMlcr of his sliivoa, )ie protested, they conld have no claim upon him, and
that he iiad never injured them. He therefore a()pned to Mr. R. Jlrbuthnott,
to intereede with tJie officer at tlie United States military post, Fort Gaines, for
some relief; this he did in a very respectful letter, but with what euccess, we
are as yet unprepared to speak.
KING-PAINE was a chief who mij^ht have demanded early attention, hut
who, not having been very conspicuous but in a single affair, has been defer-
red to this place. Early in 1812, at the head of sundry bands of Serninoles
and negroes, who had run av/ay from their American masters, King-pnine
issued forth in quest of blood and plunder. There were several other eiiieCs
at the same time, (among whom Bow-legs* was conspicuous,) who assisted in
making war on the frontiers of Georgia. Whether either or both of tiie
above-named chiefs commanded the daring party, who, on 11 September,
1812, attacked and defeated a small force under Captain Williams, we are not
certain ; but it is certain that they commanded a large force soon after, wlien
General JVewman marched against them, and fought him with desperation.
(Japtain H'UUams, with about 20 men, was convoying some loaded wugons
towards Davis Creek, and when within about 10 miles of their destination,
they were attacked by a party of Indians and negroes, supposed to he 50 in
number. Although the whites were few, they protracted the fight \m\\\ all
their ammtmition was expended, their captain mortally wounded, and six
othei-s slightly. They then effected a retreat, leaving their wagons in the
hands of their enemies. Two of the Americans were killed, and, it was sup-
posed, a much greater number of the enemy.
Expecting a force would be soon sent against them; King-paine, with Bow-
legs as his lieutenant, marched out frotn the Lotchway towns, at the head of
150 warriors, as was supposed. They were not disappointed with regard to a
force being sent against them, for in the mean time General Acwman, f of the
Georgia volunteers, marched with 117 men to destroy the Lotchway towns.
When he had arrived within about six miles, he fell in with the Indians, all
of whom were mounted. It appears the parties met unexpectedly, and no
time was lost on either side in preparing for battle. Having dismounted, tlie
Indians advanced a few paces, hoping thereby to intimidate their advensaiies;
but JVeimnan, at the same time, ordered his men to charge, which being
promptly obeyed, the Indians were put to flight The battle-ground, being
skirted with swamps upon three sides, was advantageous for the oj)erations of
the Indians ; nevertheless, before gaining these coverts, a well-directed fire
stopped the flight of many, among whom was King-paine himself, and Bow-
legs was severely wounded; but this was only the commencement of tiu;
fight ; for no sooner was the fall of the great chief known among his men,
than they returned and charged in their turn, but were again forced to fly,
leaving the body of their leader in the hands of the whites. This, more than
any, or all considerations together, wrought up their minds to desperation,
and they determined on its recovery, or to sacrifice themselves in the attempt;
and they accordingly returned again to the charge, which, it is said, was met
with firmness by the whites, who, after encountering several shocks, again
succeeded in routing them ; but they immediately returned again, with greater
fury than before, and with greater success ; for they obliged the Americans to
give ground in their turn, and after some time spent in this most desperate
work, they sucr-eeded in recovering the body of King-paine, and carried it )W.
Their loss in the several charges was unknown, but supposed by the whitefi to
have been about 30 ; while, on their own side, they report but one killed md
nine wounded. This fight was on the 26 September, and lasted about four
hours.
• it *fc
* To a document exhibited in the trial of Arbuthnott and Ambrister, his name is signed
BoLECK. This was probably his real name, which required but a slight corruption to change
it into Bow-legs.
t Thomson (Hist. War, 61) writes this officer's name Nnonan; but Brannan, Perkins, and
Brackenridge, all write it as in the text. There is a town in Florida called NeionamvUU,
where a newspaper is prilled.
Chap. Vll] GURISTERSIGO-HIS BATTLE WITH GEN. WAYNE.
67
The whites were greatly distressed after this fight, for the Indians Were
reinforced, and harassed thorn until the 4 October, when they gave up the
business and retired. General JVemman, having thrown up a slight work, was
iihie to prevent b-j:
V >
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If
GRANGULAKOPAK^DIG WARRIOR.
[Book IV.
Seventeen of liia warriors fell by liia side, bcsidca his white guides. He
received a spear und two bayonets in his body before he fell, and encouraged
his warriors to the last. When he began to faint, he retired a few steps, and
calmly layinj? himself down, breathed his last without a groan or struggle.
This chief was six feet three inches high, weighing about 220 pounds, bear-
ing a manly and expressive countenance, and JJO years of age ; and Genera)
Lee ndeltry. Exertions wen; nindo to capture tiKve warriors that es-
caped from the attack on H^ayne's camp, but so well did they understand the
countrj"^, that not one of them was taken.
Although not in the order of time, we will introduce here one of the earliest
advocates for tem})erancc that we have met with among the Indians. This
person, though a Creek, was a descendant, by his own account, of the renown-
ed Grangula. His name was Onughkalbiilminnj-grangulakopak. All we know
of his history, can be told in a few wonis^, and l)ut lor one speech of his whicli
happened to be preserved, even his name we had never perhaps heard. That
he lived in 1748, and was eminent for his good morals, except the speech,
before mentioned, is all we know of him. As to the speech, which is so highly
extolled, it has, like numerous others, we are of opinion, passed through too
many hands to be considered by all who may meet with it as genuire; never-
theless, throwing aside all the unmeaning verl)iage with winch it is encumbered,
an Indian speech might remain that woidd l)e read with pleasure. As it stands
in the work before us,* its length excludes it from our pages, and we shall select
but few sentences. It was delivered in a great council of the Creek nation,
and taken down in short hand by some white present, and about four years
after came into the hands of an ugent of Sir fVUliam Johnson, thence into the
hands of sundry othei-s.
"FArMERs, Brethren, and Colntrtmen. — We are met to deliberate,
Upon what ? — Upon no less a subject, than whether we shall, or shall not be a
people!" "I do not stand up, O oountryuKni ! to propose the plans of war,
or to direct the sage experience of this assembly in ihe regulation of our alli-
ances: your wisdom renders this unnecessary lor me." — "The traitor, or
rather the tyrant, I arraign before ^on, O Creeks! is no native of our soil; hut
rather a lulling mistireant, an emissary of the evil principle of darkness. 'Ti»
that pernicious liquid, which our |)ri.'teii(led white friends artfully introduced,
and so ]>lcntifully ytour in among us ! "— " O, ye Creeks ! when I thunder iti
your ears this denunciation ; that if this cup of perdition continues to rule
among us, with sway so intemperate, ye will cease to be a nation ! Ye will
have neither heads to direct, nor hands to protect you. — While this diabolical
juice undennines all the powers of your bodies and mmds, with inofTensivc
zeal, the warrior's enfeebled arm will dmw the bow, or launch the sjKjar in the
day of battle. In the day of council, when national safety stands suspended
on the lips of the hoary sachem, be will shake his head with uncollected spirits,
and drivel the babblings of a second childhood."
The above, though not a third of the speech, contains chief of all that was
intended to be conveyed in several pages. A true Indian speech need not
here be presented to show the difi'erence of style between them ; but as we
have a very good one, by the famous Creek chief) Bio-warrior, not elsewhere
noticed, it shall be laid before the reader. It was delivered at the time Gen-
eral Jackson was treating with the Creeks, about the close of the last war with
England, and was in reference, as will be seen, to the conditions demanded of
the vanquished. And, although Big-warrior was the friend of the Americans,
yet he now felt for hia countrymen, and after saying many other things, con-
cluded as follows : —
" The president, our father, advises us to honesty and fairness, and promises
* Sermons, &.C., by Reverend William SmUk.
senses.
body,"
,■■*
■ .1.
Chap. VII.]
BIG WARRIOR'S SPEECH TO JACKSON.
that justice shall be done : I Iiope and trii.st it will be ! I made this war,
wliioli lias proved so fatal to my country, that the treaty entered into a long
time ago, with father Washington, might not be broken. To his friendly
arm I liold fast. I will never break tiiat bright chain of friendsiiip we made
together, and which bound us to stiuid to the U. States. He was a father to
tlie Muscogee people ; and not only to them, but to all the |>eople iKMM'ath the
sun. His talk I now hold in my hand- There sits the agent he sent among
us. Never has he broken the treaty. He has lived with us a long time. He
has seen our children born, who now liave children. By his din-ction, cloth
was wove, and clothes were made, and spread through our country ; but the
Red Sticks came, and destroyed all; — we have none now. Har
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70
GROUNDS OF THE SEMINOLE WAR.
[Book IV.
CHAPTER VIII.
1' " i'
»;,
^y'-y
i
.' ' '*
-V
w\i->
'(-
^"^(■•,
Grounds of tut Seminole War — Circumstarues of those Indians misunderstood — Just-
ness of the War — Neamathla deposed — Treaties — Of Moultrie Creek — Payne's
Landing — Council at Camp King — fs broken up hij Osceola — It is renewed, and a
parly agree to emigrate — Osceola's opposition — Is seized and put in irans —
Feigns a submission and is released — Executes an agreement to comply loith the
demands of the whites — The physical condition of the Indians.
Having^ in a fonner chapter of tliis our fourth book, given many of tiie
jiecessaiy particulars for a right unileretanding of tlie former Florida war, it
will not be necessary here to repeat the same, and we shall, therefore, proceici
at once to a notice of the grounds of tlie present war with the Indians in tiiut
region.
It has been formerly said, tliat nearly all the Indian wars have the samo
origin ; and, on attentively exarainuig the subject, it will be found tlmt tli(?
remark has much of truth in it. The Seminoles of Florida have been foimd
quite different from what they had been supposed. Every body had consid-
ered them a mere outcast remnant, too much enfeebled by their proximity to
the whites, to be in the least dreaded ui a war. Indeed, such conchisioii wan
in perfect accordance with the accounts which were circulated among intelli-
gent peop!.:; ; hut the truth seems to be, people hrive always been misinfonnid
on the subject, owing cliiefly to the ignorance of their inforniers. Nor is it
Btrange that misinformation should be circulated, when it is consirs rendered abortive, by some childish
bickerings among their officers about " precedency of rank." But whose fault
Chap. VIII]
NEAMATHLA DEPOSED.— TREATIES.
71
it is that those officers should have been there under commissions or in-
structions of such a nature as to set tiiem in such an awkward position in
re8j)ect to each other, I will not take upon me to state, tiie lucts being of
sunicicnt notoriety.
A writer has given the following facts relative to the Seminoles recently,
and, as they are suited to my course of remarko, I give them in liin own
words : — " Shortly after the cession, [of Florida to the U. S.] a trimty was
made by which the Seminoles consented to relinqui.sh by far the better part
of their lands, and retire to the centre of the peninsula, — a quarter consisting
for the most part of pitie barrens of the worst description, and terminating;
towards the south in unexplored and impassable niarsla s. When the tini*-
came for the execution of the treaty, old J^eka Malhla, the head of the tribi-,
thought it savored too much of the cunning and whiskey of the white man,
and summoned his warriors to resist it. Gov. Duval, who succeeiied Gen.
Jackson in the chief magistracy of this territory, broke in u])on his warc-ouncii,
deposed the war leaders, and elevated the peace ;:...ty to the chielhiincios.
Tlie Seminoles retired peaceably to the territory assigned them, and old JSTeha
Malhla retired to the Creeks, by whom he was raised to the dignity of u
chief."
The next event of considerable moment in the histoid of the Seminoles, is
the treaty of Paynt'a Landhi^. Of this affair I am able to speak in the lan-
guage of the principal agent in it, on the part of the whites. The individual
to vvhouj I refer. General IVil'y Thompson, will be particularly noticed here-
after, from the melancholy fate which lie met in the progress oJ' this war.
I have, in a previous chapter, spoken of the treaty at Moultrie Cnusk ; but,
before going into the particulars of that at Payne's Landing, it will be neces-
sary to make a few additional observations. The Indians who consented to
that treaty, by such consent agreed " to come under the protection of the U.
States, to give up their possessions, and remove to certain restricted boundaries
in the territory, the extreme point of which was not to be nearer than 15 miles
to the sea coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For any losses to which they might
he subjected by their removal, the government agree:' to make liberal donations,
also to provide implements of husbandry, schools, &.C., and pay an annuity of
5000 dollars for 20 years ; besides which there were presents of corn, meat,
&c. &c. It was required of the Indians that they should prevent absconding
slaves from taking refuge among them, and they were to use all proper exer-
tions to a[)prehend and deliver the same to their proper owners."
Our account next goes on to state, that the harmony which existed at the
conclusion of this treaty was very great, and that the Indians were so well
satisfied with its provisions, "that they had a clause expressly inserted, by
which the United States agent. Major Gad. Humphreys, and the interpreter,
Richards, were to have each one mile square, in fee simple, as a mark of the
confidence they reposed in these officers of the government."
Before this treaty was carried into effect, the Indians were intruded upon,
and they gradually began to be rathi^r slow in the delivery of the runaway
negroes. Clumora were therefore loud against them, and difficulties followed,
'ti\ quick succession, for several yeai-s. At length it was determined that the
Seminoles should be, somehow or other, got out of Florida, and the treaty of
Payne's Landing was got up for this object.
Accordingly, in 1832, on the 9th of May, a treaty was entered into " on
Ocklawaha River, known by the name of the treaty of Payne's liunding,
by which they stipulated to relin(iuish all their possessions in Florida, and
emigrate to the country allotted to the Creeks, west of the Mississippi ; in con-
sideration of which the government was to pay 15,400 dollars, on tiieir arrival
at their new home, and give to each of the warrioi-s, women and children one
blanket and one homespun frock. The whole removal was stipulated to take
place within three years after the ratification."
What object the government could have had in view by stipulating that the
Indians should deliver into its hands all their cattle an.) horses, previous to
their emigration, I know not, unless it was the intention of its agents to
speculate in stocks ; or perhaps the mode by which the Indians were to lie
transported, would not admit of their being transported wii.ii them. Be this
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TO
EXECUTIONS.— COUNCIL AT CAMP iWG.
[Book IV.
as it niigiit, we shall see tlint this stock affuir was among the bcgmning of the
sparks of war.
It u|)pears tliat between 18.'}2 and 1834, it had liccome very apparent th)it
no removal was intended by tiie Indians ; and it was equally ap)>areiit tluu
those who had engaged a removal for tlie nation, were not the fii-st i)eoi)lt" ji,
it,- und, consequently, a difliculty would ensue, let the matter l)e urged when
it would. General Thompson w.is the government agent in Florida, and lie
(whether with advice or without, I am not informed) thought it best to liave a
talk with .some of the real head men of the nation, upon the subject of removal,
which he eH'octcd about a year before the time of removal expired, nanicly, in
the ihll of 18;il.
Meanwhile, the chief who had l)een put in the place of JVeamathla, by Gov-
ernor Duval, had l>een executed, by some of the nation, for adhering to the
whites, and advocating a removal beyond the Mississippi. The name of th(f
chief executed upon this account was Hicks. To him succeeded one named
Charles, or, as he is sometimes called, Clutrles Otnathla, and he shared the same
fate not long after. Nine warriors came into his council, anly with the treaty of 1832."
This was evidently done without Osceola's consent, but its being done by some
whom he had considered his jmrtisanis, irritated him exceedingly. lie now
saw that in spite of all he could do or say, the whites would get terms of
agreement of some of the Indians; enough, at least, for a pretence for tlieu'
designs of a removal.
In tills state of things, Osceola remonstrated strongly with the agent for thus
taking the advantage of a few of his people, who doubtless were under much
greater obligation to him than to the people of the United States. Remon-
strance soon grew into altercation, which ended in a ruse de guerre, by wliich
Osceola was made ]>risoner by the agent, and put in irons, in which situation
he was kept one night and part of two days.
Here then we see the origin of OsceoMs strong hatred to General Thompson.
While lying in chains he no doubt came to the fixed resolution to resist the
whites to his utmost ability, and therefore, with perfect command over himself,
dissembled his indignation, and deceived the agent by n pretended compliance
with his demands. The better to blind the whites, he not only promised to
sign the submission which he had so strongly objected to, Imt promised that
his friends should do so, at a stated time ; and his word was kept with the
strictest accuracy. He came to Fort King with 79 of his people, men, Avomen,
and children, and then the signing took place. This punctuality, accompanied
with the most perfect dissimulation, had the effect that the chief intended it
should — the dissipation of all the feare of the whites. These transactions were
in the end of May and beginning of June, 1835.
Thus we have arrived very near the period of open hostilities and blood-
shed ; but before proceeding in the details of these sanguinary events, it may
not he improper to pause a moment in reviewing some of the matters already
touched upon. The first to which the attention is naturally called, is so
prominent as scarcely to need b'ing presented, but I cannot refrain asking
attention to a comparison between the number of "chiefs and sub-chiefs,"
'wliich was Sixteen) who on the 'i.3 April, 1835, agreed to "acknowledge the
validity of the treaty of 9 May, 1832," and the number of warriors and chiefs
now in open hostility. These have not been rated below 2000 able men.
Does any body suppose that those 16 " chiefs and sub-chiefs," (among whonj
was not the "king of the nation" nor Osceola,) had full power to act tor 2000
warriors on so extraordinary an occasion? The question, in my mind, need
only be stated ; especially when it is considered how ignorant every body was
of the actual force of these Indians.
It will doubtless be asked, how it happens that the Indians of Florida, who,
a few years since, were kept from starving by an appropriation of congress,
should now be able to maintain themselves so comfortably in their fastnesses.
The truth undoubtedly is, that the "starving Indians" were those then lately
forced down into the peninsula, who bad not yet learned the resources of the
country; for not much has been said about the "starving Indians of Florida"
for several years past.
In addition to the great amount of cattle, hogs, corn, grain, &c. taken
7
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74
DEVASTATIONS BEGIN.
[Book IV.
from the whites, from the commencement of the war to tlje present time, the
Seminules malic flour of u certuin root, culled coonty, upon which they can
BuljBist without inconvenience for a considerable length of time, which is of
inculculuhle advantage to them in their war operations.
The strength of the Indians has been not a little augmented by the h!uck8.
Some uccoimts say there are 800 among them, some of whom have joined
tliem, on absconding from their white owners ; but it is well known that the
I''lorida Indians own many slaves. Old Micanopy is said to have 80.
9i00e
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CHAPTER IX.
The Indians prepare for war — Jiffair of Hogtovm — A mail-carrier killed — Sales of the
Indians' cattle and horses advertised by the Indian agent, hut none takes place
Burnings and murders are committed — Settlement at J^eio River destroyed — Re
markable preservation of a Mr. (jodi'iey'a family — Colonel Warren's defeat — Swamp
fight — Distraction of JVeio Smyrna — Defeat and death of Major Dau£, xeitk the
destruction of nearly his whole party — yisit to his battle-ground.
From A[)ril until harvest time, preparations had gone on among the Indians,
and tiiey oidy waited for the whites to begin to compel a removal, when the
blow should be struck. The time allowed them over and above the three
years, to j)repare for their journey to the prairies of the Arkansaw, was spent
in making ready to resist at the termination of it.
As early, however, as the 19 June, 1835, a serious affray took place between
some whites and Indians, at a place called Hogtown, not far from Mickosauky
in which the former were altogether the oggressors. The Indians, about seven
in number, were discovered by a gang of whites, hunting "beyond their
bounds," upon whom they undertook to inflict corporal punishment. Two
of the Indians were absent when the whites came up to them, and they seized
and disarmed them, and then began to whip them with cowhide whips.
They had whipped four, and were in the act of whipping the filUi, when tJie
other two Indians came up. On seeing what was going on, they raised the
war-whoop and fired upon the whites, but whether they received* '.ny injurj-,
wc are not told; but they immediately returned the fire, and killed boMi the
Indians. When General Thompson was made acquainted with the afl'air, he
summoned the chiefs together, and stated the facts to them, and they
disclaimed all knowledge of it, and, it is said, agreed to deliver the ofl'endcrs
into tlie hands of the whites, to be dealt with according to their laws.
This must be taken as the story of the whites ; for in this case they, and not
the Indians, were the "oflfenders." It was altogether a singular report, that
afler the Indians had all been whipped and killed, they should be required to
ffitie vp the offenders ; but such was stated to be the fact, and I know not that
it has been contradicted.
Frequent signs of uneasiness had been manifested during the summer
among the Indians, some of whom could not be restrained from acts of vio-
lence by tiie chiefs, although, it is pretty evident, such acts were against their
advice. A mail-carrier was killed and robbed between St. Augustine and
Camp King, and two or three houses had from time to time been broken
open in ditierent places ; but it is not impossible but that these acts nnght
have been committed by other people than Indians. However, the Indians
were mistrusted, and not only mistrusted, but reported as the perpetrators ;
and whether they were or not is but of small moment, as affairs turned out.
Things remained in this state until December following, when the Lidian
agent notified such of the Indians as he was able, that their time had expiretl,
and tiiat tliey must forthwith prepare for their journey over tlie Mississippi,
and to that end must bring in their cattle and horses according to the terms
of tiie treaty. And so confident was he that they would be brought in, that
lie liad advertised them for gale, and the 1st and 15th of the month were the
Chap. IX.]
ESCAPE OF MKS. OOUFREY.
76
e, wliioli iii of
days in which the sales were to be made. Tlie appointed days [Missed, and no
Iiiiiinns api>eared ; and it was immediately discovered that they had sent their
women and children into the interior, and the wairiors were inarching from
place to place witli arms in their hands, ready to strike.
Consternation and dismay was depicted on the countenances of the bor-
dering whites, and they began to fly Irom their dwellings, which were innne-
diately destroyed by the Indians. One of the first places attacked was the
plantation of Captain Priest, the buildings on which were burned. Small
coinpaiiies of whites were immediately organized for scouring the country.
One of these was fired upon by sotne Indians in ambush, who woundtui two,
one su])|)osed mortally, and a son of Captain Priest had his horse killed under
him. Soon after, as liO or 40 men were at work getting out ship-timlK;r on
Drayton's Island, in Lake George, they were fired upon and driven J'roin the
place. None were wounded, although tlie bullets passed through the clothes
of some of them.
On the 5th of Jan. 1836, a small party, supposed to be about 30, of Indians
struck a fatal blow on a poor family at New River, which is al>out Sy miles
to the north of Cape Florida. It was the family of the light-house keeper of
this pla-.e, named Cooley. And what renders the case peculiarly aggravating
is, that this family, like that of Clark, at Eel River near Pli. .outh, in Philip^s
war, were, and had always been, on terms of great intimacy with tht; very
Indians who destroyed them. Mr. Cooley, being absent when the attack wjis
made, escaped the butchery. The number murdered was six, one of whom
was a man named Flinton, from Cecil vr^'Zu-.y, Maryland, who had be« n hired
as a famdy teacher, his mother, wife, and three children. Flinton he found
shockingly mutilated, apparently with an axe ; his two older children were
lying near him shot tlirough the heart, with the books they were using at the
time they were murdered by their sides; from which circumsUmce it is
evident they met deatli at the same moment they knew of the vicinity of the
foe. His wife, with the other child at her brea.st, he found about 100 yards
from the others, both apparently killed by the same bullet. Mrs. Cooley had
formerly been a captive among the Indians, understood their language, as did
one of the children, a boy, and both were nuich liked by them.
Here the Indians found a rich booty. They carried off about 12 barrels of
provisions, 30 hogs, 3 horses, 480 dollars in silver, one keg of powder, above
200 pounds of lead, and 700 dollars worth of dry goods.
A family of several persons in the neighborhood of Coolejfs, witnessed the
murder, and barely made their escape. Also another, that of the widow Rig-
leu ; herself, two daughters and a son ; these esca|)ed by flight to Cape (^lorida.
Here were soon gathered about 60 persons, who had escaped froiti along the
coast, and not being able to subsist long for want of provisions, made a signal
of distress, and were soon discovered by a vessel, which took them to St.
Augustine.
There was, among the families who fled to save their lives about this time,
one, very remarkably preserved. Tlie family of Thomas Godfrey, viz. his
wife and four female children, having escaped to a swamp unobserved, were
relieved by a negro, about the end of the fourth day. This man was drawn to
the spot by the moans of one of the children, whose poor famished mother
could no longer give it its usual support at the breast. This negro belonged
to the hostile In''ians, and came upon these suffei'ers with an uplifted axe ;
hut wlien he saw the children in their distress, his arm was unnerved by the
recollection that his own children were then in the power of the whites. He
therefore came to the humane resolution of setting them at liberty, which
could not be done, without great hazard, for the Indians were yet in posses-
sion of all the adjacent country; but he directed them to remain as quiet as
possible until night, when he would bring them something to cat. This he
did, and also brought them blankets to sleep upon. The next day a com{)any
of mounted whites dispersed the Indians, and the negro conveyed Mrs.
Godfrey and her children in sight of them, and then made his escape. The
husband of Mrs. Godfrey had some time before been ordered out in defence
of the country.
Nothuig but devastations of the tuost alarming and destructive character
:-:'^y.r-
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DESTRUCTION OF NEW SMYRNA.
[Book IV.
Bcpm to have ocpurred in the rcpion of F,nst Floridn. so long as there was
a fAacr left, wliich wiw not 8tronj( rnotigh to wiihNtnrxl an attack.
AlKiiit »h« 18 of Derpmbor, Colonel Ifarren, ut the head of a Bmall detncli-
ineiit of his regiment, was ordered to convoy a train of vvaponH ioiidcd wjili
provisioM.H and tnnnilions from St. Augustine to the main body, whirli was
encam|ied at Fort ('room, near Micanopifs town. While on their niarcli tliev
were atlai-ked by a superior force of Indians, who killed H or 10 of them, and
pnt the rest to flight, almost in sight of the force they were sent to relieve.
All the wagons leil into the hands of the Indians, which, after taking from
them what they desin'd, broke them up and burnt them.
On the 20 of Ih'ocmlH'r, as General Call, with the Middle Florida troopt*,
wa-s marching tor Fort Dmine, his advanced guard discovered a house on tin-
near IMicanopy, and a trail of Indians wjis discovered leading to a pond, wliich
was full of bushes an fight, three whites were badly wounded,
and on(; killed.
On tln! 2t) of Decemlier, a band of alwut 100 Indians, under a chief named
Philip, and a numiM>r of Indian negroes, made an attack on New Smyrna, to
the south of Mosquito Inlet, on the east side of the Peninsula, where they
found nothing to obstruct their ravages. They began with the house of IMr.
/>u?iArtm, which when they luul plundered, " parties of them scattered almut
the neighboring plantations of Criiger, Depafster, and Hunter. The Indian
negro, John Cttsar, endeavored to decoy Mr. Hunter from his house, on pre-
tence of stdling him cattle and horses; he, however, having h»!ard by his
negroes that large numbers of Indians were about, and in the afternoon lie
crossed the river to Colonel DummeVs. The Indians held possession of fhm-
ham's house all day, and about one the next morning set it on fire, together
with all the out-buildings. In the course of the 27, they burned and destroyed
all the buildings on Cruger's and Depeyder's plantations except a corn-house,
and, on Hunter's, all except a corn-house. They now crossed over the river
to Colonel Dummefs house, and after destroying every thing in it, set that on
fire, but froen some cause the fire did not burn it. They next burnt the house
of Mr. Raldiff, a little to the north of Colonel DummeVs, and broke and
destroyed the lantern and every thing belonging to the light-house."
The war having now become serious, and the Indians no longer looked
upon as a despicable foe, the most melancholy forebodings were entertained
for the very existence of the strongest places in Florida, and the call for
protection fi-om that quarter had become loud and frequent ; but notwith-
standing war had been expected all the preceding autumn, no effectual meas-
ures had been taken by the proper authorities to check the Indians in such an
event. There had, however, late in December, arrived at Fort Brooke a small
number of United States' troops under Major ZJoK/e, of the 4th regiment of
infantry, the official account of whose operations and defeat, I give as follows,
in the language of Major Belton. It should be observed, that Major Dade was
detached forthe relief of General Clinch at Camp King, who was supposed
to be in the most imminent danger from the Indians, and also in great wiiiit
of supplies.
His despatch was dated at Fort Brooke, 1 January, 1836, and proceeds ns
follows: — "The schooner Motto arrived on the 21 December from Key West,
with brevet Major Dade and his company, A infantry, 39 strong, with a small
supply of musket-ball cartridges, after looking in at several points between
the Key and this place. Being thus reinforced, I hesitated no longer to put
Gardiner's company, C 2d artillery, and /Vazer's coini)any, B 3d infantiy, in
motion for Fort King, pursuant to General Clinch's orders ; which movement
had been ordered on the 16th, and sus|)ended the same day, on account of
intelligence 1 had received of the force of the Mickasukies, and their strong
position, near the forks of the Wythlacoochee. I despatched the public
schooner Motto on 23d, with Lieutenant Duncan, 2d artillery, to Kev West,
tinctly.
.I'::-
fBooK IV.
OH thfiT wni
irnnll dctncli-
loiidiil witli
>', wliicli was
r march tln-y
oJtlM'in, ami
nt to rt'licve.
takiiij,' iroiii
oridn troops,
lniiis»> on firi'
IMitid, wliicli
icirclcd, and
Kims soon
l)otli sides ;
the lK)fr four
y more, liad
lly wounded,
rliicf named
V Hiiiyrna, to
where they
lOUse of iMr.
ittcred ahoiit
The Inihan
»us«', on i)r('-
heard hy his
iflernoon he
sion of Ihin-
fin', together
nd destroyed
. rorn-liouse,
k-er the river
it, set that on
ml tlie lious<;
I broke and
inger looked
> entertained
the call for
3ut notwith-
i'Cttial meas-
s ill surh an
ooke a small
reirimeiit of
e as follows,
or Dade was
as supposed
I great want
proceeds ns
1 Key West,
tvith a small
Its between
inger to put
infantiy, in
I movement
account of
:heir strong
the public
Key West,
Chap. L\.]
DliFKAT OF MAJOR DADE.
n
for a battery of two tnelvt!-|)oniid«)rH, and snrh Htores as could bo sirviceablo;
mid at (i o'clock, on '^llh, \u: coinpaiiiius, ildrdiinr's and Frazivr's, made filly
iiayoiK IH each, by details from thosr companies remainiii^ here, and with out;
iif the two si\-pouiid*!i's of tliiri post with lour (i.xeii, 1 huil ordered to bo
|iuicharti;d, one lij,'lit wagon and tt ii days' pri)\ isioin were put in marcli.
" Tho lir^t bait of ihiit eommaiid was at Little 11 iImIhii-o' Ki\ei-, seven
iiiiles rtoiii this post, the bridge of which 1 had reciiimuitred by iiidiaiis id'
lliniithltt''s baud the day before. From this 1 beard from Maj. Ihule pr^.-siiig
me to lijrwaid the six-puuiider, by all means, it having been left by the liiilme
111 the timm lour miles out. I accordingly ordered the |iurcliiise of tliiiu
liiii'Srs and harness, and it joined the coliiiiiii at nine that ni>:lir. On tin;
ui^dit of the '^4tli, 1 heard that the traiis|)oi-t with Maj. MonidJ'oid and eom-
jiuny, long and anxiously expected, was in tbu bay. 1 sent at one o'clock a
letter to him, (received at day-light) by an Indian express, urging him on.
He hiiided with his strong company on the I^.Jlh about noon, and inliirmed
me tiiat Lcf^ede's company, under l^ieut. Uraifson, nearly full, must be
near at band. Of this M :j. JJade was informed by u gallant volunteer,
Jtwell, C eoiiipuny, 2d artilli ry, who had letl the detuchment with the news
uf the burning of Dig ilitlsboro' bridge, near which Maj. D. had halted the
second day, Si.ltb. 1 also informed bim that I was using every exertion to
push on about thirteen hundred rations on pack-horses, with what ammiini-
tiun could be spared. A duplicate of this was sent tbu next day by a young
liidiiui, who becume lame and could not overtake tho column, and returned
with his letters. Pr. ./ewe// joined Mu], Dade about ll o'clock ou the night of
tlie *2.")th.
'Jn the chain of events, ii is proper that I shouhl mention, that three
Tullahassee Indians came in on lite evening of the 22il, and caused great
oxeiioment in llolase Einaildota camp. They brought a talk of Inicanupas
of a pacific or neutral character, or they ullected it; but 1 believe not dis-
tinctly, until after 1 had made them prisoners, while in full council with
EmalfUa's warriors, which step I considered imperative, if they were sjiii s,
and as much so if they were charged with any propositions likely to detach the
chiefs from the treaty ; or indeed by an act of selt'-devotion, to tidve the scalps
cf" Emalhia, Black Dirt, and Big Warrior, faithful cliiels, who have been
liiinted in this way since the scalping of Charles Emathla, In u council with
Emallda that night, Maj. Dade expressed every coulidence in Indian charac-
ter; and particularly upon the salutary influence of Abralmm upon Micanopa.
On reflection I detained two of the imprisoned Tallabassees, as hostages, and
sunt tiie youngest and best runner with letters to (General Clinch, and (ieneral
Thompson, via Inicaiiopa, as I could do no better, and of course, through
AbrnluDiCs lands.
"These letters of course involved i viny details; but niimbers and other
facts, to guaid against treachery, were stated in French. The runn(;r returned
two days beyond his time, with a message from Abraliam and Broken Slicks,
stating my talk was good, and that I might expect him on the 80th. This we
freely rendered that he would be at the attack fixed for Christmas week.
A negro, his intimate, named Hqrry, controls the Pea Creek band of about a
hundred warriors, forty miles south-east of us, who have done most of the
mischief, and keep this post constantly observed, and communicate with the
Mickasukians at Wythlacoochee by means of powerful bands of Eulbllahs
and Alatiers, under Little Cloud, and the AUigaior. In tracing Maj. Dade^s
movements, I have every reason to believe that he made on the 2Cth six
miles, 27th to Big Wythlacoochee ; on tlie tilth day, 28th, to the battle-ground,
sLxty-five miles.
" Here it may be proper to suite that Maj. Mountford's command was ready
to move on the 26tli, but the transport, in which was a company of the 2d
artillery under Lieut. Grayson, untbrtimately entered the wrong bay, and
got into shoal water, and was not seen, or certainly heard of; till the morning
of the 28th of December, when, by sending a party with a flag as a signal
Lieut. Grayson was put in possession of instructions, and landed hi»
company at a point four miles west of us, on the east side of Tampa Bay
(proper) and joined at sunset that evening ; his transport did not get round to
7*
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78
DEFEAT OF MAJOR DADE.
7 «'
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P' : ■'■
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i^-;-
[Book IV.
innd hill hn^^piffR till tlin 30th ; ho long nn intorval M to put all hope of junc-
tion out of tlio qllf^'4tion, ami Mnj. Mouniford'i Imggngn wan imladt-d.
"Now it IxTorncs my iimlniiclioly duty to proceed to the cntaHtroplic of ting
fated Imrid, an elite? of energy, patriotium, military Hkill, and courage. On t|,p
'^)(li, in the aiternoon, a man of my eompany, John Thnmai, and tetnpuniriiv
transli.'rred to (? eoinpany, Heeond artillery, came in, and yesterday IV. H/in:im
Clark, of same company, with four wounds very severe, and stated, that an
action took place on the !28tli, coimiiencing ahout 10 o'clock, in which every
odicer fell, and nearly every man. The command entrenched every night,
nntl ahout tour milos irom the hidt, wore attacked, and received at least lilleen
roimds i)el(ire un Indian was seen. Maj. Onde and his horse were lir)tli killed
on tJM! first onset, and the interpreter, ^ Louit,^ Lieut. j>fi«/g'e, third artillery,
rectivi'd his mortal wound the first fire, and allerwards received several oilnir
Wounds, l.ieiit. Hnsintrer, third artillery, was not wounded till alter die
second attack ; und, at the latter part of that, ho was wounded several tiincH
before he was tomahawked. Capt. Gardiner, second artillery, was not
Wounded until the secoiul attack, and ot the last part of it. Mr. liantHfrir,
atler Capt. Oanlinrr whh killed, remarked, "lam the only officer lell ; and,
boys, we will do the best we can." Lieut. Kmyx, third artillery, had both
urms broken the Hrst shot ; was unable to act, and was tomahawked the latter
iMirt of the second attack, by a negro. Lieut. Henderson had his letl arm
broken the first tire, and aller that, with a musket, fired at least thirty or forty
shot. J)r. Catlin wjis not killed until after the second attack, nor was lie
woimdol ; he placed himself behind the breastwork, and with two double-
barrelled guns, said, "he bad four barrels for them." Capt. Frazier fell early
in the action with the advanced guard, as a man of hia company, \i third
artillery, who came in this morning, wounded, reports.
" On the attack they were in column of route, and after receiving a heavy
fire from the unseen enemy, they then rose up in such a swarm, that the
f round, covered, as was thought, by light uifantry extension, showed the
ndiuns between the files. MusktJts were clid)bed, knives and bayonets used,
and parties were clenched ; in the second attack, our own men's nniskets
from the dead and wounded, were used against them ; a cross-fire cut down
a succeasion of artillerists at the fence, from which forty-nine rounds were
fired ; the gun-carriages were burnt, and the guns sunk in a pond ; a war-
dance was held on the ground. Many negroes were in the field, but no scalps
were taken by the Indians ; but the negroes, with hellish cruelty, pierced the
throats of all, whose loud cries and groans showed the power of lite to be
jnet strong. The survivors were preserved by imitating death, excepting
Thomas, who was partly stifled, and bought his life for six dollars, and in his
enemy recognized an Indian whose axe he had helved a few days before at
this post About one hundred Indians were well mounted, naked, and
painted. The last man who came in brought a note from Capt. Frazier,
addressed to Maj. Mountford, which was fastened in a cleft stick, and stuck in
a creek, dated, as is supposed, on 37th, stating that they were beset every
night, and pushing on.
F. S. Belton, CapL 2d Artillery.^
Such was the fate of Major Dade and his gallant companions. Osceola was
present, as was the old chief Micanopy. Of the latter, it is said, he had, in
the beginning of the troubles, avowed that he iootdd neither leave his country,
nor woxdd !ie fis^ht ; but when the force under Major Dade approached his
town, he altered his resolution, seized his rifle, and shot that officer.
The situation of afthirs, at this period cannot better be described than in the
language of a gentleman attached to Major Mountford^s command, stationed at
Fort Brooke, and is contained in a letter, dated on the first day of the year : —
" We are," says he, " really in the theatre of war of the most horrible kind.
We arrived here on Christmas day, and foimd the inhabitants flying in from all
quarters to camp. Major Dade, with seven officers and 110 men, started, the
day before we arrived, for Fort King. We were all prepared to overtake
them the next day, and were upon the eve of departure, when an mtervention
of circumstances deferred it for one day ; and, in the course of that day, three
Chap. IX.
HoldierH, li
in;:H that
murdered
ourselves
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Those i
Ch*p. IX.]
VISIT TO DADE'S BATTLE-ClROtND.
TO
MolditTfl, horrilily mmiglcd, cumn into camp, nnd brought the mclnticlioly tid-
injrs tlmt Miiior Dmle nnd ovrry offlccr and man, oxrcpt tlifnisilvcs, went
niiirdtrcd and tvere
destroyed on thtt morning of the ^Hth December, about four miles in advance
of that position. lie was udvanci ig towards this post, and was attacked li'oni
the north, so that on tlie 20th instant we came on the ntar of his battle-ground,
uhoiit nine o'clock in the morning. Our advanced guard had passed the
ground without halting, wlien the General and his stalf came upon one of the
most a[)pulling scenes that can l)e imagined. We tiist saw some broken and
.scaltereii boxes ; then a cart, the two o.xen of which were lying dead, as if
they had fallen asleep, tlu'ir yokes still on them; u little to the right, one or
two horses were seen. Wo then came to a small enclosure, made by telling
trees in such a manner as to form a triangular breastwork for (l(!fenee. With-
in till! triangle, along the north ond we.st fiiees of it, wen; about thirty bodie,«,
mostly mere skeletons, although much of the clothin" was left njtoti them.
These were lying, almost every one of them, in precisely the position they
must have occupied during the fight,— their heads next to the logs over Avhicli
they had tielivered their fire, and their bodies stretched, with striking regular-
ity, |)arall(!l to each other. Tliey had evidently been shot dead ut their posts,
and the Indians had not disturbed them, exce|)t by taking the scalps of most
of them. Passing this little breastwork, we found other bodies along the
road, and by the side of the road, generally behind trees, which had been
resorted to for covere from the enemy's fire. Advancing about two htnidred
yards further, we found a cluster of bodies in the middle of the road. These
were evidently the advanced "uard, in the rear of which was the body of
Major Dade, and, to the right, tliat of Capt. fVaser.
" These were all doubtless shot down on the first fire of the Indians, except,
jierhaps, Capt. Fraser, who must, however, have fallen very early in the fight,
riiosc in the road, and by the trees, fell during the first attack. It was during
a cessation of the fire, that the little band still remaining, about thirty in num-
ber, threw up the triangular breastwork, which, from the haste with which it
was con,structed, was necessarily defective, and could not protect the men in
the second attack.
" We had with us many of the personal friends of the ofiicers of Major
Dade's command ; and it is gratifying to be able to state, that every officer was
identified by undoubted evidence. They were buried, and the cannon, a six-
pounder, that the Indians had thrown into a swamp, was recovered, and placed
vertically at the head of the grave, where, it is to be hoped, it will long remain.
The bodies of the non-commissioned officers and privates were buried in two
graves ; and it was found that every man was accounted for. The command
was composed of eight officers, and one hundred and two non-commissioned
ofiicers and privates. The bodies of eight officers and ninety-eight men were
interred, — four men having escaped, three of whom reached Tampa Bay ; the
fourth was killed the day after the battle.
" It may be proper to observe, that the attack was not made from a ham-
mock, but in a thinly-wooded country ; the Indians being concealed by palmetto
and grass, which has since been burned.
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80
PRINCIPAL SKMINOLE CHIEFS.
[Book IV.
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test
" TIk; two companies were Capt. Fraser's, of the 3d artillery, and Capt,
Gurilincr\'i, of the ad artillery. The ollicers were Major Dade, of the 4th
iiiliiiitry, Capts. Fmzer and Gardiner, second Lieutenant Basinger, brevet second
Lient. Ji. Uemkrsun, Mudae [late of Jiostonl and Keaia, of the artillery, and
Dr. y. S. Gatlin:' ^ "■ • ' "
From a comparison of the above report with the official account before
ffi\en, of Captain Belton, nearly every thing concerning this signally great
disaster is learned ; but from the report of the three men that had the singular
foriui; to escai)e, many incidents have, from time to time, betai gathered, and
comiinuiicatod through tlie newspapers. In fact, until the late visit to the
battle-ground, no other uccount, but such as could be gathered from the tiiree
poor haif-uuirdered soldiers, could be obtained ; and yet it apf)ears tiiat they
gave the facts as they really were. They all came in separately, sorely
wounded, — one of them with no less than eight wounds. He was supposed to
be dead, and was thrown promi.scuously into a heap of the slain, about whi(;li u
dance was held by the Indians, before leaving the ground. This man crawled
away in the following night, and thus effected his escape.
Hi§e^
CHAPTER X.
Of the principal chiefs and war leaders of the Seminoles — OscEotA — Mica nop v —
Jumper — Massacre of General Thompson aiid others at Fort King — Batti.k of
TiiF OuiTHLKcoocHE — Fight near Wetumka — Great distress of the country — Action
of Congress upon it — Battle at Musquitu — Many Creeks join the Heminoles — Finht
on the Suanec River.
There has been occasion already pretty fuily to sketch t.ie character of the
chis'f geocrally called Powell by the whites, but whose real name is Osceola,
or Otii'riu. This chief luis shown himself to be, thus far, eiju^! to the desperate
cause in whicli he is engaged. We, at a distance from the huUans, marvel
that they should be so short-sighted as not to see that to wage a war is only to
hasten t;>c.'r ruin ; ImC, when we thus reflect, we do not consider the scanty
informatiuH which the Indians have of the real strength of the wliites. Our
means of getting a knowledge of the Indians, is incalculably greater than theirs
is of getting a knowledge of us. They cannot read, neither can they converse
(or but very few of them) with intelligent white men ; therefore, that they
know much less of us than we do oi iiem, must be very ap|)arent. They
know nothing of geography. If an Indian, in the interior of Florida, siiould
be told that New England was a great place, without considerable trouble he
could not be made to understand whetiier it were a great town, as large as a
village of 50 wigwams in his own country, or as large as the whole of Florida.*
We Team every ihing of this nature by c'om|)arison ; and how shall the Indian
comprehend our terms, but by comparing them with his own ? Hence it is
owing, mainly, to the unavoidable ignorance of the Indians of our actual con-
dition, that induces them to hazard a war with us, I know, from the best
authority, that the western Indians, previous to Black Hawk's war, were gen-
erally of the opinion that they were far more numerous than the whites ; and
when a trader told them they certainly were not, they laughed at him with
scornful gestures. We have no reason to believe the Florida Indians any
better informed ; and, besides, they are cheated and baffled so otleu by knaves
who go among them for that purpose, that they imagine all the whites to be
of the same character, and they cannot tell whetiier a talk really comes from
their great father, the jiresident, or whether some impostor be cheating them
with one of his own, to get their lands for his particular benefit.
With this view of the case before us, it will not appear altogether unac-
countable that a daring ciiiof, like Osceola, should engage in a war. He is said
not to be a chief by birth, but has raised himself by his courage and pecidiw
abilities to that station. His father is said to have been an Englishman, and
m'
Chap. X.] MASSACRE OF GENERAL THOMPSON AND OTHERS
81
his mother a Creek woman. He l)elong8 to the Red Stick triho. In person
lie is skiider, but well formed, musciilur, and capahle of enduring great
fatigue; is an excellent tactician, and an admirer of order and discipline. He
woulii frequently practise military manunivres with the whites, and none of
them, it was observ^vl, coidd excel him. His complexion is rather light, deep
restless eyes, char : .id shrill voic*-, and not more than about 35 years of age.
He is said to have conducted in person every important action fmiii the time
of ftaireii's defeat to the batde of the Ouitlilecoochee. General Thompson
imprisoned him, as we have before related, because he woidd not acknowl-
edge his authority, and for asserting that the country was the Indians', " that
they wanted no agent, and that Ik; had better take care of himself."
Of old Micanopy as well as Osceola 1 have alream
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actors in them ; because, from such sources, we seldom fail of arriving at the
truth. A commander or leader in a battle or expedition, if he would wish to
misrepresent a transaction, would, in scarce one time in a thousand, dare to
do so ; because all liis followers, or at least all those wronged by a false
statement, would rise in evidence against him. I need not, however, have
prefaced General Clinch's official account of theBATTLK of Ouithlecoochee
with these observations, for, from the very face of it, his aim at the strictest
veracity is apparent. But it is proper that we know how to value the real
sources of history ; it was to this end that the above observations were made.
1 will now proceed with General Clinches account of his battle with Osceula.
"Head Qi/rartera, Territory of Florula, Fori Drane, Jan. 4, 183(5.
"Sir — On the '2i ultimo, brigadier Gen. Call, con\nianding the volunteers
called into servici; by his excellency, G. R. Walker, acting governor of Flori-
da, formed a junction with the regular troops at this post, and informed me
that his command had been raised to meet the crisis ; that most of tluiirterni^
of siTvice woidd expire in a ['e>N days, Avhich made it necessary to act
promptly. Two large detachments were sent out on the l.'ith [Dec] to
scour the country on our right and left flank. Lieut. Col. Fanmnjr, with
three companies from Fort King, arrived on the 27th ; and, on the 21)tli, the
detachment having returned, the brigade of mounted volunteers, composed
of the 1st and 2d regiments, coi.imanded by iJrig. Gen. Call, and a battalion
of rtigiilar troops commanded by Lieut. Col. Fanning, took up the line of
march foi a j)oint on the Ouithlccooche river, which was represented hy our
guides as being a good ford. About 4 o'clock on the morning of tlieSlst [of
Dec] arter leaving all our baggage, provisions, &.c., protected by a guard
conniianded by Lieut. Dancy, we pushed on with a view of carrying the ford,
and of surprising the main body of the Indians, supjtosed to he'concentrated
on the west bank of the river ; but on reaching it, about day-light, we found.
instead of a good ford, a deep and rapid stream, and no means of crossing,
except in an old and damaged canoe. Lieut. Col. Fanning, however, soon
succeeded in crossing; the regular troops took a position in advance, whilst
Brig. Gen. Call was actively engaged in crossing his brigade, and in having
their horses swam over the river. But belbre one half had crossed, the bat-
talion of regulars, consisting of about 200 men, were attacked by the enemy,
who were strongly posted in the swamp and scrub, which extended from the
river. This little band, however, aided by Col. Warren, jMaj. Cooper, and
Lieut. Yeoman, with 27 volunteers, met the attack of a savage enemy, n(!arly
throe times their numbtu-, headed by the chief Oseola, with Spartan valor.
The action lasted nearly an hour, during which time the troops made three
brilliant charges into the swamp and scrub, and drove the enemy in every
direction. And after the third charge, although nearly one th'rd of their
number had been cut down, they were lound sufficiently firm and steady to
fortify the formation of a new line of hattle, which gave; entire protection to
the flanks, as well as the position selected for recrossing the troops. Urig,
Gen. Call, after using every effort to induce the volunteers remaining on the
east bank, wheii the action commenced, to cross the river, and in arranging
the troops still remaining on that hank, crossed over and rendered important
service by his coolness and judgment in arranging part of his corps on the
right of the regulars, which gave much strength and security to that flank.
Col. Fanning displayed the greatest firmness throughout the action, and
added much to tlie high reputation long since established. Captains Drane
and Mellon exhibited great bravery and judgment, and likewise added to the
character they acquired in the late war. Nor was Capt. Gales wanting in
firnuiess. Capt. Wm. M. Graham, 4t}i infantrj', was fearlessly brav(!, and
although very severely womnh-d early in the engagement, continued to head
his company in the most gallant manner, until he received another severe
wound, when he was taken frou) the ficsld. His brother, Lieut. Campbell Gra-
ham, conuTianding the adjacent company, was likewise severely wounded
early in the fight, but continued with his men until another wound forced
him, from loss of blood, to retire from th(! field. Lieut. Maitland, who com-
manded a company, contributed much, by his gallantry, to encourage his men.
Chap. X.]
BATTLE OP THE OUITHLECOOCHE.
83
Liciits. Tehot, Capron, John Graham, Ritl^dy, (who was wounded early in the
(Ktiori,) ami Brooks, ail displayed good c;j;!rage anc' coolneas throughout the
aftioii. When almost every Mon*roinmitsioiied officer ami private exhibited
such firmness, it was almost imjwjssihie to discriminate between them ; but
the commanding-general cannot withhold i.is high approbation of judgment
and courage displayed by wjrgeant Johns(,n of H company, third artillery, on
whom the command of the com|)any devolved, after Lieut. Graham \\a!>
removed from the tield ; and wlio, although severely wounded, continued a'
the head of the company till the actioa was over. Also of sergeants KetUoti
and Lofton, and corjM)ral Paget, 4th iidimtry. Sergeants ScoJJield and Potter
D company, 2d artillery ; sergeant Smith, C company, first artillery, and cor
poral Cliapin, C company, lid artillery. Colonel John H^amer, commandau'
Jst regiment volimteers, Maj. Cooper, and Lieut. Yeoman of same corps, whc
had formed on the left flank, were all severely wounded, while leading theii
little band to the cluirge, and a!! behavtul with great bravery, as well as
adjutant Phillips. Lieut, CoL Mills displayed gnat coolness and judgment
(luring the action, and in recrossing the river with his command. Lieuts.
Stcwitrt and Hunter of the 2d regittieut, with a few men of that regiment, were
judiciously posted on the right, and, from their reputation for firujuess, woidd
imve given a good account of the enemy, had he made his appearance in that
(|uarter. Col. Parkill, of the F. volunteers, who performed the duties of
adjutant-general, displayed much military skill atid the utmost coolness and
courage throughout the whole action ; and his services were of the first
importance. Col. Reid, inspector-general, displayed much firmness, but he
had his horse shot, and received a slight wound early in the engagement, and
was sejit with orders to the vohinteei*s. My volunteer aid, Maj, Lutle, and
Maj. JVelford, aid to Ihig. Gen. Call^ were near me throughout the action, and
displayed the most intrepid courage and coolness. Col. /. H. Mcintosh, one
of my aids, and Maj. Gamble, aid to Gen. Call, both displayed much firnmess
and courage, and were actively employed on the left flank. I also feel it due
to Lieut. Col. Baikji, Ca|)t. Scott, and Lieut. Culhbert, to say, that, although
the action was nearly over before they could cross the river with a few of the
2d regiment, they took a judicious position, and showed nnich firmness.
Capt. Wyait, of the same corps, was entirely employed in erecting a tempora-
ry bridge, and manifested much firmness. Much credit is also due to the
medical department, composed of Doctors fFighimmi, Hamilton, Randolph, and
Bradon, for their activity and attention to the wounded.
" The time of service of the volunteers having expired, and most of them
having expressed an unwillingness to remain longer in the service, it was
considered best, after removing the dead and taking care of the wounded, to
return to this post, which we reached on the 2d instant, without the least
interruption, and, on the following day, the volunteers from Middle Florida
took up the line of March for Tallahassee ; and this morning those from East
Florida proceeded to their respective homes, leaving me a very few men to
guard this extensive frontier. I am now fully convinced that there has been
a great defection among the Florida Indians, and that a great many Creeks
have united with them ; consequently it will require a strong force to put
them down.
"I also have the honor to enclose you a list of the killed and wounded of
the re8|)ective regiments and corps. I am, sir, with high respect, your most
obedient,
D. L. Clinch,
Brevet B. General U. S. Army, Commanding.
" R, Jones, Mjutant- General U. S. Army,"
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"Return of the killed and wounded at the battle of the Ouithlecooche on
the Hist day of December, 1835. — C company, 1st artillery, Capt. Gates com-
manding — one artificer killed ; 1 corporal and 3 privates wounded. D com-
Eany, 2d artillery, Capt. G. Drane commanding — 1 private killed ; 1 second
lieut, 1 corporal, and 12 privates wounded. F company, 2d artillery, bt
Capt. Mdlon commanding — 1 artificer killed. C company, 3tl artillery, 1st
Lieut Maitland commandiug — 1 artificer killed, and 7 privates wounded. H
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Vi.,
84
FIGHT NEAR WETUMKA.
[Book IV.
company, 3(1 artillery, lat Lieut. C. Graham conminnding — 1 private killed •
1 first Licuu, 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 12 privates wounded.
" Total— 4 killed, and 52 wounded." How many of the wounded died
after the return was made out, I cannot ascertain ; but no doubt many did, as
is always tne case. The loss of the Indians is, as usual on such occasions,
variously estimated. Some friendly Indians who came into Tallahassee, said
that Osceola lost 104 men, and was himself twice wounded during the battle.
There were with General Clinch, as gui.lcs in his expedition, tliree or four
Indians of the white party, relatives of 'he ciiief, Charles Omailda, who doubt-
less rendered eminent sei-vice.
Osceola was observed foremost of all his men in this battle, and was well
known to General Clinch and many of hi? men. He wore a red helt, and
three long feathers. Having taken his st J behind a tree, he would step
boldly out, level his rifle, and bring down a man at every fire ; nor was he
dislodged until several volleys from whole platoons had heen fired upon hini.
The tree behind which he stood was literally cut to pieces. It is aluioBt a
wonder that he had not now fulfiUiid the measure of his threat made on a
former occasion, which was to kill General Clinch. He j)robably tried his
beat to do it, for the general received several shots through his clothen.
General Thompson, Charles Omathla, and (ieneral Clinch were tlie three j)er-
sons he had declared vengeance against.
An officer in General Clinch's army wrote the next day after the hattle, to
a friend in Washington, "You will see from Gen. ClincWs official letter,
giving an account of the Irattle, that he says nothing of himself. I was in this
battle, and allow mo to say to you respecting him, what I saw and know to be
true. Throughout the engagement he was in the hottest of the fight. His
horse was shot under him in two places, neck and hip. A ball passed through
his cap, entering the front, and passing out at the back part of the top. An-
other ball passed through the sleeve of the bridle-arm of his coat. This was
my first battle, and I may not bo the best judge, but I do not believe *.hat any
man ever displayed more intrepid courage than Gen. Clinch did on this
occasion. At one moment a little confusion occurred among tlie troops, in
consequence of some soldiers giving the word ^Retire!" The general
immediately threw himself in front of the men, and his horse staggering
under him, he dismounted, advanced to the front, and, amidst a shower of
bullets from the Indians, said, that before he would show his back to the
enemy, he would die upon the field. The high and chivalric bearing of the
general kindled among the men an enthusiasm, which, I believe, was never
surpassed. A gallant charge followed, which routed and drove the enemy
from the field, and they did not again show themselves. We kept the field
about three hours, and then recrossed the river in good order, and without
disturbance."
The next events which occurred were not of so much moment as those
immediately preceding them ; but it is our duty to notice all, which we will
do in the order of time.
On the 12 January, "Col. Parish, at the head of 200 mounted volunteers,
composed of the companies of Capt. Alston, Bellamy, and Caswell, had a sharp
encounter with a large body of Indians near Wetumkn, in Middle Florida.
The attack commenced with the advanced guard under Capt. Bellamij, who
had been allowed by the enemy to pass their main body. Col. Parish imme-
diately hastened forward to his support, when suddenly he was attacked on
both flanks by the enemy in ambush. The volunteers made an unsuccessful
attempt to charge on horseback; they were then dismounted and foimed in
admirable order. They then charged the enemy in a manner worthy of
veterans. In the mean time, CapL Bellamy, having routed the attacking party
opposed to him, fell back on the main body. The enemy were soon forced
to take shelter in a thicket By this time, night coming on, it was not diouglit
prudent to follow them, where the localities of the place and the darkness
would have given them great advantages. Our men rested on their arms in
the open pine woods, prepared to renew the action at day-light ; but during
the night the savages eflTected their retreat. Their loss must have been con-
siderable, as six dead bodies were counted in one part of the field of battle.
.i■^>
•■)■:■''
[Book IV.
rivute killed ;
'^ouiided died
many did, as
ch occuaions,
lahassee, said
tig the battle,
tliree or four
I, who doubt-
and was well
red helt, and
le would step
; nor was he
ed upon hini.
It ia almost a
at made on a
ibly tried his
his clotheH.
tile three |)er-
the battle, to
official letter,
I was in this
id know to be
he fight. His
assed through
the top. An-
at. This was
lieve that any
h did on this
tlie troops, in
The general
rse staggering
t a shower of
is Iwck to the
bearing of tlie
3ve, was never
ve the enemy
kept the field
r, and without
ment as those
wliich we will
ted volunteers,
//, had a sharp
[iddle Florida.
, Bellamy, who
Parish imnie-
as attacked on
n unsuccessful
md foimed in
ler worthy of
ittacking party
re soon forced
as not thought
I the darkness
1 their arms in
ht ; but during
lave been con-
field of batUe.
Ckap X.]
CONGRESS.— BATTLE OP DUNLAWTON.
S5
v,r'
Two days after. Col. Parish marched for Fort King, and arrived there in
safety. He then proceeded to PoioeWs [Osceola^s] town, and destroyed it.
The volunteers then returned to Fort Drane."
The best opinion can be formed of the distress of the people of Florida at
this period, from the sufferers themselves, or those momentarily expecting to
t)eco:ne such. On the 16 January, a newspajMjr published at Tallahassee
contained as follows: — "Since the engagement on tlie Wythlacoocliee, no
intelligence has been had of the main body of the Indians. The situation of
the inhabitants east of the St. John's and south of St. Augustine, is truly
deplorable. New Smyrna has been burnt, and all the fine plantations in that
neighborhood are broken u}). Many of the negroes have been carried ofl| or
have joined the savages. The Indians are dispersed in small parties, and
when pursued they take refuge in the thickets, Avtiich abound every where,
and fight with desj)eration, until they are dead, no matter by what numbers
they are assailed. It is literally a war of extermination, and no hope is
entertained of )Mitting an end to it, but by the most vigorous measures. In
the mean time, the number of the enemy is daily increasing by de9|>eradoe8
from other tribes, and absconding slaves. The Mickasooky tribe is considered
the lead'" •* [one] of the Seminoles. They have always been noted as the
most ruti-i. ss aiia determined of the savage race."
But it must not be supposed, that the measure of the sufferings of the
Floridians was yet fidl, at this date of our history, nor even at the very writing
hereof, (20 July,) although the whole coast from St. Augustine to Cape Florida
is in the hands of the Indians, and has remained so ever since the 11 Febru-
ary. Nevertheless, nothing seems yet to have occurred sufficiently alarming
to awaken the sympathies of the heads of the nation. But on the 30 January,
Mr. White, in the '<8use of representatives, a^ed leave to introduce the fol-
lowing resolution : —
" Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, That the president of the U^ States be
authorized to cause rations to be delivered from tlie public stores to the
unfortunate sufierers who have been driven from their homes by Imiiau
depredations, until they can be rc-estahliahed in their possessions, and enabled
to procure provisions for the sustenance of themselves and families."
This resolution, afler some debate, was passed, and became a law. The
notice of this act of congress is in anticipation of the order of events ; but one
thing is certain, that if I have noticed congress a little prematurely, they have
not committed the like fault in noticing the affairs of Florida.
Upon tlie 17 Januar ;, as George W. RoMeff aiid Jerry Botvers, pilots in the
nloop Pilot, of Mosquitt , were }iroceeding up Halifax River, and when nearly
opposite Mi"s. Anderson!. • plantation, they were fired upon by Indians, about
lUO in number, as they juilged, who continued their fire about a quarter of an
hoin-. Tiiey overshot the men, but the sail and rigging of their vessel was
much injured', 30 bullets having passed through the mainsail.
The next day, 18 January, Major Putinan, who was at the head of the
independer* company, styled the St. Augustine Guards, stationed at Mos-
riuito, )»roceeded to Mrs. Jlndersmi'g plantation, at a place called Dun Lawton,
alwut 50 miles south of St. Augustine, on the Halifax River, upon discovery.
It will he remembered that the whole of the Moscpiito country was destroyed
on the 2(» and 27 of December, as we have before related, and the buildings
of Mrs. .'Jdrfcrson were at that time burned. While there, this company, com-
posed of the generous and spirited voting mon of St. Augustine, joined by a
li'w (Vom Mosquito, making about 40 men, was attjirked by l.'iO IndUuis, as
was supposed. Mr. Geo. Anderson and Mr. Douglas Dunimit, standing on
iruard, saw two Indians approaching, iij)on whom they fired, killing one and
wounding the other. Dummit ran to the fallen Indian, and as he w.-is stoojiing
over him, received a wound in the back of the neck. At the same moment
the whole body of the Indians rushed out of a scrub, distant a little more
than muskt^ shot, and commenced a furious attack uiKin .Major Pu
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86
CONGRESS AND THE SEMINOLE WAR.
[Book IV.
them at bay for about an hour. During this time but one had been wounded.
The Indians now charged thcni witli such determined fury upon tlieir flunks
that tliey were obliged to fly to their boats, wliieh were at considerable
distance from the shore, and were closely pursued by the Indians. lu thuir
hurry, the whites rendered all tlieir guns, but one, useless, by wetting tlieui
with this one, however, they firetl us often as possible, and pushed oil" witli
energy ; but the water being shallow for a great distance, tliey were in tlie
most imminent danger of being boarded by the nunu.>rous Indians ; in such
event, every man must have perished. However, they escaped with 19 liadiv
wounded, and several of these mortally. One bout fell into the hands ul' th(^
Indian.s, in which were eight or ten men, who all jumped overboard and
escaped, except one, a Mr. Edward Gould, who swum to Pelican L-slund, and
was there left ; nor was it in the power of the others to relieve him, tliey
being pursued by die Indians in the boat whieh they had just taken. He was
not heard of afterwards, and was supposed to have been drowned next day
in endeavoring to swim from the island. A Mr. Marks swum to the o|)poi?ite
beach, and escaped to Bulowville ; the others were taken into the boats uguin.
Great fears having, all along, been entertained that the Seuiinoles would
be aided by the Creeks, it is now confidently atiirmed tliat at least 1000 ol"
them have gone down into Florida few that end.
About the 20 January, Captain Hooder, on the lower Suanee River, fiudinj;
the opposite side in possession of tJie Indians, crossed over wkh iihie men to
attack them. As they lauded, two of his men were shot down ; one with
nine bulls, the other with five. With his remaining men he charged the
Indians with great boldness. In the ni'^an time his boat got adrift, and no
other alternative was left but victory or death. After a close and deadly con-
test of some minutes, the Indians were routed with severe loss^
»###(■
CHAPTER XL
Congress makes an appropriation for carrying on the war — Remarks in the Senata
of the United States on the war with the Scminoles — Debate in the house of repre-
sentatives on the bill for the relief of the inhabitants of Florida — Attack on same
Creeks at Bryant's Ferry — General Gaines's campaign in Florida — Fights the
Indians on the Otiithlacoochee — His conference with Osceola — Resigns his com-
■nuind, and leaves the country — Captain. Allison's skirmish — The chief OuciiEi;
Billy killed — Siege of Camp McLemore — Great sufferings of its garrison — Delic-
tred by Captain Read — The chief Mad Wolf slain.
Towards the close of the preeeding chapter, notice was taken of the delay
in congress, and by the executive of the nation, to agitate the subject fX this
war. At length Mr. Webster of the senate, from the committee on finance,
reported, without amendment, a bill making further appropriation for sup-
pressing hostilities with the Seminole Indians, and asked for its immediate
consideration, as the state of the country required its passage with the ultiicst
despatch. The amount of the appropriation was 500,000 dollai-s, and tlie 1 ill
was passed after some explanatory remarks ; which remarks, as they not only
set the affairs of tlie war forth as they were known in Washington at that
period, but discover to us something by which we can judge who has been in
fault there, shall here be laid before the reader.
"Mr. Clay sanX he should be glad to hear the commHnications from the
departments read, in order to see whether they gave any account of tlie
causes of this war. No doubt, he said, whatever may have been the causes,
it was necessaiy to put an end to the war itself, by all the possible nieuns
within our power. But it was a condition, altogether without precedent, in
which the country was now placed. A war was raging with the most ran-
corous violence within our borders ; congress had been in session iitarly
two months, during which time this conflict was ragmg ; yet of tlie causes ot
,0 iius been in
CHAr. XI.]
CONGRESS AND THE SEMINOLE WAR.
87
the war, how it was produced, if the fault was on one side or on botii sides,
in sfiort, what had lighted up the torch, congress was altogether uninformed,
and no inquiry on the subject had been made by either branch of the legis-
lature. He should be glad, be said, if the chairnian of tlie conunitlec on
finance, or of the couiniittee on Indian afi'airs, or any one else, wouUI tell him
how this war had burst forth, and what were its causes, and to whom the
hlarne of it was to be charged.
" Mr. ffebster replied, that be could not give any answer to the senator
frotii Kentucky. It was as much •"* 'natter of surprise to him, as to any one,
tli.-it no oiHeial communication \m *'ii made to congress ol' the cau.ses of
tlie war. All he knew on the sti'^ect be had gathered from the gazettes.
The comtnunications from the departments spoke of the war, as a war grow-
ing out of the relations between the Indians and the goverimient ol' tli' i
1 " *
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83
FIGHT AT BRYANTS FERRY.
[Book IV.
nientji, or^ upon the commandinj^ officer in Florida, this house and Uie other
braucli of the legislature have stepped forward to sustain this war, although
no n(|iiisition has been made by the cliief magistrate of the nation. Hir I
nyoire tliat they liave done so.
"Mr. Camlireleng ro.se to explain, and Mr. Gmwgw yielded tiie floor.
"Mr. Cambrekng said, that great injustice had been done in the newsjmpers
to the conduct ])ui-sucd by tiie departments. The committee of ways and
means i)ad l)een furnislicd with the first communication on which they acted
by the .secretary of war. They next day received a second commnnicatioii
with ail the documents relating to the Indian war, and which contained all
the infurtMHtion that was requisite. The docmtients had not gone forth to the
j)nblic — which was an extraordinary circumstance. They certainly wen- sent
by tiie committee to this hous«;, and ought to have accompanied tl>e bill uiid
been printed and sent to the senate. If they had, the erroneous inipression us
to the remissness of the dejwrtment, or the executive, wmdd not have gont;
into the newspapers. It wa-» not the fault of the executive, or of the committee
on ways and means, that this had not l)een done.
"Mr. Gr«n^r resumed. If the gentleman had listened to mea litth; longer,
he would have discovered that I intended no censm-e on the executive ; but as
he ha.s chosen to challenge me to 8|>eak, I do .say that the history of this nation
can |M-e,scnt nothing like the silence which has exi^'♦ed on this subject. I do
say that whilst this hall has been ringing with plaudits upon one administra-
tion, and wliiLst we have been calkd upon day after day to hunt H|) the
bones of dead (piarrels here — whilst your settlements have been laiil waste
and desolate, no communication has been made to this house as a branch of
the govcriurient. W'jatcver information you have, even upon the gentlenoaii's
own showing, is a letter from the se«retary of war to the chairman of iImj
committee of ways and means.
"Mr. Camhreleng. That letter contained all that was necessary.
"Mr. Granger continued : Sir, I repeat that, with a war known to exist in
this country, we have l)een occupied in hunting up the possibility, not only
of a war which might take place hereafter with a foreign itation, biit also to
discover whether a war was last year likely to have existed.
" We have war enough upon our hands to take care of. The war-cry is u[>
in the woods; the tomahawk glitters in the sunbeam; the scalping-knife is
urged to its cruel duty; the flower of your chivalry is strewed along the ]>!uin,
and yet everj^ department of this administration is as dumb as the bleeding
victims of this inglorious contest.
"In legislating- for a suffering people, I ^vant no precedent but that which
my Creator lias im[)lanted in my bosom. I t learned that
serious disturbances had occurred between the whites and SeiiiinDlcs. This
was about the 15 January, and the general was arrived at New OrlcmH. His
previous head-quurters had Ljen at Memphis, in Tennessee, lie tlierctijre
called on the governor of Louisiana, to have a body of volunteers in readiness
for military service, and set out himself inuiicdiately for the scene of hostilities.
At Pensacola he fountl some vessels of war, under Commodores Dallas and
Bollon, and Captain JVehb, who had already conmienced operatioii.s in tin?
neijfhborhood of Tampa Bay, and other adjacent inlets. Colonel Tmgffs had
been ordered to receive into service eight companies of voluntcei-s, to In- raised
by the governor of Louisiana, and the regular force at Baton Rou, New
Orleans, and other stations in the immediate vicinity of New Orleans, and to
hold himself in readiness for a movement towards Tumjja. This force con-
sisted of ul)out 1100 men.
That no time should be lost. General Gaines returned imme«l lately to New
Orleans (about 20 Januai7), and, on the 4 February, was under way again for
Florida, with his forces organized. He arrived at Tampa, with his forces, in
three steam-boats, on the 'Jth, and, on the 13th began to pioceed into the In-
dian country. His first movement was to the east, on the Alafia River, having
understood there had been a fight in that direction, near Fort Brooke, between
the hostile and friendly Indians ; but after two days, no enemy being discov-
ered, the line of march was altered for Fort King. General Gaines^s army had
hut ten days' rations ; but, by advices, he was assured that there was j)lenty at
Fort King.
On the 20 February, the army passed Major Dade's fatal field, on which
was found lOt) men, all of whom they decently inferred. All the officers who
fell in that disastrous fight were identified, and, what was very remarkable,
every man was accounted for ; bi:t what struck every one with the greatest
surprise, was, that the dead were in no instance pillaged ; articles the most
esteemed by savages were untouched ; the officers' bosom-pins remained in
their places ; their watches were found in their pockets, and money, in silver
and gold, was left to decay with its owner, — a lesson to all the world — a testi-
mony that the Indie 9 are not fighting for plunder! — nay, they are fighting
for their rights, their country, their homes, their very existence ! The arms
and ammunition were all that had been taken, except the unifonn coat of
M^or Dade.
On the 22 February, the army arrived at Fort King, much to the agreeable
surprise of the garrison, which it had been reported was cut oflTby the Indians.
Owing to the country's being in possession of the Indians, no supplies had
arrived ; and, the next day, a troop of horse was despatched to Foit Drano,
(22 miles north-west,) in hopes to obtain further su|)plies. They returned the
24, bvit with only seven days' additional rations. To this they added two days'
more at Fort King. The general scarcely knew what course next to take ; but
he finally concluded to move down the Owithlecoochee, over Gem ral Clinch's
battle-groinid, and so to Tampa, thinking such a route might bring him in
contact with the main body of the Indians. Accordingly the army moved, on
the 2Gth, from Fort King, and, at two o'clock on the 27th, arrived at General
Clinches crossing-place. Here, wliile examining and sounding the river, the
Indians fired upon them, and set up a fierce war-cry ; but their numbers were
not sufficient to make any material impression, although they continued the
fight for about half an hour. The whites lost one killed, and eight wounded.
On the 28th, the anny, having resumed its march, was again attacked, alwut
two miles from its former position, and a fire was kept up about half of the
day. At the commencement of the action. Lieutenant hard, of the United
States dragoons, fell, mortally wounded. In he course of the fight, another
was killed, and two wounded. In the evening, express was sent to Foit
Drane, with directions for the commanding officer to march down with a
fcrce upon the opposite side of the Ouiihlecoochee, and thus come upon the
8*
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90
GAINES'S SEMINOLE CAMPAIGN.
[Book IV.
rear oftlie Iiidiuns ; which movewi>.-i% should it succeed, it wus huped, would
litiisli the wur.
Oil ihi; nioriiingof the 2!hh, no [i: .'fiiH were to be seen ; but the general did
not relav his preeautionH. A party was preparing timber and eanoes titr vms^.
ing the river, when, about D o'clock, they were sharply fired upon, luid, at the
su.'ne time, liie encampment was attacked upon every side, but that towardtt
th(! river. The Indians now seemed in j^reut force, (12 or 1500, as wiw supposed,)
havinj; been coliectiuj,', from all (piarters since tlie tight on the previous duv.
They continued the contest two hours, in which time one man was killed and
33 vvoimded. Among the latter was the general himself, — a ritle ball liaviii<;
passed through his lower lip, knocked out one tooth, and damaged two others.
When it was found that the general was wounded, his companions expressed
much regret ; but he talked of it as a matter of small moment ; said " it was
very uiddnd in the rascals to take away a tooth which he valued so highly."
On reconnoitering the enemy's groinid, after he had fled, Gaines^s men found
one of their dead, which had been dragged a considerable distance and left
unburied, from which circmnstance they conjectured he had fled in haste.
His rifle had been taken away, but he was found to be well provided with
anmiunition, having plenty of powder and sixty bullets. The place of this
attack Gnims called Camp Izard,
The flight of the Indians was no security for their not appearins again ; for,
on the 2d of March, they returned, and commenced pouring in their shot upon
the whites, which, at intervals, they contimied to do until the .5th. M<>antiiiie
all of their provisions were exhausted, and they began the slaughter of their
horses to sustain life. Itut it is siiid that, during all this time, no one was heard
to murmur or complain.
On the night of the 5th, about 10 o'clock, a call was heard from the woods.
and some one rerpiested a parley. On the officer of the guard's demaiuling what
was wanted, it was answered that the Indians were tired of fighting, and wished
for peace. The general onlered the officer of the guard to answer, that if the In-
dians wished to treat, to send a messenger the next morning, with a white flag,
and he should come and go in safety. He replied, " veiy well," and added that
" he dtjsired to have a friendly talk, and to shake hands." Accordingly, on the
morning of the (Jth, about 300 Indians filed out from the river, and took a
position in the rear of the whites, alraut 500 yards off. They expected nothing
now but n most bloody contest, su|)posing the main body of the Indians to be
concealed in a neighboring haihmock. Both parties remained a short time in
suspense, eacli doubting what the other would do. At length, one or two
advanced within hailing distance, and, being joined with others, repeated what
had l)e(;n said the night before. The general now sent out to them a stafl'
officer, and they told him they did not wish to fight any more, but reipiesteii
that the army should withdraw from the Ouithlecoochee. Osceola was at the
head of the Indiiui deputation. When the officer who had met the Indians
reported this talk to Gaines, he ordered him to return to Osceo/a, and to inform
him, in the plainest terms, that they would be subdued, that a large force was
on the way into their countr}', and that, unless they submitted, every Indian
found in arms would be shot. When this was communicated to the Indians,
they said they would go and hold a council, tuid would meet them again in die
afternoon. The meeting in the afternoon, accordingly, took place, and the
Indians urged what they had said in the morning, and added that they had
lost many of their men by deatli and wounds, and were tired of the war : but
as their governor (as they styled Micanopy) was not there, they must first con-
sult him, and asked to have the war suspended until he could be consulted.
They were told that if they would cease from acts of hostility, go south of the
Ouithlacoochee, and attend a council when called upon by the United States
commissioners, they should not be molested. This they agreed to, and, at the
same moment. General Clinch came upon the main body of the Indians, and
they all fled with the utmost [""ocipitation, probably concluding this was ii
strctagem which the whites hac' prepared to cut them oflT. Clinch came with
oOO men and supplies, which was doubtless more agreeable to the starving
army, than even a treaty with Osceola,
The Indians seem to have been well acquainted with the condition of Gen-
[Rook IV
upeil, would
gciiiral (lid
f8 for crojiH.
I, ami, at tlii'
liut towaniw
n-vidiis (lay.
!< killed aiui
bull liaviii);
1 two OtlllTH.
IS fxprt'ssed
■«iid "it was
o liijrhiy."
s iiicii I'lMind
mci" anil led
I'd in lias^tc.
'ovided with
)laco of this
X apuin ; for.
ir »iliot upon
Meantime
liter of their
le was lieard
n the woodg.
latiding what
[, and w ishcd
hat if the In-
a white fla|r,
id added that
ingly, on the
, and took a
;cted nothing
Indians tu he
short time in
one or two
epeated what
them a staf^'
•lit reijuesfed
la was at the
t the Indians
,nd to inform
•ge force was
every Indian
) the Indianii.
1 again in the
lace, and the
that they had
the w ar : but
lUSt first con-
be consulted.
soutli of the
United States
o, and, at the
Indians, and
g this was a
ch came with
the starving
ition of Gen-
Chaf. XI.]
SIEGE OF CAMP M LEMOIIE.
01
eral Gaines's army ; for, during the interview with OsceoUi, he asked how they
were off for provisions, niid when they told him they hud enough, he shook hia
head, saying, "It is not Bo; you have nothing tu eat; but, if you will come over
the river, I will give you two beeves, and some brandy." It is theiofore
surprising that ho should have been now asking for peace. It shows, however,
that he was well aware of the hopelessuess of his case ; and, although he won
able to deal witli (ieneral Gaines, he early knew of the approach of (iciieiul
Vlincli, and it wu^ probably, on his gaining that knowledge, that In; concluded
10 see what kind of terms could l)e got of the whites, as the affairs of war
then stood.
(ieiieral Gaines, having transferred his command to (leiicral Clinch, left for
.New Orleans about the U March, and General Clinch proceec of otir men woniided.
Wo probalily killed 40 or 50 of tho IniliatiH. Tlio nigiit at\cr tho batdo, wh
iioard tiifir cliicf hail iih, and wiy, "that ho was going away in the iiHirning,
and would trouble UN no more." He kept IiIh promise very well, though lib
did give us about 100 guns the next niornitig, ere he left. Our captain, llollo-
man, was killed on the '.i May, whilst endeavoring to fortify and stniigthcii
our po,sition. Tho Indians continued to give us a passing shot, from 50 to
iOO guns, every five or six days, though he kept a spy upon us at other tiinrs.
'J'lie otticoi-rt wcire 21 days living on corn, without salt or meat, and the iiieii
about 28 |