History of the War with Indian Savages, Article 19
ARTICLE. XIX. PACEM, Te Poſcimus Omnes.
IN the year, 1693. His Excellency ſent away Captain Convers, to draw off the fitteſt of the Officers and Souldiers, quartered in the Eaſt, for a March, and cauſing about Three Hundred and Fifty more to be Levied, gave him, what he had merited above a year ago; even a Commiſſion of Major and Commander in Chief over theſe Forces. While Major Convers was at Wells, hearing of ſome Indians, that were ſeen in the Woods, he Surpriſed them all, and finding that they had cut off a poor Family at Oyſter River, he gave the c…ief of them, ſomething of what they alſo had merited. Going to Pemmaquid; after ſome ſervice there, they Sailed up Sheepſcote River, & then marched through the Woods to Taconet, which being Deſerted by the Indians, they ranged through many other Woods; but could meet with none of their Enemies. Repairing then to Saco, they began another Fort, which was carried on by that worthy Gentleman Major Hook, and the truly commendable Captain Hill, and proved a matter of Good Conſequence unto the Province. While theſe Things were doing, ſome time in July, the Straggling Indians did ſome Spoil, upon Quaboag, a remote Village, in the Road unto Connecticut; but Advice being diſpatch'd unto the Towns upon Connecticut-River, a party immediately Salley'd out after the Spoilers, and leaving their Horſes at the Entrance of a Swamp, whither by their Track they had followed them, they come upon the Secure Adverſary, and kill'd the moſt of them, and Recovered the Captives, with their Plunder; and Returning home, had ſome Reward for ſo brisk an Action.
But now, the Indians in the Eaſt, probably Diſheartened by the Forts Erecting that were like to prove a ſore Annoyance to them, in their Enterprizes; and by the Fear of wanting Ammunition, with other Proviſions, which the French were not ſo Able juſt now to diſpence unto them; and by a preſumption that an Arr…y of Maqua's, [part of thoſe Terrible Cannibals to the Weſt-ward, whereof 'tis affirm'd by thoſe who have publiſhed the Stories of their Travels among them, That they have deſtroy'd no leſs than Two Million Salvages of other Nations about them, through their being Supplyed with Fire-Arms, before Hundreds of other Nations, lying between them, & the River Meſchaſippi,] was come into their Country, becauſe they found ſome of their Squa's killed upon a Whortle berry Plain; and all the Charms of the French Fryar then Reſident among them, could not hinder them, from Suing to the Engliſh for Peace. And the Engliſh, being ſo involved in Debts, that they Scarce knew how to proſecute the War any further; took ſome Notice of their Suit. Accordingly, a Peace was made, upon the Enſuing Articles.
Province of the Maſſachuſetts Bay in New-England. The Submiſſion and Agreement of the Eaſtern Indians, at Fort William Henry in Pemmaquid the 11th. day of Auguſt, in the Fifth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King and Queen, Defenders of the Faith, &c. 1693.
WHereas a Bloody War ha's for ſome years now paſt been made and carryed on by the Indians within the Eaſtern parts of the ſaid Province, againſt Their Majeſties Subjects the Engliſh, through the Inſtigation and Influences of the French; and being ſenſible of the Miſeries which we and our People are reduced unto, by adhearing to their ill Council: We whoſe names are hereunto Subſcribed, being Sagamores and Chief Captains of all the Indians belonging to the ſeveral Rivers of Penobſcote and Kennebeck, Amanaſcogin, and Saco, parts of the ſaid Province of the Maſſachuſetts Bay, within Their ſaid Majeſties Soveraignty: Having made Application unto his Excellency Sir William Phipps, Captain General & Governour in Chief in and over the ſaid Province, that the War may be put to an end; Do lay down our Arms, and caſt our ſelves upon Their ſaid Majeſties Grace and Favour. And each of us reſpectively for our ſelves, and in the Name & with the free conſent of all the Indians belonging unto the ſeveral Rivers aforeſaid, and of all other Indians within the ſaid Province of and from Merrimack River, unto the moſt Eaſterly Bounds of the ſaid Province; hereby acknowledging our hearty Subjection and Obedience unto the Crown of England: and do ſolemnly Covenant, P…omiſe and Agree to and wi…h the ſaid Sir William Phipps, and his Succeſſors in the place of Captain General and Governour in Chief, of the aforeſaid Province or Territory, on Their ſaid Majeſties behalf, in manner following, viz.
That at all time and times for ever, from and after the date of theſe Preſents, we will ceaſe and forbear all acts of Hoſtility towards the Subjects of the Crown of England, and not offer the leaſt hurt or violence to them or any of them in their Perſons or Eſtate: But will henceforward hold and maintain a firm and conſtant Amity and Friendſhip with all the Engliſh.
Item. We abandon and forſake the French Intereſt, & will not in any wiſe adhere to, joyn with, aid or aſſiſt them in their Wars, or Deſigns againſt the Engliſh, nor countenance, ſuccour, or conceal any of the Enemy Indians of Canada or other places, that ſhall happen to come to any of our Plantations within the Engliſh Territory, but ſecure them if in our power, and deliver them up unto the Engliſh.
That all Engliſh Captives in the hands or power of any of the Indians within the Limits aforeſaid, ſhall with all poſſible ſpeed be ſet at liberty, and returned home without any Ranſome or Payment to be made or given for them or any of them.
That Their Majeſties Subjects the Engliſh, ſhall and may peaceably and quietly enter upon, improve, and for ever enjoy, all and ſingular their Rights of Lands, and former Settlements and poſſeſſions within the Eaſtern parts of the ſaid Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay, without any pretentions or claims by us or any other Indian…, and be in no wiſe moleſted, interrupted, or diſturbed therein.
That all Trade and Commerce which hereafter may be allowed between the Engliſh and Indians, ſhall be under ſuch Management and Regulation as may be ſtated by an Act of the General Aſſembly, or as the Governour of the ſaid Province for the time being, with the Advice and Conſent of the Council ſhall ſee cauſe to Direct and Limit.
If any controverſy, or difference, at any time hereafter happen to ariſe between any of the Engliſh and Indians for any …eal or ſuppoſed wrong or injury done on one ſide or the other, no private Revenge ſhall be taken by the Indians for the ſame, but proper Application be made to Their Majeſties Government, upon the place, for Remedy thereof in a due courſe of Juſtice, we hereby ſubmitting our ſelves to be ruled and governed by Their Majeſties Laws, and deſire to have the benefit of the ſame.
For the more full manifeſtation of our ſincerity and integrity in all that which we have herein before Covenanted and Promiſed, we do deliver unto Sir William Phipps, Their Majeſties Governour as aforeſaid, Ahaſſombamett Brother to Edgeremett; Wenong ahewitt Couſin to Madockawando, and Edgeremett, and Bagatawawongon; alſo Sheepſcoat John, to abide and remain in the Cuſtody of the Engliſh, where the Governour ſhall direct as Hoſtages or Pledges, for our Fidelity, and true performance of all and every the foregoing Articles, reſerving Liberty to exchange them in ſome reaſonable time for a like number, to the acceptance of the Governour and Council of the ſaid Province, ſo they be perſons of as good account, and eſteem amongſt the Indians, as thoſe which are to be exchanged. In Teſtimony whereof, we have hereunto ſet our ſeveral Marks and Seals, the Day and Year firſt above written.
The above written Inſtrument was deliberately read over, and the ſeveral Articles and Clauſes thereof Interpreted unto the Indians, who ſaid they well underſtood, and conſented thereto, and was then Signed, Sealed, & Delivered in the Preſence of us,
John Wing.
Nicholas Manning.
Benjamin Jackſon.
Egereme…t
Madockawando.
Weſſambomett of Navidgwock.
Wenohſon of Teconnet in behalf of Moxis.
Ketterramogis of Narridgwock.
Ahanquit of Penobſcot.
Bomaſeen.
Nitamemet.
Webenes.
Awanſomeck.
Robin Doney.
Madaumbis.
Paquaharet, alias Nathaniel.
Inrerpreters.
John Hornybrook,
John Bagatawawongo alias Sheepſcoat John.
Phill. Ounſakis Squaw.