Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England, Narrative 1 · Floating text 1 – Letter 1
Tannton, April 10th. 1671
VVHere as my Father, my Brother and my self have formerly submitted our selves and our People unto the Kings Majesty of England, and to this Colony of New-Plimouth, by solemn Covenant under our hand; but I having of late through my indescrition, and the naughtiness of my heart violated and broken this my Covenant with my friends, by taking up Armes, with evill intent against them, and that groundlesly; I being now deeply sensible of my unfaithfullness and folly, do desire at this time solemnly to renew my Covenant with my ancient Friends, and my Fathers Friends above mentioned, and do desire this may testifie to the world against me if ever I shall again fail in my Faithfulness towards them (that I have now and at all times found so kind to me) or any other of the English Colonyes; and as a reall pleage of my true intentions, for the future to be faithfull and friendly, I doe freely ingage to resign up unto the Goverment of New-Plimouth, all my English Armes, to be kept by them for their security, so long as they shall see reason. For true performance of the premises I have hereunto set my hand together with the rest of my Council.
In presence of
William Davis
William Hudson.
Thomas Brattle.
The Mark of P. Philip
chief Sachem of Pocanoket
The Mark of V. Tavoser
The Mark of … Capt. Wisposk…
The Mark of T. Woonkaponehunt.
The Mark of 8 Nimrod.
TO which for the further clearing the Justice of the present war, the Result of the debate of the Commissioners of the united Colonyes about the matter of the Warre shall here be inserted.
At a Meeting of the Commissioners of the united Colonyes held at Boston, September 9…h. 1675.
VVE having received from the Commissioners of Plimouth a Narrative, shewing the Rise and several steps of that Colony, as to the present Warre with the Indians, which had its beginning there, and its progress into the Massachusets, by their insolencies and outrages, murtbering many persons, and burning their Houses in sundry Plantations in both Colonies. And having duly considered the same; doe declare, that the said War doth appear to be both just and necessary, and its first Rise only a defensive Warre. And therefore we do agree and conclude that it ought to be joyntly prosecuted by all the united Colonies, and the Charges thereof to be borne and paid as is agreed in the Articles of Confederation.
John Winthrop.
James R chards.
Thomas Danforth.
William Stoughton.
Josiah Wir…ss…w.
Thomas H…nckley.
Yet whatever his submission was before, or his subjecting himself and his people to our King, or his ingagement to pay a sum of money in part of the Charges then occasioned by him (nor have the English in or about Plimouth, since, or before that time been any wayes injurious unto him, or any of his people) all which are fully declared in a Narrative given by the Commissioners of the Colony of Plimouth, wherein they also signify that the settlement and issue of the former controversie between Philip and them; was obtained and made (principally) by the mediation, and interposed advice and counsell of the other two confederate Colonyes, and also in a letter under the Governours hand, in these words,—
I think I can clearly say that before these present troubles broke out, the English did not possess one foot of Land in this Colony, but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase of the Indian Proprietors: Nay, because some of our people are of a covetom disposition and the Indians are in their Streights easily prevaited with to part with their Lands, we first made a Land, that none should purchase or receive of gift any Land of the Indians without the knowledge and allowance of our Court, and penalty of a Fine, five pound per Acre, for all that should be so bought or obtained. And le… yet they should be streightned, we Ordered that Mount-Hope, Pocasset and several other Nicks of the best land in the Colony (because most suitable and convenient for them, should never be bought out of their bands or else they would have sold them long since. And our neighbours at Rehoboth and Swanzy although they bought their Lands fairly of this Philip and his Father and Brother, yet because of their vicinity, that they might not trespass upon the Indians did at their own cost set up a very substantial Fence quite cross that great Neck between the English and the Indians, and payed due damage if at any time any unruly horse or other beasts brake in and trespassed. And for diverse years last past (that alloccasion of offence in that respect might be prevented) the English agreed with Philip and his, for a certain sum yearly to maintain the said Fence, and secure them selves. And if at any time they have brought Complaints before us, they have had Iustice impartial and spee…y, so that our own people have frequently complained, that we erred on the other hand in skewing them over much favour.
Marshfield, May 1. 1676. Jos. Winslow.
Yet did this treacherous and perfidious Caitiffe still harbour the same or more mischievous thoughts against the English then ever before, and hath been since that time plotting with all the Indians round about to make a general insurrection against the English in all the Colonyes; which as some prisoners lately brought in have confessed, should have been put in execution at once, by all the Indians rising as one man, against all those plantations of English, which were nex… them. The Narrhagansets having promised, as was confessed to risewith 4 thousand sighting men in the Spring of this present year, 1676. But by the occasion hereafter to be mentioned about Sausaman, Philip was necc…ssitated for the safety of his own life to begin his Rebellion the year before, when the Design was not fully ripe. Yet some are ready to think, that if his own life had not now been in jeopardy by the guilt of the foresaid Murther of Sausaman, his heart might have failed him, when it should have come to be put in execution, as it did before in the year 1671. which made one of his Captains, of far better Courage and resolution then himself, when he saw his cowardly temper and disposition, fl…g down his Armes, calling him white Liver'd Curre, or to that purpose, and saying, that he would never own him again, or fight under him, and from that time hath turned to the English, and bath continued to this day a faithfull and …esolute Souldier in their quarrel.
That the Indians had a Conspiracy amongst themselves to rise against the English, is confirmed by some of the Indians about Hadly, although the plot was not come to maturity when Philip began, the special providence of God therein overruling the Contrivers: For when the beginning of the troubles first was reported from Mount-Hope, many of the Indians were in a kind of a Maze, not knowing well what to doe; sometimes ready to stand for the English, as formerly they had been wont to doe; sometimes inclining to strike in with Philip (which at the last they generally did) which if it had been foreseen, much of that mischief might have been prevented that fell out in several places, more by perfidious and treacherous dealing then any other wayes: the English never imagining that after so many obliging kindnesses received from them by the Indians, besides their many engagements and protestatitions of friendship, as formerly, they would have been so ungratefull, persideously false and cruel as they have since proved.
The occasion of Philips so sudden taking up armes the last year was this, There was one Iohn Sausaman a very cunning and plausible Indian well skilled in the English language, and bred up in the profession of Christian Religion, imployed as a Schoolmaster at Natick, the Indian Town, who… upon some misdemeanour fled from his place to Philip, by whom he was entertained in the room and office of a Secretary, and his chief Counsellor, whome he trusted with all his affairs and secret counsels: But afterwards, whither upon the sting of his own Conscience; or by the frequent Sollicitations of Mr. Eliot, that had known him from a childe, and instructed him in the principles of our Religion, who was often laying before him the heinous sin of his apostacy, and r…urning back to his old vomit, he was at last prevailed with to for sake Philip, and return back to the Christian Indians at Natick, where he was haptized, manifesting publick Repentance for all his former offences, and made a serious Prosession of the Christian Religion: and did apply himself to Preach to the Indians, wherein he was better gifted then any other of the Indian Nation; so as he was observed to conforme more to the English manners then any other Indian: yet having occasion to go up with some others of his Country-men to Namasket; whither for the advantage of Fishing, or some such occasion, it matters not; being there not far from Philips Country, he had occasion to be much in the Company of Philips Indians, and of Philip himself: by which means he discerned by several circumstances, that the Indians were plotting anew against us; the which out of faithfulness to the English, the said Sausaman informed the Governour of, adding also, that if it were known that he revealed it, he knew they would presently kill him. There appearing so many concurrent testimonies from others, making it the more probable, that there was a certain truth in the information, some inquiry was made into the business, by examining Philip himself, & several of his Indians, who although they would own nothing; yet could not free themselves from just suspicion; Philip therefore soon after contrived the said Sausamans death, which was strangely discovered; notwithstanding it was so cunningly effected, for they that murdered him met him upon the Ice on a great Pond, and presently after they had knocked him down, put him under the Ice, yet leaving his Gun and his Hat upon the Ice, that it might be thought he fell in accidentally through the Ice and was drowned: but being missed by his friends, who finding his Hat and his Gun, they were thereby led to the place, where his body was found under the Ice: when they took him up to bury him, some of his friends, specially one David observed some bruises about his Head, which made them suspect he was first knocked down, before he was put into the water, however, they buried him near about the place where he was found, without making any further inquiry at present: nevertheless David his friend, reported these things to some English at Taunton (a Town not far from Namasket) it occasioned the Governour to inquire further into the business, wisely considering, that as Sansaman had told him, that if it were known, that he had revealed any of their plots, they would murder him for his pains: wherefore by special Warrant the body of Sansaman being digged again out of his Grave, it was very apparent that he had been killed and not drowned. And by a strange providence, an Indian was found, that by accident standing unseen upon a Hill, had seen them murdering the said Sansaman, but dirst never reveal it for fear of losing his own life likewise, until he was called to the Court at Plimouth, or before the Governour, where he plainly confessed what he had seen. The Murderers being apprehended, were convicted by his undeniub…e Testimony, and other remarkable cirumstances, and so were all put to death, being but three in number; the last of them confessed immediately before his death, that his Father (one of the Councellers and special Friends of Philip) was one of the two that murdered Sansaman, himself only looking on. This was done at Plimouth Court. held in Iune 1675. insomuch that Philip, apprehending the danger his own head was in next, never used any further means to clear himself from what was like to be laid to his charge, either about his plotting against the English, nor yet about Sansamans death: but by keeping his men continually about him in Arms, and gathering what Strangers he could to joyn with him, marching up and down constantly in Arms, both all the while the Court sat, as well as afterwards; the English of Plimouth hearing of all this, yet took no further notice, then only to order a Military Watch in all the adjacent Towns, hoping that Philip finding himself not likely to be Arraigned by Order of the said Court, the present Cloud might blow over, as some others of like nature had done before; but in conclusion, the matter proved otherwise, for Philip finding his Strength daily increasing, by the flocking of Neighbour Indians unto him, and sending over their Wives and Children to the Narhagansets for security (as they use to do when they intend War with any of their Enemies) Immediately they began to Alarm the English at Swanzy (the next Town to Philips Country) as it were daring the English to begin, at last their insolencies grew to such an height, that they began not only to use threatning words to the English, but also to kill their Cattle and rifle their houses; whereat an English man was so provoked, that he let fly a Gun at an Indian, but did only wound, not kill him, whereupon the Indians immediately began to kill all the English they could, so as on the 24th. of Iune 1675. was the Alarm of war first f…unded in Plimouth Colony, when eight or nine of the English were slun in and about Swanzy: They first making a shot at a company of English as they returned from the Assembly where they were met in way of Humiliati…n that day, whereby they killed one and wounded others, and then likewise at the same time, they slew two Men on the High-way, sent to call a Surgeon, and barbarously the same day murdered six men in and about a dwelling House in an other part of the Town, all which outrages were committed so suddenly, that the English had no time to make any resistance: For on the 14th. of the same Month, besides endeavours used by Mr. Brown of Swanzy one of the Magistrates of Plimouth Jurisdiction, an amicable Letter was sent from the Council of Plimouth to Philip shewing their dislike of his prastises, and advising him to dismiss his strange Indians, and not suffer himself to be abused by false Reports, concerning them that intended him no hurt, but no answer could be obtained, otherwise then threatning of War, which it was hoped might have been prevented, as heretofore it had been, when things seemed to look with as bad face as then they did. However the Governour and Council of Plimouth, understanding that Philip continued in his resolution, & manifested no inclination to peace, they immediately sent up what Forces they could to secure the Towns thereabouts, and make resistance as occasion might be, and also dispatched away Messengers to the Massachusets Governour and Council, letting them know the state of things about Mount-Hope: and desiring their speedy assistance: upon which care was immediately taken with all expedition to send such supplye… as were defired: But in the mean time two Messengers were dispatched to Philip, to try whether he could not be diverted from his bloudy enterprize. so to have prevented the mischief since fallen out, hoping, that as o…ce before, viz. Anno 1671. by their mediation, a stop was put to the like Tragedy; so the present warre might by the same meanes have been now turned aside: For in the said year Philip had firmly engaged himself, when he was at Boston, not to quarrel with Plimouth untill he had first addressed himself to the Massachusets for advice and approhation: But the two Messengers aforesaid, finding the men slain in the Roade Iune 24. as they were going for the Surgeon, apprehended it no safe to proceed any further, considering also, that a peace now could not honourably be concluded after such barbarous outrages committed upon some of the neighbour Colony: Wherefore returning with all speed to Boston, the Massachuset Forces were dispatched away with all immaginable hast, as the ex…gent of the matter did require, some of them being then upon, or ready for their March, the rest were ordered to follow after, as they could be raised. The sending forth of which, because it was the first engagement in any warlike preparations against the Indians, shall be more particularly declared.
On the 26th. of Iune a Foot-Company under Capt. Dani…l Henchman, with a Troop under Capt. Thomas Prentice, were sent out of Boston toward Mount-Hope; it being late in the afternoon before they began to march, the central Echpse of the Moon in Capric. hapned in the evening before they came up to Naponset River, about twenty miles from Boston, which occasioned them to make an halt, for a little repast, till the moon recovered her light again. Some melancholy Fancyes would not be perswaded, but that the Eclipse falling out at that instant of time, was ominous, concriving also that in the centre of the Moon they discerned an unusual black spot, not a little resembling the scalp of an Indian: As some others not long before, imagined they saw the form of an Indian Bow, accounting that likewise ominous (although the mischief following was done by Guns, not by Bows) both the one and the other, might rather have thought of what Marcus Crassus the Koman General, going forth with an Army against the Parthians, once wisely replied to a private Souldier, that would have disswaded him from marching that time, because of an Eclpse of the Moon in Capricorn [That he was more afraid of Sagitarius then of Capricornus] meaning the Arrows of the Parthians (accounted very good Archers) from whom as things then fell out, was his greatest danger. But after the Moon had waded through the dark shadow of the Earth, and borrowed her Light again, by the help thereof, the two Companies marched on toward Woodcocks House, thirty miles from Boston, where they arrived next morning; and there retarded their motion till the afternoon, in hope of being overtaken by a Company of Volunteers, under the Command of Captain Samuel Mosely, which accordingly came to pass, as on Iune 28th. they all arrived at Swanzy, where by the advice of Captain Cuworth, the Commander in chief of Plimouth Forces, they were removed to the Head Quarters, which for that time were appointed at Mr. Miles his house, the Minister of Swanzy, within a quarter of a mile of the Bridge, leading into Philips Lands. They arriving there some little time before night, twelve of the Troop unwilling to loose time passed over the Bridge, for discovery into the Enemies Territories, where they found the rude welcome of eight or ten Indians firing upon them out of the Bushes, killing one William Hammond, wounding Corporal Belcher, his Horse being also shot down under him; the rest of the sard Tropers having discharged upon those Indians that ran away after their first shot, carried off their two dead and wounded Companions, and so retired to the main Guard for the night, pitc…ing in a Bar…icado about Mr. Miles his house. The Enemy thought to have braved it out by a bold assauld or two at the first; but their hearts soon began to fail them when they perceived the Massachusets, & Plimouth Fo…c…s both engaged against them: for the next morning they shou…ed … h…ce, at half a miles distance, and nine or ten of them shewing … this side the Bridge: our Horsemen with the whole body of the Privateers under Captain Mosely, not at all daunted by such kind of Alarms, nor willing so to loose the Bridge, ran …le … down upon them over the said Bridge, pursuing them a mile and quarter on the other side: Ensigne Savage, that young Martial Spark, scarce twenty years of age, had at that time one bullet lodged in his Thigh, another shot through the br…ms of his Hat, by ten or twelve of the Enemy discharging upon him together, while he boldly held up his Colours, in the Front of his Company: but the weather nor suffering any further action at that time, those that were thus far advanced, were compelled to retreat back to the main Guard, having first made a shot upon the Indians as they ran away into a Swamp nearby, whereby they killed five or six of them, as was understood soon after at Narhaganset: This resolute charge of the English …ces upon the Enemy made them quit their place on Mount-Hope that very night, where Philip was never seen after; till the next year, when he was by a divine Mandate sent back: there to receive the reward of his wickedness where he first began his mischief: the next day Major Savage (that was to command in chief over the Massachnset Forces, being come up with other Supplies about six a clock over night) the whole Body intended to march into Mount-Hope, and there beat up the Enemys quarters, or give him Battle, if he durst abide it: but the weather being doubtful, our Forces did not march till near noon, about which time they set out, with a Troop of Horse in each wing, to prevent the danger of the Enemies Ambuscadoes; after they had marched about a mile & and half, they passed by some Houses newly burned: not far of one of them they found a Bible newly torn, and the leaves scattered about by the Enemy, in hatred of our Religion therein revealed, two or three miles further they came up with some Heads, Scalps, and Hands cut off from the bodys of some of the English, and stuck upon Poles near the Highway, in that barbarous and inhumane manner bidding us Defyance, the Commander in chief giving Order that those monuments of the Enemies cruelty should be taken down, and buried: the whole body of the Forces still marched on, two miles further, where they found divers Wigwams of the Enemy, amongst which were many things scattered up and down, arguing the hasty fl…ght of the Owners; half a mile further, as they passed on through m…y Fields of stately Corn, they fou…d Philips own W gvam; every place giving them to perceive the Enemies ha…ty departure from thence; after they had marched two miles further they came to the Sea sid…, yet in all this time meeting with no Indians, nor any sign of them, unless of their flight to some other places. The season like to prove very tempestuous, and rainy, Captain Cudworth with some of the men of Plimouth passed over to Road-…stand. The Forces under Major Savage were forced to abide all night in the open Field, without any shelter, notwithstanding the abundance of rain that fell, and in the morning, despairing to meet with any enemy on MountHope, they retreated back to their Quarters at Swanzy, in the way meeting with many Indian dogs, that seemed to have lost their Masters. That night Capt. Prentice his Troop for convenie…cy of Quarters, as also for discovery, was dismissed to lodge at Seaconke or Rehoboth, a Town within six miles of Swanzy. As they returned back in the morning, Capt. Prentice divided his Troop, delivering one half to Leiutenant Oak…s, and keeping the other himself, who as they rode along, espyed a company of Indians burning an house; but could not pursue them by reason of several Fences, that they could not g…e over till the Indians had escaped i…to a Swampe. Those with Leiutenant Oakes had the like discovery, but with better success, as to the advantage of the ground, so as pursuing of them upon a plain, they slew four or five of them in the Chase, whereof one was known to be Thebe a Sachem of Mount-Hope, another of them was a chief Counsellor of Philips; yet in this attempt the Lieutenant lost one of his company, Iohn Druce by name, who was mortally wounded in his bowels, whereof he soon after dyed, to the great grief of his companions. After the said Troop came up to the Head-Quarters at Swanzy, they understood from Capt. Cudworth that the enemy were discovered upon Pocass…t, an other neck of Land lying over an arme of the Sea, more towards Cape Cod: However it was resolved that a more narrow search should be made after them, both upon Mount-Hope, and upon the ground between Swanzy and Rehoboth to scoure the Swamps, and assault them if they could find where they were entrenched. Capt. Henchman and Capt. Preentice were ordered to search the Swamps; while Capt. Mosely and Capt. Paige with his Dragoons attending on Major Savage, should return back into Mount hope that they might be sure to leave none of the enemy behind them, when they should remove to pursue them elsewhere.
About ten a clock the next morning, Iuly. 4. Capt. Henchman after a long and tedious March, came to the Head Quarters, and informed that he came upon a place where the enemy had newly been that night, but were escaped out of his reach: But that night before they were determined of any other motion, Capt. Hutchinson came up from Boston with new Orders for them to pass into Narrhaganset, to treat with the Sachems there, and if it might be, to prevent their joyning with Philip. Capt. Cudworth, by this time was come up to the Head Quarters, having left a Garison of fourty men upon Mount-Hope Neck. The next morning was spent in consultations how to carry on the Treaty; it was then resolved, that they should goe to make a peace with a Sword in their hands, having no smal ground of suspition that the said Narhagansets might joyn with the enemy wherefore, they thought it necessary to carry all the Messachuset Forces over into the Narhaganset Country, to fight them if there should be need; Capt. Mosely passed over by water to attend Capt. Hutchinson in his dispatch; the other Companys with the Pro…pers …iding round about: as they passed they found the Indidians in Pomhams Country (next adjoyning to Philips Borders) all fled, and their Wigwams without any people in them.
After they came to the Narhaganset Sachems, three or four dayes were spent in a trea…y, after which a peace was concluded on sundry Articles between the Messengers of Connicticut Colony (who were ordered to meet with those of the Massachusets) and the Commanders of the Forces sent against Philip: Hostages were also given by the said Narhagansets for the performance of the agreement. A Copy of the said Agreement, and the Articles on which a Peace was concluded, here follow. It being alwayes understood, that Plimouth Colony was included in the said Agreement, although their Forces were not then present, but remained at home neer the enemies Borders, to secure their Towns, and oppose Philip as there might be occasion, if he offered to make any new actempt in the mean time,