Historical Collections of the Indians in New England, History · Chapter 8

Historical Collections of the Indians in New England · History · Chapter 8

p. 56CHAP. VIII. Of the Progress of the Gospel among the Indians in the Colony of New-Plymouth, and the Instruments God hath raised up to promote the same.

§. 1. THE example and exhortations of Reverend Mr. Eliot, and his travelling into Plymouth jurisdiction at sometimes, and writing letters to stir up others, and preaching among some of them, and others coming sometimes to him, hath had an influence, through the grace of God co-operating, to win sundry of them to yield obedience and subjection unto the gospel. For the encouragement and furtherance of that work, it pleased God to raise up one Mr. Richard Bourne, living in that colony, about Sandwich; who being a pious, sober, and active person, endowed with good understanding in the scriptures, having gained by his industry and diligence a competent knowledge and ability to teach them in the Indian language; he applied himself to preach the gospel to some Indians that dwelt not far from his habitation: and afterwards finding good success, went further among them, preaching the glad tidings of salvation to sundry others: that a good and plentiful harvest is gathered in that colony. Of which take the following account from his own hands.

§. 2. "To his much esteemed friend, Captain Gookin, in Cambridge. dddd.

"Worthy Sir,

"All due respects presented; according to your desire, signified in your letter unto myself, I have endeavoured to return you a particular answer, according to the short time I had to accomplish it in. Alt…ough I have not been willing to appear formerly in so particular account as this is, but rather did desire, that the effect o… the work might speak for me, the which would speak more fully than I could: But being it must be so now, I hope it will occasion many to render thanks to God with myself, in respect of the grace in the gospel manifested among these poor, lost people. And for those that I have been conversant with, and employed amongst, these many years, you may please to see as followeth.

"First there is at Meeshawn, or near the head of the Cape,**Cape Cod. Part of these Indians probably lived in Province town; but the greatest number, in Truro. and at Punonakanit, or Billinsgate,††Now Welfleet. that are praying Indians, that do frequently p. 57meet together upon the Lord's day to worship God; and likewise the rest as followeth; viz.

"Potanumaquut,**The south east part of Eastham. or Nawsett,‖‖The north part of Eastham. or Eastham, there are praying Indians,

"Manamoyik,‡‡Chatham. there are praying Indians,

"Sawkattuket,§§The west part of Harwich. Nobsquassit,§§§§The north east part of Yarmouth. Matakees,¶¶The land between Barnstable and Yarmouth harbours, lying principally in the north west part of Yarmouth. and Weequakut,****Pronounced at present Cheehwacket. The south west part of the east precinct in Barnstable. praying Indians,

"Saruit, Pawpoesit, Coatuit,††††Coatuit is in the south west part of Barnstable. Mashpee, Wakoquet,‡‡‡‡Satuit, or Sanctuit, Pawpoesit, and Wakoquet, or Waquoit, are all within, or near the limits of Mashpee. there is praying Indians,

"Codtanmut, Ashimuit,‖‖‖‖Or Shumuit. On the west line of Mashpee. Weesquobs, there is praying Indians,

p. 58"Pispogutt,* Wawayontat,††Waywayantik, or Wewewantett. Warehan. Sokones,‡‡Commonly pronounced Succonusset. Part of Falmouth. there is praying Indians,

"Cotuhtikut‖‖Or Titicut. Part of Middleborough., Assoowamsoo,¶¶Or Assoowamset. Part of Middleborough. there are praying Indians, one with another, - - - - - 35

[A][A]Mr. Bourne's account—Souls, 497—That read Indian, 14…—that write, 72—That read English, 9."Concerning these last mentioned, I cannot give such a particular account, as I did in the former; forasmuch as that when I returned from Cotuktikut to Plymouth, then I was informed of your desires respecting this account; the places being near forty miles distant from my habitation.

"As respecting gathered churches, there is but one; and ninety persons, baptized; beside, yet in full communion, twenty seven. For Englishmen that are employed in the work, that respects this account, there is only myself. Mr. John Cotton is employed in another part of the colony; the which, I conclude, he will give a particular account of.

"The church of Indians in this colony, whereof I am pastor, was gathered near four years since.

"There is four Indians employed in this work, viz. Wuttananmattuk, Meeshawin, Peter, alias Sakantuket, and Charles of Mannamit****In Sandwich, near the bottom of Buzzard's bay. and places adjacent. Other Indians, viz. four I have employed; but as yet have not received any wages as from the honoured Commissioners, by reason of the miscarrying of my letters.

"As for lands set out to the Indians, distinct from the English lands, there are divers places already bounded; viz. Where I am most conversant, there is a tract of land preserved for them and theirs forever, under hand and seal; the which is near ten miles in length, and five in breadth. There is the like done at Comassakumknat, near Sandwich, and at Cotuhtikut: Our honoured governour and magistrates being always very careful to preserve lands for them, so far as is in their power to do it.

"The places that want help in a settled way, are these, viz. Cotuhtikut, Potanumaquut, Manamoyik, Sokones, and Mananiet.††††Probably Mannamit. We have and do want books exceedingly to carry on the work by those that are employed therein. I do not question but there is more than one hundred young ones, that are entered both in writing and reading, that are not put into this account. There is good hopes of divers of p. 59them: some of them, being lately dead, having given a good testimony of their being in the faith; and so lifting up their souls to Christ, as their saviour and their all in all; as divers of the well affected English know, and have been present among some of them that departed this life.

"I was with one of them the last summer, that had been sick for a long time; and I stayed with him near one whole day: and there came from him very savoury and heavenly expressions. One passage I will make bold to insert; the which is this. That he being very sick, not expecting the continuance of his life, told me that his wife did much solicit him to forsake God and live; forasmuch as many that were not praying Indians, were not so afflicted as he was. But he, using those words in Job ii. …, 10, gave her this answer. That he would cleave to God, although he died, rather than live, and forsake him.

"Much more I might write in these respects, but am not willing to be troublesome; although the truth is, that many of them are very loose in their course, to my heart breaking sorrow.

"As concerning the messengers, that were present, when the church was gathered, there was present our honoured governour, that now is, with divers of the magistrates. There was also seven of the teaching elders, with the messengers of their respective churches; besides, I suppose, five hundred people: some of the chief of them declaring their satisfaction and approbation of the present work at that time.

"Thus I hope I have in general answered your queries according to the short time I had to accomplish these things in, considering the remoteness of the several places, where I am conversant divers times. Thus I have given you a brief answer to your desires; intreating the blessing of the Lord to be with you and this great work for Jesus Christ which we have in hand: and rest

Yours in the service of Christ,

Sandwich, 1. of 7. month, 1674.

RICH. BOURNE."

§. 3. I had another account from Mr. John Cotton, pastor of the English church at Plymouth, concerning those Indians he teacheth in that colony of Plymouth; which take in this following letter from him, directed to me:

"These for the Worshipful Captain Daniel Gookin, Magistrate, living in Cambridge.

"Worshipful and honoured Sir,

"Mr. Bourne having been long in the Indian work, and acquainted with the Indian language in several parts, is most able to give you a satisfying account of the work of God, and its progress among the Indians of this colony. I have not long lived here: but in this time I began to preach the word of God to a company of Indians, at a place called Kitteaumut.88Or Katamet. Part of Sandwich, on Buzzard's bay. Since which, through the blessing of God, the number of praying Indians is forty males and females. As yet they have no Indian teacher; but on sabbath days, they usually go to hear one of Mr. Bourne's Indians, at the nearest place to them.

p. 60"About ten of these can read the English books;[A][A]Translated into the Indian language. and many more are very desirous to learn to read the word: but here is very great want of Indian primers and bibles. I much desire that the Commissioners would take some speedy course to supply that defect. I sometimes preach to the Indians upon the Cape, at several places, and at Namassekett;††Or Namasket. Part of Middleborough. whither come the praying Indians of Affawomit‡‡Assoowamset. and Ketehiquut.‖‖Titicut. Of those Indians Mr. Bourne gives you the account. When the courts are here, there are usually great multitudes of Indians from all parts of the colony. At those seasons I preach to them; which I mention, because God hath so far blessed it, as to make it a means to encourage some that live very remote, to affect praying to God: viz. Manmanewal, sachem of Sakonett,¶¶Little Compton. and some principal Indians of Coquitt;****Or Coxit. Part of Dartmouth. who made their confessions, and declared their willingness to serve God; and they do improve all the opportunities they can get to hear the word. They came to hear me at Acushnett,††††New Bedford. when I preached there; and do desire further means of instruction. I desire your prayers for me and mine; and rest, Sir,

"Your Worship's in any service for Christ,

"JOHN COTTON."

Plymouth. Sep. 14. 1674."

§. 4. There are some that have hopes of their greatest and chiefest sachem, named Philip, living at Pawkunnawkutt.**Bristol. The nation of which he was sachem, derived their name from this place; see chap. ii. §. 4.—but they were sometimes styled the Wamponoags. Some of his chief men, as I hear, stand well inclined to hear the gosp…l: and himself is a person 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 Jesus Christ, his sensual and carnal lu…s are strong bands to hold him fast under Satan's dominions. It is our duty by faith and prayer to wait God's time, to give a blessing on the means. Indeed the scriptures informs us, That not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble men, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. And the reason is, that no flesh should glory in his presence. 1. Cor. 1. 26-29. Though not many, yet some of the great men of the world, God is pleased sometimes to call; and they are only those that he hath chosen. When a sachem or sagamore is converted to the faith, and yields himself up to embrace the gospel, it hath a great influence upon his subjects; p. 61according to that old maxim: Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis.††Christianity met with much better success in Plymouth, than in Massachusetts. In the year 1685, the praying Indians in this colony amounted to fourteen hundred and thirty nine, beside boys and girls under twelve years of age, who were supposed to be more than three times that number [Huth. vol. I, pag. 349]—In the year 1693, there were within the limits of Eastham, five hundred and five adult Indians, to whom Mr. Treat preached; two hundred and fourteen adults, beside stragglers, at Mashpee and places adjacent, under the care of Mr. Rowland Cotton, minister of Sandwich; a hundred and eighty Indians, to whom Mr. Thomas Tupper preached; and five hundred more, under the care of Mr. Iohn Cotton, minister of Plymouth. [Matthew Mayhew's Narrative. pag. 46-53. See also Mather's Magnalia. Book vi. pag. 60. and Neal's Hist. chap. vi, pag. 256]—In the year 1763, there still remained in the colony nine hundred and five Indians of every age; two hundred and twenty three of whom were in the county of Plymouth; five hundred and fifteen, in the county of Barnstable; and a hundred and sixty seven, in the county of Bristol. Since that period their numbers are much lessened. There is at present no Indian church in the counties of Plymouth or Bristol; and Mashpee only, in the county of Barnstable.—Of a hundred and thirty four Indians in Dartmouth and Freetown in 1763, there are now about thirty three left [Information of Rev. Mr. Backus.] In the other towns of Bristol they are probably extinct.—There are four or five families of Indians in Middleborough; two or three, in Pembroke; five or six persons in Bridgewater; and probably a few scattered about in other parts of the county of Plymouth. [Inf. of Rev. Mr. B.]—In the county of Barnstable, a few Indians remain at Potanumaquut, a few in the town of Barnstable, and a few at Herring Pond, between Sandwich and Plymouth. But the great body of them resides at Mashpee; where there are about eighty families, consisting principally of a mixed race, not more than forty or fifty persons being pure Indians. [M. S. Let. of Rev. Mr. Mellen.]