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From: "Jane Mercier" <>
Subject: [MABARNST] Cape Cod Indians
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 13:59:27 -0400


Mercier, Jane


CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"King Philip's War"

When here King Philip stood,
Or rested in the niche we call his throne,
He looked o'er hill and dale and swelling flood,
Which once were all his own.

Before the white man's footsteps, day by day,
As the sea tide encroaches upon the sand,
He saw his proud possessions melt away,
He found himself a king without a land!

Constrained by unknown laws!
Judged guilty without cause!
Maddened by treachery!
What wonder that his tortured spirit rose
And turned upon his foes,
And told his wrongs in words that still we see
Recorded on the pages of history.

The poet who wrote the above had a most perfect idea of the emotions confined in the breast of the most abused monarch of history truly a king without a land; a patriot, fighting to save his country, a defeated hero.

John Sassamon, or Wassasamond, was a Ponkapoag of the Massachusett nation, a branch (indirectly) of the Wampanoag. He preached the white man's religion to Uncas, of the Mohegans and to Sassacus, the Chief Sachem of the Pequots and 'tis said, he married Sassacus' daughter. He was educated in Cambridge in 1674 and returned to the Wampanoags to become Philip's secretary. As personal secretary of the Chief Sachem, he knew all of Philip's secrets.

Was it because of the white man's breaking the treaty of 1621? Was it because of frequent accusations of the pale face? Was it because of the death of his beloved brother Alexander, poisoned by the settlers, that Philip's heart turned against those who were encroaching upon his country?

Frequently the governors of the colonies, or some lesser individual, ordered Philip to appear before them. Always he replied, "If your king of your country across the big water will come and sit with me, I will treat with him."

Their orders to shoot wolves or Indians, but no other animals, and their law to prevent Indians from having firearms, even for self-protection stirred the blood of Metacomet and many of his secrets were told to Sassamon.

What is the penalty for treason? What is the fine which any country today imposes upon a traitor? Death, in peace; death, in war.

And John Sassamon, personal secretary of King Philip journeyed to the Plymouth settlement, where he told the white officials all of Philip's secrets, his plans, his ambitions. Wasn't that treachery? Treason to his own! Secrets of his country, which he told to strangers! And the penalty?

So Philip ordered three braves to seize Sassamon and kill him, which they did. As the traitor was returning to his Chief Sachem, he took a short cut across the icy surface of Assawompsett Pond. The three braves seized him, killed him, cut a hole in the ice in which they put his body and reported to Philip.

The white settlers, hearing of the death of the traitor, Sassamon, accused three Indians, namely Tobias, Waupapaum and Mattashamama of murder. They ordered Wequam and his son, Chief Pompwono (great-great-grandfather of Chief Red Shell); also Hope, George, Maskippague, Wampye and Acanootus to appear as an Indian jury and summoned William Sabins, Andrew Pirge, John Dorr, Jonathan Bangs, Jonathan Shaw, William Crocker, Edward Sturgis, John Wadsworth, William Brooks, Benjamin Higgins and Nathaniel Winslow to appear as the white jury. The verdict of the white jury was guilty. The Indian jury gave no verdict. How could they who did not understand such a method of procedure? When the unwritten law is death for a traitor, how can those who execute that law be accused of murder? What right had the white man to interfere with the business of Philip. What right had they to accuse or punish an Indian for killing an Indian? The white man punished a white man for killing a white m!
an or a white man for killing an Indian, which was only legal and right. But they also punished an Indian for killing a white man or an Indian for killing an Indian! Wasn't it the place for Indian to punish Indian? Why should they interfere with Philip's business?

But Tobias and Mattashamama were hanged June 8, 1675, by the white men, for carrying out the order of their king, to kill the Indian traitor! And Wampapaum was shot within a month.

Then we ask - what started King Philip's war? Was it without cause? No war ever fought had more reasons for origination. No soldiers ever fought more bravely to protect their country, its ideals, its leader and to subdue an encroaching race, who, if they were not checked, might destroy them from the earth. The Indians fought against injustice, encroachment, degradation, abuse and to protect their leader, their women, and their country, and lost! What did the white man fight for?

So the great Indian king sent messengers to every Wampanoag village to come to his council at Mount Hope. The Cape Cod village remained neutral during the war, although some of the braves, tiring of constant injustices, did go. Yet the Cape settlers surrounded the Indian villages and kept watch of their every move. And since the Cape Indians did not fight for their Chief Sachem, they refused to fight for the white man, whose ways they had taken and spoiled themselves by so doing. The island Wampanoags also remained neutral. So only the main body of the Wampanoag gathered at the council called by Philip.

When all had come, the Chief Sachem took his seat. His face was painted red and black. Upon his head was his headdress of wampum and feathers, while around him was a bright red blanket.

The Chief Sachem began to speak, he told of the days of long ago - the plague, the coming of the white man. "The Great Spirit," he said, "placed the red man on this land and placed water between them and the white man, that neither should bother the other. He scattered fowls through the air, fishes through the water and animals on the land, and taught us how to use them for food and clothing. All this he had done for his red children because he loved them. But an evil day came upon us. From across the Techi-gahmi came a people in a giant canoe. They landed here in our country and asked to tie their canoe at our shore. We said, 'Yes'. Their numbers were small. They found friends, not enemies and my own father, your great king Yellow Feather, signed a treaty with them which has been kept for over fifty years, until they broke it themselves.

"They told us they had fled from their country because of wicked men, and came here to enjoy their religion. And then they try to force their religion upon us. We never quarrel about religion, as they do, we do not wish to destroy their religion, but to enjoy our own.

"They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request and they sat down amongst us. We gave them corn and meat. They gave us poison in return! They had now found our country! More came. They wanted a larger seat, which we gave them as friends. Their numbers increased and now they want our whole country! Already some of our Wampanoags on Cape Cod and elsewhere are their subjects. The white man says, 'come hither!' and they come. The white man says, 'go yonder!' and they go. They have even ordered me - the king of the country in which they reside - to do their will. But no, they interfere with my business. They encroach upon my people. The way and the only way, my beloved Wampanoags, to check this evil is by force!"

The Indians declared war. The greatest Wampanoag Indian war-dance ever was held and then - war broke out in Swansey, thence the Indians laid waste to a part of Taunton, Middleboro and Dartmouth; thence to Pocasset. Philip found his troops hemmed in, and at night they fled to Connecticut. His next position was taken up in western Massachusetts. On August 1, 1675, Chief Nimrod was killed in battle. The Mohegans, under Oneko, son of Uncas, now joined in with the English against the Wampanoag. Tuspaquin, brother-in-law of King Philip, broke into Mr. Clark's house in Plymouth, killing eleven people.

Where Little Compton, Rhode Island is today, was formerly Seconet or Seaconnett, or Sognatis, a Wampanoag village and division of the once gret Wampanoag Nation. Its chief was Tolony, who held his office in partnership with his wife, Awashonks. They had two sons, William Mammynewit and Peter. Awashonks and Tolony signed a treaty with the English at Plymouth, July 24, 1671. In August, 1671, forty-two of her men signed a paper approving the treaty which she had signed. Two of them were Totatomet and Tunnokum. When King Philip ordered the Seconets to join him against the English, the squa-mugwomp Awashonks refused to do so, but told Captain Church of the English. Later, however, the Seconets did join their Chief Sachem.

Captain Church was wounded in the great swamp fight December 19, 1675 and remained in Rhode Island until May, 1676. He now resolved to engage again in the war and took passage on board a sloop bound for Barnstable. He arrived at Plymouth the first Tuesday in June and took command at once of a company. As he came by Sogkonate Point, now Woods Hole, some of the Indians were fishing on the rocks. Church went ashore and spoke to their Chief George, who informed him that Awasunks had separated from the main body of Wampanoags. Captain Church had a bottle of rum and roll of tobacco.

Later, Captain Church met Chief George, Awasunks and the Seconet warriors. Church passed the rum around until they were all feeling fine. Then up rose George. "Sir," he said, "if you will please accept of me and my men, and will head us, we will fight for you and will help you to Philip's head."

Captain Church was trying to get a vessel to take him to Sogkonate Point. At length, Mr. Anthony Low put into the harbor and agreed to take him. They arrived at Suconeset Point, but none of the Soghatis but Peter Awasunks could get aboard, because of wind and rough sea. They were obliged to bear away towards Newport.

Two days later, Awasunks and George, with the Sognatis, met the white army at Punkateese. Major Bradford then asked the Indians to repair to Sandwich for six days. This they did, under the leadership of Jack Havens.

Captain Church started a day or so later for Sandwich by way of Plymouth, to meet the Sogkonatis. He stopped at Plymouth, where the governor was highly pleased with the accounts of Church and his dealings with the Indians. Church left for Sandwich with six attendants, among whom were Jabez Howland and Nathaniel Southworth. They slept that night at Sandwich and journeyed next day to Agawam. When they came to Sippican, a river emptying into Buzzards Bay, Mr. Howland was so fatigued, being old and feeble that they were obliged to leave him.

At last they came to Buzzards Bay, where they saw "a vast company of Indians, all ages and sexes, some on horses, running races, some at football, some catching eels and flatfish in the water, some clamming, etc." In the meantime, the other English arrived from Sippican. Another treaty was signed that time between them.

So the united forces of the Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut Colonies, combined with the Mohegans under Oneko and the Sognatis-Wampanoag under George, drove the Wampanoag and Nipmuc, under King Philip, into a swamp in South Kingston, Rhode Island. Here Philip erected 500 wigwams and lined them inside with baskets of corn. Their most severe battle was on December 19, 1675. The white men had to abandon the fight because of a severe snow storm. Only 700 Wampanoag and Nipmucs survived.

On July 11, 1676, Philip endeavored to surprise Taunton. His camp was at Mattapoisett. The English drove him from there to Pocasset. Their next battle was on the Taunton River, where Philip lost ten warriors, including his uncle, Akkompoin. Philip's sister was taken prisoner, but Philip, under disguise, escaped.

On August 1, 1676 Captain Church surprised, killed, and took prisoners of about 130 Wampanoags. Philip escaped, leaving all his possessions behind. His wife and son fell prisoners into the hands of the English.

Philip's last stand was at Mount Hope, his old home. On Saturday, August 12, 1676, he was killed by Alderman, a Wampanoag. Alderman's brother had been killed by Philip because of disobedience and Alderman had sworn vengeance on Philip. Upon Philip's death, the English cut off his head and one of his hands. His body was cut in four pieces and left on the ground to rot. His hand was given to Alderman to exhibit. Then the English placed his head on a pole and carried it to Plymouth, leaving it there in full view of all until long after it became a glistening bony skull.

DEATH OF ANNAWON

Annawon, or Chief White Shell, was the chief sagamore of the Wampanoags under Philip. He escaped to Squannoconk swamp, which is about 8 miles from Taunton Green, in the southeasterly corner of Rehoboth. In this swamp is an island, separated from the mainland by a brook. This island is nearly covered by an enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawon's Rock. He was captrued there by Captain Church. Knowing his life would not be spared, Annawon gave Church King Philip's personal belongings, which he had.

Tuspaquin, Massasoit's son-in-law, hearing of Annawon's capture, surrendered to the English who put him to death.

DEATH OF WEETAMOO

Tatapanum, Nanumpum or Weetamoo, was married to Chief Sachem Wamsutta, or Alexander, Philip's brother on or before 1653. Her sister, Wootonekanuske was wife of King Philip. After the death of her husband Wamsutta, the Squa-Sachem Weetamoo, married Pentonowowett or Peter Nunuit, whom she later separated from and married Quinapin, a Narragansett.

After the death of Philip, Weetamoo fled from the English, having several narrow escapes from them. Coming to the Taunton River, she made a make-shift raft and strted across. However, she was drowned, and when the English found her naked body, they cut off her head and put it on a pole at Taunton, with savage triumph. Such were the "tender mercies" of the "Christian whites".

The next chapter, Chapter Sixteen, will be entitled "A Scattered Nation"



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