276 PETER EPHRAIM.-QUANAPOHIT. [BOOK III. It was through Nepanet's means that a party of English, under Captain Henchman, were enabled to surprise a body of his countrymen at Weshakom Ponds near Lancaster, 30 May, 1676. Following in a track pointed out by Nepanet, the Indians were fallen upon while fishing, and, being entirely unprepared, seven were killed, and 29 taken, chiefly women and children. PETER-EPHRAIM and ANDREW-PITYME were also two other considerably distinguished Nipmuk Indians. They rendered much service to the English in Philip's war. They went out in January, 1676, and brought in many of the Nipnets, who had endeavored to shelter themselves under Uncas. But, Mr. Hubbard observes, that Uncas, having “shabbed" them off, "they were, in the beginning of the winter, [1676,] brought in to Boston, many of them, by Peter-ephraim and Andrew-pityme." Ephraim commanded an Indian company, and had a commission from government. The news that many of the enemy were doing mischief about Rehoboth caused a party of English of Medfield to march out to their relief; Ephraim went with them, with his company, which consisted of 29. The suow being deep, the English soon grew discouraged, and returned, but Captain Ephraim continued the march, and came upon a body of them, encamped, in the night. Early the next morning, he successfully surrounded them, and offered them quarter. Eight resolute fellows refused, who were presently shot;” the others yielded, and were brought in, being in number 42. Other minor exploits of this Indian captain are recorded. THOMAS QUANAPOHIT, called also Rumney-marsh, was a brother of James, and was also a Christian Indian. In the beginning of hostilities against Philip, Major Gookin received orders to raise a company 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. The officers under whom they served testified to their credit as faithful soldiers; yet many of the army, officers and men, tried all in their power to bring them into disrepute with the country. Such proceedings, we should naturally conclude, would tend much to dishearten those friendly Indians; but, on the contrary, they used every exertion to win the affections of their oppressors. • Quanapohit, 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 mentioned, that when Thomas was out, at or near Swansey, in the beginning of the war, he by accident had one of his hands shot off. He was one of the troopers, and carried a gun of remarkable length. The weather being excessively hot, his horse was very uneasy, being disturbed by flies, and struck the lock of the gun as the breech rested upon the ground, and caused it to go off, 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 related. While Captain Henchman was in the enemy's country, he made an excursion from Hassanamesit to Packachoog, which lies about ten miles north-west from it. Meeting here with no enemy, he marched 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 wigwam 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 few 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 approached, who discovered them as soon as they came in sight. One presented his gun, but, the weather being stormy, it did not go off. At this moment our chief, looking back, called, and made many gestures, as though he were disposing of a large force to encompass them. At this manœuvre they all fled * Roger Williams sets down sea as the definition of Wechêcum, being six in number, leaving our heroes to pursue their object. Thus their preservation was due to Quanapohit; and is the more to be admired, as they were in so far destitute of the means of defence. Captain Quanapohit had himself only a pistol, and one of his men a gun without a flint, and the other no gun at all.* It was about the time these events occurred, that Captain Tom, of whom we have spoken, his daughter, and two children, were taken by a scout sent out by Captain Henchman, about 10 miles south-east of Marlborough. They appear to have been taken on the 11 June, and on the 26 of the same month Captain Tom was executed. 0000 CHAPTER VIIL Of the Indians in New Hampshire and Maine previous to their wars with the whitesDominions of the bashaba-Perishes in war-PASSACONAWAY-His dominions— His last speech to his people-His life-His daughter marries Winnapurket-Petitions the court of Massachusetts-Lands allotted to him-English send a force to disarm him—Their fears of his enmity unfounded they seize and illtreat his sonHe escapes-Passaconaway delivers his arms, and makes peace with the EnglishTraditions concerning-Life of WANNALANCET-His situation in Philip's warMessengers and letters sent him by the English-Leaves his residence-His humanity -Fate of JOSIAH NOVEL-Wannalancet returns to his country-His lands seized in his absence-He again retires into the wilderness-Mosely destroys his village, &c.-Imprisoned for debt-Favors Christianity-A speech-WEHANOWNOWIT, sachem of New Hampshire-ROBIN HOOD-His sales of land in Maine-MONQUINE -KENNEBIS-ASSIMINASQUA-ABBIGADASSET-Their residences and sales of land -Melancholy fate of CHOCORUA. SOME knowledge of the Indians eastward of the Massachusetts was very early obtained by Captain John Smith, which, however, was very general; as that they were divided into several tribes, each of which had their own sachem, or, as these more northern Indians pronounced that word, sachemo, which the English understood sagamore; and yet all the sachemos acknowledged subjection to one still greater, which they called bashaba. Of the dominions of the bashaba, writers differ much in respect to their extent. Some suppose that his authority did not extend this side the Pascataqua, but it is evident that it did, from Captain Smith's account. Wars and pestilence had greatly wasted the eastern Indians but a short time before the English settled in the country; and it was then difficult to determine the relation the tribes had stood in one to the other. As to the bashaba of Penobscot, tradition states that he was killed by the Tarratines, who lived still farther east, in a war which was at its height in 1615. PASSACONAWAY seems to have been a bashaba. He lived upon the Merrimack River, at a place called Pennakook, 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 Abenaques inhabited between the Pascataqua and Penobscot, and the residence of the chief sachem was upon Indian Island. Fluellen and Captain Sunday were early known as chiefs among the Abenaques, and Squando at a later period; but Gookin's MS. Hist. Praying Indians. "The principal habitations I saw at northward, was Penobscot, who are in wars with the Terentines, their next northerly neighbors. Southerly up the rivers, and along the coast, we found Mecadacut, Segocket, Pemmaquid, Nusconcus, Sagadahock, Satquin, Aumaughcawgen and Kenabeca. To those belong the countries and people of Segotago, Pauhunlanuck, Pocopassum, Taughtanakagnet, Wabigganus, Nassaque, Masherosqueck, Wawrigwick, Moshoquen, Waccogo, Pasharanack, &c. To those are allied in confederacy, the countries of Aucocisco, Accominticus, Passataquak, Augawoam and Naemkeek, 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. Williamson's Hist. Maine, ii. 4. 278 PASSACONAWAY. [BOOK III. of these we shall be more particular hereafter: the first sachem we should notice is Passaconaway. He "lived to a very great age; for," says the author of my manuscript, "I saw him alive at Pawtucket, when he was about a hundred and twenty years old."* Before his death, he delivered the following speech to his children and friends: “I am now going the way of all flesh, or ready to die, and not likely to see you ever meet together any more. I will now leave this word of counsel with you, that you may take heed how you quarrel with the English, for though you may do them much mischief, yet assuredly you will all be destroyed, and rooted off the earth if you do; for, I was as much an enemy to the English, at their first coming into these parts, as any one whatsoever, and did try all ways and means possible, to have destroyed them, at least to have prevented them settling down here, but I could no way effect it; therefore I advise you never to contend with the English, nor make war with them." And Mr. Hubbard adds, "it is to be noted, that this Passaconawa was the most noted powow and sorcerer of all the country." A story of the marriage of a daughter of Passaconaway, in 1629, is thus related. Winnepurket, commonly called George, sachem of Saugus, made known to the chief of Pennakook, that he desired to marry his daughter, which, being agreeable to all parties, was soon consummated, at the residence of Passaconaway, and the hilarity was closed with a great feast. According to the usages of the chiefs, Passaconaway ordered a select number of his men to accompany the new-married couple to the dwelling of the husband. When they had arrived there, several days of feasting followed, for the entertainment of his friends, who could not be present at the consummation at the bride's father's, as well as for the escort; who, when this was ended, returned to Pennakook. Some time after, the wife of Winnepurket, expressing a desire to visit her father's house and friends, was permitted to go, and a choice company conducted her. When she wished to return to her husband, her father, instead of conveying her as before, sent to the young sachem to come and take her away. He took this in high dudgeon, and sent his father-in-law this answer: "When she departed from me, I caused my men to escort her to your dwelling, as became a chief. She now having an intention to return to me, I did expect the same." The elder sachem was now in his turn angry, and returned an answer which only increased the difference; and it is believed that thus terminated the connection of the new husband and wife. † This same year, [1662,] we find the general court acting upon a petition of Passaconaway, or, as his name is spelt in the records themselves, Papisseconeway. The petition we have not met with, but from the answer given to it, we learn its nature. The court say: "In answer to the petition of Papisseconeway, this court judgeth it meete to graunt to the said Papisseconeway and his men or associates about Naticot, above Mr. Brenton's lands, where it is free, a mile and a half on either side Merremack Riuer in breadth, three miles on either side in length: provided he nor they do not alienate any part of this grant without leave and license from this court, first obtained." Governor Winthrop mentions this chief as early as 1632. One of his men, having gone with a white man into the country to trade, was killed by another Indian "dwelling near the Mohawks country, who fled away with his goods;" but it seems from the same account, that Passaconaway pursued and took the murderer. In 1642, there was great alarm throughout the English settlements, from the belief that all the Indians in the country were about to make a general massacre of the whites. The government of Massachusetts took prompt measures "to strike a terror into the Indians." They therefore "sent men to Cutshamekin, at Braintree, to fetch him and his guns, *Gookin's Hist. of Praying 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 Philip's war. Nevertheless, with Mr. Hubbard and our text before him, the author of Tales of the Indians has made Passaconaway appear in the person of Aspinquid, in 1682, at Agamentacus in Maine. Deduced from facts in Morton's N. Canaan. bows, &c., which was done; and he came willingly: And being late in the night when they came to Boston, he was put into the prison; but the next morning, finding, upon examination of him and divers of his nien, no ground of suspicion of his partaking in any such conspiracy, he was dismissed. Upon the warrant which went to Ipswich, Rowley and Newbury, to disarm Passaconamy, who lived by Merrimack, they sent forth 40 men armed the next day." These English were hindered from visiting the wigwam of Passaconaway, by rainy weather, "but they came to his son's and took him." This son we presume was Wannalancet. This they had orders to do; but for taking a squaw and her child, they had none, and were ordered to send them back again immediately. Fearing Wannalancet's escape, they "led him in a line, but he taking an opportunity, slipped his line and escaped from them, but one very indiscreetly made a shot at him, and missed him narrowly." These were called, then, "unwarranted proceedings," as we should say they very well might have been. The English now had some actual reason to fear that Passaconaway would resent this outrage, and therefore "sent Cutshamekin to him to let him know that what was done to his son and squaw was without order," and to invite him to a parley at Boston; also,. "to show him the occassion whereupon we had sent to disarm all the Indians, and that when we should find that they were innocent of any such conspiracy, we would restore all their arms again.". Passaconaway said when he should have his son and squaw returned safe, he would go and speak with them. The squaw was so much frightened, that she ran away into the woods, and was absent ten days. It seems that Wannalancet was soon liberated, as he within a short time went to the English, "and delivered up his guns, &c." These were the circumstances to which Miantunnomoh alluded so happily afterwards. * At a court in Massachusetts in 1644, it is said, "Passaconaway, the Merrimack sachem, came in and submitted to our government, as Pumham, &c. had done before" and the next year the same entry occurs again, with the addition of his son's submission also, "together with their lands and people." + This chief is supposed to have died about the same time with Massasoit, a sacher whom in many respects he seems to have much resembled. He was often styled the great sachem, and, according to Mr. Hubbard, was considered a great powwow or sorcerer among his people, and his fame in this respect was very extensive; and we know not that there was any thing that they thought him not able to perform: that he could cause a green leaf to grow in winter, trees to dance, and water to burn, seem to have been feats of common notoriety in his time. WANNALANCET, or Wonolancet, in obedience to the advice of his father, always kept peace with the English. He resided at an ancient seat of the sagamores, upon the Merrimack, called at that time Naamkeke, but from whence he withdrew, 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 September, 1675, Captain Mosely, with about 100 men, was ordered to march up into the country of the Merrimack to ascertain the state of affairs under Wannalancet. These men scouted in warlike array as far as Pennakook, now Concord, N. H. They could not find an Indian, but came upon their wigwams, and burned them, and 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 the part of the Indians. And whether to attribute their forbearance to cowardice, or to the great respect in which the dying advice of Passaconaway was + Ibid. Winthrop's Journal. Among other stanzas in Farmer and Moore's Collections, the following very happily introduces Passaconaway : "Once did my throbbing bosom deep receive The sketch, which one of Passaconaway drew. Well may the muse his memory retrieve From dark oblivion, and, with pencil true, Retouch that picture strange, with tints and honors due." 280 WANNALANCET.-INDIANS SEIZED AT DOVER. [Book III. held, is not certain; for Wanalancet and his men had notice of the approach of Mosely, and lay concealed while he was destroying their effects; and might have cut off his company, which the young warriors advised, but Wannalancet would not permit a gun to be fired. Having abundant reason now to fear the resentment of the Pawtuckett and Pennakook Indians, the council of Massachusetts, 7 September, 1675, ordered that Lieutenant Thomas Henchman, of Chelmsford, should send some messengers to find him, and persuade him of their friendship, and urge his return to his place of residence. With this order, a letter was sent to Wannalancet at the same time. They are as follows: "It is ordered by the council that Lieut. Thos. Henchman do forthwith endeavor to procure by hire, one or twe suitable Indians of Wamesit, to travel and seek to find out and speak with Wannalancet the sachem, and carry with them a writing from the council, being a safe conduct unto the said sachem, or any other principal men belonging to Natahook, Penagooge, or other people of those northern Indians, giving (not exceeding six persons) free liberty to come into the house of the said Henchman, where the council will appoint Capt. Gookin and Mr. Eliot to treat with them about terms of amity and peace between them and the English; and in case agreements and conclusions be not made to mutual satisfaction, then the said sachem and all others that accompany him shall have free liberty to return back again; and this offer the council are induced to make, because the said Wannalancet sachem, as they are informed, hath declared himself that the English never did any wrong to him, or his father Passaconaway, but always lived in amity, and that his father charged him so to do, and that said Wannalancet will not begin to do any wrong to the English." The following is the letter to Wannalancet : "This our writing or safe conduct doth declare, that the governor and council of Massachusetts do give you and every of you, provided you exceed not six persons, free liberty of coming unto and returning in safety from the house of Lieut. T. Henchman at Naamkeake, and there to treat with 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 friendship, amity and subjection, as were formerly made and concluded between the English and old Passaconaway, your father, and his sons and people; and for this end we have sent these messengers [blank in the MS.] to convey these unto you, and to bring your answer, whom we desire you to treat kindly, and speedily to despatch them back to us with your answer. Dated in Boston, 1 Oct. 1675. Signed by order of the council. JOHN LEVERETT, Gov'. Edw. Rawson, Secr." The messengers who went out with this letter, to find Wannalancet, 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 by parties of Nipmuks under Sagamore sam, One-eyed-john, and others, who, coming in with him, were in hopes of receiving pardon, but their fate has been stated. Major Waldron of Cochecho had many Indians in his interest during the war with Philip. Some of these were employed to entice men from the enemy's ranks, and they succeeded to a great extent. And by the beginning of September, 1676, about 400 Indians, from various clans far and near, had been induced to come into Dover. Among these was Wannalancet and his company. They came without hesitation, as they had never been engaged in the war; and many who had been engaged in hostility came along with them, presuming they might be overlooked in the crowd, and so escape the vengeance of their enemies; but they were all made prisoners on the 6 September by a stratagem devised by several officers, who with their men happened then to be at Dover with Waldron, and somewhat more than half of the whole were sold into foreign slavery or executed at Boston: about 200 were of the former number. |