Sowams : with ancient records of Sowams and parts adjacent--illustrated

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Chapter I

CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE GREAT SACHEM MASSASSOIT AND HIS RELATIONS WITH THE PLYMOUTH COLONY AND SOWAMS

CAPTAIN MYLES STANDISH A Sowams Proprietor

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^^^^H£ "Mayflower," the ship which brought the first Pilgrims to / ^ I New England, set sail from Plymouth, Old England, Sep- I P I tember 6, 1620, and, after a stormy and perilous voyage, ^1^ arrived at Cape Cod, November, 11. O. S., finding safe anchorage in Provincetown Harbor. Governor Bradford, the first historian of Plymouth Plantation, writes: "Being thus passed ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation, they had now no friends to wellcome them, nor inns to entertain or refresh their weather-beaten bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too, to seeke for succoure. It is recorded in scripture as a merci to ye apostle and his shipwracked company, yt the barbarians shewed them no smale kindnes in refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when they mette with them (as after will appeare) were readier to fill their sids full of arrows then otherwise. . . . Besids, what could they see but a hidious and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men? And what multituds ther might be of them they knew not. . . - For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a wether beaten face ; and ye whole countrie full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage heiw." Surely, this was not a hopeful prospect, as these Pilgrims and strangers looked out upon the New World, which was to be their home, and, by the wonderful blessing of the Divine Guidance, the future homes of millions of their descendants. What more natural thing could these brave men and women do than to fall upon their knees and bless the God of Heaven, "who had brought them over ye vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles and miseries thereof, againe to set their feete on ye firme and stable earth, their proper elemente."

On the fifteenth of November, Captain Myles Standish, with sixteen well-armed men, went on shore for an examination of the country. Marching about a mile by the shore, they saw five or six savages, with a dog, coming toward them. Seeing Standish and his men, the Indians ran into the woods, and then on the sandy shore, followed by Standish, who wished to meet and speak with them. Following the Indian trail until night, Standish and his men camped in the woods. The next day they found a pond of fresih water, and shortly after cleared ground where the Indians had planted corn. Further on, they came to a place where a house had been and a great kettle had been left. Digging into heaps of sand, Standish found "diverce faire Indian baskets filled with corne, and some in eares, faire and good, of diverce collours, which seemed to them a very goodly sight." This was the first reconnaissance on Cape Cod.

A few days later, thirty men went on shore and in their wanderings found two deserted Indian houses covered wtih mats and sundry implements in them. They also found corn and beans which they took with them, and saved as seed for the next year's planting.

The first interview of the Pilgrims with the Indians was in an attack made on a reconnoitering party about Cape Cod Bay in the early part of the month of December. The Indians, with their bows and arrows, were no match for the muskets and coats-of-mail of the white men. "Aterwards," says Bradford, "they gave God sollamene thanks and praise for their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows, and sente them into England afterwards by ye mr. of ye ship, and called that place ye first encounter."

Bradford tells us that the Indians frequently skulked about their settlement at Plymouth, and when any went to meet them would run away. Once some Indians stole the tools of the settlers while they were at dinner. On March i6, 1621, an Eastern Indian, who could speak broken English, came to Plymouth and told them many things concerning the Indians of his own section, now the Kennebec Country in Maine, "as also of ye people hear, of their names, number, and strength ; of their situation and distance from this place, and who was cheefe among them." He gave his name as Samoset and told them of another Indian, named Squanto, who had been in England and could speak English better than he. He was dismissed with gifts, but came again with five Indians, bringing back the tools that had been stolen. On this visit, Samoset told the whites that the great chief of the tribe, Massassoit, would visit Plymouth in four or five days, with Squanto as an interpreter.

This interesting and remarkable interview, fraught with such momentous results to both parties, is best told by an eye-witness and I give entire the story as given in "Mourt's Relations."*

"Thursday, the 22nd of March, 1621, was a very fayre warme day. About noone we met again about our publique businesse, but we had scarce beene an houre together but Samoset came again, and Squanto, the only native of Patuxat, where v/e now inhabite, who was one of the twentie captives that by Hunt were carried away, and had beene in England & dwelt in Cornehill with master Slanie, a Merchant, and could speake a little English, with three others, and they brought with them some few skinnes to trucke, and some red Her-rings newly taken and dryed, but not salted, and signified unto us, that their great Sagamore, Masasoyt — was hard by, with Quadequina his brother, and all their men. They could not well express in English what they would, but after an houre the King came to the top of an hill over against us, and had in his trayne sixtie men, that wee could well behold them, and they us ; we were not willing to send our governour to them, and they unwilling to come to us, so Squanto went againe unto him, who brought word that wee should send one to parley with him, which we did, which was Edward Winsloe, to know his mind, and to signifie the mind and will

*Ed. 1865. Edited by Henry M. Dexter, p. go, et seq.

of our governour, which was to have trading and peace with him. We sent to the King a payre of knives and a Copper Chayne with a Jewell at it. To Quadequina we sent likewise a Knife and a Jewell to hang in his eare, and withall a Pot of strong water, a good quantity of Bisket, and some butter, which were all willingly accepted. Our Messenger made a speech unto him, that King James saluted him with words of love and Peace, and did accept of him as his Friend and Alie, and that our governour desired to see him and to trucke with him, and to confirm a peace with him as his next neighbour; he liked well of the speech and heard it attentively, though the interpreters did not well express it ; after he had eaten and drunke himself, and given the rest to his company, he looked upon our messengers sword and armour which he had on, with intimation of his desire to buy it, but on the other side, our messenger showed his unwillingness to part with it; In the end he left him in the custodie of Quadequina, his brother, and came over the brooke, and some twentie men following him, leaving all their Bows and Arrows behind them. We kept six or seaven as hostages for our messenger: Captain Standish and master Williamson met the King at the brooke, with half a dozen Musketiers, they saluted him and he them, so one going over, the one on the one side, and the other on the other, conducted him to an house then in building where we placed a greene Rugge, and three or four cushions, then instantly came our Governour with Drumne and Trumpet after him, and some few Musketiers. After salutations, our Governour kissing his hand, the King kissed him, and so they sat down. The Governour called for some strong water, and drunke to him, and he drunke a great draught that made him sweate all the while after, he called for a little fresh meate, which the King did eate willingly, and did give his followers. Then they treated of Peace, which was :

"i. That neyther he nor any of his should injure or doe hurt to any of ours.

"2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him.

"3. That if any of our Tooles were taken away when our people were at worke, he should cause them to be restored, and if ours did any harm to any of his, wee would doe the like to them.

"4. If any did unjustly warre against him, we would ayed him; If any did warre against us, he should ayde us.

"5. He should send to his neighbour Confederates, to certifie them of this, that they might not wrong us but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of Peace.

"6. That when their men came to us, they should leave their Bowes and Arrowes behind them, as wee should doe our Peeces when we came to them.

"Lastly, that doing thus. King James would esteeme of him as his friend and Alie ; all which the King seemed to like well, and it was applauded of his followers, all the while he sat by the Governour he trembled for feare ; At the close of the interview he acknowledged himself content to become the subject of our Sovereign lord, the King aforesaid and his successors ; and gave unto them all the lands adjacent to them and their heirs forever.

"In his person he is a very lustie man, in his best yeares, an able body, grave of countenance and spare of speech: In his Attyre little or nothing differing from the rest of his followers, only in a great Chaine of white bone Beades about his necke, and at it behinde his necke, hangs a little bagg of Tobacco, which he dranke and gave us to drinke ; his face was paynted with a sad red like murry, and oyled both head and face, that hee looked greasily ; All 'his followers likewise, were in their faces, in part or in whole paynted, some blacke, some red, some yellow, and some white, some with crosses, and other Antick workes, some had skins on them, and some naked, all strong, tall, all men in appearance; So after all was done, the Governour conducted him to the Brooke, and there they embraced each other and he departed, we diligently keeping our hostages."

Bradford adds: "After these things he returned to his place called SowAMS, some 40 mile from this place, but Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corne, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to unknown places for their profitt, and never left them till he dyed."

Massassoit, or Osamequin, who was thus introduced to Gov. Carver and the Pilgrims, was the chief sachem of the Wampanoags, a powerful tribe of Indians, occupying the territory of Southeastern Massachusetts, south of the country of the Massachusetts tribe, with the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay on their eastern, southern and western bounds. He was born about 1580 and died in 1661. The true name of the sachem was Osamequin, Ousamequin or Woosamequin, meaning "The yellow feather," from ousa, yellow and mequin, a feather. His signature to the Sowams' deed is Osamequin and this was his tribal name. The word Massassoit, meaning "the great sachem," is from the two Indian words, massa great, and assot, king or ruler, the title given him by the Plymouth people as a synonym with his real name, Osamequin, by which he was later known.

The names of his ancestors and wife are not known. He had two brothers, Akkompoin and Quadequina. Massassoit had three sons, Wamsitta (Alexander), Pometacom (Philip), and Sunconewhew; and one daughter, whose English name was Amie.

His son Alexander, married Namunpum, or Weetamo, Queen of Pocassett.

EDWARD WINSLOW, GOVERNOR A Sowams Proprietor

His son, Philip, married Wootonekanuske, sister of Weetamo. Philip had one son.

Quadequina, brother of Massassoit, is said to have been "a very proper, tall young man, of a very modest and seemly countenance," and held a high place in the government of the tribe.

Akkompoin was one of Philip's counsellors, signed deeds and made treaties.

Wamsitta assisted his father, Massassoit, in the government of the tribe, and, at his father's death in 1661, succeeded to the chief sachemship. In 1662, Wamsitta and his brother, Pometacom, requested the whites to give them English names, and the Plymouth Court gave to Wamsitta the name of Alexander and to Pometacom the name of Philip, in honor of the Macedonian Conquerors.

The introduction between the Pilgrims and Massassoit, in March, 162 1, as already described, was the first contact and bond of union between the whites and the natives. The visit of the Indians was kindly reciprocated in July of the same year, when Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins were despatched on a visit to Sowams. This was the first attempt of the English to explore the interior, their object being to gain a knowledge of the Pokanoket country, the land of the Wampanoags, "to apologize for some misbehavior, to establish and to regulate an intercourse, to procure corn, and to strengthen their mutual good understanding." Up to this time the Pilgrims had not set foot outside their little settlement, but now with Squanto as guide, they proceeded on their western exploration, with an intrepidity akin to that of those who now attempt the like service on the frontiers of the far West. They bore as gifts to the Indian chief a horseman's laced coat of red cotton and a chain. The party set out on foot on the morning of the 3d of July, 1621, and at three P. M. of the same day were received with joy at the Indian village of Namasket, in Middleboro', and were refreshed by an Indian repast of bread called mozium, made of Indian corn, and also with the roes of shad, which were boiled with acorns. Eight miles further on, they reached the Titicut River, where they found the Namasket Indians fishing at a weir, where they caught plenty of bass. The natives exchanged provisions and shared their lodgings with them in the open fields at night. The land was well cleared and productive, and the evidences were manifest of many settlements along the banks of the stream, but the pestilence of the previous years had been so fatal that the living were unable to bury the dead, and many Indian skeletons lay bleaching on the ground. Six of the natives joined them in the morning on their journey, and about three miles below the Taunton Green they reached a fording place where two old Indians on the west bank of the stream prepared to resist their passage. A show of friendship and a bracelet of beads conquered their hostile spirit, and the emigrants or ambassadors were received with the kindest welcome, the natives vying with each other in acts of hospitality, by giving them food, and by kindred acts of civility. In passing down the Taunton River they found evidences that the country had been recently thickly settled, but rank weeds spread over the fertile soil, and desolation now reigned throughout the country.

Traveling on through the Indian country, known as Mattapoiset, in the eastern part of Swansea, they came to an Indian village, where they were fed with fish and oysters and in the afternoon arrived at Sowams, the residence of Massassoit. They discharged their muskets as a salute to the grand sachem, and received from him a hearty welcome. The coat and chain pleased the chief and his people highly, and Massassoit pledged them his constant friendship, promised to prevent any further molestation by his people and to send corn to Patuxet or Plymouth as they requested. He then addressed his own people, spoke of his extensive dominions, and encouraged trade with the English. With all his greatness, however, the royal commissariat was limited to two fishes to be distributed between forty guests ; and between scanty food, filthy cabins and sleepless nights, they were compelled to frame excuses for a hasty departure, and on Friday morning before sunrise they turned their faces towards Plymouth with Tokamahamon as guide. A two days' trip, by the same route as they came, brought the embassy home again, to relate to their friends the wonders of the new country and to receive their congratulations over their successful mission. Winslow and Hopkins were the first white men who ever trod this soil of whom we have any reliable record. Their mission was a peaceful one ; they little dreamed, perhaps, that night as they slept by the side of the powerful sachem, that in fifty years or a little more, the little settlement at Plymouth would have extended its plantations and its government over the whole forty miles which they had traversed. And the kind-hearted Indian king had no conception of the fact that half a century would witness the white man's cabin, where then the smoke of his wigwam ascended, or that a new civilization would so soon plant its foundations upon the ruins of this early barbarism.

In March, 1623, tidings came to Plymouth that Massassoit was sick and likely to die, and also that a Dutch vessel had been stranded near his residence. The Indians, w*hen sick, always expected aid from their friends. It therefore, seemed best to Governor Bradford to send another party to visit the chief and to have a conference with the Dutch. The talents of Edward Winslow, his former visit, his friendship to Massassoit, and his knowledge of the Dutch language marked him as the most fit man for the expedition. With him went as a companion, an English gentleman, whose home was in London, but who was sojourning at Plymouth, and who greatly desired to see the Indian country. His name was John Hampden, and it is fitting that his name should be perpetuated in Barrington history, in memory of the visit made to Massassoit in 1623. An Indian, Hobbamock, went as a guide, for Squanto, Winslow's guide in his first visit, had died some time before. The story is given in Winslow's own graphic words: "We set forward and lodged the first night at Namasket. The next day, about one o'clock, we came to a ferry in Conbitants country. Upon my discharging my piece, divers Indians came to us from a house not far off. They told us that Massassoit was dead and that day buried. This news struck us blank, but especially Hobbamock, who desired that we might return with all speed. I told him I would first think of it, considering now that he being dead, Conbitant was most likely to succeed him, and that we were not above three miles from Mattapuyst, his dwelling-place.

"Although he were but a hollow-hearted friend to us, I thought no time so fit as this to enter more friendly terms with him and the rest of the sachems thereabout; and though it was somewhat dangerous in respect of our personal safety, because myself and Hobbamock had been employed upon a service against him which he might fitly revenge, yet esteeming it the best means, leaving the event to God in His Mercy, I resolved to put in practice if Master Hampden and Hobbamock durst attempt it with me ; whom I found willing so that or any other course might tend to the general good. So we went toward Mattapuyst. In the way, Hobbamock brake forth in these speeches : 'My loving sachem, O my loving sachem ! Man have I known, but never any like thee.' And turning him to me said, whilst I lived, I should never see his like amongst the Indians ; saying also he was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel like other Indians, from anger and passion he was soon reclaimed, easy to be reconciled toward such as offended him; and that he governed his men better with few strokes than others with many; truly loving where he loved ; yea he feared we had not a faithful friend left among the Indians ; showing how he oftimes restrained their malice, etc., — continuing a long speech with signs of unfeigned sorrow.

i6

"At length we came to Mattapuyst and went to the sachem's place, but Conbitant was not there but at Puckanokick, which was five or six miles off. The sachem's wife gave us friendly entertainment. Here we inquired again concerning Massassoit; that they thought him dead but knew no certainty. Whereupon I hired one to go with all expedition to Puckanokick that we might know the certainty thereof, and withal to acquaint Conbitant with our there being. About half an hour before the sun setting the messenger returned and told he was not dead, although there was no hope we should find him living. Upon this we were much revived, and set forward with all speed, though it was late within night ere we got thither. When we came thither we found the house so full of men as we could scarce get in, though they used the best diligence to make way for us. They were in the midst of their charms for him, making such a hellish noise as it distempered us who were well, and therefore unlike to ease him that was sick. About him were six or eight women who chafed his arms, legs, and thighs to keep heat in him. Having understanding left, but his sight wholly gone, he asked who was come. They told him "Winsnow," for they cannot pronounce the letter 1, but ordinarily use n in place thereof. He desired to speak with me. When I came to him, and they told him of it, he put forth his hand, which I took. Then he said twice, though very inwardly, 'Keen Winsnow ?' which is to say, 'Art thou Winslow?' I answered, 'Ahhe,' that is yes.

Then he doubled these words: "Matta neen wonchanet nanem, Winslow!' that is to say, 'O Winslow, I shall never see thee again.' Then I called Hobbamock and desired him to tell Massassowat that the Governor, hearing of his sickness, was sorry for the same, and though by many businesses he could not come himself, yet he sent me with such things for him as he thought most likely to do good in this extremity, and whereof if he pleased to take I would presently give him ; which he desired, and having a confection of many comfortable conserves on the point of my knife, I gave him some, which I could scarce get through his teeth. When it was dissolved in his mouth he swallowed the juice of it, whereat those about him rejoiced, saying that he had not swallowed anything in two days before. Then I desired to see his mouth which was exceedingly furred and his tongue swelled in such a manner as it was not possible for him to eat such meat as they had. Then I washed his mouth and scraped his tongue. After which I gave him more of the confection, which he swallowed with more readiness. Then he desired to drink ; I dissolved some of it in water and gave him thereof. Within half an hour this wrought a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him. Presently after, his sight began to come to him, which gave him and us good encouragement. I inquired how he slept, and they said he slept not in two days before. Then I gave him more and told him of a mishap we had by the way, in breaking a bottle of drink, saying if he would send one of his men to Patuxet, I would send for more of the same; also for chickens to make him broth, and for other things which I knew were good for him; and would stay the return of his messenger if he desired. This he took marvelous kindly, and appointed some, who were ready to go by two or three o'clock in the morning; against which time I made ready a letter,

"He requested me the day following I would take my piece and kill him some fowl, and make him some English pottage, such as he had eaten at Plymouth, which I promised. After, his stomach coming to him, I must needs make him some without fowl, before I went abroad, I caused a woman to bruise some corn and take the flour from it, and set over the broken corn, in a pipkin, for they have earthen pots of all sizes. W^hen the day broke we went out, it being now March, to seek herbs, but could not find any but strawberry leaves, of which I gathered a handful and put into the same ; and because I had nothing to relish it, I went forth again and pulled up a sassafras root and sliced a piece thereof and boiled it

i8 till it had a good relish, and then took it out again. The broth being boiled I strained it through my handkerchief, and gave him at least a pint, Which he drank and liked it very well. After this his sight mended more and more ; also he took some rest ; insomuch as we with the admiration blessed God for giving his blessing to such raw and ignorant means, himself and all of them acknowledging us the instruments of his preservation.

"That morning he caused me to spend in going from one to another amongst those who were sick in the town, requesting me to wash their mouths also, and give to each of them some of the same I gave him, saying they were good folk. This pains I took with willingness, though it were much offensive to me.

"After dinner he desired me to get him a goose or a duck, and make him some pottage therewith with as much speed as I could. So I took a man with me, and made a shot at a couple of ducks, some six score paces off, and killed one, at which he wondered. So we returned forthwith and dressed it, making more broth therewith, which he much desired. Never did I see a man so low brought, recover in that measure in so short a time.

"About an hour after he began to be very sick, and cast up the broth, and began to bleed at the nose, and so continued the space of four hours. Concluding now that he must die, they asked me what I thought of him. I answered, his case is desperate, yet it might be would save his life ; for if it ceased in time, he could forthwith sleep and take rest, which was the principal thing he wanted. Not long after his blood stayed and he slept at least six or eight hours. When he waked I washed his face, and bathed and supplied his beard and nose with a linen cloth. But on a sudden he chopped his nose in the water and drew up some therein, and sent it forth with such violence as he began to bleed afresh. Then they thought there was no hope, but we perceived it was but the tenderness of the nostril, and therefore told them I thought it would stay presently, as indeed it did.

"The messengers were returned; but finding his stomach come to him he would not have the chickens killed, but kept them for breed. Many whilst we were there came to see him ; some by their report, from a place not less than a hundred miles. To all that came, one of his chief men related the manner of his sickness, how near he was spent, how his friends, the English, came to see him, and how suddenly he recovered to him this strength they saw. Upon this recovery, he brake forth into these speeches ; 'Now I see the English are my friends, and love me, and whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.' Being fitted out for our return, we took leave of him ; who returned many thanks to our Governor, and also to ourselves for our labor and love ; the like did all that were about him. So we departed."

Says Cotton Mather: "The fees he (Massassoit) paid his English doctor, were a confession of the plot among several nations of the Indians to destroy the English." This information was most timely to the English, and enabled them to ward oflf the threatened conspiracy which had been formed between the Massachusetts tribe and the people to the south and west of Plymouth, which Massassoit had been often and urgently solicited to aid in carrying out. The cause of the jealousies and combinations against the whites at this time was owing to the unkind treatment of the natives by a company of men, called "Weston's Plantation of Settlers," from the name of their leader. The character of these settlers was profligate and unprincipled, and after they had become reduced to extreme penury by their idleness and dissolute habits, excited the ill-will of the Indians by fraudulent dealings and by theft. Massassoit advised Winslow, that the English should make an immediate attack upon the Massachusetts, lest after the tribes had destroyed the Weymouth settlement, they should fall upon the people of Plymouth, and easily destroy them.