BOOK III. BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF THE NEW ENGLAND INDIANS CONTINUED. CHAPTER I. Life of ALEXANDER alias WAMSUTTA-Events which led to the war with PhilipWEETAMOO his wife-Early events in her life-PETANANUET, her second husband -Weetamoo's latter career and death-Ninigret-Death of Alexander-JOHN SASSAMON-His country and connections-Becomes a christian-Schoolmaster-Minister-Settles at Assawomset-FELIX marries his daughter-Sassamon discovers the plots of Philip—Is murdered-Proceedings against the murderers—They are condemned and executed. ALEXANDER was the English name of the elder son of Massasoit. His real name appears at first to have been Mooanam, and afterwards Wamsutta, and lastly Alexander. The name of Mooanam he bore as early as 1639; in 1641 we find him noticed under the name Wamsutta. About the year 1656, he and his younger brother, Metacomet, or rather Pometacom, were brought to the court of Plimouth, and being solicitous to receive English names, the governor called the elder Alexander, and the younger Philip, probably from the two Macedonian heroes, which, on being explained to them, might have flattered their vanities; and which was probably the intention of the governor. Alexander appears pretty early to have set up for himself, as will be seen in the course of this chapter; occasioned, perhaps, by his marrying a female sachem of very considerable authority, and in great esteem among her neighbors. NAMUMPUм, afterwards called Weetamoo, squaw-sachem of Pocasset, was the wife of Alexander; and who, as says an anonymous writer,* was more willing to join Philip when he began war upon the English, being persuaded by him that they had poisoned her husband. This author calls her "as potent a prince as any round about her, and hath as much corn, land, and men, at her command." Alexander having, in 1653, sold a tract of the territory acquired by his wife, as has been related in the life of Massasoit, about six years after, Weetamoo came to Plimouth, and the following account of her business is contained in the records. "I, Namumpum, of Pokeesett, hauing, in open court, June last, fifty-nine, [1659,] before the governour and majestrates, surrendered up all that right and title of such lands as Woosamequin and Wamsetta sould to the purchasers; as appeeres by deeds giuen vnder theire hands, as alsoe the said Namumpum promise to remoue the Indians of from those lands; and alsoe att the same court the said Wamsutta promised Namumpum the third part of the pay, as is * Old Indian Chronicle, p. 6 188 ALEXANDER.-WEETAMO. [BOOK III expressed in the deed of which payment Namumpum haue receiued of John Cooke, this 6 of Oct. 1659: these particulars as followeth: item; 20 yards blew trading cloth, 2 yards red cotton, 2 paire of shooes, 2 paire stockings, 6 broade hoes and 1 are; And doe acknowledge receiued by me, NAMUMPUM.” Witnessed by Squabsen, Wahatunchquatt, and two English. Thus this land affair seems to have been amicably settled; but the same year of Alexander's death, whether before or after we are not assured, Namumpum appeared at Plimouth, and complained that Wamsutta had sold some of her land without her consent. "The court agreed to doe what they could in conuenient time for her relief." We apprehend there was some little difficulty between Alexander and his wife about this time, especially if her complaint were before his death, and we are rather of the opinion that it was, for it was June when her complaint was made, and we should assign a little later date for the death of her husband; and therefore all difficulty was settled in his death. On the 8 April, 1661, Wamsutta deeded the tract of country since called Rehoboth to Thomas Willet "for a valuable consideration.”* What that was the deed does not inform us; but we may venture to question the fact, for if the consideration had in truth been valuable, it would have appeared in the deed, and not have been kept out of sight. What time Namumpum deeded land to John Sanford and John Archer, we are not informed, but it was probably about the beginning of 1662. It was a deed of gift, and appears to have been only deeded to them to prevent her husband's selling it; but these men, it seems, attempted to hold the land in violation of their promise; however, being a woman of perseverance, she so managed the matter, that, in the year 1668, she found witnesses who deposed to the true meaning of the deed, and thus was, we presume, restored to her rightful possessions. Since we have been thus particular in acquainting the reader with the wife of Wamsutta, we will, before proceeding with our account of the husband, say all that we have to say of the interesting Weetamoo. Soon after the death of Alexander, we find Namumpum, or Weetamoo, associated with another husband, named Petonowowet. He was well known to the English, and went by the familiar name of Ben. Now, unless Peto-nowowet, or Pe-tan-a-nuet has been corrupted into PETER NUNNUIT, we must allow her to have had a third husband in 1675. We, however, are well satisfied that these two names are, as they appear to be, one and the same name. This husband of Weetamoo does not appear to have been of so much impor tance as her first, Wamsutta; and as he only appears occasionally in the crowd, we are of opinion that she took good care in taking a second husband, and fixed upon one that she was better able to manage than she was the determined Wamsutta. On the 8 May, 1673, Tatamomock, Petonowowett, and William alias Tjasocke, sold to Nathaniel Paine of Rehoboth, and Hugh Cole of Swansey, a lot of land in Swansey, near Mattapoiset, and Showamet neck, for £35 5s. Weetamoo, Philip alias Wagusoke, and Steven alias Nucano, were the Indian witnesses. About the same time, one Piowant was intruded upon by some others claiming his lands, or otherwise molesting him, and the business seems to have undergone a legal scrutiny; in this affair both Weetamoo and her husband appear upon our records. They testify that the tract of land bounded by a small river or brook called Mastucksett, which compasseth said tract to Assonett River, and so to Taunton River, [by trees, &c.] hath for many years been in the possession of Piowant. The place of the bounds on Taunton River was called Chippascuitt, which was a little south of Mastucksett. Pantauset, Quanowin, Nescanoo, and Panowwin, testified the same. It does not appear that Peta-nan-u-et was at all concerned in Philip's war against the English, but, on the contrary, forsook his wife and joined them against her. Under such a leader as Church, he must have been employed against his countrymen with great advantage. At the time he came over to * See the Hist. of Attleborough, by John Daggett, Esq., p. 6, where the deed is preserved. the English, he no doubt expected his wife would do the same, as she gave Church to understand as much. After the war he was honored with a command over the prisoners, who were permitted to reside in the country between Sepecan and Dartmouth. Numpus, or Nompash, and Isaac were also in the same office. After Mr. Church left Awashonks' council, a few days before the war broke out, he met with both Weetamoo and her husband at Pocasset. He first met with the husband, Petananuet, who had just arrived in a canoe from Philip's nead quarters at Mount Hope. He told Church there would certainly be war, for that Philip had held a war dance of several weeks, and had entertained the young men from all parts of the country. He said, also, that Philip expected to be sent for to Plimouth, about Sassamon's death, knowing himself guilty of contriving that murder. Petananuet further said, that he saw Mr. James Brown of Swansey, and Mr. Samuel Gorton, who was an interpreter, and two other men that brought a letter from the governor of Plimouth to Philip. Philip's young warriors, he said, would have killed Mr. Brown, but Philip told them they must not, for his father had charged him to show kindness to him; but to satisfy them, told them, that on the next Sunday, when the English had gone to meeting, they might plunder their houses, and afterwards kill their cattle. Meanwhile Weetamoo was at her camp just back from Pocasset shore, on the high hill a little to the north of what is now Howland's ferry, and Petananuet requested Mr. Church to go up and see her. He did so, and found her in rather a melancholy mood, all her men having left her and gone to Philip's war dance, much, she said, against her will. Church, elated with his success at Awashonks' camp, and thinking both "queens" secured to the English interest, hastened to Plimouth to give the governor an account of his discoveries.-This was a day big to Philip; he immediately took measures to reclaim Weetamoo, and had nearly drawn off Awashonks with the vivid hopes of conquest and booty. Weetamoo could no longer remain neutral; the idea still harrowed upon her mind, that the authorities of Plimouth had poisoned her former husband,* and was now sure that they had seduced her present one; therefore, froin the power of such arguments, when urged by the artful Philip, there was no escape or resistance. Hence his fortune became her own, and she moved with him from place to place about her dominions, in the country of Pocasset, until the 30 July, when all the Wampanoags escaped out of a swamp, and retired into the country of the Nipmuks. From this time Weetamoo's operations become so blended with those of her allies, that the life of Philip takes up the narration. When, by intestine divisions, the power of Philip was destroyed among the Nipmucks, Weetamoo seems to have been deserted by almost all her followers, and, like Philip, she sought refuge again in her own country. It was upon the 6 August, 1676, when she arrived upon the western bank of Tehticut River in Mettapoiset, where, as was then supposed, she was drowned by accident, in attempting to cross the river to Pocasset, at the same point she had crossed the year before in her flight with Philip. Her company consisted now of no more than 26 men, whereas, in the beginning of the war, they amounted to 300; and she was considered by the English "next unto Philip in respect of the mischief that hath been done."+ The English at Taunton were notified by a deserter of her situation, who offered to lead any that would go, in a way that they might easily surprise her and her company. Accordingly, 20 men volunteered upon this enterprise, and succeeded in capturing all but Weetamoo, "who," according to Mr. Hubbard "intending to make an escape from the danger, attempted to get over a river or arm of the sea near by, upon a raft, or some pieces of broken wood; but whether tired and spent with swimming, or starved with cold and hunger she was found stark naked in Metapoiset, not far from the water side, which made some think she was first half drowned, and so ended her wretched life.” “Her head being cut off and set upon a pole in Taunton, was known by some +1. Mather. * OLD INDIAN CHRONICLE, p. 8. Narrative, 103 and 109. 190 ALEXANDER. [BOOK III Indians then prisoners [there,] which set them into a horrible lamentation." Mr. Mather improves upon this passage, giving it in a style more to suit the taste of the times: "They made a most horid and diabolical lamentation, crying out that it was their queen's head." The authors of YAMOYDEN thus represent Philip escaping from the cold grasp of the ghostly form of Weetamoo:~ "As from the water's depth she came, Her hollow scream he heard behind Although Weetamoo doubtless escaped from Pocasset with Philip, yet it appears that instead of flying to the Nipmuks she soon went down into the Niantic country, and the English immediately had news of it, which occa sioned their sending for Ninigret to answer for harboring their enemy, as in his life has been related. In this connection it should be noted, that the time had expired, in which Ninigret by his deputies agreed to deliver up Weetamoo, some time previous to the great fight in Narraganset, and hence this was seized upon, as one pretext for invading the Narragansets. And moreover, it was said, that if she were taken by that formidable army of a 1000 men, "her lands would more than pay all the charge" the English had been at in the whole war.* Weetamoo, it is presumed, left Ninigret and joined the hostile Narragansets and the Wampanoags in their strong fort, some time previous to the English expedition against it, in December. And it was about this time that she connected herself with the Narraganset chief Quinnapin, as will be found related in his life. She is mentioned by some writers as Philip's kinswoman, which seems to have been the case in a two-fold manner; first from her being sister to his wife, and secondly from her marrying Alexander, his brother. To return to Wamsutta. A lasting and permanent interest will always be felt, and peculiar feelings associated with the name of this chief. Not on account of a career of battles, devastations or murders, for there were few of these, but there is left for us to relate the melancholy account of his death. Mr. Hubbard's account of this event is in the hands of almost every reader, and cited by every writer upon our early history, and hence is too extensively known to be repeated here. Dr. I. Mather agrees very nearly in his account with Mr. Hubbard, but being more minute, and rarely to be met with, we give it entire : "In A. D. 1662, Plimouth colony was in some danger of being involved in trouble by the Wampanoag Indians. After Massasoit was dead, his two sons, called Wamsutta and Metacomet, came to the court at Plimouth, pretending high respect for the English, and, therefore, desired English names might be imposed on them, whereupon the court there named Wamsutta, the elder brother, Alexander, and Metacomet, the younger brother, Philip. This Alexander, Philip's immediate predecessor, was not so faithful and friendly to the English as his father had been. For some of Boston, having been occasionally at Narraganset, wrote to Mr. Prince, who was then governor of Plimouth, that Alexander was contriving mischief against the English, and that he had solicited the Narragansets to engage with him in his designed rebellion. Hereupon, Capt. Willet, who lived near to Mount Hope, the place where Alexander did reside, was appointed to speak with him, and to desire him to attend the next court in Plimouth, for their satisfaction, and his own vindication. seemed to take the message in good part, professing that the Narragansets, whom, he said, were his enemies, had put an abuse upon him, and he readily promised to attend at the next court. But when the day for his appearance was come, instead of that, he at that very time went over to the Narragansets, his pretended enemies, which, compared with other circumstances, caused the gentlemen at Plimouth to suspect there was more of truth in the infor * Old Indian Chronicle, p. 31, 32. He In 1661, he was forced into a war with Uncas, the account of which, properly belonging to the life of that chief, will be found there related. mation given, than at first they were aware of. Wherefore the governor and magistrates there ordered Major Winslow, (who is since, and at this day [1677] governor of that colony,) to take a party of men, and fetch down Alexander. The major considering that semper nocuit deferre paratis, he took but 10 armed men with him from Marshfield, intending to have taken more at the towns that lay nearer Mount Hope. But Divine Providence so ordered, as that when they were about the midway between Plimouth and Bridgewater, observing an hunting house, they rode up to it, and there did they find Alexander and many of his ment well armed, but their guns standing together without the house. The major, with his small party, possessed themselves of the Indians' arms, and beset the house; then did he go in amongst them, acquainting the sachem with the reason of his coming in such a way; desiring Alexander with his interpreter to walk out with him, who did so a little distance from the house, and then understood what commission the major had received concerning him. The proud sachem fell into a raging passion at this surprise saying the governor had no reason to credit rumors, or to send for him in such a way, nor would he go to Plimouth, but when he saw cause. It was replied to him, that his breach of word touching appearance at Plimouth court, and, instead thereof, going at the same time to his pretended enemies, augmented jealousies concerning him. In fine, the major told him, that his order was to bring him to Plimouth, and that, by the help of God, he would do it, or else he would die on the place; also declaring to him that if he would submit, he might expect respective usage, but if he once more denied to go, he should never stir from the ground whereon he stood; and with a pistol at the sachem's breast, required that his next words should be a positive and clear answer to what was demanded. Hereupon his interpreter, a discreet Indian, brother to John Sausaman, being sensible of Alexander's passionate disposition, entreated that he might speak a few words to the sachem before he gave his answer. The prudent discourse of this Indian prevailed so far as that Alexander yielded to go, only requesting that he might go like a sachem, with his men attending him, which, although there was some hazard in it, they being many, and the English but a few, was granted to him. The weather being hot, the major offered him an horse to ride on, but his squaw and divers Indian women being in company, he refused, saying he could go on foot as well as they, entreating only that there might be a complying with their pace, which was done. And resting several times by the way, Alexander and his Indians were refreshed by the English. No other discourse happening while they were upon their march, but what was pleasant and amicable. The major sent a man before, to entreat that as many of the magistrates of that colony as could would meet at Duxbury. Wherefore having there had some treaty with Alexander, not willing to commit him to prison, they entreated Major Winslow to receive him to his house, until the governor, who then lived at Eastham, could come up. Accordingly, he and his train were courteously entertained by the major. And albeit, not so much as an angry word passed between them whilst at Marshfield; yet proud Alexander, vexing and fretting in his spirit, that such a check was given him, he suddenly fell sick of a fever. He was then nursed as a choice friend. Mr. Fuller, the physician, coming providentially thither at that time, the sachem and his men earnestly desired that he would administer to him, which he was unwilling to do, but by their importunity was prevailed with to do the best he could to help him, and therefore gave him a portion of working physic, which the Indians thought did him good. But his distemper afterwards prevailing, they entreated§ to dismiss him, in order to a return home, which upon engagement Within six miles of the English towns. Hubbard, 10, (Edition, 1677.) Massasoit, and Akewise Philip, used to have temporary residences in eligible places for fishing, at various sites between the two bays, Narraganset and Massachusetts, as at Raynham, Namasket, Titicut, [in Middleborough,] and Munponset Pond in Halifax. At which of these places he was, we cannot, with certainty, decide: that at Halifax would, perhaps, agree best with Mr. Hubbard's account. + Eighty, says Hubbard, 6. He had a brother by the name of Roland. "Entreating those that held him prisoner, that he might have liberty to return home, |