USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Early Rehoboth, documented historical studies of families and events in this Plymouth colony township, Volume III > Part 11
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Neither Mather nor Hubbard gave the date on which Maj. Thomas Savage and his two com- panies left Boston for Mount Hope. Major Savage made his will on 28 June 1675, which fixes the date, for James Savage said that he made it the day he left Boston and that it was so well drawn that he made no further changes. The will was proved 9 Mar. 1682 [Savage's Gen. Dict., vol. IV, p. 26].
* Church said: "They [the Massachusetts forces] marched until they came to the narrow of the Neck [Mount Hope] at a Place called Keekkamuit where they took down the heads of the Eight English Men killed at the head of Metapoiset-Neck and set upon Polls after the barbarous maner of those Salvages. There Philip had staved all his Drums and conveyed all his Canoo's to the East- side of Metapoiset (now Cole's) river . . . Mr. Church told them [the military command] that Philit had doubtless gone over to Pocasset side to ingage those Indians in Rebellion with him: which they soon found to be true. The enemy were not beaten out of Mount-hope Neck tho 'twas true they fled before any persued them. 'Twas but to strenghen themselves and to gain a more advantageous Post. However, some and not a few pleased themselves with the fancy of a Mighty Conquest [including our contemporary historians, Mather and Hubbard].
"A grand Council was held and a Resolve passed to build a Fort there [at Mount Hope] to main- tain the first ground they had gained by the Indians leaving it to thein. And to speak the Truth it must be said, that as they gained not that Field by their Sword nor their Bow; so 'twas rather their fear than their courage that obliged them to set up the marks of their Conquest. Mr. Church looked upon it, and talk of it with contempt and urged hard the pursuing the Enemy on Pocasset- side and with greater earnestness . . . The Council adjourned themselves from Mont-hope to Rehoboth where Mr. Treasurer [Constant] Southworth being weary of his charge of Commissary General (Provision being scarce & difficult to be obtained, for the Army that now lay still to Cover the People from no body, while they were building a Fort for nothing) retired and the Power & Trouble of that Post was left with Mr. Church [son-in-law] who still urged the Commanding Officers to move over to Pocasset side, to persue the enemy [7] and kill Philip which would in his opinion be more probably to keep possession of the Neck, than to tarry to build a Fort" [Church's Entertaining History (Dexter Ed., 1865), vol. I, pp. 23-26].
These eight heads on poles were probably those of "Gershom Cobb, Joseph Lewis, Jolın Salis- bury, William Salisbury, John Jones, John Fall, Nemiah Allen, and Robert Jones", who were killed at Swansea on 24 June and their decapitated and mutilated bodies buried there that day [Plymouth Colony Records, vol. VIII, p. 61].
General Fessenden, in his History of Warren, R. I., (1845), page 71, said that after diligent search he found the remains of this Mount Hope Fort and described them as "situated opposite the nar- rows of Kickemuit river, in Bristol, R. I., on the top of the most southwestern of several hills on the north side of a cove. They consist now chiefly of the remains of the fireplace in the fort. This fire-place was made by preparing a suitable excavation and laying low stone walls at the sides and the end for which flat stones were used, evidently brought from the adjoining beach. The remains of these ruins are now beneath the surface of the ground, which at this place is depressed several inches below the average surface of the ground in the immediate vicinity. The hill is fast wearing away by the action of the water which washes its base. The wearing away has already reached the fire-place from which the charcoal and burnt stones are often falling down the steeply inclined plane beneath".
On his expedition to capture Annawan, Captain Church stopped at this Mount Hope fort where his Indians had "catch'ed Ten Indians, and guarded them all Night in one of the Flankers of the old
Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
GOVERNOR JOSEPH DUDLEY
Chaplain of the Massachusetts Military Forces to Mount Hope, Plymouth Colony, in 1675. He was frequently in Rehoboth. Involved in the troubles of Sir Edmund Andros, in 1689, he was confined in gaol at Boston for five months and then sent to England. There he became a member of Parliament; served for eight years as Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight under Lord Cutts; and returned to New England in 1702 with a commission as third Royal Governor of the Massa- chusetts Bay.
With a troop of horse and attended by seven members of the Council of the Massachusetts Bay, including Capt. Nathaniel Thomas, Governor Dudley was in Rehoboth on 1 and 8 Sept. 1702 on his way to and from Newport in his unsuccess- ful attempt, as Captain General and Vice Admiral, to take over command of the Rhode Island Military Forces. On 14 Oct. 1709 he returned to Rehoboth to at- tend the First Continental Congress held in America.
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The Massachusetts Military Expedition to Mount Hope
ous, and rainy, Captain Cudworth with some of the men of Plimouth passed over to Road-Island.
"The forces under Major Savage were forced to abide all night in the open Field, without any shelter, notwithstanding the abundance of rain that [20] fell; and in the morning, despairing to meet with any Enemy on Mount- Hope, they retreated back to their Quarters at Swanzy, in the way meeting with many Indian dogs, that seemed to have lost their Masters. That night Captain Prentice his Troop for conveniency of Quarters, as also for discovery, was dismissed to lodge at Seaconke or Rehoboth, a Town within six miles of Swanzy. As they returned back in the morning, Captain Pren- tice divided his Troop, delivering one half to Lieutenant Oakes,* and keeping the other himself, who as they rode along, espyed a Company of Indians burning an house; but could not pursue them by reason of several Fences, that they could not go over till the Indians had escaped into a Swamp.
Those with Lieutenant [Edward] Oaks had the like discovery, but with better success, as to the advantage of the ground, so as pursuing of them upon a plain, t they slew four or five of them in the Chase, whereof one was known to be Thebe,¿ a sachem of Mount-Hope, another of them a chief Councellor of Philips; yet in this attempt the Lieutenant lost one of his company, John Druce § by name, who was mortally wounded in his bowels, whereof he soon after died, to the great grief of his companions. After the said Troop came up to the Head-Quarters at Swanzy, they understood from Captain Cudworth that the Enemy were discovered upon Pocasset, another neck of Land lying over an Arm of the Sea, more towards Cape Cod:
"However, it was resolved that a more narrow search should be made
English Garrison; that their prisoners were part of Annawons company, and that they had left their Families in a Swamp above Mattapoiset Neck [now Gardner's Neck, Swansea]". On Captain Church's arrival at the fort enough "Horse-beaf" was roasted to last the company a whole day [Church's Entertaining History (Dexter Ed., 1865), vol. I, pp. 159, 161].
* Savage was in error when he said that Captain Prentice's lieutenant was Thomas Oakes, brother of Urian Oakes, President of Harvard College. It was Edward, another brother, who was the lieutenant, as is proved by John Hull's account book showing that on 21 Sept. 1675 Lieut. Edward Oakes of Captain Prentice's company drew £5 for services [Bodge, p. 81]. Edward Oakes, Cam- bridge, freeman 18 May 1642, brought from England his wife Jane and children Urian (H.C. 1649) and Edward [Savage's Gen. Dict., vol. III, p. 302].
t Mather said: "In the beginning of July, there was another Skirmish with the Enemy, wherein several of the Indians were killed, amongst whom were Philips chief Captain, and one of his Coun- sellors. Now it appears that Squaw-Sachem of Pocasset, her men were conjoyned with the Wom- ponoags (that is Philips men) in this Rebellion. About this time they killed several English at Taunton, and burnt divers houses there. Also at Swansy, they caused about half the town to be consumed with merciless Flames. Likewise Middlebury and Dartmouth in Plimouth Colony, did they burn with Fire, and barbarously murthered both men and women in those places, stripping the slain whether men or women, and leaving them in the open field as naked as in the day wherein they were born. Such also is their inhumanity, as that they flay of the skin from their faces and heads of those they get into their hands, and go away with the hairy Scalp of their enemies" [Math- er's Brief History (Drake Ed., 1862), pp. 59-61].
Neither Mather nor Hubbard gave the date of this Indian attack on Taunton. The date is fixed, however, for Shadrach Wilbore, Taunton Town Clerk, in his return to the Plymouth Court said: "John Tisdall, Senior killed by the Indians, the 27th June 1675" [Plymouth Colony Records, vol. VIII, p. 69]. Drake in a footnote to Hubbard said that in March 1677 three Indians were arraigned at Plymouth "for murdering John Knowles, John Tisdall, Sen., and Samuel Atkins. The Indians were Timothy Jacked, alias Canjuncke, Naffamaquat, and Pompacanthe". They were sentenced to be sent out of the colony. The writer is unable to find this original record. See post, p. 97.
Į Peebe, one of Philip's counselors, was a sachem who lived on a point of land called Peebe Neck located in Sowams now in the town of Barrington, R. I. On 13 Mar. 1668 King Philip gave a quit- claim deed to Rehoboth of eight square miles of land lying on the east and west sides of Palmer's River. The deed is signed by the "marks of Umptakisok, councellor; Philip, councellor; Sunecone- whew, Philip's brother; Peebee, Councelor; the mark of Philip P Sachem, and the mark of Tom Interpreter".
§ John Druce was buried at Swansea 2 July 1675 [Plymouth Colony Records, vol. VIII, p. 61]. According to Savage, he was of Cambridge village (now Newton), son of Vincent Druce; was mor- tally wounded on 1 July 1675, in the morning march of Captain Prentice's troop from Rehoboth to Swansea, was brought home and died the next day. His nuncupative will was proved by oath of Joseph Dudley [chaplain of the expedition] on 16 August following. Lieutenant Druce left a widow Mary and three small children, the oldest six years [Savage's Gen. Dict., vol. II, p. 74].
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after them, both upon Mount-Hope, and upon the ground between Swanzy and Rehoboth to scour the Swamps, and assault them, if they could find where they were intrenched. Captain [Daniel] Henchman, and Captain Prentice, were ordered to search the Swamps; while Captain [Samuel] Mosely, and Cap- tain [Nicholas] Page with his dragoons attending on Major [Thomas] Savage, should return back into Mount-Hope, that they might be sure to leave none of the enemy behind them, when they should remove to pursue them else- where.
"About ten a clock the next morning, July 4, Captain [Daniel] Henchman after a long and tedious March, came to the Head-Quarters, and informed that he came upon a place where the Enemy had newly been that night, but were escaped out of his reach: But that night before they were determined of any other motion, Captain [Edward] Hutchinson * came up from Boston with new Orders for them to pass into Narhaganset, to treat with the Sachems there, and if it might be, to prevent their joining with Philip. Capt. [James] Cudworth, by this time was come up to the Head-Quarters, having left a Garrison of forty men upon Mount-hope Neck. The next morning was spent in consultation how to carry on the Treaty; it was then resolved that they should go to make a peace with a Sword in their [21] hands, having no small ground of suspicion that the said Narhagansets might joyn with the Enemy; wherefore, they thought it necessary to carry all the Massachusets Forces over into the Narhaganset Country, to fight them, if there should be need; Captain [Samuel] Mosely passed over by water to attend Captain [Edward] Hutchinson in his dispatch; the other Companies with the Troopers riding round about: as they passed, they found the Indians in Pophams Country (next adjoining to Philips Borders) all fled, and their Wigwams without any people in them.
"After they came to the Narhaganset Sachems, three or four days were spent in a treaty, after which a peace was concluded on sundry Articles be- tween the Messengers of Connecticut Colony, (who were ordered to meet with those of the Massachusetts) and the Commanders of the Forces sent against Philip: Hostages were also given by the said Narhagansets for the performance of the agreement. A Copy of the said Agreement, and the Arti- cles on which a Peace was concluded, here follow. It being always under- stood, that Plimouth Colony was included in the said Agreement, although their Forces were not then present, but remained at home near the Enemies Borders, to secure their Towns, and oppose Philip as there might be occasion, if he offered to make any new attempt in the mean time.
'A articles, Covenants and Agreements had, made and concluded by and be- tween Major Thomas Savage, Captain Edward Hutchinson, and Mr. Joseph Dudley, in behalf of the Government of the Massachusetts Colony, and Major Wait Winthrop, and Mr. Richard Smith, on behalf of Con- necticut Colony on the one party, and Agamaug, Wompsh, alias Corman, Taitson, Tawageson, Councellors and Attornies to Canonicus; Ninigret, Matataog, old Queen Quaiapen, Quananshit & Pompaham the six present Sachims of the whole Narhaganset Country on the other party, refering to
* On 3 July 1675, the Massachusetts Council sent Capt. Edward Hutchinson from Boston to Mount Hope with orders to make a treaty with the Narragansett Indians. The same day, by court order, he was paid £5. From John Hull's Journal credits it appears that the following men accom- panied him: Edward Hutchinson, Jr., John Bennet, Samuel Williams, Hugh Clark, John Pason, John Minott, Nathaniel Holmes, John Ruggles, and James Barrett [Bodge, p. 93].
Capt. Edward Hutchinson was the eldest son of William and Ann (Marbury) Hutchinson. He came to New England in 1633, a year before his parents. With his uncle and father, he was among the first to settle at Newport, R. I., in 1638. In a few years he returned to Boston. At the time of King Philip's War he owned a large farm in the Nipmuck country and was well known to the Indians, several of whom he employed. On 14 July 1675 the Nipmuck Indians fell on the town of Mendon, burned some of the houses, and killed several of the inhabitants. This was the first Massa- chusetts blood shed in Philip's war.
Captain Hutchinson, leaving Rehoboth, after making the Narragansett Treaty, returned to Bos- ton and with a small company was sent to Quabaog to make a treaty with the Nipmuck Indians. He was treacherously ambushed and severely wounded on 2 August, dying at Marlsborough on 19 Aug. 1675. For detailed account, see Mather's Brief History (Drake Ed., 1862), pp. 63-67.
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The Massachusetts Military Expedition to Mount Hope
several Differences and Troubles lately risen between them; and for a final conclusion of setled Peace and Amity between the said Sachims, their Heirs and Successors forever, and the Governours of the said Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and their Successors in the said Governments for ever.
'I. That all and every of the said Sachims shall from Time to Time carefully seize, and living or dead deliver unto one or other of the above said Governments, all and every of Sachim Philips Subjects whatsoever, that shall come [22] or be found within the precints of any of their lands, and that with greatest diligence and faithfulness.
'II. That they shall with their utmost ability use all Acts of Hostility against the said Philip and his Subjects, entring his Lands or any other Lands of the English, to kill and destroy the said Enemy, until a cessation from war with the said Enemy be concluded by both the above said Colonies.
'III. That the said Sachims, by themselves and their Agents, shall care- fully search out and deliver all stoln Goods whatsoever taken by any of their Subjects from any of the English, whether formerly or lately, and shall make full satisfaction for all wrongs or injuries done to the Estate of any of the Subjects of the Several Colonies, according to the Judgment of indifferent men, in case of dissatisfaction between the Offendors and the Offended Parties, or deliver the Offendors.
'IV. That all Preparations for War, or Acts of Hostility against any of the English subjects, shall for ever for the future cease; together with all manner of Thefts, Pilferings, killing of Cattel, or any manner of breach of peace what- soever, shall with utmost care be prevented, and instead thereof, their strength to be used as a Guard round about the Narhaganset Country, for the English Inhabitants safety and security.
'V. In token of the above said Sachims reality in this Treaty and Conclu- sion, and for the security of the several English Governments and Subjects they do freely deliver unto the above said Gentlemen, in the behalf of the above said Colonies, John Wobequob, Weowthim, Pewkes, Weenew, four of their near Kinsmen and choice Friends, to be and remain as Hostages * in several
* These four Indian hostages were taken to Connecticut as seen by the following letter. Also, the Narragansetts did bring in a few heads of Philip's Indians.
ffor the hounoraball John Winthrope Esqu' Gouro: of Coneticott Colloney: this Humbly prsent in Boston.
much hounoured: my Dewe seruis to you & to your sonn & daufters, I writt to you not Longe sinc, & understod by the post you were not well, . . . my wiufe . .. heres you intend for Eingland . .. I intend thether & shoald be glad to waight one you in the same shipe, nothing hinders me; butt would fayne see all apearenc of ware ouer: as to the naragansets, here are maney inland indyans Come hither, as they-pretend to shelter themselufe for feare of the- Einglish sowders, the naragansets still request fauor-for wittamore and her Company & the seconett Squo & hers: here is also seuerall of Phillips Company Come in & brought in by those, which those doe osbceuer all they Can, and will not Confese howe maney, it Cononocous: hath broght in to me in all 14 heds, seuen of which was Latly & sume of them Phillips Chefe men, These being a greate numbr it will be good to be moderate with them as it for should we haue war with them they would doe greate damage, ninicroft sent in also two heds Longe sinc; I haue writt att Large to Gour Leurett hounor; which I refer you two, being herewith sen[t], I should be glad if I Could be aictiufe in aney respectt: wherby I might promotte aney thing that would lend to the peasce & wellfare of the Cuntrey, it Latly I ame informed att scecond hand from Captt Syluister, thatt it was reported att Hartford] that I had sowld the indgens A barall of powder, it was A greate untrueth, for I deneyed all indy[ans] selling them aney att all, and the more for thatt I sawe them greedy for it, & that Long before the ware begune with Philip:, so that whosoeuer was the raysar of that report did much a buse me. besyds I haue had butt one barell of powder in my Custody this yeare, most of which haue yet by me: [ ] hounoured sir I request the fauor from you: to wright me a lyne or two of the Certanty of your gooeing for Eingland & the time, my seruis to mr Willis & mr Richards, I would request your aduisce as relating to A farmen I bought of Captt Atherton he hauing administracion from Coneticott, presenting noe sequeraty to the Courtt this farmen was tyed for sequerety, the farmen I bought the rest of the brothers ratyfieth the salle of it receues part of the money, Capt Atherton demands: the resudewe I refewse to paye aney more ether to him or them except the Court orders it to whome . . . the mony Lyes redy . . . Sir haue not elce butt bige your exceusce and Craue your fauar ame your hounors most obleged & humbell seruent
Richd Smith
Wickford 12 Septm 1675
The naragansett sachems: deseyers theyer hosteges may returen, they: hauing they say aproued themselufs Loyall by bringing in of heeds :- Indorsed: mr Rich: Smith rec: Sept: 17
[Original Letter, Mass. Hist. Society, Winthrop Papers, vol. XVIII, p. 111].
1
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Early Rehoboth
places of the English Jurisdictions, at the appointment of the Honourable Governours, of the above said Colonies, there to be civilly treated, not as Prisoners, but otherwise at their Honours Discretion, until the above said Articles are fully accomplished to the satisfaction of the several Governments, the departure of any of them in the mean time to be accounted breach of the Peace, and these present Articles.
'VI. The said Gentlemen in the behalf of the Governments to which they do belong, do engage to every the said Sachims and their Subjects, that if they or any of them shall seize and bring into either the above said English Gov- ernments, or to Mr. Smith, Inhabitants of Narhaganset, Philip Sachim alive, he or they so delivering, shall receive for their pains, for[ty] Trucking-cloth Coats; * in case they bring his Head, they shall have twenty like good Coats paid them: for every living Subject of said Philips so delivered, the Deliverer shall receive two Coats, and for every Head one Coat, as a Gratuity for their service herein, making it appear to Satisfaction, that the Heads or Persons are belonging to the Enemy, and that they are of their seizure. [23]
'VII. The said Sachims do renew and confirm unto the English Inhab- itants or others, all former Grants, Sails, Bargains or Conveyances of Lands, Meadows, Timber, Grass, Stones, or whatsoever else the English have heretofore bought or quietly possessed and enjoyed, to be unto them, and their Heirs, and Assigns for ever; as also all former Articles made with the Con- federate Colonies.
'Lastly, The said Councellors and Attorneys do premeditately, seriously, and upon good advice, Covenant, Conclude and Agree all abovesaid solemnly, and call God to witness they are, and shall remain true Friends to the Eng- lish Government, and perform the above said Articles punctually, using their utmost endeavour, care and faithfulness therein: In Witness whereof they have set their Hands and Seals. Petaquanscot July 15. 1675.
'Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us underwritten, being carefully interpreted to the said Indians before sealing.
Tawageson his Mark C.
Taytson his Mark D. Agamaug his Mark T. Wampsh, alias Corman his Mark X.'
. Daniel Henchman. Thomas Prentice. Nicholas Paige. Joseph Stanton t Interpreter Henry Hawlaws.# Pecot Bukow.t Job Neff.
"During this Treaty of peace with the Narhagansets, Captain [James] Cudworth with the Forces of Plimouth under his Command, found something to do nearer home, though of another nature as it proved, sc. to make War whilst the other were (as they thought) making Peace: in the first place therefore he dispatched Captain [Mathew] Fuller (joyning Lieutenant [Ben- jamin] Church together with him in Commission) with fifty in his Company to Pocasset, on the same account, as the other went to Narhaganset, either to conclude a Peace with them, if they would continue Friends, and give Hostages for the confirmation thereof, or fight them if they should declare themselves Enemies, and join with Philip; himself intending to drawn down
* The Boston Merchant writing to his friend in London on 10 Nov. 1675 said "That for every Indian's Head-Skin [scalp] they [the Narragansetts] brought they should have a Coat (i.e. two yards of Trucking Cloth, worth five Shillings per yard here) and for every one they bring alive two Coats: for King Philips Head, Twenty Coats, and if taken alive Forty Coats. These went out and returned in fourteen days time bringing with them about Eighteen Heads in all" [Drake's Old Indian Chronicle (1836), p. 18].
t Joseph Stanton was the well-known Indian interpreter of Connecticut.
¿ These Indian witnesses were probably some of the friendly praying Indians around Boston. On 6 July 1675 Capt. Isaac Johnson with a small English escort convoyed from Boston to Mount Hope 52 Indians raised by Major Gookin. For some reason, a part of these Indians were sent back to Boston with Captain Johnson on 10 July 1675 [Bodge, p. 159]. Seventeen of these praying Indians remained in Plymouth Colony on 30 July and these were with Capt. Daniel Henchman.
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his forces to Rehoboth, to be ready for a speedy march to Taunton, and so down into the other side of the Country; upon the news that some of the enemy were burning and spoiling of Middleburrough and Dartmouth, two small Villages lying in the way [24] betwixt Pocasset and Plimouth
"Upon Thursday, July 7, Captain [Mathew] Fuller with Captain [Benja- min] Church went into Pocasset to seek after the enemy, or else as occasion might serve to treat with those Indians at Pocasset, with whom Mr. Church was very well acquainted, always holding good correspondence with them: After they had spent that day and most of the night, in traversing the said Pocasset Neck, and Watching all night in an House which they found there, yet could hear no tidings of any Indians; insomuch that Captain [Mathew] Fuller began to be weary of his design: Mr. Church in the meanwhile assuring him, that they should find Indians before it were long: yet for greater expedition they divided their company, Captain Fuller taking down towards the sea- side, where it seems after some little skirmishing with them, wherein one man only received a small wound, he either saw or heard too many Indians for himself and his Company to deal with, which made him and them betake themselves to an House near the Water-side, from whence they were fetched off by a Sloop before night to Road-Island.
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