History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 113

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" When Capt. Church came to the garrison he met his lieutenant3 and the rest of his company. And then making up good fires they fell to roasting their horse beef, enough to last them a whole day, but had not a morsel of bread, but though salt they had (which they always carried in their pockets, which at this time was very acceptable to them).

"Their next motion was towards the place where the prisoners told them they had left their women and children, and surprised them all and some others that were newly come to them. And upon examination they held to one story, that it was hard to tell where to find Annawan, for he never roosted twice in a place.

"Now a certain Indian soldier that Capt. Church had gained over to be on his side prayed that he

might have liberty to go and fetch his father, who, he said, was about four miles from that place in a swamp, with no other than a young squaw. Capt. Church inclined to go with him, thinking it might be in his way to gain some intelligence of Annawan, and so taking one Englishman and a few Indians with him, leaving the rest there, he went with his new soldier to look after his father.

" When he came to the swamp he bid the Indian go to see if he could find his father. He was no sooner gone but Church discovered a track coming down out of the woods, upon which he and his little company lay close, some on one side of the track and some on the other. They heard the Indian soldier making a howling for his father, and at length somebody an- swered him; but while they were listening they thought they heard somebody coming towards them ; presently they saw an old man coming up with a gun on his shoulder and a young woman following in the track in which they lay by. They let them come up between them, and then started up and laid hold of them both. Capt. Church immediately examined them apart, telling them what they must trust to if they told false stories. He asked the young woman what company they came from last? She said, 'From Capt. Annawan's.' He asked her how many there were in company with him when she left him? She said, 'Fifty or sixty.' He asked her how many miles it was to the place where she left him ? She said she did not understand miles, but that he was up in Squaunaconk Swamp.4

" The old man, who had been one of Philip's Coun- cil, upon examination, gave exactly the same account. Capt. Church asked him if they could get there that night? He said if they went presently and traveled stoutly they might get there by sunset. He asked whither he was going? He answered that Annawan had sent him down to look for some Indians that were gone down into Mount Hope Neck to kill provisions. Capt. Church let him know that these Indians were all his prisoners.

" By this time came the Indian soldier and brought his father and one Indian more. The captain was now in a great strait of mind what to do next; he had a mind to give Annawan a visit now he knew where to find him. But his company was very small, but half a dozen men beside himself, and was under a necessity to send somebody back to acquaint his lieu- tenant and company with his proceedings. However, he asked his small company that were with him whether they would willingly go with him and give Annawan a visit? They told him they were always ready to obey his commands, etc., but, withal, told him that they knew this Capt. Annawan was a great soldier, that he had been a valiant captain under Asuhmequin,5 Philip's father, and that he had been

1 This fort was built in June, 1675, by the Boston and Plymouth troops, who were sent to the defense of Swansea on the first breaking out of the war.

2 In Swansea.

3 Mr. Jabez Howland. From this it appears that Church had at least one Englishman with him in this expedition, and we shall presently see that he had another.

4 This is a large swamp in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth.

5 His name has been variously written as Asuhmequin, Ossamequin

or Osamequin, Oosamequen, Osamekin, Owsamequin, Ousamequine, Us-

472

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Philip's chieftan all this war. A very subtile man, of great resolution, and had often said that he would never be taken alive by the English. And, more- over, they knew that the men that were with him were resolute fellows, some of Philip's chief soldiers, and therefore feared whether it was practicable to make an attempt upon him with so small a handful of assailants as were now with him. Told him fur- ther that it would be a pity that, after all the great things he had done, he should throw away his life at last. Upon which he replied that he doubted not Annawan was a subtile and valiant man ; that he had a long time, but in vain, sought for him, and never till now could find his quarters, and he was very loth to miss of the opportunity ; and doubted not but that if they would cheerfully go with him the same Al- mighty Providence that had hitherto protected and befriended them would do so still, etc.

" Upon this with one consent they said they would go. Capt. Church then turned to one Cook, of Plym- outh (the only Englishman then with him), and asked him what he thought of it. He replied, 'Sir, I am never afraid of going anywhere when you are with me.' Then Capt. Church asked the old Indian if he could carry his horse with him. (For he con- veyed a horse thus far with him.) He replied that it was impossible for a horse to pass the swamps. There- fore he sent away his new Indian soldier with his father and the captain's horse to his lieutenant, and orders for him to move to Taunton with the prisoners, to secure them there, and to come out in the Reho- both road, in which he might expect to meet him if he were alive and had success.

"The captain then asked the old fellow if he would pilot him unto Annawan. He answered that he having given him his life, he was obliged to serve him. He bid him move on, and they fol- lowed. The old man would out-travel them so far sometimes that they were almost out of sight. Look- ing over his shoulder and seeing them behind he would halt.

" Just as the sun was setting the old man made a full stop and sat down.' The company coming up also sat down, being all weary. Capt. Church asked, ' What news ?' He answered, that about that time in the evening Capt. Annawan sent out his scouts to see if the coast were elear, and as soon as it began to grow dark the scouts returned, 'and then,' said he, 'we may move securely.' When it began to grow dark the old man stood up again, and Capt. Church asked him if he would take a gun and fight for him. He bowed very low, and prayed him not to impose such a thing upon him as to fight against Capt. An- nawan, his old friend. 'But,' says he, 'I will go along with you and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man that shall offer to hurt you.'"

samequen, Wassamegin, etc. But the name by which he is most com- monly known in history is Massassoit or Massasoit. For an account of the life of this " good old chief," see Drako's " Book of the Indians."

It being now pretty dark, they moved close together. Anon they heard a noise. The captain stayed the old man with his hand and asked his own men what noise they thought it might be? They concluded it to be the pounding of a mortar. The old man had given Capt. Church a description of the place where Anna- wan now lay, and of the difficulty of getting at him. Being sensible that they were pretty near them, with two of his Indians he creeps to the edge of the rocks, from whence he could see their camps. He saw three companies of Indians at a little distance from each other, being easy to be discovered by the light of their fires. He saw also the great Annawan and his con- pany, who had formed his camp or kenneling-place by felling a tree under the side of the great cliffs of rocks and setting a row of birch-bushes up against it, where he himself, his son, and some of his chiefs had taken up lodgings, and made great fires without them, and had their pots and kettles boiling and spits roast- ing. Their arms also he discovered, all set together in a place fitted for the purpose, standing up on end against a stick lodged in two crotches, and a mat placed over them to keep them from the wet or dew. The old Annawan's feet and his son's head were so near the arms as almost to touch them.

"The rocks were so steep that it was impossible to get down, only as they lowered themselves by the boughs and the bushes that grew in the cracks of the rocks. Capt. Church, creeping back again to the old man, asked him if there were no possibility of getting at them some other way. He answered, 'No.' That he and all that belonged to Annawan were ordered to come that way, and none could come any other way without difficulty or danger of being shot.

"Capt. Church then ordered the old man and his daughter to go down foremost with their baskets at their backs, that when Annawan saw them with their baskets he should not mistrust the intrigue. Capt. Church and his handful of soldiers crept down also under the shadow of those two and their baskets. The captain himself crept close behind the old man, with his hatchet in his hand, and stepped over the young man's head to the arms. The young Anna- wan discovering of him, whipped his blanket over his head and shrunk up in a heap. The old Capt. Annawan started up and cried out 'Howoh !'1 And despairing of escape, threw himself back again and lay silent until Capt. Church had secured all the arms, etc. And having secured that company, he sent his Indian soldiers to the other fires and com- panies, giving them instructions what to do and say. Accordingly they went into the midst of them. When they discovered themselves who they were, they told them that their Capt. Annawan was taken, and it would be best for them quietly and peaceably to sur-

1 This word signified welcome. Among the tribes of the West the same word is now used to signify approbation. Thus when a speech is made which pleases them, at the end of each paragraph they exclaim, " Hoalı! Hoah !"- Weld's Travels in America.

473

REHOBOTH.

render themselves, which would procure good quar- ters for them. Otherwise, if they should pretend to resist or make their escape, it would be in vain, and they could expect no other but that Capt. Church, with his great army, who had now entrapped them, would cut them to pieces. Told them also if they would submit themselves and deliver up all their arms nnto them and keep every man in his place until it was day, they would assure them that their Capt. Church, who had been so kind to themselves when they surrendered to him, should be as kind to them. Now they being old acquaintance, and many of them relations, did much the readier give heed to what they said, complied and surrendered up their arms unto them, both their guns and hatchets, etc., and were forthwith carried to Capt. Church.

"Things being so far settled, Capt. Church asked Annawan 'what he had for supper ? For,' said he, ' I am come to sup with you.' ' Taubut', ' said Anna- wan, with a big voice, and looking about upon his women bid them hasten and get Capt. Church and his company some supper. He then turned to Capt. Church and asked him whether he would eat cow beef or horse beef. The captain told him cow beef would be the most acceptable. It was soon got ready, and pulling his little bag of salt out of his pocket, which was all the provision he had brought with him, this seasoned his cow beef. So that with it and the dried corn, which the old squaw was pounding in the mortar while they were sliding down the rocks, he made a very hearty supper. And this pounding in the mortar proved lucky for Capt. Church's getting down the rocks, for when the old squaw pounded they moved, and when she ceased to turn the corn they ceased creeping. The noise of the mortar prevented the enemy's hearing their creeping, and the corn be- ing now dressed, supplied the want of bread and gave a fine relish with the cow beef.

"Supper being over, Capt. Church sent two of his men to inform the other companies that he had killed Philip and taken their friends in Mount Hope Neck, but had spared their lives, and that he had subdued now all the enemy (he supposed ) except this company of Annawan, and now if they would be orderly and keep their places until morning they should have good quarter, and that he would carry them to Taunton, where they might see their friends again, etc.

" The messengers returned that the Indians yielded to his proposals.

" Capt. Church thought it was now time for him to take a nap, having had no sleep in two days and one night before. So he told his men that if they would let him sleep two hours they should sleep all the rest of the night. He laid himself down and endeavored to sleep, but all disposition to sleep departed from him.

" After he had lain a little while he looked up to

1 This word Hubbard has interpreted to mean "thank you."

see how his watch managed, but found them all fast asleep. Now Capt. Church had told Capt. Annawan's company, as he had ordered his Indians to tell the others, that their lives should all be spared excepting Capt. Annawan's, and it was not in his power to promise him his life, but he must carry him to his masters at Plymouth and he would entreat them for his life.

" Now when Capt. Church found not only his own men, but all the Indians fast asleep, Annawan only excepted, who, he perceived, was broad awake as himself, and so they lay looking one upon the other perhaps an hour.

" At length Annawan raised himself up, cast off his blanket, and with no more clothes than his small breeches walked a little way back from the company." " By and by he was gone out of sight and hearing, and then Capt. Church began to suspect some ill design in him, and got all the guns close to him and crowded himself close under young Anna- wan, that if he should anywhere get a gun he should not make a shot at him without endangering his son. Lying very still awhile, waiting for the event, at length he heard somebody coming the same way that Annawan went. The moon now shining bright, he saw him at a distance coming with something in his hands ; and coming up to Capt. Church he fell upon his knees before him and offered him what he had brought, and, speaking in plain English, said, 'Great Captain, you have killed Philip and conquered his country, for I believe that I and my company are the last that war against the English, so suppose the war is ended by your means, and therefore these things belong to you.' Then opening his pack, he pulled out Philip's belt, curiously wrought with wampum, being nine inches broad, wrought with black and white wampum, in various figures and flowers and pictures of many birds and beasts. This, when hanged upon Capt. Church's shoulders, reached his ankles; and another belt of wampum he presented him with, wrought after the former manner, which Philip was wont to put upon his head. It had two flags on the back part, which hung down on his back, and another small belt with a star upon the end of it which he used to hang on his breast, and they were all edged with red hair, which Annawan said he got in the Mohog's (Mohawk's) country. Then he pulled out two horns of glazed powder and a red cloth blanket. He told Capt. Church these were Philip's royalties, which he was wont to adorn himself with when he sat in state ; that he thought himself happy that he had an opportunity to present them to Capt. Church, who had won them, etc. They spent the re- mainder of the night in discourse, and Capt. Anna- wan gave an account of what mighty success he had formerly in wars against many nations of Indians when he served Asumhequin, Philip's father, etc.

" In the morning, as soon as it was light, the cap- tain marched with his prisoners out of that swampy

474

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

country towards Taunton. He met his lieutenant and company about four miles out of town, who ex- pressed a great deal of joy to see him again, and said it was more than ever they expected. They went into Taunton, were civilly and kindly treated by the inhabitants. Here they refreshed and rested them- selves that night.

" Early next morning the captain took old Anna- wan and half a dozen of his Indian soldiers and his own man and went to Rhode Island, sending the rest of his company and his prisoners by his lieutenant to Plymouth. Tarrying two or three days upon the island, he then went to Plymouth, and carried his wife and his two children with him."

Thus was the most daring enterprise successfully achieved by the prowess of a single man. Annawan, being unable to deny but that he had tortured Eng- lish captives, found no mercy with the English, and in spite of the intercessions of Church, he was be- headed. This was done while Church was absent from Plymouth. Tispaquin, or Tuspaquin, a noble chief of the Narragansett tribe, whose capture by Church immediately succeeded that of Annawan, was beheaded with him. The grief and chagrin of Church were great on finding all his prayers and en- treaties for the life of Annawan utterly disregarded, and the faith of the government pledged by him to Tispaquin that his life should be spared thus shame- fully and barbarously trampled upon. " When Capt. Church," says his historian, "returned from Boston he found to his great griet the heads of Annawan, Tispaquin, etc., cut off, which were the last of Philip's friends."

Thus fell "the last of Philip's friends," and the last noble chieftains of two once powerful and war- like tribes.

After the death of Annawan but little worthy of note occurred in this quarter relating to the Indians. Nearly all the hostile Indians had been either cap- tured or killed, or had submitted themselves to the English, and expeditions against them were consid- ered rather as hunting excursions than dangerous enterprises. A few Indians lurking around Rehoboth and Seekonk were all that were heard of in Plymouth colony.

Soldiers in King Philip's War .- The following from Rehoboth served in Philip's war:

John Fitch, Jonathan Wilmarth, Jasiel Perry, Thomas Kendrick, Jonathan Sabin, John Carpenter, John Redeway, John Martin, John Hall, John Miller, Jun., John Ide, Joseph Doggett, Sampsou Mason, Jun., Preserved Abell, Samuel Perry, Stephen l'aine, Jun., Samuel Mil- ler, Silas T. Alin, Samuel Palmer, James Redeway, Enoch Hunt, Samuel Walker, Nicholas Ide, Noah Mason, Samuel Sabin, Thomas Read, Israel Read, George Robinson, Nathaniel Wilmarth.

The following advanced money to sustain the war:

George Kendrick, Jonathan Fuller, Jo. Miller, sen., Joseph Buck- land, Wid. Abraham Perem, Rice Leonard, James Gilson, An. Perry, George Robinson, John Perem, William Carpenter, John Titus, sen., Samuel Carpenter, Widow Sabin, John Ormsby, Josiah Palmer, John Butterworth, jun., Thomas Read, Stephen Paine, jun., Joseph Sabin,

Gilbert Brooks, David Smith, James Redeway, sen., Preserved Abell, William Buckland, Benjamin Buckland (with the loss of a gun), Sam- uel Peek, John Fitch (with the loss of a gun), Thomas Willmarth, sen., Francis Stephens, Joseph Peck, David Beers, John Savage, Richard Martin, Thomas Grant, Deacon Nathaniel Cooper, Robert Miller, Wid. Mason, Wid. Rachael Read (with a gun lost), John Kingsley, Moses Reade, John Reade, sen., William Sabin, Nathaniel Paine, Samuel Reade, Thomas Willmarth, jun., John Willmarth, Joseph Chaffee, Sam- nel Bullock, John Carpenter, John Titus, jun., Nathaniel Chaffee, Rob- ert Fuller, Richard Bowen, Rebecca Hunt, John Hall, Samuel Sabin, Eldad Kingsley, Wid. Carpenter, Daniel Allen, Samuel Homes, Noah Mason, John Jonson, Jeremiah Wheaton, Obadiah Bowen, Nathaniel Foulsom, Eben. Amidown, John Crossman, Benjamin Sabin, James Redeway, jun., William Blanding, Daniel Smith, John Peck, Deacon Walker, John Allen, jun., John Dogget, Samuel Newman.

CHAPTER XXXV. REHOBOTH .- (Continued.) WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.1

THE first vote in the old town records concerning the war of the Revolution is under date of July 25, 1774, as follows :

" July 25, 1774. Voted by a great majority, that the sum of £5 3s. 8d. be drawn out of the town treasury for the use of the committee of this province, that are to meet in the General Congress; it being Rehoboth's proportionable part of the money to be ordered out of the treasury by the selectmen."

" Voted not to purchase any goods imported from Great Britain after the 31st day of August next, until the act for blocking up the harbour of Boston be repealed, and the government be restored to its former privileges." " Likewise voted that the town clerk transmit a copy of the transactions of this meeting to the clerk of the Corresponding Com- mittee in Boston."

"September 19, 1774. The town chose Maj. Timothy Walker and Capt. John Wheeler delegates to attend the proposed Provincial Con- gress on the second Tuesday of October next, at Concord, or any other time or place that the major part of the delegates of said province may agree upon."

"October 3, 1774. The town chose Capt. Thomas Carpenter a delegate for the Provincial Congress in the room of Capt. John Wheeler that is dismissed."

" November 21, 1774. Voted to accept of, and abide by, the results of the Provincial Congress." " Voted that every constable, collector, or person who have in their hands, or that may hereafter have any of the province's monies that they pay the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, instead of the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., and that they produce his receipt which shall be a full and effectual discharge for the same agreeable to a resolve of the Provincial Congress, October 28th, 1774: to the whole of which resolve we promise and engage faithfully to adhere in all its parts."

" January 2, 1775. The town chose Maj. Timothy Walker and Capt. Thomas Carpenter delegates to attend the Provincial Congress to be holden at Cambridge on the first day of February next."

The Rev. Ephraim Hyde's parish (then the first Congregational society in Rehoboth, now the first in Seekonk) contributed £6 " for the relief and support of the poor of Boston, sufferers by means of the Bos- ton Port Bill."

The receipt of £10 is acknowledged by Henry Gardner, Esq., treasurer of the Provincial Congress, as a "part of the province's tax set on the town of Rehoboth by the General Court."

1 Condensed from Bliss' excellent " History of Rehoboth," a valuable work written by Leonard Bliss, Jr., in 1836.

475

REHOBOTH.

" May 26, 1775, Voted to raise two companies in this town to be ready on any special alarm; one company to-be raised in the westerly part and the other in the easterly part of said town. Likewise voted that every soldier enlisting to be minute-man, on alarm shall have three shillings a day, he finding himself, if called into service, until they come to draw provisions out of the provision stores; and then to have two shillings a day for each day until they return home again except they shall be paid by the province." " Also voted that the selectmen divide the town stock of ammunition, the one-half for the west part of the town, the other half for the east part."

" June 12, 1775. Voted that the selectmen provide for the poor of the town of Boston, that are or shall be sent to this town, upon the town's credit." " Also voted that there be fifty men in each special alarm com- pany, exclusive of officers; and that the captains of each company pro- vide a man with a horse-cart and two horses in order to carry the bag- gage of the companies in case of alarm."

November 6, 1775. The town "voted to borrow four pieces of cannon of Capt. John Lyon and Mr. Nathan Daggett ;" and voted "the sum of £60 to de- fray the charges of mounting said cannon and pro- viding ammunition and other utensils that shall be needful for the same." Also chose " a committee to wait on a committee of the town of Providence to consult on fortifying Hog-pen Point."

" November 13, 1775. Voted it expedient to fortify Hog-pen Point, and chose a committee to oversee the business." This point is in Seekonk, and traces of the fortification are still to be seen.

"January 1, 1776. The town voted to raise the sum of £118 1Is. to procure a town stock of powder and small arms."

" February 12, 1776. Voted to encourage the manufacturing of salt- petre in private families, by affording them the materials they can get without doing damage."

Considerable quantities of saltpetre, it is said, were manufactured in the town during the period of the Revolution, and a manufactory was set up near the Cove Factory, in Seekonk, for the purpose of making it.

" April 14, 1774. Voted to raise a bounty of £20 to every soldier that shall enlist into the continental army for three years or during the war, provided they enlist into the said army within ten days." This bounty, by vote of the town May 19, 1777, was extended to every soldier that had enlisted for the same term, since the former vote, or who should en- list within twenty days of the last date. And by another vote, passed June 30th, the same bounty was further extended to all who should eu- list into the continental army within two months from that date.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 113

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818