USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 177
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Philip, being confronted with the charges made by the commissioners, at first denied having any hos- tile designs, and averred that his warlike preparations were directed against the Narragansetts; but upon being told that they had proof that he was on better terms with them than ever, he was covered with con- fusion and acknowledged the truth of the charges. He was required by the commissioners to make repar- ation for past injuries and to give security against such injuries in the future. The first part of the requirement was abandoned, but he was required to give up his arms. The following submission was drawn up, which he signed. It may be found in Mather's " Brief History of King Philip's War."
" TAUNTON, April 10th, 1671.
" Whereas my father, my brother, and myself, have formerly submitted ourselves and our people unto the king's majesty of England, and to this colony of New Plymouth, by solemn covenant under onr hand; but I having of late, through my indiscretion, and the naughtiness of my heart, violated and broken this my covenant with my friends, by taking up arms with evil intent against them, and that groundlessly ; I being now deeply sensible of my unfaithfulness and folly, do desire at this time solemnly to renew my covenant with my ancient friends, and my father's friends above mentioned, and do desire (that) this may testify to the world against me, if ever I shall again fail in my faithfulness towards them (whiom I have now and at all times found so kind to me) or any other of the English colonies ; and as a real pledge of my true intentions, for the future to be faithful and friendly, I do freely engage to resign up unto the government of New Plymouth, all my English arms, to be kept by them for their security, so long as they shall see reason. For the true performance of the premises, I have hereunto set my hand, together with the rest of my council.
" The mark of PHILIP chief sachem of Pocanoket.
" The mark of TAVOSER.
" The mark of WOONKAPONEBUNT.
" The mark of CAPT. WISPOKE.
" The mark of NIMROD.
" In presence of
" WILLIAM DAVIS.
" WILLIAM HUDSON.
" THOMAS BRATTLE."
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TAUNTON.
It was obvious that so humiliating a submission would not result in a permanent peace. Some of his captains were so angry at him on account of it that they could scarcely forbear seeking immediate ven- geance. Hubbard says that one of them, of far bet- ter courage than himself, when he saw his cowardly temper and disposition, flung down his arms, saying he would never own him again or fight under him, and immediately joined the English, and fought on their side throughout the war that followed.
The arms of the Indians were not sent in as the Plymouth government claimed they ought to have been by the terms of the treaty. It could not rea- sonably have been expected. Fire-arms had become a necessity to the Indians, not only for offensive and defensive warfare, but as instruments in procuring a livelihood. It is not strange, then, that in June fol- lowing the court should find reason to complain that Philip, instead of influencing his subjects to bring in their arms, had taken means to secrete them and carry them away beyond their reach. The arms that had been surrendered were distributed among the towns, and Philip saw that his own arms, instead of being returned, were likely to be used against him.
· Active measures were taken by the government at Plymouth to secure the submission of the various small tribes in their vicinity. At a meeting of the Council of War, July 8, 1671, it was agreed that one hundred men should be pressed out of the towns to go forth under command of Maj. Winslow against the Seconet Indians in case they should fail to sub- mit themselves and give up their arms. Taunton was to send twelve men. William Witherell, of Taunton, was one of the " sarjeants." The 8th day of August was to be the time of their setting forth, "on which day the towns of Taunton, Rehoboth, Bridgewater, and Swansey are to cause their soldiers that are to be sent forth to give meeting to the major and the rest of the company, at or near Assonet, about John Tis- dall's farm."
The Council of War met again the 23d of August. The principal subject of consideration was the failure of Philip to comply with the terms of the treaty made at Taunton. It was determined .to require his per- sonal appearance " to make his purgation in refer- enee to the premises," and in case of his refusal to " endeavour his reducement by force." Inasmuch as a war with Philip would concern all the English plantations, it was decided to send letters to the neighboring colonies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as to Philip. The letter to Philip was sent by Mr. James Walker (of Taunton), one of the council, " and he was ordered to request the company of Mr. Roger Williams and Mr. James Browne to go with him at the delivery of the said letter," in which Philip was required to make his personal appearance at Plymouth the 13th of September next.
complaint of the Plymouth authorities. A letter was sent by some of the gentlemen in place there to the Governor of Plymouth, intimating that they did not understand the covenants and engagements of the treaty as their Plymouth brethren did, and offering their mediation in the premises. This offer was ac- cepted, and the commissioners of Massachusetts and Connecticut (who were then in Boston) and some other gentlemen were invited to come to Plymouth and afford their help. "Accordingly on the 24th of September, 1671, Mr. John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut, Maj .- Gen. Leverett, Mr. Thomas Dan- forth, Capt. William Davis, with divers others came to Plymouth and had a fair and deliberate hearing of the controversy between our colony and the said sachem, Philip, he being present, at which meeting it was proved by sufficient testimony to the conviction of the said Philip and satisfaction of all that audience, botlı the said gentlemen and others, that he had broken his covenant made with our colony at Taunton in April last in divers particulars, as also carried very unkindly unto us divers ways." A series of articles was then drawn up and read to him for his acceptance or rejection as he should see cause, the substance of which was that he and his subjects acknowledged themselves subjects of the King of England and the government of New Plymouth, that he promised to pay one hundred pounds damages provided he could have three years to do it in, that he would send in to the Governor five wolves' heads yearly, that he would refer any difference between himself and the English to the Governor of Plymouth to rectify, that he would not make war but with the Governor's approbation, and that he would not dispose of any of his lands without the approval of the Plymouth government. Probably Philip saw no other way out of his present difficulty but to yield, and accordingly he with seven of his council signed the articles. But, as the result showed, he went on to perfeet his vast scheme of uniting the Indian tribes in a general war with the English. This was the last agreement or treaty made by Philip with the colonists.
Another speck of war appeared in the distance in the latter part of 1673. At the meeting of the Gen- eral Court in December of that year the following action was taken :
" This court upon serious consideration of the injurious actings of the Dutch, our neighbors at New York, in the surprisal of several ves- sels and goods of our confederates, and refusing to make just satisfac- tion for the same upon demand, . . . minding also that they have declared these their actings to be grounded on the national quarrel between them and us in Europe, and accordingly declare their commission and orders to be to do all possible spoil and damage to the States' enemies by land and water, . . . for our more necessary defense we judge it requisite to en- deavor their removal, and to raise and maintain one hundred men in the expedition, if we can at present be supplied with what is necessary for their march or voyage.
" And that instructions be given to the commanders-in-chief, first to summon them to yield, with their promise of enjoying their estates and liberties.
Philip did not appear in answer to the summons, " The names of the commanders chosen by the court were Captaine but instead repaired to Massachusetts and there made | James Cndworth, for captaine; Mr. John Gorum, for lieutenant; Mr.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Michaell Peirse, for ensigne; for Sarjeants, William Witherell, Thomas Harvey, John Witherell, Phillip Leonard.
"The Governor bestows a drum towards the expedition, and the other to be had at Taunton ; one pair of colors to be had at Swansey."
From the names, the sergeants all seem to have been Taunton men. As had been the case with sev- eral previous expeditions proposed against the Dutch, this appears to have gone no further than the prep- arations therefor.
The Indian war-cloud that had lain so long on the horizon of the colonies, at times causing apprehension by ominous mutterings, and then sinking almost out of sight, at length burst with terrible suddenness over the town of Swansea. On Thursday, June 24, 1675, as the best authorities agree, the first English blood was shed in King Philip's war in that town. It was a day which had been set apart by Governor Winslow for fasting and humiliation in view of the impending dangers. As the Swansea people were re- turning from meeting the Indians fired upon them, killing one man and wounding others. Two men, who were sent for a surgeon, were killed by the In- dians on their way, and in another part of the town six others were killed, making nine in all. Thus be- gan that fearful life and death struggle between the Indians and the English which lasted more than a year, and carried devastation and death into very many of the towns in the colonies.
It is not intended here to give a history of that war. It belongs to the history of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Connectient, as well as to that of Plymouth Colony, and it affected several other towns in Bristol County far more severely than Taunton. A few incidents only which relate particularly to Taun- ton will be given.
On the Sunday previous to the outbreak a mes- senger had carried intelligence of the threatened danger to the anthorities at Plymouth, and the Gov- ernor had ordered that the captains of the towns should march the greater part of their companies and rendezvous at Taunton, Monday night, June 21st, where Maj. Bradford was to receive them. Weshould be glad to know what Taunton men, if any, joined this expedition for the relief of Swansea and Re- hoboth, but no information upon the point has been found.
June 27th, the Indians (a straggling party prob- ably) burnt the houses of John Tisdall, Sr., and James Walker, at Taunton. They killed Tisdall and two other soldiers,-John Knolles and Samuel Atkins, of Eastham. Tisdall's house was near As- sonet, Walker's was on the westerly side of the Great River, and probably nearly down to Three-Mile River. At the March Court, 1676-77, three Indians, named Timothy Jacked, alias Canjuncke, Nassamaquat, and Pompacanshe, were indicted for murdering the three men above named, and were tried by a jury of twelve men after the manner of the English. The verdict of the jury concerning Timothy Jacked and Nassa-
maquat was, "We find they are very suspicious of the murder charged on them. And in reference unto Pompacanshe, we find nothing against him." No further evidence appearing to clear up the case, the sentence of the court was, " That the two former were to be sent out of the country speedily, and the other likewise, as he is prisoner taken in war."
It may be interesting, as showing the care of the court concerning the proper settlement of the estates of deceased persons, to give their action in reference to Tisdall's estate. Administration was committed to his four sons,-John, James, Joshua, and Joseph. Subsequently, in answer to a petition of John Smith and James Dean referring to the settlement of the estate, the court ordered that the whole estate, being appraised, should be distributed as follows: To the eldest son a double portion, and to the other three sons and four daughters an equal proportion, unless in case of weakness there may be reason to advance to any for their necessary supply. And for the better execution thereof, Mr. James Browne (of Swansea probably), William Harvey, Richard Williams, and Lieutenant George Macey were appointed a com- mittee to take notice of the whole estate. Further- more, in reference to the controversy among the children, the court's advice was, that concerning the two younger sons, in regard that they had approved themselves to be faithful in the preservation of the estate since their father's death, in spending much of their time therein to the endangering of their lives, that they be considered by the committee in the dis- tribution of the estate. (See Ply. Col. Rec., vol. v. pp. 212, 219, 224.)
Taunton, lying in the direct route from Boston to Swansea and Mount Hope, and also in the most con- venient way from Plymouth thither, was frequently made a rendezvous for the troops. It seems that several houses had been turned into garrisons. Mr. Baylies speaks of the march of the Massachusetts troops, who were under the command of Maj. Savage, from Swansea to Rehoboth, in pursuit of Philip, and not finding him there, he having retired to a swamp in Pocasset, they proceeded from there to Taunton, which they reached July 17th, where they found the people secured against a sudden onset in eight garri- soned houses.
About this time Philip, being closely pressed, made his escape into the Nipmuck country, comprising the southerly part of central Massachusetts, and extend- ing into the northerly part of Connecticut, and for several months the towns of Plymouth Colony had a respite.
On Dec. 19, 1675, occurred the great Narragansett Swamp fight, in what is now the town of Kingston, R. I. In preparation for this great struggle the Council of War held a meeting at Plymouth, Decem- ber 6th, at which volunteers were called for, and the towns were urged to present their ablest and fittest men. "Such as cheerfully tender themselves to the
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TAUNTON.
expedition or to presse shall be looked upon with singular respect." Governor Josias Winslow was ap- pointed commander of the united forces, and Capt. Bradford and John Gorum to be particular command- ers of the Plymouth forces. The forces were ordered to rendezvous at Plymouth on the 7th, at Taunton on the 8th, at Rehoboth on the 9th, and at Providence on the 10th. Taunton was represented in Capt. Gorum's company (or Gorham, as the name was afterwards spelled) by William Wetherell, who was first sergeant. Rev. George F. Clark, in his excellent " History of Norton," says that in a deed given by John Wetherell, son of William, it is stated that he was an "Eldest Sergeant in Capt. Gorrom's Company in the great Narragansett Swamp fitt," Dec. 19, 1675. In an account rendered by Peleg Sanford, of Rhode Island, against the colony for various disbursements on account of soldiers that came to his house after the fight, is the following :
" To S yds. of duffls to Sergt. Witherly, James Bell, and other Taunton men that came wounded to my house, Dec. 24, £2: 08. To cash to James Bell to bear his charges home, 4s."
There is also a charge for the hire of a room " from the 24 of Dee. to the 17 of Oct., 1676, the day that Sergeant Witherell went out of it, at £5 per year, £4: 01: 73." It is evident from this charge that Wetherell must have been severely wounded, as it was nearly ten months before he could be carried home. James Bell was also in the fight, and other Taunton men, as mentioned in the first of the above charges, but in which company is not known. Gen. Ebenezer W. Peirce, in his very valuable "Indian History and Genealogy," p. 120, states that William Hoskins, of Taunton, was in the Narragansett expe- dition. The names of the other Taunton men who went wounded to Sanford's house have not been as- certained. Wetherell received a grant of ten pounds in June, 1685, on account of his wounds, and in July, 1686, the court gave him a fine of five pounds in the hands of Robert Godfrey, of Taunton, the treasurer of the colony to give order for the payment of the same to said Wetherell.
During the progress of the war several orders for the raising of men and money were made by the Gen- eral Court and the Council of War. It was ordered, Oct. 4, 1675, that soldiers be pressed out of each town to go forth as occasion may require, and twenty-five for the garrison at Mount Hope. Taunton was to furnish twenty for the general service, and three for Mount Hope. At a meeting of the Council, Dec. 30, 1675, it was proposed to raise one thousand men out of the United Colonies, of which Plymouth Colony was to furnish one hundred and twenty-two, Taun- ton's share being thirteen. March 29, 1676, three hundred soldiers were ordered to be raised and pressed for the present emergency, Taunton to fur- nish thirty men, to be ready by the 11th of April next.
June 7, 1676, the court voted to raise one hundred
and fifty English and fifty Indians with the best speed, the time of sending forth being Wednesday, June 20th, "to be sent forth towards the frontier parts of this col- ony, to be upon motion to scout to and fro for the safety of the colony." Money was ordered to be raised to the amount of £164 10s. The proportion of Taunton was fifteen men and £16 in money. In Feb- ruary, 1675-76, James Walker, William Harvey, and John Richmond were appointed the Town Council of Taunton. The Council of War at their meeting in March, 1675-76, imposed fines upon a number of de- linquent soldiers, and fined the constables of Taunton four pounds for pressing Joseph Deane, a man unfit to go forth on service. They were afterwards released from the fine. At the same meeting a rate of £1000 was assessed upon the towns, to be paid in clothing, .provisions, or cattle, for the payment of soldiers who needed other supplies rather than lands, of which Taunton's proportion was £92 13s. 6d.
In the spring of 1676 the Indians kept the inhab- itants in continual uneasiness and fear by their stealthy attacks, burning dwellings and barns, and killing any whom they could surprise in an unguarded situation. Bridgewater, Taunton, and Rehoboth, being frontier towns, were peculiarly exposed to these attacks. The Cape towns, Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth, and Eastham, had by a committee, of which Thomas Hinckley was chairman, invited the inhabitants of these towns to remove and take up their residence with them until the termination of the war. But the towns each sent a letter declining the offer. The reply of Taunton by its committee is here given :
"TAUNTON, April 15, 176. " HONORED AND BELOVED :
" We have received your affectionate letter full of love and undeserved bounty towards us, your unworthy brethren and neighbors, and we bless God that He hath given us so much room in your hearts, that you so freely tender us a part with you in your houses, fields, and provisions at such a time, when the Lord is threatening us with bereavement of our own. It much comforteth us in this day of darkness and distress ; we assuring ourselves thereby that if our distresses continue and in- crease, we shall want no succor you are able to afford us. We therefore return yon all serions thanks for your sincere and abundant love, be- seeching the Lord still to continue and increase your peace, and ability and promptness to relieve the distressed in this evil day. Nevertheless, upon our serious and mature deliberation upon and consideration of your so great offer, we cannot at present comply with a motion to re- move and quit our places, and leave our habitations to be a desolation, and that because we fear we should in so doing be wanting to the name of God and the interest of Christ in this place, and betray much diffidence and cowardice, and give the adversary occasion of triumph over us, to the reproach of that great and fearful name of our God that is called on us. Our sins are already such as might render our friends (did they know us) afraid to entertain us, and what can we expect as the issue of such an addition thereunto, but that the hand of the Lord would follow us and find us out whithersoever we flee ?
" Besides, if the Lord have any pleasure in us, and will so far favor and honor us, we judge we may here be more serviceable to our country than elsewhere, and hazards of removal (as great as of abiding where we are) avoided ; and who can tell but that the Lord may make way for our enjoyment of seed time and harvest here by prospering our forces which are coming forth, if we could but humble ourselves before him ? And if the Lord have no delight at all in us, but will for our sins (which were but just) make his dwelling place here as Shiloh, we are in His hands, the Lord do with us as seemeth good in His sight. Here wo have sinned, and here we submit ourselves to suffer, except the Lord's providence and order or advice of anthority should plainly determine
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
us to removal: in case whereof, we shall.esteem it an undeserved kind- ness to find shelter among yourselves, and comply with your motion for aught yet appears, more generally than with any course we can propose to ourselves. As a pledge whereof, we are willing, if it may be judged convenient by you, to secure some of our catile in your parts, that they may be no booty or succor to the enemy, if the Lord spare them so long as that we may have opportunity to convey them, in which we desire your speedy advice. And beseeching you not to cease to pray for us that the Lord would heal our backslidings, and prepare us for what measure of the cup of His indignation it may seem good to Him to order us to drink, we present you with our respects, service, and love, and sub- scribe ourselves your obliged brethren and friends and servants in the Lord.
" To this we subscribe in the name of the town.
" RICHARD WILLIAMS,
" WALTER DEANE,
" GEORGE MACEY,
" WILL HARVEY."
Soon after the sending of this letter, so admirable in its spirit of gratitude, humility, courage, and cheerful confidence in God, several persons were killed by the Indians in Taunton, a contemporary account of which is given in a letter of Gen. Josiah Winslow to Thomas Hinckley and John Freeman. That part of the letter which refers to affairs in Taun- ton and vicinity is as follows :
" May 23, '76.
" GENTLEMEN,-My respects, &c. It pleaseth the only wise and most just God still to keep us under his rod. Since the damage done at Bridge- water and Plymouth, which you have knowledge of ; the enemy have killed four stout men at Taunton, and carried away two lusty youths,- Mr. Henry Andrews, James Bell, Sargt. Phillips, and the two youths, all at one time, being securely planting, two or three miles from the town ; the other one, Edward Bobit, killed at another place; the four men leaving thirty-two fatherless children in a hard world. The last Tuesday, they killed a man between Hingham and Conohasset, and then fell to burning, beginning with Mr. Gilden's saw-mill, and Jo. Silvester's house and barn ; but not a man from Scituate would stir to remove them. But fourteen of our town's wardens marched up io Jo. Bares- toe's : but, being unhappily discovered by them also, they ran away, leaving some horses and cattle they were about to carry away, and those houses at that time spared from the flames. Taunton and Bridgewater men are confident that they are planting about Assawamset or Dart- mouth ; and did yesterday track two hundred of them, as they judge, towards Assawamset."
not far from the Dighton and Berkley Bridge, and on the Berkley side of Taunton River. On his grave- stone, after considerable labor in scraping off moss, I was able to decypher
" BOB Be T KILL ed J U Ne 1676."
The Rev. Dr. Perez Fobes, in a topographical his- tory of Raynham, published in 1793, in vol. iii. of the Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, in giving some account of occurrences in Philip's war, says, "Deacon Nathaniel Williams with some others were at work in the field when one of the number discovered a motion of the bushes at a little distance ; he immediately presented his gun and fired, upon which the Indians were heard to cry Cocoosh ! and ran off, but soon after one of the Indians was found dead near Fowling Pond. Near the great river (Taunton River) are now to be seen the graves of Henry An- dras and James Phillips, who with James Bell and two sons were killed by a number of Indians who lay in ambush. This happened in the place called Squabette." Mr. Baylies, writing in 1830, says, " The graves of these men are still to be seen near the river." The place is still pointed out, although there is a growth of white birch and underbrush which covers the locality. It is about half a mile above the dam at East Taunton on the Raynham side, near the edge of the river. The writer is informed by Mr. John Wales Dean, whose father, Jonathan Dean, owned the premises in 1820, that he well remembers when a boy seeing the two graves, which were marked by rough stones at the head and foot of each.
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