USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 1 > Part 7
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In May, 1657, Massepetoat, Chief Sachem of the Pocum- tucks, having engaged the Mohawks, the Narragansets and Tunxis Indians as allies, determined on a war of extermina- tion against the Mohegans. With a show of respect to the English, he sent to the General Court of Massachusetts to ask their consent to make war upon Uncas. His agents, Wetowasnati and Wiscogune, two Pocumtuck Sachems, are told that the Court does not understand the ground of the quarrel, and they are advised to.refer the matter to the next meeting of the Commissioners. This advice had no effect, unless to restrain the Mohawks, who did not join the ex- pedition. The Pocumtucks, with the other allied clans, made the proposed inroad. In August, 1657, they met the Mohe- gans and defeated them with great slaughter. Uncas was driven to his fort on the Niantic, where he was besieged. In his extremity he was relieved by a party of English, sent by the magistrates of Connecticut. The Commissioners of the United Colonies, at their meeting in September following, disowned this measure of Connecticut and ordered the whites to return home. By this double policy Uncas was saved and war with the Pocumtucks averted. Uncas was now ordered
* Parkman, in his " Discovery of the Great West." does great injustice to the Mohegans. He says LaSalle met with a band of Abenaki and Mohegan refu- gees in Illinois, who "after dancing round Puritan scalps in New England had been driven off in Philip's war." This is a serious mistake. The Mohegans were the firm and trusted friends of the English and active in their service from the opening to the close of Philip's war, and, as we shall see, contributed not a little to its successful issue.
61
RAID OF WONOPEQUEN
to let the Podunks return home, and the Pocumtucks were notified of this order, and told that the Commissioners "ex- pect they will forbear all hostility against Uncas until their next meeting," at which time the contending parties are urged to appear and submit their grievances to the Commis- sioners for a settlement. The Pocumtucks declined. They were an independent people and preferred to settle their quarrels in their own fashion. In the spring of 1658, Wono- pequen led a small war party into the Mohegan country. By strategy, a company of the enemy in canoes, were enticed on shore, where they were set upon by the invaders, who killed several and took others captive. On their return a lawless element in the party made an assault on a farm house in Wethersfield, carrying off some corn and two children of Chawquat, a friendly Indian. Connecticut sent messengers to Pocumtuck to recover the plunder and captives, but "the Indians Returned nothing but Scoffs and Jeers."
Aug. 2d, 1658, the General Court of Connecticut wrote the Commissioners complaining of this, and other "affronts of the Pocumtuck Indians." The Commissioners are in session at Boston, whence they reply, Sept. 18 :-
"We shall lett the Pocumtuck Sachems understand how ill we Resent these injurious passages
our desire is and En- deauour shalbee that the English * may not suffer any In- juries or affronts from the Indians
* whereby their pride and insolancy may bee encreased, or the honor of the English Im- pared * X or suffer that to be done that might giue them Just cause to thinke wee are either afraid of them, or seeke a quar- rel with them."
In pursuance of this policy, on the same day a message was sent to the Sachems at Pocumtuck, in which complaint is made of the conduct of Wonopequen in 1656, when the envoys went to Warranoco to treat for Uncas; and of the late outrage at Wethersfield. "Chawquatt," they say, "a peace- able Indian, liveing neare the English, and hath not bine en- gaged in any ware, or quarrells this twenty yeares, hath two of his Children taken violently away and kept Captive at Pocumtucke." Also, that "they fight within theire towns, and yards, which they cannot suffer." They ask "the minds of the Sachems heerin, how farr they will owne and approve the same expecting that if they Intend to keep Frindship still with vs they will take care to Render due Satisfaction."
62
THE POCUMTUCK INDIANS.
What reply was made to this message does not appear. Certainly hostilities continued between the Pocumtucks and Uncas in the summer of 1659, and the danger of a general Indian war became imminent.
Sept. 3d, 1659, the Commissioners, then in session at Hart- ford, sent the following to the Pocumtucks by Samttel Marsh- field of Springfield, as interpreter :-
Vpon seuerall complaints from diuers English of injuries done by the Pocumtucke Indians and their Confederates; a message was sent to the Pocumtuck Sachems as followeth;
Impr: Wheras there hath bine long peace & frindshipp between all the English and the said Sachems; which wee are willing and desir- ous should bee continued yett of late seuerall complaints haue bin brought to vs of Injuries and affronts offered to severall of our peo- ple by the said Sachems or some of theire men; and that without any provocation or cause giuen by the English; as wee are enformed; which wee cannot beare;
2. That in theire warrs and quarrells amongst themselues, they presse soe neare; and sometimes into the houses of the English, as to theire great disturbance and which tends directly to the breach of peace betwixt vs and them; if not speedily preuented;
3. That therefore the Commissioners are willing and desirous, to speake with the said Sachems; or some of them deputed by the Rest; both concerning the former Injuries complained of; and that some meet agreement may bee made and declared, how the English in all parts may bee secured from losse or disturbance by any of the said Sachems, theire men or adherents whiles they are prosecuting theire warrs with others; that soe that peace and frindship may bee continued between the English and them as in former times;
4. That if any of them Intend to giue the Commissioners a meet- ing heer, that it bee as soone as may bee; and by thursday night next, att the furthest; and whereas wee haue occation to speake with seuerall Sachems and other Indians; wee doe therefore desire and expect that all acts of hostilitie bee suspended and forborne on all sides during the siting of the Commissioners: the like Injunction, wee haue laid vpon Uncas and his party that soe the Pocumtucke Sachems or messengers may come and Return in safety;
Hartford Septem: 3: 1659
Subscribed by all the Commissioners
The ensuing message was likewise sent to Uncas :-
1. The Commissioners haue bin Informed of seuerall Injuries and affrontes done to some English by the Pocumtucke and Narragan- sett Indian whiles they were in the procecution of theire warr against him which quarrells haue been occationed by his want of attendence to the councell of the English :
2. The Commissioners haue sent to the Pocumtuck Sachems and the Indians att Tunksis whom they expect heer by wensday or thursday next and if hee see cause to take that opportunitie to sat-
63
CONGRESSIONAL ETIQUETTE.
isfy the Commissioners conforming his proseedings and Improve their enterest for makeing his peace; The Commissioners are willing to attend the same ;
3. That we haue giuen charge to the Pocumtucke and Tunksis or other Indians to forbeare all acts of hostilitie towards him or his people during the siting of the Commissioners and doe expect and require of him that hee cause all his people to forbeare all hostile acts towards said Pocumticke Tunksis and other Indians; while the Commissioners shall continew att hartford; and while said Indians shalbee applying themselues to the commissioners
Hartford the 3: of September 1659
Subscribed by all the Commissioners
The result of this mission is told by John Pynchon in a letter received at Hartford, Sept. 7th or Sth, 1659 :-
Much Honored Gentlemen,
The messengers sent according to youer desires to the Pocum- tucke Sachems being returned; I shall briefly giue youer worshipes an account of the Successe of the Journey; Coming to Pocumtucke; hee that was Interpreter declared youer message to the Sachems there, according to his seuerall Instructions; and whoe to the first thing redily returned this answare; that it was all theire desires that peace and friendship betwixt themselues and the English should con- tinew; and whereas in the message sent to them, there is mension of wronges and Injuries done by them to the English: They an- swered; first; that knew of none; and if any were done; it was not by the allowance of the Sachems; for they had charged theire men to doe noe wrong to any English or their Cattle:
2condly if it were made out to them; that any of theire men had done the wrong, they would make Satisfaction to the English Soe fare they would bee from countenancing any, in offending the Eng- lish and what more to say to it they knew not:
to the second thinge that in the warrs they presse to neare the English &c; they say that as frinds, they come to the English for victualls, and charge theire people to carry it friendly; but if that the English Sachems will say they doe not alow of it; and will pre- scribe another way or Course for them to take if it bee reasonable they will attend it;
3d. To the desire of the Commissioners to speake with them: they say they can not come to Hartford; neither doe they know any engagement that lyes on them to come to the meetings of the Eng- lish Sachems; and they doe not send for the English Sachems, to theire meetings; The Reasons why they can not come to the Com- missioners, are two, first, because they have a great meeting amongst themselues three daies hence, and must attend that; it be- ing all one with the Commissioners meeting. 2condly they are in confederacye with many others, as with the Souquakes, and Mo- hawks and others, and can doe nothing without them;
Lastly, to the desire of the Commissioners, that all acts of hostil- itie may sease during theire setting; they are not in a capacitie to attend to it;
Ist because they haue sent out seauen or eight men to lye in
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THE POCUMTUCK INDIANS.
waite for some of Vncas his men but two daies before; they being now gone can not be called in
2d if they could; yett it is not possible for them to giue notice to the Indians of the Duch Riuer, and others whoe are ingaged with them, and are dayly sending out some vpon the Designe;
To the third particulare, that some agreement may bee made how the English may bee secured; they desire the English Sachems to conclude what is best and fitt to bee attended by them; and they are resolued to attend it when it is declared to then; if it be that which shalbee found Reasonable; this is the sume of what they say to the messengers sent to them; and all along hold out a Resolution of liuing in peace with the English; and say they will not be the first to breake the peace; They are resolued not to bee beginers of any breach with the English; and will yeild to the English in any- thinge but in making peace with Vncas; and that they would not haue the English to perswade them to it; for they can not haue peace with him; I am bould to prsent this Relation of theire an- sware, as I Scribed it from the Interpretor's mouth because William Edwards whoe accompany him is in hast; hee may possibly Relate somewhat more but his hastning giues mee time oneley to Relate the maine and sume of all; not haue else att present, I take my leaue,
And Subscrib youer Worships seruant,
JOHN PINCHON;
It was my desire that the messengers and Interpretor Samuell Marshfield would have written the Pocumtucke Sachems answare to youer Message, with his owne hand; onely because hee being a slow Scribe, could not soe soone effect it, Neither could I perswade him to it; but I haue caused him to Read ouer what I haue writ, and to Subscribe his hand to the truth of it
Youer Worships Servant to Comaund SAMUEL MARSHFIELD
This diplomatic as well as manly reply of the Pocumtucks was barely received by the Commissioners before a complaint was made to them by John Webb and others, inhabitants of Northampton, that,-
Two Duchmen, one Irishman, and one ffrenchman, stole away seuen mares and other cattle which they missed, and hauing driuen them away to Pocumtucke the last Lords day, they desired the Sachem to pursue the said thieues, and to apprehend them; and to bring back the mares, &c, for which they promised the Sachems fifty shillings for eury mare, if they brought backe the mares, as also the men; and the sd Sachem Wonopequen, vndertaking the same; and send- ing word to Northampton men to come and Receive theire Mares; Wherevpon John Webb and others of Northampton, goeing for the said Mares, which they saw in the Indians possession as alsoe for the men; the said Wonopequen Refused to deliuer them according to agreement; and Required great sums of wampum; coates shirts liquors &c. Saying hee had bought them of the Indians that fetched them back and that eury mare was worth twenty pounds.
65
WISE HEADS CONTROL HOT HEADS.
The Commissioners saw that prompt and decisive measures could no longer be delayed without incurring the contempt of the natives. The young Pocumtucks, of late, had been growing bold and insolent. Daily contact with the settlers at Springfield and Northampton, had disabused them of that superstitious fear which formerly clothed the English with supernatural power. The conciliatory, if not vacillating, course of the Commissioners was beginning to be considered as arising from fear, and some of the hot headed braves were ready for war. The chiefs, too, were getting restive under the continual interference of the whites in their tribal quar- rels, and by their support of the treacherous Uncas. It shows a clear insight, by the Councilors, of the certain consequences of a war with the English, and the firm hold of the Sachems on their subjects, when a peaceful reply was returned to the following message :-
Instructions for Thomas Stanton and the company sent with him to the Pocomptuck Sachems the roth of September, 1659:
Imp": You are to lett them know that wee Received theire an- sware but in seuerall particulares are unsatisfyed, as first as that they say they desire to keep peace yett haue comitted seuerall out- rages against the English and pretended excuses not to come and answare for them; or giue satisfaction ;
In their answare that they know noe wronge done to the English ; they will not take notice of it: had they come they might haue heard proved-(as the Comissioners have done)-much Injury and an Intollerable affront put vpon Mr. Brewster during theire seige of Vncas ffort which was done by some of theire companie for which the Comissioners doe expect and Require Satisfaction of the Pocom- tucke Sachem being the chiefe Captaine in that warr:
You shall Require the Pocomtucke Sachem to deliuer vnto you the Mares cattle and four men which they agreed to fetch in; yett after they sent for the men of Northhampton to Receive them; they denied to lett them have them according to their agreement and haue put them to great charge for which alsoe we expect they should giue them Satisfaction by abatement of what was promised;
You shall assure them the Comissioners will not bee baffeled by them but if they will not forthwith deliver the mares and men and cattle; if you are sure they have any in theire hands the Com- issioners are resolued to Recouer them in such a way as will not bee pleasing to them if they desire peace as they pretend; if you Recouer the mares and Cattle they are to bee Returned to the owners the men you are to convey to Mr. Pinchon to bee sent to Boston Jayle; if you cannot obtaine what is expected you are to sertify the Gour of Conecticott and Capt: Pinchon speedily therof;
lastly if they continew there; wee expect and Require them to forbeare drawing neare in Armed companies to the English Townes
ยท
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THE POCUMTUCK INDIANS.
or houses; that vpon noe pretences whatsoever they Invade or afront any English person, or house; that they neither trouble nor molest any Indian liuing in an English family; nor such peacable Indians that plant vpon land hired of the English; except they take them in actuall hostillitie; that they hinder not nor jnjury nor detaine any Indian sent with letters by the English or travelling with them as guids or attending on them
Hartford the roth of September 1659.
Stanton had hardly left town before Mr. Brewster appeared at Hartford with a particular bill of damage to his premises about three years before, at the time Uncas was besieged by the allies in his fort at Niantic. The Commissioners award- ed him 40 fathoms of wampum, 10 to be paid by the Tunxis Indians ; 15 by the Narragansets ; and 15 by the Pocumtucks, and declared that "if said Indians shall refuse to pay ; the Commissioners will take care that the most convenient means shalbe vsed." Mr. Pynchon was desired to send the bill to the Pocumtucks, with a demand from the Commis- sioners for its payment, and it was at once dispatched after Stanton to Pocumtuck.
At the same session the Commissioners also took peremp- tory action in regard to offenses by the Nipmueks at Qua- bague, the Niantics under Ninigret, and a remnant of the Pequots under Robin. One of the latter was imprisoned at Hartford for going with Uncas to war against the Pocum- tucks. Measures were taken to secure the newly returned Podunks against the claims of other Indians, or of the ra- pacious English. The decided action of the Commissioners and their impartial dealings with the other tribes had a salu- tary effect on the Pocumtucks. Stanton returned Sept. 14, with a written message from these Indians in reply to the manifesto of the Commissioners. This document was evi- dently penned by Stanton at the dictation of the Chief Sachem. In its style, the figurative language usually put into the mouth of the Indian speaker is notably absent. The paper is remarkable for a clear, dispassionate and compre- hensive view of the trouble between the parties, and a sim- ple but politic answer to all charges against the Pocumtucks. It shows in the chief a mind well grounded in ethics, and able to deal with hard facts in a logical as well as diplomatic manner. He addresses the " English Sachems " as his equals, and in no spirit of servility. Although he openly expresses
67
NATIVE STATE PAPER.
his disinclination for war, he gives no evidence that he fears its consequences. This document is given in full :-
The old league of ffriendship betwixt the English and our selues; wee are resolued to keep; wee cannot charge the English of doeing vs any wronge though our people haue mett with some particulare abuses; but wee know they are not countenanced by the Gours for soe doeing; alsoe some of our men that are younge and follish may haue done some particulare wrong to some English; this should not breake the league betwixt vs and the English seeing wee doe not countenance our men for soe doing: As for M' Brewsters house wee had Information that two of our emimies were gotten in there; and that they did furnish Vncas with Guns and powder and shott; as Mr Thompson did as the two weomen did Relate to vs when they came out of the ffort to vs; these two men shott att vs from the other side of the Riuer; wherevpon our young men went ouer; and not finding them concluded they were received into the house
The goods that were taken in an Indian sacke was not the Eng- lishes but our enimies which was left there Reveiled to vs by Wawe- quas wife; And as for any wrong done to any of the English it is not done with a sett purpose to breake with the English; Neither for time to come will wee come with our armies neare the English houses neither will we meddle with any Indian that lives as a servant vnto the English; nor any that plant on theire ground they hauiug markes wherby wee may know them; as a white cloth in theire locke or giueing theire Names wherby wee may know they are such Mo- hegans that fight not;
As for the busines of the Mares you may haue them-what was said against vs about them was out of mistake for they vnderstood not vs nor wee them-as it is vsuall for the English to speake much to vs that come-though they vnderstand little, what goods of the English that was stollen out of Mr Brewster's house was Returned againe with a Reprofe to My men for that attempt and miscarriage of theirs in acting without My priuitie; like madd men; and ther- fore, as a year since at nianticke; when som damage was done to some wheat by our men's trampleing vpon it; wee made satisfaction to the full of the Englishes demaunds; soe shall wee doe for the future when wee are giuen to vnderstand what is Just to bee done by us; and alsoe for any wrong done to Mr Brewster; but for the present wee are Ignorant; Wee desire the English Sachems not to perswade vs to a peace with Vncas although hee promeseth much hee will performe nothinge; wee haue experience of his falcenes; alsoe wee desire that if any Messengers bee sent to vs from the Eng- lish they may bee such as are not lyares and tale carryers but sober men; and such as wee can vnderstand;
From Pocomtucke
pr. me Thomas Stanton Sep 12, 1659.
With this dignified State paper the recorded correspond- ence with the Pocumtucks closed, and nothing is known of any subsequent wars between the Pocumtucks and the Mo- hegans. For a few years nothing relating to the history of
68
THE POCUMTUCK INDIANS.
the Pocumtucks is discovered. They next appear as aggres- sors of the Mohawks.
In 1663 the Pocumtucks are found allied with the Penne- kooks and the Abenakis of the east, and with the Wapping- ers and Mahicans of the Hudson river. Events unknown to me having broken the friendship between the Pocumtueks and the Mohawks, the former, with their new allies, now in- vaded the country of the Mohawks with such success as to weaken and humble that tribe. The Dutch at Albany, to whom the Mohawks had been a bulwark against the French in Canada, at once took measures to end this war against their allies. In May, 1664, a party of Mohawks, with a depu- tation of Dutchmen, was sent over the mountain to meet the eastern tribes, probably at Pocumtuck. With the help of some of the English a treaty of peace was arranged, and the embassy returned to report its terms for the acceptance of the Mohawks. It appears that these were satisfactory, for on the 21st of June, 1664, Saheda, a " Mohawk prince," with a suitable retinue, left Albany for " Fort Pocomthetuck," (sic) bearing presents for the ratification of the treaty and a ran- som for their friends who had been taken captive.
The pride of the Pocumtucks had now reached that pitch which goeth before a fall. In their arrogance they not only refused to ratify the treaty of peace, but basely murdered the ambassador and his suite in cold blood. This offense, not less rank among savage than among civilized peoples, called for the direst vengeance. Events were conspiring to this end. In September of the same year, the Province of New York was surrendered by the Dutch to the English. Sept. 24th a treaty of "peace and accommodation " between the new powers and the Mohawks was signed at Albany. The Mohawks were keen diplomates, and after a night's re- flection, they proposed new articles, which were accepted by the English and incorporated in the treaty, on the 25th.
By these new articles the English agree to make peace for the Mohawks with the Mahicans and other Hudson river tribes which had been in league with the Pocumtucks against them in the campaign of 1663. They also agree not to assist the Pennekooks, the Abenakis, or the Pocumtucks; and fur- ther, in case the Mohawks "be beaten by the three nations above mentioned, they may receive accommodation from the English."
69
THE MOHAWK REVENGE.
Having thus shrewdly freed themselves from enemies near home, having secured the neutrality of the English, and made sure of a place of retreat in case of disaster, they sent an embassy to treat for peace with the French in Cana- da. The field being thus cleared for action, the Mohawks mustered a powerful force and marched to avenge the mur- der of Prince Saheda.
Local tradition has preserved an account of this inroad on the Pocumtucks. The principal stronghold of the tribe was on a bluff, about half a mile northeast of the common in Old Deerfield, which is still called Fort Hill. On the ap- proach of the enemy, the Pocumtucks gathered in this fort, upon which the Mohawks made a furious assault. They were repelled and driven off by the stout defenders. They retired from the contest, but this may have been only a stratagem to draw their foes into the open field. Their re- treat was through Plain Swamp and across the North Mead- ows towards Pine Hill. Here the Mohawks rallied, and a hot engagement followed. The pursuers were broken and in turn driven back to their fort, which, after a bloody strug- gle, was stormed and taken, and its inmates all slaughtered, by the now doubly enraged Mohawks.
After burning the fort and wigwams, and laying waste the cornfields of the Pocumtucks, the victors swept northward, and the Squakheags were soon involved in the common ruin. Turning thence to the eastward, the Pennekooks and the Abenakis felt in turn the fury of the avengers, until blood enough had been shed to appease the manes of the mur- dered ambassador. So thoroughly was the work of the Mo- hawks done, that when, in 1665, the English from Dedham laid out the "8000 acre grant" at Pocumtuck, there was not a syllable in their report, or in the debates thereon in town meeting at Dedham, to indicate that a single wigwam or a single human being was found on this scene of desolation. Their forts and dwellings had become ashes fertilizing the rank weeds over their sites, and sad silence brooded over their bleaching bones, or grass grown graves.
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