USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, early known as Danforth's Farms, 1640-1880; with a genealogical register > Part 8
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It is not easy to keep track of the Magunkooks for the next two months. Some of them were at Hassanamesit; some were hiding from the English soldiers, and living as best they could ; and perhaps the larger part were living at Natick. By an order of the Massachu- setts Council they were restrained from hunting in the woods, and from looking after their cattle, and gathering the corn which they left growing at their plantation. They were thus reduced to great suffer- ing for want of food, and were greatly embittered against the English.
October 26. Troops were sent out to Natick, who seized all the Indians there, and scoured the country to the north and west, col- lecting the scattered families - no distinction being made of age or sex, or long-tried fidelity, or established Christian character, - and all were hurried down to Boston; and at midnight, Oct. 30, the tide favoring, they were put on board of three vessels and taken to Deer Island. They were kept here, in great privation and suffering, owing to want of shelter, clothing, and food, during the winter.
November 30 (1675). The following order in Council was issued : " Whereas the Indians belonging to Natick are for their own and the country's security removed from their dwellings to an Island, and some of their cattle and other estate is left still on the places - It is hereby declared that it shall not be lawful for any person to take away any part of their said estate, burn or destroy the place, or their wigwams, fences or forts, under any pretence whatsoever, unless by order from authority justifying their act ; on penalty of being reputed transgressors of the law, and be liable to satisfy for the same as in case of theft." [Mass. Archives, xxx. 185].
It appears that a part of the warriors of the Magunkooks escaped the vigilance of the English troops, as did Old Jethro and his family.
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For on the last of January (1676), six of these Indians, in company with five others, returned to their plantation, in search of the corn left there in the fall. Not finding any, the party under the lead of Netus (once a ruler at Natick, but not a resident of Magunkook) took the well-worn trail to the northerly end of Farm pond in Framingham, where they burnt the buildings and killed or captivated the family of Thomas Eames.
After the close of the war, i. e., in the spring of 1677, such of our Indians as survived, returned to their home at Magunkook, reset their wigwams, and replanted their corn-field. But in midsummer a report was spread that the Mohawks (Macquas) were on the war-path, among our defenceless clans ; and our Indians took refuge at Natick, where a fort was still standing. "In September, a party of Macquas took two widow squaws captive, being at Hassanamesit to make cider. The same party, or another came down within half a mile of an English house belonging to Sudbury, and murdered a very honest Indian named Josiah Nowell, who was going to his weir. This man had a wife and four small children. His brother-in-law, James Speen, parted from him not half an hour before he was slain." [Gookin's Hist. p. 519.] Our Magunkooks returned to their plantation the next spring. In June (1678), some of the Macquas killed three, and carried away captive twenty-four of our friend Indians into their country, without the least provocation made known, Commissioners were sent to Albany to secure their release, but so far as appears, the object was not accomplished. The Macquas sent a girdle of wam- pum to some of Natick Indians, "to put out a fire which they had kindled by some injuries that had been done by some of theirs."1
Of the eleven families composing the Magunkook plantation, the names of seven or eight are known, as follows: Pomhaman, some- times written Pumapene and Pomham, Job Kattananit, William Wannuckhow alias Jackstraw, his two sons Joseph and John alias Apumatquin, Jackananumquis alias Joshua Assalt, Old Jacob, and John Dublet, son-in-law to Jacob.
The two last mentioned have already been noticed. Joshua Assalt joined the English army in April, 1676, was in the service as late as August, and no more is known of him. The Jackstraws, father and two sons, probably originated in the southwest part of Marlborough. They will be noticed hereafter. Pomhaman was the ruler or head man of the plantation. The place of his birth is not known. He received instruction at Natick, and had the confidence of Mr. Eliot, though he did not join the church. His administration of civil affairs at Magunkook appears to have been wise. But in the summer of
1 Ply. Col. Records, II. 390-8.
5
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1675, he left and joined the enemy. He was at Quaboag the next winter. In May, he was staying near Wachusett. In August he joined with others in a letter to the Council at Boston, asking peace and pardon. Probably he was one of the large company that were drawn to Cochecho, and shared in the fate of the rest.
Job Kattananit was teaching elder at Magunkook. He was an honored member of the church at Natick, and as no church organiza- tion was effected at Magunkook, he continued his relations there. This man ever maintained a consistent Christian character, and was a true and tried friend of the English ; but he was distrusted, because he was an Indian. Probably he was born at or near Grafton. As his communications -either written by himself or taken verbatim from his narrative - prove, he was well educated, and a man of strong sense and quick comprehension. His wife died before the fall of 1675, leaving him three small children ; and when Pomhaman deserted Magunkook, he and his children removed to Hassanamesit. His after fortunes and misfortunes are highly interesting. The following account is compiled from Gookin's History of the Christian Indians.
As already stated, when the Indians at Hassanamesit were made prisoners by Philip's adherents, the first of November, 1675, Job and another made shift to escape, and brought tidings of the affair to the English at Mendon. On the thirteenth of November, Job "applied to Maj. Gookin, superintendent of Indian affairs, and desired a pass to go into the woods to seek for his children, and endeavor to get them out of the enemy's hand ; alleging that his affections were so great for them (their mother being dead) and he in a widowed estate, was willing to venture his life among the enemy in order to their recovery, and possibly, said he, if God spare my life, I may bring you some intelligence of the residence and state of the enemy which may be very useful to the English." Maj. Gookin gave him the following pass : "These may certify that the bearer hereof, Job of Magunkog is a trusty Indian, and therefore if any Englishmen meet him it is desired that they will not misuse him, but secure him and convey him to the Governor or myself, and they shall be satisfied for their pains.
" Dated the 13th of the 9th month 1675.
(Signed) DANIEL GOOKIN, Sen."
"The design of this certificate was innocent and more respected the Indian's safe conduct at his return, than to secure him at his forthgoing. But it met with hard construction, and the person that had it, with much sufferings ; and consequently, the projection to gain intelligence of the state of the enemy was frustrated, which
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was a matter the English greatly needed at this time, being inland with a great expedition against the enemy. The providence of God so ordered this matter, that this Job, at his going forth, met with some of Capt. Henchman's scouts, not far from Hassanamesit, whom the Indian saw before they discovered him, and he could easily have concealed himself (as he told me), but he, not fearing to speak with the English from whom he was sent with a pass, stood in open view ; and when the English saw him, they rode up to him, and some of them said 'let us kill him !' but others said, 'he is a lone man, let us not kill him but carry him to our captain to be examined.' This latter council prevailed ; and then they seized him, and disarmed him, and took away his clothes, so that his gun and some clothes were then plundered, and he never had them again to this day. So they carried him to Capt. Henchman, who examined him, for the Indian spoke good English ; the Indian told him all the truth of matters, and showed him his certificate, but the captain being ignorant of the design, sent both him and his pass to the Governor at Boston, who, more to satisfy the clamors of the people than for any offence committed by this man, he was committed to the common jail, and there remained under very great sufferings for three weeks' time ; for there were many Indians there in a small prison, which was very noisome. After three weeks' time, when the clamor was over, he was discharged from prison, and sent to Deer Island, unto the rest of his suffering countrymen."
The last of December, it was deemed best to do just what Maj. Gookin had done the middle of November previous, and what Capt. Henchman had frustrated, viz., to send Indian spies into the enemies' country to learn of their state and intentions. Job Kattananit, and James Quannapohit, both then at Deer Island, were pitched upon, and agreed to go, with the understanding that if they returned and were successful in their mission, they should receive five pounds apiece. They found the Indians encamped at Wennimisset near Quaboag. After a three weeks' stay with them, James returned January 24th, and reported in full the designs of the hostile Indians, which report proved true, and thus settled the question of his fidelity. Job, from policy, staid behind, and returned not till the ninth of February ; and then about ten o'clock in the night came to Maj. Gookin's house in Cambridge. He brought tidings of the enemy's intention to burn Lancaster, etc., all of which proved true.
Feb. 14th, Job sent the following petition to the Governor and Council :
" The humble petition of Job Kattananit.
" Whereas your poor suplyant hath been abroad in your Honours
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service among the Indian enemies, and have given a true and faithful account of what I could learn among them according to my Instruc- tions ; And in my Journey I found my three children with the enemy, together with some of my friends that continue their fidelity to God and to the English, and do greatly mourn for their condition, and long and desire to return to the English if you please to let them live where or how you will please to appoint: And to this end some few of them have agreed with me to meet them at Hassanamesit about the full of the moon, and to endeavor to bring my children with them - My humble request and supplication is that you will please to admit your poor servant : (And if you please to send an Englishman or two with me I shall be glad, but if that cannot be done, then to admit me and James Speen, to go forth to see and meet and bring in my poor children and some few Godly Christians among them ; and if they do escape we shall meet them and return within 3 or 4 days, if God please ; but if we cannot meet them then I shall conclude they cannot escape, and so shall immediately return ; and if your Honours please shall go forth with the army to the enemies' quarters, or to do any other service I can for your Honours and the country and go to the hazard of my life and shall be very thankful to your Honours for this favor." 1
" By vote of the council, the within is granted, and it is left to Maj. Gookin and Mr. Thomas Danforth to order the method of effecting thereof."
But through the machinations of Capt. Mosely and some of the military men the plan was frustrated, and Job was sent back to Deer Island.
About the first of March, orders were issued that Maj. Savage, with 600 men, should go against the Indian enemy in the central part of the State. He requested that six Indians from among the most trusty of the Christian Indians at Deer Island, should be selected to go with him as guides. Among those chosen as best fitted for the service, was Job Kattananit, who was furnished with arms and other necessaries, and conducted to Marlborough, from whence the army was to march.
" But before the army set forth from Marlborough, there fell out a matter of trouble and disquiet to them, occasioned by the motion of Capt. Mosely, one of the officers of the army, of whom it hath been once and again declared that he was no lover of the praying Indians. It happened on this wise : Job Kattananit, in answer to his petition (before quoted) had obtained leave of the Governor and Council, to go and meet his friends in the woods, and endeavor to regain his
1 Mass. Archives, XXX. 190.
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children. In pursuance of this order, on his arrival at Marlborough, Maj. Savage (with the consent of Major General Dennison who was then at M.) gave liberty to Job to go alone to the place appointed near Hassanamesit, about twelve miles distant, to meet his friends and children, and bring them in to the army at the rendezvous at Quabage. Not long after Job was gone, the captain aforesaid, hearing of it, made a very great stir at headquarters at William Ward's, in. M., where the army was drawn up in order to their march. He spake words reflecting greatly upon Maj. Savage's action in sending away Job, alleging that he would inform the enemy of the army's motion, and so frustrate the whole design. This fair pretence was managed in a mutinous manner by others of like spirit and temper, inasmuch that the army was under great disquiet. But Major General Dennison and Maj. Savage were fain to calm this storm by gentle means and soft words, and forthwith ordered to send away Capts. Wadsworth and Syll, who offered themselves with James Quannapohit, to follow Job on horseback hoping to overtake him and prevent that which was feared. Accordingly they were speedily despatched to pursue Job; which had a tendency to compose the heats that were begotten upon this occasion. But Wadsworth and Syll did not overtake Job nor meet him till he was returned to the army ; nor yet did Job meet with his friends, but found signs where they had lately been ; for those poor creatures had shifted their quarters for fear, because the time was expired that Job promised to meet them, if he were admitted. But Job missing his friends, faithfully fulfilled his promise in returning to the army, whom he met upon a road about 20 miles westward of Marlborough; and so proved himself an honest man, and that those suspicions of him were groundless. Those poor Christian Indians before mentioned, although Job could not meet with them, yet were met by Capt. Benjamin Gibbs and a small party of horse under his command, who, scouting the woods as the army were upon their march to Quabage, took those poor creatures (supposing they had got a prize) ; they were but two men, old deacon Naous and his son Tuckapawillin the minister, both of Hassanamesit; three women, one the wife of the
minister ; and six children, three of them Job's children. The soldiers that seized them took from them all those few necessaries they had preserved ; as two rugs, two brass kettles, some dishes, and a pewter cup that the minister had saved, which he was wont to use at the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper, being given him by Mr. Eliot for their use ; in a word the soldiers took all the little they had, and told many stories concerning them, that so they might not return their things again. But yet God so ordered it, that
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History of Framingham.
they hurt not their bodies, but brought them in to Maj. Savage at the rendezvous, who understanding they were Job's friends and his children, he treated them civilly, and forthwith sent them with a guard back to Marlborough to be conveyed to Boston. But when the poor creatures came to Marlborough, they being quartered there one night or two by the constable's order, until an opportunity served to send them on to Boston, there came some people of the town (especially women) to their quarter, some of whom did so abuse, threaten, and taunt at these poor Christians, and they being thereby put into great fears, that in the night the minister's wife and his eldest son, a lad of 12 years old, and another woman, a widow that had carefully kept and nourished Job's children, with her daughter, being four of them in all, escaped into the woods ; the minister's wife left a nursing infant behind her with her husband, which affliction was a sore trial to the poor man, his wife and eldest son gone, and the poor infant of about three months old with no breast to nourish it. I heard a prudent gentleman, one Capt. Brattle of Boston, who was then at Marlborough, (for he heard the people's taunts and threats to them) say, that he was ashamed to see and hear what he did of that kind, and if he had been an Indian and so abused, he should have run away as they did. Not long after, this poor minister, Tuckappawillin, and his aged father Naous, a man of about eighty years old, both good Christians, with three or four children of the minister's, and Job's three children, were all sent to Boston, where they were kept a night or two, and then sent to Deer Island, where God provided a nurse (among the Indians) to preserve the life of the sucking infant; and about two months after, his wife was recovered, and brought in by Tom Dublet, one of our messengers to the enemy ; but his eldest son before mentioned, died, supposed to lose his life by famine. The other widow who went away at that time from Marlborough, and her daughter, were also recovered. This widow Job afterwards married, not knowing how better to requite her love showed in nourishing his three children when they were among the enemies, and they now lived comfortably together; so that after all the troubles, sorrows, and calamities this man Job underwent, God gave him all his children in safety, and a suitable wife; and vindicated him from all the calumnies and aspersions cast upon him, and by good demonstrations cleared his integrity and faithfulness to God's cause and the English interest, and hath made him very serviceable and victorious since, in the war against the enemy."
To resume the history of Magunkook : - In 1662, the General Court made a grant of 500 acres of land within the great bend at Cold Spring to Col. William Crowne; and in 1687 his heirs conveyed
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Indian Occupation.
all his right and title in this tract to Savil Simpson ; and June 20, 1693, the Indian owners gave Simpson a deed of the said land. The balance of the Magunkook territory was held by the Indians of Natick plantation, by virtue of the right they acquired in their exchange of lands with Sherborn. June 11, 1711, the following petition was sent "To his Excellency, Joseph Dudley : The humble petition of the subscribers [living in Framingham] sheweth, That there being a Tract of land belonging to the Indians of Natick, situated on the southerly or southwesterly part of the Township of Framingham, a part of which is commonly called Megonchuk, to which there are other lands adjacent belonging to the said Indians
" And there being at present no prospect that those lands remaining as they are can be any ways profitable either to their owners or the Commonwealth
" Your humble petitioners therefore pray that they may have liberty to purchase 4,000 acres of the said lands ; Or that they may hire the same for such a term of years as may be profitable to the Common- wealth, to the said Indians, and to us. Signed Thomas Drury, Isaac Learned, David Rice, Thomas Gleason, John Town, Nathaniel Stone, Nathaniel Stone Jr., John Stone, John Gleason, Isaac Glesen, Daniel Pratt, Ebenezer Learned, Daniel Bigelow, Thomas Walker, Samuel Wasson, Ebenr Stone."1
July 20, 1715, the trustees of "The Hopkins Donation " peti- tioned the General Court for license to purchase of the Indian inhabitants of Natick, "a tract of waste land commonly known by the name of Magunkaquog." This petition was granted.
Natick, Sept. 24, 1715, the Indian proprietors met and "voted, that the lands at Magunkook be sold to the trustees of Mr. Hopkins' legacy." And Oct. II, a deed of these and other adjoining lands was executed by the said Indians. This tract, and the lands to the westward were incorporated March 25, 1724, into a township by the name of Hopkinton. An annual rental of a part of these lands appears to have been due to the Indians at Natick ; and as late as 1752, they employed an agent, Jonathan Richardson "to procure their rent money of their Magunkook lands, and pay it to each proprietor, according to his proportion."
MURDER OF THOMAS EAMES' FAMILY. - Reference has already been made in this chapter to King Philip's war, which broke out in June, 1675; and incidentally, the relation of individuals among our Indians to this war has been developed in the preceding biographical sketches. The event however, of most direct consequence to
1 Mass. Archives, XXXI. 84.
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History of Framingham.
Framingham, is the destruction of the home and family of Thomas Eames, Feb. 1, 1675-6.
Mr. Eames had taken up lands and built a house on the southern slope of Mt. Wayte, in 1669. He seems to have pitched here by the consent of Mr. Danforth, with whom he was well acquainted, but had taken no lease. It should be noted here that his house-lot was on the land which Mr. Danforth bought of Richard Wayte, and not on the land which he (Eames) afterwards received by grant and purchase of the Indians. His nearest neighbors were the two Stone families at Saxonville, John Bent, whose house was on the Albert G. Gibbs farm, and Henry Rice, who lived a short distance to the south of Salma D. Hardy's.
His family then consisted of a wife and not less than six children of his own, and probably four children of his wife by a former marriage, varying in age from twenty-four years to seven months. Two children were born to him in Framingham. His eldest son settled in Watertown ; and before the summer of 1675, it appears that one or two of his wife's children were away at service, so that at the date of the assault eight or nine of his own, and one or two of his wife's children were living at home. This accords with Mr. Eames' own statement that he had lost a wife and nine children, and also with the statement of his sons, that five of their father's children were slain, and only four of those taken returned from captivity, implying that some remained in the Indians' hands. And the fact is known that one daughter at least was held in captivity a considerable time after the taking. Some of the published accounts differ from this, and from each other; but it has been deemed safe to follow the statements of Mr. Eames and his sons, who certainly knew the facts.
As soon as hostilities broke out, the Council at Boston sent four soldiers to guard the scattered families on the Framingham planta- tion. The farmers were required to furnish them food and lodging in return for the protection afforded. Probably two soldiers were quartered on Mr. Eames. "July 22, 1675, it was ordered, that two of the four men ordered to guard Eames and the farmers, be forthwith and hereby are remanded to guard Mr. [Rev. Edmund] Browne's house [at Sudbury], and the other two to remain as they are till the Court take further order."1
As Mr. Eames was " maimed in his limbs," he was not liable to be pressed into the service ; but his horses were not exempt. And Sept. 1, 1675, he sends the following petition :
To the Hond Council now sitting.
Divine providence having cast my lot in a place both remote from
1 Mass. Archives, LXVII. 226.
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neighbors in the woods, betwixt Marlborough and Medfield, and in a place of no small danger in this day of trouble, when God hath so signally let loose the heathens against his people everywhere. And it is my duty to seek by all lawful means to preserve my family from the rage of the enemy, and to provide for our welfare both at home and in our journeyings from place to place : which I cannot do with any comfort without the horses I continually use ; My humble petition therefore to this Hond Council is, that I may have my horses freed from the press, to which they are continually exposed whenever I travel to the neighboring towns, nay so that I cannot pass on a Sabbath, which in every respect is grievous to me
who am
Your humble petitioner
THOMAS EAMS.
" The Council grant the petitioner freedom from the impress of his horses at such times as he and his family coming to the public worship of God in Marlborough or Sudbury." 1
The guard seems to have been withdrawn from his house; and on the last week in January, Mr. Eames went with his horses to Boston, to procure help and a supply of ammunition. February I, a party of eleven Indians came suddenly upon the defenceless family, burned the barn, cattle, and house, killed the mother and five children, and carried off five or six children and such plunder as they needed.
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