USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, from its first settlement in 1620, to the present time : with a concise history of the aborigines of New England, and their wars with the English, &c. > Part 5
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John Billington, a boy, having been lost in the woods, and inquiry being made, Massasoit sent word that he was at Nau- set. He had wandered about five days, subsisting on berries. The governor sent ten men in a shallop, with Squanto and Tockamahamon, to recover him. In July, the party sailed to-
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wards Nauset, but were overtaken by a violent storm, attended with lightning and thunder; they took shelter that night in the bay, near the harbor of Commaquid. (Barnstable harbor.)- The next morning, some savages, in pursuit of lobsters, in- formed them that the boy was well, but was at Nauset. They invited the English on shore to eat with them; four savages entered the boat as hostages, while six went on shore from the boat. The English were introduced to their sachem, or gov- ernor, named Iyanough, a man not exceeding 25 years of age, of comely appearance and courteous, who afforded them a plentiful entertainment. Here they were accosted by an old woman, supposed to be not less than a hundred years old, who had never seen an Englishman; she was weeping with great lamentation, complaining that she had three sons who went on board Captain Hunt's ship to trade with him, and were carried captives into Spain, by which means she was deprived of the comfort of her children in her old age. The English told her they were sorry, that Hunt was a bad man, and all the English condemned him, and that no such injury should be offered by themselves; and, having given her a few trifles, she was some- what pacified. After dinner, they proceeded, accompanied by the sachem, Iyanough, and two of his men, to Nauset, and Squanto was sent to Aspinet, the sachem of Nauset, to inform him of their arrival. After sunset, Aspinet came with the boy, and a great train, consisting of not less than one hundred, one half of whom went to the shallop unarmed, carrying the boy in their arms through the water, while the rest remained at a distance, with their bows and arrows. The boy was now de- livered, decorated to excess with beads ; and, having agreed to a peace, and presented the sachem and the man who brought the boy with knives, the parties separated. On their return, Iyanough landed at Commaquid, and, to show his kindness, took a runlet and led the seamen in the dark some distance for water. In the mean time, most of his people, men, women, and children, assembled; the women joined hand in hand, singing and dancing, and the scene was closed by Iyanough taking a bracelet from his neck and hanging it on one of the English. It was reported by the Nausets, that the Narragan- sets had captured Massasoit, and killed some of his people, and about the same time, Hobomak, a Pinese, or chief captain un- der Massasoit, a lusty young man, attached himself to the English, and devoted his life to their interest and service. On the other hand it was understood that Corbitant, another sachem, had given indications of his attachment to the Narra- gansets, a powerful tribe, and was endeavoring to disaffect the 4*
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subjects of Massasoit towards the colonists, and manifested his enmity to all that favored his interest. * Squanto and Hobo- mak, anxious to ascertain the situation of their chief, Massasoit, undertook a journey privately for that purpose. They were discovered by Corbitant the first night, and threatened with death. He seized Squanto, and held a knife at his breast, but Hobomak effected his escape to Plymouth, with news that Squanto was killed. The governor, sensible of the justice and importance of protecting the friendly natives,. and of showing his own authority, after consulting the whole company, resolved to despatch a party of armed men, with orders to attack their enemies in the night, and in case that Squanto had been killed, to put Corbitant to death, and bring his head to Plymouth. On the 14th of August, Captain Standish, at the head of ten of the English, and accompanied by the friendly Hobomak, com- menced the expedition, and reached Corbitant's cabin in the night; three Indians, attempting to escape, were badly wound- ed, but it appeared that Squanto had suffered no injury. The next morning, Standish breakfasted at Squanto's, and finding that Corbitant and his friends had escaped, and having accom- plished the object of his expedition, commenced his return home.
The consequence of this display of authority on the part of the English was extremely favorable; the natives in that quar- ter were greatly intimidated, and numerous sachems, nearly all in the vicinity, solicited the friendship of the colonists. It ap- peared, on inquiry, that the report of the capture of Massasoit was a mistake, and Corbitant solicited his good offices to reconcile him to the English; and he, together with several other chiefs, repaired to Plymouth, to acknowledge themselves the loyal subjects of King James, and subscribed the following paper :
September 13th, 1621.
' Know all men by these presents, that we, whose names are underwritten, acknowledge ourselves to be the loyal subjects of King James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland,
* Corbitant resided at Mattapuyst, a neck of land in the township of Swansey. Mr. Winslow, who had freqent conferences with him at his wigwam and at other places, represents him as a 'hollow- hearted friend to the English, a notable politician, yet full of merry jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the like are returned again upon him.'
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defender of the faith, &c. In witness whereof, and as a testi- monial of the same, we have subscribed our names, or marks, as followeth.' Subscribed by nine sachems. The colonists had now secured the entire friendship and good services of the great sachem, Massasoit, and, partly by his influence, brought most of the petty sachems to terms of submission and peace. One event had previously occurred, which the natives had in remembrance, and which served to restrain their evil propen- sities. A French ship had been wrecked on Cape Cod, and most of the crew sacrificed. One Frenchman only was per- mitted to live among the natives. He told them that God was angry with them for this wickedness, and would destroy them, and give their country to another people. That they should not live like beasts, as they did, but should be clothed, &c .- But they, in derision, replied, that they were so many that God could not kill them. He answered ' that though they were never so many, God had many ways to destroy them that they knew not.' The pestilence which depopulated their country, took place soon after the death of the Frenchman, and the ar- rival of the English soon followed. The prediction being ful- filled, produced a salutary influence on the natives.
A tribe called the Massachusetts, had manifested indications of hostility against the English. The governor and company, therefore, desirous to ascertain their strength, particular situ- ation, and circumstances, resolved to send a party to explore the bay on which they resided, and propose to them terms of peace, trade and friendship. Accordingly, on the eighteenth of September, the shallop was despatched with ten English- men, Squanto for their interpreter, and two other Indians .- They arrived in the harbor of Shawmut, (Boston,) the next day, anchored under a cliff, which Dr. Belknap supposes to be Copps's Hill, at the bottom of the bay, and twenty leagues from Plymouth. Here they had an interview with the sachem, Obbatinua, one of the parties to the submission signed a few days before at Plymouth. He renewed his submission, receiv- ing a promise of defence against his enemies, particularly against the sachem of Massachusetts. They were treated by the natives with hospitality and respect, after their fears had subsided, and having collected a quantity of beaver, on the 20th in the evening, having the benefit of a light moon, set sail, and arrived at Plymouth before noon the next day. The shallop's crew made such a favorable report respecting the country which they had just visited, as to excite the envy of the colonists, who regretted that it had not fallen to their lot to be seated there, although health was now restored to their
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dwellings, they were gathering in their harvest, provisions were plenty, water fowl and fish abounded, deer and wild tur- keys were in the forest, they had opened a successful traffic with the natives, and their houses were in good condition for the approaching winter.
On the ninth of November, the Fortune, a vessel of fifty-five tons burthen, arrived at Cape Cod, bringing Mr. Robert Cushman, and thirty-five more passengers, whose names follow : *
Robert Cushman,
James Steward, (Stewart,) William Pitts,
William Hilton, John Winslow, William Coner,
William Palmer, probably two in his family,
John Adams,
Jonathan Brewster,
William Tench,
Bennet Morgan,
John Cannon,
Thomas Flavil, and his son,
Hugh Stacie, (Stacy,)
Thomas Prence, (Prince) after- wards Governor,
Thomas Cushman,
Austin Nicolas, (Nicholas,)
Stephen Dean,
Moses Simonson, (Simmons,)
Philip De La Noye, (Delano,) Edward Bompasse, (Bumpus, and Bump,)
William Bassite, (Bassett,) two , probably in his family.
It was unfortunate that this ship was so long on the voyage, as she had expended nearly all her provisions. She was soon laden with a cargo, valued at £500, consisting of furs, clap- boards, and sassafras, and being provisioned by the planters, (though greatly to their damage) she was despatched on her return voyage, on the 13th of December; but near the English coast she was captured and carried into France, but afterwards released. Mr. Cushman returned in the ship, as the adven- turers had directed, to give them information respecting the plantation.
Soon after the departure of the Fortune, the new comers were distributed amongst the several families, and, on taking an estimate of their provisions, it was found necessary to put the whole company on half allowance, to which they cheer- fully submitted. At this critical juncture, the Narragansets,
* Four more of the first company in the Mayflower had died since March, leaving but fifty-one survivors.
William Wright, Robert Hickes,
William Beale,
Widow Foord, probably four in her family,
Thomas Morton,
Clement Brigges, (Briggs,)
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learning that the ship brought neither arms nor provisions, be- gan to manifest hostile intentions. Their threats and prepara- tions were well known to the English. At length they sent messengers to the plantation, with a bundle of arrows tied to- gether with a snake skin. This the English received as a war challenge, and governor Bradford informed the chief sa- chem, Cannonicus, that if they loved war they might begin it, as he was not unprepared. By an Indian, the governor, after consulting the settlers, sent back the snake's skin stuffed with gunpowder and bullets, with a verbal message of defiance. This produced the desired effect. The sachem was intimidat- ed, dared not touch the snake's skin, nor let it remain in his house, but returned it to the English unopened. The settlers now judged it prudent to enclose their houses by a strong im- palement, which was completed in February. They also, for further security, enclosed part of the hill, and formed bulwarks with gates to be locked at night, and watch and ward was kept during the day. The enclosed ground afforded a garden for each family. The whole company was divided into four squad- rons, and each one had its particular posts assigned it, in case of alarm. One of the companies was directed to attend par- ticularly to any fires that might happen, while others were to serve as guards with their muskets. In all these military ar- rangements for the security of the town, Captain Standish was their main dependence, and he proved himself well deserving their confidence.
1622. About the beginning of April, another expedition on a trading voyage to the Massachusetts was in preparation, when Hobomak intimated his fears that the Narragansetts and the Massachusetts had formed a private league against the Eng- lish for their destruction, and, by sending off a part of their force, the town would be exposed to great danger from the Narragansetts, while those on the expedition would be destroyed by the Massachusetts. These apprehensions, however, did not prevent the expedition. Captain Standish, with ten principal men, taking both Squanto and Hobomak, proceeded on the voyage. Having reached the mouth of the harbor near the Gurnet's nose, they were becalmed, and came to anchor. While there, an Indian of Squanto's family came running into town with his face covered with blood, calling to the people abroad to make haste home, saying he received the wound in his face for speaking for the English, and frequently looking back as if the assailants were fast behind him. He informed the Governor that there were many Narragansetts, together with Massasoit and Corbitant and others, approaching to as-
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sault the town, in the absence of Captain Standish. Upon this information, the governor ordered three pieces of cannon to be fired. Standish and his crew, taking the alarm, immediately returned, and prepared for action. Hobomak was positive that it was all fiction, as it proved. He was a Pinese, he said, and such an enterprise would not be undertaken by Massasoit with- out consulting -him. At the request of the Governor, he sent his wife to Massasoit's residence, pretending other business, to inform herself of the true state of things. She found all quiet, and that no mischief had been intended. She then informed Massasoit of what had occurred at Plymouth, who was much offended with Squanto for his conduct. After this affair, Stan- dish prosecuted his voyage to the Massachusetts, made a good trade, and returned in safety. It was now seen by the English that Squanto was not be relied on, that he was actuated by selfish views, endeavoring to make his countrymen believe that he had great influence with the English, as he understood their language; in consequence of which he deluded many, and gained some advantages to himself. He made the natives be- lieve, that the English were their enemies, that they kept the plague buried in the ground, and could spread it through the country at pleasure, which created great terror among the In- dians, and induced them to place much dependence on him, to secure for them the friendship of the English. Some barrels of gunpowder were buried under ground in the store-house, and when taken out, Hobomak inquired of Squanto what they were ? He replied, that they contained the plague, which he had formerly mentioned. Hobomak inquired of an English- man if this was true; he answered, no ! but the God of the English possessed it, and could use it for the destruction of his enemies, and the enemies of the English. Such were the de- vices, and such the duplicity of Squanto, to increase his influ- ence among his brethren; and it was perceived that he had succeeded but too well in obtaining for himself the respect due to Massasoit only. The planters spared no pains to counteract these proceedings, by assuring the natives that Squanto was a deceiver, and that they had no reason to fear the English, so long as they conducted peaceably towards them. Massasoit, at length, became so embittered against Squanto, that, on a visit at Plymouth, he demanded of governor Bradford, that he should be put to death; but this was refused, and after his re- turn home, he sent messengers to repeat the demand, assert- ing his claim to Squanto as his subject, according to the terms of the existing treaty. The demand was repeated with such pressing importunity, that the governor admitted that he de-
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served death, and was about to deliver him up, though with great reluctance, as Squanto was the only one who understood both languages, by which the necessary intercourse could be kept up. Massasoit offered many beaver skins in exchange for Squanto, but the governor disdained to sell his life, but as- sured the messengers that Squanto had justly forfeited it by his falsehood and deceit. With the messengers, Massasoit sent his own knife for the avowed purpose of cutting off Squanto's head and hands, and the culprit readily yielded himself and submitted his life, without the least apparent reluctance to the will of the governor. At the moment when he was about to be delivered into the hands of the messengers, a shallop appeared in the offing; the governor having heard many rumors of the French, and, doubtful whether there were not combinations between them and the savages, refused to deliver Squanto up, until he should first have ascertained what boat was approach- ing. Thus Squanto escaped, for the messengers, vexed at the delay, immediately departed in great rage. The boat in ques- tion proved to be a shallop belonging to a fishing vessel, the property of Thomas Weston, a merchant in London, which, with about thirty others, was employed in the fishing business, on the eastern shore near Penobscot. This was in the month of May, when the whole colony was entirely destitute of bread, and their other provisions were almost expended. It was out of season for sea-fowl, and they were unprovided with seins and hooks for fishing. They had subsisted on clams and other shell fish, until they were greatly debilitated. The shallop, above mentioned, brought six or seven passengers from the fishing vessels from London to be added to the planters, but no supply of provisions. Governor Bradford despatched Edward Winslow, to purchase articles of provision of the fishermen, but none could be obtained, excepting from the generosity of one Captain, who supplied them gratuitously with bread, suffi- cient to give each person in the plantation a quarter of a pound daily until the harvest. 'This was the daily portion,' says Mr. Winslow, ' which was distributed : until now, we were never without some bread, the want whereof much abated the strength and flesh of some, and swelled others-and, indeed, had we not been in a place where divers sorts of shell fish are, that may be taken with the hand, we must have perished, unless God had raised some unknown or extraordinary means for our preservation.'
In addition to this calamity, the Indians threatened them, and boasted how easily they could effect their destruction, and Massasoit, even manifested a coolness and indifference about
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his English friends. In the mean time, news arrived of a hor- rible massacre of the English in Virginia on the 27th of March, 1622. Three hundred and forty-seven of the English were slain by the Indians. 'The massacre was conducted with in- discriminate barbarity. No regard was shown to dignity, no gratitude for benefits.' Justly alarmed for their safety, they immediately began to build a strong and handsome fort, taking in the top of the hill under which our town is seated, with a flat roof and battlement, on which cannons were mounted, and a watch kept. The lower part was used as a place of public worship. Thus did these pious people offer their devout aspi- · rations to God with the sword in one hand and the bible in the other. 'About the end of March,' says Mr. Winslow, 'our store of victuals was wholly spent, having lived long before on a bare and short allowance.' As to the insufficient stock of provisions brought by the Fortune, he suggests as an apology for their friends in England, ' certain among ourselves were too prodigal in writing and reporting that we enjoyed a plenty.'
The colony now in June and July, consisted of about one hundred persons in tolerable health; who had, this season, planted sixty acres of corn, and whose gardens afforded ample supplies of vegetables.
Thomas Weston, a merchant in London, was originally one of the merchant adventurers. He encouraged the emigration, and actively promoted the Plymouth settlement, until this year. Why he now withdrew his patronage, could not be known, but by a letter from him, addressed to governor Carver, ' we find,' says governor Bradford, ' he has quite deserted us, and is going to settle a plantation of his own. And having pro- cured for himself a patent of a tract of land in Massachusetts Bay, he sent two ships, the Charity and the Swan, with fifty or sixty men, at his own charge, to settle a plantation. These adventurers arrived at Plymouth about June or July, many of them in a sickly condition; and most of them remained there the greater part of the summer, and received from the inhabi- tants every hospitality and kindness which the place could af- ford. But they were ungrateful enough to commit numerous thefts, and waste the provisions of the planters who furnished them. At length they located themselves on Weston's land, at a place called Wessagusset, in the Massachusetts Bay, (now Weymouth). This was a rival settlement, and consisted of profligate miscreants altogether unfit for such an enterprise, and proved very troublesome neighbors.
In the month of August, another ship arrived from England, called the Discovery, commanded by Captain Jones, the former
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commander of the Mayflower; and also the Sparrow, belong- ing to Mr. Weston, which had been employed on a fishing voy- age. Captain Jones brought a large supply of trinkets, suita- ble for traffic with the natives, but his enormous demand for the articles, and unwillingness to sell but in large quantities, showed his disposition to take an ungenerous advantage of the famishing planters, and compel them to purchase at exorbitant prices that they might traffic with the natives for corn.
Weston's undeserving company soon squandered away their provisions, and were reduced to a state of starvation; thieving among the natives was their next resort. They were continu- ally exasperating the savages against both settlements, till at length they became contemptible in the eyes of the natives themselves. One of them was so greatly enfeebled for want of food, that, in attempting to dig clams, his feet got caught in the mud and, before he could be extricated, perished. They would debase themselves by the most abject services for the natives, who, in return, would rob them of their miserable food and blankets while asleep. Pressing and clamorous complaints were made by the Indians to the governor, and some were stocked and some whipped, without amendment; at length, to appease the injured savages, it was thought neces- sary to hang one of those who had been convicted of stealing. ' A waggish report became current that the real offender was spared, and that a poor decrepid old man, that was unservicea- ble to the company, was hung in his stead. 'Upon this story,' says Mr. Hubbard, in his MS. History of New England, 'the merry gentleman that wrote the poem called Hudibras did, in his poetical fancy, make so much sport.' The passage refer- red to is well known.
' Our brethren of New England use Choice malefactors to excuse, And hang the guiltless in their stead, Of whom the churches have less need.' Hudibras, part ii. canto 2.
Mr. Hubbard seriously contradicts the story, but with a qualification, that would not, perhaps, have deprived the poet of an allusion so convenient for his purpose, and so congenial to his feelings. As Mr. Hubbard had the account from the Ply- mouth people, the person hanged was really guilty of stealing, as were many of the rest; yet it is possible, that justice might be executed, not on him that most deserved it, but on him that could best be spared, or who was not likely to live long, if he had been let alone.'-New England Memorial. 5
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1623. Partly to benefit Weston's starving people, and partly to provide for his own families, governor Bradford agreed to accompany them in the Swan, their own ship, on an expedition to Cape Cod, to procure corn from the natives. He afterwards went a second time, in company with Captain Standish in an- other shallop, after the Captain had recovered from sickness. These voyages were attended with the greatest hazard, by reason of violent storms; but they returned in safety, and brought a good supply of corn, which they divided equally be- tween the two plantations. At Nauset the shallop was stranded in a storm; part of the corn and beans, of which they had 26 or 28 hogsheads, was stacked and covered with mats and left in charge of the Indians. The governor procuring a guide, travelled home on foot, receiving much respect from the natives by the way, and was weary with galled feet and disappointment. In this first voyage the governor took Squanto as an inter- preter and pilot, but unfortunately he was seized with a mortal fever at Cape Cod, of which he soon died. This loss was se- verely felt, as his place could not be supplied.
Although on a former occasion his conduct was somewhat exceptionable, yet, as interpreter and pilot, the English always found him faithful and ready to devote himself to their service. ' A short time previous to his death, he requested governor Bradford to pray that he might go to the Englishman's God in heaven; and he bequeathed his little property to his English friends, as remembrances of his love.'
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