USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Middlesex County manual, history from 1878 > Part 2
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*Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 3, p. 246; vol. 4, pp. 112, 334; vol. 5, 227.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
§. 2. This town consisteth of three long streets ; two on the north side of the river; and one, on the south ; with house lots to every family. There is a handsome large fort, of a round figure, palisaded with trees; and a foot-bridge over the river, in form of an arch, the foundation of which is secured with stone. There is also one large house built after the English manner. The lower room is a large hall , which serves for a meeting-house, on the Lord's day, and a school-house on the week days. The upper room is a kind of wardrobe, where the Indians hang up their skins, and other things of value. In a cor- ner of this room Mr. Eliot has an apartment partition- ed off, with a bed and bedstead in it .* The other houses in this town are generally after their old ' mode before described ; though some they have built in this and other of the praying villages, after the English form. But these being more chargeable to build and not so warm, and cannot be removed so easily as their wigwams, wherein there is not a nail used, to avoid annoyance by fleas, and themselves being generally artists in building and furnishing their own wigwams : for these and like reasons, they do incline to keep their old fashioned houses.
§. 3. In this town was the first church of Indians imbodied, in the year of our Lord 1660. Unto this
*The preceding portion of this chapter was prepared by the Committee that edited Gookin's narrative for the Massachusetts Historical Society, to supply the place of a lost leaf in the original manuscript. These foot notes are mine.
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church* some pious Indians of other places, both men and women, are since joined. * *
There are many Indians that live among those that have subjected to the gospel, that are catechised, do attend public worship, read the scriptures, pray in their family morning and evening; but being not yet come so far, as to be able or willing to profess their faith in Christ, and yield obedience and subjec- tion unto him in his church, are not admitted to par- take in the ordinances of God, proper and peculiar to the church of Christ, which is a garden enclosed, as the Scripture saith.
§. 4. The manner practiced by these Indians in the worship of God, is thus. Upon the Lord's days, fast days, and lecture days, the people assemble to- gether at the sound of a drum, when one of their teachers, if they have more than one, begins with solemn and affectionate prayer. Then, after a short pause, either himself or some other thereunto ap- pointed, readeth a chapter distinctly out of the old or new testament. At the conclusion thereof a psalm, or part of a psalm, is appointed, rehearsed, and solemnly sung. Then the minister catechises and prays before his sermon ; and so preacheth from some text of Scripture. Then concludeth with prayer, and a psalm, and a blessing pronounced. Sometime, instead of reading the chapter, some persons do answer some parts of the catechism
*Governor Hutchinson says that in 1670 there were between forty and fifty communicants in this church. History of Massachusetts, vol. 1, page 156, note.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
In all these acts of worship, (for I have been often present with them,) they demean themselves visibly with reverence, attention, modesty and solemnity ; the menkind sitting by themselves* and the women- kind by themselves, according to their age, quality, and degree, in a comely manner. And for my own part, I have no doubt, but am fully satisfied, accord- ing to the judgment of charity, that divers of them do fear God and are true believers; but yet I will not deny but that there may be some of them hypo- crites, that profess religion, and yet are not sound hearted. But things that are secret belong to God ; and things that are revealed, unto us and our child- ren.
§. 5. Their teachers are generally chosen from among themselves,-except some few English teachers,-of the most pious and devout men among them. If these did not supply, they would generally be destitute. From this church and town of Natick hath issued forth, as from a seminary of virtue and piety, divers teachers that are employed in several new praying towns; of which we shall hear more, God willing, hereafter.
In this town they have residing some of their principal rulers, the chief whereof is named Waban, who is now above seventy years of age. He is a person of great prudence and piety : I do not know any Indian that excels him. Other rulers there are living there, as Nattous and Piam Boohan, and
*Such was the ancient Jewish custom.
.
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others. These are good men and prudent, but infe- rior to the first. The teachers of this town are Anthony and John Speen, which are grave and pious men. They have two constables belonging to this place, chosen yearly ; and there is a marshal-general belonging to all the praying Indian towns, called Captain Josiah, or Pennahannit. He doth attend the chief courts kept here, but he dwells at another place, called Nashobah.
I have been the larger in speaking of this place, because it is the chiefest town and eldest church ; and what is said of this doth agree to all the rest in divers things.
§. 6. The next town is Pakemit, or Punkapog .* The signification of this name is taken from a spring, that ariseth out of red earth. This town is situated south from Boston, about fourteen miles. There is a great mountain, called the Blue Hill, lieth north- east from it about two miles : and the town of Ded- ham, about three miles north-west from it. This is a small town, and hath not above twelve families in it ; and so about sixty souls. This is the second praying town. The Indians that settled here, re-
*Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 4, p. 334. Punkapog is now in Stoughton. It was the only town of Eliot's converts which was not within the jurisdiction of this County. From 1643 to 1793 it formed part of Suf- folk County. Since the present County of Norfolk was created in 1793, (the old County of that name lying North of the Merrimack having ceased to exist in 1680,) it has been in Norfolk County.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
moved from Neponsit mill. The quantity of land belonging to this village, is about six thousand acres ; and some of it is fertile, but not generally so good as in other towns. Here they worship God, and keep the Sabbath, in the same manner as is done at Natick, before declared. They have a ruler, a constable, and a school-master. Their ruler's name is Ahawton ; an old and faithful friend to the English. Their teacher is William Ahawton, his son; an ingenious person and pious man, and of good parts. Here was a very able teacher, who died about three years since. His name was William Awinian. He was a very knowing person, and of great ability, and of genteel deportment, and spoke very good English. His death was a very great rebuke to this place. This town hath within this ten years, lost by death several honest and able men ; and some have turned apostates, and removed from them : which dispensations of God have greatly damped the flourishing condition of this place. Here it was that Mr. John Eliot, junior, be- fore mentioned, preached a lecture once a fortnight, for sundry years, until his decease. In this village, besides their planting and keeping cattle and swire, and fishing in good ponds, and upon Neponsit River which lieth near them ; they are also advantaged by a large cedar swamp; wherein such as are laborious and diligent, do get many a pound, by cutting and preparing cedar shingles and clapboards, which sell well at Boston and other English towns adjacent.
§. 7. Hassanamesit is the third town of pray- ing Indians. The name signifieth a place of
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
small stones. This place lieth about thirty-eight miles from Boston, west-southerly ; and is about two miles to the eastward of Nipmuck River ;* and near unto the old road way to Connecticut. It hath not above twelve families ; and so, according to our com- putation, about sixty souls ; but is capable to receive hundreds, as generally the other villages are, if it shall please God to multiply them. The dimensions of this town is four miles square ; and so about eight thousand acres of land. This village is not inferior unto any of the Indian plantations for rich land and plenty of meadow, being well tempered and watered. It produceth plenty of corn, grain and fruit; for there are several good orchards in this place. It is an apt place for keeping of cattle and swine; in which respect this people are the best stored of any Indian town of their size. Their ruler is named Anaweakin ; a sober and discreet man. Their teacher's name is Tackuppa-willin, his brother; a pious and able man, and apt to teach. Their aged father, whose name I remember not, is a grave and sober christian, and deacon of the church. They have a brother that lives in the town, called James, that was bred among the English, and employed as a press-man in printing the Indian Bible; who can read well, and, as I take it, write also. The father, mother, brothers, and their wives, are all reputed pious persons, and the principal studs of the town. Here they have a meeting-house for the worship of
*Blackstone River.
›
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
God after the English fashion of building, and two or three other houses after the same mode ; but they fancy not greatly to live in them. Their way of liv- ing is by husbandry, and keeping cattle and swine ; wherein they do as well, or rather better, than any other Indians, but yet are very far short of the English both in diligence and providence. In this town was the second Indian church gathered, about three years since, in summer, 1671. The pastor of this church, is Tackuppa-willin ; the ruling elder, Piambow ; the deacon, father to the pastor. There are in full communion in this church, and living in the town, about sixteen men and women, and about thirty baptized persons ; but there are several others, members of the church, that live in other places. This is a hopeful plantation. The Lord give his blessing to it. The way of their worship and civil order, is here as in other Indian towns before mentioned .*
§. 8. Okommakamesit, f alias Marlborough, is sit- uated about twelve miles north-north-east from Has- sanamesit, about thirty miles from Boston westerly. This village contains about ten families, and conse-
*Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 4, pp. 192, 348. The town of Grafton includes Hassanamesit. In 1731. this and much other territory of ancient Middlesex was set off' to form the County of Worcester. It was incor- porated as a town in 1735.
+Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 4, pp. 192, 317, 348, 363. The town of Hudson embraces part of this territory.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
quently about fifty souls. The quantity of land apper- taining to it is six thousand acres. It is much of it good land, and yieldeth plenty of corn, being well husbanded. It is sufficiently stored with meadow, and is well wooded and watered. It hath several good orchards upon it, planted by the Indians : and is in itself a very good plantation. This town doth join so near to the English of Marlborough, that it was spoken of David in type, and our Lord Jesus Christ, the antitype, Under his shadow ye shall rejoice : but the Indians here do not much rejoice under the English men's shadow ; who do so overtop them in their number of people, stocks of cattle, &c. that the Indians do not greatly flourish, or delight in their station at present. Their ruler here was Onomog, who is lately deceased, about two months since ; which is a great blow to that place. He was a pious and discreet man, and the very soul, as it were, of that place. Their teacher's name is [Solomon*]. Here they observe the same decorum for religion and civil order, as is done in other towns. They have a con- stable and other officers, as the rest have. The Lord sanctify the present affliction they are under by rea- son of their bereavements ; and raise up others, and give them grace to promote religion and good order among them. ,
§. 9. Wamesitt is the fifth praying town; and
*Hutchinson says his name was Solomon.
¡Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 3, p. 301, vol. 4, part 1, pp. 268, 406, 431; part 2, pp. 16. 431. This territory is now a part of Lowell.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
is situated upon the Merrimack River, being a neck of land, where Concord River falleth into Merrimack River. It is about twenty miles from Boston, north- north-west, and within five miles of Billerica, and as much from Chelmsford : so that it hath Concord River upon the west-north-west; and Merrimack River, upon the north-north-east. It hath about fifteen families ; and consequently, as we compute, about seventy-five souls. The quantity of land be- longing to it is about twenty-five hundred acres. The land is fertile, and yieldeth plenty of corn. It is excellently accommodated with a fishing place ; and there is taken a variety of fish in their seasons, as salmon, shads, lamprey eels, sturgeon, bass and divers others. There is a great confluence of Indians, that usually resort to this place in the fishing seasons. Of these strange Indians divers are vicious and wicked men and women ; which Satan makes use of to obstruct the prosperity of religion here. The ruler of this people is called Numphow. He is one of the blood of their chief sachems. Their teacher is called Samuel ; son to the ruler, a young man of good parts, and can speak, read, and write, English and Indian competently. He is one of those that were bred up at school, at the charge of the Corporation for the Indians. These Indians, if they were diligent and industrious,-to which they have been frequently excited,- might get much by their fish, especially fresh salmon, which are of esteem and good price at Boston in the season ; and the Indians being stored with horses of a low price, might furnish the market
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fully, being at so small a distance. And divers other sort of fish they might salt or pickle, as sturgeon and bass ; which would be much to their profit. But notwithstanding divers arguments used to persuade them, and some orders made to encourage them ; yet their idleness and improvidence doth hitherto prevail.
At this place, once a year, at the beginning of May, the English magistrate [Gookin,] keeps his court, accompanied with Mr. Eliot, the minister ; who at this time takes his opportunity to preach, not only to the inhabitants, but to as many of the strange Indians, that can be persuaded to hear him ; of which sort, usually in times of peace, there are considerable numbers at that season. And this place being an ancient and capital seat of Indians, they come to fish ; and this good man takes this opportunity to spread the net of the gospel, to fish for their souls. Here it may not be impertinent to give you the rela- tion following.
May 5th, 1674, according to our usual custom, Mr. Eliot and myself took our journey to Wamesit or Pawtucket ;* and arriving there that evening, Mr.
*Governor Hutchinson says, "Pawtucket, at the falls in Merrimack River, was the place of another set of pray- ing Indians. The Pennacook Indians had come down the river, and built a fort at Pawtucket, and were great opposers, and obstinately refused to pray to God; but being concerned in the expedition against the Mohawks, they were most of them cut off, and since that time the Pawtuket Indians were, at least several of them, become praying Indians, and Jethro was sent to preach Christ to them." Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 157, note.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
Eliot preached to as many of them as could be got to- gether out of Mat. xxii. 1-14 .- the parable of the marriage of the king's son. We met at the wigwam of one ealled Wannalancet, about two miles from the town, near Pawtucket falls, and bordering upon the Merrimack river .* This person, Wannalancet, is the eldest son of old Passaconaway, the chiefest sachem of Pawtucket. He is a sober and grave person, and of years, between fifty and sixty. He hath been always loving and friendly to the English. Many endeavors have been used several years to gain this sachem to embrace the christian religion ; but he hath stood off from time to time, and not yielded up him- self personally, though for four years past he hath been willing to hear the word of God preached, and to keep the Sabbath .- A great reason that hath kept him off, I conceive, hath been the indisposition and averseness of sundry of his chief men and relations to pray to God; which he foresaw would desert him, in case he turned a christian. But at this time, May 6th, 1674, it pleased God so to influence and over- come his heart, that it being proposed to him to give his answer concerning praying to God, after some deliberation and serious pause, he stood up and made a speech to this effect.
Sirs, you have been pleased for four years last past, in your abundant love, to apply yourselves partic- ularly unto me and my people, to exhort, press, and persuade us to pray to God. I am very thankful to
*Near the site of the stately mansion of Frederick Ayer.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
you for your pains. I must acknowledge, said he, I have, all my days, used to pass in an old canoe (al- luding to his frequent custom to pass in a canoe upon the river) and now you exhort me to change and leave my old canoe, and embark in a new canoe, to which I have hitherto been unwilling: but now I yield up myself to your advice, and enter into a new canoe, and do engage to pray to God hereafter.
This his professed subjection was well pleasing to all that were present, of which there some English persons of quality ; as Mr. Richard Daniel, a gentle- man that lived in Billerica, about six miles off : and Lieutenant Henchman, a neighbor at Chelmsford ; besides brother Eliot and myself, with sundry others, English and Indians. Mr. Daniel before named desired brother Eliot to tell this sachem from him, that it may be, while he went in his old canoe, he passed in a quiet stream : but the end thereof was death and destruction to soul and body : But now he went into a new canoe, perhaps he would meet with storms and trials ; but yet he should be encouraged to persevere, for the end of his voyage would be everlasting rest. Moreover he and his people were exhorted by brother Eliot and myself, to go on and sanctify the sabbath, to hear the word, and use the means that God hath appointed, and encourage their hearts in the Lord their God. Since that time, I hear this sachem doth persevere, and is a constant and diligent hearer of God's word, and sanctifieth the sabbath, though he doth travel to Wamesit meet- ing every sabbath, which is above two miles; and
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
though sundry of his people have deserted him, since he subjected to the gospel, yet he continues and persists .*
In this town they observe the same civil and re- ligious orders, as in other towns, and have a constable and other officers.
This people of Wamesit suffered more in the late war with the Mohawks, than any other praying town of Indians : for divers of their people were slain ; others, wounded; and some, carried into captivity : which providence hath much hindered the prosperous estate of this place.i
§. 10. Nashobaht is the sixth praying Indian town. This village is situated in a manner in the centre between Chelmsford, Lancaster, Groton, and Concord. It lieth from Boston about twenty-five miles, west-north-west. The inhabitants are about ten families, and consequently about fifty souls. The dimensions of this village is four miles square. The land is fertile, and well stored with meadows and woods. It hath good ponds for fish adjoining it.
*The beautiful Eliot Church stands very near the site of the wigwam in which Wannalancet worshiped two hundred years ago.
+The war with the Mohawks, or Maquas, who lived near the lakes of Northern New York, began in 1663, and lasted till 1671, and was very destructive to the Indian tribes of Middlesex.
#Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 4, pp. 192, 348. This territory is now partly in Concord and partly in Littleton.
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The people live here, as in other Indian villages, upon planting corn, fishing, hunting, and sometimes labor- ing with the English. Their ruler of late years was John Ahatawance, a pious man. Since his decease, Pennahannit is the chief. Their teacher is named
John Thomas, a sober and pious man. His father was murthered by the Maquas in a secret manner, as he was fishing for eels at his wear, some years since, during the war. He was a pious and useful person ; and that place sustained a great loss in him. In this village, as well as in other old Indian plantations, they have orchards of apples, whereof they make cider ; which some of them have not the wisdom and grace to use for their comfort, but are prone to abuse unto drunkenness. And although the laws be strict to suppress this sin, and some of their own rulers are very careful and zealous in the execution of them ; yet such is the madness and folly of man naturally, that he doth eagerly pursue after that which tendeth to his own destruction. I have often seriously con- sidered what course to take, to restrain this beastly sin of drunkenness among them ; but hitherto cannot reach it. For if it were possible, as it is not, to pre- vent the English selling strong drink; yet they har- ing a native liberty to plant orchards and sow grain as barley and the like, of which they may and do make strong drink and doth inebriate them : so that nothing can overcome and conquer this exorbitancy, but the sovereign grace of God in Christ; which is in the only antidote to prevent and mortify the poison of sin.
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
Near unto this town is a pond, wherein at some seasons there is a strange rumbling noise, as the In- dians affirm; the reason thereof is not yet known. Some have conceived the hills adjacent are hollow, wherein the wind being pent, is the cause of this rumbling, as in earthquakes.
At this place they attend civil and religious order, as in the other praying towns : and they have a con- stable and other officers.
This town was deserted during the Maquas' war, but is now repeopled, and in a hopeful way to pros- per.
§. 11. Magunkaquog* is the seventh town where praying Indians inhabit. The signification of the place's name is a place of great trees. It is situated partly within the bounds of Natick, and partly upon the land granted by the country. It lieth west southerly from Boston, about twenty-four miles, near the midway between Natiek and Hassanamesit. The number of its inhabitants are about eleven fam- ilies, and about fifty-five souls. There are, men and women, eight members of the church at Natick, and about fifteen baptized persons. The quantity of of land belonging to it is about three thousand acres.
*The town of Ashland now embraces this territory, which also bore the name of Pennahannit. Mrs. Stowe, in "Old Town Folks", has improved the name into Ma- gunco. Sir Charles Henry Frankland once lived at Ma- gunco. See liis Life, by the Rev. Elias Nason. Aslıland was incorporated in 1746, having previously formed part of Hopkinton.
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The Indians plant upon a great hill, which is very fertile. These people worship God, and keep the sabbath, and observe civil order, as do the other towns. They have a constable and other officers. Their ruler's name is Pomhaman ; a sober and active man, and pious. Their teacher is named Job; a person well accepted for piety and ability among them. This town was the last setting of the old towns. They have plenty of corn, and keep cattle, horses, and wine, for which the place is well accommodated.
Having given the foregoing account of what he calls "the seven old praying towns," General Gookin proceeds to mention what he calls "the seven new praying towns," among the Nipmuck Indians. But as all these lay outside of the present limits of Middlesex, and had but a brief life at the best, they are omitted here." The whole number of praying Indians in these four- teen towns was eleven hundred.
For many years the praying Indians were in a situation strikingly resembling that of the blacks of our times. The Colonists entertained towards them the same prejudices that have been entertained towards our Freedmen. Dur- ing the first months of King Phillip's War, the Colonial authorities felt the same reluctance to accept the praying Indians as soldiers, that was felt in 1861 towards the blacks. But several
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THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.
companies of these praying Indians were after- wards formed, which rendered very important services in bringing that conflict to a successful termination. "Military necessity, "strengthened by the advice of Eliot and Gookin, led to the reception of these Indian soldiers, just as the same necessity led President Lincoln to the Emancipation Proclamation and the enlistment of colored troops. Thus does History repeat itself. Middlesex County, containing so many praying Indians, and so many frontier towns which suffered from the allies of Phillip, nat- urally took a leading part in bringing these Christian Indian soldiers into the field.
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