USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > Quarter millinnial celebration of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 4 and 5, 1889 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
Accordingly, le'rs were despatched and sent from the councell, one vnto the said Phillip, the said sachem, to require his psonall apperance att Plymouth on the 13th day of September next in reference to the ptculares aboue mencioned against him; this letter was sent by Mr. James Walker, one of the councell, and hee was ordered to request the companie of Mr. Roger Williams and Mr. James Browne to goe with him att the delivery of the said letter.
What success Mr. Walker had as bearer of this letter to Philip is disclosed in this letter from him to Gov. Prince, on the first of Sept. as follows :
318
QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
JAMES WALKER TO GOVERNOR PRINCE.
Much Honovred Sir,
AFTER my humble respects presented to you, these are to acquaint you with Philip's answer to your letter. My sons being visited with the ague, forced me to procure brother Harvey to go over to cousin James Brown with the letter, who sent for Mr. Williams to interpret; Mr. Wil- liams not being well, came not till afterwards; yet cousin James and brother Harvey went down to Mount Hope; and the dance being broken up, Philip and the most of his chief men were much in drink; only Ac- umpouin and Tom Sancsuik were sober; so that Philip could not then give any answer. Only there passed some words betwixt Philip and cousin James, and Philip struck off cousin James Brown's hat. The day following they went again to Philip, and Mr. Williams with then. The letter being read and Philip caused fully to understand it, they could get no positive answer about Philip's coming to Plymouth, because Mr. Eliot had sent for him to Boston, and he looked for another messenger that day; which messenger they met about two miles from Philip's house; which messenger told them that his message was to desire Philip to be at Punkapoge the last day of this week, and at Boston the Tuesday fol- lowing. Philip and Tom exclaimed much against Sausiman for report- ing that any of the Narragansett sachems were there. Not further to trouble you; but rest desiring the good Lord to be with you, and guide you in all your weighty affairs.
Yours to serve, JAMES WALKER.
Taunton, Sept. 1, 1671.
The records of the Council then proceed as follows :
And another letter was sent to the Gour. and Councell of the Massachesetts by the hands of Mr. John Freeman, one of our majes- trates, and a third was directed to the Gour. and Councell of Rhode Iland, and sent by Mr. Thomas Hinckley and Mr. Constant Southworth, two other of our majestrates, whoe are ordered by our Councell with the letter to vnfold our psent state of matters relating to the pmises, and to certify them alsoe more certainly of the time of the meeting to- gether in reference to engagement with the Indians, if theire be a goe- ing forth, which wilbe on the 20 of September next.
It was further ordered by the Councell, that those formerly pressed shall remaine vnder the same impresment vutil the next meeting of the said Councell on the 13th day of September next, and soe alsoe vntill tlie intended expedition is issued; vnlesse they shall see cause to alter them, or adde or detrate from them, as occation may require.
And that all other matters remaine as they were in way of prepara- tion to the said expedition, vntill wee shall see the mind of God further by the ptculares forenamed, improued for that purpose.
,
319
APPENDIX.
It was further ordered by the Councell, that all the townes within this jurisdiction shall in the interem be sollisitously carefull to prouide for theire safety by convenient watches and wardings, and carrying theire armes to the meetings on the Lords dayes, in such manor as will best stand with theire pticulare and the comon safety.
And in pticulare, they ordered, that a guard shalbe prouided for the safety of the Gou'nors pson, during the time of the abouenamed troubles and expeditions.
And the Councell were sumoned by the presedent to make theire psonall appearance at Plymouth, on the thirteenth day of September next, to attend such further business as shalbe then psented by Proui- dence in reference to the pmises.
The action of the Council at the next meeting is thus stated :
On the 13th of September, 1671, the councell of warr appeered according to theire sumons, but Phillip the sachem, appeered not, but in sted thereof repaired to the Massachusetts, and made complaint against vs to diuers of the gentlemen in place there, who wrote to our Gour. by way of pswasion, to aduise the Councell to a complyance with the said sachem, and tendered theire healp in the achieuing thereof, declaring in sume that they resented not his offence soe deeply as wee did, and that they doubted whether the couenants and engagements that Phillip and his predecessors had plighted with vs would plainly importe that hee had subjected himselfe and people and country to vs any further then as in a naighbrly and frindly correspondency.
The Councell, haueing deliberated vpon the pmises, dispatched away letters declareing theire thankfull acceptance of theire kind proffer, and invited the comissioners of the Massachusetts and Conecticut (they then being in the bay) & some other gentlemen, to come to Plymouth and aford vs theire help; and accordingly on the 24th of September, 1671, Mr. John Winthorpe, Gour. of Conecticott, Major Generall Leuerett, Mr. Thomas Danforth, Captaine Wilam Dauis, with diuers others, came to Plymouth, and had a faire and deliberate hearing of the controuersy between our Collonie and the said sachen, Phillip, hee being psonally psent, there being alsoe competent interpretors, both English and In- dians, att which meeting it was proued by sufficient testimony to the conviction of the said Phillip, and satisfaction of all that audience, botlı the said gentlemen and others, that hee had broken his couenant made with our collonie att Taunton, in April last, in diuers pticulares, as alsoe carryed very vnkindly vnto us diuers wayes.
1. In that hee detained and neglected to bring in the resedue of his English armes, not delivered att Taunton, according to his engagement, and that notwithstanding hee was allowed competent time, yea, his
320
QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
time enlarged, yett hee neglected as aforesaid, and instead of bringing them in, improued the oppertunity of time rather to make them out of the way.
2. That hee had carryed insolently and proudly towards vs on seuerall occations, in refusing to come down to our Court, when sent for to have speech with him, to procure a right understanding of matters in difference betwixt vs.
3. That hee entertained, harboured, and abetted diuers Indians, not of his owne men, which were vagabonds, our proffessed enimies, who leauing their own sachem, repaired to him and were harboured.
4. That notwithstanding the great wronge hee had done vnto vs in these and such like respects, instead of repairing to the Court, and to endeauer a reconcilliation, hee takes his journey into the Massachusetts Bay, with seuerall of his councell, indeauoring to insinuate himselfe into the majestrates, and to misrepresent matters vnto them, whoe are our good frinds and naighbors, and what in him lay, therby to work mischeife and difference between them and vs.
5. That hee had shewed great inciuillitie to diuers of ours att seuer- all times, in special vnto Mr. James Browne, whoe was sent by the Court on speciall occations as a messenger vnto him, and vnto Hugh Cole att another time, &c.
The gentlemen forenamed, takeing notice of the pmises, haueing fully heard what the said Phillip could say for himselfe, haueing free liberty soe to doe without interruption, adjudged that hee had don vs a great deal of wronge and injury respecting the pmises, and alsoe abused them by carrying lyes and falce stories to them, and soe misrepresenting matters vnto them, and they pswaded him to make an acknowlidgment of his fault and to seek for reconcilliation, expressing themselves that there is a great difference between what he asserted to the gou'ment in the Bay and what hee could now make out concerning his pretended wronges; and such had bine the wrong and damage that hee liad done and procured vnto the collonie as ought not to be bourne without com- petent repairation and satisfaction ; yea, that liee by his insolencyes had in probabillitie occationed more mischeife from the Indians amongst them then had fallen out in many yeares before; they pswaded him therefore to humble himselfe vnto the majestrates, and to amend his wayes if hee expected peace, and that if hee went on in his refractory way, hee must expect to smart for it, the pticulares whereof are more att large to be seen in a full discourse between our majestrates and the gentlemen aforesaid and him, which is extant. In fine, seuerall propositions were drawn vp and read, every which hee was left to accept of or reject, as he should see cause, in reference vnto his entering into a new couenant with vs; and alsoe in reference to a way of reparation of
321
APPENDIX.
some pte of the wrongs don vnto us, the contents whereof are as follow- eth, by him accepted of and signed vnto.
New Plymouth, this 29th, of September, 1671.
1. Wee Phillip, my councell, and my subjects, doe acknowledge ourselues subjects to his ma'tie the Kings of England, &c. and the gou'ment of New Plymouth, and to theire lawes.
2. I am willing and doe promise to pay vnto the gou'ment of New Plymouth one hundred pounds in such things as I hane, but I would entreat the fauor that I might haue three yeares to pay it in, forasmuch as I can not doe it at psent.
3. I do pmise to send in to the Gour. or to whom hee shall appoint, fine wolues leads, if I can gett them, or as many as I can procure, vntill they come to the number of fiue wolues yearly.
4. If any difference falls between the English and my selfe or people, then I doe promise to repaire to the Gour. of Plymouth to rectify the dif- ference amongst vs.
5. I doe promise not to make warr with any but with the Gouernors approbation of New Plymouth.
6. I promise not to dispose of any of the lands that I hane att present, but by the approbation of the gou'ment of New Plymouth.
For the true pformance of the pmises, I, the said Phillip sachem of Paukanaukett, doe heerby bind my selfe and such of my councell as are psent, our selues, our heires and successors, faithfully and truely to pforme. In witness heerof wee haue heerunto subscribed our hands the day and yeare aboue written.
The marke P of PHILLIP, Sachem.
The marke T of WOHKOWPAHENITT.
The marke of
I WATTAKOOSEEIM.
The marke of Y SONKANUHOO.
The marke of 3 WOONASHUM, allies NIMROD.
The marke of Y WOOSPASUCK,
allies CAPTAINE.
In the presence of the Court and diuers of the majestrates and other gentlemen of the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts and Conecticut,-
Takamunna, a sachem att Saconett, appered in Court this third of Nouember, (71) with Phillip, cheife sachem, and did engage for the fu- ture that hee, vnder the said Phillip, would stand to and abide by the same engagement of subjection to the Kinges ma'tie of England, this gou'ment and the lawes thereof, with other articles in the engagement, whereto the said Phillip hath subscribed as aboue said, and that the said
322
QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Takamunna shall and will bring in or cause to be brought in yearly one wolfs head vnto the Treasurer; Phillip, alsoe, the said cheife sachem did engage for the said Takamunnas pformance of the said engagement in all points thereof.
In witnes wherof, I, the said Takamunna, have sett my hand.
The marke of Y TAKAMUNNA.
The progress in this conflict is indicated by this narrative.
Plymouth Commissioners Presented this following:
NARRATIVE showing the manor of the beginning of the Present Warr with the Indians of Mount Hope and Pocassett:
A BRIEF Narratiue of the beginning and progress of the present trouble between vs and the Indians; taking its Rise in the Collonie of New Plymouth.
Anno Dom 1675.
Not to looke backe further than the troubles that were between the Collonie of New Plymouth and Philip Sachem of mount hope In the yeer 1671 It may be Remembered that the settlement and Issue of that controversye obtained and made principally by the mediation and In- terposed advice and councell of the other two confederate Collonies. whoe vpon carefull Inquiry and serch into the grounds of that trouble found that the said Sachems pretence of wrongs and Injuries, from that Collonie were Groundles and ffalce; and that hee (although first in Armes) was the Pecant and offending prty; And that Plymouth had Just cause to take vp arms against him ; And it was then agreed that hee should pay that Collonie a certain sume of money, in prte of theire dam- age and charge by him occationed; and hee then not only renewed his ancient couenant of friendship with them; but made himself and his people absolute subjects to our Sovr; Lord King Charles the second; and to that his Collonie of New Plymouth since which time wee know not that the English of that or any other of the Collonies haue binn In- jurious to him or his, that might justly provoake them to take vp armes against vs; But some time the Last winter the Gour. of Plymouth was informed by Sassamon a faithful Indian that the said Philip was vndoubtedly Indeauoring to Raise new troubles; and was indeauoring to engage all the Sachems round about in a warr against vs some of the English alsoe that lived neare the said Sachem, communicated theire feares and Jealousyes concurrant with what the Indian had Informed : about a week after Jolin Sassamon had given his Information hee was barbarously murdered by some Indians for his faithfulness (as we have cause to beleine) To the Interest of God and of the English; sometime after Sassamon's Deathı Phillip haueing heard that the Gour. of Ply- mouth had received some Information against him and purposed to send for or to him to appeer att theire Next Court that they might Inquire
323
APPENDIX.
into those Reports, came down of his own accord to Plymouth a little before theire Court, in the beginning of Marchi last; att which time the Councell of that Collonie vpon a large debate with him; had great Rea- son to beliue that the Information against him might be in substance true, but not haueing full proffe thereof and hoping that the descoury of it so far would cause him to desist they dismissed him friendly ; giueing him onley to vnderstand that if they heare further concerning that matter they might see reason to demand his Armes to be delivered vp for their securitie; which was according to former agreement between him and them; and hee Ingaged on theire demand they should be sur- rendered vnto them or theire order; Att that Court we had many In- dians in examination concerning the Murder of John Sassomon but had not then testimony in the case, but not long after an Indian appeering to testify; we apprehended three by him charged to be the murderers of Sassomon; and cecured them to a triall att our next Court (holden in June) att which time a little before the Court Philip began to keep his men in Armes about him and to gather strangers vnto him and to march about in Armes towards the vper end of the Necke on which hee liued and neare to the English houses; whoe began thereby to be somewhat disquieted, but tooke as yett no further Notice but onely to sett a mill- etary watch in the next Townes; as Swansea and Rehoboth some hints wee had that Indians were in Armes whiles our Court was siting but we hoped it might arise from a guilty feare in Philip; that we would send for him and bring him to tryall with the other Murderers; and that if hee saw the Court broken vp and he not sent for; the cloud might blow ouer; and indeed our Innosensy made vs very secure and confident it would not haue broken out into a warr But noe sooner was our Court desolued but we had Intelligence from Leift. John Browne of Swansey that Philip and his men continewed constantly in Armes, many strang Indians from seuerall places flocked into him and that they sent away their wiues to Narragansett; and were giuing our people frequent alarms by drums and guns in the night and Invaded theire passage towards Plymouth; and that theire young Indians were earnest for a warr; on the 7th of June Mr. Benjamine Church being on Rhod Island; Weetamo and some of her cheiffe men told him that Phillip Intended a warr speedily with the English some of them saying they would healp him; and that hee had already giuen them leaue to kill English mens Cattle and Robb theire houses ; about the 14th and 15th of June Mr. James Browne went twise to Philip to prswade him to be quiett but att both times found liis men in armes and Phillip very high and not pwsadable to peace; on the 14th June our Councell wrot an amicable friendly letter to Phillip; therein shewing our dislike of his practices; and adviseing him to dis- miss his strange Indians and command his own men to fall quietly to theire business that our people might alsoe be quiett; and not to suffer
324
QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
himself to be abused by Reports concerning vs, whoe Intended him no wronge; nor hurt towards him; but Mr. Browne could not obtain an an- sware from him; on the 17th of June Mr. Paine of Rehoboth and seurall other of the English going vnarmed to Mount hope to seeke theire horses att Phillips request; the Indians came and presented their guns att them and carried it very Insolently tho noe way prouoaked by them; on the 18th or 19th Job Winslow his house was broken vp and Rifled by Philips men; June 20th being the sabbath the people att Swansey were alarumed by the Indians two of our Inhabitants burnt out of their houses and their houses Rifled; and the Indians were marching vp as they Judged to assault the Towne; and therefore Intreated speedy healp from vs; Wee heervpon the 21 of June sent vp some forces to relieue that towne and despatched more with speed; on weddensday the 23 of June a dozen more of their houses att Swansey were Rifled; on the 24th Thomas Lay- ton was slaine at the fall River; on 25th of June diners of the people att Swansey slaine; and many houses burned; vntil which time, and for seu- erall daies tho wee had a considerable fforce there both of our owne and of the Massachusetts (To our Grieffe and shame) they took Noe Revenge of the enimie; thus slow were wee and vnwilling to engage ourselves and naighbouts in a warr; having many Insolencyes almost Intollerable from them, of whose hands we had deserued better;
The substance of what is heer declared doth clearly more prticularly appeer in the Records and letters Related unto of the seuerall dates aboue mensioned ;
JOSIAH WINSLOW, THOMAS HINCKLEY.
The present warr owned by the Commissioners att a meeting of the Commissioners of the united Colonies held att Boston Septem : 9th, 1675.
Wee haueing received from the Commissioners of Plymouth a Nar- ratiue showing the rise and seuerall stepps of the proceedings of that Collonie as to the prsent warr with the Indians; which had its begininge there; and its progresse into the Massachusetts; by their Insolynces outrages; murdering many persons and burning theire houses in sundry plantations in both Collonies; and haneing duly considered the same doe declare that the said warr doth appeer to be both Just and Nesses- sarie; in its first Rise a defensiue warr; and therefore wee doe agree and conclude that it ought now to be Joyntly prosecuted by all the vnited Collonies ; and the charges thereof to be bourne and payed as is agreed in the articles of Confederation.
JOHN WINTHROPE, JAMES RICHARDS,
THOMAS DANFORTH, WILLIAM STAUGHTON, JOSIAH WINSLOW, THOMAS HINCKLEY.
F
325
APPENDIX.
The Commissioners of the Collonies haueing fully concurred in the Righteousness of the prsent warr with the Barbarous Natiues for the better Management thereof doe agree and conclude that there be forth- with Raised a Thousand souldiers whereof 500 to be Dragoones or troopers with longe Armes out of the seuerall Collonies in such propor- tion as the Articles of Confederation doe appoint:
The Massachusetts, 527)
Plymouth, 158)1000
Conecticot 315)
[Ply. Col. Com. Rec. Vol. II, p. 362. |
APPENDIX T.
[Page 48.]
This remarkable letter was in these words :
Taunton, April 15, '76. Honored and Beloved:
We have received your affectionate letter full of Love and undeserved bountie towards us, your unworthy Brethren and neighbors, and we bless God that He hath given us soe much room in your hearts, that you soc freely tender us a part with you in your houses, fields and provisions, at such a time when the Lord is threatening us with bereavement of our own. It much comforteth us. in this day of darkness and distresse; we assuring ourselves thereby, that if our distresses continue and increase, we shall want noe succor you are able to afford us. We therefore return you all serions thanks for your syncere and abundant Love, beseeching the Lord still to continue and increase your peace, and abilitie and readi- ness to relieve the distresses in this evil daye. Nevertheless, upon our serious and mature deliberation upon and consideration of your soe great offer, we cannot at present comply with a motion to remove and quitt our places, and leave our habitations to be a desolation, and that because we fear we should in soe doing be wanting to the name of God and the inter- est of Christ in this place, and bewraye much diffidence and cowardice, and give the adversarye occasion of triumph over us, to ye reproach of that great and fearfull name of our 'God, that is called on us. Our sins are already such as might render our friends (did they know us) affraid to entertain us; and what can we expect as the issue of such an addition thereunto, but that the land of the Lord would follow us, and find us out whithersoever we fled.
326
QUARTER MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION.
"Besides, if the Lord have any pleasure in us, and will soe farr favour and honour us, we judge we may here be more serviceable to ye country than elsewhere, and hazzards of removal (as great as of abiding where we are) avoided; and who can tell, but that the Lord may make way for our enjoyment of seed time and harvest here, by prospering our forces which are coming forth, if we could but humble ourselves before Him? And if the Lord have no delight at all in us, but will for our sins (which were but just) make His dwelling place here as Shiloh, we are in His hands. The Lord do with us as seemeth good in His sight. Here we have sinned, and here we submit ourselves to suffer, except the Lord's Providence, and order or advice of Authorities should plainly determine us to removall: in case whereof, we shall esteem it an undeserved kind- ness to find shelter among yourselves, and comply with your motion for aught yet appears, more generally than with any course we can propose to ourselves: As a pledge whereof we are willing, if it may be judged convenient by you, to seeure some of our cattle in your parts, that they may be no booty or suceor to the enemy, if the Lord spare them so long as that we may have opportunity to convey them, in which we desire your speedy advice. And beseeching you not to cease to pray for us that the Lord would heal our backslidings, and prepare us for what measure of the cup of His indignation it may seem good to Him to order us to drink, we present you with our respects, serviee, and love, and subscribe ourselves your obliged brethren and friends and servants in ye Lord.
To this we subscribe in the name of the Town.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, WALTER DEANE, GEORGE MACY, WILL HARVEY:
(Hinckley Papers Vol. II. No. 3.)
APPENDIX U.
[Page 49.]
As early as 1663 "It was proposed by the Court vnto the seuerall Townships of this jurisdiction as a thing that they ought to take into their serious consideration that some course may be
327
APPENDIX.
taken that in euery towne there may bee a Schoolmaster sett vp to traine vp children to reading and writing."
(XI Ply. Col. Rec. p. 20.)
Plymouth established the first free school, for the mainte- nance of which the profits of the Cape fishery were at first devoted (XI Ply. Col. Rec. p. 233 and 237); but in 1677 a General law was passed establishing a grammar school in the larger towns: a copy of which is here given.
" At the General Court, held at Plymouth, the first of November, 1677:
"Forasmuch as the maintenance of good literature doth much tend to the advancement of the weal and flourishing state of societies and re- publics, this court doth therefore order, that in whatever township in this government, consisting of fifty families or upwards, any meet man shall be obtained to teach a grammar school, such township shall allow an least twelve pounds, in current merchantable pay, to be raised by rate on all the inhabitants of such township; and those that have the more immediate benefit thereof, by their children's going to school, with what others may voluntarily give to promote so good a work and general good, shall make up the residue necessary to maintain the same, and that the profits arising of the cape fishing, heretofore ordered to maintain a gram- mar school in this colony, be distributed to such towns as have grammar schools, for the maintenance thereof, not exceeding five pounds per annum to any such town, unless the court treasurer or other appointed to manage that affair, see good cause to add thereunto, to any respective town, not exceeding five pounds more per ann. And further, this court orders, that every such town as consists of seventy families, or upwards, and hath not a grammar school therein, shall allow and pay unto the next town, which hath such grammar school kept up among them, the suun of five pounds per an. in current merchantable pay, to be levied on the inhabitants of such towns by rate, and gathered and delivered by the constables of such towns, as by warrant from any magistrate of this ju- risdiction shall be required. (Mass. Hist. Coll. 2d Series, Vol. 4, p. 83. XI Ply. Col. Rec. p. 247.)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.