USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > The history of Concord, Massachusetts > Part 4
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But the disagreeableness of an imperfect draught was soon remedied by Tahattawan, who, stepping to the door, dropped over it a coarse mat which was there pendent for this purpose, and which so completely closed the aperture that the smoke readily ascended ; and as the sparks chased each other upward into the darkness, a strange feeling came over us and we almost wished that Goodman Wheeler had taken us home with him. Just then there entered the wigwam Major Gookin and Waban, the latter of whom could speak good English, having often acted as an inter-
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preter and helper of Mr. Eliot in his mission work at Natick.
For an hour we sat conversing by the firelight and gained much interesting information concerning the aborig- inal inhabitants of the Musketequid country and of their experience with the early settlers.
And now for a little time, exchanging fiction for fact, we will state some things about these Concord Indians that are matters of history.
Their tribal relations were with the Mystics, whose headquarters were at Medford. Their neighbors were the Pawtuckets, at Wameset (Lowell) ; the Ockoocagansetts at what is now (Marlboro), and the Natick Indians ; the last three being probably related either to the Mystics or the Nipmucks.
The localities where the Indians lived are indicated by the presence of shells, arrow and spear heads and some- times arrow chips, which are refuse material chipped from the stone when the arrow was made ; also stone implements used for purposes of agriculture and cookery, and chisels, gouges, rude pestles or corn pounders. Some of the places where stone relics have been found, are the "Great fields" east of the center, the vicinity of "Egg Rock" not far from the "Hemlocks," about Fairhaven bay, on the south side of the river east of the "Old Manse," on the right of the river below Flint's bridge, the neighborhood of Spenser brook, and a place on the left bank of the river a little above the Fitchburg Railroad bridge where the river bends abruptly. At this latter point it is said, many bushels of shells have been found, and among them the remains of wild animals and parts of stone implements.
It is impossible to determine the exact number of Indians in the Musketequid country at the time of its settlement by the English. Probably the population was greatly reduced here as in other places along the Mass- achusetts Bay shores, by the pestilence that prevailed before the English occupation, so that very likely their
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villages were comparatively few and no more than small clusters of wigwams.
A portion or all of the Concord Indians, through the efforts of the Rev. John Eliot, who translated the bible into the language of the aborigines, early became converts to Christianity. These were gathered by Mr. Eliot and Major Daniel Gookin, into an Indian town or village named Nashoba, situated in what is now Littleton. The number of Indians thus gathered was about fifty-eight, representing ten families, only about twelve being able bodied men.
Nashoba was called by Major Gookin in his Historical collection the sixth praying Indian town. He states that, "The dimensions of this village were four miles square," that, "their ruler of late years was Ahatawance (Tahatta- wan), a pious man," and "their teacher is named John Thomas."
The petition for the establishment of this place is dated May 4, 1654 and was presented by Mr. Eliot. The Nashoba plantation began auspiciously and continued to prosper both in things temporal and spiritual until a war with the Mohawks, which resulted in its abandonment for a season, but as late as 1674, according to Gookin, it had become re-peopled and was in a "hopeful way to prosper."
There is ample opportunity for one to conjecture con- cerning the pleasant condition of things at the Nashoba plantation during the years immediately following its establishment.
As it was the custom of the Apostle Eliot to keep spir- itual watch and ward over the native churches and to occas- ionally visit them for exhortation and conference, so we may suppose he did this one, and that more than once he journeyed from Roxbury to Nonantum (Newton) his first mission field, thence to Natick, and from there went on through the woods to Concord, visiting scattered wig- wams by the way and the village at Cochituate pond
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(Wayland) and the home of Kato at Wigwam hill in Sud- bury.
Upon his arrival at Concord, we may suppose that he made parochial visits among such of the Musketequid Indians as still lingered about their old haunts, faithful to the memory of their former firesides and the graves of their fathers. These visits completed, we may conjecture that the great Apostle passed on over the old Marlboro road, at that time perhaps a mere wood path trod mainly by the Occogoogansetts to Nashoba, bringing with him a benediction from their Bay brothers, and instructing them from the Up-Biblum (Indian bible.)
But when Philip's war broke out the scene changed. The Colonial communities everywhere became distrustful of all Indians, the praying Indians included, notwithstand- ing the evidence the latter were giving of continued loyalty, serving the colony faithfully whenever occasion required as spies, or as allies in the ranks of levied troops.
To such an extent did English distrust prevail that it was decided by the Colonial authorities to remove a por- tion or all of the Christian Indians to Deer island in Bos- ton harbor, and the order was given and executed.
The details of this untimely closing of the Indian mission stations are sad to relate, and they remind one of the cruel treatment of the Acadians at Grand Pre, whose homes were broken in upon by the English and Colonial soldiers, and their families separated and cast forlorn upon a lone coast line extending from New England to Georgia.
Before the carrying out of this order, however, as related to the Indians at Nashoba, an attempt was made in their behalf which resulted in an order by the Colonial Court, that an arrangement be made by the Militia Com- mittee and the selectmen of Concord that they be placed under the inspection of John Hoar of Concord, to see that they be kept employed for their maintenance and pre- served from harm and the country made secure from them.
In pursuance of this arrangement, Mr. Hoar built a
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house for them near his own for their protection and com- fort at night, and a workshop, in both of which they were under close surveillance.
The means thus provided by Mr. Hoar for the mutual protection of both the Indians and English were accom- plishing their full purpose and would doubtless have contin- ued to do so had it not been for an untoward interference with his plans, the account of which may be best presented by the following quotation from Gookin's "History of the Christian Indians."
"But some of the inhabitants of the town, being in- fluenced with a spirit of animosity and distaste against all Indians, disrelished this settlement ; and therefore privately sent to a Captain of the army, (Captain Mosely) that quartered his company not far off at that time, of whom they had experience, that he would not be backward to put in execution anything that tended to distress the praying Indians; for this was the same man that had formerly, without order, seized upon divers of the praying Indians at Marlborough, which brought much trouble and disquiet to the country of the Indians, and was a great occasion of their defection ; as hath been above declared.
"This Captain accordingly came to Concord with a party of his men upon the Sabbath day, into the Meeting-house, where the people were convened to the worship of God. And after the exercise was ended, he spake openly to the congregation to this effect : 'that he understood there were some heathen in the town, committed to one Hoare, which he was informed were a trouble and disquiet to them ; therefore if they desired it he would remove them to Boston ;' to which speech, most of the people being silent, except two or three that encouraged him, he took, as it seems, the silence of the rest for consent ; and immediately after the assembly was dismissed, he went with three or four files of men, and a hundred or two of the people, men, women and children, at his heels, and marched away to Mr. Hoare's house and there demanded of him to see the
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Indians under his care. Hoare opened the door and showed them to him, and they were all numbered and found there ; the Captain then said to Mr. Hoare, 'that he would leave a corporal and soldiers to secure them'; but Mr. Hoare answered, 'there was no need of that, for they were already secured, and were committed to him by order of the Council, and he would keep and secure them.' But yet the Captain left his corporal and soldiers there, who were abusive enough to the poor Indians by ill language. The next morning the Captain came again to take the Indians and send them to Boston. But Mr. Hoare re- fused to deliver them, unless he showed him an order of the Council ; but the Captain could show him no other but his commission to kill and destroy the enemy ; but Mr. Hoare said, 'these were friends and under order.' But the Captain would not be satisfied with his answer, but com- manded his corporal forthwith to break open the door and take the Indians all away, which was done accordingly ; and some of the soldiers plundered the poor creatures of their shirts, shoes, dishes, and such other things as they could lay their hands upon, though the Captain com- manded the contrary. They were all brought to Charles- town with a guard of twenty men. And the Captain wrote a letter to the General Court, then sitting, giving them an account of his action.
" This thing was very offensive to the Council, that a private Captain should (without commission or some express order) do an act so contradictory to their former orders ; and the Governor and several others spake of it at a conference with the deputies at the General Court.
" The Deputies seemed generally to agree to the reason of the Magistrates in this matter ; yet notwithstanding, the Captain (who appeared in Court shortly after upon another occasion), met with no rebuke for this high irregularity and arbitrary action. To conclude this matter, those poor In- dians, about fifty-eight of them of all sorts, were sent down to Deer Island, there to pass into the furnace of affliction
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with their brethren and countrymen. But all their corn and other provision sufficient to maintain them for six months, was lost at Concord; and all their other neces- saries, except what the soldiers had plundered. And the poor Indians got very little or nothing of what they lost, but it was squandered away, lost by the removal of Mr. Hoare and other means, so that they were necessitated to live upon clams, as the others did, with some little corn provided at the charge of the 'Honorable Corporation for the Indians,' residing in London. Besides, Mr. Hoare lost all his building and other cost, which he had provided for the entertainment and employment of those Indians ; which was considerable." This was in February, 1675-6.
Only a few Indians returned to Nashoba after the exile. Such was the melancholy ending of the mission at Nashoba, in which more or less of the Musketequid Indians were gathered together in Christian fellowship.
It is the old, oft repeated story of the supremacy of the strong over the weak and the power of evil to destroy in a few days what it took many years to construct.
There is also seen in this sad episode of Indian history something of the transmuting power of the gospel, in that while others of the aboriginal tribes were filled with vengeful hate toward the white men and giving way to the powerful persuasions of King Philip of Pokanoket to pillage the fields, to burn dwelling places, and to murder or capture the inhabitants in defense of their ancient hearthstones and hunting grounds, the Christian Indians stood fast in their new faith and proved firm friends of the English.
William Tahattawan, brother of John the Chieftain, although among those who were exiled to Deer Island, served as a faithful guide of Major Savage, a Colonial officer.
Thomas Doublet or Nepanet, another of the Nashoba Indians did good service in procuring the release of Mrs. Rowlandson, who was captured at Lancaster ; and when Captain Wadsworth and his command were destroyed at
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Green hill, Sudbury, the Christian Indians brought from Deer Island were the first to search the battle ground and help bury the slain, weeping, it is said, when they saw their prostrate forms.
Upon these things history has not greatly enlarged ; and while the multitudinous records of the misdeeds and evil practices of the pagan Indians have been preserved, the true, the noble, the honorable acts of the Christian Indians may have been too much overlooked, Christianity thereby losing a merited tribute.
After a while the conversation flagged, the fire burned low, and two or three of those who had been sitting on the ground with their hands clasped around their ankles and their heads dropped upon their knees withdrew, flung themselves upon the couches and pulled up the bear skins. As Major Gookin suggested that we also retire, we did so, and soon all was silent save the pelting of the storm on the bark covering and a slight splashing of the river waves against the canoe.
As the strange surroundings were not conducive to the soundest slumber we awoke. Once we heard the howl- ing of a wolf not far distant. Now and then there was the jerky bark of a fox, and toward morning a bear poked his head under the rush mat hanging at the doorway, and we caught a glimpse of his long, slender snout, but he quickly withdrew when he sniffed the scent of fire.
EGG ROCK At the junction of the Concord and Assabet Rivers
CHAPTER V.
Duck Hunting - River Scenery - Beaver Dam - Indian Granary -Sweating Pit - Mysterous Sight upon the Meadows - Arrival at the Manse.
A T length the morning came and the inmates of the wigwam arose ; thoughtless of toilet or bath, they swung the kettle over the coals as on the night pre- vious, and threw into it a little maize meal, to which was added a couple of slices of dried pompion, and a small handful of ground nuts. Not desiring to stop for break- fast, we thanked our kind hosts for their hospitality, and upon invitation of Mr. Gookin stepped into a canoe and were paddled across the stream by Waban.
Upon stepping ashore we at once entered a path by the meadow side, which we were told would take us to Parson Bulkeley's house, when we met Goodmen Humphrey Bar- rett and George Hayward, each carrying a gun with a long slender barrel and a short stock. We recognized them at once having met them the day previous at the village store. They informed us that they were going up the river duck hunting and would be glad of our company.
Being desirous of learning something about the river and its meadows and the game that frequented them, the invita- tion was accepted with hearty thanks.
Before going, however, we went to the parsonage to inform the minister of our change of plan and get some breakfast, also to borrow a fowling piece as Humphrey Barrett said the minister had a good one.
A half hour and we were back and afloat, gliding along by willow clumps and water brush, starting now and then a solitary bittern or musquash and pushing our way mid such
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a profusion of lily pads and fragrant blossoms as half con- cealed the river's channel.
As we moved slowly up the stream past Nashawtuc and the South bridge, we were as much in the wilderness as if midway between Concord and Watertown, for the trees approached the meadow bank on each side, and but for the smoke from various chimneys near the Ridgeway, and the sight of a clearing by Major Willard's at the bridge, we might for the moment have forgotten that there was a settlement at Musketequid. The scenery was beautiful. The trees were touched with a tint such as Nature in her best mood only produces after the first fall frosts. The sky was blue, and such a blue as is seen after an autumnal storm and when the very cloudlessness causes it to be called a "weather breeder." Afar over the woodland were occa- sional traces of white smoke indicating scattered Indian encampments ; while circling high over all were here and there large flocks of wild water fowl, some of which after wheeling gracefully over the meadows, at length settled on the stream. So many times they did this and so numerous were the birds that we got many good shots.
Having passed Fairhaven bay we noticed a small stream that suggested trout, and as we had fishing tackle which Parson Bulkeley had also loaned us and moreover were a little reluctant to accompany our friends further, since they were intending to go as far as Gulf brook to hunt for other game, we requested to be allowed to land that we might fish and look about till their return.
After stepping ashore, we strolled inland by a small stream, fishing as we went, and now and then capturing one of its speckled inhabitants, until we discovered a miniature mill dam, which much surprised us. The dam was about five feet high and well braced, and the thin waterfall that slid over it upon the green moss beneath made a soft, pleas- ant murmur. Not a creature was visible, and so peaceful was the scene that we involuntarily stopped at the first glimpse of it. And it was well we did, for had we not, we
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should have lost an interesting spectacle. We had come upon a beaver dam, which the settlers, even with their laudable greed for beaver skins, had overlooked. As we crept through the alders and tangled junipers for a safe point to observe from, we found ourselves in a well-worn path, which was doubtless made by wild animals as they watched the little colony, to make it their prey. For half an hour we observed the doings about this beaver dam from a distance, and then in order to observe it more par- ticularly, we advanced nearer. In an instant, there was a sound as if a hundred beaver tails had slapped concertedly upon the pond, and almost simultaneously silence reigned, broken only by the soft splash of the waterfall and the whistling wing of a wood duck which sought its haunt in a neighboring oak. The tocsin had sounded and the clan was gone. Well knowing that further study of the beaver there was impossible, we concluded to make a fire and cook some trout and see if perchance the sparks would say any- thing about them.
As we saw the day previous at Goodman Hartwell's that we could start a blaze with the flint lock of our fowl- ing piece, we quickly whipped out some tow wadding, and placing it over the powder pan, pulled the trigger.
The sparks caught, and the tow was ablaze, and nursing the feeble flame with some dry moss we soon had a good fire and were listening to what the sparks said about the beavers. We learned that at one time they were quite plen- tiful in the Musketequid region and that certain localities were named after them, as Beaver hole, Beaver meadows, Beaver pond, and Beaver brook ; we learned also that they were much sought after in trade and that a company was early formed to traffic in them, and that Simon Willard was at the head of it; we learned, furthermore, that the Indians valued the fur next to wampum ; that it was a rude standard of value; that court fines were sometimes paid in them ; and that they were good if taken in any month with an R in it.
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At length the sparks ceased, and as our trout were about broiled, having before listening placed two of nearly a pound weight upon a couple of spits, the largest, which weighed about three pounds, having been reserved for Par- son Bulkeley, we dined sitting upon the moss among the birds.
We had hoped and expected from what we had heard to obtain a few salmon and some shad, but our expectations proved groundless, and showed our ignorance of history ; for although these fishes are abundant in the spawning sea- son at the falls, yet at other times they are not numerous. However, we had no cause to complain, for there was no dearth of other things that were desirable. The woods were full of brown nuts, rich river grapes hung in clusters beside the meadows, the ruffed grouse made the woods resound with their whirring flights, and several wild turkeys crossed our path. We now concluded to steer straight through the woods to Fairhaven, where the boat was to stop for us ; so, putting up our fishing tackle and carefully extinguishing the fire, for we had heard that the colonial court had passed a law forbidding the Indians setting fires in the woods in the fall season, from the great danger of their spreading, we struck off due east from the dam and soon found ourselves in a sunny upland which indented the forest like a small estuary in a sea of grass.
As we emerged from the low birches on the wood's border we saw not far from us two Indians, and near them what looked like a large earth oven or a half underground tomb. One of the Indians was sitting at an aperture at the bottom and the other was at the top pouring down some- thing, while from the lower aperture steam was rapidly issu- ing, nearly enveloping the man who sat near it. Curiosity prompting our approach we soon found that here was an Indian "sweating pit," such as we were informed might be connected with every well-appointed wigwam of a Sagamore (subordinate chief). Within the pit was a small stone heap, which had been previously heated, and the man at
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the door was a patient, who was receiving treatment, while the zealous head of the sanitarium sat at the summit pour- ing in water for the purpose of generating steam.
In broken English everything was explained to us, both about the process and the cure; and then the Indian, look- ing atyour game, inquired of our day's hunt, while we in turn, by our inquiries concerning their hunting, drew forth much interesting information. Among other things we learned that they seldom stocked up with game until late fall, because, having no salt, they relied mainly upon the weather as a preservative.
As the subject of food was before us and the Sagamore noticed that our queries were quite particular, he asked us to visit his granary, which was another low earth mound of about the dimensions of the sweating pit. We accepted the invitation. The Indian pulled away some short poles, which he said were placed there to keep off bears, and we leaned over and peeked in. Stored snug in every cranny were eatables of various kinds, and in such quantities as might well explode every theory of Indian improvidence. There were small pompions (pumpkins), some acorns, wal- nuts, a parcel of ground nuts, several strings of dried shad, some split salmon, a stack of alewives, a pile of raccoon skins (tanned), a huge heap of corn, and three honey combs. The corn he said his squaw raised, and that the whole plot upon which it was planted was broken up by her with a stone hoe. He afterwards showed us a specimen of the hoe, which was a sharp stone fastened to a handle with a sapling withe. The nuts were gathered jointly, and the fish were taken by himself, it being no part of a woman's task to take game, she doing wigwam work or being a field hand. After this last interesting information our noble friend, for such he appeared to be notwithstand- ing his low estimate of a squaw's sphere, inquired after "Big Pray," as he recognized the parson's fowling piece, and requested us to take a salmon to him. Upon our as- surance that we would gladly do so, he thrust down into
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his underground storehouse a sapling pole with a spear- point, the same, he said, which he thrust into it when it was captured, and brought up a ten pound fish, which he deftly rolled and wound with a willow twig for convenient conveyance. By this time the other Indian, who evidently was much recuperated by his late treatment, brought pipes ; not being a smoker, we refused them, yet the act showed such friendliness that we ventured to inquire further about their hunting habits. We learned that the great hunt of the year came in late autumn, and at a time when a warm, hazy atmosphere made animate nature unusually astir. In other words, it was intended to be the last warm spell of fall, when the game captured would keep, and from this fact we were not slow in inferring that here was the true origin of Indian summer, and that whenever such a "spell" comes, if sufficiently late, it might be so called. We did not visit the wigwam, well knowing there was probably nothing new there; besides, the shadows were lengthening by the birches and the long lines of wild duck, which are more active toward evening, announced that nightfall was near: so, while the steam was still issuing from the "sweat- ing pit," we bade the Indians good-bye. At the bay we found Goodmen Hayward and Barrett, and in the boat were several turkeys and a small deer, the latter shot not far from "Gulf brook."
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