Rebecca Bearce Part 2 Chapter 6 POCASSET--WAMPANOAG CORBITANT, WEETAMOO, WEECUM [Note: There are multiple sources that list Weecum as the wife of Benjamin Tuspaquin, and therefore as a progenitor of Rebecca Bearce. Only one source can be found which lists Weecum's parentage. That source is Franklin Ele-wa-tum Bearce's Who Our Forefathers Really Were, A True Narrative of Our White and Indian Ancestors (9.) While this work has been very helpful and contains much material, most of which agrees with other sources, it is noted that this is a family history passed down, partially by word of mouth, until it was written down in 1935. Bearce gives Weecum's parents as Weetamoo, by her husband Quinnapin. It is virtually impossible that Quinnapin could have been Weecum’s father. Weetamoo was first married to Alexander (Massasoit’s son) from 1653 until his death in 1662. (23: p.37) It is not known when she married her second husband, Peter Nannuit, (also: Petonowowett, alias "Ben") but she left him at the outbreak of the King Philip War in the summer of 1675. That fall she married Quinnapin, before December, and died the following August 6, 1676. The fact that she was married to Quinnapin for barely nine months makes it difficult to believe that they had any children. Their entire married life was during the King Philip War, much of which was spent running and fighting. There are descriptions of her, including one by a white woman captive who was sold to Quinnapin, and who lived with Weetamoo during this time. None of these mention her being pregnant or having a baby. 54 Another book, Massasoit of the Wampanoags by Alvin Weeks (available in the Los Angeles City Library, but which I have not been able to obtain) says that Weetamoo had two additional husbands, or a total of five. If this is correct they would have been in this order: 1. Weequequinequa 1651--? (this is an only an estimate of his being the first. He may have been #2 or 3) 2. Wamsutta (Alexander) 1653--1662 3. Quiquequanchett after 1662--? 4. Petownonowitt ? --1675 5. Quinapin 1675--1676 Weecum's husband, Benjamin Tuspaquin, was old enough to fight in the King Philip War. It can be assumed that he was at least in his late teens or early twenties by then. It is not likely that he would have waited for Weecum to grow up if she were only a baby at this time. If Weecum were the daughter of Quinnapin and Weetamoo she would have been born in 1676. Weecum and Benjamin had a granddaughter born in 1695. The 19 year spread is hardly enough time for two generations. It is more likely that Weecum was about Benjamin's age and that their children were born about the time of the King Philip War. If Weecum were Weetamoo's daughter by Alexander she would have been between 13 and 22 years old, certainly of marriageable age and about the same age as her husband Benjamin. She would also have been a part of the royal family which would make her a suitable mate for Benjamin. (It was very common for royal family members to marry their first cousins and keep the sachemships within close family ties.) Most young Indian girls married between ages 15 and 18. If she were the daughter of Weetamoo's other husbands, she would have been less than 10 or 11 years old, or over age 22. It seems most likely that she would have been the daughter of Weetamoo and Alexander but, his can not be verified.] The Pocasset Tribe was one of the largest and most powerful tribes in the Wampanoag Federation. It claimed most of the territory from Tiverton, R. I. to Taunton, Mass. on both sides of the Taunton River. This tribe, along with the Sakonnets, to the south and the Pokanokets, to the west, were the buffer between the Narragansett enemies and the other Wampanoag tribes. It was Corbitant who, in July 1621, shortly after the Pilgrims arrived, contrived a plot to become the Great Sachem of the Wampanoags. He was probably the most powerful, and most respected, Wampanoag Sachem next to Massasoit. He led a larger tribe, with 300 warriors. 55 Corbitant didn't like the English and resented their intrusion on Indian land. When Massasoit became friends with the English, Corbitant met with Canonicus, Great Sachem of the Narragansetts, who also hated the English, and agreed they should first depose Massasoit and then attack the English. They agreed Canonicus would attack and capture Massasoit, thereby winning Aquidneck Island for the Narragansetts without fear of attack from other Wampanoag Tribes. Corbitant would visit the other tribes in the Federation to discredit Massasoit and win support for his newly assumed position. This plot was thwarted when Hobomock and Squanto heard Corbitant's speech to the Nemaskets. The English intervened and threatened Corbitant's life if Massasoit were not released by his captors. The Pokanokets ransomed Massasoit from the Narragansetts by agreeing to give up all claims to Aquidneck Island. The English were determined to execute Corbitant for this plot but it was Massasoit who interceded on his behalf, and refused to allow the English to harm him. Corbitant's signature appears with Massasoit's on a treaty of submission to the English, dated September 1621. In March of 1623, when Massasoit was suffering from his serious illness, Winslow was sent to pay his respects to the dying Sachem. Before he could reach Mt. Hope, Massasoit's principle home, he received word that Massasoit had already died. Believing this to be true, he turned south to go directly to Corbitant's village, near present day Swansea, Mass., as he was sure that Corbitant would be the next Great Sachem. It was well known that Corbitant disliked the English and Winslow felt he should go there immediately to pay his respects to the new Great Sachem. Upon arriving, he learned that Massasoit was not yet dead so hurried on to Mt. Hope. After the miraculous recovery, Winslow was accompanied, as far as Pocasset, by Corbitant who entertained him the whole way with such friendly chatter and jokes that Winslow was truly put at ease and even returned some of the jokes directed at Corbitant. The two men laughed so heartily and enjoyed each other's company so much that Corbitant invited Winslow to spend the night at his lodging. A large supper was spread before the men and they both enjoyed the evening in pleasant conversation. After dinner Corbitant asked Winslow, if it had been Corbitant who was ill, would Governor Bradford have sent medicine and would Winslow have come such a long distance to heal him. Winslow was quick to assure him that they would. Corbitant was pleased and thanked him. He next asked if the English were afraid to come to Mt. Hope, knowing they would have to cross Pocasset country. Winslow boldly proclaimed that where there is true love there is no room for fear. Corbitant replied, "If your love be such and it bears such fruits, how cometh it to pass that when we come to Patuxet (Plymouth) you stand upon your guard, with your pieces (guns) presented toward us?" Winslow had to think for a moment on this and then replied that it was a mark of respect and they treated all people that way when they felt a great respect for them. Corbitant wasn't taken in by this and responded that he didn't care much for that kind of 56 greeting, or respect. Their conversation turned toward religion and they were both surprised that their religions actually had much in common. They differed mostly on their ideas of marriage. The Indians could have many wives as long as they could support them. Marriages could be dissolved simply by one moving out. The women were also free to leave one man's lodge for another’s whenever they chose. The conversation went late into the night and Winslow recorded that it was the most pleasant time he had ever spent with a native since he had arrived in this country. Nothing else is known of Corbitent. He may have died before too long or may have become so accepting of the Engish as to draw no further attention to himself. Little is known of his family other than it can be assumed that he had more than one wife. The names of only two of his children are known, both were daughters. The younger daughter, Wootonekanuske, married Philip shortly before he became Great Sachem of the Wampanoags in 1662. We know of only one son born to this couple about 1667 who, with his Mother, was captured at the end of the King Philip war, (August 1, 1676). Both were sold into slavery in the West Indies following the end of the war. Weetamoo, the older daughter, who at various times was also known as Namumpum and also Tatapanum, (23: p.37) was Corbitant's heir and Squaw Sachem of the Pocassets after her father. She was married to Alexander for nine years, including half of a year while he was the Great Sachem of the Wampanoags following the death of his father, Massasoit, in 1662. During this time, Alexander had at least two sons (35: p.42) and it is quite possible that they also had a daughter, Weecum. [There is no documentation to support the position that Weecum's father was Alexander. The only record of her parentage gives Quinnapin as the father but, as previously discussed, that was virtually impossible.] Following Alexander's death, Weetamoo returned to her home to assume her role as Squaw Sachem of the Pocassets.