Indian History, Biography, and Genealogy : Pertaining to the Good
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HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH ZERVIAH G. MITCHELL. (Publisher of this Book— at the age of 71 years.) ^jS^OfHAajattsa EBENEZER W. PEIRCE. (Author of this book.) HAROLD B. l£E UB' BRIGHAM YOUNG UNiVu.^ . / PROVCUTAH M^ »»«.».- ; INDIAN HISTOEY, BIOGMPHY AND GENEALOGY: PERTAINING TO THE GOOD SACHEM MASSASOIT OF THE WAMPANOAG TRI BE, AND HIS DESCENDANTS, By EBENEZER W. PEIRCE, OF FREETOAVN, MASS. Author of " Brief Sketches of Towns in Bristol and Plymouth Counties," and other historical works ; Kesident Member of tlie Old Colony Historical, the Pilgrim, and the New England Historic Genealogical Societies ; Cor- responding Member of the New York Biographical and Wisconsin State Historical Societies. *' That ting Jiath gone to his lowly grave He slumbers in dark decay ; And Wee the crest of the tossing loave, Like the rush of the blast from the mountain cave. Like the groan of the murdered with none to save, His people have passed away." NORTH ABINGTON, MASS. : PUBLISHED BY ZERVIAH GOULD MITCHELL. 1878. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the 3''ear 1878, by Zerviah G. Mitchell, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. David Clapp & Son, Boston, Printers. -v^ I P K E F A C E . My object in bringing this work before the public is not only to show that I am a lineal descendant, in the seventh generation, from the great and good Massasoit, whom both the red and white man now venerate and honor, but also to make record of the wrongs which during all these generations have been endured by my race. When the pale face first came to these shores, homeless and helpless outcasts, in the cold month of December, Massasoit was king and ruler over a large part of Massachusetts, with Rhode Island and part of Con- necticut. When their scanty provisions were gone, and they were Jeft in a state of starvation, had tliey not received timely aid from the noble red man they would have perished then and there. But what has been the reward to Massasoit and his descendants, from the time of the landing of the Puritans down to the present hour.^ Nothing but deception and neglect. For the past twenty- five years I have been seeking redress for the wrongs done to me and mine, by petitioning the Massachusetts Legislature to remove the State's guardianship from my IV PREFACE. lands, and to pay me for the wood cut therefrom by their agent Benjamin F. Winslow of Fall River. In response to my first petition, Gov. Gardner had a committee appointed to hear my case. Mr. Winslow made a report to this committee that $1500 worth of wood had been cut in one winter from the Squim lots ; and when asked why he had not put this money in the bank for the benefit of the heirs, replied that he did not know there were any heirs. It seemed as though, when it was thought by him that all the Indians were dead, one was dug right up out of the grave. The State has never paid me for the wood their agent acknowledged to have cut. The reason why I speak of this, is that many of my friends thought that I had been paid long and long ago. They could not believe that the Legislature would be so unjust as not to have paid me that which was rightfully due for wood taken and sold by their agents. This land is called the Squim lots, because Tuspaquim ithe second, re-named by the English Benjamin Squin- inamay, having, fought for them in one of their wars, received this tract in compensation for his services, and !he recorded it for his grandchildren. This record was in the hands of B. F. Winslow at the time of his agency, ^nd was shown to me after my telling him who I was. I have come to the conclusion that Massachusetts does not intend to do me justice through its Legislature. There seems to be no law for the Indian. Before going to my grave I have thought it proper to be heard in behalf of PREFACE. V my oppressed countrymen ; and I now, through the medium of the printing press, and in book form, speak to the understanding and sense of justice of the reading public. I do not desire to awaken any zeal that is not according to knowledge, and all the facts that are herein presented relating to my ancestry and myself are unde- niably true. The undersigned is authorized to say that the writer of this book deems himself happy in being her assistant in the work. He feels, and has long felt, that the whole white race on this continent are vastly indebted to the aborigines of the country—those who once owned and occupied the fair lands of this western hemisphere—and he most cheerfully joins in doing what little he can to cancel that indebtedness. ZERVIAH G. MITCHELL. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. EARLY INDIAN HISTORY. Page Ravages of the plague among the Indians about 1617 ... 2 First sight of the Indians by the English—First warlike encounter with the Indians under Aspinet 3 Bravery exhibited by Aspinet—Indian arrow heads .... 4 Aspinet's kindness to a lost English boy—English landing at Patuxet now Plymouth—The Indian Samoset comes to Plymouth . 5 Samoset entertained by the Plymouth people—He gives them a des- cription of the country and its inhabitants 6 The extent of Massasoit's domain—His character—Samoset leaves Plymouth and returns with others to trade 7 Description of the Indians' dress—Their entertainment and dismissal —Samoset returns to Plymouth, bringing an Indian called Squanto 8 Squanto's history—They announce the approach of Massasoit—Mas- sasoit's numerous names—Squanto brings herrings for trade . 9 Abundance of herrings at that time—How caught by the Indians —^Their employment in agriculture—Indian husbandry—Massasoit accompanied by his brother Quadequina and 60 men . .10 Edward Winslow sent to meet Massasoit and parley with him—Pre- sents to the royal brothers—Winslow addresses Massaoit in terms of friendship—Massasoit pleased—Winslow left in the custody of Quadequina—Massasoit and 20 Indians enter Plymouth—They meet the English governor in a house prepared for their reception II Massasoit entertained with " strong water "—They proceed to make a treaty of peace and friendship—Personal appearance of Massasoit and of his followers 12 Massasoit encamps about half a mile from Plymouth—English dis- trust of the Indians—Exchange of courtesies—Departure of the Indians—Samoset and Squanto remain with the English . 13 Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, with Squanto, visit Massa- soit—Alarm of the women and children at English fire-arms—De- light of Massasoit—His reception of presents—His speeches . 14 Discomfort of the English visitors—Indians come from all parts to see the strangers—Two large boiled fish to feed the multitude—Re- turn of the EngUshmen to Plymouth 15 Retrospective allusion to Capt. Dermer's visit to Namasket in 1619, with Squanto—Meets two kings—Squanto saves him from death 16 — Vlll CONTENTS. Page Straits of the English settlers in 1622—Relieved by the kindness of the Indians—Trading expedition to Cape Cod, with Squanto as pi- lot—Sickness and death of Squanto at Chatham . .17 The English are generously entertained at Manamoick—They pur- chase corn and beans—They go again to Cape Cod and obtain corn and beans of Aspinet—A storra compels the English to return by land—The corn is stacked and Aspinet faithfully takes care of it 18 Hobbamock, a sub-chief, takes up his residence at Plymouth—His services to the English—False alarm at Plymouth . .19 Squanto the cause of the alarm—Squanto's deception—The Indians informed that Squanto had acted without the sanction of the Eng- lish— Massasoit, by the terms of the treaty, demands Squanto . 20 The English resort to various subterfuges to avoid giving up Squanto —Earnest demands of Massasoit—Persistent refusal of the English 21 Massasoit sends word to Plymouth that he is sick—Gov. Bradford sends Mr. Winslow to Massasoit—John Hamden and Hobbamock accompany Winslow 22 Winslow and Hamden in Caunbitant's country—Reminiscenses of Caunbitant's hostility to the English 23 Winslow told by Indians that Massasoit is dead—Hobbamock advises to return to Plymouth—Winslow decides to go on to Caunbitant's house—He is not at home, and they are entertained by his wife An Indian messenger brings them word that Massasoit is not dead 24 Winslow, Hamden and Hobbamock then go on to Poconoket—Find Massasoit very sick—His understanding remains, but sight gone Massasoit made acquainted with their arrival—Winslow administers a mild medicine to Massasoit 25 Winslow scrapes the chief's tongue and washes his mouth—Sight re- turns—They send to Plymouth for chickens and physic—Winslow makes broth for Massasoit 26 Recovery and gratitude of Massasoit—War between the Wampano- ags and the Narragansets—Flnglish take part with Massasoit . 27 Massasoit changes his name—War between English and Pequots . 28 Roster of Massachusetts Colony, and Roll of Plymouth Colony militia 29-31 War tax of Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies—Biographical no- tices of Massachusetts and Plymouth officers 32 Connecticut forces furnished—Earliest English titles to Indian lands .33 Indian deeds described—Indian names for localities . .34 Indian sale of Hog Island—Question whether the Indians were really paid for all their lands 35 Massasoit's two brothers—Massasoit's wife, three sons and a daughter 36 CHAPTER 11. WAMSUTTA, ALIAS ALEXANDER.