UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Darlington M.emorial Library ,:eid ar^'3iriE^' ]'^.RM^ssIn^ frojt the ori.uwal in the INDIAN BIOGRAPHY; OB, AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT INDIVLDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DISTINGUISHED AMONU THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVES OBATORS, WABRIORS, STATESMEN, AND OTHER REMARKABLE CHARACTERS. BY B. B. THATCHER ESQ. [N TWO V0LUMK8. VOL. I. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 329 & 331 PEARL STREET, FKANKLIN SQUARE. 1860. PREFACE ior does not propose an elaborate explanation, nor an iny kind, for the benefit of the following work. If it equires either, he must even be content to have written • no statement or argument can give it any degree of popularity in the one case or in the other, regarded it, historically, as an act of mere justice to the laii.^ _.id the memories of many wise, brilliant, brave and gene- rous men,—patriots, orators, warriors and statesmen,—who ruled over barbarian communities, and were indeed themselves barba- rians, but whose influence, eloquence and success of every descrip- tion were therefore but the nobler objects of admiration and the worthier subjects for record. Nor can Philosophy look upon them without predilection. Comparatively unopinionated and unaffect- ed as they were,— governed by impulse and guided by native sense,—owing little to circumstances, and struggling much amidst and against them,—their situation was the best possible for devel- oping both genius and principle, and their education at the same time the best for disclosing them. Their Lives, then, should illus- trate the true constitution of man. They should have, above all other history, the praise and the interest of ' philosophy teaching by example.' The strictly moral inducements which have operated on the Author's mind, must be too obvious to require dissertation. We owe, and our Fathers owed, too much to the Indians,—too much from man to man,—too much from race to race,—to deny them the poor restitution of historical justice at least, however the issue may have been or may be with themselves. Nor need it be suggested, that selfishness alone might dictate the policy of a collection such as the Author has endeavored to make this, were it only for the collateral light which it constantly throws on the history and biography of our own nation. Nothing of the same character is before the public. What may be called an Indian Biographical Dictionary has indeed recently appeared, and to that the Author has gladly referred in the course of his researches ; but the extreme difficulty of doing justice to any individual."* of the race, and at the same time to dl, may be inferred from the fact that the writer alluded to has noticed such men as Uncas in some six or eight lines, while he has wholly omitted characters so important as Buckongabelas, White-eyes, Pipe, and Occonostota. On these, and on all their more eminent countrymen, the Author has intended to bestow the notice they de- erve, by passing over the vast multitude distinguished only by detached anecdote, or described only in general terms. In fine, conscious of many imperfections, but also conscious of a strenuous exertion to render them as few and small as might be, the Author submits the Biography to the public, and especially to the candor of those whose own labors, if not the results of them, have shown them the essential fallibility of every composition like this. He will have resison to be satisfied if it do good, as he will assuredly be gratified if it give pleasure. Boston, Sept. 10, 1832. —— — — — — CONTENTS CHAP. I The Indian tribes of Virginia at the date of the James- town settlement : their names, numbers and power—The Pow- hatan confederacy—The Indian Village of that name—Powhat- an—The circumstances of the first interview between him and the English Ofechancanouqh, his brother—Opitchipan—Re- ception of Captain Smith by Powhatan—Interposition of Poca- hontas in his favot—Second visit of the colonists—Third visit, and coronation—Entertainment of Smith by Pocahontas—Con- test of ingenuity between Powhatan and Smith : and between the latter and Opechancanough—Smith saved again by Pccahon- tas—Political manoGUvres of Powhatan and Opechancanough Smith's return to Jamestown. - - . page S OHAP. II.—Conduct of Powhatan after Smith's departure for England, and causes of it—Hostilities resumed—Peace finally effected by the capture of Pocahontas—Manner of gaining this point—Marriage of Pocahontas with John Rolfe—Death and character of Powhatan—His person, manner of living, talents, influence. His method and means of warfare—The discipline of his warriors—The manner in which he availed himself of the English arras and science—Causes of his hostility towards the colonists—His dignity—Shrewdness—Independence — Courtesy —Liberality—Simplicity—Affection for his relatives—A review of various opinions entertained of him by various historians. 40 CHAP. III.—The family of Powhatan—His successor—Sequel of the history of Pocahontas—Her acts of kindness to the colonists at various times, and especially to Smith—His gratitude—Her civilisation, and instruction in Christianity—Her visit to Eng- land in 1616—Reception at Court—Interview with Smith—Hia memorial respecting her to Queen Anne—Her death and charac- ter—Her descendants. ....... 66 CHAP. IV.—Sequel of the history of Opechancanough—Renewa., by him and Opitchipan, of the treaty of peace—Finesse by which he extended his dominion over the Cnickahominies—Prepara- tions for War—Causes of it—Profound dissimulation under which his hostility was concealed—Indian custom of making Conjurers —Manoeuvres against the English interest—The great massacre of 1622 ; circumstances and consequences of it—Particular occa- sion which led to it—Character and death of Nemattanow— Details of the war subsequent to the massacre—Truce broken by the English—New exertions of Opechancanough—Battle of Pa- munkey—Peace of 1632—Massacre of 1641—Capture of Opechan- canough by the English—His death and character. - - 77 ?HAP. V.—Biography of other Virginian chieftains Opitchifaw —Some particulars respecting Tomocomo—His visit to England, interview with Captain Smith, and return to America Japa- ZAWs, chief sachem of the Patowomekes—His friendship for the English—HI treatment which he received from them—Totopo TOMor, successor of Opechancanough— His services—His death in 1656—Notices of several native chiefs of North Carolina —Gkanganimo, who dies in 1585 Menatenon, king of the Chowanocks Ensenore, father of Granganimo ; and Wingiwa, his brother—Plot of the latter against the Hatte."a3 colony—Hia death—Comment on the Carolinian Biography. - - 95 —— CONTENTS. CHAP. VI.—Synopsis of the New England Indians at the date of the Plymouth Settlement—The Pokanoket confederacy—The Wampanoag tribe—Their first head-Sachem known to the Eng- lish, Massasoit—The first interview between him and the whites—His visit to Plymouth, in 1621—Treaty of peace and friendship—Embassy sent to him at Sowams, by the English Anecdotes respecting it—He is suspected of treachery or faostili ty, in 1623—His sickness in 1623—A second deputation visits him—Ceremonies and results of the visit—His intercourse with other tribes—Conveyances of land to the English- His death and character—Anecdotes. ..._--. 115 CHAP. VII.—Massasoit succeeded hy his son Alexander—The occasion of that name being given by the English—History of Alexander previous to his father's death—Covenant made with Plymouth in 1639—Measures taken in pursuance of it, in 1661 Anecdote illustrating the character of Alexander—Notice of the charges made against him—Exam ination of the transaction which led to his death—Accession of Philip—Renewal of the treaty by him—Interruption of harmony—Supposed causes of it—Measures taken in consequence—Philip's submission—Letter to the Plym- outh Governor—Second submission in 1671—Remarks on the causes of Philip's War. --.-.-. 141 OHAP. VIII.—Preparations for war between Philip and the Colo- nies—Great excitement of the times—Deposition of Hugh Cole Immediate occasion of hostilities—Commencement of them, June 24th, 1675—Summary sketch of the war—Consequences to the parties engaged—Exertions, adventures and escapes of King Philip—His death—Anecdotes respecting him—Observations on his character—His courage, dignity, kindness, independence, shrewdness, and self-command—Fate of his family—Defence of his conduct. ---...-.- 159 CHAP. IX.—The Narraghansett tribe ; territory and power—Chief Sachems at the date of the English settlements in New England —Cakonicus associates with himself Miantonomo, his nephew —Their treatment of Roger Williams in 1634—Hostility to the Plymouth Colony—Invited by the Pequots to fight the English Treaty negotiated at Boston, in 1636, by Miantonomo—War with the Pequots and result of it—Subsequent hostility between Miantonomo and Uncas—SE<iUAssEN—Battle of the "Sachem's- Plain—Capture of Miantonomo—Sentence of the English com- missioners upon him—Execution of it. - - - - 177 CHAP. X.—Consideration of the justice of the Commissioners sentence upon Miantonomo—Their reasons, as alleged—The charge against him of ambitious designs—Of employing the Mo- hawks—Of breaking the league of 1638—'Concerning the Pe- quot squaws ' —Of hostility to the English—Of peculation Proofs of his fidelity and friendship—Causes of complaint by him and Canonicus against the English—Character of both Sachem» —Their treatment of Roger Williams—Letters of that gentleman —Anecdotes—Death of Canonicus. - - - - 19* CHAP. XI.—Canonicus succeeded by Pessacus—Meibam—Niwi GRET, Sachem of the Nianticks—Proposals made by them to the English, and by the English in return—They commence hostili ties against Uncas—The English resolve to make war upon then —They make concessions—Their visits to Boston—Subsequent moTcments against Uncas. An armed party sent against Nini- — —g CONTENTS. gret and Pessacus—They are accused of a league with the Dutch against the English.