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1630 - 1649 |
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Rumors of Treachery on the Part of
Miantonomo
News from
Connecticut of Hostile Indian Alliance
Cutahamekin,
Passaconaway, and Miantonomo are disarmed
Two Sachems Desire to be Received
Under Massachusetts Government Text of the Agreement with the
Sachems War Between Uncas and Miantonomo Indian War Against Uncas Prevented Mrs. Hutchinson and her Family
Killed by Indians Near Manhattan Pumham asks aid
against the Narragansetts Peace arranged
between the Mohegans and Narragansetts Uncas remonstrated with for Attacking at
Pequot River Rev. John Eliot's
Methods of Instructing Indians Connecticut Paugaussett Indians
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Cutshamekin, Passaconamy and Miantonomo are disarmed 1642 Upon the warrant which went to Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury, to disarm Passaconamy, who lived by Merrimack, they sent forth 40 men armed the next day, being the Lord's day. But it rained all day, as it had done divers days before, and also after, so as they could not go to his wigwams, but they came to his son's and took him, and a squaw and her child, which they had no warrant for, and therefore order was given so soon as we heard of it, to send them home again. They, fearing his son's escape, led him in a line, but he taking an opportunity, slipped his line and escaped from them, but one very indiscreetly made a shot at him, and missed him narrowly. Upon the intelligence of these unwarranted proceedings, and considering that Passaconamy would look at it as a manifest injury, (as indeed we conceived it to be, and had always shunned to give them any just occasion against us,) the court being now assembled, we sent Cutshamekin to him to let him know that what was done to his son and squaw was without order, and to show him the occasion whereupon we had sent to disarm all the Indians, and that when we should find that they were innocent of ant such conspiracy, we would restore all their arms again, and to will him also to come speak with us. He returned answer that he knew not what was become of his son and his squaw, (for one of them was run into the woods and came not again for ten days after, and the other was still in custody,) if he had them safe again, then he would come to us. Accordingly about a fortnight after he sent his eldest son to us, who delivered his guns, etc. Mo. 7. (September 8.] The general court being assembled,
we considered of the letters and other intelligence from Connecticut, and
although the thing seemed very probable, yet we thought it not sufficient
ground for us to begin a war, for it was possible it might be otherwise, and
that all this might come out of the enmity which had been between
Minatunnomoh and Onkus, who continually sought to discredit each other with
the English. We considered also of the like reports which had formerly
been raised up by the opposite factions among the Indians. Besides we
found ourselves in very ill case for war, and if we should begin, we must
then be forced to stand continually upon our guard, and to desert our farms
and business abroad, and all our trade with the Indians, which things would
bring us very low; and besides, if upon this intelligence we should kill any
of them, or lose any of our own, and it should be found after to have been a
false report, we might provoke God's displeasure, and blemish our wisdom and
integrity before the heathen. Further it was considered that our
beginning with them could not secure us against them: We might destroy
some part of their corn and wigwams, and force them to fly to the woods,
etc., but the men would be still remaining to do us mischief, for they will
never fight us in the open field. Lastly, it was considered that such
as were to be sent out in such an expedition were, for the most part, godly,
and would be well assured of the justice of the cause as the warrant of their
call, and then we would not fear their forwardness and courage, but if they
should be sent out, not well resolved, we might fear the success. shesabo@netzero.net |
