|
|
1630 - 1649 |
|
|
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
|
Miantonomo Questioned 1642 The court being ajourned for a few days, till we might hear from
Miantunnomoh, (it was assembled again at such a time as he came to Boston,)
there came letters from Connecticut, certifying us of divers insolencies of
the Indians, which so confirmed their minds in believing the former report,
as they were now resolved to make war upon the Indians, and earnestly
pressing us to delay no longer to send forth our men to join with them, and
that they thought they should be forced to begin before they could hear from
us again. Upon the receipt of
these letters, the governor assembled such of the magistrates and deputies as
were at hand, and divers of the elders also, (for they were then met at
Boston upon other occasions,) and imparted the letters to them, with other
letters sent from the governor of Plymouth, intimating some observations they
had, which made them very much to suspect, that there was such a plot in hand,
etc. We all sat in consultation hearabout all that day, and in the end
concluded, 1. That all those informations might arise from a false
ground, and out of the enmity which was between the Naragansett and Monhigen.
2. Being thus doubtful, it is not sufficient ground for us to war
upon them. 3. That all those particular insolencies
and wrongs ought to be revenged and repaired by course of justice, if it
might be obtained, otherwise we should never be free from war. And
accordingly, letters were sent back to our brethren at Connecticut, to
acquaint them with our opinions, and to dissuade them from going forth,
alleging how dishonorable it would be to us all, that, while we were upon
treaty with the Indians, they should make war upon them, for they would
account their act as our own, seeing we had formerly professed to the
Indians, that we were all as one, and in our late message to Miantounnomah,
had remembered him again of the same, and he had answered that he did so
account us. Upon receipt of this our answer, they forbare to enter into
war, but (it seemed) unwillingly, and as not well pleased with us. Although we apprenhended
no danger, yet we continued our military watches, till near the end of
8ber(October), and restored the Indians all their arms we had taken from
them: for although we saw it was very dangerous to us, that they should have
guns, etc., yet we saw not in justice how we could take them away, seeing
they came lawfully by them, (by trade with the French and the Dutch for the
most part,) and used them only for killing of fowl and deer, etc., except
they brough themselves into the state of an enemy, therefore we thought it
better to trust God with our safety than to save ourselves by
unrighteousness. (It is not known what reasons the Connecticut men
had at this time for fearing an Indian outbreak. Uncas and Miantonomo,
sachems respectively of the Mohegans and Narragansetts, were unfriendly and
intrigued against each other. Massachusetts had goo reason to be
anxious, and no blame can attach to the magistrates for watching Miantonomo,
who had managed to quiet the suspisions of his white neighbors.) At this court we were informed of some English to the eastward, who ordinarily traded powder to the Indians, and lived alone under no government; whereupon we granted warrant to a gentleman, that upon due proof, etc. he should take away their powder, leaving them sufficient for their own occasion. shesabo@netzero.net |
