War between Uncas and Miantonomo

1643

5. (July). Letters came to our governor from Mr. Haynes, governor of Hartford, certifying a war begun between Onkus, sachem of Mohigen, and Sequasson, sachem upon Connecticut, and that upon Onkus' complaint of the other's assaulting him, etc., he sent for Sequasson and endeavored to make them friends, but Sequasson chose rather to have war, so they were forced to leave them to themselves, promising to be aiding to neither, etc. Soon after Onkus set upon Sequasson and killed seven or eight of his men, wounded 13, burnt his wigwams and carried away the booty. Upon this Miantunnomoh (being allied to Sequasson) sent to Mr. Haynes to complain of Onkus. He answered that the English had no hand in it, nor would encourage them, etc. Miantunnomoh gave notice thereof also to our governor by two of our neighbor Indians who had been with him, and was very desirous to know if we would not be offended, if he made war upon Onkus. Our governor answered, if Onkus had done him or his friends wrong and would not give satisfaction, we should leave him to take his own course.

5. (July 22.) A Dutch sloop arrived with letters in Latin, signed by the secretary there in the name and by the command of the governor and senate, directed to the governor and senate of United Provinces of New England, wherein 1st, he congratulates our late confederation, then he complains of unsufferable wrongs done to their people upon Connecticut, more of late than formerly, and of misinformation given by some of ours to the States' ambassador to London, and desires to know by a categorical answer, whether we will aid or desert them, (meaning of Hartford,) that so they may know their friends form their enemies, etc. The governor appointed a meeting of some of the next magistrates on the second day next, but the rain hindering some of them, it was put off to the fifth day.

The day appointed for considering of the letter from the Dutch proved again so wet as but few met, and of those some would have another day appointed, and all the magistrates to be called to it, but others thought it not fit both in regard the messenger hasted away, and also, for that no direct answer could be returned without a general court. At length advising with some of the elders who were at hand, and some of the deputies, we returned answer to this effect, (in the name of the governor only,) viz. After gratulation, etc., of their friendly respect and our earnest desire of the continuance of that good correspondency which hath been between themselves and us, ever since our arrival in these parts, That our chief council, to whom their letters were directed, being far dispersed, etc., he was necessitated, with the advice of some other of the magistrates, to return this answer to them for the present, being rather a declaration of their own conceptions than the determination of our chiefest authority, from which they shouold receive further answer in time convenient. We declared our grief for the difference between them and our brethen of Hartford which we conceived might be composed by arbiters, either in England or Holland, or here; that by our confederation we were bound to seek the good and safety of each other as our own, which we hoped would not hinder the continuance of that amity and correspondency between themselves and us; and that the ground of their difference, being only for a small parcel of land, was a matter of so little value in this vast continent, as was not worthy to cause a breach between two people so nearly related, both in profession of the same Protestant religion and otherwise; therefore we would seriously request them, as we would do also the others, that until justice of the cause were decided by one of the ways before named, there might be abstinence on both sides from injury and provacation, and if any should happen on their part, that it might be duly examined, and we were assured (they being a people fearing God, they durst not allow themselves in any unrighteous course) they should receive equal satisfaction.

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