Samoset’s Visit
[Sidenote: Fri. Mar. 26]
On Friday, Mar. 26, an Indian walked boldly into the settlement. He
saluted them in English and bade them “Welcome.” He explained that his
home was in Maine where he had learned some English from the captains of
fishing vessels that frequented the coast in the vicinity of Monhegan
Island, lying half way between the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers and
about twelve miles off the coast. From him they gathered much
information. “He discoursed of the whole country and of every province
and of their sagamores and their number of men and strength.”
“He told us that the place where we now live is called ‘Patuxet’ and
that about four years ago all the inhabitants died of an extraordinary
plague and there is neither man, woman nor child remaining, as indeed we
have found none; so there is none to hinder our possession, or lay claim
unto it.”
The night Samoset stayed at the house of Stephen Hopkins where they
“watched him,” being suspicious of the scattering bands previously seen.
He had told them of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of
the place who had been in England and could speak better English than
himself and whom he would later bring with him.
[Sidenote: Sat. Mar. 27]
The following day he returned to the Wampanoags whence he had come. This
tribe, with the Nausets, occupied the territory lying between
Narragansett Bay and Cape Cod. He also spoke particularly of the Nausets
to the southeast who were one hundred strong while the former numbered
approximately sixty. Massasoit was the Sachem or overlord of the Indians
in the territory stated. It appeared that the Nausets were much provoked
against the English, having been deceived by a Captain Hunt who “got
them under cover of trucking with them, twenty out of this very place
and seven men from the Nausets, and carried them away and sold them for
slaves.”
It seems that the Indian Squanto who was one of the number had
fortunately made his escape and had been returned through the good
offices of certain Englishmen who were friendly to the colonists.
On Sunday, March 28, Samoset again appeared, bringing with him five
others. They brought with them a few skins but, it being the Sabbath, no
trading was done. However, they accepted the hospitality of the
settlement and “did eat liberally of our English victuals.” They also
returned the tools which had been taken from the woods during the
absence of the settlers. That night they departed with a promise to come
again. Samoset, who was reluctant to go, remained until Wednesday, May
31.
[Sidenote: Thur. April 1]
On April 1, he returned with Squanto. They reported that Massasoit,
their great sagamore, with his brother Quadequina was near with all
their men. “They could not express well in English what they would, but
after an hour the King came to the top of a hill (Watson’s Hill) over
against us and had in his train sixty men, that we could well behold
them, and they us. We were not willing to send our governor to them and
they were unwilling to come to us.”
Squanto was accordingly sent to confer with them and returned with word
that they should send one to “parley with him.” Edward Winslow was
selected to go that they might “know his mind and signify the mind and
will of our governor which was to have trading and peace with him.”
Hostages were exchanged and Captain Standish with a half dozen armed men
met them at the brook (Town Brook) whence they were “conducted to a
house then in building where we placed a green rug and three or four
cushions.” Here they were met by the governor and others and after due
felicitations and assurances of friendship were exchanged, a treaty
which may well have marked the first diplomatic agreement in New England
history. It was faithfully observed by both parties during the reign of
Massasoit and was in force thereafter until the breaking out of the King
Philip War in 1675.
It seems of interest to state here that this outbreak was instigated by
Metacom or Philip as he was called by the English. He was the youngest
son of Massasoit and had succeeded his brother Wamsutta or Alexander as
head of the Wampanoags. But the recital of that devastating struggle is
not within the sphere of this booklet. Suffice it to say that it
resulted in the practical extermination of Indians including the
Narragansetts, who were hostile to the white settlers and who for some
years had been a perpetual and growing menace.
The Treaty With Massasoit
“1. That neither he nor any of his, should injure or do hurt to any of
their people.
2. That if any of his did any hurt to any of theirs, he should send the
offender that they might punish him.
3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause
it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.
4. That if any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any
did war against them, he should aid them.
5. That he should send to his Neighbor-Confederates to certify them of
this that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised of
these Conditions of Peace.
6. That when his men came to them upon any occasion, they should leave
their bows and arrows behind them as we should do our pieces when we
came to them.
Lastly, that doing thus, King James, their Sovereign Lord, would esteem
him his friend and ally.”
[Illustration: The Treaty with Massasoit, in its actual setting, “an
unfinished building”]
Early in April John Carver was re-elected governor and laws and
regulations were made for the conduct of the colony. During this month
Governor Carver died. He had come “out of the field very sick, it being
a hot day; he complained greatly of his head and lay down, and within a
few hours his senses failed, so as he never spoke more until he died.
Whose death was much lamented, and caused great heaviness amongst them
as there was cause. He was buried in the best manner they could, with
some volleys of shot by all that bore arms; and his wife, being a weak
woman, died within 5 or 6 weeks after him.”
William Bradford was chosen governor in his stead, and not having fully
recovered from his recent severe illness, wherein he had been near the
point of death, Isaac Allerton was chosen to be an assistant “unto him
who, by renewed election every year, continued sundry years together.”
It may be stated that Bradford was re-elected to the same office no less
than 30 times, for a total term of 33 years—every year from 1622.[11] He
was Governor of Plimoth Colony continuously from 1627-1656 inclusive
excepting for five years when he “by importunity gat off.”
On April 15th, the Mayflower left on her return voyage to England.
During this month the first offence is recorded, that of John Billington
who had defied the authority of Captain Standish. It seems however that
the offence was more a matter of words or “opprobrious speeches” than of
deeds.
The First Marriage
[Sidenote: May 22]
The first marriage in the colony took place on the 22nd of May, that of
Edward Winslow to Susanna White, widow of William White. This marriage
was performed “according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries in
which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the
magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about
inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their
cognizance and most consonant to the scriptures (Ruth 4) and nowhere
found in the gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their
office.”
The First Duel
[Sidenote: June 28]
What is recorded as the first duel fought in New England was between
Edward Dotey and Edward Leister, servants of Mr. Hopkins. They fought
with sword and dagger and both were wounded, one in hand and the other
in the thigh. This was the second offence for which punishment was
invoked by the entire company. It was ordered that their heads and feet
be tied together and to so lie for twenty-four hours. Their sufferings
being great however they were released by the governor “upon their
promise of better carriage.”
Winslow and Hopkins Visit Massasoit
The months of July and August were featured by several events of
interest. On July 12, Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins paid a visit to
Massasoit taking with them clothing and other small gifts which the
chieftain gladly accepted. They learned that the Wampanoags had been
greatly reduced by the plague that had visited them prior to the coming
of the colonists, “wherein thousands of them died, they not being able
to bury one another; their skulls and bones were found in many places,
lying still above aground, where their houses and dwellings had been, a
very sad spectacle to behold.”
It was learned also that the Narragansetts “lived but on the other side
of that great bay and were a strong people and many in number, living
compact together and had not been at all touched by this wasting
plague.”
During the last of July John Billington, Jr., became lost in the woods
lying to the south of the settlement and was forced to subsist for
several days on berries and whatever nature afforded. He came in contact
with an Indian plantation below Manomet whence he was conducted to the
Nausets on the Cape. Word reached Massasoit who, in turn, informed the
Plymouth company as to his whereabouts. A party of ten men was
despatched in the shallop by the Governor and he was located and
returned to the colony apparently none the worse for the experience.
Arrival of Hobamack
It was about this time that Hobamack, another Indian, came to live at
the settlement. He was a friend of Squanto and “faithful to the English
until he died.” During a visit to Nemasket (Middleboro) they came into
conflict with a sachem named Corbitant who was a minor sachem under
Massasoit and who was held to be deceitful both to his superior and the
whites. Hobamack was seized and held against his will by Corbitant but
being of great strength he broke away making his escape to Plymouth.
Fearing that Squanto might have been killed “it was resolved to send the
Captain and 14 men well armed” to investigate and to seek retribution if
harm had befallen him. They entered the house of Corbitant who at the
moment was away while others in attempting to leave against the
Captain’s orders, were injured and were later taken to Plymouth where
their injuries were treated to their apparent satisfaction. Squanto was
uninjured and made his way back to the settlement. Corbitant later
explained that his actions were only in the nature of threats and that
he intended no harm. He also sought the mediation of Massasoit to regain
the friendship of the whites.
[Sidenote: Sept. 28]
On September 28th a party of ten men with Squanto for guide and
interpreter, set out in the shallop to explore in and around
Massachusetts Bay. They made friendly contact with the Indians of the
neighborhood and returned with “A good quantity of beaver.”
The Fortune Arrives
[Sidenote: Nov. 19]
On November 19th the Fortune, a vessel of small tonnage, arrived
bringing Robert Cushman and thirty-five others. They brought practically
no provisions except some clothing but being mostly able-bodied young
men the colony was thus augmented in man power of which it had been much
depleted, there remaining but fifty of the original colony at this time.
They came to settle permanently and were made welcome.
Pierce’s Attempt Fails
Let us now step ahead a few months. As the patent to the lands they now
occupied arrived on the Fortune, it is not irrelevant to mention here
the abortive attempt of John Pierce to get control of the Plymouth
colony. On April 20, 1622, Pierce obtained another patent, superseding
the first, broader in scope and running to himself, his heirs,
associates and assigns forever.
As an evidence of his intention let us quote from a letter from one of
the English company to Governor Bradford—“in regard he, whom you and we
so confidently trusted, but only to use his name for the company, should
aspire to be lord over us all, and so make you and us tenants at his
will and pleasure, our assurance or patent being quite void and
disannuled by his means.” etc. The adventurers protested in vain and it
is further stated that he demanded “500 pounds which cost him but 50
pounds” for the surrender of the patent.
Whether or not this or any sum was paid there seems to be no record.
However the same letter states that “with great trouble and loss we have
got Mr. John Pierce to assign over the grand patent to the company,
which he had taken in his own name and made quite void our former
grant.”
Furthermore the records of the Council for New England which appear in
Palfrey’s History of New England furnish the following: “Whereas there
were several differences between John Pierce citizen and clothmaker of
London and the Treasurer and other the associates of him the said John
Pierce that were undertaken with him for the settling and advancement of
the plantation at Plymouth, in the parts of New England, said
differences, after the full hearing and debating thereof before us were
finally concluded upon by the offer of the said John Pierce, and mutual
adoption of the said Treasurer and Company then present, in behalf of
themselves and the rest of said Company, that the said associates with
their undertakers and servants now settled or to be settled in Plymouth
aforesaid should remain and continue tenants unto the Council
established for the managing of the aforesaid affairs of New England,
notwithstanding a grant, bearing date the 20th of April, 1622, by said
Pierce obtained without the consent of the said associates, from the
said Council, contrary to a former grant to the said Pierce made in
behalf of himself and his said associates dated the 1st of June, 1621.”
Thus the new patent was cancelled and the patent dated June 1st, 1621,
remained in force.—Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth. Wm. T. Davis, 1883. p.
45.
[Illustration: A Good Harvest]