Mr. Drake, in his Book of the Indians, thus mentions Canonicus, the
sachem of the Narragansets:—
He was contemporary with Miantunnomoh, who was his nephew. We know not
the time of his birth, but a son of his was at Boston in 1631, the
next year after it was settled. But the time of his death is minutely
recorded by Governor Winthrop, in his “Journal,” thus: “June 4, 1647,
Canonicus, the great sachem of Narraganset, died, a very old man.” He
is generally supposed to have been about 85 years of age when he died.
He is mentioned with great respect by Rev. Roger Williams, in the
year 1654. After observing that many hundreds of the English were
witnesses to the friendly disposition of the Narragansets, he says,
“their late famous long-lived Canonicus so lived and died, and in the
same most honourable manner and solemnity, (in their way,) as you laid
to sleep your prudent peace-maker, Mr. Winthrop, did they honour this
their prudent and peaceable prince; yea, through all their towns and
countries how frequently do many, and oft times our Englishmen, travel
alone with safety and loving kindness?”