stroke to these Indians, and they suffered much from chagrin on their return home. The Mohawks considered themselves their masters, and although a peace was brought about between them, by the mediation of the English and Dutch on each side, yet the Massachusetts and others often suffered from their incursions. A chief of much the same importance as Chikataubut and his sons, was Mascononomo, or Masconomo, sachem of Agawam, since called Ipswich. When the fleet which brought over the colony that settled Boston, in 1630, anchored near Cape Ann, he welcomed them to his shores, and spent some time on board one of the ships.* On the 28th June, 1638, Mascononomett executed a deed of "all his lands in Ipswich," to John Winthrop, jr., for the sum of £20.‡ 66 At a court in July, 1631, it was ordered, that "the sagamore of Agawam is banished from coming into any Englishman's house for a year, under penalty of ten beaver-skins."§ The next year, or about that time, the Tarratines came out with great force against Mascononomo; he having, as was usually said, treacherously killed some of those Tarratine families." From Mr. Cobbet's account, it appears that they came against the English, who, but for an Indian, named Robin, would have been cut off, as the able men at this time, belonging to Ipswich, did not exceed 30; and most of these were from home on the day the attack was to have been made. Robin, having by some means found out their intentions, went to John Perkins, and told him that on such a day four Tarratines would come and invite the English to trade, "and draw them down the hill to the water side," when 40 canoes full of armed Indians would be ready, under "the brow of the hill," to fall upon them. It turned out as Robin had reported; but the Indians were frightened off by a false show of numbers, an old drum, and a few guns, without effecting their object.** We hear no more of him until 1643, when, at a court held in Boston, "Cutshamekin and Squaw-Sachem, Masconomo, Nashacowam and Wassamagin, two sachems near the great hill to the west, called Wachusett came into the court, and, according to their former tender to the governor, desired to be received under our protection‡‡ and government, upon the same terms that Pumham and Sacononoco were. So we causing them to understand the articles, and all the ten commandments of God, and they freely assenting to all,§§ they were solemnly received, and then presented the court with twenty-six fathom of wampum, and the court gave each of them a coat of two yards of cloth, and their dinner; and to them and their men, every one of them, a cup of sac at their departure; so they took leave, and went away very joyful."|||| Tradition says that Agawam, in Ipswich, was his place of residence, and that his bones were early found there; that his squaw for some time survived him, and had a piece of land that she could not dispose of, or that none were allowed to purchase.¶¶ We have too long delayed the biography of a chief early known both *Hist. N. England. This is doubtless the most correct spelling of his name. It is scarce spelt twice alike in the MS. records. Prince, 357. Records of Gen. Court, v. 381. Hubbard's N. E. 145. Quarter-master, "living then in a little hut upon his father's island on this side of Jeofry's Neck." MS. Narrative. **Cobbet's MS. Narrative. tt Ousamequin, or Massasoit. They desired this from their great fear of the Mohawks, it is said. The articles which they subscribed, will be seen at large when the Manuscript Hist. of the Praying Indians, by Daniel Gookin, shall be published. They do not read pre. cisely as rendered by Winthrop. Winthrop's Journal. ¶¶ MS. Hist. of Newbury, by J. Coffin. in Plimouth and Massachusetts, which seemed necessary to preserve the continuity of our history-Canonicus,* the_great 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 Caunonicus so lived and died, and in the same most honorable manner and solemnity, (in their way,) as you laid to sleep your prudent peace-maker, Mr. Winthrop, did they honor 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 ?" It will be proper in this place to give some general account of the country and nation of our chief. The bounds of Narraganset were, as described in the times of the sachems, "Pautuckit River, Quenebage [Quabaog] and Nipmuck," northerly; "westerly by a brook called Wequapaug, not far from Paquatuck River; southerly by the sea, or main ocean; and easterly by the Nanhiganset Bay, wherein lieth many islands, by deeds bought of the Nanhiganset sachems." Coweesett and Niantick, though sometimes applied to this country, were names only of places within it. According to Mr. Gookin, “the territory of their sachem extended about 30 or 40 miles from Sekunk River and Narragansitt_Bay, including Rhode Island and other islands in that bay." Pawcatuck River separated them from the Pequots. This nation, under Canonicus, had, in 1642, arrived at the zenith of its greatness, and was supposed to contain a population of thirty thousand. This estimate was by Richard Smith, jr., who, with his father, lived in their country. A census of those calling themselves a remnant of the Narragansets, taken Feb. 1832, was 315; only seven of whom were unmixed. The Indians themselves make their number 364.|| Of the early times of this nation, some of the first English inhabitants learned from the old Indians, that they had, previous to their arrival, a sachem named Tashtassuck, and their encomiums upon his wisdom and valor were much the same as the Delawares reported of their great chief Tamany; that since, there had not been his equal, &c. Tashtassuck had but two children, a son and daughter; these he joined in marriage, because he could find none worthy of them out of his family. The product of this marriage was four sons, of whom Canonicus was the oldest.¶ When Mr. John Oldham was killed near Block Island, and an investigation set on foot by the English to ascertain the murderers, they were fully satisfied that Canonicus and Miantunnomoh had no hand in the affair, but that "the six other Narraganset sachems had." It is no wonder that he * This spelling does not convey the true pronunciation of the name; other spellings will be noticed in the course of his biography. Its sound approached so near the Latin word canonicus, that it became confounded with it. + Manuscript letter to the governor of Massachusetts. See 3 Col. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 210. MS. letter of Rev. Mr. Ely. Four or five miles, says Gookin. Hutchinson, i. 458, who met with this account in MS.; but we do not give implicit credit to it, as, at best, it is tradition. should have taken great offence at the conduct of the English concerning the death of Miantunnomoh. The Warwick settlers considered it a great piece of injustice, and Mr. Samuel Gorton wrote a letter for Canonicus to the government of Massachusetts, notifying them that he had resolved to be revenged upon the Mohegans. Upon this the English despatched messengers to Narraganset to inquire of Canonicus whether he authorized the letter. He treated them with great coldness, and would not admit them into his wigwam for the space of two hours after their arrival, although it was exceedingly rainy. When they were admitted, he frowned upon them, and gave them answers foreign to the purpose, and referred them to Pessacus. This was a very cold reception, compared with that which the messengers received when sent to him for information respecting the death of Mr. Oldham. "They returned with acceptance and good success of their business; observing in the sachem much state, great command of his men, and marvellous wisdom in his answers; and in the carriage of the whole treaty, clearing himself and his neighbors of the murder, and offering revenge of it, yet upon very safe and wary conditions." This sachem is said to have governed in great harmony with his nephew. "The chiefest government in the country is divided between a younger sachem, Miantunnomu, and an elder sachem, Caunaunacus, of about fourscore years old,* this young man's uncle; and their agreement in the government is remarkable. The old sachem will not be offended at what the young sachem doth; and the young sachem will not do what he conceives will displease his uncle." With this passage before him, Mr. Durfee versifies as follows, in his poem called Whatcheer : "Two mighty chiefs, one cautious, wise, and old, One lodge they build-one counsel fire they light." "At a meeting of the commissioners of the United Colonies at Boston, vij Sept., 1643," it was agreed that Massachusetts, in behalf of the other colonies, "give Conoonacus and the Nanohiggunsets to understand, that from time to time" they have taken notice of their violation of the covenant between them, notwithstanding the great manifestations of their love to them by the English; that they had concurred with Miantunnomoh in his late mischievous plots, by which he had intended "to root out the body of the English" from the country, by gifts and allurements to other Indians; and that he had invaded Uncas, contrary to the "tripartie covenant" between himself, Uncas and Connecticut. Therefore, knowing "how peaceable Conanacus and Mascus, the late father of Myantenomo, governed that great people," they ascribed the late “tumults and outbreakings" to the malicious, rash and ambitious spirit of Miantunnomoh more than to "any affected way of their own." Notwithstanding, Miantunnomoh being now put to death, the English and their confederate Indian sachems, namely, "Vncus, sagamore of the Mohegins, and his people, Woosamequine and his people, Sacanocoe and his people, Pumham and his people, were disposed, they said, still to have peace with the Narragansets; but should expect a more faithful observance of their agreement than they had shown hitherto." This determination was to be immediately laid before them, and a prompt answer demanded. We have yet to go a step back to relate some matters of much interest in the history of this chief. It is related by Mr. Edward Winslow, in his "Good News from New England,"‡ that in February, 1622, O. S. Canon *This was written about 1643. + Col. R. I. Hist. Soc. vol. i. +1 Col. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. icus sent into Plimouth, by one of his men, a bundle of arrows, bound with a rattlesnake's skin, and there left them, and retired. The Narragansets, who were reported at this time "many thousand strong," hearing of the weakness of the English, "began, (says the above-named author,) to breath forth many threats against us," although they had the last summer "desired and obtained peace with us."-"Insomuch as the common talk of our neighbor Indians on all sides was of the preparation they made to come against us.' They were now emboldened from the circumstance that the English had just added to their numbers, but not to their arms nor provisions. The ship Fortune had, not long before, landed 35 persons at Plimouth, and the Narragansets seem to have been well informed of all the circumstances. This, (says Mr. Winslow,) “occasioned them to slight and brave us with so many threats as they did. At length came one of them to us, who was sent by Conaucus, their chief sachem or king, accompanied with one Tokamahumon, a friendly Indian. This messenger inquired for Tisquantum, our interpreter, who not being at home, seemned rather to be glad than sorry; and leaving for him a bundle of new arrows, lapped in a rattlesnake's skin, desired to depart with all expedition." When Squanto was made acquainted with the circumstance, he told the English that it was a challenge for war. Governor Bradford took the rattlesnake's skin, and filled it with powder and shot, and returned it to Canonicus; at the same time instructing the messenger to bid him defiance, and invite him to a trial of strength. The messenger, and his insulting carriage, had the desired effect upon Canonicus, for he would not receive the skin, and it was cast out of every community of the Indians, until it at last was returned to Plimouth, and all its contents. This was a demonstration that he was awed into silence and respect of the English. In a grave assembly, upon a certain occasion, Canonicus thus addressed Roger Williams: "I have never suffered any wrong to be offered to the English since they landed, nor never will;" and often repeated the word Wunnaunewayean. "If the Englishman speak true, if he mean truly, then shall I go to my grave in peace, and hope that the English and my posterity shall live in love and peace together." When Mr. Williams said he hoped he had no cause to question the Englishmen's wunnaumwaúonck, that is, faithfulness, having long been acquainted with it, Canonicus took a stick, and, breaking it into ten pieces, related ten instances wherein they had proved false; laying down a piece at each instance. Mr. Williams satisfied him that he was mistaken in some of them, and as to others he agreed to intercede with the governor, who, he doubted not, would make satisfaction for them. In 1635, Rev. Roger Williams found Canonicus and Miantunnomoh carrying on a bloody war against the Wampanoags. By his intercession an end was put to it, and all the sachems grew much into his favor; especially Canonicus, whose "heart (he says) was stirred up to love me as his son to his last gasp." He sold the Island of Rhode Island to William Coddington, Roger Williams, and others. A son of Canonicus, named Mriksah, is named by Williams as inheriting his father's spirit.* This son is also called Meika, who, after his father's death, was chief sachem of the Narragansets, and was said to have been his eldest son. Many particulars of him will be found in our progress onward. At the time of the Pequot war, much pains was taken to secure the friendship of Canonicus more firmly. Mr. Williams wrote to Governor Winthrop concerning him as follows: "Sir, if any thing be sent to the princes, I find Canounicus would gladly accept of a box of eight or ten pounds of sugar, and indeed he told me he would thank Mr. Governor for * Manuscript letter. a box full." In another letter which Mr. Williams sent to the same by Miantunnomoh himself, he says, "I am bold to request a word of advice of you concerning a proposition made by Caunounicus and Miantunnomu to me some half year since. Caunounicus gave an island in this bay to Mr. Oldham, by name Chibachuwese, upon condition, as it should seem, that he would dwell there near unto them." The death of Mr. Oldham, it appears, prevented his accepting it, and they offered it to Mr. Williams upon the same conditions; but he first desired to know whether in so doing it would be perfectly agreeable to Massachusetts, and that he had no idea of accepting, without paying the chiefs for it: said he told them "once and again, that for the present he mind not to remove; but if he had it, would give them satisfaction for it, and build a little house and put in some swine, as understanding the place to have store of fish and good feeding for swine." When Miantunnomoh heard that some of the Massachusetts men thought of occupying some of the islands, Canonicus, he says, desired he would accept of half of it, "it being spectacle-wise, and between a mile or two in circuit;" but Mr. Williams wrote to inform them that, if he had any, he desired the whole. This was not long before the Pequot war, which probably put a stop to further negotiation upon the subject. There was another chief of the same name, in Philip's war, which Mr. Hubbard denominates "the great sachem of the Narragansets," and who, "distrusting the proffers of the English, was slain in the woods by the Mohawks, his squaw surrendering herself: by this means her life was spared." In 1632, a war broke out between the Narragansets and the Pequots, on account of disputed right to the lands between Paucatuck River and Wecapaug Brook.* It was a tract of considerable consequence, being about ten miles wide, and fifteen or twenty long. Canonicus drew along with him, besides his own men, several of the Massachusetts sagamores. This was maintained with ferocity and various success, until 1635, when the Pequots were driven from it, but who, it would seem, considered themselves but little worsted; for Canonicus, doubting his ability to hold possession long, and ashamed to have it retaken from him, made a present of it to one of his captains, who had fought heroically in conquering it; but he never held possession. The name of this captain was Sochoso, a Pequot, who had deserted from them and espoused the cause of Canonicus, who made him a chief. It is said that, in the war between Uncas and Miantunnomoh, two of the sons of Canonicus fought on the side of Miantunnomoh, and were wounded when he was taken prisoner at Sachem's Plain. Canonicus has been the subject of a poem which was published at Boston, in 1803.† Among the tolerable passages are the following: "A mighty prince, of venerable age, A peerless warrior, but of peace the friend; Canonicus, at the age of 84 years, is made to announce his approaching dissolution to his people thus: "The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a river, brook, &c. And I have known them make bargain and sale amongst themselves, for a small piece, or quantity of ground; notwithstanding a sinful opinion amongst many, that Christians have right to heathen's lands." R. Williams. + By John Lathrop, A. M. in 8vo. |