Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War

Though the Pilgrims fled Europe to practice their strict religious beliefs in the New World, the second generation of Pilgrims became lax in their religious beliefs. Materialism ran rampant, and church membership dwindled throughout the colonies. Some saw the wars and violence that followed as a direct punishment from God for this lapse into secular thinking. This change in the settlers’ spiritual beliefs coincided with a change in economic circumstances. Boston quickly became the hub of commerce in New England. The relationship between the Native Americans and the English suffered as a result of both of these changes.

Back in Plymouth, Edward Winslow’s son, thirty-three-year-old Josiah Winslow, became the colony’s military leader. Josiah had learned about Native Americans from his father, but he did not have the same respect for and camaraderie with Native American leaders as his father did. In fact, the working relationship between the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets had deteriorated since the time when Edward Winslow was friends with Massasoit. Neither side felt that their own survival depended on the other any longer. The Pilgrims were less respectful toward the Pokanokets, even going so far as thinking that the Pokanokets were a burden to their prosperity in the region. Alexander, Massasoit’s son, also treated the English differently than his father had, and often sold land without permission from Plymouth. Adding to this growing distrust between the two groups were rumors that Alexander might make an alliance with the Narragansetts to fight against the English.

A hearing was organized to discuss Alexander’s illegal land sales, though Alexander failed to appear when summoned. In 1662, Josiah was sent to bring Alexander to court. When he confronted Alexander, a fight nearly broke out and Josiah brandished his gun at Alexander. Alexander had no choice but to go to Duxbury for a meeting of the magistrates. Though the meeting eased the tension on both sides, Alexander fell ill while staying at Josiah’s home. He returned to his land at Mount Hope, but died a few days later. Rumors as to the cause of Alexander’s death began to circulate, with some believing he had been forced to march too far in the heat and others speculating that he was poisoned by the English.

Upon Alexander’s death, Philip became the sachem of the Pokanokets. Philip believed that he was equal in status to the English king, which garnered him the nickname “King Philip.” Though Philip was vocal about his equal status to the English king, Philbrick notes that he himself never used the nickname “King Philip.” Philip also felt that his brother had been poisoned by the English. Though he wanted to retaliate, he also knew that if he acted boldly, as his brother had done, then he might meet the same fate. He decided on patience, giving in to the demands of the English and pretending to agree with their stance on various matters.

The Pokanokets and the Pilgrims continued to live in a state of uneasy peace. As New England grew, neither group felt that they were growing enough. Philip had to sell land constantly, as beaver skin and other trade items diminished. Consequently, the Pokanokets were losing large swathes of land to the English, but they desperately needed the money. Throughout his troubles with land loss and the English, Philip tried his hardest to look the part of the sachem that his people expected him to be. He dressed the part, meaning he wore fancier clothing than his people. If Philip did not at least act the part of sachem, he faced the possibility of losing his people and his land.

Philbrick lists several events that solidified Philip’s hatred of the English. One example was when his authority as sachem was challenged by English settlers who stopped him from carrying out the execution of a Native American. Another instance came when Philip was preparing his will and his interpreter attempted to trick him. Philip learned that the interpreter had recorded that all Philip’s lands would be left to the interpreter, causing the interpreter to flee and find sanctuary with the English. Josiah also confiscated weapons from the Pokanokets because there was a rumor circulating that Philip would join with the Dutch and the French to overthrow the English.

In March 1671, the English received news that Native Americans were assembling at Mount Hope. There were also rumors that Philip was planning to abduct Josiah, now Plymouth’s governor, and hold him for ransom. Amidst such speculation and turmoil, many feared that war was imminent. As with Alexander before him, Philip was forced to attend a meeting of English magistrates, and was made to sign a confession. Other Native Americans in the region were also forced to sign documents pledging their loyalty to the English. To add insult to injury, Philip was also forced to relinquish all his peoples’ weapons and pay a fine for his crimes. Though outwardly defeated, the English’s actions caused Philip to hate them even more. Philip began planning and acquiring more weapons right away, selling off his lands to buy weapons. He knew the English were greedy and would readily buy the land. His thinking was that he could simply take the land back once the English were defeated. While preparing for war, Philip also realized that the Pokanokets represented only five percent of the Native population of New England, and that to defeat the English he would need the other Native American tribes at his side.

Matters escalated in 1675 when a Native American named John Sassamon tried to warn Josiah about Philip’s plans. Sassamon had ties to both the English and the Natives, and though he tried warning the English in good faith, he was ignored. Sassamon’s body was later discovered in a pond covered with ice. Though it appeared that he had drowned, Sassamon had bruises around his neck, indicating foul play. Sassamon’s death resulted in an investigation and Philip was summoned, but denied any involvement in the murder. Later, three other Native Americans were put on trial. One of the men, Tobias, was one of Philip’s counselors. Though the court had no hard evidence, and though there was only one witness, when colony law required two, the men were found guilty and hanged. Tobias’s son managed to escape death when his noose broke, but the trial itself sent shockwaves through the region. The English had acted outside of the law, and their actions showed complete disrespect for Native Americans. While Philip himself did not want to rush into war, his warriors wanted revenge. Though the English felt that their problems with Native Americans would go away, Philbrick notes that their actions in fact pushed Philip and the other Native Americans in the region to war.

By the middle of June 1675, the Pokanokets’ war dance included hundreds of warriors. It was agreed by the powwows that the English had to attack the Native Americans first if the Native Americans were to be successful in war. Philip pillaged houses and livestock to try and provoke the English to attack. Towns were ordered to call up their militia by Governor Winslow, and to meet in Taunton. Winslow knew that others in Massachusetts Bay did not always approve of how Plymouth dealt with Native Americans, so he also requested help from Boston. To his relief, Boston agreed to support Plymouth.

Winslow believed that the settlers’ troubles with the Native Americans were a direct sign that God was unhappy with the Pilgrims. To remedy this, he designated June 24 as a day of prayer and supplication, though the colony still refused to attempt a diplomatic resolution to the situation. As militias in the region began assembling, one man came to the forefront: Benjamin Church, a thirty-three-year-old who lived on Narragansett Bay and knew about the Pokanokets and their territory. Though he had ties to Plymouth, he lived alone amongst Native Americans. When Plymouth received word to call up a militia, Church volunteered. He traveled to Swansea and found that he liked being a soldier.

On June 23, several soldiers decided to leave their post and return home. They soon encountered a group of Native Americans looting a house and fired upon the group, injuring one. This was interpreted as an act of war by the Native Americans. The next day, June 24, was the day of prayer and supplication called by Winslow. On that day, ten people were killed in Swansea, and many of the victims were scalped. The remaining soldiers at the garrison had to wait for reinforcements while fending off Native American attacks. Reinforcements finally arrived on June 28, and included Samuel Moseley, a sea captain from Massachusetts Bay who had previously fought Native Americans in Maine. The new soldiers requested permission to leave the garrison and pursue Native Americans. Though this permission was granted, they were ambushed and had to retreat. They later made it to Mount Hope, only to find the settlement of Kickemuit burned down, with scalped Englishmen’s heads on poles to greet them. They later found an abandoned Pokanoket site and built a fort.

Until this point, the Narragansetts had kept out of the fray. They were soon approached by the English, however, who thought they might join Philip. When the Narragansett asked why the other English colonists had joined Plymouth in their war against the Pokanokets, they replied that all English were colonists of King Charles, meaning that they were bound by loyalty to fight for Plymouth. This answer clarified the fact that the war was not about land or grievances, but about race, which meant that the English could very easily view the Narragansetts as enemies too.

Later, when Church and a group of soldiers gave chase to two Native Americans they soon discovered that they had been led into an ambush, and were forced to fend off hundreds of Native Americans for six hours with only twenty men. Incidents like these fanned the flames of war. Native Americans who were either loyal to the English or who took no side in the war were treated like enemies. Some Native Americans tried seeking shelter in English settlements but were turned away or killed. Even Governor Winslow added fuel to the flames by refusing to engage in diplomacy. When a contingent of hundreds of peaceful Native Americans attempted to surrender to prove their innocence, Winslow felt that they were complicit and enslaved them.

On July 19, the English chased Native American forces into a large swamp. The English were unaccustomed to swamps, however, and while the Native forces blended in to their environment, the English could barely wade through the muck. So great was their confusion that they fired on their own men. Philip realized that he needed to escape Plymouth colony and so fled to his father’s land. Though his forces were dwindling, it soon became clear to the English that other tribes were joining the fight.