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A Brief History of the Pequot War
Introduction.
by Mason, Captain John
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In my Contemplations
of the Divine Providence towards the People of New England, I have often tho't
what a special Favour it was, that there came over with the first Settlers of
Plimouth and Connecticut Colonies, which in those Times were especially exposed
to the superiour Power of the Barbarians round about them; Two brave Englishmen
bred to arms in the Dutch Netherlands, viz. Capt. Miles Standish of Plimouth,
and Capt. John Mason of Connecticut: Gentlemen of tried Valour, Military Skill
and Conduct, great Activity, and warm Zeal for that noble Cause of Pure
Scriptural Religion, and Religious Liberty, which were the chief original Design
and Interest of the Fathers of these Plantations; and who were acted with such
eminent Degrees of Faith and Piety, as excited them to the most daring
Enterprizes in the Cause of God and of his People, and went a great way to their
wonderful Successes.
Like those inspired Heroes of whom we read the History in the Eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews-By
Faith, they not only rather chose to suffer Affliction with the People of God
than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season; esteeming the Reproach of
Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt: But by Faith they even
forsook the same, passed thro' the Sea, subdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteousness,
obtained Promises, waxed valiant in Fight, and turned to flight the armies of the Aliens.
The Judicious Reader that knows the New English History, cannot think these Scripture Phrases or
religious Turns unsuitable on this Occasion: For as these Colonies were chiefly,
if not entirely Settled by a Religious People, and for those Religious Purposes;
It is as impossible to write an impartial or true History of them, as of the
ancient Israelites, or the later Vaudois or North-Britons, without observing
that Religious Spirit and Intention which evidently ran through and animate
their Historical Transactions.
Capt. Standish was
of a low Stature, but of such a daring and active Genius, that even before the
Arrival of the Massachusetts Colony, He spread a Terror over all the Tribes of
Indians round about him, from the Massachusetts to Martha's Vineyard, and from
Cape Cod Harbour to Narragansett. Capt. Mason was Tall and Portly, but never the
less full of Martial Bravery and Vigour; that He soon became the equal Dread of
the more numerous Nations from Narragansett to Hudson's River. They were Both
the Instrumental Saviours of this Country in the most critical Conjunctures: And
as we quietly enjoy the Fruits of their extraordinary Diligence and Valour, both
the present and future Generations will for ever be obliged to revere their
Memory.
Capt. Mason, the
Writer of the following History, in which he was a principal Actor, as Chief
Commander of the Connecticut Forces, is said to have been a Relative of Mr. John
Mason the ancient Claimer of the Province of New-Hampshire: However, the
Captain was one of the first
who went up from the Masschusetts, about the Year 1635 to lay the Foundation of
Connecticut Colony: He went from Dorchester, first settled at
Windsor, 1 [1 The names of those who are
known to have gone from Windsor are as follows: Capt. John Mason, Sergt. Bendict
Alvord, Thomas Barber, Thomas Buckland, George Chappel, John Dyer, James
Eggleston, Nathan Gillet, Thomas Gridley, Thomas Stiles, Sergt. Thomas Staires,
Richard Osborn, Thomas Parsons, William Thrall. They were absent three weeks and
two days. Every soldier received 1 s . 6 d . per day, reckoning
six days in the week; sergeants, 20 d . per day; lieutenants,
20 s . per week; the captain, 40 s . per week.-Stiles' History
of Ancient Windsor.] and
thence marched forth to the Pequot War.
But it being above
Threescore Years since the following Narrative was Written, near an Hundred
since the Events therein related, and the State of the New England Colonies
being long since greatly Changed; it seems needful for the present Readers
clearer Apprehension of these Matters, to Observe-That in the Year 1633, and
1634, several Englishmen arriving from England, at the Massachusetts went up in
the Western Country to discover Connecticut River; the next Year began to remove
thither; and by the Beginning of 1637, Hartford, Windsor and Weathersfield were
Settled, besides a Fortification built at Saybrook on the Mouth of the
River.
At that Time there
were especially three powerful and warlike Nations of Indians in the South
Western Parts of New England; which spread all the Country from Aquethneck,
since called Rhode Island, to Quinnepiack, since called New-Haven; viz. the
Narragansetts, Pequots and Mohegans. The Narragansetts reached from the Bay of
the same Name, to Pawcatuck River, now the Boundary between the Governments
of Rhode-Island and
Connecticut: And their Head Sachem was Miantonimo. The Pequots reached from
thence Westward to Connecticut River, and over it, as far as Branford, if not
Quinnepiack; their Head Sachem being Sassacus. And the Mohegans spread along
from the Narragansetts through the Inland Country, on the Back or Northerly Side
of the Pequots, between them and the Nipmucks; their Head Sachem being
Uncas.
The most terrible of
all those Nations were then the Pequots; who with their depending Tribes soon
entered on a Resolution to Destroy the English out of the Country. In 1634, they
killed Capt. Stone and all his Company, being seven besides Himself, in and near
his Bark on Connecticut River. In 1635, they killed Capt. Oldham in his Bark at
Block-Island; and at Long-Island they killed two more cast away there. In 1636,
and the following Winter and March, they killed six and took seven more at
Connecticut River: Those they took alive they tortured to Death in a most
barbarous Manner. And on April 23. 1637, they killed nine more and carried two
young Women Captive at Weathersfield.
They had earnestly
solicited the Narragansetts to engage in their Confederacy: very politickly
representing to them, That if they should help or suffer the English to subdue
the Pequots, they would thereby make Way for their own future Ruin; and that
they need not come to open Battle with the English; only Fire our Houses, kill
our Cattle, lye in Ambush and shoot us as we went about our Business; so we
should be quickly forced to leave this Country, and the Indians not
exposed to any great
Hazard. Those truly politick Arguments were upon the Point of prevailing on the
Narragansetts: And had These with the Mohegans, to whom the Pequots were nearly
related, joined against us; they might then, in the infant State of these
Colonies, have easily accomplished their desperate Resolutions.
But the
Narragansetts being more afraid of the Pequots than of the English; were willing
they Should weaken each other, not in the least imagining the English could
destroy them; at the same time an Agency from the Massachusetts Colony to the
Narragansetts, happily Preserved their staggering Friendship. 2 [2
The proposed Indian league
was prevented by the diplomacy of Roger Williams. For, though he had been
banished by the colony of Massachusetts, the magistrates sought his counsel,
which he gave freely, and was thus able to render the infant colonies a service
which proved to be of the greatest importance. In a letter to John Mason in
1670, when both were old men, he writes as follows: " When, the next year after
my banishment, the Lord drew the bow of the Pequot war against the country . . .
. the Lord helped me immediately to put my life in my hand, and scarce
acquainting my wife, to ship myself all alone in a poor canoe, and to cut
through a stormy wind with great seas, every minute in hazard of my life, to the
sachem's house. Three days and nights my business forced me to lodge and mix
with the bloody Pequot ambassadors, whose hands and arms reeked with the blood
of my countrymen, murdered and massacred by them on Connecticut River, and from
whom I could not but nightly look for their bloody knives at my own throat
also." ] And as Uncas the Great Sachim of the
Moheags, upon the first coming of the English, fell into an intimate
Acquaintance with Capt. Mason, He from the Beginning entertained us in an
amicable Manner: And though both by his Father and Mother He derived from the
Royal Blood of the Pequots, and had Married the Daughter of Tatobam their then
late Sachim; yet such was his Affection for us, as he faithfully adhered to us,
ventured his Life in our Service, assisted at the Taking their Fort, when about
Seven Hundred of them were Destroyed, and thereupon in subduing and driving out of
the Country the remaining greater Part of that fierce and dangerous Nation.
Soon after the War, Capt. Mason was by the Government of Connecticut, made the major General of all
their forces, and so continued to the day of his death: The Rev. Mr. Hooker of
Hartford, being desired by the Government in their Name to deliver the Staff
into his Hand; We may imagin he did it with that superiour Piety, Spirit and
Majesty, which were peculiar to him: Like an ancient Prophet addressing himself
to the Military Officer, delivering to him the Principal Ensign of Martial
Power, to Lead the Armies and Fight the Battles of the Lord and of his
People.
Major Mason having
been trained up in the Netherland War under Sir Thomas Fairfax; 3 [3
Fairfax went to the
Netherlands in April of 1630, and though but eighteen, was a volunteer in the
army and was with Sir Horace Vere at the siege of Bois-le-Duc, which surrendered
in July of that year. Young Fairfax was then ordered by his grandfather to leave
camp and travel in France; and there he remained for about eighteen months,
returning to England in February of 1632. Since the total service of Fairfax in
the Low Countries extended over but four months, and was somewhat in the nature
of a youthful adventure, it can hardly be said that Mason was " trained up "
under him. though the story has been repeated by nearly every biographer of
Mason since Prince. He may, however, have been a companion in arms with Fairfax,
though of this there is no direct proof. ] when the Struggle arose in England
between K. Charles I. and the Parliament about the Royal Powers and the National
Liberties; that Famous General had such an esteem for the Major's Conduct and
Bravery, that He wrote to the Major to come over and help Him. 4 [4
This statement by Prince
seems to have been also without authority. However, Fairfax, who was no doubt
the ablest general of the Civil War and a great organizer, must have known of
the service of Captain Mason, and his " esteem " may have led him to write Mason
in Connecticut to join Cromwell's Army. ] But the Major excusing
himself, continued in this Country as long as he lived, and had some of the
greatest Honours his Colony could yield him.
For besides his
Office of Major General, the Colony in May 1660 chose him their Deputy
Governour; continued him in the same Post by annual Re-elections, by virtue of
their first Constitution to1662 inclusively. The same Year K. Charles II.
comprehending the Colonies of Connecticut and New Haven in One Government by the
name of Connecticut Colony; He in the Royal Charter, signed April 23. appointed
Major Mason their first Deputy Governour till the second Thursday of October
following: After which, the General Court being left to chuse their Officers,
they continued to chuse him their Deputy Governour every Year to May 1670; when
his Age and Bodily Infirmities advancing, he laid down his Office and retired
from Publick Business.
After the Pequot
War, he had removed from Windsor to Saybrook: But in 1659, he removed thence to
Norwich; where he Died in 1672, or 1673, in the 73d Year of his Age: leaving
three sons, viz. Samuel, John and Daniel, to imitate their Fathers Example and
inherit his Virtues.
I have only now to
observe, that in The Relation of the Troubles which happened to New England by
the Indians from 1614 to 1675, Published by the then Mr. Increase Mather in
1677, I find a copy of the following Narrative, but without the Prefaces, had
been communicated to him by Mr. John Allyn then the Secretary of Connecticut
Colony; which that Rev. Author took for Mr. Allyn's and calls it his. But we
must inform the Reader, that the
Narrative was originally drawn by Major Mason. And as his Eldest Grandson Capt.
John Mason now of New London has put it into my Hands; I have been more than
usually careful in Correcting the Press according to the Original; as the most
authentick Account of the Pequot War, and as a standing Monument both of the
extraordinary Dangers and Courage of our pious Fathers, and of the eminent
Appearance of Heaven to save them.
' The other actions
of Major Mason must be referred to the General History of this country,
when some Gentleman of greater Qualifications and Leisure than I may
claim, shall rise up among us, to undertake it I shall give some Hints in
my Brief Chronology; which through numerous Hindrances, is now in
such a Forwardness that near 200 Pages are Printed al- ready; and in a
little Time, Life and Health allowed, I hope to present the Politick with
the first of the two intended Volumes. In the mean while I cannot but
Regret it, that such considerable and ancient Towns as Saybrook,
Fairfield, Stamford, Canterbury, Groton in the County of Middlesex,
Chelmsford, Billerica, Woburn, Dunstable and Bristol, should afford
no more than their bare Names in the Published Rec- ords of this
Country.
THOMAS PRINCE.
BOSTON , Dec. 23,
1735.
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