John Easton s late father, Nicholas had been the Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations almost until his death in 1674. At the time of this writing, John was serving as Deputy Governor. As a Rhode Islander he had the view of an outsider on the War. Rhode Island had not been included in the United Colonies which had bonded the Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven Colonies together in a confederation for mutual defense and strategy in dealing with the Native people in their jurisdictions. Those four colonies regarded the Rhode Islanders as heretics because they tolerated freedom of conscience in religious matters. Easton was a Quaker, a group noted for rejecting warfare as a means of solving problems. The territory of the Narragansett People was included in the bounds of the Royal Charter of 1661 granted to Rhode Island. This was probably the best farmland in New England. The Massachusetts and Connecticut settlers had already coveted this land and tried to claim it was within their boundaries. So Easton was casting a wary eye not only upon the natives, but upon his covetous neighbor colonies as well. His account is considered the most fair and unbiased account of the conflict, but carries its own set of prejudices. His remarks concerning Hirelings near the end of the text refer to the paid Clergy class in the Puritan Colonies, which Quakers rejected on Scriptural grounds. ~Norman Burdett, ed. Easton s Relation Concerning King Philip s War i By Mr. John Easton of Rhode Island A True Relation of What I Know & of Reports, & my Understanding Concerning the Beginning & Progress of King Philip s War Now between the English and the Indians, 1675 Text edited by Norman Burdett Complete with corrected spelling Side by side comparison i New England History Series
Part One Introduction to The Indians of New England The Wampanoags The Native American tribes of Southern New England were all of the same Algonkian language group. Although their dialects differed somewhat, they were able to communicate with each other. They shared many cultural and traditional values and similar religious beliefs. When the English settlers first arrived at Patuxet, or Plimouth as they called it, they found that the local tribes were in a rivalry for dominance of the region. Three or four years prior to the arrival of the colonists, a pestilence had swept through many of the native groups, seriously depopulating some tribes, completely wiping out some such as the Patuxets, who left behind them an established village with cleared cornfields and evidence of their presence including many unburied skeletons. The English had been very fortunate to stumble upon this site for their settlement. On the western side of Narragansett Bay, however, the Narragansett people had been left unscathed by the disease which undoubtedly had been accidentally introduced by contact with European traders. The Narragansetts were the largest and most industrious tribe remaining in the area. Just as was the case among European nations, there was a very delicate balance of power in the area, The 1 powerful Narragansetts had ascended to the dominant position in the area partially because of their strength and the wisdom of their leaders, The Great Sachem, Canonicus and his nephew Miantonomi; and partly because of their good fortune in avoiding the epidemic. When the colonists arrived in Plimouth, they were soon visited by people sent by Massasoit, the Great Sachem or King of the Wampanoag Indians who had been the overlords of the Patuxet people. They were interested to know if these English were here to kidnap more people, like a previous ship had done. They wanted to know what the intention of these people was since they seemed to be showing signs of staying put. It didn't take long for the English to appreciate the value of befriending these people as a protection against other tribal groups nearby. So a mutual defense alliance was formed between these two groups. As it turned out, the Wampanoags were very willing to help this fledgling group of foreigners, because they were in dire need of protection also. Their numbers had been reduced substantially by disease and they had recently fallen under the domination of the Narragansett tribe. The Wampanoags taught the people of Plimouth how to successfully grow Indian corn, and showed them native methods for fishing and hunting and acquainted them with the knowledge they would need to survive in their new environment. At the same time, they notified all of their subject tribes that the English were their allies, thus protecting the English from hostilities from any of these people and at the same time warning them that the English, with their long shooting fire weapons were ready to stand beside Massasoit and his people. 2
Part Two Easton s Relation Following is a Literal Transcription of Easton s Account on the left pages. Part Two Easton s 1 Relation Following is an Interpretation with modern spelling on the right pages. Numbered Notes begin on page 39. IN the winter in the year 1674 an Indian was found dead and by a Corener iquest of Plimoth Coleny judged murdered. He was found dead in a hole thro ies broken in a pond with his gun and sum foulle by him. Sum English suposed him throne in sum indians that I judged intelegabell and impartiall in that Case did think he fell in and was so drowned and that the ies did hurt his throat as the English saied it was cut, but acnoledged that sumtimes naty indians wold kill others but, not as ever thay herd to obscuer as if the dead indian was not murdered. the dead indian was caled Sausimun and a Christian that could read and write, report was he was a bad man that king Philop got him to write his will and he made the writing for a gret part of the land to be his but read as if it had bine as Philop wold, but it Came to be knone and then he run away from him. now one indian informed that 3 indians had murdered him, and shewed a Coat that he said thay gave him to Conseall them, IN the winter in the year 1674, an Indian was found dead, and by a Coroner's Inquest of Plimouth Colony judged murdered. 2 He was found dead in a hole through ice broken in a pond, 3 with his gun and some fowl by him. [on the ice] Some English supposed him thrown in. Some Indians that I judged intelligible and impartial in the case did think he fell in and was so drowned, and that the ice did hurt his throat, as the English said it was cut; 4 but acknowledged that sometimes naughty Indians would kill others, but not as ever they heard, to obscure [it] as if the dead Indian was not murdered. The dead Indian was called Sausaman 5 and [was] a Christian that could read and write. [The] Report was, he was a bad man; that King Philip got him to write his Will, and he made the writing for a great part of the land to be his [Sossaman s] but read [it] as if it had been as Philip would [have it]. But it came to be known, and then he ran away from him. Now, one Indian informed that three Indians had murdered him, and showed a coat that he said they gave him to conceal them. 13 14
the indians report that the informer had played away his Coate, and these men sent him that coate, and after demanded pay and he not to pay so acused them, and knoing it wold pleas the English so to think him a beter Christian, and the reporte Came, that the 3 indians had confesed and acused Philop so to imploy them, and that the English wold hang Philop, so the indians wear afraid, and reported that the English had flatred them (or by threts) to bely Philop that thay might kill him to have his Land and that if Philop had dun it it was ther Law so to execute home ther kings judged deserved it that he had no Case to hide it. so Philop kept his men in arems. Plimouth Governer required him to disband his men, and informed him his jelosy was falce. Philop ansered he wold do no harem, and thanked the Governer for his information. the indians wer hunge, to the last denied the fact; but one broke the halter as it is reported then desiere to be saved and so was a litell while then confesed thay had dun the fact and then he was hanged and it was reported that Sausimun before his death had informed of the indian plot and that if the indians knew it thay wold kill him, and that the hethen might destroy the English for ther wickedness as god had permited the heathen to destroy the iserallits of olde, so the English wear afraid and Philop was afraid. and both incresed in arems but for 4 years time reports and jelosys of war had bine veri frequent that we The Indians report that the informer had played [gambled] away his coat, and these men sent him the coat, and after demanded pay[ment], and he, not to [have to] pay, accused them; knowing that it would please the English, so to think him a better Christian. And the report came that the three Indians had confessed and accused Philip so to employ them, and that the English would hang Philip. So the Indians were afraid, and reported that the English had flattered them (or by threats) to bely Philip, that they might kill him to have his land; and that if Philip had done it, it was their Law so to execute whom their Kings judged deserved it, that he had no cause to hide it. 6 So Philip kept his men in arms. Plimoth Governor required him to disband his men, and informed him his jealousy was false. Philip answered he would do no harm, and thanked the Governor for his information. 7 The three Indians were hung, to the last denied the fact; but one broke the halter as it is reported, then desired to be saved, and so was a little while, then confessed they three had done the fact; and then he was hanged. 8 And it was reported Sossaman before his death had informed of the Indian plot, and that if the Indians knew it they would kill him, and that the heathen might destroy the English for their wickedness, as God had permitted the heathen to destroy the Israelites of old. So the English were afraid and Philip was afraid. And both increased in arms. But for four years time, reports and jealousies of War had been very frequent. We 15 16