[MA Governor & Council] Instructions for Major General Denison & Joseph Dudley
Item
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Title
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[MA Governor & Council] Instructions for Major General Denison & Joseph Dudley
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Recipient
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Daniel Denison (Major General)
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Joseph Dudley, Esquire
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Date
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10 July 1677
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Description
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After receiving the letter from Moxes and his fellow Wabanaki sachems, Massachusetts Governor John Leverett and his council order Major General Daniel Denison and Esquire Joseph Dudley to negotiate a peace. Adhering to Wabanaki diplomatic customs, Leverett advises Denison and Dudley to “the speediest & best way of Coming to speake wth the Natives [opening negotiation is] either by sending out the Squa [Squaw] or otherwise. He adds that “you shall endeavor to Sattisty those Indians that the Governor & Council are Ignorant of those many Injuries by them Complained of” and that “the persons that have don the injuries were disorderly persons that lined out of our Jurisdiction” and would be prevented “by a more orderly & full setlement of Government in those parts.” Though the English constantly viewed the Wabanakis as a monolithic “heathen” threat, Leverett and other leaders were often quick to deflect blame for settler violence.
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Transcription
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Major General Denison & Joseph Dudley to Treat with Indians
[186] At A meeting of the Gouernor & Council of the Massachusets Jurisdiction In New England held at Boston the tenth day of July 1677 The Gouernor & Council having read & considered sundry letters to them directed & sent from Winnekemet; & Moxes Indeun Sagamores & from some other Indians about Kennebeck by the Hand of Mr Hammond an English Captive, Late an Inhabitant of the abovesaid place wth refference thereto have nominated & requested & doe heereby Authorize & Impower, major Generall Daniell Dennison & Joseph [187] Dudley Esqr forthwith: with such meet attendance as they shall Judge meet to Imbarque themselves & saile Directly to Pemaquid & acquaint the Gentm there from New yorke That the Kenuebeck Indians &c haue made an ouerture of a treaty of peace & the delivery of about twenty English prisoners, for the obteyning of whom the Gouernor & Council haue sent you to take any oppertunity that maybe offered for the setling of a peace wth the English and for that end doe desire & promise themselves theire utmost assistance upon the place.
Having advised wth the aforesaid Gentm of the speediest & best way of Coming to speake wth the Natives either by sending out the Squa [Squaw] or otherwise, you shall endeavor to Sattisty those Indians that the Governor & Council are Ignorant of those many Injuries by them Complained of, which had they been made & prooved to them; they would have endeavored to have had sattisfaction made them; and that the persons that have don the injuries were disorderly persons that lined out of our Jurisdiction; And that for the time to Come such disorders wee hope may be prevented, by a more orderly & full setlement of Gouernment in those parts:
If the Indians will be drawne to deliver their prisoners you may make a suiteable returne or recompence & the greater hopes you may Gather of theire desire of Amity or peace the larger may be the Recompence especially if they will send to Squando & the Amoroscoggin Indians, & can bring them to Come to treate wth yow in order to a peace, or upon their refusall to Joyne their forces for the Suppressing of them; which treaty you shall not attend unless Squando will Imediately recall all the scattered & sculking Indians about our Plantations or the Kennebeck Indians make warre upon him.
If Squando or any for him appeare you may acquaint him that the Govnor was wholly Ignorant of any Injury [188] offered to him or his child at Saco; And if by any treaty you Can bring him to a Cessation or peace yow shall doe it upon the best termes you may for the Honor of the English. In all your Negotiation wth English or Indians yow shall use yor best discretion; and shall mannage it so as may consist wth honuesty & Honor
Att your returne yow shall dismiss the Garrison at Blackpoint, or otherwise dispose of them as yow see meet providing against losse or wast of what may be remooved thence
By the Governor & Council of the Massachusets Jurisdiction in New England & signed by their Edward Rawson Secret
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Century
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17th Century
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Decade material covers
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1670s
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Subject
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Daniel Denison (Major General)
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Joseph Dudley (Esquire)
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John Leverett (MA Governor)
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MA Council
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Squando
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Androscoggin Indians
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Kennebec Indians
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Wabanaki Indians
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Pemaquid
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Black Point
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Type
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Letter
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War
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King Philip's War
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Point of Departure
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Boston, MA
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Point of Arrival
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Boston, MA
