Petition of Thomas Gardiner & Other Inhabitants of Pemaquid
Item
-
Title
-
Petition of Thomas Gardiner & Other Inhabitants of Pemaquid
-
Recipient
-
John Leverett (MA Governor)
-
Date
-
21 August 1676
-
Description
-
Thomas Gardiner and other men from Pemaquid, Maine report to Massachusetts Governor John Leverett that most English settlers at Arrowsic and living on the Kennebec River have now fled to Mohegan Island. Gardiner therefore requests that the governor settler a garrison nearby or risk the desertion of settlements in all of Maine. Gardiner’s letter also assesses Wabanaki motives for joining King Philip’s War. First, he believes that they were persuaded to enter the conflict by the Western Abenakis, “who have set these Indianes on this ungodly Enterprise.” The second reason was “the perfidious & unjust dealing of som English as we Supose who have Stollen Eight or Nine persones from the Indianes About Micheas River [Machias River] &. Caried them Away.” Finally, the Wabanakis lacked the gunpowder to hunt and were forced to visit Canada to avoid starvation, where Gardiner implies they were influenced by pro-French Indians. Despite his bias, Gardiner is relatively honest about English culpability in the war.
-
Transcription
-
Petition from Thos Gardner others inhabitants of Pemaquid.
Munhegon 21 August 1676
[118] Honered Sir I thought it my duty having this opertunity to let you vnderstand our distresed Condition we the Inhab- itants of Pemaquid being fled to Munhegon for the saueing of our Lines from the barborous heathen who haue killed Most of the Persons dwelling at Arowsuk in Kenibek Riuer & for ought we know Captayne Thomas Lake we being Com to Munhegen do finde the Hand vnprouided of Powder & Espeshally of gunes we do therfore Intreat that with what speed may be Gunes & Powder may be sent vs we Judge ther Cannot be fewer gunes sent vs then forty the fishermen being gennerally without we farther Judge that without helpe sent Either to Setle A garison vpon the maine or otherwise as your Hone's Apoynt the Hands will quickly be deserted & the Country left to the Indianes The Cause of the Indianes Riseing Apeares to vs to be threfold the first & Cheefest being the Coming of diners Indianes from the westwards who by ther perswation & Asistance have set these Indianes on this vngodly Enterprise The Second Cause being the perfidious & vnjust dealing of som English as we Supose who haue Stollen Eight or Nine persones from the Indianes About Micheas River &. Caried them Away the Indianes being Incensed for their lose we desier that Enquiry may be made of one Lawton that went in A Cach of Mr Simon Lines one John Lauerdore being of Com- pany About it. The Third Reason which thay likewise [119] Render : diuers the hist winter for want of Powder died in the Conntry haueiug nothing to kill food & thay say that After their present Crop ot Corne be spent this winter thay must Starve or go to Cannade
our Request is farther that if the Honored Counsell think it not fitt to settle A garison for the defence of the Contry som Vesell may be thought on to fetch Away distresed ftamilies of which ther ar many not farther to Trouble your Honnors but Intreting god to be in your Counsels & to blese them shall rest your distresed Servants & Pettetioners
John I Allen
Thomas Gardner
George Bickford Richd : Oliuer
Fohn cL r^ P{
John cV \ u Pamers mark
-
Century
-
17th Century
-
Decade material covers
-
1670s
-
Subject
-
Thomas Gardiner
-
John Allen
-
George Brickford
-
Richard Oliver
-
John Clark
-
John Leverett (MA Governor)
-
Pemaquid
-
Machias
-
Mohegan Island
-
Kennebc
-
Arrowsic
-
Canada
-
Type
-
Petition
-
War
-
King Philip's War
-
Point of Departure
-
Monhegan Island, ME
-
Point of Arrival
-
Boston, MA
