William Hathorne to MA Governor & Council
Item
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Title
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William Hathorne to MA Governor & Council
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Recipient
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John Leverett (MA Governor)
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MA Council
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Date
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22 September 1676
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Description
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Councilman William Hathorne reports to the Massachusetts Governor & Council that his men had recently captured a Pigwacket sagamore, who “Informed vs that Kennibeck Indians [Kennebec Abenaki] were to Come Into these parts that night or the next day he told us that ye Indians In these parts are not above 30 or 40 fighting men & that these keep up at Orsybee [Oyster Bay] or peggwackeck [Pigwacket]. The sagamore also revealed that “he know of noe French men among them.” The English distrusted the Pigwacket sagamore (“wee found him in many lyes”) and executed him. Hathorne laments the difficulty of fighting the Wabanaki Indians in their homeland: “wee find itt very Difficult to Come neire them there is soe many Rivers & soe much broken land, that they soon Escape by Canoes yt Country being full of them.”
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Transcription
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Letter from Wm Hathorne
Cascho 22nd Sept 1676 Att 9 a'clock at night —
Honble Sr
[123] I have not had any thinge to writte or any thige worth Information, wee came Into these parts ye 19th Instant, when wee catched an Indian; Sagamore of peggwakick [Pigwacket] (& took ye gun of Another), who Informed vs that Kennibeck Indians were to Come Into these parts that night or the next day he told vs that ye Indians In these parts are not above 30 or 40 fighting men & that these keep up at Orsybee or peggwackeck, which is 60 myles from vs, he saith he know of noe French men among them as ye Inhabitants Informed vs, wee found him in many lyes, & so Ordrd him to be put to death, & ye Cochecho Indians to be his executioners; which was redily done by them, this day, going Over a River wee were Ambuscaded, but soon gatt One & put them to flight. Killed dead In ye place but one Indian: Named Jn Sampson, who was well Aquainted with majr Waldens Indians, they say he was a Captaine & he was double Armed which wee tooke but such are all ye Enamyes they Kill, wee find itt very Difficult to Come neire them there is soe many Rivers & soe much broken land, that they soon Escape by Canoes ye Country being full of them I would Intreat your Honr to Ordr something Concerning ye state of afiaires here, many Inhabittants of yt place being Come to take off there Corne & Kill there Cattle only they want some helpe from vs. I know not whether itt may be for ye Interest of ye Country, for all to Stay; & If Wee goe Into yt Country to peggwackick we can Leave none, I Desire your Honr Advise & Command this Also. Wee have had noe bread this three dayes I suppose ye Reason is ye Contrary Winds, because I have sent to Mr Martin twice; haue had one returne but noe bread, Wee can doe well [124] without unlesse we goe up Into ye Country while our people are In health as they are generally praysed be ye lord for itt; I Humbly Request your Honour to Remmember my duty to my father & loue to Rest of Friends If you have an oppertunity, & soe I Rest Your Honr Humble Servant
William Hathorne
The Indian that was taken told vs that there be 20 English Captives at Peggwacckick ; 2 of them men, & that Capt Lake was killed, they say that Kennebeck Indians kill all —
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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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William Hathorne (Councilman of Casco
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ME)
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John Levrett (MA Governor)
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John Sampson
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Pigwacket Indians
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Kennebec Indians
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Wabanaki Indians
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Casco
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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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Casco, ME
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Point of Arrival
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Boston, MA
