Silvanus Davis et al. to MA Governor & Council
Item
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Title
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Silvanus Davis et al. 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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8 January 1677
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Description
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As the violence continued, English settlers struggled to defend their isolated settlements in Maine. In a letter to the Massachusetts Governor and Council, Silvanus Davis, Ichabod Wiswall, and Thomas Moore propose two major changes to better defend the frontier. First, Davis and his comrades proposed a winter campaign. Second, they suggested offering a false truce to capture the Penobscot sachem Madockawando at New Harbor, ME. This second proposal is a testament to English desperation at this point in King Philip’s War.
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Transcription
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Letter Ichahod Wiswall, Silvanus Davis Tho. Moore to the Governor & Council of Massachusetts
8 January, 1677
May it please your Honoures :
[147] whereas you were pleased to encourage us to present you with our present thoughtes how the ruines and desolatioues by the heathen may be salved and the like or a further progresse westward may be prevented wee are bold under considerationes of y^ premisses to tender our present thoughtes as tending thereto with submission to ye maturitie of your wisdome and prudence.
1 provided that thinges of this nature might be effected in time proportionate to the discourse thereof: ire: without any tedious delayes we apprehend that the present season may be judged properly expedient to retalliate to y*^ heathen the injuries offered to and forced upon y" english. If a considerable number of able men were sent forth with orders that one party land in Cascoe Baye near mare=point : and another party at pemaquid with coinission to move towards Abaquedussets and Damrascottey or sheepscoat [148] fortes in such proportion of time that neither Abaquedussets men nor Dumrascottey men might haue releife from eich other but be universally allarmed and distressed if not distracted by war : during which time a small [force] with a flag of truce not finding Madockawandoe at New= harbour might saile to penobscutt and with much ease S without expence of bloud make prisoner of him and thouse with him :
2. yet because we ordinarily say that winter never rottes in y* skye : and the usuall time for Snow is in this and y^ next month : we apprehend that if the mohawkes were employed in this service they might Save much English blood and cut of much of that expence which will otherwise rise unavoidably : we meane if the shoare were in some places garrisoned the fishery (which is the staple comoditie of the country) may be continued and the mohawkes might from thouse garrisones be supplyed with w* they want from time to time : which would much encouradge y"" in this expedition and render our expence more inconsiderable and their work more easie & speedy : Your Honoures Humble Servantes Ichabod Wiswall Siluanus Dauis Tho Moore
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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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Silvanus Davis
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Ichabod Wiswall
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Thomas Moore
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Madockawando (Penobscot Sachem(
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Penobscot Indians Pemaquid
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Casco Bay
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Damariscove
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Sheepscot
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New Harbor
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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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Mohegan Island, ME
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Point of Arrival
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Boston, MA
