Double Feature: Maintonomoh and Canonchet of the Narrangansett

These two Narragansett Sachems, father and son, both came tragic ends because of conflicts which weren't the fault of their own nation, but through the actions of others.  Maintonomoh, 1600-1643, was the son of Narragansett Sachem Canonicus, likely an English corruption of his real name.  Maintonomoh shared with his father in leading the Narragansett and later succeeded as Sachem in 1636.  Though the Narragansett were on friendly terms with Colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, Maintonomoh himself was distrusted by the Settlers as somehow being treacherous.

At risk to his own personal liberty and safety, Maintonomoh traveled to Boston to convince Colonial authorities that his intentions were peaceful.  During the Pequot War of 1636-1638, he allowed the Settlers to march their army through his territory in a punitive strike on the Pequot, who were decimated as tribe due to the conflict.  In 1638, he was a signatory of a treaty with the English and Mohegan leaders to divide up Pequot land and captives.  Conflict developed between all three parties as to control of the former Pequot land.  Fed up, Maintonomoh approached other tribes to form a confederacy against the English.  Instead, in 1643, an outright war developed between the Mohegan and the Narragansett.  Maintonomoh led 1,000 warriors against the Mohegan in battle, but was capture by Uncas of the Mohegan.  When Maintonomoh broached to Uncas the idea of uniting against the English, Uncas turned Maintonomoh over to Colonial authorities at Hartford, Connecticut. 

Maintonomoh was tried in Boston for rebellion against Colonial authority.  His defense was that he had marched against the Mohegan on the orders of the Settlers, which was true.  He was found guilty and returned to the Mohegan for punishment.  They returned him to Norwich, where he was ritually clubbed to death with a tomahawk by Uncas' brother, Wewagua.  His daughter Minnetinka, was taken in by a Dutch family.  His son, Canonchet, succeeded Maintonomoh as Sachem of the Narragansett.  The place of his execution in Norwich is now a state park.  Four U.S. Navy ships have born his name.  Streets in Middletown, Rhode Island, bear his name and that of his father, Canonicus. 

Maintnomoh's son was able to restore some peace between the Narragansett and the Colonists.  The Narragansett tried to stay out of King Phillip's War, 1675, but did take some Wampanoag refugees, including members of Phillip's extended family, into their village near South Kingston, Rhode Island.  This led to an attack by the Colonists in the Great Swamp Fight in December, 1675.  The following year, 1676, he was captured by the Colonists and offered his life in exchange for a peace treaty with the English.  Canonchet refused and was instead sentenced to death.  Informed of his fate, he replied, "I like it well.  I shall die before my heart is soft, and before I speak any words unworthy of myself." 

Settlers versus Natives: the Great Swamp Fight, 1675

This decisive battle between militia of Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut colonies against members of the Narragansett tribe during King Phillip's War of 1675 had a cruel irony.  The Narrangansetts had not taken up arms against the colonists.  They were not members of the Wampanoag Confederacy.  They had given shelter to Wampanoag refugees including some members of King Phillip's/Metacomet's, family, but that was enough to turn the wrath of the English on them, too.

Ousamequin/Massassoit, the Great Sachem of the Wampanoag Confederacy, had been a loyal friend to the English settlers of both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay for years following the landing at Plymouth in 1620.  Following his death in 1661, relations between the two sides quickly soured.  Colonists' demands for more land and more foodstuffs from the Natives angered Alexander, Massassoit's son, who was arrested and taken to Plymouth in 1662.  He died, possibly of poisoning, before returning home.  His brother, Metacomet took his place as Sachem and the hard feelings continued.  The Settlers accused the Natives of stealing English cattle, demanded compensation, more land and more yearly foodstuffs.  Fed up, Phillip rose against the English in 1675.  Eight soldiers were killed by the Wampanoag in an ambush near Bristol, Rhode Island.  Raids quickly followed on other Massachusetts towns. 

In December, 1675, Josiah Winslow, Governor of Plymouth Colony, led a combined force of 1,000 militia from Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Rhode Island and Connecticut, accompanied by 150 Mohegan warriors under Uncas, to what is now South Kingston, Rhode Island.  This was a large, palisaded Narrangansett village to which many of King Philip's warriors and some of his extended family had fled during the winter.  The Narrangansetts weren't part of the Wampanoag Confederacy and hadn't risen against the English.   The expedition was in the nature of a preemptive strike, as the English believed the Narragansett would join Phillip come spring, and as a means of locating those Wampanoag who had fled to Rhode Island. 

The Narrangansett were aware that English forces were in the area and, on December 15, 1675, led a strike of their own on a nearby English force at Bull's Garrison and killed 15 English soldiers.  On December 19, 1675, early in the morning, the English attacked the main Narragansett town.  Winter had frozen the swamps, making approach to the large palisade possible.  The English force of over 1,000 quickly overran the Narragansett defenses, setting the palisade and houses on fire.  The tribes winter stores were also burnt.  97 warriors and anywhere from 300 to 1,000 Native non-combatants were killed.  The English lost 70 killed and 150 wounded.  While the English wounded were tended in nearby Rhode Island settlements, Narragansett families fled into the winter cold with no food or shelter.  Hundreds more perished, although some managed to reach Wampanoag territory.  Neutral at first, they were willing to take their chances with Phillip's uprising now.  In 1676, both the Narragansett Sachem, Canonchet, and his entire family were executed.  Phillip was also killed and his wife and son sent to the Caribbean as slaves.  Colonial retribution for this uprising decimated the Wampanoag and the Narragansett, who wouldn't be able to mount any further resistance to Colonial takeover of their land.

A marker was placed at the presumed site of the battle in 1906, with descendants of the Settlers and the Natives taking part in the dedication.  When the monument was unveiled, a sudden rainstorm began, which must have been seen as an omen by those taking part.  In 1930, a Wampanoag/Narragansett scholar, Princess Red Wing, began a yearly commemoration of the battle, which includes a reenactment of the fight.