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In what year, was the Pequot war?

How long after the settlement of Wethersfield?-of Hartford and Windsor ?

Where was the principal residence of the Pequots ?

What other regions did they occupy? The regions that are now New-London and Stonington.

In what part of Ct. are NewLondon, Groton and Stonington? Which of these towns is between the other two? Groton.

Near the mouth of what river, is New-London

Indian name of the Thames ? Pequot river.

Where was Pequot harbor? At the mouth of the Thames.

What tribe of Indians was the most warlike and terrific in NewEngland? The Pequots.

Where had they previously lived? In the interior.

How had they gained possession of the coast? By conquest.

Where was their principal fort? In Groton, a few miles from New London.

Where had they another fort? On Mystic river, near the border of Stonington, 6 or 7 miles from their principal fort.

What was their smaller fort called? Fort Mystic.

How many warriors had the Pequots ? About 700.

Their principal sachem? Sassa

cus.

What was his character? He was a most mighty and terrible warrior.

How many sachems had he under him? Twenty-six.

Who was the principal of these? Mononotto.

What was the only tribe in their vicinity, that the Pequots had not conquered? The Narragansets.

Which way from the residence of the Pequots, was the country of the Narragansets?

Whom did the confederates of the Pequots murder in 1634? Capt. Stone, Capt. Norton and eight others.

Where were these murders perpetrated? On Ct. river, a few miles from the mouth.

Why were the Pequots chargeable with the guilt of this massacre? Sassacus was knowing to it, shared the plunder, and had probably contrived it.

When did the Pequots make a treaty of peace with the English at Ms. In 1634, soon after the murder of Stone, &c.

Why did the Pequots wish to be at peace with the English? The Dutch and the Narragansets were making war upon them.

Between whom, did the Pequots wish the English to act as media.

tors? Themselves and the Narragansets.

Conduct of the Pequots after that treaty? They were more hostile and bloody than before.

How did they regard the English? As strangers and intruders.

What resolution did the Pequots then form, respecting the English in this country? To exterminate them. Meaning of exterminate?

How did the Pequots think they could exterminate the English? By uniting all the Indians against them.

With what tribe, did the Pequots make the greatest efforts for this purpose? The Narragansets. Principal argument, which the Pequots urged with the Narragansets? That the English, if suffered to continue, would exterminate the Indians.

Influence of this argument? The Narragansets were almost

NOTE N.

Murder of Mr. John Oldham,

avenged by John Gallop.

In August, 1636, was murdered by the Indians, Mr. John Oldham, who had been expelled from Plymouth. There is reason to hope, that after his wonderful preservation on the shoals of Cape Cod, he did really mend his manners. Having resided a while at Nantasket, Cape Ann and perhaps at Salem or Charlestown, he was among the first planters of Watertown. There he was not only a respectable citizen, but had the honor to be one of 24 freemen, who in 1634, represented the eight towns in Ms. and constituted the first general court of delegates in that colony.

The leading circumstances of his death, are the following.

As Mr. John Gallop was sailing near Block island, he saw a small vessel, which he took to be Mr.

persuaded to combine against the English.

What prevented? Their thirst for revenge.

Who had probably made upon them, an impression favorable to the English? Roger Williams.

What method did the governor of Ms. adopt, to prevent the union? Sent for Miantonimo, and made a treaty with him.

In what year? 1636.

Name of that governor of Ms.? Henry Vane.

Who was Miantonimo? Nephew to Canonicus, and next to him in authority.

Principal articles of that treaty? To maintain a firm peace together; to unite in war against the Pequots; to maintain free trade, and to have the treaty extend to posterity.

In what year was John Oldham murdered? - Where?

Oldham's, and accordingly hailed him; but received no answer. As he saw the deck full of Indians, and a canoe, just gone from Oldham's vessel, filled with goods and Indians, he suspected, that Oldham had been murdered.

He had with him only one man and two small boys. He and his little party were armed with two guns and two pistols. The Indians were 14 or 15 in number, armed with guns, pikes and swords. Notwithstanding the extreme disparity of forces, Gallop being a most courageous and resolute man, dared to attack the savages. As he had no bullets, the two guns and two pistols were loaded with large shot, and at once discharged at the Indians; who were so frightened, that they instantly skulked beneath the deck. There for a while, they felt secure. But Gallop getting to the windward of them, with a brisk gale, drove against their vessel with such violence, as almost to overset

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Which way is Block island from R. I.. from Fairfield? From what place, had he been expelled for bad conduct?

What was the occasion of his reformation?.

From what town, was he sent to the general court of delegates in Ms. ?

By whom, was he murdered? What Indians ? Principally, Block-Islanders and Narragansets. Who avenged the death of O.? Who assisted Gallop?

By whom, were several of the surviving murderers protected? The Pequots.

What fort did the Pequots besiege, towards the close of 1636 ? Fort Saybrook.

them. Six of the affrightened savages leaped into the sea, and were drowned. Standing off again, and running down upon her a second time, he bored her with his anchor; and the two vessels being thus fastened to each other, he attempted to shoot the Indians in their lurking places, through the side of their vessel. At length getting loose, he drove down upon them the third time, and caused 4 or 5 more to jump overboard. There being but four left, he ventured to go aboard of their vessel. He immediately took and bound two of them. Two others, armed with swords in a little room below, could not be driven from their retreat. Mr. Oldham's corpse was found on board, the head split, and the body horribly mangled, and not yet cold.

† NOTE O.

Extreme trials of the Ct. planters

in the spring of 1637.

The affairs of Ct. at this time, wore a most gloomy aspect. They had sustained great losses in cattle.

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How long did the siege continue ? Till the next spring,

By whom, was the siege raised in March? Capt. Mason and 20

men.

What kept the people of Ct. in continual alarm in the spring of 1637? The incursions of the Pequots.

How many men did the Pequots murder, that year, at Wethersfield? How many women?

How many young females did they carry into captivity?

What were then the condition and prospects of the people of Ct.? Most distressing.

In what, had they sustained very great losses in the two preceding years? †

and goods in the preceding years, and even this year, they were unfortunate with respect to their cattle. They had no hay, but what they cut from the spontaneous productions of an uncultivated country. To make good English meadow, was a work of time. The wild, coarse grass, which the people cut, was often mowed too late, and but poorly made. They did not always cut a sufficient quantity even of this poor hay. They had no corn, or provender, with which they could feed them; and amidst the multiplicity of affairs, which at their first settlement, demanded their attention, they could not provide such shelters for them, as were necessary during the long and severe winters, of this northern climate. From a union of these circumstances, some of their cattle were lost, and those, which lived through the winter, were commonly poor. Notwithstanding all the expreceding summer, they had not ertions, the people had made the been able, in the multiplicity of their affairs, and under their inconveniences, to raise a sufficiency of provisions. Their provisions were

What is said of their provisjons?

Instrument principally used in cultivating the earth? Price of a good cow ? How many dollars?

Why did they want all their men at home?

To what danger, were they exposed, when hunting, fishing, or cultivating their fields?

not only very coarse, but very dear and scanty. The people were not only inexperienced in the husbandry of the country, but they had but few oxen or ploughs. They performed almost the whole culture the earth with hoes. This rendered both exceedingly slow and laborious.

Every article bore a high price. Valuable as money was at that day, a good cow could not be purchased under thirty pounds. Indian corn was about five shillings a bushel; and labor and other articles bore a proportionable price.

In addition to all these difficulties, a most insidious and dreadful enemy were now destroying the lives and property of the colonists, attempting to raise the numerous Indian tribes of the country against them, and threatened the utter ruin of the whole colony. The inhabitants were in a feeble state, and few in number. They wanted all their men at home, to prosecute the necessary business of the plantations. They had not a sufficiency of provisions for themselves, there would therefore be the greatest difficulty in furnishing a small army with provisions abroad. They could neither hunt, fish, nor cultivate their fields, nor travel at home, or abroad, but at the peril of their lives. They were obliged to keep a constant watch by night and day; to go armed to their daily labors, and to the public worship. They were obliged to keep a constant

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When were they obliged to watch against the Pequots

Where did they go armed? Where did the general court meet at this awful crisis?

What did they consider in the utmost danger? The existence of the colony and the lives of all the people.

How many had been murdered by the Pequots ?

watch and guard at their houses of worship on the Lord's day, and whenever they convened for the public worship. They lay down and rose up in fear and danger. If they should raise a party of men, and send them to fight the enemy on their own ground, it would render the settlements proportionably weak at home, in case of an assault from the enemy. Every thing indeed appeared dark and threatening. But nothing could discour age men, who had an unshaken confidence in the divine government, and were determined to sacrifice every other consideration, for the enjoyment of the uncorrupted gospel, and the propagation of religion and liberty in America.

As

"In this important crisis, a court was summoned at Hartford, on Monday, the first of May. they were to deliberate on matters, in which the lives of the subjects, and the very existence of the colony were concerned, the towns for the first time sent, committees.

"The court on mature deliberation, considering that the Pequots had killed nearly thirty of the English; that they had tortured, and insulted their captives in a most horrible manner; that they were attempting to engage all the Indians, to unite for the purpose of extirpating the English; and the danger the whole colony was in, unless some capital blow could be immediately given their enemies, determined, that an offensive war

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How many did Plymouth? 50. Chaplain of the Ct. men? Mr. Stone, of Hartford.

Commander? Capt. John Ma

son.

Where had he been trained to arms? In the Netherlands.

Who delivered to the Ct. men, a most affecting address, just before they started? +

servants. You are only the ministers of his justice. I do not pretend, that your enemies are careless, or indifferent. No; their hatred is inflamed; their lips thirst for blood; they would devour you, and all the people of God. But my brave soldiers, their guilt has reached the clouds; they are ripe for destruction; their cruelty is notorious; and cruelty and cowardice are always united. · -There is noth

should be carried on against them, by the three towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield. They voted, that 90 men should be raised forthwith; 42 from Hartford, 30 from Windsor, and 18 from Wethersfield. Notwithstanding the necessities and poverty of the people, all necessary supplies were voted for this little army. No sooner was this resolution adopted, than the people prosecuted the most vigorous measures, to carry it in-ing, therefore, to prevent your certo immediate and effectual execution."

NOTE P.

Address of the Rev. Thomas Hooker to Capt. Mason and his little army at Hartford, when about to march against the Pequots.

"Fellow Soldiers, Countrymen and Companions, you are this day assembled by the special providence of God. You are not collected by wild fancy, nor ferocious passions. It is not a tumultuous assembly whose actions are abortive, or if successful, produce only theft, rapine, rape and murder; crimes inconsistent with nature's light, inconsistent with a soldier's valor. You, my dear Hearts, were selected from your neighbors, by the godly fathers of the land, for your known courage, to execute such a work. Your cause is the cause of Heaven. The enemy have blasphemed your God, and slain his

tain victory, but their nimble feet, their impenetrable swamps and woods; from these your small numbers will entice them, or your courage drive them. I now put the question, Who would not fight in such a cause? fight with undaunted boldness? Do you wish for more encouragement? More I give you. Riches waken the soldier's sword; and though you will not obtain silver and gold on the field of victory, you will secure what is infi nitely more precious; you will se cure the liberties, the privileges and the lives of Christ's church in this new world. You will procure safety for your affectionate wives, safety for your prattling, harmless, smiling babes. You will secure all the blessings, enjoyed by the people of God in the ordinances of the gospel. Distinguished_was honor conferred upon David, for fighting the battles of the Lord. This honor, O ye courageous soldiers of God, is now prepared for you. You will now execute his vengeance on the heathen; you

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