Metacomet
Metacomet (c.
1639-
August 12,
1676), also known as
King Philip or
Metacom, was a war chief or sachem of the
Wampanoag Indians and their leader in
King Philip's War.Metacomet was the second son of
Massasoit, the chief who had befriended the
Pilgrims in
1621.He became chief in
1662 when his brother
Wamsutta (or King Alexander) died.
Wamsutta's widow
Weetamoo (d. 1676),
sachem of the
Pocassets was his ally and friend for the rest of her life.
At first he sought to live in harmony with the colonists.As a sachem, he took the lead in much of his tribes trade with the colonies.He adopted the European name of Philip, and bought his clothes in
Boston.But the colonies continued to expand.To the west, the
Iroquois Confederation continued expanding, pushing hostile tribes east, thereby encroaching on his territory.
Finally, in
1671 the colonial leaders of the
Plymouth Colony forced major concessions from him.He surrendered much of his tribe's armament and ammunition, and agreed that they were subject to English law.The encroachment continued until actual hostilities broke out in
1675.Metacomet hurried to catch up with his warriors, to lead them in the uprising that would later bear his name,
King Philip's War.
One particularly interesting aspect of this war was detailed in the writing of
Mary Rowlandson, who was taken captive during a raid on Lancaster and wrote about a meeting with Metacomet during her captivity.
When the war eventually turned against him, he took refuge in the great Assowamset Swamp in southern
Rhode Island.Here he held out for a time, with his family and remaining followers.Hunted by a group of rangers lead by
Captain Benjamin Church, he was fatally shot by
Praying Indian John Alderman, on
August 12,
1676 on
Mount Hope in
Bristol, Rhode Island.After his death, his wife and eight year old son were captured and sold as slaves in
Bermuda while his head was mounted on a pike at the entrance to Fort Plymouth, where it remained for over two decades.
Washington Irving's romantic short story
Philip of Pokanoket depicts Metacomet as a "savage hero". Published in the
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon together with an essay about
Traits of Indian Character Irving's historical study intended to arouse the conscience of his fellow Americans.
The 19th century play
Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags was an adaptation of his life story.
Stephen Vincent Benetin his short story
The Devil and Daniel Webster has "King Philip" among the jury of the dammed -and incorrectly claims the cause of his death was a gash on the head when in fact he was shot throught the heart.
The
Metacomet Trail &
Metacomet-Monadnock Trail are named in his honor.
A ship in the
United States Navy was named
Metacomet in his honor.
Metacom Avenue, a road running through
Bristol and
Warren, Rhode Island, is named after him.
King Philip High School in Wrentham, Massachusetts is named after Metacomet.
*
Cape Cod Times article: Native American Reconnection Festival in Bermuda.*
Cape Cod Times article: Finding a link that was never really lost.*
The Royal Gazette article: The struggle to honour Bermuda's Native American heritage.*
Rootsweb: New England Indians. Bermuda Reconnection Festival 2002 Photo Album.*
Rootsweb: Edward Randolph on the Causes of the King Philip's War (1685).*
Rootsweb: St. David's (Bermuda) Indian Committee.*
Pokanoket/Wampanoag Constitution. With History.*
US History.com: King Philip's War, 1675-76.*
Ireland's Own: Native Blood: The Myth of Thanksgiving.
