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Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin (c. 1581-1661), [1] was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. A sachem is a title of leadership historically given to the head of some Native American tribes The Pokanoket, or Pocasset, were one of the tribes that made up the Wampanoag peoples The term Massasoit actually means Great Sachem. [2]
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Biography
Early Years
Massasoit (Ousamequin) was born circa 1581[1] in Montaup, a Pokanoket village at the site of today's Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island. Circa (often abbreviated c, ca, ca or cca and sometimes Italicized to show it is Latin) means "about" Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. Bristol is a town in and the historic County seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. [1] He held the allegiance of seven lesser Wampanoag sachems. Massasoit visited Plymouth in 1621 and negotiated a treaty guaranteeing the English their security in exchange for their alliance against the Narragansett. Plymouth Colony (sometimes New Plymouth or The Old Colony) was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 until 1691 The Narragansett tribe are a Native American Tribe who controlled the area surrounding Narragansett Bay in present-day Rhode Island, and also Massasoit actively sought the alliance since two significant outbreaks of smallpox brought by the English had devastated the Wampanoag during the previous six years.
He was commonly known as Massasoit, but he was called by many other names, including: Ousamequin, Woosamequin, Asuhmequin, Oosamequen, Osamekin, Owsamequin, Owsamequine, and Ussamequen. [1]
Forging Peace
According to English sources, Massasoit prevented the failure of Plymouth Colony and the almost certain starvation that the Pilgrims faced during the earliest years of the colony's establishment. Plymouth Colony (sometimes New Plymouth or The Old Colony) was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 until 1691 Moreover, Massasoit forged critical political and personal ties with the colonial leaders John Carver, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Winslow, William Bradford, and Myles Standish which culminated in a negotiated peace treaty on March 22, 1621. John Carver (1576&ndash1621 Pilgrim leader and the first governor of Plymouth Colony, born probably in Nottinghamshire, England Stephen Hopkins (born about 1582 &ndash 1644 was a tanner and Merchant who was one of the passengers on the Mayflower in 1620 settling Edward Winslow (1595 &ndash 1655 was an American Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. William Bradford ( March 19, 1590 – May 9, 1657) was a leader of the separatist settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts Captain Myles Standish (c 1584 &ndash October 3, 1656) (sometimes spelled Miles Standish was an English born military officer hired Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Massasoit's alliance ensured that the Wampanoag remained neutral during the Pequot War in 1636. The Pequot War was an armed conflict in 1636-1637 between an alliance of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies with Native American allies (the Unfortunately, the peaceful relationship that Massasoit had worked so diligently to create and protect had unforeseen dire consequences for the Wampanoag.
Massasoit's children
During this politically promising time, Massasoit had five children: "Moanam", or Wamsutta, also known as "Alexander", who was born sometime between 1621 and 1624; Pometecomet, Metacomet, or Metacom, also known as "Philip"; a third son, Sonkanuchoo; and two daughters, one named Amie and one whose name the English failed to record. Wamsutta (b c 1634 - d 1662 also Alexander Pokanoket as he was called by New England colonists was a leader ( Sachem) of the Wampanoag Metacomet (c 1639 - August 12, 1676) also known as King Philip or Metacom, was a war chief or Sachem of the Wampanoag Massasoit's eldest son, Wamsutta (Alexander), became sachem of the Pokanoket on the death of his father. A sachem is a title of leadership historically given to the head of some Native American tribes The Pokanoket, or Pocasset, were one of the tribes that made up the Wampanoag peoples After the death of Wamsutta, Metacom succeeded him in 1662.
An uneasy alliance
After his recovery, Winslow maintained that Massasoit now saw that "the English are my friends and love me. " Moreover, Winslow also noted that Massasoit felt duty-bound to observe that "whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me. "[3]
In 1659, Massasoit sold a tract of land to Miles Standish and others of Duxbury. Captain Myles Standish (c 1584 &ndash October 3, 1656) (sometimes spelled Miles Standish was an English born military officer hired For the place in England see Duxbury Woods Duxbury is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Consequences of alliance
For nearly forty years, the Wampanoag and the English of Massachusetts Bay Colony maintained an increasingly uneasy peace until Massasoit's death. The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it was an English settlement on the east coast of North America Throughout this time, and in order to maintain the peace, Massasoit sold lands which the English insisted on having.
It is unclear when Massasoit died. Some accounts claim that Massasoit died as early as 1660; others contend that he died as late as 1662. Very likely, Massasoit was anywhere from eighty to ninety years old at the time. When Massasoit died, his son Wamsutta (Alexander) became his successor, but when Wamsutta also died in 1662, Metacom (Philip) succeeded him. Unfortunately, of Massasoit's five children, the only child to survive King Philip's War in 1676 was his daughter, Amie, wife of Tispaquin. King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom 's War or Metacom's Rebellion was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of The Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers ( Popularly known as AMIE) is a Professional certification given by Institution of Engineers (India
Legacy
During his reign as grand sachem, Massasoit never permitted the Pokanoket to convert to Christianity, and with great diplomatic skill, managed to stay such efforts. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Perhaps unsurprisingly however, the half century of peace that Massasoit so assiduously negotiated collapsed soon after his death. Breaking with his father's diplomacy, and in response to increasing depredations into Wampanoag territory by his ally, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Wamsutta began to form an alliance with Connecticut Colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it was an English settlement on the east coast of North America The Colony of Connecticut was an English colony that became the U Within a year of his succession, and almost immediately after appearing in front of the court, in 1662, Wamsutta died suddenly. Metacom, Massasoit's second son, became sachem of the Pokanoket, and chief sachem of the Greater Wampanoag Confederacy. Metacom, also known as Philip, certainly believed that Wamsutta had been murdered at the hands of the English. Wamsutta's death was one of the leading factors that eventually led to King Philip's War, the bloodiest war in American history — indeed, more so than the American Civil War in terms of lives lost proportional to population. King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom 's War or Metacom's Rebellion was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
Statues of Massasoit stand near Plymouth Rock; at the Utah state capitol building; and on the campus of Brigham Young University. Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Massasoit Community College and Massasoit State Park, both located in Massachusetts, are named after him. Massasoit Community College ("MCC" is a two-year Community college in Norfolk County and Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Massasoit State Park is a Massachusetts State park located in Taunton and Lakeville. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States.
References
- "Native People" (page), "Massasoit (Ousamequin) Sachem" (section), MayflowerFamilies. com, webpage: MFcom-Native.
- Bicknell, Thomas BOOM Williams (1908). Sowams, with Ancient Records of Sowams and Parts Adjacent. New Haven: Associated Publishers of American Records.
- Winslow, Edward (1624). Good Newes from New England. dfxlkxd
Notes
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