Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-09
King Philips Var.
New England Two Hundred Years Ago

New England Two Hundred Years Ago
In the annals OF New England the
year 1919 is scarcely les: memorable than
the year 40. In the summer OF that
earlier year began the liie'and death
Struggle known in our history as Philips
war. At that time the United Colonies oil
Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connect
c., did not number ore than 5000
inhabitants, if there were so many; and
these were scattered though about
Luudted settlements, separated from one
another by thick forests, but none OF them
remote from Tide water IL WAS no, quite
forty i've Years since Winthrop and his
associates had founded Boston; and so
peaceful had been the relations between
the colonisiS and he Indians that Increase
Mather SAYS the first blood ever shed on
the soil OF Massachusetts, IN way OF
hostility. was in July, 800. about three
weeks after the beginning OF the war.
when = party OF Indians murdered sew
eral OF the inhabitants OF Mendon.-
Almost from the first, attempts had bee
made TO ciyiiize and ChrisIlaniLe the
indians; The Bible had been translated
into the Indian language. Indian sehol'
ars had been admitted ~ Harvard College
and wise and Just lass had been euacted
Tor regulating the snterconrse with the
natives, and Tor preventing the acquisition
OF their lands by mere adveuturers and
sp,culators. Il think | can clearly say,
wrote Governor Wiu,loS, oil Plymouth.
10 MAY. 1916. that before these present
troubles broke out the English did not
possess one loot ol land ia this colony
bu, VIVA, was fairly 90 aimed by honest
purchase Of the Indian propIietors." A
similar remark would probably apply
with equal force 10 the other colonies
1. was under these circumstances that
the war begun on the 2Cth Of June. 1915.
Old Style, by an attack on Swanzey, in
Plymouth Colony. and was waged by the
savages with relenlless cruelty for more
than q year. until it was virtually termin-
ated by the death OF Philip. on the 18th
OF August, 1876. of Mount Hope, in
Rhode Island. During his period about
COO of the colonisls wera killed in battle
or barbarOusly murdered, while others,
like Mrs Rowlandson. vile OF The minis
ter OF Lancaster. were carried away 10 q
captivity more horrible han death; and
about as many buildings mostly dwelling
houses, were burned. Ofthe settlements
10 Plymouth and Massachusetts,, about
two-thiIds were more OF less damaged by
fire, and OF this numbs' len or twelve
were totally destroyed AID were deserted
by their inhabitants. Even alter the
death of Philip. the war lasted for many
months in the EIsterr settlements. in
what Is now the State OF Maine. and
there il was only Terminated after many
more lives had been sacrificed. If 10
these losses We add The expenses incurred
in carrying on the war, we shall be able
TO form some faint idea oi the difficulties
under which the men Of that day lahore
in laying The foundations OF tbelr Com
monweslth In an official letter, written
in 1879, it is stated that the disbursements
for the wal amounted TO moie than
GlOO. 600; and il has beon estimated that
the debt oil Plymouth Colony alone ex-
ceeded in amount the whole value of the
personal property OF its nhabilsnls. The
c0lonists saw very Clearly that in that
war there was no truce they must either
conquer or be exterminsted
Ii was the fashion in he last genera
ton to speak OF Philip as recognized
sovereign, as 4 wise anc patriotic states
man. who. with prudent forecast, saw
the impending destruction of his people.
or their swift expulsion from the homes
of their ancestors by the advancing tide
oil English colonization. Not thus did he
seem 10 the men OF his own time. Not
thus does he appear to those who study
the original sources OF information,
Or who endeavOr to paIs themselves ac-
quainted with the unct angling elements
OF the Indian character. Church. who
saw him alter his de,th, says he was
naked, save his stockings and pair of
short breaches, and adds, 10 very intelli.
gible language. "a doleful, great. naked,
dirty beast be lOokd like" And the
most candid and best informed OF our
later historians. DR.. Pallrey, says: The
title OF King. which it has been customary
10 attach to his name, disguises and
trans6gures to the view the form OF
sQualid savage, whose palace was sly;
whose royal robe was 4 bear skin or a