Edited by Sean Desrochers
IT was on Tuesday, Feb 1. 1675.1 in the afternoon, when the Narragansets2 quarters (in or toward the Nipmug3 Country, whither they are now retyred for fear of the English Army lying in their own Country) were the second time beaten up by the Forces of the united Colonies4, who thereupon soon betook themselves to flight, and were all the next day pursued by the English, some overtaken and destroyed.5
But on Thursday, Feb. 3. The English having now been six dayes on their march, from their head quarters, at Wickford6, in the Narrhaganset Country, toward, and after the Enemy, and provision grown exceeding short, insomuch that they were fain to kill some Horses for the sapply, especially of their Indian friends7, they were necessitated to consider what was best to be done: And about noon (having hitherto followed the chase as hard as they might) a Councill was called, and though some few were of another mind, yet it was concluded by far the greater part of the Councill of War, that the Army should desist the pursuit, and retire: the Forces of Plimouth and the Bay to the next Town of the Bay, and Connecticut Forces to their own next Towns: Which determination was immediately put in execution. The consequent whereof, as it was not difficult to be foreseen by those that knew the causless enmity of these Barbarians, against the English, and the malicious and revengefull spirit of these Heathen8: so it soon Proved dismall.
The Narrhagansets were now driven quite from their own Countrey, and all their provisions there hoarded up to which they durst not at present return, and being so numerous as they were, soon devoured9 those to whom they went, whereby both the one and other were now reduced to extream straits, and so necessitated to take the first and best opportunity for supply, and very glad, no doubt of such an opportunity as this, to provide for themselves, and make spoil of the English at once; and seeing themselves thus discharged of their pursuers, and a little refreshed after their flight, the very next week on Thurseday, Feb. 10. they fell with mighty force and fury upon Lancaster10 : which small Town, remote from aid of others, and not being Gerisoned11) as it might, the Army being now come in, and as the time indeed required (the design of the Indians against that place being known to the English some time before12) was not able to make effectual resistance: but notwithstanding utmost endeavour of the Inhabitants, most of the buildings were turned into ashes; many People (Men, Women and Children) slain, and others captivated.
The most solemn and remarkable part of this Trajedy, may that justly be reputed, which fell upon the Family of that reverend Servant of God, Mr. Joseph Rolandson13, the faithfull Pastor of Christ in that place, who being gone down to the Councill of the Massachusets to seek aid for the defence of the place, at his return found the Town in flames, or smoke, his own house being set on fire by the Enemy, through the disadvantage of a defective Fortification, and all in it consumed: his precious yoke-fellow14, and dear Children, wounded and captivated (as the issue evidenced, and following Narrative declares) by these cruel and barbarous Salvages. A sad Catestrophe. Thus all things come alike to all: None knows either love or hatred by all that is before him. It is no new thing for Gods precious ones to drink as deep as others, of the Cup of common Calamity15: Take just Lot16(yet captivated) for instance beside others.
Thanks to the University of Michigan’s “Evans Early American Imprint Digital Collection” for providing the digitized version of this text free of charge. Without their generosity, this project would not be possible.
Date is Old Style. In the New Style calendar, this event would have taken place in 1676. ↩
Symbols used in place of letters and words in the original University of Michigan’s Evans Early American Imprint Digital Collection have been removed and replaced for readability. Missing information filled in using images of Samuel Green’s 1682 printing of the preface, sourced by Empire Online. ↩
Modern spelling of Indigenous nations: Narragansett; Nipmuc ↩
The first time undoubtedly referring to The Great Swamp Massacre two months prior, where hundreds of Narragansett non-combatants died in a preemptive attack by the United Colonies. ↩
A period added and new paragraph created for readability. ↩
A settlement on the western side of Narragansett Bay. The west side of the bay was occupied by the Narragansett, while the Wampanoag lived in the north-east. ↩
Likely refers to Christian Indigenous, who, despite converting, were treated very poorly by English colonists (letter to Thomas Walley, 4 February 1676). ↩
Billy J. Stratton mentions in the introduction and Chapter 3 of his book, Buried in the Shades of Night, that the Puritan Increase Mather likely had a hand in writing Rowlandson’s preface. By relating Indigenous people to “heathen,” it justifies the stealing of Indigenous land. ↩
Cannibalistic language was often used to describe North American Indigenous people, as can be seen in Rowlandson’s introduction. Stratton links it to dehumanizing Indigenous people in Chapter 3 of his book. ↩
The garrisons at Chelmsford, Billerica, Groton, Lancaster and Sudbury had all been emptied in order to pursue the Narragansetts. (p.169 ↩
According to Shawn Eric Pirelli in his work Vital Allies, General Gookin learned of the attack plan from spy Job Kattenanit. ↩
Mary Rowlandson’s husband. ↩
A word meaning one’s companion or partner. In this case Mary Rowlandson. ↩
A reference to the Puritan belief that God will punish those whom he loves as much, or more, than others to test their faith. ↩
A biblical character in The Book of Genesis. God let Lot escape the city of Sodom before raining down fire and brimstone upon it, but Lot’s wife was turned in to a pillar of salt as a result of looking at the city’s destruction. Lot’s father, Abraham, shares similarities with Rev. Joseph Rowlandson, who both returned to find their homes in smoke and ash. ↩
