The Name of War

Born Metacom to the great Wampanoag leader Massasoit, but later taking an English name, Philip becomes chief—or “king,” as the English put it—of his people after his father and older brother die. Philip spends many years trying, like Massasoit, to get along with the colonists, but becomes frustrated with their continuous incursions into Native lands, the unfairness of the English court system toward the Indians, and the settlers’ persistent efforts to replace Native spiritual beliefs with Christianity. He forms an alliance of tribes in 1675 and launches King Philip’s War against the colonies, burning towns and killing their inhabitants. The war peters out after Philip is shot to death in 1676.

Captured by Nipmucks and held for three months during King Philip’s War, Mary is ransomed, and in 1682 publishes an account of her captivity, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, which becomes the first bestseller in America.

Perhaps the most famous actor of the 1800s American stage, Forrest stars in an 1829 play, Metamora, that memorializes King Philip as a heroic Indian leader who dies leading a losing battle against New England colonists. The play is popular during a time when US policy forces Southeastern tribes to evacuate their homes and move west on a deadly trek. Metamora continues to be produced well into the 1870s. Forrest is a prominent figure in the development of a broad-chested, plain-spoken style of American drama. His feud with English thespian Charles Macready triggers New York City’s Astor Place Riot that kills 22 and injures 150. 

Born in the early 1620s, Sassamon converts to Christianity in his youth, learns to read and write English, attends Harvard College, helps preacher John Eliot translate the Bible into the Massachusett language, and becomes a preacher and interpreter. In the mid-1670s, Sassamon is working for Wampanoag chief Philip when he learns of the leader’s plans for war against the colonies; he reports this to the English and is killed in reprisal. The ensuing murder trial exacerbates tensions and leads to the start of King Philip’s War.

Eliot is a minister who works with John Sassamon and James Printer to produce translations of the Bible and other religious works into the Massachusett language. Thousands of books are printed and distributed, mainly to Christian Indians who live in New England praying towns. During King Philip’s War, Eliot protests the settlers’ treatment of Natives, especially the sale of Indians into slavery; he predicts correctly that such abuse will prolong the war, since Indian warriors, fearing that they will be deported, refuse to give themselves up. Eliot’s words fall on deaf ears, and most of his printed religious translations are destroyed during the war. 

Printer, so named for his trade, is a Christian Indian who works with John Eliot on translations of the Bible into the Massachusett language and prints up thousands of religious translations at the Cambridge Press. During King Philip’s War, Printer is captured by Nipmucks and lives with them for months, during which time he meets captive Mary Rowlandson, helps arrange her release, and, years later, prints copies of her book about the war. Printer continues his printing work in Cambridge until the early 1700s. 

Increase is a prominent Puritan preacher. His son, Cotton Mather, becomes famous as well. Increase writes an account of King Philip’s war, A Brief History of the Warr [sic] with the Indians in New-England, in direct competition with rival clergyman William Hubbard’s report of the conflict. Mather argues vehemently against the Indians, considering them barbaric; his beliefs are highly influential among the colonists.

An early settler and Congregational minister, Hubbard writes a number of books, including A History of New England and A Narrative of Troubles with the Indians; the latter so annoys clergyman Increase Mather that he publishes his own version of the war, but Hubbard’s proves more popular. 

As deputy governor of Rhode Island, Easton, a Quaker, interviews witnesses to the killing of John Sassamon and hears the grievances of Philip and his men shortly before the outbreak of King Philip’s War. Easton’s account of the war is published in London early in 1676, and it is the only major report that declares that the first shot fired comes from a settler’s gun. 

Church’s soldiers during King Philip’s War sweep Plymouth Colony of Wampanoags. His men find and kill Philip in August 1676 and bring the dead sachem’s head to Plymouth, where it hangs on a post in public for many years. Church writes about the war; his missive is reprinted a century later to inspire colonists during the Revolutionary War.

A Narragansett, Stonewall acquires his name as a student of English masonry. During King Philip’s War, Stonewall participates in raids on behalf of Philip, helps construct the Great Swamp Indian fort that later is burned by the English, kills a Mohegan, and is captured and turned over to the Mohegans for execution. 

Like James Painter, a fellow Christian Indian, Captain Tom is suspected of siding with Philip’s forces. Unlike Painter, who receives amnesty, Captain Tom is executed. Tom's death and Painter’s amnesty point up the differing, and somewhat arbitrary, fates of Indians with similar war experiences.