The letter was written by John Easton (ca. 1624-1705) of Newport, Rhode
Island, to Josiah Winslow (after 1627-1680) of Plymouth Colony. Easton relates
how Weetamo, sachem of the Pocassets, and her husband showed him a letter
written by Constant Southworth dated April 30, 1675, by which the tribe feared
English oppression. Easton requests that Winslow hear the tribe's case in
Plymouth Colony's court to determine and officially record the boundary of the
Pocasset's land.
John Easton was baptized in the parish of St. Ethelfriede, Romsey, Hampshire,
in 1624. He came to New England with his father, Nicholas and brother Peter,
landing first at Ipswich, Massachusetts, before removing to Newbury,
Massachusetts, then Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and finally to Newport, Rhode
Island. During the time this letter was written, Easton was the deputy-governor
of the colony of Rhode Island (May 1674 until April 1676), and later became
governor from 1690 to 1695. He died in 1705.
Josiah Winslow was born in Plymouth after 1627 and grew up in Marshfield.
Winslow studied at Harvard but left without a degree. As stated in the letter,
Josiah Winslow was governor of Plymouth Colony (1673-1680). In 1675, Winslow
signed Plymouth Colony's declaration of war and issued a "famous statement
denying any legitimate grievance to the Indians because the Pilgrims had
honestly bought their land." Winslow was elected commander-in-chief of the
forces of the United Colonies.
Weetamore or Wetamoe, sachem of the Pocassets, was married to Wamsutta
(a.k.a. "Alexander"). The Pocassets lived in the area of modern-day Tiverton,
Rhode Island. After Alexander's death, she married Petananuet, Petonowowett, or
"Peter Nunnuit." Peter sided with the English while Wetamoe sided with Metacom
(a.k.a. "Philip"), who had married her sister Wootonekanuske. Wetamoe drowned
August 6, 1675, attempting to escape across a river in Swanzey (Swansea).
Constant Southworth was born about 1612. His place of birth is unknown. He
died in Duxbury, Massachusetts, March 11, 1678-9. He was treasurer of Plymouth
Colony (1659-1668).
John Easton's Letter to Josiah Winslow - 1675
Click for enlarged image
Frind Josiah Winslow Governor of Plymoth Coleny
Weetomuw the quene of
Pocaset and hir husband, showd mee a leter Constant Suderd [ie. Southworth] and
others mames to it dated aprell 30: 75 - by which thay have great feare of
opretion from the English, that thay could not tell how to trust mee, but that I
wold to pleas English ioyne to do them rong therfore did not shew mee the leter
untill the 24: of may alltho I had informed theme that I take my selef as much
ingadged that thay... not be ronged as if thay wer my Cuntry men, and I of ther
nation and ingadged on of ther counsell to his ruler or landlord and I so
understood that I did not take that to be good to my selef or English which was
by hurte to any and thay had purchased of mee so to promise them, - when I herd
what thay informed me of ther Case I saied if it were true ther Case was good
but I could no otherwise be absolute without I had heard both partys thay and
Plimoth men wold defer them selefs as you thoft [i.e. thought] was for
yourselefs and that later told ... iudgmentes allredy I saied in such Cases I
thoft [i.e. thought] you wold be willing to have it... and here what Indians
could say and so do as for what was ... and for that to take place - I earnestly
desier you may so deall with them for acording to right I wold have them in
submition to you the Case why thay so much stand upone for what thay wold now
have ther bounds north and south is to maintaine a river at each end by which
thay have gret dependanc for fish, but ar free to acomodat thee or home they
shall admit with thee of fouer mile square of land at least at the hed of
dartmoth bounds and of the lotes on the other side of the fales river and dout
not but by having ther other bounds confirmed in your records thay shall agree
to what more they will give them thay prefer so faier and as it apereth to mee
desier only of you what is ther resonabell dew that I have larg hope you will
not deny it and to have the diferanc desided as to them it may apere not to be
by such as determen in ther own Case I am perswaided both mai be so satesfied ,
I am largly ingadged in my selef to manefest to them that I am not falce, but to
indever thay may have right acording to English Law and hope it will not be in
ani oposition to your desires or to your ruell in your Colony I know about 60
have confirmrd to the quens right to be to a far greter tract of land beside
what now shee and thay would be contented with - if you will proseed to try the
Case at your Court I having a gret desier that thay may not be scared to do
rong, alltho I desier as much as any thay mai fear for having dun rong. I will
be hir bayle if you will order it so as I may have a opertunity and if I can
atend to maneg hir Case or send an aturny if thou canst be an instrument for
ther peasabell setellment and by a way of peace thay promis not to be
ungratfiill so I am thy true frind as it mai not be hurt to ani willing to serve
thee
John Easton
26: 3m: 1675
Nuporte, these for the Governor
of Plimoth Colony - Josiah Winslow - dd
Govr Cranston to Govr Winslow 1675
26th. May
Qu. if not Jno Easton?
Mr Jno. Eastons letter May 26. 17.
Concern Weetamoo.