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Weston & Pratt The Disaster At Braintree "they neither applyed themselves to planting of corne nor taking of fish, more than for their present use, but went about to built Castles in the Aire, and making of Forts, neglecting the plentifull time of fishing." Within a few years of the Mayflower's arrival, a Thomas Weston, Ironmonger of England, determined to set up a new plantation at Massachusetts Bay. To prepare the way he embarked six or seven men in the ship Sparrow together with seamen and Mr. Rodgers, "master of the ship," for a total of about ten men. Among the passengers was Phineas Pratt. Sixty additional men would follow later. According to Pratt's own account, the first sailing
resulting in the following: "At this Time of our discouery, we first Ariued att
Smithe's Ilands, first soe Caled by Capt. Smith, att the Time of his discouery of New
Eingland, .... afterwards Caled Ilands of Sholes; ffrom thence to Cape Ann .... so Caled
by Capt Mason; from thence to ye Mathechusits Bay. Ther we continued 4 or 5 days. Then we
pseaued, yt on the south part of the Bay, weare fewest of the natives of the Cuntry
Dwelling ther. We thought best to begine our plantation, but fearing A great Company of
Salvages, we being but 10 men, thought it best to see if our friends weare Living at
Plimoth. Then sayling Along the Cost, not knowing the harber, they shot of a peece of
Ardinance, and at our coming Ashore, they entertaned vs wth 3 vally of shotts." Levett says in his "Voyage into New England":—" they neither applyed themselves to planting of corne nor taking of fish, more than for their present use, but went about to built Castles in the Aire, and making of Forts, neglecting the plentifull time of fishing. When Winter came their forts would not keepe out hunger, and they hauing no provision beforehand, and wanting both powder and shot to kill Deare and Fowle, many were starved to death, and the rest hardly escaped. There are foure of his men which escaped, now at my plantation, who haue related unto me the whole businesse." Weakened through lack of foresight, by the absence of provisions, harsh weather and isolation, the new plantation was vulnerable to Indian attack and decimation. And, in fact, such was the intent and for Plymouth, as well. . A passage from Winslow's account describes how the "treachery" became known; this event occurring while Miles Standish was at Canacum the Sachim's house. "Captaine Standish being now far from the Boat, and not above two or three of our men with him, and as many with the shallop, was not long at Canacum the Sachims house, but in came two of the Massachuset men, the chiefe of them was called Witawamat, a notable insulting villaine, one who had formerly imbrued his hands in the bloud of English and French, and had oft boasted of his owne valour, and derided their weaknesse, especially because (as hee said) they died cryig, making sowre faces, more like children than men. This villaine tooke a dagger from about his necke, (which hee had gotten of Master Westons people) and presented it to the Sachim, and after made a long speech in an audacious manner, framing it in such sort, as the Captaine (though he be the best Linguist amongst us) could not gather anything from it. The end of it was afterward discovered to be as followeth: The Massacheuseucks had formerly concluded to ruinate Master Westons Colonie, and thought themselves, being about thirty or forty men strong, enough to execute the same: yet they durst not attempt it, till such time as they had gathered more strength to themselves to make their party good against us at Plimoth, concluding, that if we remained, (though they had no other Arguments to use against us) yet we would never leave the death of our Countrymen unrevenged, and therefore their safety could not be without the overthrow of both Plantations. . ." Winslow continues. "Before this journey we heard many complaints both by the Indians and some others of best desert amongst Master Westons Colony, how exceedingly their Company abased themselves by undirect meanes, to get victualls from the Indians, who dwelt not farre from them, fetching them wood and water, &c. and all for a meales meate, whereas in the meane time, they might with diligence have gotten enough to have served them three or foure times. Other by night brake the earth, and robbed the Indians store, for which they had beene publiquely stocked and whipt, and yet was there small amendment. This was about the end of February, at which time they had spent all their bread and come, not leaving any for seed, neither would the Indians lend or sell them any more upon any termes. Hereupon they had thoughts to take it by violence, and to that end spiked up every entrance into their Towne (being well impaled) save one, with a full resolution to proceed. But some more honestly minded, advised John Sanders their Over-seer first to write to Plimoth, and if the Governour advised him thereunto, he might the better doe it. This course was well liked, and an Indian was sent with all speede with a letter to our Governour. The letter was not well received in Plymouth and by return letter the Weston group was put on notice that they "altogether disliked their intendment." None the less, Plymouth having being forewarned of an attack of their plantation through the Standish encounter, as well as by other means soon decided " That Captaine Standish should take so many men as he thought sufficient to make his party good against all the Indians in the Massachuset-bay; and because (as all men know that have had to doe in that kinde) it is impossible to deale with them upon open defiance, but to take them in such trappes as they lay for others; therefore hee should pretend trade as at other times: but first goe to the English and acquaint them with the plot . . ." The next day, however, as Standish was making ready to go, Phineas Pratt arrived: "came one of Mr Westons Company by land unto us, with his packe at his backe, who made a pitifull narration of their lamentable and weake estate. . ." (See Pratt's narrative of his lonely and perilous journey through the wilderness to reach Plymouth) In short, however, Weston's colony was naked (having sold their clothes), starving (some died of same) and in desperate means. Making haste Standish found the ship abandoned, the Weston men separated into groups and in sad affair. Pecksuot, who was a "Pinese", discerned that Standish had come to kill them, rather than to trade with them, challenged Standish, and "being a man of greater stature then the Captaine, told him "though hee were a great Captaine, yet hee was but a little man: and sayd he, though I be no Sachim, yet I am a man of great strength and courage." Standish bid his time, but finding himeself and his men in a room with this Pecksuot, Witawamat, and several others took the moment: "snatching his owne knife from his neck though with much struggling killed him (Pecksuot) therewith," while his men dispatched the others save a youth who was hanged. Hobbamocke, the faithful Indian from Plymouth, and there with Standish observed: "Yester-day Pecksuot bragging of his owne strength and stature, sayd, though you were a great Captaine yet you were but a little man; but to day I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground." In an ensuing battle the remaining Indians fled and Standish "returned to Plimouth, whither hee came in safety (blessed be God) and brought the head of Wituwamat with him." Obtakiest the Massachuset Indian Sachim was not among the slain. But what happened to this sad and tattered plantation? "Now were Mr Westons people resolved to leave their Plantation and goe for Munhiggen, hoping to get passage and returne with the fishing ships. The Captaine told them, that for his owne part hee durst there live with fewer men then they were, yet since they weare otherwayse minded, according to his orders from the Governours and people of Plimouth he would helpe them with corne competent for their [p. 45] provision by the way, which hee did, scarce leaving himselfe more then brought them home. Some of them disliked the choyce of the body to go to Munhiggen, and therfore desiring to goe with him to Plimouth, he tooke them into the shallop: and seeing them set sayle and cleere of the Massachuset bay, he tooke leave and returned to Plimouth, whither hee came." Sources:Declaration: Phineas Pratt (Massachusetts Historical Society Collections (Fourth Series, IV, 476)Winslow's "Good Newes from New England" (London, 1624) Bradford's History (London, 1896) MD IV,2, 87+ |
