Muttawmp
Encyclopedia
Muttawmp was a sachem
of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century, originally based in Quaboag. He participated in King Philip's War
. Muttawmp took part in most of the major engagements of the war and was one of the most important chiefs who fought for Metacomet
(King Philip).
Muttawmp had actually converted to Christianity
and had become a Praying Indian
. However, when Metacomet began organizing the local tribes so that they could rise against the English, Muttawmp, together with another Nipmuc sachem, Matoonas
, foreswore Christianity and decided to join him. As a consequence he led the successful attack on Brookfield
in which, among others, Edward Hutchinson
, son of the dissident preacher Anne Hutchinson
, was mortally wounded.
He was also the Nipmuc leader in the Battle of Bloody Brook
on September 12, 1675, near South Deerfield, Massachusetts
, in which fifty one English soldiers and seventeen colonial teamsters
were killed, including Captain Thomas Lathrop; it was the battle itself which caused the name of the place to change from "Moody Brook" to "Bloody Brook", supposedly, because the stream near the battle field turned red with blood.
In October of the same year Muttawmp surrounded Hatfield, Massachusetts
with 800 men and tried to draw the colonists out by setting fires outside of town. However, the militia within the town resisted the temptation to come out in force and only sent out a ten men party to investigate, nine of whom were killed or captured by the Nipmucs, while the tenth made it back into town and warned the colonists.
On April 21, 1676, Muttawmp, with five hundred Native American warriors, routed the English in one of the most famous battles of King Philip's War, the attack on
Sudbury, Massachusetts
.
Later in the war, running out of supplies because of the colonists' scorched earth
tactics, Muttawmp tried to make peace with the English. Muttawmp was promised by Richard Waltron that he would be allowed to live if he turned himself in. Waltron, however broke his promise and executed Muttawmp in Boston
in September of 1676.
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century, originally based in Quaboag. He participated in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
. Muttawmp took part in most of the major engagements of the war and was one of the most important chiefs who fought for Metacomet
Metacomet
Metacomet , also known as King Philip or Metacom, or occasionally Pometacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philip's War, a widespread Native American uprising against English colonists in New England.-Biography:Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit...
(King Philip).
Muttawmp had actually converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and had become a Praying Indian
Praying Indian
Praying Indian is a 17th century term referring to Native Americans of New England who converted to Christianity. While many groups are referred to by this term, it is more commonly used for tribes that were organized into villages, known as praying towns by Puritan leader John Eliot.In 1646, the...
. However, when Metacomet began organizing the local tribes so that they could rise against the English, Muttawmp, together with another Nipmuc sachem, Matoonas
Matoonas
Matoonas was a sachem of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century. He played a significant role in the Native American uprising known as King Philip's War....
, foreswore Christianity and decided to join him. As a consequence he led the successful attack on Brookfield
Wheeler's Surprise
Wheeler's Surprise, and the ensuing Siege of Brookfield, was a battle between Nipmuc Indians under Muttawmp, and the English of the Massachusetts Bay Colony under the command of Thomas Wheeler and Cpt. Edward Hutchinson, in August of 1675 during King Phillip's War...
in which, among others, Edward Hutchinson
Edward Hutchinson (captain)
Edward Hutchinson was the oldest son of the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony William Hutchinson and the dissident minister Anne Hutchinson...
, son of the dissident preacher Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
, was mortally wounded.
He was also the Nipmuc leader in the Battle of Bloody Brook
Battle of Bloody Brook
The Battle of Bloody Brook was fought on September 12, 1675 between English colonial militia from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and a band of Indians led by the Nipmuc sachem Muttawmp...
on September 12, 1675, near South Deerfield, Massachusetts
South Deerfield, Massachusetts
South Deerfield is a census-designated place in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the well-known Yankee Candle Company.South Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, in which fifty one English soldiers and seventeen colonial teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
were killed, including Captain Thomas Lathrop; it was the battle itself which caused the name of the place to change from "Moody Brook" to "Bloody Brook", supposedly, because the stream near the battle field turned red with blood.
In October of the same year Muttawmp surrounded Hatfield, Massachusetts
Hatfield, Massachusetts
Hatfield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,249 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
with 800 men and tried to draw the colonists out by setting fires outside of town. However, the militia within the town resisted the temptation to come out in force and only sent out a ten men party to investigate, nine of whom were killed or captured by the Nipmucs, while the tenth made it back into town and warned the colonists.
On April 21, 1676, Muttawmp, with five hundred Native American warriors, routed the English in one of the most famous battles of King Philip's War, the attack on
Attack on Sudbury
The Attack on Sudbury was a raid and battle of King Philip's War, fought in Sudbury, Massachusetts. The town was surprised by Indian raiders at dawn, but security precautions limited the damage to unoccupied homesteads...
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
.
Later in the war, running out of supplies because of the colonists' scorched earth
Scorched earth
A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area...
tactics, Muttawmp tried to make peace with the English. Muttawmp was promised by Richard Waltron that he would be allowed to live if he turned himself in. Waltron, however broke his promise and executed Muttawmp in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in September of 1676.
Works cited
- Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, "King Philip's War. The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict", Countryman Press, 1999
- Russell Bourne, "The Red King's rebellion: racial politics in New England, 1675-1678", Oxford University Press US, 1991, http://books.google.com/books?id=0qNcrZ9472QC&pg=PA142&dq=Muttawmp&lr=&as_brr=3&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Muttawmp&f=false
- Leo Bonfanti, "Biographies and legends of the New England Indians: Volume 3 ", Pride Publications, 1972