Connecticut Historical Collections

" In 1826, a descendant of Uncas, by ibe name of Ezekiel IMaijeon, aged 27, was buried in Norwich in the Indian burying ground. Tlie funeral was attended by the Rev. Williaui Pahner, who made a short but appropriate address to the remnant of the tribe assendjled on that occasion. After the funeral rites were performed, INIrs.. Goddard, the wife of the Hon. Calvin Goddai'd, in whose immediate vicinity the bu- rial yard lies, (he being absent,) invited the tribe, a score or two, to partake of a collation." In tlie following year, 1827, (says Dr. Holmes,) a discovery was made of Indian relics, too illustrative of Indian customs to be left un- noticed. A note of Mrs. Huntington, of Norwich, accompanying one of these relics, presented to me this year, (1828,) illustrates the entire subject. " If we admit Indian cemeteries as proofs of local |)arliaHtles, we should judge that Norwich was a favorite residence of the ancient Mohegan tribe ; for their royal burying ground is in the center of the city. In the eastern border of their reserve is a fine stream, called Trading Cove brook, on which is the ' Shantup burying ground.' the largest of their nation. On the 16th of October, 1827, the Rev. ]Mr. Palmer of this city was invited to attend the funeral of an Indian child, which was to be deposited in that spot. In appioachlng the ground, the relics of two Indians, and also two spoons, were seen lying beside it. Exj)ressing a wish to obtain them, ]\Ir. P. received no immediate answer, until a youth of their company had whispered something in every ear, from the oldest to the youngest. At the close of the exer- cises, with great formality, the young Indian rejilied, ' Your request is granted.' In answer to the inquiry why two skeletons were found in the ground, an old woman replied, it was an Indian and Squaw ; and informed him iarther, that according to their custom, the bodies were deposited in an upright ])osition, within a circular grave, and a pot of. succotash between them, the fragments of which were found. The decayed stump of a large tree covering the relics, iiullcated the an- tiquity of the grave." In the eastern part of this town is a place called Sachents riain. This spot is rendered memorable by the battle between Uncas and Miantonimoh, the sachem of the Narragansetts. The army of Mlan- tonimoh was routed, he taken prisoner and afterwards executed and buried here. " He was buried on tlie spot where he was slain. Rut a few years since a large heap of stones, thrown together by the wan- dering Indians according to the custom of their country, and as a mel- ancholy mark of the love the Narragansetts had for their Allien chief, lay on his grave ; but the despicable cupidity of some people in that vicinity, has removed them to make common stone wall, as it saved them the trouble of gathering stones for that purpose. The spot of his sepulture is, however, yet known."* The following account is taken from Dr. Trumbidl's History of Con- necticut. Third volume, third ^eiic? Massacluis-nis Historical Collections, y. 13r>. 296 N o 11 w 1 c n . "Miantonimoli, without consultiiij^ the Elli;li^h. according to ngreement, without proclaiming war, or giving Uncns lliu lea.si inloriiuition, raised an ai iny of nine hun- dred or a thousand men,, and niarelicd agaiusi him. Uncas"s spies discovered the army at some distance and gave liim intelligence. He was uiipiepared, but rallying betvveen lour and live hundred of his bravest men, he told them they must by no means suffer IVIiantonimoh to come into their town ; but must go and fight him on iiis way. Having marched three or lour miles, the armies met u|)on a large plain. When they had advanced within I'air bow shot of each other, Uncas had recourse to a stratagem, with which he had previously acquainted his warriors. He desired a parley, and both armies halted in the tace of each other. Uncas gallantly advancing in the front of his men, addressed Miantonimoh to this effect, " You have a number of stout men with you, and so have 1 with me. It is a great jiiiy that such brave warriors should be killed in a private quarrel between us only. Come like a man, as you profess to be, and let us fight it out. If you kill me, my men shall be yours ; but if 1 kill you, your men shall be mine." Miantonimoh replied, " My men came to fight, and ihey shall fight." Uncas falling instantly upon the ground, his men discharged a shower of arrows upon the Narragansetts ; and, without a moment's interval, rushing upon them in a furious manner, with their hideous Indian yell, put them immediately to flight. The Mohegaiis jnirsued the enemy with the same fury and eagerness with which they commenced the action. The Narragansetts were driven down rocks and precipices, and chased like a due by the liuntMnan. Among others Miantonimoh was exceedingly pressed. Some of Uncas's bravest men, who were most light ol' loot, coming up with him, twitched him back, impeding his iliglit, and passed him, that Uncas might take him. Uncas was a stout man, and rushing furwaid, like a lion greedy of his prey, seized him by his shoiihler. He knew Uncas, and saw that he was now in the power of the man whom he had haled, and by all means attempted to destroy ; but he sal ilown sullen and spake not a word. Uncas gave the Indian whoop and called up his men, who were behind, to his assisiance. The victory was complete. About thirty of the NarragansQlts were slam, and a much greater number wounded. Among the latter was a biuther of IMiantonimoh and two sons of Canonicus, a chief sachem of the Narraganselt Indians. The brother of Miantonimoh was not only woundedj but armed with a coat of mail, boih which letarded his Ilight. Two of Miantonimoh's captains, who formerly were Uncas's men, luit had treacherously de- serted him, discovering his situation, took him, and carried him to Uncas, expecting in this way to reconcile themselves to their sachem. ]:tut Uncas and his men slew them. Miantonimoh made no request cither for himself or his men ; but continued in the same sullen, speechless mood. Uncas therefore demamled of him why he would not speak. Said he, " Had you taken inc, I should have besought you for my life." Uncas, for the present, spareil his life, though he would not ask it, and returned with great triumph lu Aluhegan, carrying the Narragaiisett sachem, as an illustrious trophy of his vietoiy."* Uncas conducted IMiantonimoh to Ilailfoid. Ilere liis month was opened, and he plead niost earnestly to he left in the custody of the Enj;- lish, prohably expectitig hetter trealineni fioin ihcni than front Uncas. He was accoixlini^ly kein under guard at Ilartfoid, till the meeting of the commissioners at Boston. After an examination of the case, the commissioners resolved, " that as it was evident that Uncas could not be safe while IMiantonimoh lived ; hut that, either hy secret treachery or open force, his life would be continually in danger, he might justly- put such a false and hloodthirsty enemy to death." They determined it should be done out of the English jurisdiction. They advised Uncas that no torture or cruelty, but " all mercy and moderation be exer- cised in the manner of his execution." " Immediately upon the return of the commissioners of Connecticut and New Haven, Uncas with a competent number of his most trusty ♦ This account is taken from a manuscript of Mr. Hide of Norwich, from Governor Winthrop's journal, and from the records of the United colonies, in one or othei of which, all the facts are ascertained. The manuscript represents Miantonimoh as having 1)00, and Uncas (iOO men. The records of the United cohjuies rcjiresent, that Miantonimoh had 900 or 100() men, and that Uncas hud not half so many. Governor "VVinthrop's account is essentially the same. I ^ «£1'\ j ii. N o 11 \v I c H . 297 men, was ordered to repair Ibrtliwitli to ITariford. lie was made ac- quainted with the determination of the commissioners, and receiving his prisoner, marched with him to the spot where he had been taken. At the instant they arrived on the ground, one of Uncas's men, wlio marched behind IMiantonimoh, split his liead with a hatchet, killing him at a single stroke. He was probably unacquainted with his HUe, and knew not by what means he fell. Uncas cut out a large piece of his shoulder and ate it in savage triumph. . He said, ' It was the sweetesU meat he ever ate, it made his heart strong.' " Tlic Mohegans, by the order of Uncas, buried him at the place of his execution, and erected a great heapoi- ]iillar upon his grave. This memorable event gave the place the name of Sacliem's Plain. f Two Knglishmen were sent with Uncas, to witness that the execution was done, and to prevent all torture and cruelty in the manner of its per- formance. Connecticut and New Haven, agreeably to the direction ol" the commissioners, sent a party of soldiers to Mohegan, to defend Uncas against any assault which might be made upon him, by the Nar* ragansetts, in consequence of the execution of their sachem." The following is copied from a monument in tho ancient burying ground in Norwich town. Hero lyes mtei'd vc it in a ins of Dcacn. Christoplier Huntington u[ Norwich, No- vember Ist, ItitJO, and yc first lioin ni males in ye tosvn. llu si-rved near -10 years iu ye office of a deacon, ami died April ye 21th, 1735, in ye 75th yr. of his age. Merneii- to mori. The following are from the new yard in Norwich city* Jiiscph Kinney, son of Newcomb and Sally Kinney, entered the U. S'. arfny a Lied- tenaat at the commencement of tlie war with Great Hrilain, IHl'J. lie was enga^'cif in various skirmi^hes. besides six sanguinary battles; tije last of which was.d I.iindy't Lane, Brid^'ewater, July 'ifith, IHI t, where he was lulled, commaiiLlim,' ihe2tl division ■ of ihe :5:)th lU-iment H. S. Infaniry a-ed 27 years. Uuricd at nnllalo, N. V. Ill meiimry of RTrs. Tliankfiil, relict of ( 'apt. Moses Pierce, who ilied Feb. o, I82I. aged 'J2. yfie was a mother in Israel, and the fiist member of the IVlelluHfi^t Kpisco))al church iu this city, who like Lydia lirst heard the preachers, and then received ihera into her house.