History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

and naming the day. In the spring those at the
island were allowed to dwell on Mr. Oliver's estate
in Cambridge, whence in the autumn some came to
the falls of Charles Kiver, others to the original
station at Nonantum.
Wattasascomjjanum, or Captain Tom, whom
Gookin had made a magistrate in remote planta-
tions, by that fact had stayed with the warring
savages. Taken prisoner, he was on very slight
evidence condemned, and suffered death in Boston,
June, 1676. He died much mourned by Eliot and
tlie better sort.
In September four chief captives were sliot at
the town's end, one of them Old Jethro, who, at
tlie removal to Deer Island, had taken to the woods.
Some others, once dwellers at Natick, found with
the enemy, had been carried into slavery.
" 1676, Nov. 10, An account of the disposall of
the Indians, our friends (pro tempore) presented to
the Councill (at their desire) by Daniel Gookin, sen.
"The Natick Indians are disposed in fower companies
as followeth, vict. one company with James
Eumney ^larsh, and his kindred living in Meadfield,
with the approbation and consent of tlie Englisli
there; these are in number about twenty-five, 5 : 20.
"Another company live near Natick adjoyuiug
the garrison-house of Andrew Dewin and his sons,
who desire their neighborhood, and are under their
inspection ; the number of these may be about
fifty soules, 10: 10.
. "A third company of them with Waban live
neare the falls of the Charles Eiver, near to the
house of Josepli Miller, and not far from Capt
Prentice. The number of these may be about sixty
soules, whereof are 10 : 50.
" A fourth company dwell at Nonantum Hill,
near Leift Trowbridge and John Coones, who per-
mits them to build their wigwams upon his ground.
They are employed to cut wood, and spin, and
make stoTie walls, being but a small distance from
the hill of Nonantum where tlieir meeting is to
keep Sabath. These may be about seventy five
souls, 15 : 60."
After the winter others returned to their old
home. In 1679 Natick exchanged land with
newly settled Sherborn, giving 4,000 acres north
of Sherborn, and receiving a like amount at Magunkook
Hill, with two hundred bushels of grain
to boot.
Philip's War and Mr. Eliot's infirmities of age
sadly weakened the prosperity of the native
NATICK. 189
well as at Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, dis-
tant from the battle-scenes, the work still flour-
ished. Waban puts his mark to a petition for the
pecuniary encouragement of the pastor at Sherborn,
son of Major Gookin, for lecturing regularly at
Natick. They say, that, deprived of seeing \\x.
Eliot's face, and hearing liis voice (especially in
the winter season) so frequently as formerly, the
churcli and people of Natick invited Jlr. Gookin,
two and a half years before, to lecture, which he
had done in English, and an interpreter translated
his words. This letter has sixteen Indian names
subjoined. Old Waban marks first, and eiglit
more also mark. Daniel Takawampbait, the second
name is signed, and the last is Thomas Waban,
son of the first. This document Professor Stowe,
himself Natick-born, discovered in London. Its
date is March 19, 1684.
The next summer old Waban died, his last
words attesting a Christian's trust. To-day a placid
lake, whose surface his canoe oft cleft, bears liis
name.
Here is Natick in 1685 as sketched l)y John .
Dunton of London, who visited New England on
a bookselling speculation. Calling on Rev. Mr.
Eliot at Roxbury, he received twelve Bibles just
from the press. They would be a fortune to our
booksellers. But we quote : " On horseback about
twenty miles to Natick. We tied up our horses iti
two old barns almost in ruins. We had no place
where we could bestow ourselves, unless upon
greensward until the lecture began. We were in-
formed tliat the sachem and queen were there, and
went immediately to visit them. When we had
made our visit, we went to tlie meeting-place,
where the lecture was preached by Mr. Gookins.
The poor Indians were very much affected, and
seemed to hang upon his lips. The Natick Lecture
was done about four in the afternoon, and we
had twenty miles to Boston, so that we were obliged
to moimt immediately and make the best of our
fl'ay."
:March 19, 1687, died :\Iajor Gookin, whose
gravestone is yet in the ancient cemetery at Cambridge.
Near this time Eliot's wife, his companion
for more than fifty years, a person remarkably
fitted for her position, died. Her husband's simple
eulogy has a tender pathos : " Here lies my
dear, faithful, pious, prudent, prayerful wife."
From Judge Sewall's recently published diary
" Wednesday, May 21, 1690,
we glean these facts :
churches in Massachusetts. But on tlie cape, as about one in the mornimr ^Ir. Eliot died. This