Soldiers in King Philip's war. Containing lists of the soldiers of ...

IN
No. XXX.
CHRISTIAN INDIANS OF MR. ELIOT
AND GEN. GOOKIN.
this history reference has constantly been made to the Christian
or Friendly Indians, and in some cases comments have been
made as to their relation to the war, their personal services, etc. It
seems fitting that some more general and definite reference should be
made to their services and their relation to the Colony, as well as
to their place in public opinion.
In order to a clear understanding, it may be well to refer briefly
to the origin of the movement which resulted in "christianizing" a
part of the Indians in the New England Colonies. The experiment
was inaugurated by the zealous efforts of Rev. John Eliot, who
came to New England in the ship " Lyon, William Peirce Master,"
which arrived in Boston, November 3, 1631. He was born in
Nasing, Essex, England, in 1(304, "of godly parents." He was a
fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, where he received his B.A.
degree in 1622.
Upon his arrival in Boston, Mr. Eliot was engaged to officiate in
the church in the absence of Mr. Wilson, the pastor, then in England
; and next year, his friends, to whom he was partly engaged
before leaving England, having arrived and settled at Roxbury, he
was called to their new church, and there ordained as their teacher
in 1632. His affianced wife arrived in the summer of that year,
and they were married in October. Mr. Elliot soon evinced deep
interest in the welfare of the Indians, and studied their language
and habits, and especially their habits of thought in the direction of
religion. He went much amongst them, and, in order to a closer
study of their language, hired one of good intelligence and spirit to
live at his house and assist in his studies. This Indian was Job
Nesutan, and he was Mr. Eliot's chief assistant, but was killed at
the beginning of Philip's War, while serving with the English
against Philip, though he was then eighty-six years old. Mr. Eliot
was eminent for his learning, especially in Hebrew, but was more
eminent for his deep piety and self-consecration to his chosen work.