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

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The Nipmuck Indians had been for some time uneasy and threatening.
Twice during July Ephraim Curtis had been to treat with
them, as has been previously noted. On the last occasion their
sachems had agreed to send their Sagamore to treat with the Eno--
glish ; but failing to keep this promise, the Council thought it expedient
to send a larger party, with more show of power, to compel
them to some sort of a treaty. The Council, however, did not fully
estimate the number or disposition of the Nipmucks, deluded in
part by the fair promises of the Sachem David to the settlers at
Brookfield, and partly relying upon the knowledge that Philip was
securely shut up in the swamp at Pocasset, with Capt. Henchman's
company warily guarding at Fort Leverett, and the Plymouth forces
near at hand. News having come that Mattoonas (leader of the
murderous assault upon Mendon on July 14), with some of the
Narragansets, had come among the Indians about Quabaog, the pre-
parations of the Council were somewhat hastened, as will be seen
by the following "minutes" (Mass. Arch., vol. 67, p. 224) :
" The Council met at y e time 26 July at Charles Towne & afterwards at
Boston 1 675." An Order past to send for Capt. Tho. Wheeler & 20 of his
troop to be here at Boston w th
y e Gou r & Council at 10 in y e morning."
And the following commission to Capt. Edward Hutchinson 74
(Mass. Arch., vol. 67, p. 228) :
Boston 27. July 1675
The Council beeing informed y* the narraganset indians are come downe
with about one hundred Armed men into the Nipmuck country, Do order
you Capt Edward Hutcheson, to take with you Capt Thomas Wheler &
his party of horse with Ephraim Curtis for a guide & a sufficient 75 interpre-
ter, & forthwith to repaire into those parts & ther Laubour to get a right
understanding of the motions e of the Narraganset indians & of y indians of
Nipmuck : and for that e end to demand of the leaders of y narraganset
e er l
Indians an acc'ot of y grouns of y marching in y country & require to
understand the orders of their Sachems, And also to demand an Account of
the Nipmuck Indiaus why they have not sent downe their Sagamore according
to their promise unto o r messenger Ephraim Curtis, And further let
have
y m l know l
y wee are informed that there are some among them y
actually joyned with our enemies in the murder & spoyle made upon the
English by Philip, And that Matoones & his Complices who have Robed
& Murdered our people about Mendon are now among m l
y And y wee
require them to deliver up to you or forthwith bring in to us those our enemies,
otherwise wee must Looke at them to bee no friends to us, but ayders
74 Memoirs of the Hutchinson family are published in the Register, vol. i. p. 297, and
xx. 355. Capt. Edward, the eldest son of William and Ann, came to this country from England
with his uncle Edward Hutchinson, probably in September, 1633, a year before his
parents came. His family were much interested in the civilization of the Indians, and were
widely known amongst them. Capt. Edward owned a large farm in the Nipmuck country,
and had employed several of the sachems in tilling it. He was popular with the Indians,
experienced in military matters, trusted by the colonv, and had several times been sent to
treat with different tribes, and was but lately returned from the treaty with Narragansets,
ante, vol. xxxvii. p. 368.
75 In the original the words "Peter Ephraim of Natick for an" are written and then
struck out, and the words " a sufficient " put in.