Canonicus. A chief of the
Narraganset, who died in 1647, aged perhaps 80 years. Although in 1622 he
sent to the people of Plymouth the customary Indian challenge to war, he early
sought the friendship of the English. It was into the country of Canonicus that
Roger Williams went, and from him he received the title to the land he afterward
held. Canonicus was at war against the
Wampanoag until in 1635, when the dispute was settled through the efforts of
Williams. He never fully trusted the English, nor they him. Durfee, in his poem
"What cheer?" calls Canonicus "cautious, wise, and old," and Roger Williams
styles him a "prudent and peaceable prince." He is highly praised in John
Lathrop's poem "The Speech of Canonicus," published at Boston in 1802. His name,
which is spelled in a variety of ways, appears to have been changed, perhaps by
contagion with the Latin canonicus, from Qunnoune (Drake, Inds. of N. Am.,
118, 1880). He is not to be confused with Canonchet, a later Narraganset
sachem. (A. F. C.)
Miantonomo. A noted chief
of the Narraganset, nephew of Canonicus. In 1632 he visited Boston and was
received by the governor. He was more than once suspected of disloyalty to
the English, but managed to clear himself when summoned to Boston in 1636.
He helped the English against the Pequot the next year and warred against
the Mohegan. In 1638 he signed the tripartite agreement between the
English of Connecticut, the Narraganset, and the Mohegan. He is said to
have been impressed by the preaching of Roger Williams in 1643. During the
years 1640-42 he was suspected of treachery to the English, but again made
satisfactory explanations. In 1643 war broke out between the Mohegan and
the Narraganset, and in a battle in which the latter were defeated
Miantonomo was taken prisoner. He was delivered to the English at
Hartford, was tried at Boston in September, 1643, by the Court of
Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England, who, after referring
the platter to the convocation of the clergy, which condemned him,
sentenced hint to death at the hands of
Uncas. This sentence
was barbarously executed by Wawequa, the brother of Uncas, in the presence
of the latter. For this disgraceful proceeding the English authorities
were to blame, as otherwise Uncas would never have taken his prisoner's
life. De Forest (Hist. Inds. of Conn., 198, 1852) takes a rather high view
of the character of Miantonomo, whole he characterizes as "respected and
loved by everyone who was not fearful of his power." Theological bias
against Roger Williams and his Indian friends played some part in the
matter of his treatment by the commissioners.
He was buried where he fell, and the spot on which a
monument was erected in 1841, has since been known as Sachem's Plains.
Miantonomo is praised in Durfee's poem, "What cheer." Nanantenoo was a son
of Miantonomo.
Mriksah. The eldest son of
Canonicus, the celebrated Narraganset chief; known also as Mexam, Mixam,
Mixanno, and Meika. After the death of his father in 1647 he was made
chief sachem of the tribe. He married a sister of Ninigret, who was the
noted Quaiapen, called also Old Queen, Sunk Squaw, and Magnus. Mriksah was
one of the sachems to whom the English commissioners at Boston sent
interrogations regarding their connection with the Dutch of New York.
He was in close relations with Ninigret in his movements.
Nanuntenoo. A sachem of the Narraganset, son of
Miantonomo, called also
Canonchet or Quananchit. He was the first signer of the treaty of Oct. 1675,
but supplied the strength of the Narraganset war against the English, his young
men having long secretly supported Philip. He escaped with his life from the
fight of Dec. 1675, and in Mar. 1676 defeated the English under Capt. Peirse;
but in April of that year he was surprised by an English force and surrendered.
He was taken to Stonington, Conn.. and was shot by representatives of his allied
enemies under the eyes of the English. His head was sent as a trophy to the
magistrates of Hartford (De Forest, Inds. of Conn., 282, 1852). Nanuntenoo
was tall and strongly built and was a man of courage and ability. His fame at
times was hardly less than that of King Philip. Some of his savings have been
preserved.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
