Wamsutta
Wamsutta (ca. 1634–1662), also known as Alexander Pokanoket, as he was called by New England colonists, was the eldest son of Massasoit and a sachem of the Wampanoag native American tribe. His sale of Wampanoag lands to colonists other than those of the Plymouth Colony brought the Wampanoag considerable power, but aroused the suspicions of the Plymouth colonists. He was imprisoned for three days at Plymouth; he died shortly after release, causing tribal suspicion of the colonists. His death contributed to King Philip's War of 1675. Wamsutta's name is memorialized in and around New Bedford, Massachusetts in various ways. He was honored in the naming of a United States Navy steamer in commission during the American Civil War between 1863 and 1865.
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[edit] Life
Wamsutta was born in circa 1634 as the eldest son of Massasoit, leader of the Wampanoag. Wamsutta and his brother Metacomet studied at Harvard College. Wamsutta married Weetamoo. After their father, Massasoit, died in 1661, the two sons commemorated the life-changing event by officially changing their names. Wamsutta took the name of "Alexander" and Metacomet took the name of "Philip". Having later stated that he was more important than the leaders of the English colonies, he acquired the nickname "King Philip".
After Massasoit's death, Wamsutta assumed leadership of the Wampanoag, becoming leader of all the Native American tribes between the Charles River in Massachusetts and Narraganset Bay in Rhode Island, including the tribes in eastern Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. As a result of a collapse of the fur trade, he substantially increased the power of the Wampanoag by selling land to colonists. In 1662 he was summoned to and seized by the Plymouth Court. After being questioned, Wamsutta became ill and soon died.
The cause of death was disputed, and Wamsutta's brother Metacomet (who succeeded Wamsutta in leadership of the Wampanoag) suspected that he had been poisoned. Wamsutta's death was one of the factors that would eventually lead to the 1675 King Philip's War, also known as Metacom's Rebellion.
Some historians believe Wamsutta was poisoned or tortured by Governor Josiah Winslow, who saw him as a threat. But considering Winslow's father, Edward Winslow and Governor William Bradford (both of whom had died before this), and their previous peaceful relations with Wamsutta's father, Massasoit, their devout Christian character, and their having treated the Indians with respect, such speculation is open to question. Nan Apashamen, a Wampanoag historian at Plymouth Plantation, suggests Wamsutta's name had changed to Moanam and that he was Phillips' father, not brother.[citation needed]
[edit] Legacy
Wamsutta has been the namesake of businesses and places:
- In 1846, the Wamsutta Company's textile mill opened in New Bedford.
- In 1861, 20-year-old Henry H. Rogers and his partner Charles Ellis of Massachusetts named their tiny venture near Oil City, Pennsylvania the Wamsutta Oil Refinery. Rogers later became a principal in John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil empire.
- USS Wamsutta was the name of a United States Navy steamer in commission from 1863 to 1865.
- In 1866, the Wamsutta Club was founded in New Bedford. It was a club for the affluent residents, who had generally made their money from the flagging whaling industry, as well as the up-and-coming textiles, for which the club was named.
- In 1997, the Wamsutta Middle School was built in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
- In modern times, Wamsutta is a brand name of textile products marketed by Springs Industries, Inc.
[edit] See also
List of early settlers of Rhode Island
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here. (See ship namesake section)
