Leaders
UncasMohegan Sachem, 1630-1680, subjects to Pequods and Sassacus, yet rivals to the Pequot upon the arrival of the English since the Mohegan were tired of paying tribute, though they were related by marriage and birth to the Pequot. Originally born a Pequot, he later fomented rebellion with the northern Mohegan and became their leader. Uncas formed an alliance with the English against Sassacus and the Pequot.His base was Norwich.
Wequash was the eldest son of the sachem of the Niantic people also a nephew of Chief Ninigret {?} He was promoted by Roger Williams a True Convert to Christianity, but this is not certain as he may have merely "converted" to appease the English and survive. The English referred to him as the First Indian Convert.
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SassacusPequot and Western Nehantic Sachem, 1632. The most powerful native leader at the time, he was related by birth and marriage to Uncas and the Mohegan, and many of the Nehantics. He battled the English and Mohegans to save his land. It is important to note here that the Mohegan and Pequot had been one people, not long before the arrival of the English. Sassacus' base was present day New London and Groton on the hills overlooking the Thames [Pequot] River.
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Ninigret, Juanemo, JanimoEastern Nehantics Sachem based in the towns of Lyme and East Lyme-Niantic. Took sides with the English against the Pequot. 1610-1677, Ninegret was the sachem of the Ninantes, or westerly tribe under the Naragansetts, and since the division of the town, was called the Charlestown Tribe. Ninegret’s sister had m. Moranno, son of one of CANONICUS’ sons. Cousin of Miantonomoh. The English purchased his neutrality during King Phillip’s War, and for this treachery the “tribe land” in Charlestown was allotted to him and his heirs forever. The Ninegrets were then called Naragansetts. His chief village was called Wekapaug, current day Westerly, Rhode Island. The English distrusted him and claimed he was too proud.
1. Links to Ninigret, Nehanics, p 264, 462, 351, 498, 265, 505, 334, 363, 363 |
Miantonomoh, Ousamequin, duel Sachem of the Narraganett, 1600-1643Miantonomoh, son of Canonicus, was also the Narragansett leader of the Eastern Nehantics. Although he was friendly with most English "settlers" for much of his reign, he eventually tried to organizer a large alliance of many tribes to halt the English war of conquest. For this he was tried, and was later turned over to his enemy, the Mohegan leader Uncas, who had him killed.
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Occuish and his wife, Sarah, ChristianizedThe Reverand Samson Occom, 1723 – July 14, 1792, one of the first Cristianized Mohegans, and a New London Presbyterian cleric who later led local tribe members, many of them Nehantics, out of their homeland and up into Wisconsin to join the "The Brothertown" Indian reservation in Waterville, NY). Wyandanch (born circa 1620 in Montauk, Long Island - died 1660) was a sachem of the Montaukett Indian. Wyandanch was involved in a three-way political, and occasionally military, struggle against the famous Mohegan sachem Uncas and the Niantic sachemNinigretns. Mausaumpous, last Eastern Nehantic sachem?
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Deed signing away Providence, "singed" by
Canonicus, the first Narragansett sachem to deal with the English and Roger Williams, Canonicus was the uncle of Miantonomoh (above). They shared the leadership of the tribe. After a major village was burned, and all within were murdered, he was offered a chance to live, as long as he obeyed all of the commands of the English. His reply: “I like it well, that I shall die before my heart grows soft, or that I have said anything unworthy of myself.”
Canonicus, the first Narragansett sachem to deal with the English and Roger Williams, Canonicus was the uncle of Miantonomoh (above). They shared the leadership of the tribe. After a major village was burned, and all within were murdered, he was offered a chance to live, as long as he obeyed all of the commands of the English. His reply: “I like it well, that I shall die before my heart grows soft, or that I have said anything unworthy of myself.”