History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

The Indians 35
the Narragansetts. Intelligence of this reached the colonists,
and was one cause of their determination to invade the
Narragansett country. It is not known whether Weetamoe
was at the fort at the time of the massacre, but the probability
is that she was.
About this time Weetamoe joined herself with Quinnapin,
a famous chief of the Narragansetts, with whom she appears
to have lived in great amity. Mrs. Rowlandson, during her
captivity, frequently met with her, and the description she
gives of the Indian queen, spiced with hatred, and perhaps a
little of female jealousy, is somewhat entertaining. " My master
had three squaws living sometimes with one, and sometimes
with another—one was Weetamoe, with whom I had lived and
served all this while. A severe and proud dame she was,
bestowing every day, in dressing herself, near as much time as
any of the gentry of the land— powdering her head and painting
her face, going with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears,
and bracelets upon her hands. When she had dressed herself,
her work was to make girdles of wampum and beads."
Such is the substance of Weetamoe's history as handed to
us by her enemy. She appears to have been a woman of much
energy, faithful in the cause which she considered right, and
sincerely desirous of the welfare of her subjects. Her disposition
was amiable until soured by misfortune and injury;
and the affection with which she was regarded by her people
will appear in the subsequent narrative. The only crime that
could be alleged against her was attachment to the cause of
Philip; but for this she was hunted from place to place with
unrelenting hatred, a price was set upon her head, and whole
tribes were destroyed who were guilty or were suspected of
having harboured her.
Weetamoe had shared the triumphs of Philip; she also
shared his misfortunes. When, by intestine divisions, his
power was destroyed among the Nipmucks, the queen Hke her
ally, seems to have been deserted by most of her followers, and
like him also, she sought refuge in her own country. On the
6th of August, 1676, she arrived upon the western bank of
Teticut River, in Mattapoiset, with twenty-six men, the
remainder, numbering two hundred and seventy, having
deserted her or been slain in battle. Intelligence of her situation
was conveyed to the colonists, as usual, by a deserter,
who offered to conduct a party to capture her.
Twenty men immediately volunteered, glad of the opportunity
of capturing the one who was *'next to Philip in respect
of the mischief that had been done." The party proceeded
with caution until, guided by the deserter, they reached