Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 105
Mr. Bourne was the pastor of the Indian Church at
Marshpee,* gathered in 1670. The apostles Eliot and Cotton
assisted at his ordination. His parish extended from
Provincetown to Middleboro'—one hundred miles. He
commenced his labors as a missionary about the year 1658,
and in his return to Major Gookin, dated Sandwich, Sept.
1, 1674, he says he is the only Englishman employed in this
extensive region, and the results of his labors are stated in
his return, of which the following is a condensed abstract
"Praying Indians that do frequently meet together on
the Lord's Day to worship God." He names twenty-two
places where meetings were held. The number of men and
women that attended these meetings was three hundred and
nine. Young men and maids, one hundred and eightyeight.
Whole number of praying Indians, four hundred
and ninety-seven. Of these one hundred and forty-two
could read the Indian language, seventy-two could write,
and nine could read English.
The labors of Mr. Bourne and his associates have not
been sufficiently appreciated by historians. In 1675, the
far-seeing Philip, Sachem of Mount Hope, had succeeded
in uniting the Western Indians in a league, the avowed object
whereof was the extermination of the white inhabitants
of New England. His emissaries in vain attempted to induce
the Christianized Indians to join that league. They
remained faithful. Eichard Bourne, aided by Thomas Tupper
of Sandwich, Mr. Thornton of Yarmouth and Mr. Treat
of Eastham had a controlling influence over the numerous
bands of Indians then resident in the County of Barnstable,
in Wareham, Eochester and Middleboro'. Mr. Mayhew exerted
a like controlling influence over the natives of Martha's
Vineyard and the adjacent islands.
In 1674, the year preceding King Philip's war, the returns
made to Major Gookin, show that the aggregate number
of Christianized or praying Indians
•*Maesi-ipee.—Mr. Hawlev. who understood the Indian language, says
it should he written Massa'pe. This word is from the same root as
Mississippi, and literally moans Great Eiver. The principal stream in
the plantation is called Marshpee or Great River.