July 14, 1675:  Mendon Under Attack

    The destruction of Mendon during the King Philip War was brought about by a
    conflict of cultures.  By 1675, the peaceful co-existence that was demonstrated at the
    first Thanksgiving in Plymouth had long ended.  Lack of agreement in regards to
    land, religion, and way of life led to such intense conflict that the Indians thought it
    was necessary to banish the English settlers from Southern New England and send
    them back to Europe.  The first attack was in Swansea in June by Wampanoags.  
    King Philip was their chief.  Three weeks later, the attack on Mendon on July 14,
    1675 sent shock waves of terror throughout Massachusetts Bay Colony.  The attack
    was by Nipmucs, and it meant that King Philip's attempts at lobbying neighboring
    tribes had succeeded.  The Wampanoags had been joined by Nipmucs and
    Narragansetts.  The attack on Mendon was the first outside of Plymouth Colony.  The
    Swansea fight had not been just a local skirmish.  It was the beginning of an all-out
    war to see which culture would prevail.

    One of the most significant conflicts between cultures was in regards to use of land.  
    Indians believed that land was a gift from the Creator for everyone to use, regardless
    of who actually owned it.  It was essentially for communal use.  The English, on the
    other hand, believed that when land was purchased, the previous owner should
    vacate it.  The new owner would have exclusive rights to it.  The English were puzzled
    and angered when they saw Wampanoags continuing to hunt and fish on land that
    they had just sold.  As more and more land was purchased to accommodate the
    influx of new settlers, Indians realized that they were being boxed in and not welcome
    on land that they assumed they could still use.  Over a period of time, it became
    evident that Wampanoags were on a trend of being pushed out of their own land.

    Religion was another source of disagreement that led to the conflict of cultures.  The
    English were Puritans.  They believed it was God's will and their moral duty to convert
    the Indians to Christianity.  Several ministers and sachems met in Concord in 1646 to
    create a list (The Clear Sunshine of the Gospel) of what the Indians needed to do to
    change their ways to become Christians.  The list imposed fines in English money
    and other punishments on natives who would not cooperate.  Some villages accepted
    the new religion.  They were known as "Praying Indians." Many others did not.  
    Wampanoags were being arrested and brought to trial in Plymouth for farming and
    fishing on Sunday. An Indian who told a lie had to pay five shillings, and the theft of a
    canoe would be five shillings.  Massasoit is alleged to have remarked that Christianity
    sounded like a wonderful religion, but he asked of the English, "When are you going
    to start practicing it?"

    How people lived their daily lives was another source of cultural conflict.  Though
    both the English and Indians relied on farming, fishing, and hunting for survival, there
    were many differences in their clothing, hair styles, manners, technology, tools, and
    weapons.  The English regarded their way of life as superior to the more simple
    culture of the Indians.  As with religion, they felt it was imperative to impose their way
    of life on the Indians. Some natives who chose to work for the English as servants or
    maids were required to dress, comb their hair, and speak like their employers.
    Wampanoags were fascinated with firearms and alcohol. The English readily traded
    them in exchange for furs and pelts, knowing full well that the natives' limited
    experience with both could get them into trouble with laws that were limiting  and
    confining their lives. King Philip became painfully aware that since he became chief in
    1662, the culture of his tribe was being eroded and assimilated, and soon would be
    gone if he and his people did not take action.

    The clash of cultures brought devastation to both the settlers and the Indians.  
    Mendon was attacked again in February 1676.  This time the entire town was burned
    to the ground.  Philip's death in August 1676 took away native leadership.  The out-
    manned and out-gunned Indians were not able to continue the war for their
    homeland.  They had suffered a crushing defeat.  Mendon and other towns gradually
    recovered from the charred ruins.  It re-settled in 1680, built its second meeting
    house (Founders' Park), and re-established itself as a farming, frontier community.  
    The Nipmucs, Wampanoags, and Narragansetts were not able to recover.  Some fled
    to other tribes.  Some were sold into slavery.  Many died of disease and starvation.  
    Some were executed on Boston Common.  Many Indians adopted the culture of the
    English and lived quietly amongst them.  The King Philip War brought an end to the
    proud and noble Indian civilization as it had once existed in Southeastern New
    England.  Sadly, it began, or at least escalated, here!

    A stone marker (see above this textbox) is located at the corner of Providence Road
    and Hartford Avenue East to designate the area of the July 14, 1675 attack.
                           
           Richard Grady
      
     Mendon, MA