Canonchet
(d. 1676)
Narragansett War Chief
CANONCHET
H
aughty Canonchet peaceably led the
biggest Indian tribe of southern New
England until forced into a destructive
war against English settlers. His ensuing de-
mise signaled the end of Indian sovereignty
throughout that region.
Canonchet was born probably in the late
sixteenth century in what is present-day
southern Rhode Island. He was a son of
Miantonomo, destined to be chief of the Nar-
ragansett Indians. This was an influential tribe
of Algonquin-speaking peoples, among the
oldest settled cultures of the region. By dint
of numbers, they extended their influence
into Connecticut and neighboring Long Is-
land. The Narragansetts were also among the
first Native Americans encountered by Euro-
pean explorers, who commented upon their
tall stature, fine physiques, and friendly dispo-
sitions. Like most Native Americans, they
greeted the newly arriving English colonists
amicably and entered into profitable trade re-
lations with them. However, by the 1650s the
incessant English demand for land and settle-
ment drove a wedge between these otherwise
harmonious relationships.
The year 1675 was a fateful one for
Anglo–Native American relationships, for the
Wampanoags under King Philip staged a vio-
lent and bloody uprising against their Euro-
pean neighbors. He was roundly supported by
numerous tribes throughout the region, but
the mighty Narragansetts stood aloof. This
was because Canonchet, who had succeeded
his father as chief, had signed a treaty of
friendship with the Puritans in Boston. The
Wampanoags were a traditional enemy of the
Narragansetts, and Canonchet’s reluctance to
take sides dispirited many of Philip’s allies.
However, the English were hard-pressed to
hold their own against the rampaging Indians,
and they viewed Canonchet, who commanded
upward of 4,000 warriors, as a potential threat.
Accordingly, he was respectfully requested to
travel to Boston and renew a treaty of friend-
ship with the colonies. Canonchet willingly
complied, and on June 15, 1675, he reaffirmed
his pledge to remain an ally. In exchange, the
tall, imposing chief was feted and received an
elaborate silver-laced coat for his cooperation.
As the year wore on, the colonials were
still struggling against the elusive Philip and
his hard-hitting band of raiders. Furthermore,
consistent with the treaty of friendship, the
Narragansetts were obliged to surrender any
Wampanoag Indians or their allies who might
seek refuge in their territory. Canonchet had
agreed to this provision, but he apparently en-
tertained second thoughts. When the English
learned that several Wampanoag women and
children were being sheltered by the Narra-
gansetts, they immediately demanded their
surrender. Canonchet, mindful of his reputa-
tion among fellow Indians, regarded this re-
quest as a violation of Narragansett sover-
eignty and politely but firmly declined to
comply. A stream of threats and entreaties fol-
lowed, but the big chief thundered back, “Not
a Wampanoag will I ever give up. No, not the
paring of a Wampanoag’s nail!” Despite this
defiance, the Narragansetts made no overt
hostile moves toward the settlers.
At this juncture, it appeared to the Puritans
that Canonchet’s recalcitrance stemmed from
a secret alliance with King Philip. The settlers
were then hard-pressed to contain the Indi-
ans, and the sheer number of Narragansett
warriors available could lead to a decisive de-
feat. Rather than wait for the hatchet to fall
upon them first, the New England Confedera-
tion resolved upon a preemptive strike to take
as many of Canonchet’s men out of the war as
possible. A force of 1,000 well-armed soldiers,
assisted by several hundred Mohegan Indians,
then marched southward from Boston into
Rhode Island. Their objective was the princi-