Annawan (died 1676) was a military leader and advisor of the
Wampanoag
The Wampanoag, also rendered Wôpanâak, are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American people of the Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Northeastern Woodlands currently based in southeastern Massachusetts and forme ...
. As head captain under sachem
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem ( ) or Ousamequin (1661)"Native People" (page), "Massasoit (Ousamequin) Sachem" (section),''MayflowerFamilies.com'', web pag was the sachem or leader of the Wampanoag confederacy. ''Massasoit'' means ''Great Sachem''. Although ...
, Annawan fought wars with rival New England Indian tribes and became renowned as a warrior. Under Massasoit's son,
Metacomet
Metacomet (c. 1638 in Massachusetts – August 12, 1676), also known as Pometacom, Metacom, and by his adopted English name King Philip,Plymouth colonists.
After the death of Metacomet in 1676, Annawan succeeded him as sachem and organized the remaining Wampanoag and established a strategic position at Anawan Rock. Later that year, Captain
Benjamin Church Benjamin Church may refer to:
* Benjamin Church (physician) (1734–1778), effectively the first Surgeon General of the U.S. Army
* Benjamin Church (ranger) (1639–1718), considered the father of the U.S. Army Rangers
* Benjamin Church (carpenter) ...
led a small colonial party to the stronghold and forced their surrender. Annawan presented his royal regalia, inherited from Metacomet—including his wampum belts—to Church, who pleaded for Annawan's life, but was unable to stop the Plymouth officials from exacting justice after he admitted to having tortured and murdered several colonists during the course of
King Philip's War
King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1678 between a group of indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodland ...
. Annawan was executed at Plymouth in August 1676 and his severed head displayed without town.Gille 1999, p. 71.
Titles
Annawan served as chief counselor and head captain under King Philip (
Metacomet
Metacomet (c. 1638 in Massachusetts – August 12, 1676), also known as Pometacom, Metacom, and by his adopted English name King Philip,King Philip's War
King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1678 between a group of indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodland ...
against the New England colonists, having earlier served under Philip's father, sachem
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem ( ) or Ousamequin (1661)"Native People" (page), "Massasoit (Ousamequin) Sachem" (section),''MayflowerFamilies.com'', web pag was the sachem or leader of the Wampanoag confederacy. ''Massasoit'' means ''Great Sachem''. Although ...
, in wars with other
New England
New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Associated with India
* of or related to India
** Indian people
** Indian diaspora
** Languages of India
** Indian English, a dialect of the English language
** Indian cuisine
Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
tribes. He was recognized as a great and valiant warrior, even among his enemies.
King Philip's War
King Philip was killed in an attack on his Misery Swamp fortress, near Mount Hope, on August 12, 1676. After the ensuing rout, only a remnant of his people were left at large, under two principal chiefs, Tispaquin and Annawan. Of these chiefs Annawan was the more important, having been Philip's head captain. Though he was an old man at this time, Annawan rallied the surviving warriors and they continued to attack settlers of
Swansea
Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...
and
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
, constantly moving their camp to avoid discovery.
Anawan Rock
Later that year (1676), a captive Indian led a small colonial party under Captain
Benjamin Church Benjamin Church may refer to:
* Benjamin Church (physician) (1734–1778), effectively the first Surgeon General of the U.S. Army
* Benjamin Church (ranger) (1639–1718), considered the father of the U.S. Army Rangers
* Benjamin Church (carpenter) ...
to Annawan's elevated retreat, now known as Anawan Rock, a hill set in swampland near the Rehoboth River. There on August 28 they surprised and captured Annawan and his chief counselors. The main party of Indian warriors was tricked into surrendering when Church told them that his army had encircled their position. Annawan, correctly believing his party to be the last to resist the English, gave Church a deer-skin bundle containing Philip's wampum belts, symbols of his chiefdom, and other effects:
Then opening his pack, he pull'd out ''Philips'' belt curiously wrought with ''Wompom'', being Nine inches broad, wrought with black and white ''Wompom'', in various figures and flowers, and pictures of many birds and beasts. This when hung upon Capt. ''Churches'' shoulders it reach'd his ancles. And another belt of Wompom he presented him with, wrought after the former manner, which ''Philip'' was wont to put upon his head; it had two flags on the back part which hung down on his back: and another small belt with a Star upon the end of it, which he used to hang on his breast; and they were all edg'd with red hair, which ''Annawon'' said they got in the Muhhogs Country. Then he pulled out two horns of glazed Powder, and a red cloth Blanket: he told Capt. ''Church'', these were ''Philips'' Royalties which he was wont to adorn himself with when he sat in State.
Death
The capture of Anawan marked the final event in King Philip's War. Although Church pleaded for Annawan's life, his confession that he had tortured and killed several English captives compelled the Plymouth officials to have him executed and
decapitated
Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common ...
while Church was away. The heads of Annawan and Tispaquin were then stuck up for all to see.Sabin 1919, pp. 15–32.