Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/68

42 haunts or rendezvous, inland and on the shores of the Bay, called villages, where they spent considerable time, either in summer or in winter. Thus Philip passed the summer in and about Mt. Hope Neck, and it is popularly stated that he lived at Mt. Hope; while in winter his home, if we may so call a movable wigwam, was about the inland lakes or ponds of his possessions. One of these favorite winter resorts of King Philip is said to have been in the pine forests on the banks of Winneconnet Pond, in the town of Norton, Mass, within the Pokanoket Territory. Banks of clam and oyster shells, Indian arrowheads and stone implements of husbandry and housekeeping are the best evidences of the localities where the Wampanoags made their residences.

The friendly alliance entered into between the Pilgrims of Plymouth and Massassoit in 1621, not only established a lifelong friendship between the parties, but also secured to Carver, Winslow, Bradford, Standish, and their associates "all the lands adjacent, to them and their heirs forever." It is true that the letters patent of the New Plymouth Colony included all the lands between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and south, the Cohassett River on the north, and the Narragansett River on the south, (as stated by the patent), "to the utmost bounds and lymetts of a country or place in New England called Pocanacutt allis Puckanakicke allis Sowamsett, westwards. Together with one halfe the said river called the Narragansett." For all that, the first settlers would not intrude on forbidden soil or steal territory, then held by peaceable occupants. Hence their policy of purchasing Indian lands was strictly adhered to, paying therefor to the full satisfaction of the owners.

The Rehoboth purchase was made by John Brown and Edward Winslow of Massassoit in 1641, including a territory about ten miles square, but described as "eight miles square," "to Red Stone Hill, VIII miles into the land and to Annawamscote, VII miles down to the water." This land included the present towns of Rehoboth, Seekonk, East Providence, and Pawtucket.