Pessicus marke
Narragansett Sachem. After the death of his brother, Miantonomo, Pessicus shared tribal leadership with his uncle, Canonicus, until Canonicus died in 1647. In his time, Pessicus was known by several other names, including Mosomp, Quissucquansh, Sucquans and Wemosit. Just a month after Pessicus, Canonicus and others signed a document acknowledging tribal submission to King Charles I, Pessicus’s mark appears on this document in response to a summons by the General Court of Massachusetts.
In the letter to the general court of Massachusetts, both Pessicus and Canonicus ask the court to provide reason for their need to travel to Boston, as they are currently mourning the loss of Miantononmo. The letter references their upset at the fact that Miantonomo was killed, that they would like answers from the English about why they should not avenge Miantonomo’s death, and that in light of English advisement against justice for Miantonomo the Narragansetts will not travel. They write, “being we take you for a wise people, to let us know your reasons why you seem to advise us as you do, not to go out against our so inhuman and cruel adversary, who took so great a ransom to release him, and his life also, when that was done. Our brother was willing to stir much abroad to converse with men, and we see a sad event at the last thereupon. Take it not ill, therefore, though we resolve to keep at home.”
Further in the letter they write: “...we have subjected ourselves, our lands and possessions, with all the rights and inheritances of us and our people, either by conquest, voluntary subjection or otherwise, unto that famous and honorable government of that Royal King, Charles…” And here again, they seem frustrated by settler entitlement. Essentially, they say, they have already given so much, and will not be bothering themselves to travel to Boston unless a messenger is sent to them providing good enough reason to do so.
These signatures and submissions connect to the complicated relationships between colonizers and tribal nations in so-called New England, following the Pequot War, the murder of Pessicus’s brother Miantonomo by Uncas (Mohegan), and Pessicus’s own plans for the survival of his Nation.
Pessicus’s kin: Father Mascus; brother Miantonomo; uncle Canonicus.
Signed May 24, 1644. Seen at the Massachusetts State Archives