A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson facts for kids

A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a famous book from early American history. It was also known as The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. The book was written by Mary Rowlandson, an English woman living in America. She was captured by Native Americans during a conflict called King Philip's War. Mary was held for about 11 weeks before she was set free. After her release, she wrote this book. It is a type of story called a captivity narrative. Her book became one of America's first bestsellers. Four different versions of the book were printed in 1682, the year it first came out.

Mary Rowlandson's Story: A Journey of Survival

This section tells you about Mary Rowlandson's difficult journey. It describes her capture and her time with the Native Americans.

The Attack on Lancaster

On February 10, 1675, Mary Rowlandson's town, Lancaster, was attacked. This town was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Native Americans attacked the English settlers during King Philip's War. They burned houses and shot at the settlers. Many people were killed or hurt. Mary Rowlandson and her three children were among those taken captive. Mary and her youngest child were injured. Other family members, like her brother-in-law, died in the attack.

Life as a Captive

After the attack, the Native Americans and their captives traveled into the wilderness. Mary and her injured daughter found the journey very hard. They reached a Native American village called Wenimesset. There, Mary met another captive, Robert Pepper, who tried to help them. After about a week in Wenimesset, Mary's injured daughter, Sarah, passed away.

Mary was then moved to another Native American group. This group was led by someone related to King Philip. Mary's daughter was buried. She was allowed to visit her oldest daughter, Mary, who was also held in Wenimesset. Her son could visit from a nearby Native American camp too. The Native Americans gave Mary a Bible. She found great comfort and hope in reading it.

Moving Through the Wilderness

After another attack on a town, the Native Americans decided to travel north. Mary was again separated from her children and friends. The group moved quickly through the forest. This was because the English army was close behind them. They reached the Baquaug River and crossed it. The English soldiers could not cross, so Mary and the Native Americans continued northwest.

They soon reached the Connecticut River. They planned to meet King Philip there. But English scouts were seen, so the group scattered and hid.

Meeting King Philip and Hopes for Freedom

Rowlandson and the Native Americans eventually crossed the river and met King Philip. In this camp, Mary sewed clothes for the Native Americans. In return, they gave her food. Mary hoped to go to Albany. She thought she might be traded for gunpowder there. But the Native Americans took her northward and crossed the river again.

Mary started to hope she would be returned home. But the Native Americans turned south. They continued along the Connecticut River instead of heading east towards English settlements. The Native Americans kept attacking other towns. A man named Thomas Read joined Mary's group. Read told Mary that her husband was alive and well. This news gave her much hope and comfort. Finally, Mary and her group began to move east.

The Journey Home

They crossed the Baquaug River again. There, messengers told Mary she needed to go to Wachuset. At Wachuset, the Native Americans would talk about her freedom. Mary eagerly headed towards Wachuset. But the journey was very tiring. She felt sad when she saw a colonist who had been hurt in a previous Native American attack.

She reached Wachuset and spoke to King Philip. He promised her freedom in two weeks. The leaders asked how much her husband would pay for her return. They sent a letter to Boston offering her freedom for twenty pounds.

After more Native American attacks and victories, Mary Rowlandson was allowed to travel back to Lancaster. Then she went to Concord and finally to Boston. She was reunited with her husband after 11 long weeks. They stayed with a friend in Concord for a while. Later, Mary's sister, son, and daughter were also returned. The family was back together. They built a house in Boston where they lived until 1677.

Important Lessons from Mary's Story

Mary Rowlandson's book shares some important ideas and lessons. These are called themes.

Life's Ups and Downs

One theme is that life can be very uncertain. Mary learned that life can change quickly. One day, the Native Americans might treat her kindly and give her food. The next day, they might starve her without explanation. This showed her how quickly things could change.

Strong Belief

Another theme is having a strong and steady belief. Throughout her entire experience, Mary kept her religious faith. She believed that everything that happened to her was either a blessing or a test from God. Her faith helped her get through the hard times.

Changing Views

Mary Rowlandson also changed during her captivity. This is another important theme. She wrote about some Native American customs that she first thought were "filthy trash." But over time, she became more familiar with them and more accepting. She especially wrote about how her feelings about their food changed.