Awashonks facts for kids
Awashonks (also spelled Awashunckes, Awashunkes, or Awasoncks) was a powerful female leader, known as a sachem (chief) or saunkskwa, of the Sakonnet tribe. She lived in what is now Rhode Island, near Narragansett Bay. In the mid-1600s, English settlers from the Plymouth Colony began moving into her tribe's lands.
Awashonks was known for her amazing skills in talking and making agreements (negotiation and diplomacy). These skills helped the Sakonnet people stay safe and get forgiveness from the colonists during tough times. Even though she sometimes worked with the English to gain power, the English settling on her land eventually made things harder for her among both her own people and the English.
Awashonks: A Strong Leader
Awashonks became a saunkskwa, or female chief, because of her strong leadership qualities, not because she inherited the role. During her time as chief, she faced many challenges. These challenges came from rivals within her own Sakonnet tribe and from the English colonists.
Dealing with Plymouth Colony
Awashonks did not officially become an ally of the English until July 1671. Leaders from the Plymouth Colony called her and other Native American leaders to a meeting. They warned that an army would fight them if they did not come.
Awashonks signed an agreement called the "Articles of Agreement." In this agreement, she agreed to give up guns and hand over any Sakonnet people who were causing problems. Other leaders also signed this agreement. Soon after, in August, Awashonks' men also signed a paper agreeing with her actions. In October 1671, Governor Prince of Plymouth wrote to her, promising that the English would be her friends.
Awashonks sometimes appeared in the Plymouth court system. She faced challenges from within her own tribe, including from her son, Mammanuah, who disagreed with her decisions. The court ruled in Mammanuah's favor. However, out of respect for Awashonks, her fine was made much smaller than what Mammanuah had asked for.
Awashonks had two husbands, Wawayeenit and Tatoson. With Tatoson, she had a son named Peter Awashanks (also called Petonuitt), a daughter named Betty, and another son named Mammanuah. Mammanuah later became a chief and passed away in 1698. Peter Awashanks did not become a chief. His family continued for many generations, and their name eventually became Shanks. Peter's grandchildren were given land later as a thank you for the Sakonnet's help to the English during a big war. Some of her great-grandsons even fought in the Revolutionary War.
Awashonks also had two other sons, Amos and Simon, with a man named Wawayeenit. He might have been a chief of Nantucket. She also had two stepsons, Osohmehun and Popsitigo. Their families lived in other areas until the 1850s.
King Philip's War
By 1675, the relationship between the English and the Wampanoag tribe was very tense. Metacomet, the Wampanoag chief (also known as King Philip), was trying to gather different tribes to fight against the Plymouth settlers.
Metacomet sent six men to Awashonks to convince her to join him. They told her that if she didn't, Metacomet would make it look like her people had attacked the colonists. Awashonks then sent for Benjamin Church, an English leader she trusted. When he arrived, Awashonks was leading a special dance with hundreds of people.
Awashonks stopped to talk to Church. He told her that the rumors about Plymouth preparing for war were not true. Church advised Awashonks to go to the Governor of Plymouth and side with the English. Because of help from leaders like Awashonks, the English were able to defeat Metacomet in a major conflict known as King Philip's War.
Legacy
Awashonks is mentioned in official records of New England more than any other Native American woman. In the late 1800s, a large stone was placed in Wilbur Wood, Little Compton, Rhode Island, to remember her. This was a time when settlers were very interested in stories about Native Americans. The stone reads, "In memory of Awashonks Queen of Sogkonate & friend of the white man."
