Madockawando facts for kids

Madockawando was an important leader, called a sachem, of the Penobscot people. He was born around 1630 in what is now Maine and passed away in 1698. Madockawando became a leader after his adopted father, Assaminasqua. He is well-known for leading the Penobscot alongside the French in a big conflict against the English, known as King William's War.

Madockawando's Early Life and Alliances

The Penobscot people lived on lands east of the Penobscot River. These lands were part of Acadia, a French colony. In 1667, the English gave this land back to France through the Treaty of Breda. However, the English still believed that the area between the Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers belonged to them.

A French trader named Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin, often called Castin, became very influential with the local Native American tribes, including the Penobscot and Abenaki. He lived among them and even married one of Madockawando's daughters. This helped create strong ties between the French and the Penobscot people.

Conflicts and Peace Treaties

When a major conflict called King Philip's War started between King Philip's group and the Plymouth Colony, the Penobscot and English settlers in Maine and New Hampshire also became involved. The Penobscot were among the first Native American groups to seek peace. They wanted to form an alliance with the English.

A peace agreement was signed in Boston on November 6, 1676, and Madockawando officially approved it. However, the English soon found a reason to start fighting again. Despite this, the Penobscot were successful and destroyed all English settlements in their part of Maine.

The Treaty of Casco

In 1678, a new treaty was made at Casco. This agreement allowed English settlers to return to their farms. But there was a condition: they had to pay rent to the Penobscot people. This peace lasted for some time.

King William's War

The peace was broken in 1688 because of land disagreements between France and England. An English leader named Edmund Andros arrived among the Penobscot in a warship. He attacked Castin's home near an old French fort.

The Penobscot chiefs, who had many weapons from Castin, decided to fight back. They attacked English settlements. This event helped start King William's War. This larger conflict was mainly about France and England trying to gain more power in North America. Madockawando played a very important role throughout this entire war.

Later Years and Death

When the English built Fort William Henry at Pemaquid, Madockawando quickly traveled to Quebec to tell the French leader, Louis de Buade de Frontenac. However, he also shared this information with John Nelson. Nelson's messengers then warned the leaders in Boston about a French expedition led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville.

In 1693, the English managed to get Madockawando to agree to another peace treaty. But he could not convince other chiefs who were influenced by French Jesuit missionaries. Because of this, Madockawando was forced to start fighting again.

The war continued for more than a year even after the Peace of Ryswick was signed between France and England. Chief Madockawando eventually moved to Meductic, a village for Maliseet-Abenaki Native Americans on the St. John River. He passed away there in 1698 during a smallpox outbreak.