Matoonas facts for kids

Matoonas (who died in 1676 in Boston) was an important leader, known as a sachem, of the Nipmuc Native American people in the mid-1600s. He played a big part in a major conflict called King Philip's War, which was an uprising of Native American groups against English settlers.

Matoonas's Early Life and Decisions

Matoonas had first become a Christian and was known as a Praying Indian. The English colonists even made him a constable in the Praying Indian village of Pakachoog. However, a difficult event happened in 1671 involving his son. This event made Matoonas feel very unfairly treated by the English. It made him very upset and angry, even though he kept his true feelings hidden for a while.

When Metacom (also known as King Philip) started to organize Native American groups to fight against the English settlers in New England in 1675, Matoonas was ready to join. He convinced other Nipmuc leaders to follow him in this fight.

Joining King Philip's War

In July 1675, Matoonas led a raid on the town of Mendon. This attack showed that the Nipmuc people were now officially part of King Philip's War. Mendon was the first English settlement in the Massachusetts Bay Colony to be attacked during this war.

Soon after the Mendon raid, Matoonas worked with another Nipmuc leader named Muttawmp. Together, they successfully ambushed a group of colonial soldiers. This event became known as Wheeler's Surprise and happened near Brookfield.