Siege of Springfield facts for kids

The siege of Springfield was a big event during a war called King Philip's War. It happened when Native American groups attacked the English settlement of Springfield in colonial New England. Springfield was the second town in New England to be burned down during this war. King Philip's War was a very difficult time in American history, where many people were affected.

What Led to the Siege?

English settlers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony started a town on the Connecticut River in 1636. They had a complicated relationship with the local Native American tribes. A big part of their connection was the fur trade. This was a very profitable business. The colonists traded things like wampum (shell beads), cloth, and metal for furs.

Sometimes, tribes used their land as a promise for future beaver furs. But the fur trade became so popular that beavers were hunted too much. The number of furs traded dropped a lot, which meant tribes had to give up land they had promised.

One colonist, Samuel Marshfield, bought so much land from the Agawam Native Americans that they had "little left to plant on." The government even had to step in and make Marshfield give them back 15 acres. Some tribes started building forts with tall fences called palisades. The Agawam fort near Springfield was on Long Hill.

In 1675, a Wampanoag leader named Metacomet, also known as "King Philip," led his tribe against the New England Colonies. This happened after his brother Wamsutta died. The fighting quickly spread across New England.

The Attack on Springfield

When the war first started, the leaders in Springfield wanted to stay peaceful with the nearby tribes. The Agawam tribe helped, even sharing important information with the colonists. But things changed.

In August 1675, colonial soldiers in Hadley told the Nonotuck Native Americans to give up their weapons. The Nonotucks didn't want to and left their fort on August 25. About a hundred soldiers chased them. The colonists attacked, but the Nonotucks fought back and kept moving.

Colonial leaders knew that attacking the Nonotucks could put Springfield in danger. Officials from Connecticut told John Pynchon, a leader in Springfield, not to take away the Native Americans' weapons. Instead, they suggested taking "hostages" – people held to make sure the tribes stayed loyal. Pynchon agreed and sent Agawam people to be held in Hartford.

However, this threat wasn't enough to stop the Agawams from rising up. While John Pynchon and his soldiers were fighting in Hadley, hundreds of Native Americans got ready to attack Springfield. They also sent a small group to rescue the Agawam people held in Hartford.

An Indigenous man named Toto, who worked for a family in Windsor, Connecticut, learned about the planned attack on Springfield. He told the colonists about it.

Even with this warning, the Agawam people burned 45 out of Springfield's 60 houses. They also destroyed the grist mill (for grinding grain) and saw mill, which belonged to John Pynchon. Much of the town was left in smoking ruins. The colonists even thought about leaving Springfield completely.

The people of Springfield had to survive the winter of 1675 under difficult "siege conditions," meaning they were surrounded and under attack. John Pynchon's brick house became a safe place for many residents. Pynchon himself was away leading troops. Captain Miles Morgan and his sons were also known for defending their town. Their strong blockhouse was another shelter and was one of the few homes that survived the attack.

During King Philip's War, Native Americans burned colonial mills across New England. This made it hard for the colonists to get food. After their mill was destroyed, the people of Springfield had to walk to Westfield for grain, and they were attacked on the way.

What Happened After?

During King Philip's War, many people were affected. More than 800 settlers died, and about 8,000 Native Americans were killed, captured, or forced to leave their homes. Some historians say the war ended when Metacom died in the summer of 1676. However, fighting continued in Maine, where the Wabanaki Confederation fought the colonists to a truce.

After the war, most of the Native American population left Western Massachusetts. Many who were forced to leave joined the Wabanaki Confederation in the north, where their families still live today. Native American warriors even returned to Western Massachusetts with the French during the Seven Years' War. Stories are still told about Abenaki visitors coming to Deerfield as late as the 1830s.

Today, there's a restaurant in Springfield called The Student Prince and The Fort Restaurant. It has a plaque at its entrance to remember where Pynchon's brick house, known as the "fort house," once stood. Statues have been built for Miles Morgan and Toto to honor them for their roles in defending Springfield. The Miles Morgan statue is in front of City Hall, and the Toto statue is in King Philip's Stockade in Forest Park, Springfield.

Images for kids

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  Portrait of King Philip by Paul Revere