Wamsutta facts for kids

Wamsutta (born around 1634, died 1662) was a Native American leader. The English colonists called him Alexander Pokanoket. He was the oldest son of Massasoit Ousa Mequin, the Great Leader of the Pokanoket Tribe and Wampanoag nation. Wamsutta was also the brother of Metacomet.

Wamsutta's Life Story

Early Life and Family

Wamsutta was born around 1634. He was the oldest son of Massasoit Ousa Mequin, who was the leader of the Pokanoket people. Wamsutta married a woman named Weetamoo.

Becoming a Leader

When his father, Massasoit, died, Wamsutta became the new leader. This was the custom for the Pokanoket. The English called him Alexander. He promised to keep the peace his father had made with the English colonists.

Trouble with the Colonists

Soon, rumors spread that Wamsutta was planning to attack the English with another tribe called the Narragansetts. In 1662, the English also accused Wamsutta of selling land without their permission. They forced him to go to Plymouth at gunpoint.

Wamsutta became very sick and died before he could return home. Many Native Americans, including the Pokanoket, believed the English had poisoned him. After Wamsutta's death, his younger brother, Metacomet, became the new leader.

How the Pokanoket Were Led

The Pokanoket had a system where leadership passed down in the family. It was like a royal family in Europe. The leader, often called a "Prince" or "King" by the English, made important decisions. If his land was too big, he had helpers who governed parts of it. The leader also talked with wise people and nobles before making big choices.

The English colonists understood this system. They saw Massasoit, Wamsutta's father, as a very powerful leader. They knew that some Native American leaders were like kings, and others were under their protection.

Wamsutta's Influence and Death

After his father died, Wamsutta became the leader of many Native American tribes. These tribes lived between the Charles River in Massachusetts and Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. At this time, the fur trade was not doing well. Wamsutta increased the Pokanoket's power by selling land to the colonists.

In 1662, the Plymouth Colony court called Wamsutta to appear before them. He was questioned and soon became ill, then died.

The exact reason for his death was debated. Wamsutta's brother, Metacomet, thought he had been poisoned. Wamsutta's death was one of the reasons that led to the King Philip's War in 1675. Some people in history have wondered if Governor Josiah Winslow might have harmed Wamsutta, seeing him as a threat. However, Winslow's father and other leaders had peaceful relationships with Wamsutta's father, Massasoit.

Wamsutta's Legacy

Wamsutta's name has been used for many businesses and places:

• In 1846, the Wamsutta Mills textile factory opened in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
• In 1861, Henry Huttleston Rogers and his partner named their oil business near Oil City, Pennsylvania, the Wamsutta Oil Refinery. Rogers later became a big part of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company.
• USS Wamsutta was a United States Navy steamer ship used from 1863 to 1865.
• In 1866, the Wamsutta Club was started in New Bedford. It was a club for wealthy people, often those who made money from whaling or textiles.
• From 1945 to 1975, Camp Wamsutta, a summer camp, operated in Charlton, Massachusetts.
• After 1975, Wamsutta Estates became a neighborhood in Charlton, Massachusetts.
• In 1997, the Wamsutta Middle School was built in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
• Today, Wamsutta is a brand name for textile products sold by Springs Global.