#canonicus

Pessicus marke

Narragansett Sachem. After the death of his brother, Miantonomo, Pessicus shared tribal leadership with his uncle, Canonicus, until Canonicus died in 1647. In his time, Pessicus was known by several other names, including Mosomp, Quissucquansh, Sucquans and Wemosit.  Just a month after Pessicus, Canonicus and others signed a document acknowledging tribal submission to King Charles I, Pessicus’s mark appears on this document in response to a summons by the General Court of Massachusetts. 

In the letter to the general court of Massachusetts, both Pessicus and Canonicus ask the court to provide reason for their need to travel to Boston, as they are currently mourning the loss of Miantononmo. The letter references their upset at the fact that Miantonomo was killed, that they would like answers from the English about why they should not avenge Miantonomo’s death,  and that in light of English advisement against justice for Miantonomo the Narragansetts will not travel. They write, “being we take you for a wise people, to let us know your reasons why you seem to advise us as you do, not to go out against our so inhuman and cruel adversary, who took so great a ransom to release him, and his life also, when that was done. Our brother was willing to stir much abroad to converse with men, and we see a sad event at the last thereupon. Take it not ill, therefore, though we resolve to keep at home.”

Further in the letter they write: “...we have subjected ourselves, our lands and possessions, with all the rights and inheritances of us and our people, either by conquest, voluntary subjection or otherwise, unto that famous and honorable government of that Royal King, Charles…” And here again, they seem frustrated by settler entitlement. Essentially, they say, they have already given so much, and will not be bothering themselves to travel to Boston unless a messenger is sent to them providing good enough reason to do so. 

These signatures and submissions connect to the complicated relationships between colonizers and tribal nations in so-called New England, following the Pequot War, the murder of Pessicus’s brother Miantonomo by Uncas (Mohegan), and Pessicus’s own plans for the survival of his Nation. 

Pessicus’s kin: Father Mascus; brother Miantonomo; uncle Canonicus. 

Miantonomo, Miantonomoh, Myantonomy. His Mark. (repost from 12.27.22)

Nahaganset (Narragansett). His home along the western shores of Narragansett Bay, in so-called Rhode Island, and into so-called eastern Connecticut. Sachem. In 1640s, appealed to sister tribes to create an alliance against colonizers. Brought to Mass. Bay Colony in 1640 on charges of conspiracy against settlers.  Executed in Mohegan territory in 1643 following tensions with Mohegan sachem, Uncas and the English.

Place names mentioned in this deed, for so-called “Warwick, RI,” signed January 1642, include:  “Sowhanes Bay,” “Copassanatuxett,” “Shawhomet” (spelled as they appear in the document).

His kin: Son of Mascus; nephew to Canonicus; brother to Pessicus; father of Canonchet. His partner: Wawaloam. 

IT  WAS  NORMAL  FOR  THEM  to  come  to  her  ,  update  her  on  everything  that  was  happening  with  project  stuzha  (  and  otherwise  ,  truthfully  )  normally  the  meetings  would  end  with  few  words,  and  encouragement  to  carry  on  with  the  good  job  they  were  doing  ..  which  always  left  them  feeling  proud  ,  this  time  was  different.  this  time  they're  called  closer  –  and  part  of  them  is  worried  for  a  moment.

have  they  messed  up?  did  they  do  something  wrong  ?

THOSE  THOUGHTS  ARE  THROWN  OUT  however,  the  moment  the  kiss  is  pressed  atop  their  head.  they  stand  there  stunned  at  first,  blue  eye  staring  up  towards  their  god  with  confusion  and  awe  ..  then  they're  laughing,  it's  a  soft  laugh  –  a  genuine  one  that  most  don't  get  to  hear  from  them  anymore  .

despite  it  all,  such  simple  gestures  could  make  their  heart  swell.

❛❛  …THANK  YOU   –   i  truly  am  glad  that  i  am  doing  a  good  job  for  you,  your  majesty  .  ❜❜

Said the disgruntled scientist.

(From you know who.)

“ long time no see, ” ahmya says, a grin spreading across her face—wide, toothy, and a little too sharp. the faint gleam of her canines catches the light as she closes the distance between them in only a few easy steps. her movements carry that usual mix of confidence and mischief, the kind that makes it hard to tell whether she’s greeting or testing him.

she stops just in front of him, close enough that the air seems to shift, and extends her hand with a lazy kind of expectation.

“ you did get the book i asked of you, right? ”

her gaze drops immediately to the object in his hand before he can even answer. the moment she spots it, her expression brightens, and she snatches the book from him with quick, practiced precision. the motion is almost playful, almost.

“ good boy! ”

In the glittering gold of the cocktail party, the din of conversation hardly yielded much. Networking between sleazy businessmen, secrets traded between spies, and deals brokered between people whose backs remained turned to each other. As a Stellaron Hunter, he naturally fit within these gaps of morality, their faction needing resources and connections as much as anyone. On the surface, this was a gathering of wealthy elites. If one looked beneath the surface, this was the dark underbelly they claimed didn't exist.

And yet--

Canonicus was a chief of the Narragansett people. He was wary of the colonial settlers, but he ultimately befriended Roger Williams and other settlers.