Massasoit’s Town
Sowams in Pokanoket
ITS HISTORY LEGENDS
AND TRADITIONS
By VIRGINIA BAKER
Author of
The History of Warren, R. I. in the War of the Revolution
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR
Warren, R. I.
1904
Copyright 1904 by Virginia Baker
Massasoit’s Town
Sowams in Pokanoket
A peculiar interest centres about everything pertainingto the great Wampanoag sachem Massasoit.Massasoit has always, and justly, been regarded asone of the most remarkable of that group ofillustrious aboriginal chieftains with whom the early whitesettlers of New England were associated. But while thestudent of history is familiar with the story of the Indianking’s life-long allegiance to our forefathers, while headmires in the untutored savage virtues few Christianmonarchs have possessed, he knows comparatively little ofthe environments that helped to mould a character of sounique a stamp. The ancient chroniclers often allude toMassasoit’s place of residence, and the questions that naturallypresent themselves are: Where was this place? Why didMassasoit select it for his abode? What is its history? Toanswer these questions, in part at least, is the object of thissketch.
At the period when the Mayflower came to anchor inPlymouth harbor, Massasoit exercised dominion over nearlyall the south-eastern part of Massachusetts from Cape Codto Narragansett Bay. The south-western section of his kingdomwas known as Pokanoket, Sowams, or Sowamsett. Itincluded what now comprises the towns of Bristol, Warren,Barrington, and East Providence in Rhode Island, withportions of Seekonk, Swansea, and Rehoboth in Massachusetts.Though its area was only about 500 square milesPokanoket, owing to its many natural advantages, was moredensely populated than any other part of the Wampanoagcountry. Its principal settlement was the village of Sowams,where Massasoit maintained his headquarters, and where,without doubt, the greater portion of his life was passed.
For many years the exact location of this village was adisputed point, authorities variously fixing it at Bristol,Barrington, and Warren. The late Gen. Guy M. Fessendenwas the first to demonstrate, conclusively, that Sowamsoccupied the site of the last mentioned place. The resultsof his careful and painstaking investigation of the claims ofthe three towns may be found in the short but valuable historicalsketch of Warren published by General Fessendenin 1845.[1]
One familiar with the Pokanoket region readily perceiveswhy Massasoit placed his capit