Black Native Wampanoag History Part One
by Paul Langston
“On the Arrival of the English and the Impact it Had on Native Society”
It seems abnormal that at this date and time, we should be revisiting the inclusion of Black History, in this creation, a nation known as America. For the full measure of Black People with Native American roots hasn’t been fully included in the history of this nation.
I’d like to tell you of my family’s Maternal Black native history. It used to be that before the recognition of Native roots, it seemed we were forgotten about. In order to claim that you were of Native origin from a tribal region you had to prove historical lineage to the tribe of peoples.
All through the 1900s, 1800s, 1700s and 1600s, the people in my family could prove they were Wampanoag. However, my Maternal grandmothers began families with BlackMen. This story will surprise most people because we are of Black Wampanoag origin and have been here ever since the landing of the English, known as the Pilgrims, as we call them.
This story is of the Sachems of Manomet
My first ancestor was Cawnecome; AKA: Canacum, Sachem of Manomet. He was the Sachem of Manomet of which Plymouth was then called, prior to the arrival of the English. Manomet extended from Plymouth, south to Sandwich, Dennis, Barnstable, Mass and beyond. He undoubtedly kept the Pilgrims under surveillance as they went ashore at Plymouth. Everyone has heard of Massasoit’s generosity and goodwill to the English. However, there were five sub-Sachems in the region. Not all were welcoming of the encroachment of the English.
Upon arrival of the newcomers, a verbal peace and mutual assistance agreement was made between Massasoit and the pilgrims. Over time, it became apparent to some of the Sachems that the English demands and customs were starting to replace Indian laws and traditions. The first push back was from the Sachem Canacum and the absconding of John Billington Jr. a fifteen-year-old English boy that had wandered away from Plymouth and wound up at Sachem Canacum’s village at Manomet. Canacum then took the boy southeast to the Nauset tribal Sachem, Aspinet.
The Nausets, known to dislike the English, had to be compensated for goods stolen by the English before returning the boy back to them.
The question remains; why did Canacum not immediately return the boy to Plymouth or, Massasoit, but deliver him to an enemy of the English many miles away?
It was clear to the English that maybe Massasoit didn’t have the complete control of the Sachems, that he claimed. On September 11, 1621, another peace agreement was made in writing. This peace treaty was more like a treaty of submission. Sachem Canacum was one of the signatories on this document, along with nine other Sachems.
