Episode 8 - King Philip's War P1

After years of tension, a war between the English colonists and the tribes of southern New England breaks out and Rhode Island finds itself engulfed in this deadly conflict.

25 minutes | 1675 - 1676

Hear About:

📜The events that ignited a war between the English colonists and the tribes of New England

📜Initial raids and battles of King Philip's War in Bristol & Tiverton, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts.

📜When hundreds of Narragansett men, women, and children were murdered in southern Rhode Island during the Great Swamp Massacre

Smith's Castle | North Kingstown, RI

In December 1675, a group of English soldiers met at Richard Smith's trading post just outside of Wickford village so that they could prepare to invade the Narragansett fort in present day South Kingstown. The battle that would take place at the Narragansett fort would end up being the biggest engagement in the entire war and eventually become known as "The Great Swamp Massacre". Although the English won the "battle" they failed to remove the Narragansett warriors from the war, leading them to begin raiding towns throughout Rhode Island shortly after. One of the buildings destroyed during the raid was Richard Smith's trading post. The building that stands there today, known as Smith's Castle, was built after the war.

The Great Swamp Massacre Monument | South Kingstown, RI

Located deep in the woods of South Kingstown is a monument dedicated to the "Great Swamp Fight" which took place in December of 1675. Unfortunately, the "fight" turned into more of a massacre as hundreds of innocent Narragansett women and children were killed. The monument makes a couple of other incorrect claims as well. First, while it claims to be at the location where the Great Swamp Massacre took place, it's more likely not where the devastating event was located. Also, the plaque states the "Narragansett Indians made their last stand in King Philip's War" during this battle which couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the Narragansett warriors would go on to lead a series of deadly raids throughout the Rhode Island countryside, destroying towns like Wickford, Warwick, and Providence.

Key Rhode Island Engagements of King Philip's War | 1675 - 1676

King Philip's War was extremely destructive to the Rhode Island Colony. From the summer of 1675 to Spring of 1676 hundreds of Native Americans & English were killed, hundreds of houses burnt to the ground, and many towns destroyed.

Timeline of Engagements:

July 1675 - Almy's Pease Field Fight
August 1675 - Nipsachuck Swamp Fight
December 1676 - Two Narragansett villages destroyed, Jireh Bull Garrison destroyed, and hundreds of innocent Narragansetts are killed at the Great Swamp Massacre
March 1676 - The towns of Wickford, Warwick, Pawtuxet, Providence, and Old Rehoboth (known as East Providence today) are destroyed. Then, over 50 English soldiers and several friendly natives are killed when Captain Pierce's men were ambushed in Central Falls, RI.
August 1676 - King Philip is killed

Stonewall John - Architect of Queen's Fort

Known to the English as Stonewall John, this Narragansett man helped to build the fort known today as Queen's Fort in present day Exeter, RI. Since he was so well versed in English masonry some believed that he was actually an Englishman who took up arms with the Narragansetts but that is probably not true. It is more likely that he was a native man who worked for Richard Smith. After the Great Swamp Massacre, Stonewall John helped the Narragansett warriors raid the towns of Providence and Old Rehoboth (known as East Providence today).

Benjamin Church

Metacomet aka King Philip

Canonchet