Our Beloved Kin: Remapping A New History of King Philip's War

Peace Medal and the Petition of the Indian Officers

Andrew Pittimee (Natick), James Quanapohit (Nashaway and Natick), John Magus (Natick), Job Kattenait (Hassanamesit), and James Speen (Natick) were among the eighty men likely honored by the English for their service as scouts. These men formed a company of Christian Indian Scouts based in Charlestown. Massachusetts held a council with the petitioners in Charlestown and awarded them the peace medal thanking them for their service. The front side of the medal featured an image based on the original Massachusetts seal used by the Mass. Bay Colony in 1629. This original seal depicted a stereotyped Indian figure with the phrase "come over and help us." The peace medal presented to the scouts acknowledged this help, but instead recognized the help that the Indian officers provided to the English. The Massachusetts seal and its presence on the Mass. State flag remain as topics of concern. Read more about the present day conflict here and here.  The back side of the medal was engraved to read "giving us peace and mercy at their hands" in "the present War with the Heathen Natives of this Land." These words signal colonial recognition of the scout's role as Christian allies. It sets up opposition between the scouts as they fight against who the English deem to be "heathen[s]." 

The peace medal is currently on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. You can read more about it here. 

The Petition of the Indian Officers

While the presentation of the peace medal partially represents acknowledgement by the English of the critical role the scouts played in helping the English to gain momentum and eventually win the war, it also signals escalation of the war and rise of violence that follows. The same men who received the above medal from the English had, one week prior, created a petition that sought to release the men they had brought in as prisoners. 

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