Site of Myles Garrisoned House,
Swansea, Mass.
By 1675, hostilities between the British Colonists and the indigenous
American natives had become very intense.
June 24, 1675, had been designated by the government of Plymouth
Colony
as a day of "solemn humiliation before the Lord", a day of prayer.
Residents of Swansea, Mass., gathered with Rev. John Myles at the
local Baptist Meeting House (church)
to pray for peace with the Indians who had become vengeful for their
stolen homeland
and the breaking of treaties by the white settlers.
After exiting the church, these citizens of Swansea were attacked,
leaving some dead and many seriously wounded,
at which point they hastened to Rev. Myles' home for safety and
home-spun medical treatment.
Among this group of refugees were William Cahoone, his wife Deliverance,
and their 7 children (Samuel, Joseph, Mary, William, James, John
and Nathaniel).
When it became acutely apparent that more professional medical help
was needed,
William volunteered to travel through hostile territory in the neighboring
town of Rehoboth to secure a doctor.
William Cahoone never reached his destination, but was ambushed and murdered not far from Lake St. in Rehoboth.
The next day, June 25, 1675, William's badly mutilated remains were
found by 3 government emissaries
at the corner of Wheeler and Lake Streets, near today's Crestwood
Country Club.
These men, Capt. Thomas Savage, James Oliver and Thomas Brattle,
had been sent from Boston to Mt. Hope ( King Philip's headquarters;
today, Bristol, RI), on a "peace treaty" mission.
However, the message, spoken by William Cahoone, tho dead, was very
loud and powerfully clear:
peace was out of the question, King Philip's War (1675-66) had begun.
Early postcard rendering of the Myles Garrisoned House, Swansea,
Mass.
While this town was virtually burned to the ground by the end of
King Philip's War (1675-66),
this one building remained intact (since it was so heavily defended).
Unfortunately, it was torn down in the 1920's.
It was here that Williams' wife and children last saw him alive.
(photo by Burt Derick)
Commemorative rock and plaque marking site of the Myles Garrisoned
House.
The large bronze tablet here attached bears the names of all the men in
Swansea who fell during King Philip's War,
among them William Cahoone. It is located just off Rte 6 in Swansea,
near the shore of the Palmer River.
(photo by Burt Derick)
Close-up of commemorative plaque marking site of the Myles Garrisoned
House.
The inscription reads:
"MYLES GARRISON HOUSE SITE.
Near this spot stood the John Myles Garrison House the Place
of Meeting of the Troops of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies
commanded by Major Thomas Savage and James Cudworth who marched
to the reflief of Swansea at the opening of King Philip's War A.D. 1675.
THERE FELL AT SWANSEA, SLAIN BY INDIANS,
