Epenow
Encyclopedia
Epenow was a Nauset
from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts who became an early symbol of resistance to English explorers and slavers in the early 17th century.
were kidnapped by Captain Edward Harlow on an island south of Cape Cod
referred to as "Capoge" or "Capawick" (now called Martha's Vineyard). Capt. Harlow had already seized three Native Americans from Monhegan Island, Maine
(Pechmo, Monopet, and Pekenimne, although Pechmo leaped overboard and escaped with a stolen boat cut from the stern), and at Nohono (Nantucket) he had kidnapped Sakaweston (who was to live for many years in England before fighting in the wars of Bohemia
.) Altogether there were said to be twenty-nine Native Americans aboard Harlow's slaver when it arrived in England.
wrote that when he met him, Epenow "had learned so much English as to bid those that wondered him 'Welcome! Welcome!'
Epenow's display in London said to be inspiration of the "strange indian" mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry VIII
:
Gorges described Epenow as both "of a goodly stature, strong and well proportioned" as well as "a goodly man, of a brave aspect, stout, sober in his demeanor."
Acquired by Gorges, Epenow was housed with another Native American captive, Assacumet
, who had been captured by Captain George Weymouth
in 1605 in Maine, and with whom he could communicate with some initial difficulty. With Assacumet's help, Epenow eventually became quite fluent in English.
Believing Epenow's fabrication, Gorges commissioned a voyage to Martha's Vineyard in 1614 under Captain Nicholas Hobson, accompanied by Epenow as a guide, translator, and pilot, together with his fellow captives Assacomet and Wanape. Wanape died soon after arriving in the New World. Upon arriving to Epenow's native island, the ship was peacefully greeted by a company of Wampanoags, including some of Epenow's brothers and cousins, whom Epenow quickly and quietly conspired with. Captain Hobson entertained the visitors to his ship, and invited them to return the next morning with trade goods. Not trusting Epenow, Hobson made sure he was accompanied at all times by three guards, and clothed him with long garments that could be easily grabbed.
His friends returned in twenty canoes as promised, but did not board the ship. The captain, his invitations ignored, called Epenow to come out from the forecastle to translate. Epenow called in English for his friends to come aboard, but then lunged to jump overboard. Hobson's men managed to grab him, but Epenow being "a strong and heavy man" managed to dive overboard under cover of arrows shot from the canoes. Both sides took heavy casualties; Hobson's musketeers killed and wounded some, and Hobson and many of his crew were injured in the battle. They returned to England empty handed.
.
Epenow met with visiting Englishman Captain Thomas Dermer
in 1619 in a peaceful meeting on Martha's Vineyard, and laughed as he told the story of his escape from captivity. But on Dermer's second visit in 1620, shortly before the arrival of the Mayflower
, Epenow's warriors attacked the captain and his men, and took captive his traveling companion, the celebrated Squanto
, before turning him over to Massasoit
(the leading Wampanoag sachem). Some of Epenow's company were slain, but all but one of Dermer's crew were killed, and Dermer, severely wounded with fourteen wounds, escaped to Virginia where he died soon afterward.
portrayed this historical Native American in Disney's 1994 live-action film Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
.
Nauset
The Nauset tribe, sometimes referred to as the Cape Cod Indians lived in what is present-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts, living east of Bass River and lands occupied by their closely related neighbours, the Wampanoag...
from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts who became an early symbol of resistance to English explorers and slavers in the early 17th century.
Capture
In 1611, Epenow and ConeconamConeconam
Coneconam was an early 17th century Wampanoag slave, and later, it is suspected, sachem of Manomet.-Capture:In 1611, Coneconam and Epenow were kidnapped by Captain Edward Harlow on Martha's Vineyard). Capt...
were kidnapped by Captain Edward Harlow on an island south of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
referred to as "Capoge" or "Capawick" (now called Martha's Vineyard). Capt. Harlow had already seized three Native Americans from Monhegan Island, Maine
Monhegan, Maine
Monhegan is a plantation on an island of the same name in Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about off the coast. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. As a plantation, Monhegan's governmental status falls between township and town...
(Pechmo, Monopet, and Pekenimne, although Pechmo leaped overboard and escaped with a stolen boat cut from the stern), and at Nohono (Nantucket) he had kidnapped Sakaweston (who was to live for many years in England before fighting in the wars of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
.) Altogether there were said to be twenty-nine Native Americans aboard Harlow's slaver when it arrived in England.
Captivity in England
The captives had been brought to London to sell as slaves in Spain, however Harlow found that the Spanish considered Native American slaves to be "unapt for their uses." So instead, Epenow became a "wonder", a spectacle on constant public display in London. Sir Ferdinando GorgesFerdinando Gorges
Sir Ferdinando Gorges , the "Father of English Colonization in North America", was an early English colonial entrepreneur and founder of the Province of Maine in 1622, although Gorges himself never set foot in the New World.-Biography:...
wrote that when he met him, Epenow "had learned so much English as to bid those that wondered him 'Welcome! Welcome!'
Epenow's display in London said to be inspiration of the "strange indian" mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry VIII
Henry VIII (play)
The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight is a history play by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. An alternative title, All is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, the title Henry VIII not appearing until the play's publication...
:
"What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my Christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather, and all together."
Gorges described Epenow as both "of a goodly stature, strong and well proportioned" as well as "a goodly man, of a brave aspect, stout, sober in his demeanor."
Acquired by Gorges, Epenow was housed with another Native American captive, Assacumet
Assacumet
Assacumet was an early 17th century Native American from the Wawenock Abenaki tribe.- Capture :...
, who had been captured by Captain George Weymouth
George Weymouth
George Weymouth was an English explorer of the area now occupied by the state of Maine. Ferdinando Gorges, who wanted to settle colonists in the area, sponsored an expedition under Weymouth, who sailed from England on March 5, 1605 on the ship Archangel and landed near Monhegan on May 17, 1605...
in 1605 in Maine, and with whom he could communicate with some initial difficulty. With Assacumet's help, Epenow eventually became quite fluent in English.
Escape
Hatching an escape plot, Epenow convinced his English captors of a gold mine on Martha’s Vineyard.Believing Epenow's fabrication, Gorges commissioned a voyage to Martha's Vineyard in 1614 under Captain Nicholas Hobson, accompanied by Epenow as a guide, translator, and pilot, together with his fellow captives Assacomet and Wanape. Wanape died soon after arriving in the New World. Upon arriving to Epenow's native island, the ship was peacefully greeted by a company of Wampanoags, including some of Epenow's brothers and cousins, whom Epenow quickly and quietly conspired with. Captain Hobson entertained the visitors to his ship, and invited them to return the next morning with trade goods. Not trusting Epenow, Hobson made sure he was accompanied at all times by three guards, and clothed him with long garments that could be easily grabbed.
His friends returned in twenty canoes as promised, but did not board the ship. The captain, his invitations ignored, called Epenow to come out from the forecastle to translate. Epenow called in English for his friends to come aboard, but then lunged to jump overboard. Hobson's men managed to grab him, but Epenow being "a strong and heavy man" managed to dive overboard under cover of arrows shot from the canoes. Both sides took heavy casualties; Hobson's musketeers killed and wounded some, and Hobson and many of his crew were injured in the battle. They returned to England empty handed.
Later career and legacy
Epenow became an important source of anti-English resistance when the Plymouth colonists arrived six years later, and there is evidence that he became a sachemSachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
.
Epenow met with visiting Englishman Captain Thomas Dermer
Thomas Dermer
Thomas Dermer was a 17th century navigator and explorer.Dermer went first to New England with Captain John Smith, who was sent out in 1614 by London merchants to lay the foundations of a new plantation and to trade with the Indians there...
in 1619 in a peaceful meeting on Martha's Vineyard, and laughed as he told the story of his escape from captivity. But on Dermer's second visit in 1620, shortly before the arrival of the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
, Epenow's warriors attacked the captain and his men, and took captive his traveling companion, the celebrated Squanto
Squanto
Tisquantum was a Patuxet. He was the Native American who assisted the Pilgrims after their first winter in the New World and was integral to their survival. The Patuxet tribe was a tributary of the Wampanoag Confederacy.-Biography:Squanto's exact date of birth is unknown but many historians...
, before turning him over to Massasoit
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
(the leading Wampanoag sachem). Some of Epenow's company were slain, but all but one of Dermer's crew were killed, and Dermer, severely wounded with fourteen wounds, escaped to Virginia where he died soon afterward.
Fictional representation
Canadian actor Eric SchweigEric Schweig
Eric Schweig is a First Nations actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans .-Early life:...
portrayed this historical Native American in Disney's 1994 live-action film Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale is a 1994 theatrical live action Disney adventure film. It was written by Darlene Craviato. Xavier Koller and Christopher Stoia were the directors. It is very loosely based on the actual historical Native American figure Squanto, and his life prior to and including the...
.