John Alderman was a praying Indian

Praying Indian

Praying Indian is a 17th century term referring to Native Americans of New England who converted to Christianity. While many groups are referred to by this term, it is more commonly used for tribes that were organized into villages, known as praying towns by Puritan leader John Eliot.In 1646, the...

 (that is, a Christian convert) who shot and killed the rebellious Native American leader Metacomet

Metacomet

Metacomet , also known as King Philip or Metacom, or occasionally Pometacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philip's War, a widespread Native American uprising against English colonists in New England.-Biography:Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit...

 (also known as King Philip) in 1676, while taking part in a punitive expedition led by Captain Benjamin Church.

As a reward, Alderman received King Philip's head and one hand. The rest of King Philip's body was quartered and hung on trees. Alderman later sold the severed head to Plymouth Colony

Plymouth Colony

Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...

 authorities for 30 shillings, a standard rate for Indian heads during King Philip's War

King Philip's War

King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...

. The head was then placed on a stake atop the fort on Burial Hill

Burial Hill

Burial Hill is a hill containing a historic cemetery in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The burial ground is the burial site of several Pilgrims. The cemetery was founded in the 17th century and is located off Leyden Street, the first street in Plymouth.-History:The first Pilgrim burial ground was on...

 in Plymouth, where it remained for the next 20 years.

Reportedly, Alderman would exhibit the cut-off hand of Philip for a fee.