The Genealogical Roots of Conflicting Roots

In Conflicting Roots, my most recent novel (Maine Authors Publishing 2025)

characters share disastrous effects of the struggle between indigenous Americans and

European colonizers during King Philip’s War (1675-76). Those Native characters who

suffered through the war 350 years ago experience death, starvation and slavery, while

still holding on to their cultural truths. The modern people, living in 1978 still wear the

scars of war and societal stigma, denying them the ability to embrace their family genealogical roots.

Historians often refer to that war, in what are now the states of Massachusetts

and Rhode Island, as being per capita the bloodiest war in American history. The

populations on both sides were significantly reduced, but the losses among indigenous

people were nearly genocidal. There are many sources for native population figures

during the 17 th century, but the New England Historical Society provides the most

detailed breakdown of reductions to specific tribal groups, including the Wampanoag

tribes that are the people about whom I wrote. At the start of the century, the various

groups making up what we now know as the Wampanoags (Pokanokets, Pocassets,

Sakonnets and others) numbered around 5500. A series of epidemics caused by

exposure to European traders and explorers as well as invasions by hostile natives from

the west and north brought the population down to 2500 by 1670. At the conclusion of

the war the population stood at 400.

These survivors continued to suffer following the conflict, losing their land and

being held in poverty by the rapidly increasing white population. Yet, these 400 were all

“beloved kin’, as historian Lisa Brooks calls them in her recent history of the war. In

many cases small groups or families whom the colonizing society attempted to

assimilate were able to acculturate instead, stubbornly holding on to traditional values,

beliefs and customs.

Wootonekanuske and Teweeleema, more familiarly known as Charlotte and Melinda Mitchell, were the last descendants of Massasoit and lived at Betty's Neck in Lakeville. Photo Credit: Recollecting Nemaskett

One example of a traditional family living in plain sight is the Mitchell family who

lived in a place called Betty’s Neck on Assawompset Pond in Lakeville, MA at the

beginning of the 20 th century. This area was once the summer living site for Wampanoag people. Two sisters, Melinda who was also known as Teeweeleema and sister Wootonekanuske, named after the sister of Pocasset Sachem Weetamoo who is a significant character in my novel. The elder Mrs. Mitchell claimed to be the grandchild of Massasoit Ousemequin, seven generations removed and the niece of Metacom or King Philip. Her descent came through Amie the daughter of Ousemequin.

As the Mitchells, this family was accepted into the white community, but held

themselves separate, dressing and living in traditional native ways. Their main

involvement with the others around them was to appear regularly in local fairs and

festivals where they sold baskets handwoven in traditional style.

In a newspaper article dated October 1895 the reporter wrote about their home.

“Here, under the shade of the primeval trees which sheltered their ancestors, live the

last pitiful remnants of the once powerful tribe of the Wampanoags.”

The people you meet in Conflicting Roots suffer through difficult times, yet they may

still give us hope for the future. Native peoples today can say “we’re still here,” and offer to all the citizens of our world a traditional message of how to treat our Mother Earth with greater respect. Although population figures for Native Americans are often difficult to find,

concentrations of Wampanoag can be found in Providence (5362) and Washington (1024)

counties of Rhode Island and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2676) according to data from the 2020 census.

Sources:

-Recollecting Nemasket

- Brooks, Lisa. Our Beloved Kin, A New History of King Philip’s War, Yale University Press,

2018.