Pumham (died 1676) (also known as Pomham) was one of Metacomet's chief advisors during King Phillip's War. He was sachem of Shawomet. [1] He was described as "one of the stoutest and most valiant sachems that belonged to the Narragansett." [2] He was friends with English settlers, but aligned himself with Metacomet when war broke out. [2]
Pumham was allied with the Massachusetts Bay colony, who claimed the lands of Shawomet, today Warwick, Rhode Island. [3] The colony forbid anyone to live there without permission, and built a fort there to protect the area, the remains of which were still visible in 2000. [2] [4] [a] This fort was built on the site of Pumham's village. [4]
As tensions mounted, Pumham began encouraging defiance, and not peace, with the colonists. [5] During the war, Pumham used the fort Shawomet. [4]
On July 4, 1675, Governor John Leverett sent Edward Hutchinson to sign a treaty with the Narragansets whereby they would agree not to harbor any of Metacomet's people. [6] Hutchinson decided "to treat with the Narragansets sword in hand," [6] and forced Pumham to sign on July 15. [7] Pumham and his people ignored the treaty as soon as the colonists left. [6]
Pumham was captured in Dedham, Massachusetts on July 25, 1676. [7] [1] [2] [8] [9] [4] [b] Several Christian Indians had seen his band in the woods, including his son and other family members, nearly starved to death. [4] [9] Captain Samuel Hunting [c] led 36 men from Dedham and Medfield and joined 90 Indians on a hunt to find them. [9] A total of 15 of the Ponham's band were killed and 35 were captured. [9] [4] [8] Pumham, with a bullet in his back and so wounded he could not stand, hid in the bushes with this hatchet. [4] [9] He grabbed hold of an English soldier and would have killed him had one of the settler's compatriots not come to his rescue. [9] [4] Pumham died in the fight. [9] [2] [7]