Chief of the
Narraganset Indians, and uncle of
Miantonomoh (
q. v.). He aided the
English in the
Pequod War (1637). Because of a supposed plot between
Ninegret and the
Dutch, the commissioners or Congress of the New England Confederation deemed it advisable to make war upon him. They voted 250 footsoldiers (1653). The commissioners of
Massachusetts did not agree with the others in the measure.
Ninegret prosecuted a war with the
Long Island Indians, who had placed themselves under the protection of the
English.
In September. 1654, the commissioners sent a message to
Ninegret, demanding his appearance at
Hartford, where they were convened, and the payment of a tribute long due for the Pequods under him. He refused to appear, and sent them a haughty answer.
They therefore determined again to make war on him. They raised 270 infantry and forty horsemen.
Maj. Simon Willard was appointed commander-in-chief of these forces, with instructions to proceed directly to
Ninegret's quarters and demand of him the Pequods who had been put
[
469]
under him and the tribute still due; also a cessation of war upon the
Long Island Indians.
On the approach of the troops,
Ninegret fled to a distant swamp and was not pursued.
Keeping aloof from King Philip's War, he escaped the ruin that fell upon other tribes.
