Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

‘ [387] Protestant mission to the heathen in modern times began in Cambridge; the first Protestant sermon in a heathen tongue was preached here; the first translation of the Bible by an Englishman into a heathen tongue was printed here; the first Protestant tract in a heathen language was written and printed here.’¹ The result of all these labors up to the year 1674 was described by Gookin, in his ‘Historical Collections of the Indians in New England,’ printed in the first volume of Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Besides Natick, the most important of all, there were six communities in Massachusetts, exclusive of Plymouth, which had long been denominated ‘praying towns;’ namely, Pakemitt, or Punkapaog (now Stoughton); Hassanamesitt, or Hassanamisco (Grafton); Okommakamesit (Marlborough); Wamesit, or Pawtuckett (Tewksbury); Nashobah (Littleton); Magunkaquog (Hopkinton). There were also seven ‘new praying towns,’ where the Gospel had been favorably received about three years: Manchage (Oxford); Chabanakongkomun (Dudley); Maanexit (north part of Woodstock, at that time included in Massachusetts); Quantisset (southeast part of Woodstock); Wabquissit (southwest part of Woodstock); Packachoog (south part of Worcester); Waeuntug (Uxbridge). ‘There are two other Indian towns; viz., Weshakin² and Quabaug,³ which are coming on to receive the gospel; and reckoning these, there are nine in the Nipmuck country.’⁴ In these fourteen established towns, there were two organized churches, and, as Gookin estimated, about eleven hundred ‘souls yielding obedience to the gospel.’

Meantime an earnest effort was made to impart scientific as well as religious knowledge to the Indians, in which commendable work Mr. Eliot was a prominent actor. His labors and their result are described by Gookin in his ‘Historical Collections.’ Besides preaching and inducing others to preach the Gospel, and translating the Bible and other books into the Indian language, —‘he took great care that schools should be planted among the praying Indians; and he taught some himself to read, that they might be capable to teach others; and by his procurement some of the choice Indian youths were put to school with English schoolmasters, to learn both English, Latin, and Greek tongues. There was much cost out of the Corporation stock expended in this work, for fitting and preparing the Indian youth to be learned ’