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fears so prevaled that they refused to return but sent back a letter directed to Mr. Thos. Henchman of Chelmsfd. "I Numphow & John u Line we send the messenger to you again (Wecoposit) with this answer. We cannot come home again we to towards the French we go where Wannalansit is, the reason is we went away from our home we had help from the Council but that did not do us good, but we had wrong by the Eng. 2dly the reason is we went away from the Eng. for when there was any harn done in Chelmsd. they laid it to us & said we did it but we know our selves we never did harm to the Eng. but we go away peaceably & quietly. 3dly as for the island we say there is no safety for us because many Eng. be not good & may be they come to us & kill us as in the other case we are not sorry for what we leave behind but we are sorry the Eng. have driven us from our praying to god & from our teacher we did begin to understand a little of praying to god we thank humbly the council "we" crossed out remember our love to Mr. Henchman & James Richardson The mark of symbol John Lyne The mark of symbol Numphow (2) their (2) rulers. This is a true copy of their letter word for word wherin may be seen that they had reason as well as fear that put them upon that motion. This letter was bro't back by the messenger sent after them & Ind. named Wepocositt that was servent to William Fletcher* of Chelmsfd. whom Lieut. Henchman procured to go after them: about 23 days after this the greatest part of the Wamesit Inds. (being
- "William Fletcher appointed ensign in chelmsford 21 Oct. 1670." Files at St. house.
(2) Numphow was a very considerable man among the Indians. He had two sons also joined the enemy, who on "restoring" crossed out submitting again to the Eng. barely escaped with their lives. -- See Bk. Inds.