From A Narrative of the Captivity Mary Rowlandson

King Phillip’s War From June 1675 – August 1676 Wampanoag Chief Metacomet (called King Phillip by the colonists) Series of bloody raids on the colonial settlements Over settlers’ encroachment on Native American land Difference in definition of “selling land”

King Phillip’s War Metacomet’s former assistant (who had given information to the colonists) was killed by his own people. The Puritans tried and hanged his killers. Metacomet retaliated against the Puritans.

Mary Rowlandson C. 1636-1711 Wife of Congregational minister Joseph Rowlandson of Lancaster (30 miles west of Boston) February 1676 – She and her 3 children were kidnapped by a Wampanoag raiding party. They were held for ransom for 11 weeks and 5 days.

Mary Rowlandson After her release, she & her surviving children returned to her husband. They resettled in Wethersfield, Connecticut. In 1678 Mary’s husband died; a year later, she married Capt. Samuel Talcott, a wealthy landowner. She remained in Wethersfield until her death in 1711.

From A Narrative of the Captivity Provides a terrifying tale of frontier life Also, provides insight into the Puritan view point Double vision Events had both a physical and a spiritual significance

Rowlandson’s Purpose She wished to demonstrate how her experience revealed God’s purpose. Her original title when published in 1682: The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, Together with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed: Being a Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Biblical Allusions Puritans regarded biblical captivity narratives, such as the enslavement of the Israelites by the ancient Egyptians, as allegories representing the Christian’s liberation from sin through the intervention of God’s grace. Rowlandson includes several references to the Bible.

Chronological Order Story is told in the order in which events occur. Moves To an Indian Village on the Ware River The Fifth Remove The Sixth Remove The Move to Ashuelot Valley