John Eliot's Mission to the Indians Before King Philip's War

John Eliot was a Puritan minister who dedicated his life to converting Native Americans to Christianity. He established several Praying Towns in Massachusetts, where Native Americans lived and worshipped alongside English settlers. Eliot's work was controversial, and he faced opposition from both colonists and Native Americans. However, he remained committed to his mission, and he continued to work with Native Americans until his death in 1690.

John Eliot’s Mission to the Indians before King Philip’s War

by Richard W. Cogley

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2869 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	352 pages

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Eliot's Early Life and Education

John Eliot was born in England in 1604. He studied at Cambridge University and was ordained a minister in the Church of England. In 1631, he emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he served as a pastor in the town of Roxbury.

Eliot was deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of the Native Americans who lived in Massachusetts. He believed that they were destined for eternal damnation unless they converted to Christianity. In 1646, he began to preach to the Indians in their own language.

The Praying Towns

In 1651, Eliot established the first Praying Town in Massachusetts. The town was called Natick, and it was located about 20 miles west of Boston. Natick was a success, and other Praying Towns were soon established in Massachusetts and other New England colonies.

The Praying Towns were governed by a combination of English and Indian laws. The Indians were allowed to retain their own customs and traditions, but they were also expected to follow the laws of the colony. The Praying Towns were a success, and they helped to improve relations between the colonists and the Indians.

King Philip's War

In 1675, King Philip's War broke out in New England. The war was fought between the Wampanoag Indians and the English colonists. Eliot's Praying Towns were caught in the middle of the war. Some of the Praying Indians sided with the Wampanoags, while others sided with the colonists.

Eliot was devastated by the war. He saw it as a failure of his mission to convert the Indians to Christianity. The war also destroyed many of the Praying Towns.

Eliot's Legacy

John Eliot died in 1690. He was a controversial figure, but he was also a man of great faith and dedication. He spent his life working to convert Native Americans to Christianity, and he helped to improve relations between the colonists and the Indians.

Eliot's legacy is mixed. He was a pioneer in the field of Native American missions, but he also played a role in the dispossession of Native Americans from their land. However, there is no doubt that he was a man of great faith and dedication, and his work had a lasting impact on the history of New England.

John Eliot was a complex and controversial figure. He was a man of great faith and dedication, but he also played a role in the dispossession of Native Americans from their land. However, there is no doubt that he was a pioneer in the field of Native American missions, and his work had a lasting impact on the history of New England.

John Eliot’s Mission to the Indians before King Philip’s War

by Richard W. Cogley

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2869 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	352 pages

FREE