Johnny Sassamon

• One of the Puritans most cherished goals was to convert the native peoples.

• In their opinion, the most important endeavor to this end was to get the Bible translated into Algonquin.

• Algonquin was not a written language. So the only way to get the BIble to the natives, was to translate it phonetically into Algonquin, and then have it read to the natives.

• The project of translating from English to Algonquin required the assistance of an Algonquin-speaking native.

• The person who was selected for this job was an Indian named Sassamon. He converted to Puritanism, began to dress like a Puritan, adopted the name "John," and entered Harvard to help with the project. 

• The Algonquin bible was the first book printed in America

• Once the Algonquin bible was complete, Sassamon took it out and began attempting to convert his people. (See image below)

• Sassamon's Narragansett chief, named Metacomet but called "King Philip" by the Puritans, put out a "hit" on Sassamon (a call for him to be assassinated). Three natives carried out this assassination and threw Sassamon's dead body into a pond.

• The Puritans spearheaded the effort to capture, try, and prosecute the three Indian assassins. 

DECISION: You are on the jury of the trial of these three Indians. What is the verdict? They were fulfilling their chief's direction. They believed they were rightly punishing a tribal member for selling out his culture.

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