Harman Garrett

Harman Garrett (c. 1610[1] – c. 1678) (also known as Cashawashett or Wequashcook II or Herman Garrett or Harmon Garrett[2]) was a Niantic sachem and then governor of the Eastern Pequots slightly east of the Pawcatuck River in what is now Westerly, Rhode Island. His chosen English name (taken by at least 1661) was very similar to that of Herman Garrett, a prominent colonial gunsmith from Massachusetts.

Watch Hill in Westerly was part of Garrett's claimed lands

1676 declaration of Harman Garret unto the General Court requesting that his lands which were usurped by Ninigret, not be taken by conquest by the colonists

Garrett was the son of Eastern Niantic sachem Wepitanock (also known as Momojosbuck or Wettamozo) and his unnamed wife (who may have been a Pequot) and the grandson of sachem Saccious.[3] He was also the brother of Wequash Cooke, who helped the colonial military during the Pequot War in 1637 in defeating the Pequots. After Wequash Cook's death in 1642, Garrett assumed his brother's name and role, but his uncle Ninigret contested this because Garrett's mother was not Niantic, making him only half Niantic.[4] In the 1640s, Garrett worked with John Mason to negotiate his territorial boundaries and his right to be a leader of the Pequots. John Winthrop, Jr. and Robin Cassacinamon briefly held Garrett in 1648/49 on house arrest for unclear reasons, but Winthrop then reversed course and became Garrett's ally and advocated for his Pawcatuck settlement.[5] Around this time, Uncas allegedly paid an Indian named Wampushet to attack another Indian with a hatchet and then to falsely blame Garrett for ordering the attack. Wampushet gave testimony before the United Colonies with Uncas present, but it was unclear who ordered the attack.[6]

In 1654 Captain Simon Willard led a mission from Massachusetts against Ninigret's Niantics and forced him too turn over control of the Pequots under his jurisdiction to the United Colonies.[7] In September of 1655, the Commissioners of the United Colonies appointed Herman Garrett governor over these Pequots and Niantics (at Pawcatuck and Wekapauge)[8] to collect tributes (owed by the Pequots since the Pequot War) and to mediate disputes, and they appointed Thomas Stanton to work with him. In 1661, Massachusetts authorities mediated a territorial dispute between Garrett and his uncle Ninigret regarding the land in and around Westerly.[9] By at least 1661 Garrett had taken the name of former Massachusetts gunsmith Herman Garrett, who had been an associate of Simon Willard, but died in 1656.[10][11] By 1663 encroachments and land disputes occurred with nearby settlers, causing Garrett to move to Southertowne (Stonington).

In 1675 Garrett, Oneco, and Cassasinamon jointly executed Narragansett Sachem Canonchet during King Philip's War, while fighting alongside colonial forces.[12] Garrett's group of Indians were given land in northern Stonington in 1683 after Garrett's death. His will left his property to his son Cattepeset, but Garrett's deputy Mamaho took power after Garrett's death, and a power struggle ensured with Cassacinamon's group.[13][14][15][16][17]