Site of Eames Massacre – Framingham, Massachusetts - Atlas Obscura

Site of Eames Massacre

A stone marker memorializing a raid and attack by Native Americans on an English family during King Philip's War. 

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Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in front of a playground on the top of Mount Wayte in Framingham is a stone marker which reads; 

Here stood the home of Thomas Eames, burned by the Indians in King Philip’s War Feb. 1, 1676. His wife and five children were slain and four carried into captivity.This memorial is placed by his descendants A.D. 1900

The Eames Massacre, as it has come to be known, is considered a watershed moment within the history of Framingham and the Metrowest area during the colonial period in the 17th century. For centuries, the event was depicted as an unprovoked ruthless attack by local tribesman in which the Eames family were the sole victims. However, new evidence and research paints a more complex picture regarding the relationship between early settlers and its native inhabitants.

The Nipmuc people were the original inhabitants of Framingham but during the height of King Philip’s War in 1675, many of the natives were forced off their lands and placed into internment camps on Deer Island in Boston by the encroaching European settlers. With very little food, shelter, and resources, hundreds of natives died of starvation and exposure within the camps and many natives who had converted to Christianity called “Praying Indians”, fled into the woods including one man named Netus.

In January 1676, Netus and nine others traveled to the abandoned Praying Village of Magunkagquog in hopes of finding some corn. However, by the time they arrived the place had been cleared out and suspicion fell onto Thomas Eames and his family who had a farm very close by. Hungry, cold, and feeling betrayed by their former Christian neighbors, Netus and his band raided the Eames homestead to take back the corn. There are numerous conflicting accounts of what happened next but Thomas Eames’ wife Mary, along with five children were killed in the attack with the others being kidnapped and most later escaping. Netus and his men found around 210 bushels of corn in addition to hay, wheat, rye, and set the farm ablaze as they escaped.

Thomas Eames himself was away in Boston at the time trying to get more support from the local government and militias to protect more remote settlements such as his from possible native attacks. After he returned, an investigation was launched which uncovered the identities of Netus and his men Anneweaken, Aponapawquin, Acompanatt, Panananumquis, William Wannuckhow, Apumatquin, Pumapen, Awassaquah, and Aquitekash. All of them were eventually killed, executed, or sold into slavery. The Massachusetts General Court offered Eames 200 acres of land as compensation in addition to another 200 acres of native land as well. Eames never returned to the Framingham area and died in 1680 less than five years after the attack.

Although the stone marker about the Eames Massacre may look unassuming, it tells a strong story of a tragic history that forever changed not just Massachusetts, New England, or American history, but world history as well.

Know Before You Go

The stone marker can be found at the intersection of Mt Wayte, Chatauqua, and Clinton Avenue while another marker can be found nearby on Dudley Road.