Customer Reviews

Abenaki Warrior: The Life and Times of Chief Escumbuit, Big Island Pond, 1665-1727 : French Hero! British Monster! Indian Patriot!

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England and France competed for control of the new world for more than 100 years. Caught in this mealstrom were the native americans who were destined to loose there land no matter which side they joined. Alfred Kayworth chronicles the life of Escumbuit an Abenaki Indian from the Pigwaset tribe living in Maine. Escumbuit, born in 1665, becomes active in the war as a French ally against the English settlers from 1688 through 1708 when he is wounded and retires among a group of displaced indians living on Big Island Pond in Southern New Hampshire. His adventures carry him from New Brunswick Canada down to Haverhill and Andover, Mass. His exploits and fame were such that the King of France , Louis XIV, brought Escumbuit to Paris, knighted him and gave him a silver sword and lifetime pension. He spent a year in Paris as a guest of the crown being wined and dined by the elite. He died in 1727. One of the islands in the pond is called Escumbuits Island.It is from this reference to the island that the author first encounters the name Escumbuit. His research resulted in a fascinating book, written in novel form, containing both fact and fiction. The Abenakis left no written record, but Escumbuits exploits as a French ally and an English enemy were such that there are documents written by contemporary individuals on both sides praising or vilifying him. The gaps in the historical record are filled in from the authors imagination, but are based on Abenaki culture as he came to know it through his research. He clearly delineates fact from fiction in foot notes and bibliography. He also peppers the book with facts not directly associated with the subject of the book, such as the aborted invasion of Boston and the east coast by a French fleet and army in 1697. The author does not preach or judge the charaters about whom he write. He tells his story letting events flow without coloring them with his 20th century cultural bias. I read the book in a couple of sittings, enjoying it from cover to cover. I wonder how many other stories like this are out there about this ignored part of our heritage.

The story of the great Abenaki Warrior, Chief Escumbuit, is one which has waited far too long to be told.

Alfred Kayworth has done a most remarkable job in bringing to light the struggles of the Abenaki people and the choices they were forced to make while caught in the middle of warring French and British factions.

As a Passamaquoddy woman, I am honored by Kayworth's struggle to write Chief Escumbuit's story in a manner as unbiased as possible.

I recommend "Abenaki Warrior" to every person who has ever had an interest in Abenaki and Wabanaki culture, tradition, and history.

More importantly, "Abenaki Warrior" is a story that all Abenaki and Wabanaki descendents need to be aware of.

The knowledge of Chief Escumbuit's lifelong struggle to ensure the survival of his people should empower Abenakis and Wabanakis to feel a greater sense of pride and renewed faith as they continue their present-day struggle to preserve their rich cultural heritage.

I understand the fascination Kayworth has long carried about the story of Escumbuit and his desire to share it with a larger audience, but there is not much scholarly material in this book and it is badly in need of a good editor. Factual mistakes and inferences are embarrassing to read, and speak more about the author's preconceived notions and his own upbringing, than those of his subject's life, history, or native culture.

I was greatly disappointed.

"French Hero! British Monster! Indian Patriot!" appears on the cover of Abenaki Warrior: The Life and Times of Chief Escumbuit, by Alfred E. Kayworth. It's still true! You learn something new everyday! In this historical narrative, fiction-based but full of documentation, Kayworth has presented us with a "one and only"! What a find!

Most of us have heard of Chiefs Geronomo and Cochise--Indians who participated in battles as western America was colonized. However, in the northeast part of the United States, during the late 1600s, an Abenaki Indian, Escumbuit, claimed early and easy fame as a young brave who grew to become a warrior chief and sachem of the Pigwacket Tribe. His life had never been explored and developed prior to Kayworth's work.

This book not only pulls together the facts from many historical documents, but, with further research and study, Kayworth developed a fictional life story that reads almost in novel form to explore the life of Chief Escumbuit. In fact, this book transformed Escumbuit from an "historical non-entity to Canadian celebrity," (p. 253) after which Dr. Sylvie Savoie was commissioned on behalf of several Amerindian groups to study his life further. Chief Escumbuit has since been designated A Personage of Historical Significance in Canadian History through the Canadian Heritage Program. (p. 254). He shares this honor with three other Indians, including Tecumseh.

A small island at Big Island Pond, Derry, New Hampshire, is named after Chief Escumbuit. The Abenaki Indians had claimed Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont as their home and near the end of Escumbuit's life (1665 to 1727) he lived on the Island later named in his honor.

Escumbuit was born to be a warrior. He was born into a tribe that was known for their cruelty. The child was known as Ottucke, the Indian name for deer, apparently due to his running ability. When another boy stole and broke his dagger, Ottucke attacked him with a blind fury. He was pulled off the boy before killing him and from that moment his reputation began to grow. Ottucke was ten years old.

During the wars between England and France to gain territory in America, Escumbuit was a member of those Indians who helped the French. He may well be the only Indian who traveled to Europe, was knighted by King Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles and presented with a silver saber and a life-long pension by the King. At this time, he had been credited with the death and scalping of 150 English settlers. Escumbuit spent a year in France and was welcomed by all, including the ladies of the court!

An interesting side story for Escumbuit was that he discovered a silver mine in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Much of the silver was used for bullets! It is not quite clear whether the silver mine was ever actually mined--perhaps it is still there waiting for a new Escumbuit to have his manatou show him the way through his vision quest.

The proud warrior that appears on the Abenaki Warrior cover is illustrative of the life led by Chief Escumbuit. While the book itself does not read fluently as would a novel, this is easily forgiven by the presentation of facts and the writing style that tells Escumbuit's life as though it was being presented to readers by his now long-gone ancestors. This is a significant historical contribution in my opinion and hopefully will lead to further research of the history of those Indians who were there on the eastern coast as the United States was first being colonized. These were bloody times; many brave warriors lost their lives as their land was invaded. America should know of this history . . . and remember. America was the "ancestral home (of our Indian brothers and sisters) since pre-historic time." (p. 16).

Even if you are not "into" history, this book deserves your attention. It is easily understood and of value to all ages. It provides a major contribution to our understanding of early America! Highly Recommended!

I am a really admirer of the American Indian History, and I am countinuosly searching for books and other material that can be useful at the purpose to find out any news on it; in this optic I have read with pleasure the Kayworth's book. Undoubtedly well documented from an historical point of view, the author does not limit himself to present the life of one of the most notable Indian War Chiefs, detailing with plenty of particulars the most salient aspects of it (i.e: his visit to the KING LOUIS XIV in France and his life as a ferocious Abenaki warrior), but, also, presenting him from a perspective dictated by his human being, his thoughts as an old man, as a banished by his tribe, and, above all a man near to his death having, at least, the consolation of his new family that love him. In add, I was struck by the real Escumbuit's friendship with the French official Marin,sincere and truthful; it is presented us also together with several imaginary dialogues that, nevertheless are trying to explain us two different worlds, two different thoughts that are doing their best at the purpose to perfectly understand each other. I absolutely recommend to read this book to all that are thinking like me that the Indians are the unique thing that they have to be: men with their emotions, lovers of their way to life and above all of their earth.

Being of Native American heritage, I was fascinated by the way Mr. Kayworth combined the personal and historical aspects of the life of Chief Escumbuit. It makes one feel that, if they walked on Escumbuit Island today, they would sense the presense of those long gone Abenaki warriors and their families. Sue Manic, Descendant Cherokee Indian Nation

Although Abenaki Warrior is filled with interesting information, I was appalled by the ignorant, racist comments that the author inserted throughout the book - comments obviously with no basis in fact. For example "...the Indian mind did not recogize such complex emotions as conscience and guilt." This and MANY other similar comments and insulting "conclusions" about "savages" etc. made it difficult to complete the book or lend any credibility to the factual information in it. A good, sensitive editor should have excised these remarks. The author should be ashamed.

This was a very factual book. It did contain some fiction within the facts to make the story run smoother. It was a very enlightening history of my ancestors.