NORTON - For ages, Pine Street where the
Rumford and Wading Rivers converge has been a place to admire for
the scenery.
But the site's significance as one of the last battlegrounds of
the 17th century King Philip's War had become hidden by time.
Even Seaconke Wampanoag Chief George "Silverwolf" Jennings says
he was unfamiliar with the August 1676 battle, known as the Lockety
Neck Fight, partly because "the Europeans wrote about the
skirmishes they wanted to write about."
That changed three weeks ago, when the Norton Historical
Commission erected a historic marker at the site near Old Crane
Pond.
Jennings says that eventually, "we expect to take some bus trips
with some youngsters" to historic sites.
"This is one of the stops," Jennings said while visiting the
site with historical commission Chairman Christopher Cox.
Cox said he recalled hearing about the Lockety Neck Fight as a
child from his father, a history buff.
The lifelong Norton resident said he has found only "two remote
references" to the skirmish in books: one in Clark's "History of
Norton," from 1854; and the other in a history of Bristol
County.
Some old land deeds also refer to properties "on land near the
Lockety Neck Fight," Cox said.
"We don't have a tremendous amount of 17th century sites in
Norton, but we do have a few," said Cox, a Native American
historian. "It's very significant, what took place here."
Cox said the Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century's Olde Boston
Chapter donated the funds for the marker.
The marker reads, "Near this spot in August of 1676 at the
confluence of Rumford and Wading (Coweset) River the Battle of
Lockety Neck was fought.
"Close to the end of King Philip's War, Native American warriors
of the Wampanoag (Wampanucks) tribe had just attacked the nearby
village at Taunton. After the raid, the Native Warriors sought
refuge in swamps around this area. A party of Taunton militia and
some native guides were sent out in pursuit of the attacking
Warriors and a brief, but fierce skirmish ensued ending in the
capture or death of twenty-six Native American Warriors.
"The 'Lockety Neck Fight' was one of the final skirmishes in
King Philip's War."
Norton was part of Taunton at the time, Cox noted.
The marker is among three erected by the commission recently, he
said.
The others are down Pine Street at the historic Crane Farm,
which dates to 1756; and the Timothy Plain burial ground on Plain
Street, which dates to 1742.
Norton turns 300 on June 12, 2011. The Tricentennial Committee
is planning a celebration.
"Putting out these signs is a nice way to increase awareness of
Norton's history," Cox said.
