Outskirts Press, INC.

When the Pilgrims arrived, Southeast Massachusetts natives were ruled by Massasoit “commander of 30 villages” Passaconaway, the “Child of the Bear” ruled the Penacook Federation’s 17 tribes in New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. When the first Pilgrims arrived the two chiefs temporized with their new neighbors, accepting growing numbers and domination in exchange for trade and protection from other sometimes hostile tribes. Massasoit’s son King Philip began to push back and planning for an uprising began. At the end of January in 1675, the body of suspected informer John Sassoman was found under the ice at Assawompsett Pond and on June 20th, shots rang out in Swansea beginning King Philip’s War. King Philip was killed on 8/12/1676 and a last raid led by John Talcott ended the fighting in Massachusetts, but Sachems such as Mugg Hegone and Simon the Yankee Killer fought on up North until the Treaty of Casco ended the bloodiest per Capita war in American History in April of 1678. Harvard College graduate, Jay Gaffney retired from the Army as a Captain with decorations and a damaged knee after two tours in Vietnam. He went on to Boston University Law School and started a general Law practice, mostly in the Lowell area but with overseas travel to Ireland and Italy. He was active in community life, teaching as an adjunct Professor at UMass Lowell. He was, elected to the Massachusetts legislature and served on a number of town and City Boards and commissions. Despite his injury he managed to do some amateur boxing having the good fortune of working out in gyms owned by legendary figures Boston’s Al Clemente and Lowell’s Art Ramalho. He fought in several exhibitions for the Mass State Police Team. Now fully retired he still serves on a City Commission and lives in Lowell with his wife Mary who has held important supervisory Nursing positions. The two keep frequent contact with much loved children and grandchildren.