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Hiacoomes (1610s?-1690) was a Wampanoag American Indian from the island of Martha's Vineyard (now in Dukes County, MA) who in 1643 became the first member of his society to convert to Christianity under the tutelage of the missionary Thomas Mayhew Jr. He would then, with the assistance of Mayhew, become a leading preacher to his fellow Wampanoag on the island, playing a major role in the widespread conversion of the Wampanoag from their traditional beliefs to Christianity. == Early life and contact with the English == Little is known of Hiacoomes’ early life except that he was of 'mean' descent and described as “a man of a sad and sober spirit”〔Henry Whitfield, ''The Light Appearing More and More Towards the Perfect Day or A farther Discovery of the Present State of the Indians in New England concerning the progresse of the Gospel Amongst Them'' (London, 1651), p.3〕 who had a low ranking in the then existing social hierarchy of the Wampanoag.〔Experience Mayhew, ''Indian Converts, or some Account of the Lives and Dying Speeches of a considerable number of the Christianized Indians of Martha's Vineyard in New England'' (London, 1727), p.1-2〕 In 1639 the first English settlement of the island, under the direction of Thomas Mayhew Senior, had begun at Edgartown.〔Daniel Gookin. Historical collections of the Indians in New England. Of their several nations, numbers, customs, manners, religion and government, before the English planted there. Also a true and faithful account of the present state and condition of the praying Indians ... Together with a brief mention of the instruments and means, that God hath been pleased to use for their civilizing and conversion ... Also suggesting some expedients for their further civilizing and propagating the Christian faith among them (Boston: Apollo Press, 1792), 1-89. Accessed February 4, 2014. http://find.galegroup.com/ecco/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupName=txshracd2550&tabID=T001&docId=CW3303544795&type=multipage&contentSet=ECCOArticles&version=1.0&docLevel=FASCIMILE.〕 Hiacoomes took an unusual interest in these newcomers and eventually began to form relationships with some of the English with whom he visited in their houses and they in his wigwam. He even attended religious meetings, where he managed to catch the curiosity of Thomas Mayhew Junior (1618?–1657), son of the island's governor and local pastor to the English.〔''Ibid'', p.1-2〕 Seeing this curiosity, the younger Mayhew invited Hiacoomes to his house each Sabbath evening where the soon-to-be missionary to the Indians would teach and instruct his native charge in the doctrines and ideas of Puritanism. Under his direction, Hiacoomes became a professed Christian, learning how to read in the process.〔''Ibid'', p.3-4〕 A letter reference dating from 1651 puts him at that moment as about 30 years of age, so if that is to be believed then Hiacoomes at this stage would have been in his early-to-mid 20s.〔Whitfield, ''Light Appearing'', p.2〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hiacoomes」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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