[2] Pumham was allied with the Massachusetts Bay colony, who claimed the lands of Shawomet, today Warwick, Rhode Island.
[3] The colony forbid anyone to live there without permission, and built a fort there to protect the area, the remains of which were still visible in 2000.
[4] On July 4, 1675, Governor John Leverett sent Edward Hutchinson to sign a treaty with the Narragansets whereby they would agree not to harbor any of Metacomet's people.
[6] Hutchinson decided "to treat with the Narragansets sword in hand,"[6] and forced Pumham to sign on July 15.
[7][1][2][8][9][4][b] Several Christian Indians had seen his band in the woods, including his son and other family members, nearly starved to death.