American colonial soldier, born in Kent, England, in 1612. He removed to Virginia in 1621, and in 1644 went to Cambridge, MA. He was appointed a captain of the militia and a member of the house of deputies, was speaker of the house in 1651, was chosen magistrate in 1652, and in 1656 was appointed superintendent of all the Indians acknowledging the government of Massachusetts, retaining the office until his death. In 1681 he became major-general of the colony. He wrote Historical Collections of the Indians of Massachusetts (published posthumously), and a History of New England, which was lost and never published. He died at Cambridge, MA, on the 19th of March 1687.
