Driving along Plain Street in Norton, it’s easy to miss. Only a relatively small sign next to some mailboxes with an arrow pointed on it gives directions to a local landmark that much of history and time has forgotten. King Philip’s Cave may be unassuming and quiet but holds a direct connection to a famed Native American chieftain alongside one of the most tragic and darkest chapters of early American history.
When the English Puritans landed in Massachusetts in the early 1620s, both sides initially did their best to maintain the peace and coexist. However, it soon became evident as more and more settlers arrived from Europe and tensions flared that conflict between the two groups was inevitable. In 1675, open warfare erupted between the tribes opposing colonial expansion along with their native allies.
The alliance of tribes fighting against the settlers and their indigenous allies were led by Metacomet, elected chief of the Wampanoag also known by his adopted English name King Philip. The war was devastating for Metacomet and his forces with much of the native population killed or enslaved and as a result Metacomet fled south during the final weeks of the war. He spent some time hiding in the titular cave in Norton before retreating to Mount Hope in Bristol, Rhode Island where he was shot and killed by a Praying Indian named John Alderman who was under the command of a group of Rangers led by Benjamin Church.
Metacomet’s death eventually ended the most destructive conflict in New England history and the legacy of King Philip’s War slowly faded from American history. However, the spirits of the fallen are said to still inhabit the places where they spent their final days on Earth and can be found by those who know where to look. Over the years, people have reported seeing floating ghostly orbs, hearing disembodied voices, beating drums, and phantom campfires near the cave along with dark silhouettes. Perhaps the ghost of chief Metacomet himself or his warriors are still standing guard protecting their leader even in the afterlife. Whether it be ghost stories or distant history, King Philip’s Cave serves as a reminder of the past being real and ensures the tales of the past, tragic and saddening as they may be, will not be forgotten.
