 When King Philip 's War broke out in 1675 ( pitting many Native American tribes of southern New England against English colonists ) , Danforth was involved in some of the events of the war . Many colonists distrusted the Praying Indians ( Christianized Indians living peacefully in communities on the outskirts of English towns ) , some of whom were attacked by mobs of English settlers seeking revenge for attacks on their communities . Danforth , along with Daniel Gookin and the Indian missionary Reverend John Eliot , was a vocal supporter of the Praying Indians , and worked to prevent some of these excesses , at some personal risk . In one notable instance Danforth was aboard a small boat with other colonial officials in Boston Harbor en route to Long Island to inspect facilities for Praying Indians who had been relocated their " for their own safety " when a nearby ship apparently intentionally rammed the smaller vessel . No one was injured in the incident , but all of the older officials were dunked in the cold waters of the harbor . 
