USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 1
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GYP61
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Cornell University Library
F 74G7 P61
History of Grafton, Worcester county, Ma
olin 3 1924 028 820 582
DATE DUE
AUG 8 1972 MEP
Interhbrary Loan NYSILL
AUG- 2 89 716
GAYLORD
PRINTED IN U. S.A.
UNIVER
RI
1865
N
A.D.
ED
Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028820582
Very truly VEdk C. Pierce
HISTORY OF GRAFTON,
WORCESTER COUNTY,
MASSACHUSETTS,
FROM ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT BY THE INDIANS IN 1647 TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1879.
INCLUDING THE GENEALOGIES OF SEVENTY-NINE OF THE OLDER FAMILIES.
BY FREDERICK CLIFTON PIERCE,
COMPILER OF THE PIERCE AND PEIRCE GENEALOGIES; AUTHOR OF HISTORY OF BARRE IN HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY; AND RESIDENT MEMBER OF THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC-GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.
WORCESTER :
PRESS OF CHAS. HAMILTON, No. 311 MAIN STREET. 1879. Lo
F 74 GTP61
A745144 Copyright, X
1879,
BY FRED'K C. PIERCE.
1 1. 1.1
A. H. W.
453
TO THE
Descendants of the First Settlers of Grafton,
WHEREVER RESIDING,
AND TO THE PRESENT INHABITANTS,
THIS HISTORY IS MOST
Respectfully Inscribed,
BY THEIR
FRIEND AND HUMBLE SERVANT,
FREDERICK CLIFTON PIERCE.
ACTION OF THE TOWN.
GRAFTON, MASS., May 5th, 1879.
MR. FREDERICK C. PIERCE.
Dear Sir :- We, the undersigned, members of the Board of Selectmen of this town, heartily approve and indorse the work now in course of preparation by you, viz. : that of compiling and publishing a "History of Grafton, from its early settlement by the Indians to the present time."
Respectfully,
SAMUEL C. FLAGG, - WM. T. BARKER, JAMES G. PUTNAM, 1
A. G. KEMPTON, J. P. CROSBY,
Board of Selectmen.
PREFACE.
The undersigned presents to the citizens of Grafton, native born and foreign, the results of his four years labor in compiling a history of his native town. In preparing the following pages I have labored under many disadvanta- ges, though I have been greatly assisted by facts collected from the Colonial records, and the Massachusetts archives, a very valuable collection of papers, on a variety of sub- jects, in the office of the Secretary of State; also by re- course to books and pamphlets in the rooms of the Ameri- can Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, and the Massachu- setts Historical Society, at Boston; and by copies of the excellent oration, at the Centennial celebration, by Hon. William Brigham; the valuable Church Record, by Rev. Edmund B. Willson, A. M., once pastor of the First Con- gregational (Unitarian) Society; and the valuable historical oration by Rev. E. Frank Howe, at the celebration, July 4th, 1876.
In the genealogies I have endeavored to confine myself to the older families,-to those who resided in the town prior to 1800. I have commenced as far back, with each family, as the emigrant ancestor, of whom I give a short notice, then taking the first settler of the same name I have traced his genealogy down to the present time (1879). When any individual left town I have dropped the genealogy, simply giving, in cases where I could, the name of the town to which he removed, or in which he resided when last heard of, and I have noticed all interesting events connected
vi.
PREFACE.
with the family or person, as far as I could. If I had done as some persons suggested-that is, give the genealo- gies of all the families in all their branches-I should have had an endless and life-long task. It has been my aim to be as accurate as possible, but of course I have made errors which were nnavoidable. If I have made some marriages appear as foreed or unnatural, the parties may console them- selves, if living, with the reflection that they can separate without the trouble or delicacy of a divorce. "And if I have prematurely consigned some to the shades, they are at liberty to live on, as though nothing had happened."
I take this opportunity to express my acknowledgments to all those who have kindly aided me by furnishing infor- mation and supplying facts. Thanks are particularly due to Samuel F. Haven, Esq., librarian of the American Antiqua- rian Society, and his courteous and ever-ready assistant, Edmund M. Barton, Esq., who placed at my disposal a large number of valuable historical works; to John Ward Dean, Esq., librarian of the New England Historie-Genealogical Society, for the free use of the works contained therein ; to Hon. Henry B. Picree, secretary of the Commonwealth, for copies of records and papers furnished.
Great credit is dne the printer, Mr. Charles Hamilton, and his accomplished assistant, Mr. Benjamin J. Dodge, for the excellent typographical appearance of the book.
FREDERICK O. PIERCE.
GRAFTON, July 30th, 1879.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER FIRST.
CONTENTS :
The Nipmuck Indians and their territory-Their Sachems .- The Hassanamesits embrace Christianity-Their town-Their code of laws-Their church .- Piambohou .- John Speen .- Pennahannit. - Tnkapewillin. - Naoas. - Job Kattenanit .- Wattascompanum .- James-the-printer .- John Wampus alias White .- David Munnalaw .- Abimelich David .- Printer Fam- ily .- Andrew Abraham .- The last of this tribe .- The Nip- mucks' condition-They surrender.
Pages.
17-28
CHAPTER SECOND.
CONTENTS :
The Nipmuck country .- The country as viewed by the first white men. - Rev. John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians .- Major General Daniel Gookin .- The progress of the Christian Indians .- Sutton and its boundaries .- The settlement here broken up during King Philip's war .- Re-established .- The town purchased of the Indians .- The proprietors and their meetings .- The colonial records relating to the town .- The incorporation of the town .- The origin of the name of Graf- ton.
29-48
CHAPTER THIRD.
CONTENTS :
The division of land .- Proprietors' records .- The first white settler .- First white child born in town. - The petition asking to be released from maintaining preaching and schooling for
viii.
2
CONTENTS.
Pages.
the Indians .- Land added to the town .- Slavery in town .- Grafton road .- Deaths from 1753 to 1779 .- An act to prevent monopoly .- Shays' rebellion. - The instructions to the Repre- sentative .- The Indian trustees.
49-92
CHAPTER FOURTH. GRAFTON'S WAR RECORD.
CONTENTS :
King Philip's war-Indian battle on Keith Hill. - Grafton In the French and Indian war-Capt. James Whipple's company at Fort William Henry-Major Rogers' expedition to Canada .- Grafton in the Revolutionary war-The town mectings in 1773, 1774, 1775-April 19th, 1775-The Grafton Minute Men -Tories in town-The constitution-Soldiers in Captains Drury's, Brigham's, Warrin's, and Lyon's companies-Graf- ton's quota-Bounties .- The war of the late Rebellion-The patriotic spirit of the citizens-The first company-The day before their departure-The 15th, 21st, 25th, olst regiments, with short sketches of each, and the several battles they par- ticipated in-A full and complete list of men who enlisted, or were drafted, in the service-Death of James E. McClel- lan .- Sketches of the North and South companies of militia -The Grafton Grenadiers-The Light Infantry-The Slo- comb Guards.
93-162
CHAPTER FIFTH. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONTENTS :
FIRST AND EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
The Proprietors' meeting - First and Evangelical Congre- gational Churches. - The location selected for the first church near Assawossachasuck .- General Court report .- The first pastor, the Rev. Solomon Prentice-His biography. - The original members .- The meeting-house .- The covenant .- The council .- Mr. Prentice's dismissal .- Sketches of Revs. Aaron Hutchinson, Daniel Grosvenor, John Miles. - The church secede with the pastor and form a new society, the Evangeli- cal Congregational-The various causes assigned for this action-Their covenant-Their church .- Sketches of Revs. John Wilde, Thomas C. Biscoe, John H. Windsor .- Deacons of First Congregational and Evangelical churches. 163-197
ix.
CONTENTS.
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The first meeting .- The church building .- The first members .- Sketches of Revs. Edward B. Hall, Rufus A. Johnson, Caz- neau Palfrey, D. D., Edmund B. Willson, A. M., Farrington McIntire, A. M., William G. Scandlin, his funeral and Gen- eral Devens' remarks, Gilbert Cummings, Charles A. Tindall, William S. Barton. - The correspondence relative to the church records .- The deacons.
Pages.
198-216
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The first Baptist Church in 1767-The meetings held at the houses of the members-The church letter to the Warrin As- sociation .- The church building-Its locality .- Rev. Elkanah Ingalls .- The church disfellowshipped .- The Upton Church .- Rev. Simeon Snow .- The covenant-The members .- The Grafton church re-established-Their covenant .- The church building near Saundersville .- The present church edifice .- Rev. Thomas Barrett .- Rev. Otis Converse .- Rev. John Jen- nings .- Rev. Calvin Newton .- Rev. Benjamin A. Edwards .- Rev. D. L. McGear .- Rev. Joseph Smith .- Rev. J. M. Chick. Rev. De Forrest Safford .- Rev. A. C. Hussey, A. M .- The brethren licensed .- The deacons. 216-229
THE SAUNDERSVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Its formation .- Preamble and resolutions .- Covenant .- Origi- nal members .- Sketches of Revs. Simeon Waters, Alvan J. Bates, Harvey M. Stone .- The deacons. 229-238
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
The organization-The council-The constituent members .- The pastors-Sketches of Revs. Miner G. Clarke, William C. Richards, William Leverett, Joseph M. Rockwood, J. D. E. Jones, L. M. Sargent .- The deacons. 239-246
FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
Primary meetings .- The church and covenant .- Original inem- bers .- Sketches of the pastors, Revs. B. D. Peck, D. D., George T. Day, A. M., Joseph Whittemore, B. F. Pritchard, M. W. Burlingame, G. W. Wallace, Daniel C. Wheeler, A. M. Freeman, Francis Read, Andrew J. Eastman .- Deacons. 246-253
x.
CONTENTS.
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH.
The mission .- Sketch of Rev. J. J. Power .- The church build- Pages. ing .- Sketch of Rev. A. M. Baret, D. D. 253-256
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 6 13
CHAPTER SIXTH. EDUCATIONAL.
CONTENTS :
The first law establishing public schools in America .- Ye school lot .- Proprietors' records .- Data from the first town records. -The school-houses in the Centre .- School-houses at Keith Hill, Saundersville, New England Village, Brigham Hill, Farnumsville .- Rev. Aaron Hutchinson as a teacher .- Samuel Hall, Nathan Jones, Phineas Gleason, Sally Leland, David Stone, Amos W. Stockwell and Newell Wedge, teachers .- The school districts .- Extracts from the school committee re- ports from 1844 to 1880 .- The High School .- Rev. Farrington McIntire's private school. 257-306
CHAPTER SEVENTH. GRAFTON GEOGRAPHICALLY AND GEOLOGICALLY.
CONTENTS :
The soil .- Chestnut, George, and Brigham Hills .- Blackstone, Assabet and Little or Quinsigamond rivers .- Long Pond .- George's Brook .- The boundaries of the town .- Additions. -Gneiss and peat.
307-312
CHAPTER EIGHTH. MISCELLANEOUS.
CONTENTS :
Population .- Wealth .- Principal business .- The currying busi- ness .- The old Indian burying-ground .- Post-offices and post- masters .- Newspapers .- Blackstone Canal .- Boston and Wor- cester Railroad .- Providence and Worcester Railroad .- Graf- ton Centre Railroad .- Buildings .- Powers murder .- Grafton
xi.
Pages.
CONTENTS.
Bank robbery. - Old burying-ground. - Poor farm. - Pine Grove Cemetery .- Riverside Cemetery .- The great fire .- Pubicl Library .- Sabbath-schools .- Fire department .- Societ- ies, etc .- First National Bank .- Grafton National Bank .- Sav- Ings Bank .- Stages .- Telegraph .-- Political .- Oldest roads .- Grafton's Centennial Celebration .- Fiftieth anniversary of the Ladies' Sewing Circle .- Sketch of Saundersville, and Esek Saunders and family .- Business at New England Village, Centerville, Fisherville and Farnumsville .- Lawyers .- Phy- sicians .- College graduates.
313-380
CHAPTER NINTH. OLD HOUSES AND BUILDINGS.
CONTENTS :
Hassanamisco House .- The old grocery store .- The Green Store .- Articles of agreement between Wheeler and Warren. - Lovell Stow building. - Old Half-way House. - Harry Wood's law office .- Dr. Joseph Wood's property .- The old Distillery .- Knox house .- The Forbush house .- Rev. Solo- mon Prentice house .- The " Fly Market."-Dr. Lamb's barn. -Elijah Bruce house .- Charles Prentice house .- John Bennett, the hatter; his house and shop -Dexter house .- Residence of Rev. John Miles .- Bruce farm .- Dr. Gront house .- Dea. Merriam, 2nd, farm .- James Whipple farm .- Benjamin Leland property .- Kittville .- Capt. Moses Roberts' house .- Joel Taft house .- Benjamin Thurston honse .- The David Forbush, John Thurston, Abner Stow, Moses Harrington, Aaron Brigham, Charles Clapp, Otis Adams, Thomas Axtell, Dea. James Whipple, John Whipple, Ephraim Sherman, Samuel Leland, Samuel Miner and Daniel Axtell houses, et als. 381-408
CHAPTER TENTH. OFFICIAL AND STATISTICAL HISTORY.
CONTENTS :
List of Moderators .- List of Selectmen .- List of Treasurers. -List of Assessors .- List of Representatives .- List of School Committees .- List of Constables .- List of Town Clerks .- List of Deputy-Sheriffs .- Facts and figures from the census of 1865 and 1875.
409-440
xii.
CONTENTS. CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
GENEALOGICAL NOTICES OF THE EARLIER INHABITANTS OF GRAFTON AND THEIR FAMILIES.
CONTENTS :
Pages.
The Adams, Aldrich, Allen, Andrews, Axtell, Baker, Barnard, Batcheller, Bigelow, Bowman, Brigham, Brimblecom, Brooks, Brown, Bruce, Child, Clark, Cutler, Drury, Elliot, Farnum, Fay, Fisk, Flagg, Fletcher, Forbush, Goddard, Goodale, Goulding, Greenwood, Grout, Hall, Hammond, Harrington, Hey wood, Holbrook, How, Keith, Kimball, Kingsbury, Leland, Leathe, MeClellan, Merriam, Miles, Morse, Peirce, Pierce, Phillips, Pratt, Prentice, Putnam, Rawson, Reed, Rice, Rob- · bins, Rosborough, Sherman, Sibley, Slocomb, Smith, South- wick, Stearns, Stone, Stow, Tainter, Thurston, Turner, Wadsworth, Ward, Warren, Wheeler, Wheelock, Whipple, White, Whitney, Willard, Wing, and Wood families; seventy- nine in all. 441-612
APPENDIX.
613
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Subject.
Style.
Page.
ADAMS, HON. OTIS,
Heliotype
446
ADAMS, RESIDENCE OF HON. OTIS,
Lithograph
. 400
ADAMS, A. H.,
Heliotype
447
ANDREWS, WILLIAM D.,
Artotype
450
BARET, REV. A. M.,
Heliotype 163
BATCHELLER, GEORGE C.,
Artotype 456
BATES, REV. A. J.,
Heliotype
163
BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF, PLAN OF,
Wood-cut
128
BIGELOW, HON. ABRAHAM M.,
Heliotype
92
BIGELOW, HON. EDWARD B.,
BISCOE, REV. THOMAS C.,
BRIGHAM, CAPT. CHARLES,
464
BRIGHAM, RESIDENCE OF HON. WILLIAM,
66
445
DODGE, CURRYING SHOP OF L. W. & J. A., EASTMAN, REV. A. J.,
Heliotype
163
FISHER'S MILL,
Wood-cut
363
FLINT, HON. CHARLES L.,
Steel Plate
528
FORBUSH, CAPT. WILLIAM C.,
Heliotype
486
FORBUSH, SILAS,
Wood-cut
487
GOULDING, F. P.,
Steel Plate
494
GRAFTON, IN 1839,
Wood-cut 407
48
HALL, CAPT. SAMUEL,
Heliotype
497
HUSSEY, REV. A. C.,
KINGSBURY, CAPT. BENJAMIN,
. 514
LELAND, RESIDENCE OF MRS. JOSEPH,
527
LELAND, HON. PHINEAS W.,
Steel Plate
. 522
MERRIAM, DEA. JOSEPH, JR.,
Heliotype
. 534
MILES, REV. JOHN,
¥
190
NELSON, RESIDENCE OF JASPER S.,
Electrotype
359
462
DODGE, RESIDENCE OF L. W. & J. A.,
Wood-cut 317
485
FORBUSH & BROWN'S BOOT AND SHOE SHOP, GODDARD, CHARLES,
Heliotype
489
GRAFTON, DUKE OF,
GRAFTON, MAPS OF,
Electrotype. . Frontispiece
163
BRIGHAM, HON. WILLIAM,
466
92
163
xiv.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Subject.
Style.
Page.
NICHOLS, RESIDENCE OF GEORGE K.,
Heliotype
503
NORCROSS, RESIDENCE OF D. WEDSTER,
472
PARK, EAST SIDE OF,
Wood-cut
75
PARK, WEST SIDE OF,
100
PIERCE, DELANO, M. D.,
Heliotype
541
PIERCE, FREDERICK C.,
Frontispiece
PHILLIPS, WALTER P.,
Steel Plate
544
PRATT'S MILL,
Wood-cut
361
SARGENT, REV. L. M.,
Heliotype
163
SAUNDERS, RESIDENCE OF ESEK,
352
SAUNDERS' MILL,
Wood-cut
.355
SCANDLIN, REV. WILLIAM G.,
Heliotype
163
SLOCOMD, RESIDENCE OF GEORGE F.,
Steel Plate
563
STONE, RESIDENCE OF DEA. ALBERT,
Heliotype
568
STOW, RESIDENCE OF SILAS E.,
Wood-cut
356
WARREN, SAMUEL D.,
Steel Plate
580
WARREN, RESIDENCE OF JOHN,
Electrotype
579
WASHINGTON EMERY MILL AT N. E. VILLAGE,
Heliotype
92
WHEELER, RESIDENCEOF HON. JONATHAN D.,
588
WHEELER, CAPT. GEORGE M.,
590
WHEELOCK, JEROME,
Electrotype
594
WINDSOR, REV. JOHN H.,
Heliotype
163
WING, RESIDENCE OF HENRY F.,
. 607
WOOD, HON. J. HENRY,
92
WOOD, HON. SAMUEL,
66
92
564
SLOCOMB, CAPT. JOHN W.,
571
UPPER MILL AT N. E. VILLAGE,
358
WHEELER, HON. JONATHAN D.,
Residences, 14; Persons, 36; Steel Plates, 6; Heliotypes, 37; Arto- types, 2; Electrotypes, 4; Wood-cuts, 12; total, 61.
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
ERRATA AND ADDENDA.
Page 39, line 21, for Rider, read Wilder.
Page 141, to the name of J. Frank Sweeney, add " enlisted as Bugler in Co. C., 34th Regt. Infantry, for three years; mustered July 24, 1862, and discharged for disability Sept. 15, 1864."
Page 152, line 19, for 393 read 399.
Page 305, line 25, drop the words his son-in-law.
Page 484, line 20, for 1840 read 1843.
Page 534, line 41, after the last Joseph, add Joseph. Page 536, " 1
14
“ 537,
28 24 66
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
CHAPTER FIRST.
CONTENTS :
The Nipmuck Indians and their territory-Their Sachems .- The Hassa- namesits embrace Christianity-Their town-Their code of laws- Their church .- Piambohon .- John Speen .- Pennahannit .- Tukape- willin. - Naoas .- Job Kattenanit .- Wattascompanum .- James-the- printer .- John Wampus alias White .- David Munnalaw .- Abimelich David .- Printer Family .- Andrew Abraham .- The last of this tribe. -The Nipmucks' condition-They surrender.
THIS town was originally a portion of the Nipmuck coun- try, so called, by its being owned and occupied by a tribe of Indians called Nipmucks, Nipnets, or Nipmuks. The tribe which made the location of this town their home were called the Hassanamesits, who were in subjection to the Nip- mucks. The Nipmuck Indians included the following tribes : Hassanamesits, Naticks, Nashnays, Pawtuckets, Pegans, Pennakooks, Quabaogs, and Wamesits .* The limits of the Nipmuck country were not precise. It is evident, however, from the following extract, that, in 1647, the Nipmucks were rather uncertain about their sachem, and probably belonged
*The Naticks were located at Natick; the Nashuays were on the Nashua river, from its mouth; the Pawtuckets were on the Merrimac river, where Chelmsford now is ; the Pegans were in Dudley, on a reser- vation of 200 acres; the Pennakooks were on the Merrimac river, near Concord, N. H .; the Quahaogs were located in Brookfield; the Wame- sits were, for a time, on the Merrimac river, at Lowell .- Drake.
3
18
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
at one time to Massasoit, and at another to the Narragan- setts, or others as circumstances impelled. "The Nopmat (Nipnet or Nipmuk) Indians, having noe Sachem of their own, are at liberty, part of them, by their own choice, doe appertaine to the Narragansetts' Sachem, and parte to the Mohegens."* The Nipmucks were at one time tributaries to Massasoit. During Philip's war there was a constant inter- course between the tribes, and when any of his men made an escape, their course was directly into the country of the Nipmucks. No such intercourse subsisted between the Nar- ragansetts and either of these. But, on the contrary, when a messenger from the Narragansetts arrived in the country of the Nipmucks, with the heads of some of the English, to show that they had joined in the war, he was at first fired upon, though afterwards, when two additional heads were brought, he was received with them. Roger Williams says, in 1668: "That all the Neepmucks were unquestionably subject to the Nanhigonset Sachems, and in a special man- ner, to Mejksah, the son of Cannonnicus, and late husband to the old squaw-sachem,f now only surviving." At one time, Kutshamakin elaimed some of the Nipmucks, or con- . sented to be made a tool of by some of them, for some pri- vate end. But Mr. Pynchon said they would not own him as a sachem any longer " than the sun shined upon him." Had they belonged to him, Massachusetts must have owned them, which would have involved them in much difficulty. In 1648, by reason of several murders among them, a sepa- ration took place between the Pokanokets and Narragan- setts and the Nipmucks; the two former separated them- selves for the latter and other inland tribes, and went off to their own country. This was the reason they were so easily subdued after the separation took place. In 1643, Massasoit
*Records of the U. Col. in Hazard, II., 92.
tThis squaw-sachem, as we believe, was chief of those inland Indians since denominated the Nipnets, or Nipmucks, and lived in 1621 near Wachusett Mountain .- Drake's North American Indians.
19
THE NIPMUCK INDIANS.
resided with Nashoonon, chief of the Nipmucks. In Winthrop's journal it is Nashacowam, we suppose* he was father of Nassowanno, mentioned by Whitney in his History of the County. During Philip's war his provisions, women and children were removed from his country to that of the Nipmucks, near Hassanamesit.
In 1675, the Nipmneks were at this time chiefly under five sachems, which, says Hubbard, "were four too many to govern so small a people." "The Nipnets were under the command of the sachem of Mount Hope," which fact is verified by numerous passages of our history. The names of the five principal sachems were Monoco, Mautamp, Shoshanim, Matoonas, and Sagamore John. On the 22nd of August, 1675, the Hassanamesits were placed at Marl- borough by authority. No sooner was it known that a mur- der was committed at Lancaster, than not a few were want- ing to charge it upon the Hassanamesits. Captain Mosely,t who it seems was in this neighborhood, sent to their quarters and found "much suspicion against eleven of them, for singing and dancing, and having bullets and slugs, and much powder, hid in their baskets." For this offense these eleven were sent to Boston, 30th of August, on suspicion, and there tried and acquitted. The following are the names of the Indians arrested : Old Jethro and two sons, James-the-
*Drake's Indian History, II., 106.
tTo this we may add, that Captain Mosely's character was such as to render it highly probable that he performed the part which tradition has assigned to him. Hutchinson says : " He had been an old privateerer at Jamaica, probably of such as were called Buccaniers." He com- manded a company of 110 volunteers, in the war with King Philip, and was one of the most resolute and courageous captains of his day. It was he who, on September 1, 1675, went out to the rescue of Captain Lathrop, who, with only 80 men, was attacked by a body of seven or eight hundred Indians at Deerfield, when all Captain L.'s company, with the exception of seven or eight, were cut off. He also led the van in the terrible assault made upon the Indians, December 19, in the Narra- gansett country, in which six English captains were killed, and nearly 200 men killed and wounded.
20
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
printer, James Acompanet, Daniel Munups, John Cquasqna- conet, John Asquenet, George Nonsequesewit, Thomas Mamuxonqua, Joseph Watapacoson alias Joseph Spoonant.
James Quanipaug and Job Kattenanit were sent out to reconnoiter the enemy, then in the western part of this county, in the beginning of 1676. They passed through Hassanamnesit, thence to Manesit (a part of Woodstock), where they were taken by seven Indians and carried to Menimesseg (New Braintree), where they found many of the enemy, and among them "the Marlborough Indians, who pretended that they had been fetched away by the other Indians." Some of them professed to be willing to return. Philip is said at this time to have been abont half a day's journey on the other side of Fort Orania (Albany), and the Hadley Indians on this side. They were then preparing for that memorable expedition, in which the towns of Lancas- ter, Groton, Marlborough, Sudbury and Medfield were destroyed. This letter bears date 24th 11th mo., 1675 (Jan. 24, 1675.) It was only sixteen days after this, viz., Feb. 10, O. S., that they made a descent upon Lancaster, with 1500 warriors, and butchered or earried into captivity nearly all the inhabitants of that flourishing village.
Whether the Indians in this vicinity joined in this expedi- tion, or left the enemy and returned to their homes, I have not been able, after diligent inquiry, to ascertain. The little I have been able to collect, though corroborated by eireumstantial evidence, rests mainly on tradition.
Hassanamesit was the third town, which was established in 1660 by Rev. John Eliot, for the praying Indians, Punk- apoag and Natick being established prior, in 1647. At the time it was established it contained twelve families, or sixty souls. The following short code of laws were adopted :
I. If any man be idle a week, or at most a fortnight, he shall pay five shillings.
II. If any unmarried man shall lie with a young woman unmarried, he shall pay five shillings.
.
. 21
THE INDIAN CHURCH.
III. If any man shall beat his wife, his hands shall be tied behind him, and he shall be carried to the place of justice to be severely pun- ished.
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