USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Groton historical series. A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts, Vol III > Part 30
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Mary Jane, m. Geo. W. Pattee. Abby, m. Andrew J. l'attee. Laura. Ellen, m. ist, James Jordan ; 2d, Joseph Small.
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MAINE SETTLERS FROM GROTON.
JOEL STONE, born 1766, married LUCINDA PARKHURST, born 1772. He resided in the Gambo district ; a farmer. [He was the eldest child of Joel and Eunice (Holden) Stone, and born at Groton, on October 30, 1765.]
Children :
Lucinda, b. 1796 ; m. John Proctor.
Eber, b. 1797 : m. Nancy Atherton.
Nancy, b. ISoo ; was a teacher.
Emma, b. 1803 ; m. Daniel Plummer.
Sarah, b. 1806 ; m. Moses Young.
EBER STONE (2d gen.), who married NANCY ATHERTON, lived on the home place.
Children :
Augusta, m. Joel Stone.
Oscar, m. Mary Kenney.
Moody K., m. Maria Merrill.
Joel A., m. Annice McEllory.
Nancy, m. Henry Danley.
William, m. Elizabeth H. Wilkins.
Walter, died in the war. [Probably the same person as Walter E. Stone, Company D, Sixteenth Maine Volunteers, who died of disease, on June 18, 1863.]
DAVID STONE married LUCY W. SAMPSON. He came from Harvard, Mass., and lived in the west part of the town, near Sweden. [Perhaps he was the son of Daniel and Martha Stone, of Groton, who was born on March 23, 1772.]
Children :
Susan W., m. Deacon Aaron Cummings ; no children. Joseph, m. Mary Bridge ; eight children.
James (deacon), m. Harriet Holden ; seven children.
Rebecca, m. Jeremiah Hale ; three children. David S., m. Eliza Walker ; six children. Hiram, m. Polly Wheeler ; four children. Lorenzo, m. Jemima Tubbs ; two children. Lydia R., m. William Foster; three children. Henry M., m. Elizabeth Forsythe ; two children. Thomas S., m. Sarah Treadwell.
(Pages 292-295.)
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357
LIST OF DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
LISTS OF DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
THE following lists of Deaths and Marriages are found in the " Columbian Centinel " (Boston), under the respective dates as here given after each announcement.
DEATHS.
At Groton, [August 4,] Mrs. ELIZABETH BROWN, consort of Aaron Brown, Esq. of that town, At. 45.
August 19, 1797.
She was the youngest daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Whitney) Stowell, born at Waltham, on June 14, 1752, and married to Mr. Brown in the year 1774.
In Troy, N. H. Mr. Dexter Kelley, formerly of Groton, Mass. aged about 30.
October 24, IS35.
In Groton, 2d inst. Mr. Benjamin F. Sawtell, aged 33. He came to his sudden death by falling from the spear of a loaded wagon, the wheels passing over his head and shoulders.
November 7, 1833.
In Groton, May 30th, Mrs. Catherine Shattuck, wife of Mr. Daniel S. aged 31. - On Saturday last [June 4], Mr. Frederick Augustus Richardson, son of the late Mr. Alpheus R. aged 19. June 11, IS25.
MARRIAGES.
[In Boston,] Mr. DANIEL COLE, to Miss BETSY WOODS, of Groton.
July 3, 1799
In Easton, *
* * Mr. David Hartwell, of Groton, to Miss Harriet Newell, daughter of Mr. Asel Haywood.
October 3, 1833.
In Haverhill, Mr. Henry Hill, of Groton, to Miss Abigail Coffin.
October 10, 1833.
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LIST OF DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
In Groton, Mr. John Parks Jr. to Miss Sophia Nutting ; Mr. Hiram Barden to Miss Rachael Robbins ; Mr. Warren Robbins to Miss Olive Barden ; Mr. Levi Priest to Miss Louisa Heartwell ; Mr. Levi Stone to Miss Louisa Burgess.
October 25, 1833.
Mr. Stone was married on September 4, 1833 ; and his wife died on February 8, 1843, soon after giving birth to twins.
In Pepperell, Mr. Reuben Torrey, of Groton, to Miss Lucinda Hill.
December 12, 1833.
In Groton, on Thursday [July 12], last week, Mr. Zadoc Woods to Miss Roxana Blood.
July 21, IS21.
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 1892.
HISTORICAL SERIES, VOL. III., No. VIII.
GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
THE following narrative was written by Major Simon Wil- lard, of Groton, a little more than a fortnight after the burning of the town by the Indians, and is found among the Mas- sachusetts Archives (LXVIII. 186). It should be read in connection with an order given to Captain Cook, and printed in " Groton during the Indian Wars " (page 24). It is in the nature of a report to the Council on what was done by the Essex and Norfolk troops during that eventful week. Norfolk County then was very different from the one of to-day, and embraced no portion of the present county of that name.
Major Willard's farm lay in the southerly part of Groton, now included within the limits of Ayer, and was known as Nonacoicus. After the abandonment of the town his family went to Charlestown, where he died a few weeks later, on April 24, 1676.
MAJOR WILLARD'S NARRATIVE.
A short naratiue of what I have atended unto by the councill of late since I went to releine Groatten
The 21 : 1 : 75|76 I went to concord, & devided the troope commit- ted vnto me from Esex & Northfolke, into three pts one to garde the carts, pressed from Sudbury, one pt for the carts presed from concord, both to Lancaster, & one pt for the carts that went from Charlestowne & wattertowne, that went volintiers or wear hiered,
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
when I had sent them to ther seuerall placeses I came downe be- inge the 22 : 1 . 75, 6 : & went to concord the 25 : 1 : 75/ when I came ther, I inquiered how it was with Lancaster, the answer was they weare in distrese, I psently sent 40 horse theiyr to fetch awaye corne, & I went that night to Chellmsfoord to se how it was with them, they complayned, Billerikye Bridge stood in great need of beinge fortified I ordered that to be dou, allso they told me, that the Indians made two great rafts of boords & rayles, that they had gott that laye at the other syd of the Riuer I ordered, 20 soulldiers to go ouer & take them, & towe them downe the River or pserue them, as they se cause the 27 of this Instant I went from Chellms- foord to Concord agayne when I came ther the troopers that I sent to Lancaster last, had broght awaye all the people ther but had left about 50 bushells of wheat & Indian corne yesterdaye I sent : 40 : horses or mor to fetch it awaye, & came downe from concord, this daye I expectt they will be at concord, some of the troope I relesed when this last worke was don, the other I left order to scout ahead vntill they heer frome me agayne, I thought it not meet to relese more, when we stand in need of men, my desier is to know what I shall do herin in, concord & Chellmsfoord looke 'every daye to be fiered, & wold haue more men but know not how to keepe them nor paye them.
your humbl servant
SIMON WILLARD, 29 : 1 : 76
ENOSH LAWRENCE.
The following entry in the Court Records of Middlesex County (III. 36), under date of October 1, 1672, is of interest in connection with a petition of Enoch Lawrence, which is found among the Massachusetts Archives (LXX. 583) at the State House, and printed in " Groton during the Indian Wars " (pages 84, 85). Lawrence's given name is sometimes written Enosh, and at other times Enoch, though it is a variation from Enos. This will be seen by consulting the Geneva ver- sion of the Bible, long used in preference to King James's version by the New England men, and out of which Enosh Lawrence was undoubtedly named. In the Genevan, " Enosh" occurs where the authorized version has " Enos," in Genesis v. 6, 7, 9-11.
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
Enosh Laurance being lame in his hand, so as disinable him to handle his Armes, is freed from all ordinary trayneings, paijng 5: ? annu. to the Military company of the Place.
In his petition, which was presented to the Governor and the General Court in the autumn of 1702, Lawrence sets forth that he " is a very poor man and by reason of wounds in his hand, received in a fight with the Indians in the former indian War is allmost wholly disabled from following his dayly La- bour upon which he depends for a Livelyhood both for himself and his family "; and in consequence thereof he asks for help, which was duly granted by giving him a pension during life, besides relieving him from public taxes. At this late day it seems fair to give Enosh the benefit of any doubt ; and very likely in his younger days he was troubled with rheumatism, which later in life was aggravated by a wound.
GROTON MILITARY COMPANY.
The following paper is found among the miscellaneous man- uscripts of the Massachusetts Historical Society, in a volume marked on the back "Letters & Papers 1632-1678" (page 134). It is printed for the most part in " Groton during the Indian Wars" (page 12), as taken from the General Court Records ; but this copy has the date when the Magistrates gave their consent, which the other one did not have.
The Military Company of Groaten being destitute of Military officers the deputyes Judge meete & doe hereby appoynt James Parker to be their Cap! & William Lakin Leiutenant & Nathaniel Laurence to be their ensigne & so as to haue Comissions accord- ingly desireing the consent of o! Honord magists hereto
WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.
24 (8) 1673
Consented to by ye magists EDWARD : RAUSON Secrety
RICHARD BLOOD AND ROBERT PARRIS.
At a session of the Middlesex County Court held at Charles- town, and beginning on June 20, 1682, it is recorded : -
Ri : Bloud [of Groton], being convicted of selling liquor to the
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
Indians, is fined five pounds, & to pay costs. twelve shil. to Thomas Dublett. & 2. other Indians (IV. 40).
Robert l'arris [of Groton], being accused of selling liquor to the Indians. Paying costs, is dismissed (1V. 40).
THE ASSAULT OF JULY 27, 1697.
Among the Massachusetts Archives (XXX. 352) at the State House, there is a paper bearing date August 8, 1694, and signed by William Phips, Governor of the Province, which alludes to the assault made on Groton by the Indians on July 27 of that year. Omitting the heading, it begins : -
A DECLARATION AND PRECEPT.
To the Sachems and Principal Indians within the Eastern parts of this Province.
Whereas it is credibly Informed, That some Indians from the Eastern parts of this Province, particularly Robin Doney, John Doney and sundry others whose names are not known some time in ye month of July last with force and armes did attack and assault their Majus Subjects at Oyster River [Durham] &c. within the Province of New Hampshire ; as also at the Town of Groton within this Province, and against and upon them then and there did act and perpetrate sundry outrages, rapines, barbarities and cruel murders, did burn consume and lay waste their houses and Estates contrary to the Peace of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William & Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen over England &c? the Stipulations made by the said Indians, and in violation of their Faith duty and Subjection unto their said Maj"."
LIEUT .- GOV. WM. TAILER.
During the summer of 1704 Major William Taylor, at the head of a company of mounted soldiers, was actively engaged on the frontiers of the Province in fighting the Indians. This officer afterward became a somewhat distinguished man, and at two different periods was Lieutenant Governor of Massa- chusetts, and each time Acting Governor, when his name was written "Tailer." He was a native of Boston, and a nephew of Governor Stoughton.
363
GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
He is mentioned several times in "Groton during the In- dian Wars," where in one place he is called Colonel. In a volume of Winthrop Papers, Part V., published by the Massa- chusetts Historical Society as one of their Collections (sixth series, Il1.), there are several references to him as well as to Captain James Avery during this period, which are herewith given. The first reference is contained in a letter from Isaac Addington to Fitz-John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut, dated at Boston, August 4, 1704, as follows : -
His Excellency desires your Honour will please to order Cap'n Avery with the Moheags &c. to Groton, to abide there for some time for scouring of the woods thereabouts. They will probably be better contented there, being not altogether strangers in those parts, and will not be so far from home as before (page 252).
The receipt of this letter was acknowledged at the time by Daniel Wetherell, of New London, Connecticut, who in- formed Secretary Addington that Governor Winthrop was absent in Hartford, and that the members of the Council then in New London were authorized to attend to pressing business. He furthermore added : -
The Pequot & Moheag Indians went out last Thursday from Plainfield [Connecticut], under the command of Capt. [John] Levingstone, by New Roxbury [Woodstock, Connecticut] into the northern woods with a design to come upon y" enemy's tracks on their return from Lancaster. So y' Capt. Avery cant march to Groton with them, as y' Hon' mentions. We conclude that, upon rec' of y' lett', the Gov' & Councill at Hartford will ord' a party of our English, with some of our Indians y' are now upon the river in your Province, to march directly through the woods to Lancaster and to range in those woods for ye enemy (page 253).
A few days after the date of this letter, probably on August 14, Major William Whiting writes to Governor Winthrop con- cerning their plans to pursue the enemy, and says : -
Early yt next morning [August 11 ] considered what mesures to take persuant to the said order ; it was resolv'd best to returne to Hatfield to inforce our men and procure necessary provisions for
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
our subsistance &c. Imediately thereupon we drew off, and at Ilatfield held a further consultation, Col. Partridge being present. It was then concluded to detach 200 men, including Cap! Leving- stons compª, and the next morning march towards Wachusett Hill in search of the enemys tracks ; but before we departed the house, came in an express from Boston wy ler' from M! Secret'y Addington wch inform'd Col. Partridge that the enemy on y: 8º instant were still hovering about Groton, and that Maj! Taylor was then ready to march wth a force of between 3 and 400 men in search of them. We still resolv'd to put our determination in execution, in order whereto Cap Levingstone mov'd ouer to Hadly this night, Cap! Allyn and my comp! to North Hampton (pages 241, 242).
In a letter, dated at Northampton, August 19, Mr. Whiting writes again to Governor Winthrop, and begins thus : -
S', - I wrote your Honour yesterday, since which an express from Boston with let" from Governer Dudly to Col. Partridge signifiing Maj: Taylors returne on y" 15" instant to Groton after five dayes fruitless persute of the enemy, & concluding their returne ; . . . (page 258).
On July 31, 1704, the Indians fell upon Lancaster, where they killed several men and burned the meeting-house ; and within a day or two afterward they attacked Groton, where they did other damage. See " Groton during the Indian Wars " (pages 68, 69), for the copy of a petition sent to the Governor and the General Court, soon after the assault, by John Shepley, who says : "There were 3 of our first Company kill'd or carryed away."
Matthias Farnsworth, Jr., was cap- tured in this attack and taken to Canada, where he became naturalized and afterward married a Frenchwoman, though it is not known now who else was either killed or carried off. See the second volume (pages 364-366) of the Historical Series, for an article on " Matthias Farnsworth's Captivity." It was during the alarm and excitement of this period that Major Taylor was scouring the wilderness in pursuit of the Indians, as is recorded in the volume of Winthrop Papers, l'art V., already mentioned.
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
JOHN DAVIS.
It was John Davis who was killed by the Indians near his own door at Groton, on October 25, 1704, - and not Samuel, as incorrectly stated in "Groton during the Indian Wars" (page 89). John was the eldest son of Samuel and Mary (Waters) Davis, and born at Groton, on March 10, 1664. His house stood a short distance below the Groton School, where Walter Dickson lived when the Map in Mr. Butler's History was made. His father was the eldest son of Barnabas and Patience Davis, who came from England in the summer of 1635, and settled at Charlestown.
Samuel and Mary (Waters) Davis had eight children, as follows : " Marie," born at Lancaster, on January 26, 1657, and presumably died young, as another Mary soon appears ; Elizabeth, born at Charlestown, on November 11, 1658; Mary, born at Groton, on January 31, 1662-3, married Isaac Lewis, of Boston, on May 25, 1680, and had six children ; John, born at Groton, on March 10, 1664 (killed as above stated), married Mehitabel -, and had five children ; Sarah, born at Groton, on August 12, 1667 ; Samuel, born at Groton, on January 10, 1669 ; Barnabas, born at Groton, on April 17, 1672, and died in August, 1690; and Patience, born at Groton, on April 10, 1674.
This family was not akin to that of Dolor Davis, a pe- titioner for the Plantation of Groton, and one of the first Board of Selectmen appointed by the General Court.
There is some reason to think that John Davis's wife was Mehitable, daughter of Ellis (or Elias) and Anna Barron, though Barron, in his will made on December 31, 1711, men- tions his daughter Mehitable Parker. She may have married a Parker for her second husband.
A FORT ON THE NASHUA.
I quote the following extract from a letter of Joseph Dudley, Governor of Massachusetts, to Fitz-John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut, in order to show that at the begin- ning of the last century there was a fort on the banks of the
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
Nashua River ; and also to show that even then the stream was sometimes called the Groton River, as it had been at times during the preceding century. The fort was probably situated within the present limits of Hollis, New Hampshire, as otherwise it would not have been " upon the outer edge " of Dunstable; and furthermore the river was never called " Groton " for any considerable distance outside of the town- ship. (See the first volume of this Historical Series, No. XV. pages 1 and 2, for an account of the name as applied to the river.) Perhaps hereafter some local antiquary, either of Hollis or Nashua, will identify the site, and thus add another interesting spot to the neighborhood. The letter was written from Roxbury, on March 6, 1703-4, and begins thus : -
S:, - I have your letters of the twenty eighth past, for which I thank you, and am glad your gentlemen think so well of the service as to gratify your Indians, though the 124 per diem is truly too much for them, and am contented that they call at Dunstable, at the fort there near to Groton River upon the outward edge of that town, and have nothing against their scouting to Manadnuck, a party of them as they come along. Though I have had two partyes there already on a months time and find nothing, they may yet meet something in that cross range ; but I am of opinion that there are scarce any settlements between Connecticut and Merimack, but that they are all gone eastward of Saco River to lodge their wives and children more securely. In this article you will only let the scout that take the circle be before the other party, that they may as near as may bee meet at Dunstable without the loss of time, and that there be some English men with each party, for fear of a mischief amongst several other partyes I have had this last month abroad.
Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, sixth series, III. 178.
LOVEWELL'S FIGHT.
The following notice of a Death appears in the " Columbian Centinel " (Boston), October 24, 1798. As Lovewell's Fight at Pequawket on May 8, 1725, is so closely connected with the history of Groton, the item may properly be given in this chapter.
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GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
DIED] - At Plymouth, N. H. Dea. NOAH JOHNSON, At. 104 He was engaged in the famous battle of Lovell, at the place now called Fryburg [Maine]; and had [for] three or four years been the last survivor who engaged in that memorable transaction.
According to a list of the soldiers, which was printed in the Preface to Thomas Symmes's Sermon on the Death of Captain John Lovewell, preached at Bradford only one week later, - on May 16, -Sergeant Noah Johnson was of Dunsta- ble. In the Appendix to Charles James Fox's History of that town, it is said : -
JOHNSON, NOAH. - Probably from Woburn ; born in 1698 : survivor of Lovewell's Fight : died at Pembroke [ New Hampshire], 13th. Aug., 1798, in the one hundredth year of his age (page 246).
The discrepancies in regard to his age and the place of his death I leave for others to reconcile.
The following extract from the printed Journal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (page 32) for June 8, 1737, shows that Johnson at one time received a pension from the Province: -
A Petition of Noah Johnson of Suncook or Lovewell's Town, praying that a further Pension of fifteen Pounds may be made him on Account of the Wounds he received in a Fight against the Indian Enemy at Pigwacket, to be accounted from the time of the Expiration of the last Pension. Read, and in answer to this Pe- tition, Ordered, That a Pension of fifteen Pounds per Annum be & hereby is granted & allowed to be paid out of the publick Treasury to the Petitioner in Consideration of the Wounds he received in the late Fight against the Indian Enemy at Pigwacket, the Stipend to commence from and after the Expiration of the last Pension, which was on the first Day of June Instant, and from thence to be in force for the space of three Years.
Sent up for Concurrence.
The township of Suncook or Lovewell's Town, now known as Pembroke, New Hampshire, was granted in May, 1727, by the General Court of Massachusetts to Captain John Love- well and his brave men in consideration of their services
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BENJAMIN STONE,
against the Indians. When the new Provincial line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was established by a decree of the King, on March 4, 1739-40, this territory fell within the limits of New Hampshire, so that Johnson's pen- sion was never renewed after the expiration of its term of three years.
BENJAMIN STONE.
THE subscriber to the following notice was probably the person, married at Groton, on October 12, 1762, to Prudence, second daughter of Ezra and Abigail (Pierce) Farnsworth, who was born on July 18, 1740. Perhaps he was a son of Benjamin Stone, who died on September 23, 1758, but of whose family nothing is found in the town-records ; or possi- bly a son of Deacon Simon Stone, born on August 12, 1706.
GROTON, April 25. 1769.
R AN-away from Benja. Stone, of Groton, in the Province of Massachusets-Bay, on the 23d Instant, in the Evening, a young Fellow of 17 Years of Age, named THOMAS SAMSON, dark Complexion, of a full middling Stature for one of his Age ; a likely, sprightly active Fellow, black long Hair : He carried away with him, two mixt all-wool Coats, red and blue and white, and one Jacket of the same, one of the Coats lin'd with green Shalloon, trim'd with Brass Buttons, and one grey Coat and Jacket with Brass-Buttons, a pair of Sheep-skin Breeches, two pair mixt blue and white Stockings, one pair worsted the other yarn, another pair reddish, one strip'd woolen Shirt, one Cotton ditto, and one fine linen one, a pair of Calve-skin Pumps, and one pair thick Shoes, two silk Handkerchiefs, one black, the other reddish, and a felt Hat something wore. Whoever shall take up said Run-away, and return him to the Subscriber, shall have FORTY SHILLINGS Reward, and all necessary Charges paid. All Masters of Vessels and others are hereby cautioned against harbouring, concealing or carrying off said Run-away as they would answer it at their Peril .-
N. B. He stole about 20 1. Old Tenor in Cash.
BINJAMIN SIONE. -
" The Massachusetts Gazette" (Boston), May 11, 17(x)
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HIGHWAY FROM GROTON TO CONCORD.
HIGHWAY FROM GROTON TO CONCORD).
Ar a session of the Middlesex County Court, held at Cambridge and beginning on April 1, 1673, according to the records, the following commission was appointed : -
M' Jnº flint, Jn" Smedly, John fiske Jun! Abram Parker, James Knap & Robert Bloud, are nominated & impowred by this Court, to lay out & settle the high way between Grotton & Concord, & this worke to be attended the 21. day of May next, at 9: of the clocke in the morning, to meet & begin at the westerly end of Tadmock meadows (III. 58, 59).
The members of the foregoing committee lived, respectively, as follows : Flint and Smedly at Concord ; Fiske and Par- ker at Chelmsford; and Knap and Blood at Groton. The Tadmock meadows lie now within the limits of Westford, though Tadmuck is the usual way of writing the word at the present time.
At a session of the same Court, held at Cambridge and beginning on April 4, 1682, the following action was taken : -
In answ' to a motion made by the select men of Grotton the Comittee foruily chosen out of Grotton Concord & Chelmsford are appoynted to perfect y" Highway from Grotton to Concord, & to settle ye same thorow Robert Blouds farme where it may be most convenient (IV. 32).
Robert Blood, whose farm is mentioned above, was of Concord, where he was a large land-owner, and one of the petitioners for the plantation of Groton, as also were two of his brothers, Richard and John. Richard, however, was the only one of the three who settled in Groton ; and after his death, which took place on December 7, 1683, administration on his estate was granted to the widow Isabel, and her three sons, James, Joseph, and Nathaniel, whose names are given, presumably, in the order of their ages.
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