USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Historical address, bi-centennial and centennial, delivered at Groton, Massachusetts, July 4, 1876, by request of the citizens > Part 5
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This petition is Granted 17 August 1676 :
per Consilin E R S.
[Massachusetts Archives, I.XIX. 4S. ]
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5. - PAGE 24.
The following account of the burning of the town is by the Reverend William Hubbard, and is found in his " Narra- tive," printed in 1677. It is the fullest contemporaneous account printed.
March 2. They assaulted Groton: the next day over night Major Willard with seventy Horse came into the Town ; forty Foot also came up to their relief from Watertoren, but the Indians were all fled, having first burned all the Houses in the Town, save four that were Garisoned, the Meeting-house being the second house they fired, Soon after Capt. Sill was sent with a small Party of Dragoons of S Files to fetch off the Inhabitants of Groton, and what was left from the spoyle of the enemy, having under his conduct about sixty Carts, being in depth from front to reer above two mile : when a party of Indians lying in ambush, at a place of eminent advantage, fired upon the front and mortally wounded two . of the vaunt Carriers, who dyed both the next night, and might (had God permitted) have done eminent damage to the whole Body, it being a full hour before the whole Body could be drawne up, which was done with care and Courage : but the Indians after a few more shot made. without doing harm, retired, and made no further assault upon them, being the same Party of Indians which the day before had burned some part of Chelmsford. Soon after . this Village was deserted and destroyed by the enemy : yet was it a special providence, that though the Carts were guarded with so slender a Convoy, yet there was not any considerable loss sus- tained.
The Surprizall of Groton was after this manner.
On March, 2. The Indians came in the night and rifled eight or nine houses and carried away some cattle, and alarmed the Town. On March, 9. About ten in the morning a parcel of Indians (having two dayes lurked in the town, and taken possession of three out-houses and feasted themselves with corn, divers swine and poultry which they there seized) laid an ambush for two Carts, which went from their garison to fetch in some hay, attended with four men, two of which espying the enemy, made a difficult escape, the other two were set upon, and one of them slain, stript naked, his body mangled, and dragged into the high-way, and laid on his back in a most shamefull manner : the other taken Captive ; and after sentenced to death, but the enemy not concuring in the man-
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ner of it, execution was deferred, and he by the providence of God escaped by a bold attempt the night before he was designed to slaughter, and fled to the Garison at Lancaster, the cattle in both towns wounded, and five of them slain outright.
March, 13. Was the day when the enemy came in a full body, by there own account 400. and thought by the Inhabitants to be not many fewer. The town was at this time (having been put into a fright by the sad Catastrophe of Lancaster the next border- ing town) gathered into five Garisons, four of which were so near together, as to be able to command from one to the other, between which were the cattle belonging to those Families driven into pas- tures, which afterward proved their preservation ; the other was near a mile distant from the rest.
This morning the Indians (having in the night placed them- selves in several parts of the town) made their Onset ; which began near the four Garisons; for a body of them having placed themselves in Ambuscado, behind a hill, near one of the Garisons, . two of them made discovery of themselves, as if they had stood upon discovery. At this time divers of the people, nothing sus- pecting any such matter, (for the day before, many had been upon discovery many miles, and found no signs of an Enemy being so near) were attending their occasions, some foddering their cattle, some milking their Cows, of whom the Enemy might easily have made a seizure, but God prevented ; they having another design in hand, as soon after appeared : These two Indians were at length espyed, and the Alarm given ; whereupon the most of the men in the next Garison, and some also of the second (which was about eight or nine pole distant) drew out and went to surprize these two Indians, who kept their station till our men reached the brow of . the hill, then arose the ambush and discharged a volley upon them, which caused a disorderly retreat, or rather a rout, in which one was slain, and three others wounded : mean while another ambush had risen, and come upon the back side of the Garison so deserted of men, and pulled down the Palizadoes : The Souldiery in this rout, retreated not to their own, but passed by to the next Garison, the women and children mean while exposed to hazard, but by the goodness of God made a safe escape to the other fortified house without any harm, leaving their substance to the enemy, who made a prey of it, and spent the residue of the day in removing the corn and houshold-stuff (in which loss five Familyes were impover- ished) and firing upon the other Garison : here also they took some Cattle. No sooner was the signal given by the first volley of shot,
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but immediately in several parts of the town at once, did the smoakes arise, they firing the houses.
In the afternoon they used a stratagem not unlike the other, to have surprised the single Garison, but God prevented. An old Indian if an Indian passed along the street with a black sheep on his back, with a slow pace, as one decrepit : They made several shot at him, but missed him, at which several issued out to have taken him alive, but the Watchman seasonably espying an ambush behind the house, gave the signal, whereby they were prevented.
The night following the enemy lodged in the town, some of them in the Garison they had surprized, but the Body of them in an adjacent valley, where they made themselves merry after their savage manner. The next morning they gave two or three Vol- leyes at Capt. Parkers Garison, & so marched off, fearing as was thought that supply might be nigh at hand. This assault of theirs was managed with their wonted subtlety, and barberous cruelty : for they stript the body of him whom they had slain in the first . onset, and then cutting off his head, fixed it upon a pole looking towards his own land. The corpse of the man slain the week before, they dug up out of his grave, they cut off his head and one leg, and set them upon poles, and stript off his winding sheet. A Infant which they found dead in the house first surprised, they cut in pieces, which afterward they cast to the swine. There were about forty dwelling houses burnt at that time, besides other build- ings. This desolation was followed with the breaking up of the town, and scattering of the Inhabitants, and removal of the Can- dlestick, after it had been there seated about twelve years.
Concerning the surprizing of Groton, March 13. There was not any thing much more material, then what is already men- tioned, save only the insolvency of John Monaco or one eyed John, the chief Captain of the Indians in that design : who having by a sudden surprizal early in the morning seized upon a Garison house in one end of the Town, continued in it, plundering what was there ready at hand, all that day ; and at night did very familiarly in appearance, call out to Capt. Parker that was lodged in another Garisou house, and entertained a great deal of Discourse with him, whom he called his old Neighbour : dilating upon the cause of the War, and putting an end to it by a friendly peace : yet oft mixing bitter Sarcasmes, with several blasphemous scoffs and taunts at their praying and worshipping God in the meeting house, which he deridingly said he had burned. Among other things which he boastingly uttered that night : he said he burnt Medfield (though it be not known whither he was there personally present or no)
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Lancaster, and that now he would burn that Town of Groton, and the next time he would burn Chelmsford, Concord, Water- town, Cambridge, Chartstown, Roxbury, Boston, adding at last in their Dialect, What Me will, Me do: not much unlike the proud Assyrian (if his power had been equal to his pride) some- time threatned against Jerusalem, but was by the remarkable providence of God, so connfounded within a few months after, that he was bereft of his four hundred and fourscore (of which he now boasted) and only with a few more Bragadozio's like himself, Sagamore Sam, old Jethro, and the Sagamore of Quobang were taken by the English, and was seen (not long before the writing of this) marching towards the Gallows (through Boston Streets, which he threatened to burn at his pleasure) with an Halter about his neck, with which he was hanged at the Towns end, Septem- ber 26. in this present year 1676. So let thine Enemies perish O Lord, and such contempt be poured on all them that open their mouthes to blaspheme thy holy Name.
Things looked with a pritty sad face about those parts at this time; yet though the Righteous fall seven times, let not their Enemies rejoyce, for the Righteous shall rise again, but their wicked Enemies shall fall into mischief, and rise no more. It was ebbing water with Newe- England at this time, and a while after ; but God shall turn the stream before it be long, and bring down their Enemies to lick the dust before them.
After this April 17. Captain Sill, being appointed to keep Gari- son at Groton, some Indians coming to hunt for Swine, three Indians drew near the Garison house, supposing it to have been deserted, were two of them slain by one single shot made by the . Captains own hands, and the third by another shot made from the Garison. [Pages 72-76.]
6. - PAGE 26.
The humble petition and request of the greatest number of the former inhabitants of y" Towne of Groton
Humbly sheweth to the Honored Generall Court setting in Bos- ton : as followeth viz :
We who have been great Sufferers, by yo hand of God, in the late wars by our heathenish enemyes, as is well knowne to all : &c by which we have bin enforced, to flye before enimyes; to our great & greivous losse, & trouble. By yo good hand of God to us, have had so much repreave, & respitt, as we have many of us, had yo liberty & oppertunity, to returne to the places, though not y."
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houses of our former abode. And now being under & exercised with many and great difficultyes ; Apprehending it our duty, to addresse ourselves ; not onely to our heavenly father ; but earthly fathers also, in this time of need : do humbly begg our case may be seriously considered, & weighed, & that some direction, and releife may be affoarded unto us.
Some of us ye Inhabitants have ventured : our lives some while since to returne againe, and many others have followed us, whose welcome company is rejoyeing unto us. Yett our poverty, & the nonresidence of others, doth occation us great & unavoidable trouble. We have (through Gods goodnesse, & blessing our eu- deavours, & attempts) procured & obteined the ministry of yo word amoung us ; & have bin at some considerable charge about it. And are willing (if God please) to keep, & maintaine, it amongst us. Butt there is some discouragements, upon sundrey accounts. We have had severall towne meetings to consult the good, & wel- fare of the towne & place & how things may be caried on, as to defraing publiq charges, And it hath bin, voated in our meetings (our visible estate being small) to lay it on ye lands, yt so an equal- ity in some respect might be reached unto. This is by ye most judged to be the present best yea ye onely present possible way for us to proceed in. which we desire your honoured selves to putt y" countenance of authority upon. As also That our late dredfull suffering ruines, and impoverishments may by your honoured selves be so fare minded & considered, that we may for the present (till we a little recover ourselves) be releised from Countrey charges. We would be rightly understood, as to our first request That the way by lands accomodations for the levying towne charges may be stated butt for y" present few years, till God by his provi- dence may alter our capacity & condition : Thus craving pdone for this our boldnesse That successe & a blessing may Attend you in all your affaires ; That God will accomplish his promises & built y" wast places, sett up his house & ordinances whence they have been removed delight to build, & plant us againe & not to pull us downe & pluck us up That we may yett see This our Jerusalem a quiett habitation Thus prayeth your humble & unworthy petition- er's :
Att A towne meeting at Groton May 20"! 1679 Ther red & voated by the inhabitants :
JAMES PARKER Select man And clarke in y" name of ye rest.
|Massachusetts Archives, 1.XIX. 224. ]
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In answ' to this Pet" It is. ordered by this Court y' for 3 : yeares next comeing in all levyes made for ye benefit of y" s" place & yo maintenance of Gods ordinances there, those yt have lands there & are not ressid' upon y" place shall pay rates for y' Lands ther as those do y' are ressid' and y' the Inhabitants there ressid' be abated one single rate pf ann. to y" country for ye like times The mag- is' have past this their brethren the deputyes hereto consenting EDWP RAWSON Secret 29th May 1679.
The deputs Consent hereto provided that the cattle upon the place be lyable to pay rates also wth reffer'ence to the consent of o' Hon'd magistrs hereto
WILLIAM TORREY Cleric. 30th May 1679 Consented to by the magis"
EDWP RAWSON Secret. [Massachusetts Archives, LXIX. 229.]
7. - PAGE 28.
Josiah Parker of Groton testifyes that he is very well acquainted wth y" Indian now in prison named Jacob Nonantinooch & that he Can say of his certain knowledge y' he hath seen him every month since ye last Indian warr began, except it was when he ye said Jacob was in ye Countrey service under y" Comand of Capt" Noah Wiswall in y" years Eighty nine & Ninety : allso if he be required he Can produce severall y' Can testify ye same Hee further saith that as far as it is possible to know an Indian he is a friend to the English & hath manifested the same both in word an Action & whereas severall of yo Inhabitants of Groton have been out in y.º woods on hunting they have taken this said Jacob w" them who in ye night hath showne his Care more than any of them in his watch- fullness ; expressing himselfe to them that it did Concerne him so to do, for if they were Surprised by yo enemy Indians he should be worse dealt w" then the English ; also many other Instances might be mentioned.
JOSIAH PARKER
GROTON Decmbr. Sth. 1691
The testimoneys of Josiah Parker aged. 36: years: and of Joseph Parker aged 40 years : Thomas Tarball aged. 25 : years or thereabouts ; testify conearning Jacob Indein now in prison ; that
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the two winters last past yo sd Jacob has bin gineraly in our towne with his famely Except when he was out a hunting and then the s" Joseph Parker or s" Tarball were out with him or som other Inglesh men who have geeven sd Jacob a good coment as to his care and wachfulnes as to ye enemy boath by night and day and by the best inquiery that we can make sd Jacob has never bin out a hunting above once without som English . Companey with him & then he was not gon above a fortnight and that was about two years sence ; the which if caled too am redy too testify upon oath pr me
JOSIAH PARKER
GROTON Decmbr. Sth. 1691
Concarning the man that has accused the Indeins in prison he is a man litell to be credeted for on the : 2" day of this Instent at Evening : Left Boweres and : I, at Mr. Sumers'is at charlestowne discorsing him namly Abraham Miller about ye s' Indeans: and, teling him that he was mistaken for thes Indeaus ware not at Can- ' edy at that time when he charged them ; s" Miller sd Zoundes that if ever he saw them Indens again out of prison he would kill them : and being a litell cautioned to be sober minded he broke out with an oath that if he ware but out of ye countrey himselfe ; he wished the Indeans would knock out ye braines of every porson in Newe England. This was spock before Mr. Sumers & his wife and sev- erall outhers ; ye s" porson being asked whether he was not in a passion some time after he Replyed no he ware of yo same mind still that if he was out of ye countrey he did not care if all the Rest ware knocked their braines out - to which if caled to am redy too testify upon oath. Pr me
[ Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 323.]
JOSIAH PARKER
8. - PAGE 29.
Jer. Sweyne writes from " Berwick att Salmon Falls Octobr 15. So "
that " it is supposed y' small party of Indians may be in yo ches- nut cuntry beyond Groaton."
Upon information there is but little work for a Commissary at Groton the Representatives do agree & order that the Commissary there ; be discharged from said Imploym':
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Ordered by the Representatives That Capt"" Jaccob Moore wth his Company at Groton be forth whh drawne off and discharged de- sireing the HIoned the Gov' & Councill Consent
Novemb' ; 6: 1689: Consent! to by the Gov. & Councill
EBENEZER PROUT Clerk
IS: ADDINGTON Sec'? [Massachusetts Archives, XXXV. 56, 71, 73.]
Six soldiers were posted in this town, under Thomas Hinchman, Nov. 17, 1692. Two additional men were allowed, August, 1695, when there were ten soldiers in town, and four troopers to scout. There were eight men posted here for " y" Deffence of ye Fron- tiers," June 10, 1698.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 184, 261, 3So.]
9. - PAGE 29.
The following reference to the assault on the town in 1694 is found in the report, made October 26, by M. Champigny to the Minister Pontchartrain. The original document is in the Archives of the Marine and Colonies at Paris ; and I am indebted to Mr. Francis Parkman, the distinguished his- torian, for the copy of it.
These Indians did not stop there; four parties of them have since been detached, who have been within half a day's journey of Boston [i.e., at Groton], where they have killed or captured more than sixty persons, ravaged and pillaged every thing they found, which has thrown all the people into such consternation that they are leaving the open country to seek refuge in the towns.
A "Relation" of an expedition by Villieu also mentions the assault. A copy of the paper is found in the State Ar- chives, in the volume marked, "Documents collected in France," IV. 251. The writer gives the date of the attack as July 30, which is three days later than is usually assigned. He says : -
On the 30, the Indians of the Penobscot, not having taken as many prisoners and as much booty as those of the Kennebec, because they had not found enough to employ themselves ; at the
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solicitation of Villieu and Taxous, their chief, some fifty of them detached themselves to follow this last person, who was piqued at the little that had been done. They were joined by some of the bravest warriors of the Kennebec, to go on a war party above Boston to break heads by surprise (casser des têtes a la surprise), after dividing themselves into several squads of four or five each, which cannot fail of producing a good effect.
Having crossed Merrimack, on the 27th of July [1694] they fell upon Groton, about 40 miles from Boston. They were repulsed at Lakin's garrison house, but fell upon other houses, where the peo- ple were off their guard, and killed and carried away from the vicinity about forty persons. Toxus's two nephews were killed by his side, and he had a dozen bullets through his blanket. according to Charlevoix, who adds, that he carried the fort or garrison and then went to make spoil at the gates of Boston; in both which facts the French account is erroneous.
[Hutchinson's " History of Massachusetts," 11. 82. ]
IO. - PAGE 3I.
The DEPOSITION of JOHN LONGLEY, Yeoman. [No 4]
John Longley, of Groton, of about fifty-four Years of Age, testifies and saith, That he was taken Captive by the Indians at Groton, in July 1694, and lived in Captivity with them more than four Years; and the two last Years and an half at Penob- scott, as Servant to Madokawando of said Penobscott ; and he was always accounted as Chief, or one of the chief Sachems or Captains among the Indians there : And I have often scen the Indians sitting in Council, where he always sat as Chief; and once in particular I observed a Present was made him of a con- siderable Number of Skins of considerable Value, as an Ac- knowledgment of his Superiority.
JOHN LONGLEY.
Middlesex ss. Groton, July 24th, 1736.
DEACON John Longley above named personally appearing made, Oath to the Truth of the above written Testimony.
Before me BENJAMIN PRESCOT, Justice of Peace.
[A Defence of the Title of the late John Leverett, Esq., &c., by Samuel Waldo, of Boston, 1736, page 27.]
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II. - PAGE 33.
The Petition of Josiah Parker of Cambridge humbly sheweth
That whereas in the year 1693 [16944 ?] the Indian enemy made an assault upon the Town of Groton in which among others James Parker Jun' Brother to you humble Pet" was killed with his Wife, several of his Children also were then carryed away Captive, one of which named Phinchas Parker something less then a year ago was (by a Master of a Vessell belonging to Ipswich) redeemed from the Indians at ye Eastward ; which said Master has been re- imbursed by yo! Petr with is to the Value of about six pounds in Money.
The earnest request of yo; humble Petr to yo! Excellency & to this Ilonbe Court is that you would please to consider him & that allowance may be made him out of the publick Treasury for what he has disburst. Also he desires humbly that you would please something to consider the said Phinchas who is a poor Orphan now about twelve years old and is likewise lame of one of his Leggs occasioned by ye cruelty of ye Salvages and it is very ques- tionable whether ever he will be cured, & has little or nothing left him of his Fathers estate for his support If therefore what has here been suggested by yo' humble Pett may be accordingly con- sidered & granted, it will greatly oblige him, as in duty Bound,
Ever to Pray &c JOSIAH PARKER [ Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 401. ]
In answer to this petition, dated May 31, 1699, it was voted, three days afterward, that six pounds of money be allowed out of the public treasury.
12. - PAGE 34.
To The Honored & great Assembly now setting in Boston The humble petition and Request of Stephen Holden of Groton
Honored S". It having pleased the Almighty God to order it that myselfe & my two biggest sons tho small were taken captives by the Indian enemyes from our towne of Groton and being with the Esterne enemy & my 2 sons about one year & ten moneth when thô it was my portion to escape with my life thro Gods mercy be- yound what I did expect or look for & I think fared better than some other English yett great hardship and difficultyes I under-
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went. but being very desirous with one of my sons that was there to gitt home If it might be fore the English vessells came I was necessitated to give my promise to my Indian Pilates whom I sat- isfred att Richmans Island by English that I borrowed of there thre pound & twelve shillings If I might have y' boldnesse I would humbly crave That It might be payd out of Publiq stock I should take it thankfully att your hands Thus with my thank- fullnesse to God that both myselfe & both my children he hath graciously returned to our home againe commend your honours and concerments into ye hands & wishing ye Presence & benidie- tion of ye soveraine God I take Leave & subscribe myselfe your humble servant & suppliant
GROTON May 27th 1699 STEPHEN HOLDEN
It was voted, June 6, 1699, by the General Court, that the petitioner be allowed the sum he asked for.
Among the names of the captives received on board the "Province Gally," Jan. 17, 1698-9, at Casco Bay, were "John Houlding of Grotten " and "Tamasin Rouce of Grot- ten." It is recorded, a week later, that "Steven Houlding of Grotten " and " Steven Houlding Junr of ditto" are "yet in the Indian hands."
[Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 39S, 399, 400.]
13. - PAGE 35.
On Wednesday night [October 25] an English man was kill'd in the Woods at Groton by the Indians which were afterwards deserved in the night by the Light of their Fires, by a Person Travailing from Groton to Lancaster, and judged they might be about Thirty in number ; pursuit was made after them, but none could be found.
[" The Boston News-Letter," October 30, 1704, No. 28.]
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14. - PAGE 35.
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq Cap! General and Govern' in Cheif in and over her Majestyes Province of the Massachusetts Bay &c. and to the Hobke the Council and Representatives of sa Province.
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Wee the inhabitants of the Towne of Groton cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge the great Care that his Exley and Gov- ermm! hath taken for our Preservation and defense in these times of danger. Notwithstanding all which, wee have bin by our Enemy extreamly impoverished not being capable of making those improvements which are necessary for our subsistance, but our Outlands upon which wee have a Considerable dependance lye neglected ; and many of us are reduced to the Last necessity ; Our Stocks are like to Suffer much in the Winter; and are in great fears that wee have mett wth Considerable losses in them already from the Enemy and wee are now at Extream Charge in the Set- tling of our Minister ; So that wee are greatly reduced and impov- erished ;
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