USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume I > Part 2
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Dreadful Carnage.
" There had been dreadful carnage in proportion to the num- bers engaged. It is not certain at just what point the Plymouth
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NATHANIEL WOOD
forces were pushed forward, but most likely after the works were carried, and the foremost, exhausted, retired for a time bearing their dead and wounded to the rear; but we are assured that all took part in the engagement, coming on in turn as needed. It is doubtful if the cavalry crossed the swamp, but were held in reserve and as scouts to cover the rear and prevent surprise from any out- side parties.
" When now the fortress was burning and destruction assured our soldiers hastily gathered their wounded and as many as possi- ble of their dead, and formed their shattered column for the long and weary march back to Wickford.
" I wish here to record my protest against the unjust, often weak, and always inconsiderate, criticism bestowed upon our lead- ers in this campaign, and especially in this battle, for their lack of foresight in abandoning the shelter and provisions of the fort, the security of the lives of our wounded men through removal, and the dangers and fatigue of a long march, and their inhumanity in burning the helpless in their huts and wigwams.
Some of our Best Men in the Fight.
"It is well to remember at the start that many of the wisest, ablest, best and bravest men of the three colonies were the leaders in this affair.
"A noble commander, wise and brave, reverend ministers, by no means backward in their opinions; the most prominent and skilful surgeons the country afforded; veteran majors and captains of Massachusetts and Connecticut, with their soldiers fresh from the severe experiences in the western campaign, inured to danger and experienced in Indian wiles and deceits.
"They were some sixteen miles from their base of supplies at Wickford (it is doubtless if they had noticed the Indian supplies until the burning began). There was no way of reaching their supplies of provisions and ammunition at Wickford except by detaching a portion of their force now greatly reduced by death, wounds and exposure. The number of Indians that had escaped and were still in the woods close at hand, were unknown, but sup- posed to be several thousand with the report of a thousand in reserve about a mile distant.
Indians Might Rally.
"These were scattered and demoralized, but in a few hours might rally and fall upon the fort, put our troops in a weakened condition upon the defensive, and make their retreat from the swamp extremely difficult if not utterly impossible, encumbered as they would be by the wounded, whose swollen and stiffened wounds in a few hours would render removal doubly painful and
2
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
dangerous. Added to this was the chance of an attack upon the garrison at Wickford, and dread of the midnight ambuscade, which every hour's delay made more likely and would render more dan- gerous. Thus it seems to me that from the standpoint of military strategy, the immediate retreat to Wickford was best. As to hu- manity, we must remember the harsh times in which they were living, the contempt in which the Indians were held-first, as heathen, against whom war was righteous; second, as idle and treacherous vagabonds, with no rights which honest industry was bound to respect; third, as enemies, lying in wait to plunder, burn and destroy.
Carrying Wounded in a Blinding Snowstorm.
"Of the march back to Wickford very little is known; though a bitter cold winter's night, in a blinding snow storm, carrying. 210 of their wounded and dead, these soldiers who had marched from dawn till noon, had engaged in a desperate life-and-death struggle from noon to sunset, now plodded sturdily back to their quarters of the day before, through deepening snows and over unbroken roads."
While it is to be regretted that from Nathaniel Wood an account of his part in that famous battle cannot be obtained, the. fact that he was there and did his full duty, adds to our interest in the man, and to the esteem in which he is held as the first settler in Spencer.
Nathaniel Wood Jr. Sells Brookfield Land.
On Feb. 15, 1726, Nathaniel Wood Jr., of Brookfield, Hus- bandman, sold to Benjamin Brooks Jr., of Springfield, for
Fourty pounds, one tract of upland situate in Brookfield in ye county of Hampshire or in the town of Leicester in ye county of Middlesex, containing by estimation Fourty acres, bounded as followeth, lying north of Seven Mile river, running from said river northerly 165 rods to a walnut tree marked T, then westwardly 40 rods to a black oak tree marked T, being 32 rods wide at the south end, bounded westwardly on Phineas Walker's land and partly on John Hamilton, Jr. land southerly on the river, easterly on the town line, north on common land.
We learn from the will of Nathaniel Wood executed in 1732 that he had previously given to his children "my land which I had at Brookfield " and although no record has been found certify- ing to this statement, this partly accounts for the possession of the land by Nathaniel Wood, Jr.
According to records which follow, the Wood family again re- moved to Leicester but it seems probable that they returned to Ipswich in the spring of 1729 or earlier, as the Brookfield real es- tate had been sold in 1726, and now the Leicester land is prac- tically disposed of to John Wood (not a relative) as follows:
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NATHANIEL WOOD.
Nathaniel Wood, Jr., Sells Leicester Land.
"Nathaniel Wood Jr. of Leicester for 32 pounds paid by John Wood of Ipswich sells March 28, 1729, a full half part of a fifty acre lot that he bought of Col. Wm. Dudley of Roxbury, bounded southerly by Seven Mile river, westerly by Brookfield town line, northerly by land in Common belonging to Leicester proprietors, easterly by land of Samuel Bemis." On the same. date Nathaniel Wood Jr. disposes of his real estate in Ipswich that he inherited from his grandfather, Obadiah.
Deed of Nathaniel Wood, Jr. to John Wood, March 28, 1729.
I, Nathaniel Wood, Jr., of Leicester, son of Nathaniel Wood of Leicester; that is to say, eldest son of ye said Nathaniel Wood and grandson of Obadiah Wood, late of Ipswich in the County of Essex-Baker-for the full sum of 32 pounds in bills of credit to me in hand paid by John Wood of Ipswich - Shoreman - do sell to him my land in Ipswich which I inherited from my grandfather, Obadiah Wood, of Ipswich, by his will dated Oct. 26, 1694.
The full text of the will of Obadiah Wood is as follows:
In ye Name of God Amen. I Obadiah Wood of Ipswich in ye County of Essex, Baker. this 26th of October in ye year of our Lord God One Thousand Six hundred and ninety-four beeing sicke in body but of good and perfect Memory Thanks bee to God doe make, constitute, ordain and declair this my last Will and Testa- ment in maner and forme following, revoking and anulling by these presents all other and former Wills and Testaments by mee made in worde or writing and this only to bee taken for my last Will and Testament and none other And first I give and comit my soule into ye hands of Allmighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom by ye meritt of Jesus Christ I Trust to bee saved and my body to ye Earth theare to be decently Interred at ye discretion of my Executors hearafter named and for my temporall Estat I will that all those debts and dutys that I owe in right and Concience to any maner of person Shall bee well and truly payd by my exe- cuters after my decease.
I give unto my deare and Loveing Wife ye one halfe of ye Income of my wholl Estate dureing her widdowhood and in Case She Hapen to Marye my will is that my Sonn James pay her Twenty pounds.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my Eldest Sonn Obadiah fifety Shillings to be payd in Twelve yeares after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Nathaniell Twenty Shillings to bee payd within ye Sd terme of years.
Item I give unto my Sonn Josiah Twenty Shillings to bee payd in ye Sd terme.
Item I give unto iny Sonn Samuell five Shillings to bee payd in ye Sd terme
Item I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth three pounds to bee payd in four yeares after my decease
Item I give unto my Daughter Mary Fourty Shillings in Twellve yeares and a Child's Mantle that was my former wife's Imediatly after my decease.
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Item I give unto ye Child of my daughter Ruth deceased Ten Shillings in Twelve yeares after my decease.
Item I give unto my Daughter Susanna Thirty Shillings in ye Terme of Twellve years.
Item I give unto my daughter Margaret Twenty Shillings in ye Terme of Twellve yeares.
Item I give unto my Sonn James and his Male heirs lawfully begotten of his body for Ever all ye rest of my Estat reall and personal of what nature or kind Soever and if it So hapen that hee dye without such Male heir then my will is that my house and land bee given unto ye Eldest Sonn of my Sonn Nathaniel and ye Male heirs of his body lawfully begotten for Ever and if it so.hapen that hee dye without such Issue then my will is that my Son Josiahs Eldest Son have my house and land and ye Male heirs of his body lawfully begotten for Ever and if hee happen to dye without such Issue my will is that it descend to ye Second Son of ye Sd Josiahs in like maner and in Case of faillure of such Issue to ye third and fourth Sonns and their issues for Ever and I doe appoint and constitute my well beloved wife and my son James Executors of this my last Will and Testament in wittness wheorof I have hear unto sett my hand and seale ye day and yeare Above written.
Signed, Sealed and declared in ye Presence
Jno Staniford,
Jacob ffoster,
John Sparke.
Jura by all three Dec. 3d, 1694.
Will proved Dec. 3d, 1694; Rec. Book Salem 303, Page 265.
The next document of interest is the will of Nathaniel Wood, executed at Topsfield, a town adjoining Ipswich, his birthplace.
Will of Nathaniel Wood, Senior.
I, Nathaniel Wood of Topsfield, in the County of Essex in New England, being at this present of perfect understanding and memory but weak of body and not knowing how soon it may please God to call me out of this world. I have made such disposal of my temporal estate which God in his grace has given me in this world as followeth, and in the first place commending my immortal soul to the hands of God who gave it me whensoever it shall please God to take me out of this world and my body to a decent Interment, my Will is then as followeth:
Item-as for my son Nathaniel. I have given him his portion allready by giving him a deed of Gift of half my land which I had at Brookfield.
Item-as for my daughter Mary, I have given her what I in- tended to in bringing up her child and in what I design to give him, which is hereafter mentioned.
Item-as for my other half of the land which I had at Brook- field I have given by a deed of gift to my daughters hereafter named Ruth, Abigail and Hepzibah, which is what I design they shall have for their portion.
Item-I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret the one half of that land which was granted to me by the General Court for serving his Majesty in the Narragansett War, and the other half to
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NATHANIEL WOOD.
be equally divided between my daughter Surviah and my grandson, Robert Down.
Item-My will is that my dear and well beloved wife, Lucy, shall have all my indoor movables during her life, and then my in- door movables to be equally divided amongst my daughters above named. Also I constitute and appoint my dear and well beloved wife Lucy, to be sole executor of this my last will and testament and in testimony of the truth of what is above written, I, the said Nathaniel Wood, have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of Jan'y.
Anno Domi 1732.
HIS NATHANIEL X WOOD. MARK
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
witnesses.
Daniel Clark, Nathaniel Capen,
Israel Clark.
ESSEX SS. IPSWICH, July 5, 1732.
Before the Hon. John Appleton, Esq , Judge of ye probate of Wills in said County of Essex, Daniel Clark, Nathaniel Capen and Israel Clark all personally appeared and made oath that they were present and saw Nathaniel Wood late of Topsfield, deceased, sign, seal and heard him publish and declare ye within instrument to be his last will and testiment and when he did he was of good under- standing and of a disposing mind to the best of their discerning and they at the same time set to their hands and seals in his presence as witnesses Sworn attest. DANIEL APPLETON, Register.
Upon which this will is proven, approved and allowed, it be- ing presented by ye Executor therein named.
Nathaniel Wood Dies.
As will be seen by the probating of the will, Nathaniel Wood was gathered to his fathers in the summer of 1732, and at this time his wife and most of his children appear to have been living either at Ipswich or Topsfield. His son, Nathaniel Jr. of Ipswich, and Mary Walcott of Salem were published Nov. 9, 1728. Presuma- bly they were married and his wife deceased without issue. Again Nathaniel Wood Jr. of Ipswich and the " Widdo Elizabeth Good- hue of Chester in New Hampshire" were published Nov. 27, 1731 and later were married. At the Topsfield church Sept. 7, 1735, Nathaniel Wood Jr. " owned ye covenant" and on the same date his daughter Lucy was baptized. A son, Obadiah, was born Jan. 2, 1735, and these are all the children of Nathaniel Jr. whose names have been found recorded.
Jonas Bemis Probably did not Marry a Daughter of Nathaniel Wood.
It therefore seems extremely improbable that Jonas Bemis, whom Draper's History says "married Dolly, daughter of Nathan- iel Wood," could have found his wife in either of these families. The marriage record states that "Jonas Bemis of Spencer and
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Dorothy Wood of Brookfield were married at Leicester Jan. 5, 1758." He was then twenty years of age and there was but one Dorothy Wood known to the Brookfield records of that time and she was the daughter of Josiah and Dorothy Wood, and was born in Brookfield, Feb. 9, 1733. She was thus four years the senior of Jonas Bemis, but in view of all the facts ap- pears to have been the person whom he married. Objection might be made that she was called Dolly in the later years of her life. But Dolly is only a modification or substitute for Dorothy and there are numerous instances in the records of those times which show that such substitutions were not uncommon.
The last conveyance we have of Nathaniel Wood Jr. is dated in 1734 and disposes of his entire interest in the Leicester pro- perty, as follows :
Part copy of a Deed from Nathaniel Wood, Jr. of Epswich, county of Essex, to Robert Emmons of Brookfield, in ye county of Worcester, dated Apr 8, 1734. For 40lbs good and lawful money 25 acres of land in the township of Leicester, viz: all my right of one hundred acres which lot of land was formerly laid out to Nathaniel Wood, Sr., the whole being bounded westerly upon the town line parting between Brookfield and Leicester and southerly upon seven mile river and easterly upon Samuel Beniis land and northerly bounded formerly on Corion land.
The reference to a deed establishing the fact that Nathaniel Wood served in the Narragansett war is found as follows in a con- veyance from
Zerviah Wood to Margret Wood
Know all men by these presents, that I, Zerviah Wood, Spin- ster, of Ipswich, in ye County of Essex, in his Majesties Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, do for and in Consideration of three pounds ten shillings to me in hand paid by my sister, Mar- gret Wood, Spinster, of Topsfield, in the County and Province afore- said, I have bargained and sold and do by these presents bargain, sell, inake over, ratify and confirm to her my sister, her heirs, exec- utors, administrators and assigns, a certain parcel of land being one quarter part of a share of lands which my father, Nathaniel Wood, late of Topsfield, deceased, had or was to have had for his service done at ye Narragansett fort fight in the former Indian War, called Phillip's War, which land or lands I acquitted my claim thereto to my said sister, her heirs, etc. Mch. 17, 1734.
HER ZERVIAH X WOOD. MARK
Josiah Wood, mentioned above, was granted 165 acres of land by the town of Brookfield. His children of record are as follows:
Obadiah, born April 22, 1726,
Anna, born April 5, 1729,
Dorothy, born February 9, 1733,
Thomas, born March 2, 1736.
It appears probable that Thomas Wood, brother of Dorothy, was the one who served in the French war in the same company with Jonas Bemis.
WOOD AND BEMIS MAP.
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35
19
ADO
THOS!
BENJ . TUCKER
REAT
-.
RIVER
HUTCHINSON
HRS.
Q-5
NATHL . WOOD
WOODS
36
HILL
SEVEN
M
CEM
CATH.
CEM
19
20
4
36
P
SEVEN MILE RIVER
LOGEON
714
1719
29
BEN.
DRE
5 TUCKERS
HEARS
PAUL DUDLEY
47
17
13
7 18
00
49
BEMIS
8
SPENCER
BRANCH
12
WM. DUDLEY
BROOK
MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF LOTS 29 AND 36,
Drawn by Paul Dudley, Esq., at the Proprietors' meeting in Boston, June 6, 1717.
Explanation of Map.
Tract marked 36 with the Seven Mile river as the southern boundary and double lines on the three other sides, represents the 100 acres which Paul Dudley, Esq. probably sold to Nathaniel
Brookfield Line
5
19
WATSON BROOK
14
56
ROOK
57
B&A.RR
New Line
55
BROOKE
3500W POND P
LE
F
REMIS)
PAUL DUDER
3
10
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Wood soon after the proprietors' meeting in Boston, June 6, 1717.
Tract marked Nathaniel Wood represents his Brookfield grant of forty acres in 1714, and which he selected adjoining the Leices- ter line with the Seven Mile river as its southern boundary.
I. It was here that Nathaniel Wood in 1717 built his cabin, which according to the late Abner Howland, for a long time owner of the farm, stood about eight rods north of the present residence of Cyril Coron. He was the first settler in the western half of the township of Leicester which is now called Spencer.
2. Nathaniel Wood in Brookfield. By the terms of his grant, confirmed to him December 1, 1720 for the second time, he must settle on the land within one year, and live on it three years
5-HOUSE PROBABLY BUILT BY NATHAN BEMIS, SR.
in order to get a clear title. It seems probable that he located his dwelling but a short distance west of the house now owned by Lewis D. Howland, and which stands on the original Wood tract. This house was erected in 1810 and at that time an old house stood not more than a rod distant from it to the west. It seems probable that this house may have been one that superseded the Wood cabin.
3. This is where Samuel Bemis, the second settler and founder of Spencer, settled in 1721, and within the boundary lines of lots 29 and 36 the location is shown of his 400 acres of land.
4. Lieut. Edmond Bemis, son of Samuel, settled here in 1749. Between 3 and 4, house 9 formerly stood, ten rods west of the Samuel Bemis house. This house was built by Amasa Bemis
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WOOD AND BEMIS MAP.
for his son, Benjamin, but was moved to its present location in 1841, another story added, and then occupied by Danforth Bemis, son of Amasa, until his death, December 1, 1852.
5. This is the site of the original house built by Nathaniel Bemis on the 100 acres purchased of his father, Samuel, in 1753. Nathan Bemis, his son, inherited the homestead and after him his son, John Bemis 2d, who was the first inventor of rotary peg cut- ting machinery.
6. The Nathan Bemis Jr. place, now owned by Thomas Semino. Mr. Bemis owned and operated the saw mill west of his
6-NATHAN BEMIS, JR., HOUSE.
house. He and his wife Lucy died here from typhoid fever in the fall of 1856.
The Richard Beers house, built about 1761. The farm 7. was afterwards owned by Nathaniel Bemis, Jr., and the house torn down about 1852.
8. George Bemis house, built 1852. The timber for this dwelling was sawed at the Nathan Bemis, Jr. mill.
9. Danforth Bemis house.
IO. House owned by the Town of Spencer and occupied by the manager of the filter beds. This was formerly a school house in the South Spencer district.
II. This house was formerly an ell running north from the large tavern house built by Amasa Bemis in 1807, and connecting
26
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
with the first framed house of Samuel Bemis. It was used largely for wood and general storage purposes. It was said by the late Lorenzo Bemis, that formerly in the first story there were two doors opposite each other, one on either side of the house, and when a large log was needed for the fire place, a horse was hitched to one of the right dimensions and it was then drawn into this ell, the horse passing through, and the log, left inside where wanted. This house was moved to its present location about 1841, and was sold to Hannah Green, a daughter of Jonas Bemis, Sr.
12. Residence of Cheney Bemis, Sr., a son of Nathaniel Bemis Sr.
II-FIRST HOUSE EAST OF SEVEN MILE RIVER BRIDGE And first occupied in its present Location by Hannah Green, Grand-daughter of Samuel Bemis, St.
I3. The John Ormes place, settled in 1732 and house now destroyed. This is where Elizabeth Ormes, wife of John, died May 19, 1785, aged 100 years, 5 months and 9 days.
14. Nathan Bemis, Jr., saw mill, and John Bemis 2d, peg factory.
This mill was one of the old style with an up and down saw, and was on so small a stream that the heavier work of the year had to be done in the spring, at which time about sixty dollars for saw- ing was annually received. There were two reservoirs made further up the stream to hold water in reserve, and let down as needed.
15. "Pine Island," thus described in a deed from Samuel Bemis to Samuel Flagg in 1762, conveying 100 acres off
27
WOOD AND BEMIS MAP.
from the east end of his farm, but reserving this lot and a right of way to it through "gates and bars." It is not really an island, but is a tract of about eleven acres of upland sur- rounded largely by a meadow and with brooks flowing on all sides. It gained considerable notoriety. some fifty years or less ago, as the residence of one William Humphrey, a colored man, who with his family occupied a cabin here and made baskets, which he sold from house to house.
16. The original location of the house where Elijah Howe, Sr., settled about 1776.
17. The location of a large red oak now standing on the South Spencer road. This oak is three feet eight inches in diameter and is one of the very largest of its kind in Spencer.
18. Large boulder on the roadside about four rods south of the oak tree. It was here, in the fall of 1807, that three girls
12-THE CHENEY BEMIS HOUSE, SOUTH SPENCER.
about fifteen years of age, companions of Ruth Bemis, w ho lived with her father, Nathaniel, Jr., at the Richard Beers place some fifteen rods farther south, hid themselves one dark evening for the purpose of frightening their companion whom they knew would soon pass on her way home. They likewise knew that Ruth was an unusually timid girl. Their plan succeeded only too well and in great terror the girl ran home to fall in a swoon in the vestibule of her father's house. After her recovery from this she commenced to bleed from the lungs and rapidly declining in health, died May 5, 1808, aged 15 years, 8 months. Thus, what was conceived in a spirit of fun and as a harmless diversion, proved
28
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
in its sequel to be one of the saddest bereavements that ever came to the Bemis family.
19. The old district No. 9, Red school house, now at West- ville, transformed into a dwelling and occupied by Orin D. Barr.
20. This is very near the place where about a century ago an attempt was made at highway robbery. The would-be robber, however, did not succeed. His intended victim, Dr. Benjamin Drury, one of the most distinguished men in Spencer at the time, being a man of nerve, and on horseback, was enabled to make his escape without the loss of his purse.
Between house No. II and the Seven Mile river, on the bluff about six rods from the stream, is the remains of the cellar of Sam-
CHENEY BEMIS,
Farmer of South Spencer, son of Nathan Bemis, Sr.,'and great grand- son of Samuel Bemis, Sr. Born in Spencer, July 6, 1798; died in Spencer, April 3, 1876, of old age; grandfather of Frank A. Drury, cashier Spencer National bank.
uel Flagg who in 1762 purchased of Samuel Bemis 100 acres of the east end of his farm and built a house at this place. Thirty- two years later, after Mr. Flagg had moved and settled on lot 67, Elijah Howe, Jr., and Fannie Bemis, daughter of Joshua, Sr., married, and here commenced housekeeping. They
29
WOOD AND BEMIS MAP.
started on a very moderate scale, she having only one tin pail for a great many cooking purposes, including its use as a teapot, while his complete list of mechanical appliances with which to get a living, consisted of one axe, but being good workers they soon managed to add to their stock such uten- sils for domestic use, and tools for ยท mechanical use, as were needed until they were soon on a par in those respects with the more favored families in the town.
A hundred rods or more up the river northeasterly from No. 3 was located the Amasa Bemis family tomb.
On the plain west of the Catholic cemeteries is where the larger part of the Hessian prisoners, captured at Sara- toga, encamped when they passed through Spencer, in Octo- ber, 1777. The late Alonzo Temple learned from those living at the time, that the pine trees for quite a distance around the encampment were denuded of the lower dead branches in order to furnish fuel for their camp fires. The following account is taken from the Spencer Star, a paper published May 1, 1874: " In October, 1777, part of Burgoyne's captured army, over two thousand, passed through the place and spent the night in Spencer, occupying nearly every house and barn. The Hes- sian general entered the house of the minister (Rev. Joseph Pope), with an apology for the intrusion. His servants followed and were about to prepare his evening meal and couch for the night. The minister invited him to accept his hospitality and sit at his table. With a wave of his hand the general dismissed his servants. The minister's wife (Mrs. Anna Pope), then a bride of three weeks, who lived in the same house until over one hundred and four years of age, even after passing her one hundredth year, would tell the conversation of the general. One remark was ' that in no place were rank and subordination more strictly observed than in Hesse Cassel, and their ladies were ladies indeed.' On retiring for the night he entrusted to her care his badge of Knighthood and medals of Honor."
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