USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 12
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for ten years resided here with his "noble" wife, and then returned to England.
Wannalancet is credited with building the fort from which "Fort Hill" takes its name ; and traditions which seem trustworthy fix the site of the log chapel, in which Mr. Eliot preached to the Indians. very near the fine edifice of the Eliot Church.
In the summer of 1675, when the alarm and peril of King Philip's War assailed the Colony, these Indians retired to the wilderness, at Penacook, (Concord, New Hampshire,) to avoid being involved in it. Still, they were suspected, and in September a company of one hundred men was sent to ascertain the position of Wannalancet in regard to the war. On their approach, the Indians concealed them- selves in the woods, and their deserted wigwams were wantonly burned. But, though thus sorely tempted to join Philip in retalia- tion, the sachem did not forget his father's counsel, and restrained his young warriors, who were eager to attack the whites. He soon after went farther, to the head waters of the Connecticut, and there spent the winter. The next year the Indians were allured to Dover and unjustly imprisoned ; but they were soon set at liberty and returned to their Merrimack home. After the conclusion of the war, the sachem visited the Reverend Mr. Fiske, of Chelmsford. To his question, whether Chelmsford had suffered much, the clergyman replied that they had not, and devoutly thanked God. " Me next," said Wannalancet, implying that he had restrained the Indians under his control. Billerica perhaps owed her security during those dark days to the same friendly sachem.
But the Indian occupation of Billerica was not confined to Wamesit. The frequency with which their arrow points and other articles are found, shows how numerous they once were. Graves and the site of a wigwam are still shown north of Jaquith Brook, near Concord River ; and the north shore of Nutting's Pond was so distinctively theirs as to be sold by them in 1665. The hill north of this pond was known as Indian Hill. In May, 1665, the town granted to Henry Jefts, "four acres of land, lying at the Indian Hill on the north of ye Indian field at Nuttins pond." In December, " the bounds of his land purchased of the Indians at Indian Hill by the pond were taken by Ralph Hill and Jonath : Danforth, which are as followeth : i. e. on the south it is bounded by the pond, and on the southwest, west, and somewhat northerly, it is bounded by that land [above mentioned] : it runnes easterly to a maple marked in the
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swamp and a white oak marked beyond it; both which are on the west of the high cleft of rocks ; and from thence a little rounding to the N. E. corner of his fence, * and from thence it turnes towards the pond to a red oak with a rock by it, and from thence it turns a little inward to a bunch of maples by the pond side."
Danforth records the death of his Indian servant, John Warrick. 1686 ; and, in 1681, James Speen, Indian, receives "eight pounds due to ye Indians for four wolves heads," and other records occur of the same sort. These dusky forms must have been frequently seen in the early homes of Billerica. Did their coming excite fear or confidence, repugnance or pleasure? Whatever it was, the sensation was a familiar one. And, however they had learned to trust their Wamesit neighbors, as they observed the labors of the saintly Eliot among them and the fruit they bore, the fathers could never be long forgetful of the darker fringe of savage humanity beyond. the working of whose policy or passion might at almost any moment involve them in peril or ruin. This danger hung over the pioneers of Billerica for more than fifty years, and their slumbers were likely to be broken by a warwhoop. In our estimate of their faith and courage in planting the town, this fact should be remembered.
The earliest indication of this danger afforded by the Records occurs in "1667, 9m, 11. At a meeting of the selectmen. It is agreed concerning fortification in this Town, That ther shall be a house built of stone & brick wth a chimney at ye west end of it, je dementions of ye house to bee twenty-six foote in length, twenty-two foot wide from outside to outside, with a doore three foot wide on Je south side, near ye west end, & two windows, one at ye east end & ye other on ye south side, being each window three foot wide & two foot & a half in height, all in ye clear; ye walls of ye house shalbe nine foote in height from ye floore to ye under side of ye plate ; also, a floore, lying one foot below ye plate, with crosse rufers, ye long girt lying cross ye house ; also, ther shalbe iron barres in each window & one window at ye gable end on ye cast ; je roofe of ye house to be sawne stuffe, covered with bords, chamfered & after shingled. And for y" effecting of y" premises, we do agree that hands shall forthwith be employed to digge clay and stones, & ye rest of ye work to be carried on with as much convenient speed as may be, according to ye order of ye gen" Court."
The order of the General Court was passed in May, 1667, requiring every town to erect, "either inclosing the meeting-house,
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or in some other convenient place, a fortification, or fort, of stone, brick, timber, or earth, as the place maybe most capable, of such dimensions as may best suit their ability, where women, children, & the aged maybe secured in case of sudden danger, whereby the souldjers maybe more free to oppose an enemy."
But this fortification never was built, whether because the tax was too great, or the alarm less, we can only conjecture ; but this description is interesting in depicting the house the fathers would have built for such a purpose.
Eight years passed, and the peril came in earnest, the most critical hour, perhaps, in the history of New England. The Indians, alarmed at the growing numbers and strength of the settlements, and incited by resentment for fancied and, perhaps, some real injuries, rose in a determined effort to exterminate the colonists. Philip, chief of the Pokanokets, was the leader. enlisting the Narragansetts and as many others of the natives as he was able. They fell upon Swanzey, and soon after Brookfield suffered. Deerfield was burned, and Hadley attacked. Springfield, Northfield, Lancaster, Medfield. Weymouth, Groton, and Marlborough were successively the victims of savage assaults ; and where the next blow might fall was an ever present dread in every hamlet and home. Had the Wamesit Indians joined in the fray, Billerica would probably have been among the first to suffer. The town and perhaps the Colony owed its salvation to their friendly neutrality. Eliot and Gookin had such reward as they did not foresee for their benevolent labors. Other reward they had too, in the suspicion and bitter denunciation of many of the people, because they would not turn away from the friendly Indians, when the popular feeling included all red men in a common conspiracy and malignity.
The alarm came unexpectedly upon the town. On the third of May the selectmen "order the constables watch to cease this present sumer unless greater need appear." The need did appear, and the following pages of the record are of sufficient interest to be exactly reproduced.
"13. 6m. 75. At a publick Towne Meeting.
"The Towne, considering the providence of God at the prsent calling us to lay aside our ordinary occations in providing for our creatures and to take special care for the prserving of our lives and the lives of our wives and children, the enemy being near and the warnings by gods providence upon our neighbors being very solemne and awfull, do therefore order &
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agree joyntly to prpare a place of safety for women and children, and that all persons and teams shall attend ye said worke untill it be finished; and account of ye wholl charge being kept, it shalbe equally divided upon the inhabitants with other Towne charges. Also they appoint Serjnt ffoster. Serjnt Tompson, Sam" Manning & Jonathan Danforth to be overseers of ye same."
"8. 8m. 75. At a meeting of ye selectmen & comittee of millitia.
"In persuance of an order from the Hond Councill, sent unto them by warrant from ye worshell Simon Willard Esquir, Sergent Major, in reference to the gathering the inhabitants of the towne into severall garrisons according to their best capacity.
"Imprs. They have ordered sergent Hill's house to be a garrison for that end of ye towne, taking to it Nathaniel & Jonathan Hill. Tho : Dutton JJun'. Lt. Wm. ffrench, Willm Chamberline Sen'. & Isaac Chamberline, & two soldiers ; nine soldiers & five houses.
"2. ffor ye South end of ye towne Sergnt ffoster's house is appointed & so to take to it his son Joseph ffoster, James ffrost, Joseph ffrench. Joseph Walker, Daniel Rogers, John Kitteridge, Thomas Richardson, and two soldiers; ten soldiers and six houses.
"3. They appoint Simon Crosbees house for garrison and to receive Mr. Daniel, in cases, William and Jacob Hamlet. Jonathan Hides, Serjt. Tompson, Peter Bracket and three soldiers; 7 families.
"4. They order to the Reverend Mr. Samuel Whiting, his house, Thomas Dutton Sent & his son John, Daniel Shed Sent & his son John Shed, John Durrant, John Rogers Sen' & his three sons, John. Thomas & Nathaniel Rogers, and two soldiers ; eleven soldiers & six families ; & this to bee ye maine garrison & ye last refuge in case of extremity.
"5. They appoint Thomas Pattins house for garrison and to entertaine Goldin Moore, Samuel ffrost, Jno Kidder. Roger Toothaker & John Trull; seven soldiers & five families.
*6. They appoint James Patterson's house for garrison & to enter- taine John Baldwin. Edward & Thos. Farmer, Henery & John Jeiff's & two soldiers ; 8 soldiers & 4 families.
"7. Whereas severall at ye north end of ye towne have already departed their own Habitations & several of ym vnwilling to returne to ym againe at ye present, Hence they order them to be entertained in ye body of ye towne.
"8. They order Sergnt Kidder & Jonathan Danforth's houses to be garrison houses, & to entertaine as shall after be ordered to them.
"9. They order that ye psons ordered to each garrison shall dispose of their corne (acording to ye order of ye Councill) neer unto their owne garrisons, unless they can els where better secure the same.
"10. They order that every pon aforesd shall equally contribute in labour or otherwise to fortify each house of garrison to which they are appointed and seasonably to attend ye same, acording to ye Councill's order, both psons & teames to attend ye same as in ye order of highway worke is
PROBABLY THE " FRENCH GARRISON OF 1676.
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required, untill ye worke be done. Only in case Mr. Daniel and Mr. Laine fortify themselves (they being very far from neighbours) they shall then be freed from fortifying ye garrisons to which they are appointed. And are also impowered to keape a watch at their owne and to examine psons as other watches may do.
"11. They order that the Comitee of millitia & selectmen, each person that do pertaine to any garrison, shall order & regulate ye worke of ye same as overseers, & Sergnt Kidder is appointed overseer of Mr. Whiting's garrison, Joseph Tompson of Thomas Pattin's, & Jonathan Danforth of James Paterson's garrison, & that any three of ye sd Comitee & selectmen may determine what shalbe done in reference to the fortifying each garrison & to determine any difference that may arise respecting ye same.
"12. They order that all brush & underwood near ye aforesaid garri- sons shalbe cutt up and cleared away, acording to the Council's order, each person to attend ye same both for time & place as they shall have after order. Also they order each inhabitant to attend their severall watches, as formerly, untill further order."
"14. 8m. 1675. At a meeting of ye Hond major Willard, The Select men, & Comittee of millitia. These severall orders were read before ye Hon'd Major aforesd, considered and allowed by him, & ye inhabitants enjoyned to attend ye same.
" At the same time George ffarley's house is allowed for garrison and to entertain more as it may be capable in time of extremity, as shalbe after ordered to him.
"Also Jacob Frenches house is allowed for a garrison and to entertain John French, Corp] Marshall. Thomas Rosse, Willm Chamberline Junr & two soldiers; seaven soldiers & four houses; and Corporal Marshall to be ye overseer & master of the garrison.
' Also. to Sargent Kidder's house is ordered Daniel Shed Jun, Samuel Trull & John Brackit, James Kidder Junr, and two soldiers; 7 soldiers & 4 families.
"To Jonathan Danforth's house is ordered Samuel Manning. John Dunkin, Jonathan Danforth Junr, & 2 soldiers; 6 soldiers & 3 families.
"The Masters of ye severall garrison houses are the Revd Mr. Whiting, Sergnt Kidder, Sergnt Foster, Sergnt Hill. Sergnt Tompson, Corp" Marshall. Jonathan Danforth, Thomas Pattin & James Paterson.
"Also, Timothy Brookes house is allowed for garrison & to entertain Michael Bacon's family, & to have two garrison soldiers to defend ye mill & himself ye master of the garrison.
"Also, it is ordered that the severall soldiers sent hither to garrison shall assist in fortifying ye severall houses to which they are appointed. as also to clear away such brush as is near such houses appointed for garrison, as they shall be ordered from time to time.
" Also, it is ordered that no listed soldier of the Troop, or of ye foot company, shall remove their habitations & abode out of the town without liberty first had & obtained from the Major of ye regiment or Comittee
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of millitia & selectmen of the town, on ye peril of such a fine as shalbe imposed on them by such authority as shall have power to determine ye same.
"Neither shall any soldier aforesd absent himself out of the towne about any private occations of his owne without leave first had and obtained from ye master of the garison to which they belong, vnder the penalty of five shillings p day for every such defect, to be levied by ye Clark of ye band, as other fines for defect in training days are levied.
"And further, it is ordered, in case of an alarme every soldier shall repair to ye garrison vnto which he is appointed.
"And in case any garison house be set upon by ye enemje, Then yc garrisons next to them shall send reliefe to them as they are capable, not leaving their owne garrison without competent security for the time.
.. And in case of need, the women & children shall be conveyed to ye maine garison, if it may bee with safety, that so there maybe the better supply in case of need, the cheife officer to order and regulate the same, where there may be time so to do.
". Also, the soldiers in garrison with us and the rest of the inhabitants yet remain vnder ye comand of ye cheife officer. for ranging and scouting, as the case may require, still securing ye towne in general.
" Also, it is ordered, that every pson that shall shoot off a gun, small or great, without leave from a comander or in case of offence or defence against an enemie, shall pay as a fine two shillings & six pence. or set off so much of their wages if they be garison men.
"Also. the Selectmen & Comittee shall have further power to act in and about the premises (keeping to the order of the Hond Council afore- said) so as may best conduce to the benefit of the wholl, although in some respects altering what is already ordered.
"Also, Job Laine was allowed to fortify his owne house, and to have two soldiers for garrison men to defend his house, in case ye country could spare them.
" All this is allowed & confirmed by me,
"SI: WILLARD, Serj .- Major."
It needs no lively imagination, reading between the lines of this record, to depict something of the tumult, hardship, and peril through which Billerica was passing. Families fled from their homes to the garrison-houses, or the greater security of the lower towns. The labors of the field gave place to fortifying, scouting, and watching. The corn must be removed to safer receptacles. They organize a military company with Jonathan Danforth, lieutenant, and James Kidder, ensign. Some of their own brave sons enlist in the service of the Colony and march to peril and death. Timothy Farley was killed at Quaboag. August 2, in the assault on Lieutenant Wheeler's company, and John French carried through life the effect of the
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wounds received there. And two mothers approaching their con- finement sought comfort and safety in Charlestown -the wives of John Marshall and of the pastor; nor is it too much to infer that the anxiety and hardship they had suffered may explain the death, in a few days, of the sons born to them there.3
Forty-eight families are enumerated in the list of assignments above given. In 1677, a question arose and it was decided by the General Court, that the families who "departed the town" at this time should pay their war tax in Billerica. The names of seven are recorded as involved in this decision. Three of these are included in the above forty-eight: Timothy Brooks, Michael Bacon, and Joseph Foster. The four others who fled from the town were John Blood, Robert Blood, Josiah Bracket, and John Poulter. But the Blood brothers, notwithstanding this decision, seem to have been doubtfully attached to Billerica, and were soon after recognized as belonging to Concord. Billerica had then fifty families, in 1675.
The location of these garrisons was substantially as follows : Sergt. Ralph Hill's house was near Mrs. Boyden's and opposite the late Captain Ranlett's. It stood till about 1850. Sergt. Thomas Foster's house was near Mr. Mason's, southeast of Bare Hill; and Simon Crosby's was northwest of the same hill, near the fork of the Lexington and Woburn Roads. Rev. Samuel Whiting's, the main garrison, was just north of Charnstaffe Lane and west of the brook. Thomas Patten's was near the house of Mr. Frank Richardson. James Paterson's was the most northerly garrison, near Mr. Sanborn's. Sergeant Kidder's and Jonathan Danforth's were opposite each other on West Street, the former on the south side, where Gardner Parker, Esq., lives ; and Danforth's still standing, or rather just disappearing as this is written, in 1879, the only structure in town which is an incontestible relic of that day. George Farley's was near the Jaquith place, southwest of the village ; and Jacob French's was near, if not identical with, the house in which Mr. James Fletcher resides, a half-mile east of the village. Mr. French's house, years later, stood on the east side of the road, but he may have changed his own residence ; or, as uncertain as roads often were in those days, this may easily have been turned from one side of the house to the other. Certainly the brick-lined walls and general structure of this venerable
3 See baptismal record of the First Church, Charlestown, in Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. XXVI, p. 155.
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building represent the architecture of that period, and probably they are the same within which five families kept their dreary and painful watch and ward, in 1675. Timothy Brooks owned the mill at the falls of the Shawshin, in the east part of Bedford. Mr. Daniel. who had leave to fortify his own house, was on the south side of the Woburn Road, near the Shawshin River ; and Job Lane, who bought the Winthrop Farm, lived very near, if not in the same ancient house, just north of Huckins Street, in Bedford, where Mr. Hiram Dutton now lives.
How much labor was spent in fortifying we may gather some idea by gleaning from the record the fact that the work done on Mr. Whiting's house, under the charge of Peter Bracket, employed thirty men, with several cattle, a little more than two days each, and the amount credited was eight pounds, six shillings, and nine pence. But the blow so long dreaded and guarded against did not fall, and the town was mercifully spared more than its common share in the burdens and losses of Philip's War. That share was sufficiently trying, and bore heavily upon the inhabitants.
Chelmsford was not quite as exempt. A letter from that town,4 dated "25 : 12m. 1675," reports that scouts found three dwellings burnt, "near where Joseph Parker was formerly shot," (he with others having been fired upon by Indians, but not killed, ) and other signs of hostile Indians, and the more remote inhabitants had fled into the body of the town. Indians had been seen from Billerica on the west side of the Concord River, and fires, which were suspected to be signs of their presence. The letter asks an order to Billerica, "or otherwise," to secure "the bridge between them & us," and adds that some of their men are out, on Major Willard's order, and some on the other side of the Merrimack, to secure the corn of Colburn and others residing there, which Lieutenant Henchman had orders to do, and carry it over to his own house.
A petition from Groton illustrates the situation of Billerica as well, during this anxious and tedious winter of 1675-6.5 It "humbly shows" :-
"'That, whereas it seemeth meet to your worships to connend unto our honored Major Willard and impose upon him the maintaining a con- tinued scout of forty troopers and dragoons, to range between Groton, Lancaster, and Marlborough and those parts; we make bold humbly to
4 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. LXVIII, 144.
5 See History of Groton, p. 71.
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present our conceptions upon that account. For Marlborough we do con- ceive the present supply left there in garrison do answer the end more fully, and will also render our scout an unnecessary burden; for Lancaster and Groton we find by experience that the safety is little advanced in this way, by reason of so long absence and so great distance of this scout, necessary in this method. Besides the incumbrance lying upon us for quarters for horse and men, besides the drawing up of our men from several towns to such a limit, seems to carry inconvenience with it; the towns from whence our forces are raised, especially Chelmsford and Billerica, being weak and in want of more strength at home, and danger occurring to them by the sudden and suspicious removal of the Weymessit Indians, whose troopers do hereupon desire a release. Moreover, the con- ceptions of the towns related. conceive humbly, that a scout of garrison soldiers, though of a less number and these footmen, whom the towns may out of themselves make dragoons, by order from authority as occasion may present, would be more for the security of the towns; besides the hazard in which so small a number must needs go in, as we have sufficient ground to suspect by experience, and many emergencies which may sud- denly fall out before address be made to your worships. We humbly present to your honors consideration, and if it seem rational, to alter or add to this matter, according to your discretion.
" Your honors humble supplicants,
". JAMES PARKER. THO: WHEELER. HENRY WOODHOUSE."
"GROTON, Feb. 6, 1675-6.
Mr. Parker had been an early citizen of Billerica, and this petition was dated only three or four days before the burning of Lancaster, and five weeks before that of Groton. It was written by Rev. Samuel Willard, of Groton, afterwards President of Harvard College, and son of Major Simon Willard, who was now devoting the last energies of his useful life to the defence of the Colony ; his death occuring April 24th. On March 29th he was in Chelmsford, and ordered the fortifying of Billerica bridge at the request of the people.
At the same time Jonathan Danforth was in Cambridge, employed as the following paper shows : - 6
"CAMBRIDGE, 28 : 1: 1676.
"In obedience to an order of the Honorable Council, March, 1675-6, appointing us whose names are underwritten as a committee to consult the several towns of the County of Middlesex with reference to the best means of the preservation of our out-towns, remote houses and farms. for their
6 Groton, p. 72.
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security from the common enemy; we having sent to the several towns to send us their apprehensions by some one meet person of each town, this day we consulted concerning the same and have concluded to propose as followeth :
"1. That the towns of Sudbury, Concord, and Chelmsford be strength- ened with forty men apiece, which said men are to be improved in scouting between town and town, who are to be commanded by men of prudence, courage. and interest, in the said towns, and the parties in each town are to be ordered to keep together in some place commodious in said towns, and not in garrisoned houses ; and these men to be upon charge of the country.
"2. That for the security of Billerica there be a garrison of a number competent at Weymessit, who may raise a thousand bushels of corn upon the lands of the Indians in that place; may be improved daily in scouting and ranging the woods between Weymessit and Andover and on the west of Concord river, on the east and north of Chelmsford, which will discover the enemy before he comes to the towns and prevent lurking Indians about our towns. Also, that they shall be in a readiness to succor any of the three towns at any time, when in distress; also, shall be ready to join with others to follow the enemy upon a sudden, after their appearing.
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