USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 14
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The following winter an expedition was sent "to the Eastward," in which a son of Billerica did good service. Belknap, in his History of New Hampshire, repeats the account of it from Mather's Magnalia : "A young man being in the woods near Cochecho was
5 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. CVII, 118.
6 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. XXXVI, 166.
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fired at by some Indians. Lieut. Wilson immediately went out with eighteen men, and finding the Indians, killed or wounded the whole party, excepting one. This struck a terror and kept them quiet the remainder of the winter. But on the tenth day of June, an army of French and Indians made a furious attack on Storer's garrison at Wells, where Capt. Convers commanded; who, after a brave and resolute defence, was so happy as to drive them off with great loss."?
Capt. James Convers was from Woburn, and his plucky lieutenant was John Wilson, of Billerica, who richly deserves to have his long forgotten part in this expedition recorded here for remembrance in Billerica. He came from Woburn in 1683, and built the mill, which long bore his name, on Vine Brook ; and there no doubt he lived. In 1700, he was granted three pounds for service and use of his own horse at this time.
The Indian assault so long dreaded and guarded against fell at last upon Billerica soon after, and two homes were made desolate. This sad event occurred, 1 August, 1692, and the place was near the turn in the road by Mr. Russell's house, a half-mile south of North Billerica. In the early days, there was a "cross-roads" at this point, an old road running south towards Fox Hill and the village. On the east side of this road, and south of the other, now leading to the Rev. Elias Nason's place, was the home of John Dunkin, who, in 1670, received twenty-five acres of land here for the "fat ox," presented by the town to its deputy, Mr. Humphrey Davy, of Boston. He married Joanna, daughter of Henry Jefts, and died in December, 1690, of small-pox, leaving seven children. His widow married Mr. Benjamin Dutton, whose father Thomas lived not far south on the same road.
The other fated family lived opposite, or on the northeast angle between the two roads. Zachary Shed was the son of Daniel Shed, one of the early settlers. He married Mrs. Ann Bray, in 1677, and their home was blessed with five children at the time.
Of the circumstances of this attack we know nothing. None of the histories of the period mention it ; and Danforth's record, giving the names and adding simply, "all slain by ye Indians," is our only authority for the fact of this first Billerica massacre. Lancaster suffered a similar attack two weeks earlier. Whether the same or
1 History of Woburn, p. 178, and Massachusetts Archives. Vol. LXX, 496.
.
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other Indians came here, and whether it were in the morning, at noon, or in the night ; whether the homes were burned or left to the smitten survivors, we can not tell. We only know that in each, the mother with her eldest and youngest child perished at the bloody hands of the savages ; but that is enough to stamp the dark day in the memory of Billerica, and make it fit that we glean and record all the little that we can of such sufferers. Mrs. Dutton was thirty-six years of age, one of the earliest natives of the town. Her daughter Mary Dunkin was sixteen, and her son Benoni, "son of her grief," was less than two, born two months after his father's death. If Mrs. Shed's age were the same as her husband's, she was also thirty-six ; her daughter Hannah was thirteen, and Agnes was a child of two years. None seem to have been made captives in this assault. Four families at least were living as far north, or beyond, which were for some reason spared by the savages. Mr. Shed's brother Daniel lived beside him. Beyond was Roger Toothaker, who at this very time was wasting his time and substance in pursuit of the witchcraft delusions at Salem, and leaving his family to" charitable aid ; and farther north were John and Thomas Rogers, and probably John Levistone ; names all involved in the still more dreadful experience to come. The wives of both the Rogers brothers were sisters of the Sheds, and of these four brothers and sisters living within a mile of each other and of North Billerica, the family of Daniel Shed only escaped in both attacks.
The Records, February; 27, 1692-3, show us the vigilance which the town needed to maintain under these trying circumstances. "At a meeting of the milicia in Bilerika, both of horse & foot, in observance of a warrant from our honoured Major, for the renueing of watching and scouting in our Town, ordered by the militia presnt that the watch at Capt. Hill's & in the centure of the Town, & a corporall for the end of the Towne, be carefully observed, & notice unto the other outskirts of the Town to stand upon their gard, & to require to keep such a watch in their several quarters as they are capable of keeping.
" At the same time it was agreed upon by the milicia, both of the hors and foot, that a petition be drawn up in behalf of the Towne, to be sent by our deputie, Capt. Hill, & by him to be presented unto his excellency & ye honoured Cowncell & Representatives assembled, or when assembled, for some easement of our scouting required of us, or metigations in our public charges ; this was agreed upon
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by the milicia and by the selectmen & severall other inhabitance present."
Another aspect of the life of these anxious patriots comes out in the subjoined line of the record: "We expended this evening at Bro. Crosbey's two pots of Rosted cider."
Six months later we find the following order, addressed by Thomas Hinchman, Sergeant-Major, to Lieutenant John Lane, of Billerica, 23 August, 1693 :8 "By virtue of an order from the honrbl Lt. Govern", bearing date. 22 Aug., 1693, these are in his majisty's name to require you forthwith to Impress eight Troopers out of yor troop undr yor command, well appointed with arms and ammunition for his majisty's service : four of which are to be daily Imployed as a scout about yor town, especially towards the great swamp. The other foure you are to send to me, upon moon-day morning Nexte ; you are also to send to me the names of the soldrs imprest who are to enter into sarvice on said moon-day. Wreof you may not fail."
With watching and service like this, diversified with witchcraft excitements and trials at Salem, and with an assault on Groton, 27 July, 1694, in which William Longley, the town clerk, his wife and five children, with two other children, were slain, the people of -Billerica passed these trying years. The second massacre fell upon them, 1695, August 5, four days more than three years after the first. The town clerk, who rarely turns aside from official record to mention incidents, gives four lines to this massacre :9 . This day received that awful stroke by the enemy of fivetene persons slain & taken, more sad than that we met withall three years before. when we mett upon the like occasion." Mr. Farmer's narrative of this event was the result of careful inquiry sixty years ago, and is as follows :10
"In the northerly part of the town. on the east side of Concord River. lived a number of families, who, though without garrisons and in a time of war, seemed to be under no apprehensions of danger. Their remoteness from the scenes of Indian depredations might have contributed to their fancied security. The Indians came suddenly upon them in the day time. Dr. Mather. the only early writer who has mentioned the event. says it was reported they were on horseback, and from that circumstance 'were not suspected for Indians, till they surprised the house they came to.' 'They entered the house of John Rogers, son of one of the early settlers, about
8 See p. 99. 9 Records, Vol. II, p. 58.
10 Farmer aud Moore's Historical Collections. Vol. II, p. 71.
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noon. and while from the fatigues of the day he was enjoying repose upon his bed, they discharged one of their arrows, which entered his neck and pierced the jugular vein. Awakened with this sudden and unexpected attack, he started up. seized the arrow, which he forcibly withdrew, and expired with the instrument of death in his hand. A woman being in the chamber threw herself out of the window and, though severely wounded. effected her escape by concealing herself among some flags. A young woman was sealped and left for dead, but survived the painful operation and lived for many years afterwards. A son and daughter of Mr. Rogers were taken prisoners. The family of John Levistone suffered most severely. His mother-in-law and five young children were killed and his eldest daughter captured. Thomas Rogers and his oldest son were killed. Mary, the wife of Dr. Roger Toothaker, was killed. and Margaret, his youngest daughter, taken prisoner. Fifteen persons were killed or taken at this surprisal. The records of the town give the names of fourteen who were killed and taken into captivity. T'en were killed, of whom five were adults. Though the Indians were immediately pursued by the inhabitants of the center of the town. yet so effectually had they taken precautions in their flight. that all efforts to find them were unavailing. It is said they had even tied up the mouths of their dogs with wampum, from an apprehension that their barking would discover the direction they had taken. The shock given to the inhabitants by this melancholy event was long had in painful remembrance." And, in his Billerica, Mr. Farmer adds: "Through the lapse of years, it is difficult to give a very circumstantial account of it, and the few particulars I have collected ought. perhaps, to receive some deductions from the brevity of human memory."
The name of one sufferer on that day has escaped record. The other fourteen belonged to the four families already named. The family which was smitten most heavily was that of John Levistone. The site of his house has not been identified, but it was doubtless near that of John Rogers, probably southeast. He was a Scotchman, and first appears in the employ of Carrier. He had married, in 1681, Margaret, the daughter of Thomas Ross, another Scotchman, who lived on the west side of Loes Plain, near Miss Allen's, and whose wife was Seeth Holman, of Cambridge. She had now been a widow about four months, and was either visiting or living with her daughter, Mrs. Levistone, when death came so terribly at the hand of the savages. The parents escaped and their eldest son John ; but the daughter Sarah, aged eleven, was made captive, and the five younger children were all slain. Their names were Seth, Thomas, Mary, Margaret, and Alexander. A more desolating sorrow could hardly fall upon a happy home in an hour.
John Rogers lived nearly north of Mr. Talbot's, about eighty rods. The well by his house may still be seen, and bricks from
·
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England may be dug from the cellar. He was nearly fifty-four years old and had lost his wife, Mary Shed, seven years before. Of his six children, four escaped ; but Daniel, aged twelve, and Mercy were made captives.
Thomas Rogers, a younger brother, lived near. The spot has not been identified, but it was probably very near where the village hall and school-house now stand. His first wife had been Hannah Shed, and after her death he married Mary Brown, a step-daughter of his father. He perished with his eldest son Thomas, while his ivife with two children escaped. It is a reasonable conjecture that the father and son were surprised away from their home.
There was one other victim of that bloody day, whose case was if possible more tragic. She was the wife of Dr. Roger Toothaker, and her home stood at the point where, in later years, the Middlesex Canal left the Concord River. Tradition says it is still standing, as the ell of the old brick Rogers' house. Her personality and trials deserve special notice. Her name was Mary Allen, and she was sister of that Martha Allen who married Thomas Carrier and was a victim of the witchcraft delusion at Salem three years before. Not only was Mrs. Toothaker's sister thus fatally involved, but her husband, with more freedom and folly, neglecting the claims of his family and disregarding the appeals of the selectmen to return to his duty, left wife and children to the charity of his neighbors. Two of the children were apprenticed by the selectmen to Joseph Walker and Edward Farmer. Trials like these were mingled in the bitter cup of Mrs. Toothaker, with the Indian alarms and the massacre of her neighbors. At last the warwhoop of the savages sounded her death-knell, at the same time that her youngest daughter Margaret was borne into captivity. If the remembrance and sympathy of later generations could afford any compensation for the sorrows of such a life, we might search far to find a person better entitled to them than Mary Allen Toothaker.
The agitation and alarm which ran through the town, as the tidings of this bloody work spread, we can form slight conception of. The day was Monday, not, as some traditions affirm, the Sabbath. The "garrisons" would be soon filled with excited women and children ; the men would prepare for defence and attack, for pursuit of the retreating foe was the first impulse ; every nook, every tree and bush would be watched for a concealed foe ; and for many days the dread of another and deadly blow must have shaken their hearts.
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Three weeks passed and the alarm continued. Colonel Lynde, of Charlestown, was commissioned to pursue the foe, and his report discovers to us glimpses of what Billerica was passing through.
" Aug. 23. 1695.11 Receiving commission from the Honorable William Stoughton. Lieutenant-Governor. Commander-in-Chief over all the province of Massachusetts, with instructions for his Majesty's service in the county of Middlesex: persuant whereunto I went that night to Billerica, where I found about three hundred men in arms from Woburn, Reading, Malden, Medford. Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, under conduct of Major William Johnson. Major Jeremiah Swaine, Major Wade, Capt. William Greene, Capt. John Greene, Lt. Remington. Lt. Homan, Capt. Gerfield,12 Sergeant Bond. and Mr. Sherman.
"That night we marched to the river of Merrimack. guarded the fords, there being three between Andover and Chelmsford, with about forty men at each ford, and with about one hundred men encamped that night at Prospect Hill. that lies between Chelmsford and the river, on the northern side of the great swamp; leaving the remaining forces to guard the town. As soon as it was light, on the 24th of August instant. we sent men to the top of the said hill, where we had a view of the said swamp and the country far about, but could discover no fire anywhere. Thenee we pro- ceeded to range the woods between Andover and Chelmsford, but finding no sign of our enemies, we rendezvous at a place called Sandy Pond, about eight miles from Billerica eastward; from whence about eleven of the clock that day we went to the great swamp. dismounted half our men, the other half taking their horses. We caused the men on foot to pass through the swamp in a rank. each man at a distance as much as was convenient; appointed to rendezvous again at Prospect Hill; Major Johnson, with about forty men, compassing the swamp on the west side, and myself with the rest of the soldiers on the east side. Our men on foot, with much difficulty having got through the swamp, gave us account that they saw a new track and smelt Indians in one place, but did not judge by their track there were above two; having again rendezvous about four o'clock, afternoon, near Prospect Hill, having before noon ranged the woods belonging partly to Andover to the eastward of Prospect Hill. we proceeded to range the woods towards Chelmsford; rendezvousing again near the time of sun setting at the chief fording place on the Merrimack below Hunt's garrison. where I advised with all our officers. Having no prospeet of doing service against the enemy, considering the evil that had accrued by drawing off all forces at once, I left a guard of ten men to guard that ford, under the
11 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. LI, 41.
12 This "Capt. Gerfield" was Benjamin Garfield, of Watertown, and his name has already appeared (p. 81) as a member of the committee appointed by the General Court to run the important lines and decide the contest between Billerica, Concord, and Chelmsford. He was the son and grandson of successive Edwards, of Watertown, and was the ancestor of James A. Garfield, our lamented President, whose recent death has filled the world with sorrow. The line of descent is Edward,1 Edward,2 Benjamin,3 Thomas,4 Thomas," Solo- mon," Thomas,7 Abraham,8 who married Eliza Ballou, and settled in Ohio.
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direction of Hunt and Foster, of Billerica. until the 29th day of August instant, at night, and then to be dismissed without further order. Marching then up to Billeriea town in diverse parties, we rendezvous at the Ordinary, where paying off the army with thankful acknowledgments for their ready and willing service, at 'their request I dismissed them according to their desire. to make the best of their way home. which without doubt they · attended; though with difficulty by reason of the darkness of the night.
"So concluding, I am, sir.
" Your servant.
JOSEPH LYNDE, Lt .- Col. "Dated at Charlestown, Aug. 25, 1695."
"P. S. We have left about five hundred of bread in the hands of Capt. Danforth, who was not so prudent in the disposal of some of what was spent as, in my way home I was informed, he should have been. I directed him at my coming away to preserve what was left until further order. Yours, as above. J. L.
Eight months later, we read the situation in the following from the Town Records : -
" Aprill 6, 1696. Training day evening. At a meeting of the com- mision officers, both of horse and foot, by vertue of a warrant from our Major, we new erected our watches and ordered the repairing of garisons, and appointed the masters of them and the number of souldiers belonging to them, and other persons & families.
" At the same meeting the comition officers with the selectmen ordered that the remainder of the old pouder be dispersed among the severall garisons acording unto the number of souldiers appointed unto them. to be eaqually distributed, and the master of the garison or the masters of the severall garisons unto whom the pouder is distributed to becom responcible for it, and to secure it and return it, or the vallue of it in money, except there be occation for to make use thereof in their own defence.
"The same day the selectmen compounded with our drummers, John Shead & Samuel Frost, To pay forthwith unto John Shead twenty shillings. to clere with him while that day; & to pay to Samuel Frost ten shillings, & to clere with him while that day; but it hath not been attended."
Account was taken in July of the ammunition stock in the hands of Capt. Danforth. It consisted of a barrel of powder, 110 pounds, part of an old barrel, 68 pounds, lead, 120 pounds, flints, 130, bullets, 38, and match "sufficient."
These savage and desolating assaults on Billerica are incidents of what is known as "King William's War," described by Mather, in his Decennium Luctuosum, and extending from 1688 to 1698. There is no evidence that either of these attacks were preceded by any warnings, or that any other towns suffered at the same time.
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The dusky foe chose to fall upon some unsuspecting settlement and beat a hasty retreat before neighbors could rally to the rescue. This method of warfare must have been peculiarly trying, and demanded ceaseless vigilance. Of the situation and anxiety of the time, we have a picture in a letter of Christopher Osgood, of Andover, which must apply nearly as well to Billerica. It is dated, 1696, Aug. 14,13 ' and describes the danger, a number of men having been impressed from the town for the eastward expedition, the river being low and fordable, and the enemy coming between Exeter and Haverhill. "The people of our Town are under such discouragements to stand their ground, that they are in ye amazement of their spirits about contriving to break up and Remove, and every one to shift for their lives, though it be to ye loss of their estates ; and some garrisons already are upon removing, and extremity of fear and dangers will not suffer men to know their duty"; for which and other reasons, he "makes our speedy application to yr honor for present relief." Another letter relates, "that William Peeters, belonging to Samuel Blanchard's garrison, went to his house with one Hoyt to fetch his horse, and not returning search was made and both men were found killed and scalped. The house was about half a mile from the garrison, on the Bildrekey road, in an open playn plase."
During all these years of danger, the inhabitants must have grown unpleasantly familiar with the trouble and annoyance, as well as the peril, of garrison life. Houses not ample for a single family must be made to serve often a half-dozen families for shelter and defence ; and the comforts of life could have had small consid- eration. No list of the "garrisons" is given after 1675, but that changes and additions were made after so long a time is certain. The tradition is probable, that the Manning house, still standing on the Chelmsford Road, was in use as a garrison ; and it is certain that Samuel Hunt's house at Wamesit was so, and from its exposed situation it was probably the most important. It stood a half-mile south of the Merrimack, at "Hunt's Falls," on what is now the farm of John Clark, somewhat south of a. line connecting Mr. Clark's house and that of General Butler, and about equally distant from them. It was just east of the limits of Lowell. Here scouting parties must often have made a rendezvous, as they passed and repassed from Chelmsford to Andover, Prospect Hill, and the Great
13 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. LI, 59.
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Swamp. The latter were plainly points of special interest and solicitude to the watchful inhabitants.
In the history of these Indian Wars, the name of John Lane comes into view as the leading military man in the town. He appears in rapid succession as lieutenant, captain, and colonel, and is often mentioned. He is in command of a troop in 1693, and, in 1696-7, February 12, received this order from Maj. Jonathan Tyng, of Dunstable : 14 "Having advice from the Lt .- Governor, that at the spring near approaching, it may be expected that the enemy will make fresh attacks, both by sea and land, I do therefore order that you make inquiry into the state of ye troopers under your command, and see that every one of them be mounted on a good, serviceable horse for war, and furnished with a good, well-fitted carbine, besides pistolls, and to see that the whole troop be in Readiness to pass upon duty ; and in case of alarum upon Discovering the approach of * the enemy by sea, you are hereby ordered with the several Troopers under your command, forthwith to repair to the port or place within your county where the Alarum is first given, there to receive and attend to further orders," etc. But no call came to such service, and the nearest approach of the Indians during the years 1696 and 1697 was at Dunstable, Haverhill, and Lancaster.
Captain Tyng, of Dunstable, writes, 1696, September 1,15 of one person killed and one taken captive "yesterday, both belonging to my garrison." He sent a negro and a Spanish Indian to do some haying across the river, and a soldier, a Plymouth Indian, to guard them. As they did not return and the dogs barked and howled, he became alarmed and sent word to Dunstable and to Captain Bowers, of Chelmsford, who speedily mustered twenty men, crossed the river, found the men dead and the Spanish Indian asleep.
In 1697, March 15, came the attack on Haverhill. immortalized by the heroism of Hannah Dustin, who was taken captive and borne as far as the Contoocook. There, on an island in the Merrimack, aided by her nurse and a lad who were taken with her, she joined consummate womanly tact and masculine heroism, killed and scalped ten of her captors, and reached her home safely with her trophies not many days after.
A treaty of peace between France and England was signed, 1697, September 11; but there were no ocean cables or steamships
14 Lane Papers.
15 Massachusetts Archives. Vol. LI, 63.
1
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to bring the glad news to America, and, eleven days later, the treacherous Indians fell once more upon the settlements at Lancaster, burned two garrison-houses, and killed twenty-one, wounded two, and took six captives. This massacre brought special sorrow to Billerica, for one of the victims was the Rev. John Whiting, the young pastor of the church, and son of our Billerica pastor. It is said that he was offered quarter, but chose rather to "fight to the last than resign himself to those whose tender mercies are cruel."
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