USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 10
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87
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
represented the Town in the General Court. He was a Major, and married Lucy, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Clarke, Sept. 19, 1700. He was severely wounded while commanding a batallion between Groton and Lancaster, and died in Concord, August 16, 1710. Lucy, his wife, died April 25, 1708.
"The Nashoba Indians, who lived upon the southern borders of the Town, suffered great hardships during King Philip's War. They were removed by order of the Court to Concord, where they were cared for by John Hoar. Here they lived peaceably. When Captain Samuel Moseley came, he broke into their home, scattered their property, and they were hurried to 'their furnace of affliction' at Deer Island." In May, 1677, they were, with some of the Naticks, removed by order of the Court, to Pawtucket. Those who were removed were mostly women and children. It was ordered "that the men be improved in the service of the country." Arms were provided for such as were trusty, and they were placed under the command of Captain Hinchman.
They were shiftless like all Indians and had no permanent homes, and required careful watching by their white neighbors whose pigs and chickens they often made away with.
Rarely did the early settlers go into the field to work without taking their guns with them, and placing a sentinel to watch for the enemy.
Gookin speaks of "some skulking Indians of the enemy" "the principal whereof was Nathaniel, he and his party did this and other mischief * * in burning several houses at Chelms- ford." Nathaniel was captured later in New Hampshire and hanged in Boston.
At the opening of King Philip's war each county had its regiment of "trained soldiers." The Middlesex Regiment consisted of fifteen companies of foot and one of cavalry. Men were impressed from the local companies and placed under officers appointed for special service by the Council. The pay of soldiers was 6s. per week, and 5s. was paid for their "dyet." The old matchlock musket was used, but was discarded for the flint- lock or snaphance. No bayonets were used and pikemen were useless. The matchlock was too long and heavy to fire at arm's length, so that each soldier was obliged to carry a rest, or crotched staff, with an iron point at the bottom, and attached to his wrist by a string. He carried six feet of match or fuse with which to fire his gun.
88
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
This weapon had the disadvantage of the burning fuse being scented by the enemy when to leeward, and in wet weather it was well nigh useless. It was perhaps less effective than the bow and arrow.
According to the old colonial law, sixty-four soldiers were accounted a foot company, which could nominate their officers, and must have two drums.
Every foot soldier was to be completely armed and furnished, the pikeman with a good pike well headed, corslet, head-piece, sword and snapsack; the musquetiers with a good fixed musquet, not under bastard musquet bore, nor under three feet nine inches in length, nor above four feet, three inches long, with a priming wire, worm, scouter and mould, fitted to the bore of his musquet; also with a good sword, rest, bandeliers (shoulder-straps with many little boxes containing powder and ball), one pound of powder, twenty bullets, and two fathom of match upon the penalty of ten shillings for every defect; and all other inhabitants of this Jurisdiction, except magistrates, and elders of Churches, the president, fellows and students of Harvard College, shall always be provided of arms, and furnished as aforesaid under the penalty aforesaid.
Soldiers and others provided their own arms. Poor men were put to service to earn out the cost of their arms. Flintlocks came into use shortly after the outbreak of King Philip's war.
November 3, 1675, every town was ordered to provide 6 gun flints to each of its soldiers."
As early as 1671 Chelmsford people began to prepare for the coming outbreak. Men were ordered to bring clubs to the meet- ing house.
In 1672 the town "covenanted with Abraham Parker to cut all the brush in the training place * *
and by training place is understood all that land now cleared by the town for that use." This land was probably on the pine plain, formerly called the Carolina plain, on the west side of the road between Chelmsford Centre and Lowell.
In 1673 a house was built on Robin's hill, probably for a lookout.
7th 8mo., 1673. The towne voated Leftenant Samuell Foster and en-william Fletcher Shold a point the place whear the towne house Shold bee bultt .... It was voated that all mall persons from the age of twelve years to sixtey, shall, every one, worke one
89
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
day in the yeare for the Clearing of Robins hill, on the penalty of twelve pence a boy, and tow Shillings a man, in case thay Neglectt beeing ther unto caled ... by order of the Selectmen. For sixe years in sewing, the datte heer of being left to the Selectmen to a point the day yeerly, and likwis thay are to apoint a man to lead on the worke either ther or else whear, att the selectmens apointment, dated as above by order of the Towne. [See Chapter on the Beginning.]
At this period the Chelmsford Company in the Middlesex Regiment had for Lieutenant Thomas Hinchman, and for Ensign William Fletcher. The ensign carried the colors. The title of second lieutenant has been substituted for that of ensign, owing to the changed conditions of modern warfare.
The following powder account of 1674 is found in the Town Records, and shows the names of Chelmsford's able-bodied men at that time.
An ac't of Powder sould to the inhabitants of Chelmsford the 1 Day of september, 1674.
It[em] James Richerson
1
6
Samuell Flecher
1
6
Will woodhead
1
6
Andrew spaulding
1
6
Will Underwood
2 pds 3
Thom barett
1
6
Joseph barett
1
6
Solomon Keies
1
6
Robertt proctor
4
6
Efrm hildreth
1
6
Moses barron
1
6
Joseph buterfild
3
John Spaulding
1
6
Nath buterfild
1
6
John steuens
1 6
Paull Flecher
1
6
Will Flecher
3
Jerath bowers
1
6
George Robines
1
6
John Wright
1
6
Samll buterfild
1
6
Abraham biam
3
0
Ambros swalow
1
6
Steuen perce
1
6
John blanchard
3
John battes
1
6
Jonathan Adames
1
6
Thomas hinchman
4 6
Jacob Warren
1 6
90
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Joshuah Flecher
1
6
Sam Flecher Jun 1
6
peletiah Adames
1 6
Thomas Adames
A
6
Joseph Farwell
1
6
Thomas Coborn
1
6
Edward Coborn Sen
1
6
John Coborn
1
6
Edward Coborn
1
6
James hildreth
1 6
John bauke
1
6
Thom Corry
1
6
Abraham parker, Sen
2 pounds 3
0
John parker
1
6
John barett
4 6
Thom Chambrlin Sen
3
0
Edward Spauldig
1
6
leften Foster
6
0
John perham
1
6
John Fiske
1 6
Josiah Richenson
3
0
henry Gidly
1
6
Eleazer browne
1
6
Cornell waldow
3
0
John burge
4
6
Sam varnum
3
0
Will Good
1
6
beniamin spaulding
1
6
Joseph spaulding
1
6
lefttenant Foster more 4
6
Thom Chamberlin Jun
1
6
Jacob parker 1
6
this ac't above is to be Charged att 15d p pound
And giune by Rate to the Connstable
6 9
John Stevens, whose name appears in this list, (though it may have been another man, for he describes himself in his petition to the Court as a stranger, of Captain Mosely's company,) received a shot in his right arm so as to lose the use of it, and was granted 40 shillings and other compensation. [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 67, p. 269.]
The Town provided several garrison houses. Lieut. Thomas Henchman's was at Middlesex in the north part of the town, on the Merrimack. One is supposed to have stood on South street near Warren avenue, just north of the Marshall place; another on the high ground between the mill pond and the South Chelms- ford road; still another opposite Andrew Spalding's, the Hodson place. Allen mentions "one south of the meeting-house." An
91
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
ancient well was recently discovered on Acton street, on Winthrop Parkhurst's lot. There was also one on Francis Hill, near the Keyes' place, which overlooked the settlements on Stony brook. The location of another was on Riverside street, in Dracut, a mile below Pawtucket falls. Tradition says that the mistress of this house drove away a prying Indian by throwing a dipper full of hot soft soap in his face, before blowing the horn to give the alarm.
Allen says (page 148), "The English erected garrison houses in different parts of the town, to which they fled on the first notice of danger, and where they usually spent their nights. They were environed by a strong wall of stones or of hewn timber, built up to the eaves of the houses; through which was a gate, fastened by bars and bolts of iron. They were lined either with brick or thick plank. Some of them had port holes, for the discharge of musquetry. In these the early settlers spent many a sleepless, anxious night." There were loop-holes in the oldest part of the Spaulding house-the ell-for use in case of an Indian attack. This part of the house is thought to be as old as any building in Chelmsford. It stands on the Boston road, where the old Mill road branches off. Almost all of these buildings have disappeared. Some houses built in the time of the later Indian wars were also constructed as nearly bullet-proof as possible, the framed walls being filled in with brick. A wall of this nature was taken down within recent years at the Putnam farm, and also one at the old Farwell or Timothy Adams place on Billerica street.
The parsonage, where Ebenezer Bridge lived, now known as the "Railroad house," had its walls lined with pine plank of three inches thickness.
The Dupee house and the Homer Thayer house, towards the South village, were used as garrison houses. The walls of the latter were filled with brick. A house that formerly stood near that in which Andrew H. Park lived is also said to have been used as a garrison.
The house, which Jonathan Tyng built about 1674, at Tyngs- boro (then Dunstable) is interesting. It was then the most northerly house in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. Tyng's farm was cultivated by slaves, and in the great attics are said to have been the slave-pens where refractory slaves were chained. In the tower, on one of the adjoining buildings, was the bell which called the slaves in from their work in the fields.
92
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The Heywood, or Hayward, house at South Chelmsford is curiously constructed. The chimney, with three huge fireplaces opening into as many rooms, is about twelve feet square at the base, and rises in an open space in the middle of the house, which was built around it. The rooms on the second floor open on a sort of gallery in this space about the chimney, which here narrows to about half the above dimensions. It was bought in 1726 by Benj. Heywood, a cooper of Billerica, from Thomas Adams, who removed to Dunstable. One room in the house is said to have been a garrison, the plank lining of which was removed by Mr. Heywood, who died about 1860.
In the present residence of Mr. J. Adams Bartlett, built in 1692, by Joseph Parker, some of the walls were filled with brick.
What is known as "The Ark" at the junction of Bartlett and Acton streets, built by Dr. Nehemiah Abbott, in 1700, had in its immense chimney (taken down some years since) a hiding place, concealed behind a sliding panel. It was a small room about six feet square, and five feet from the floor. It was entered by means of a ladder. When discovered, there were in it a low chair and a jug or pitcher.
The William J. Stevens' place was used as a garrison.
The Emerson house, opposite Colonel Simeon Spaulding's house at the corner of North and Dalton streets, was a garrison house. At one time, while thus occupied, an Indian attempted to set it afire with a bundle of flax, to destroy the inmates. He was fired upon by a man with a rifle from the meeting house. The ball struck the clapboards, just above the Indian's head, near the door of the house. The hole was still to be seen, at the time the house was burned in 1905. The old part of this house had been standing for more than two centuries and had been held by the Emerson family from an early date.
CREDITED AT THE GARRISON AT CHELMSFORD.
November 20, 1675.
d
£
S d
Moses Cleaveland
£ 02
S 12 08
Samuel Parris
02
12 08
November 30, 1675.
Zachariah Shedd
03
00 00
Joseph Simons
03
00
00
John Ellis
04
10
00
John Roby
01
04
00
Richard Nevers
03
00 00 John George
04
16
00
Joseph Samson
04
10 00
Hopewell Davis
04
16
00
Thomas Sawin
03
00 00
William Fisher
04
16
00
Thomas Train
03
00
00
Henry Harris
04
16 00
93
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
December 20, 1675.
Francis Nichols
02
11 04 Thomas Estman
01
04 00
Hezekiah Pilsbury
01
04 00
Richard Beach
03
08 06
Joseph Estman
01
04
00
William Foster
00 06 00
John Martin
01
04 00 Henry Harris
00
06 00
Benjamin Allin
01
04 00 Joseph Lamson
00
12
00
Amos Singlater Nathaniel Ladd
01
04 00
January 25, 1675-6.
John Bear
00
09 04 John Eliot
01
17 08
John Darling
00
09
04
Joseph Simons
01
15
02
George Wyatt
00
09 04
John Salendine
02
14
00
Samuel Parry
01
00 06
Arthure Crouch
02
14 00
Robert Shelston
02
09 08
William Ballard
02
08 00
Walter Davis
00
09
04 Moses Cleaveland
00
06 00
Thomas Wenmore
00
09
04
Richard Nevers
02
08 00
Benjamin Lernett
04
16 00
John George
02
04
06
Moses Cleaveland
02
08
10
Thomas Train
02
08
00
February 29, 1675-6.
John Welch
00
07 08
Ephraim Matson
01 04 00
March 24, 1675-6.
Thomas Henchman
01
10 00
Joseph Parker Junr.
00
12
00
Joseph Parker Senr.
00
12 00
June 24, 1676.
Daniel Woodward
03
08
06
Robert Parker
00
10 00
Josiah Clarson
03
16
02
Nathaniel Graves, Capt. 12
10
00
Henry Harris
03
12
10
Timothy Day
04
16
00
Samuel Cleveland
03
07
08
George Stedman
02
12
02
John Clark
03
12
00
John Polly
02
18
00
Henry Sparkes
03
12 00
George Parson
01
16
00
John Mirecke
03
13 08
July 24, 1676.
John Solinden
06
12
00
John Priest
05
02 00
William Fisher
06
12
00
George Sowder
04
03
00
Arthure Crouch
06
12
00
Samuel Damman
03
10
00
John George
06
12
00 Saball Stearnes
03
05 00
Thomas Traine
06
12
00
Samuel Heberd
04
00
06
Samuel French
03
08 06
George Person
04
00
06
John Elliot
03
18
00
Alexander Alhort
02
10
06
August 24, 1676.
Nicholas Lunn
03
10
00
Henry Harris
03
00
10
John Mirick
06
00
00
Samuel Perry
03
18
00
John Barbene
06
13
08
John Polly
00
18
10
Joseph Simons
03
18 00
John Barbene
05
04
06
September 23, 1676.
John Priest
02
08
00
John Bateman
07
11 00
William Peirce
07
12
06
[Bodge, King Philip's War, p. 357.]
At Wamesick January 25, 1675
James Kidder
00
12 00
01
04 00
Hopewell Davis
00
10
00
94
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
From a paper which was presented to the Court after Major Willard's death, in statement of his unpaid services and expenses for the government, it appears that from the 20th of September (1675) till the 18th of April (1676), the Major was employed about the country business, settling of garrisons in towns, and settling of Indians at Concord and Chelmsford and other business, etc.
He was born in County Kent, England, baptized, April 7, 1605. He came to Cambridge in 1634. At the opening of King Philip's war he was the chief military officer of Middlesex County. He was then seventy years old.
The following names are on the list of those credited with service from Chelmsford under Major Willard, from August 7, 1675 to January 25, 1675-6.
October 5th
Paul Fletcher
02
10 00
Edward Foster
02
10 00
John Barrett
02
10 00
Gershom Procter
02
10 00
Ephraim Hildred
02
07
00
Samuel Cleaveland
03
06
04
John Bateman
03
15
00
Paul Fletcher
02
01
00
[Bodge, p. 121.]
CREDITED UNDER CAFT. WHEELER:
Feb'y 29th 1675-6.
David Batchelor.
01
12
10
Simon Davis (two credits) 01
11
10
Simon Crosbe.
01
12 10
Nath. Hill.
01
12
10
Daniel Maginnis.
00
06
00
Jonathan Hill.
01
12 10
John Kitteridg.
01
12
10
Joseph Foster.
01
12 10
James Pattison.
01
12 10
John Waldo.
01 12 10
Jonathan Hide.
01
12
10
1
Samuel Fletcher Senr. 01
04
05
John Brown.
01
12
10
Samuel Fletcher Junr. 01
12
10
Joseph Hayward.
01
12
10
Eleazer Brown.
01
19 04
John Hayward.
01
12
10
Cyprian Stevens.
00
14
03
Stephen Hosmer.
01
12
10
Benjamin Graves.
00
19 04
John Gould.
01
12
10
John Bates.
01 12 10
Stephen Goble. 01 12
10
Henry Green.
01
12
10
March 24th
Joseph Winn.
01
12
10
Simon Willard.
01
12
10
Sept. 23d 1676.
Thomas Tarball.
01
12
10
Abraham Jaque.
00
11 00
Joseph Blood.
01
12
10
Joseph Fitch.
01
09- 00
June 24th 1676.
Samuel Dunton.
01
09
00
Henry Woodis, Lieut.
04
02
02
Jonathan Prescott.
00 14 03
Joses Buckman.
01 12
10
Samuel Davis. 01
02
10
Francis Dudly. 01 12
10
Phinias Sprague.
01
19
04
[Bodge, p. 114.]
Some of these were from Chelmsford and Billerica.
95
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
OTHER CREDITS FOR MILITARY SERVICE.
August 24, 1676
Chelmsford-Towne Cr. By Sundry accpts viz. 05 05 06
Joseph Hyde pd. as per
assignment 01 00 06 | Jacob Miller per
Jerathmell Bowers 02 15 00
John Barrett 01 10 00
[Bodge, p. 373.]
Chelmsford November 24, 1676
James Harwood
04 11 00
January 24, 1676
Cornelius Waldoe
00
19
00
Joseph Hildrick
01
01
04
[Bodge, p. 448.]
Cornelius Waldo, who died here January 3, 1700-1, was probably born in England about 1624, and came from Ipswich after 1668. He was a deacon, and had a son of the same name. John, a son of Deacon Waldo, married Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Adams, in 1673 (?) at Chelmsford. In 1678 Cornelius was one of the committee to instruct the selectmen of Chelms- ford, and was selectman in 1698.
John was wounded at Brookfield in 1675 while in Captain Wheeler's company.
Rebecca Waldo married Edward Emerson, the school master of Chelmsford, in 1698, and from them Ralph Waldo Emerson in- herited two-thirds of his name.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is recorded as saying of Edward Emerson: "He was noted for the virtue of patience, and it is a family tradition that he never complained but once, when he said mildly to his daughter, that her dumplings were somewhat harder than needful, but not often."
[Brown: "Beside Old Hearthstones," p. 349.]
Joseph Hildreth, born April 16, 1658, was the son of Richard, one of the early settlers of Chelmsford, who came from Cambridge in 1656. Joseph married Abigail Wilson at Woburn, the 25th of the 12th month 1683, and died January 28, 1706.
Richard died February 23, 1692-3, aged 88. His first wife, Sarah, died in 1644. His second wife, Elizabeth, died August 3, 1693.
96
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
1676. February 5.
In an account of a return of the Committee of Militia in the Regiment of Middlesex for 20 men impressed, is this item:
Chelmsford-Henery Sparkes
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 68, p. 130.]
He married July 10, 1676 Martha Barrett of Chelmsford, who was imprisoned for more than a year in Boston on suspicion of witchcraft.
"The towns assumed the payment of the wages of their own Soldiers, to their families left at home, the families thus receiving sure and immediate aid, and the towns being credited to that amount upon their colonial "rates" or taxes. It was doubtless a means of great help to the families, and of saving to the towns, as it secured at once the support of the families without public charge, and at the same time the prompt payment of taxes."
The foregoing lists are from the account book of John Hull, Treasurer of the Colony, from which Bodge quotes extensively, and which is now in the keeping of the N. E. Hist. Geneological Society in Boston.
Between August 9th and 16th Mosely had marched from Mendon to Brookfield, where he distributed his men as above. On the 17th he probably marched towards Chelmsford, as proposed, but on the 22d some of the Nipmuck Indians fell upon Lancaster and killed seven or nine inhabitants, and the next day the people sent for Capt. Mosely, and told him of their suspicions of the Hassanemesit Indians (friendly or Praying Indians) then living under supervision in a sort of fort at Marlborough. Capt. Mosely hastily marched to the fort and seized eleven (or, according to Major Gookin's account, fifteen) of the Indians, "pinioned" them and bound them neck to neck, and sent them down to Boston for trial. Of the fifteen, only eleven were accused; all were finally found innocent and acquitted, and Capt. Mosely's pro- ceeding severely criticised by the Court and his superior officers. Major Gookin believes that the people instigated suspicions "in order to secure the land of the Indians." After sending these prisoners down on August 30th, Capt. Mosely marched up the Merrimack as far as Pennacook (Concord, N. H.) to the home of the peaceful Wannalancit, where he was prepared to repeat the late transaction; but the Pennacooks had quietly withdrawn and eluded him. He burnt their village and stores of food, and marched back. Capt. Mosely's course was not approved and the Court immediately sent messengers to win back the friendship of Wannalancet. [Bodge, p. 67.]
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97
EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
Letter of Capt. Samuel Mosely to the Governor. He was Captain of the "Volunteers," mostly adventurers, released pirates, &c.
ffrom Nashowah Allies Lankestor 16th August 1675. Honored Sir
Yesterday I spayred Capt. Beeres 26 our men to march with him to Sprinkefeild & it was with Major Willard ordder and I have also Accordinge to my orders from Major General Denison Sentt to Dunstable fort to Inlearge there gard 18 men & to Groatton 12 men & to Chelmsford 12 men out of those yt ware under Capt Hinksmans & of those yt Caime with me: Also last nightt about Seaven A clocke we martched into Nashowah [Lancaster] wheare we are Att present butt shall as soon as the Constable haith prest us a dozen Horses proseed for groatton & so to Chensford: according to the order Major Willard gave me yesterday Att Quoah-bawge [Brookfield]; The day before I came from Quoahbaugh-I martched I (n) company with Capt Beeres & Capt Laytrop to the Swamp where they left mee & tooke theire martch to Sprinkfilld and a soone as they ware gon I tooke my martch Into the woods about 8 mills beyond the Swape where Capt Huttcheinson and the rest ware yt ware wounded & killed & so returned to follow the enemy as above saide; also we did find & prsell of wigwoms beyond the Swaimp about 20 which we burnt &c. our Majr having a Seartayne Intelligence of a con- siderable party of Indians yt have gathered toogather a littell above Chensford which I hope wee shalbe up with this night or toMorrough at furthest & if it pleese God I come up with them God assisting me I will cloosely ingadge with them & God spearing my life I shall as oppertunity gives leave Acquaint your honnor of my Actions; I have with me butt 60 men at present; so desiring your prosperity & yt it my please God to preserve your Honour in good health and humbly beseach your prayers to God for my Good Suckses in this my undertaking with my Humbell Searvis &c in all deuttyfullness I subscribe myself your Respective kinsman & Humble Searvantt
Samuel Mosley
my Cosson Leverett ppresents his Deuty to yor Honour & my Antt. [Quoted by Bodge, p. 66.]
A merchant of Boston in "The Present State of New- England," London, 1675, relates an amusing incident, which, from the above letter, we may infer took place "a little above Chensford" when Capt. Mosely came up with the "considerable party of Indians." We wonder whether he acquainted the Governor "of his actions" and those of the Indians.
"About the 15th of August, Captain Mosely with sixty men met a company, judged about three hundred Indians, in a plain
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
place where few Trees were, and on both sides preparations were making for a Battle; all being ready on both sides to fight, Captain Mosely plucked off his Periwig, and put it into his Breeches, because it should not hinder him in fighting. As soon as the Indians saw that, they fell a Howling and Yelling most hideously, and said, "Umh, Umh, me no staw merre [stay here?] fight Engis mon, Engis mon got two hed, Engis mon got two hed: if me cut off un hed, he got noder, a put on beder as dis; with such like words in broken English, and away they all fled and could not be over- taken, nor seen any more afterwards."
"About a week after this Capt. Mosely took two Indians, the Father and his Son, and willing to examine them both apart, proceeded thus: Took the old Man and bound him to a Tree, after he was so bound, he sent away the Son by a File of Men out of sight; the old Man there confessed he was a Praying Indian, and that he was only hunting for Deer thereabouts, but said that his son was one of those Men that wounded Capt. Hutchison. So then after they had pumped him as much as they could, they fired a Gun with no Bullet in it over his Head, untied him, and sent him another way with a File out of sight: then telling him that they had shot his Father, and would shoot him also, if he would not confess what he was, and what he knew: He fairly told them, that he was a Praying Indian, but his Father made him go with him to the Nipmoog Indians, and that there they shot three or four times apiece; whereupon they then brought the old Man and tied him to his Son, and Examined them together, at length they confest. They were both among the Nipmoogs, and that the Son did wound Captain Hutchison; after their Examination, they were both shot to Death.
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