USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 11
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In this same Week, King Philip's men had taken a Young Lad alive about fourteen Years old, and bound him to a tree two nights and two Days, intending to be merry with him the next day, and that they would Roast him alive to make sport with him; but God over night, touched the heart of one Indian so that he came and loosed him, and bid him run Grande (i. e. run Apace) and by that means he escaped."
Aug. 30, 1675, the Governor and Council, yielding to the popular prejudice, against their own better judgment, decreed the disbandment of all Christian Indian Companies in service, to be confined in their five villages, one of which was Wamesit. Oct. 18, a party of hostile Indians set fire to a haystack
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of Lieut. James Richardson, at Chelmsford, and managed that the deed should appear to be done by the Wamesit Praying Indians, that so the English should remove them from their village, or so persecute them as to drive them to the enemy. This crime was afterwards confessed by Nathaniel, a hostile Indian, who was taken at Dover by the strategy of Major Waldron, and executed at Boston. Although Lieut. Richardson declared that the "Praying Indians" were his warm friends, and would never injure him, their best friend in those parts, all availed nothing. The vulgar clamor prevailed, and the Court next day, passed an order for the troopers to bring down the Wamesits. * This order of the Council was carried out by a strong guard of troopers and infantry. The whole number of Wamesits, in their village, was one hundred and forty-five, of whom only thirty-three were able-bodied men. The original order was for all to be brought down; but after the village had been broken up, and all had been started on the way, it occurred to the Council that there were no sufficient accommodations for so large a body of people, especially Indians, and they prudently ordered all, save the able-bodied, back to their village. The thirty-three men were brought down to Charlestown, and lodged in the town-house, under guard, for a few days, and then all except a few, against whom some suspicions existed, were returned to their homes. [Bodge, p. 397.] Three of the Indians were condemned and sent away to be sold as slaves.
Later in the year the Wamesits met with another disaster, in the burning of a barn of hay, by some hostile Indian or English- man, for the purpose of casting reproach upon them. Lieut. Thomas Henchman, and Lieut. James Richardson, whose barn was burnt, were friends of these Indians, and in charge of them, and believed them innocent; but some of the English at Chelms- ford secretly organized a party, which went to the wigwams and shot down five women, seriously wounding them and killing a boy outright. The assault was unqualified, brutal murder. The lad was a son of a Sagamore, and grandson of a worthy old Sachem, Tahatawarre. The mother, who was among the dangerously wounded, was the daughter of the English "Sagamore John." This horrible outrage greatly exercised the Council; and the murderers, two fellows named Largin and Robbins, who were shown to be the ones who had fired their guns, loaded with shot, into the crowd, were arrested. But, notwithstanding the efforts
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
of the magistrates and ministers, with all the best men of the colony, no jury could be found to convict them; and, after an extended imprisonment, they were set free. By this act the rest of the Indians were so disheartened and frightened that they all forsook their villages and went away toward Pennacook to join Wannalancet. Sam Numphow and John Lyne, their rulers, sent back a written answer, by the messengers of the Council (sent to induce them to return, and promising protection), that they had confidence in the Council's good faith, but feared the people, and so were going away "to the French." * * * But, being in straightened circumstances and earnestly reassured by the Council, they were induced to return after a few weeks; and Lieut. Thomas Henchman was placed in charge as their guardian, and Major Willard, Mr. Eliot and Major Gookin went up and visited them. *
* * Although the magistrates and their faithful friends, Eliot and Gookin, did all in their power to help them, these poor souls suffered terribly from cold and hunger during the winter. Bodge has this further to say: Against Eliot, Gookin and Danforth, the blind fury raged, and the lives of these true men were attempted in a cowardly manner on several occasions. In February the Wamesits, fearing the hostile Indians on the one hand, and their English neighbors on the other, petitioned to be removed to some safer place in the Colony. The Court promised, but neglected to take care of them, and the great body of them fled to Pennacook, to Wannalancet, being forced to leave behind, for the time, some half a dozen of their aged and blind, whom they considered safe, being helpless and harmless. After they were gone, these poor creatures were found and brutally murdered (being burned to death, as appeared, within their wigwams) by two brutes of the English, against whom nothing direct could be proved, but who were quite well known by the public, as they rather enjoyed such notoriety than feared it among their fellows.
In this retreat of the Wamesits, Sam Numphow, their ruler, and Mystic George, died from exposure and famine.
The foregoing account is from the full narrative given by Bodge. The Court's record, relating to Robbins and Largin, is here added. The letters and other documents which follow will explain themselves. They are arranged as nearly as possible in chronological order.
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"At an adjournment of the court of Assistants Nov. 19, 1675, George Robbins and Jno. Largin were Indicted and not found guilty.
They were bound over to the next County Court at Cambridge in April to answer for their wounding of the Indians under the Court's protection."
[Records of the Court.]
In reference to this outrage, Increase Mather of Boston wrote in his diary: "It is to be feared yt yr is guilt vpon ye Land in resp. of ye Indians yea Guilt of blood in resp. of ye Indians so treacherously murdered at Chelmsford. I am affraid God will viset for yt gf [that grief]."
LETTER OF NUMPHOW AND JOHN LINE.
To Mr. Thomas Henchman of Chelmsford. [Whom the Council had asked to persuade them to return.]
I, Numphow, and John a Line, we send a messenger to you again (Wepocositt) with this answer, we cannot come home again, we go towards the French, we go where Wannalancet is; the reason is, we went away from our home, we had help from the Council, but that did not do us good, but we had wrong by the English. 2dly. The reason is we went away from the English, for when there was any harm done in Chelmsford, they laid it to us, and said we did it, but we know ourselves we never did any harm to the English, but we go away peaceably and quietly. 3dly. As for the Island, we say there is no safety for us, because many English be not good, and may be they come to us and kill us, as in the other case. We are not sorry for what we leave behind, but we are sorry the English have driven us from our praying to God and from our teacher. We did begin to understand a little of praying to God. We thank humbly the Council. We remember our love to Mr. Henchman and James Richardson [The marks of Numphow and John Line are affixed to the letter, which bears no date.]
[Transact. Am. Antiq. Soc., Vol. II, p. 483.]
Wepocositt was a servant to William Fletcher of this town. About twenty-three days after this, being much in want of food, the greater part of the Wamesits returned. Lieutenant Henchman informed the Council, who sent, as already stated, Gookin, Willard and Eliot, to encourage and settle them, and persuade the English at Chelmsford to be more friendly with them. Mr. Clarke, the minister of Chelmsford, asked the Indians what they had done while absent. They said they had kept three Sabbaths in the woods, that is, reading the Bible and praying to God, and otherwise deporting themselves as Christians.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
ACTION OF THE GENERAL COURT.
1675. Oct. 13-Whereas the Waymesitt Indians are vehemently suspected to be actors & Concentors to the burning of a haystacke at Chelmsford, this Court judgeth it meet that such Englishmen as cann inform or give euidence in the case be forth with sent for, and also those Indians now at Charls Towne, and the case to be heard by this Court, then & there to consider & conclude what wth the sajd Indians
[Massachusetts Bay Records, Vol. V, p. 57.]
It is ordered, that the major generall forthwith take order to secure the Indians at Wamesicke, & about Chelmsford.
Vpon the Courts hearing the euidences produced against Wm Haukins, Indian, as to the firing the haystacke at Chelmsford, sentenct him to be sent away by the Treasurer.
Two Indians, one an old man named Mannapaugh, & Mannen- esit, a young man, his sonn, pretending themselves to belong to Vncas, being found at Chelmsford, where the haystacke was fired, giving no reason of their coming & staying here, was judged to be spyes, and ordered to be sent away by the Treasurer. [Ibid, p. 58.]
WARRANT TO SECURE WITNESSES AGAINST THE WAMESIT INDIANS FOR OUTRAGES COMMITTED AT CHELMSFORD.
To Left. Tho. Hinchman & the Cunstable of Chelmsford
You are hereby required in his Majty's name forthwith to sumon & require such & so many Englishmen as you or either of you know have heard or any of ye selectmen Wch you know cann Give any evidenc agt the Waymesit Indians wch have been actors or consentors to the burning of a Haystack in Chelmsford as also in refference to the Indians now at Charls toune and require such persons as Cann testify in such respect to make their appearances before the Genl Court sitting in Boston the 25 inst at one of the clock in ye afternoon making your returne hereof nor to faile Dated in Boston 22 oct 1675 [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 183.]
Joseph sponnaur Condemned 29 octobr. '75 Sam I Indian condemed 29 octob
John Indian sent down from left Tho. Hincksman Condemed [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 183a.]
THOS. HINCHMAN'S LETTER CONCERNING THE INDIANS MENTIONED IN [183a].
Ye Honered Sir
J Resefed Yover Honers wer in [wherein] you Recieved [required] me to sese the sqvaws wich be Lon[g] to Condemned indens and others who are rendered svspisiovs: Wo the Con-
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EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
demned parsons are I knov not and so cold not tell will w[h]o . to send dovn: bort J having som of the sobrist indens advis and all so thayer de sir that thes Company shold be sent down wich ar in nomer: 14: yon[g] and old: som of w[h]os husbans ar in the army others of them as J understand are sold or Condemd to be sold: not troblen yover honor any forder bot J sobcrib my Self Yover Sarvent To Command Tho: Henchman
Chensford 30: 8 mo 75
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 184.]
Mr. Eliot protested against selling Indians as slaves.
THE PETITION OF JOHN ELIOT TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL
"Sheweth
13th of the 6th 1675
That the terror of selling away such Indians unto the Jlands fr perpetual slaves who shall yeild up ymselves to your mercy is like to be an effectual prolongation of the Warre. & such an exasperation of ym as may produce, we know not what evil conse- quences upon all the land." &c.
[Massachusetts Archives. Vol. 30, p. 173.]
The withdrawal of the Wamesit Indians into the wilderness occasioned great uneasiness, as it was feared they had joined the enemy. Some of the Chelmsford soldiers, who were in the more exposed garrisons at Groton, desired to be released because of this new peril at home.
On September 8, 1675, the Council issued an order to Cornet Thomas Brattle and Lieut. Thomas Henchman to march to Chelmsford with fifty men, collected, thirty from Norfolk (then a different county from the present one), and twenty from Middlesex County, and distribute them in the garrisons in the frontier towns of Groton, Lancaster and Dunstable. The men were to be left under the command of the chief officers in each town.
For the succeeding months Major Willard was busily engaged in ordering the defences of the Middlesex frontier towns and settling the various bodies of friendly Indians. Garrisons were maintained at Lancaster, Chelmsford, Groton and Dunstable, and the entire available force of the country was kept in a "posture of war." [Bodge, p. 123.]
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The following is the order to which reference has been made:
For Cornet Thomas Bratle & Leiftenant Thomas Henchman. You are herby impoured & appointed with a party of horsmen vnder comand, forthwith to march to Chelmsford to attend & put in execution the instructions following:
1 first you are ordered with fifty soldiers that are appointed to meet you, at Leift Henchmans vizt thirty yt are to come from the county of Norfolke & twenty out of the county of Midlesex, that are ordered to meet you at Groton these fifty men you are ordered to sett in garrisons in the frontier townes of Dunstable, Groton, and Lancaster &c in such proportion as in your discretion shal bee expedient placing them vnder the comand of the cheefe military officers of each towne: giueing those officers direction: to joyne & lyst other meet persons of their owne companyes with them, & order them euery day to surraund the townes yey are to secure; & if they can to carry doggs with ym to search for & discouer any enimy that may aproch nere such towne & at night to repaire vnto such corps du gaurd, as are appointed to them for the security of the sd place, and there to keep watch by night; & furthermore you are to declare vnto the Inhabitants of each Towne (you are herby orderd to garrison) that the Gouernor & council do expect their bee meet prouisions of victual made for the garrison soldiers herby ordered, at ye charge of towne; whch is not to bee brought vnto the accot of the publicke; & if any town or people decline so to Doe so you are herby ordered not to leaue any soldiers with them.
Secondly you are further ordered, to Vse your best endeuor to setle, compose & quiet matters respecting the indians our neighboars, particularly those that liue at Wamesit, Nashubah, & Malborough; yt you endeuer to put in execution the printed order, relating to those indians & particularly yt you procure some english man or men to bee with ym or at least, to visit ym once a day to be as guardians for securing the english and indians, that neither the one or other may bee piudiced or injured, & the council are willing to allow such person or psons a meet compensation for their seruice in yt Imploy. And concerning the Indians at Marlborow who are ordered to reside at Hassan- amesit about twelue miles distant whether you are to order the cheefe officer of Malborow to conuey them, & if you can possibly procure, an english man or two to reside with them, at Hassan- amesit according as the printed order proude but in case that can not bee obtained yn those indians must be left at Hassan- amesit with exprse charge puncktualy to Obserue the printed order.
Lastly you are to endeauor either one or both of you (if it may bee) to gaine the Indian Sachem called Wannalanset to com in againe and liue at wamesit quietly [and] pecabley; you may promise him in the Councills name yt if hee will returne & his people & liue quietly at Wamesit hee shal susteyne No priudise
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by the english: only you are to ppose to him yt he deliuer for a hostage to the english his sonne who shalbe wel vsed by vs, & in case hee come in & can bee gained then you are to impour him to informe the Pennakooke & Natacook indians & all other indians on the East side of Merrimack Riuer, that they may liue quietly & peacable in yr places & shall not bee disturbed any more by the english prouided they do not assist or ioyne with any of or enimiy nor do any dammage or preiudice to ye english:
And hauing put in execution these instructions you are to returne home and giue an accot thereof to the Council.
And what euer is necessary for fulfiling these Instructions you are herby impowred by order of the Gounor & Councel to do it.
past by ye councel
8 September 1675 ER S.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 67, p. 252.]
ORDER PERMITTING WAMESIT INDIANS TO GATHER THEIR HARVEST.
At a meeting of the Council 21 of 7 bor 1675.
It is ordered by the Councill that th Indians belonging to Wamesit, vnder Nobhow & John Alyne Rulers (they having approved themselves friends to the English) hau Liberty granted to gather their Corne at Wemisett toune & to haue free Egress & regress to it from their fort neare Leiftenant Henchmans; prouided they do not goe any where whout th bounds of their plantation granted by the Genll Court & layd out to ym and this order to be & continue in force touching theise indians notwithstanding the old printed order Limitting ym not to travell above one mile from their wigwams. & All Englishmen are required to take notice of this order & not to molest theise indians in their lawfull employments duering the time of the Gathering & ining yr Corne.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, 176b.]
CAPT. HENCHMAN'S LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR.
Chelmsford Sept 27, '75.
Hond Sr
In pursuance of my instructions; I and my Lieut. met at Major Willard's the last day of the week, with the Captaines of the severall townes directed to; as well for the drawing of the Souldiers, as to advise with them; for the first they promise they shall be sent to chelmsford at an hours warning and so will be ready here by that time I have provission for them; and that of absolute necessity for them will be powder shott biscake cheese and raisons, large and warme Wast-coats and drawers tobaco, some hatchets and a Chirurgion; for the later the Major and rest of the officers will advise to no other motion than about this and other towns; but I understanding the intent of the Ho'd Council
1
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
to be that I should march to Pennycooke although not named in my instructions; I think it need full to acquaint your Honrs there with, and desire your express there unto. I have not farther at present but to subscribe
Sr your Honrs humble Servant
D. Henchman.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 67, p. 269.]
Daniel Henchman was a trusted officer of Boston, at the above date in command of the Chelmsford garrison.
ORDER FOR LT. THOS. HINCHMAN TO SEND 2 INDIANS TO TREAT WITH WANNALANCET.
Boston 30 September 1675 It is ordered by the Councill
That Leiftenant Thomas Henchman of Chelmsford do forthwith endevor to procure by hire one or two prudent & sutable jndians of Wamesit to trauill & seke to find out & speake with Wanna- lancent the Sachem & cary with them a writteng from the Councill, beeing a Safe conduct unto the said Sachem or any other principall men, not exceeding six persons, Belonging to Nantikook, penagooge or other people of thee northerly indians giving them free liberty to come into the house of the said Henchman; where the Councill will appoint Capt Gookin & Mr Eliot (persons known to them) to treat with about termes of Amity & peace between them & the English, and in case Agreem'ts & Conclusions bee not made to mutuall satisfaction then the said Sachem & all others that accompany him, shall have free Liberty to returne Backe againe to their places without any preiudice or molestation By the English. and this offer the Councill are induced to make because the said Wannalancet sachem as they are informed hath declared himsefe that the English neuer did any wrong to him or his father Pasaconaway but alwais lived in Amity & that his said father Charged him so to doe and that hee ye said Wannalancet will not begin to do any wrong to the Englise.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 178.]
LETTER TO WANNALANCET.
These for Wannalancett Sachem
or for any other principal Persons of th indians that Live vpon Merrimacke riuer either Belonging to Natakoog Penngooge or others touns. This our writing or safe conduct doth declare that the Governour & Council of Massacusets Doe giue you: & evey of you provided you exceed not 6 persons free liberty of coming unto & Returning in Safty from the House of Leiftenant Thomas Henchman at Naamkeake & there to treat with Capt Daniel Gookin & Mr John Eliot: Whome you Know & wee wil
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fuly impoure to treat & conclude with you. upon such meet termes And Articles of friendship Amyty & subjection as was formerly made & concluded betwne the Englise and old Passa- conaway your father & his sonns & people: And for this end wee have sent these messengers.
to conuay these vnto you & to bring yor Answer: Whome we desire you to treat Kindly & speedily to dispatch them Backe to us with yor Answer. Datted in Boston the fiuth day of October 1675. Signed by order of the Councill Edward Rawson Secrty John Leveret Govnor
Past by ye Council [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 179.]
LETTER FROM SAM NUMPHOW.
To the honoured gouvnour J Sam Numphow being com- manded to carrie a letter to Wanna[lan]cit and we cam to pannakook a little further then we se sum of the punnakook indians and asked them were wanna[lan]cit they sait he was at pemechowasick we went to Wannipposokick that was our way to goe to a pleace were they sait he was but when we cam to wannipposokick there we saw sum more indians we asked them were is the sachem they sait he went away three weeks agone from pemechowasick he went toward the french and they tolled us two indians come from pascattoway today they tolled us they kiled two english men and taken one alive: ten indians in a company.
And they tolled us there was sum more indians went out afore these last: from aospan and killed sum english and brought two children and one maid alive and they tolled us fifty more going out then we asked them which way doe they goe: they sait we can not tell.
As we coming home we met with groton indians at panakook they tolled us they desired to com in our town
Youres to command
12 8 mo '75 Sam Numphow
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 30, p. 182.]
PETITION OF THOMAS HENCHMAN, OCT. 2, 1678.
In 1675 the Gen Court ordered that Henchman should be paid by the Town of Chelmsford for maintaining several souldiers at his house on Merrimake River. His account is as follows: Account of Thomas Hinchmans Disburstments in Keeping of Garrison Souldiers which were sent to Garryson at Merrimake River by order of the Honord Councill.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
For 6 soulders from the 7th of August 1675 wch continued at the Garrison till ye 27th of June 1676 46 weekes at 4 s. 8 d. per weeke
For 4 souldiers from ye 27th of June 1676 and con- tinued untill the 1st of October 1676 13 weekes 5 days at 4 s. 8 d. per weeke
For 3 soulders of Majr Pykes who continued at ye sd Garrison one month and 3 from Ipswich six weeks.
£ S. D. 64:08:00
12:02:08
07:00:00
Summa £83:10. 8
A committee was appointed to lay out some Indian land, "neere adjacent," which should satisfy the petitioner-
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 69, p. 211.]
ACTION OF THE GENERAL COURT.
Whereas Left Thomas Hinchman hath been at great charge in providing ffor the diet of certeine souldjers appointed to garrison his house vpon Merremacke riuer, where sundry Englishmen, his neighbours, are concerned, which is a very apt place to secure that frontier, and besides, the sajd Hinchman hauing, vpon all occasions, binn very serviceable, and hath expended much time and charge to put in execution sundry orders and directions sent to him from the Council, this Court doe order, that the souldiers of that garrison be mainteyned both for diet at the toune of Chelmsfords charge for the time to come, and vntill the Court or council take further order; and further more that tenn pounds be allowed him for his extraordinary expences and labour out of the Country treasury.
1675. oct. 13.
[Records of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. V, p. 54.]
1675. oct, 13, Seven country rates were ordered to be levied. Chelmsford's tax was £14. 18. 00: Boston's, £300:
Concord's, £33. 19. 10: Groton's, £11. 10. 00; Billerica's, £14.07.00.
"All sorts of Corne paid in said rates:" Wheat at 6 shillings; rye, 4/6; barly and pease, 4 shillings; Indian, 3/6; oats, 2 shillings per bushel. If paid in money, 1/4 abated. [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 68, p. 29a.]
Prayers were ordered to be said daily in Camp.
ORDER FOR CAPT GOOKIN AND OTHERS TO PERSUADE THE INDIANS AT CONCORD & CHELMSFORD TO SETTLE AT DEER ISLAND.
It is ordered that Maior willard Capt Gookin & Mr. Danforth with Mr. Eliot, by the first oppertunity are to repayre to Concord & Chelmsford & to examine those Indians there & to vse their
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EARLY GRANTS-THE INDIANS
best endeuor to setle them in sure a posture either at Deare Jland or in the pleces where they live so yt they who are friends to the English may be secured & the English in those parts also securied & as much as may satisfied with their setlement & the said Comittee or any two or three of them are impoured to effect this matter, & they are to vse their best indeur. that those indians may be imployd & kept to lauber & take Care they bee all disarmed
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