USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 1 > Part 22
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No more efforts were made to settle at Green river, until after the peace of Ryswick, in 1697.
While settlements on either hand were being encouraged, the community at the Town Street was itself increasing in numbers and prosperity.
During the war, the most accessible fields were cultivated, with little care for proprietorship or lines. With a wider oc- cupation, came a call for better defined ownership. A vote was passed March 16th, 1698-9,-
That all lands within ye meadow fence together with all wanting lands and homelots be measured by ye Town Measurers : and that all lands not yet Recorded to be Recorded by the Town Clerk in ye Town Book of Records : ye Town Clerk having first received an ac- count of sd unrecorded land from the Town Measurers.
The great staple was Indian corn. A failure in this crop was a public disaster, so the policy of public protection was adopted, as appears by the following vote :-
That every house holder shall kill 12 Black Birds apiece this sum- mer or else what they shall want of sd number shall pay pence apiece in the Town Rate : and for what they shall kill above sd number they shall receive of the Town pence apiece untill the last of May next : and for what Black birds they shall kill from thence to ye middle of Sept a half a penny apiece : and whosoever shall kill crows this sum- mer shall have four pence apiece peayd them by ye Town.
219
REVISING THE RECORD.
This policy was continued in effect, until within about fifty years.
March 3d, 1701, Voted yt a Commity be chosen whose work it shall be to Methodize ye form and manner of Recording of ye meadow lands in all four of ye divisions : as also to determine to whom lands shall be recorded determining upon the following Rule yt is to say to those yt shall produce ye last legal deed of such and such lands : Capt Wells : Ensigne Jnº Sheldon : and Benoni Moor were chosen as a Commity to doe ye work mentioned in ye next above written vote :
No such book of records has been discovered ; it may have been destroyed in the house of the Clerk, Feb. 29th, 1704.
CHAPTER IX.
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
The success of the Prince of Orange brought on war with France, in which their colonies became involved, and Canada Indians under French guidance were soon ravaging our frontiers. Feb. 18th, Schenectady was surprised and burned by an army from Canada and the inhabitants massacred with a barbarity shocking to civilized warfare. Sixty were mur- dered, twenty-seven carried off to Canada, while the rest were driven half naked through the deep snow towards Albany. Twenty-five of these lost their feet by freezing.
When the news of this horrible affair reached Deerfield, a town meeting was at once called. This town was equally exposed to attack, being entirely without defensive works. The most energetic measures were at once taken to supply this neglect and meet the danger :-
Att a Leagall Town meeting Febr 26th 1689-90
That yr shall be a good sufficient fortification made upon the meet- ing hous hill: it was voted in the affirmative
for the stating proportioning and dividing to every p'son his part or proportion of fortification : for stating the height flankrs gates &c the Town have made choice of Mr Jnº Catlin Jonath Wells Samuel Northam Benj Barret Thos French Henry White and Benoni Steb- bins to act and doe in every part and particular as to ye prmises as yª shall Judg for ye good benefit & safety of the Town: voted in ye affirmative
That ye fortifications shall be don & finished by ye 8th of March next emediately ensuing: voted affirmatively
Thatt all persons whose families cannot conveniently and comfort- ably be received into ye houses yt are already upon ye meeting hous hill and shall be wthn the fortifications: such persons shall have hab- itations provided for ym wthn sª fortifications att the Town charg but any prson or prsons yt shall provide habitations for y"selves shall be exempt from ye charges aforesd: voted in the affirmative
That Sgt Jnº Sheldon Benoni Stebbins & Edward Allyn shall have full powr to appoint where every persons hous or cellar shall stand wt bigness ya shall be: yt is such houses or cellars as are to be built by ye town as aforesd: voted in the affirmative:
221
FORTIFICATIONS UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
It was not known here that the horde which destroyed Schenectady had returned to Canada. The same party might fall upon this town at any time, and every nerve was strained to prepare for a visit. It was no trifling thing that the in- habitants of Deerfield undertook. The task they set them- selves shows their self reliance. Under the direction of the Committee, an area large enough to shelter the whole poput- lation was to be enclosed with a palisado. For this, many hundred pieces of timber, twelve to fourteen feet long, must be cut, hewed on two sides, and hauled to the spot : a trench two or three feet deep, dug in the frozen earth. In this the pali- sades were to be set solid and each pinned to a horizontal rail running across near the top. Planks for the gates and flank- ers were to be sawed out, and set up. All this to be finished in ten days, though the whole force of men which could be mustered for this service, including the Greenfield and Wap- ping refugees, could not have exceeded sixty ; and this force was doubtless weakened by the "great sickness" which proved so fatal in the Connecticut valley this year. We find no account of the exact size of this stockade.
"Scouts of 14 or 16 men to bee out by the week together for the discovery of the enemy," were sent away weekly by Pynchon, to cover the frontiers during the spring months. Their pay was guaranteed by the county court, " if ye General Court do not pay them." A garrison of sixty Connecticut men under Capt. Colton, was established here as being the most exposed point on the river. The alarm at Albany equaled that here, and an application was made to Massachu- setts for aid in its defense. Gov. Bradstreet, in a reply dated June 24th, declined the request on the ground that Deerfield was as likely to be attacked as Albany. The failure of the expedition for the invasion of Canada this year left the fron- tiers in greater fear than before. Revenge was sure to fol- low, and extra precautions were taken to prevent a surprise by more vigilant watching and warding.
In addition to the labor, danger and loss, occasioned by the war, the town suffered severely this year from a malignant distemper, and several prominent men died. The following letter gives a sad picture of the afflicting visitation.
Peter Tilton writes Governor Bradstreet, August 23d, 1690 :-
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KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
The righteous Lord is sorely visiting these frontier towns at pres- ent, with sickness by agues and fevers, of which many are sick and weak and many are carried to their graves. The arrows of mortal- itie and death, are flying thick from town to town, & from family to family. A hundred persons sick at Deerfield, about forescore at Northampton, many at Hadley & Hatfield. The disease increases in the towns downward. Capt. [William] Lewis, and Capt. [John ] Moseley, are dead.
1691. This year, Major Peter Schuyler led a party of Mo- hawks against the Canada Indians, and being kept on the de- fensive, no war parties molested our frontiers.
December 14th, town officers were chosen: Selectmen, Eleazer Hawks, Edward Allyn, Samson Frary, Godfrey Nims and Henry White. Sealers of weights and measures, and packers of pork, were now for the first time chosen, they be- coming necessary on account of the large dealings with the commissary department.
In November about one hundred and fifty Indians came here from the Hudson, complicating affairs, and increasing the alarm. Concerning them, Pynchon wrote to Gov. Brad- street :-
SPRINGFIELD Dec 2, 1691.
Hon'ble Sir
There being Several Indians lately come into these pts who have Setled y"selves near Dearefeild, betweene it and Hatf1d, I judge it most meete and acct it but Duty, to aquaint yr Honor therewith and to crave advise & directions from yr Hon. & Council concerning them, & what may be necessary for safety in this time of danger & hazzard of enemyes; having such loud cals both from heaven & earth to be awakened; whereby we have as much cause, if not more, to look out for approaching danger this winter then last, when it was thought needful to continue a garrison at Dearefeild. The Indians came into Dearefeild sometime in Nov * * Yesterday I rec'd a letter from Capt Partrigg who writes the Indians yt are come down are about 150 of ym men, women, & children, & are Setled at Deare- feild under ye Side of ye Mountain Southerly from the Town, living in ye woods East of Wapping, about a mile of ye Town. The men
* Plying hunting & Leaving their Women & ch at home * *
They brought a written Pass Subscribed by ye Mayor of Albany, that they, behaving ymselves orderly, ye English would carry it friendly to them; Mr Partrigg writes for ye general they have been quiet hith- ertoe, only one or 2 of ym were high & Insolent towards a Lad at Dearefeild, taking Some of his fathers Corn & Pumpkins wthout leave; & one of ym yt came to Hatfield, upon one of our men reqting a Debt of him, ye Indian pulled out his knife. There are many of ym yt were or former Enymy Indians wch Setled at Albany til now.
I doubt whether difficultys many ways may not arise, or jars upon
223
HUNTING INDIANS.
yt acct., wch may raise spts & be provocations to Somne; ye rather bee I understand (tho have note certaine Legal knowledge) some of or peo- ple let y" have cider & rum, being so besotted with lucre of un- righteous gain & Insensible of God's anger on those accounts, & there owne danger, that it is to be feared thay expose y"selves & others-
Were ye Indians honest, as they pretend, they may be advantag- ious in scouting & giving notice of an enemie if approaching; yet also, being so Setled, they have opportunity of entertaining an Ene- my & betraying ye Townes, if they should pre false; & we having noe assurance of ym. I propose what may be necessary & meete to be done, yt we may be in some way of defending orselves-whether a garrison at Dearefeild be not convenient, is wth yr Hons. to con- sider, & then the writing to Connecticut to afford men & assist ther- in, will be necessary; & whether also these scouts of 4 men a week allowed by ye General Court in this County be not prof- itable to be continued: Sometimes I am thinking it convenient that 40 or 50, or 60 men out of these upper towns, be apointed to be in readyness & listed under a Capt & officers to command y", might be very useful, who should abide at home til occasion & then move presently upon notice * *
If such a company in their Arms should only march once or twice this winter to Dearefield, ye very sight of them might awe these Inds, who will thereby see & know we are in a warlike Posture; a laishlike indiscretion may procure some smart blow (as it did at Scenectoke) which should stir us up to dili- gence & Prudence; or people minding there owne busnes, without Arms, or watches, requires yt some orders be given for rousing ym up, especially, considering ye talke is of yt the French coming down on us this winter-Doubtless there is this winter as much danger as ye last * I crav leave to propose one thing more, which
* * is to write to ye Mayor of Albany concerning these In- dians; to gain a certaine knowledge what they are & ye occasion of there coming &c; which if you think convenent & ordere me to doe, I wil take care to send, if there can be Passing thether:
Onething I had almost sliped. Leiut Wells of Dearefeild, who would have been very useful & is much wanted for these affairs be- ing dead, (a sad froune of God in this juncture of affairs) there wants a Lieut to be commissiond for Derefeild, which I think ought to be minded. If yt Company have not applyed y"selves to the Gen Court, I shall mention either David Hoite, or Jonathan Wells, or one Shel- den who dwels there, to be there Lieutenant. I pray consider how times call for a Settlement. They have only an Ensign now, & that is Hoite before named, & Shelden & Wells are Chief Sergants.
1692. January Ist, 1691-2, Pynchon writes again in great perplexity, asking advice. He says the Committee of the Mi- litia have had several meetings, and many have been to see him, but he knows not what to do.
On the same day, Samuel Partridge and John King, senior, write in behalf of the Military Committee, on the same sub- ject. They say :-
224
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
We have feares they may be unfaithfule & soe betray us to our Enemies if they come, as they are not under our command but goe & come at pleasure. It is said their is some among them of the Penicook Inds that might have a hand in the late mischiefe done at Cocheco & Samon Falls, [in 1690] & of those that did mischiefe at NorthId. Their numbers as nere as we can come at, are between 40 & 50 fighting men & women & children about 100. We humbly propose % them sent back to Albany, or set- led & put under limits & bounds that we may know their incomers & find out if they are our enemies.
They ask the governor that,-
Application may be made to Conniticot to send 100 men as she did last year, for Jany and Feb, that being the only time they can pass the rivers and lakes on the ice.
The Council write Pynchon January 8th, to keep a sharp lookout, to organize a company of fifty men as he suggested, to continue the four scouts, to send a message of inquiry to Albany, "and, if necessary, to have a garrison of 50 or 60 Conn. men, and in all things to use your best judgment." They write to Connecticut the same day asking for forces to be sent to Deerfield. These were sent as requested. Capt. Whiting and fifty men came up about February ist to gar- rison the town.
Pursuant to his broad instructions, Pynchon drafted a proc- lamation, with which he sent Capt. Partridge to the Indians. This was read to them, article by article, they responding, in the same manner. This paper is given below, as illustrating the relations between the two races at this period.
When the natives sold land to the English, they usually reserved the privilege of hunting and fishing on the territory. Gov. Bradstreet seems to have recognized this general native right, but assumed the power to regulate its exercise on the ground of public exigency ; to this action the Indians took no exceptions in their replies to Pynchon's directions.
Directions concerning ye Indians lately come fro Albany & some proposals to be made known to them by Capt Saml Partrigg & such interpreter as he shall Improve :-
I. Altho yo" ought to have made application to vs to have had liberty to sit downe in ovr towns, yet, having Passes from ye Mayor of Albany for hunting, &c, we shal for ye present overlook yr seem- ing intruding vpon vs & allow yor abiding where you are this winter time, you behaving yrselves Peaceably & orderly & carrying it wel to all or people ye time of yr staying til spring, when you are to re- turne to Albany whence you came & wher you will be expected :
225
PYNCHON'S PROCLAMATION.
To wch their answer was:
I. They owne it should have bene so at their coming
2. They intend no il to ye English, but to carry it peaceably
3. They desire there sqvas may be safe under our protection, while they are hunting :
II. We doe particularly caution you to beware of strong drink, wch intoxicates men's braines, & makes ym more disorderly than other- wise they would be, & to warne your young men in special least it oc- casion quarrels, wch are carefully by you & by vs to be prevented, wherefore we allow not or people to sel it, & you would doe well to aqvaint vs wth any wch does, that we may deale with yu for their dis- order: Their reply-
.1. Our young men & sqvas wil buy it for all yt, & your English wil sel it.
.2. They are afraid inform of ye English that do it least they do y™ mischiefe, Yet gave such hints in privite as 'tis hoped wil put a stop to that wickedness.
III. We let you know we are now apprehensive of some approach of ye French & Indian enemy, & therefore intend to keep out scouts & to have more strict wach & shortly to settle some more soldiers in Dearefield, wherefore none of you (who account yourselves our friends, whom we hope are so & desire to approne themselues ac- cordingly) are to goe or wander from yr present position, without order in writing from some one of ye Captains in these towns or ye Lieut of Dearefield, & not aboue five in a company when they goe out hunting : And if or scouts find you wth a greater Number, or without an order as aforesaid & laying downe your armes, then to be accoted as enemy Indians : Also not to come into any of or townes after sunset, to disturb ye watches, the day being sufficient-especial- ly in this troublesome season-for yr necessary occasions. Nor at noe time to be wth your Armes in or towns ; all weh we expect your carefull & due observance off, & yt you forthwith give notice fully & distinctly to all Indians at home & abroad, accordingly yt peace & orderly living ye little time you stay here may be promoted & friend- ship encouraged :
Lastly, we expect that if you understand anything of any enymys approach, or have any inteligence thereof, yt you forth"th acquaint vs thereof, or with whatsoeuer you know that may be of use to us': Whereby you will approve yourselves to be, as you say, or friends & we shall be enabled thereby to render ye better acct of you. to yor Masters at Albany. Given under my hand at Springfield: Jan. 18th 1691.
JOHN PYNCHON.
To the 3d and last Article they say, they consent to it in every particular thereof, & shall accordingly endeavor to attend it, prom- ising (so far as their promise is good), to make wt discovery they can of an approaching enymy, & forthwith to inform ye English thereof. Their returns wer made Jan 21, 1691-2.
SAMUEL PATRIGG.
Pynchon organized two new militia companies in the towns below, to be ready to march on an alarm, and kept the four scouts constantly out towards Canada.
226
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
February 22d, Pynchon sent the Council a copy of his " Di- rections" to the Indians, with the endorsements of Capt. Par- tridge. He writes that he hears the Indians intend planting here in the spring, but hopes that they will go back to Al- bany, and says he shall write to the Mayor to call them home : that they appear friendly, but he is suspicious of them. Ru- mors had reached town that a great army of French and In- dians had been seen on Lake Champlain, coming this way. Some of the inhabitants "meditated a remove," but on the arrival of the Connecticut soldiers, all were reassured, and united heartily with them in strengthening the fortifications.
On the breaking up of the ice in the Connecticut river, the danger of a winter's invasion was considered to be over, and the Connecticut men went home. Pynchon writes to the Council soon after, that he fears "the men at Deerfield will be unquiet in their stations there, unless your Honors think of some way for their security, or they should hear of some check upon the French."
For the military company here, Pynchon appointed as lieu- tenant, Jona. Wells, brother of the late Lieut. Thomas Wells. Hitherto the highest military officer in town was a lieuten- ant. Before the close of 1692, Wells was made captain, David Hoyt, lieutenant, and John Sheldon, ensign. Early in May, the town was again alarmed by the story of a great army coming over the lakes. The intended invasion, of which news had been received about the Ist of February, had been stopped, it would seem, by the breaking up of the ice. The party now marching this way were four or five hundred French and Indians, so one Mr. Trowbridge wrote, that · might be expected here about the middle of May. The in- habitants were all gathered into the fort and preparations made to defend it to the last. The story of Trowbridge was soon confirmed. Some of the hunting Indians met some Al- * bany Indians, who told them they had seen the track of the army, and that they would be "likely to be upon Deerfield the Saturday or Sabbath day," the 15th or 16th of May. The attack was not made. The foe rarely came when expected. Their visits were usually a surprise. About May 20th, a party of Indians arrived here from Albany, who were sent by the Mayor to call the hunters home-in anticipation of the in- road from Canada-and the town was relieved from the fear
227
THE REASON WHY.
of their treachery. These messengers from Albany brought news about the French army, which explained its failure to attack Deerfield. An advance guard had encountered some Dutchmen, who captured six of them. The French com- mander, knowing that his march was thus discovered, and that a surprise was impossible, instead of marching against a town that was ready to receive him, turned to the eastward, and on the roth of June attacked the town of Wells. Failing to surprise the garrison, this army of five hundred men, after three days' fighting, was beaten off by Capt. Converse with thirty resolute men. The approach of the enemy to Wells was discovered by the cattle running into town.
It was probably belated news of this army, that caused Pynchon to write, May 25th, "We have sure news that the Earl of Frontenac has collected a large force, with munitions of war at Montreal, for a descent on the settlements." No enemy, however, was seen in this vicinity for more than a year, but watch and ward were strictly kept, and all cultiva- tion of land was at the imminent risk of life.
Capt. Wells, who had been chosen representative to the General Court, was so much needed at home, that this round- about way was taken to secure his release: Oct. 4th,-
The Town made choice of, appointed, & impowered, Joseph Bar- nard to wright to Capt. Partrigg in ye behalf of ye sd Town, to labor wth ye Assembly, in ordr to get Capt. Wells his release from serving as deputy.
This "labor " was in vain, for the name of Capt. Wells is found among the Deputies serving in 1692.
Dec. 26th, "Ens. Jno Sheldon, Ltt. David Hoyt, Sergt. Be- noni Stebbins, Corp. Thomas French, & Simon Beaman, were chosen selectmen for the year ensuing." This vote shows the importance attached to military titles, and also, it may be, the judgment of the people that the most efficient adminis- tration of affairs, in this time of distress, could be secured by a union of military and civil power.
1693. The opening of this year found the settlers in a sad condition. For obvious reasons, their crops had decreased as danger from an enemy increased, and had been yielding less and less from year to year. The area planted in 1692 had been small, and the returns meagre. In addition to the difficulty in cultivating the land, armies of caterpillars had
228
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
made havoc with the Indian corn ; nevertheless garrison sol- diers must be supported, and scouts constantly fitted out for service.
Municipal affairs were not neglected.
This year the colony was reorganized under the new char- ter, and in March the town voted that the " Town officers chos- en Dec. 26th, are now chosen again ; and confirmed ; to stand and serve until others be chosen."
The following paper shows the real condition of affairs here at this time :-
Feb ye 8, 1692-3. To His Excellency, Sr Wm Phipps, Kn1, Govr of y" Masachusets, with ye Hon' Counsell & Assembly in ye Great & General Court convened in Boston :-
The Inhabitants of ye town of Derefd, in the County of Hampshire, Humbly petition this Hond Courts consideration of their present afflictive estate & condition as followeth : Hauing for a long time Been Much exercised, & at great expenses in purchasing & setlinge our place anew, & by reason of feares and Hazzard of the approach- ing of enemies, improving a great part of our time in Watchings, Wardings, & Scoutings & Making of fortifications, beside the inev- itable losses & mishaps we now meet with in oure labors, both by y" hand of God, & the inconveniences of improving our lands or labors in these times of fears and hazzard as aforsd to any measure of advantage for support of our families and ye necessary expenses of our Town and church, and reliefe of such amongst us as we are bound in contience to relieve; whereby we have been exposed to many straits and are brought very low & in a likely way to come to extremity, so that it becomes a question amongst us, whether we have not a call to apply ourselves to this Honorable Court, for an order to depart ye place, we being already convinced that if we should let our whole accommodations to pay y' charge, and take no other rent, we should be gainers as at present things are circumstanced, besides yr more eminent hazzards we are in of ye excursions of y" enemy, being 13 mile distant northward from any other of ye towns in this County, and a little handful more in ye mouths of y" enemy aforest being but about 50 men.
Upon the considerations aforest, and many more too large here to number up, we humbly entreate that we may have such creedence from your Honors, and such helps and reliefe as our nesessities if · not extreame difficulties call for : and being heartily wiling to serve ye King & Queen's majesties and your Honors as Good and Loyal and obedient subiects, and especially Christ and his interests in this place, satisfing ourselves in your speciall care and readynes to relieve such, (thinking with allowance to hold it here a Little longer, ) places as are mostly exposed as aforesd, Humbly propose that we might haue a grant from your Honors out of their Maiesties treasury in this prouince, a suitable supply of amunition, we hauing no Town Stock ; as also an abatement of those taxes that are now called for in ye year 92, and those yet to be called for, till such time, (if euer
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