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 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
Gov. Phipps to Pynchon July 26, 1693 :-
I have communicated unto the Council your several Letters refer- ing unto the two Indians in Custody within your County on suspition of being Actors in the murders perpetrated in Deerfield. As also what I have received from Gov' Fletcher Mr V. Cortlandt and Colo Bayard of the several Examinations and Evidences taken concerning that matter particularly the Deposition of one John Baptist Van Eps late prisoner in Canada of his knowledge of the marks and figures upon the clubs found at Deerfield and the persons that bear the same being of the Enemy Indians of Canada. The Council have likewise procured the Examinations and Evidences taken from the wounded people being chiefly what others report to have heard them say, and not directly from themselves, besides that it's much doubted whether they were of sound mind, and upon consederation of the whole, are of opinion, the Indians cannot be convicted by those Evidences, ad- vising that they be dismissed if no further material evidence appear against them, which I accordingly order, and that care be taken that they may pass homeward without any violence being offered them, yourself directing to the most probable way for there Sucure passing, and send a copy of this my Lre to the Mayor of Albany for his better satisfaction in this matter.
It is of great concernment to the whole of there Majties Interest in these Teritories that the English be in good termes with the Maquas &c at this Critical hour when they are so much Solicited to go over to the side of the Enemy & that no just provocations be given them for a Rupture. As all caution ought to be used that no muther es- cape Justice, so it being plainly evident before hand that these In- dians cannot by this evidence be found guilty upon Tryal, its thought more advisable to dismiss them without and to avoid the in- convenience that may ensue there being longer detained which the Indians (not understanding the formalities of Law) may improve to disaffect them to the English Interest I am
Your Humble Sevnt
Boston July 26, 1693 To the Honble John Pynchon Esqr
Gov. Phipps to Gov. Fletcher July 26, 1693 :-
239
ESCAPE OF THE ACCUSED.
Sir
In inine of the 13th current I intimated unto yo' Excy that I in- tended to send some meet person to waite on yourr selfe at New York for your advice direction and assistance in order to a treaty with the Maquas relateing to some of that Nation taken into custody on suspicion of the murder committed at Deerfield and to Endeavour to bring that affaire unto a good Issue &c.
Since which I have a Letter from Mr V Cortlandt and Col" Bayard at Albany with the Deposition of one John Baptist Van Eps late prisoner in Canada relating to the marks and figures upon the clubs found at Deerfield, and advising upon the severall Examinations and Evidences relating to that murder have ordered Major Pynchon to dismiss the two Indians taken into custody and to direct for there safe passage home, withal to send a Copy of my Letter to him unto the Mayor of Albany for the better satisfying of the Indians
Before Pynchon sent this letter he had written the one be- low to Gov. Phipps.
SPRINGFIELD July 29 1693.
May it please yor Excelency
I have not yet had opportunity to aquaint yor Excely of ye 2. Indians being gon til now: wch first offers it selfe as followeth
The .2. Indians in Custody vpon ye acct of ye murder at Dearefield escaped out of Prison July 27, when in ye morning pesently sent out about .20. men to search after & pursue ym, some of whom finding their Tratts just a cross ye streete from ye Prison house followed yun for nere half a mile finding they bare Northerly, but coming into the Bushes could no longer follow ym & so returned tho ye Jaylor spent all ye day, & sent to ye next Townes &c The manner how they fitted for an escape is evident to be by some File or Files con- veighed to y™ (as is supposed) by some Indians yt might secretly & unknown (we having none here unless by stealth) put y™ in to ym in ye Night, for it is very plaine & evident there chaines were cut by some sharpe thin file like a knife, or some thin steele chissell they be- ing as smooth as may be where they are cut asunder & very narrow yt it was very thin instrument, when by this meanes they had got y"selves at Liberty in ye room they pulled out some stones & got to ye foundation & so crep out & are gon probably Irrecovably vnless sending to Albany may Recover ym thence wch is submitted to yr Ex- celency.
Jesuit Peter Millet, of Canada, from Onidye, where he is a prisoner, writes Father Dellius, at Albany, July 31st: An Indian from Canada reports that a party of Indians who had been out towards Boston had brought home nine scalps; that the leaders of the party are Sajatese and Onontaquiratt ; that he believes "that the Maquas & River Indians who are put in prison at Pekamptekook are wrongfully accused."
240
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
At a meeting of the Five Nations at their Grand Council Fire at Onondaga, Aug. 17th, Kajarsanhondare, speaking with the dignity and conscious power befitting one repre- senting eighty sachems, said :-
Tell our brother Cayenquiragoe if any mischief be done to any in covenant with us as in New England it must not be said upon hear- ing of our language presently the five nations have done it, nor upon so light occasions must we be imprisoned, it is always known by whom the mischeife is done.
At the date of Father Millet's letter, July 31st, the Indians, in whose behalf he testifies, were already at liberty, and they arrived in Albany the next day. They had broken from their prison, by the help, it was believed, of some Dutchmen from Albany.
July 27th, a party of Canada Indians killed seven people at Brookfield and captured others. They were traced northerly by Capt. Colton with a party from Springfield, who surprised them on the 30th, killed several and recovered the captives. On the 31st,; Capt. Whitney and Capt. Wells left Deerfield to search the woods about the swamps of Warwick, "looking for those villains who did the mischief at Brookfield." They did not know that Colton had routed them the day before. The Brookfield captives were told by these Indians, that "Canada Indians had been at Deerfield a month since and had done mischief there, who presently returned after they had done the mischief at Deerfield and near all got safe home to Canada." They inquired about the Indians in prison at Springfield, and said they were innocent.
On this new alarm from Brookfield Capt. Partridge writes for "40 or 50 soldiers to constantly scout the woods for two- months." Our fort was now in a defensible condition, and well garrisoned. All, however, could not remain within its shelter. At whatever risk, the crops must be secured or starvation stared them in the face. Small parties of the en- emy were constantly hovering about the frontiers, watching chances for spoil. Oct. 12th, Mr. Williams, the minister, as afterwards appeared, had a narrow escape from a party lurk- ing near Wequamps. Oct. 13th, Martin Smith, venturing to Wapping early in the morning, was seized by Indians and carried to Canada.
At a town meeting held Sept. 9th, 1693, it was voted,-
241
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
That yr shall be a man sent to Boston on Town acct to act & doe for ye Town such business as shall be committed to him: that ye Town shall find money to bear his charges and pay for his time for his Journey &c.
The town appointed and empowered the selectmen to hire and agree wth either Capt Jonath Wells Ensign John Sheldon or Joseph Barnard to goe to Boston on ye business afore sª.
Some of this business is probably indicated in a paper from the Massachusetts archives, given below :-
An acct of the fortifications made in Deerfield by order of War- rant from Maj. John Pynchon; made in May, 1693; the mesure or whole Compass of the fort is two hundred and two rods: vallued by the Committee of the Militia and ye Selectmen : to be worth five shillings pr rod in money
Deerfield Attest hereunto Jonathan Wells, Capt, in name of
Oct. 6, ye rest of the Com'tte of Militia. per Joseph Bar- 1693. nard in the name of the rest of the Selectmen.
We having intimation from Maj. Pynchon in sd warrant, that it was an Order of Court concerning said fortification, that we should be allowed out of our County rates for sd work, wee therefore present this account to ye Honorable Court.
The following petition was doubtless presented by the same messenger :-
To his Excellency, S' William Phipps, Knt, Capt. Gener!, & Govr in Chiefe, of ye Masts Province of the Massachusetts Bay; & to ye Honed Councell and Representatives convened In Generall Assem- bly-
The Humble Petition of ye Inhabitants of Dearfield, in ye County of Hampshire sheweth that ye sd Town of Dearfield, being a frontier town, is liable unto, and of late hath been much Infested wth the In- cursions of or Indian Enemies, to or great impovershment & preju- dice-
That unless or distressed Condition, be Considered by this Hond Assembly and some Assistance afforded us, we must of nesesity for- sake or habitations, and draw off to some Neighbouring towns-
We therefore, Humbly Acknowledging the Care & regard, hitherto afforded us by y' Excelency: Doe pray that or part of the thirty thousand pound rate, remaining yet uncollected (by reason of or In- ability to pay it, ) may be remitted and ye sd Town in future taxes, may be Exempted during the present distress; & that a Garrison of Eighteen or twenty souldrs may reside wth us, for or defence & ye se- curity of sª County, and yr Petitioners shall ever pray for yr Hon's; and Subscribe ourselves yr Honors most Humble & obliged servis.
JNO. WILLIAMS. JOSEPH BARNARD.
In ye name & behalf of ye Inhabitants of Dearfd.
Dearfield, Novembr
6th, 1693.
242
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
The petitioners were backed by Pynchon, who writes that the people are
"much impoverished by maintaining garrison men, and otherwise so many ways, that they are not able to subsist or maintain their fami- lies, rather choosing to draw off, if it were not that the Gov. & Councill ordered them to abide, the attendance of which (though willing) yet are not able, unless enabled * * *
till such peace- able times wherein they may attend their occasions, of which they are almost wholly obstructed at this day."
Both papers were favorably received.
Nov. 26, 1693, Tuesday. The Petition and acct of the Town of Deerfield for the garrisoning of that town by the order of his Excel- lency the Governor, containing a line of 202 rods being read.
Ordered, that there be £40 allowed and paid sd Town by dis- count on the public Assessment towards the charges of sd Fortifica- tions.
No colony tax was levied upon the town until after the close of the war.
1694. Voted in town meeting,-
March 5th, 1693-4, that the Selectmen shall have full powr * *
* to make all such orders and by laws as ya shall judge needful and necessary in ordr to ye managem of the prudentialls of the Town: in wtever prticulrs ya shall judg yt Law doth not comprehend or reach y" full of sd circumstances Voted affirmatively.
Under this action the following were the "Ords & Laws made by ye Selectmen" :--
I That all common fences shall be made up by the owners of such fences att or before the 7th of April next according to law
2 That Haywards or any othr yt shall Lawfully Impound any hors kind cattle sheep or swine: shall have for Impounding as in the Law specified : before such hors cattle sheep or swine be released :
3 That all cattle or hors kind that shall be left in the meadow except fast teddered upon ye owners land: all such owners shall pay 3d pr head to those yt shall Impound y™ : 4 That all beside working cattle that shall be found baiting wth- in the common fence shall be liable to be impounded : 5 That who so ever shall leave open any of ye common field gates or bars wthin ye time yt ye selectmen shall order it to be inclosed such persons or ye oversers shall pay as a fine five shillings: one half to ye Town ye othr half to ye Inform":
6 That every man shall have a stake at the North end of his common fence: marked wth the first lettr of his name: and for want of such stake or stakes shall pay one shilling to ye fence viewer
Voted and passed by the Town
Attest THO FRENCH ) JNº PORTER Selectmen.
JONA WELLS
243
FRONTENAC BREAKS THE TREATY.
Passed and allowed by Justices sitting in quart' sessions att North- ampton March 6th 1693-4.
Attest JN" PYNCHON Clerk.
The town officers for this year were chosen at this meeting. The next day they all went to Northampton to take the oath of office before the County Court, and get the by-laws con- firmed. From that time until now the annual meeting for the choice of officers has been the first Monday in March.
The spring of 1694 opened gloomily upon the harassed settlers. As soon as the leaves were out no one felt safe for one moment outside the palisades. Each bush or tree was a covert, whence the deadly bullet, from an unseen foe, might at any moment issue. Under such conditions, but little could be effected in raising crops ; but the summer passed, and no enemy appeared. Frontenac was engaged in a more profita- ble adventure. The eastern Indians had made a treaty of peace and alliance with the English in August, 1693. The polity of France required that this treaty should be broken, and French Jesuitism was successfully employed to that end. During the following winter, and in the spring, a French army was sent to join the Indians in an attack on the eastern settlements. Oyster River was surprised, and about one hundred inhabitants were killed or captured.
ATTACK ON THE TOWN, SEPT. ISTII, 1694.
On the return of the French army from the east, flushed with victory, and loaded with spoils, an expedition was fitted out against Deerfield, under Castreen. This was done with such dispatch and secrecy, that no news of it reached our frontiers. Eluding the scouts that were ranging the woods, Castreen arrived undiscovered, September 15th, and the town had a narrow escape from a complete surprise. He halted in the woods on the East Mountain, overlooking the town, evi- dently intending to make his attack at the north gate of the fort, which was in the street, in front of the present brick meetinghouse. Watching his opportunity, he came down the ravine in the rear of the William Sheldon home lot, to creep up the alder swamp, and enter the street where Philo Munn's shop stands. On emerging from the ravine, howev- er, the party was discovered by Daniel, son of Joseph Sev- erance, who lived on this lot. Daniel was shot, and the alarm
244
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
thus given. Mrs. Hannah Beaman, the school dame, with her young flock, on the home lot next northward, started for the fort. It was a race for life; the dame with her charge up the street, the enemy up the parallel swamp on the east, to intercept them before they should reach the gate. Fear gave wings to the children ; the fort was reached in safety, and the gate shut. But not a second too soon. The Indians were near enough to send a volley of bullets among the fugi- tives as they were crossing the causeway at the foot of Meet- inghouse hill, and entering the fort gate. All, however, es- caped unhurt. Meanwhile within the stockade all was activ- ity without confusion. Capt. Wells had for years been train- ing the inhabitants for just such an emergency. Each man snatched his loaded firelock from its hooks on the summer tree, the powder horn and bullet pouch from the mantle tree, and in less time than it takes to relate the fact, was on the way to the point of danger, ready to sally out if need be, to the rescue of the little ones, who, as we have seen, were in the same brief time safely received within the gate.
The heroic conduct of Capt. Converse and his little band, in defending Wells against a horde of the enemy two years before, had been on the lips of all New England, and doubt- less inspired these men of Deerfield on this occasion. Cas- treen had led his army three hundred miles through the wil- derness to surprise the town, butcher its inhabitants, burn their dwellings, and carry their scalps in triumph back to Canada. He failed of a surprise, found a resolute people ready to defend their wives and children, and was driven ig- nominiously back into the wilderness.
This repulse of the enemy gave the settlers fresh confi- dence in themselves. The panic of last year gave way to a feeling of ability to defend their homes, and the idea of giv- ing them up to this cowardly foe was abandoned. They now felt that they were indeed permanent settlers, and, six weeks later, the town voted to build a new meetinghouse. The loss to the English in the assault was only two men wounded -John Beaman and Richard Lyman.
I have found no mention hitherto of Zebediah Williams being engaged in this affair; but the fact is established by the following paper from Massachusetts Archives, vol. 70, page 359 :-
245
RELIEF FOR THE WOUNDED.
To ye Honorable Wm Stoughton Esqr Ltt Govr &c. & Counsell & Representatives Convened in Gen11 Corte this Oct 13 1697
The Humble Petition of Zabadiah Williams who was a Sould' in Derefield & Wounded by ye Enemy w" they set upon Derefield Gar- rison Sept 16 1695 [ 1694 ? ] & lay wounded 22 weekes for wch the Doct" Requires four pounds beside w I am to pay other Chirurgions & my tyme & Expences wch hath already beene motioned to this Corte & Now againe I intreate my case may be considered & allowences Granted mee as yor Honors shall Judge meete & for your Honors I shall Ever pray
ZABADIAH WILLIAMS.
Oct 20. Voted. In answer to ye abouesd petition yt he shall re- ceiue fifteene pounds out of ye prouince Treasury : for full compensa- tion
This sum was paid Williams Dec. 4th, 1697. In another petition Mch. 22d, 1697, Williams states that,-
In Sept last when ye enemy came upon a family in Deerfield, as he was running with others to relieve that family the enemy woundd him on the arm in two places wh wound has preuented his labor and oc- casions much pain & charge for more than three months, is but new- ly come of age having little to begin withall
Rev. John Williams attests the truth of these statements. Dec. 4th, 1697, Zebediah was allowed £15.
John Bement had sent in a petition as follows, in 1695 :-
To ye Honble Leiut Govr & Council & to ye Representatives now Assembled, may it please yor Honors to releive a Pore Wounded Sol- dier who is in al respects Needy and wanting supply: His Pay for his Service being ordered to com fr" Enfeild Constable who Pays noth- ing, renders him ye more needy, & cals for yor order to help him therin, but most especially for a due consideration of his wound he Recª on ye 15th of Sept" last at Dearefeild, wch besides ye misery & Paine, hath disabled him fr" Labor for now neere eight months & when I shal be able to get anything I know not, wherefore Pray yor compashons & speedy ordering of Just releife yt I may not stay in Boston where it is too expensive for him yt hath noe Money, But be at Liberty to returne wth yor Honors favorable orders & Due allow- ance, wch wil Thankfully Ingage him ever to Serve you as he is able, who is Yor humble Servt JOHN BEMENT.
Boston June 5 1695
John showed his wounds in the House, and June 8th, he was sent on his way rejoicing, with ten pounds in his pocket.
Dec. 12th, Gov. Stoughton writes Gov. Treat and the Con- necticut Council, asking them "to relieve our Garrison at Deerfield by posting forty or fifty fresh men there sometime in Jany at the charge of ye Colony, to continue there for the space of six months following if occasion be."
246
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
1695. Jan. 3d, Connecticut in reply to Stoughton's letter of Dec. 12, that after "seriously considering " the matter, it is concluded to "send the Assistance of 32 men for the space of two months" or until the winter breaks up provided Massa- chusetts will furnish provision.
Jan. 12th Stoughton returns his thanks, but thinks they should send more men and provision them; they being as much interested in keeping the frontier as Massachusetts. But he writes Pynchon at the same time to provide for the Connecticut soldiers and discharge the garrison at Deerfield when they arrive. Soon after Lieut. Stephen Hollister with thirty-two men arrives here.
March 6th Connecticut sends word to Stoughton that she is willing to do her share in the work of defence and the General Court will consider the matter at its May session. This does not quite satisfy our authorities, who write March 16th to the Governor and Council of Connecticut giving thanks for their men and hope they will be continued. They say :- .
"Our interests cannot be divided, It is a common Enemy we are en- gaged agt. and tho ye seat of War dos prudentially lye nearer to our doors, yet it is ye over Turning & Exterpation of ye whole yt is sought & Endeavoured, and if we be necessitated to give way and draw in you may not Expect to stand ; It has been received a maxim in war yt it is better to Engage ye Enemy at a distance than within our own borders."
A mutual commission is invited to determine the best way of "disresting of ye Enemy and what Quota of Men and Money " cach should furnish.
After a service of ten weeks Lt. Hollister is recalled. Pynchon notifies Stoughton, who writes March 28th, to re- monstrate. He urges the disrespect of such an order with- out notice, and the danger to Deerfield involved in it, and hopes the governor will " see cause to retrieve that unhapy mistake." Treat replies that it is not in his power, but that he will refer the matters in his late letters to the General Court in May.
May 6th Stoughton reminds Treat of this promise. He gives news from Canada that after planting is over the In- dians may be expected on our frontiers.
May 21st Stoughton again urges Connecticut to send a gar-
247
ENCOUNTER AT ASHUELOT.
rison to Deerfield. June Ist, Connecticut declines, as they have need of all their men for their husbandry, and they hear Maj. Pynchon has furnished a garrison for Deerfield. "Upon news of any Assault coming upon them " they will "respond with all speed."
June 17th Stoughton sends a sharp reply. He is much pained " that Deerfield, a post of such consequence for the Security of yor Colony, is so much slighted by you." He gets no satisfaction from the reply.
July 3d. The authorities of Connecticut say it is impossible to send soldiers to garrison Deerfield ; for Gov. Fletcher has called for their full quota of men "which they are consider- ing how to raise."
No large parties were sent against our frontiers this year. The Mohawks had in a measure recovered from the disasters of 1693, and Frontenac found occupation for his soldiers in operations against them. Smaller bands of the enemy, how- ever, hovered about the English towns, waylaying roads and fields, watching safe opportunities for attack. Their occa- sional success kept the settlers in a state of continual alarm. An impending disaster here was averted by a mere accident.
The Indians about Albany continued their friendly rela- tions with our people, and still made this vicinity their hunt- ing ground. A party of about twenty arrived here the first week in August. It was probably this party which on the morning of the moth was surprised by a war party from Can- ada, near the mouth of the Ashuelot river. One of the hunt- ers, whose arm was broken by a shot, escaped, swam the Connecticut and brought the news to Deerfield. Capt. Wells at once sent a post to Springfield for help. Pynchon, report- ing the affair to Gov. Stoughton, August 12th, says :-
Capt. Wells writes in these words: 'August 10, 1695. Just now an Indian called Strawberry, his son, Hath made an escape from Nashawelot above Northfield. He is come in this evening much wounded; says this day, about 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning, the en- emy made a shot on them and killed 8 or 9 of them; so many he reckons, he saw as good as dead. He says he saw many canoes; accounts the enemy to be 40 or 50 men, upon which Capt. Wells de- sires some assistance be speedily sent to them; which Capt. Patrigg enforces by his lines by the same post, which was writ in the night Aug. II, saying the Relation of the wounded Indian was undoubted- ly true.'
The messengers called Pynchon "out of bed an hour be-
248
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
fore day." He at once summoned Capt. Colton, who " had 24 troopers together by 8 o'clock well mounted and fixed." They left for the north "a little after the first Bell rang
* % for meeting, which I suppose you will reckon was speedy to fit out so many men so presently." Pynchon rec- ommended Colton to march up the east side of the Connecti- cut, asking the men from the towns above to go up on the west side. He thought of sending a party to follow with supplies, that Colton might pursue the enemy, "although they had gone almost to Canada," but did not like to under- take it on his " own head without orders." He thinks "in all reason this has put a stop to ravaging Deerfield, or some oth- er town, which it is supposed they intended," and that the danger is over, as the custom of the Indians is to return home after each exploit. They may have done so in this case, but if so another party was soon in the field.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.