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 31
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Names of those who were slain in or near the Town :-
308
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
David Alexander
Henry Nims,
I2
Thomas Carter,
1 Mary, supposed to 5
John Catlin,
(?) 60
Mercy, be burnt in 5
Jonathan Catlin
Meh'tble, S the cellar
Sarah Field, 10 months
Sarah Price, (?) 53
Samson Frary, (?) 64
Mercy Root,
15
John French, 4 weeks Alice Hawks,
(?) 50
Mrs [Hannah] Sheldon, 39
John Hawks, Jr,
30
Mercy Sheldon, 2
His wife, [Thankful]
26 Sam'l Smead's wife and two children
Thankful Hawks,
2
[Mary Smead, 23
John Hawks,
7
Sarah Smead, 4
Martha Hawks,
4 William Smead, ]
2
Samuel Hinsdale, 15 mos
Elizabeth Smead,
(?) 64
Joseph Ingersol,
28
Martin Smith, (?) 50
Jonathan Kellogg,
5 Serg Benoni Stebbins, 51
Philip Matoon's wife & child
Andrew Stevens, [Indian]
[Rebecca Mattoon, 24, and infant son ]
Mary Wells, 30
6
Jerusha Williams, 6 weeks
SLAIN IN THE MEADOW. .
Samuel Allis [Hatfield] 25 David Hoyt, Jun., [Deerfield] 2.4
Serg [Sam'l] Boltwood, [Hadley ](?) 53 Jonathan Ingram, [Hadley] 27
Rob't Boltwood [Hadley] 21 Serg Benjamin Wait, [Hatfield] (?) 54
Joseph Catlin [Deerfield] (?) 23
Nathaniel Warner, [Hadley] 22
Samuel Foot [Hatfield] (?) 26
Taken Captive-Where is this Sign, t, against the Person's Name, it is to signify they were killed after they went out of town. And this mark, *, is to signify that they are still absent from their native country.
Mary Alexander, 36 *Elizabeth Corse, jun, 8
Mary Alexander, jun,
2 *Daniel Crowfoot,
3
Joseph Alexander, ran away the first night
23 Sarah Dickinson,
(?) 24
*Sarah Allen,
16 Joseph Eastman,
20
Mary Allis,
22 Mary Field, 28
3
Simon Beaumont,
47
*Mary Field, jun,
6
Hannah Beaumont,
36
+ Mary Frary,
(?) 64
+Hepzibah Belding,
54 Thomas French,
47
John Bridgman, ran away in the meadow
+ Mary French,
40
Nathaniel Brooks,
39
+Mary Brooks,
(?) 40
* Freedom French,
8
*William Brooks,
6
*Abigail French,
6
Abigail Brown,
25
*Mary Harris,
(?) 9
Benjamin Burt,
23 *Samuel Hastings, 20
21
+Elizabeth Hawks, 6
Sarah Burt,
22
Mehuman Hinsdale, 31
23
+Hannah Carter, jun, 7 mos
Jacob Hix, [Hickson] died at Co-
*Mercy Carter,
10 wass [He died on French river. ]
52
*John Carter,
8 Abigail Hoit,
44
Ebenezer Carter,
6 Jonathan Hoit,
15
+Marah Carter,
3 Sarah Hoit, 17
John Catlin,
17
+ Ebenezer Hoit.
8
Ruth Catlin,
(?) 20
+Abigail Hoit, jun,
2
+ Elizabeth Corse,
(?) 32
Elizabeth Hull,
15
Thomas Baker,
21 John Field,
30 Thomas French, jun,
14
Mary French, jun,
17
*Mary Brooks, jun.
7
*Martha French,
John Burt,
+Hannah Carter,
29 Mary Hinsdale,
*Samuel Carter,
12 Dea David Hoit, died at Cowass,
7
Thos Shelden [Selden] 26
Parthena. a negro, [servant to Rev John Williams]
John Williams, Jun,
*Abigail Denio, 17
309
AN INTERESTING TRADITION.
*Thomas Hurst,
12 *Josiah Riseing,
9
*Ebenezer Hurst,
Hannah Sheldon,
23
+Benjamin Hurst,
2 Ebenezer Sheldon,
12
Sarah Hurst,
(?) 40 Remembrance Sheldon,
II
Elizabeth Hurst,
16 Mary Sheldon,
16
*Hannah Hurst,
8 John Stebbins,
56
Sarah Hurst, jun,
18
Dorothy Stebbins,
(?) 42
Martin Kellogue,
45 John Stebbins, jun,
Martin Kellogue, jun,
17 Samuel Stebbins,
15
Joseph Kellogue,
12
*Ebenezer Stebbins,
9
*Joanna Kellogue,
II
*Joseph Stebbins,
4
Rebecca Kellogue,
8
*Thankful Stebbins,
12
John Marsh,
24
*Elizabeth Stevens,
20
Sarah Mutoon [Mattoon]
Ebenezer Warner,
27
+ Philip Mutoon [Mattoon]
23
+Waitstill Warner,
24
+Frank, a negro, [slave to Mr. Wil- liams. ]
Sarah Warner,
4
+ Mehitable Nims,
36
Rev Mr Jn Williams,
39
Ebenezer Nims,
17
+Mrs Eunice Williams,
39
* Abigail Nims,
2 Samuel Williams,
15
Joseph Petty,
31 Stephen Williams,
IO
Sarah Petty,
(?) 31
*Eunice Williams, jun,
7
Lydia Pomroy,
20 Esther Williams,
I3
Joshua Pomroy,
28
Warham Williams,
4
+Esther Pomroy,
(?) 27
John Wilton,
(?) 39
Samuel Price,
(?) 18
Judah Wright,
26
*Jemima Richards,
(?) 10
Three Frenchmen who had lived in the town for some time, and came from Canada, were also taken.
The following letter from Mrs. Lucy D. Shearer of Col- rain, a descendant of John Catlin, to the writer, giving an ap- parently authentic tradition, handed down in the Catlin fam- ily, should have a permanent record here. The " Frenchman " was doubtless the officer who fell in the attack on the house of Benoni Stebbins. The "uncle " was probably Jonathan Catlin, an older brother, who fell with his father, in the de- fense of their home. Mrs. Shearer was born in 1804.
Mr. Sheldon:
COLERAINE, NOV. 1, 1875.
DEAR SIR, -John Catlin, the captive, was born in the 50th year of his mother's age, and never had slept out of his father's house 'till the age of 16, when he was taken captive, and went to Canada in company with a sister. His sister was very delicate, never had en- dured any hardship, but performed the journey so well that the Indi- ans would give her something to carry; she would carry it a little way, and then throw it back as far as she could throw it. He (John) used to tremble for fear they would kill his sister, but they would laugh, and go back and get it. They acted as though they thought she was a great lady. The captives suffered from hunger, but she had plenty, and gave some to her brother. What her name was or what became of her I cannot tell. [ Ruth, and she was redeemed. ] He (John) was given to a French Jesuit. The Jesuit tried to per- suade him to become a Catholic, but when he found he could not,
*Waitstill Warner, jun,
2
310
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
told him he might go home when he had an opportunity; and when an opportunity presented, furnished him what he needed for the jour- ney, and gave him some money when he parted with him. He was with him two years.
His father and uncle | brother Jonathan? ] were killed in the house ; he took his father's gun, and his uncle's powder horn, and was going to use them when the Indians took him. The captives were taken to a house, (I do not know what house) and a Frenchman* was brought in and laid on the floor; he was in great distress, and called for water; Mrs. Catlin fed him with water. Some one said to her,
The "How can you do that for your enemy?" She replied, "If thine en- emy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him water to drink." Frenchman was taken and carried away, and the captives marched off. Mrs. Catlin was left. After they were all gone, a little boy came that was hid in the house. Mrs. Catlin said to the boy, "go run and hide." The boy said, "Mrs. Catlin, why don't you go and hide?" She said, "I am a captive; it is not my duty to hide, but you have not been taken, and it is your duty to hide." Who this boy was I do not know. Some thought the kindness shown to the French- man was the reason of Mrs. Catlin's being left.
LUCY D. SHEARER.
In 1704 the town was built along the whole length of the plateau as to-day. Of its forty-one houses, at least fifteen were within the line of the stockades. About twelve were north, and fourteen south of it. When the night of Februa- ry 28th closed down, 291 souls were under their rooftrees. Of these, twenty were garrison soldiers, two visitors from Hat- field, and 268 inhabitants. They were of all ages, from Wid- ow Allison of eighty-four years, to John, the youngling of Deacon French's flock, of four weeks. Among them were three negro slaves, one Indian, and three Frenchmen from Canada. In a few hours all but one hundred and twenty- six of the inhabitants were either killed or in the hands of a cruel enemy, on a march over the snow to Canada, three hundred miles away.
By collating the papers before given, one may find a full and particular account of this great catastrophe. We see De Rouville, on his errand of blood, reaching our frontier in such an exhausted condition as to necessitate an ignominious surrender, unless he can surprise his prey. In this he suc- ceeds. We have seen the army leave their lair at Little Hope, steal silently across the north meadows, scale the pal- isades on the drifted snow, and scatter themselves among the
* Probably De Rouville's brother.
311
THE PASTOR MILITANT.
houses, when the wearied sentinel has been lulled to sleep. Probably the first to be aroused, he fired his gun and gave the alarum cry, and so hastened the attack before all the houses were invested. If the alarum was heard by the citi- zens, the fearful war-whoop and the blows of the hatchet on door and shutter must have been heard almost simultaneous- ly. Of the scenes of horror which followed, the picture painted by Mr. Williams of his own experiences will repre- sent those being enacted among his fellow sufferers.
It was in the darkest hour of the night, when he was awak- ened by the noise of hatchets at his door and windows. Jumping out of bed, he rushed to defend the door, but was too late ; it was already broken down, and he saw the dim form of a Macqua chief and his followers crowding through the doorway. Calling upon the two soldiers quartered in his house for help, the brave man sprang for his arms. Failing in his attempt to shoot the leader, he was disarmed and bound. In pitchy darkness the Indians raged through the house. The soldiers leaped from the windows and escaped. The screaming children were dragged from their bed by rough but unseen hands, collected in the ample kitchen and bound, probably with cords brought from Canada for the oc- casion. The smouldering fire on the hearth was raked open, and the lurid flame from the back-log faintly lighted up the dismal scene. We can imagine the faithful Pathena, resist- ing in defense of the younger children, for which she was dragged to the door, where all the three were murdered. Had not the pistol of Mr. Williams missed fire, he doubtless would have shared their fate. With fire-brands, or torches, the Indians searched the rooms for plunder, eagerly eating of the food they found and packing up such stuff as they chose to take .* When this was completed, and the prisoners led off, the house was set on fire and burned.
The stout door of Ensign John Sheldon's house resisted the efforts to break it down. It was cut partly through with axes, and bullets fired through the place at random, one of
* A silver cup among the plunder came into the possession of the daughter Eunice, who remained in Canada. In 1732 it was by her given to her brother Warham. It is still in the hands of his descendants. It is marked, "Feb. 29, E. W. Obt., Ist March, 1703-4. June 10, 1732, E. W. to W. W." and other in- scriptions of a later date .- Letter from Chas. K. Williams of Rutland, Vt., July 6, 1884.
312
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
which killed Mrs. Sheldon as she was sitting on a bed in the east room. Entrance was finally effected at the back door, which, according to a family tradition, was left open by a lad who sought safety in flight. Most of the family were cap- tured. Probably the Ensign was not at home. His son, the newly married John, with his wife jumped from the east chamber window. Hannah sprained her ankle and could not escape, but she urged her husband to fly to Hatfield for aid. This he did, binding strips of a woolen blanket about his naked feet as he ran. The tradition says also that the two years old Mercy was taken to the front door and her brains dashed out on the doorstone: and further, that the house, being the largest in the town, was reserved as a depot for captives. Here, then, was the place where Mrs. Catlin re- lieved the wounded French lieutenant, and secured her own freedom by her practical christianity. It was certainly used as a cover and point of attack on the Stebbins house. It was set on fire, when the last marauders were driven away, but it was saved, and stood until 1849-the widely known "Old In- dian House." The scarred and battered door, supported by the original door posts and flanked by great oaken brackets from the front of the house, is now a center of attraction at Memorial Hall.
The house of Benoni Stebbins stood about eight rods southwest of Ensign Sheldon's. It was occupied by Sergt. Stebbins, his wife and five children; David Hoyt, his wife and child; and probably Joseph Catlin with his wife and child, and Benjamin Church, a soldier. There were besides, three other men, and perhaps other women and children. This house being "attaqued later than some," the inmates were aroused, made ready to defend themselves, and the assailants were driven back with loss. It was again beset by a strong force, but the little garrison was a match for that. Again later in the morning nearly the whole army surround- ed the house, pouring bullets upon it from every quarter. The fire was bravely returned, and several of the enemy fell before the sharp shooters; among them, a French lieu- tenant, the second in command of the expedition. Desper- ate attempts were now made to set the house on fire, which cost the lives of a Macqua chief and several of his men The fury of the assailants increased with their losses, but
313
BRAVERY DEFIES FORCE.
they were forced to leave the field and take shelter in the Sheldon house and the meetinghouse. From these covers they continued to shower their bullets upon the heroic garri- son, which, however, kept them at bay until relieved by the reinforcement. Sergt. Stebbins was killed. Mrs. Hoyt was wounded, and also a soldier, probably Church.
In all the wars of New England, there is not a more gallant act recorded than this defense of an unfortified house, by seven men and a few women, for three hours, against, not only the fury and wiles of an unorganized horde of savages, but also a large force of French soldiers, under officers of the line trained in the wars of France.
The check received here by the enemy, probably tended strongly to stay the tide of devastation, and so saved the south part of the town. The current historical and tradi- tional account, that only two houses in town escaped destruc- tion, must be relegated to that mysterious fertile realm, where so large a portion of accepted history is born and nur- tured.
I find no evidence of any attack on the house of Capt. Wells, as stated by Gen. Hoyt; nor is it certain that the ene- my penetrated the town beyond the fort. Not one of the slain, and none of the losses by fire or plunder, reported in the Winthrop paper, can be certainly located in that section, and only two of the captives-Sarah Allen and Sarah Mat- toon, girls of sixteen. They were doubtless away from home. Nearly all on the list who escaped loss, can be definitely placed south of the fort; while two thirds of those who lost life, or liberty, are known to have been in the fort, or north of it, as was certainly at least five-sixths of the property lost. The Benoni Stebbins house, so heroically preserved from the fury and fagots of the enemy, sad to relate, accidentally took fire and was burned after the valiant garrison had joined the knights of the rescue in the pursuit of the assailants.
De Rouville was aware of the danger from English rein- forcements, and all haste was made in removing the prisoners to the rendezvous, and packing up provisions for the home- ward march. It was about eight o'clock, and the main body had already withdrawn with the captives, when about thirty men on horse-back arrived from the towns below, which had been alarmed by the light of the burning buildings. Scattered
314
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
parties of the enemy were still searching for plunder, or wantonly killing the settlers' stock, and a considerable body were yet besieging the Stebbins house. These were quickly driven pell-mell out of the north gate, across the home lots and North Meadows. Capt. Wells, joining the rescuers, with fifteen citizens and five garrison soldiers, took the command, and ordered instant pursuit. Bravely, but rashly and with- out order, each fighting on his own hook, the pursuers rush on ; intent only on avenging their slaughtered friends. As they warm up to the fight, they throw off gloves, coats, hats, waistcoats, jackets and neckcloths. Capt. Wells could not control the headlong chase. He had not forgotten the disas- trous effects of disorder at Turners Falls. He saw the dan- ger which threatened, and ordered a halt. This was unheed- ed; the foe was followed recklessly into the inevitable am- buscade. Manly bravery was shown on the retreat, and there was no panic. The pursuers were kept at bay, and their wounded comrades brought off. A 'stand was made at the palisades, and the bodies of some who fell within gunshot range were protected from plunder.
There is a doubtful tradition, that while our men were gallantly charging over the meadows, De Rouville sent an order to kill all the prisoners, but that the messenger fell before delivering this command. The tradition is accepted by Hoyt, but the circumstance is not mentioned by carlier writers and there is small probability that a messenger from Rouville to the prisoners' guard could have come in range of the pursuers. Had the French army been in real danger, the inhuman deed might have been done. After the escape of Bridgman, Mr. Williams was ordered to tell the captives, that in case another ran away, the rest should be burned.
Having hastily secured the prisoners, and prepared their packs, the invaders began their retreat. The snow had be_ come soft, and the progress of the spoil-encumbered army was slow, until, on the fourth day, it reached the sleds at West river, a distance of thirty miles. All were heavily burdened ; beside provisions and plunder, they were obliged to carry their wounded and the young children on their backs. More than half the captives were under eighteen years of age ; forty of them not over twelve, and twelve un- der five. One of the latter, Marah Carter, was murdered be-
315
ROUTE OF THE CAPTIVES.
fore the retreat began ; Frank, Mr. Williams's servant, was killed in a drunken frolic the first night ; Mrs. Williams his mistress, Hannah Carter, Jr., and a “ girl about eleven years of age," according to Mr. Williams, were murdered the next day. No female between the ages of six and twenty-four, is marked on Stephen Williams's list, as having been killed on the march. This girl was probably Jemima Richards. The melting snow, which impeded their march, also secured their retreat unmolested. For lack of snow shoes, the men who soon collected in the desolated town, could only follow in their path. It was impossible to intercept or flank the ene- my, or attack in the rear with any hope of rescuing the cap- tives.
The body of Mrs. Williams was recovered, and her grave is still seen in the old graveyard ; that of Marah Carter, was doubtless brought in, and consigned to the common grave, in which tradition says, the rest of the victims were buried. This, by the same authority, is located near the southeast corner of the Old Burying Ground. Twenty were slain by the way, "for their manner was, if any loitered to kill them."
Route of the Captives. The night of February 29th, the party camped at Greenfield Meadows, in the swamp east of the old Nims house. The next day they crossed Green river at the foot of Leyden hills, where the monument to Mrs. Eunice Williams marks the spot where she was killed. Thence up the hill in the old Indian path, still to be seen, northeasterly through Leyden, Bernardston, Vernon to the mouth of West river in Brattleboro, where they had left their heavy baggage, dogs, sledges, &c., arriving there, March 2d. Thence up the Connecticut river on the ice. Sunday, March 5th, the army was at the mouth of Williams river, where Mr. Williams preached to the captives, who sang "one of Zion's Songs" to the Indians at their request. The river got its name from this occurrence. March 6th, continuing on the river, they reached the mouth of White river March 8th. Here the party was broken up, the larger part going up White river. The St. Francis, or Abenaki Indians with Stephen Williams, David Hoyt, Jacob Hickson, and perhaps others, continued up the Connecticut. After months of wan- dering this party struck across to French river, and went down that to Lake Champlain, down the lake, and the Sorel
,
316
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
arriving at Chambly in August, and thence to the Indian fort at St. Francis.
The Caghnawaga Indians, with whom was Mr. Williams, went over the Green Mountain, and struck French river about March 18th. They reached the Sorel, March 29th, and Chambly, April ist, being a little over a month on the march.
The pathetic story of the dreadful march to Canada, "at least 300 miles," and "the snow up to the knees," by this miserable band of men, women and children, as told by Mr. Williams in the "Redeemed Captive," is accessible to all, and is as familiar as household words to every student of New England history.
The journal of his son Stephen, a boy of ten years, as com- plementing his father's 'narrative, is of great interest and value. This was printed by Dr. S. W. Williams, in the Northampton edition of the " Redeemed Captive," in 1853, and again by the P. V. M. Association in 1889, with an appen- dix and notes by George Sheldon.
One man has been found foolish enough to doubt the truth of these narrations. His efforts to cast a shadow upon the integrity of Mr. Williams, will be as successful as an attempt to shut out the rays of the noonday sun with a wire fence.
Deerfield as a Military Post. We usually speak of the catas- trophe of February 29th, 1704, as the "destruction of Deer- field," and rightly, too. For twenty years the persistent set- tlers had struggled bravely, not only against the inevitable hardships of a new plantation, but against the plague of worms, frost and drought ; against war, pestilence, and almost famine. But the end had now come. The ground could be held no longer. They were but twenty-five men, twenty-five women, with seventy-five children, forty-three of whom were under ten years of age. More than half the population, in- eluding their loved minister, were being swept over the snow to Popish Canada, or laid underneath it, in one wide grave hard by in their own God's acre. Their cup was more than full; and this sad despairing remnant, giving up all hope, deliberately resolved to abandon their all in this fatal spot ; to let the "candlestick of the Lord be removed," and this speck of civilization become once more a waste place in the wilderness. from which they had tried to redeem it, while they sought refuge in the towns below. But fortunately,
317
COURAGE SUCCEEDS DESPAIR.
this broken people were not the arbiters of their own desti- ny. The policy of the rulers forbade the sacrifice.
Connecticut had usually responded promptly to calls for aid in defending Hampshire county. October, 1703, her Gen- eral Court had established a Council of War, with authority to send sixty men in case of invasion. That number, and eighty-seven men more, arrived here before the close of March, 1704. A special session of the General Court of Con- necticut convened March 15th, when sixty men were raised for permanent service in this county, in scouting and garri- son duty. They soon came up under Capt. Benjamin New- bury. A committee came also to confer with Col. Partridge, how they could be employed to the best advantage. It was something more than neighborly kindness which prompted these efforts ; it was in accordance with a wise policy of keep- ing the northern frontier as far as possible from their own borders. It was in pursuance of the same end, that Col. Partridge, on the 2d of March, forbade the inhabitants of our town to desert the place ; and establishing here a military station, impressed all the able bodied men as soldiers in the Queen's service. The non-combatants were sent to the lower towns.
Gradually the men of Deerfield rallied from the great shock. By slow degrees, the situation took on a new aspect. Houses were left to shelter them ; soldiers were there for their protection ; the rich meadow land was still theirs. Their faith in an overruling Providence became once more a controlling power, and the future became more hopeful. Bravely they set about gathering up the broken threads of their lives as best they might.
The house of the town clerk, Thomas French, though ran- sacked, was not burned, and the town books were preserved. On their time-stained pages bearing record of town action, there is not a single syllable referring to this great catastro- phe. Those initiated, can see why the spring meeting was deferred seven weeks; why the list of officers is incomplete ; why a new handwriting appears on its pages. To other eyes nothing unusual is revealed. A meeting was held April 20th, when town clerk, selectmen, constable and fence viewers were chosen, and the machinery of a municipal organization so far set in motion The functions of the constable were chiefly
318
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
military ; the fence was a necessity; for with stock running at large no crops could be raised on the Common Field un- less this was in repair. Arrangements were made whereby two days out of five were allowed the impressed inhabitants by turns to labor in the fields. In this broken manner a small area of land was cultivated ; but every hour thus spent was at the imminent risk of life. The woods were full of lurking Indians watching chances for spoil. Their first suc- cess is thus briefly recorded by Stephen Williams in his ap- pendix to the " Redeemed Captive."
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