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 36
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CLOSE OF QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.
During the negotiations between Gov. Dudley and De Vaudreuil for an exchange of prisoners and treaty of neu- trality, there was a general desire for peace on the part of the English. Dudley evidently did not share this feeling. He was ambitious for the conquest of Canada ; and his policy seems to have been, to prolong the correspondence until he could recover the captives in the hands of the enemy, and gain time and opportunity to effect his object. During this same period, Vaudreuil, who had become alarmed for the safety of Canada, and therefore desirous of peace, sent no parties of Indians against our valley. The vigilance of our authorities, however, was not relaxed. A garrison constantly occupied Deerfield, and scouts were kept ranging the woods.
The following orders, found among the Sheldon manu. script, have historic interest and value ; showing, as pictures of the times, the power conferred upon military officers over persons and property in public exigencies, and their mode of exercising it :-
To ye Constable of Derefield :
In her Maj'sts name, these Require you to impress such & so many men of the Derefield Inhabitants, or others, as are well acquainted with the woods up the River & ajacent woods, to be pilates for the scouts that are now sending out, & shall be sent out according to direction you shall from tyme to tyme receive from Capt. Jon- athan Wells, or from Capt. John Stoddart; & hereof you may not fayle at yo'r Utmost Perrill; dated in Hatfield this 21 June, 1706, In the 5th yeare of Her Maj'sts Reign, Anno domino.
SAM'LL PARTRIDGE, Lt. Colo.
.
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THE "REDEEMED CAPTIVE " AT HOME.
To ye consabel of Dearfield, Greting:
This Require you jn Hear Magj'tis Name forthwith to Impress one Good & abel Hors, bridel & sadel, for Hear Majytis sarvis; Hear of you may not fail. Given under my Hand this 20 fo July, 1706. JONATHAN WELLS, Capt.
In her Maj'tis Name you a Required to Impress two Squa lynes & any other Necessary the two Frenchmen now Goeing to Canada stand in need of; fayle not. 27 August, 1706.
SAM'LL PARTRIDGE, Lt. Colo.
To the Constable of Dearfield :.
In Her Majisties name you are hereby required forthwith to im- press and deliver to Capt. John Stoddard, pork or any other provis- ions, & so much as he shall direct to, also, men horses, or anything or things whatsoever he shall think needful; to be imployed in Her Majesties service according as he sd Stoddard shall direct; herof fayle not at your peril : dated at Hatfield, this 25th day of Sept'br, in the fifth year of her Majesties Rn, Anno y" Dom'i, 1706.
SAM'LL PARTRIDGE, Lt. Colo.
The above order was not in Partridge's handwriting. It was endorsed on the back :-
Deerfield, Oct. 11, 1706.
pursuant to the within, this warrant John Sheldin of Dearfield, constable, hath impressed pork and other things, all which were done by my order and direction. JOHN STODDARD, Capt.
When the joyful news reached Deerfield of the return of Mr. Williams to Boston, a town meeting was at once called. By the record of its action the town's relation to the Re- deemed Captive seems a little mixed. He is called their pas- tor, and at the same time measures were adopted for his re- settlement. There may have been no precedents to govern the case.
At a legall town Meeting in Deerfield November 30, 1706, the town then unanimously made choice of Capt. Jonathan Wells, ens. jno. Shelden and Thomas ffrench, to goe down to ye bay for them, and in thair be half to act and treat with thair pastor the reverand mr. jno. Williams, in regard to his resetl'g with them againe in ye work of ye ministry; as also to take advice and counsel of ye Elders in our Coun- ty for the management of that work; as also to put up a petition to ye generall court or counsel, for a grant of money for ye encourage- ment of ye reverant mr. jno. Williams in his resetelment in said work with ym; and in all thes partickulars to act and doe according to ye best of thair discration.
As we have seen, the desired grant was voted by the Gen. eral Court six days later. A conference with "the Elders" probably showed the fact, that no special "management" was necessary, and Mr. Williams was soon reestablished in
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
his chosen work, and field of labor, without further ceremony, having refused eligible offers of settlements near Boston.
From the day of her great disaster, up to this time, Deer- field had hardly been more than a military post, held by sol- diers in the pay of the colony; and little attention had been given to municipal affairs beyond keeping up the meadow fence. The discouraged inhabitants had felt that at any time they might be called upon to desert the place. Now, every- thing was changed. Their loved minister, who had been so much to them, was again among them. Their courage rose. The town should now be held at all hazard ; and the regular routine of town business must be taken up. First of all, Mr. Williams must be provided for.
1707. January 9, 1706-7 Att a Legall Town meeting in Deerfield It was y" agreed and uoted yt ye Towne would build a house for Mr. Jno. Williams in Derfield as big as Ens Jno Sheldon's a back room as big as may be thought convenient: It was also uoted yt Ens Jno Sheldon Sar Thomas ffrench and Edward Alln ware chosen a Comity for carying on said work.
At the March meeting, "Sergt. Eleizar Hawks, and ben- nony more " were added to this committee, Sheldon and Al- len having been in the meantime, as we have seen, called to more important duties for the State.
April 5, It was then agreed and uoted, yt ye town should pay un- to Mr Jno Williams: 20 pounds in money and euery male head of 16 years and upward i day work a pese and thos yt haue tames a day with thair tames: for ye yere.
That all land owners should bear their share of the bur- dens, a petition was sent to the General Court for leave "to rais all thair town charges upon lands only."
The military defenses had become so weak that the labor necessary to strengthen the lines was more than the settlers could bear, and a call was made upon Col. Partridge for aid. The result of this appeal may be seen in the following pa- per :-
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq., Capt. Gen'll Governor in Cheife & the Hon'rd Counsell & Representatives in Gen'll Corte as- sembled this 28 May, 1707:
Samull Patridge Humbly proposeth Refferring to the Settleing of the Broken State of Derefeild & to their building up in a way of de- ffence against the Comon enemy, it being absolutely nesessary both to the people and. Church of Christ & of absolute advantage to the whole county & youre Especiall care & allowance for ye Encouridgemt
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CAPTAIN STODDARD'S NORTHWARD SCOUT.
& strengthening the Rev'ed Mr. John Williams in ye work of Christ there is greatly advantageous to us all, for which myself, in the be- half of us all, do Return our thankfulness to this Corte & Humbly spread before you the Nessessetie of Rebuilding the Forts there so as to take in Mr. Williams his house & several other houses for In- habitants that are & will repaire there for enlarg'mt & strengthening the place : we propose to Rebuild with 120 Rodd of fortification with square timber which may be done at 20s per Rodd: now the people being in a Broken Condition as aforesd most of their houses to Re- build upon the former Ruins are incapacitated to Rebuild the Forts as aforesd therefore I Humbly intreate this Corte's Consideration of the premises & to grant such allowances as are needfull for the per- formance of the afore'sd which will much oblidge ye whole people & myself youre unworthy serv't ffor youre Honors ever to pray.
SAM'LL PARTRIDGE.
June 13th, 1707, £30 was "allowed towards that part of the general fortification, that falls to the share of the poor of Deerfield, and such as are returned from captivity."
This appropriation, it will be observed, was for the general stockade. No more is heard of the smaller work of square timber proposed by Col. Partridge.
August 11th, 1707, Col. Schuyler wrote Partridge, that his Indian spies, just returned from Canada, reported a party of twenty-seven French and Indians at the mouth of Otter Creek on the 6th, bound for the New England frontier. The spies were charged by this party not to tell of the expedition. To this they would not agree, as the war party "was going to kill our brethren of New England." Nothing more was heard of these enemies. Probably this discovery sent them back. No Indian made an attack but by surprise ; according to their ethics, it would be a disgrace to do it openly.
In this war the English adopted the French tactics, and sent small scouts to harass the frontiers of the enemy. From the following paper a good idea of their methods may be ob- tained :-
Capt. [John] Stoddard set away from Deerfield the 28th of April with 12 men, & Wednesday was a fortnight after, they tracked Indi- ans upon the French river & they followed them till Saturday Night, at which time they had got to the last carrying place, and was quite discouraged & concluded that they had got so far out of their Reach yt yª could not overtake ym & three of them had a mind to take their cano, which was all they had that was serviceable & go to Chamblee and get a Frenchman, or more if they could, and set away upon the lakes & was driven by a contrary wind upon a point of land; & there they discovered some Indians; & two of ym staid at ye canno, and the third, namely, John Wells, went to observe their motions & after he
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
had got a little way he saw a person with its back towards him, he be- ing in a plain place so that he could not get away without being dis- covered, & he was loath to shoot, because he was in hopes of getting more booty, & while he was thus thinking the person rose up & stood a little while & for fear of being discovered he shot & she fell down; he took his hatchet out of his girdle & ran up to it to cut off its head & then he saw it had a white face, which very much startled him, & she spake, saying, "Netop, Netop, my master." He ran to the cano; they set off; the Indians shot off two or three guns which he judged were to alarm one another, and they overtook ye rest of yir company ye same day just at night & they y" set away for home & arrived the 30th of May. By the discribing of the person y' was killed Uncle thinks it was an Eastern captive, Namely, Johannah Ardaway, and Wells saith yt he thought it was she, as soon as he saw her face.
This manuscript was without signature.
October 17th, 1707, a town meeting was held when,-
It was noted to send a petistion to ye generall Cort for a grant of money towards ye maintainance of ye reuarant Mr Jno Williams in ye work of ye ministry in Deerfield. it was allso uoted yt Colonall partrig and ensin Jno Sheldon should be implyed to manage yt afaire: Att ye same meeting, ye town made choise of Capt Jonathan Weals and ensin jno Sheldon for to git a petistion drawn to send to ye genarall Cort and allso impowered them to Sine it in the towns behalf:
In their petition the committee say :-
We, Labouring Still under many Difficulties & Streights, being but a Smal handfull of us & most of us very low in the World, are at Considerable charges among ourselves, in Building a House & pro- viding other Necessarys & Conveniencys for the Resettlement of our Rev'd Pastor, not here to be Named, & Many who Deserted ye Place quickly after ye Desolation, By our Rev. Pastor's return and giveing hopes of Settleing again amongst us has encouraged their Return, with many other who Returned out of Captivity, who Instead of helping in such charges, have rather need of help to build Houses for themselves, & providing other Necessarys for their Subsistance. Our Necessities putting us upon it & being Imboldened by former favors & Incouragements, Wee humbly crave your help for the maintanance & Incouragement of our Worthy Pastor amongst us. You were pleased to do considerable y" last year that way. Our ne- cessities being still very great, we Pray you would consider us in that Regard: We have devolved this our Concern into ye hands of ye Worshipfull Col. Sam'l Partridge, Esq., & Capt. John Shelden, to manage for us, hopeing your Honors will consider your Poor Peti- tioners & for your Honors we shall ever Pray.
JONATHAN WELLS, JOHN SHELDON,
In behalf of ye whole town of Deerfield.
Deerfield, Oct. 25, 1707.
4
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MUNICIPAL AND MINISTERIAL.
Eleven days later twenty pounds were granted for one year in answer to this appeal.
December 23d " the town voted to pay thair town charg in prouition pay as followeth Indian corn, 2 s, otes, Is 6d, peas 4s per bushel." Voted to give "ye Widow Williams all her reats for this present yere." Her husband, Zebadiah, cap- tured in 1703, had died in the hospital at Quebec, April 12th, 1706.
1708. At a meeting Feb. Ist, three men "were chosen a comittee to Masure all ye common fence in Derefield and to stake it out to ye now present proprietors."
February 9th, "Uoted to forgiv john Allison all his reats for ye present yere except one pound, which he hath already paid in sweeping ye house of god." This is the only instance in which I have found the meetinghouse referred to as a sa- cred edifice, until many years later.
March Ist, the usual town officers were chosen, and "forty pounds in money for his salery ye yere ensuing " was voted to Mr. Williams, and a tax was laid.
March 25th, it was "uoted yt: Martin Smith and widow Hursts and Robert prises comonfence should be repaired up- on ye town charg."
Sept. 23d, Uoted yt all swine yt shall be found upon ye comans aft- er y" 3d day of Ocktober shall be ringed, and any that shall neglect to ring their own swine, thay shall be forthwith rung by ye hog ringer.
December 10th, "Uoted to pay for ye glasing of meeting- hous this present yere," and the price of grain was fixed as follows : "Corn 2s, peas 4s, oats 1-6 or is 6d-1-3 off for money." Voted to pay Deacon Hawks "Six pounds as or in money for his horse which dyed in ye town Saruis."
Although 1708 was a year of alarm and disaster, the above votes are the only allusion on the town record to anything connected with the war; what I have learned of military op- erations about this period, has been found chiefly in English and French official reports.
About the first of February, 1708, news was received through Col. Schuyler, that a large force had been fitted out in Canada to begin a march against this region January 15th. Active measures were at once taken for defence. Connecti- cut was appealed to, and sent up Col. William Whiting with
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
several companies of infantry and dragoons. The first week in February Capt. Benjamin Wright led a war party of Eng- lish and Indians up the Connecticut. He went as high as Cowass ; was gone about nine weeks, and returned without seeing the face of an enemy. Scouts were kept constantly out in other directions. The warning and preparation prob- ably prevented an attack. Small parties hovered about the frontiers, however, all the season, keeping up the alarm, pre- venting any labor in the field except under strong guards.
July 9th, one of these parties killed and scalped Samuel and Joseph Parsons, sons of Capt. John Parsons, at Northamp- ton. July 26th, the house of Lieut. Abel Wright of Skipmuck (now Chicopee) was surprised. Aaron Parsons and Barijah Hubbard were killed and their bodies mangled ; Martha, wife of Lieut. Wright, was mortally wounded. Two grandchil- dren, Hannah, aged two years, and Henry, seven months, ly- ing in a cradle together, were tomahawked. Hannah sur- vived the blow. Their mother, wife of Henry Wright, was captured and never afterwards heard from.
August 5th, Col. Peter Schuyler writes Gov. Dudley that an army was being assembled at Montreal, and that he was trying to find out their design. The next day he sends news that eight hundred men were on the march for New Eng- land. The express bearing this information arrived at Bos- ton on the 10th. The soldiers were put under marching or- ders, and the woods filled with scouts, to learn the point of attack.
De Vaudreuil had been blamed by the home government for beginning this war with the English colonies. He was now urged to prosecute it more vigorously. Ponchartrain, the war minister, wrote him June 30th, 1707, to send out more parties to harass the English, adding, "If you could go out and attack them yourself, his Majesty would be glad of it:" and, again, that the king " expected to receive news of some expedition against them, and is not satisfied with the inactiv- ity in which you remain, with such numerous forces as you have." In accordance with his directions De Vaudreuil had raised a large army of French and Indians, and put Hertel de Rouville at its head.
De Rouville began his march July 16th. To conceal his destination, part of the force went up the St. Francis river
365
THE EXPECTED ENEMY RAVAGE HAVERHILL.
and the rest up the Sorel, to Lake Champlain. The latter were mostly French Mohawks or Macquas, over whom Col. Schuyler had great influence. On the march they met Schuyler's messengers, bearing a secret belt, desiring them not to go to war against the English. The Macquas, pre- tending to the French that some infectious disease had ap- peared among them, at once turned back and went home.
A large portion of the Indians with the other part of the army also deserted. The plan of the campaign was, for both branches to unite in an attack on the Maine coast, with force enough to sweep all before it. On the desertion of the Mac- quas, De Vaudreuil ordered De Rouville to push on with his Frenchmen and St. Francis Indlans, and surprise some scat- tered settlement. Henceforth, the barbarous murder of frontier settlers was to please the King of France, as well as the Abenakis.
August 23d, Dudley received word from Schuyler, that the Indians had turned back, and that there was nothing to fear from the French, who could do nothing without them. On this representation part of the soldiers were dismissed, in- cluding a force of five hundred volunteers under officers of their own choice.
Meanwhile, De Rouville had traversed three or four hun- dred miles of forest, and at daybreak on the 29th of August, he surprised the town of Haverhill, killed about forty of the inhabitants, and took many captives. He began his retreat about sunrise, but was pursued by the survivors, who at- tacked him, killed his brother, another French officer, and seven men ; took a third officer prisoner, and rescued part of the captives. In the north part of the township, Joseph Brad- ley-the same who accompanied Ensign Sheldon to Canada -hearing the alarm, collected a party and sallied out into the woods. He discovered and secured the medicine chest of the invaders, and their knapsacks, which they had taken off before making the assault. It was feared De Rouville would now turn to the Connecticut Valley, and Aug. 31st, the Council sent orders to Col. Partridge to prepare for their reception. A large force came up from Connecticut, and the military companies made ready to march at a moment's warning. Nothing more was seen of De Rouville, but some of his Indians may have remained upon our frontiers.
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
About this time a scout of six men from Deerfield fell into an ambush of Indians near Cowass. Martin Kellogg, after shooting one of the enemy, was taken captive a second time. A son of Josiah Barber of Windsor, Conn., after receiving a fatal wound, rallied, and getting on his knees, shot the Indian who had fired upon him. Both were found dead by the In- dians, shortly after, lying but a few rods apart. The Indian who told this story of Barber's pluck to Stephen Williams, added, "No he, (i. e. Barber) but his ghost," did the exploit.
Oct. 13th, Abijah Bartlett was killed at Brookfield, and Jo- seph and Benjamin Jennings, and John Green, wounded, and John Walcott, a lad of ten, captured.
Oct. 26th, Ebenezer Field of Hatfield, was killed at Bloody Brook, while on his way to this place. With his death, the tragedies of the year closed. There could, however, be no relief from anxiety, watching, warding and scouting. The enemy might strike again at any moment. On receiving the report of this year's operations, the King wrote De Vaudreuil that he was satisfied with his application.
1709. During the winter of 1708-9, there was great alarm in Canada upon a report received by Sieur de Joncaire, through the Mohawks, that an English army was coming over the snow against Montreal. De Vaudreuil, with all the regular soldiers, took post at the threatened point, and all the militia were under orders to march at a moment's warn- ing. De Vaudreuil remained in this posture of defense about a month ; meanwhile, fortifications were being made in every direction. Quiet was hardly restored before the scare was repeated. This time the grounds of alarm were real. Gen. Nicholson with fifteen hundred men was moving from Al- bany toward Lake Champlain. April 27th, De Vaudreuil returned to Montreal, where an army was collected, to repel the invaders. Orders were issued to gather all the inhabi- tants and movable property from the south of the St. Law- rence within the walls of Montreal and Quebec, and on the north side to drive the cattle and remove the women and children up into the forests northward. The walls of Quebec were strengthened in every possible way, the settlers were called from their farms, and much of the harvest was lost for lack of hands to gather it. De Vaudreuil had "sure news" of an intended attack both by sea and land, and the whole
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EXPERIENCES IN A SECOND CAPTIVITY.
spring and summer was spent in preparations to resist it. On the other hand, the English army halted at Wood Creek, waiting until October for the arrival of the fleet which was expected to assail Quebec, while Nicholson went against Montreal. Three forts were built meantime and hundreds of bateaux and canoes in which to cross the lake.
Scouts from each frontier were sent against the other, seeking prisoners and information of military movements. In this the French had the earliest success.
MEHUMAN HINSDALE'S CAPTIVITY.
April IIth, Mehuman Hinsdale returning from Northamp- ton with an ox team loaded with apple trees, was surprised and captured. His team was not molested and was found near where he was taken, standing quietly in the road. The following account of his capture and experience, taken from a manuscript in the handwriting of Stephen Williams, con- tains enough of general interest to warrant its publication entire :-
April 11, 1709, Mr Mehuman Hinsdell driving his teem from Northampton loaded with apple trees, without any fear of indians (the leaves not being put forth) was met by two indians about half of a mile from the pine bridge who took him prisoner and carid him away into ye west woods. The indians were civil & courteous to him on ye journey. They arrive at Shamble within about eleven days & an half after they took Mr. Hinsdell. From Shamble they carid Mr. Hinsdell to Oso, where he was obligd to run the Gauntlett (as they call it) [i. e. to run from the indians who persue & if th when-This is erased] for near three quarters of a mile, but he ran so briskly as not to receive a blow till he came near the Fort when he was met by an indian, who taking hold of ye line (that was round his neck and hung upon his Back) pulld him down, and so he was struck by one fellow ; after he was got into ye Fort, he was set in ye midst of a com- pany and obligd to sing and dance, & while thus employd, he was struck a very severe blow upon the naked back, by a youth yt was of such an age as to think of engaging in some warlike expedition, but this being contrary to their usual custom (he having performd ye cer- emony of running ye gauntlett) was resented not only by Mr H. ye sufferer, but by ye indians in generall &c. From this Fort Mr H was carid to the French Govenour who knew him (for this was ye 2d time of Mr Hinsdells captivity) and told him he expectd a full account of news from him, especially about an expidition (which he suspected was on foot). Ye governour told him if he would give him a full ac- count of what news there was in his country, he would treat him with respect, but if he found he did not, he would use him worse than a Devill &c. But Mr H. endeavored as best as he could to avoid giv- ing him an account &c. But when Mr Whiting of Bellerica was brot
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
into the country by ye indians and gave an account of an expidition on foot, Mr H. was taken and put into ye dungeon &c. [After a while Gen11 Nicholson sent an indian as a spy into yt country who was to endeavor to draw off ye indians from the French, and join with Gen! Nicholson, this plan, this is erased, but gives a clue to the story]. After a while ye indians desired of the Governeur, that they might have Mr H. to burn, (pretending they should fight the better if they could burn an Englishman) and he was delivered to the indians, who were plotting to leave ye French & go over to Gen11 Nicholson & y' Dutch, and designed to have made use of Mr H. to have introdud them. All was kept private from the French, & Mr Hinsdell was led away towards Montreal from Qubeck. The indi- ans communicated their design to Mr H. who was overjoyd with the account (for he thought of nothing but being sacrificed by them) & encouraged it, but before they were ready to execute yt design, a cer- tain indian fell sick, and in his sickness making confession to a priest, discoverd the plot, and so all was dashd. The fellow yt was the projector of it (being one that had come from Albany, or from some of the five nations to them) had timely notice, so as to escape to Shamble, where he putt a trick upon ye officer of ye Fort, pretend- ing to him that he was sent from the governeur, to make what dis- covery he could of ye English, upon which ye officer supplyd him with arms, amunition & provision and he had been gone but a little while into the woods before his pursuers (the plot being wholly ript up) came after him, but yet he was gone, so as to escape his pursuers. Mr H. was taken from ye indians and again commitd to prison, and the next year Mr H. and Mr. Joseph Clesson were sent to France in a man of war-and in France he met with great kindness, particularly from the Ld intendant at Roshelle, and after a while they were shipd at Saint Meloes for London, where they met with great kindness es- pecially from Mr Agent Dummer, who interceedd with the Lords of the Admiralty, who orderd them on board one of the Queens Ships which brought them to Rhode island whence they got home in Safty to their families, after Mr Hinsdell had been absent from his family abt three years and a half.
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