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 37
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He returned October, 1712. Mr. Hinsdell was the first white man born in Deerfield.
His first capture by Indians was February 29th, 1704. He died May 2d, 1736. The above story bears evidence of being from his own dictation.
The following intensely interesting narrative, taken twen- ty years after the event from the lips of the survivors, by Eb- enezer Grant, I printed from the original in an appendix to the "Narrative of the Captivity of Stephen Williams," in 1889. The date given is an error. The scout left Deerfield about April 26th, 1709. Here we find a realistic, matter-of-fact de- scription of one of those tragedies constantly occurring, when scouts from the opposing nations met under the primeval trees, or on the lone waters of the great northern wilderness.
369
DESPERATE ENCOUNTER IN THE WILDERNESS.
Nowhere have I met with a more enlightening account of the nature of this dangerous service. The reports of these des- perate encounters are usually of the briefest; sometimes, it may be, none return to tell the bloody tale.
CAPT. BENJAMIN WRIGHT'S SCOUT.
Rever Sir-After Due Regards these May Inform you what Lieut. Childs and Mr Hoit related to me concerning the travails of Capt Write & his Company towards Canada & wh happened to them about that time it is as follows-
Capt Write & a Small Company of men designing for Canada to destroy ye enemy, in ye Beginning of April 1710, [1709] we then set out from Deerfield in Number Containing 16, and travailed up Con- necticut River which is usually Called 120 Miles. There we discov- ered two Bark Canos, by reason of that our Capt was pleased to Leave 6 of his men to Ly in wait of y" Canos Supposing Some In- dians would Come there. And then the Capt, with ye Levt & ye rest of ye men set forward up ye White River taking ye Nor west Branch, following it up to the Head then we Steared to French river & trav- ailing down sd River till we Came to y" 3" Falls & y" we built two Canoes & then set out for the Lake & when we came there the wind was so high yt we were forced to lye by a Day or two. After that one Evening we espied a fire ye opposite Side. Supposing it to be indian we then forthwith Im bark & Steared our Course towards the fire and while we was upon ye water, there arose a terrible Storm of thunder & Lightning which put out the fire yt we before espied & thro' Gods Goodness we all got safe to land & Drawing up our Ca- nos upon ye Land turned them up for Shelter till next morning & then we making search for the fire that we afore espied & found it had only been ye woods on fire. After that we set out for Canada in our Canoes on ye west side of the Lake till two hours by sun at night & then the wind arose again which forced us to lye by till next day in ye afternoon & then we set out for Shamble & coming to a point of land near Fortlemote, we espied 2 Canos of Indians in number 8 coming towards us then we paddled to Land & running up ye Bank, by this time those indian Canos was got against us, & then we gave them a Salutation out of the mussel of our guns turned one over- board & we still continued firing caused y" to Paddle away with all Speed & left yt fellow Swimming about & when they had got out of y" reach of our guns both Canos got together, and all got into one, & left ye other wth Considerable plunder in it, & when they was moved off we maned out one of our Canoes and fetched in theirs. And he that was Swimming about we Called to Shore to us, And Levt Childs killed him & some of ye men scalped him. And by In- formation that we had afterward by the Captives, yt were then in Canada three were killed at the Same Time. And after that Skir- inish, we made the best of our way homeward, & Came to ye French River after Dark, and so proceeded all that night up y" French River till we Come to the Falls, and there we Left our Canos and took our Packs upon our Backs and travailed homewards up ye River, and comeing to a Crook that was in the river; we Left ye river & took ye
370
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713. -
nearest Cutt acrost yt Elbow and so come to ye river again, which was about nine of ye clock that morning, & there we espied a Canoa coming down ye river with four Indians in it and a Captive-man, which was taken at Exeter, named William Moody. We Immediate- ly fired on them and killed 2 the first shoot & wounded ye 3d & ye 4th Jumped out & Swam to ye Contrary Shore, then our Capt ordered some of his men to tarry there & fire at him when he got to Shore, and they did So, & afterwards we was Informed yt he was so wound- ed, that in a few days after he got to Canada, died. Now the rest of the men followed y" Canoa as it fell Down Stream, and the Capt Called to the Captive to paddle ye Canoe to Land, but he replied he could not because the wounded Indian would not Let him, with that the Capt hollowed to him & bid him knock in him in ye head, with that he took up a hatchet to Do it but ye Indian rising up took hold of ye hatchet & got it away from him and then catched up the Pad- dle & Laid it on his head & they skuffling together turned over the Canoe and parted in the water, & the Indian Swam to the Contrary Shore. As he got out of the water we pined him to the Bank with seven Bullets. The Captive also Swimming towards us, but being very weak fell down a great pace & Cried out he should Drown be- fore he Could get to Shore, with that Lieut Wells flung down his gun upon y" Bank & run Down & Catched up a pool & held out to him & he catched hold of it & yt Lieut. drew him to Land. And John Strong being upon the Bank heard ye sticks Crack behind him & Looked round & cried out Indians & was Immediately fired upon by them & was wounded in the face & breast with a Charge of Cutt Shoot, but not mortal. With that Lieut Wells sprung up the Bank to get his gun & was mortally shot. Now the men being scattered along upon the Bank but the Capt being with ye captive yt came to ye shore Immediately examined him how many Indians there was, he made answer 19 being in 5 Canos 2 being down stream from that which we shot upon, And 2 above, having been at Exeter took 4 captives (men), which they there had with them and those 2 canos y was passed by was ye Indians yt made ye first shoot upon us.
And we also received Several Shoots from those y' were above us, which Landed on ye other side of the River. Now we being under no advantage to defend ourselves we every one made ye best of our way and shirked for our Selves & in a short Time Capt Write & 5 of his men got together, three more yet missing. The next Day came 2 more to us where we hid some of our Provisions & there waiting some hours for the other man. But he came not while we tarried there, whereas Capt. Write thinking best to leave a Suitable quantity of Provisions and other necesseries in Case he ever came it might be of service to him in his journey homeward. It being one John Burt of Northampton. Then seting forward on our Journey homewards & Came to our Canoas that we left on White River then we got into them & came down ye river to ye mouth of it, where we left 6 men formally mentioned in our History. And finding them gone, then we set forward homeward & after we had got home, those six men formally mentioned Informed us wt they had Litt of 6 Days after we left them. These 6 men espied a Cano of 2 Indians Coming Down the River & called to them not knowing but yt that they was Scat-
371
MOODY SURRENDERS AND IS BURNED.
tocooks but they refused to come to them & paddled to the contrary shore. Then they fired wounding one, but they geting to the shore Left ye Canoa & plunder. After that ye men made y" best of their way home And some Time after they were got home was Informed yt they were Scattecooks.
Now returning to our former Story, having an account of two of those Captives yt were with ye indians that we Litt of on ye french riv- er, are now returned home, & gave us an account yt we then killed 4 Indians. And Moody that we had taken from them we Lost again, we being then in such a fright, every one took to his heals, But moody being so weak & feeble was not able to follow, now after this the Indians all gathered together on the other Shore, & Moody see- ing them hallowed to them to fetch him over & one came & after they had got him over they Burnt him on the Spot. We was in- formed also yt w" the Indians got to Canada they Burnt one more of these Captives Andrew Gilman by name. Now to say a little more concerning Burt, what became of him, having sonie Transient stories yt a mans bones, and a gun was found by some Indians above ye Great Falls npon Connectt River about 60 miles above Deerfield, which some think was sd Burt.
The number of Days we was taking this march was 32, and the men's Names are as follows:
Capt Benjn Write of Northton
Levit John Wells, killed, of Deerd
Henry Write, of Springd
Timothy Childs, of Deerd
Jon" Hoit, of Deerd
Jabez Olmstead, Deerd
John Burt, Lost, Northton
[John Strong, Northampton, wounded, see above. ]
Josel Ephraim } Indians of Natick.
Thomas Pagan S
The other 6 men yt set out wth us yt we left at ye mouth of White River are as follows:
Eben" Severance of Deerd
Mathw Clesson of Northton [later of Deerfield. ]
Thomas McCranne of Springd
Joseph Wait of Hatfd, [son of Benjamin Waite. ]
Josp. Root of Hatfield.
The other we cannot at present call by name. [Doubtless John King of Northampton. ]
In a petition to the General Court of May 28th, 1709, the survivors say concerning the affair on the lake :-
"We judge we killed 4 of the enemy, & one in special. One we got and scalped him, which scalp we now present."
Col. Partridge, in forwarding this paper, says: "They also declared that they are very certain that they killed 4 as above & that on French River they killed 4 more-8 in all. This they affirm to me."
372
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
De Vaudreuil, giving an account of these affairs, in a dis- patch to Ponchartrain says, two were killed on the lake, and one on the river, and that four or five of the English party were killed at the latter place. Possibly one or both of the Naticks were lost. Captain Wright was allowed £12, and the others £6 each. Bills for losses were paid as follows :--
Capt. Wright, 1 blanket, Ios, gun case, Is, 6d, hatchet, 3s 6d snapsack, 25 6d, 0 17 6
Lı. Wells, I gun, 2s 1od, blaneket, 75, hatchet. 25 6d, jacket. 6s, shirt, 35, stockins, 2s, compass, 6s &d, cap, 25, 6d, 3 19 8
John Strong, blanket, 75 6d. snapsack. 2s od, hatchet, 2s 6d, gun, 208, 1 12 6 Thomas McCreeny, snapsack, 2s 6d, cap. 3s, sursingle, Is 6d, belt, 25.
pouch, Sd, horn, Sd, male strapt, is, hatchet, 25. 6d, 12 10
Timothy Childs, blanket, 75 6d, hatchet, 35, 6d, a squaw line, Is 6d, gun-
6 case, Is 6d, cap, 3s, snapsack, 25, IS
Jabez Omstead, blanket, 10s, snapsack, 25 6d, hatchet, 25 6d, 15 O
Jon. Hoit, blanket, 75, 6d, hatchet, 25 6d, 0 10 0
Lt. John King, blanket, 18d, snapsack, Is 6d, 19 6
Judd says that William Moody, whose attempted rescue was attended with such disastrous results, was by the Macqua Indians tortured to death and eaten.
On the return to Canada of the Indians whom Capt. Wright had surprised, "feeling piqued," says De Vaudreuil, "they asked me to let them go on an excursion with some fifty of the most active Frenchmen and allow Sieur de Rouville and de la Periere to command. I assented on the spot." He says the force went to "guerrefiille, [ Deerfield ] where having pre- pared an ambush, they caught two alive." It is the same af- fair to which Hutchinson refers as follows :-
In June, one of the Rouvilles with 180 French and Indians made another attempt on Deerfield to destroy or carry away prisoners; * * but the enemy was discovered at a distance and beat off, the inhabitants bravely defending themselves.
·Penhallow gives the following account of the same event :-
The Town of Deerfield which had suffered so much spoil before by Monsieur Artell [ Rouville, ] was on June 23d obliged to a new encoun- ter by Monsieur Ravell, his son-in-law, who, with 180 French and In- dians, expected to lay all desolate. £ But the town being alarmed they valliantly resisted with the loss of only one man and another wounded.
No other particulars of this fight are found. Stephen Wil- liams says: "Joseph Clesson and John Arms were taken, June 22d, [these were the two " caught alive,"] and the next day Jonathan Williams was killed and Matthew Clesson mor- tally wounded ; and Lieut. Thomas Taylor and Isaac Mattoon wounded, but recovered."
373
CAPTIVITY AND REDEMPTION OF JOHN ARMS.
It is probable that De Rouville was discovered the 22d, and that the brave men of Deerfield went out the next day and drove his crew back into the wilderness. John Arms was wounded in two places before being taken.
Soon after this, the General Court allowed bills for horses killed or wounded, arms, and horse furniture lost, to the heirs of Matthew Clesson, and Jonathan Williams, to Jonathan Hoyt, Daniel Belding, Eleazar Hawks, Edward Allen, John Allen, John Wait and William King. Probably all these men were in the engagement.
On the return of De Rouville and De la Periere to Canada via the lakes, with reports of the condition of affairs at Wood Creek, De Vaudreuil sent Sieur de Ramezay, Governor of Montreal, with 1500 French and Indians, up Champlain to surprise the English. They left Chambly about the 17th of July, and being discovered when they had arrived near Crown Point by an advanced guard of Nicholson's army, they retreated after a slight skirmish.
The alarm in Canada now became almost a panic. All pos- sible measures for defense were taken. No more war parties were sent against our frontiers; but one already out killed John Clary and Robert Granger, at Brookfield, on the 8th of August.
Gen. Nicholson, tired of waiting for the fleet, left Wood Creek, September 26th, to consult with the colonial govern- ments as to what measures to take. Shortly after, the whole army retired to Albany, burning their forts and boats as they retreated. The expected ships had gone to Portugal, and all the trouble and expense in preparing for the campaign was thrown away. Rev. John Williams was chaplain in this futile expedition, and received £24, 8s, 6d for his time and ex- penses. During his absence, "Mr. John Avery and Mr. Aaron Porter " were chaplains by turn at Deerfield, and were paid ten pounds each for the service.
THE RANSOM OF JOHN ARMS.
In the winter of 1709-10, De Vaudreuil, under a pretext of exchanging prisoners, but really, as he writes to France, "to obtain information of what is going on at Orange," sent Sieurs de la Periere and Dupuis, with five men to Albany, as escort for Lieut. Staats, a nephew of Col. Schuyler, and three
374
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
other Dutch prisoners, to be exchanged for Father de Ma- reuil, and three other Frenchmen ; they also brought "a mili- tia officer of the Boston Government," to exchange for "Sieur de Vercheres, ensign of the Regulars." This "militia offi- cer" was John Arms of Deerfield, captured the June previ- ous. One of the French officers probably came with Arms to Deerfield. The dispatches brought from Canada were for- warded to Boston by Col. Partridge. Gov. Dudley is dis- pleased with these proceedings, and writes to Partridge in February that he believes these officers little better than spies, and directing him to send them back, and Arms with them. He says he is ready to exchange prisoners when the French follow the course agreed upon. The French officers reached Montreal on their return about the "time navigation opened." Arms appears to have been left on parole.
The following papers relating to the affair, and events un- der consideration, are from the Massachusetts manuscript archives.
Letter to Col. Partridge :-
BOSTON, February, ult [28] 1709-10.
His Excellency has this day communicated in Council your letter to himselfe accompanying those from the magistrates of Albany, with a copy of a letter from Mr. Vaudreuil, Directed to Col. Peter Schuyler, by the hand of his Messengers then attending from Mont Real, on pretence of negotiating an Exchange of Dutch Prisoners, & one Armes of Deerfield, brought thither with them, for some French prisoners at New York, Bouvenire, taken at Haverhill, and Leffeur, two of theirs in our hands the latter proposed to be Ex- changed for Armes, with a great demand upon him for his redemp- tion out of the hands of the Indians. It is no hard thing to pene- trate into their Intreague, The Designe being to conciliate a new friendship and neutrality with the Albanians as they have lately had; to gain Intelligence of the motions and preparations of the English, and leave this and other Her Mag'tys Colony's to take care for them- selves.
Mr. Vaudreuil takes no notice of his Excellency, neglects to write to him, thinking to obtain his Prisoners from hence by the interposi- tion of the Gents of Albany, well knowing how false he has been, and Violated his promises made once and again to return all the English Prisoners, and that long since; upon which the French pris- oners on his side were sent home by way of Port Royall. Knowing also his Excellency's Resolution never to set up an Algier trade to purchase the Prisoners out of his hands, and Direction not to have them sent to Albany, but to have them brought in a vessell by water from Canada, or down Kenebeck River to Casco Bay, or Piscataqua, In which Resolution he continues, and it is agreeable to the minds of the Council.
375
DUDLEY'S POLICY REGARDING ENGLISH CAPTIVES.
So that Armes must go back with the Messengers, unless he can otherwise obtain his Liberty: You will further Examine him particu- larly referring to the State of Quebec, and Mont Real, how they are as to provisions and Clothing; what store ships arrived there the last summer, and other shipping, and what are there now; what new For- tifications they rasyd in the Summer past and where.
And by the next post from Albany, you must send for Beuvenire from thence, and write to the mayor and Magistrates to adjust the accompt of the Demand for his Keeping, -which, as is Intimated, is very extravagant, beyond what is usually allowed for Prisoners, - and let him draw upon the Government here for pay'mt, and it shall be done.
In case the Hunting Mohawks attend you, it's thought advisable that Major Stoddard joyne a Sergt & Six Centinels of his best hunt- ers, wth them, who will take care to Observe them, and they will be a good out scout, for which you have, his Ex'l'ys Letter & order wth this.
You may adjust the Post as is proposed from Albany. If the ser- vice will be as well performed, & the Charge of the Province be thereby eased, but the Albanians must not think to make a purse from us, and to Exact more than it would be done for by our own people. It being much better that they have ye advantage of what must be necessarily expended. This by the Ord'r of his Ex'lcy, with the advice of the Council, from S'r.
Yo'r very humble servant, ISA. ADDINGTON, Sect'y.
The letter to Mr. Vaudreuil must be sent to Albany by ye Post & forwarded from thence by an Ind'n wthout charge, or otherwise, by ye French Messingers there now attending.
[Endorsed] Letter to Col. Partridge relating to Mr. Vaudreuil's messengers at Albany, and French Prison'rs.
A few weeks previous, Dudley had written in reference to the ransom of Josiah Littlefield, of Maine: "I always pitty a prisoner in Indian hands, especially when their masters are indigent, in necessity of everything ; but no consideration of that nature has yet altered my resolution never to buy a pris- oner of an Indian, lest we make a market for our poor women and children in the frontiers." He had also in this case, pre- vented the goods which Littlefield had himself ordered for his own ransom, from being forwarded to his Indian master.
On learning the decision of the Governor and Council, John Arms at once hurried to Boston, armed with letters from Mr. Williams, his minister, and Col. Partridge, seeking to avert the hard fate of being returned to Canadian captivity. He appeared before the Council March 6th, to plead his cause in person ; but his mission was fruitless; the policy of the gov- ernment was fixed, and he " was dismissed, the Governor and
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QUEEN ANNE'S WAR-1702-1713.
Council not seeing reason to alter anything of their directions to Col. Partridge by their letters last week."
Notwithstanding this decision, our townsman did not re- turn with the French officers, as we see by the following let- ter :- -
To his Honor C'or'n patrigg Leiuing in Hatfield this present. DEERFEILD, May ye 27, 1710.
Worthey & Reuerant Sur, thes lins are to inform yourself of ye ac- count of my Charges, Both for my time & expenses sence I came in- to this contry, ye time that I spent in waiting on ye french Gentle- men at Albany, & in ye marching in ye woods contains ten: 10: weeks, whic
al 12 pence per day is 3 00 00
ye charges for my Dieght & Lodgin was 2 06 00
& my charge for 2 hores jorney to albeny al ten shillings per jorney 1 00 00
-
6 06 00
having given yourself an account only for my time, & my diat, & my lodging, & my horses jurny, all amounts to six pounds, six shlens -pray sur, present my humble Duty to his Excelency, & inform him of my Dificult Surcumstances, both in Canada, being ther a wounded prisener, & stript of all my Clothes j could get none out their maga- send, but was fourst to by them with my one mony, having credit with a gentleman thar, & allso of my oblagations that I am now un- der; which I supose that ye french captaine has informed his Exelan- cy abought, & intreat his Excelency to helpe me in so dificult a Cas as I am under.
I shall not ade but Remain your humble sauruent, JOH. ARMS.
This letter was sent to Gov. Dudley. by Partridge, who writes May 31st, 1710 :-
I humbly move in behalf of John Armes, now of Derefeild a pris- oner to the Frentch, being taken by the enemy in June was twelve- month, & carried to Canada, & since he came hither hath been at great Charges at Albany, as per account annexed, prays it may be allowed and payd him out of the Treasurie of this Province, as also such other allowances for his Losses of his tyme & cloathing & his wounds &c as this corte may judge meete & just, & for y'r Excellen- cy & Hon's shall ever pray. SAMUEL PARTRIDGE, in behalf
of John Arms afores'd.
The measures Arms took to secure his freedom have not been discovered. It would seem that he had been captive to the Indians, and that a " French captain " had ransomed him for one hundred livres, which he had obligated himself to re- pay. Arms was also held as a prisoner of war, and a French officer of the line was asked in exchange. This officer, whose name is given as "Sieur de Vercheres," by De Vaudreuil, and "Le Fever " by Dudley, did not return with the French en-
377
EARLY PROTECTION OF THE FOREST TREES.
voys. A prisoner of the latter name was at Hadley two years later, when he refused to return with a party of exchanged prisoners going from Deerfield to Canada, and declared his intention of becoming a citizen.
Arms was allowed six pounds, six shillings, on his bill of May 27th. He became a cripple from his wounds, and a life pension of six pounds a year was granted him in 1721, to which three pounds, ten shillings was added in 1752.
August 10th, 1710, Connecticut voted to raise scouting par- ties, not to exceed sixty Indians and four or five English, to range towards the lakes ; fitting them out and paying a boun- ty of ten pounds for each Indian scalp.
Of all the troubles from the enemy this year, not a clue is found on the town records. although the action of three meetings is recorded. There had been some difficulty in re- gard to rights in the wood land.
Wood Land and Turpentine. In 1686 it was voted " That notwithstanding the wood lands are to be laid out in particu- lar to euery person his proportion, * * all timber, fire wood, stone, clay, &c., shall be common for euery proprietor's use till such time as the town shall other ways order it."
Soon after, the wood lands were divided according to the number of cow commons held by each proprietor. The ad- vantage of ownership, under these circumstances, is not very apparent, for over and above the right given individuals to take timber, &c., where they chose, the town still retained a general control of the whole. None were allowed the use of pine trees for making turpentine without leave of the town, and privileges of this kind were granted by vote from time to time. It appears that in 1708 parties had been engaged in the business without leave ; but the town asserted its author- ity and voted December 10th, "that thare shall be no more pine trees cut for making of turpentine without the town's liberty."
In March, 1709, the town granted unto Joseph Clesson and Ebe Severance a persel of pine trees for making turpentine liing est of Deerfield est mountain by the great river; ye plas is known by ye name of ye pine nook; it is to be understood yt ya are to haue ym three yere.
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