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 44
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438
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
1725. The project of harassing the Canadian frontiers by large war parties was a subject of much correspondence. Feb. 3d, Col. Stoddard in reply to a letter from Gov. Dummer says :-
I retain my former opinion that if our people had gone to Grey Locks fort (which lyeth up a small river which emptieth itself into the Lake near the further end of it) [at Missisquoi bay] and had made spoil upon the Indians, those that should escape would in their rage meditate revenge upon our Commissioners, either in going to or returning from Canada; but an expedition there in the spring, about the time of planting corn, which they wont suppose the Commission- ers privy to, may not be attended with like inconvenience; tho' I think ordinarily men are in less danger in the winter & more likely to be successful. Since my last to yr Honor Lieut Pomroy hath aquainted me that about thirty of Capt Kelloggs best soldiers offer to goe out this winter or rather early in the spring
There hath likewise some of Deerfield men been with me to mani- fest their desire to go out with a small party in the spring and to ly on some Rivers in [-
They say there are eight men at Deerfield some of which are men of Estate & have been prisoners with the Indians, and know there maners. They propose to add some from the lower towns but would not have their number exceed twenty.
I am in a great measure a Stranger to the Business of the Con- missioners, and so incapable to Judge whither such Enterprises are consistant with there affairs or what the consequences of doing spoil on the enemy at this Juncture may be, but doe assure our people that in case we should be advised that a Truce should be agreed on then all designs against the Enemy must be laid aside. But if your Hon" think it expedient, I think it probable that parties may be raised amongst us to go to the upper part of St. Francis river, where these Indians plant, or towards the head of Connecticut river, where the Indians hunt, or to the Amanoosuck, which emptieth into the Con- necticut River & is the Common road from St. Francis to Amascog- gin, & to the East Country, or to Grey Locks fort, and possibly to all of them, provided yo be allowed to assure the men of such en- couragment as they shall Judge reasonable. but they will be slow to go wholly on uncertainties. it will be needful that your mind be known as soon as may be, for it will soon be time to make canoes for such as go by water.
Yesterday two of the Moheage Indians were with me, and say that most of their people are at Springfield and a little below Enfield they Suppose, to be here next week to take directions where they shall hunt. I suppose they may be allowed to hunt on Swift river, Ware river, Pequoquag & about Monadnock, but not to pass Contocook river eastward. I presume your Hon' will advise the officers at Dun- stable and the other neighboring towns although I think their scouts seldom if ever goe so far westward. When I have opportunity I shall learn their disposition about going to war.
I am yr Hon's most humbl Servt JOHN STODDARD.
439
MARCHING ORDERS.
Joseph Lyman was paid thirty shillings to go post to Bos- ton with this and other letters.
Dummer replies Feb. 8th. He agrees,-
That to send any parties into the French Country at this juncture will very much hazzard the safety of our Commissioners. How- ever I have taken advice of His Majts Council upon your proposal of sending twenty men of Deerfield and other Towns to waylay the In- dians, and they have voted the encouragment for that small party, viz, that they be allowed half a crown per Day each man (they to find themselves with provisions) during there being out upon actual service and for the time necessary for fitting themselves out and that they be entitled to the same Rewards for scalps & prisoners as the volunteers without pay provided you cannot agree with them at any Lower Rates, and I desire you would accordingly encourage there designe. But for any marches into the French Country we must not think of it
Should likewise have Capt Kellogg's men that have offered them- selves sent out upon such service as you shall judge most promising of success. The Indians must not come hunting East of Ware & Swift rivers at present, for parties are out about Monadnock scout- ing, and can't get notice.
The following is given as a specimen of the marching or- ders issued when scouting parties were sent into the woods. The place, the kind of service and time is usually carefully defined. This was made out in blank by Secretary Willard.
Sr these are to direct you forthwith to prepare for a march along Meremack River up to Winnepesaukee Ponds with the Company un- der your immediate Command including the men posted at Dracut together with the Comp of Capt Josiah Willard who is hereby ordered to attend your Directions in this Affair & proceed with you on the aforesaid march. Let him therefore be forthwith advertised hereof that he may have his Company in due Readiness You must give or- ders for the making five or six Canooes of white Pine for the more Convenient Conveyance of your Baggage & setting your People over & along the Rivers & Ponds
Lett the said Canooes be so made as to be as little expensive to the Province as may be in weh you may direct to employe your sol- diers at cheapest rate you can. You must begin your March the 25th day of this month if the weather be favorable & the Rivers & Ponds be open enough for such an undertaking If otherwise as soon as you can with Convenience. You must scour all the Country adjoining to the River & the branches thereof Especially the small hunting & fish- ing Places of the Enemy in those parts, and always have a very care- ful & vigilent scout on each side the River for discovery: You must take the utmost care that your Marches be performed with the great- est Secrecy & Silence, wch is absolutely necessary for your Success herin: It will be best for you to carry provisions for thirty or forty days
If you have Opportunity of exchanging your men that are not on
440
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
all acconts so fit for the service for such as are more capable & ef- fective you have my Leave & Order to make such exchanges from Time to Time as such Occasions shall offer which is agreable to my verbal Order to you formerly
Probably this order was made out for Col. Tyng, but for some reason never issued.
As should have been foreseen, the attempt to make a treaty of peace with the Eastern Indians in Canada came to naught. It was the settled policy of the French to keep the Indians up to the fighting point as long as possible, and on his own ground, De Vaudreuil had every needed advantage.
March 16th, the Commissioners held a conference with De Vaudreuil. To their demand of the restitution of the English prisoners taken by the Abenakis, he said he had no control over those in the hands of the Indians, but those ran- somed by the French should be given up. At another con- ference the next day, the Commissioners demanded that the supply of food, ammunition &c., to the Abenakis, should be stopped. The Governor replied, that what had been given them was only the annual present from the French King; that the English were to blame if these things were used against them, as they had provoked the war. De Vaudreuil "is entirely governed by Pere La Chasse the chief of the Jes- uits." At another meeting on the 18th, the Commissioners asserted that the lands in dispute had been bought of the Abenakis, and showed deeds from the Indians. The reply was that the Abenakis did not acknowledge these deeds, and declared them forgeries. We told the Governor, they say, "We desire no grace or favor from him but Demand only Justice." If he would not favor a peaceful issue "he must be looked upon by God & man as the instigator of the war, which we could & did prove by his other letters & the hin- drance of Peace." His course is vacillating, "one today an- other tomorrow," don't know how things will come out. "But if the governor had that Stedynes & Sway he ought only to have we should have nothing to doubt." They doubtless give De Vaudreuil more credit for integrity than the result war- ranted.
April 24th, the Commissioners met deputies of the Abena- kis at Montreal. De Vaudreuil says in a letter to France that he was "not in the humor to dispose the Abenakis to a
441
AN ANCIENT BOUNDARY.
peace," and told them before they spoke to the English "that it was not enough to demand the demolition of the forts on their territory, or the restitution of their land and prisoners, but that the death of Father Rasle, and the burning of their church, ought to make them demand heavy indemnities, without which, they ought not to listen to any proposal for peace or a suspension of hostilities."
It was in accordance with this advice that, at the meeting with the Commissioners, "the chiefs of the Abenakis spoke with such haughtiness and firmness to the English," says De Vaudreuil, " that so far from agreeing together on any point, they separated with dispositions very adverse to peace." The Abenakis claimed all the land so far west as the " River Gow- nitigon, otherwise called the Long River, [Connecticut] which was formeyly the boundary which separated the lands of the Iroquois from those of the Abenakis," but would give up all to one league west of the Saco. They also demanded suita- ble presents to atone for the death of Father Rasle and the destruction of their church. The English promised to report at Boston and the mission ended. The Commissioners left Canada, April 26th, N. S., and reached Albany, May Ist, O. S., 1725. The action of De Vaudreuil was approved at home. He is told "nothing better can be done than foment this war." As we return to the events of 1725 it will appear that he was not negligent in that direction.
Lieut. Timothy Childs' bill for a sick soldier at Mr. Wil- liams's :-
Six Weeks attendance by Rev. John Williams' Maid, 4d, O I 4
4 pounds Sugar 4s, I Pt wine Is, Spice of Sundry sorts, 2s, 0
7 0 Horse for messenger to Northfield, 13 miles, 0
2 2
Horse for messenger to Hatfield, 13 miles, 0
2 2
Horse for messenger to Northampton, 18 miles,
3 O April 24, 1725. Allowed. O
March 20th, 1725, Schuyler writes Gov. Dummer that he has been sounding the St. Francis Indians, and that it ap- pears they intend to make peace with the English next June.
Dummer writes Stoddard to " send a messenger to concil- iate Grey Lock, & to try to get him to come in, & assure him not only of safety & protection, but of kindness & good usage."
April 19th, 1725, Capt. John Ashley writes from Westfield asking for six or eight men to guard the workmen in the
442
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
fields. He says, " We have no news from our GentIn that are gone to Canada, neither from Capt Wells, neither from Al- bany, but only a gentleman sends to us to be careful as he expected the Indenss would be revenged on us for the In- den wee kiled of thars at my farme."
By the following letter from Partridge to the Governor, April 21st, 1725, it appears that there was so little expectation of peace in high quarters, that preparations were being made for another winter campaign. Partridge sent a list " of men that are ffixed with snow shoes & Mogesens on the west side of the river," there were thirty in Hatfield "under Sergt John Waite their leader ;" twenty in West Springfield "under Sergt Henry Rogers their Leader." He continues :-
We hear nothing from o' Gentlemen that went to Canada, nor from Capt Wells & about 65 men that have been out one month or more I pray God we may heare good when it comes, the hand of God is much upon the several Towns upon or River in Sore Sickness & many deaths. [ In a postscript he adds. ] Before sealing this Lett" I perceive there is news from Canada & in this mynett I Rec'd yor Hon's Lett" dated April 2 1725 & shall attend to yor ordrs therein di- rected
This news came in a letter from Capt. Ashley of Westfield. It had been sent him from Albany by Philip Schuyler, who had dispatches from the Commissioners in Canada. Philip Schuyler writing from Albany, April 8th, says, " Your gen- tlemen in Canada desired me to let you know that all the enemy Indians was out in order to invade your frontiers, & were gone before their arrival." This was as unexpected as startling. A meeting of the military officers was held at Hatfield and a post was sent Gov. Dummer with Ashley's letter and the dispatch from Canada. Stoddard writes by same post. He says :-
April 21, 1724
Many of or Towns are in a poor Condition, as particularly West- field Nth Hampton Hatfield Sunderland and Hadly, having no sol- diers to scout or cover there laborers in there out Fields and in case we employ any men in such service the government refuses to pay them so that many of our people are in a fair way to be ruined, al- tho they escape the Enemy Col Partridge hath sent a copy of Capt Ashleys letter to Gov Talcott, but I dont expect any good effect of it. Some think it very strange that our Gentlemen [in Canada ] should write only two letters one to yr Honr the other to Mr Schuyler un- less they are under some restraint We have not heard anything from Capt Wells.
443
UNFORTUNATE ENDING OF WELLS'S SCOUT.
Three days later the result of his expedition and sad end- ing was known to Stoddard.
March 9th, 1725, Capt. Thos. Wells of Deerfield led a scout- ing party of sixty-five men out towards the frontiers of Can- ada. They came back on the Connecticut river in canoes. April 24th, one of these, containing Lieut. Joseph Clesson, Samuel Harman, James Porter, Simeon Pomroy, Thomas Alexander and Noah Ashley, was upset in the rapids at the "French King," near the mouth of Millers river, and the three last named were drowned. The others reached land with great difficulty with the loss of all their arms and effects.
The next news from the Commissioners is contained in the following letter to Dummer :-
ALBANY April 27 1725
Sr The enclosd I rec'd to be forwarded to New Hampshire from Mr Atkinson who I expect here in 10 or 12 days from Canada wth Mr Dudley. Col Thackster, Capt Kellogg & Jourdain remain at Can- ada sometime Mr Vaudreuils Sonn goes to Boston wth Col Dudley as a token of Peace this was the last agreement [between?| Vau- dreuil & ye Boston gente as I am advised by my sonn who has been always present at all conferences, by a lre of ye 8th Instant
Pray forward the enclosed by the first opportunity as I was desired to do but not by express. In doing wch you' oblige him who has wrote you in former times 50 Ltrs from Col. Schuyler my dead broth- er in law & who now is S' at your Command & yre very Humble Servt. JOHN COLLINS
Excuse haste
Partridge to Dummer, "Hatfield, 14 May 1725 * * * Although the River is pretty well guarded by the Fort & men at Nfd & Dfd, yet Sund Had Nh Hat Westfd Rutland & Brookfield are now more exposed " Thinks there is no pros- pect of peace, and all the people much exposed. It is hard to spend so much time watching and scouting and "all with- out pay from the publique & carry on their Husbandry af- fairs, especially when they get there Bread with the perrill of there lives & now & then men snatched away by a Secret un- discoverable enemy til men are shott down."
May Ist, Edward Allen petitions the General Court to be exempt from watching on account of infirmity, and says he is this day 62 years old, and has for forty-six years faithfully performed his duty in that service.
May 22d, Sunderland feels the need of guards and peti- tions through the selectmen for help. They represent that,-
444
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
We being very | poor?] living altogether by husbandry, our lands not being thoroughly subdued & lying scattered & remote from one another, & compassed round on the wilderness side with thick swamps, fit receptacle for the enemy to hide & lurk in to our dam- age, hath occasioned our maintaining in the last year a considerable time a scout and guard of our own men at our own charge (as yet) for the covering our labors.
SAMUEL GUNN, - ISAAC HUBBARD, & Selectmen. JOSEPH FIELD,
This season the agressive policy was settled upon by the authorities as the best protection for the frontiers. Dummer suggested to Capt. Benj. Wright to raise a company of vol- unteers to go against the Indian settlements in Canada. Wright replies, May 29th,-
I am very willing to go & do what I can but ye undertaking being so difficult & ye fitting out so chargable yt ye men cant possably go upon the encouragement but if there was suitable encouragement, no doubt ye men would go (but ye unhappy loss of men by ye mis- management of ye officers has very much dispirited people young & old) and it seems to me the most probable place to be obtained & the most serviceable when done is Massesquich, Grey Locks fort.
Partridge writing the Governor the same day advises that Capt. Wright's party be "allowed double pay [5 s] if after 6 or 7 weeks they return with scalps." He fears the enemy are on our borders, and "parties of 30 or 40 go out together to their work." It was probably this caution that saved them from attack, and the planting season passed without molesta- tion. Meanwhile Wright's expedition was settled upon, and Kellogg at Northfield and Dwight at Dummer, were directed "to make up (by volunteers, or by impressment of good men,) his company to 60 or 70 men." The journal of the march is given entire as illustrating this kind of service at first hand. A large discount must be made of the estimated distance. It would be surprising if the miles did not seem very long to these tired men. Wright probably followed one of the usual paths of the enemy in coming against the river towns, and struck the lake at the mouth of French river, about seventy- five miles from the point of his destination. It will be seen that the home march was made with surprising celerity. No visible results followed this expedition beyond defining a line of march for future service.
A true Journal of our March from N Field to Misixcouh bay under
445
CAPT. BENJAMIN WRIGHT'S JOURNAL.
ye Command of Benj. Wright, captain, began July 27, Ano Dom, 1725.
July 27. It rained in ye forenoon; about 2 o'clock in ye afternoon I set out from N Field; being fifty nine of us & we came yt night to Pumroys Island, 5 miles above Northfield.
28. We set off from Pumroys Island & came to Fort Dummer & there we mended our canoes & went yt night to Hawleys Island 5 miles above Fort Dummer, in all 10 miles.
29. We departed from Hawleys Island & came to a meadow 2 miles short of ye Great Falls, 18 miles.
30. We set off from ye great meadow & came to ye Great Falls & carried our canoes across & from there we went 10 miles.
31. From there we set off & came within 3 miles of Black river, 17 miles.
August 1. We came to ye 2d falls, 15 miles.
2. We set off from hence & came to the upper end of white riv- er falls 13 miles & 1/2.
3. From ye upper end of white river falls to paddle Island, 13 miles.
4. Foul weather & we remained on paddle Island all Day.
5. from paddle Island we went up 13 miles & encamped.
6. from thence we came to the third meadow at Cowass, 20 miles yt day.
7. from thence we came to Wells river mouth, 15 miles.
8. We encamped here and hid our provisions & canoes, it being foul weather yt day.
9. foul weather in ye forenoon, in ye afterpart of ye day we marched from the mouth of Wells river N. 5 miles.
IO. This day we marched West & by North 10 miles.
II. We marched to ye upper end of ye 2d pond at the head of Wells river upon a N. W. course ten miles. About noon this day we came to ye first pond, 5 miles & then we turned round N. West & travelled 5 miles further in very bad woods.
I 2. We marched from ye upper end of ye upper pond 3 miles in very bad woods & here encamped by reason of foul weather; here David Allen was taken sick.
13. We lay by to see if Allen would be able to travel.
14. We marched from ye upper end of ye 2d (?) pond W. by N. to French river 9 miles; we crossed ye French river & travelled 1 mile & 1% in all 10 miles & half.
15. Here we encamped all day by reason of foul weather; this day Clerk Hubbard being very lame was sent back & two men with him to the fort at the mouth of Wells river.
16. We marched from our camp 3 miles and came to a branch of ye French river; from thence we marched 6 miles & came to a bea- ver pond, out of which ran another Branch of said river; from thence we travelled 6 miles & came upon another Branch when we camped, our course being W. N. W. 15
17. We marched from said branch 13 miles & crossed a vast mountain & there we camped that night. 13
18. We marched from our camp a Little & came to a 4th branch of French river & we travelled down sd branch 10 miles & then
446
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
struck over ye Mountain 6 miles further & then we camped; our course was W. N. W. 12
19. We marched from thence W. N. W. to the top of a vast high mountain which we called Mount Discovery, where we had a fair prospect of ye lake 4 miles; from whence we went down sd mountain 2 miles on a N. course & then travelled 6 miles N. W. on a brook; here arose a storm which caused us to take up our lodgings some- thing before night.
20. We followed said brook N. N. W. 9 miles & then ye brook turned N. & we travelled on it 9 miles further & ye brook increased to a considerable river. 18
21. We marched 6 miles N. & then came to where ye river em- tyed itself into another very large river coming out from ye east somewhat northerly; we travelled down said river W. 7 miles; then the river turned south & we marched 7 miles further & here we en- camped at ye foot of ye falls. 20
22. Here we lay still by reason of rain.
23. Now I gave liberty to some yt they might return home by reason our provision was almost spent & there appeared 41. The Capt Lt & Ens with 12 men marched over ye river at ye foot of sd Falls & marched 6 miles S. S. W. & 3 miles W. & y" came to ye Lake & marched 6 miles down upon ye Lake & this N. W. & y" N. W. end of ye Lake or bay being at a great distance, & then we turned homeward without making any discovery here of any enemy.
25. We set off from ye Lake to return home & came to ye mouth of Wells river in five days and'a half; here we discovered 3 Indians who had waded over ye River just below ye fort which we took to be our own men by reason yt ye two Indians which were with us & one man more set away early in the morning to hunt; but it proved upon examination that they were enemies, but it was too Late for they were moved off.
29. We set off from ye fort at ye mouth of Wells river & came to Northfield Sept. 2d at Night.
I have given your Honors a true Journal of our marches & sub- mit ye whole to your Honors censure and am your Honors most humble & obedient Sevt to command. BENJ. WRIGHT.
Sept. 4th, Wright transmits this journal to Gov. Dummer,-
· Wh will aquaint your Honour of wt happened in our journey & how far we went I humbly wait upon your Honours order whether to Dismiss my Company or to prepare for a March again & humbly pray your Honour to let me know your pleasure in this affair I shall speedily send a muster roll & humbly pray it might be made paya- ble to me for I have been at considerable charge to procure Canoes for them & other things weh I shall lose if ye Muster Roll be not be made payable to me. I am your Honours Jn all Respects to Command BENJn WRIGHT.
Dummer replies Sept. 13th, 1725 :-
Sr I rec'd your Lettr of the 4th Instant and shd have been glad your muster Roll had been sent down, but lest your men shd want Money to fit them out for a Second March I have sent you Three
447
THE GOVERNOR COMPLAINS.
Hundred Pounds by Mr Jos Lyman which is about Half the wages due on the Roll. You must distribute it to your officers & men in due Proportion as Part of their Wages, that so they may be encour- aged to proceed with you again. I am sorry for your Mistake by which you mist those three Indians; I hope you will be more care- ful for the Time to come not to lose such advantage: & so the prin- cipal design off this [chargable?] March. Having fresh tidings of the Designs of ye Enemy, I now desire & direct you with all possi- ble Dispatch to set out with your Company & Proceed on a Second March in Quest of the Enemy; Get what Intelligence you can of the Usual Places of there Passing from Canada to our frontier, that so if possible you may meet them & do some notable Execution up- on them: Let no time be lost in this Affair: I leave it to your dis- cression what particular Rout to take in your March. Having a very good Opinion of your Courage & I have the Rather chosen you to go out again that so you may be on your Way to retreive your for- mer Error in Letting those Three Indians escape.
The cost of this expedition was about £600, and had the "three" Indians been caught the governor would consider it money well spent; £200 a head for Indians was a good in- vestment.
The Governor can't get over Wright's bad "error" of mis- taking three enemy Indians in the distance for friend Indi- ans, and so losing a chance for attempting to catch them. Not content with meanly thorning Capt. Wright, he returns to the matter in his letter to Col. Stoddard of the same date :-
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