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 45
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S' I have yours of the 10th Instant. You have now Enclosed an answer to that from the Albany Commissrs which please to forward by the first Opportunity. it was a very great over sight in Capt Wright not to Secure those Three Indians which would have been a Good effect of that Chargable March however in hopes he will be more Careful of Such a mistake another Time I have now given him an opportunity to Try if he can Retrieve it, The orders for his march goes by this bearer, & whilest he is going into the Enemies Country I desire youll give orders to Capt Kellogg & to his Lt at Dearfield & to Capt Dwight to Detatch as many men as they can spare under Good Officers to Scout Diligently on the back of the Towns, as you shall Judge best * * * I have wrote again to Gov Tallcot pressing him to give us some Speedy aid in this Junct- ure, for news I enclose you a copy of a Letter from M' Newman to Col Quincy, which is a Surprising Story to us all & Such Manage- ment here & at home as is not to be accounted for.
Capt. Wright with about forty men began another march the first week in October, having been delayed through a "lack of public stores."
The very day that Capt. Wright set out on his first march, a war party of one hundred and fifty Indians fitted out at
448
FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
Montreal, arrived at Chambly, where the party was to be in- creased to four hundred and a descent made upon New Eng- land. Belated news of this was received here about Aug. 26th, through John Hanson, a returning prisoner. The story of Hanson was confirmed by another messenger a week later, but the warning came too late. Relying upon the movement of Capt. Wright, the people became careless. Col. Stoddard writing Gov. Dummer, says :-
The people in the towns can't be careful many days together. Upon the rect of your Honors last express, I protested to our offi- cers against our careless way of living, & used all arguments I was capable of to persuade them to order a watch that might be of some significancy in case of the approach of an enemy, but to very little purpose.
It was an exhibition of this feeling, when on the 25th of August, Deacon Samuel Field, Deacon Samuel Childs, Sergt. Joseph Severance, Joshua and John Wells and Thomas Bard- well left town to look after some cattle at Green River Farms, with but a single musket in the party. Crossing North Mead- ows and the river north of Pine Hill, up through Cheapside until the present town line was crossed, when a cow they were driving ran out of the path. She was followed by Dea- con Childs, who soon discovered Indians in ambush and gave the alarm, when they arose.
The following is from an MS. account of the affair by Rev. Stephen Williams about 1730 :-
August 25, 1725, Deacon Sam11 Field, Deacon Sam11 Child, Sergt Joseph Seavrance, John Wells and Joshua Wells, and Thomas Bardwell, went over Deerfª river to go to Green River Farms, and they took a cow with them, designing to put her in a pasture; the indians ambushd them, but Deacon Child driving the cow discoverd them and cryd out indians; John Wells discharged his gun at an in- dian who fell upon his fireing. Deacon Field being at some dis- " tance from the company rode towards them, but the company being before separated from one another, retreated towards the mill, and at a considerable distance from the hill they haltd, yt John Wells might load his gun, and then the indians fird upon them, and woundd Deacon Sam11 Field, the ball passing through the right Hypocon- dria, cutting off three plaits of the mysenteria; a gut hung out of the wound in length almost two inches, which was cut off even with the Body; the bullet passing between the lowest and the next rib, cutting at its going forth part of the lower rib, his hand being close to his body when ye ball came forth, it entered at the root of the heel of ye Thumb, cutting the Bone of the fore finger, resting be- tween ye fore and 2ª finger; was cut out, and all the wounds thro'
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THE STORY AS TOLD BY COL. PARTRIDGE.
the blessing of God upon means were heald in less than five weeks by Doctor Thomas Hastings, whose death since ye war is a great frown upon us &c.
In the letter below the story is told as reported to Col. Par- tridge :-
HATFIELD Aug 27, 1725
Honorerable S" These acquaint yr Honor that or Guards according to yor appointment have attended the service in the severall towns till the greatest part of the English Harvest is in without any ap- pearence or disturbance of the Enemy till the Last Night between Deerfd & Northfd some of our men goeing out for Cattle discovered a ptie of the Enemy that had killed a mare & a Lott of men made shott upon them & they upon or men & wounded one of ors its thought a dangerous wound, its Certaine now they are now nere in or Borders & doubtless intend further Mischiefe before they goe off we have no Ordr for the mustering men to go out psue I am very Loth to put men upon such Expeditions & they much indisposed haveing I doubt too little incorridgemt & allowances for such hard services; if the Enemy abide in Molesting of us now the Harvest is mostly in, may make great disolations by fire as well as Killing off men I am of opinion we might have men from Conitticott if desired it is Certaine Small pties of the Enemy may do great damages as aforesd I thought meet to acquaint yr Hon" with ye prsent Circum- stances praying yo' directions. We expect Every hour the Enemy will strik somewhere the good Lord grant divine Guidance to yor Honor in all the Weighty & momentous Concerns under yor hand. I am much oblidged in Obeydience & yor Honos Humble Seryt
SAMII PARTRIDGE
Dummer replies :--
BOSTON Aug 28 1725
Sr I rec'd your Letter Dated yesterday this morning: I am sorry our People made no better use of there Advantages in the first Dis- covery. However it is a good Providence that you know of the En- emies being about before you feel any great Blow from them: You will take Especial Care that your Frontiers keep Careful Guard & Watch & that they do'nt go out unarmed & Single & when the Ene- my Appear they do there duty in Repelling them with Courage & good Conduct: I sent last Thursday to Gov. Talcot to give you some assistance and it will be well if you express to him the Circum- stances you are in & pray him to give Dispatch to his Forces: In the mean time I direct you forthwith to Detatch a Comp. of fourty or fifty men either Horse or Foot (as you shall think will be most Serviceable) to scout upon your Borders for a week or ten Days, or until the Connecticut forces come up to you. It is a critical Junct- ure of our affairs, and I hope your Men will behave themselves hand- somely so as that the Enemy may have no Advantage on us. You need not doubt of yr Troops being allowed for there Service
To Col Partridge
Yor Seryt
The Indians met at Wells river August 30th by Capt. Wright, as noted in his journal, were probably the party
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FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
which wounded Dea. Field, on their homeward route. This, of course, was not known to the authorities, and the appear- ance of the enemy, when, according to repeated warning, a large party was to be expected, aroused them to action. Dum- mer sent to Connecticut for aid, as indicated in the above let- ter, to protect the towns, while Capt. Kellogg from North- field and Lieut. Childs from Deerfield filled the woods back of our towns with scouts.
Stoddard writes, Sept. Ioth, "I think the scouts from Fort Dummer and Nthfield are constant an vigilant. Those men at Deerfield are very busy and careful, but so few that they are chiefly employed in guarding the labourers I have no dependance on any Assistance from Connectet but think it will be of great benefit to continue Capt Wright & his men in pay and in ranging the woods."
Sept. 13th, 1725, Lieut. Childs wrote from Deerfield to Col. Partridge :-
This morning there came a man from a scout sent out by Capt. Dwight, [from Fort Dummer] who informs that there were 6 men in the scout & last Saturday, about 2 o'clock, about 6 or 8 miles west of North River, they sat down to eat, & in a few moments after they sat down, they discovered some Indians on their track, within about 8 rods of them, & they jumped up & ran about 7 or 8 rods & then the Indians made a shot upon them & they turned & shot again upon the Indians & he says he saw two of them fall, & they were forced to scatter. Thomas Bodurtha of Springfield and John Pease of Enfield were killed; Edward Baker of Suffield, John Farrar of Ashford, Nathaniel Chamberlain of Hatfield were taken; Anthony Weirsbury only escaped and returned to the fort.
Of this tragedy in the wilderness, thus briefly told, abso- lutely nothing more has been found.
The great solitudes stretching hundreds of miles away to Canada were often disturbed by conflicts between the scouts of the opposing forces. Beneath their sombre shades lie hidden unwritten romances without number. Here the price of life was skill in woodcraft, vigilance, strategy, courage, and, above all, nerve and self-possession in the crucial hour. No gladiators were they, with the arena walled by crowded galleries, to witness the death struggle, and cheer the victor. The giant hemlock and primeval fir were about them; the dark morass drank the blood, the beasts of the forest revelled on the flesh of the victims, and their bones were denied even the shelter of an unknown grave. How little can we of this
451
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
generation realize the deeds of daring, or the severity of the service and sufferings, which were the price of our dearly bought inheritance !
In the same letter quoted above Lieut. Childs writes :-
Last Saturday, near Sunset, Capt. [Thomas] Wells being in his great pasture, heard crackling of sticks & saw the bushes move, within 8 rods of him, and being apprehensive of an enemy, he ran home & took sundry men to the place where they found the tracks of two Indians & followed them through two pieces of corn; which Indians we think came to spy out our circumstances. I was sending out 5 men on a scout this morning, but hearing this news [of the North river tragedy] Justice Wells tho't it not best to send out so small a number, and not being able to enlarge [it] and defend the fort, [and concludes by saying he is waiting further orders].
Partridge sends this letter to Col. Stoddard, who endorsed upon it :-
Since this is the 2d news of the approach of the enemy in our parts I think best to hasten Capt. Wright's men to Deerfield & have sent for him to be in Deerfield to-morrow & we have reason to send out a party to range our western woods & Deerfield theirs. If you have not, send to Conn. this news & all the former news, & if they still will do nothing, we must raise men of our own, & command all our men to be well fixt and in readiness yourself, & not scatter to work but a sessation at present.
If any large body of the enemy did leave Canada for our frontiers, the activity of our officers kept them at a distance.
Sept. 14th, good news and bad news was received at North- ampton. The Indian Commissioners at Albany write, Sept. Ioth :-
Since our last of the 6th we are assured by one of this place who arrived last night in 13 days from Canada that the 140 Indians * * encamped near Chambly with a design to go out against your frontiers are actually returned home partly by the pursuations of the people of this place, and partly by there Sachims * * We are told that one party of 9 & another of 14 Inds are out who de- sign to be sculking about your Western frontiers of the Last Grey- lock is Leader * We hear the Indians are weary of the war and would long since have come to terms of peace & submission if the Govr of Canada & his priests did not encourage & set them on
This letter was to Cols. Stoddard and Partridge. Stoddard writes :-
Noth HAMPTON Septbr 14 at one a clock in the morning Just now came an Express from Capt Ashly with the Commission's
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FATHER RASLE'S WAR.
letter of the Ioth Instant which he Intends to send by an express early in the Morning, therefore I take the opportunity to enclose the Inteligence from Deerfield which I receivd yester evening of which we expect a fuller accont very speedily I cant learn that any of our men were hurt before they parted I sent a letter to Gov. Tallcot in the evening to aquaint him * * * what hapened to our Scout. If Capt Wright could Immediatly March with his company, or a part of theni 40: or fifty miles up Connectet River and then Cross over to Otter Creek he might probably Intercept some of our Skulking Ene- my, but having no Publick stores I doubt whither they can be ready Seasonably.
The same Albany post which brought the above letter, brought another from the Commissioners for the governor, from which the following is an extract :-
A messenger 13 days from Canada arrived here last night, who delivered us 7 hands of wampum, from the part of the Caghnawagas, Rondox and Shawrenadas Indians living in Canada; desiring thereby to speak with you, or some person deputed by you his excellency our governor, & the sachems of the Six Nations, at this city, by the first of October. The Indians are weary of this war, but are vigorously set on by the Governor of Canada and their Priests.
In spite of French interference, however, the end was nigh. Father Rasle, the instigator, had gone to his reward. On his death the Abenakis of the east were discouraged and dis- posed for peace, and negotiations were begun. They were, however, overborne by the clans in Canada, who, pushed on and backed up by De Vaudreuil, had been high in their de- mands, and bold in enforcing them. Now the scene changed. Philip de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, the mainspring and spur of the war, died at Quebec, Oct. 10th, 1725. He was suc- ceeded as Governor of Canada by Charles Marquis de Beau- harnois, whose influence over the Indians, with all the priest- ly power behind him, was not strong enough longer to en- force the French policy upon the reluctant Abenakis. A treaty of peace was arranged between them and the English without difficulty. Other clans in Canada were kept in a hostile attitude a few months longer, but no more depreda- tions on our frontier are recorded.
Some of the Deerfield men who served in Father Rasle's war are :-
Capt. Samuel Barnard. Capt. Joseph Kellogg. Capt. Timothy Childs. Lieut. Joseph Clesson. Sergt. Joseph Atherton.
Corp. Isaac Mattoon.
Corp. Joseph Severance.
Samuel Allen. John Allen. John Beaman.
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GROUND PLAN OF FORT DUMMER.
Nathaniel Hawks.
Daniel Severance.
John Combs. Jonas Holmes.
Daniel Belding.
Joshua Wells. Aaron Denio.
Nathaniel Brooks.
Benjamin Brooks.
Michael Mitchell.
John Catlin. James Corse.
George Swan.
Since giving an account of Fort Dummer on pages 406-7, I have been furnished through the kindness of Miss I. A. Brackett with a copy of the ground plan of the fort (made in 1749,) the original of which is in the New Hampshire MS. Archives. By this I find my previous printed source of infor- mation was incorrect ; that the fort was not square, but irregu- lar in form. The north side was 1573 feet ; the west, 136 feet ; the south, 108 feet ; the east-the river side-85 feet. In the west and south sides were gates, not included in the above measurement. At the northeast corner was a house 22 X21 feet, with "a cannon mounted in it;" at the northwest corner two story house 173 x 22 with "a cannon mounted in it ;" ad- joining this on the east was a one story house, 40 x 16} feet ; at the southwest corner was a two story house 34 x 22 feet. Each of these houses projected beyond the walls from four to eleven feet, forming bastions to defend the walls. The fort was built of hewn pine logs and was twenty feet high. The walls of the houses were of the same material. Within the en- closure were six smaller houses; and in the center of the "Perade," was the "Citydale" 142 feet square. At a later period, but before the Old French War, a stockade had been built around the fort enclosing an acre and a half of the meadow. This continued an important post until the con- quest of Canada.
CHAPTER XIV.
MR. WILLIAMS AND THE MEETINGHOUSE OF 1729.
Some account of the early meetinghouses of Deerfield has been given on pages 200-5, 253.
'In the meetinghouse built in 1695, long benches, or seats with backs, occupied the place of the modern pew, but, as we have seen, these were carefully graded as to rank. Pews came in gradually. The first were built near the front en- trance, and for many years this situation was held to be a place of honor, rivalling, if not exceeding, the neighborhood of the pulpit. From time to time new pews were put up, ex- tending to the right and left of the front door, until met by another series, which began on either side of the pulpit; and the whole wall space was thus occupied by pews. The last gap was filled under the following vote passed March 8th, 1725 : "To make ye flank seats in ye meeting house into pews: and to esteem them equal with ye Second Seat in the body, and yt ye Select men with Jno. Catlin shall be a Com'tee to see it done forthwith." The center or body was still covered with benches. Children were gathered in lots according to age under the watchful eye of the tithing man. The men sat on the north side of the house, and the women on the south, separated by the broad aisle.
The first pew erected was for the minister's family. At a town meeting December 2d, 1709, "Ye town granted Mr Jno Williams a liberty to bild a pue for his wife and famyly to sit in in one of ye pleses left for a gard Seat :"
" At ye same meeting ye Town granted liberty to Sam11 Williams Jona Weals & Sam11 Barnard to bild a Sate or pue in ye other gard seat place :"
Mr. Williams had been appointed chaplain in the expedi- tion against Canada in June, 1709. In September he was paid £24, 8s, 8d for this service. From this money, we may assume, the expense of the pew was paid.
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READJUSTMENT OF THE SALARY.
During his absence with the army, John Avery and Aaron Porter had supplied his pulpit. They were fresh graduates from Harvard, and probably brought along the new fangled notions about pews.
The spaces thus alotted for this innovation were on either side of the front door, and had been reserved as suitable places, where, under the care of a small guard, the men of the congregation could deposit their loaded guns on entering for worship. This space being now converted to another use, indicates some new method of guarding the meeting- house which does not appear.
March 14th, 1710, the town "empowered the select men to repair all meeting hous seats which want repairing" and votes for repairs were often passed so long as the house stood.
October 20th, 1711, voted sixty pounds for Mr. Williams's salary, to be paid in money. No reason for this change is ap- parent. The next year substantial aid was received from the government.
"June 14, 1712, In Council £32 was allowed Rev. John Wil -. liams of Deerfield towards his maintenance, the coming year in the work of the ministry."
1712, John Allison had "20s for sweeping the meeting house," and this was the usual pay for that service.
Dec. 21st, 1714, the Proprietors granted Mr. Williams eighty acres of wood land adjoining his lot at Cheapside, extending along the south bank of the Pocumtuck.
Nov. 12, 1716, Att a Legal Town meeting ye town mad choyce of Cpt Wells and De ffrench & Sam11 Barnard, as a Comity to go and discours with Mr Jno Williams in the Towns behalf in order to make a new bargin with him what he shall have yearly for his salary and how it shall be paid.
Dec. 25, 1717, The Town then agreed that their minister's Rate Should be made for a year and a quarter to terminate on ye last day of february 1717-18.
There seems to have been no settlement of the salary ques- tion under the vote of Nov. 12, 1716. It came up again at a meeting March 20th, 1717-18, when,-
The Town made choice of Capt. Jona Wells, lieutt Thomas Wells and Thomas French Sent, as a Comitte to Discourse and agree with the Reuerend Mr John Williams about his sallery for ye year 1718, how much and in what manner it shall be paid.
Dec. 30, 1718, The Town agreed and voted to give unto ye Rever-
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MR. WILLIAMS AND THE MEETINGHOUSE.
end John Williams Eighty pounds in current money of New England yearly for his Sallery so long as he shall Continue in ye ministry amongst vs in Deerfield, provided he will Relinquish his former Bar- gain Recorded in ve Town Book Concerning his Sallery: and that he doth Relinquish his former Bargain is evidenced by his setting his hand to this as here it followeth JOHN WILLIAMS
As time went on, changes in the congregation required, now and then, a new arrangement of seats. Sept. 7th 1721, the selectmen were directed to repair the seats and were au- thorized,-
To Divide ye seats in ye Gallery into two teer, and to haue ye meeting house seated this fall.
Ye town Chose Cpt Jonath Wells Judah Wright dea. Thomas French Itt Sam" Barnard and dea. Hawks, a committee to Seat ye Meeting house. Voted, yt ye aboue sd Committee shall Seat all per- sons aboue ye age of 16 years by these Rules; Namely age estate and qualification.
In 1724, a new departure was taken. The town voted "y' ye forescore pounds due Mr. Williams shall be Raised in dis- tinct tax by itself." This became henceforth a permanent practice.
May 15, Benj. Mun, Judah Wright and Sam" Field were chose to seat all white persons in our meeting house above ye age of 16 years as they shall think fit, hauing Regard to ye Rules of seating, viz., age, estate, and qualification-and to Remain in their office during ye town's pleasure.
This may have been another new departure. Perhaps, un- der former votes some ambitious person of the proscribed color had claimed honors in the house of worship, not intend- ed for such as he, and complexion now became one of the " qualifications."
January, 1725, voted Mr. Williams sixty loads of wood ; the selectmen "to giue gen11 notice to ye inhabitants for getting it."
December 16th, voted to "give him twenty pounds in mon- ey in Lieu of said wood."
December 15th, 1727, voted to repair the meetinghouse "to make it something comfortable for a few years. Voted Mr. Williams sallery shall be made up for ninety pounds this year." The winter following proved that the present meet- inghouse could not be made "something comfortable," and Oct. 25th, 1728, the town voted to build a new one, and,-
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ORIGINAL MINUTES. THE FIRST BELL.
That it shall be set up and the out side of sd house to be Couered, in ye year 1729 at ye Charge of ye town in sd year.
Voted that sd house shall be 40 Foots in Breadth and fifty foots in length :
Voted Cpt. Thos Wells John Catlin sen", Deacon Sam1 Childs lieut. Timothy Childs and Doct Thos Wells shall be a Comtee to pro- vide work-men and all necessaries for ye building sª house and to see that it be done seasonably.
The building committee set about their work with zeal and activity. Meanwhile the exact site of the new house be- came a subject of discussion, with great difference of opinion. A town meeting was called for December 1Ith, to settle this question. It was then voted to set it,-
On ye highest part of that nole between ye sine post and Deacon Childs his shop ye east side of it to Range with ye front of ye west teer of home lots.
Att ye same Meeting they voted to delay fixing ye place for ye meeting house till next spring. [But the work of preparation went on. April 28th, 1729, voted, ] yt ye Select Men Shall provide on ye towns charge a Suitable quantity of Drink and Cake to be Spent att ye Raising of ye Meeting house.
All agreed that these essentials must be made ready, al- though disagreeing as to the place where they should be used. This, however, was soon to be decided. May 19th, the town met and after general debate, it was by vote,-
Concluded to move out and stand at 3 places discorst on, for Set- ing ye meeting house and that ye bigest number shall haue ye place, upon Tryal they Concluded on ye Middle most of ye three.
This was probably the spot described in the meeting of Dec. 11th, 1728, and on it the fourth house of worship was built. The original minutes of this meeting have been found, by which it appears that provision was also made for a meet- inghouse bell, the first of which there is any hint, except in fiction. The action relating to the bell is not on the record, but in the original minutes, which are signed by the moder- ator ; it follows the vote last quoted, and it is copied in full :-
We subscribers do promise that we will [give, erased] lend to ye town towards pay for ye bell for our Meeting house, as followeth :-
Cpt Thos Wells, £IO Doct Thos Wells,
IO Sam'll Tailor, 2 10
Thos French, jun'r,
Lt Timothy Childs, IO Sam'll Bardwell, 2 II
Jno Arms, 5 Ens Jon'th Wells, 5 00
Agreed with Mr. Grant for £43; began May 15; allowance 8 days.
Below this entry is the following, which was also omitted in the record of the meeting on the town book :-
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MR. WILLIAMS AND THE MEETINGHOUSE.
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