USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 14
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" Sir : Our Father :- As we have been taught the Gospel, so we hope to have it to Our Heart forever. Sir: Our Father :- Our Children are afraid of strict Laws, and of being brought into trouble, and be put in Prison for Debt &c. and we pray that Care may be taken by your Excellency as Our Father, and by the General Assembly, that we be not hurt by the severity of the Laws ; feeling we don't understand how to manage in such Affairs so as that there may not be any danger at any time that Our Children be taken away from us for Debt &c. We don't pretend to desire any thing but that if any of Our People should commit murder or any other crying Wick- edness, they should be liable to the Law.
" Sir: Our Father :- We are concerned for our Own Chil- dren, as we think you, as a' Father, are for Us, and therefore we pray that it may be given us in Writing (or established by Law) that Our Children after us be not wronged or injured. We thank Your Excellency you sent for us to see Your Face and so many Honorable Gentlemen, and that there has been so much Care taken of us on all Our Journey, and since we came to this place.
" We find that by what we have experienced of Your Excel-
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CONFERENCE WITH HOUSATONICS
1735]
lency's Care for us, that we need not Crave of you, but leave Our selves to Your Care for the time to come.
"And are your Excellency's dutiful Servants.
" CUNCAUPOT Captain.
" UMPECHENY Lieutenant.
" WAUNTAUGA " MEET.
" NAUNAUNE " TANUTT.
in the Name of all the rest,
and then Capt. Cuncaupot laid down a parcel of Deer Skins as a Present.
" Governour : I take very kindly what you have said, and you shall have a particular Answer to it to Morrow.
"The Governour drinks to the great King GEORGE's Health to the Indians, and says-That under GoD, the King is the Common Father of them, and us, and wishes they may always prosper in Soul and Body.
" Captain Cuncaupot, returns the Salutation and drinks the King's Health.
"Governour: I shall see you to Morrow, when there will be a Present for you from the Government, and after dinner I shall take leave of you.
" One of the Indians complained he had left a Gun at Mr. Stebbins at Northampton, and can't get it again.
" Governour : I will inquire into that Matter, and shall give direction to Col. Stoddard, that Justice be done therein.
" Indian : There were also Eight Deer Skins at Mr. Mil- ler's, which I can't have any account of.
" Governour: When you meet with any Injustice you may repair to Col. Stoddard, as you have desired, who will see you have Justice done you.
" His Excellency then gave them a caution against drinking too hard, by which they would prevent their being imposed on or defrauded by any body. After which the Indians with- drew.
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[1735
CONFERENCE WITH HOUSATONICS
" Friday, August 28, (29) 1735. " The Conference Continued.
" Present.
" His Excellency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq. Captain General and Governour in Chief, &c. Ountaussoogoe : Chief : and others of the Cagnawagas.
" Governour : I hope you are all well this Morning.
" Ountaussoogoe : No Sir. One was taken Sick this Morn- ing, and a Child has been Sick ever since we came.
" Governour : I am sorry for it; the Doctor shall tend on them. I expect none here now, but those of the Cagnawaga Tribe-(some other being under the Tent). The Present of the Government which lays before you, is designed for Your Tribe, and you must take Care that it be Justly distributed among yourselves : The Government has made other Provi- sion for the others. Then the Present was delivered.
" I hope you will carefully lay up all I have said to you, and though we are at such a distance in Our Persons, yet I hope Our Hearts will be always near one another. And you shall be provided with what may be necessary for your Journey, as well Provisions as Skins for Shoes &c.
"To Morrow will be the last day of the Week, and the next Day will be GOD's Day, so you best tarry till Monday morn- ing ; but I don't say this to put you out of your Way ; you shall do as you Please.
"Auountauresaunkee : Indian Speaker :- We return thanks for the Care Your Excellency has taken of us, and the Pre- sent of the Government. Your Excellency has minded us of Our Duty, and we shall keep it in mind and ob- serve it.
" Governour : I drink King GEORGE's Health, and I wish you Health and Happiness.
" Ountaussoogoe : I Salute the Governour and all the Gen- tlemen here. I have been so handsomely treated since I have been with you, that I have almost fancied myself in Heaven,
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CONFERENCE WITH HOUSATONICS
1735]
and I shall not be able to forbear Weeping when I leave the Governour.
" The Present was delivered, and the Indians dined with His Excellency &c. under the Tent.
" Saturday, August 30, 1735. " The Conference Contined.
" Present.
" His Excellency, Jonathan Belcher Esq. Captain General and Governour in Chief, &c. Cuncaupot, Captain, and others of the Houssatonnoc Tribe.
" Governour ; I am glad to see you this Morning ; I hope you are in good Health. I shall now make you a particular Answer to what you said to me yesterday.
" My Good Friends of Houssatonnoc : I take very well the Expressions of your duty and Loyalty to Our Common Fa- ther, the Great King GEORGE; and I shall do myself the Honour of giving Him an Account of it; and you may be assured He will always look on you as his Children and good Subjects, and I shall think it my Duty as his Governour and Representative to let you feel upon all Occasions, the Ad- vantage and Happiness of being under so good and gracious a Sovereign.
" There are good Laws provided by this Government to save you and your Children from being hurt, or from being taken away from you for Debt; and if you should meet with any difficulty on this or any other Account, (as you have desired) you may with the greatest Freedom apply yourselves to Col. Stoddard of Northampton, whom I have directed to take particular Care of you, and you may depend on his favor and friendship, and that he will do everything in his power that you may have Justice done you from time to time.
" My Friends and Children : Although I am much pleased with the Duty you express to my Royal Master King GEORGE; yet it rejoyces my Heart above all things that you are desirous to know and understand the Gospel of Our LORD JESUS
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CONFERENCE WITH HOUSATONICS
[1735
CHRIST, who is GOD as well as Man, and the only Saviour of all men, by the knowledge of his Glorious Gospel; and living in Obedience to it, you will become good Subjects to the KING of Kings, and be led in the way to be happy here, and eternally so, in a better World.
" I am thankful to GOD, and well pleased with you that you so kindly receive and entertain the Ministers of JESUS CHRIST, who have been sent among you, and more particularly Mr. Sargent, and also the School Master Mr. Woodbridge. These Gentlemen are sent to you by an honorable Company of Gentlemen in Old England, who are alone at the Charge of their Preaching to you and Instructing you; and as I am one of their Agents here, I think it is a Respect and Honour due to them to let you know this, that you may in due time express your thankfulness for their pious Care and Compas- sion to your Souls.
" And I must also take Notice to you how the GOD of the Spirit of all Flesh, seems to be encouraging and supporting your worthy Minister in the difficult Undertaking he is en- gaged in for your best Happiness, and I expect you will care- fully attend upon his Instructions, and always pay him great Respect and Honour.
" To Morrow will be the Lords Day, and the time intended for the Ordination of Mr. Sargent, to the special Work of a Minister of JESUS CHRIST among you; and that you and your Children may thereafter as you become worthy, enjoy the priviledge and happiness of the holy Sacriments of Bap- tism and the Lords Supper; and I pray GOD so to succeed the Endeavours used with you as to recover you from a State of Darkness to the clear Light of his blessed Gospel. I have been sometimes informed that you live remote from one an- other, and that you are not accommodated with Land suffi- cient to support your Families. This Matter I shall lay be- fore the great Council of this Government and recommend to them the giving you Lands to Settle you more conveniently
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CONFERENCE WITH HOUSATONICS
1735]
and compact, and what may be eneough for your living Com- fortably upon, and at the same time I shall recommend your whole People to the special Care and Favor of this Govern- ment.
" All I have said to you from Our first meeting shall be printed, and then be sent to you, that you may as often as you please refresh your Memories with it. I expect you to be very careful tomorrow in observing the LORD's DAY. It is GOD's Day, and always to be kept holy, and you must at- tend the Publick Worship both parts of the Day. You shall have a Place by yourselves that you may better see Mr. Sargent's Ordination. I have nothing more to say at present.
"Capt. Cuncaupot : Father : We can't but thank you for the Love and Care you have taken of us to Our knowledge of the Gospel. Sir: Father: We can't but return Our humble thanks for the kindness shown us, while we have been here.
" Governour: I now deliver you the Government Present. After the Lord's Day is over you shall be going homewards whenever you please, and you shall be provided with Neces- saries for your Journey, and while you stay here you shall be kindly entertained. I intend to go away next Monday, and if you would say anything to me in the mean time by Mr. Williams, he will tell me, and I would have you dine with me to-Day. I drink King GEORGE's Health to you, and wish you Health and Prosperity.
" The Indians drink the King's Health and return the Salu- tation.
"Ompawmet, one of the Chiefs of this Tribe being sick, sent his son to inform His Excellency he could not wait on him Personally, but had sent him to thank the Governour for his Favors to their Tribe.
" Saturday, August 30, 1735.
" The Conference Continued.
" Present.
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CONFERENCE WITH SCATACOOKS
[1735
" His Excellency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq. Captain General and Governour in Chief, &c. Marsequnt, and two other Chiefs and the rest of the Scautacooks, &c.
" Naunautookeau : Indian Speaker : Our Father, and the Governour :
" We have considered what your Excellency said to us the day before yesterday, and we take great Pleasure in it. Lays down three Beaver Skins, in token thereof. Furthermore : Father-the Governour :- In all you have said we adhere, and in token thereof lays down three Beaver Skins.
" Our Father : We thank your Excellency that ever since we had knowledge of THE WAY, it has been kept Very Straight without any Crook, and we thank your Excellency you have kept it so very plain and clear. Lays down three Beaver Skins in token thereof.
"We pray your Excellency that as it has formerly been agreed that Your Excellency has been Our Father, and we your Children, so our hearty desire is that that agreement may be continued. Lays down three Beaver Skins in token thereof. We have done.
" Governour : I hope you are well and in good Health.
" Indians : We are all well.
" Governour : I hope you are entertained to your Satisfaction. I take particular notice of what you have said now. I depend that you will always continue faithful Subjects to King GEORGE, and then you will have the Favour and Protection of this Government. You shall always be treated like the rest of the Children of this Country. I am glad you are come near the Fort to live, and I shall endeavour you shall have land to live on. You must carefully and dilligently at- tend on all the Instructions of Mr. Hinsdale, your Minister, and in token and Confirmation of all I have said to you, I deliver you this Belt. The Governour delivers them a Belt of Wampum.
"Tomorrow is the LORD's DAY; I expect you will keep.
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ORDINATION OF REV. JOHN SARGENT
1735]
yourselves Sober and attend on the Publick Worship of GOD, at the Meeting House. I shall be glad to hear from you by Capt. Kellogg, whenever you have anything to say to the Governour ; and whenever you have a mind to it, I shall be glad to see any of you at Boston.
" And in token of the Friendship of this Government, there is the Present They have sent you. I drink King GEORGE'S Health to you, and wish you all Prosperity.
" The Indians manifested great Satisfaction in what the Governour said, and returned the Salutation.
" Weenepauk : We return Your Excellency thanks for all Favours, and we thank GOD Almighty that he has given us opportunity to see Your Excellency, and so many Gentlemen with you.
"Though we are ignorant and not Capable of seeing for want of Understanding, yet we praise GOD that he has fixed a Day-this Day-and the time of Day-about noon-when the Sun shines so bright upon us."
Here follows the Order of the Procedure in the Ordination of Mr. Sargent, within mentioned, viz :
" Deerfield, September Ist. 1735.
" Yesterday being the LORD's DAY, the Reverend Mr. John Sargent, the Gentleman that has been sometime preaching to the Houssatonnoc Indians, was solemnly set apart, and Or- dained to the Work of the Ministry in presence of His Excel- lency, Our Governour, the honorable HIS MAJESTY's COUN- CIL, and a number of Gentlemen of the honorable House of Representatives, who accompanied His Excellency at the Conference with the Indians ; and also a very numerous As- sembly being present, both English and Indians.
" The Houssatonnoc Indians being seated by themselves in one of the Galleries of the Meeting House; many of the Indians of the Cagnawaga and Scautacook Tribes, with the Moheegs being also present ; the whole affair was carried on with great decency and solemnity.
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ORDINATION CEREMONIES
[1735
"The Ministers that managed the Ordination were the Rev- erend Mr. Williams of Hatfield, Mr. Appleton of Cambridge, Mr. Williams of Longmeadow, (Springfield) Mr. Hinsdale and Mr. Ashley : the said Gentleman having the day before the Ordination made Inquiry of Mr. Sargent, and received satisfaction as to his Orthodoxy.
"The Reverend Mr. Ashley began with prayer. The Rev- erend Mr. Appleton preached a suitable Sermon on the Occasion from 2 Tim. 2. 21. The Reverend Mr. Williams of Hatfield as Moderator opened the affair, and in a particular manner addressed himself to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR, as Head of the Commissioners of the Honorable Company for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians in New Eng- land and Parts adjacent; and asked Him whether it was his desire that Mr. Sargent should be set apart to the Work of the Ministry, (among the Indians at Houssatonnoc) by Ordination ; and His Excellency said it was.
" The Moderator then proceeded to Mr. Sargents consent herein &c. and then Hands were laid upon Mr. Sargent by all the Ministers before named.
" The Reverend Mr. Williams of Hatfield made the first Prayer after Imposition of Hands, and then gave the Charge. The Reverend Mr. Appleton made the other Prayer, and the Reverend Mr. Williams of Long Meadow, gave the Right Hand of Fellowship to Mr. Sargent ; after which Mr. Wil- liams turned himself to the Houssatonnic Indian Tribe, who were Seated in the Gallery by themselves, and asked them if they were desirous of having Mr. Sargent for their Minister ; that if they were, they would shew some sign or manifestation thereof ; Whereupon they all rose up by one Consent, and with grave as well as Cheerful Countenances signified their full and hearty Acceptance of him.
" The Sermon in the Afternoon was from Isaiah 2. 4. by Reverend Mr. Williams of Long Meadow.
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CONFERENCE AT FORT DUMMER
1737]
" Prov. of the Mass. Bay.
" The Aforegoing Conference was taken as it passed by and between His Excellency, JONATHAN BELCHER Esq. Captain General &c and the respected Indians within mentioned.
" By His Excellency's Command; " John Wainwright, " Clerk."
The scenes at Deerfield during the session of the Conference and at the installation of Mr. Sargent would have been fit subjects for a great historical painting.
In 1737 another Conference was held at Fort Dummer with the Cagnawaga Indians, at which time Captain Kellogg was again interpreter, and was attended by all the magnates of the Valley, when more healths were drunk by all parties to the " Great King GEORGE and the Governour." This gathering has been fully described both by General Hoyt and Mr. Shel- don in their valuable works.
II
CHAPTER XV
OLD FRENCH WAR
" So many years, so many tears- Sighs and sorrows and pangs and prayers."
E NGLAND and Spain had been at war for several years, and when France, in view of a chance to humble her old enemy, openly espoused the cause of Charles Edward, the Pretender, England took up the gauntlet and declared war against France, March 15, 1744. Before the news reached Boston, a French force had taken Canso, and an attempt was made on Annapolis, but it proved a failure. The Connecticut valley towns made instant preparation to receive the savage foe that they well knew would soon be hovering around their homes. At a meeting held at Deerfield, May 21, 1744, “it was voted to build Mounts at one house at Green River and four at Houses in the Town, viz-at Mr. Ashley's house, at Capt. Wells's house, at Capt. Williams's house, and the Com- mittee to determine at what house at the South end Mounts shall be built at and that Edward Allen, James Corse & Aaron Deniur see to building the Mounts at Green River & John Sheldon, John Nims 2nd. & Sam11 Hinsdell see to ye building ye Mounts at Mr. Ashley's, and that Capt. Wells Jos Sever- ance & Daniel Belding see to the building those at Capt. Wells's and that John Catlin Thomas French & Ebenezer Barnard see to building those at Capt. Williams & John Hawks Dan11 Arms & Timº Childs build those at ye South End."
" Voted to build two Mounts at Wapping & that Judah
162
163
PREPARATION FOR DEFENCE
1744]
Wright Eleazer Hawks & Sam11 Childs 2nd be employed to see the same built. John Nims added to ye Committee for forts in room of T. French & Jont Hoit and Samll Bardwell added to ye Committee for Mr. Ashley's fort & Jno Hinsdell at ye South Fort."
Mounts were simply square sentry boxes set at the corners of stockades upon the top of strong posts from fourteen to forty feet in height, the boxes projecting slightly beyond the outer walls of the fortifications so that the fire of the sentinels posted therein might protect the walls of the fort. The walls of the sentry boxes were planked and made bullet proof, and in times of peril lookouts were kept in them to discover any signs of the enemy. At first the lines of stockades were enclosed by a tight board fence, and afterward a strong line of posts set inside making a bullet proof wall. The Green river committee had been negligent about their work, and in December 1 745, the town ordered that the " Committee for Building the Fort at Green River be Directed to line the Fort at Green River on the East side of it & so far on the North side of it as till the House will Defend it & so at each side of the South Gate & also at each side of the Well, to be lined with Stockades ; to be paid by the Town, provided there be nothing from the province Granted to them for forting, nor any alteration of the Grant that is already made to the town for forting." As Ed- ward Allen was one of the committee to carry into effect the instruction of the town, undoubtedly the fort in question sur- rounded his house, which stood a few rods south of the court- house, now known as the Hollister place.
A line of forts was determined upon to extend from Fort Dummer to the valley of the Hoosac river, and about this time there were erected Forts Startwell and Bridgman in Ver- non, Vermont ; forts of Ebenezer Sheldon, Elisha Sheldon and John Burke in Bernardston; South or Morris fort, McDowell's fort, Forts Lucas and Morrison in Colrain ; Forts Taylor, Rice and Hawks in Charlemont; Fort Shirley in Heath ;
164
LOUISBOURG TAKEN
[1744-1745
Fort Pelham in Rowe and Fort Massachusetts at Hoosac. Many private houses were palisaded, and some of them in times of great alarm were garrisoned by colony troops.
Colonel Stoddard of Northampton (the soldier who escaped from Parson Williams's house at the attack of 1704) was in command of the Hampshire regiment, with Captain Williams (son of Reverend John Williams) in command at Deerfield. In June his scouts discovered the trail of about forty Indians near the head of the west branch of North river and tracks of others between North and Green rivers, also a camp fire and two Indian coats near the present village of Zoar. About the middle of June an Indian was seen on Green river; when searched for, his tracks were found, but not his person. This scouting was done by the inhabitants, no soldiers having yet been stationed at Deerfield. The expense of constant scouting was a heavy burden upon the people, and they made frequent application to the General Court for relief. Great efforts were made by the English to hold the Caghnawagas to the treaties of 1724 and 1735, but these Indians were beset by the French to take up arms against the English. Some of their warriors were known to be at the French Fort Frederick and at Crown Point. 1745 was a glorious year for the New England Colo- nies. Unaided and alone except for the assistance of a squadron of King's ships under Admiral Warren, the Colonial troops attacked and forced to surrender the great fortress of Louisbourg, called " the Gibralter of America." No Indian war parties reached our settlements during this year, although some Deerfield men were lost in the upper Connecticut valley. In 1746, scalping parties filled the valley with alarm, and families living remote from the forts were compelled to aban- don their homes and flee to places of safety. During the season sixteen persons were killed, wounded, or captured at No. 4, ten at Northfield and upon the Ashuelot, and four at Vernon. Sheldon's fort at Bernardston was attacked but bravely defended by three men and a few women, and the
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JOHN STEWART'S STRATEGY
1746-1747]
enemy were driven off. John Burke (afterward Major in the Rogers Rangers) was wounded during this attack. Matthew Clark was killed in Colrain, while making a stand so that his wife and daughter might escape. They were both wounded. Two soldiers near, fired on the enemy and killed one of them, the others retreating. David, son of Captain Hugh Morrison, was captured in July, near his father's fort, and was never afterward heard from. John Stewart of Colrain missed a favorite cow and went into the woods to hunt for her. He heard and recognized the bell which the cow wore, and think- ing that its ring did not sound quite natural, he crept up stealthily and found an Indian tinkling the bell and waiting in expectation of seeing the owner appear for his cow. The owner appeared, but his presence was never known by the Indian, for the little cow bell rang the ringer's death knell. In May, John Hawks,* of Deerfield (afterward the " Hero of Fort Massachusetts ") was attacked and wounded while crossing the Hoosac river, but he beat off his assailants and escaped to the fort. In June, Gersham Hawks, and Elisha Nims, both Deerfield young men, went out from Fort Massa- chusetts to do some work, with Benjamin Taintor for guard. They were ambushed, Nims was killed, Hawks wounded, and Taintor captured. Proof that one of the Indians was killed is established by the following document : " Deerfield Oct. 16, 1747. These may certify that James Ryder & Salah Barnard both of Deerfield were at Fort Massachusetts in June 1746 presently after ye attack there & saw the scalp taken off from ye Indian there found-To the Truth of which they made Solemn Oath."
* Sergeant Hawks reminds one of Wordsworth's " Happy Warrior." " Who comprehends his trust and to the same Keeps faithful with a singleness of aim, And through the heat of conflict keeps the law In calmness made, and sees what he foresaw ; Or if an unexpected call succeed, Come when it will, is equal to the need."
166
CAPTURE OF FORT MASSACHUSETTS
[1746
Captain Ephraim Williams had been in command of Fort Massachusetts, but was drawn off to aid in raising troops for the invasion of Canada, and the command of the fort was temporarily with Sergeant John Hawks of Deerfield, who had with him twenty-one soldiers. There were also in the fort seven or eight women and children, when they found them- selves surrounded by 440 French and 300 Indians under the command of a brother of the late Governor Vaudrieul, who made a furious attack upon the fort on the morning of the 19th of August. The brave little garrison met the attack with unflinching courage, Sergeant Hawks killing with his own shot the chief of the St. Francis tribe. The attack con- tinued all day, and at night after de Vaudrieul himself had been wounded, the enemy withdrew to camp. The next morning the firing continued, but the ammunition of the gar- rison was nearly spent, and at noon de Vaudrieul stepped forward with a flag and called for a parley. He promised good quarter if they would surrender, and after two hours taken for consideration, and ascertaining that only three rounds of ammunition per man remained, the brave garrison surren- dered, upon good terms. They were kindly treated by the victors and taken to Canada. The sick and wounded and the children were carried by the Indians. The wife of John Smead was delivered of a child on the second days' march, but the mother and the child (named " Captivity ") were car- ried forward by the Indians on a bear skin litter.
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