USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > History of Hatfield, Massachusetts, in three parts: I. An account of the development of the social and industrial life of the town from its first settlement. II. The houses and homes of Hatfield, with personal reminiscences of the men and women who have lived there during the last one hundred years; brief historical accounts of the religious societies and of Smith Academy; statistical tables, etc. III. Genealogies of the families of the first settlers > Part 41
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467
APPENDIX.
NOTE 6. Official correspondence in relation to the ransom of the captives taken Sept. 19, 1677.
Letter from Major John Pynchon to Captain Sylvester Salisbury.
[New York Colonial MSS., XXIV]
[Addressed: "These ffor his Honored ffried Capt Salisbury: Commander in Chiefe at ffort Albany. Hast. Post hast. for his Maties Special Service."]
"Springfield October 5th 1677 "Capt Salisbury.
"Worthy Sr Yastarday Morning I Recd yor kind lines by Benja Waite, whereby I vnderstand yor sympathy with vs in or sad disaster by ye Indians; & yor readiness in making Inquiry & greate forwardness to do what Possible lys in yor for vs wch I haue abundant cause to acknowledge & doe most thankfully accept frm yor hands, & as to yor opinion of the Maquas [Mohawks] being free & assureing me of their Innocency, I doe fully concur wth you having sattisfaction frm what you wrot & from Ben Waites Relation. But to put it out of all doubt, God in his P'vidence hath sent in one of 8 captivated men, Benoni Stebbings by name, wch is Ye occasion of these lines to yrselfe by Post, to give you an accot thereoff & desire you to put ye Maquas vpon psueing their & our Enymys there being greate likelyhood of ye Maquas overtaking ym.
"Benoni Stebbings came in to Hadly last night in ye night, whose relation was sent to me wch being but an houre since I had it, I psently resolved vpon sending Post to you. Take his relation as followeth: The company of In- dians was twenty only about sixe or 7 squas made 26 in all. They were this country Indians belonging to Nalwotogg all of ym but one a Narriganset. They came froe Canada 3 Months agoe, & had bin Hunting & were doubtfull whether to fall on Northampton or Hatfield, at last resolved on Hatfield & caryed away from Hatfield 17 psons & 3 from Deerfield, besides ys man that is come in, so yt they haue 20 captives wth ym 3 of ym being men & all well as he says when they took ym at Deerfield after the Noise & Whoops were over at Deerefield, their first Inquiry was whether there were any Maqvas there abouts & vpon Information yt some had been there, & were supposed not to be farr off, they were all husht. & startled & greately afraid & goeing silently away forth wth, they took vp their Lodging at Deerefield River mouth & next day crossed ye greate River vizt Conecticot to ye east side of it, the next day crossed ye River againe, afterwards they Passed ye River many tymes having cannoes wherein they carryed ye women & children being about 2 days Journey above Squakheag [Northfield] they sent a company of ym about halfe of ym to Nashaway, to call of some Indians yt haue bin there all this tyme of ye war & took Benoni Stebbings along wth ym thither. Coming to Nashaway ponds, there were 3 Indian men & about halfe a score of squaws wth there children these they went too to take along wth ym having travelled from ye company they left 2 days to Squakheag & then from Squakheag somewhat more than thirty miles to ym Indians neere Nashaway who Pluckt up their stakes having plenty of fish especially eeles, & many dryed huckleberrys but no corne: This Benoni being sent with 2 women to carry Huccle berrys Ran away from them, & was psently psued by some men & at one tyme was but a swamp between ym but night comeing on he escaped from his psuers : He says yt one of ye Indians yt they had from about Nashaway Ponds, semes to be a counsellor & wth him they consulted much & spake of sending to ye English, but at last resolved for Canada, yet talkt of making a forte a greate way vp the River & abiding there this winter, talked also of carying the captives to ye French & selling ym to ye French which he concludes they resolved on, but make but slow Passage, having so many women and children: He concluded it would be, It may be, 20 days er they get to ye Lake hunting by ye way. It was Tuesday morning last that he escaped from ye pty wch caryed him with them nere Nashaway, & they had above 30 miles to goe back to Squakheag, and then neere 2 d. Journey more to ye rest above Squakheag: Ye way he says vp this River
468
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
is vnpassable for English men & their goeing is by Barken cannoes much of ye way & then to ye best side of ye River men foote it leaving ye worst way : The unpassableness of ye way renders it vnpossible for us to psue or doe any good : But ye conveying speedy word to ye Maquas gives not only a Possibility of their overtaking ym ym wch Deare Sr is ye end of these lines to you: To request you (if none of ye Maqua Sachems be at Albany) to send at our chnage to ye Chiefe of ye Maqvas & give ym an occot of matters, & desire their speedy psueing these Bloody Villians & enamys of ym & forth- with & without any delay, by which means I hope this Barbarous Crew (who are enemys to Religion Civility & all humanity & haue so deeply Imbrued their hands in most Innocent Blood) may be met with in their returne, before they come to ye Lake or at ye Lake & so our captives Recovered for wch we shall give ye Maques suitable rewards. Good Sr put forward ye Maques to surprise & cut of these villaines. Let ym know yt it will be a greate demonstration of their fidelity & friendship to vs & it is a very Lukey opportunity 'for ym to kill & catch Indians whom they so much hunt after. And this man yt is come home says they dread Maquas, & all their feare was least some Maquas should psue ym they did not expect or think yt English could & desired to get out of ye Maquas way at first goeing off from Deerefield & thinkeing they were got high enough vp from them . . a little ye more secure & at rest: So yt now I beleeve they are at ease & will make so slow prgress having beside our women & children a psell of their owne women & children to clogg ym yt they may safely be taken. And the lighting upon & destroying this company of ye enemy (being it is said 17 men yt is come in ye remaining strength of this river Indians) will be a breaking Blow to ym & a greate meanes of our security. I pray sr doe what you can to Iugage ye Maquas to goe out forthwith to deale effectu- ally in it we desire to do our duty & waite for ye salvation of God.
"Sr excuse my scribling I am in great hast to send away ye Messenger to Westfield this Night: bec the speed in getting ye Macques to goe out upon ye enymy before they get on ye Lake is all in all: If they can but come vp with ym it will be easy to take ym: for I tell you their strength as ye man relates, & how they are clogged with women & children. I doubt not of yor helpfulness in this exigence wch will abundantly Ingage vs & wth greate Readyness shall sattisfie what ye disburse: Wth my endeared Love & Respects to you commending you to ye ptection of ye Almighty God, I remaine Sr
"Yor very loving ffriend & servant "JOHN PYNCHON.
"Ben Waite is gon home before this Intelligence cam to me. He talkt of goeing to Canada before & I suppose will rather be forward to it now than backward. Possible he may be at Albany about a fortnight hence in refer- ance to a going to ye French when If I be not gon to Boston (wch I have some thoughts to doe next weeke) I shall have some opportunity againe to write to you. "Vale.
"J. P."
Narrative of Benoni Stebbins. [New York Colonial MSS. XXV]
"Benonie Stebbins which was taken captive by the Indians at Dearfield 12 miles from Hatfield related as followeth
"That the Indians that took him weare al Norwooluck Indians saue only one which was a Naraganset. They were 26 in al 18 of them fighting men the rest 2 squas old men & boys. They told him that they had liued at the French & intended to return there again to sel the captiues to them wch had Incouradged them that they should haue eight pound peece for them and the french Indians did intend to come wth them the next time either in the spring or in winter if they had sucses this time.
"The manner of his escape was thus when they came 2 days journey aboue Squakheag they sent part of their company to Wotchuset hills to fetch away 2 smal compeny of Indians that had lived there al this war time with whom they sent this captiue he being sent with 2 squas and a mare to fetch
469
APPENDIX.
some hucleberies a little way from the company when he got vpon the mare and rid till he tired the mare & then run on foot & so escaped to Hadly, being 2 days & 1/2 wthout victuals.
"This relation was taken from his mouth at Northampton 6th Instant.
"P M Samll Eells."
Letter from Governor Frontenac of Canada to Governor Andros of New York.
[New York Colonial MSS. XXVI]
[Endorsed "A Copie of a Letter dated No. 18th 1677 from the Governor of Canada, to the Governor of New York. A Copie of another Jan 8 fol- lowing."]
"From Quebec, the 18th day of 9br 1677.
"Sr Sending now to Boston to bee informed concerning some Frenchmen, who we heare have been caryed Prisoners there, I was willing to take advan- tage of this occasion, to give you new assurances of my service, & of the good correspondence, which I desire to keepe with you.
"If in that I follow the orders of the king my master, I also at the same time, satisfy my particular Inclinacon to let you know with how much truth & passion I am
Superscription as below.
"Yor thrice humble servont "FRONTENAC." "From Quebec the 8th Jan 1678.
"Sr The death of Mr Basire one of the principall negotiators of this place, obliging mee to give speedy notice thereof to his partners in France, I thought the way of the Manhatans or Boston to bee the speediest, & the good corre- spondence that you have allwayes manifested a desire to entertaine betweene us makes me hope that you will direct those I shall send, the best way to have my letters carryed into old England to be sent over from thence by the first vessells. I desire then sr that favor of you & that you will beleeue that if in Returne, I were capable of rendring you service in these parts, I would do it with as much joy as I am with passion,
"Sr Your servant, thrice humble
"FRONTENAC.
"To Monsr the General Major Andros,
Goveno of New York at Manath."
Extract from the Council Minutes. [Council Minutes, iii, Part 2, p. 176.]
"At a Councell No. 10th 1677.
"Lettrs from Albany by Claes Luck who brought down two Englishmen that were sent from the Gov. of Boston to Albany & Canada.
"Benjamin Waite owne of the two men sente downe being called in and examined what there business was at Albany saith that they were sent by their Mastrs towards Canada and had directions to goe to Albany and brought a lettr from the Governor of Boston to Capt. Salisbury, they went that way to avoyd their enemies. Being demanded of the discourse between them and some at Schanectade they saying that place did belong to Boston, the wch he denyes pretending it some mistake, they not understanding one anothers Language.
"Being askt why they went away without comming againe when Capt. Salisbury ordered them to come, sd they were not willing to be hindred but to make the best of their journey.
"Stephen genning the other being askt why they went away without speak- ing again to Capt. Salisbury as he bad them. He saith they were sent by the Governor of Boston towards Canada & had orders to come to Albany, and that Capt. Salisbury gave them no encouragement whereupon being desir- ous to follow their directions, hopeing to finde their wives & children they
470
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
went on their Journey. Denyes saying Schanectade did belong to Boston &c but says they not understanding on another well Might Mistake.
"The matter being taken into consideracon
"Resolved that they be permitted to proceed on their voyage wch they shall think proper, for wch order to bee sent to the Commander at Albany."
Letter from Timothy Cooper to Major John Pynchon.
[New York Colonial MSS. XXVII]
[Endorsed : "Copie of a letter from Mr Timo Cooper to Major Pinchon sent doune by Capt Salisbury : Capt Salisbury writt so by order of Councell Mar 18 1677."]
"Most Worthy Major
"Sr Having now this occasion by two french from Canady who arryved here the 14th; Instant beeing about 12 dayes since they came from Canaday & now bound for Boston, I were willing to imbrace the occation knowing it my duty not to omitt any opportunity whereby I may in some small measur Maniefest the great desyer I allwayes have to serve yor worshipp to the utmost of my Capacity : having no other way at present to expresse the same than the presenting you wth these few lynes whereby to Informe you wee have by these ffrench intelligence of Benjamin Wait and the oyrs Save arryvell att Canada : and also thar wyves & children restored unto ym, the rest yt were living are redeemed from under the Indians, ther is three of the Companie dead that is 2 children & the old man the oyr are all in good health : Benj. Waitt and the oyr, have vndergon much Troble & hard ship great pairt of which I will not say, it was only to satisfie some base minded persons. Though it hath now pleased God to mak up all the Trobles they have met wth by restoring to them thar wyves & children.
"I pray God that they May find more favor and Civell respect from the peopell they are now among, then they have in some oyr plac, of which I conclud you have already hard, and therfor at present I shall not relait to you the cercumstance and Maner of ther vsage. But it was such as I think it fare below Christianity, or common Civility. Sr I begg your pardon In what I omitt, in reference to oyr Concernes, not having tym to Inlarge, at present ; But assure you, I am not unmyndfull of my Trust, but shall indevor wth Gods assistance to discharge the same, to the good satisfaction of all. So with my humble service to yorself & good Lady, I take Leave to style my self Sr
"Yor Most humble & obedient Servt
"Timo: Cooper."
Passport of Monsieur Lusigny. [New York Colonial MSS. XXVII.]
[Endorsed : "Copie of the Governor of Canada's Passeport for Monsr Lusigny who conveyed the English prisoners taken by the Indians at Hadley, Hattfield &c. April 30th 1678."]
TRANSLATION.
"The Count de Frontenac, Governor and Lieutenant General for His Majesty in Canada, Acadia, Newfoundland, and other territories of New France.
"We have given leave and passport to Sieur de Lusigny, one of the gen- tlemen of our household, to whom we have entrusted the command of an escort of English prisoners taken by the Sacoquis, and whom we send back, to go to Albany and Boston to negotiate with his Honor the Governor the business with which we have charged him. We command all those within our jurisdiction, and request all others, to allow the said Sieur de Lusigny with the escort and the English whom they conduct to pass without hindrance and to render them every aid and assistance.
471
APPENDIX.
"In witness whereof we have signed this passport sealed it with our arms and countersigned it by one of our secretaries at Quebec this thirtieth day of April, 1678.
"FRONTENAC.
"By M. Barrois."
Military Strength of Canada in 1678. [New York Colonial MSS. XXVII.]
[Endorsed: "A relacon of the forces at Canada from one of the French men in May, 1678."]
"Being in a discourse with Monsr de la Chambre, [one of Count de Frontenac's Guards] did relate that they had 25 men Officers & all in the Garrison of Quebec & 33 Guns in the ffort, & in the Battery that is below the ffort, whereof 4 of the biggest [of 91b bullit] were not mounted ; At troy Rivers [Three Rivers] some very few Gunns & 6 men with a serjeant, At Mont Royall [Montreal] likewise a small fort with 8 men, both Townes having Govrs placed by Frontenac.
"There are 6 or 8 Capts belonging to the place, who have the Comand upon occasion of the Companyes belonging to the Colonye wch are roused in time of warre & are to bee in redinesse. The Fort at Quebec is not now strong the opening the Bastions being bloune up wth powder last St. Johns day, with the losse of 9 men, & is not yet built up. He sayes they have not a strong fort in Canada, but the Fort Cadarachque [Cataraqui, now Kingston] is strong.
"The Go: Frontenac hath some 8 or 10 Gentl who doe keepe him Compa, and doe eate at his Table daily, he hath 16 men to bee Guard & all other officers in his house, as our Earles have in Engld this is what I have learnt at present having not fully discoursed with him, the rest you shall have the next."
Letter from Capt. Salisbury to Capt. Brockholds. [New York Colonial MSS., XXVII.]
"Sr Upon the 22th of this Instant came to this Place Benjamin Wayt & Stephen Gennings with 19 of those people yt were taken by ye Indians at Hadfeilde & Hadly & have for there convoy 11 ffrench men 3 of them belonge to ye Gove of Cannada garde & those 3 with other 2 goeth with those people to Boston. The other 6 staye heere untill ye 5 doeth come backe hauing passes & ltrs of credence, and to detaine them I could not see any strength to doe it, therefore I desire you'l spedy answer by this expresse, wheather I shall detaine them and sende them down at there Returne for I would be punctiall in my Dewty, and not willing to committ any Errors, soe yor spedy answer of my laste as well as of this will be a very greate help to let me see how I shall Govern Myselfe.
"I haue descoursed with Benja Wayte Concerning there liueing in Canada & how strong in men & in there ffortifycations & as to their lieuing its very meaine for the Commonallity are very much oppressed with greate taxes, but the Gour and ye reste of the greate ones, liues hy after the French manner and so there strength of men thay cane make 1000 or 2 but thay liue in littell villages haueing littell plantations here and there som 20 & 30 miles from villadge to villadge & in som vil there is 20 & in some 30 houses. They liue as Indians and gett there liuing by hunteing and there fortifications ar not very stronge. I woulde know wheather I shall beare there Expences while there aboad is heer & I pray you let the bearers be furnished with prouitions at ther Returne haueing not ffurther to inlarge but remaine your very humble servt
"SILVES' SALISBURY.
"ffort Albany ye 23th May 1678."
472
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
Letter from Capt. Brockholds to Capt. Salisbury. [ New York Colonial MSS., XXVII.]
"Capt Salisbury.
"Sr I recd yours yesterday in the Evening of the 23th with the enclosed copies of the passeports & letter from the Governor of Canada, wherein you intimate the coming of 11 French men to Albany to convey Benjamin Wait & Stephen Gennings with the people that were taken prisoners by the Indyans the last fall at Hatfield & Hadley (who without doubt are joyful to returne back to their habitacons) withall that 5 of the 11 French were gone forward to Boston with those people, the other 6 remaining behind with you untill the returne of their Comerades concerning ye carriage to whom you desire to bee advised I have communicated what you writ & . .. Councell who are of opinion that [there was] no need to have conveyed those [men farther] than Albany, from whence you might [have sent] persons with them to their homes.
"The Comunicacon of the French with the Indyans as they passe being to bee suspected, at that time of so great a likelyhood of warrs with them and it would have beene well to have knowne what buisnesse they had to negotiate with the Go: of Boston, but since they are past it cannot bee helpt & it is hoped they will doe no greate harme & there being as yet no declaracon of warre knowne to [have been made and their] coming also upon so char- itable an Acct as the Redemption & bringing back of poore distrested captives of our nation I know not well upon wt pretence they could bee stopt, so that it is therefore the opinion of the counsell, that when the other 5 shall be returned back you use them with all civility & permitt them quietly to returne back to Canada about their occasions. As for their Expences at Albany it is likewise thought fitt that you defray them for the present & that they may be cleared from it onely that you take [account of the expense] & send it hither where care will bee taken [to send] it to the Go: of Boston, who ought to allow [the amount] it being for people of his Governmt. There was an answer went yesterday to the Commissioners of Alb. before the receit of this concerning the buisnesse of Will Teller [charged with accidental homicide of an Indian and released May 20] & Will Loveredge with what else was written about by them.
"Yor Messenger being dispatcht returnes this afternoone Having not far- ther I remaine Sr. yor very humble servt.
"A. B. "N. Y. Sunday, May 26, 1678."
Letter from Count Frontenac to Capt. Brockholds without Date; Received May 31, 1678. [New York Colonial MSS., XXVII.]
"Sr The letter you did mee the honor to write mee of the 28th of Feb- ruary last, is so civill & the offers you make mee are so obliging, that I am glad the sending back of the English taken prisoners by the Indyans (who I caused to be conducted to Orange) hath furnisht me with an opportunity to returne you my thanks sooner than I expected.
"I understood by the persons I sent to Boston as also by the Letters from Go Leverett & the councell, that the Frenchmen sent to enquire after were releast & by that from Capt Salisbury that Go: Andros arrived well at London in 5 weekes timee. I wish him a returne as happy & that I may find means to shew both to him & you the desire I always have to hold a good corre- spondence in testifying both to the one & the other how much I am "Sr Yor thrice humble servt "FRONTENAC."
Letter from Capt. Brockholds to Count Frontenac. [New York Colonial MSS., XXVII, translated from the French]
"Sir I have received yours by the hands of William Davy and Peter Monteray, two of your people who accompanied Captain de Lusigny to
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APPENDIX.
Albany on his way to restore the English taken prisoners by the Indians to their families and friends.
"Your great kindness in the redemption of these poor unfortunates out of the hands of their enemies merits great praise and gratitude from all Chris- tians and may God reward you for it. I have charged your people to return for me many thanks for the obliging and generous civilities which you were pleased to express in your letter.
"We have received letters from Mr. Andros, our Governor at London, in which he states that he will soon return, so that we expect him daily. The desire you express for a friendly correspondence shall be reciprocated on our part, and if in any thing I may be able to render you service I shall have the pleasure of showing how much I am
"Your very humble & obedient servt. "A. B.
"New York, June 6, 1678."
Letter from Rev. John Wilson, minister at Medfield, to the governor of Massa- chusetts forwarding copies of the letters of Waite and Stockwell.
"Worshipful Sr
"humbly presenting my humblest Servic to yor worps keeping with these letters Copyd out and newly brought frm Hadly by one John Partridge and not understanding of any Couriers to the Bay besydes: I have written out of these two Copys word for word as I take it & make bold to send it to your Worship :
"yt so you might be enformed of the Mercy of God in ye return of these Captives so far as ye two letters set Down. John Partridge and John Plimp- ton come in this night & none with ym but a young mayde so yt I suppose yr Worshp will have ye very first view of ye News in Boston being very crasy am unfit to enlarge & yt I might not trouble your Worshp further
"With my humble Servecs presented to your most virtuous Lady humbly reste
Your worshs most humble Servant "JOHN WILSON.
"Medfield, May 29-78."
NOTE 7. The division of the Hatfield commons, from the pro- prietors' records.
First division, beginning upon the plain behind the mill. "The lots run West and by North and East and by South, abutting against a highway Westerly; part of them against the clay pits and stone pits ; part against the hill; part against the pond; part against the hill by the Great swamp."
No.
Width Rods Ft.
Width Rods Ft.
1 Samuel Graves,
33
14 John Cowles,
37
2 Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr.,
39 12
15 Widow Graves,
10
3 Thomas Mason, Jr., 8
16 Edward Church,
25
4 Town lot,
7
17 Richard Morton,
28
6
5 Mr. Atherton's heirs,
12 14
18 Obadiah Dickinson,
11
2
6 Martin Kellogg,
5 14
19 Samuel Gunn,
5
8
7 Samuel Marsh,
9 12
20 Samuel Allis,
19
8 William Gull,
26
6
21 Widow Fellows,
11 12
9 John Allis,
48
22 Samuel Taylor,
21
6
10 Mr. Chauncey,
12 23 John Hubbard,
17
11 Benjamin Waite,
20
24 John Coleman,
37
6
12 William Arms,
13
25 John Wells,
25
19
26 Daniel Belding,
13 11
13 Philip Russell, A highway,
10
27 Thomas Bracy,
5
No.
474
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
Width Rods Ft.
28 Samuel Baldwin,
49 John Steel,
5 10
29 Thomas and Noah
Wells
50 John Graves,
15 10
51 Samuel Carter,
5 8
30 Thomas Hastings, A highway, 10
25
54 Samuel Wells,
10
2
32 Samuel Foote,
11 14
55 Thomas Loomis,
18
33 Isaac Graves,
14 6
56 John Smith's heirs,
5
3
34 Walter Hixon,
7 12
57 Daniel Warner,
37
35 Joseph Bodman,
5 14
58 Joseph Belknap, 24 8
5
4
37 Samuel Partridge,
10
10
38 Hezekiah Dickinson,
9
60 Nathaniel Dickinson,
40
39 John White,
14 13
61 William King,
5 14
40 John Field,
20
8
62 Thomas Meekins, Sr., 31
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