History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 90

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

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Our Watertown Indians were not involved in that war. Geographically its souree was too far to the south of ns. The spirit of the Indians in this neigh- borhood made a still greater separation. This was the neighborhood of the " praying Indians," to whom I shall make reference hereafter. It was an Indian whose home had been in Watertown, Waban, who was prominent in friendly warnings to the English that the dreadful war was contemplated and was surely coming. The war cloud had risen and was growing and blackening steadily, day by day. " In the mean time several of the Christian Indians had expressed their belief 'that a plan was on foot for the general destruction of the English in the colonies ; and among these was Waban, a Nipmuek, at whose tent, amongst that people, Mr. Eliot had tirst preached to them in their own tongue. Waban, himself, hav- ing been the first of his tribe to be converted, became afterwards the principal ruler of the Christian Indians at Natiek. In April, 1675, Waban came to General Gookin and warned him of Philip's intention shortly to attack the English; and again in May he came and urged the same, and said that 'just as soon as the

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trees were leaved out, the Indians would fall upon the towns.' " 1

I shall give reasons later why this Waban may be classified as at one time a Watertown Indian. Ilis spirit was doubtless an exponent of the motives and purposes of others in this neighborhood, his loyal breast registering the temper of many of his race in the Charles River Valley.

Watertown then had no conflict with its dusky-faced neighbors, as the war dragged along its bloody course. It felt the war, though, in the persons of those whom this mother of towns had sent out to people other val- leys, or through those it hurried away as combatants into this awful, savage shock of arms.

Watertown people participated in the Sudbury town celebration last year, and while there a visit was made to the famous battle-ground where Cap- tain Samuel Wadsworth, of Milton, and his brave. forces so stoutly contended with the Indians-a contest that ended in a massacre of the whites. We remember what a lonely spot the battle-ground was, with its outlook on the swelling hills and across the green Sudbury valleys. Sudbury would have been a sorer sufferer in that Indian invasion had it not been for Watertown men. The Indians first attacked the settlement on the east side of Sudbury River, making pitiful bonfires of most of the houses. The people, though, made a stont opposition, and who should appear for their defense but the stalwart Cap- taiu Hugh Mason. He and other sturdy fighters fron Watertown so punished the Indians that they were forced to retreat to the west side of the river. Across the wide meadows we can see them fleeing, scowling in wrath at the Watertown men, who gave them such a drubbing.

King Philip's War closed in 1676. The decisive blow was given by the English at the destruction of the Narragansett fastness in the great cedar swamp southwest of Kingston, Rhode Island. It was a blow that meant demolition, destruction, the utter collapse of the Indians, and forever, as an organized race- power here in New England. The English forced an entrance into the Indian fort, and, like their prede- cessory who closed the Pequod War, they summoned to their aid the same merciless weapon of fire.

We, of this day, cannot appreciate the bitter feel- ing aroused on both sides of the strife in King Philip's War. It developed into a process of exter- mination. What the Indians planned for the English, the awful barbarity of the former attested. On the side of the English there was a lamentable process of hardening. It woukl sometimes seem as if an Englishman put his sensibilities into an iron-clad him. When we place those days in the scales and weigh them, we must not forget that there was in every direction a rough way of dealing with offenders.

1 Now Englund Historical and Genealogienl Register, Soldiers In King Phil's War, by Rov t. M. Lege, vil. xls July, 1890, p. 276.

Edward Eggleston incidentally brings this out in an article on pre-Revolutionary times in New England ; " The New England reverence for the Sabbath tended to repress social enjoyment in the accidental en- counters of Sunday, but the week-day lecture suffered from no such restriction, and was for a long time much more in favor than even the Sunday service. From all the country round, in spite of the poverty and difficult conditions of pioneer life, people flocked to those week-day assemblages. Cotton's lecture in Boston was so attractive that it was found convenient to establish a market on the same day ; punishments in the stocks, in the pillory, at the whipping-post, or on the gallows, were generally set down for lecture time, perhaps in order that as large a number of people as possible might be edified by the sight of a sinner brought to a just retribution. Nor did these exhibitions of flogging, of cutting off ears, and of men sitting in the stocks, or dangling from a gallows, tend to diminish the attendance." We are not sur- prised when this is added: " At one time during Philip's War scarcely a Boston lecture-day passed for a number of weeks without the congregation being regaled with sight of the execution of one or more In- dians."

The question here arises with fitness, Why were not any Indians in this vicinity more interested in the schemes of King Philip? The Indian nature was enough of a hot-bed to develop seeds of discontent. It has been thought that Phillip's war " spread a con- tagion of hostility far to the southward by means of that quick intelligence which existed between the tribes."2 Were our Charles River Indians lessintelli- gent than those to the south of us? King Philip's War makes in my story a dark back-ground on which I can paint with all the more vividness and effectiveness a beautiful scene of an embassy of peace and good will by some of our English ancestors-an embassy that sounded its first message near us in this very val- ley, and whose growing influence developed all through this region a different kind of an Indian from the one that swung the tomahawk and shrieked the war-whoop in King Philip's War. I mean the work started by John Eliot, the famous Indian missionary.

Although pastor of a church in Roxbury, his syn- pathies could not be bounded by the walls of that fold. ITis affections went out to the great, unshep- herded flock in the forests and by the rivers, and he resolved to reach these children of another color and another race. The first step was a knowledge of the In- dian tongue. It has been told of him that " he hired an old Indian named Job Nesutan to live in his family and to teach him his language. When he had few months,' he set out upon his first attempt." 3

2 The Century, " Nathaniel Bacon," by Edward Eggleton. Vol. 40, p. 424.

8 " Biography and History of the Indians of North America," by 8. G. Drake, Book 2, p. 111.

suit of armor when the case of an Indian came before , accomplished this arduous task, which he did in 'a

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Eliot himself, in " A true Relation of Our Beginning with the Indians," which at the time he modestly kept anonymous, has told this story : " Upon Oct. 28, 1646, four of us (having sought God) went unto the Indiaus inhabiting within our bounds, with desire to make known the things of their peace to them. A little before we came to their Wigwams, five or six of the chief of them met us with English salutations, bidding us much welcome; who leading us into the principal Wigwam of Waaubon, we found many more Indians, meu, women, children, gathered together from all quarters round about, according to appoint- ment, to meet with us and learn of us." 1

Eliot spent three hours with his Indian hearers, very plainly talking to them about their duty. They de- clared they were not weary, "but wee resolved," he add-, "to leave them with an appetite; the chief of them seeing us conclude with prayer, desired to know when we would come again, so we appointed the time, and having given the children some apples and the meu some tobacco and what else we then had at hand, they desired some more ground to build a town together."

The interesting point comes up where occurred this first meeting destined to have such an effect, to be a little spring from which would gush out the be- ginnings of a wonderful river.

Gookin in his reference to Eliot declares, "The first place he began to preach at was Nonantum, near Watertown mill, upon the south side of Charles River. about four or five miles from his own house, where lived at that time Waban, one of their principal men, and some Indians with him." 2 .How near Water- town mill did Eliot begin his labors? Inside the boundaries of the old town? Nonantum was an in- definite patch of Indian territory, and stretched on toward the busy rumbling mill, and " near the mill " naturally leads one to locate the wigwam of Waban inside of that hazy, old-time Watertown line. As a Watertown-man, I may not have the least doubt in the world that the little spring with its wonderful out- flow was on Watertown ground. I have called Waban a Watertown-man. As a student seeking historical evidence, I can only say that "near the Watertown mill " leads me to infer that Waban probably built his wigwam in old Watertown, which, as a man of wisdom, he would surely do.

It would take a long paper to hold inside its limits the story of John Eliot's wonderful work. The "praying Indians " became a distinct and large class in New England life. They had their villages at Natick, at Pakemitt or Punkapaog (Stoughton), Has- sanamesitt (Grafton), Okommaamesit (Marlboro'), Wamesit (Tewksbury), Nashobah (Littleton), Magun- kaquog (Hopkinton).

1 Collections of the Mass. Hist. Society. Vol. 4 (3d series), p. 3 2 Collections of the Mass. Ilist. Society for the year 1792. Vol. 1,

Gookin calls these " the seven old towns of praying Indians." There were others in Massachusetts, but I mention only these. Waban's history is that of an interesting character and of an old neighbor. He moved finally to Natick. "When a kind of civil community was established at Natick, Waban was made a ruler of fifty, and subquently a justice of the peace. The following is said to be a copy of a war- rant which he issued against some of the transgres- sors : ' You, you big constable, quick you catch um Jeremiah Offscow, strong you hold um safe, you bring um, afore me, Waban, justice peace.' A young jus- tice asked Waban what he would do when Indians got drunk and quarreled ; he replied, ' Tie um all up, and whip um plaintiff, and whip uur fendant, and whip um witness.' "> 3

Waban was a good friend of the English. From his class the praying Indians came sympathetic neigh- bors in peace, and active allies in war. They were a bulwark to our interest in the colonial life. If there had been ten John Eliots or a less number even in New England, peace everywhere would have been regnant. As it was, the Indian character in the Charles river valley which includes so much of old Watertown, was powerfully influenced.

That Watertown was not insensible to the gauntlet of trials that other towns were called upon to run, has been already noticed. Hubbard commenting on a case of difference of opinion between Watertown and the government in the earliest days of our town-life, uses this language of Watertown, " they stood so much upon their liberty." Watertown always had an independent way, and would not permit unchallenged any encroachment upon its rights. It can also be said that it did not see unmoved an invasion of the inter- ests of others. When other towns might echo with the whoop of plundering, firing savages, it marched ont its fighting men to the rescue. I have spoken of the fight at Sudbury ; I give only one more instance here.

When Groton was attacked in March, 1676, what action did Watertown take ? Over the spring roads tramped forty of our ancestors to the relief of the as- saulted town. Lancaster, like Groton, was a place in- dehted to Watertown for help in its early settlement. Lancaster was not forgotten when the Indians raided it. William Flagg, John Ball and George Harrington by their graves proved that Lancaster was remember- ed by Watertown men. Among the forms of other combatants rising out of the turmoil or the dark days of Indian strife, various Watertown men could be named who were " faithful unto death."

But Watertown in its connection with the history of the red men appears in another and still more honored character. This neighborhood not only wit- nessed the coming of the Gospel of Life to the In- dians, but this neighborhood sent out a like embassy

8 General llistory of New England, by Wm. Hubbard, p. 144.

p. 168.

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elsewhere. It is an interesting coincidence too that the south side of the river witnessing the preaching of the Gospel to the Indians, gave preachers who should take the same Good News elsewhere. I refer to Thomas Mayhew who lived on the historic "south side," and also to his son, Thomas Mayhew, junior.

Bond in his pains-taking genealogical list refers to the very honorable relation the name of Mayhew sus- tained to our infant town, and speaking of Thomas Mayhew's probable arrival in 1631, says: "For the ensuing 13 years, it appears by the colonial records that few, if any other persons so often received important appointments from the General Conrt." 1

Watertown early lost this shining light ou the other side of the river. Where it shone next and how ben- «ficiently, I will let Gookin tell out of his ancient Historical collections of the Indians in New Eng- land : " Martha's Vineyard, or Martin's Vineyard, called by the Indians Nope, which we have in the former book described hath been through the grace of Christ, a very fruitful vineyard unto the Lord of hosts, and hath yielded a plentiful harvest of con- verted Indians.

"The first instruments that God was pleased to use in this work at this place, was Mr. Thomas Mayhew and his eldest son, Mr. Thomas Mayhew, junior. The father was a merchant, bred in England, as I take it, at Sonthampton, and he followed the same calling in New England, at his first coming over which was in the beginning of the settlement of Massachusetts col- ony. Ilis abode was at Watertown, where he had good accommodations of land, and built an excellent, profitable mill there, which in those first times brought him in great profit. But it pleased God to frown upon him in his outward estate; so that he sold what he had in Massachusetts to clear himself from debts and engagements, and about the year 1642 transplanted himself to Martha's Vineyard with his family. His ellest son Thomas, being a scholar and pious man, after some time was called to be minister unto the English upon that Island. It pleased God strong- ly to incline the two good men, both the father and the son, to learn the Indian tongue of that island ; and the minister especially was very ready in it; and the old man had a very competent ability in it. These two, especially the son, began to preach the gospel to the Indians about the year 1618 or 1649, as I best remem- ber and had set appointed times to meet with them."

It was a scene of most attractive interest, these two men thus closely united as father and son., coming to- gether in this effort to reach those so spiritually distant. The work was not only pushed upon the Vineyard, but it was carried to Nantucket and prosecuted there. These efforts met with encouraging success. In 1657, the younger Mayhew sailed for England, but reached another country, "even a heavenly." The vessel was

wrecked, and thus the work of evangelizing the In- dians at the Vineyard and Nantucket received a serious blow. It is tonching to notice how this death of the son affected the noble father. It came to him as a call to a new consecration of his energies to the be- loved work of reaching the Indians. Gookin testi- fies, " But old Mr. Mayhew his worthy father, struck in with his best strength and skill, and hath doubtless been a very great instrument to promote the work of converting many Indian souls upon these islands."

It would be a work of fascinating interest to spread out here a letter from this old Watertown miller giv- ing the details of his work in reply to " fifteen queries " from his friend Gookin. I will only say that the Vineyard had its "praying towns" of Indians, and of Nantucket, Thomas Mayhew said, " Upon that island are many praying Indians." He testified that he had "very often, these thirty-two years, been at Nantucket." It is an interesting Mayhew-fact that not only father and son but two grandsons became identified with work for the Indians. Long and goodly and golden was this Mayhew-line reaching out from Watertown to the Indians at the Vineyard and Nan- tucket. When Gookin wrote his aecount, Mayhew was "about eighty years of age," his head white with age as ever were his miller's clothes with dust at the famous " Watertown mill." He died in the ninety- third year of his age. IIe is reputedly the first builder of any bridge over the Charles, and that has been classed as a foot-bridge. Dr. B. F. Davenport, in a summary of notes of official record about mills, bridges, etc., includes this from the old colonial books: "June 2, 1641, Mr. Mayhew to have 150 acres of land on the south side of Charles river of Watertown weire. The tole of Mr. Mayhew's bridge is referred to the governor and two magistrates to settle for seven years." 2

That old foot-bridge built by Thomas Mayhew across the Charles? Standing in the dusty doorway of his mill and watching some red men tripping across the humble bridge, little did he then think how crowned with loving work for the Indians would be his after years. Over waters many and troublons, his own hands stretched the bridge by which his dusky brethren safely passed to the green fields of perpetual peace and joy.

Watertown thus appears in two characters; in the Mayhew family as a missionary to the Indians, and in the days of the invasion as a protector of its white brethren in peril.

The red man long ago passed away from our border. ITis canoe no more glides on our glassy waters, and the smoke of his fires no more clouds the painted for- ests of autumn. A romantic interest in him though lingers among us. This may be owing in part to a twinge of conscience that justly may visit us as we

1 " Genealogies of the l'amilies and Descendants of the Early Sott- lers of Watertown, nul Early History," by Henry Bend, M. D., p. 857.

" Paper before the Watertown Historical Society, by Dr. R. F. Dav- enport, Sept. 17, 1889.

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recall certain old-time dealings with him. As our ancestors and their ancestors cannot meet in this world, certainly, to settle old claims, we, the children of the white settlers, can do something, to secure for all the dusky race alive to-day, fair, impartial, even- handed treatment.

In the beautiful valley of the Charles, in the old Indian camping-ground, may this spirit of justice ever have its home.

THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.1-Watertown stood second to none in her independent spirit during the early days of the Colonists.

In 1774, when a Provincial Congress was formed, Watertown sent Jonathan Brown, its town clerk and treasurer, as its representative. At that meeting, Oc- tober 3d, it was voted that "the collector of taxes should not pay any more money into the province treasury at present." On the 17th of the same month, the town voted to mount and equip two pieces of can- non. At this time the inhabitants were thoroughly awake to the dangers that menaced the country.

The port of Boston was closed, and many of the citizens had removed into the country, Watertown receiving a large share of them. They had resisted the tea-tax and submitted to many personal discom- forts to maintain their principles. The women had been counseled to forego the joy of their Bohea, and we read that a number of patriotic gentlemen in this town "who used to regale themselves with the best of liquors have determined to drink only cyder and small beer for the future."

At the junction of what is now Belmont and Mount Auburn Streets, stands an old house whose aspect speaks of ancient days; it is known as the Bird Tav- ern. This same house, in Revolutionary days, was occupied and used as an inn by Edward Richardson. Here, under guard, were deposited arms and military stores ; but for many years there had been little use for them, and the sixteen pieces of cannon belonging to the Colony proved to be quite useless when the call was made for action.

Feeble attempts towards a military organization had been in operation since the time when the quota of men from Watertown was four-in the war against the Pequods-till the years 1691-92, when the town was divided into three military precincts, under the command of Captain William Bond, of Watertown, for the First Precinct; of Lieut. Garfield, for the Sec- ond Precinct (now Waltham) ; of Lient. Josiah Jones, for the Third Precinct (or the Farmers, now Weston), till the present call to arms.

The fires of patriotism were not quenched, they only slumbered on the hearthstones of the people to be kindled at need. The rusty matchlock and pow- der-horn, had long hung unused upon the rafters, and the fertile fields and pleasant homes bore witness that

they had beaten their swords into ploughshares and their spears into prnning-hooks.

Early in September, 1774, the town ordered that its militia should be exercised two hours every week for the three autumn months, and that its stock of arms and ammunition should be inspected.

November 21, 1774, a committee of nine was ap- pointed to carry into effect the association and re- solves of the General Congress held at Philadelphia, and likewise those of the Provincial Congress; the latter had been presided over by the Hon. John Hancock, but he had been chosen delegate to Phil- adelphia, and Dr. Joseph Warren, of Boston, was elected to sncced hin.

Town and country were now thoroughly awake, and the call to arms was felt to be imperative, at least the call to be in readiness, and January 2, 1775, it was voted in town-meeting " that a minnte company should be formed for military exercises, each man be- ing allowed for Lis attendance once a week four cop- pers (for refreshment).

Its officers were : Captain, Samuel Barnard ; First Lieutenant, John Stratton; Second Lieutenant, Phineas Stearns ; Ensign, Edward Harrington, Jr .; Sergeants, Samuel Sanger, Abner Craft, Christopher Grant, Jr., Josiah Capen, Jr., Stephen Whitney ; Corporals, Moses Stone, Jr., Isaac Sanderson, Jr., and Nathaniel Bright.

Two of these officers had already shown their patriotism by assisting at the Boston Tea Party, De- cember 16, 1773,-

Captain Samuel Barnard, son of Samuel Barnard and Susanna Harrington, who was baptized June 19, 1737, and married Elizabeth Bond, daughter of Daniel Bond and Hannah Coolidge. He afterwards received the rank of major and died August 8, 1782.

Second Lientenant Phineas Stearns, a farmer and blacksmith, son of Josiah Stearns and Susanna Ball, born February 5, 1735-36. He became a Captain in the Continental Army, and led his company at Dor- chester Heights, and served at Lake George in 1756. He was offered a colonel's commission, but declined it on account of family cares, and after the evacuation of Boston he discontinued in the public service. He married Hannah Bemis, eldest child of Captain Jon- athan and Huldah (Livermore) Bemis. Second he married Esther Sanderson, a cousin of his first wife. He died March 27, 1798.

Another Watertown citizen assisted at the de- struction of the tea,-John Randall, son of John and Love (Blanchard) Randall. He was born October 2, 1750. He married Sarah Barnard, daughter of Jonas and Abigail (Viles) Barnard. He also served in New York one year.

On the morning of the memorable 19th of April, 1775, the Middlesex regiment under Col. Thomas Gardner assembled at the Watertown meeting-house.

Rumors had reached the town, through the mes- senger Paul Revere, of the advance of the British, and

1 By Ruth A. Bradford.

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they were in debate when Michael Jackson, who commanded the Newton Company that day, arrived in hot haste, having just heard, through the messenger William Dawes, who rode through Roxbury, Brook- line and Brighton, of the need of immediate action. Obtaining the floor, he told them " that the time for talking had passed, and the time for fighting had come ; that if they meant to oppose the march of the British, they must immediately take up their march for Lexington, and that he intended that his com- pany should take the shortest route to get a shot at the British."

His blunt, vigorous speech broke up the council, each company being left to take its own course, and the Watertown company, under the command of Captain (afterwards Major) Samuel Barnard, left for Lexington; near that town they joined the Newton company, where they encountered Lord Percy's retreating column.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 90

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278