USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 17
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" May 23, 1691. Mr. Joseph Hawley of Northampton is appointed and impowered to joine persons in marriage in Brookfield."
"Sept. 29, 1691. Brookfield constable sworn. Whereas there hath beene considerable occation of serveing attachments & summons & Other Writts for Cortes upon the inhabitants of Brookfield & No officer is there to Execute such writts & therefore persons needing such services have beene forced to apply themselves to ye County Marshall & the ffees are
1 MS. Court Records, VI. 184.
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
verry chargeable to ye persons that improve him Therefore to ease such like charges this Corte appointed Thomas Gilbirt of sd Brookfield to officiate in the Constables work in sd Town for this yeare or till another be appointed, who tooke ye Constables oath accordingly : -
" ffor as much as ye Continuall passing of travellers to & from ye Bay through Brookfield doth in good Sobrietie bespeak for a retailer of strong drink to be allowed for yt place this Corte doe grant a lycence while [till] ye next March Corte to Sam" Owen to sell drinke provided he take seri- ous care to keepe good rule & order in all his soe selling &c." [County Court Records.]
1692. - " To the Govr & Council & Assembly now convened in Bos- ton June 8, 1692.
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Brookfield alias Quabague :
May it please yr Honours to consider our condition which is low & mean not Able to order And so well to Manage our Affairs as we wish we were : And Authority from time to time hath given us the favour to appoint a Committee to whom we might Address in all Cases which in difficult Cases hath been to our Great Advantage. And in respect at the present Measures which we Are now to Attend in obedience to their Majs Royal Charter which of his Royal favour he hath granted to the Province of the Mattachuset [former orders being now void : Therefore we now petition yr Honours that a Committee might still be ordered to Consider of And order our Publick Affairs : And we would not take on us to instruct or to counsell yr Honours in matters of such nature where- in we Are so Ignorant : But the former Committee which was by wise Authority appointed over us hath been to our good satisfaction. But their being two of them removed from us by death, we desire there may be one or two more Added to them (If you see cause to Accept at and Approve of the former) : which if you grant you will much oblige your Petitioners
THOMAS & HENRY GILBERD in the name of the Inhabts of Brookfield.
The Former Comtee were Col. Pynchon, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Ely, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Hitchcock. There are since Dead, Mr. Ely & Mr. Mar- shall. We desire may be added, Capt. Partridge & Mr. Pumrey."
June 18, 1692. The above Petition was granted by the House of Representatives, and Council,
Consented to WM PHIPPS.I
Oct. 12, 1692. The Inhabitants of Brookfield and the Committee unite in sending the following Petition to the General Court : "Your Petitioners having made some essay to the Re-settling sd place, & finding
I Mass. State Archives, CXII. 426.
145
ALL LAND GRANTS TO BE TAXED.
some difficulties arise of which as follows, viz. Considerable quantities of the most suitable land to encourage Inhabitants under pretended former titles upon which those that claim not coming and settling themselves and bearing all charges : which use is an obstruction to us that are here : therefore we intreat the Court to confirm or allow the former Committee and those added to them in full power to order and dispose and at their set time to confirm or make null any former or present Grant upon the performance or neglect of such conditions as by them are judged advan- tageous for the promoting the place, and that the place may be filled up with such inhabitants as will come and be helpful in bearing of charges, and whomsoever holds Lands may help to bear charges in proportion to what he hath, and the rather we humbly request yr Honours' encourage- ment as aforesaid, earnestly desiring the place may go on and increase, and be enabled to promote the Worship of God amongst us, having some encouragement we shall speedily have a Minister of God's Word amongst us and may in time be better capacitated to serve God and the King & Queen with our persons & Estates, and for yr Honours ever pray and remain yr Humble Suppliants.
SAMLL OWEN
THOMAS GILBERT
HENRY GILBERT
THOMAS BARNS
JOHN WOOLCOTT
JOSEPH WOOLCOTT
DANIEL TOSH
JOSEPH MARKS
JOHN CLEMENS
DANIEL PRICE
JOHN LAWRENCE
EBENEZER SMITH
ICABOD SMITH
JOSEPH MASON
MATTHEW TOMBLIN
"In Answer to the Petition of the Inhabitants of Brookfield, Voted, that Col. John Pynchon, Lt. John Hitchcock, Mr. Joseph Hawley, Mr. Medad Pomery and Capt. Sam11 Partridge be re-established as a Com- mittee to order their affairs as to their settlement till they are become fit to order affairs amongst themselves as a town ; and all proprietors what- soever that according to former Grants claim any Lands there shall bear their share of charges for the Minister or other publick charges that are for the promoting of the publick good of the place." I
The new names in the foregoing list of inhabitants, are Joseph Marks, who had formerly lived in Springfield, and was just returned from cap- tivity in Canada ; Ebenezer Smith, who probably had taken his brother Samuel's grant ; and Ichabod Smith, who had purchased Nov. 11, 1691, the John Warner home-lot and rights. The Smiths were from Hadley.
Extracts from County Records. "March 29, 1692, Samuel Owen of Brookfield is licensed to keep public house and sell liquors.
I Mass. State Archives, CXII. 425.
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
Joseph Marks now returned from Canada.
Joseph Woolcott fined £5, for contempt of authority &c.
Later in the year, Mr. Woolcott was released from the fine for speeches against authority, on account that his house and most of his moveable goods were destroyed by fire.
The eldest daughter of John Killum of Brookfield is apprenticed to Samuel Parsons of Springfield, and his eldest son to Ebenezer Parsons of S."
1693. - The order of the General Court of last year, authorizing the taxing of all the granted lands in the township, led to some transfers of ownership. Apr. 15, 1693, Hezekiah Dickinson and wife Abigail, now returned to Hadley, sell to Stephen Jennings of Hatfield, for £27. 5. 0. the old Prichard home-lot with a frame upon it, and numerous lots of upland and meadow, amounting in all to 104 acres. Probably Jennings did not immediately come to reside.
The Indian Assault on the Woolcott Family. In the summer of this year a stunning blow fell upon the unprotected inhabitants of Brookfield. A skulking band of about 40 savages came down from the North, and after lying in ambush for a week, watching the movements of the people and the situation of their dwellings, suddenly surprised the families of Woolcott, Mason and Lawrence ; killed Thomas Lawrence, Joseph Mason and his son, the wife and two little children of Joseph Woolcott, and carried away Daniel Lawrence, and the wife and infant child of Joseph Mason. The infant was killed the first night out.
The particulars of this murderous raid ; and the pursuit, and rescue of the captives, are best told by Maj. Pynchon, in letters preserved in the State Archives.
" SPRINGFIELD, July 29, 1693.
On the evening of the 27th inst., John Lawrence from Brookfield came to me with tidings of Mischief done there. The account he gave me was that about noon the 27th of July, Joseph Woolcott came from his own house (which was 3 or 4 miles) to the garrison house, with one of his children in his arms, crying Arm! Arm ! and said he doubted his wife and other children were killed by the Indians, he seeing 2 or 3 In- dians after her, so snatched up that child and come away himself being shot after and pursued, only turned into a swamp and hid from them. Upon which relation of his, this said John Lawrence being then at Owen's house by the garrison, resolved to go and see how matters were at his own house towards and not far from Woolcott's : and in the way before he came at his own home, found his brother killed and scalped, and two Indians walking towards him, whereupon he returned presently to the garrison ; and staying there about half an hour, hasted to Springfield, telling me that in that time none came into the garrison besides Joseph
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INDIAN ASSAULT ON WOOLCOTT FAMILY.
Woolcott, and that all there made but 5 men, who were in extreme haz- ard, if I sent not men to them presently : In the night, not an hour after John Lawrence, or thereabouts, came in here, a traveller, one Cooke, who was going to the Bay, saying that about noon on July 27th, he was at the garrison house at Quabaug, went thence onward towards the Bay, not knowing or hearing any thing, he being gone out thence just before Wool- cott came in ; and when he came as far as Woolcott's house, within 20 rods of it, he saw many Indians, the yardful, stood still awhile, and seeing no English with them mistrusted them, counted them to be at least 40 or 50, and so turned about his horse to go back, when presently the bul- lets flew about him as thick as hail, so he hastened to the garrison where he stayed but a little while and came to Springfield, telling me the gar- rison was in great hazard, being but 6 men, and no ways able to hold it against so many. Whereupon I forthwith ordered 20 men out of Spring- field, 10 out of Westfield the next town all troopers : Sent post imme- diately to Hadley &c. for as many more there, ordering their march to Quabaug and there join ours &c. Ours (I being up all the night) were got ready by morning with 8 that came from Westfield about sun rising. These 28, all well mounted and well fixed went together yesterday to Brookfield, Capt. Colton their leader and for them also from the upper towns ; whom I now this day understand attended to my order, rallying up to the number of 30 : but could not be ready so soon, and were after those from Springfield.
I feared (according to the intelligence I had) we were too weak, if they met not to join. But now this day towards evening, a messenger sent to me from Brookfield gives me this account : That those I sent from Springfield arrived there yesterday about 2 of the clock in the afternoon ; finding the garrison well and not touched, presently were upon the discovery, and finding no Indians, improved besides some scouting, themselves that afternoon in burying the dead. They found Thomas Lawrence dead, Joseph Mason and his eldest son, Joseph Woolcott's wife and two children, six in all, which they buryed : 3 or 4 persons not found, whether killed or carried away, know not. When Capt. Colton had performed this service yesterday being the same day he went from Springfield, returning to the garrison about sundown : the soldiers from Hadley, Northampton &c. came in : Just upon which a man that ad- ventured out of the garrison upon the hills, spies 6 Indians as he said ; came back and acquainted therewith ; presently Capt. Colton sent out to discover, found the man to have spoken truth, perfectly discerning their tracks in the long grass which they could very well follow : But it growing dusky and too dark to proceed, returned, and intended this morning to take the tracks and pursue the enemy, who went northward, probably are Canada Indians, and that party which in the Frenchman's
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
examination (sent from Albany) were mentioned, viz., 30 ready to come towards these parts under a chief Indian called La Plato, with 10 more to follow them, and I suppose have been about Deerfield, but finding soldiers &c. durst not attempt there.
This morning the rain prevented Capt. Colton's march after the enemy, early as he intended. But the man (who is come to me) tells me that it clearing up, he was getting ready and fitting to pursue them. I pray God they may overtake the enemy and have a good success against them.
The people at Quabaug have sent to me by this man for advice whether to draw off or stay there. Drawing off will be ruinous to what they have ; staying may be hazardous and ruinous to their persons. They would draw off, or stay, according to order. Drawing off will be a publick Damage as in other respects so in respect of the road and for travellers. Continuing there will call for some men to keep their fortification, it may be about 6 or 8 may be sufficient. I request your Excellency's advice and order ; what you appoint shall be exactly attended. I understand the inhabitants are willing to be ordered one way or other, and till your Excellency's pleasure is known, I intend only to appoint Capt. Colton to leave 6 or 8 men, and so return on Monday after he shall have finished his pursuit of the Indians, which I hope this day or tomorrow will be over, and probably you may hear of the issue or success of their pursu- ing the enemy by the messenger that I shall order to bring this letter to your Excellency before I can write again. . . .
JOHN PYNCHON To SIR WM PHIPPS, Governor."
Extract from the Council Records. "July 31, 1693. A letter was this day received from Maj. Pynchon of Springfield, giving an account of a late Outrage and murder committed by some Indians upon divers of the Inhabitants of Quabaug als. Brookfield, to the number of 8 or 9 men women and children being found murdered and wanting. And that he had ordered about 50 of the Militia of his Regiment out in pursuit of them, praying direction concerning the rest of the inhabitants there -
Advised, that 8 or 10 soldiers be posted in garrison there, for their better security, and that they be allowed three shillings per week a man for their billeting."
Maj. Pynchon's Second Letter. "SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 1, 1693. Excellent Sir
Last night Capt. Colton from Brookfield with the soldiers I had put under his command, came well Home . . . I gave in my last to your Excellency, an account of the attack on Quabaug by some Pagans, and my sending Capt. Colton in pursuit ... I shall begin now with the
149
INDIAN ASSAULT ON WOOLCOTT FAMILY.
account of his expedition from Brookfield als. Quabaug, which will lead to whom were the assailants. On Saturday July 29, Capt. C. began his march out of Quabaug, about 10 in the morning, with 42 men well resolved, having left 16 at the Garrison there because he knew not cer- tainly that the Indians were drawn off. To make sure work went to Woolcott's house whereabouts the enemy kept their Rendezvous ; found their tracks to go through Woolcott's lot, followed the same, and finding it very plain and the way good at first setting out. Cheerfully improved it, soon came to the place where the enemy took up their lodging first, after they had done the mischief at Quabaug, viz. on Thursday night last, which was about ten miles northerly from Woolcott's house, where they killed Mason's child which they had took away, the mother as also young Lawrence about 18 years of age being then captives with them, where after a very small halt, our men on the chase came nextly to the Place the enemy as they suppose dined the next day their second day from Quabaug ; there they killed a mare of Henry Gilberts which they had taken to carry their loads, and there also they had broken the Drum taken from Lawrence's house. Our soldiers still pursuing came to a Great Pond about 30 miles or more off Quabaug, where they found the enemy lodged that second night. Here they found a horse of Masons killed, and fresh tokens of them, their fire not out &c., which incour- aged our soldiers much, though the way now most hideous, sometimes swampy, then stony and horribly brushy, scarce passable for Horses, yet went about 6 or 7 miles further that Saturday, all together, with their Horses. But finding they could make no riddance in such way with horses whom also for want of shoes began to be lame. Being set for the design, they left all their horses and men that could not foot it ; 19 men Capt. Colton dismissed or shortened his number so many, ordering them to bring the horses after. The Capt. with the 23 most likely men pur- suing the enemy on foot, lightening themselves of their coats and with- out victuals, hastened away that if possible they might come upon the Indians before (or discover them in the) Night. But Night came before any Indian could be seen or overtaken, and the Capt. having gone 7 or 8 miles very briskly in bad way after he had left his Horses, was forced to take up lodging, not knowing how far off their Horses might be, that could scarce be got along in that extreme bad way (though the Horses came up within two miles of the foot that Saturday night, which was the third night that the enemy had been gone from Quabaug)
In the morning, being Lord's Day, July 30th, the brisk Captain having men resolutely bent, persuading themselves they were near the enemy and knowing their horses would make a lumber, though he wanted his men, resolved not to stay, but sets out early, and very privately goes on in that dismal way, by the time he had gone about a mile and a half,
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
came upon the enemy in a most hideous thick woody place, where till within 3 or, 4 rods of them they discovered them not till they heard them laughing. Presently the Capt. made signs to his few men to come up and compass them about, who did accordingly, about 10 of his men only just at his heels, the Place obscure, the enemy hardly to be seen having also cut down bushes to shelter themselves, yet made shot upon them, as many of our men as had advantage. The rest of our men also read- ily coming up gave them volley also, just as the Indians riss up being at breakfast, about sun a quarter of an hour high. Our men could not all make shot at once, those that at first had not opportunity did it at the Indians beginning to budge away, none of our men failing. And the Indians not knowing or discerning them till the bullets were in some of their bodies, and others of them alarmed by the volleys our men gave, ran away, not having opportunity to fire on our men. 'The Captain says the enemy fired but one gun, tho' some of our soldiers say another was fired, and that the Indian quivered so that he could not hold his gun steady ; However they all ran away that had life to do it, presently at an instant, and in such a hideous thicket that our men could not see or find an Indian more : Our men killed 4 of them certain outright, which the Captain saw and is sure of others and most of the soldiers say there were 6 killed outright, with one that being wounded one of our men ran up to and dispatched with his hatchet. Many of them were sorely wounded, and no doubt ran into holes to die, for our men say the brush in many places was bloody which it is was hardly possible to go in or make discovery ; and Capt. Colton says he saw blood on the ground as well as bushes. The Indians ran away so suddenly being surprised, that they left their powder and ball, some judge all, not having taken it into their hands that morning, tho' some of them snatched up their guns. Also the -, our men got from them and burnt them. Our men brought away 9 guns, 20 hatchets, 4 cutlashes, 16 or 18 horns of powder, besides two bark's full neatly covered, about 1 pound or 2 pounds in a bark. Our men have regained our two captives the enemy carried away, Mason's wife, and young Lawrence, and so returned bringing them back in safety : Leaving plunder which they made unserviceable, not being able to bring it off. Upon their return they met their horses come up within 2 miles of them. But it was not possible to go to the place with them, and so returned no more thither."
" The Relation of the woman, Mason's wife (for the young man was tired amazed and dull) who is a trusty and intelligent woman, is, That these Indians that were at Quabaug were only 26 of them : four more of their company at first, went off from them, say they belonged to Canada, were from Pemaquid : Designed to fall upon Nashaway, but that two of their scouts whom they sent thither, brought them word they were there
15I
RELATION OF MASON'S WIFE.
watchful and in careful posture, whether they were there or no some of them questioned, they fell out about it, could not agree whither to go, were strangers, and somewhat at a loss. At last upon a high Hill climb- ing to the top of a tree they discovered a house (which if so must have been Lawrence's), so bent their way to Quabaug. Lay about the Place six days, and at last did the Mischief, would not go near the Fortifica- tion ; told Thomas Lawrence If he would tell them truly what men were in it, they would spare his life. He told them six. Then presently they knockt him down and scalped him: She says her husband having no weapon beat them off with his hand only a great while, till they cut his hand, and they were very cowardly afraid to meddle with her; that if she had any weapon she thinks she might have made her escape : Many things she had of them, one of them speaking good English, - as that an Indian called Capt. John was a Rogue to them, & they wisht they could come at him to cut him in pieces, &c. They told her that the Canada Indians had been at Deerfield about two months since, and done Mischief there,' when they see the English there go against their own Indians, and the English suspected their Indians, and had imprisoned two of them, though the Mischief done there was by Indians that come from Canada, who presently returned after they had done the Mischief at Deerfield and were all got safe home to Canada. They inquired of her what was become of the Indians in prison ; she answered them she knew not (for indeed that day they were in prison).2
They told her they would keep the lad, young Lawrence, to carry their burdens to their canoe, and then would kill him, for they should go 5 or 6 days on water, and over a great lake like a sea: The last night which she was with them they told her they were within a day and a half or two days' journey of their canoe; and now they cared not if 200 English came after them in that place, it was such a place that they should there kill them all that came to them. - And indeed it was a dangerous place for our men. If God's providence had not ordered it that the Indians saw them not till the English that went silently were upon them, and fired first, to their amazement in being so surprised that they run from their arms and ammunition. 'Tis God, and not our 20 men that hath done it. To Him be all the Praise, who orders things well for us, remembering mercy in the midst of judgment.
I am too tedious, pardon the same, and accept of my real desire to be serviceable in rendering the best account. The woman being left at Quabaug ; the soldiers' horses being lame they could not bring her off ; I have all from others, not having spoken with her myself : I suppose the constable himself (for want of a ready hand) will be the messenger :
I This Mischief was done June 6.
2 The said prisoners escaped from jail on the morning of July 29.
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
he may give account of some particulars that I have missed. I direct him to speak with the woman, and acquaint you if any thing more : - The people at Brookfield desire a garrison, or to be fetched off. I waite your pleasure.
JOHN PYNCHON " I
For his services in this expedition, " Capt. Thomas Colton, his officers and soldiers therein employed, as a reward of their good services were granted as follows : The forty men that pursued the enemy, the sum of £40 and the plunder recovered from the enemy, to be equally shared amongst them, over and above their stated pay. And in addition, £10 was granted as a gratuity to Capt. Colton."
No more daring exploit against the Indian enemy was performed dur- ing this war. With no trusty guides, and no personal knowledge of the country ; following the trail made by the treacherous foe, through swamps and among rocks and tangled underbrush ; and when his horses gave out, stripping off coats, knapsacks and rations, and pressing forward where his men could only go in single file ; and opening fire, with only ten of his men come up, upon (as he supposed) fifty well-armed savages - is an example of stern courage and heroism, worthy of everlasting remembrance. It is to be regretted that the names of his gallant band of soldiers are not on record.
And it would much gratify historical curiosity, if the " most hideous thick woody place " where the Indians were surprised by Capt. Colton, and the captives rescued, could be identified. From his description of the country, it is evident that the route of the retreating savages lay via. Menameset, through Hardwick, Dana, New Salem, etc., towards the place where their canoe was left on the Connecticut river, above North- field. This was the line of an old trail ; and some hints by contempo- rary writers indicate the belief that this was the route. Capt. Partridge, writing Aug. I, speaks of Capt. Whiting and Capt. Wells being sent out the day before, with 30 men, "intending fully to search those Eastern woods of Northfield, and will if they light of those villians did the Mis- chief at Brookfield, give them a second brush." Probably the place of rescue was in the present town of New Salem.
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