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 19
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I rest her Majesty's Loyall Subject JOHN PERRY."
This letter is valuable as giving us authentic information of the pres- ence of Indians among the Brookfield settlers at this date; of their hostile disposition and intentions ; of their claim of ownership in their old fields and meadows ; and of the intrigues of the French authorities of Canada.
In relation to the claim of Ninnequabon, the following extract from the General Court Records has interest : "July 8, 1703. Ordered, that the late Committee for directing the settlement and affairs of the Plan- tation of Quaboag alias Brookfield, be and hereby are continued. And Maj. John Pynchon is hereby added to the said Committee, in the room of his father John Pynchon, Esq., deceased ; Saml Partridge, Esq., to be chairman of the said Committee. And the said Committee are hereby impowered and directed to hear the matter in difference betwixt Nine- quabin Indian and the Inhabitants of sd Brookfield, referring to his claim of Lands, and to endeavour to compromise and adjust the same ; and to purchase his Right in behalf of the Province."
The following entry in the Province Treasury account, probably has reference to this business: "Paid Thomas How of Marlborough for Travel and expenses in a journey to Quaboag, and charges upon several Indians by him brought down by direction of his Excellency, to prevent
163
FRONTIERS ALARMED.
a Quarrel arising between them and the English, referring to a claim of land ... £2. 10. 0."
From entries in the same Treasury account, it appears that a consider- able garrison began a new term of service here the first of March ; but no names are given, and no casualties reported.
To give a true picture of the alarm which pervaded our frontier settle- ments at this date, and the ways adopted and suggested for meeting the emergency, some extracts from letters written in October of this year, are here inserted. Rev. John Williams of Deerfield writes : "We have been driven from our houses & home-lots into the fort (there are but 10 house-lots in the fort), some a mile, some 2 miles, whereby we have suf- fered much loss ; we have in the alarms been several times wholly taken off from any business, the whole town kept in, our children of 12 & 13 years and under we have been afraid to improve in the fields for fear of the enemy. We have been crowded together in houses, to the prevent- ing of indoor affairs being carried on to any advantage, & must be con- strained to expend at least £50 to make any comfortable provision of housing, if we stay together in cold weather. . .. I would humbly beg our people may be considered in having something allowed them in making the Fortification : we have mended it, it is in vain to mend, & must make it all new, & fetch timber for 206 rods, 3 or 4 miles, if we get oak : "
Rev. Solomon Stoddard of Northampton writes : "The first proposal I make to your Excellency is, that our people may be put in a way to hunt Indians with dogs - Other methods that have been taken are found by experience to be chargeable, hazzardous and insufficient : But if dogs were trained up to hunt Indians as they do bears, we should quickly be senseble of a great advantage thereby. The dogs would be an extreme terror to the Indians ; they [are] not much afraid of us ; they know they can take us - & leave us ; if they can but get out of gun-shot, they count themselves in no great danger, how ever so many pursue them, they are neither afraid of being discovered or pursued. But these dogs would be such a terror to them, that after a little experience, it would prevent their coming, & men would live more safely in their houses, and work more safely in the fields and woods. In case the Indians should come near the Town, the dogs would readily take their track & lead us to them : Sometimes we see the track of one or two Indians, but cant follow it; the dogs would discover it, and lead our men directly to their enemies . .. our men might follow with more safety ... they would follow their dogs with an undaunted spirit, not fearing a surprise . .. the dogs would do a great deal of execution upon the enemy, & catch many an Indian that would be too light of foot for us.
" If the Indians were as other people are, and did manage their war
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
fairly, after the manner of other nations, it might be looked upon as inhuman to pursue them in such a manner. But they are to be looked upon as murderers . . . they dont appear openly in the field to bid us battle, & they use those cruelly that fall into their hands ; they act like wolves, & are to be dealt withal as wolves."
Hatfield voted to fortify three houses on the Hill and six in the town ; to rebuild the palisade, and to build stairs into the turret of the meeting- house, so that a ward or day-watchman might be stationed in the turret.
It is believed that the tower on " Warding Rock " was built at this time, to serve as a look-out for a ward, or day-watchman, whose eye could sweep the entire plain, where the great corn-field was.
Massachusetts offered a bounty of £10 for Indian scalps, brought in by soldiers who were receiving wages and subsistence ; and £20 to others. After March, 1704, scouts and rangers, who went out at their own expense, were paid £100 for every Indian scalp brought in.
The following letter will fill out the picture of this year.
OCT. 27, 1703. TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOSEPH DUDLEY.
Brookfield also is in great necessity of some allowance to their Minis- ter (who saith he cannot stay there except he have some allowance otherwise than the people can pay). Especially now they are under such hazzards of an enemy to come upon them, and being but a small people. Moreover, if said Minister go from the people and garrison there, I look they will and must break up; and the making that post destitute will not only animate the enemy, but shut the road for Travellers, especially to travel with such safety as now they do. This I humbly present to consideration, and subscribe Your servant
SAMLL PARTRIDGE." ·
The General Court allowed the customary sum of £20.
The new comers in 1703, were Joseph Rice (prob. son of Samuel and his 3d wife Sarah (White) Hosmer, b. at Concord May 16, 1678, m. at Boston, June 25, 1701, Mary Townsend), tailor, who had a grant of 40 a. upland and 20 a. meadow, and afterwards removed to Spring- field ; Ebenezer Hayward, from Concord, son of Joseph, who built near the Joseph Mason place ; John Hayward, Jr., from Concord, who later built a grist mill on the new Mill brook. [Forward 1710.]
1704. - This year opened gloomily for our frontier towns. On the morning of Feb. 29, the town of Deerfield was assaulted by a force of 200 French and 140 Indians, under De Rouville, and 17 houses burnt ; 40 inhabitants and 9 soldiers killed ; 5 soldiers and 106 inhabitants car- ried off, of whom 20 were killed or died on the way, 60 were redeemed, and the rest remained in captivity or disappeared.
165
DESCENT ON DEERFIELD.
As this affair paralyzed temporarily our Hampshire county settlements, and was the predominant factor of Brookfield history for that year, a succinct account of the tragedy is here given.
On information received from Col. Schuyler of Albany, that the enemy designed a descent on Deerfield, the authorities had posted a guard of 20 soldiers there. The snow was three feet deep, and badly drifted ; and the presence of so many soldiers lulled the people into a sense of security, which proved their destruction. The French and Indian army, 340 strong, came down on snow-shoes ; and leaving their sleds and packs with a small guard at the mouth of West river in Brattleboro', pushed on, and reached the bluffs overlooking Deerfield North Meadow, early in the night of Feb. 28, where they halted and bivouacked. When midnight came, De Rouville sent out scouts, who reported that the watch was patrolling the street. About two hours before day, the French com- mander had word that all was still. The watchman had gone to sleep ! An immediate assault was ordered. The snow had drifted up against the stockade, and climbing the drifts the Indians leaped over the pali- sades and were inside the fort, before any alarm was given. The stock- ade enclosed 12 or 15 houses, filled with sleeping families. And now commenced the slaughter of men, women and children. "The enemy immediately set upon breaking open doors & windows, took the watch & others captive, and had their men appointed to lead them away [to their bivouac] ; others improved [the time] in rifling houses of provisions, money, clothing, drink, & packing up & sending away ; the greatest part standing to their arms, firing houses, & killing all they could that made any resistance ; also killing cattle, hogs, sheep, and sacking & wasteing all that came before them."
The house of John Sheldon (known as the Old Indian House) for a time resisted the efforts to break it down; but the Indians got in, and most of the family were taken. John, Jr., lately married, with his wife jumped from the chamber window ; she sprained her ankle, and could not escape ; but urged her husband to fly to Hatfield for aid. This he did, binding strips of woolen blanket about his naked feet as he ran.' [" The light of the burning buildings at Deerfield, gave notice to the towns below, some time before we had news from the distressed people " - Hatfield Petition.] The carnage continued till sun about an hour and a half high, when help came in the shape of 30 well armed men from Hat- field and Hadley, who "rushed in upon the enemy and made shot upon them, at which they quitted their assailing of houses and the Fort," and drew off to the halting place, which was about a mile from the town, where the captives and plunder were collected.
The numbers of the killed and captivated have been already given.
I Hon. Geo. Sheldon's History of Deerfield.
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
Of the III captives, 40 were not over 12 years of age, and twelve were under 5. The sufferings and horrors of the retreat march of 300 miles, to Canada, are graphically depicted in "The Redeemed Captive," a book published by Rev. John Williams, one of the captives, after his return.
Nine of the houses within the stockade were unburnt; two brick- lined houses outside, and about a dozen or fifteen others at the south part of the town, escaped destruction. "The women and children at home are come off to Northampton, Hadley & Hatfield, also the wounded men & one wounded woman are in Hatfield under Dr. Hastings cure."
But for the positive orders of Col. Partridge, enforced by a large com- pany of soldiers, impressed for the service from the other towns, Deer- field would have been deserted.
As soon as the snows melted, and the rivers opened, the French Gov- ernor sent another force consisting of about 20 Canadians and 50 Indians, to harass our frontiers. They surprised and killed John Allen and his wife at " the Bars" in Deerfield, May 11. Two days later, " Pascomock Fort [at the northeast end of Mt. Tom in Northampton] was taken by the French & Indians, being about 72. They took and captivated ye whole Garrison, being about 37 persons. The English pursueing of them caused them to nock all the Captives on the head, save 5 or 6. Three, they carried to Canada with them, the others escaped, and about 7 of those knocked on the head Recovered, ye Rest died. Capt. John Taylor was killed in the fight, and Sam1 Bartlet wounded." Co. Recorder's Book.
Another larger army of French and Indians was sent out by Gov. Vaudreuil, " to lay desolate all the places on the Connecticut River," to quote his own words. But through the vigilance of Col. Partridge and the military authorities at Hartford, the Canadian was checkmated. All our towns were well garrisoned, and English scouts were constantly on the alert. But Indian spies and skulking parties were hovering about the settlements, waylaying all the principal roads, and picking off here and there a traveller or an imprudent soldier.
Thomas Bettys, a Brookfield man, was killed, on the old Hadley road, in Belchertown, July 29. He had been sent by Col. Partridge post to Boston, and was returning with important despatches from the Governor. The despatches were taken and carried to Canada, and made the basis of a report from Gov. Vaudreuil to the War Office in France.I
I "TO GOVR DUDLEY.
Sam" Barnard of Hadley says, that whereas iny horse was taken on her Majesty's service to go Post to Boston with one Thomas Bettees, who coming homewards on the road was killed and my horse; and I have had paid me forty shillings out of the Publick Treasury . . . I paid seven pounds for hin, besides the damage I sustained for want of the horse . . . asks further remuneration." June 15, 1705, the Court granted the Petitioner forty shillings, in addition to the 40 shillings already paid.
167
WEAK CONDITION OF BROOKFIELD.
About this time, a considerable part of the enemy moved off towards the east, and July 31, they "besett the town of Lancaster in several places, and did much spoil."
During the entire summer, the county was full of troops, largely from Connecticut. All the Hampshire towns were called on for their full quotas, which were employed in scouting, and marching to threatened points, and doing garrison duty at home. The consequence was, the towns were cleared of old provisions ; and the out-lying planting-fields were left unplowed and untilled. And when harvest-time came, the harvests were wanting.
The condition of things at Brookfield is graphically [and phonetically] set forth in the following Petition :
To HIS EXCELANCY, etc.
BROOKFIELD, Dec. 14, 1704.
we hues names are underwriten do Humbly beage your Excelancy's faver and that you wod consider our weke condishone : the faver we beg is that we all ov us not that such of us as find thay are under such dis- advantages that they cant subsist there might remove into some other towne where they may worke for there liveinge. by the deficulty of the times we are reduste to such p'verty that we cant subsist except your onors wil plese to grant us wages as solders & pay for our diat for we raize litle or none of our provision by rezen of our being drawn so far frome our improvements of Lands. our families are so large and our means are so small that we cant live without sume other imploye than any we have at presant. and if the honoured Cort se coaus to put us in as sol- ders we will as we do account it our duti conform to the order of author- ity - but we rather if it may be granted chuse to remove into other towns. and we humble intrete that the onors of the Corte would plese to grant us pay for our diat for the time we have searve[d] as soldears. no more at presant but we remain youars as followeth
HENRY GILBERT BENIAMIN BARTLET
JOHN WOOLCOTT JOHN GILBERT
SAMLL OWEN SAMLL OWEN JR.
THOS PARSONS HENRY TAYLOR
SAMUEL DAVIS STEPH. JENNINGS
PHILIP GOSS BENJ. JENNINGS
EBENR HAYWARD EDWARD WALKER
THOMAS GILBERT JOSEPH BANISTER
JOSEPH RICE JOHN HAYWARD
JOSEPH MARKS JOHN HAMILTON
JOHN CLARY THOMAS BARNS
JOSEPH JENNINGS
READ IN COUNCIL, Dec. 27, 1704.
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
From minutes made on the paper, and from records of a later date, it is inferred that a considerable number of the petitioners were taken into the pay of the Province, and employed as standing guard or garrison sol- diers, and in work about the Fort and garrisons. The large amounts drawn from the Treasury by Cols. Partridge and Porter show that more men were in the service here than would be required for simple garrison duty. From the Council Records it appears that " Muster Rolls " were returned to the Governor, covering this and succeeding years ; and it is matter of deep regret that these Rolls cannot now be found. Doubtless they contained full statistics of names, dates and services.
"July 24, 1704. Ordered, that the Treasurer pay the sum of £56. 0. 5 to Lt. Col. Partridge, for subsisting the garrison at Brookfield from Mar. 1, 1703 to June 10, 1704, the Acct. having been approved."
"July 12, 1704. A Muster Roll of the soldiers posted at Brookfield was presented, for wages due for service from Dec. 4, 1703, to June 21, 1704, amounting to £166. 9. 8}d. Passed, and that sum ordered to be paid to Samuel Porter on behalf of the officers and soldiers above named."
"A Muster Roll of soldiers posted at Brookfield, for wages for service, and subsistence, from June 22, to Oct. 18, 1704, for Posts and other incidental charges, amounting to £271. 9. 1 - Ordered to be paid to Lt. Col. Sam" Partridge." [Council Records.] Col. P.'s acct. for wages and subsistence of soldiers at Brookfield and Springfield, from Oct. 20 to Jan. 31 was £426. 15. 10.
Rev. Mr. Fiske, in his " Historical Sermon " delivered in 1775, speaks of " fortified houses," and " garrisons " in Brookfield ; and connects them with the events of Queen Anne's War. And as the houses themselves or their remains must have been in existence in his day (as Gilbert's Fort certainly was to a much later day), and men were then living whose memory reached back 70 years, we have no reason to question the facts so stated. He indicates quite clearly (taken in connection with the testimony of deeds on record) the location of two of these fortified houses ; one was on Foster's hill, near the old Ayres tavern stand, called "Jennings' garrison ; " and another was located on the old Country road, between the present South Brookfield village and the Woolcott place, and known as the "Banister garrison." They are referred to shortly after this date ; and there is a probability that they were built or put in good repair in the winter of 1704 or spring of 1705. There is an acct. " for wages paid sundry persons at Brookfield," of this date, amounting to about £100.
These bullet-proof houses were dwellings, and constructed as follows : the frame, i.e., the sills, posts, girths and plates were of heavy hewn timbers. Instead of studs in the lower story, logs split in half were set upright, face and back alternately, so as to match by overlapping the
169
MARKS' AND GOSS' GARRISONS.
edges. [Sometimes planks were used.] The space under the windows was filled in with bricks or planks. The lathing was nailed to the logs on the inside, and the boarding in like manner on the outside. The doors were of planks ; and the windows had inside shutters.
Rev. Mr. Foot, in his "Historical Discourse " delivered in 1828, names two other garrisons, viz. " Marks' garrison " and "Goss' garri- son." He says : "Marks' garrison stood near the south west end of Wickaboag pond, on a knoll below the junction of the waters of the pond with the Quaboag river. It is related that one day Mrs. Marks- being left alone, discovered hostile Indians in the neighborhood of the- garrison waiting for a favorable opportunity to attack the settlement. She immediately put on her husband's wig, hat, great coat, and taking his gun, went to the top of the fortification, and marched backwards. and forwards vociferating like a vigilant sentinel, all's well ! all's well ! This led the Indians to believe that they could not take the place by surprise, and fearing the result of an open, or protracted assault, they retreated without doing any injury."
" Goss' garrison stood west of Wickaboag pond, near the residence of Isaac Gleason," now (1886) the Charles H. Fairbanks place. This fort (or more probably fortified house) was built by Philip Goss, who was, from Lancaster, and came to Brookfield in the fall of 1704. He received a grant of 60 acres, and pitched on this elevated spot on the " old Had- ley Path."
Joel A. Jennings, Esq., gathered traditions and facts from his grand- mother, Mrs. Zillah Jennings, which seem to warrant the conclusion that the house of Edw. Walker, Jr., which stood on the south side of the river, west of Mason's brook (N. of the house of Wm. B. Hastings) was " fortified." As Walker's grant here bears date Oct. 23, 1713, the house must have been built after the close of Queen Anne's War.
And as danger from the Indians was still imminent, it is likely that at least one house in each exposed district was plank-lined, and bullet- proof.
The pay of field soldiers at this date was 6 shillings per week ; those in garrisons usually received but 5 shillings. The money allowance for food, varied from 3 shillings to 4s. 8d. per week. The rations allowed to garrison soldiers were : " I lb. of bread a man a day, allowing one- eighth for breakage ; two pieces pork each containing 2 lbs., to six men per day, and sometimes two pieces of beef, instead of pork, each con- taining 4 lbs. to six men per day ; 3 pints of peas for six men per day ; 2 quarts of beer to a man per day." Marching soldiers had a little more food allowed.
1705. - Taught a lesson by the easy descent of the French and In- dians upon Deerfield, on snow-shoes, and the impossibility of following
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SECOND SETTLEMENT, 1686-1718.
the retreating band, for want of such shoes, the General Court ordered that 500 pairs of snow-shoes and as many moccasins be provided for use on the frontiers, one-fourth of the number for Hampshire county. The shoes were to be provided by individuals or towns, and the Province allowed 5 shillings per pair (to be deducted from the person's poll tax) - though the actual cost was more. "In April, 1712, Col. Partridge sent the names of 463 soldiers in this county, who had provided them- selves with snow-shoes and moccasins, and each was allowed 7 shillings."
No enemy appeared on our borders this year ; though the garrisons were manned, and scouting was constantly kept up.
Rev. William Grosvenor. Rev. Mr. Smith left Brookfield this fall ; and Mr. Grosvenor was secured to take his place. "Oct. 24, 1705. The Committee for Brookfield and Inhabitants, Humbly propose to this Court, that whereas they have procured Mr. Grosvenor for to be a Min- ister to preach the Word to them - The people being unable fully to maintain a minister, we earnestly entreat consideration & allowance towards the support of said Minister in preaching the Word of God there. Mr. Grosvenor proposes that if the Publique allow 30l. he will accept of the people to pay the rest to make up a suteable allowance, and this for one whole year, and so for as long as it's judged meete he abide in said service.
SAMLL PARTRIDGE for the Comtee JOHN HITCHCOCK & Inhabts."
The House of Representatives voted to grant the sum of £20. The Council concurred, with the proviso : "that said minister be approved by the Governor and Council." The House disagreed, and the proviso was stricken out, and £20 granted.
The annual grant of £20 was continued, and Mr. Grosvenor remained in office till Aug. 25, 1708. He received a grant of a Home-lot and the accompanying rights of plain and meadow. He was son of John Gros- venor of Roxbury, where he was born Jan. 8, 1673, graduated at Harvard University 1693. After leaving Brookfield, his history has not been traced.
Ephraim Sawyer received a grant of 60 acres, home-lot and meadow, which he forfeited.
1706. - Alarms were frequent this year, just enough to keep the peo- ple well on their guard ; but no general appearance of the enemy. The scattered garrison houses gave renewed confidence, as well as compara- tive safety. Probably the farmers, carrying their arms, and keeping a watch, pursued their accustomed labors in the field ; and the " Address " shows a more cheerful and hopeful spirit. Not less than 18 men were in service here as soldiers (part of them citizens) during the summer and fall.
PETITION FOR CONTINUANCE OF PREACHER. 171
Only one casualty is known to have occurred in this town. " Mary McIntosh, widow of Daniel, was fired upon and killed as she was milking her cows." This happened Aug. 2. Judah Trumble was killed at or near the same date ; and the entry in the Co. Recorder's Book, seems to imply that they were shot at the same time and place. He belonged to Suffield.
" The Humble Address of the Inhabitants and Soldiers of Brookfield
Showeth our grateful acknowledgements to your Honours, in that you did so consider our low condition, in so much as your Honrs did the year past grant a considerable suply of Moneys towards the main- taining a Minister to preach the Gospel to us in this place. We now humbly begg the gracious continuance of your Honrs goodness and bounty to us for the insuing year, els we shall starve & pine away for want of that spiritual food with the which throw your Honours liberality we were the last year so plentifully fed with.
Brookfield Oct. 30, 1706.
Lieut. SAMUEL WILLIAMS
SAMLL PARTRIDGE, of the Comtee
Sergt. JOHN WHITE
JOHN PERRY
CHRISTOPHER HALL
SAMLL OWEN
JOSEPH BUNDEE
THOMAS BARNS
WILL. WILLISTON
PHILIP Goss
SAMUEL TRUMBLE
JOHN HAMILTON
JAMES CLARK
JOHN ROGERS
EBENEZER HAYWARD
BENJ. THOMAS
THOMAS GILBERT
ROBERT GOLDSBURY
THOMAS PARSONS
SAMLL MINOTT
SAMUEL DAVIS
JOSHUA BARRUS
JOHN CLARY
SAMUEL SIKES
JOHN WOOLCOTT
ISRAEL BLAKE
EDWARD WALKER
DANIEL CUMMINS
EDWARD KELLOGG
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