History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 31

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

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657

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

field," for the purpose of conveying water by subterranean pipes in the town.

In 1799 the Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation, com- posed largely of Northfield men, was organized, and author- ized to lay out a road from Northfield through Warwick, Orange, Athol, and other towns. The first pleasure-carriage seen in the town was a two-wheeled chair, owned by Jonathan Belding, in 1763, but carriages drawn by horses were not introduced until 1800, when Hezekiah Stratton owned a two- horse hack.

In 1811 the Northfield Artillery Company was organized, and subsequently entered the service in 1812.

John Barrett was the first lawyer, and practiced from 1784 to 1816. The first birth in the town, as shown by records extant, was that of Lydia, daughter of Remembrance Wright, in 1713; the first marriage, between Daniel Shattuck and Rebecca Boltwood ; and the first death, Sarah Meriam, 1719.

INDIAN TROUBLES.

. Northfield, being-as its name implies-one of the extreme northern settlements in Massachusetts Bay at the time of its English occupation, in 1673, was called upon to sustain severe trials and misfortunes during the Indian wars which raged between the opening of King Philip's war, in 1675, and the final cessation of Indian hostilities, in 1763. Twice was the settlement abandoned in consequence of these wars, but the people undertook heroically to pursue their fortunes a third time, and remained, despite the fact that they were compelled to pass through the fire of three more wars before peace be- came permanent.

The destruction of Brookfield in August, 1675, as one of the earliest notes in King Philip's war, awakened anxiety and fear at Northfield, and, about the middle of August, Joseph Dickinson went down to Hadley to obtain troops for the pro- teetion of the settlement. Meanwhile, on the morning of September 2d, a considerable force of Indians appeared before the settlement, and the settlers, unconscious of impending danger, being engaged in their daily avocations, fell an easy prey to the savages. The Rev. John Hubbard relates that " some were killed in their houses, others as they were coming out of the meadows. The rest-men, women, and children- fled to the fort. The savages kept around them, killed many of their cattle, destroyed their grain, burnt up the houses outside the stockade, and laid all waste."

The whites killed in this assault were Samuel Wright, Eben- ezer Janes, Jonathan Janes, Ebenezer Parsons, John Peck, Nathaniel Curtis, Thomas Scott, and Benjamin Dunwich.

September 4th .- Capt. Richard Beers, in response to Diek- inson's appeal on behalf of Northfield, having been detailed from Hadley with a force of 36 mounted men to "fetch off the garrison and people of Squakheag," was nearing the vil- lage close to what is now known as Beers' Plain, when his command fell into an Indian ambuscade, at the crossing of what is now called Saw-mill Brook. The whites rallied and made a sharp stand at the south end of Beers' Plain, but the Indians were in overwhelming force, and slaughtered-ac- cording to Rev. John Hubbard's narrative-twenty of Capt. Beers' men, while the residue of those in the fight-thirteen- escaped to lladley. The names of only thirteen of the killed are preserved, to wit : Capt. Richard Beers, John Getchell, Benjamin Crackbone, Ephraim Child, George Liekens, John Wilson, Thomas Cornich, John Ginery, Jeremiah Morrell, Elisha Woodward, Wm. Markham, Jr., Joseph Dickinson, and Jas. Mullard. Capt. Beers fell fighting near a narrow ravine on the south side of Beers' Hill, and there he was buried. After the fight the Indians committed great bar- barities upon the persons of the dead, and from the bodies of many cut off the heads and stuck them upon poles, which they placed in ghastly array along the pathway. One of the dead was found hung to the limb of a tree by a chain hooked

into his jaw ; and of three prisoners taken by the Indians, tra- dition relates that they were burnt at the stake, upon the battle-field.

Upon receipt at Hadley of the news of the disaster, Maj. Treat set out from that place on the 5th of September with a force of 100 men to the relief of the Squakheag settle- ment. Reaching there, he found the inhabitants safely lodged within the stockade, where they had been for five days, and, taking them under his protection, conveyed them safely to Hadley. After the departure of Maj. Treat, the Indians burnt the fort and remaining houses at Squakheag, and thus utterly destroyed the little village which had been created amid toil and hardships.

Historical authorities give the number of Indians engaged in the attack upon Capt. Beers as "many hundreds ;" the number of their killed in the engagement is more definitely given as 25. The leaders of the Indians are stated to have been Sagamore Sam and One-eyed John, the latter of whom was a noted Indian warrior, whose Indian name was Monoco.

The Squakheags took up their winter-quarters at Coasset, then a piece of woods in Northfield, but now in Vernon, Vt., and there, in the following spring, the various tribes, with Philip at their head, gathered for consultation and to arrange plans for the ensuing campaign.

After a seven years' Indian occupation, Squakheag reverted to the control of the English, who began to re-settle the traet in 1683. They were allowed to dwell in peace, however, for but a brief space. In July, 1688, rumors of fresh Indian out- breaks near Springfield reached Northfield. Late that month a party of strange Indians was seen near that village, to the great alarm of the inhabitants, and on the 16th of August, in that year, the savages fell upon Northfield and killed three men, two women, and a girl.

This assault is supposed to have been made at night or early in the morning, and upon people residing near John Clary's mill. John Clary and his daughter were probably two of the victims, but there is no record of the names of the killed, nor, indeed, were the dead given Christian burial, for this sudden and terrible onslaught so amazed and demoralized the inhabi- tants that one-half the families at once fled from the town and took refuge in Hadley.

The day upon which the attack was made, Samuel Janes and Josias Marshfield were sent from Northfield to Springfield to apprise Col. Pynchon of the disaster. From Pynchon's Diary is taken the following extract bearing upon his action : " August 17th, I sent away Lieut. Thomas Colton with 16 soldiers from Springt to Northfield to surprise and take ye Indians, and pursne ym, who were upon ye service six days, they returning back ye 23d of August. I also ordered Lieut. Taylor and his Troop of 34 men to move toward ye upper towns. I also sent to Hartford for 30 or 40 Indians to go to Northfield, but, only 2 coming up, I disbanded ym.

" August 21st two men, viz., Ebenr Graves and John Petty, were sent from Springd to garrison Northfield, who staid there till the 4th of September."

On the 29th of August, Col. Pynchon sent Sergt. Bigelow with 15 soldiers from Hartford to garrison Northfield, where they remained until October 9th. September 6th three men, with 25 pounds of powder and 49 pounds of bullets, were sent to the Northfield garrison, and on the 11th one man and four firelocks were forwarded thither.

Early in November, a message reaching Col. Pynchon from Northfield with the news that the enemy was lurking about the latter place, he dispatched 40 men to the town; but these men, ranging the woods thereabouts and discovering nothing, soon returned to Springfield.

Gov. Andros set out in October, 1688, from New York, purposing " to inquire into the condition of the Northfield plantation, and devise means for the safety and welfare of the distressed inhabitants of the frontiers."

658

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Oct. 30, 1688, the " Committee for Northfield, " composed of Wm. Clarke, Wm. Holton, John King, and Preserved Clapp; sent from Northampton to Gov. Andros, at Boston, the fol- lowing report :

" May it please y' Excellency to remember when yr Honor was at Hadley, yon was pleased to send for us, the committee impowered for resettling of Northfield, to come before yourself, to give you an account of what power we have acted in order to the resettlement of that plare. In obedience to your desire. we have drawn up a brief account by what power we have acted. and what we have done in order thereunto."

(Here follows committee's report.)

" Hoxd Sin,-We have had a great deal of care and trouble in the resettling of this Plantation. Many have had grants and have forfeited them again, so that we have had many meetings about it, which have not been without great expense of time and some charges to ns. But we are willing to be at any pains so that we could settle the place.

" While we were writing of this we did receive a mmaper from Northfield in- habitants, wherein they did desire the inhabitants which are not there may be sent away (which have failed to occupy their grants or have deserted the place, may be declaredl forfeited of their rights), or else it will be hard for them to hold the place, because it doth discourage those that are there ; they fear the place will be deserted."

In November, 1688, Gov. Andros ordered a company of 60 men to be sent to the Northfield garrison, whither they were dispatched under command of Capt. Jonathan Bull. They renmined there during the winter ; and although they afforded ample protection to the 15 families left there, they ate up about all the subsistence the inhabitants could collect.

In June, 1689, the following petition was sent to the General Court :

" The tears, fears, and groans of the broken remnant at Northfield presenting themselves before the Honored General Court at Boston, Shew : 'That we are indeed objets of your pity and commiseration, more than we know how to ex- press or maintain a due sense of ; the state of our outward man is very afflictive, and for our souls we have need to cry alond. Have pity on us! for the hand of God hath touched us, and ye Almighty hath dealt bitterly with us! A bitter cup of sorrow, hlood, and slaughter was reached forth to us in ye former Indian war. Our place burnt and laid desolate, our people slain and ye rest driven away ; ye town not only left waste, but bearing also sad marks of divine wrath in that desolation.

" Since which we thought we saw ye Lord calling us to rebuild those wastes, went up under an expectation of having forty families speedily dwelling there. About 25 were come, and we in a hopeful way, when ye Divine hand smote us again with an amazing stroke. Six persons slain in a moment by Indians last summer, which was astonishment to all ye rest. Since which half of our small number have deserted us, yet keep the land which by covenant is not theirs till they have dwelt upon it four years. Hereby we are redneed to twelve mean families. Our small number, in a place so remote, exposed ns to ye rage of ye heathen, as it were, inviting them to prey upon us. Our estates are exhaust by maintaining garrison soldiers and being kept from our labor. Our burdens of watching, warding, fencing, and highways-we for ourselves and them that are alsent-overbearing to us; besides all other hardships unavoidable in a new place. Our wives and children (that we say not ourselves) ready to sink with fears. We have no soul food, nor see any likelihood of attaining any. . . . If you see meet to order ns to throw up all and leave it wholly to the enemies and their insulting, Tho' it's hard (we feel it), we would submit. If we stay, we could humbly beg, if your Honors see meet, that those that have lots among us may be caused either to come and dwell on them, or quit them to others that would. And that such as come may be ordered to have the next lots to them that are now inhabited. And that we may have a Committee for our help, to order our public occasions, in this our weak beginning. And ever praying ye Lord's blessing on you, remain,

" Yr humilde Servants, " SAMUEL DAVIS, " MICAH MUDGE.

" In ye behalf of all yt are left at Northfield."

The only relief afforded by the court was the sending up of a few men occasionally on garrison duty during the next few months. In November, 1689, the court resolved that the lands of those who had deserted Northfield should be de- clared forfeited, unless the owners thereof returned thither within four months, or provided men to bear arms and do service in their stead, but the deserters declined to do either, and the feeble settlement, after struggling through the winter, constantly apprehensive of danger and despairing of better fortune, saw in the declaration of war between France and England, in 1689 (King William's war), the death of their last hopes, and they utterly abandoned the settlement, under an order of court issued June 25, 1690.

For twenty-three years Northfield was deserted, save as it knew the presenec of the roaming savage, and not until 1714 did the carly proprietors and later grantres attempt re-settlement.

After a peaceful interval of about ten years, the Indian troubles were renewed in June, 1722, upon the outbreak of what was known as Father Rasle's war.

Upon the re-settlement of Northfield, in 1714, a small garri- son was stationed there, and continued down to 1722. In view, however, of the threatened troubles in this year, two stock- ndes were built, and a body of 20 men, under command of Lieut. Joseph Kellogg, stationed in the town.

The inhabitants now enjoyed a sense of security, and began to think they would escape molestation ; but they were rudely awakened to a sense of danger, in August, 1723, when two of the town's best citizens-Thomas Holton and Theophilus Mer- riman-were waylaid, near Northfield, by Grey-Lock and four Indians, and scalped and killed. The consternation and terror following this event had scarcely subsided when, in the fol- lowing October, the Indians, descending upon a party of har- vesters at work in the fields near Northfield, killed Ebenezer Severance, wounded Hezekiah Stratton and Enoch Hall, and carried off Samuel Dickinson a prisoner. This same Dickin- son had been previously taken a prisoner by the Indians at Hatfield, in 1698, when he was but eleven years old, although subsequently rescued from his captors.

This last calamity aroused the public to the necessity of in- creased vigilance for the protection of the Northfield settle- ment. Additional troops were sent to the garrison at that point, and in December, 1723, the General Court authorized the construction of a block-house above Northfield, and its garrisoning with a company of 40 able-bodied men. The fort was built on the west bank of the Connecticut, just within the southern limits of the present town of Brattle- boro', Vt., and was called Fort Dummer, in honor of the then acting governor of Massachusetts.

The forts at Northfield were rebuilt and strongly fashioned early in 1724; and there were at this time at Northfield 45 men under Capt. Kellogg, whose business it was to man the forts and to guard the settlers while at work in the fields. From that time to the proclamation of peace, in 1725, North- field was suffered to remain in comparative quiet, although many of her best citizens were actively employed in fighting the Indians at other points and in doing duty at Fort Dummer.

Eighteen years of peaceful history saw the settlement ad- vanced in prosperity and numbers, when, in 1744, war was again declared between France and Great Britain, and then ensued what is known as the old French-and-Indian war.

In May, 1744, the people of Northfield were informed of the declaration of war, and at once set about placing the town in a posture of defense, and soldiers were supplied as a gar- rison. Although the Indians renewed their depredations in the valley shortly after war was declared, and fighting was sharp and furious at many places in that region, Northfield escaped serious molestation until Aug. 11, 1746, when the Indians killed young Benjamin Wright, who had ventured ont to the commons after his cows. On the 15th four whites were shot at near Merry's meadow, but without harm.

In April, 1747, the French and Indians, being repulsed after a three days' attack upon the fort at " No. 4" (Charlestown, N. II.), turned toward Northfield; and a number of their force, lying in ambush at the north part of the town, set upon and killed Nathaniel Dickinson and Asahel Burt, who were driving cows up from the meadows. The seene of this tragedy is now marked by a granite monument, which stands near the highway, about a mile north of the centre of Northfield vil- lage. ITpon one side of the stone is the inscription, " Nathan- iel Dickinson was killed and scalped by the Indians nt this place, April 15, 1747, tet. 48 ;" and upon another, " Asahel, son of Joseph Burt, companion of Dickinson and sharer of his fate, aged about 40."

659

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Upon the reception at Boston of the news of this slaughter a company of sixty troopers were sent to Northfield, and other measures taken for additional protection to the settlement.

Exciting events in the history of the war continued to fol- low in rapid succession, and, calls from other points for men having left Northfield badly protected in July, 1748, a party of Indians appeared at the upper end of the village on the 23d of that month, and about sunrise, meeting Aaron Belding, who was on his way from Fort Alexander to Mill Brook, killed him. The place where he fell is now marked by an inscription eut in the face of a rock near by,-" Aaron Belding was killed here July 23, 1748, "-and this rock has since been known as Belding's Roek.

A treaty of peace was signed in 1748, and the Northfield people congratulated themselves upon having seen the end of trouble. They entered with a will upon a revival of the in- dustrial interests of the settlement, and carly in 1753, con- eluding that the peace would be lasting, they took down their forts, because-in the language of an early record-" the town would have no further use for them." Their belief proved, however, to be a short-lived delusion.

Hostilities were renewed in 1754, and, once more alarmed, the settlers rebuilt their forts, which were completed early in 1755. A garrison was provided for the town, and, although many of the settlers enlisted in the military service, the pro- motion of agricultural interests was not utterly neglected, albeit danger lurked upon every hand, and he who ventured beyond the forts was more than ordinarily rash. Zebediah Stebbins and Reuben Wright ventured out to work in their fields, Aug. 20, 1756, and upon their return homeward were attacked by four Indians lying in ambush. They made a good stand, however, and, putting the Indians to flight after killing one of them, eseaped unharmed.

Among those of Northfield who went into the military service in 1756 were Benoni Wright, Uriah Morse, Gideon Shattuck, Simeon Knight, Zadock Wright, Elias Bascom, John Alexander, Miles Alexander, and Samnel Mattoon. In October, 1756, orders were issued by the Massachusetts author- ities to impress men for the support of Gen. Win-low, and from Northfield were taken the following: Thomas Alexander, Moses Evans, Ebenezer Field, Samuel Field, Eliphaz Wright, Amzi Doolittle, Samuel Stratton, Philip Mattoon, Alexander Norton, Asahel Stebbins, Jona. Hunt, Samuel Orvis, Daniel Brooks, Amasa Wright, Benjamin Miller, Reuben Wright, Thomas Elgar. Upon the completion of the draft, Capt. Seth Field wrote to Col. Israel Williams as follows :

" Sin,-The men impressed are the strength and support of the town. Many of them with great families, and under the most difficult circumstances to leave, especially in the frontiers; but I am obliged to take such or none. Our people are in the utmost distress at the thought of having this town stripped of the best men in it, and there is a general back wardness amongst the men to go and leave their families in such situation and under their difficult circumstances, for as soon as they leave the town we shall be able to make hnt a faint resistance against the enemy, and must lie at his mercy. We have indeed forts, and but few feeble men to guard and defend them. Pity and compassion cries lond for an exemption from the double burden lying on the frontiers, and especially pour Northfield, who has been wasting away by the hand of the enemy these ten years past. Sir, begging Your favor for this distressed town, I am

" Yr humble serve, " SETI FIELD.

" NORTHFIELD, Oct. 5, 175G."

Capt. John Burk mustered a company of rangers early in 1757, and had in his command Northfield men as follows : Za- dock Wright, Zebediah Stebbins, Seth Rose, Jonathan Hunt, Simeon Knight, Azariah Wright, Amos Tute, Samuel Taylor, John Bement, Jr., Reuben Petty, Obed Severance, Ebenezer Stoddard, Theophilus Chamberlain, Rufus Brown, Samuel Orvis, Jacob Elmer, Michael Frizzel. A portion of the above men were in Capt. Burk's company at the capitulation of Fort William Henry, in August, 1757.

In March, 1758, among the forees dispatched for the con- quest of Canada were the following from Northfield, in the company of Capt. Salah Barnard, of Deerfield : Thomas Alex-

ander, Eleazar Patterson, Job Smith, John Alexander, Josiah Olds, Nathan Beach, Richard Chamberlain, Abial Chamber- lain, Jacob Elmer, Thomas Elgar, Michael Frizzel, Benjamin Miller, Samuel Orvis, Darius Wadkins, Amos Tute.

March 6, 1758, the house of Capt. Fairbanks Moor, on West River, was attacked, the captain and his son killed, and the son's wife, with her four small children, taken captive. Aug. 27, 1758, Asahel Stebbins was killed in an attack on " No. 4," and his wife, with Isaac Parker, a garrison soldier, taken captive.

Among the Northfield men in the service during 1759 were Samuel Taylor, Samuel Merriman, John Brown, Seth Lyman, John Alexander, Joel Alexander, Jonathan Burr, Benjamin Burt, Joel Holton, Joseph Dickinson, John Mun, Jr., Aaron Petty, Reuben Smith, Joseph Merebant, Reuben Alexander, Miles Alexander, Moses Bascom, Ezekiel Baseom, Joel Baker, Nehemiah How, Benjamin Mun, Solomon Sartwell, Job Smith, Amos Tute, John Moffat, Jonathan Hunt, Reuben Petty, Eldad Wright, Nathaniel Chamberlain, Samuel Frizzel, Aaron Field, JJohn Severance, Elias Baseom.

The following Northfield men were in Gen. Amherst's army at the capture of Montreal in 1760: Samuel Taylor, John Petty, Elias Alexander, Miles Alexander, Asa Alexander, Reuben Alexander, Benjamin Burt, Thomas Elgar, Benjamin Gardner, Eben Holton, Uriah Morse, Simeon Olmstead, Abner Wright, Daniel Wright.

The war was virtually closed in 1760, although the peace treaty was not signed until 1763; and thus, after a dire expe- rience of many years, Northfield found permanent release from her persistent savage persecutors.

REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES.

Northfield bore a noble part in the war of the Revolution, and in the early town records the frequent narration of how the town pursued vigorous measures on behalf of the country's common cause testifies eloquently to the patriotic spirit that animated its inhabitants. When the revenue act was passed, imposing onerous duties upon necessaries and luxuries, the Northfield people promptly resolved to forego the use of many of the articles upon which taxes were laid.

In 1774, Phinehas Wright was chosen to represent the town at the General Court, convened by Gov. Gage, to meet at Salem, October 5th, and the following year Ebenezer Janes was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress to be held at Cambridge. Samuel Smith, Phinehas Wright, Samuel Root, Thomas Alexander, and Seth Field were that year chosen a committee of inspection, and it was also voted " that the seleet- men give orders that such of the Minute-Men belonging to this town that are not able to supply themselves with ammunition for any expedition that they may be called to, be supplied out of the town's stock whenever they shall be called forth."

In the fall of 1774 a company of 51 Minute-Men-26 be- longing to Northfield, and 25 from Warwick-were organized, and entered at once upon a course of training exercise, under Joseph Allen and Gad Corse. The company was commanded by Capt. Eldad Wright, and upon the alarm from Lexington, in April, 1775, the long roll was beaten by Elihu Lyman. Capt. Wright assembled his command, and on the evening of the day after the battle of Lexington, Capt. Wright and his company were en route from Northfield to Cambridge, in Col. Samuel Williams' regiment. The names of the Northfield men were: Captain, Eldad Wright; Sergeants, Eliphaz Wright, Hophni King; Corporals, John Holton, Oliver Smith ; Fifer, Cotton Diekinson ; Drummer, Elilm Lyman ; and the following privates : Eldad Alexander, Cyrus Stebbins, Moses Root, Joseph Allen, Augustus Belding, Ebenezer Petty, Rufus Carver, Elisha Alexander, Luther Fairbanks, Thomas Stebbins, George Robbins, Joseph Fuller, Barzillai Wood, Elisha Stebbins, Benjamin Miller, Elisha Risley, Nathan Fisk, William Clemmens, David Goodenough.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 31

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896