USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Northfield > History of the town of Northfield, Massachusetts : for 150 years, with an account of the prior occupation of the territory by the Squakheags : and with family genealogies > Part 12
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JOHN HUTCHINSON, was the son of Ralph. After the desertion of Northfield, he removed to Lebanon, Ct.
JUDAH HUTCHINSON, son of Ralph, was a prominent man in Northfield during the Second Settlement ; perhaps occupied his father's home-lot. Lived afterwards at Northampton.
SAMUEL HUTCHINSON, son of Ralph. In 1686 he received a grant of 15 acres in the Three Little Meadows below the town, and was admitted "an inhabitant" of Northfield. He probably did not reside permanently here. Was living at Lebanon, Ct., 1718, and was taxed on land in Northfield that year.
SAMUEL JANES, was son of Elder William. Had a home-lot in Northfield - probably one of his father's rights, which was confirmed to him in 1685, and on which he was living in 1688. He was k. by Indians at Pascomock May 13, 1704.
JOSEPH JANES, son of Elder William : unm. : d. 1695. Mar. 18, 1686, he received grant of a home-lot and an island at Northfield, but did not build and inhabit.
ZACHERY LAWRENCE .. He was probably son of John and Eliza- beth Lawrence of Watertown, b. Mar. 9, 1659. His land grants at Northfield 1684 were,
Home-lot, next north of Mill brook, . .. 73 acres.
Great Meadow, first lot, 2
Great Meadow, second lot,
Pauchaug, 9
Little meadow, west of river,
Second meadow, do., 3₺
Ashuelot draught, west, . .
Special grant Mar. 18, 1686, 10
Total 36 acres.
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
He was chosen hayward Feb. 29, 1688. In 1714, he was a resi- dent of Hatfield.
ENSIGN JOHN LYMAN, was son of Richard the first : born in England, came over with his father 1631. Lived in Branford, Ct. and at Northampton. He was appointed one of the Committee for Northfield, May 24, 1682, whither he removed in the summer of '86. He returned to Northampton, prob. in '88, and d. Aug. 20, 1690.
MOSES LYMAN, was son of Ensign John. Had a home-lot and other lands in Northfield, granted Apr. 1687. He was living in Northfield, 1688. His son Moses, commonly called Capt. Moses, claimed his father's rights in N. in 1714.
JOHN LYMAN, son of Robert, had grant of a home-lot (next N. of his father's), and 31 acres of interval and woodland in the spring of 1686. Was a resident and held office that year.
RICHARD LYMAN, son of Richard Jr. He had a home-lot and lands in N. 1686 ; or rather he took the lands which were forfeited and alienated by John Marsh Jr., whose father m. his mother. It is not probable that his family came to this town. He removed. from Northampton to Lebanon, Ct., 1696.
JOHN MARSH Jr. His f. John was of Hartford, Hadley, North- ampton, and Hartford again : m. for 2d w. Hepzibah Lyman, wid. of Richard Jr. John Marsh Jr. m. Sarah Lyman, dau. of his step- mother. He forfeited his home-lot and lands in N. which were taken by his bro .- in-law Richard Lyman.
BENJAMIN PALMER, was a leading man in the town. His lineage has not been ascertained. Benjamin Palmer, then of Plainfield, Ct., sold Dec. 29, 1702, his lands in Northfield to Enoch Randall of Enfield.
ROBERT POAG or POICK. His name is on the list of inhabitants of Hatfield, 1679. Received grant of 10 acres of land north of Four-mile brook Mar. 18, 1686. He d. at Northampton, returning from a journey, Jan. 14, 1702.
JOSEPH PUMERY, was the youngest son of Eltweed. He forfeited his grant by non-residence. Was living at Colchester, Ct., 1701. His w. was Hannah, dau. of Richard Jr. and Hepzibah Lyman.
JOSEPH ROOT, was eldest son of Thomas Sen. He had a home- lot and 332 acres of land, granted in 1686.
JACOB ROOT, son of Thomas Sen. He received a grant of a home-lot and 393 acres of interval, at the same time as his bro. Joseph. His w. was a dau. of Sampson Frary. He removed to Hebron Ct.
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History of Northfield.
JOHN TAYLOR. He was of Northampton, Captain of the Hamp- shire troop : k. by the Indians in the pursuit after the massacre at Pascomock, May 13, 1704. His w. was Thankful Woodward, sister of John. He was an engager for Northfield 1683. The home-lot set to him was the second north of Mill brook ; he had 30 acres of interval : and Mar. 18, 1686, received a special grant of 10 acres north of Four-mile brook. He did not take possession. His son, Sergt. Thomas, and grandson Thomas, will figure largely in our sub- sequent history.
ISAAC WARNER, an engager 1683, was son of Andrew of Cam- bridge, Hartford and Hadley. He was a man of influence in the new plantation. He d. at Deerfield, 1691. His w. was Sarah Bolt- wood, dau. of Robert, and sister of Sergt. Samuel.
DANIEL WARNER, a brother of Isaac : settled in Hatfield, removed to Northfield 1685 or 6; d. at Hatfield, 1692. His 2d w. was Martha Boltwood, sister of Isaac's wife.
ELEAZAR WARNER, was son of John of Ipswich, Brookfield, and Hadley. He was an engager for Northfield 1683, but forfeited his right, and the land was assigned to William Weeks.
JOSEPH WARRINER, son of William of Springfield. He took Joseph Pumery's land rights ; was a man of some prominence. When the place was abandoned, he removed to Enfield, where he d. 1697. WILLIAM WEEKS. Was probably from Dorchester ; son of William ; if so, he was b. 1658. He took the land grants first set off to Eleazar Warner. In June 1688, he had a lot in Wells's plain, which is thus described : " On the east side of the great river, above the meadow called Pauchaug above the first brook, one parcel of land, bounded W. the river, E. the hill, S. the first brook, N. against the lower end of an island called Mr. Janes's island - this Wm. Weeks hath, about 7 acres."
JOHN WOODWARD, only son of Henry of Dorchester and North- ampton. He built at Northfield 1685 or 6; after the desertion in '90, he removed to Westfield ; thence about 1700 to Lebanon, Ct.
BENJAMIN WRIGHT, the captain, son of Samuel who was k. by the Indians Sept. 2, 1675. He was b. at Northampton July 13, 1660 ; m. (1) Mar. 22, 1681, Thankful Taylor, dau. of Capt. John. She d. April 4, 1701. He m. (2) July 19, 1701, Mary Barker of Springfield. He lived to return to Northfield in 1714, and will come more prominently into notice during that period of our history.
1687. Few items of public interest can be gleaned from the records of this year. The necessities of food and shelter, and the measure- ment and staking off of allotted lands, filled up the season.
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
CATERPILLARS .- An extract from a letter written July 5, by John Pynchon, gives intimation of a singular plague which visited the river towns this summer. "We are sorely afflicted by caterpillars or such like worms eating our corn, and in some places eating ye grass and shearing it clean, so that unless ye Lord remove y™ our people will be sorely distressed. I hear it in so many other towns about us : ye Lord grant that it may not be so with you [in Boston] and in mercy put a stop to their progress that we may have sus- tenance."
Though the major part of the meadows north of Mill brook had been divided to the settlers, and many lots were actually in tillage, yet the Indian title had not been extinguished. And August 13th a purchase of this large tract, comprising all of Nawelet's possessions on the river, was consummated [See ante, p. 54].
Thus in all, the Northfield proprietors purchased three parcels of land, viz : Mashepetot's land, lying wholly on the west side of the river, extending from the brook Nallahamcongo or Natanis on the south to Massemet's land on the north, and running six miles into the woods. Massemet's land, lying on both sides of the river and bounded by Mashepetot's land on the south, north by the brook Cowas, and running back 6 miles from the river on either side. Nawelet's land, lying on both sides of the river, and bounded south by Massemet's land, north by the brook Wanascatok and running back 6 miles from the river on either side.
1688. At the annual town meeting held Feb. 29, 1688, the fol- lowing officers were chosen :
Nathaniel Alexander, constable.
Jacob Root, Wm. Miller, Judah Hutchinson, measurers of land. Isaac Warner, Jacob Root, fence viewers for Great meadow.
Joseph Warriner, Samuel Boltwood, fence viewers for Pauchaug. Zachery Lawrence, Joseph Root, haords for both meadows.
Moses Lyman, Wm. Miller, highway wardens.
" Voted, That all those that have grants of land shall be here with their families, or forfeit their grant and what they have done upon it, according to your (the Committee's) order to the use of the town, by the tenth (10th) day of May next ensuing."
The prosperous condition and public spirit of the new settlers may be inferred from the following action, taken at the same meeting : Voted, to gather a rate of 40 pounds 5 shillings, to be levied on the grants of meadow lands, for to build a meeting-house and a bridge over Mill brook. John Clary Jr. was chosen to present this last
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History of Northfield.
vote to the Committee for their approval. He went to Northampton with the following letter :
" Ye toune of Northfield, confidering y" necessity of a meteinge hous for to mete in, and alfoe to build a bridg over ye mill brooke being orderly met to- gether did voat and were yunnanamus in owr voat to bild a Meeting hous & the sade brige, and alfoe voated to make a Reat of fforty pounds, and to rafe it uppon grants of land for y" defraying of ye charges of fade meteing hous & brige, as attefte -
JOSEPH WARRINER SAMUEL DAVIS."
This action of the town was approved by the Committee, and the assessment was made ; but as rates were mostly payable in grain, and were often laid in anticipation of a crop, it is not likely that the pur- pose of the voters was carried out. Besides, the frontiers were be- ginning to feel sensibly the effects of the arbitrary measures of the king, who had annulled the Colonial charters, and placed the despotic Andros in authority over New England. Commercial interests were paralyzed ; and the conflict between Andros and the people, who still clung to their rights, weakened both the civil and the military arms. The French authorities in Canada were not slow to take ad- vantage of this distracted state of affairs, and were instigating the Indians to renew their depredations on the exposed settlements ..
But as yet no signs of evil alarmed the Northfield settlers. They were inured to danger ; and like men bent on a great purpose, and trustful of a Divine Providence that permitted evil only as a merited chastisement, they went on with their allotted work. : At a meeting held April 11th,
" It was voted and agreed by the Proprietors of Northfield to give to each of our honored Committee, Mr. William Clarke, Deacon William Holton, Sergt. John King and Enfign Preferved Clap, five acres of interval land in the Three Little Meadows, without paying any purchafe money, and it is to lye clear of any town charges whatfoever. This land is to pay them, the above named Committee, for all their coft pains and labor about the fettling of the faid North- field ; and if they ferve a year or two more, we will not demand full pay of them."
In June, the lots in Wells's meadow, and the Wells plain draught, which comprised the high and broken lands on both sides of the river between Wells's meadow and the Moose plain draught, were reär- ranged and assigned to permanent settlers.
In a word, the recorded public action of the planters this spring, all implies that they felt strong and confident. They form plans for the future, as if conscious that the foundations were well and securely
-
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
laid ; as if the time of uncertainty and experiment was passed, and they could rely on the devotion and firmness of all who had become inhabitants, and could shake off the timid and hesitating engagers ; as if they had a right to emerge from the privation period, into the pri- vileges and independence of Christian society - of which the Meet- ing-house and bridge are two characteristic emblems.
But in the latter part of June, while they were engaged in making their crop of English hay, the enemy was stealthily approaching the border.
The story of this summer is best told in the official documents of the time.
AFFIDAVIT OF JEAN ROSIE. " John Rofie of the city of Albany aged 34 or thereabouts being examined faith : That on the 11th of June laft he went from Albany with Derick Wefsells, who was sent by Gov" Dongan to carry the truce or cefsation made between ye Kings of England and france to the Gov' of Canada ; and the 22d following came with him to Mount Royal where they found the fu Gov" of Canada, and there he saw the fu D. Wefsells y" fame day deliver ye letters of the f".cefsation to ye Gov"" own hand."
Sworn to Sept. 25, 1688.1
" ACLORAMAK and WALNAKANE two Sachems of ye Meeklanders, examined by Capt. Wendell 24th Auguft 1688 faid : They had 8 men of their In- dians out a hunting, betwixt Canada and yº North" about a month since, and there met 12 of the North Indians yt live in Canada, and had great difcourfe together : And fecondly, to fire one upon another ours found themfelves too weak and told them they were friends and relations together ; and it was peace, and had orders not to fight any more. They faid, they were fent out by the French Governor to kill Chriftians and Indians, and fhould go to the North, and they could not then abftain from it becaufe it was peace. Yo Captains names of them : Wampeolak, Nahainfett. Soldiers : - Wae-lae-mae-quit, Ota-fa-wa-fett and his bro : Wa-fees, Mae-qua-wee-bain-pa-weet, Mack-to-wan, Ta-ma-wa-ra-hack, Wa-ha-ro-hack; ye others they know not by name : And they now underftand by the Indians yt came with D. Wefsells from Canada that there is now 8 more out yt way to do mifchief, and they think they have done the mifchief to ye Chriftians."3
THE EXAMINATION of an Indian called Magsigpen alias Gray- poose, taken in Albany the 15th day of September, 1688 :
Saith, that returning from Canada with the Maquas, who had been fighting there, Left fu Maquas in the Lake and went with the Scagkook Indians a hunt- ing being eight together in number, coming upon a creek called Magkaneweeck,
I Mass. State Archives, cxxIx, 215.
" The terms " North " and " North Indians" in these papers, refer to Northfield and Deerfield, and the Squakheag and Pacomtock Indians.
3 Mass. State Archives, cxxIx, 136.
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History of Northfield.
met with four Indians viz. Jethro and others, and fo went down fd creek to- gether. And were feen by eleven Indians that formally lived in New England and now in Canada, who followed them all the night (as afterwards they under- ftood of them). Coming to a fall, carried their canoes into the great River of Connecticut ; and juft as they were a going into their canoes the fª eleven North Indians came running out of the woods, prefented their arms upon the Scagkook Indians and called Who are you? And this examinant anfwered, Scagkook Indians. The North Indians further afked, where are you a going and what is your bufinefs ? The Scagkook Indians replied, We are a hunt- ing. What people are you, and what your bufinefs? The North Indians faid, We live in Canada - We are going to fight by order of the Governor of Canada, who told us the Maquas have done great mifchief in Canada, therefore go you, revenge the fame either on Chriftians or Indians : Kill all what you can, bring no prifoners but their fcalps, ard I'll give you ten beavers for every one of them. - Then the North Indians made canoes there and fo went down the River together two days, being continually upon their guard without fleep- ing, challenging the one the other. The eight Scagkook Indians told the French Indians, we have been in Canada with the Maquas, and are you come to re- venge it ? Why do not you fall upon us? The North Indians anfwered, Derick Wefsells hath been in Canada and brought tidings there that a cefsation was made of all hoftility between the two governments, and he was but four days gone from Canada when we came from there. Upon which the Scag- kook Indians replied, How, is there a cefsation, and do you go out ftill ? We know nothing of it. And fo talking together came to a place called Soquag- keeke [Squakheag] where fome chriftians live and to a place called Deerfield. There they went to the houfe of one Mr. Thomas Wells, where they lodged with three of the North Indians. The Scagkook Indians went and told the chriftians [at Squakheag], There are eleven Indians that are come from Canada, be upon your guard, we know not whether their hearts are good, The chrif- tians anfwered, We are not afraid of them : we are not concerned in the wars of Canada. *
The fu. Examinant further faith that the names of the fª. eleven North In- dians are as followeh, viz. The chief is called
Wampolack, from pennecooke
Nanauquefcek, from pennecooke
Walamaqueet, lived formerly in ye halfe Moone
Maquawekanpaweet, from pennekooke and his fon whofe name they know no Tawawekakeak a Minenaet, from pennekooke
Wawanwejagtack of Quaboag
Wawagquohaet of Quaboag
Togpagkamin of Nafsawack
Maghiwaen of pakantecooke
Quaetfeits a Wappinger of Hudfon's River
And further faith not."1
1 Mass. State Archives, XXX, 311.
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
From these statements it appears that this party of II Indians, hired by the French authorities in Canada to kill and scalp friendly Indians and whites, passed down through Northfield the 234 or 24th of July : that the friendly Scagkooks gave the settlers warning of their hostile intentions : and that our people, trusting to the sacredness of a truce between the English and French governments, failed to take the alarm. Three of these II Indians stopped over night with Thomas Wells of Deerfield, while the rest went down the river.
Within the week, (July 27,) 5 peaceable Indians dwelling at Spec- tacle pond near Springfield, were found murdered ; but no trace was discovered of the murderers.
The day after this murder (July 28), a party of strange Indians was seen in the vicinity of Northfield.
" THE EXAMINATION of Micah Mudge of Northfield aged 38 years or there- abouts, taken the 15th October, 1688.
" The f" Examinant faith, that about the latter end of July, the news being come to their town of feveral Indians murdered by Indians and others taken at Spectacle Pond near Springfield, and that feveral ftrange Indians were feen about their town, and not coming in, he, with eleven men more went out to see what Indians they were and what their intent was ; and having travelled all an after- noon, about ye dufk of ye evening found feveral Indians by a 'fire on ye fide of a hill about a mile from ye town, and coming near they called to them, and imme- diately y& Indians ftood to their arms, and after difcourfed together about their being there and not coming to y" town ; and ye Indians told them they were going to Penecook, and that fome lately came from there. That this examinant faw amongft them Wahacoet and Cungowafco two Indians he was well acquainted with, and feveral others who he knew to be North Indians formerly belonging to thefe parts, but does not remember their names. That this Examinant offering to go towards their fire was hindered by the faid Cungowafco, but was after led to ye fame by Wahacoet, where he faw about feven Indians in warlike pofture. That this examinant thereupon told them that there was peace between ye Kings of England and ffrance, which Wahacoet replied he knew well enough and promifed ye next morning to come in to Northfield, which they did not."1
An extract from Col. Pynchon's Diary of Accounts of this date, throws important light on the transactions now under consideration :
"July 30, 1688. [ fet out from Springfield on my journey to New London to wait upon his Excellency.Gov" Andros's orders there : when ye expenfes of man and horfes, ferriages, etc., in my journey thither were £o 12 6.
" Aug. 3. To expenfes on my return back, being fent home with orders by his Excellency £o 9 0
" Aug. 6th to ye 11th, When I went from Springfield towards Northfield by
1 Mass. State Archives, cxxIx, 243.
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History of Northfield.
Northampton and thro' thofe upper towns to order affairs : two men with me from Springfield 5 days out ; Ferriage of men and horfes at Springfield and expenfes in fª journey came to £o 18 o.
To 24 foldiers I took then up with me from ye upper towns ; the ferriage of their coming back from Northfield (for we fwam them going up) ; To Drinks at ye difcharging ye fª foldiers, and my paying ye expenfes of y" and many oc- cafional charges afsifting at ye fortifications at Northfield : I difcharging y" y" I took at this time wholly, hoping all things would have been fettled fo as to have no further account (which afterwards proved otherwife) Wherefore dif- burfed £3 17 o.
To a Poft fent up to me from Springd to North" when I was there, to give an Acct of ye Hartford Indians being come up ye day I went from home, and for my orders concerning ym £o 5 0.
To ye faid 20 Indians from Hartford (who came up to give an Acct of many Indian tracks feen in ye woods and fearing there were many in thofe parts, and to take care of Springd and ye Indians with us) their entertainment 2 nights and a day £o 12 0.
To 11 Indians from Farmington there upon the fame errand £o 6 o.
To 2 men and horfes I sent out upon difcovery that very day ye Indians were killed at Spectacle Pond £o 4 0.
To 4 men fent to bury thofe Indians there killed, and 2 that fcouted out that day, being ye day after they were killed £0 10 o. .
To Pofts fent upon occafion of this murder to ye three next towns, viz. a man to each town & horfe £o 5 0.
To expenfe at Springd : the fortifications I ordered to be made by men ap- pointed thereto, and fo, for the general, it was borne, yet at each particular I was at fuch expenfe as I charged, viz. £1 0 o.
To a man and horfe with me to Weftfield to order matters there & ferriage £o 5 0.
To foldiers from Springd which I had ordered to come to me to Northfield, and were upon the journey : But having fettled things in fo good a pofture yt I confidered all was well, I difcharged ym £o 10 0.
To a horfe, Benjamin Cooleys, I had in ye fervice whofe back was extremely galled and coft me 1od. which I paid to ye man £o 10 0.
Other charges £1. 0 0 Total £11 15 6
JOHN PYNCHON Lt. Col.
The fortifications at Northfield, alluded to in the diary, were the South and North forts, already described in this chapter. And at this time or soon after, a new fort was built on the north east corner of Micah Mudge's home-lot (the site is now marked by a well a little south easterly of the dwelling-house of Col. Charles Pomeroy). And a small garrison-house was erected at the lower end of the street, " to secure their passage to and from the Great meadow." Tradition
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
locates this garrison on the John Wright place, opposite the south road to the meadow.
The prompt action of Col. Pynchon inspired courage, and the de- fensive works now in good repair inspired confidence in our people. The barley - harvest and flax-pulling now pressed ; and the alarm raised by the murder at Spectacle pond, and the simultaneous appear- ance of strange Indians near the town, seems to have subsided ; and perhaps watching and warding became remiss.
The Indians waited " near three weeks " before the favorable oppor- tunity came for striking the intended blow !
" On the 16th of August, six persons, three men, two women and a girl, were murdered by Indians at Northfield !"- so writes Micah Mudge, and adds, "a hatchet was found beside one of the persons murdered, which was seen and well known to have been with those eleven Indians when they passed thro' Northfield on their way to Deerfield."
The following affidavit of Thomas Wells of Deerfield - though to some extent a repetition of facts already narrated - contains so many incidents of interest bearing on this assault, that it is inserted in full.
" THE EXAMINATION of Thomas Wells, aged 36 years or thereabouts, taken Oct. 15, 1688.
" This Examinant faith that about the latter end of July there came by water to his houfe fifteen Indians, who after he had fome difcourfe with, he under- ftood that eight of them were formerly North Indians but now lived near Albany, and had been out with ye Maquas, and in their way home came to thefe parts to hunt. That four more were likewife North Indians whom ye eight overtook a hunting ; and that ye other three were part of eleven Indians for- merly North Indians, but now lived amongft the ffrench, and came in purfuit of ye fª eight Indians whom together they 'overlook. That the Capt", or chief of ya fª eleven Indians was called Wahacoet, who not fuffering his party to fall on ye eight Indians when they met them eight of his company were dif- pleafed thereat and left him, and he and two others were y" three that came with the other twelve to Deerfield. That all the fu 15 Indians ftaid one night at this examinant's houfe ; that ye next morning ye faid 8 Indians went by land from Deerfield intending for Hatfield, and defired ye fu Wahacoet and y" other two to go with them, which he refufed, but faid he would come to them by and by. Soon after ye faid four Indians likewife intending for Hatfield by water, afked ye faid Wahacoet and ye two Indians to go with them, but he likewife refufed, but faid as before yt he would come to them by and by. That foon afier the faid 12 Indians were gone, Wahacoet and the two Indians went away by water and told this Examinant that he was going for Hat- field, and from thence to Bofton. But y" next morning all y" faid eight Indians
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