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 13
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and three of the four Indians came again to this Examinant's houfe, and find- ing that Wahacoet and ye two others were gone and not come to them at Hat- field as they promifed, One Camaghtefett who was Capt" or chief of the faid 8 Indians told this examinant in ye Indian language which he well underftood, that ye faid 11 Indians were rogues and that he feared they were gone to do mifchief, and that they would have done mifchief at Northfield as they came down the River, had they not been in company with them : And that the faid Wahacoet told him that they were fent out by the ffrench, and had orders to kill Englifh, Indians, Dutch and Maquas, and that he fhould bring no Englifh captives but only their fcalps ; and advifed the Englifh inhabitants to be careful of themfelves. - That about three days after, this examinant heard that five Indians were killed and others taken by Indians at Spectacle Pond near Spring- field : And about three weeks after, that 3 men and 2 women and a girl were murdered by Indians at Northfield, which this examinant verily believes was done by the faid 11 Indians. 1
From an allusion contained in a letter written by Col. Pynchon, it is evident that the killing of these six persons was done at night or early morning ; and that the families assaulted lived near Clary's mill. A mass of human bones lying as if in one grave, with some rusty nails and knots to indicate rude coffins, was found by H. W. Webster, when cutting down the bank to make room for a wall south of his new barn. The remains of coffins sufficiently attest the fact that they are the bones of white settlers ; and the proximity to the fort (which stood a few rods to the south), whither the slain would naturally be carried, indicates that this was the common grave of the 6 victims.
The utter consternation which seized the people at this " amaz- ing stroke," is well illustrated by the fact that they dared not carry the bodies of their friends to the cemetery for burial ; that one-half the families immediately left the town ; and that the names of the persons killed were no where recorded. Careful investigation leaves no reasonable doubt, however, that the miller, John Clary, and his daughter Sarah, aged 15, were two of the number.
Early the same day, Samuel Janes and Josias Marshfield (the latter a garrison soldier), were despatched to carry the news to Col. Pyn- chon at Springfield. "The savages were at the upper end of the town when ye messengers left."
" Auguft 17. I fent away Lieut. Thomas Colton with 16 foldiers from Springd to Northfield to furprife and take ye Indians and purfue ym, who were upon ye fervice 6 days, they returning back ye 23d of Auguft. I alfo ordered Lieut. Taylor and his Troop of 34 men to move towards ye upper towns. I
I Mass. State Archives, CxxIx, 240.
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alfo fent to Hartford for 30 or 40 Indians to go to Northfield, but only 2 coming up, I difbanded ym.
" Auguft 19. I fent 6 men to Quaboag, ye people then being about to re- move : ordering and urging their continuance, only I fent to fetch off fuch women as defired to come away.
" Auguft 21. Two men, viz. Eben" Graves and John Petty were fent from Springd to garrifon Northfield, who ftaid there till the 4th of September."- Pynchon's Diary.
During Gov' Andros's progress from New London to New York, he received tidings of the Indian massacres in Massachusetts, and an order for troops to be furnished by Hartford reached Springfield Aug. 25, which was transmitted by Col. Pynchon the next day. Accord- ingly they sent from Hartford Sergt. John Bigelow with 15 soldiers on ye 29th of August, who staid in garrison at Northfield till Oct. 9th, when they were all dismissed.
The same day 2 lbs. of powder and 6 lbs. of lead were forwarded to Northfield.
Sept. 6. Thomas Powell, James Mun and Nathaniel Blackleach were sent to garrison Northfield, and 25 lbs. of powder and 49 lbs. of bullets were sent by the same convoy. Mun remained in service 22 days, Blackleach 64 days, Powell 69 days, the last 5 of which he spent in scouting.
Sept. 11. Joseph Marks was ordered to Northfield for I week, and 4 fire lock guns were sent up for the garrison.
The records furnish evidence that Col. Pynchon, then the com- manding officer in old Hampshire, was a true man, and did all that could be reasonably expected of him, to protect the frontiers. But the fact that he held his commission under Andros," who was regarded by the people as a usurper and despot, greatly impaired his authority and paralyzed his efforts. A letter which he wrote early in Novem- ber of this year, gives a characteristic picture of affairs, and has an important historical significance.
" Laft Sabbath-day morning, I had a Poft fent me from Northfield fignify- ing that ye enemy was about them by many demonftrations: The watch in ye night difcovered fome to be about ye garrifon, heard Indians whiftle ; In ye morning early a man yt went a little way from ye garrifon found ye cattle frighted, heard an Indian dog bark in ye fwamp. Eight men of the garrifon foldiers yt went out found tracks of Indians, fome bare foot and fome with fhoes. They defired foldiers to fcout out and prevent their doing mifchief.
: Andros made Pynchon colonel of the Hampshire regiment in 1687, and Capt. Aaron Cooke major. After the fall of Andros, Pynchon returned to the rank of major, and Cooke to that of captain.
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History of Northfield.
I prefently that very Sabbath day (knowing it would be too late if I ftayed till they were deftroyed and yt it was better to prevent and might be a great check to ye enemy our being beforehand) fent away 15 men from Springfield who readily attended ; gave orders to ye upper towns for more to make up 50. At Northampton Sergt. King cavilled about my power, hindered ye Committee of Militia, told them Springfield men would not obey me (though it proved other- wife), that I had no power and they mattered me not and would not give 3 fkips of a loufe for it, faid ye Court could act nothing. He and Pomery [Capt. Medad] bid defiance to ye old commissioned officers. Such a height of pride are matters come to there yt nothing could or would be done by or from my orders and directions. But they faid they would, if any came from Springfield, go as volunteers ; and fo there went about 10 men that way. In all upwards of 40 men went to Northfield, ranged the woods, returning laft Thurfday, but difcovered nothing."
To go back to near the date of the murders at Northfield - Gov. Andros wrote, Aug. 25, 1688, from New York, to Major Gold :
. * "I cannot tell you how much I am concerned at the fu mifchief and actors efcaped. You are therefore to take care that due watch and ward be kept in your refpective out places till further orders, and give notice to all Indians in your parts that if any mifchief be done by ftrangers and they do not apprehend the actors, or if not ftrong enough prefently to give us notice and join with our Militia, fuch mifchiefs will be imputed to them."1
Some weeks later, he sent the following official letter to De Non- ville, Governor of Canada :
" Albany Sept. 19, 1688.
"Sir - I am forry for the occafion fince my laft letter, to acquaint you that I have an account of 5 of our Indians being murdered in their dwellings at a place called Spectacle Pond near Springfield on the Connecticut River ; and fince of 6 Chriftians being likewife murdered at Northfield a fmall and the uppermoft fettlement we have on that River ; by Indians from your parts. And now I am afsured was by fome fent out by yourfelf, after the fignification of the Truce, who being well known, fome of their names are here inclofed. I have alfo feen your leiter to Gov" Dongan of the 20th paft by which you avow the not having reftrained your Indians from hoftility, till applications or afsu- rances from ours : which I think very extraordinary, and need not fay the importe, or what may be the confequences thereof : but (if not already done) do defire you will forthwith fend the faid murderers to me.
S' Y' moft humble fervt
E ANDROSS."
Andros wrote again to the Gov' of Canada, October I, enclosing
1 Mass. State Archives, cxxIx, 137.
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a copy of the above letter, which shows that no notice had been taken of his demand.
De Nonville answers both letters Oct. 23. His reply is diplo- matic, equivocal ; makes counter charges of bad faith ; but plainly means no attempt to surrender the Indian murderers.1
Oct. 8, Ed. Randolph writes :
" That morning his Excellency Gov. Andros, arrived from Albany at New York [Oct. 1], he had advices that men were raifed at Bofton without his order, and fent 10 Cafco Bay to afsift the Chriftians there againft the Indians who had committed fome diforders whereabouts : all which and the uncertainty of reports from the eaftward engages his Excellency to go from New York over- land to Bofton (intending to vifit Northfield Springfield and other towns alarumed by thofe mifchiefs) to prevent a fecond Indian war."2
Andros left New York soon after the 8th of Oct. : spent a brief time at Hartford with John Allyn, and the other " principal officers and magistrates" of Connecticut ; held a consultation with Col. Pyn- chon at Springfield, and reached Hadley the 14th or 15th. The real object of this visit (nominally to inquire into the condition of the Northfield plantation, and devise means for the safety and welfare of the distressed inhabitants of the frontiers) appears from the follow- ing respectful report of the "Committee for Northfield," dated Northampton Oct. 30, 1688, and addressed to Gov'. Andros at Boston :
"May it pleafe y" Excellency 10 remember when y" Honor was at Hadley, you was pleafed to fend for us the Committee impowered for refettling of Northfield, to come before yourfelf, to give you an account by what power we have acted in order to the refettlement of that place. In obedience 10 your defire, we have drawn up a brief account by what power we have acted and what we have done in order thereunto." [Then follows a careful fummary of the doings of the Commitice from 1682 to date, with an attefted copy of the act of the General court, and a lift of fettlers. They clofe in thefe words] : " Hond Sir, We have had a great deal of care and trouble in the refettling of this Plantation. Many have had grants and have forfeited them again, fo that we have had many meetings about it, which have not been without great expenfe of time and fome charges to us. But we were willing to be at any pains fo that we could fettle the place.
" While we were writing of this, we did receive a paper from Northfield in- habitants wherein ;they did defire the inhabitants which are not there may be fent away [which have failed to occupy their grants or have deferted the place may be declared forfeit of their rights], or elfe it will be hard for them to hold the place, becaufe it doth difcourage ihofe that are there ; they fear the place
I N. Y. Coll. Doc., 111, 557, 569. 2 N. Y. Coll. Doc., 111, 569.
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History of Northfield.
will be deferted. We have not elfe, but hope y" Honor's wifdom will direct to what may be for the beft for the place.
So we reft
Y' humble fervts
WILLIAM CLARKE WILLIAM HOLTON
JOHN KING PRESERVED CLAP."1
Sir Edmund and suite went from Hadley to Brookfield Oct. 16; and from, there to Worcester and Marlborough. What he did at the latter place is best told in the following affidavit :
" Henry Kerley aged about 57, and Thomas How aged 35, both inhabitants of Marlborough, do teftify that in the fall of the year 1688, when S' Ed. Andros came from New York to Bofton, fometime after the Indians had killed fome Englifhmen at Northfield, coming through our town of Marlborough, the fª S" Edmund examined this deponent, Henry Kerley, by what order we did fortify and garrifon our houfes : I anfwered, it was by order of Capt. Nicholfon. Said S" Edmund then faid he had no power fo to do. ' S' Edmund examined what arms we made ufe of and carried with us on our watch, and what charge was given us: Anfwer was made by this deponent, they carried fire arms, and ye charge was to keep a true watch, to examine all we met with, and fecure fufpicious perfons that we met with. Said S" Edmund faid, what if they will not be fecured, and what if you fhould kill them. Anfwer was made by ye deponent, that if we fhould kill them we were in our way. Then Mr. Ran- dolph being there in company faid, you are in ye way to be hanged. S" Edmund Andros faid further, that perfons that had left their houfes to dwell in the garrifons, if they would not return, others fhould be put in that would live there.
Bofton Dec. 27, 1689. Signed HENRY KERLEY THOMAS HOW."2
About the time of Andros's visit to Hadley, the Rev. Warham Mather was engaged and sent to Northfield " to be their minister for half-a-year." His own petition, sent to the General court some years later gives all the facts of the transaction that are known.
The Petition of Warham Mather Humbly Sheweth - That the autumn before the- laft Revolution, the Hon. Capt. Nicholfon, purfuant of inftructions recd from Sir Edmund Andros, upon murder committed at Northfield in this county of Hampfhire, by a certain number of Indians from Canada, who came into thofe parts, to take a view efpecially of that Town's circumstances : There being a garrifon then there, and the town in danger of being deferted by the inhabitants, and that the undertakers that had not as yet removed thither might not be difcouraged : That he defired him your petitioner to be their minifter
1 Muss. State Archives, cxxIx, 306.
" Mass. State Archives, XXXV, 147.
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
for half-a-year, which was done accordingly. Suppofing Sir Edmund and his Council would reward him for the fame, only care was taken that the inhabit- ants find him provifion. That Sir Edmund being informed what was done, promifed to endeavor that an Act fhould be pafsed for the payment of him fif- teen pounds in money, which fum was according to Capt. Nicholfon's engage- ment. But the Revolution happening before any care was taken for the payment thereof, your Petitioner hath had no requital for his fervices. There- fore he humbly feeks to y" Honors, that an order be made for the payment of £15 in money as above faid, having undeniable evidence that you are en- couragers of Gofpel minifters : in which ftudy y' fervant is employed, who difires ever to pray for you. 1
Northampton May 18, 1691."
The claim of Mr. Mather was not denied ; but from the unsettled state of affairs or other causes, the money was not granted and paid to him till 1700.
Nov. 1, 1688, Gov' Andros, being then in Boston, issued an order to the Council of War at Hartford, for raising a company of 60 men in the Connecticut colony, to be placed under command of Col. Robert Treat, and sent to Northfield. The order was received at Hartford on the 9th ; and the required company recruited, mustered, and sent up the river in command of Capt. Jonathan Bull, and re- mained in garrison at Northfield through the winter. These troops afforded a sufficient protection to the inhabitants ; but as the Govern- ment had no commissary department, the soldiers, who were quartered on the families, ate up their substance. There could not have been more than 15 families left in the town, which gave an average of 4 soldiers to a household.
[The revolution which drove King James from the throne, and placed William and Mary there, began in Nov' 1688. The king abdicated Dec. 11, and William and Mary accepted the crown Feb. 13, following. April 18, 1689, the people of Boston seized Andros, and restored the old governor, Simon Bradstreet.]
1689. The first glimpse we get of the Northfield settlers this spring, is through the following petition sent to the General court. It is in the hand writing of Rev. John Russell of Hadley.
"The tears, fears and groans of the broken remnant at Northfield prefenting themfelves before the Honor'd General Court at Bolton,
Shew : "That we are indeed objects of your pity and commifseration, more than we know how to exprefs or maintain a due fenfe of : the ftate of our outward man is very afflictive, and for our fouls we have need to cry aloud
1 Mass. State Archives, XXXVII, 31.
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History of Northfield.
Have pity on us ! for the hand of God hath touched us, and ye Almighty hath dealt bitterly with us ! A bitter cup of forrow, blood and flaughter was reached forth to us in ye former Indian War. Our place burnt, and laid defolate, our people flain, and ye reft all driven away ; ye town not only left wafte but alfo bearing fad marks of divine wrath in that defolation.
" Since which we thought we faw ye Lord calling us to rebuild thofe waftes, went up under an expectation of having 40 families fpeedily dwelling there. About 25 were come, and we in a hopeful way, when ye Divine hand fmote us again with an amazing ftroke. Six perfons in a moment flain by Indians laft fummer, which was aftonifhment to all ye reft. Since which half of our fmall number have deferted us, yet keep the land which by covenant is not theirs till they have dwelt upon it four years. Hereby we are reduced to twelve mean families. Our fmall number, in a place fo remote, expofed us to ye rage of ye heathen ; as it were inviting them to prey upon us. Our eftates are exhauft by maintaining garrifon foldiers and being kept from our labor. Our burdens of watching, warding, fencing, highways - we for ourfelves and them that are abfent - overbearing to us ; befides all other hardfhips unavoidable in a new place. Our wives and children (that we fay not ourfelves) ready to fink with fears. We have no foul food, nor fee any likelihood of attaining any.
* * If you fee meet to order us to throw up all, and leave it wholly to the enemies, and their infulting, Tho its hard (we feel it) we would fubmit. If . we ftay, we could humbly beg, if your Honors fee meet, that thofe that have lots among us may be caufed either to come and dwell on them, or quit them to others that would. And that fuch 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 occafions in this our weak beginning. and ever praying ye Lord's blefsing on you remain
June 27, 1689.
Y' humble fervants SAMUEL DAVIS MICAH MUDGE
In ye behalf of all yt are left at Northfield "
In answer to this petition, Peter Tilton Esq., Mr. Samuel Partrigg, and Mr. John King were appointed a Committee " to act at their discretion."
"July 30, 1689. About ye end of laft week I had an account from North- ampion that they had recd intelligence from Northfield that a lad there faw an Indian yt had taken up his ftand between ye two garrifons (one of ym being a fmall one which fecures their pafsage to and from their meadows) Some men going to ye place faw his itand, and the bufhes fet up, but ye Indian was gone : alfo in fome other places fkulking Indians have been feen, yt we are alarmed thereby. Some fpeedy care mutt be taken to call y" off from Northfield or to fend up fome men to fecure y" there. I formerly laid ye cafe of Northfield before y' Honors and defired y' fending 16 or 20 men thither, which I request may not be delayed ; and yt further orders are necefsary, cither y' appointing fome other perfon to manage affairs here which I like beft, or ftrengthening my
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hands (fome queftioning everything) by fome full and plain order, which there is need of, fome reckoning all but a thew of Government throughout New England.
JOHN PYNCHON.
To Hon. Simon Bradftreet.
P. S. [ received a letter from Mr. Tilton, Mr. Partridg and Mr. King, ya Committee for Northfield, * * that meeting to confider about ye prefent ftate of the place, do conclude there to be a prefent neceffity of relief by fome garrifon foldiers for the which to go up, or elfe to draw off ye people, the latter of which (they fay) they muft have better advice before they can incline to. The former which (they fay) they incline to " needs (to take their own words) as we judge ye accommodation of 20 men, efpecially at this time, for the obtain- ment of which we fee no way but for yourfelf to put forth the power devolved on you for imprefsing of men, y" Committee of Militia here being dull and unhinged in ye work without your warrant, which will thoroughly fupply all their defects and fcruples. If you will by warrant gather ye men out of ye county, the thing will be effected" - thefe are their own words. * * I am now about ordering 20 men out of hand, which will be more difficult to ob- tain than you can imagine by reafon of fickness, and at prefent muft be out of the 3 next towns Deerfield excepted, becaufe they rather need a fupply alfo ; But I will take care to difpatch away fome to keep garrifon, it may be for a week or thereabouts, till you may fend fupply and further orders, which I Wait for." 1
The authorities at Boston were slow to move in the matter. Samuel Partridge, one of the Committee, sent up a man to keep gav- rison 4 weeks. Andrew Warner of Hatfield was on garrison duty 14 days. And Col. Pynchon sent men at different times to meet emergencies.
November 5, 1689, The Committee reported :
" We whofe names are underwritten being ordered by the Gen. Court in July laft, as a Committee for ordering y" prudentials of ye plantation of North- field : In obedience whereunto we have met together and confidered ye great difsatiffaction and confternation that is upon the fpirits of the inhabitants that are left on faid plantation (which is about ffourteen ffamilies) which is that many ffamilies and others that have taken lands there and were by a joint agreement to live upon fu lands with their ffamilies, if married, four years, and in their own perfons if fingle, before they could dispofe of fu lands, have now deferted the place by their removal away before the time expired, fo that fhould times remain unquiet with reference to the Heathen, the inhabitants of fu place muft necefsarily be drawn off and the place deferted, which would prove a great inconvenience to the whole country ; or elfe a garrifon main- tained in fd place at the country's charge, which will be greatly expenfive -
: Mass. State Archives, cvII, 240.
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History of Northfield.
We therefore move to this Hond Court, that an order may be ifsued out from fª Court, that all fuch perfons or families that have taken up allotments in fu place and have not lived upon the fame four years according to agreement, and now have deferted the place by their removal away, which are about twenty ffamilies1 may be ordered to return again to fd place, or otherwife that their lands may be difpofed to fuch confiderable perfons as may be incouraging to the refettling of fu place again. *
Subfcribing ourfelves y" humble fervants
PETER TILTON SAMUEL PARTRIGG JOHN KING
" In anft to a motion made to this Court by the Committee for Northfield, referring to the broken ftate of the place, many of the inhabitants, contrary to their engagements deferting fª place and thereby expofing ye remaining inhabit- ants to great hazzards and inconvenience by ye prefent enemy or otherwife - It is therefore refolved by the Reprefentatives, that the inhabitants who defert fª place fhall return within four months either in their own perfons or provide fufficient men to bear arms and do fervice in their rooms, according to their engagements as to continuance for four years, or otherwife, before they have a full title to their lands, and in neglect of the aforefaid, their lands may be difpofed of otherwife by the Committee.
Nov 9, 1689. EBEN" PROUT, Clerk."
But the " consternation" had taken too deep a hold on the spirits of the " deserters"; the " fourteen families" remaining were too few and feeble ; the action of the Committee and the General court had been too dilatory ; and the prospects ahead for the distant frontier town - with war already declared between England and France - were too dark. The doom of the plantation was sealed.
How the remnant passed the winter is not known. An order of the County court, dated June 25, 1690, gives the winding up of this Settlement :
" This Court doth order that all the inhabitants of Northfield that have any corn or other provifions, viz. hogs, horfes, cattle etc. do tranfport it down within the fpace of 6 or 8 days ; and that which after faid time aforefaid fixed, is yet to fetch, order will be given for the fetching it down for the ufe of the country, except what is taken to pay carters or horfemen, except what the authorities fee caufe to return to the owners."
1690-1713. The Northfield settlers generally returned to their former homes. Some soon after died, their death being hastened, to human appearance, by hardship and watching, and disappointment.
" The " 20 families" includes those who recently deserted the place, and those grantees who did not remove to Northfield to occupy their homesteads.
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