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 14
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125
Resettlement of Squakheag.
Some waited their chance to resettle the deserted plantation. Some removed permanently to Enfield and Westfield ; and a considerable number soon after joined a colony that settled at Lebanon, Ct.
A few disconnected items, of historical value, having a direct con- nection with the scene of our narrative, have been gleaned from the records in the State archives.
[To understand some of the events to be narrated, the reader should remember that war between France and England was declared in 1690, and continued till '98 ; and that the French governor of Canada was tireless in efforts to instigate the Indians living the entire length of the New England border, to harass and depredate on the settlements.]
" Springfield May 25, 1692. * The ffrench Gov". hath fent out fome to the Five Nations, to induce them to join in the War : as alfo hath fent 3 Indians to the Squakheag Indians dwelling in thefe parts [above Deerfield] to be fpeedily there [at Albany] who are generally gone back to Albany.
JOHN PYNCHON."
" A party of Connecticut and our Indians and fome Englifh, who were in fearch of the enemy upon the Merrimack River, came upon and took two Indians, who faid they were of Albany. They appear to be two of the River Indians named Tocomonego and Achitewafs, who were known to fome Hampfhire county gentlemen. They had their arms and 9 Beavers."
1693. July 27, a party of 26 Canada Indians suddenly appeared at Brookfield, killing and plundering the families of Wolcott, Mason and Lawrence, and fled with their captives and much booty towards the north.
" Capt. Whiting and Capt. Wells with about 30 of their men went up to Northfield on Monday laft, July 31, in ye morning, on ye eaft fide of ye River, intending fully to fearch thofe eaftern woods of Northfield : will if they light on thofe villains yt did y" mifchief at Brookfield, give 'em a fecond brufh.
The fcout of 4 men, now in, fay that between Northfield and Deerfield, they lighted on new tracks which they followed, and found where 20 men as they judged had lodged on Sabbath-day night, and at the falls difcovered tracks of as many coming downward .- Letter of Samuel Partrigg."1
It appears that the River Indians now living near Albany, were ac- customed to come to the Connecticut valley every year, for the pur- pose of hunting. They were nominally friendly ; but were often the occasion of disquiet, and probably of some murders.
1 Mass Archives, LXX, 195.
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History of Northfield.
In 1695, an act was passed by the General court of Massachusetts declaring that " all Indians who shall be found within 5 miles of the Conn. River on the easterly side or within 20 miles on the westerly side thereof, shall be deemed and accounted enemies and treated as such :" large rewards and allowances were offered for killing and capturing such stragglers.
" Springfield Aug. 12, 1695.
" The enemy Indians have fallen upon fome of our Albany Indians that were hunting above Deerfield, who were on this eaft fide of the Great River at a fmall riverett called Nafhawealot which runs into the Connecticut about 6 miles above where Northfield once ftood. Capt. Wells writes in thefe words : " Aug. 10, 1695. Juft now an Indian called Strawberry his fon, hath made an efcape from Nafhawelot above Northfield. He is come in this evening much wounded : fays this day about 8 or 9 o'clk in ye morning, the enemy made a fhot on them and killed 8 or 9 of them : fo many he reckons he faw as good as dead. He fays he faw many canoes : accounts ye enemy to be 40 or 50 men. He fwam over the Great River to get to Deerfield with one arm broken."
Capt. Colton ftarted with a body of Troopers of 25 men.
JOHN PYNCHON. 1
July 14, 1698. Just before sunset, a party of 4 Indians suddenly appeared in the upper side of Hatfield North Meadow, and fired upon a number of men and boys who were hilling corn. They killed John Billings aged 24, and Nathaniel Dickinson Jr. aged 13, and took Samuel Dickinson aged II, and a lad named Charley. They shot at Nathaniel Dickinson Sen. and killed his horse ; but he escaped. The Indians then took to their canoes which had been concealed near by, and started up the river with the captives.
The news was carried to Deerfield "early in the night ;" just as a band of troopers, weary and worn from a two days' scout in the woods, came in for rest and refreshment. Snatching a hasty meal, and mounting fresh horses, three of these scouts -Corporal Ben- jamin Wright (our "Captain Benjamin" of later times), Benjamin Stebbins and Jona. Taylor; together with Thomas Wells, Benoni Moore, Eben'. Stebbins, Nathaniel Pomeroy, dragoons ; and Corporal Gillett, Benjamin King, Jona. Brooks, Samuel Root, Joseph Petty, Joseph Clesson, Henry Burt, garrison soldiers (several of whom be- came Northfield settlers,) started for the north, with the intention of intercepting the savages. Before daylight, after a ride of nearly 20 miles through the woods, the rescuers reached the Great bend, oppo- site the mouth of the Ashuelot. Here they halted and concealed
1 Mass. Archives, xxx, 368.
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
their horses. In the early dawn they discovered two canoes in the distance, rapidly ascending along the eastern bank. Selecting a posi- tion on some broken land close to the water, they waited till the canoes appeared above the island, and opposite where they stood, when, taking careful aim, they fired. One of the Indians was mortally wounded ; but with the other three and one of the lads leaped into the stream and made for the shore. One lad remained in the canoe, and the other quickly turned to rejoin him. An Indian, noticing the movement, attempted to shoot him : but his gun missed fire, and he rushed upon the boy with uplifted hatchet. In this act he exposed himself so that he received a mortal shot from the party on the west bank. The boys, both unhurt, quickly paddled across to their de- liverers.
The rest of the story is best told in the quaint language of Cotton Mather :
" Thefe good men feeing their exploit performed thus far ; two Indians de- ftroyed, and two children delivered, they fell to praiting of God : and one young man particularly, kept thus exprefsing himfelf : 'Surely 'tis God and not me who have wrought this deliverance !' But as we have fometimes been told that even in the beating of a pulfe, the dilating of the heart, by a diaftole of delight, may be turned into a contracting of it with a Syftole of forrow : In the beating of a few pulfe, after this, they fent five or fix men with the canoe, to fetch the other which was lodged at an ifland not far off, that they might pur- fue the other Indians, when thofe two Indians having hid themfelves in che high grafs, unhappily fhot a quick death unto the young man, whofe exprefsions were but now recited. This hopeful young man's brother-in-law was intend- ing to have gone out upon this action, but the young man himfelf importuned his mother to let him go, which, becaufe he was her only fon the denied, but then fearing fhe did not well to withhold her fon from the fervice of the public, fhe gave him leave, faying, See that you do now, and as you go along, refign, and give up yourfelf unto the Lord; and I defire to refign you to him! So he goes, and fo he dies."
This brave and devoted youth was Nathaniel Pomeroy of Deer- field. They made his lonely grave on the west bank of the river : but his memorial is the island where he fell - which is called Pomeroy's island unto this day.
The treaty of Ryswick was proclaimed in Boston Dec. 10, 1697 ; but the Indians continued their raids till the summer of '98.
But the respite of peace was short. The struggle for supremacy in the new world, between the French and English was a vital one ; and now was the time to decide it. The English held almost the en- tire coast line : but the French had secured the St. Lawrence and its
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History of Northfield.
tributaries, and were determined to gain control of the chain of lakes to the west. To befriend the Indians, and arouse their jealousies, and lead or guide their murderous expeditions against the exposed frontier towns, was the readiest way to prevent the English occupa- tion, and gain time for planting firmly their own power and institu- tions.
In May 1702, war was again commenced between England and France, and continued till March 30, 1713. This was known as Queen Anne's war.
The great event of this war in our valley, was the destruction of Deerfield by a combined force of French and Indians under Hertel de Rouville, Feb. 29, 1704. The number of the assailants was re- ported at 200 French and 142 Indians. The number of English killed was 47, including 9 soldiers sent as a relief party from Hatfield and Hadley. The number of captives taken was 112 : of whom 2 escaped, and 22 were killed or perished on the way to Canada. Only 60 returned to their friends. This expedition, under command of French officers, was a fair sample of all the frontier assaults of the war. Intercourse with that most christian nation, and the teaching of her Jesuit Fathers seem to have destroyed all the humane and generous traits which belonged to the Indian as a savage.
Of persons connected with Northfield history, in this affair, are the following : Philip Mattoon his w. Rebecca and child, Sarah Field (sister of Pedajah), Sergt. Samuel Boltwood and his son Robert, killed ; Sarah Mattoon, Joseph Petty and his w. Sarah, Joseph Kel- logg, Mary Field (w. of John and mother of Pedajah), Mary Field Jr., John Field Jr., were carried into captivity. Mary Field Jr. never returned : Sarah Mattoon returned and m. Ens. Zechariah Field. Mary Field Sen. was dau. of James Bennett, who was a Northfield settler in 1675. The names of others, less directly related to North- field affairs, will appear in the Genealogy.
Two sons of Elder William Janes, viz., Samuel and Benjamin, and Moses Hutchinson, son of Ralph, with two other families, had settled near together on a fertile tract called Pascommuck, at the north east foot of Mt. Tom in Northampton. May 13, 1704, a party of French and Indians attacked this hamlet, and killed and captured no less than 33 persons. Samuel Janes his wife and 3 children, 4 children of Benjamin Janes, Moses Hutchinson and one child, and others (in all 19), were killed. "The English pursuing of them caused the Indians to knock all the captives on the head save 5 or 6." Three of those thus stunned were found alive, and subsequently recovered. One of the three was Hannah (Bascom) the wife of Benjamin Janes, who in
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
addition to the blow of the hatchet, was scalped. She was finally cured, and they settled in Coventry, Ct., whence he returned to Northfield in 1716. The other two were children, sons of Samuel Janes, Samuel aged 11, and Jonathan aged 8. At his majority Jona- than settled on his father's estate in Northfield. Capt. John Taylor, a Northfield grantee of 1685, was killed while pursuing the retreating Indians with his company of horsemen.
In the conduct of this war, our people adopted the French and Indian method of aggression, i. e. by sending out small parties to points where the Indians were supposed to be in camp. But, with one or two exceptions, the expedient was not successful. The savages got timely warning of the approach of our scouts, and were quickly out of harm's way.
In 1708, Capt. Benjamin Wright began his career as a leader of scouting parties to the north, for which he will always be famous in the annals of the Connecticut valley. The killing of his father by the savages in the attack on Northfield Sept. 2, 1675, when he was 15 years old, seems to have planted in his heart an ineradicable hatred of the Indian race. He once said, that if he took a pappoose, he would dash out its brains ; for " nits will be lice !" - In February of this year, he, at the head of a small scout, went up the river as far as the Coasset, near the mouth of Wells's river, (now Newbury, Vt.). This was the reputed headquarters of an Indian clan ; but none were found. Like the winter war parties on both sides, they wore snow-shoes.'
About the middle of May 1709, Capt. Wright started up the river, at the head of another " war party." He had with him Lt. John Wells, Jona. Hoyt, Jabez Olmstead, Timothy Childs, John Burt, Eben' Severance, of Deerfield, John Strong and Joseph Root of Northampton, Joseph Wait of Hatfield, and Thomas McCreeney. They had a pocket compass for their guide. They crossed the mountains to Lake Champlain, and went to within 40 miles of Cham- bleé. May 20, they espied two canoes with Indians in them, upon whom they fired, killing 4 as they believed, though they secured but one scalp (the French account says they killed two). They cap- tured one of the canoes, with its provisions and arms. The next day they seized and destroyed 5 canoes. On the way home, they met and attacked a party of Indians on French (Onion) river, and as
" Mar. 13, 1704, the Gen. Court of Mass. ordered 500 pairs of snow shoes and as many moccasons, for the frontiers, one-fourth of them for use in Hampshire County. The private scouting parties furnished their own rackets ; but were sometimes allowed a part of their cost.
.
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History of Northfield.
they believed killed 4 (the French account says they killed one). In this skirmish, Lt. Wells and John Burt were killed, and John Strong was wounded, though he was able to be brought home. On their return, the following affidavit was made:
" We whofe names are under written being upon the Great Lake towards Canada, on the zoth of this inftant being in a fight with a party of the enemy come this way towards New England ; in which fight we judge we killed four of the enemy, and one in fpecial we got and fcalped him, which fcalp we now prefent and fhow to yourfelves at this prefent time, and do hereby teftify that this fcalp was of our enemy Indian killed in fight as aforefaid, to which we fub- fcribe this 28th day of May 1709.
Y' humble fervts
BENJ. WRIGHT JONA. HOYT JABEZ OLMSTEAD JOHN STRONG"
" Sworn to before me.
They alfo declare that they are very certain that they killed 4 as above ; and that on French River they killed 4 more, making 8 in all. This they affirm to me. SAMI1 PARTRIGG."
June 10, the General court voted a bounty of £12 to Capt. Wright, and £6 to each of the nine survivors.
In the spring of this year (1709) the English government ordered the colonies to raise a force for a combined attack on Canada. Mas- sachusetts raised and kept under arms for some months 900 men. While these troops were waiting near Boston, for the arrival of the fleet from Great Britain, Capt. Wright sent the following letter to the governor :
" Northampton Sept. 19, 1709.
" May it pleafe y' Excellency
" With fubmifsion and under correction, I would offer my fervice to y" Excellency, if that in wifdom you fend forces to Canada from our parts by land, that " Here am I, fend me." This year I have done fervice, and hope I may again, not that I would trouble y' Excellency, but am willing to go.
Not elfe, but in duty I fubfcribe
Y' Excellency's moft humble fervt BENJAMIN WRIGHT."
But the troops from England failed to arrive, and the expedition was abandoned.
Besides Capt. Wright, other men, who afterwards became North- field inhabitants, were now taking their first lessons in war. Ebenezer Alexander, in a petition says :- " Ever after the taking of Deerfield
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Resettlement of Squakheag.
in Queen Anne's war, I was in the service of the Province." Robert Cooper, in a similar petition says : - " I served as a soldier in Queen Anne's war some considerable time, when I was wounded by the enemy in my right arm, whereby I lost the use of my elbow joint and my arm greatly withered to my unspeakable damage."
During this war, 103 persons were slain in Hampshire county, or in excursions from it, including 47 at Deerfield, 20 at or near Pas- commuck, and 36 in various places. Not less than 123 were taken captive, many of whom were slain or died on the way to Canada, and others after their arrival there. About two-thirds of the captives returned home ; the rest adopted Indian or French habits, and inter- married with their captors, or were induced to enter the Catholic religious orders.
CHAPTER V.
Permanent Settlement of Northfield, 1714-1723.
ORIGINAL GRANT REVIVED - A NEW COMMITTEE - RULES OF SETTLEMENT - SIGNERS - SLOW PROGRESS - PLAN OF STOCKADE - A NEW DEPARTURE REV. JAMES WHITMORE - GARRISON SOLDIERS - GREAT MEADOW FENCES - GRIST AND SAW-MILLS - LARGE ACCESSION OF SETTLERS - REV. BENJAMIN DOOLITTLE - MEETING HOUSE -TAX LIST -TOWN OFFICERS - BLACK- SMITH - THE FARMS - RESURVEY OF TOWN - FORTS - CAPT. JOSEPH KEL- LOGO'S COMPANY - INDUSTRIES - EDUCATION - HOME LIFE.
UEEN Anne's war was brought to a close by the treaty of Utrecht March 30, 1713. By the terms of this treaty, France ceded to Great Britain the territory of Newfoundland and Nova-Scotia ; and relinquished all claim to the allegiance of the Five Nations. These important con- cessions, taken in connection with the fact, that, soon after the news reached America, the leading tribes of New England Indians which had been hostile, sent in a flag of truce and made satisfactory ar- rangements with the governments of Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire, relieved the apprehensions of our people, and gave assurance of a lasting peace.
The surviving proprietors of the Squakheag plantation - or such of them as had not located permanently elsewhere - promptly took steps to reclaim and resettle their lands, which had now lain desolate 23 years.
In the fall of 1713, a petition was sent to the General court, asking for a revival of the former grant, and the appointment of a Committee to take charge of the place.
In the council Feb. 17, 1714 : -
"Upon reading the petition of Jofeph Parfons, John Lyman and others, praying for a refettlement of a village or Plantation at Squakheag, formerly called Northfield, the following order pafsed thereupon and concurred by the Reprefentatives :
Ordered, That forafmuch as by reafon of the interruption given to the Set- tlement of the within mentioned plantation granted in Oct. 1672, by war and trouble with the Indians : and divers of the original petitioners and grantees and alfo the Committee for the fame are fince dead - The faid grant for a plantation be and is hereby revived : and Samuel Partridge, John Pynchon,
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Permanent Settlement.
Samuel Porter, John Stoddard, Efqrs., and Mr. Henry Dwight are appointed and impowered a Committee, to receive the challenges of all perfons to the property and right of land in the faid plantation, and to enter their names with fuch others as fhall offer to join with them in fettling a townfhip there. The names of all to be entered with the Committee within the fpace of twelve months from this time-giving preference to the defcendants of the original petitioners and grantees : - and the faid Committee are further impowered to ftate the place of the town upon fmall lots fo as it may be made defenfible, grant out allotments, and order their prudentials, and what elfe is necefsary for their eftablifhment. Provided always, that 40 families be fettled there within 3 years next coming : And that they procure and encourage a learned Orthodox Minifter to fettle with them. The town to be named Northfield. The town to lye in the county of Hampfhire. 1
Confented to, J. DUDLEY.
Feb. 22, 1713-14."
The first step taken by the Committee was to ascertain how many former grantees or their heirs were ready to resettle upon their lands ; how many claimed their land rights, but would not return to the plantation ; and how many new men had purchased estates and were willing to go upon them. The result is given in the following docu- ment :-
April 14, 1714. ARTICLES agreed to by all those that are now engaging to refettle a Plantation or Township above Hadley at a place called Northfield, which are as followetb, viz.
" 1. That all the juft charges of purchafing fettling dividing and laying out to each inhabitant, and for the miniftry or other public ufes the feveral allotments needful for the accommodation aforefaid, be borne and paid on proportion to what each inhabitant is vefted in, except what is laid out already and ye former meafures and bounds is apparent.
2. That for the firft five years, for all charges arifing, it is agreed that fuch charges fhall be rated according to grant to the number of acres each inhabitant hath, as alfo herds of ftock and other rateable eftate, according to law.
" 3. That after the feveral grants as of record be fettled either on the ancient propriety or their defcendants, or fuch others in their behalf as ye Committee fee meet to accept, or upon their denial to join and go as inhabitants others be placed in their room - the remainder of accommodation in land fhall be to fettle new inhabitants to the number of 40 inhabiters in the whole, to the ac- ceptance of the Committee.
" 4. All Common Fences (that are not already laid out) to be laid out about the feveral fields by lot, at the voice of the proprietors of each Field in due
" Hampshire county then embraced the entire western part of the Province of Massachu- setts. Berkshire county was established April 27, 1761 ; Franklin, June 24, 1811 ; Hamp- den, February 20, 1812.
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History of Northfield.
proportion to the land each inhabitant enjoys, and fo to be made and maintained according to law for ever, allowing for any old ditches that may remain what is . equal.
" 5. That the Town-Plot be ftated in the old place, in fuch form and meafure as the Committee can allow it, according to the Court's order.
" 6. That each inhabitant fhall fence, build, and actually inhabit there within two years from the date of the Court's, order or grant to them, viz., 17 Feb. 1714 ; as also by faid time to procure and fettle there an orthodox Minifter at furtheft within three years' time from faid date or as much sooner as they can.
" 7. That as to all the Home-lots on the weft fide of the Town ftreet, the rear of faid home-lots' fence fhall have one-half of faid fence to be accounted as Public Fence, and the whole to be under the viewers for the fecurity of the Great Meadow before the town.
Signers : Benjamin Wright Ebenezer Wright
Nathaniel Alexander
Judah Hutchinfon
Jofeph Alexander, on his father's right
Jofeph Parfons, on his father's right
Ifaac Warner, on his father's right
William Boltwood, on his father's right
Timothy Hillyard, on his father's right Jofeph Clary, on his father's right
Jofeph Root, on his father's right
Eleazar Warner, on Daniel Warner's right Mofes Lyman, on his father's right
"April 17, 1714. Upon a motion made by feveral perfons to come in by purchafe of other men's rights - Allowed, in cafe they make out their title, and be to the acceptance of the Committee.
Signers : Jofeph Severance, In John Holmes' right Zechariah Field, In Robt Lyman's right Ifaac Mattoon, In John Lyman's right Hezekiah Stratton, In Samuel Davis' right
Peter Evens, In John Woodward's right Eleazar Mattoon, In jofeph Warriner's right Thomas Taylor, In Jofeph Dickinfon's right
The above fubfcribers have entered their names agreeing to the within written Articles to go as inhabitants to Northfield ; in cafe they prove their Title to be firm and good, are accepted as others :
Attest SAMUEL PARTRIDGE SAMUEL PORTER HENRY DWIGHT
Committee for Northfield"
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Permanent Settlement.
The Committee appointed the following officers for the new planta- tion : Dea. Ebenezer Wright of Northampton, town clerk ; Capt. Benj. Wright, Lt. John Lyman, Dea. Ebenezer Wright, Judah Hutchinson, Sergt. Thomas Taylor, measurers of land.
Of the 20 engagers, not more than 8 went upon the ground the first season, viz., Capt. Benj. Wright, Joseph Alexander, Nath1 Alexander, Isaac Warner, Zechariah Field, Hezekiah Stratton, Peter Evens, Thomas Taylor. Of the remainder, Eben' Wright, Joseph Parsons, Judah Hutchinson, and Moses Lyman continued to reside at Northampton ; William Boltwood died while returning from Canada in August ; Joseph Severence soon sold out his right to Jona. Patterson ; Isaac Mattoon did not come till some years later ; Eleazar Mattoon came the next year ; the others sold their rights to different parties, as will appear in course.
RESERVED LANDS .- At the outset, a home-lot and a full share in the meadows and outlands were set apart for a minister ; a lot of meadow land was reserved for a smith ; also lots for both grist and saw-mills ; and several large tracts (not yet designated) for "the ministry and school." These last were called " sequestered land."
HINDRANCES .- The General court enjoined the Committee to give preference, in accepting settlers, to "the descendants of original petitioners and grantees.". This seemed an act of simple justice ; but it proved a serious clog on the enterprise. The heirs of these former grantees, very naturally, were disposed to wait the issue of the new project before deciding, either to return, or to make sale of their rights. A successful resettlement of the place would greatly enhance the value of those rights. And it appears that the lands of non-signers were not taxable for town charges; neither could the non-resident owners be held to pay charges for fencing common fields. And such fields were the main dependence for tillage and grass, and were of little value without continuous fence.
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