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 20
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HEN the thread of our narrative was broken off, in the pre- ceding chapter, a war with the Indians was impending.
It does not come within the scope of this work, to treat of the remote causes of this war. Directly, it grew out of the pushing forward of settlements, and building of forts, at the head of the bays and up the rivers in the Province of Maine, on lands which the Eng- lish claimed to have acquired by purchase and by treaty - the validity of which claim the Indians denied. The Indians also charged the Eng- lish with bad faith, in neglecting to erect trading houses, for the convenient exchange of peltry and supplies, and the non-fulfillment of other stipulations.
The Governments of England and France took no open part in this war. Ostensibly, it was a struggle between the Provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire on the one side, and the Indian tribes living east of the Merrimack river on the other side. Con- necticut had no interest in these eastern lands ; she was comparatively safe from attacks, as her northern and western neighbors were a wall of defence ; and she aided her sister colonies only so far as policy dictated. New York was opposed to the war. She had at best but few bonds of sympathy with Massachusetts. It was for her interest to build up and control the trade with the native tribes living to the west and north ; and any line of action which might endanger her existing and somewhat complicated Indian alliances, was manifestly impolitic. In a letter dated Dec. 16, 1724, Gov. Burnet says, " As to entering into a war with the eastern Indians, the assembly of this Province in 1722, did expressly refuse to contribute to."
189
Father Ralle's War.
It was a Massachusetts war. Her people bore the brunt of the fighting and the costs. She placed upon the altar the sacrifice which wrought the redemption of New England, and secured a 20 years' peace. New Hampshire supported Massachusetts ; indeed her position left her no other alternative. Many of the leading officers in command ' were New Hampshire men - though a small part only of the forces were raised by that government.
At the outset, war measures were much hindered by a division of sentiment among our own people ; a considerable party, both in and out of the legislature, doubting whether a war upon the natives would be right or even justifiable. They deprecated the waste of blood and treasure, always incident to the arbitrament of the sword ; questioned the equity of our demands, while they gave full credit to the alleged provocations and wrongs of the savages. As late as April 20, 1724, Col. Samuel Partridge of Hatfield in a letter to the governor says : " In the way we are in, that company of eastern Indians may hold us in hazards, especially the frontiers for many years. They say we take their lands ; it seems to be meet that matter was settled, and a line of division settled between us and them, and if any of ours claim to their wrong, it should be righted, and not a whole Province and neighboring Provinces put to such vast expenses, yea the loss of many lives, as hath been experienced already." This want of una- nimity in prosecuting the war, was a cause of weakness, and gave great encouragement to the Indians and their allies.
For while the two parties in the struggle were, in appearance, the people of Massachusetts and New Hampshire on the one side, and the eastern Indians on the other, the real power with which the two colonies were at war was the Governor General of Canada backed by the King of France. The following paper, found in the French Archives at Paris, gives the modus operandi.
" Memoir Refpecting the Abenaquis of Acadia, 1718.
" Tis true that the limits of New France and New York were fixed by virtue of the treaty of Ryfwick [1697] at St. George's river, where the arms of the two crowns had been attached to a fpruce tree, the branches of which had been cut off. But the war which followed foon after, changed the limits. The fpruce tree has been thrown down. Moreover the Abenaquis pretend that the whole of that coaft, and all the rivers to be found therein, belong to then. And it is our intereft to fuftain thefe pretenfions. It is in fact the only means we poffefs to prevent the Englifh eftablithing themfelves throughout that entire country, up to the height of land, that is very near to Quebec and Montreal.
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History of Northfield.
" If it be proper to maintain the Abenaquis in our alliance, the governor of Bofton muft be given to underftand, that if he undertake to fettle any of the lands belonging to our Indian allies, it will be impoffible to refufe affiftance to them. And the neceffity of this courfe will be obvious, if we reflect ever fo little. 1. That this nation [the Abenaquis] is the only fupport of the Colony againft the Englifh or the Iroquois. 2. If we do not admit or pretend to admit their right to the country they occupy, they will never be induced to take part in any war for the defence of this fame country, which is the rampart of Canada. 3. If fome intereft be not exhibited in their defence, they will divide themfelves be- tween the French and Englifh ; and inafmuch as they experience better terms in regard to trade from the latter than from the former, it will not be long before they are wholly attracted to them. More than half the tribe is already Englifh by inclination, and retained only by Religion ; their miffionaries alone have the power, it is admitted, to perfuade them to fubmit to the will of the Governor General. 4. If matters be allowed to proceed. ever fo little in the courfe they have been for fome time purfuing, New France will be bounded on the fouth by the river St. Lawrence : it will be neceffary to abandon all our pofts and fettlements on that fide, and nothing will prevent the Englifh and Iroquois mak- ing irruptions into the very heart of Canada.
" A goodly number of Englifh families having made their appearance fome years fince at the lower part of the river Kennebec, below the Norridgwalk miffion, received permiffion to fettle there, and have actually two forts there. Father Ralle, miffionary at N. did make fome efforts to prevent this fettlement, the confequences of which he forefaw. * The Indians of Nor- ridgwalk beginning laft fummer to take fome umbrage at their new guefts, wifhed to know, in cafe it become neceffary to ufe force to diflodge them, whether they could count on the aid of the French ; they deputed fome among them to wait on the Marquis de Vaudreuil to explain to him the fituation in which they were placed, and to demand of him, who called himfelf their father, and to whom they had always been fubmiffive as children, whether he was difpofed to affift them againft the Englifh in cafe of a rupture, as they had affifted him at the expenfe of their blood on every occafion that he had required them. The General affured them that he fhould never fail them in time of need. But what affiftance, Father, will you give us? they afked. My children, anfwered M. de Vaudreuil, I fhall fecretly fend you fome hatchets, fome powder and lead. I will engage the other Indian tribes to furnifh you aid, and rather than aban- don you to the mercy of the Englifh, I will myfelf march at your head."1
As is made evident by this document, a main reliance of the French, in establishing their power over the natives, was through religious proselytism. The priests of the Catholic faith always went with the earliest adventurers, to establish missions and open chapels. And just now, these missions afforded a convenient cover for politi-
I Col. Hist. of N. Y., Ix, 878.
191
Father Ralle's War.
cal designs, and the priests were the most efficient agents in stirring up the Indians to jealousy, and urging them on to acts of war.
The two most prominent of these agents, in the interest of the French, were the Rev. Father Superior, La Chasse, and Father Sebastian Ralle. And from the leading public part taken by the lat- ter in the principal events of this struggle, it has been called Father Ralle's War .- Sebastian Ralle, or Râle was of French descent, b. Jan. 4, 1657. Being appointed a missionary from the society of Jesuits to the Indians of North America, he embarked July 30, 1689, and arrived at Quebec in October. He learned the language of the Abenakis ; was stationed at St. Francis ; was in Illinois 1693-4; was on the Kennebec from 1695, till his death Aug. 23, 1724. From papers found in his possession, and in his own hand-writing, the governor of Massachusetts felt authorized to say, in a letter dated Jan. 19, 1725, "He [Ralle] instigated the Indians to war and rapine, instead of preaching peace and friendship; agreeable to the doctrines of the Christian religion -as is proved by the papers found among his effects at Norridgewock."
THE WAR OPENED. 1722 .- The first open act of war on the part of the Indians, was on the 13th day of June, 1722, when a party of 60 savages, appearing on the northern margin of Merrymeeting bay in 20 canoes, took captive 9 entire families. This was followed by other similar outrages ; and July 25, the governor and council of Massa- chusetts formally resolved, that the Eastern Indians were traitors and robbers, guilty of plundering, despoiling, murdering and taking captive many of his Majesty's good subjects, and declared war against them and their confederates.
The principal theatre of this war was in the Province of Maine, and the details do not properly belong to our narrative. But the intimate relations subsisting between the Eastern tribes and the St. Francis, and French Indians, as the remnant of our River clans was called, rendered it certain that the frontier settlements in Hampshire County would suffer.
As before related, Northfield had been in charge of a small garri- son, almost ever since the resettlement. But in view of the dangers from the threatening attitude of the Indians, the inhabitants, in the month of. June, 1722, sent a petition to the General court, asking to be put in a posture of defence ; and July 6, the Court ordered, That the soldiers at Northfield be directed to garrison one or more suitable houses for their security ; and the inhabitants are recom- mended to assist the soldiers with their teams.
192
History of Northfield.
The soldiers at Northfield, referred to in the Court's order, was a Co. of 10 men under command of Lt. Joseph Kellogg, in service here from May 31 to July 24. As soon as the first crop of hay was secured, a stockade of some pretensions was begun, on the premises of Stephen Belding, (the site of the old Clary fort), and another around Ensign Zechariah Field's house. And near the same time, a full company of men was raised and put under command of Capt. Samuel Barnard of Deerfield, for the defence of that town and Northfield. They were in service from July 24 to Nov. 20. Lieut. Kellogg was second in command, and was stationed at North- field with 20 men. Capt. Samuel Partridge raised a company, for the protection of Hatfield and vicinity. In Capt. Barnard's Muster Roll, are the following names : Jonathan Hunt, clerk, Sergt. Joseph Clesson, Sergt. John Pomroy, Josiah King, Josiah Stebbins, James Porter, Benoni Wright, Orlando Bridgman, Eben" Miller, William Clarke, Samuel Wright, Thomas Alexander, John Miller, Joseph Stebbins, Benj. Wait, Samuel Lancton, all accredited to Northampton ; Japhet Chapin, Eben" Webb, Caleb Chapin, of Springfield ; John Sergeant, of Worcester ; John Brooks, Asahel Stebbins, of Deerfield ; John Brown, Nathaniel Prior, Enoch Hall, Joshua Gerry, of Enfield. In Capt. Partridge's Co. in service from Aug. 18, to Nov. 26, were, Corp. Eleazar Warner, Corp. William Sims, Wm. Sanderson, Richard Burt Sen. and Jun., unsettled; Abraham Elgar, of Enfield ; Ebenezer Petty, Josiah Miller, David Burt, of Springfield ; Cyprian Wright of Rutland. Many of these names will often appear, in connection with our annals.
When the war opened, Col. Samuel Partridge of Hatfield, 78 years old, had the chief command in Hampshire Co., and next to him was Lt. Col. John Stoddard of Northampton.
1723. Early in the winter, Lieut. Kellogg writes to the governor - " The forts at Northfield are in a mean condition, and the people are neither willing nor able to make them good and defensible ; and I am apprehensive that the inhabitants will leave the place unless they are · allowed more men and better defenses." Governor Dummer wrote to the authorities in Hampshire Co. urging that the people of North- field should be encouraged to repair the forts, and promised his in- Auence with the legislature, to secure them a reasonable recompense. But the matter moved slowly. The repayment of expenses and the allowance of just charges by the General court, were very uncer- tain. Besides, it is to be considered, that Northfield was at this date in a transition state - the Committee that had so long managed their affairs being about to retire, and the people to assume the full control
193
Father Ralle's War.
of civil and military matters. The old order of things was not quite wound up ; and the new order was not well established. But, through the influence of Cols. Partridge and Stoddard, some further repairs and additions were made to the forts ; so that Col. P. writing May 14, could say. " The River is pretty well secured by the forts and men at Northfield and Deerfield ; but, he adds in the same let- ter, the towns cant stand the strain upon them, to watch, and ward, and fort, and scout, without pay, while their spring work is pressing to be done ; they cant get a living."
Civil Affairs.
Number of polls taxed, t723, .
39
Number of non-refidents and women taxed,.
18
Tax on the poll,
145 6 d
Tax on the pound valuation, 83d
Total tax levied, £1608 15 0
The Town Incorporated.
" At a General Affembly for the Province of the Maffachufetts Bay held at Bofton the 29th of May, 1723
A Petition of the Proprietors and Inhabitants of Northfield, fhewing that they have been under the management of a Committee appointed by the General Court, for feveral years - that many of the faid Committee live at thirty miles diftance from the faid Town, which brings a great difficulty and inconvenience upon the affairs of the faid Town - and that the number of Inhabitants is fo far increafed that they judge themfelves capable of managing the prudential affairs of the faid place - And therefore praying that they may enjoy all the privileges and immunities of a Town as others do :
In the Houfe of Reprefentatives, Read and Ordered
That the Town of Northfield be and hereby is authorized and impowered to have ufe exercife and enjoy, all fuch powers privileges and immunities which other Towns have ufe exercife and enjoy. And that Capt Benjamin Wright and Lieut. Eliezur Wright, two of the principal Inhabitants of the faid Town, are hereby directed and impowered to notify and fummon the Inhabitants duly qualified for voting, to affemble and meet together for the chufing of Town officers to ftand until the annual election according to law.
In Council,
Read and Concurred.
Confented to
Saturday June 15, 1723.
WM. DUMMER.
Thus the Plantation was incorporated into a Town, just 50 years after its first settlement. At a town meeting, held July 22, officers were chosen as follows : Joseph Petty, moderator ; Eleazar Holton, town clerk; Zechariah Field, Benoni Moore, Joseph Petty, selectmen; Ebenezer Field, constable; Benoni Moore, Nathaniel Mattoon. Theo- philus Merriman, Stephen Crowfoot, Ebenezer Severance, Ebenezer
194
History of Northfield.
Field, fence viewers ; Eleazar Mattoon, Thomas Holton, surveyors ; Daniel Wright, Eldad Wright, haywards ; Benjamin Janes, tythingman.
The Indians that had settled on the St. Francis river, and at Be- çancourt, were situated convenient to make incursions on either the eastern or northern frontiers ; and the Cagnowagas and other clans dwelling near the northerly end of Lake Champlain, were nearer the Hampshire Co. settlements. Gov. Vaudreuil was early in sending emissaries and presents to these last named tribes, and inciting them to acts of hostility against the English. He supplied them liberally with guns and ammunition ; and induced a large war party -the In- dian account says 300- to set out early in the summer, to watch and annoy the exposed points, and report to him all important movements.
GRAY LOCK .- The Indian chief, most prominent in the exploits of this war, on our borders, and the leader in some daring and successful expeditions, was Gray Lock, so called from the color of his hair. He was a chieftain of the Waranokes, who lived, previous to King Philip's war, on the Westfield river, and removed thence to the Mo- hawk country. He was now well advanced in age ; but retained all the daring, and tact, and energy of his youth. He was well known to the people of the river towns ; and seems to have been capable of inspiring regard by his friendly offices and shrewdness in time of peace, as well as awakening dread by his craft and cruelty in time of war. He said that he in one instance lurked for a whole summer in an out of the way place in Westfield, to get a chance to make captives of a family of the name of Bentley. He also watched a family of the name of Noble, who lived out of the village, stating afterwards that he had several chances of killing most of the children at a shot, but he did not then want scalps but captives.
At the time of Queen Anne's war, he was living near Mount Royal, and was known as a French Indian that headed small parties fitted out to prey upon the exposed towns on the Connecticut river. In 1723, Gray Lock was living on the shore of Missisquoi bay, at the northerly end of Lake Champlain. He had built a fort on a small creek, and collected a considerable band of followers. Some rich meadows here afforded the squaws a chance to plant large fields of corn. His method was, to go forth with a force of trusty savages, larger or smaller according to circumstances, build a camp at some convenient and secluded point near the towns, and keep out spies and scouts in small parties, who were ready to take scalps or captives, and hurry away for Canada. Col. Partridge writes - " This enemy can and sometimes do lie in wait two months about a town, before they kill or take, as some of them have acknowledged."
195
Father Ralle's War.
In the early spring of this year, Gov. Dummer, in conjunction with the military commanders of Hampshire Co., took much pains, through the agency of Col. Schuyler and the other commissioners at Albany, to conciliate Gray Lock, and some of the other chiefs living near the lake. Belts and other presents were sent : but somehow, it always happened that he was never found at home by the messengers. (He had already accepted a more valuable belt.)
During the late spring and early summer months, his whereabouts was not known. Lt. Kellogg, with his 20 soldiers, was doing effi- cient guard duty, and almost daily sending out his scouts, and our people were feeling entirely secure. August 13, while the men were scattered in their grain-fields, Gray Lock with a party of 4 Indians, waylaid and killed two of our leading citizens, viz. Thomas Holton, aged 42, and Theophilus Merriman, aged 31. The circumstances of the killing were not recorded, and cannot now be ascertained. Taking the scalps, the Indians pressed on to Rutland, where, the next day, they attacked Dea. Joseph Stevens and four of his sons as they were making hay in a meadow. The father escaped to the bushes : two of the boys, Joseph and Samuel were killed ; and two, Phinehas and Isaac were made prisoners. Soon after, meeting on the road the minister, Rev. Joseph Willard, they killed and scalped him, took his clothes, and with the two captives started for Canada. Phinehas was soon redeemed, and became the distinguished Captain, and hero of No. 4, in the next war. Isaac was given to the Cagnowagas, and was regained with some difficulty. The redemption money was raised in part by contributions in different towns. The family had been resident in Framingham ; and a collection was taken up in the meeting house there, April 19, 1724, amounting to £15 5.
News of the raids at Northfield and Rutland reached Boston, August 16. And on the 17th, Gov. Dummer issues orders to Col. Partridge to impress 18 able bodied men, well armed, to be employed as scouts, 5 each at Northfield and Brookfield, and 4 each at Deer- field and Sunderland, to be kept constantly ranging the woods about these several towns.
At this time Hampshire Co. had two companies of cavalry, one under the command of Capt. Adijah Dewey of Westfield, the other under Capt. Henry Dwight of Hatfield. Aug. 30, an order was despatched to Capt. Dewey to "rally up his troopers and march to the upper towns, scouting and repairing to the places of most danger, for the space of 14 days ; then Capt. Dwight with his Company was to take his place : the same term of time ; and so they were to alternate for a campaign ot 8 weeks." And this significant condition is appended to the order -
196
History of Northfield.
" You are to provide for yourselves arms, ammunition and provisions, all which are to be paid for by the public." The want of military stores and a commissary department, was a serious drawback in this and the succeeding war. Companies and drafted men had to provide ammu- nition, clothing and provisions, after being mustered ; and thus time enough was consumed to enable the active enemy to make good his retreat, before his pursuers were ready to march.
Capt. Dewey's troop took the field Sept. 3. The captain's pay was 35 shillings per week ; private's 10 shillings. Rations were rated at 5s. per week, and I gill of rum per day when the men were "improved in scouting the woods and lying out a nights." Three shillings six pence a week was allowed for a horse, and the same for a horse's feed. In Capt. Dewey's Company were Medad Pomeroy, Samuel Smith, John Evens, Samuel Root, John Root, and John Coombs for pilot.
After the affair at Rutland, Gray Lock and his party made a quick retreat to his fort. His success, in scalps and prisoners, gave him fresh eclat, and by giving the younger of the Stevens boys to the Cag- nowagas as a present, he bound that tribe fast to his interest. On the first of September he was ready to start on a new expedition, at the head of 50 Indians, composed of his own clan and Cagnowagas. Gov. Vaudreuil furnished them with 10 guns and plenty of ammu- nition. Col. Schuyler at Albany got news of the movement, and promptly notified the Massachusetts government. Sept. 13, the go- vernor issued orders to the troops then in service in the valley, " to be on the alert not to be surprised by ambushes, and use y' best endeavors to surprise the enemy, and when you shall find their tracks you are to pursue them ten days at the least, unless you shall come up with them sooner." But the savages knew the mountain paths and hiding places better than the soldiers ; and long and careful observation had made them perfectly familiar with the habits of families and working parties, and the situation of all out-fields and exposed points.
October 9, taking advantage of a remissness in military vigilance, and the carelessness of a party of farmers who were at work at corn harvest, the Indians made a sudden onset at Northfield, and killed Eben' Severance ; wounded Hezekiah Stratton and Enoch Hall ; and took Samuel Dickinson prisoner. It will be remembered that Dick- inson was taken captive at Hatfield in 1698, when 11 years old, and rescued from the Indians near Pomeroy's island. [See ante, p. 126.]
Oct. 11, Col. Partridge orders Capt. Dewey to forthwith move his troop to Deerfield, and send half the officers and men to North-
Father Ralle's War.
197
field, " to improve ye time in scouting, and guarding ye people to get in the remainder of ye harvest, and to take some of ye people and scout to the north and west in the woods." And on special request being sent to Hartford, by the Massachusetts authorities, a company' of Connecticut troops was sent up to Northfield, who were in service here for a few weeks.
As our town seemed singled out for destruction, the governor and council judged it necessary to give the inhabitants more efficient pro- tection ; and November 9, sent a captain's commission to Lieut. Kellogg, with orders to raise a company, of which 40 men were to be stationed at Northfield, and the rest to be kept constantly on the alert, and either in force or by squads, to scout on the river in places most likely for the discovery of the enemy's motions, and thus pro- tect and secure the inhabitants of Northfield, Deerfield and Sunder- land.
Mufter Roll of Capt. Joseph Kellogg's Co. Nov. 20, 1723 to May 30, 1724.
Capt. Jofeph Kellogg, Suff.
George Bates, Had.
Lt. Timothy Dwight, Nhn.
Jofeph Merchant,
Lt. John Pomeroy,
Samuel Kellogg,
Clerk, Jofiah King,
Hezekiah Stratton, Nfd.
Sergt. Elifha Searl,
Benjamin Miller,
" Jofiah Stebbins,
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