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 21
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Jonathan Janes,
" Waitftill Strong,
" Robert Cooper, Nfd.
Eleazar Mattoon, Daniel Wright,
Corp- Japhet Chapin, Spg.
Jonathan Belding,
" James Stevenfon, Suff.
Stephen Belding,
" John Sergeant, Worc. Daniel Shattuck, “
Edmund Grandee,
Eldad Wright,
John Brown, Enfd. Enoch Hall,
Nathaniel Hawks, Dfd.
Samuel Vining, “
George Swan,
Chriftopher Sitton, Enfd.
Nathaniel Brooks,
James Porter, Nhn. Orlando Bridgman,
John Allen,
Afahel Stebbins,
James Corfe, Anthony Wirefbury, Hat.
Thomas Sargent,
Jofeph Billing,
'Shem Japhet, Spg.
Jofeph Burt,
Benj. Bodurtha,
Ebenezer Williams,
Abraham Elgar,
Stephen Winchell, Wind.
.
Benoni Wright, Nfd.
Daniel Severance, “
Hezekiah Elmer,
Jofhua Wells,
John King,
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History of Northfield.
Jofeph Morgan, Spg.
Caleb Winchell, Wind.
Jona. Warriner,
Jofeph Allen, Suff.
Abraham Burnet,
Nathaniel Auften,
Benj. Brooks,
David Smith,
Samuel Bodurtha, "
Ebenezer Smith,
Jofiah Stebbins,
William Hunter, Long Is.
Benjamin Mun,
John Ellis, Narrag.
David King, Wfd.
John Afhman, Farm.
John Beamon, "
John Holmes, Old Eng.
Jacob Wheeler, "
Benj. Kimball, Ips.
David Sackett, "
Albany, Nov. 28, 1723. To Col. Partridge :
I have yours of the 19th. The two Indians yt have been with the belt of wampum to Cagnowaga are come back again. They found the Cagnowaga Indians were gone to y" parts : but y" Sachems faid they went againft their will ; their young people were deluded. * Three Cagnowagas who have been at Northfield arrived here yefterday. Saguenognas and Caho- wafco two chief captains, and his brother-in-law. They tell me they had no defign to do any harm : but Gov. Vaudreuil perfuaded them, and gave them powder and fhot and ten guns ; but they are very forry and afhamed that they have gone, and fay they will never go again. All the Indians who have been out, upwards of 300, are come back again, except 5 eaftern Indians, who re- turned back to your frontiers. I hope they may do no harm.
JOHN SCHUYLER.
These repeated incursions of the savages, with impunity, aroused the spirit of the old scout, Capt. Benjamin Wright, and Dec. 5, he wrote this characteristic letter to Gov. Dummer :
Hon" Sir : After my moft humble duty prefented, thefe are humbly to requeft y" Honor to grant me the liberty of commanding five and thirty or 40 men to go on the back of this army which came to Northfield as far as Otter Creek, and thenee round to White river, and fo home by Coun. river. This I humbly judge to be very ferviceable to this part of the country, and probably might be the means of deftroying fome of the enemy : And if y" Honor fee meet to give me orders, we think it a piece of good fervice to march the road which the enemy went, as far as Otter Creek. We are defirous we might go upon the wages the Province allows and the encouragement they give to fuch for fcalps. We would find ourfelves and be allowed for it by the Government. The whole I humbly fubmit to y" Honor's wifdom to direct ; and if y' Honor dont fee ineet to fend me, I humbly request that fome more fuitable perfon might, that fo our eneiny inight be difcouraged and the country defended.
Northfield Dec. 5, 1723.
BENJ'N WRIGHT.
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Father Ralle's War.
The matter was referred to a committee of the legislature, John Stoddard chairman, who 'reported, "that an expedition to St. Francis, the head quarters of the Indians, would be of great service, and may if prospered put an end to the present war : 400 able bodied men, English and Indians might be thought sufficient. A smaller party to the heads of the rivers may be of service to destroy some small hunting parties of the enemy. But if on account of winter being so far advanced, it be not advisable to make either of the above named marches, then a party of 30 or 40 to Otter Creek might do good, provided some western Indians go with them."
There appears to have been so many ifs in the way, that Capt. Wright's plan was frustrated.
FORT DUMMER .- A movement of the utmost importance to the safety of the frontiers, was projected at this date, and carried out in the next few months. The following documents give the particulars.
Dec. 27, 1723. In the House of Representatives, voted, That it will be of great service to all the western frontiers both in this and the neighboring government of Connecticut, to build a Block-house, above Northfield, in the most convenient place on the lands called the Equivalent Land, and to post in it 40 able men, English and western Indians, to be employed in scouting at a good distance up Connecti- cut river, West river, Otter Creek, and sometimes eastwardly above Great Monadnock, for the discovery of the enemy coming towards any of the frontier towns ; and that so much of the said Equivalent Lands as shall be necessary for a Block-house be taken up, with the consent of the owners of the said lands, together with 5 or 6 acres of their interval land, to be broke up or plowed for the pre- sent use of the western Indians, in case any of them shall think fit to bring their families thither."
The duty of selecting the site, and superintending the erection of the fort, was committed by Gov. Dummer to Lt. Col. John Stoddard ; who writes,
Northampton Feb. 3, 1724.
Sir: I recd yours of Jan. 8, and 21, and have engaged divers perions to make fnow-fhoes. Some of the moginfons are already made and fent to North- field. * * I have committed the work about the Block-houfe to Lieut. Timothy Dwight. Mr. Dwight will go this day to the place with 4 carpenters, 12 foldiers with narrow axes and 2 teams. I fuppofe they will hew all the timber bash for the fort and houfing before they return. I hope the fort and houfes will be framed and fet up this month. Capi. Kellogg's 10 fupernumerary men are turned over to the other company, and two more added which makes the number Col. Partridge was ordered to raife ; and orders are given for the ex-
.
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History of Northfield.
change of a few of Kellogg's moft inefficient men for fuch inhabitants as are driven from their lands.
As for Col. Buckminfter's men, we hear nothing of them. [Col. Jofeph Buck- minfter of Framingham was ordered to imprefs men for fervice at the new fort.] I have talked with Capt. Kellogg about a Lieut. for him ; he feems to think well of Jofeph Cleffon. Mr. Dwight needs a fecond in command ; names Elifha Searle now a ferg'. under Capt. Kellogg. He was long a captive in Canada. Mr. Dwight wants a chaplain at his fort.
P. S. I forgot to notice your fuggeftion about fetting ftockadoes around the Block-houfe. I dont fee the benefit of it, as we intend to make the fort fo ftrong that the foldiers will be fafe, even if the enemy get within the parade ground.
To Lt. Gov. Dummer.
JOHN STODDARD.
In another letter, of later date, Col. Stoddard writes :
" We agreed with carpenters from Northfield [Stephen Crowfoot, Daniel Wright and 2 others) for 5 fhillings per day, except Crowfoot, to whom I promifed 6 fhillings, and they all allow that he earned his money by doing fo much more work than the others. The foldiers had a very hard fervice, lying in the woods, and were obliged to work early and late : it is thought they deferve 2 fhillings per day befides the ftated pay, and the carpenters fomething more. The horfes were worked very hard, and commonly had nothing to eat but oats, and I be- lieve 2 fhillings a day will not be thought an excefs for fuch fervice."
The fort was built of yellow pine timber, which was then abund- ant on the meadow lands. It was nearly square, each side measuring about 180 feet. It was laid up in the fashion of a log house, the timbers being locked together at the angles. A row of houses was built against the wall round on the inside, with a single roof, and fronting on the hollow square, which served as a parade ground. The cost of the structure was £256. The fort stood on the west bank of the Connecticut river, just within the southerly limits of the present town of Brattleboro, Vt. ; and was named Fort Dummer, in honor of the then acting governor of Massachusetts.
As soon as the Block-house was well under way, Capt. Joseph Kellogg was sent to Albany to make efforts to induce the Maquas to enlist as soldiers for its defence. He spent much time and money, as did other commissioners later ; but to little purpose. Some Indians came on and staid a few months ; but when the real danger of the post be- came apparent, they left. They were ready enough to return, after the war was over, and stay till another war threatened. The truth afterwards come out, viz. that early in 1723, Gov. Vaudreuil had sent a belt of friendship to the Maquas, which they had accepted.
Father Ralle's War.
201
When finished, the command of the fort was given to Capt. Timo- thy Dwight, who held it with a Co. of 55 men. He continued in charge here till the close of the war, when he was succeeded by Capt. Joseph Kellogg, who retained the command till 1740.
Mufter Roll of Capt. Timothy Dwight's Co. at the Block-boufe above Northfield. Feb. 1, to May 31, 1724.
Capt. Timothy Dwight, Nhn. Lt. Elifha Searl,
Chriftopher Sitton, Enfd.
John Peafe,
Sergt. John McRanney, Spg.
Jonathan Peafe,
" John Burk, Hat. Elijah Gillett,
Robert Cooper, Nfd.
George Swan, England
Corp. William Syms, "
Anthony Wierfbury, Germany
Jacob Wheeler, Kind'k.
John Ellis, R. I.
Jona. Stanhope, Sud.
John Bement, Weft'd.
James Hayes, Stow.
Jofeph Gillett, Lebanon
Jona. Janes, Nfd.
Michael Fokt, Simfbury
Nathaniel Mattoon, "
Caleb Chapin, Spg.
John Brooks, Wind.
Abraham Burnet,
David Clark, John Thrall,
Pelatiah Jones,
Thomas Wooleft,
Robert Carter,
Stephen Winchell, “
John Crawford,
Jona. Warriner, Spg.
Ezerus, Maqua Sachem.
Samuel Burr, Hartd.
Kewahcum, Weftonhook,
Thomas Burler, Marib.
C'ofaumpt, Witiaug,
Robert Hunt,
Ampaumet, Sachem, Hudfon's river.
W-m. Hunnibufs, Conc.
Jeremiah Wedge, Fram.
Pomagun,
Uriah Clark,
Walunnoowoozeet,
Dan' Dickinfon, Stratd.
Taukaquint,
John King, Suff.
Noonoowannet,
Dan1 Severance, Dfd.
Poopoonuck,
Jofeph Allen, "
Suckkeecoo, Schaticook
Hendrick, Maqua Sachem.
John Froft
Waitunkameag,
THE TOWN FORTS REBUILT .- Capt. Kellogg writes, Jan. 10, 1724, to Gov. Dummer : "I have 50 men committed to my care by Col. Partridge, 40 of whom are at Northfield with me, and 10 at Deerfield. These men I have with the utmost care kept at watching, warding an scouting. * * I would repeat my former request to y' Honor, with respect to our forts, y' some care might be taken y' they might be made better, for they are exceeding mean."
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History of Northfield.
The governor immediately directs Col. Stoddard "to review the forts at Northfield, and advise and encourage the inhabitants to re- pair them." Between this and the 5th. of March, Stephen Bel- ding's premises were surrounded with strong pickets, and a heavily timbered mount built ; a line of pickets was set around parson Doo. little's buildings : and the Zechariah Field fort and mount were finished.
Jona. Belding's Account of work done at the North Fort.
Myfelf and team, 1 day ; and felf and 3 cattle to cart, 1 day £o 11 0 Five day's work of felf and ferg' Moor .. 12 6 Self and team to cart mount timber i day ; and felf one day's work at the mount 7 0 o
To 1063 feet of boards at 2s 6d. 1 7 0
To all the rails for the fort, 0 10 0
To 2 hundred and a half of teny peny nails.
Nathaniel Mattoons boards, 863 feet, and one day to cart pofts, and 2 horfes 1 day
Jona. Janes boards, 400 feet, and 42 feet of plank.
Dea. E. Mattoon, 4 day's work at the fort, and 320 feet of bo ards, and 1 day's work with his oxen, 1 day's work at the mount, 1 day's work with his oxen to feich in mount timber, and I day's warding for a soldier which did work at the mount
Dekon Janes boards, 600 feet ; one day's work carting pofts and 4 day's work at the mount
Jofeph Petty, 6 day's work at the fort ..
15 0 and 292 feet of boards O 7 0
The Account of the materials and work at the Field fort has not been found. The cost of cutting and setting up the pickets around Mr. Doolittle's premises, was £4 13 3.
The mounts were square towers, from 14 to 20 feet high, according to the ground ; were made of heavy timbers, framed, and boarded up, with the upper story or deck planked, and fitted up for a sentry.
Col. Stoddard writes, March 27, 1724 : "Capt. Kellogg is returned, and I suppose hath given you an account of his affairs. He tells me that he expected 4 or 5 Scautacook Indians to have been at Deerfield some days since, which I hear nothing of, and am prone to think that the Dutch have dissuaded them. It seems probable that the western Indians will not answer our expectations in assisting at the Block-house ; and inasmuch as our dependence is greatly on the
203
Father Ralle's War.
scouts to be sent from there, which cannot be well managed without the number of men allowed, it seems necessary that the complement be made of English for the present ; and in case the Indians do not within a little time join us, undoubtedly it will be best that a number , of good dogs be provided, which I hope may near as well answer our designs ; for I think it considerably probable that by means of some of our friend Indians they may be so instructed as that they will pur- sue an enemy, and in case they should kill one Indian, it will more effectually prevent their coming than the killing many in any other way : And although the Five Nations will not approve such a method, yet they must be silent, inasmuch as their neglect hath obliged us to that method. The people of Deerfield grow uneasy (now the spring comes on) at their having but 10 men ; and those of Northfield say that it will be in vain for them to pretend to manage any business in case their number of soldiers be not augmented. And I am fully of their opinion ; and if orders be not speedily given, re- cruits will not be had seasonably. If we are thorough in our endea- vors for the preservation of those in the frontiers, that will greatly quiet the spirits of people, and I hope be the means of the preserva- tion of some lives ; and probably the charge will not long continue, for I think there is a general disposition in the French, Dutch and Indians, that the present difference between us and the Eastern Indians should be accommodated."
April 6, intelligence was received that Gray Lock had enticed away several of the Scaticooks, that had lived and hunted in the valley, and were so well acquainted with the situation of the meadows and cornfields, that they would be able to take great advantage against our people.
Col. Partridge, by order of the governor, impressed 30 men, 15 each for Deerfield and Northfield. This made 45 men at Northfield under Capt Kellogg, for manning the forts, watching, warding, and guarding the men at work in the fields. The names are nearly the same as were on the last year's roll.
On or about the 11th of June, Gray Lock, with a party of II of his own men set out from his fort for the frontiers. Another war party consisting of 30 Abenakis started immediately after ; and within a few days still another party of 40 Indians sung the war song, and made preparation to start on a raiding expedition. Col. Partridge got information of Gray Lock's movement on the 13th at 10 o'clock at night, by express from Albany, and on the 15th wrote the go- vernor : " we have no soldiers but those belonging to the towns, and
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History of Northfield.
all of these are out upon their occasions to get their bread, and that with the peril of their lives, or beg their bread in a little time, but where I know not, if it comes to that - our dependencies are upon tilling the ground."
June 18,- about the time the governor would get the Colonel's letter - Gray Lock and his Indians fell upon a party of men who were loading hay in a meadow 3 miles north of Hatfield street, killed Benj. Smith, and took Aaron Wells and Joseph Allis. They also killed the oxen attached to the cart. Allis was killed the next day. A scout of 17 men was immediately organized at Hatfield, and went up as far as Otter Creek.' But Gray Lock had retired a short dis- tance to the west, and spent the summer in watching the settlements on that side of the river, at different times killing men at Deerfield, Northampton and Westfield.
About the 23d of June, the party of 40 Indians came down on the east side of the river towards Northfield. Two days after, Lieut. John Pomeroy in command of a scout of Capt. Kellogg's men, dis- covered on the north of the Ashuelot the tracks of these Indians. They found some sticks broke off, and some bushes bent down, as if they were intended for a guide to others that should follow. They judge the signs to be very new, as the sticks were not dry, and the leaves hardly wilted. This party turned off to the eastward, and built a camp on Miller's river, to the south of Monadnock, where they spent a considerable part of the summer. A scouting party, passing the spot the next year, found " sixteen of their spits on which they roast their meat : also a canoe and paddle, and some squash shells." ?
In this emergency Gov. Dummer appealed to the Connecticut au- thorities, and Gov. Saltonstall sent up Capt. Goodrich with 75 men, and Capt. Walter Butler with 30 men, and a company of 42 Mohegan
"This scout had a peculiarly trying service, as appears from the following letter of Dr. Thomas Hastings of Hatfield. " Being desired by Sergt Clesson and Sergt Wait to inform what I know of their expedition in June last, to Otter Creek - the expedition being sud- denly formed suitable necessaries was wanting for such a long and hard journey; saw most of ye men when they went forth, they were lusty and in good plight, effective men : saw them when they returned, and they were much emaciated, and their feet so swelled and galled that they could scarce travel on their feet - for some they were necessitated to hire horses : Some one or more applied to me to dress their feet and were under my care for a week or more, in bathing and emplastering before they were anything tolerably recruited. In fine. they underwent much, and I believe were hearty in their desires and faithful in their en - desvors to overtake the enemy and make reprisals. It's a pity such men undertaking such difficulties for ye country's cause should fail of a suitable reward."-Mass. Archives, LII, 193 a Mass. Archives, XXXVIII, A., P. 110.
.
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Father Ralle's War.
Indians, to assist in scouting. 1 Capt. G. and the Mohegans staid but a short time : Capt. Butler remained till October. The two com- panies of whites had head quarters at Northfield, and were billeted on the families.
In a letter to Gov. Dummer, dated July 14, Col. Partridge writes : " We are confident the enemy is lurking about, waiting to shed blood so that we being in the midst of our harvest are forced to go thirty or forty men in a day with their arms, and with a guard to accompany and work together."
The vigilance of Capt. Dwight at Fort Dummer ; the activity and tact of Capt. Kellogg, and the presence of the Connecticut troops pre- served Northfield from attack, through the summer months. And though laboring at great disadvantage, a fair amount of ground was put in tillage, and a heavy crop of corn made.
The employment of Indian scouts was attended with some peculiar difficulties. It was not easy for our men to distinguish between friend and foe when they met them ; and no foresight could prevent serious mistakes. When the Scaticook Indians came to the valley on their hunting excursions, it was customary for them to adopt some signal - as the wearing of a green bough on the head -and inform the commanding officers of the towns what it was, who would give the necessary instructions to their men. July 27, Col. Partridge was notified that 30 Pequods are on the road from Connecticut whom he is to forward to Col. Tyng at Dunstable. "They must have some signal, which must also be known to our people, to prevent any evil that might otherwise happen." Referring to the difficulty in the case, Col. P. writes, "I have always directed all parties scouting from our parts of Hampshire Co. to observe your directions : but shall find it impracticable for them to be always safe. They may hide and seek as the Indians do, and your Indians will not always have the green bough upon their heads, sleeping as well as waking ; and the sign may be stolen and used by the enemy as a decoy, and thus our men de- ceived to their hurt."
DEATH OF FATHER RALLE .- An expedition against Norridge- wock, the head-quarters of Ralle, was fitted out, about the middle of August. Captains Moulton, Harmon, Bourn and Bane, with 208 men, ascended the river Kennebec, reached N. on the 23d, took the Indian village by surprise, and killed a large number, among whom &was Father Ralle. " He was slain in fight making actual resistance
1 Mass. Archives, LII, 10.
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History of Northfield.
to the forces, and attempting to kill an English captive in his hands, and refusing to give or take quarter." 1
After the drawing off of the Connecticut men, Col. Stoddard added 6 men to Capt. Kellogg's Co. at Northfield, " to improve them in guard- ing our people in their distant fields, otherwise several people would have lost most of their corn and other fruits."
Oct. 7. Capt. Kellogg writes : " Lt. Pomeroy is with me at North- field. * * 'Tis difficult keeping a scout out constantly by reason of guarding ye people who are now busy getting in ye harvest. I have a scout out now, ordered to go above 40 miles up ye Great River, and from there to the eastward to Great Monadnock."
" Oct. 10, 1724.
" The Gov". of Canada having, as he has threatened, drawn many remote nations, viz. the Hurons and others with whom we have never had the leaft concern into a confederacy with the eaftern Indians, * * Our weftern front- iers have been more annoyed this laft fummer than the eaftern. Almoft every town in the Co. of Hampfhire and half in Middlefex being driven into garri- fons, and much diftreffed by this new enemy ; and although we have had great advantages over ye eaftern Indians by fuch a flaughter of them at Norridgewock as has not been known in any of ye late wars, yet by this junction of the weft- ern tribes the enemy is become more formidable than before. And the fervice in the war, and the charges for the fupport of it are fo heavy as to greatly im- poverifh the whole Province, and drive away many of our inhabitants to the neighboring Colonies, all which, (Conn. and N. H. excepted,) being in perfect peace and profperity themfelves fit ftill and fee us languithing under all the ca- lamities of war without affordirg us the fuccor of either men or money." 2
"Northampton, Oct. 12, 1724.
" I received the enclofed letters by an exprefs laft Wednesday ; Our people are pretty much alarmed therewith : I am ready to imagine that it is Cattanaw- let's fon who is coufin to Gray Lock, that hath either made or aggravated the ftory of the tracks to affright the Indians and prevent their bringing in the letter, prefuming it was on account of Gray Lock's being out : but I dare not men- tion fuch a thing to our people left it fhould make them too fecure. This Cattanawlet is a French Indian, and was in Deerfield meadow when our people were wounded : from there he ran over to Scautacook, there married a fquaw, and is fuffered to dwell there."
To Gov. Dummer. JOHN STODDARD.
Gray Lock returned to Missisquoi early in November. And about the same time Col. Partridge writes : " I think there will be
1 Mass. Archives, LII, 317.
2 Mass. Archives, LII, 58, Letter to Mass. agents in London.
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Father Ralle's War.
no danger of attacks from the enemy till the latter end of Jan. or Feb. when they can come on snow-shoes." To meet such an emer- gency, the governor ordered companies of snow-shoe men to be or- ganized in every town. Northfield had a Company of 24 men, each of whom had to provide himself snow-shoes and moccasins, for which the government allowed 10 shillings.
Nov. 30. Capt. Kellogg being relieved from the duty of guarding the farmers, commenced sending out scouting parties to the north- ward. In his Journal he says :
" The firft fcout on Nov. 30, 1724, went up on ye weft fide of Conn. River, and croffing ye Weft river went up to ye Great Falls, and returned, making no difcovery of any enemy." " The fecond fcout went up to Weft river, and followed up fª river 6 miles, and then croffed the woods to ye Great Falls, and returned, fecing no new figns of ye encmy." " The third fcout went weft from Northfield about 12 miles, then northward croffing Weft river, and fteering eaft came to the canoe place about 16 or 17 miles above Northfield." " The fourth ftruck out north-weft about 6 miles, then north acrofs Weft river and fo to the Great Meadow, below ye Great Falls, then croffed the Conn. river and came down on the eaft fide. This meadow is about 32 miles from Northfield." " The fifth, the men were fent up Weft river Mountain there to lodge on the top and view morning and evening for fmoaks, and from there up to ye Mountain at ye Great Falls, and there also to lodge on ye top, and view morning and evening for finoaks." " The fixth went up to Welt river, which they followed 5 miles, then north till they come upon Sexton's river fix miles from the mouth of it, which empties itfelf at yo foot of ye Great Falls, and then they came down to the mouth of it, and fo returned." " In addition, we watch and ward 3 forts at Northfield continually, befides what thofe 10 men do at Deerfield, and ye people are uncafy that we have no more men to keep ye forts than we have."1
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