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 28
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Some new levies and re-enlistments had collected at Northfield ; and Sergt. Thomas Taylor, who was stationed at Keene with Capt. Josiah Willard Jr.'s company, was sent down to bring up 10 men, to supply the place of the 10 killed or taken in the skirmish above Hinsdell's fort June 16.
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Col. Josiah Willard, then in command at Fort Dummer, reached Northfield July 12, on his way from Boston, designing to go on to the Fort the next morning. An alarm of Indians seen near Dum- mer reached Northfield that night, which induced the sending forward of a scout ; and Col. Willard, under a considerable escort of North- field men headed by Capt. Eben' Alexander, started for the north about noon of the 13th. Meeting Lt. William Wright, one of the scouts, who reported that no Indians were found in the neighborhood, Capt. Alexander with the main part of the escort returned to North- field. Thomas Alexander and 5 or 6 others on horse-back conducted the colonel safely through. As they passed the gate at the upper end of Merry's meadow, one of the horses became alarmed and res- tive, and was with difficulty urged through and forward. They learned afterwards that Raimbault and some Indians lay concealed only a few yards from this point ; and that he restrained the Indians from firing, on the assurance that a larger body of men was soon coming along.
The next morning, being Thursday July 14, Sergt. Taylor with his 10 recruits, including Daniel Farmer (one of the wounded in the previous engagement, who was healed and returning to duty) and 6 soldiers belonging to the different garrisons up the river, started for Keene by way of Hinsdell's and Fort Dummer. The road as far as the upper end of Merry's meadow had been a public highway for 12 years, and had been a travelled path since 1724. And the constant passing of men and teams with stores to Fort Dummer and above, which all went by this route, had made a well defined and well worn track. At this date, the road crossed Merry's meadow near the middle, rose the hill just above the upper brook, passed the west foot of the bluff on which Hinsdell's fort stood, and coursing along near the top of the meadow hill, struck across the plain by a direct line to the river bank nearly opposite the mouth of Broad brook, and so to the fordway above.
Knowing the reported presence of Indians, and remembering the fate of the 14, mostly from his own company, who were surprised on this same route a month before, Sergt. Taylor marched with an ad- vanced guard out on each side of the way. He would naturally look for an ambush near the brook below the grist-mill, or at the north gate of Merry's meadow ; but this point was safely passed. The meadow hill on the left, and the slope, skirting the narrow part of the plain for 80 rods above Hinsdell's fort on the right, both of which were then well wooded, were favorable covers for an enemy ; but he passed safely. The broad plain - in the central part about óo rods
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wide - threatened no danger till he should reach a piece of wet ground just against the " Geese Rocks." As he approached the river at this point, his left vanguard was drawing in, and his right advance was reconnoitering the piece of swampy ground, when his right flank'was suddenly assailed by the concealed French and Indians.
There was a narrow strip of springy land just under the bluff, 30 rods east of the road, and about the same distance in Taylor's rear, then covered with alders and brakes, which afforded a good cover for half of Repentigny's force ; and by letting the squad pass completely by, he could fall on their rear ; while the other half of his force, hidden in the swamp just ahead and in the wooded slopes and broken ground above, could intercept their advance, and thus being out- flanked in front and rear they were effectually entrapped. And as prisoners were more valuable than scalps to both savages and the French, it was for their interest to take the men alive. '
Taylor's men immediately right-faced, and returned the enemy's fire, when they saw the whole long line closing upon them. "Not less than one hundred guns were fired before our men could re-load." As their only resource, Taylor's men fled for shelter to the river bank. Here was a sharp but short skirmish. The advantage of the enemy, both in position and superiority of numbers - 6 to 1 - ren- dered resistance useless.
Our men did some execution. Two Indians were killed outright. And the relief party found where the Indians had cut 4 biers on which they carried off those too severely wounded to walk. Two of Taylor's party were killed on the spot : Asahel Graves of Hatfield and Henry Chandler of Westford, who were scalped and stripped of arms and clothing. Eleven were taken prisoners. Two made their escape back to Hinsdell's fort : and two got to Fort Dummer. One of the latter, Robert Cooper, was shot in the left side in two places, had a rib fractured and his arm shot through. He and his comrade were making the best of their way up under the river bank, when a party from Fort Dummer came out, and fired across the river on their pursuers, and so guarded them up and across to the fort.
Two of the captives, Joseph Rose of Northfield, and James Billings of Concord, were severely wounded ; and the Indians, after going about a mile, halted, and held a consultation. Rose, anticipating his fate, as he was unable to travel, begged of Taylor, who could speak Indian, to intercede with the savages for his life. But the latter was ordered to rise and follow the main body, when the two wounded men were knocked on the head with war-clubs. The remaining prisoners were conducted up the east side of the river 2 or 3 miles above the
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mouth of West river, where they crossed at a place called Cats-bane ; thence to the lower fork of West river ; thence up said river, over the ground where Capt. Melvin's affair happened ; and down the Otter creek to Crown Point ; thence to Canada. The Indians halted each day, about the middle of the forenoon, at noon, and the middle of the afternoon, making on the average 20 miles a day. Thomas Taylor was sergeant in Capt. Josiah Willard Jr.'s com- pany stationed at Keene ; he returned from captivity and to his post Sept. 30. Daniel Farmer of Groton, another captive, was wounded in the encounter on the same spot, June 16; was cured, and returning to duty. Jona. Lawrence Jr. and Ephraim Powers were impressed men from Littleton ; the latter was severely wounded in the head, and after his return was long disabled from any labor. Daniel How Jr. was from Rutland, as was also Thomas Crisson Jr. This was How's second captivity. John Edgehill was an impressed man from Framingham, where he was living as an apprentice to Jacob Pike. He, like the others, lost everything ; and was subjected to great hardships, by which he was incapacitated from labor. Reuben Walker belonged to Chelmsford. John Henry was from Concord. In a petition to the General Court, he says : " Your petitioner had 7 bullets shot through his clothes, but escaped into a thicket ; when happening to see an Indian seize one of his fellow soldiers, he ran up within a few feet of the Indian and shot him through the body ; whereupon he was surrounded, and engaged the savages with his gun clubbed till it was broken in pieces, when he was taken, and carried to Canada, where he remained 2 months and 18 days, when he returned home." For killing the said Indian, he was barbarously treated both on the march, and while in captivity.
The prisoners were all sold to the French, who retained them till the last of September, when they were released, and returned home.
After his return to his company, Sergt. Taylor sent a petition to the General Court, reciting the facts of the encounter, as above nar- rated ; and asking for the bounty offered by the Province - agreeing to furnish proof that two Indians at least were killed by his men. The legislature after a patient hearing " ordered, that £1oo be granted and paid to ye petitioner, to be equally divided between him and ye survivors ; and ye further sum of 50 shillings be allowed ye petitioner for his bravery in y' action ; also that he be allowed £7 for his ex- penses in travelling to Boston and attendance on ye Court ; also 26 shillings and 3 pence be allowed John Henry for his expenses, and 24 shillings to Daniel How Jr. for his expenses in this affair." How and Henry went to Boston as witnesses.
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The scene of this encounter was less than a mile below Fort Dummer ; and as soon as the report of the first volley was heard by the ward at. the Fort, the " Great Gun " was fired, to alarm the peo- ple and garrisons below, and as a signal that help was needed. The reason that no help came from Hinsdell's fort, was, that the soldiers posted there had just deserted it. The reason why no help came from Dummer, and so little from Northfield is given in the following letter, written the next morning by Col. Willard : " Two of Taylor's men are got into Fort Dummer ; one is well, the other wounded in two places, but we hope not mortal. What is become of ye rest we can't tell, and are unable to go and see. The soldiers here [16 in all] are so many sick that not one-half are able to do duty. And the case is the same and exceedingly difficult at Northfield : for upon the alarm, there came but three men last night to see what was done. They have in times past at Northfield been very free and ready, upon alarm, to come for our help, but are now quite beat out, inso- much that I fear we shall not have help to go and see what is done, and bury the dead."
News of the disaster reached Hatfield the next morning ; and Maj. Williams immediately sent up a large number of the militia and sol- diers from Hatfield, Deerfield and Fall-town, under command of Capt. Phinehas Stevens " who happened to be at Deerfield," with orders to expel the enemy and range the woods. They were joined at North- field by such of the militia as could go under Ens. Hezekiah Stratton. Proceeding to the place of the conflict, they found and buried the bodies of Graves and Chandler, " and then followed the enemy's track about a mile, when they discovered the bodies of Rose and Billings, whom they buried. Receiving orders from Col. Porter, and re-in- forcements, many of the officers and soldiers remained at Hinsdell's fort ; and on the Sabbath went over to Fort Dummer, where the chaplain, Rev. Andrew Gardner preached from Rev. III, 3 ; " If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."
On Monday the party, numbering in all 129 men, followed the trail of Taylor's captors, but could not come up with them, though the report of guns was heard in the distance. They found and buried the body of William Bickford, killed June 16; and returned home
" A pair of rude grave stones stood, till within 50 years, to the east of the " Geese Rocks," a few rods from the present river bank. When the land was cleared, the stones were plowed up, and human bones found underneath. About 3 years since, a lad found a skull which had been laid bare by the caving of the bank, near this spot. There is no tradition by which to identify the remains.
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by way of the scene of Capt. Hobbs's fight, burying his three men " which the enemy had not found."
About 80 years after the fight, Hollis Taylor, a son of Sergt. Thomas, set up a small slate stone with suitable inscription by the side of the highway, directly east of the spot where he was captured. This has disappeared ; and a handsome marble monument has lately been erected, a short distance to the north, by Lewis Taylor a grand- son of the sergeant.
Maj. Israel Williams transmitted an account of Sergt. Taylor's encounter to Secretary Willard at Boston, July 15th ; and adds, " Ac- cidentally learning that Capt. Loomis designed to withdraw his men from Col. Hinsdell's fort, without leave, Capt. Leeds was ordered to send 10 of his men from Northfield to keep it for the present, but utterly refused, and declared he would obey no orders but from the committee of war at Hartford - Tho' orders were given to have his men's places supplied, and 10 of Capt. Loomis's men actually went to Northfield for that purpose. If that fort [Hinsdell's] must be left for the enemy to burn, I should be glad to know it. I know Gov. Shirley was fond of its being preserved. It's time we knew who is to govern, whether those who have a right to command, or those who ought to obey. Since the enemy killed the eleven cattle at Ashuelot [on the 8th] and carried off the meat, they are well furnished to dwell amongst us, as it seems they do, and destroy us as fast as they please. Something effectual must be done, or the western frontiers are ruined."
On the 16th, Col. Joseph Dwight of Brookfield wrote to Secretary Willard : " We have accounts of the enemy lying on our borders in great numbers. It seems to me high time for the government to ex- ert its power, and give more effectual directions to the officers posted on the frontiers - if need be, to raise half the militia of the Province. But I beg we may have 1000 men to drive the woods and pursue the enemy even to Crown Point."
July 18, the governor issued orders to Col. Porter to raise a strong and sufficient guard out of the militia for the succor of the exposed garrisons.
About July 22d, Capt. Leeds and his company of Connecticut troops were withdrawn from Northfield.
July 23. THE KILLING OF AARON BELDING .- The Indians had their scouts out in all directions ; and as soon as Northfield was left without protection, a small party of 6 Indians way-laid Capt. Alex- ander's fort at the upper end of the town street. On the morning of the 23d, a little before sunrise Aaron Belding started from this
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fort to go to his mother's who lived next below Mill brook, and so to Dickinson's fort a little further south. Seeing him leave, the In- dians by a slight detour intercepted him just north of the brook, and fired upon him as he was passing the ledge of rocks which extend out into the highway at this point. The shot brought him down ; and one of the savages instantly sprang upon him. Mr. Belding recognized the Indian as an old acquaintance, and begged him to spare his life. But with a curse the Indian drew his knife, cut round his crown, and placing one foot on his neck, and clenching the hair with both hands, jerked off the scalp entire ; then striking a hatchet into his head he left him. The people were generally in bed ; but on hearing the report of the Indian's gun the watch gave an alarm ; and the inhabit- ants, most of whom lodged in the forts, got out as soon as possible. The Indians were seen from Dickinson's fort, as they fled towards the east, and fired upon, but received no harm. Belding was alive when his brother and others reached him, and was sufficiently con- scious to give some of the above particulars, but died soon after being carried to the fort. An inscription, cut in the face of the rock near where he fell, by Thomas Elgar, reads, " Aaron Belding was killed here July the 23d, 1748."
Some years after, in time of peace, three Indians came down the river in a canoe, and stopped at the tavern kept by Moses Belding a twin brother of Aaron. After drinking somewhat freely, one of the Indians. related the circumstances connected with the shooting and scalping, and boasted that it was his own act. His statement of the transaction corresponding with what Moses had learned from his dying brother, left no room to doubt the identity of the murderer. Moses gave orders to his wife to supply the Indians with " what they should call for," took his gun, and left the house. Between sunset and dark, the Indians left the tavern and went in the direction of the river. Not long after, a rousing gun was heard ; and in the course of the evening Belding returned home. No questions were asked ; and no explanations given ; but a few days afterwards a strange canoe was found lodged on the river bank, a little below where the Indians were supposed to have landed. The common belief was, that a rak- ing fire with buck-shot had emptied that canoe !
Capt. Melvin with a company of 26 Rangers was stationed at Northfield, Aug. 1. to 30. Capt. Thomas Buckminster, with 48 men from Brookfield reached Fort Dummer Aug. 6, and remained till the 20th. Lieut. Seth Pomeroy of Northampton, with 98 men was in service from Aug. 7, to 21. Col. Joseph Dwight, with 100 men from Hatfield and vicinity was out from Aug. 11, to Aug 22.
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And a few soldiers from Connecticut came up to Northfield, and re- mained till Oct. 24.
The news that the preliminaries of peace had been agreed upon in Europe reached Boston Aug. 4 ; but it had no immediate effect on the war movements of the Massachusetts authorities. It had been known earlier in Canada. But the sending of large bodies of soldiers to the western frontiers ; and the more efficient conduct of affairs by Col. Williams, who received the command of the northern Hampshire regiment Nov. 16, checked the raids of the French and Indians. The later harvests were gathered in quietness.
Oct. 24, the following petition was sent to Boston :
"To his Excellency Wu. Shirley
We who are underfigned, in behalf of the inhabitants of Northfield, look upon ourfelves ftill expofed to the Indian enemy, notwithitanding ye ceffation of arms between ye Englifh and French ; for ye Indian enemy are not at all obliged aby it, and may take this advantage to do ye more mifchief ; And we are well fatiffied that they are about us, and we fear they are watching to de- ftroy us ; and we defire humbly to inform that Connecticut forces y' were pofted at Northfield are this day drawn off, and we are left naked of any fol- diers for our help, and we are but fmall in number ; and therefore greatly ex- pofed to ye enemy's affaults.
We therefore humbly pray yt we may ftill be fupplied with a fuitable number of foldiers, as y" Excellency fhall fee meet.
BENJa. DOOLITTLE SAMUEL HUNT, Lieut. HEZEKIAH STRATTON, Ens. JOSHUA LYMAN, ELIEZER PATTERSON, Selectmen.
JON'D BELDING.
In answer to this petition, Serg' Ebenezer Stratton and 14 men of Lieut. William Lyman's company at Fort Shirley, were ordered to Northfield, to do garrison duty till Jan. 2, 1749.
Fifteen men were allowed at Fort Dummer, and 5 at Hinsdell's gar- rison, from Nov. 15, to Mar. 1, '49 ; and then continued till May 30.
The calling out of such great numbers of militia involved a large expenditure. And the urgency made it necessary for the commissaries and colonels to use their personal credit and money, in the absence of appropriations by the legislature. Some extracts from Letters will show the straits to which they were brought.
" To John Wheelwright. Commy General.
Sir : I have met with fo much trouble and been at fo great expenfe in the fupply of the line of forts in the year paft, that I am fick of the bufinefs. They
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have about 3 weeks' allowance at each of the forts ; and unlefs fome body is foon appointed to fupply them they may, as the winter may be, have to carry provifions upon men's backs as I was laft year. I hope you will find fome perfon to ferve the Province and yourfelf better than I am able.
November 15, 1748. WILLIAM WILLIAMS."
" Sir : I have borrowed large fums of money to enable me to fupply No. 4, Fort Dummer and the Afhuelots with provifions, required by the regular gar- rifons, and the large numbers of men called out upon alarıns, for which I do to this time allow intereft, to my great detriment, and will, nay muft throw up my fub-commiffaryfhip. JOSIAH WILLARD.
" The Memorial of John Wheelwright, Nov. 16, 1748, Sheweth : The difficulty he labors under, particularly in billeting the foldiers in the weftern frontiers : At the prefent juncture thofe that have acted as fub-commiffarys have refufed to do fo any longer, owing to the great fcarcity of the paft winter, the fmall pay they receive, and efpecially becaufe they have been forced to borrow moneys to enable them to furnifh many fupplies : Col. Williams hav- ing advanced upwards of 6000 pounds, and Col. Willard upwards of 10,000 pounds. As the winter feafon is approaching, the confequences of a want of provifions to the forts can eafily be forefeen."
Nov. 18, the General Court made the needful appropriations. But it was a long time before the old accounts were all settled. Commis- sary Williams sent a petition to the legislature, in behalf of the town of Northfield, April 13, 1749, shewing, " that the inhabitants of said town billeted Capt. Leeds and company the spring and summer past ; that by reason of the war they were so drove from their improvements, that they were obliged to go as far as the lower part of the county and even to Connecticut to buy provisions for their subsistence, which cost them so dear that they cannot without loss board the men for less than 40 shillings old tenor per week."
April 19, the necessary grant was voted, and after the usual delays, was received.
The treaty of peace was signed at Aix la Chapelle. Oct. 7, but was not proclaimed in Boston till May 10th of the next year.
1749. DEATH OF REV. BENJ". DOOLITTLE .- Our knowledge of the life and leading characteristics of the minister-physician of North- field, is confined to the few incidents interwoven in the preceding pages. His pastorate must have been a varied and in many respects a trying one. The period was distinguished by stirring events in po- litical, military and religious affairs. Men thought quickly and acted
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promptly. How he stood related to some of these questions has been indicated by the account of his church troubles. The part he took in others appears in the petitions he sent to the General Court, al- ready quoted. The services he rendered in the former and the late war, as surgeon, were of the greatest public and private benefit. His death occurred just at the close of the war, which so directly and deeply affected the interests of Northfield and the adjacent settlements.
From the inscription on his grave stone, it appears that Mr. Doo- little died January 9, 1748, in the 54th year of his age, and the 30th of his ministry. The following notice appeared in the Boston Gazette and Weekly Journal of Jan. 24 : " We are informed that on the 9th instant, the Rev. Mr. Doolittle, pastor of the church in Northfield, was suddenly seized with a pain in his breast, as he was mending a fence in his yard, and died in a few minutes time, to the inexpressible grief of the town in general, as well as his own family in particular."
A sermon was preached at his funeral by Rev. Jonathan Ashley of Deerfield, from Mark xiii, 37, and Rev. iii, 3. The sermon was printed ; but it contains no sketch of Mr. D.'s life or character, fur- ther than to say, " he was a tender husband and an affectionate father." He appears to have been better known abroad as a surgeon than as a preacher. His medical practice was large and successful ; his surgical practice extended from No. 4, as far down as Springfield. In 1743, he wrote and published a sermon entitled, " An Enquiry into Enthusiasm, being an Account of what it is, the original, Progress, and Effect of it." By a reference to p. 232 in the preceding chapter, the occasion of the discourse will be readily inferred.
Mr. Doolittle kept a record of the leading events of the war, which transpired in this vicinity, from its opening to August 2, 1748. This was published, with some small additions, in 1750, under the title, " A Short Narrative of the Mischief done by the French and Indian enemy, on the western frontiers of the Province of Massachusetts Bay." It is an octavo pamphlet of 24 pages. This record, a copy of which is in the library of Harvard College, has been the basis of the history of the war, contained in this chapter.
A NEW PREACHER .- In March, Mr. Isaac Lyman was hired to preach, and was requested to preach on probation. Sept. 20, the town, at a meeting called for the purpose, voted, to give the worthy Mr. Isaac Lyman a call to settle with us in the ministry. He did not accept. Isaac Lyman was son of Capt. Moses and Mindwell (Sheldon) Lyman, b. at Northampton, Feb. 25, 1725 ; graduated
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Yale College, 1747. In 1750 he was settled as pastor of the church in York, Province of Maine.
The soldiers in garrison at the forts above Northfield were dis- missed May 31. But the inhabitants continued to keep watch and ward at the several town forts. June 20, the Indians made a sudden assault at No. 4. Sergt. Caleb How, writing that day, says :
" This afternoon about 3 o'clk, the Indians fhot upon Enfign Obadiah Sart- well as he was harrowing corn in his home-lot. The ward faw them as foon as they rofe out of their ambufh. They fhot 4 guns, the laft of which killed father Parey's mare. The ward fays he faw the Indians lead off your fon Enos, who was riding the mare, and lift him over the fence, fo that we hope he is well. We faw about 10 or 12 Indians run upon Sartwell, and they were naked, and they made off very quick. CALEB HOW.
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