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 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
1744.
The first Year of the War passed without any Mischief ; and was spent in putting ourselves into a Posture of Defence.
I745.
But in the Year 1745, July 5th, the Indian Enemy came to a Place called the Great Meadow on Connecticut River about sixteen Miles above Fort-Dum- mer ; and took one William Phips as he was hoeing his Corn. The two ihat
371
Doolittle's Narrative.
took him led him near half a Mile froin the Place and stopt: Upon which (as we have heard from the Indians) one went down a steep Hill to fetch some- thing they had left : on his Return Phips catch'd hold of their Guns, shot him down, and then fell upon the other with his Hoe, which he carried with him ; struck him down, and chop'd him very much, and then attempted to run away ; But three Indians coming up at that Instant, shot him down, kill'd & scalp'd him, & mangled his Body very much ; and we have heard, the Indian which he wounded with his Hoe, died afterwards of his Wounds.
July 10. The same, or some other Party of Indians, came to a Place called the Upper- Asbuelot, kill'd and scalp'd Deacon Josiab Fisher, as he was driving his Cows to the Pasture, about half a Mile from the Garrison.
October 11. A considerable Party of French & Indians came to a Place called the Great Meadow ; and made an Attempt on the Fort, but did not succeed : But took Mr. Nebemiab How Captive, and carried him to Quebec, where he died in Prison above a Year after he was taken. As these Enemies went off they kill'd and scalp'd one David Rugg, who with another Man was coming down the River in a Canoe ; the other Man made his Escape : and they kill'd a Number of Cattle.
1746.
April 19. The Enemy came to the uppermost, and most Frontier Place on Connecticut River called Number Four ; where they took three Men as they were going to Mill about half a Mile distant from the Garrison ; viz. Capt. Jobn Spafford, Isaac Parker, and Stephen Farnsworth. They were Prisoners some time in Canada ; but are since returned to their Homes.
April 22. A Man was shot upon between Northfield and Deerfield ; but only shot thro' the Brim of his Hat.
April 23. About fifty of the Indian Enemy came to a Place called the Upper- Asbuelot early in the Morning, and designed to have rush'd into the Garrison just after the People went out : But one at a little Distance from the Garrison saw them, and gave Warning to the People .- They pursued those that were out of the Garrison, and took one Nathan Blake Captive, who after a long Imprisonment is returned to his Friends. The enemy approached near the Garrison Gate, shot down one John Bullard, who soon died ; and stab'd one Duniel McKenny's Wife in the Back with a long Knife, who soon died. Soon after which, the Enemy burnt seven Buildings, not only to devour the Peoples Substance, but to conceal their Dead ; for human Bones were found in the Ashes : They kill'd also twenty three Cattle.
April 26. It is probable some of the same Indians Way-laid the Road be- tween Lunenburg and Northfield, and kill'd and scalp'd one Josbua Holton of Northfield, who was returning from Boston with a considerable Sum of Money for billeting of Soldiers.
May 2. The Enemy came again to Number Four ; and as a few Men went out in the Morning about 50 or 60 Rods from the Fort, the Enemy lay in a Barn, fired on them ; and kill'd one Seth Putnam : as the Enemy were scalp- ing of him, Major Josiab Willard, with two Men, ran near to theni, fir'd upon
372
History of Northfield.
them, and made them immediately retreat in Confusion ; and we hear by the Captives that two of the Enemy were kill'd as they were scalping Putnam.
May 6. A Party of Indians came to Lower- Asbuelot, and lay about the Gar- rison, till they observing Deacon Timothy Brown and Robert Moffett going out of the Garrison towards Upper- Asbuelot, Way-laid them, and fir'd upon them. Moffett shot on them and broke the chief Indian's Arm : They were both taken Captive, and carried to Canada ; but are since returned.
At the same Time, a Party lay about the Garrison at the Upper- Asbuelot ; and as one of them ventur'd to come up to the Fort, and shook the Gate in the Night, the Watch shot at the Gate, and shot the Indian thro' the bottom of his Belly : who died before he reach'd Crown Point.
May 9. A considerable Party of Indians came to Fall- Town ; with a Design to rush into the Fort in the middle of the Day, when the Men were Abroad : but a Soldier a little distant from the Fort discovering them, alarmed the Fort ; but he himself could not recover the Fort. There being but three Men in the Fort, defended themselves ; the Women assisting in charging the Guns. The Enemy approached near the Fort ; but were soon repulsed ; did no Mischief, except slightly wounding Jobn Burk, burning one House, and killing ten Cattle. The chief Indian had his Arm broke, and one or two more were wounded.
The Same Day Serjeant John Hawks and Jobn Mibils, being a little distant from Fort Massachusetts, riding on a Horse ; two Indians Way-laid them, fir'd upon them, and wounded both of them. Mibils made his Escape to the Fort. Serjeant Hawks falling from the Horse, the Indians ran to scalp him ; but he soon recovering, presented his Gun : One Indian jump'd down the Bank, the other got behind a Tree : one being a little distant from his Gun, the other discharged ; in their Language, as we have since heard, called for Quarter ; but the not understanding them, continued hallowing to the Fort to come and help take them ; but they not hearing, the Indians made their Escape.
May 10. Some of the Indians, that were the Day before disappointed at Fall. Town, turned off to Colerain, about ten Miles North West from Deerfield, and Way-laid the Road ; and as one Matthew Clark with his Wife and Daughter, and three Soldiers, were going from the Garrison to Clark's House, they fir'd upon them : they kill'd and scalp'd said Clark, and wounded his Wife and Daughter: one Soldier play'd the Man, fir'd several Times - defended and bro't off the Woman and her Daughter to the Fort, who are recovered of their Wounds.
May 24. There came a large Body of the Enemy to. Number Four. Capt. Pain with his Troop arriving there while the Enemy lay in Ambush ; about twenty Men went out of the Fort to view the Place where Putnam was kill'd : the Ambush rose, fir'd upon them, and endeavour'd to run between them and the Fart. Capi. Stevens and a Number of Men issued out of the Fort for their Relief : a Skirmish began, in which Aaron Lion, Peter Perrin, Joseph Mercy of Capt. Pain's Troop ; Samuel Farnsworth, and Elijab Allen, belonging to the Fort, were killed : Quarter-Master Bacon wounded, and Ensign Obadiab Sartle taken Captive, who is since returned Home : He says, he saw five of
373
Doolittle's Narrative.
the Enemy dead after the Fight : They left thirteen Blankets, five Coats, a Gun and other Things.
June 11. A considerable Number of Indians came to Fort-Massachusetts ; fell upon some Men who were at Work some Distance from the Fort ; kill'd, and scalp'd Elisba Nims ; wounded Gersbom Hawks : An Ambush arose near the Fort, and endeavoured to intercept those who were running to the Fort, but were repulsed by a brisk firing from the Fort : They took Benjamin Tainter Captive, who is since returned Home. They kill'd near One Hundred Crea- tures belonging to the English and Dutch. A few Days after, one of the In- dians was found buried in the Side of the Bank of the River ; and also some long Leading-Lines bro't to lead Captives Home in Triumph, were found.
June 19. A large Body of the Enemy came again to Number Four ; and as Capt. Stevens and Capt Brown, with about fifty Men were going into the Meadow, perceived by the Dogs with thein, that there was an Ambush by the Causey ; which put them into a Readiness for an Engagement : One of Capt. Stevens's Men saw one of the Enemy, and fired at him : Upon which, the Ambush arose, and a sharp Engagement ensued : the Enemy were forced to retreat, drawing off their dead Men, as was known by the Signs afterwards dis- covered : None of our Men were kill'd on the Spot : Jedediab Wincbel was wounded, and died of his Wounds a Fortnight after : David Parker, Jonathan Stanbope, and Cornet Heaton, were wounded, but are recovered : a Scalp was drop'd by the Indians, supposed to be a French Scalp : one Gun, eight Blankets, and other Things left by the Enemy.
June 24. A Party of the Enemy came near to a Fort called Bridgman's- Fort, about two Miles below Fort-Dummer : fell upon some Men at Work in the Meadow, kill'd William Robbins, and James Barker : and took one Daniel How, and Jobn Beaman Captive, who just before he was taken shot an Indian and kill'd him ; they are since returned from Captivity : they also wounded Michael Gilson, and Patrick Ray, who are recovered of their wounds.
July 3. A Small Party of the Enemy laid an Ambush at Col. Hinsdell's Mill. Col. Willard with about twenty Men went to get some Grinding : when they set the Mill a-going, went to search round the Mill to see whether there were not an Ambush : and some of the Men happening to go where the Am- bush was, the Enemy fired upon them : our Men engaged, and pursued them a little Way, and recovered of the Enemy the most of their Packs : one Wright was slightly wounded.
July 28. David Morrison of Colerain, a young Lad, Seeing a Hawk light on a Tree a little distance from his Father's Fort, went to shoot him : there hap- pened to be about twelve Indians at the Place, who took him Captive : We have no certain News what became of him.
August 3. A large Body of the Enemy came to Number Four. The Dogs gave Information that the Enemy were about them : Early in the Morning some went out near to a Nursery, and were fir'd upon by some Indians who lay there. One Phillips was killed : the Enemy run off: our Men charg'd their guns and returned to the Fort. Some time after, when they went to fetch
374
History of Northfield.
Phillips into the Fort, the Ambush arose, and fired about an Hundred Guns at them : the Men fired some time, retreating to the Fort. The Enemy continued firing till the next Day : then burnt the Buildings, kill'd the Cattle, and drew off.
August 6. About thirty Indians came to Winchester ; Way-laid the Road ; and as six of our Men were passing they fir'd on them, kill'd and scalp'd one Joseph Rawson, and slightly wounded Amasa Wright.
August 11. A small Party of Indians came to Northfield : Shot upon Benja- min W'right a young Man, as he was riding after Cows to bring them out of the Woods ; but his Horse brought him into Town, and he died the following Night.
August 15. A Number of Indians shot upon four Men near Shattuck's-Fort, but hurt none. A few Days before they hung up a white Flag in Sight of the Fort.
August 17. Some Indians came to a Place called Pequaiog ; kill'd and scalp'd one Ezekiel Wallingford, who was alone out at some Distance from the Fort.
August 20. About seven or eight Hundred of French and Indians came to Fort-Massachusetts, and laid Siege about twenty-four Hours. After which, they desired to speak with the Officer ; who admitted the Messenger into the Fort, who said in the Name of the General, that if they would surrender, they should be well used. Our Men consulted together, finding they had not Am- munition to stand them many Hours, tho' they had been sparing in firing ; and considering the Number of Sick they had in the Fort, tho't it their wisest Method to make the best Capitulation they could : accordingly resigned them- seives Prisoners of War into the Hands of the French ; with the General's Promise, that none of them should be given into the Hands of the Indians ; and that the Sick, and such as could not travel should be carried. Yet notwithstand- ing, He the next Day delivered one Half of our People into the Hands of the Indians ; who the next Night kill'd one of our Men, who was sick, rather than carry him. The French treated our Men civilly and tenderly : So also did the Indians those with them according to their Manner. Thirty-two Men, Women and Children Surrendered : many of whom died in Canada.
The Reason of this Garrison's being lost, was, it's want of Ammunition ; which had they been well Supply'd with, they might have defended the Fort, and done much greater Spoil on the Enemy than they did : yet we have had Intelligence that near fifty of the Enemy were kill'd before the Fort surrendered.
By whose Neglect the Fort was lost, we know not; but it's probable had the Officer been deficient, he would have been disgraced. But want of Ammuni- tion was not only the Calamity of that Fort ; but also of the greater Part of our Garrisons at that Time.
There was one Man kill'd in the Fight, and Many died in Prison at Canada : Some are returned Home. And the Fort was burnt down; which it cost the Province many Hundreds to rebuild.
August 22. As about ten of our Men were going from Deerfield to Colerain, two or three Indians lying by the Road, fired on them ; shot down one Constant Bliss a Connecticut Soldier : the rest made off as fast as they were able : The Indians scalp'd Bliss : and finding some Rum our Men left, the Indians took
375
Doolittle's Narrative.,
it, got very merry with it, and (as they told afterwards) the next Morning when they awak'd, they were near one of the Garrisons at Colerain : The Rum had lik'd to have proved as fatal to them as to our Men.
August 25. Thirty of this Army came to Deerfield ; not being satisfied with what was done at Fort-Massachusetts ; and fell upon some People in the South Part of the Meadow : They kill'd and scalp'd Samuel Allen, Eleazar Hawks Jun., Oliver Amsden, Simeon Amsden, of Deerfield, and Adonijab Gillet, a Soldier : they wounded Eunice Allen ; and took Samuel Allen, a Child of about nine years old ; Allen kill'd one of the Enemy just before he was kill'd ; and it is supposed another was kill'd by some other Person.
16 Had there not been a continual firing in the Town from Day to Day ; the People would have took the Alarm, and might have been upon the Enemy before ever they could have got out of the Meadow : Which shews the great Necessity of Order and Discipline in Frontier Towns.
This Summer a Proclamation was issued for inlisting Soldiers for an Expedi- tion against Canada ; and a great Number freely inlisted, hoping the Time was coming, that God would deliver us out of the Hands of our Enemies in Canada : and the Soldiers especially inlisted out of the Garrisons ; some in order to be freed from the Province Service, which they were weary of ; others with some more generous Views for the public Good : and all Endeavours to put a Check to the Fury of the Enemy were stopt: the whole Concern was to get ready for the expected Expedition : but how this turned out, we all know : great Numbers of Men kept in Pay and Idleness 'till disbanded, to the Ruin of many of them, and the great Hurt of the Country.
1747.
March 30. About thirty or forty Indians came to a Fort called Shattuck's- Fort between Northfield and Col. Hinsdell's, with a Design to burn it : they had made Faggots of dry Spruce & Pitch Pine ; dipt the Ends of them in Brim- stone ; brought Fire in a Kettle covered with a Blanket ; and coming silently to the Fort in the Night, set it on Fire ; which burnt down that Part of it which stood on the South-Side of the Brook : but presently after the Fire began, the Wind which was Southerly, turning to the Northward, and the Soldiers get- ting into the other Part, by help of the Brook and Wind, prevented the Progress of the Fire to the North-Side : and then the Enemy with Surprize observing the sudden Turn of the Wind, in our Favour, drew off without doing any other Mischief. The English fired at them, & broke the Leg of one of them.
March 31. Capt. Eleazer Melvin with some of his Company who were then at Northfield, pursued them to the Great Meadow, shot across the River at them, and kill'd one of them : They burnt the Fort which the English had de- serted.
April 7. An Army of French and Indians came to Number Four, and laid Siege to the Garrison. Capt. Stevens being there with about thirty Men, made all necessary provision for their Defence; especially by digging Trenches from dnuer the Fort about a Yard outwards in several Places, at so near a Distance
376
History of Northfield.
to each other, as by throwing Water we might put out the Fire, in Case the Enemy by their four Wheel Carriages loaden with Faggots shou'd set any out- ward Part of the Fort on Fire. They continued shooting, and throwing their Fire- Arrows for near two Days : and then desired to speak with the Captain, who admitted three of them into the Fort ; three of our Men going out to the Enemy atthe same Time : they demanded the Fort ; & promis'd our Men to carry them safe to Mount-Real, to their Friends, if they would surrender : but the Captain assured them he should not resign the Fort. - After which they continued firing, and made some Preparation to Storm the Fort, till the next Day ; and then they requested the Captain to sell them some Corn ; he told them he would grant them five Bushels of Corn for every Hostage they should send into the Fort, to be kept till the Enemy should bring and deliver so many of our Captives from Canada. But on the third Day they drew off, having done no Mischief, except slightly wounding Joseph Ely and John Brown. Governour Knowles was so pleased with Capt. Stevens's Conduct, as to make him a Present of a very costly Silver-hilted Sword.
April 14. This or another Army came to Northfield, with a Design to have taken Part of the Town. The next Day a little after Sun-set, they kill'd and scalp'd Nathaniel Dickinson and Asabel Burt, as they were bringing Cows out of the Woods ; and then drew off in the Night to Winchester, and the two Asbuelots, & burnt down those three Towns ; which a little before had been deserted by the Inhabitants, because the Soldiers were all drawn off without any Orders to assist the Inhabitants in removing or carrying off their Substance.
Such little Concern has there been to the poor People in the Frontiers at other Times as well as this.
May 25. As Col. William Williams with a considerable Body of Canada- Soldiers were by Order of the Government re-building Fort-Massachusetts ; an Army of the Enemy came upon them with a Design to frustrate them. Major Williams of Stockbridge had been to Albany for Stores ; and was now on his Return with a Number of Waggons near the Fort : He sent a few Men this Morning to mend the Way, and give Notice to the Fort that they were a coming : when they had got within fifty or sixty Rods of the Fost, they saw the Enemy creeping towards the Fort: They fired upon them, which made them discover themselves, and fire at our Men who were on the Guard, and at Work; and pursue those who were coming from Major Williams : Our Men fired from the Fort, and pursued them at some distance from the Fort ; 'till the Enemy seemed to aim to get between them and the Fort, and then they retreated. The Enemy kill'd one Stockbridge Indian, and wounded three more of our Men, who are since recovered. What Mischief was done upon them is uncertain .- But we have the following Account by the Way of the Indians - The Enemy disco- vered our Men when they went over, and immediately carried News to Canada: They sent out an Army of Six Hundred : when they came near to Hoosuck, finding Part of our Men were gone to Albany, three Hundred went to Way-lay them ; but falling in the Rear supposed, by the Waggons and Signs of Men, there was a great Army gone from Albany, they therefore sent away a Post to
377
Doolittle's Narrative.
:
them at the Fort, to give them Information : Who coming in the Time of the . Engagement, was the Cause of their drawing off as they did ; and that they lost Ten in the Engagement.
July 15. About thirty or forty Indians came to Fall-Town, and shot upon Eliakim Sheldon as he was hoeing Corn in the Field : he escaped to the Fort, but died the Night after.
August. A Party of Indians went to Asbuelot, and kill'd three Cattle : Our Men went out after them, shot at them, and they at our Men, but no Mischief was done them.
August 26. A Party of the Enemy came to a Village South-West of North- ampton : and kill'd and scalp'd Noah Clark as he was thrashing in his Barn.
October 1. Peter Boovee, a Soldier at Hoosuck, or Massachusetts Fort, went out a Hunting : A Party of the Enemy discovering him, took him Captive, and carried him to Canada : He is since returned.
October 16. As Major Willard, Captain Alexander, and others, were coming from Asbuelot to Northfield; in Winchester they met some Cattle running, as tho' pursued ; Captain Alexander being foremost, saw a French Man in the Path coming towards him : When he saw our Men, he jumped out of the Path behind a Tree. Captain Alexander shot at him, and shot him in the Breast : The French Man came up to him, saluted him handsomely ; but he soon grew faint, and as our Men supposed, was dying : They being afraid the Indians were near, made haste and left him : After our Men were gone, the Indians came to him, and he revived ; they carried him some Way ; but fearing the English would pursue them, left him ; and a few Days after he came into Nortb- field, and resigned himself Prisoner to Captain Alexander. After he was healed of his Wound, he was carried to Boston ; where he was kindly entertained. And in the Month of February following was conducted back to Canada ; and has been since out with the Indians, and done Mischief on our Frontiers.
October 19. As Jobn Smead, who was taken at Fort Massachusetts, and had just returned from Canada, was travelling from Northfield to Sunderland, was Way-laid by a small Party of Indians, and kill'd and scalp'd.
October 22. About forty of the Enemy came to a Place called Bridgmans- Fort, and took one Jonathan Sartle, as he was going from Col. Hinsdel's-Fort into the Woods. After which they burnt Capt. Bridgmans-Fort, House and Barn.
November 14. As twelve of our Men were drawing off from Number Four a considerable Party of the Enemy Way-laid them within half a Mile of the Garrison ; shot upon them, kill'd and scalp'd Nathaniel Goold and Thomas Goodale : Oliver Avery was wounded, John Henderson was taken Captive. It is observable, that the Night before, this Goodale, when he met with some Difficulty to obtain Liberty of his Officer to come off, said " he would come notwithstanding all the Powers above & below.
March 15. The Snow being very deep, and our Men not fearing a Small Party of Sculking Indians, about eight of our Men went out about 60 Rods
378
History of Northfield.
Distance from Number Four to get Wood : The Enemy about ten in Number come within 30 Rods of the Fort ; run to meet our Men, fired upon them, killed Charles Stevens, wounded one Andreas, and took Eleazer Priest Captive. Our Men not having Suoto Shoes could not run out of the Path and make their Escape : Nor had the Men in the Garrison Snow Shoes to pursue them, which the Enemy were informed of by the French Prisoner the Month before : For some of the Garrison told him as he went along, " they would gladly accom- pany him Part of the Way, but they had neither Indian Shoes nor Snow Shoes." Thus poorly have our Garrisons been stored ; whilst many Hundred Pair of Snow Shoes lie on Spoil some where or other, which the Province have paid for.
1748.
March 29. About twelve or fifteen Indians Way-laid the Scout-Path from Fort Dummer to Colerain : Lieutenant Sergeant and four more went out in this Path to get some Timber for Oars and Paddles : About a Mile from Fort Dum- mer they were fired upon ; Moses Cooper was mortally Wounded the first Shot, . and made his Escape to the Fort as fast as he could ; he died the next Night : Lieutenant Sergeant, bis Son and Joshua Wells engaged the Enemy, fighting on a Retreat ; Wells was soon killed ; Sergeant encouraged his Son ; said they should have Help from the Fort ; They charged many Times : Sergeant shouted as often as the Enemy did, and called upon them to come out and fight boldly. These two fought on a Retreat half a Mile ; but Lieutenant Sergeant was killed, and bis Son taken : They could not have any Help from the Fort ; there being but a few Men there, and some of them sick with the Measels, and others not having Snow Shoes in Readiness, could not go on the Snow.
April 16. One Badcock was taken at Paquoig as he was at Work in his Field. May 8. About twelve Indians lay in Ambush near an House at South Hamp- ton, and killed one Noab Pixley.
May 21. About thirty Indians lay in Ambush near Fort-Massachusetts, to take our Men as they should come out towards Deerfield. Serjeant Elisha Chapin going out from Deerfield, with a Number of our Men, went silently along the Road, and came within a few Rods of them. One of the Enemy standing up looking towards the Fort discovered them : Chapin suspecting they might be Stockbridge Indians called to them : Upon which the Ambush jump'd up and ran : Chapin and one or two more next to him fired at them and killed one of them, and got his Scalp : They left a Gun, the most of their Blankets, and many other Things.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.