USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 10
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
He brought tidings that before he came from the enemy at Menemesse, a party of the Indians, about four hundred, were marched forth to attack and burn Lancaster, and on the morrow, which was February ro? they would attempt it. This time exactly suited with James his information before hinted, which was not then credited as it should have been ; and consequently no so good means used to prevent it or at least to have lain in ambushments for the enemy. As soon as Major Gookin understood this tidings by Job, he rose out of his bed, and, advising with Mr Dan- forth one of the Council that lived near him, they despatched away post in the night to Marlborough Concord and Lancaster, ordering forces to surround Lancaster with all speed. The posts were at Marlborough by break of day and Captain Wadsworth with about forty soldiers marched away as speedily as he could possibly to Lancaster (which was ten miles distant). But before he got there the enemy had set fire on the bridge : But Capt Wadsworth got over and beat off the enemy, recovering a gar- rison house, that stood near another bridge, belonging to Cyprian Stevens. and so through God's favor prevented the enemy from cutting off the gar- rison, God strangely preserving that handfal with Capt Wadsworth, for the enemy were numerous, about four hundred, and lay in ambushment for him on the common road, but his guides conducted him in a private way and so they got safe to Cyprian Stevens, his garrison as above men- tioned. But the enemy had taken and burnt another garrison. house very near the other only a bridge and a little ground parting them. This house
102
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
burnt was the minister's house Mr Rolandson wherein were slain and taken captive about forty persons, the minister's wife and children amongst them.
[Daniel Gookin's History of the Praying Indians.]
The narrative of Mrs. Rowlandson, a sufferer in the tragedy, is a source of much of our knowledge of the horrors of that day. For two hundred years her little book has kept hold upon popular favor, and twenty or more editions testify the public appreciation of its simple elo- quence. It need not be quoted here. Other briefer contemporary records of the massacre are :
I. William Hubbard's, in "A Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England," 1677.
About the roth of February after, some hundreds of the Indians, whether Nipnets or Nashaway men is uncertain, belonging to him they call Sagamore Sam, and possibly some of the stoutest of the Narrhagan- sets that had escaped the winter brunt, foll upon Lancaster, a small village, of about fifty or sixty families, and did much mischief, burning most of the houses that were not garrisoned: And which is most sad and awful to consider, the house of Mr Rowlandson, minister of the said Lancaster, which was garrisoned with a competent number of the inhabitants : yet the fortifications of the house being on the back side closed up with fire wood, the Indians got so near as to fire a Jeanter, which burning the house immediately to the ground, all the persons therein were put to the hard choice, either to perish by the flames, with the house, or to yield them- selves into the hands of those cruel savages, which last (considering that a living dog is better than a dead lion) they chose, and so were forty-two persons surprised by the Indians, above twenty of the women and children they carried away captive, a rueful spectacle to behold ; the rest being men, they killed in the place, or reserved for further misery : And many that were not slain in fighting, were killed in attempting to escape. The minister himself was occasionally absent, to seek help from the Governor and Coun- cil to defend the place, who returning, was entertained with the tragical news of his wife and children surprised, and being carried away by the enemy, and his house turned into ashes. yet it pleased God so to uphold his heart, comforting himself in his God, as David at Ziklag, that he would always say, he believed he would see his wife and children again, which did in like manner soon come to pass within five of six months af- ter; all, save the youngest, which being wounded at the first, died soon after among the Indians.
103
ASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
And such was the goodness of God to those poor captive women and children, that they found so much favor in the sight of their enemies, that they offered no wrong to any of their persons, save what they could not help, being in many wants themselves. Neither did they offer any uncivil carriage to any of the females, nor ever attempted the chastity of any of them, either being restrained of God, as was Abimeleck of old, or by some other accidental cause which withheld them from doing any wrong in that kind.
Upon the report of this disaster, Capt. Wadsworth, then at Marlborough, with about forty resolute men, adventuring the rescuing of the town that was remaining: And having recovered a bridge, they got over safe, though the planks were pulled off by the enemy, and being led up in a way not discovered by them, they forced the Indians for the present to quit the place, after they had burnt and destroyed the better half of it. Yet afterwards it not being judged tenable, it was abandoned to the pleas- ure of the insulting foc.
2. A letter written February Ioth, 1675-6, by Thomas Hinkley, then in Boston, to his wife ; printed in the appen- dix, page 436, to Nathaniel Morton's "New England's Memorial," edition of 1826.
Dear Heart :
Since my last inclosed which I broke up to signify to thee, not to expect my coming home this week, Job the other Indian spy, sent out as I have before said, is last night returned to Capt. Gookins & informs, that the Narragansets are got to the Quabaug Indians four hundred of them & three hundred of the others as I mentioned heretofore & informs that six of Eames his children, the owner of the house burnt at Sudbury of which before, are with the Indians, and the Indians intend marching this day three hundred of them to fall upon Lancaster alias Nashaway. Post was sent by Capt. Gookin and Mr Danforth last night, midnight for eighty troopers & forty foot thereabout & at Marlborough to hasten to Lancaster for their relief, but whether they came time enough is not yet known. A post came thence today to inform, a great many Indians were at Lancaster bridge : and the smoke of some houses fired there appeared to him as he came. The good Lord fit us for his pleasure.
3. A True Account of the most Considerable Occur- ences that have happened in the Warre between the English and the Indians in New England. London 1676.
104
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
. the Enemy visited us, and assaulted Lancaster, a small Town, in which the Inhabitants, having retired into some fortified Houses and deserted the Rest, the Indians burnt those, and assaulted the Garrisoned Houses, but were not able to carry any of them but one, wherein were 42 Persons 12 men, the Rest Women and children of whom they slew several, and carried the Rest Prisoners: The House was the Ministers, one Mr Rowlandson, whose Wife and Children they carried Captive (which are since returned to us) . . on the rith of May two of our Captives were returned by Ransom from the Indians who had been taken at the Destruction of the Town of Lancaster: the one of them the Sister of the Wife of Mr Rowlandson Minister of the Place: and another Woman taken out of the same House . . About the time of that Thanks- giving the Son and Daughter of that worthy Minister of Jesus Christ, Mr Rowlandson, who had been Captives since the Burning of Lancaster were returned by Ransom. She wandered with an Indian Woman from the Rest of the Indian Company (by whom she had been detained) three Days in the Woods, having Nothing to eat all that time but green Hurtle- berries : with which she was sustained till she and the Woman arrived at our English Town of Providence, and so got Home.
4. News from New England being a True and last Ac- count of the present Bloody Wars, &c. London 1676.
. in a Town called Nashaway which they set Fire to, and burnt to the Ground, taking no less than 55 Persons into their Merciless Cap- tivity. . . . . of these 55 Captives, the Minister of the Towns Relations made no less than 17 of them : viz, Mrs Rowlandson the Ministers Wife, and three of his Children, her Sister [Elizabeth Kerley] and seaven Chil- dren, and her Sister Drew [ Hannah Divoll ] and four Children. . . .
Another pamphlet published in London late in the same year, entitled "A new and further Narrative of the State of New England," copies its facts from the preceding.
A LIST OF THE CASUALTIES FEBY 10 1675. COMPILED FROM ALL KNOWN SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
Killed in Rowlandson Garrison.
Ensign John Divoll. Josiah Divoll, son of John, aged 7. Daniel Gains. Abraham Joslin, aged 26. John MacLoud. Thomas Rowlandson, nephew of the minister, aged 19.
105
.
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
John Kettle, aged 36. John Kettle, Jr.
Joseph Kettle, son of John, aged 10.
Mrs Elizabeth Kerley, wife of Lieut. Henry.
William Kerley, son of Lieut Henry, aged 17.
Joseph Kerley, do., aged 7.
Mrs Priscilla Roper, wife of Ephraim.
Priscilla, child of Ephraim, aged 3.
Carried Captive from Rowlandson Garrison. 14
Mrs Mary Rowlandson, wife of the minister, ransomed.
Mary Rowlandson, daughter of the minister, aged to, ransomed.
Sarah Rowlandson, do., aged 6, wounded & died Feb 18. Joseph Rowlandson, son of the minister. aged 13, ransomed.
Mrs Hannah Divoll, wife of Ensign John, ransomed.
John Divoll, son of Ensign John, aged 12, died captive?
William Divoll, do., aged 4, ransomed.
Hannah Divoll, daughter of do, aged 9, died captive?
Mrs Ann Joslin, wife of Abraham, killed in captivity.
Beatrice Joslin, daughter of Abraham, do.
Joseph Joslin, brother of Abraham, aged 16. Henry Kerley, son of Lieut Henry, aged 18. Hannah Kerley, daughter of do., aged 13.
Mary Kerley, do., aged 10. aged 4.
Martha Kerley, do.,
A child Kerley, name & age unknown.
Mrs Elizabeth Kettle, wife of John. ransomed.
Sarah Kettle, daughter of John, aged 14 escaped.
Jonathan Kettle, son of John, aged 5.
A child Kettle, daughter do.
20
Ephraim Roper alone escaped during the assault. I
35
Mrs. Rowlandson writes : "Of thirty-seven persons who were in this one house, none escaped either present death or a bitter captivity save only one." Most authorities are unit- ed, however, in stating the number of the garrison as 42. Seven persons are therefore unaccounted for in above list.
Killed outside of Rowlandson Garrison, being all of South Lancaster. John Ball. Mrs Elizabeth Ball. wife of John. An infant child of John Ball.
K
106
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Jonas Fairbank.
Joshua Fairbank, son of Jonas, aged 15. Ephraim Sawyer, aged 26. Henry Farrar. Richard Wheeler.
A man mentioned by Mrs Rowlandson, but not named. 9
Captive.
Two of John Ball's family names unknown. 2
-
The whole number of casualties being 55, nine remain not ascertained. A soldier from Watertown aged 20, named George Harrington, was killed near Prescott's Mills a few days after the massacre, and John Roper was killed the day the town was finally abandoned by all its inhabi- tants, March 26, 1676.
A special session of the General Court was called by Governor Leverett, Feb. 21, and among the orders passed were these :
It is ordered, on request of Capt. Scyll, that the comittee for the warr doe forthwth send twenty pounds of tobacco & three gallons of rume for the supply of the company that now resides at Lancaster. [Massachusetts Records.]
25th February Mr Roulison not being disposed to accept of the motion of y Court to goe out with the forces as preacher, it is ordered, that Mr Samuel Nowell be intreated to goe vpon that service .. [Massachusetts Records.]
So great was the terror inspired throughout the Bay towns by the quick succeeding Indian raids of this period. that it was seriously proposed to abandon and fence out Lancaster. Groton and other outlying towns by a stockade eight feet high and twelve miles in length, from Watertown to Wamesit. [Mass. Archives, LXVIII, 174.] Three pounds per head bounty was voted by General Court for the killing or capturing of "sculking Indians," and the following is found, crossed, in Massachusetts Archives, LXIX, 43 :
107
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
August 12 1676. The Councill doth hereby declare that if any person or persons Volunteers of this Colony shall bring in ye body of Philip sachem dead or alive they shall haue for yr reward 50%
& for Sam Sachem of Lanchaster 20%
& for Jno [Monoco] of Lanchaster
To the Honord Governor.
The Information of Hugh Clarke Sheweth. That hee being the last weeke vpon the Scout wth Capt. Gibbs, through the woods about Lan- caster, Concord, Sudbury &c, they found seuerall houses deserted, hauing corn in them & Cattle about them belonging to the late Inhabitants thereof who for feare left theire habitations, wee brought in about thirty five head of Cattle into Concord which wee founde, & left about Go bushells of corn in one house : So that the Enemy haue a very great advantage, in recruit- ing themselues thereby with provisions : and the English wilbee exceedingly straitned without some expedient bee founde out for prevention thereof : by drawing in the corn & cattle from the out ffarmes or otherwise as yor Honor shall thinke meete
ffeby 23 1675 6
In another hand, in the margin opposite the statement about "60 bushells of corn," is written, "in Kettis farme" -- "it is so in several others."
Ordered by the Councill that the Secretary give forth warrants to the Constables of Concord & Sudbury requiring them forthwth to impresse 8 carts in each Town for the bringing down of the goods of such persons of Lancaster as being bereaved by the late hand of god are disenabled from continuing there weh carts shall be delivered to Ralph Houghton & Dea- con Sumner of Lancaster to be imployed as above
24 feb 1675. past p Councill E. R. S.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII, 142.]
To the Honerd Gournor and Counsell
The humble petition of the poor destressed people of Lancaster. humbley sheweth, that sence the enemy mad such sad & dismall hauocke amongst our deare ffreinds & Bretheren, & we that are left who hane our Liues for a prey sadly sencable of Gods Judgmts upon us, this with the destresse we are now in dus embolden us to present our humble Requests to yor Honors, hoping our Condisions may be considered by you & our Requests find exeptance with you, our stat is very deplorable, in our Inca- pasity to subsist, as to Remove away we can not, the enemy has so Incom- pased us, otherwise for want of help our catle being the most of them caried away by the barberouss heathen, & to stay disinabled for want of food, the Towns people are Genrally gon who felt the Judgm' but light,
108
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
& had theyr catle left them with theyr estats, but we many of us heare in this prison, haue not bread to last us on mongth & our other provision spent & gon, for the genrallyty, our Town is drawn into two Garisons wherin are by the Good favours of yor Hon" eighteen soulders, which we gladly mayntayn soe long as any thing lasts, & if yo" Honors should call them of, we are seartaynly a bayt for the enemy if God do not wonderfully prevent, therefore we hop as God has mad you fathers ouer us so you will haue a fathers pitty to us & extend your care ouer us who are yor poor destressed subjects. We are sorowful to Leave the place, but hoplesse to keep it unlesse mayntayned by the Cuntrey, it troubles our sperits to giue any Incuridgm' to the enemy, or leaue any thing for them to promot their wicked designe, yet better saue our Lives then lose Life & Estat both, we are in danger emenent, the enemy leying Aboue us, nay on both sids of us, as dus playingly Apeare. our womens cris dus dayly Increase beand expresion which dus not only fill our ears but our hearts full of Greefe, which makes us humbly Request yor Hon's to send a Gard of men & that if you please so comand we may haue Carts About fourteen will Remoue the whool eight of which has been presed long at Sudburry but nevr came for want of a small gard of men, the whooll that is, all that are in the on Garison, Kept in Major Willards house, which is all from yor Hon's most humble servants & suplyants.
Lancastr March 11: 1675
JACOB FFARRAR JOHN HOUGHTON Sent
JOHN MOORE
JOHN WHITTCOMB
JOB WHITTCOMB JONATHAN WHITTCOMB
JOHN HOUGHTON Junt CYPRIAN STEEVENS
The other on Garison are in the like destresse & soe humbley desire yo' like pitty & ffatherly car, haueing widows & many ffatherlesse chilldren. the Numbr of Carts to Carey away this garison is twenty Carts.
Yo' Hon' Humble pettisioners.
JOHN PRESCOTT Sen! THO. SAWYER Sent THO. SAWYER Jun" JONATHAN PRESCOTT
THO WILLDER JOHN WILLDER
SARAH WHEELER wid WIDOW FFARBANKS
JOHN RIGBY NATHANIELL WILDER
JOHN ROOPER :
WIDOW ROOPER
[Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII. 156.]
The whole is in the handwriting of Cyprian Steevens.
100
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643 -1725.
A short naratiue of what I haue atended vuto by the councill of late since I went to relejue Groatten the 21: 1: 45. I went to Concord, & devided the troope committed vnto mne from Esex & Northfolke, into three pt one to garde the carts, presed from Sudbury, one pt. for the carts presed from Concord, both to Lancaster, & one pt for the carts that went from Charlestowne & Wattertowne, that went volintiers or wear biered, when I had sent them to ther seuerall placeses I came downe, beinge the 22 : 1 : 756 : & went to Concord the 25 : 1 : 22 when I came ther, I inquiered how it was with Lancaster, the answer was they weare in distrese, I psently sent 40 horse thelyr to fetch away corne, & I went that night to Chellms- foord to se how it was with them, they Complayned, Billerilye Bridge stood in great need of being fortified. I ordered that to be don, allso they told me, that the Indians made two great rafts of boords & rayles, that they had gott that laye at the other syd of the Rivers. I ordered. 20 soulldiers to go ouer & take them, & tourne them downe the Riucr or pre- serue them, as they se cause. the 27 of this Instant I went from Chellmis- foord to Concord agayne, when I came ther, the troopers that I sent to Lancaster last, had broght awaye all the people ther but had left about 50 bushells of wheat & Indian corne. Yesterdaye I sent do horses or mor to fetch it awaye, & came downe from Concord, this daye I expectt they will be at Concord. Some of the troope I relesed when this last worke was don, the other I left order to scout ahead vntill they heer frome me agayne . I thought it not meet to relese more, when we stand in need of men. my desier is to know what I shall do herin. Concord & Chellisfoord looke euery daye to be fiered, & wold have more men but know not how to keepe them nor paye them.
Your bumbl servant
29 : 1 : 76.
SIMON WILLARD
The above letter has been printed in the "Willard Memoir," but in modern spelling. The original is in Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII, 136.
1676, April 25. Major Willard dyes at Charleston, buryed 27 !! [Diary of Samuel Sewall, 1, 52.]
RANSOMING THE CAPTIVES. 1676.
Mr Rowlandson minister of Lancaster (a pious and good man) having his wife, children & several friends in Captivity among the enemy . . . . himself and several other ministers in his behalf had some time since pe- titioned the Council to use what means they could for the redemption of his wife &c. Which the Council consented to and in pursuance thereof ordered Major Gookin to endeavour to procure at Deer Island one or two Indians that for a reward might adventure to go with a message to the enemy to offer for the redemption of our captives, particularly Mrs Row- landson. But although the Major went to the Island and did his utmost
IIO
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
endeavours to procure an Indian to adventure upon this service at that time yet could not prevail with any; so the matter lay dormant a good space of time. But on the 234 of March some friends advised Mr Row- landson to make another petition to revive the former motion ; which he did that day. The Council declared themselves ready to promote it and send a message if any could be procured. Major Gookin who stirred up Mr Rowlandson hereunto was informed that one of the Indians lately brought down from Concord named Tom Dublet alias Nepponet had some inclination to run that adventure; of which the Major informing the Council they ordered Capt Hinchman to treat and agree with him which he accordingly did and brought him up from Deer Island some few days after ; and he was sent to Major Gookins at Cambridge, where he was according to the order of the Council, fitted and furnished for this enterprise; and had a letter from the Council to the enemy concerning the redemption of the Captives, and upon Monday April 3d he was sent away from Cambridge upon his journey, and he did effect it with care and prudence and returned again upon the 12th of April with this answer in writing from the enemy. [Daniel Gookin's History of the Praying Indians.]
Letter sent by Tom Dublett. For the Indian Sagamores & people that are in warre against us. Intelligence is come to us that you have some English, especially women and children in Captivity among you. We have therefore sent the messenger offering to redeem them either for pay- ment in goods or wampum or by exchange of prisoners. We desire your answer by this our messenger what price you demand for every man woman and child, or if you will exchange for Indians. If you have any among you that can write your answer to this our message, we desire it in writing ; and to that end have sent, paper pen and incke by the messenger. If you lett our messenger have free accesse to you, freedome of a safe returne, wc are willing to doe the like by any messenger of yours, provided he come unarmed, and carry a white flag upon a staffe, visible to be seene, which we take as a flag of truce, and is used by civilized nations in time of warre, when any messengers are sent in a way of treaty, which we have done by our messenger. In testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal.
JOHN LEVERETT Gour
Boston 31 March 1676. Passed by the Council
EDWARD RAWSON Secy [Massachusetts Records.]
Answer brought back April 12. We now giue answer by this one man, but if you like my answer send one more man besides this one Tom Nep- anet, and send with all true heart and with all your mind by two men, because you know and we know your heart great sorrowful with crying for your lost many many hundred men and all your house and all your land,
III
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
and woman, child and cattle, as all your thing that you have lost and on your backside stand.
SAM Sachem KUTQUEN and PETER JETHRO
QUANONIT Sagamore Scribe
Mr Rowlandson, your wife and all your child is well but one dye. your sister is well and her 3 child. John Kettel your wife and all your child is all well, and all them prisoners taken at Nashua is all well.
Mr Rolandson se your louing Sister his hand C Hanah
And old Kettel wif his hand +
Brother Rowlandson, pray send thre pounds of Tobacco for me if you can, my loning busband pray send thre pound of tobacco for me.
This writing by your enemies SAMUEL USKATTUHGUN and GUNRASHIT. two Indian Sagamores
This letter is printed in S. G. Drakes' " Biography and History of the Indians of North America." The original has not been discovered.
Mr. Rowlandson had meantime interested Mr. John Hoar of Concord in his behalf, a man who had won to himself the entire confidence of the Indians, by deserving it. His friendly and brave interposition perhaps availed more towards the recovery of the captives than all the colony's power or the governor's diplomacy. Tom Dublett, alias Nepanet or Nepenomp, was again sent, and with him Peter Tatatiquinea, alias Conway, with a letter from the Council of which no copy is found. They brought back 27, 2mº 1676, a second reply from the chiefs, written by James Printer, an Indian who had passed sixteen years apprenticeship in Samuel Green's printing office in Cam- bridge. The original is in the Massachusetts Archives, Hutchinson Papers, II, 282.
ffor the Governor and the Council at Boston.
The Indians, Tom Nepennomp and Peter Tatatiqunea hath brought us letter from you about the English Captives, especially for Mrs Rolanson ; the answer is I am sorrow that I haue don much wrong to you and yet I say the falte is lay upon you, for when we began quarel at first with Plimouth men I did not think that you should haue so much truble as now is: therefore I am willing to hear your desire about the Captives. Therefore we desire you to sent Mr Rolanson and goodman
1
112
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Kettel : (for their wives) and these Indians Tom and Peter to redeem their wives. they shall come and goe very safely : Whereupon we ask Mrs Rolanson, how much your husband willing to giue for you she gave an answer 20 pound in goodes but John Kittels wife could not till. and the rest captives may be spoken of hereafter.
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.