USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 11
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
In Massachusetts Archives, XXX, 201, is the Council's response.
To the Indian Sachems about Wachusets.
We received your letter by Tom and Peter, which doth not answer ours to you : neither is subscribed by the sachems nor hath it any date, which we know your scribe James Printer doth well understand should be. wee have sent the sd Tom & Peter againe to you expecting you will speedily by them give us a plaine & direct answer to our last letter, and if you have anything more to propound to us wee desire to have it from you under your hands, by these our messengers, and you shall have a speedy answer. Dated the 28th, April, 1676.
Mr. Hoar accompanied these messengers, bearing twenty pounds in money and goods raised by several Boston gen- tlemen for the ransom of Mrs. Rowlandson. May 2d, his purpose happily effected, Mr. Hoar with the two Nashobah messengers brought the redeemed captive from Wachusett to Lancaster, and the day following arrived in Boston. Monday, May 7. Tom Dublett was again on the path to Wachusett, accompanying Mr. Seth Perry, a messenger with written instructions for his own guidance and the fol- lowing letter to the sachems :
These for the saggamores about Watchusets, Phillip, John, Sam, Washa- ken, Old Queen & Pomhom.
Wee received your letter by John Hoare, who went vp to yow wth the messengers, Tom & Peeter, being sent to yow from Mr Roulandson. Our expectations was, that yow would lett vs know vpon what condition yow would release to vs all the English captiues among yow. Our minde is not to make bargaine wth yow for one & one, but for altogether. Vnto this, which was our cheffe buisnes, yow send ys no answer, which wee doe not take kindly, for this way spends much time. In your letter to vs yow say you desire not to be hindred by our men in your planting, pmising not to doc damage to our tounes. This is a great matter, and therefore cannot be ended by letters. without speaking one with another; we have therefore sent to you once more, to let you know our minds with all speed. If you
I13
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
will send ys home all the English prisoners, it will be a great testimony of a true heart in yow to peace, which yow say yow are willing to haue ; and then, Ir any of your sachems and Councellors will come to vs at Boston, or els to Concord or Sudbury, to meet with such cheife men as wee shall send, wee will speak wth yow about your desires, and with true heart deale wth yow. This way is the best way : therefore send speedily to vs, whither yow will accept it or no. If yow understand not our full minde, Seth Perry, whom we now send wth this letter, will declare it more plainely. And wee doe hereby grant & promise, that all such as yow shall imploy in a treaty wth ys shall be safe & free to come & goe, on condition that our messen- gers also shallbe safe wth yow
May the 5th, 1676. By the Court EDWARD RAWSON, Secret [Massachusetts Records.]
A verbal message seems to have been returned appoint- ing a meeting, and Jonathan Prescott was sent the following Thursday, with a letter of elaborate instructions for his own conduct, and the following :
To the Indian sachems. Yow know wee sent our messengers according to your desire, and wee very true heart, but yow no giue vs answer in writ- ing. by our messengers, as yow promise ; wee now send these our men, Peeter Gardiner & Jonathan Prescott, to know your minde, whether yow willing lett vs haue our weomen & children yow haue captives ; and if yow haue any proposall to make to vs, wee willing to heare yow; and if yow come yourselues, wee send some of our sachems to treat yow at Concord, or some other place where best, and yow haue safe conduct ; for wee very true heart, and yow tell your people so.
By the Court Enw : RAWSON Secret.
[Massachusetts Records.]
The story of this meeting, and of colonial ingratitude to a faithful and brave copper-colored Christian, was told eight years later in a petition found in Massachusetts Archives, xxx, 279.
. Aprill the second 1684. Wheras wee Peeter Gardner, Daniel Chamney, & Jonathan Prescot were Imployed By the Honored Council sometime in May or June 1777 [6] to goe vp among the enimy Indians that then quartered in the woods About Watchuset in order to procure the delivery of Inglish captiues, Wee doe Certify that Thomas Dublet alius Nepanet was our interpreter & helper in that Affayre, And that hee had beene a jorney before that time to treat wth the enimy & had procured them to 8
114
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
meet vs aboue twenty miles from ther quarters, for the sachems met vs betwene Concord & Groaten; and at that time old Goodman Morse of Waterton was delivered to vs & brought home & haueing By order paid fower pounds for his redemption weh Thomas Nepanet had bargained for in his former jorney. And we further say y: the said Tom Nepanet carried it faithfully in that matter & Deserues satisfaction for his Trauille & Ad- uentare in yt difficult time & we understand hee hath received no satis- faction for that seruice hitherto, therefore wee humble conceue the Honored Councill should consider him and order him to receue thirty or forty shillings for that Hazardoes seruice: And In testimony of the Truth of this certificate wee whose names are aboue exp'ssed haue here- vnto sett or hands the day & yeare aboue written. To bee prsented to the Honble Gouernor & Councill of the Massachusetts Colony; by the pson concerned. JONATHAN PRESCOTT DANIEL CHAMNE
[Endorsed]
At a Council held at Boston the 8th May 1684 In Answer to the petition of Tho. Dublett Indian & in sattisfaction for his paynes & trauile about ye procurmt of Goodman Morses freedom from ye Indians : tis ordered that ye Tresurer giue him two Coates.
past E. R. S.
Mr. Hoar, three pounds ten shillings of the Money ordered you from Mr John Hubbert Must be remitted into the hands of Jonathan Prescot to compleat Payment for Goodwife Divell to ye Indians.
Boston 13 Ap. 1676.
JOSEPH DUDLEY by order of the Councill
[Massachusetts Archives, C, 189.]
In a letter from Rev. Thomas Cobbet of Ipswich to Mather, called "New England's Deliverances." being No. 76 of the Mather Manuscripts in the Prince Library, is some information respecting the Lancaster captives not elsewhere to be found.
. May the 12th Goodwife Diuens [Divoll] and Goodwife Ketle vpon ransom paid, came in to Concord, and vpon like ransom presently after John Moss of Groton and Lieftenant Carlers [Kerley's] daughter were set at liberty, and nine more without ransom
. . . . Mr Rowlinsons daughter was brought to Seaconke by a captiue squa, that got away from the Indians, and got home after Mr Rowlinsons son and his sister Diuens [Divoll's] daughter, vpon theyr ransoms paid, were brought to Major Waldrens. And about July rith Goodwife Ketles elder daughter. about 17 y old, got away from the Indians to Marlborough bringing her little sister vpon her back almost starued .
115
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
In Massachusetts Archives, LXX, 125, a petition and ac- companying papers add to our knowledge of this subject.
To the honored General Court now sitting at boston October ye 15+1, 1684.
the humbl petision of Onesiphoras page of Salsbury humbly Sheweth. That whearas about the Latter end of the Late warr with the Indians several captives wear brought in at Majr Waldrons & Mr Peter Coffens, among weh wear the Sons of Mr Rolenson & of the widow Divel : which 2 Captives your petisioner was sent to redeem, by the widow Wells of Salsbury who was sister to Mr Rolenson : & when yor petisont came there the Ransom of Mr Rolenson's son was payd by the Gentlemen of the place, so yor peti- oner had only to do with the other (to witt) the widow divels son: for whose Ransom yor petioner gaue his bill of four pounds to Mr Coffen, & afterwards Mr Rolenson moued the Counsell about it who wear pleased to vndertake the paying of the sd four pound .
Boston 21it May 1677. On the motion & Information of Mr Rowlison that Goodwife divall's son hath binn redeemed from his Captivity for which fower pound, was promissed by Left. Peter Coffyn & by his Agent demanded of the sayd Goodwife Divall ; who hauing lost hir husband & three of her children : being very low & vnable to make payment, It is ordered that if the sayd fower pounds be not already ordered to be discharged It is now ordered that Left Peter Coffyn placing the sayd sume on the countreys Account and, It shall be allowed him. That this is a true Copie. Attests EDWD RAWSON Secrety
By summer time the Sachems were pretty thoroughly humbled. as is shown by the following letters coming from Shoshanim, alias Sam, the chieftain of Nashaway, who had " insulted over the English, and said if the Eng- lish would first begge Peace of him, he would let them have Peace, but that he would never ask it of them." These letters are printed in Samuel G. Drake's "Biography and history of the Indians of North America." It is not known where the originals are.
To all Englishmen and Indians, all of you hear Mr Waban Mr Eliott.
July 6 1676. Mr John Leverett, my Lord, Mr Waban, and all the cheif men our Brethren Praying to God: We beseech you all to help us : my wife she is but one, but there be more Prisoners, which we pray you keep well : Mattamuck his wife we entreat you for her, and not onely that man, but it is the Request of two Sachems, Sam Sachem of Weshakum, and the Pakashoag Sachem. And that further you will consider about the making
1.16
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Peace: We have spoken to the people of Nashobali (viz Tom Dubler and Peter) that we would agree with you and make covenant of Peace with you. We have been destroyed by your souldiers, but still we Remember it now to sit still : do you consider it again : we do earnestly entreat you that it may be so by Jesus Christ. O let it be so : Amen Amen. MATTAMUCK his Mark N SAM SACHEM his Mark X SIMON POTTOQUAM Scribe UPPANIPPAQUUM his C PAKASHOKAG his Mark & .
My Lord Mr Leveret at Boston, Mr Waban, Mr Eliott, Mr Gookin, and Council, hear yea. I went to Connecticot about the Captives, that I might bring them into your hands, and when we were almost there the English had destroyed those Indians. When I heard it I returned back again : then when I came home, we were also destroyed : After we were destroyed then Philip and Quanipun went away into their own Countrey againe : and I knew they were much afraid, because of our offer to joyn with the English, and therefore they went back into their own Countrey, and I know they will make no warre: therefore because when some English men came to us Philip and Quanipun sent to kill them : but I said if any kill them, Ill kill them.
Written by SIMON BOSHOKUM Scribe SAM SACHEM
The Council replied -- That treacherous persons who began the war and those that have been barberously bloody, must not expect to haue their lives spared, but others that have been drawn into the war, and acted only as souldiers submitting to be without arms & to live quietly & peaceably for the future shall have their lives spared.
Finally, perhaps under some false promise, or hope that the pardon offered might be extended to them, or be- ing' worn out with privations, the sachems came in at Cocheco in September and gave themselves up. A letter of Thomas Cobbet to Increase Mather, in Massachusetts Archives, Hutchinson Papers, IT, 288-9, has this mention of Monoco at that time.
Ye blasphemous speeches of one eyed John vttered at Gro- ton to Capt Parker in ye heareing of Diverse : Boasting how many places he had Burned, & saying he would burne Concord, Watertown, Charles- towne &c Adding: And Me will doe, what me will : these were spread before ye Lord, & pleaded that he would plead that cause of his soueraignty
117
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Against that wretch : weh he did in September 76, who when taken at yr Eastward . . . . . & standing bound ready to bee put aboard ye vessel provided to send him & others to Boston, he suddainly fell a singing in his humbling posture : & being asked by one of y" soldiers who was there to guard ym, why he sung : replied : me must sing or dye : ye soulcher replying yt if he were so Afraid, why did he come to y" English, he answered, y no man brought him thither but Englishmaus god Alone brought him to that end : and was afterward executed at Boston.
1676 Sept 26. Tuesday Sagamore Sam & Daniel Goble is drawn in a cart upon bed cloaths to execution . . . One eyed John, Maliompe Sagamore of Quapaug, General at Lancaster & Jethro (the Father) walk to the gallows.
[Diary of Samuel Sewall, !, 22.]
The stern, even-handed justice of the judges is attested by this record. Daniel Goble, thus executed with the murderers of the women and children of Lancaster, was a soldier, the ringleader in an atrocious murder of Indian women and children, during the popular excitement suc- ceeding the Indian massacres. The sad story touched Lancaster, in the person of one of its most promising young men, and must not be passed over here.
"Wee the Grand Jury for our Soueraigne Lord the King doe Present & Indict Nathaniell Wilder of Concord [Lancaster] in the County of Mid- lesex in New England for that he not hauing the fcare of God before his eyes & being Instigated by the Divil wth other his Accomplises at or on the 7th of August last, at or neere to Hurtlebury hill. in the woods in the precincts of Concord or neere therevnto did murder & kill three Indian weomen & three Indian Children contrary to the peace of our Soueraigne Lord the King his Crowne & dignitye the law of God & of this Jurisdic- tion. The Jurors ffinds this beill and leve hime to ffurther triall.
RICHARD CALICOTT fforeman in the name off the rest off the Jurey.
[Endorsed] They finde a speciall vierdict. If being present & seing the fact done & concenting, it be murder then we find him gilty according to Inditement, if not not gilty.
To the keeper of the prison in Boston.
You are hereby in his majtys name, required to take into yor safe cus- tody the persons of Daniel Goble. Stephen Goble, Nathaniel Wilder &' Daniel Hoare & them safely keepe, in order to their tryall for killing of seuerall Indians weomen & children wch they owned, and sce that they be
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
forth coming at the next court of Assistants, or whenever the authoritys shall giue further order, dated in Boston the rith day of August 1676.
By order of the Councill Epw" RAWSON Secrety
[Massachusetts Archives, XXX, 209, 211, 221.]
The four soldiers were convicted and sentenced to death.
LIth Oct 1676. Upon the humble peticon of Daniel Hoare & Nathan- iell Wilder, presented to this Court, acknowledging the justice of this Court, & begging pardon for their liues, the Court haue granted their petition, and accordingly doc remitt the sentence of death passed against them, and order, that they pay prison chardges and tenn pounds apeece money, halfe towards the charge of witnesses. to be payd to the Tresurer of the country, and the other halfe to Andrew Pittime, & Swagon, ye Indians prosecuting against them : on payment whereof they are dischardged. [Massachusetts Records.]
1676 Sept 6. In answer to the petition of Ralph Houghton of Lancas- ter it is ordered that the peticoner be payd for his disbursements mentioned in his petition by the executors of the late Tresurer . . . . his oune rate amounting to six pounds to the country being discompted. [ Massachusetts Records.]
1676 Oct. 12. This Court being informed by certifficat vnder the hand of Capt. Daniell Hincksman, that when he was out in the service of the country at Lancaster, they had occasion to make vse of an oxe for a sup- ply of the forces vnder his comand, which sajd oxe was vallued. by indiff- erent persons, at fiue pounds in country pay, on a motion made in behalfe of the ounor of the oxe John Houghton, it is ordered, that the Tresurer of the Country make payment to the sajd Houghton for the sajd oxe accordingly.
[Massachusetts Records.]
1676 Oct 12. In answer to the petition of Lawrence Waters of Lan- caster humbly desiring the favour of this court to order the payment of his accounts mentioned in his peticon of seven pounds fiueteen shillings & tower penc, or thereabouts, duc him from the country, bis rate of forty two shillings being deducted, the ballance may be pajd him, being aged & blind, &c, it is ordered that the Tresurer make payment to the peticoner the sume aboue mentioned. provided that if it is belonging to the old Tresurer and not charged in his account, that he passe it to the new Tresurer.
[Massachusetts Records.]
1677 Oct. 22. The Court on vejw of widdow Wheelers bill, of Lancas-
-
119
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
ter of disbursements, signed by the committee for ye Country, doe order & grant her payment from the Tresurer of sixe pounds nine shillings & eight pence.
[Massachusetts Records.]
1678. November 23. Dyed Mr Joseph Rowlandson the worthy & faithful Pastor of Weathersfield about ye 47 year of his age. He dyed Suddenly & his death was much Lamented & there was great cause, espec. at this time w" God is calling home his Embassaders apace besides others to pour of his Displeasure vpon ye Country.
[Bradstreet's Journal.]
Reverend Joseph Rowlandson had been called to Weth- ersfield, Connecticut, as colleague to the Reverend Gershom Bulkeley, in April, 1677. November 24, 1678, is usually given as the date of his death.
Among the Shattuck Manuscripts of the New England Historic, Genealogical Society is the report of a Committee dated Cambridge, 28 : 11. 1676, appointed to propose means for the security of the frontier towns. It was therein rec- ommended :
That such townes as Lankester, groaten & marlborough that are forced to remoue ; and haue not some advantage of settlement (peculiar) in ye bay, be ordered to settle at ye frontire townes that remain for their strengthening ; and ye people of ye said townes to which they are appointed are to see to their accomodations, in ye st townes.
Few of the Lancaster refugees but had relatives or friends in the lower towns, and in their banishment they became widely scattered. Most of them, however. longed to return to their dearly bought lands on the Nashaway, and those who had found temporary resting places in Sudbury and Concord may have visited the ashes of their homes from time to time. So soon as their savage enemies had been subjugated, they moved to the resettlement, and as at first, sturdy John Prescott led the van.
1679. To the honored County Cort sitting at Cambridge October 7. 1679 Ye humble petition of those whose names are here vnderwritten ye Inhabitants of Lancaster before o' remouall from thence by reason of ye late warres, in or owne & others behalfe, ye pprietors of ye said place as
I20
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
followeth. Whereas there was an order made the Last honored general! Cort yt places deserted should not be againe Inhabited, till the people first make application vnto the Gounor & Council, or to the County Cont wijn whose Jurisdiction they be, for a comittee to order matters concerning yo place, as in the said Law is expressed, wee yor petitioners wth divers oth. ers purposing (if y. Lord please) to returne to Lancaster hom whence wee haue beene scattered, doe humbly request this Co't that they will be pleased to nominate & appoint an able & discreet Committee for that end, who may wth all convenient speed attend the said Buisnes that soe wee may pceed to settle the place wth comfort & encouragement & yor petitioners shall pray for the Lords gracious psence with you in all yor Administracons
And the persones which we vnder [writ] doe nomenat if this honered Court se caus to aproue of them is Decon Ward of Marelborogh, leutenant haines of Sutbery and cornit Woodes of Concord.
[Added in another hand.] JOHN PRESCOT Senior JOHN MORE THOMAS SAWYER Sener JOHN RUGG JOHN PRESCOTT Juner JONATH PRESCOTT
THOMAS WILDER THOMAS SAYER juner JOSIAH WHIET
[Endorsement.]
7 : 8 : 79. In answr to ye motion of ye within named subscribers, the Court do nomenate Capt. Prentice, Deacon Stone, & Corporall W" Bond to be a Comittee to settle ye rebuilding of Lanchaster as the order of Court provides. Capt Prentice to appoynt ye time & place of meeting &: all persons concerned accordingly to attend.
[Middlesex Court Files.]
The action of this Committee seems not to have been made matter of record. Lancaster had inhabitants and recorded births, in both 1679 and 1680.
1681. To the Honoured generall Court now siting at Boston our Hon- oured Governor, deputie gouernor Assistants and deputies.
The petition of the poore Inhabitants of Lancaster humbly Sheweth. That whereas your poore petitioners by the late Indian warr were much Ruined, our houses and other buildings and fences burned. and most of our substance wasted and som of our Children slaine and som caried into Captiaity by the enimy and som neuer Returned, and we with the Rest forced to fly for our lives and to leaue our places of liuing to seeke shelter in other townes where we could, And hane gone through many straits and dificulties ypon that acount, soc that few townes in the cuntrie haue suf- ered the like, And now through the good band of god about 17 or IS families haue againe Returned with a desire to build the plantation againe and through many dificulties, by Reson of our pouertie, are about building
121
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
and fencing that soe they may provid bread for their families, and not be troublesom and burdensom to other townes which of nesesitie must have bene If we had Continued where we were, and this yeare the honoured Wesurer sent bis warant for a Cuntrie Rate, And tho it be but a litle, yet to our greife we must say we are not able to pay it. Theirefore your poore petitioners humbly Craue this Honoured Court to Remit this Rate and grant an exemption from Cuntrie Rats for the future for som years, soe many as this Honoured Court may Judge meet. And in soe doing you will oblige your poore petitioners as in dutie we are bound for euer to pray for a blessing vpon all the Concerns of this Honoured Court.
This petition by a generall voice and voate of all the inhabitants was desired to be drawne subscribed and presented By me.
RALPH HOUGHTON
The magists Judge meet to grant y" petitioners exemption from Coun- try Rates for this yeare & the next, their bretheren the deputyes hereto consenting.
EDWARD RAWSON Secretary 17th febr 1681. Consented to by the deputies WILLIAM TORREY Cleric [Massachusetts Archives, CXII, 330.]
1681 Dec 20, The Deposition of Tho : Wilder aged 37 years sworn. sayth that being with Jno Prescott Sen' About six hours before he died he ye sd Jno : Prescott gaue to his eldest sonn Jno : Prescott bis house lott with all belonging to ye same & ye two mills, corn mill & saw mill with ve land belonging therto & three scor Acors of land nere South medow & fourty Acors of land nere Wonchesix & a pece of entervile called Johns Jump & Bridge medow on both sids ye Brook. Cyprian Steevens Testi- fieth to all ye truth Above writen.
Sworn in Court. J. R. c
[Middlesex Court Files.]
Upon ye 7th of April 1683 LANCASTER.
A Jury of Inquest was Caled to giue in their virdict concerning ye vn- timely death of John Whitcomb, we whose names are vnderwriten doe by what we vnderstand by ye brother of ye deceased by name Jonathan Whit- comb and one more by name George huse who was standing on y shore and saw how ye said John Whitcomb felle into ye water. do here vnani- mously giue in our virdict thus. that ye sd John Whitcomb and Jonathan Whitcomb being bringing some hay ouer ye river vpon two canooes in- deavoring to pull them ouer by a rope which was fastned to a bough at ye riuer side, but ye cannoves sinking ye said John Whitcomb falling into y"
122
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
riuer was by a prouidence of god drownded in pennecuk riuer ye 7th of this instant Aprill.
JOHN .MORE Sent
JOSEPH WATERS
THOMAS SAWYER Senr
JOHN BEAMAN
JOHN RUGG JAMES SNOW
THOMAS SAWYER Junt
JAMES HOUGHTON
JOSIAHI WHITE
JOHN HOUGHTON Junt
John Moor Sen fforeman & the rest of the subscribers the Jury of Inquest vpon the vntimely death of John Whetcomb late of Lancaster appeared before me Pet : Bulkeley Assist, & made oath that the premises contain a true Acco of the cause of the death of sd Whetcomb according to their judgint & conscience
June 18 1683 [Middlesex Court Files.]
PET BULKELEY Assist
LANCASTER May ye 28 1684. The Towne being mett together vpon adjornment of ye publique meeting. The towne made choyse of Josiah White and gave him order to gather in all ye Ratts Due from al yt live out of towne to y" meeting house & ministry in this last years Ratts, this was Confirmed by a voat of yo towne
money ss. d lbs ss d Henry Kemball to y" meetinge house -- 00 - 03 - 03 & 1 - 06 - 04 in pay Thomas Swift to ye meetinge house -- 00 - 01 - 04 & 0 - II - 00 Stephen Waters to ye meetinge house -- 00 - 00 - 10 & 0 - 06 - 08. minister 5
Edmond parker to ye meetinge house - 00 - 01 - 03 & 0 - 10 - 04. 0-II - O
Archelos Corser to ye meetinge house - 00 - 00 - 04 & 0 - 03 - 08 0- 8- 4
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.