USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 14
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[Boston News Letter, October 30, 1704.]
The account given by Samuel Penhallow in his " History of the Indian Wars," is most relied upon for the details of this affair. Reverend Timothy Harrington impugns the accuracy of his statements respecting "the mischiefs done in this town by the enemy," but he borrows most of his own relation from that history, which is as follows :
The French in Canada were now forming another design on North Hampton, of which we had seasonable advice : . . . Their whole body was seven hundred, with two Friars, under the command of Monsieur Boocore who in their march began to mutiny about the plunder they had in view, and expected to be master of, forgetting the proverb about divid- ing the skin before the bear was killed. Their dissention at last was so
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
great, that upwards of two hundred returned in discontent. However the rest came on, and sent scouts before to observe the posture of the English, who reported that they were as thick as the trees in the woods. Upon which their spirits failed, and more of their number deserted. They then called a council of war, who resolved to desist from the enterprise. Yet some staid, and afterwards fell on Lancaster and Groton, where they did some spoil, but not what they expected for that these towns were season- ably strengthened. Capt. Tyng and Capt. How entertained a warm dis- pute with them for some time, but being much inferior in number, were forced to retreat with some loss : yet those that were slain of the enciny, were more than those of ours. One of them was an officer of some dis- tinction which so exasperated their spirits that in revenge, they fred the Meeting House, killed several cattle and burnt many outhouses. . It was not then known how many of the enemy were slain it being cus- tomary among them to carry off their dead; however it was afterwards affirmed. that they lost sixteen besides several that were wounded. [Penhallow's Indian Wars.]
To his Excellencie Joseph Dudley Esq. Capt. Generall and Governour In Chief in and over Her Mjties province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England &c, and to the Honourable Her Majties Council and Representatives in Great and Generall Court assembled. obr 8th 1704.
The Petition of Thomas How of Marlburrah in the Behalf of himself & Company. Humbly Sheweth, That Whereas, at the time that Lankes- ter was assaulted by the french and Indian enemies, your petitioner and . company (to it) about thirty, did emediately Issue out, and were a means vnder God, to preserue many persons liues & estates, in sd Towne ; with the loss of two men of said company, and defended sd Towne from the Insults of so cruel and barbarous an enemy. And after wch There was found on the Spot where seueral barns were burnt, the bones of Sun- dry of the enemy yt were slain by your petitioners & company, besides many more supposed to be wounded, weh the enemy drew off, and altho your petitioner &' company recouered no scalps, yet being very cleer and plain (to it) of the enemies being slain as aforesd, your petitioners ; do Therefore pray that your Excellencies, & Honours would please to con- sider the premises, and Grant them such Compensation as in your Wise- dom shall seem mete &c. And yo" Petition' shall as in Duty, pray &tra THOMAS How for himself & Compa
In the House of Representatives
. Nov: 8: 1704 Read. Resolved That the sum of Ten Pounds be allowed, and Paid out of the publick Treasury to Capt" Thom. How, to be equelly Distributed amongst the Petitioners, as a Token that this Court Takes notice of, & well accepts, their good service, abovementioned.
Sent up for concurrence. JAMES CONVERSE Speaker
1.48
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
In Council. Nov. 10. 1704.
Read and passd a concurrance.
ISA ADDINGTON Secry. [Massachusetts Archives, XXX, 498.]
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq : . Nov : 18 : 1704.
The Humble Petition of Capt. William Tyng Sheweth, That just be- fore the mischief was done at Lancaster, yo' Petitioner was in Boston, and by his Excellency was ordered down forthwith to his Post, to go by Dun- stable and thence to Lancaster, which yo' Petitioner accordingly did and rode thither upon his own Horse, which he turned into a pasture there, and the next morning the Horse was by the Indians taken out of the sd pasture & driven into the woods, when they killed and ate the sd Horse. And Farther yo' petitioner Sheweth That one John Spalding who was a soldier under his command was killed in that action and his Gun taken by the Indians, and he being a very good soldier (tho a youth, ) & the Gun being his ffathers who is very poor, yo' Petitioner therefore humbly prays this great and General assembly to take the premisses into Consideration and that he may have such satisfaction & recompence made him for the loss of his Horse, and the father of the young man for the loss of his Gun as to this great & General Assembly shall seem meet, and yo' Peti- tioner shall pray &c WY TYNG
[Endorsed.] In the House of Representatives. Nov. 18: 1704. In Answer to the Petition on the other side Resolved, That the sum of Four Pounds be allowed and Paid out of the publick Treasury to Capt. William Tyng the Petitioner - And the sum of Twenty Shillings to John Spalding father of John Spalding decd mentioned in the Petition.
Sent up for concurrance
JAMES CONVERSE Speaker [Massachusetts Archives, L.XXI, 105-6.]
Oct. 25. 1704. Mr Andrew Gardner minister of' Lancaster, coming down from ye watchbox in ye night wth a darkish coloured gown was mis- taken for an Indian & solemnly slain by a sorry souldier belonging to ye Garrison nomine Presket.
[Journal of Reverend John Pike.]
I now return to the westward, where, on the 25th of October the ene- my did some mischief. Lancaster was alarmed, and the alarm was the means of the untimely death of the Rev. Mr Gardiner their worthy pastor.
Several of the inhabitants who belonged to the garrison, were wearied by hard travelling the day before. in pursuit of the enemy. This caused this good man out of pity and compassion to watch that night himself: accordingly he went into the box which lay over the flanker, where he staid till late in the night ; but being cold (as was supposed) he was com- ing down to warm himself, when one between sleeping and waking, or surprised through excess of fear fired upon him as he was coming out of
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
the watch house where no man could rationally expect the coming of an enemy. Mr Gardner, although he was shot through the back came to the door and bid them open it for he was wounded. No sooner did he enter, bit he fainted away: As he came to himself, he asked who it was that shot him, and when they told him, he prayed God to forgive him, and for- gave him himself, believing that he did it not on purpose; and with a composed frame of spirit, desired them that bewailed him not to weep. but pray for him and his flock. He comforted his sorrowful spouse, and expired within an hour.
[Samuel Penhallow's History of the Indian Wars.]
On Wednesday night an Englishman was killed in the Woods at Gro- ton by the Indiaas, which were afterwards descryed in the night by the Light of their Fires by a Person Travailing from Groton to Lancaster, and judged they might be about Thirty in number : pursuit was made after them but none could be found.
[Boston News Letter, October 30, 1704.]
From the diary of John Marshall, of Braintree, in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, we learn further that the man "killed and scalped by the Indians, belonged to the town of Groton, his name was davis: a very usefull man and much Lamented." This was proba- Samuel Sim ps That oly Samuel Davis, who married Mary Waters in Lancas- ter, A. D. 1656, and lived here for a time.
On Thursday night the Reverend Mr Gardner Minister of Lancaster was unfortunately shot by the Sentinel on the Watch, supposing him to be an Indian climbing over the Walls of the Fortification: of which wound he died in an hours space or little more.
[Boston News Letter, October 30, 1704.]
Boston. In our Numb. 28, As we then received it, we gave you the Account of the Death of the Reverend Mr Gardner, Minister of Lancas- ter : and having since had a perfect and exact Account of the same, from Eye and Ear Witnesses : we thought it expedient to insert it here, to pre- vent various reports thereof : And is as follows - That a man being Killed the day before between Groton and Lancaster, and the Indians having been seen the night before nigh the Town, Mr. Gardner. (three of the men belonging to his Garrison being gone out of Town, and two of the remaining three being tyred with Watching and Travelling in the Woods after the Indians that day, ) being a very careful as well as couragious man, concluded to Watch that night himself; and accordingly went out into the little Watch-house that was over one of the Flankers, and there stayed till
1.50
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
late in the night; whence and when he was coming down, (as it was thought,) to warm him. The man that shot him, who was not long be- fore sleeping by the fire, came out, and whether between sleeping and waking, or surprized with an excess of fear, fired upon him as he was coming down out of the Watch-house, through a little Trap-door into the Flanker, where no man having the exercise of his Reason could suspect the coming of an Enemy, or suspect him to be so, when in a clear Moon- light night he was nigh bim. Mr Gardner (though his wound was in his breast, being shot through the Vitals) came to the door, bid them open it, for he was wounded ; after he came in, he fainted away, but coming to himself again, asked who it was that shot him, and when they told him, he prayed God to forgive him, and forgave him himself. for he believed he did not do it on purpose ; and with a composed Christian frame of spirit desired them that were bitterly lamenting over him, not to weep but to pray for him, and comforted his sorrowful wife, telling her he was going to Glory, advising her to follow him ; and in about an hour Dyed, leaving his sorrowful friends to lament the loss of so worthy and desirable a Person.
[Boston News Letter, November 20, 1704.]
The coroner's inquest entirely exonerated Samuel Pres- cott. The verdict of the jury is probably somewhere extant, but has escaped search. Joseph Willard, Esquire, basing his statements upon that document, tells us that Prescott was the sentinel on duty, pacing his beat on the parade, when, dimly seeing a supposed enemy coming out of the upper flanker, he challenged him twice. No re- sponse being given, his suspicions were confirmed and he fred. His neighbors declared him guiltless even of care- less haste ; but they could not lift from his life the self-im- posed burden of bitter regret. His home was but a few rods away, and he could not step from his door, or look out from his windows, but his eyes encountered the scene of that pitiful tragedy. He soon removed to Concord, selling his pleasant home to Reverend John Prentice. Mr. Gard- ner was the son of Captain Andrew and Sarah ( Mason) Gardner of Brookline, and a graduate of Harvard college in 1606. He was in his thirtieth year, when his promising life was cut short.
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
To his Excellency, Joseph Dudley Esqr Captain Generall & Comander In Chiefe in & over his Majts Province of ye Massachusetts Bay In New England &x: his Majts Honralle Councill & Representatives Con- vened In General Assembly at Boston October 25 1704.
The Petition of ye Inhabitants of y Towne of Lancaster in ye Province, Humbly Sheweth That whereas yo' Petitioners the destressed Inhabitants of said Lancaster being under ye Awfull Rebukes of Gods hand In ya mau- ifest Token of his Displeasure against us, In p'mitting those Barbarous Heathen to be such a Scourge to us whereby in ye Sumer past we have Sustained such Losses by them that therby we are greatly Impoverished and destressed & som of us almost Ruined as to our estates having little or nothing left for our present Sustenance and much less able to Contribute to Publique Charges, the Towne having lost severall hundreds of pounds estat by ye Indians in theire last attack together with ye loss of our meet- ing house being burnt by them, & more particularly that late awfull stroak of Gods Hand ye Last weeke in ye Loss of our Reverend Minister who was every way Worthy & desirable, whose Loss is Ready to sink our spir- its, also we haveing been at great charge formerly in settleing ye ministry & haveing one minister slaine by ye Indians & now another Taken away by a more awfull stroake we are still left destitute & have all againe to procure which will be great charge & we feare with much dificulty all which Layes us under an Inability of performing what is Required of us, Keffering to our Publique Charges. The p'misses being considered by your Excellency & Hon's with many other Reasons that might be alleadged. we Humbly Crave that ye late Tax set and proportioned upon said Towne being ye sum of eighty six pounds may be Remitted or such an abatement thereof made & Granted to sd Town as yor Excellency & Hon's Shall in Wisdom see to be Reasonable & Just & such Protection and encourage- ment afforded for ye future as may be necessary, & yor Petitioners better enabled to beare up under ye many Difficultyes we are dayly exercised with & ffurther obliged as in Duty bound ever to pray : &c :
In behalfe of ye Inhabitants of Lancaster
Novb! ye 21 1704.
JOHN HOUGHTON JONAS HOUGHTON
[Endorsed.]
In the House of Representatives Dec : 28: 1704.
Resolved, That the sum of Forty Pounds be allowed and Paid out of the publick Treasury to the Town of Lancaster towards Building a Meet- ing House as soon as they shall have Erected a frame for the same and Paid the Taxes already laid upon them.
JAMES CONVERSE Speaker.
In Council. 28. Decr. 1704. Read and Concurred.
ISA ADDINGTON Secry.
[ Massachusetts Archives, CXIII, 363.]
152
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
To His Excellency Joseph Dudley Exqr Captain Generall & Comander in Chiefe &c : In and over her Majts Province of ye Massachusetts Bay. in New England her Majts Hourable Councill & Representatives of sd Province Convened In Generall Assembley at Boston : October : 25th, 1/0.1.
Wheras Wee the Subscribers having Lately Preffered a Petition to your Excellency And Hour In behalfe of ye Inhabitants of Lancaster, In short Representing The present destressed Condition of said Towne & on that account Humbly Praying for ye Remission of ye late Tax of eighty six pounds sett upon sd Towne or for an abatement of ye same, & being since Informed by Capt Thomas How of Marleborough that you desire a more particular Accompt of ye late Losses sustained by severall persons in said Towne this last Summer by Damage don by ye Indians we have accordingly sent you an accompt thereof as followeth.
July ye 31t 1704 ye Indians besett the Towne in severall places & par- ticularly Lieut Nath" Wilders Garrison where early in ye morning one of ye Indians shott him In the thigh of which wound be dyed yt same day. & ye Indians killed of his cattell six oxen five cowes 3 calves sixteen sheep twelve swine & burnt his Barne & about 12 load of good English hay.
Of Ephraim Wilders one ox 2 calves 3 cowes one horse 15 sheep 2 swine one good dwelling house with 2 fires.
Jonathan Wilder two oxen one horse.
John Carter 3 oxen one cow one horse 3 swine.
Sam" Carter 3 oxen one cow one horse 2 calves 2 swine one good Dwelling house with 2 fires.
Thomas Ross one cow 2 calves one swine one dwelling house with one fire.
John Houghton Jan 3 swine one large dwelling house* with 3 fires, belonging to him &: Phillip Goss & about sixteen pounds of Personall estate belonging to sd Houghton burnt in sd house.
*This house was probably near or upon the site of the Rowlandson garrison, Jolm Houghton having married Mary, widow of the elder Philip Goss, who bought the Rowlandson estate in 1587.
George Hewes two oxen 2 cows.
Saml Bennitt 3 oxen 2 cons.
Jonathan Whitcombe 2 sheep.
Simon Steevens one Horss.
Jonas Houghton one Ox.
Jabez ffairbank one new barne with about'S loads of good English hay. Thomas Sawyer Jun one heiffer.
John Preist Jun one heiffer.
All which creatures were then killed by ye Indians & Housing burnt by them & many more creatures wounded & Severall Horses that cannot yet
f
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
be found, though some of the men that have been out have found where soni horsses have been killed and Rosted, also those cattell are yet pre- served are in great hazard to be lost for want of Hay, especially many of those on ye yeast side of ye River, for most of ye Inhabitants on yt side have had but little or no help or protection in there Garisons but have been necessitated to watch & ward a third part of their time at least, besides Ranging the woods after when Rumours & Allarms have hapened so that neere halfe our time is spent in actuall service & when we are about our own work we cannot keep to it, but lose a great part of what we Labour for being forced to get our bread with ye pril of our Lives which hang in Doubt continually & but little peace day or night & many ' of us have formerly been greatly Impoverished by ye Indians, & see no probability but if they can againe it will be so for the future, & having lost our meeting house being now burnt by them this sumer which is a Generall loss, & also ye los of our late minister so that we are on all ac- counts as new beginers, & under such discouraging circumstances that our spiritts are Ready to sink & almost dispaire of subsisting another yeare except we may be under beter circumstances, but still under God Relying on your favourable protection & Relieffe hoping for ye Remission of ye said Tax prayed for in the afforsaid Petition, which if it be granted will not Respond a sixth part of ye loss & damage we have lately sustained. So leaving ye Premisses to your favourable consideration wee Remaine.
Your Excellencys & Hon" most Humble Servants to Comand. THOMAS WILDER JOHN HOUGHTON JE JONAS HOUGHTON.
November 15 1704. [Massachusetts Archives, CXIII, 365.]
To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esqr Governour, the Honorable Council" and ye Representatives siting in Boston fune ye 27 1705
The humble petition of Mary Gardner of Lancaster humbly Sheweth That whareas thare was yesterday an acount laid before ye Court signed by ye worshipfull Colonell Tailer of money dew to me from ye country for entertaineing of souldiers & damage done by their horses who at coming up to Lancaster when ye attaque was made upon it by ye enemy, who in a hurry put theare horses in to a field of ry whareby an acre was imediately destroyed, for which damage & entertainment of souldiers this honerable hous saw cause to alow me but fifteene shillings when besides that, they drank a barell of boyled Cyder & a barell of strong bear, Besides Mr Gardner his going out Chaplin with ye army in that expedition after ye enemy for all which we have Received nothing. Your humble petitioner being a desolate widdow prayeth y' Justice may be done her & that she may have Dew recomepence for those things which ye country is more able to bare them then herself who hath alwayes bin & is ready to undergos
-
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
any trouble laid upon her for yr service of yo country. Your Granting my petition herein will Greatly obliege your Humble pet'ioner.
MARY GARDNER.
In Council ; June. 29. 1705. Read & sent down [Endorsed.]
In the House of Representatives June 29: 1705. Resolved That the sum of Three Pounds, 4 shillings & six pence ; be Allowed & paid out of the publick Treasury to Mary Gardner the Petitioner as a full Considera- tion for the Petition on the other side :
Sent up for concurrence. THOMAS OAKES Speaker
June, 29. 1705. In Council. Read & concurred.
ISA ADDINGTON Secy.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI, 157-8.]
1704|5. An Acompi of funeral Charges &c of John Brabrook a soul- der under ye comand of Capt. Will Tyng, who Deceased March 31 17045.
Imprimis To Dressing his lame leg &c - 1 25 0
1
d
To Nursing & Charges when sick 6
To funeral Charg. viz graue clothes & Drink - 18
To ye Coffen & Grave -- IO
2 6
EPHRAIM WILDER JOSEPH WILDER
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI, 128.]
An acompt of funeral Charges : &c : of John Carter a souldier under ye Comand of Capt. Willi Tyng who deceased March ye 26 1704|5 :
Imprimis, To two Journeys to Concord for ye Doctor - 0 = 7= 0 To one Jurney to Boston for things for said Carter in his sickness - 0= 11 = 0 To nursing one week 0 = 10 = 0
To 4 Gallonds Wine at - O= 15 = 9 15 a barrill Syder -- 4 = 0
To Sugger, fruit & Spice -- 0= 5 =6
To 6 paier of Gloues --- 0= 9:0
To y' Coffen and Graue - 0= 8=0
£3= 10% = 3ª NATHANIEL SAWYER.
EPHRAIM! WILDER.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXXI, 129.]
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
1705 Oct. 15. Three mon are carried away from Lancaster from Mr Sawyers Sawmill.
Oct. 16. Hear the bad news from Lancaster.
[Diary of Samuel Sewall, IL.]
Mention is found of Thomas Sawyer's mill upon Dean's, now called Goodridge Brook, as early as 1699. It was upon the site of the present dam near the Deer's Horns school-house. The three captives were Thomas Sawyer. Jr., his son Elias, a youth of sixteen, and John Bigelow, a carpenter of Marlborough. Samuel Sewall's, being a contemporary record, is no doubt correct, though Reverend Peter Whitney in the History of Worcester County places the scene of the capture at Sawyer's garrison house. A younger brother of Elias, about fourteen years old, escaped through a window, it is said. when the others were cap- tured. From Whitney's history we derive the romantic story of the elder Sawyer's rescue after he had already been tied to the stake for torture. A friar successfully ex- cited the superstitious fears of the savages by brandishing a key, and threatening with it to unlock the door of Pur- gatory and thrust them into its eternal fires, if they did not release their prisoner to him. He was probably incited thereto by the French Governor, who wished to avail bim- self of Sawyer's promised skill in the construction of a mill upon the Chambly. The mill built,-the first in all Canada, -- Thomas Sawyer and Bigelow came home. Elias was detained a year longer, to run the mill and in- struct others in the art of sawing. The grave of Thomas Sawyer is in the old burying ground. He died " Septem- ber 5 !! 1736, in ye 89th Year of his Age."
1705. To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq : Capt. General and Gov- error in Chief. To the Honoble the Council and House of Representa- tives now in General Court assembled in and for her Majties. Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New Engla, November the 29th 1705.
The humble Petition of several of the Inhabitants of the Town of Lancaster whose names are hereunto subscribed. Sheweth. That yor
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Petitioners dwell on the West side of the River ffronting towards the Enemy and have suffered very much and are diminished in their number several heads of ffamilies having been catt off within these few years and when the Enemy were there about 17 or 18 months ago they burnt down the Meeting house which always stood on the West side the River. Now so it is (may it please this great & General Assembly) that those of the Inhabitants who dwell on this side the River (several of whom are removed for fear of the enemy even to the bounds of Marleburrough) use all their Endeavour to have the Meeting house built on this side whereas the Meet- ing house Ground & the Ministerial Land & Meadow are both on the other side, and moreover should the Meeting house be built on this side, the Enemy might come when the Inhabitants were att Meeting and destroy the whole Western part and secure the Bridge so that nobody should be able to resist them or Relieve their ffriends. But the Meeting house being built on the West and Exposed side (as it used to be) the Inhabitants on that side are a Guard to the others on this side as well as to themselves, notwithstanding these reasons (which yor Petitioners humbly hope will have their due Consideration in this Honoble House) they of this side having never had a man killd in the service, are grown so numerous, that they out vote yo" Petitioners, and carry it against them att their Town Meetings.
Yo' Petitioners therefore humbly pray That yor Excellency and Honors would please to take the premises into yor serious consideration, and to Grant an order or vote of this Honoble House for the final ending of this Controversy and the Rebuilding of the Meeting house in its usual place. And yo: Petitioners shall ever pray &c
SAMUEL BENNETT PETER JOSLIN JOHN PRESCOTT Sen'
SIMON STEVENS JOHN BEMAN junt CYPRIAN STEVENS
BEZALIEL SAYWIAR WILLIAM DIVOLL JOHN PRESCOT jun?
EPHRAIM WILDER JOHN JOHNSON JOUN KEYES
JONATHAN WILDER
BENJA BELLOWS
NATHANIEL SAWYER
THOMAS ROSS
JOSEPH GLAZEIR JOSIAH WHITE Jr
JONATHAN WHITCOMB JOHN HARRIS PHILIP GOSS GEORGE HUES
Nov ult. 1705. In Council Read & ordered That Jonathan Tyng, James Converse. Thomas Browne and James Minott Esqrs. be a Comittee to hear the Allegations of both parts of the Town referring to the situa- tion of their Meeting House, Jonathan Tyng Esqr. to appoint the time & place for the Committees meeting. And to Report their doeings to this Court at their next Session.
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