USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725 > Part 22
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9. We traveled 14 miles and camped at the norwest corner of winipi- socket pond.
IO. We traveled 16 miles, and camped at the north side of Cusumpe pond.
Il. We traveled 6 miles N by E from Cusumpe and there camped --- and sent out scouts, and some of our scouts thought they discovered smoke.
12. We sent out scouts, and they discovered nothing.
13. We lay still and sent out scouts, and to strengthen us to go farther we sent home 29 men.
14. We traveled jo miles toward Pigwackett, and then came upon a branch of the Saco river, and sent out scouts.
15. We lay still and sent out scouts and discovered nothing.
16. We traveled 6 miles and came upon an Indian wigwam -- the Indi- ans being gone we left 16 men with our packs and the rest pursued them till dark and stayed there all night.
17. We followed their track till eight o'clock next day and then we came back to fetch our packs, traveled the remaining part of that day and the night ensuing six miles.
18. We traveled zo miles and camped at the great pond upon Sawco river.
19. We traveled 22 miles and camped at a great pond.
20. We traveled 5 miles and came to a wigwam where the Indians had been lately gone from, and then we pursued their track about 2 miles further and discovered their smoke and then tarried till about two o'clock at night and then came upon them and killed io Indians which was all there was.
21. We traveled 6 miles.
22. We lay still and kept scouts upon our back tracks to see if there would any pursue.
23. We traveled 30 miles and Camped at Cocheco.
Another journal of this march has been printed in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, VII, 62, differing very slightly from the above, q. v.
23I
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
A tru jurnall of my travells began the 5th of April, 1725
We traueld to Groten 12 milds and thear stayed by reson of foul wether
6 day we trauch to danstabel 12 milds and thear Lay that night
7 day we Lay stil by reson of foull wether
& day we mustared and went oucr the river to the hous of John Taylors about 3 milds
9 day we marcht up the river about S milds and then campt one of our men being taken uerey sik for he kold trauel no ferther, his name was Thomas Simson, Our Doctor Joseph Whetcomb that night set his fut into a Ketel of biling broth that he cold trauel no ferther
to day was foul wether and we sent 2 men in to dunstabel with the sik and Lam men and [they] returned that night to us again
11 day we traueled about 13 milds and then campt about 3 mild aboue amoskeeg falls.
12 day we traueled II milds and then campt at the mouth of penekoock riuer
13 day we traveled 7 milds and then campt at the iarish fort in pone- kook Enteruals that day it rayend uery hard all day.
14 day we trauell ro milds and then Crost meremack riuer aboue the mouth of Contookock riuer and then Campt.
15 day we traveld 8 milds north west from Contockock to a litel stream that runs into meremack Riuer about 3 milds westard from meremack and then campt and sent out skouts
16 day we traueld 12 milds and Cam to a pond which was uery Long and we turned to the east sid of it and then campt, and then sent out skouts that day we lay about 3 milds westard of the mouth of Winepi- seocket
I, day it raynd uere hard the fore part of the day and a litel before night it cleard up & we sent skouts but found northen
IS day we traueled 14 milds and that day we Crost 2 great streames that runs in to meremack, one of them comes out of a great pond which sum indens says it is 3 days jurney round it the Land is ucrey full of great hils and mountains and uerey rockey abundance of sprus and hemlock and fur and sum bech and maple and we campt
19 day we traueld II milds and then campt at the Louar End of pemi- chewashet Lour Enteruals and sent out skouts.
20 day we lay stil by reson of foull wether and towards nit it Cleard up and we sent out skouts and found whear Cornol Tyng crost meremack
21 day we traueld 12 milds up pemichewashet Riuer and found old sines of indens and we sent out skouts that night and found one new track and we lay that night by the river and mad new camps. The Land that lys by this river is uere rich and good the upland uere full of hils and moun- tains, uery bad traueling
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
22 day we traueld 2 milds and then sent out skouts ouer the river and up a stream that runs into the river but found northen
23 day we traueld up the riuer about 14 milds and that day we Crost 3 stream,s that runs into the river this river coms sheafly from the north west & then we campt
24 day we traveld to milds westward and that day we found old signs of indens whear they had bin this spring and in the winter, and sent out skouts but cold find now indens This day Samll Moosman actidently kild himself with his own gun
25 day it rained ucry hard and we lay stil that day til amost night it cleard up and we sent out skouts but found northen
26 day we traueld 18 milds and came upon Conetecut nuer and one of our men was taken uere sik that night we campt by the river
27 day we traveld down the river and found a bark cannow which was of great saruis to our sik man & to us ; that day we traueld about 18 milds and then campt.
28 day we traueld 19 milds and then campt This Riuer iuns cheafly upon a south westerly pint this day we crost seural litel streams that runs into Conetecut riuer.
29 day we traueld 20 milds and then campt.
30 day we traueld 17 milds and crost one litel riuer below the great falls and then campt
May the first we traueld 24 milds and came to the fort above north field and thare lay all night
2 day we traveld Jo milds and came to northfield and there stayed that night
3 day we lay still it Lookt uery lykly ferr foul wether and we lay thare that night
4 day we set out for Lancaster a cros the woods and traueld abont 12 milds and then campt
5 day we traucld 15 milds and then campt
6 day we fraueld 144 milds and comm to Lancaster about 4 a clock this day it raind nery hard all day.
[Endorsed] Capt Whites Journal May 1725 [Massachusetts Archives XXXVIII, A, 97-98.]
A Journal of my March with a company of Voluntiers against the Indian Eenemy in July 1725.
July 6. muster'd at my house at Lancaster
7 march'd to Groton
8 march'd to Dunstable
9 Remain'd at Dunstable preparing for our march the next day
10. Tarried at Danstable till noon waiting for Capt. Wyman his Com-
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
pany not being quite Ready. Christian was taken with a violent Bleeding and Died about one Clock, we then went over the River the Canada Mo- hawk not being willing to Go, we left him behind.
IT. We Went up the River about Two miles, & waited for Capt. Wyman.
12. We Travel'd about 7 miles & then Encamp'd.
13. we march about 315 miles, Capt Wyman overtook us. We sent out scouts, We kill'd a Bear & sev Rattle Snakes.
14. March'd about 4 miles, & some of our men thinking they heard Guns up Piscataquag River, we sent out 40 men up the River and 20 more Lastw! who Returned not that night.
15. our Scouts came in but made no Discovery, we Kill'd two Bairs &: divers Rattle Snakes, which pester'd us very much in our march
16. One of Capt. Wymans Men being very sick, we travel'd but about 4 miles, but kept Scouts out Continually.
17. Excessive Rain occasion'd our laying still, but sent out Scouts who Killed a Black Moosc.
18. We March'd about 7 miles, our Indian being taken very lanie we lay still a while but his lameness continuing we sent him home, we encamp'd at Suncook
19. We March'd to Pennecook about eleven miles.
20. Lay still by Reason of a Bad Storm of Rain. Several of our men taken ill.
21. Four of Capt Wymans men were sent home with two sick men. We travel'd about 5 miles.
22. Several more of our men were taken very ill with a Bloody Flux, which we Suppose was occasion'd by Excessive Rains, & Immoderate Heats. It rain'd this day very hard that obliged us to lay still, Keeping our Scouts out.
2.3. men being very Sick & Weak we Travel'd 8 miles & Encamp'd
24. Our men Continuing very Ill we march'd but 7 miles.
25. It being good Travelling we march'd about 9 miles notwithstand- ing the weak Condition of the Company. Our Well men being obliged to carry the Sick mens packs.
26 Lay still by Reason of a Storm of Rain, our men continuing sick. 27. the Storm continuing, & our men growing worse we lay still all day.
28. We Travel'd about Eleven miles & Encamp'd
29 we March'd about Ten miles & come upon Cocheco path
30. We March'd to the Town of Cocheco 19 miles
31 Came to Oyster River
Aug : I Travel'd from thence to Exeter
2. March'd from Exeter to Kingstown
3. We March'd to Bradford.
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
4. Raind hard, we got to Billerica
5. I arrived at Lancaster and Dismiss'd my Company
Boston Ang 11 1725
[Massachusetts Archives XXXVIII, A, 107.]
LETTERS OF CAPTAIN SAMUEL WILLARD TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILLIAM DUMMER.
1725. Honoured Sir, after my duty presented to you these are to in- forme you that on Monday the nineteenth of this current July in the after- noon I marched from Rutland with fifty two able Bodyed men towards Watchusett with .- days Provision one of the men before we camped that night by an accident sprained his ankle who was oblidged to Return into Rutland and Capt. Wright was so Ingenious as spare one of his men for him I have left four more good men with Capt. Wright and have four of his men in their stead the first night we Camped on the south side of Ware River, and the next day lay still by Reason of foul weather sent out scouts and tracked Indians the next day we marched over the River where we camped west from Watchusett I desighin to march about twenty mile farther towards menagnick and ther to Scout about 3 or 4 days and then march to pemichawassett We are all in good health write in the woods about six or seven mile of Watchusett and sent in by Rutland scout this twenty second day of July anno Domini 1725.
Writt in hast. 1 Remain y" to Command
SAMU WILLARD
[Massachusetts Archives, LIII. 383.]
July 25 1725
Honoured Sr. these are to. Informe you that this day being wide of Wattchusett and Menadnick upon our march towards Pemi- shewassett with fourty seven able bodyed men, four of our men being sick and not able to travel who I have sent into Lancaster with Joshua Parker a well man to take care of them I doc not think to be into any town this five and thirty days unless we get some Indians Yesterday I being upon the scout heard a Gun which I supposed to be an Indian gun have sent out scouts there several ways this day there is fourty seven men besides the five who are come in
Yrs to sarve SAMU WILLARD
S: I desire that there may be preparation for canoes att Northfield if your honour designs any march to St. Francis this summer Capt. Blanch- ard desiring the same we not thinking of it when in Boston Yrs to serve SAM'S WILLARD
[ Massachusetts Archives, LUI, 230.]
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MASSACHUSETTS. 1643 - 1725.
LANCASTER August 16 1725
For ye Honnerable William Dummer Esg
May it Plese your Honner Persuant to your Honners Instructions to ine I marcher from Rutland North or thereabouts tille we came to Wanad- nack and from thence North East for pemissiwassett untill Sabbath day )* 8 of Angust Intending to have mete Capt Blancher there But By Rea- son of mnuch foule weather and Extreme Bad Woods to travele in we Being presweadd Capt Blancher was come from pemisiwassett thought it more searvisable to come Down at a Distance from ye river which we Did about 35 miles and then came to ye River and mete with Capt. Blancher at ye mouth of Contocook and so came Down ye River and arived well at Lancaster Thursday August ye 12 with most of our mean Some Being so weary with their march we Left them at Groton : if your Honner Have any farther Instructions I shall be Ready to sarve :
Your Honners very Humble Sarvent SAMUEL WILLARD I should Have sent to Informe your Honner Before But Capt Blanchard told me he shold send that we Both Came In together.
[Massachusetts Archives. LXXII. 257.]
May it please your Honour Yesterday I arrive at Dunstable with a Company of very good, likely, effective men ; I had been here sooner but my march was retarded by the sickness of my Lieut' who remains so bad that he cannot go with me ; to supply whose place, I would if your Honour see Cause desire a blank Comission might be sent me to be bestowed upon one whom the Company is desirous to choose among themselves. I have advised wth Col Tyng with regard to my March & taking the young Mo- hawk with [me] who is, I find willing eno upon the encouragement pro- posed to go. I would beg leave to represent to your Honour that the march will be long and hard, if He Pilots up where I design to go, & would desire that Capt Blanchard & his men may be ordered to go with me, so that if any of our men grow faint and weak, we may have still eno to prosecute our design, and may send such in either eastward or westward as we shall judge best, & those that go forward may be supported with their Provision. I humbly conceive this to be of great importance to the Province to serve which I design to us my utmost endeavour in this March, & in this Representation, which I have adventured to trouble you with I remaine Your Honours most obedient Humble Servt
Dunstable Sept 7 1725 JMassachusetts Archives, LII. 267.]
SAMUEL WILLARD
May it Please your Hour
Yesterday my men marched they being sixty eight in Number and that the young mohauck assures us that he can Lead us to the Indians Head Quarters and Goes Cherfully a Long with us. & Capt Blanchard is
236
ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Imediately marching after me and we desire when come to Cusumpe pond or penesiwassett to send forty of our weakest bands back with a small matter of Provision in to the westerd or easterd and to procd with the Rest to the place where the mohauck tels us of if by Good Providence we have our healths Who Remain y! Hon" DUNSTABLE Septr the gth Most obedient Servant 1725 SAMU WILLARD [Massachusetts Archives, LII. 270.]
Sept": 19. 1725.
Honoured Sir after my Duty to you These Lines are to inform you that I am well, & all my men excepting Three one of which badiy wound- ed himself with his Hatchett, which is Richard Burtt & Two others being ill not able to pform the Service, by name Sergt, Abial Chapin & Benj. Atherton, & I Thought it proper to send home Twelve men more under the Comand of Leit Combs, & I with Capt Blanchard do send one Party down Mirimack, & the other Party between Marimack & Conecticut into Turkey Hill, & if it is your Honours Pleasure to Keep them Scouting where you think it best they are at your service. And Capt Blanchard, & I, have taken all their Provisions, for to lengthen our Journey excepting enough to carry them home. We are now Near the Crotch of the River. No more at Present but I Remain Your Humble Servt.
SAMI WILLARD
[Massachusetts Archives, LII. 286.]
SACO October 14 1725
May it please your Honner pursuant to your Honners Instructions Capt Blanchard and I marched up Marrimack about one Hundard and fiefty milies from Dunstable till we Came to Head of it we saw some signes of a wigwarm where we supose some Indians had Been about six weeks since and from Marrimack in about 3 milles we came upon Saco River and Came Down sd Kiver to Saco falls on wensday October 13 and in ye evening come to winter harber to Capt Jordens and tooke some stores of him for our subsistence. for we had not any Provision Laeft, for in the morning we Before we came to Saco falls we fineshed all our provisions so that we had not any Laeft and we are now coming Home as fast as we can we shall give your Honner more particurler acount in our Jornnall when is all in hast from your Honners Humble Sarvent
For the Honble Wm Dummer Esq: [Massachusetts Archives, LIL. 302.]
SAMU WILLARD
Captain Samuel was grandson of Major Simon Willard. His father, Henry, who lived on the Still River farm, left him a considerable estate which he largely increased. Besides other lands he bought the "night pasture," the Ed-
237
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
ward Breck lot, and the homestead of his grandfather. He is reputed to have built and lived in the large house on the Breck lot, near the railroad crossing just north of the Lancaster station, wherein three generations of his descend- ants succeeded him. He commanded the Fourth Massa- chusetts regiment in the Louisburg expedition of 1745, his son Abijah being captain, and his son Levi ensign in the first company of the regiment. The slate over his grave in the old burying ground, records that the " Honourable Coll SAMUEL WILLARD Esq " died November co, 1752, at the age of sixty-two.
A Journall of my March.
Thursday July 15 muster at Lancaster
Friday July 16 I marched from Lancaster to Rutland
Satturday 17 it was foul weather in ye forenoon
Sabbath IS I fixed the men out with the stores
Monday 19 We marched toward Ware River and then Camped and sent out scouts & tracked some Indains & Haerd two Guns
tuesday 20 we lay still By Reason of foule weather
Wensday 21 we marched over Ware River & Camped for we saw it Like to Rain.
thursday 22. we lay stille by Reason it Rained hard all day.
Friday 23 we marched about six milles & it Being very hot we camped about ye middle of ye afternoon by reason of several of our weeke men could not travele there packs Being so havy I sent out three scouts & ordered them [to] travell five or six milles which they Did three severale ways
Satturday 24 we marched about seven miles northerly & sent out our scouts which haerd a gun but Discouered nothing elce
Sabbath day 25 four of our men not Being able to travele I sent them home who are by name Thomas Burt Robert Gray Jacob Moor & Jere- miah Belcher I also sent Joshua Parker Home with them we marched Northeast about three milles
Munday 26 Lay stille by Reason of rain we sent out scouts who scouted about 3 mille Round but Discouered nothing.
Tuesday 27 we could not travele By Reason of Rain But we sent out severale scouts & Discouered nothing
Wensday 28 Mr William Brintnall Being sick & Daniel How Lame I sent them Home we marched about 13 miles north and be Wast Round some pounds and Camped at ye South end of Nockeeg pound and sent out scouts 3 milles each way & Discouered nothing
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Thursday 29 we marched North and be wast about nine milles and corsed severale Branches of Millers River and Camped and sent out scouts which found where y* Indians had Lived Last year and made a Conbe at ye north End of a Long pond.
Friday 30. we marched North in yr fornoon & Came to a pound which Run into Contocook Rjuer in y" afternoon we marched north wast in all about 12 milles & Camped at Peewunseno pound and sent out scouts 4 milles and they found 2 wigwarms made last year they also found a pad- dle & some squash shells in one of them which we suppose they caried from Rutland
Satturday 31 we marched 12 milles and I with 14 men Campt on ye top of Wannadouck Mountains & Discouered 26 pounds saw Pigwackett Lying one point from sd mountain & Cusagee mountain and Winnepe- seockey Laying north cast from sd Wannadnuck the same Day we found several old signes which ye Indains had made the Last yaer & where yy campt when they killed ye peaple at Rutland as we Imagine.
Sabbath August y" Ith we marched from ye wast side of Wenadnuck & corsed three stremes that Run into Contocook and then Campt and sent out Scouts and found two wigwarms made in June or July as we suppose and found sixteen of those spitts which they Rost there meat with all in sd wigwarms & one of our scouts went so far that thay could not Return yt same night
Monday 2 we marched about seven milles & crosed a Grate Branche of Contocook River & sent out our Scouts up and Down the River each Scout traveled about 8 milles.
Tuesday 3 we marched N E about sixteen milles and campt and sent out scouts who found many old signes of Indians
Wensday 4 we lay stille By Reason of foule weather, we sent out our Scouts and they haerd a Gun
Thursday 5 we marched about 16 milles northerly and crosed two stremes that Run into Merimack & sent out our Scouts and Discouered nothing
Friday 6. we marched about 18 milles in the morning we found a mog- erson tracke, and spent some time scouting after sd Tracke we campt near a Little pound.
Satturday 7 we traveled about 20 milles N E and crosed two Stremes that Run into Merimack
Sabbath 8 we Returned Homeward By Reason of our Indians Having no Provision and several of our English But Little we come to a Streme that Run into merimack we traveled about 24 milles South and By East.
Monday 9 we traveled about East tille we came to Merimack Being about to milles and mette with Capt. Blanchard coming from Pemisewas- sett and in afternoon came to ya Lower End of Pennicook, which is about sixteen milles & campt
--
239
MASSACHUSETTS. 1643-1725.
Tusday 10 we Traveled 24 milles Down the [Merrimac] to Cohassett falls.
Wensday It We came 14 milles & came to Dunstable. Thursday 12 Came 24 milles and came to Lancaster
SAMM WILLARD [Massachusetts Archives, XXXVIII. A 109-10.]
A Journal of ye March of Capt. Samuel Willard accompanied with Capt. Jos: Blanchard: In Pursuit of Ye Indian Rebells. Mustard at Lancaster friday Sepr. ye 3d:
Sep' 4 Saturday Leiut. Warner marched wh all sd Willards Com- pany to Groton, except those of Lancaster.
Sabbath, 54 Lay still by Reason of Rain.
Mund: 6: Capt Willard & those of Lancaster Rid & overtook Lt: Warner & ye rest at Dunstable.
Tuesday Wednesday & thursday, Lay still by reason of hard rains.
Friday to. We marched over y River about 7 mile & campt.
Saturday ITTA We marched up y River to Parkers Brook & campt.
Sabbath 12th We lay still by reason of Rain.
Munday 13th We marched up ye River to Neticoock & campt.
Tuesday 14th We marched up sd River to Cohassett falls & sent out scouts, & campt.
Wednesday 15. We marched to Ammoskeeg, sent out scouts and campt.
Thursday 16. We sent a scout consisting of 40 men over ye River wch marched on ye west side. Capt. Blancher went to Hannichoockset falls &: campt, & Capt Willard went to Suncook about 3 miles further & campt.
Friday 17 we marched to Pennicoock Lower falls. & Capt Willard & Comp? went over on ye West side of ye River, & marched to Pennicook upper falls, & campt. This day Capt Blancher saw some shoe tracks, Se having gone up to Penicook old fort found where they campt. & supposed . them to be scouts sent out from New Hampshire Governm' & sd Capt. Campt a mile above ye fort.
Saturday 18. we marched about 3 mile above Contocock River & there Capt. Blancher came over to ye West side of ye River, sent out scouts and campt.
Sabbath 19. Ye Captains agreed to send back a parcel of Men & took their Provisions vizt out of Capt Blanchers Compa 28 Men, out of Capt Willards Comp? 15 men ; in all 43 men under ye comand of Leiut. Comes ; two of Capt. Willards men being sick, viz Abel Chapin had a spavn & Benje Atherton the Bloody Flux, & Richd Burck cut his leg with a hatchit we! Disenabled him for ye service, being also one of Capt. Willards men, and all included in ye said number of 43 men ;
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ANNALS OF LANCASTER,
Monday 20 We marched to y' crotch of yº River weh is about 70 miles from Dunstable and crossed ye West Branch. sent out scouts, & campt.
Tuesday 21. We marched toward Pimiwachet, alias Pimissiwassett about ir miles, and sent out Scouts. & campt.
Wed. 22 We marched about 9 mile & sent out scouts & campt; this day Barn1 Davis cut his foot with a stone.
Thursday 23. We sent out scouts to ye River & up by ye side 4 miles, and ye army by reason of Rain lay still.
Friday 24. Capt Willard sent back II of his men & of Capt Blanch- ers 8. which made 19 .. Some of web, were sick, viz of Capt. Willards men Jona. Adams, Ebenez' Polley of a flux, & Symon Atherton ye feaver &: ague, & said Davis weh cut himself. The Capts. ordered them to take one Conoe from ye Crotch of y River where we had left y" rest, & orde! ye rest shoud be left for fear of any more sickness, after this marched about 6 mile & came to ye River, & sent out scouts, & campt.
Saturday 25 we marched about 6 mile & came to ye carrying place, where y. Indians carry their Conocs from Pemichiwasset to Sowhaig River & found that ye Indians had lately been there & Carried their conoes : Capt Willard took half a scout of his men & half of Capt. Blanchers being in all 24 & followed ye Indians & a little before we come to Cusumpy Pond we found where they brook one Conoe & coming to ye Pond cou! follow them noe further; & in ye mean time Leiut. Warner with 24 men out of both Companies scouted up ye River, & returned about y middle of ye afternoon, & ye army being all met marched about 2 mile up y" River &: campt.
Sept 25 Saturday We also examined Jos: ye Mohak (taking Nessa Gawney for an Interpreter) which was the best way to goe to ye Fort he told of : and he said we must goe up to ye head of merimack because there was noe goeing over ye hills neer Cusumpy Ponds.
Sabb: 26 We marched about 12 mile up ye River & sent out scouts & campt.
Mund. 27 We marched about 12 mile & crossed a stream which ran from ye Hills where Capt Lovel killed ye first Indian last winter & sent out Scouts & campt.
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