USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > The history of Concord, Massachusetts > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
"The combination of bravery and piety, of trust in the Lord and keeping their powder dry, that characterizes this expedition is a marked example of the spirit of the times. The men who could do and suffer and believe as this troop did, were true founders of
'A Church without a Bishop, A State without a King.' , ">
In the character of Capt. Thomas Wheeler as we conceive of it by the facts he has given, there is set forth that com- bination of soldierly qualities and religious fervor which we believe characterized many of the Colonial military com- manders.
Capts. Wadsworth and Brocklebank who fell at the Sud- bury fight a few months later were men who took an interest in matters both polictical and religious; the latter being a deacon of the church.
Capt. Samuel Dakin a descendant of Thomas of Concord, who commanded a company in one of the Canadian cam- paigns and was slain at Half Way Brook near Fort Ewdard, writes just before his departure from home in a paper which is still extant dated Septembr 29, 1756. "And now going on an Expedition against the enemy at Crown point, I have given myself up wholly to God, to be at his disposal in life or death, and O that God would accept of me again for Jesus Christ's sake."
In a letter to his wife he says, "I have never yet heard one thwarting word in my company, but they seem all to have a brotherly love one for another, and have never heard
366
Colonial
one profane word among them, and their forwardness in attending services is delightful to me, so that I have many mercies."
In a letter of June 10, 1758, he states concerning the men of his command "they are very ready to attend prayers and the singing of Psalms which we have practised on our journey."
Such was the religious faith of the soldiers who fought in the Colonial and Intercolonial wars, and so great was their confidence in the God of battles to befriend them. And who shall say that their confidence was misplaced or their faith misapplied? Who can deny that Ephraim Cur- tis was divinely directed as he crawled over the greensward in his third attempt to evade the watchful savages, and go for relief; or who will dare to assert that the timely arrival of Major Willard and his companions at Marlboro just in time for the rescue of his former Concord neighbors at the Brookfield garrison was not ordered of Heaven? And who furthermore can say that the sudden shower that quenched the burning combustibles which were rolled up against the house was not sent in answer to their sup- plications ? These instances are only in exact accord with many others, notable among which is the unexpected aid from Goff, the regicide judge at Hadley, when the town's immediate destruction was threatened by the Indians and the efforts of the inhabitants had been exhausted; and of the upsetting of the cart loaded with burning material at Sudbury which, tradition says, the savages were rolling down the hill back of the Haynes garrison house in order to destroy it.
Surely, if it is foolishly venturesome to deny these facts or to disclaim a belief in the deductions which the fathers drew from them, then it is wisdom for their descendants to profit by them and to make Him who has been
"Our help in ages past,
Our hope in years to come."
367
Concord
After the return of Capt. Thomas Wheeler and the Con- cord survivors of his companny, the town observed October 21, 1675 as "A day of praise and thanksgiving to God for their remarkable deliverance and their safe return", and a sermon was preached by Rev. Edward Bulkeley. The wel- come to the survivors of the Brookfield battle and siege was doubtless a most ardent one. For weeks the town had been kept in a state of sorrow and suspense not knowing what the fate of their fellow townsmen might be; for in those early times surgical skill was in a comparatively undevel- oped state, and the lacerations made by the large musket balls then in use would be difficult to heal.
The sermon of Mr. Bulkeley and the narrative of Capt. Wheeler were published not long after they were written.
The complete title of the original Wheeler document is the following.
"A True Narrative Of the Lord's Providence in various dispensations towards Edward Hutchinson of Boston and my self, and those that went into the Nipmuck Country, and also to Quaboag, alias Brookfield. The said Captain Hutchinson having a Commission, from the Honoured Council of the Colony to Treat with several Sachems in those parts, in order to the pulick peace and my self being also ordered by the said Council to accompany him with part of my Troop for Security from any danger that might be from the Indians : and to Assist them in the Transaction of matters committed to him."
Probabably the "Narrative" was written soon after the author's return to Concord, and not unlikely while waiting for a recovery from his wounds and other hardships.
This paper written by one so trustworthy when the facts described were fresh in memory, and with an impression of the stirring events set forth in it still vivid, renders the doc- ument a most valuable one. It has been much quoted and was referred to by contemporary writers. The historian Hubbard used it freely, and Major Daniel Gookin in his "History of the Praying Indians" also referred to it.
368
Colonial
The mission which Capt. Wheeler was sent on was of great importance and much depended upon its successful accomplishment. It was preeminently a peaceable one. Before he started out, the council had twice sent Ephraim Curtis, the Sudbury scout into the Nipmuck Country to see if he could placate the Sachems by assuring them of the pacific attitude of the Colonists towards them. This measure was considered necessary on account of the warning received through Waban, the ruler of the Christian Indians at Natick, Curtis did his full duty. Taking with him several friendly Indians he proceeded on his way to Brookfield, and from thence westward accord- ing to his account to the Colonial Council, till he discovered an Indian trail which he followed many miles to "the low river by Springfield old road," where he discovered some of the Nipmuck Sachems. Several villages were visited and satisfactory assurances were received from the inhabitants of fidelity to the English. As a result of a visit to the Qua- boag tribe whose sachem was Mattaump, a document was delivered of which the following is a copy, the original being among the State Archives.
"The Ruler of Quabage being examined by us where his his men were : he said they were at home. Then we asked him whether there were none of them gone to help King Philip to fight against the English of Plymouth : he said No; and neither would he help him : for he has been false to him already, and, therefore I will not help him: but I will still continue our subjection unto the English of the Massachusetts Colony : neither will I suffer any of my men to go and help him; and in Confirmation of the same I do set my hand, 25: 4: 75;
Conkcascogan, alias Conkganasca."
But notwithstanding their fair promises, the Nipmuck and Quaboag Indians shortly after the visit of Curtis, showed a disposition to join Philip, for the cunning chieftain of Pokanoket, whom the English believed would remain peaceable at Pocasset, whither he had fled upon their
369
Concord
pursuit of him after the disastrous work at Swanzey on July 4, had been among the tribes, and probably by his per- suasive eloquence and promise of prospective spoils had stirred them to the verge of strife. By the middle of July and in less than a month after Curtis left them at their ancient town of Neminimisset, a place in the northwesterly part of the present New Braintree, several of their sachems had again assembled and this time with a warlike purpose neglectful of their declaration to Ephraim Curtis. But the Colonial Council in spite of indications to the contrary, not despairing of peaceful relations with these tribes of the inte- rior or at least of securing from them neutrality, again sent for the Sudbury scout.
On July 16 an order was issued to the constables of Sudbury directing them "to impress two or three valuable horses as Ephraim Curtis shall require." These were to be delivered to Curtis who was to take with him two or three "able and confiding Indians which Capt. Gookin would provide to go with him on the country's service."
To this second summons to go to the Nipmuck country as a friendly messenger of the English, Curtis promptly responded. Taking with him two or three Christian Indians of Natick he started. Upon arriving at Marlboro he learned that a house built by him at Quinsigamond now Worcester, where he had done some frontier work had been pillaged by the savages, and that Matoonas the Nipmuck chieftain whose tribe he had so recently visited in the inter- ests of peace, with a considerable company of his own war- riors and a portion of King Philip's men were on the war- path to the southward doing much mischief. The bold scout was nothing daunted by this disheartening intelligence but went forward and met the Indians near Brookfield. The savages were ugly; their demonstrations showed evil designs; and it was evident that Curtis had a dangerous task before him.
After considerable parley and adroit manoeuvering, dur- ing which both Curtis and his allies were subjected to great
370
Colonial
danger, a description of which Curtis set forth in his report to the Council which report is among the State Archives Vol. 67 p 215, he found opportunity to deliver his message. But it was of little avail. The second mission of Curtis to secure the friendliness of the tribes of the inte- rior was utterly fruitless ; for notwithstanding his shrewd diplomacy and formal assumption while in the presence of the savages of their having no disposition to actually harm him, he was too accustomed to their wily ways not to know that he and his company were in a position of extreme peril, and that all the friendly overtures of the Colonial Council had been flippantly and defiantly refused so with his little party he retreated as best he could and making his way back to Boston promptly rendered a report that was unmistakable in its meaning. The Col- onial Council saw that a crisis was coming and that it was of no use to send messages by an embassy which was so small that the Indians would treat it with contempt, but that an expedition should be sent consisting of such a force and leadership as would command respect. The Hutchinson expedition was accordingly fitted out.
Capt. Hutchinson had lived in the Nipmuck Country and had a farm there upon which he had employed sev- eral of the Nipmuck sagamores. He was popular with the natives, and had been sent on several occasions to negotiate with them concerning matters of importance. He was the oldest son of William and Ann and came to America with his uncle in 1633, his parents arriving a year later. Capt. Wheeler was equally well fitted for the position he was to occupy for he also was well acquainted with the Indians, having had an opportunity to learn their wiles and weak- nesses while trading with them some years before along the Merrimac river.
The exact place of the Brookfield ambuscade has been the subject of much conjecture and controversy. Some years ago an ancient map was discovered by Dr. Green of
371
Concord
the Mass. Historical Society entitled "A new plan of sev- eral towns in the County of Worcester." It bears the date March 30, 1785, and was the work of Gen. Rufus Putnam, at that time of Rutland, but formerly of New Braintree. Upon this map is located in the northwesterly part of New Braintree the Indian town Meminimisset or Wenimisset and in the swamp to the east is found the inscription "Hutchinson & Troop Ambushed between Swamp & Hill."
Dr. L. R. Paige of Cambridge in the "New England and Genealogical Register" dated October, 1884, before the discovery of this map, brought forward strong and convinc- ing arguments to prove that the scene of the battle was near this spot. Rev. J. H. Temple author of the "History of Brookfield" adduces arguments also strong and convincing that the scene of the battle was the ravine near the New Braintree and Brookfield line some two and a half miles from Wickabaug pond. Both gentlemen are considered authorities in matters of historical research ; and both probally argued from the same general facts.
Rev. G. M. Bodge author of "Soldiers in King Philip's War" states that after reading the arguments on both sides he is unable to state which spot is the correct one.
One thing, however, is certain, that in 1785, the date of the map referred to, the former place was known as the scene of the conflict.
It is not supposed that Philip was personally present in the attack on Brookfield, as he left the swamp at Pocasset to which he had been driven by the English July 31, and arrived at "Quaboag, Old Fort" on Thursday Aug. 5. The work is supposed to have been done entirely by the Nipmucks, the chief among whom were the Quaboags, Wabbaquasets and Nashaways.
It is said that when the victorious Nipmucks told Philip of their work at Brookfield he gave three of their Sagamores viz : Apequinask, Quannasit and Mattaump, about a peck of unstrung wampum apiece.
Capt. Wheeler and his command left Brookfield Aug. 10
372
Colonial
and arrived at Marlboro Aug. 14 Capt. Hutchinson went with the return party but died the day after the arrival and was buried at Marlboro.
A few weeks after the return of Capt. Thomas Wheeler we hear of him again as doing military duty; and the indi- cations are that this time it was in the scouting service which was kept up between towns in companies or squads. Before closing our narrative of events about Brookfield it is due that at least a short sketch should be given of some of the leading characters. Capt. Thomas Wheeler it is supposed was of the family of Wheelers who were at Concord as early as 1640-I and which Shattuck says according to tradition, came from Wales. That the tradition is incorrect is strongly probable since the name of Wheeler was a common one among English families who early emigrated to America. It is believed that the families of Wheeler who went to Con- cord dwelt, before coming to this country, at a place a few miles from Odell, Bedfordshire, England, at which latter place Rev. Peter Bulkeley formerly lived In this locality, it is stated, that in the 17th century more people bore the name of Wheeler than any other This fact renders it quite presumable that the Concord families of Wheeler emigrated from that vicinity.
Another significant circumstance is that a few miles from the old home of Peter Bulkeley was a small parish known as Cranfield and in that parish was formerly a locality or precinct that went by the name of Virginia. As both these terms are familiar in Concord history designating places the earliest in which some of the Wheelers have lived, it may not be too much to suppose that the terms were brought to this country by the Wheelers or Bulkeleys. The Vir- ginia road according to Mr. Albert E. Wood was the earliest or one of the earliest in the plantation.
Capt. Thomas Wheeler it is supposed, was a brother of Capt. Timothy and Lieut. Joseph Wheeler of Concord. He married Ruth, a daughter of William Wood and died Dec. 10, 1676. He had five sons.
373
Concord
Thomas Wheeler Jr. who was with his father in the Brookfield fight died unmarried Feb. 16, 1676-7. In the record of his death he is refered to as "Thomas ye son of Widow Ruth Wheeler" That his estate was administered upon is evidence that he was past nonage and not a mere lad of thirteen as has been asserted. Nothing of a doc- umentary nature that we know of indicates that the Capt. Thomas Wheeler the old Indian fighter was a citizen of
Concord previous to 1662. In 1669 the town leased to him a tract of land that has been referred to in a previous chapter. Before his residence in Concord he was engaged in trading with the Indians along the Merrimac river. Timothy Wheeler mentions in his will which was pro- bated Sept. 7, 1687, "Joseph, Ephraim and Deliverance, my brother Thomas his sons."
Children of Capt. Thomas and his wife Ruth were Alice, died March 17, 1641 ; Nathaniel, Jan. 9, 1676-7; Thomas died Jan. 17 1676-7; Ephraim died Feb. 9, 1689.
Joseph and Deliverance, mentioned in Timothy's will, were, it is supposed, the sole survivors of their parents. Joseph in 1677, administered upon the estate of his brothers Thomas and Nathaniel. The estate of Thomas consisted of "a horse, pistols, cutlash, and gun; " and was prized at £6-12s.
Capt. Thomas Wheeler was admitted a freeman in 1642. He became Sergeant of a foot company of Concord in 1662; and was appointed Captain of a horse company at its organ- ization in 1669. The horse company was made up of troopers from several towns.
Jan. 12, 1669, a lease of land for twenty one years con- taining two hundred acres of upland and sixty acres of meadow lying west of Nashoba brook was made to Capt. Thomas Wheeler. The terms were that he should pay a yearly rent of five pounds after the expiration of seven years and build a house and farm. The house was to be forty feet long, eighteen feet wide, and twelve feet stud, ""covrd with shingles, with a payer of Chimnes." The barn
374
Colonial
was to be forty feet long, twenty four feet wide, and twelve feet stud. At the expiration of the lease the buildings were to be left for the use of the town, with thirty acres of fenced tillage land.
It was further stipulated in the lease that he was to receive and pasture the dry cattle of the town's people, the cattle not to be more than one hundred in number, nor less than eighty. The cattle were to be marked by their own- ers, and delivered at Capt. Wheeler's barn. The price fixed was two shillings a head, payable one third in wheat, one third in rye or peas and one third in Indian corn. The owners were to "keep the said herd twelve Sabboth dayes yearely at the appointment & according to the proportion by the said Thomas or his heires allotted."
Simon Davis was a son of Dolor Davis who was a peti- tioner for the town of Groton in 1656 and had lands granted him in Concord in 1659. He was a carpenter and died at Dunstable 1673. He married Margery, a sister of Major Simon Willard ; and their children were Ruth, who married Steven Hall and Simon and Samuel, both of which sons were settled in Concord. Simon Davis married Mary, a daughter of James Blood in 1660; and died June 14, 1713 aged 77. Simon Davis and Mary had a numerous family ; and their descendants are widely scattered, some of whom have been distinguished.
To close our account of the Brookfield affair without some further notice of Ephraim Curtis would leave it incom- plete although he was not a Concord citizen. Ephraim Cur- tis was the son of Henry Curtis an original grantee of the town of Sudbury which was settled in 1638. He was doubtless well acquainted with his fellow soldiers of Con- cord, his father's house having been situated, it is supposed near the border of the two towns. Although only about thirty years old at the breaking out of the war, yet his knowledge of woodcraft and Indian ways were exceptional. It is said that he understood their language. The fact that the Colonial Council twice sought his services
375
Concord
to bear a message to the Nipmucks, unaccompanied but by two or three friendly Indians showed remarkable confidence in him.
Before his appearance as an emissary for the govern- ment to negotiate with the Indians, he penetrated the west- ern wilderness as a pioneer and built a house at a place near Quinsigamond pond now in Worcester.
Mr. Falls in his "Reminiscences of Worcester" says "For a time he claimed the whole town of Worcester but had to be content with two hundred acres near the upper part of Plantation Street and another plantation near Graf- ton Gore."
Although noted for his venturesome nature we infer he had a heart gentle as a child, for it is said that in his later life he was accustomed to tell how after working all day, he would sit down and look towards Sudbury and shed tears in spite of himself.
It would be vain to attempt adequately to set forth the boldness of Curtis in his thrice repeated endeavor to pass the enemies' lines before Brookfield. It may be doubtful if in the chronicles of the early wars of America acts more heroic have been recorded. It was a desperate strait that led Capt. Wheeler to send him forth ; and it was a forlorn hope of a fearful character that Curtis entered upon and no one better than he knew its possible consequences.
The garrison door opened and he went out, it closed, and he was left alone with his enemies. His main protec- tion, apart from Providence, was the damp, dust laden atmosphere made heavy by the smoke of gunpowder, the friendly darkness, and the drowsy condition of the savages wearied by the work of the day previous. A slight incau- tious movement might betray him, the breaking of a stick, the rustle of the woodgrass or the unlucky displacement of a small stone. But none of these things deterred him. Dropping on his hands and knees and creeping silently on the greensward he eluded the viligance of the watching guard and when through the cordon of savages and fairly within
376
Colonial
the outskirts of the welcome woodland he arose and ran, and hours later "much spent and ready to faint" he reached Marlboro to find to his joy that Major Willard was already on his way to Brookfield to rescue his beleaguered com- rades. Ephraim Curtis died at Sudbury at the age of 92 ; and was probably buried in the town's old burying ground.
Plate II A View of the Jenn of Concord. 1775.
I Companies of the Regulars mworking and Concord. 1ss Colonel Smith Villager Sitcom waving the Provincial Ones hop & Companies of Regulars drawn in in order
3 A Detatohaven't destroying the Invincial flores I & The Townhays & The Meetinghouse.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Removal of the Christian Indians from Nashoba to Concord - Indian Mission Work -The Estab- lishment of Christian or Praying Indians in Villages or Towns -The Character and Conduct of the Christian Indians - Their Fidelity and Service to the English - Rules for their Restraint - Humane Act of John Hoar- Circumstances Explanatory of Harsh Treatment of the Christian Indians by the Colonial Communities - Historic Sketch of Indian Mission Work at Nashoba by Herbert Joseph Har- wood of Littleton - Disposition of the Nashoba Territory.
T HE next event of importance to the town in the course of the war was the removal of the Praying Indians from their plantation at Nashoba now a part of Littleton and placing them at Concord under the care of John Hoar Esq.
As before stated, years previous to the breaking out of King Philip's war a portion of the Indians dwelling in this part of the country were gathered together in the following towns and villages, viz : Wamesit (Lowell), Nashoba, (Lit- tleton), Okkokomimesit (Marlboro), Hassamnanesit (Graf- ton), Makunkokoag (Hopkinton), Natick, and Punkapog (Canton).
Besides these places of ingathering, which were called the "Old Praying Villages,' there were several others among the Nipmucks called the "New Praying Towns ; " and the Indians thus congregated and those affiliated with them were known as "Christian" or "Praying Indians"
They were under the surveilance of Daniel Gookin as their civic sponsor and Rev. John Eliot was their teacher in spiritual things.
377
378
Colonial
While thus sequestered they attained a goodly degree of thrift, laid aside their Pagan practices and lived peace- ably with their white neighbors.
When Philip's war broke out these Indians proved them- selves not only friendly to the English, but very servicable as scouts and guides.
So great was the confidence the English placed in them that they formed them into military companies, and it was suggested at one time that the Friendly Indian stations be used as frontier forts, forming not only a line of defense against hostile tribes in the interior, but places of rendez- vous for Colonial soldiers who might cooperate with them.
In several instances, by the personal solictiude of the " Praying Indians" and by special service rendered by them, signal advantages accrued to the settlers and severe catastrophes were averted. Before the breaking out of the war, Waban informed the English of the hostile intent of King Philip, and told them that as soon as the trees were leaved out the Indians would begin their attack.
In the expedition of Hutchinson and Wheeler the Christian Indians acted as guides and interpreters ; they also warned the Colonial soldiers of the wiles and strategies of the enemy. The two sons of Petuhanit, Joseph and Sampson, strongly advised against an advance when the hostile Nepmucks were urging them on towards the swamp; and had their advice been followed, the sad sur- prise might have been averted. When the retreat came they carefully avoided an ambush by keeping the broken expedition in the open field, directing them along a course unknown to the English but which brought them in safety to the garrison.
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.