USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 20
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Mrs. Dustin was barely allowed time to dress herself, and was even compelled to start on the long journey, at that inclement season, with but one shoe.
# The home of the Indian who claimed Mrs. Duston and Mrs. Neff as his captives, was a small island at the junction of the Contoocook and Merrimack rivers, a few miles above Concord, N. H. To this place they were taken. The istand has long since been known as Dustin's Island. The Northern Railroad now passes directly across it. We agree with the compiler of the excellent Ilistory of Concord, N. H., (Dr. Bouton,) that a monument to Mrs. Duston should be ereeted on the above island ;- that being the scene of her remarkable exploit.
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Men, Three Women, and Seven Children ; and for the Shame of many an English Family, that has the Character of Prayerless upon it, I must now Publish what these poor Women assure me: "Tis this, in Obedience to the instructions which the French have given them, they would have Prayers in their Family no less than Thrice every Day ; in the Morning, at Noon, and in the Evening ; nor would they ordinarily let their Chil- dren Eat or Sleep without first saying their Prayers. Indeed these Idolators were like the rest of their whiter Brethren Persecutors, and would not en- dure that these poor Women should retire to their English Prayers, if they eould hinder them.º Nevertheless, the poor Women had nothing but Fer- vant Prayers to make their Lives Comfortable or Tolerable ; and by being daily sent out upon Business, they had Opportunities together and asunder to do like another Hannah, in Pouring out their Souls before the Lord : Nor did their praying Friends among our selves forbear to Pour out Sup- lications for them. Now they could not observe it without some Wonder, that their Indian Master sometimes when he saw them dejected would say unto them, What need you Trouble your self? If your God will have you delivered, you shall be so! And it seems our God would have it so to be. This Indian Family was now Travelling with these Two Captive Women (and an English Youth taken from Worcester a year and a half before,) unto a Rendezvouz of Salvages, which they call a Town, some- where beyond Penacook ;; and they still told these poor Women, that when they came to this Town they must be Stript, and Scourg'd and Run the Gantlet through the whole Army of Indians. They said this was the Fash- ion when the Captives first came to a Town ; and they derided some of the Faint-hearted English, which they said, fainted and swoon'd away under the Torments of this Discipline .; But on April 30,§ while they were yet, it may be, about an Hundred and Fifty Miles from the Indian Town, a little before break of Day, when the whole Crew was in a Dead Sleep, (Reader, sce if it prove not so !) one of these Women took up a Resolution
" Their master, some years before, had lived in the family of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, of Lancaster, and he told Mrs. Duston that "when he prayed the English way he thought that it was good, but now he fonnd the French way better."-Sewell's Diary.
t They had not yet started for the rendezvous, but the captives were informed that they would soon start. The place of destination was Canada, where the Indian expected to obtain from the French a handsome sum for his captives.
# The gauntlett consisted of two files of Indians, of both sexes, and of all ages, containing all that could be mustered in the village; and the unhappy prisoners were obliged to run between them, when they were scoffed at and beaten by each one as they passed, and were sometimes marks at which the younger Indians threw their hatchets. This cruel enstom was often practised by many of the tribes, and not unfre- quently the poor prisoners sunk beneath it.
§ This would make their stay at the island about five weeks, or a little more.
.
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to imitate the Action of Jael upon Sisera," and being where she had not her own Life secured by any Law unto her, she thought she was not for- bidden by any Law to take away the Life of the Murderers, by whom her Child had been Butchered. She heartened the Nurse and the Youth to assist her in this Enterprise ; and all furnishing themselves with Hatchets for the purpose, they struck such home Blows upon the Heads of their Sleeping Oppressors, that ere they could any of them struggle into any effectual resistance, at the Feet of those poor Prisoners, they bow'd, they fell, they lay down ; at their Feet, they bowed, they fell; where they bowed, there they fell down Dead. Only one Squaw escaped sorely Woundedt from them in the Dark; and one Boy, whom they reserved asleep, intend- ing to bring him away with them, suddenly wak'd and Scuttled away from this Desolation .¿ But cutting off the Scalps of these Ten Wretches, they came off,§ and received Fifty Pounds from the General Assembly of the
" Mrs. Daston planned the mode of escape, and prevailed upon her nurse and the boy to join her. The Indians kept no watch-for the boy had lived with them so long they considered him as one of their children, and they did not expect that the women, unadvised and unaided, would attempt to escape, when success, at the best, appeared so desperate.
On the day previous, Mrs. Duston wished to learn on what part of the body the Indians struck their victims when they would despatch them suddenly, and how they took off a scalp. With this view she instructed the boy to make inquiries of one of the men. Accordingly, at a convenient opportunity, he asked one of them where he would strike a man, if he would kill him instantly, and how to take off a scalp. The man laid his finger on his temple-"strike 'em there," said he; and then instructed him how to scalp. (1) The boy then communicated his information to Mrs Duston.
(!) Sewell's Diary, and tradition. .
t She received seven hatchet wounds and was left for dead, but jumped up and ran into the thicket !- Fide deposition of Mrs. Bradley.
# Mrs. Duston killed her master, and Samuel Lennardson despatched the very Indian who told him where to strike, and how to take off a scalp! The deed was accomplished before the day began to break.
§ After performing the bloody work, Mrs. Duston gathered up what little provisions there were in the wigwam,-taking the gun of her dead master, and the tomahawk (1) with which she killed him-and, seuttling all the canoes, except one, she embarked in that, with Mrs. Neff, and Lennardson, on the waters of the Merrimack, to seek their way to Haverhill. They had not proceeded far, however, when Mrs. Duston, perceived that they had neglected to take the scalps, and fearing lest her neighbors-should she ever arrive at her home-would not credit her story, she hastened back with her companions to the scene of death, took off the scalps of the slain, and wrapped them in a piece of linen cloth (2) that was taken from her house at the time of her capture. With these bloody witnesses of their feat, they hastened again on their downward course to Haverhill.
" A long and weary journey was before them, but they commeneed it with cheerful hearts, each alter- nately rowing and steering their little bark. Though they had escaped from the clutches of their unfeel- ing master, still they were surrounded with dangers. They were thinly elad-the sky was still inclement -and they were liable to be recaptured by strolling bands of Indians, or by those who would undoubtedly pursue them so soon as the squaw and the boy had reported their departure, and the terrible vengeance they had taken; and were they again made prisoners, they well knew that a speedy death would follow.
(1) This was some years after lost in the woods, near Mr. Duston's.
(2) This she afterward divided among her daughters, and a part of it is still preserved by some of their descendants.
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Province, as a Recompence of their Action ; besides which, they received many Presents of Congratulation from their more private friends ; but none gave 'em a greater Taste of Bounty than Colonel Nicholson, the Gover- nour of Maryland, who hearing of their Action, sent 'em a very generous token of his Favour."
After recovering from the fatigues of the journey, Mrs. Duston and her two companions, accompanied by Mr. Duston, started for Boston, where they arrived on the 21st of April. They carried with them the gun" and tomahawk, and their ten scalps-witnesses that would not lie. Soon after their arrival, Duston presented the following petition to the General Assembly, then in session : -
" To the Right Honorable the Lieut Governor & the Great & General assembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay now convened in Boston
The Humble Petition of Thomas Durstan of Haverhill Sheweth
That the wife of ye petitioner (with one Mary Neff ) hath in her Late captivity among the Barbarous Indians, been disposed & assisted by heaven to do an extraordinary action, in the just slaughter of so many of the Barbarians, as would by the law of the Province which-a few months ago, have entitled the actors unto considerable recompense from the Publiek.
That tho the-of that good Law-no claims to any such con- sideration from the publick, yet your petitioner humbly-that the merit of the action still remains the same ; & it seems a matter of univer- sall desire thro the whole Province that it should not pass unrecompensed.
And that your petioner having lost his estate in that calamity wherein his wife was carried into her captivity render him the fitter object for what
This array of danger, however, did not appall them, for home was their beacon light, and the thoughts of their fire-sides, nerved their hearts. They continued to drop silently down the river, keeping a good look- out for strolling Indians; and in the night two of them only slept, while the third managed the boat. In this manner they pursued their journey, until they arrived safely, with their trophies, at their homes, totally unexpected by their mourning friends, who supposed they had been butchered by their ruthless conquerors. It must truly have been an affecting meeting for Mrs. Duston, who supposed that all she loved-all she held dear on earth-were laid in the silent tomb."-Mirick.
" This gun continued in possession of the male line to the year 1859, when it was presented to the Dustin Monument Association of this town, by Mrs. Lueia Il. Dustin, widow of Thomas Dustin, of Henniker, N. H. At a meeting of the Directors of the Association, held July 9th, 1859, it was
" Resolved, That the Directors of the Dustin Monument Association accept with a lively sensibility the donation of the musket, as an interesting memorial of the perils and valor of the pioneer settlers of Haverhill.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be presented to Mrs. Lucia HI. Dustin, of Henniker, N. H., for the gift of this valued family relie.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be presented to Mr. George W. Chase for his disinte- rested efforts to procure the musket for the Association.
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to transmit copies of these votes to Mrs. Dustin, and to Mr. Chase."
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consideration the public Bounty shall judge proper for what hath been herein done, of some consequence, not only unto the persons more imme- diately delivered, but also unto the Generall Interest
Wherefore humbly Requesting a favorable Regard on this occasion
Your Petitioner shall pray &c
Thomus Du(r)stun."
The petition of Duston was read in the House of Representatives, June Sth, when it was " voted that the above named Thomas Durstan in behalf of his wife shall be allowed & paid out of the publiek Treasury Twenty five pounds ; & Mary Neff the sum of Twelve pounds Ten Shillings, and the young man (named Samuel Lenerson) concerned in the same action the like sum of Twelve pounds Ten Shillings."
Hannah Duston was the daughter of Michael and Hannah (Webster) Emerson, and the eldest of fifteen children. She was born December 23, 1657, and was married to Thomas Duston December 3d, 1677, by whom she had thirteen children." The time of her death, and also that of her husband, is uncertain. There is a tradition, entitled to eredit, that Mrs. Duston survived her husband some years, and after his death went to re- side with her son, Jonathan, who lived on the south west part of the original Thomas Duston farm. This tradition is repeated to us by Moscs Merrill, Esq., now above eighty years of age, and a man of unquestioned veracity, who received it, when quite a lad, from the lips of the mother of Joseph Ayer, then about ninety years of age. Mrs. Ayer must have been born about the year 1700. She spoke of the fact, (not tradition) that Mrs. Duston resided with her son, after her husband's death, and was buried from that son's house. His house stood about twenty feet north- west of the present foundation of the "Dustin Monument." Thomas Duston was living in March, 1729, and also his son, Thomas, Jr .¡ Mrs. Ayer must have been about thirty years of age when Duston himself died, and was certainly old enough to remember distinctly the circumstances she related to our informant. #
The favorite saying of an esteemed friend, -that " the true heroes are not always those who receive the most applause," - seems to us to be especially applicable to the ease of Thomas and Hannah Duston. In every version of the story which has met our eye, or ear, Thomas Duston
* For their names, see note to a preceeding page.
t Vide Proprietor's Records. Thomas, Sen., was moderator of most of their meetings from 1715, to January, 1721-2.
# Mrs. Ayer was the wife of Peter Ayer. Her maiden name was Lydia Perley. The date of her marriage is not given in the Town Records. Her first child was born October 26, 1721. The sixth, Joseph, was born in 1737.
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has been made to occupy a subordinate position to that of his wife. In- deed, in many cases, his name, and his heroic defence of his children, would seem to have been introduced merely to identify the wife and mother, and to add an accessory coloring to the picture of her exploit. But, when placed side by side with his, the exploit of his wife, extraordi- nary as it certainly was, seems to us as the light of the moon to the brilliant rays of the sun.
Hannah Duston, to escape from a cruel captivity, -not from death, not from violation even, "-and to revenge the death of her child ; with two strong arms to assist her. courageously planned the destruction, and boldly attacked, twelve sleeping savages, seven of whom were children, and but two of whom were men. It was not with her a question of life and death, but of liberty, and revenge.
Thomas Duston, with the question of life or death for himself, and a cruel captivity for his children, distinctly before him, heroically staked his life for his children ! It was a "father's love " that nerved his arm, and not revenge.
While, therefore, we would not, wittingly, detraet one jot or tittle from the full credit due the mother, for her extraordinary feat, we claim for the pure and lofty heroism of the father, a larger share of the world's ap- plause than has as yet been awarded him.
Dr. Dwight, in speaking of Thomas Duston, makes use of the following truthful language : -
" A finer succession of scenes for the pencil was hardly ever presented to the eye, than is furnished by the efforts of this gallant man, with their interesting appendages. The artist must be destitute indeed of talents who could not engross every heart, as well as every eye, by exhibitions of this husband and father, flying to rescue his wife, her infant, and her nurse, from the approaching horde of savages; attempting on his horse to select from his flying family the child, which he was least able to spare, and unable to make the selection ; facing, in their rear, the horde of hell- hounds; alternately, and sternly, retreating behind his inestimable charge, and fronting the enemy again ; receiving and returning their fire ; and presenting himself, equally, as a barrier against murderers, and a shelter to the flight of innocence and anguish. In the background of some or other of these pictures might be exhibited, with powerful impression, the kindled dwelling ; the sickly mother; the terrified nurse, with the new
" The Indians seldom killed, and never violated their female prisoners, when once captured. They were either sold to the French, or kept for ransom.
25
*
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born infant in her arms; and the furious natives, surrounding them, driv- ing them forward, and displaying the trophies of savage victory, and the insolence of savage triumph."
We regret that we are unable to trace more fully the history of this heroic man.º We cannot even say from whence he came. The name first appears in our town records among those who built cottages between the years 1669, and 1675; next we find it in a deed from Thomas Dus- ton to Peter Green, in 1675-6; then among the soldiers in King Phillip's War, (August, 1676) ; then in the list of cottages built between January, 1675, and February, 1677 ; then the marriage of Thomas Duston and Hannah Emerson, in December, 1677 ; and then we find, among the names of those who built cottages between February, 1677, and January, 1679, that of "Thomas Duston 2d." The name is first found in the record of our town meetings, under date of June 13, 1682.
We think it probable that Duston came from the vicinity of Dover, N.H., as we find the name of " Thomas Durston" among the signers of a letter to the governor of Massachusetts, dated Northam, (Dover) March 4, 1640. They subscribe themselves, - "We, the inhabitants of Northam." We also find the name " Tho Durston" among those admitted freemen at Kittery, in November, 1652. It is possible, but hardly probable, that the latter was the Thomas Duston of this town. If so, he must have been at least forty-six years of age at his marriage, - (after which he had a family of thirteen children, - the last born when the father was at least sixty- eight years of age,) -and at least one hundred years of age at his death. All this is possible, but, taken together, hardly probable. It is certain, however, that the Thomas Duston of Northam, and the Thomas Duston of 1697, could not have been one and the same person.
A comparison of dates and incidents in the meagre record before us, we think favor the supposition that the Thomas Duston of 1675, and the Thomas Duston 2d, of 1677, were father and son. The former may have been the Thomas Duston of 1640, and who removed to Haverhill between 1669 and 1675, with his son, and either died or removed from the town subsequent to 1677.1
" The following is from Miriek :- " Thomas Dustin was a man of considerable ingenuity, and tradition says that he had a "vast deal of mother wit;" that he possessed unshaken courage and the purest and loftiest feelings of affection, cannot be doubted. It is said that he made his own almanacks, and further- more, that he always made them on rainy days. llow true this is, we will not attempt to say. He had a grandson, Joshua, who was said to have been his counterpart. He once took it into his head to weave a bed-quilt, and succeeded in making an excellent one, consisting of as many colors as Joseph's coat. This curious relic is now preserved by his descendants."
t Since writing the above, we have examined the recently published Geneological Dictionary of the early Settlers of New England, by James Savage, Boston, 1860, where we find the following :
" Dustin, or Duston, Josiah, of Reading 1647, had Josiah, born May 14, 1656, and perhaps others, and
H
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As there is a wide difference of opinion as to the location of Thomas Duston's house, at the time his wife was taken by the Indians, it will doubtless be expected that reference, at least, will be made to the matter in these pages.
In March, 1675, Thomas Duston, of Haverhill, "in consideration upon exchange of land," deeded to Peter Green, forty-five acres of upland, more or less, " with the house, orchard, and purtenances." The land was bounded on the east corner by a white oak, "and so bounded on hacke meadow highway." The northwest corner was bounded by " Spicket path."¡ This land was on the west side of Little River, but the descrip- tion will not apply to any part of the " Thomas Duston farm," upon which the monument to Hannah Duston is now in course of erection.
In August, 1697, (five months after Mrs. Duston's capture) William Starlin, of Haverhill, deeded to Thomas Duston, in consideration of one hundred pounds, "my Ten acres of land whe I purchased of ye said Town," -lying at a place called ye fishing River neer ye house of Mat- thew Herriman, the bounds thereof as it is entered in ye Townes booke of record, with all ye houses, housing, mills, Damms, streams of water fences oarchards Trees wood timber and all other rights," &c. ; - also, " my other Ten acres of Land adjoining to ye former which I had by grant from said Towne on condition that I and my heirs did build a Corne Mill which might be for ye usc of sd Towne."# (Starlin decded it to Duston on the same condition.)$ This land was on the east side of Little River, and a part of the " Duston Farm," near the northerly end of Primrose Street. It was the earliest deed to Duston of land on that side of the river. This, in our opinion, makes it certain that Duston did not reside on the east side of Little River when his wife was captured ; and, as the deed is dated less than two months subsequent to the vote of the General Court, grant- ing him fifty pounds for the scalps taken by his wife, it almost confirms the old and generally received tradition, that the above place was bought with the scalp money.
In the town records, under date of March 4, 1701-2, mention is made of " the highway that leads up to Tho Duston's Mill." This is strong
died January 16, 1672. Thomas, of Dover 1640, perhaps removed to Kittery before 1652. Thomas, of Haverhill, perhaps son of the preceding, married Hannah Emerson, December 3, 1677."
Hawk. t Essex Reg. Deeds, book 20, p. 2.
Essex Reg. Deeds, book 13, p. 43.
§ February 24, 1684, the town granted Wm. Starlin two ten acre lots. One lot was " at the Fishing River, near the saw mill path." (The lot was bounded on one side by the river) ; the other adjoined the above, and was granted " For encouragement of Wm. Starlin to set up a Corn Mill at Fishing River, near to Robert Emerson's."-Town Records, Vol. 1, p. 188.
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presumptive evidence that Duston at that time resided at Fishing River. We have no doubt that he removed there soon after he purchased the place. But that he actually did, subsequently, reside there, is, we think, made clear by the following: ---
In June, 1717, Thomas Dustin deeded to his son Nathaniel, - " in consideration of yt Love I bear to My Son Nathaniel Durston of ye town of Haverhill, 0 0 one piece or Tract of Upland and meadow land lyinge and being in ye township of Haverhill aforesd, containing twenty acres more or less, being ye one half of my Living I formerly lived on, on ye West Side of ye Saw Mill River, and ye casterly part thereof."?
In March, 1723-4, Thomas Dustin dceded to his son, Timothy Dustin, " in consideration of parental love and affection,
the full possession to be given after my decease, 0 my dwelling or mansion house Barn and Corn Mill now standing on the Fishing River ; " also, "one moiety or half part of my homestead or house lott, containing twelve acres, part of which land I purchased of Wm Starling."}
On the 8th of September, 1860, the writer of these pages, in company with Moses Merrill, Esq., - than whom no one now living has had more frequent and favorable opportunities for examining and locating .ancient deeds of land in the north and west parts of the town, - visited the place designated by Mr. Merrill as that upon which Thomas Duston lived at the time his wife was taken, and his house burned, by the savages, in 1697. The southerly line of the original farm bounds upon the cross road, on the northerly side of which the proposed " Dustin Monument " is now being erected, and the new school-house is located, and runs about northeast and southwest, from a point a few rods southwest of the monument site, to the Little River. The northerly line runs parallel with the above, thus giv- ing the farm the form of a parallellogram, with about one third .of it on the westerly side of Jew Street.
Having arrived at the spot, Mr. Merrill made, in substance, the follow- ing statement : -- " This is the original Thomas Duston farm, as I always understood it. It was laid out for ' eighty acres, more or less,' but con- tains considerable more than that. (We walked about one hundred and sixty feet easterly from the road.) Here is the well belonging to the new house which Duston was building at the time the attack was made by the Indians. (We continued our walk about one hundred and twenty feet
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