USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Historical sketches of the discovery, settlement, and progress of events in the Coos country and vicinity, principally included between the years 1754 and 1785 > Part 10
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chartered by Massachusetts, prior to the old French war, and it was called Bakerstown. As this was the last chartered town in the direction from Massachu- setts towards Plymouth, where Baker is said to have had his adventure, it would not be very unnatural for Massachusetts to honor his memory by calling this township after him.
The Rev. Drury Fairbanks was settled in Plymouth January 8, 1800, and was dismissed, March 18, 1818. Rev. Jonathan Ward was installed, August, 1818, and was dismissed about the year 1829.
I am now prepared to return to Haverhill and New- bury, and to relate some events which occurred there at a later period of their history. And as I have a sad tale to relate of the Indians, who lived at Coos for many years after the settlement by the English, I will here commence it.
I have already stated the evidence we have, that Newbury was an old Indian encampment, and that it was with great reluctance the Indians yielded up their interest in the Coos. That was a fatal step with the Indians, when they connected their destiny with that of the French ; for they became identified with the enemy. They were greatly reduced in number, and when the French were subdued, the Indians fell
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with them, and they lost their remaining possessions, principally in New England. But after the old French war, there were some of the St. Francois tribe returned to the Coos, and lived until a more re- cent date, when they became entirely extinct.
'
Among those who returned, there were two fami- lies of special distinction-John and Joe, or Captain John, and Captain Joe, as they preferred to be called. John belonged to the St. Francois tribe, and had been a chief of some note with them. He was at the battle of Braddock's defeat, and used to relate how he shot a British officer, after he had been knocked down by the officer ; and how he tried to shoot young Washington, but could not. He had repeatedly used the tomahawk and scalping knife upon the defence- less inhabitants of Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire ; and when he was excited by spirit, he would relate his deeds of barbarity with fiendish satisfac- tion. He related how he mutilated a woman by cut- ting off her breasts, at the time of an assault upon the inhabitants near Fort Dummer, and he would imitate her shrieks and cries of distress. He was present at Boscawen, N. H., at the time the Indians surprised the inhabitants of that place. It must have been in 1746, or 1754. He related how they took an old woman, and as they found she could not
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travel as fast as they wished to retreat, he struck her on the head with a tomahawk, and he said she made a noise like a calf that is wounded on the head. He was a fierce. and cruel Indian, and was the terror of the boys at Coos as long as he lived. He was, how- ever, a staunch friend to the Colonies during the war of the revolution. He received a captain's commis- sion, raised a part of a company of Indians, and marched with the Yankees against Burgoyne.
John had two sons-Pi-al, and Pi-al-Soosup, * both very different from their father in their disposition, being mild and inoffensive in their deportment. Pi-al-Soosup was in the company commanded by Capt. Thomas Johnson, near Fort Independence, in 1777, and as it was his first essay in arms, he was a good deal terrified when the battle commenced, on account of the tremendous roar of cannon from the fort and a British ship in the lake ; but as the firing from the ship and fort went over them, and did not much execution, except among the tops of the trees, Pi-al became reassured, and turning to Capt. John- son, said, " Is this the way to fight ?" " Yes," said Johnson ; "fire ! fire !" "I say," said he, "this is good fun ; and, raising his gun, fired.
Captain Joe was a young man when he came to
* French sound of i, like e.
8*
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Coos. He belonged to a tribe in Nova Scotia ; but when Louisburg was taken, his tribe was scattered when he was very young, and a remnant, he among the rest, made their way to the St. Francois tribe, and he grew up with them. This will show that there was some connection between the eastern In- dians and those of the north ; and it confirms the tradition with the Indians at Coos, that when their fathers heard of Lovewell's fight, they said, "They must soon leave Coossuck." Undoubtedly, Coossuck was the connecting link between Canada and all south and east in New England.
Joe was a very different character from John. He was aimiable, and never sought a quarrel. It used to be his boast, that he never "pointed the gun ;" meaning, at his fellow man. Joe's wife went by the name of Molly, and she had two sons by a former husband when they came to Coos. The history of this affiair is, that Joe was a great favorite among the fair daughters of St. Francois, and that Molly proved unfaithful to her first husband, and eloped with her two children, in order to enjoy the society of Joe in the States. Her sons' names were Toomalek and Muxa-Wuxal. Muxa-Wuxal died without causing Joe and Molly any more grief than they experienced in his loss ; but it was far different with Toomalek.
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He was literally a child for the fire. He was low in stature, wanting two inches of five feet, but had broad shoulders and haunches, and possessed extra- ordinary muscular powers. His thick, stiff hair grew down upon his forehead within one inch of his eyes, and his countenance was truly fiendlike. He had a murderous disposition, as the sequel will show. As . he grew up, he became enamored of a young squaw, named Lewa ; but another Indian, named Mitchel, was his successful rival, and married Lewâ. But Toomalek determined on murdering Mitchel, and taking his wife. He accordingly prepared his gun, and watched for an opportunity to execute the horrid deed. It was not long before Toomalek discoverd Mitchel and his wife seated by a fire in the evening, at the upper end of the Ox Bow in Newbury, at the foot of the hill, just where the river turns north. They were seated side by side, happy for the present, and happy in anticipations, to all human view. Too- malek took aim, and discharged his gun at Mitchel ; but Lewâ received the ball in her breast, and expired that evening. Mitchel was wounded, also, by the same ball which killed Lewa, or there were two balls discharged ; but he soon recovered from his wound. Toomalek was tried for his crime by his Indian peers, Old John presiding, and he was acquitted upon the
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ground that he did not mean to kill Lewa, but Mitchel ; and as he did not kill Mitchel, he was no murderer ! This was making nice distinctions, and it shows that these untutored beings were adepts in the science of casuistry. But Old John was the sole means of his acquittal.
But Toomalek still cherished a rancorous enmity towards Mitchel, and his escape from justice, in the first instance, encouraged him to make a second at- tempt upon the life of Mitchel, who had taken an- other wife as attractive as Lewâ. Toomalek took a bottle of rum and a white man, Ebenezer Olmsted by name, and went to the wigwam of Mitchel, and commenced treating the compamy. Olmsted ob- served that Toomalek drank but little, whilst Mitchel indulged freely in his potations. When Mitchel be- gan to be excited by the spirit he drank, he com- menced upbraiding Toomalek for the murder of his wife, and for the wound inflicted on him. After much crimination and recrimination, promoted and aggravated by Toomalek for a specific purpose, Mitchel drew his knife upon his foe, and made a fee- ble pass at him. Toomalek then drew his knife on Mitchel, and gave him his death-wound at once ! For this offence, Toomalek had his trial, and was ac- quitted, because Mitchel made the first assault, and
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Toomalek argned that he killed Mitchel in self-de- fence ; yet all were satisfied that Toomalek was the sole means of promoting the quarrel, and that he did it that he might have an excuse for killing Mitchel.
But Old John, who delighted in blood, was still using his influence to preserve the life of Toomalek ; and he did it, as Providence overruled it, to bring upon himself and family a terrible calamity-nothing less than the murder of his elder son, Pi-al ; and he did it on this wise. Toomalek, Pi-al, and several others were over on Haverhill side, and called at Charles Wheeler's house, son of Glazier Wheeler, on the little Ox Bow, about eleven o'clock in the fore- noon. They were disposed to be somewhat noisy and turbulent at that time, and manifested that they had been drinking spirit. They asked for some there, but obtained none. They left Wheeler's before noon, and proceeded eastward. Some time in the afternoon, they came along near where the old court- house stood in the north parish in Haverhill, west of Major Merrill's house, now Mr. Hibbard's, where they met a young squaw from Newbury, who began to rally Pi-al on some past acts of gallantry. Pi-al returned upon her measure for measure, which the young lady took in dudgeon. She could give, but not receive a joke. Perhaps Pi-al jested too near the
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truth. She turned aside, and held a brief conversa- tion with Toomalek, in a low voice, and then passed on. Toomalek then stepped back to his companions, and walked south by the side of Pi-al ; and in a few moments he drew his long knife, and by a back-hand stroke, plunged it into Pi-al's throat. It entered at the top of the sternum, and descended to the lungs. Pi-al ran with the blood spouting from the wound a few rods, and fell lifeless upon the ground. It was supposed that in this instance Toomalek killed Pi-al in obedience to the expressed wish of the young squaw ; but he never criminated her. His compan- ions ran and carried the news of the murder to their English neighbors, and Toomalek was taken into custody, without resistance, or an attempt to escape, and was carried across the river into Newbury, for his trial the next day. When the news came to Old John that Toomalek had killed his son Pi-al, he was overwhelmed with it, and his conscience awoke to its duty. He was almost frantic through agony. He confessed his sin in sparing the life of a murderer in the two previous instances already stated. He said, God had brought this calamity upon him for his sin ; and both he and his wife spent the whole night in loud lamentations and self-reproaches.
The next day, in the forenoon, a court was called
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to try Toomalek, and after all the evidence was ob- tained, they unanimously gave verdict against him, and said he must be shot. They appointed, however, a deputation to wait on the Rev. Mr. Powers, to know whether that decision was agreeable to the word of God. After hearing the evidence, he told them he believed it was, and they immediately set about carrying it into effect. By Indian law, Old John must be the executioner, as he was the nearest by blood to the slain, and he must avenge the blood of his son. The ground floor of the old court-house, standing opposite the burying ground at the west, was the place designated for the execution. Tooma- lek came to the place himself, without guard or at- tendance, where John stood in readiness with his loaded musket. He seated himself upon the floor, said his Catholic prayers, covered his eyes, and said, " Mack bence ;" that is, "Kill me quick !" John stepped forward, put the muzzle of the gun near his head, and he was dead in an instant ! Joe and Molly were both present at the execution of her son ; and as soon as it was over, Joe took one arm, and Molly the other, and they dragged the body from the house and buried it. Molly had mourned and wept bitterly for the death of Muxa-Wuxal, which hap- pened the same season ; but she never shed a tear
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over the grave of Tomalek, nor was she ever heard to speak his name afterward. Old John was after- ward found dead by the side of a log, at the foot of the hill, near the present garden of William Johnson.
Old Joe was a staunch whig, although he had no predilection for war himself. The "red coats " had broken up and dispersed his tribe in Nova Scotia, and he never would forgive them. He rejoiced in every success of the Colonies. He and Molly paid a visit to General Washington, at his head-quarters on North River, and he was received with marked atten- tion. It was his boast to the last, that he had shook hands with Gen. Washington, and he and Molly were invited to sit at the general's table, after he and the other officers had eaten. And so great was his anti- pathy to the king of England, that he never would enter his dominions after the war. Some of his friends of the St. Francois tribe came down to New- bury on purpose to persuade him and Molly to re- turn ; but Captain Joe would hear nothing to it. He would take his hunting excursions at the extreme north of Vermont, but not pass into Canada. He and Molly went to Derby one season for a hunt, and built them a wigwam. The Indians of St. Francois heard of it, and came out and stole Molly when Joe was hunting, and carried her off to their quarters, in
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hopes that Joe would follow ; but he would not. And having followed a moose two days in full expec- tation of taking him, when he came to find that the moose had crossed into Canada, he stopped short, and said-"Good bye, Mr. Moose !" turned upon his heel, and sought his repose in the states.
Joe and Molly have each a pond called after them in the town of Cabot. Joe's Pond empties itself into the Passumpsic by Joe's Brook. Molly's Pond dis- charges its waters into Lake Champlain by Onion River. Joe survived Molly many years. When he became old, and was unable to support himself, the legislature of Vermont voted him a pension of seventy dollars annually. He spent his last years with Mr. Frye Bailey, of Newbury. He departed this life, February 19, 1819, aged 79 years. Report made him much older than that ; but it could not be true, if he was so young at the taking of Louisburg that he could not recollect the name of his tribe. At his funeral, the principal men of the town at- tended. He was buried in the south-eastern corner of the burying ground. His gun, which was found loaded after his death, was discharged over his grave. His snow-shoes are with Mr. Frye Bailey. With Capt. Joe fell the last of the Indians at Coossuck, that once fairy land of long-slumbering generations !
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We have already spoken of the war of the revolu- tion when upon individual character, fortified houses, and commanders of companies, &c. But these times require more distinct consideration in these annals, because they form an epoch in our history ; and be- cause they embrace many things which serve to de- velop causes which for a long period have lain con- cealed from general observation; which causes cannot fail to interest the descendants of those who bore the burden and heat of the day in which our independ- ence was achieved. The first settlers at Coos sus- tained, in common with their brethren, all the hard- ships which were brought on the Colonies by the war of the revolution; and, owing to their peculiar circum- stances, they were called to additional burdens, almost too grievous to be borne. They were yet struggling with the privations and inconveniences necessarily attendant upon new settlements, remote from old towns and a ready market. They were frontier set-
tlements. They were contiguous to the strongholds of the enemy, and were continually exposed to their savage incursions. And what was worst of all, Ver- mont was not an acknowledged state, although she had often requested to be received into the Union. This was owing to conflicting claims to these Grants, set up by the states of New York, New Hampshire,
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and Massachusetts. No two of them could agree who should have them, yet all could agree to oppose in Congress the admission of Vermont into the Union as an independent state ; and so influential were those three states at that time, that Congress did not dare to decide contrary to their wishes, although they might see manifest injustice in their opposition. The British were fully aware of the excited state of feeling in Vermont in regard to this subject, and as Vermont was rejected by her sister Colonies, they en- tertained strong hopes that they should detach her from the common interest of the Colonies, and bring her to espouse the cause of the mother country. To this end the British made every possible effort by promises and threats. Their scouts traversed the whole territory, promising the most liberal rewards to all who would befriend them, and threatening ven- geance upon the lives and property of those who should adhere to the interest of the Colonies.
Vermont had a difficult part to sustain in the grand drama then being acted. She stood between two or more fires, and it required all her physical powers, and all her finesse, not to founder in Scylla or Chary- bdis. The alluring promises of the British had ac- tually brought many to feel favorably inclined to their cause, and it is thought that there were some
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of this description in high places. Others would lis- ten to these proposals of the British for self-preserva- tion ; for now these Grants were left to repel all in- vasions single handed. It was also true that tories from other states sought a retreat in the Grants, where they were less liable to arrest, and where they could with greater facility maintain correspondence with the British. And so it was, that the British came in possession of all the movements of the Amer- icans, as soon as any plan was matured against the enemy. But we ought here to state that there were many true-hearted Americans in the Grants ; men who were ready to sacrifice their property and to lay down their lives in defense of their country ; and those who took the field did nobly, and by their he- roic deeds, they gained the distinctive appellation, the Green Mountain Boys, a title which their. de- scendants are proud to bear to this day.
The policy which the leading men of that day adopted was, not to declare, either that they would or would not be independent of the mother country ; intending thereby to save themselves from an invasion by the British, and, at the same time, to present mo- tives to Congress for receiving them into the Union. This was a difficult part to perform, owing to the ar- dor with which the British pressed the subject for an
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immediate decision ; but it was maintained, and Vermont finally secured her utmost wishes.
But while these things were transacting, there were men, in almost every town, who had rendered them- selves very obnoxious to the displeasure of the British and tories, and they were unwearied in their endeav- ors to get them into their hands. The tories were relied upon by the British for those captures, and they were by far the most dangerous foe that our men had to contend with. They would intrude themselves into the families of the whigs under the mask of friendship, draw forth the secrets of their breasts, convey them to the British, and then lead on a scouting party to the threshold of their neighbor, or, in his absence, kill his cattle or set fire to his dwelling in the dead hour of night. We can hardly conceive how distressing such a state of suspense and watchful anxiety must have been during the long period of eight years. But Newbury was annoyed by these means far more than Haverhill, for those scouts of the enemy had not the temerity to cross the river, well knowing that a retreat would be next to impossible.
There were several men in Newbury who had, by their devotion to their country, excited the enmity of the British and tories to a high degree, and they
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were resolved on taking them. One was the Rev. Peter Powers, who had preached and done everything in his power to sustain the cause of the Colonies, and he had already buried his oldest son, Peter, in the army. But, as I have previously stated, Mr. Powers moved on to Haverhill side for his security. Gen. Jacob Bailey was another of these men. He was a very prominent man at that day. He possessed great influence with his countrymen, and the Indians looked up to him as a father. He acted as quarter- master-general to the troops stationed at Newbury and in the vicinity, and the Indians were not over- looked in the distribution of the daily rations. He retained their friendship during the war. The Brit- ish felt it so important to secure Gen. Bailey, that they offered a heavy reward for his person, and many plans were concerted for his capture ; but they never succeeded. Col. Thomas Johnson was another man whom they considered as a notorious rebel, as he had distinguished himself at the taking of Ticonderoga and the seige of Mount Independence, in the autumn of 1997. At that time, Johnson went out as captain . of a volunteer company from Newbury ; but he acted, a part of the time, as aid to Gen. Lincoln. When the British surrendered at Ticonderoga, one hundred of the prisoners were given in charge to Col. John-
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son, and he marched them back into the country, where they would not be exposed to a recapture, and where they would not diminish the rations of our men at the fort. The British, of course, were desirous of taking Col. Johnson ; but he eluded all their vigi- lance until the spring of 1781, when they succeeded in capturing him. It was on this wise. Col. John- son had contracted to build a grist-mill in Peacham, and when he went up with the mill-stones in March, he put up at the house of Deacon Jonathan Elkins, in Peacham, which house was surrounded in the night by some British and tories, was broken open, and Johnson, Jacob Page, Jonathan and Moses Elkins, sons of Deacon Elkins, were taken prisoners. But as I have Col. Johnson's journal of this date, it may be more interesting to give the journal itself.
" March 5, 1781. This morning early, went over to Haverhill with my teams for my mill-stones. Re- turned before dinner, shod my oxen, took dinner, and set out for Peacham at 2 P. M. This night put up at Orr's, in Ryegate.
Tuesday, 6th. "This day, being thawy and bad go- ing, I was obliged to leave one of my mill-stones within one mile of the place where we lodged. This night arrived at Peachamn with the other mill-stone. Lodged at Mr. Elkins'.
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" Wednesday, 7th. This morning, finding my oxen lame, I sent Mr. Josiah Page, with the oxen, home. Hired Jonathan Elkins, with hisoxen, and went back and took the other mill-stone, and returned to Peach- am. Should have returned home myself this even- ing, but was a little unwell.
. " Thursday, 8th. This morning, about twelve or one o'clock, I awaked out of my sleep, and found the house beset with enemies. Thought I would slip on my stockings, jump out of the window, and run. But before that, came in two men with their guns pointed at me, and challenged me for their prisoner, but did not find myself the least terrified. Soon found two of the men old acquaintances of mine. I saw some motions for tying me, but I told them that I submitted myself a prisoner, and would offer no abuse. Soon packed up, and marched, but never saw people so surprised as the family was. When we came to Mr. Davis', I found the party to consist of eleven men, Capt. Prichard commanding. Then marched seven or eight miles, when daylight began to appear. I found Moses Elkins looked very pale. I told the captain he had better let him go back, for he was drowned when he was small, and that he would not live through the woods. He said he would try him further ; but on my pleading the pity it would
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be to lose such a youngster, he sent him back. We soon halted for refreshment. To my great surprise, I found John Gibson and Barlow of the party. Then marched about four miles, and obtained leave to write a letter and leave on a tree, then marched. I was most terribly tired and faint. Camped down on the River Lamoille this night.
" Friday, 9th. This day marched down the River Lamoille, about twelve miles below the forks. One of the finest countries of land that ever I saw. Camped about eleven o'clock at night.
" Saturday, 10th. This day marched to the lake. Underwent a great deal by being faint and tired. The captain and men were very kind to us. A stormy and uncomfortable night.
" Sunday, 11th. This morning went on to the . lake ten miles, north of the mouth of the River La- moille ; marched fifteen miles on the lake, then crossed the Grand Isle ; marched ten miles to Point Au Fer. Dinner being on the table, I dined with the commandant of that fort, and supped with him. Was well treated.
" Monday, 12th. This day marched to the Isle Au Noix, went into the fort, into a barrack, got a cooking ; but the commandant ordered the prisoners out of the fort to a block-house ; but soon had sent 9
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