USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 35
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On the 18th of November 1755, occurred a very noted earthquake. The shock was so severe that people ran affright- ed from their houses, thinking they were tumbling down. Ships in the harbor at Portsmouth were shaken [ so violently. that the sailors awakened from their berths, thought they had struck upon rocks. The occurrence was so notable in this region, that the following account of it was made in the public records of Londonderry.
*See Council Minutes in Secretary's office., N. H.
23
286
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
" Upon Tuesday ye 18th (of November) 1755, at foure o'clock in the morning and ten minutes, there was an Extra- ordinary shock of an Earthquake, and continuous afterwards with smaller shocks."
The Hon. Mathew Patten, of Bedford, remarks in his Diary under the same date.
"In the night, about 4 o'clock in the morning, there was an exceeding great Earthquake, reported by those that observed, to be seven different shocks. They were all in about an hour or less. The first was exceeding hard and of some minutes continuance. The others not much more than the sound, ex- cept the last, which was a hard shock, but not so hard as the first."
On the following day there was another earthquake, "a little before sunset," and on the 22d there was another, of which Judge Patten remarks in his diary as follows :
.'22d .- In the evening, I suppose about 9 o'clock, there was a smart shock of an earthquake, almost as hard as the hard shock on the Monday night before, but not of so long continu- ance."
At this day, people can form no idea of the consternation that prevailed on this occaision. While all were more or less affrighted, many left their ordinary avocations, under the im- pression that the end of the world was at hand.
The earthquakes of this month were felt over a vast extent of territory. This of the 18th was felt very severely upon the shores of the great Lakes of the West, their waters being very much agitated ; while a little prior, St. Ubes was swallowed up by the sea, the city of Lisbon was nearly ruined ; several towns in Spain were injured, and a number of towns on the Southern Mediteranean shore were completely destroyed.
287
FRENCH WAR.
CHAPTER XV.
The French war .- Treaty of Aix La Chapelle .- Failure to negotiate as to boundary betwixt the British and French possessions in America .- Both gov- ernments prepare for war .- The "Six Nations" join the British .- The French take the field .- Invest fort of Ohio Company .- Its surrender .- Lieut. Col. Washington sent to assist the English .- Takes Jumonville's party,-Builds Fort Necessity .- Its surrender .- Indian attack at Stevenstown .- The Calls .- Enos Bishop .- Capt. Goffe sent to Stevenstown .- Attack at Number Four .- Expedition against Fort du Quesne .- Niagara, and Crown Point .- Braddock's defeat .- Shirley's ill success .- Johnson's success .- Troops from New Hamp- shire .- Rangers,-Salisbury Fort .- Fort at Coos .- Fort Lyman .- Name changed .- Fort in charge of New Hampshire troops .- Baron Dieskau .- At- tacks Johnson, -Battle of Lake George .- Capt. Folsom .- Attacks the French on their retreat .- Capt. Rogers and his Rangers .- Mainly from Amoskeag .- Expedition to Oswego under Col. Bradstreet .- Montcalm's arrival .- Surren- der of Oswego .- Garrison massacred .- Attack on Fort William Henry .- Second attack upon the Fort .- Its surrender .- Massacre of its garrison .- John Pollard .- John Dinsmore .- Samuel Blodgett .- Ezekiel Stevens .- John McKeen .- Augmentation of the Rangers .- Unfortunate encountre at Lake George .- Expeditions against Louisburg, Crown Point, and Fort du Quesne .-
The strife betwixt France and England upon this continent, cost the latter the best blood of the colonists. A declaration of war betwixt France and England, was a signal for an onslaught upon our whole frontier, by hordes of savages. Divided into small parties, they spread along our entire northern borders, and with the stealth and ferocity of beasts of prey, made their at- tacks upon the defenceless inhabitants,-sure, and deadly as sure. This mode of attack suggested and carried out by the French, was most harassing and effective. The colonists were distracted. They knew not where to anticipate an attack, but it usually came where and when least expected. To meet such a mode of warfare, every borderer's house had to be forti- fied or abandoned, and forts had to be built and garrisoned in all the towns upon or near the frontiers. But these precautions did not preserve the lives or property of the colonists. They were forced to labor in the fields, to fish, and hunt, to support themselves and families, and there was safety in neither pur- suit. The ambush or the open attack of individuals or parties engaged in these pursuits, were of almost daily occurrence. There was no safety for property or life, at home or abroad. The position of the colonists was desperate. The province, the
288
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
towns, individuals, were becoming impoverished, and this not the worst, lives or captives were taken almost every day along our whole frontier. The provinces were not only becoming impov- erished, but depopulated. This continued state of alarm and warfare, produced a readiness, a determination on the part of the colonists, for active and energetic measures against the French. There was no peace or quiet for them, as long as the French held any political power upon the continent, and they were for British supremacy. Hence the readiness with which our Pro- vincial assemblies ever met the demands of the mother country for supplies and troops, and the alacrity with which our people volunteered for active service against the common enemy.
Such considerations had little to do with the policy of the British government. With them national pride was the motive power-supremacy of the British power upon this continent the object. France was their ancient enemy, and America was but a new field in which each power was striving for the mastery. This strife had progressed with varied success for years, some- times by negotiation, and anon with the edge of the knife and hatchet, or at the cannon's mouth.
In 1748, both parties wanted respite, and the treaty of Aix La Chapelle was concluded, by which it was stipulated that all things should be restored as before the last war. Louis- burg, of course passed again into the hands of the French, much to the chagrin of the colonists, by whose valor this stronghold had been acquired. However they consoled them- selves by the prospect of peace, and as Governor Shirley had received an important appointment contingent upon the treaty, which took him out of the colony, there was no restless, am- bitious, leading spirit to talk about our wounded honor, in giv- ing up a fortress of such vast importance, the acquisition of which had cost so much of toil, blood and treasure.
Governor Shirley had been appointed one of the Commis- sioners on the part of the British Government in conjunction with Mr. Mildmay, to settle the limits of the French and Eng- lish territories in America, under this treaty. The Commis- sioners met at Paris in 1752. It was soon apparent that the French Government wanted nothing by the treaty, but rest, time to prepare for holding all she claimed,-Louisiana, the Canadas, and these to be connected by a cordon of military posts, from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, that should effectually limit the English settlements to the shores of the Atlantic, and thus place the control of the continent in the hands of the French. After much of finesse and delay, the
289
TREATY WITH SIX NATIONS.
conference was broken up, by Messrs. Shirley and Mildmay. It now became evident that war was inevitable. The British Cabinet determined to be early in the field, and circulars were addressed to the Provincial Governors in America, recommend- ing them to adopt some plan of union for their mutual defence. Acting upon this suggestion, a Congress, which met at Albany, June, 19th, 1754, composed of Delegates from New Hamp- shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Maryland, with the Governor and Council of New York, to confer with the Indians belonging to the Six Nations, formed a plan of union. But the plan was rejected by the British Cabinet, which determined to prosecute the war, mainly with regular troops. The main object of the Congress however was attained, as the Indians were conciliated. And well they might be, for the presents made them and the cost of their en- tertainment, were somewhat of a draft upon the Provincial treasuries, judging from the amount paid by New Hampshire. Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Meshech Weare, and Henry Sherburne, Jr., were the delegates from this Province. Their bill for extraordinary expenses allowed by the Assembly was as follows :
"The account of the Honble Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Meshech Weare, & Henry Sherburn, for a present made to ye Six Nations of Indians, Proportion to publick charges & Extraordinary expenses.
1754. Cash pd for,
June & 9 ps Stroud,
York money. £81- 0-0
July, 17 lb Vermillion 15s
12-15-0
£93-15-0
for a present to ye Indians.
pd our proportions to a publick Din-
9-14-0
ner and support of Indians 3 days.
Ditto pd towards Secretary, &
Door Keeper,
4-10-0
Ditto for printing Mr Peters, his sermon,
1-15-0
Do Col. Johnston for Belts,
0-15-0
Do for cow gave ye Indians,
4-15-0
Do for extraordinary expence
in treating the Commiss.,
34-15-0
Indians, Interpreter, &c.
York money,
£150-0-07
290
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Which at 80 pr ct Discount, is equal to £83-7-0 Sterling, Equal to £1000-4-0 old tenor, Equal to £250-1-0 new Tenor.
Portsmouth, December ye 26, 1754. Errors Exceptd. THEODORE ATKINSON. R. WIBIRD. MESHECH WEARE. HENRY SHERBURNE, JR."
Meantime the French had already taken the field, and in 1753, had sent several detachments down the Ohio, to take possession of the country, build forts, and secure the friend- ship of the Indians. The Ohio Company were at this time building a fort at the junction of the Monongahela and Allegah- ny rivers, for the protection of their fur traders. This fort, but partly finished was invested on the 17th of May, 1754, by a large force of French troops under the command of Monsieur Contrecœur. The garrison consisted of but forty one men all told, under the command of Ensign Ward. Capt. Trent the commander being absent, Ensign Ward asked for delay until the return of Capt., Trent, but he was told, that he must give an immediate decision, or possession of the fort would be taken by force. A capitulation was then agreed upon, and the next day Ward and his men left the fort and proceeded up the Monongahela, on their way to the settlements. This was the first overt act of hostility in the "Seven Years War" as it was usually called. Contrecœur finished the fort and gave it the name of Fort du Quesne.
A battalion of militia from Virginia, under Col. Fry, was on its way to assist the English, and on the 27th of April a de- tachment of the same under the command of Lieut. Col. GEORGE WASHINGTON met Ward and his party at Wills' Creek, afterwards the site of Fort Cumberland. A Council of war was held, and it was determined to advance to the mouth of Red-Stone Creek on the Monongahela, erect a fortification, and there wait for orders and reinforcements.
On their way, Col. Washington fell in with a French party near the Great Meadows, consisting of thirty four men, under the command of M. Jumonville. This party had been sent from Fort du Quesne, to gain intelligence of the advancing Virginians. Jumonville and his party on the fifth of May though proceeding with the utmost caution, and encamped in secrecy, and fancied security, were surprised by Col. Washing-
291
SURRENDER OF FORT NECESSITY.
ton, and destroyed or captured with the exception of a single man. The victors leaving soon after, entrenched themselves at the Great Meadows, and gave to their fortification the name of Fort Necessity. Here they determined to wait for rein- forcements.
The French Commandant at Fort du Quesne, hearing of the misfortune of Jumonville, sent a strong force under M. de Vil- liers against Washington, who was awaiting his approach at Fort Necessity. On the 3d day of July, the French forces in- vested the fort and assailed it so warmly, that in the evening Col. Washington agreed upon a surrender, stipulating that the little army should march out with the honors of war. The French perfidiously permitted the savages to break the stipulations of the capitulation, and the soldiers, and officers even, were plun- dered at will. Col. Washington retired with his little army to Wills' Creek, leaving the French masters of the Valley of the Ohio.
Thus the French had commenced active hostilities, and had occupied various posts upon the Lakes and the Ohio, while the Colonial Congress was in session at Albany, deliberating upon a plan of union, and defence, and the English Government were at home leisurely, and with accustomed delay, planning the subjugation of the French power in America !
And on the very day that Washington and his little army left the valley of the Ohio in the power of the French, the 4th of July, 1754, the Congress at Albany, agreed to a plan of union among the colonies.
The news of the commencement of hostilities at the South soon spread along the northern frontiers, and the savages in the interests of the French, at once commenced their attacks upon the defenceless settlers.
On the 15th day of August, they made a successful attack on our frontier, on the house of Mr Phillip Call, in Stevens- town. This town was subsequently known as Salisbury and the attack was made in that part of Salisbury, west of, and upon the Merrimack, now included in the town of, Franklin. Mrs. Call, her danghter-in-law, wife of Phillip Call, Jr. and an infant of the latter, were alone in the house, while the Calls, father and son, and Timothy Cook their hired man, were at work in the field. Upon the approach of the Indians, Mrs. Call the elder, met them at the door, and was immediately killed with a blow from a tomahawk, her body falling near the door, and her blood drenching her own threashold !
The younger Mrs. Call, with her infant in her arms, crawled
292
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
into a hole behind the chimney, where she succeeded in keeping her child quiet, and thus escaped from sure destruction.
The Calls, father and son, and Cook, saw the Indians, and attempted to get into the house before them, but could not succeed. They were so near the house, as to hear the blow with which Mrs. Call was killed. Seeing however the number of the Indians, they fled to the woods and the Calls escaped. Cook ran to the river and plunged in, but was pursued, shot in the water, and his scalp taken. The Indians, some thirty in number, rifled the house, took Mrs. Call's scalp, and then re- treated up the river. The Calls soon notified the garrison at Contoocook of the attack, and a party of eight men followed in pursuit. The Indians waited in ambush for them, but showed themselves too soon, and the English party taking to the woods escaped, with the exception of Enos Bishop, who after firing upon the Indians several times was at length taken and carried to Canada as a captive. An account of this affair was forth- with despatched to Portsmouth, Andrew McClary of Epsom, being the messenger. His account of the affair is thus noticed in the "Council Minutes."
"PORTSMOUTH, August, 18, 1754.
The said Andrew being examined, declared that Eph'm Foster, and Stephen Moor acquainted the declarant that they were at Stevenstown the day after the mischief was done by the Indians and found the body of Mrs. Call lying dead near the door of her house, scalped and her head almost cut off, and upon further search, found the body of a man named Cook, dead and scalped. That the Indians were supposed to be about thirty in number according to the account of eight men, that upon hear- ing the news, went immediately from Contoocook to Stevens- town and in that way passed by the enemy, who soon follow- ed them and seeing the Indians too many in number to engage, they parted and endeavored to escape. One of the company, one Bishop, stood sometime and fired at the Indians, but was soon obliged to run. Cook was found dead by the river's side. Bishop supposed to be killed and sunk in the river, he being still missing,-that there were two men belonging to the plant- tation at a distance working in a meadow that as yet were not come in .* And it was feared they had fallen into the hands of the enemy, -- that as the declarant had understood, all the inhab-
*Samuel Scribner and John Barker were taken prisoners at the same time. Scribner was sold to a Frenchman, at Chambly, and Barker to one near St. Francis. They were redeemed and returned home some time after Bishop's re- turn.
293
INDIAN ATTACK AT STEVENSTOWN.
itants, consisting of about eight families were come down into the lower towns and had left their improvements, corn, hay, and cattle."
Upon this information the council resolved,
"That his Excellency be desired to give immediate orders for enlisting or impressing such a number of men, as he may think proper in this immergency, and dispose of the men, to encourage the settlers to return to their habitations and secure their cattle and harvest and to encourage the other frontiers in that quarter."
Under this advice, Governor Wentworth issued the following order to Col. Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable.
Province of New Hampshire.
To Col. JOSEPH BLANCHARD.
Upon the mischief done by the Indians last week at Stevens- town, I have ordered a detachment from Capt. Odlin's Troop of twenty-four horse and an officer to command, also the like detachment from Capt Stevens' Troop, to guard the inhabitants in that frontier until I can relieve them by a sufficient number of foot,-and as your regiment lies contiguous to the frontier where this mischief was done ; I have thought proper to order and direct that you forthwith enlist or impress fifty men or more if you think that number is not sufficient, and put them under an officer that you can confide in and order them forthwith to march to Contoocook and Stevenstown to relieve the detach- ment of horse posted there. The troops you send on this order are to remain until I have seen the members of the Gen- eral Assembly who I have given orders to be convened on this occasion, that the troops may be sure both of pay and subsis- tence. Given at Portsmouth, Aug., 19 1754.
Billentworth
Col. Blanchard detailed Captain John Goffe of Amoskeag for this duty, who marched to the scene of action and scouted for some days in that vicinity, but without discovering the In- dians. Among his men from Amoskeag, were Caleb Paige, Joshua Martin, Wm. Morse, John Harwood, Josiah Parker,
294
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Archibald Stark, Lemuel Hogg, Thomas Grear, John Barrett, James McNeil, and Robert Rogers, all men of note in the an- nals of Amoskeag.
The promptness of Governor Wentworth in this emergen- cy and the effective force detailed, preserved the inhabitants of the Merrimack Valley from any farther molestation.
Bishop was carried to Canada, where he arrived after a te- dious journey of thirteen days. After tarrying in captivity a year, he effected his escape, and after a journey of eighteen days through the wilderness, suffering intensely from hunger and fatigue, he arrived at Number Four, now Charleston, from whence he returned to his family at Contoocook .*
On the twenty ninth day of the same month they made an attack upon the house of James Johnson at Number Four, and succeeded in capturing the whole household, Johnson, his wife, three children, Miriam Willard, Mrs. Johnson's sister, Peter Lab- oree, and Ebenezer Farnsworth. These were sold into cap- tivity among the French in Canada. The usual sufferings of Indian captivity were relieved in their case by unusual good treatment , but among the French, they met with great diffii- culties, and experienced more than usual suffering. Mrs. John- son, her sister, and two daughters, returned home after a lapse of two years, by the way of England ; but Mr. Johnson was not so fortunate, as he was in prison in Canada for three years. At length, he and his son returned to Boston, leaving the eld- est daughter in a nunnery in Canada.
Meantime the British Government had determined to rend- er more effective aid to the colonies, and in 1755 Gen. Brad- dock arrived with two regiments of regular troops to operate against the French. He took command of all the British for- ces in America, and had orders from home to move forthwith upon Fort du Quesne. Summoning the Governors of the colonies to a conference; it was determined that while he should
*These men were all taken from Stevenstown,-which place was often called Bakerstown, particularly by people of Massachusetts, by which government, the townships was granted under that name. The same township was granted by New Hampshire, by the name of Stevenstown, after Col. Ebenezer Stevens of Kingston. This fact of two names to the same township, led Dr. Belknap into an error as to Indian depredations in that neighborhood. On page 311, of Farmer's adition, Dr. B., speaks of "an assault upon a family at Bakerstown," and then in the next paragraph, of another, "within three days," "at Stevens- town in the same neighborhood." These two accounts refer to the same at- tack-as is shown by the account of Mr. McClary to the Governor and Coun- cil given in the text above. He gives the particulars of an attack at Stevenstown on the 15th, but says not a word about an attack three days previous to that and if there had been one, he of course would have mentioned it.
295
BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT.
carry out his positive orders and prosecute the expedition against Fort du Quesne, Gen. Shirley of Massachusetts should lead an expedition against Niagara, and Gen. Johnson of New York should lead a third, destined for the reduction of Crown Point. The expedition against Fort du Quesne, was planned by those having no knowledge of the country, and the difficulties to be encountered ; was commanded by a man unacquainted with the enemy he was to meet, who knew nothing of war out of the rules of European warfare, and was too proud to learn of the provincials. Under such circumatances its probable failure was readily foreseen ; but the total defeat of the British troops was not anticipated. However it was brought about. For the British army having advanced after unnecessary delays, to within seven miles of Fort du Quesne, on the 4th of July, were ambushed by the French and Indians, and after a severe but unequal contest, were completely routed, and forced to make a precipitate retreat, leaving nine hundred and sixty men killed, wounded and missing, out of an army of thirteen hundred !
The expedition under Gen. Shirley proved quite as unsuc- cessful, though not so disastrous. The news of Braddock's defeat, caused the desertion of many of his men, and a cool- ness on the part of the Five Nations, upon whose aid he de- pended. They were altogether too politick to join waning for- tunes, and not only refused the promised aid, but were unwill- ing that the English troops should pass through their territory ! Shirley however pushed on his forces, and reached Oswego on the 18th of August. His entire forces did not arrive however till the first of September, when from want of supplies, and the lateness of the season, the attempt upon Niagara was aban- doned, and Shirley on the 24th of October left Lake Ontario for Albany, leaving Col. Mercer with 700 men to complete the Fort at Oswego. Thus the second expedition was a fail- ure.
The third under the lead of Col. Johnson, was more success- ful, not in the main object, but in a brilliant defence in pur- suit of it. By the end of June, Johnson's force rendezvoused at Albany, amounted to full 6000 men. Of these the most ef- fective troops were from New England, under the command of Maj. Gen. Phineas Lyman. New Hampshire furnished for this expedition a regiment consisting of 500 men under the command of Col. Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, (now Nash- ua.) Of these, three companies were raised in this neighbor- hood, two commanded by Captains Goffe and Moore of Der-
296
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ryfield, and the other by Capt. Robert Rogers of Starkstown, (now Dunbarton.) Noah Johnson of Dunstable and John Stark of Derryfield, were Lieutenants in Rogers company, which as it was principally employed in "scouting" and ranging the woods, was called "the Rangers." This was the nucleus of the afterwards celebrated battalion known as "Rogers' Ran- gers."
The Roll of Capt. Goffe was as follows ;
John Goffe, Captain. ; Samuel Moor, Lieutenant. ; Nathan'l Martain, Ensign. ; Jonathan Corlis, Serg't. ; Jonas Hastings, Serg't. ; John Goffe Jr., Serg't. ; Thomas Merrill, Clerk. ; Sam- uel Martain, Corp. ; John Moor, Corp. ; Joshua Martain, Corp. ; Benj'a. Eastman, Corp. ; Benj'a Kidder, Drummer, ; Joseph George, John Bedell, Benj'a. Hadley, Thomas George, Israel Young, Josiah Rowell, William Kelley, Joseph Merrill, Daniel Corlis, Ebenezer Coston, Daniel Martain, Jacob Sillaway, Ste- phen George, David Nutt, Robert Nutt, Obadiah Hawes, David Willson, William Ford, Aaron Quinby, Nathan Howard, Thomas McLaughlin, John Littell, William McDugal, Robert Holmes, John Wortly, Benja. Vickery, William Barron, Na- thaniel Smith, William Walker, David Welch, Caleb Daulton, James Petters, Aaron Copps, Jacob Jewell, Ebenezer Martain, John Harwood, Amaziah Hildreth, John Kidder, John Rowell Thomas Wortly.
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