History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 185

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 185
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 185

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).

Without the knowledge of any preconcerted plan, the people of Dover, in June, became suspicious of Indian friendship. Larger numbers of Indians seemed gathering than was usual for purposes of trade. Many strange faces were among them, whose scrutiny of the defenses of the place excited notice. Walderne, however, could not be convineed of danger. Some of the people came to him with their fears. "Go plant your pumpkins," said he merrily; "I will tell you when the Indians will break out." A day or two previous to the time decided upon some squaws endeavored to alarm the whites by vague intimations of danger. Thus one of them repeatedly recited the words,-

"O Major Walderne, you great sagamore, What will you do, Indians at your door ;"

but she was not understood until the transactions themselves had given only too vivid a meaning to her words. On the evening of the 27th a young man told him that the town was full of Indians, and that the people were much alarmed. "I know the

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Indians very well, and there is no danger," was the reply. Long experience had made him presumptu- ous. But though Maj. Walderne was so fatally con- fident, information of the expected attack had already been sent to the Massachusetts government by Maj. IIenchman, of Chelmsford, in a letter of which the following is a copy :

" Ilon'd Sir-This day, two Indians came from Pentacook, viz .: Jub Maramasquand and Peter Muckamug, who report that damage will un- doubtedly be done within a few days at Piscataqua, and that Major Waldron, in particular is threatened, and that Tulimatt fears that mis- chief will quickly be done at Dunstable. The Indians can give a more particular account to your honor. They say, if damage be done, the blame shall not be on them, having given a faithful account of what they hear; and are upon that report moved to leave their habitation and corn at Pennacook. Sir, I was very loth to trouble yon and to ex- pose myself to the censure and derision of some of the confident people, that would pretend to make sport with what I send down hy Capt. Tom (alias Thomas Ukqueakussennum.)

" I am constrained from a sense of my duty, and from love to my conn- trymen, to give the information as above. So with my humble service to your honor, and prayers for the safety of an endangered people-

"I am, sir, your humble servant, " THO: HINCHMAN. 1

" June 22, [1689.]"

Mr. Danforth communicated the information to Governor Bradstreet, who, with the Council, ordered a messenger to Cochecho with the following :

" BOSTON 270 June : 1689.

" Honord Sir.

" The Governor and Council haveing this day received a Letter from Major Henchman of Chelmsford, that some Jodians are come into them ; who report that there is a gathering of some Indiaos in or abont Pen- ecooke with designe of mischief to English, amongst the said Indiaus one Hawkins [Kankamagus] is said to be a principle designer, and that they have a particular designe against yourselfe and Mr Peter Coffin which the Council thought it necessary presently to dispatch Advice Thereof to give you notice that you take care of your own Safeguard, they intending to endeavor to betray yon on a pretention of Trade. Please forthwith to Signify the import hereof to Mr. Coffin and others as yon shall thinke necessary, and Advise of what Information yon may receive at any time of the Indians motions.

" By Order in Councill

"ISA : ADDINGTON, Secry. " For Major Rich'd Waldron

and Mr Peter Coffin or Either of them.

"At Cochecha

" These with all possible [speed.]"

The original of this letter is still preserved, and is the property of Rev. Edmund Q. S. Waldron, Catholic priest, of Maryland, a descendant of Major Walderne.

The messenger hastened towards Cochecho; he would have been in season, but he was unavoidably detained at Newbury ferry, and he reached the place only on the morning of the 28th, when it was too late.

On the evening of the 27th of June, 1689, two squaws, according to the previously-arranged plan, applied at each garrison-house for liberty to sleep in them ; this was often done in time of peace, and they were readily admitted into Walderne's, Heard's, the elder Coffin's, and Otis's. At their own request they were shown how to open the doors and gates in case they wished to leave the house in the night. They told the major that a number of Indians were coming to trade with him the next day, and Mesandowit, who was at supper, said, "Brother Walderne, what would

you do if the strange Indians should come ?" "I could assemble a hundred men by lifting up my fin- ger," carelessly answered the major. No watch was kept, and the family retired to rest.

In the hours of deepest quiet the gates were opened ; the Indians who were waiting without immediately entered, placed a guard at the gate, and rushed into the major's apartment. Awakened by the noise, he sprang from his bed, seized a sword, and, though eighty years old, drove them through two or three rooms, but returning for other arms they came behind him, stunned him with a hatchet, and overpowered him ; drawing him into the hall they then placed him in an elbow-chair on a long table with a derisive cry, " Who shall judge Indians now ?" They then obliged the members of the family to get them some supper ; when they had finished eating, they ent the major across the breast with knives, each one with a stroke saying, "I cross out my account." Cutting off his nose and ears they thrust them into his mouth, and when he was falling down, spent with the loss of blood, one of them held his own sword beneath him ; he fell upon it and his sufferings were ended.

After the death of Maj. Walderne and the removal of the family by the Indians the house was burnt. Otis' garrison was captured in a similar manner to Walderne's; the owner, Richard Otis, was killed either in rising up in bed or on looking out the window ; his son Stephen and daughter Hannah were killed, the latter, a child of two years, having her head dashed against the stairs; the wife and infant child of Richard Otis and two children of Stephen Otis (Stephen and Nathaniel), were carried captives to Canada. Three other daughters of Richard were car- ried away, but were recaptured in Conway. Heard's garrison was saved; the door had been opened and the Indians were entering, when Elder William Went- worth, who had been awakened by the barking of a dog, pushed them out, shut the door, and falling on his back, held it until the people came to his assistance ; two bullets passed through the door but both missed him. The elder Coffin's house was similarly captured, hut as the Indians had no particular enmity to him, they contented themselves with pillaging his house ; finding a bag of money, they forced him to scatter it by handfuls while they amused themselves by scramb- , ling for it. His son had refused to receive the squaws on the previous evening, but the Indians coming to his house, threatened to kill his father before his eyes unless he surrendered ; to save his father's life he did so; these captives were placed in an empty dwelling. but in the confusion they escaped. Of Paine's gar- rison in its connection with this attack we know nothing; Gerrish's escaped.

Five or six houses were burnt, as were the mills upon the lower falls. Twenty-three persons were killed, and twenty-nine carried away captive. Their names are preserved only in part.

Of the sufferers, Mr. Lee was Abraham Lee (or

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Leigh), husband of Maj. Walderne's daughter Esther ; Mr. Evans was certainly not the emigrant Robert, but probably John, who had deed of land at Co- checho, from Waldron, March 16, 1672-73; Richard Otis, owner of Otis' garrison ; his daughter Hannah, a child of two years, was also killed; Jo. Dug was probably John, though no other reference to him is found ; Jo. Duncan, perhaps John ; William Arin, sometimes written Vrin, and perhaps same as Verin, a New Hampshire name ; William Horn was the first of the family in Dover, and left descendants; old widow Hanson was Mary, widow of Thomas. This leaves eight unknown.

Of the captives, John Church (erroneously given as " Joseph Chase" in the N. H. Collections) escaped be- fore the Indians reached Winnepesaukee ; Mrs. Leigh was ransomed in September following; Capt. Benjamin "Their Distress for their Families carried them still farther up the River, till they secretly and si- lently passed by some Numbers of the Raging Sav- ages. They landed about an Hundred Rods from Major Waldern's Garrision; and running up the Hill, they saw many Lights in the Windows of the i Garrison, which they concluded the English within had set up for the Direction of those who might seek a Refuge there. Coming to the Gate they desired Entrance, which not being readily granted, they called earnestly, and bounced and knocked and cried out of their unkindness within, that they would not open to them in this Extremity. No answer being yet made, they began to doubt whether all was well ; and one of the young Men then climbing up the Wall, saw a horrible Tawny in the Entry, with a Gun in his hand. A grevious Consternation seized now upon them ; and Mrs. Heard, sitting down without the Gate through Despair and Faintness, unable to Church met her returning at Falmouth. (See Maine Hist. Coll., i. 293. and Dexter's "Church's Eastern Expeditions," 19) ; Tobias Hanson's wife ; he was son of the "old widow" above; Otis' wife was Grizel (Warren), wife of the Richard above; she remained in Canada, married there, and died there at an ad- vanced age. Sarah Gerrish was daughter of Capt. John Gerrish, and granddaughter of Maj. Walderne. (As to her mother there is some donbt. It is said that Capt. John Gerrish married Elizabeth Walderne, who was born Oct. 8, 1666; but in a conveyance of 1668 Walderne calls Gerrish his " son-in-law.") Sarah was exchanged late in 1690, on the occasion of Phips' expedition to Quebec. "Another girl of nine or ten years of age, who was somewhat well-looking, had been ransomed by the intendant's lady, who felt con- siderable pain at her surrender, yet nevertheless sub- mitted for the public good." (Narrative, 1690, in N. Y. Coll. Doc., ix. 984; also Frontenac's report, | stir any farther, charged her Children to shift for same, p. 461.) " And in order to have our Priest, who would never have been restored had not Sieur de la Vallière induced this General's [Phips] principal Chaplain to come to negotiate with him, and declared to him that they would carry him to Quebec if they refused to exchange Sieur Trouvé [the priest] for a little girl whom the intendant's lady had bought of the Indians, and whom she offered to give up." This was Sarah Gerrish.

Besides those mentioned above there were captured Christine Otis, youngest child of the first Richard, for whom see N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., v. 189, and its references ; Rose Otis, doubtless the Rose daughter of the second Richard ; John Otis, "a boy," still a prisoner in 1695, and not traced later; Stephen Otis (rebaptized in Canada as "Joseph Marie"), and Na- thaniel Otis (rebaptized as " Paul"), sons of Stephen, both of whom remained in Canada, were living in 1710 as "Hotesse," and one was then married ; John Evans, " a yonng man from Cochecho," mentioned in "Indian Captivities," 86. Eighteen are thus left un- known. Some of them are doubtless in the list of captives in Quebec in 1695, Mass. Archives, A. 38,

page 1; but as the residences there given are often incorrect, it is impossible to distinguish.

An incident which relieves the sickening character of the details should be recorded. We give it in the peculiar language of Cotton Mather:

" Mrs. Elizabeth Heard, a Widow of a good Estate, a Mother of many Children, and a Daughter of Mr. Hull, a Reverend Minister formerly Living at Pis- cataqua, now lived at Quochecho ; happening to be at Portsmouth on the day before Quochecho was cut off, she returned thither in the Night with one Daughter 1 and Three Sons, all Masters of Families. When they came near Quochecho they were astonished with a Prodigious Noise of Indians, llowling, Shooting, Shouting and Roaring, according to their manners in making an Assault.

themselves, for she must unavoidably there end her days. They finding it impossible to carry her with them, with heavy Hearts forsook her, but then com- ing better to herself, she fled and hid among the Bar- berry-Bushes in the Garden. And then hastening from thence because the Daylight advanced, she shel- tered herself (though seen by Two of the Indians) in a Thicket of other Bushes, about Thirty Rods from the House. Here she had not been long before an Indian came towards her, with a Pistol in his Hand. The Indian came up to her, and stared her in the Faee, but said nothing to her, nor she to him. He went a little way back and came again, and stared upon her as before, but said nothing : whereupon she asked, what he would have? He still said nothing, but went away to the House Co-hooping, and re- turned to her no more. Being thus unaccountably preserved, she made several Essays to pass the River, but found herself unable to do it: and finding all Places on that side the River filled with Blood and Fire and Hideous Outcries, thereupon she returned to her old Bush, and there poured out her ardent Prayers to God for help in this Distress. She con-

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

tinued in the Bush until the Garrison was Burnt, and the Enemy was gone ; and then she stole along by the River side until she came to a Boom, where she passed over. Many sad Effects of Cruelty she saw left by the Indians in her way ; until arriving at Cap- tain Gerrish's Garrison, she there found a Refuge from the Storm ; and here she soon had the Satisfac- tion to understand that her own Garrison, though one of the first that was assaulted, had been bravely Defended and Maintained against the Adversary. This gentle woman's Garrison was the most extreme Frontier of the Province, and more Obnoxious than any other, and more uncapable of Relief ; neverthe- less, by her Presence and Courage, it held out all the War, ever for Ten Years together; and the Persons in it have enjoyed very Eminent Preservations. The garrison had been deserted, if she had accepted Offers that were made her by her Friends of Living in more safety at Portsmouth; which would have been a Damage to the Town and Land. But by her En- couragement this Post was thus kept; and she is yet Living [1698] in much Esteem among her Neighbors."

The fact most to our purpose in this connection the chronicler, perhaps from ignorance, omitted. It is this: When the four hundred Indians were captured at Cochecho, in 1676, one, a young man, escaped and took refuge with Mrs. Heard. She concealed him, and he afterwards escaped. This Indian, she sup- posed, was the one who gazed at her so earnestly in her dangerous hiding-place on the morning of the attack.

While this attack is usually attributed to revenge for the seizures of Indians at Cochecho by Waldron and Frost in 1676, in obedience to orders from the Massachusetts government, Belknap, however, refers to " Popish emissaries." In a paper of January, 1690 (N. Y. Col. Doc., ix. 440), M. de Denonville, Gov- ernor of Canada, says, "The good understanding I have maintained with these Indians through the care of the Jesuits, especially the two fathers Bigot, brothers, contributed to the success of all their at- tacks this summer on the English," etc.

On the morning after the massacre the people poured in from all parts of the town, but the enemy had vanished. Pursuit was made, which resulted in the recapture of three daughters of Richard Otis, who were overtaken near the present town of Conway; no other good was accomplished, for the suddenness of the attack and the celerity of the departure alike baffled all efforts. Further attacks were, however, ex- pected, and information was immediately sent to Portsmouth to the son of Maj. Walderne, a resident of that town, who dispatched a messenger to Salis- bury with the following letter :

" PORTSMOUTH, 28th June, 1689, "about 8 o'clock, morning.

"Just now came ashore here from Cocheca, Joho Ilam and his wife, who went hence last night homeward [ with Mrs. Heard] (they living with- in a mile of Major Walderne), and about break of day going up the river in a canoe they heard guns fired, but notwithstanding proceeded to land

at Major Walderne's landing-place, by which time it began to be light, and they saw abont twenty Indians Dear Mr. Coffin's garrison, shooting and shouting, as many more about Richard Otis'sand Thomas Pain 8, but saw their way to Major Walderne's, where they intended immediately to secure themselves ; but coming to the gate and calling and knocking, could receive no answer, yet saw a light in one of the chambers and one of them say (looking through a crack of the gate) that he saw sundry Indians within the garrison, which supposed had murthered Major Wal- derne and his family ; and thereupon they hetook themselves to make an escape, which they did, and met one of Otis's sons, who also escaped from his father's garrison, informing that his father and the rest of the family were killed. Quickly after they set sundry houses on fire. This is all the account we have at present, which, being given in a surprise, may admit of some alterations; but doubtless the most of those at or about Cocheca are destroyed.

" The above account was related to me.

" RICHARD WALDERNE, JR."

Accompanying the preceding was the following :

" PORTSMOUTH; 28th June, 1689. " Major Robert Pike,

" Honoured Sir,

"Ilerewith send you an account of the Indians surprising Cochecu this morning, which we pray yon immediately to post away to the hon- ourable the governor and council in Boston, and forward our present assistance, wherein the whole country is immediately concerned.

" We are, sir your most humble servants,

" Richard Martyn,

" Wm. Vaughn,

" Richard Walderne, Jr.,

" Tho. Grafton, " Sammnel Wentworth, " Ben. Hull,

" To the Honourable Major Robert Pike, \ ",

at Salisbury-Haste, post haste.

It was received by Maj. Pike, who forwarded the papers immediately to the Governor at Boston, with the following addition :

"SALISBURY, June 28, 1689, about nooo.

" Much Honoured,

" After due respect, these are only to give your honours the sad ac- count of the last nights providence at Cocheca, as by the enclosed, the particulars whereof are awful. The only wise God, who is the keeper that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, is pleased to permit what is done. Possibly it may be either better or worse than this account renders it. As soon ae I get more intelligence, shall, God willing, speed it to your honours, praying your speedy order or advice in so solemu a case. I have despatched the intelligence to other towns, with advice to look to yourselves. Shall not be wanting to serve in what I may. Should have i waited on your honours now, bad I been well. Shall not now come ex- cept by you commanded, till this bustle be abated. That the only wise God may direct all your weighty affairs, is the prayer of your honours' most humble servant,

" ROBERT PIKE. " To the much Honoured Symon Bradstreet, Esq., Governour, and the Honoured Council now sitting at Boston, these present with Rll speed. Hlaste, post haste."

This paper is indorsed,-

"Received about 12 at night, upon Friday the 28th June."

The following answer was returned to Portsmouth :

" BOSTON, 29th June, 1689.

" Gentlemen,-The sad account given by yourselves of the awful hand of God, in permitting the heathen to make such desolations upon Co- checa, and destruction of the inhabitants thereof, being forwarded by the hand of Major Robert Pike, arrived the last night abont twelve o'clock; notice thereof was immediately despatched to our out towns, that so they may provide for their security and defence; and the narra- tive you give of the matter was laid before the whole Convention this morning, who are concerned for you as friends and neighbors, and look at the whole to be involved in this unhappy conjuncture and trouble given by the heathen, and are very ready to yield you all assistance as

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they may be capable, and do think it necessary that (if it be not done already) you woald full into some form or constitution for the exercise of government, so far as may be necessary for your safety and conveni- ence of your peace, and to intend such further acts as the present emer- gencies require-this Convention not thinking it meet, under «heir present circumstances, to exert any authority within your Province. Praying God to direct in all the arduous affairs the poor people of this country have at present to engage in, and to rebuke all our enemies, de- siring you would give as advice from time to time of the occurrences with you.

" Gentlemen, your humble servant,

" ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sec'ry. " Per order of the Courention.

" Dated as above said.

" Voted by the Representatives in the affirmative.

** Attest, EBENEZER l'aour, Clerk.

"Consented to by the Governor and Council, 29th June, 1689, " ISAAC ADDINOTON, Sec'ry.

" For Messrs. Richard Martyn, Wow. Vaughan, Richard Waldron, &c. at Portsmouth, these with all speed.

This paper is indorsed,-

"Despatched upon Satarday, the 29th of June, '89, at 12 o'clock, at noon."

Accompanying the above is the draft of a letter which we suppose was written by the Governor :

"Gentlemen,-We have read yours, informing God's severe humbling hand, suffering the enemy with so much violence and rage, to destroy and lay waste before them on so sudden a surprisal. We must all say the lord is righteous; we have sinned. It is not, as yon well know, io our power to direct in your matters authoritatively, but as friends, and under our [one] prince, are ready to our utmost to yield our assistance in helping you with ammunition or anything in our power, men, or moneys. It remains with yourselves to meet and consider your own cir- cunstances, and put yourselves in such a way (if not so at present) as may accommodate the present emergency in the best manner ye may, and theu let us know what you desire, and we shall serve you to our power. Oar present circumstances do not advantage us to impress men, or levy money, but must do as we can. God help us all to humble ourselves under God's mighty hands."

Aid was immediately dispatched to Cochecho,though no further attack was then made.

No name is more prominent in early New Hampshire history than that of Walderne. Identified as its various members have been with the prosperity of the State, our readers will pardon us if we devote more space than usual in our biographical notices to the head of this family.

Richard Waldron, or Walderne rather, as he spelled his name, was born, according to tradition, in Somer- setshire, England, in 1609. He came to America (says the fragment of a letter from James Jeffrey to Counselor Richard Waldron, grandson of the subject of this article) with "Mr. Hilton or Mr. Wiggin [in 1635] to see the country : he stayed about two Years & returned to England and there Marryed a Gentle- woman of a very good family (whose parents were very unwilling She Should come away ; ) her names are not remembered, nor of wt place. Your Great Grandfather did not come with your grandfather."

Upon his first visit Richard Walderne seems to have purchased land of Capt. Wiggin upon Dover Neck, and to have made arrangements for settlement. On his final return he purchased a large tract of land at Cochecho lower falls, where in 1640, or a little earlier

perhaps, it is said that he made his residence. Prob- ably he also built a saw-mill in 1640, as in 1649, in a deed to Joseph Austin, he conveys part of the "old mill." This was the origin of the settlement long known as Cochecho, and now the central part of the flourishing town of Dover.

Soon after his settlement he purchased a large amount of standing timber from the town to engage in the preparation of lumber, pipe-staves, etc., which speedily became the main business of the town. He erected a saw-mill, apparently the second, in 1649 (James Wall, of Exeter, carpenter, being the builder), which was finished previous to August 2d. A con- stant succession of mills have since occupied the spot. Ilere, too, on the north side of Cochecho lower falls, he rescued land from the wilderness for a farm. Here he made his home and here found his grave.

Lle was the leading man in town affairs; was at least fourteen years representative of Dover in the General Court at Boston, and seven years Speaker of the House ; was judge, major commanding the forces of New Hampshire, mandamus-councilor, Deputy Governor, and temporarily President of the province.

He was buried in the Waldron graveyard, east of the Methodist Church, near the spot where his great- grandson Thomas Westbrook Waldron's tombstone stands.

The condition of Cochecho a week after the attack will appear from the following letter from William Vaughan and Richard Waldron :

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 185

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714