History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 47

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 47

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" Such was the life of the early settlers of Dunstable, and could our plans unfold the bloody scenes and heart touching events which have here taken place, their story would be as strange and thrilling as that of Mary Rowlandson. These scenes have indeed passed away, and their actors are well nigh forgotten, but we ought never to forget that our soil has been sprinkled with their blood, and that to them we owe most of the blessings which we enjoy."

* 2 Bancroft's United States, 102.

t Mary Rowlandson's Narrative, 12-15.

---

281

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

INDIAN ATTACK OF 1724.

The story of Indian massacre in the year 1724, as narrated by Mr. Fox, is so clear, concise and authentic that the editor of this chapter will quote it bodily, eliminating therefrom such passages only as are not deemed essential for this history.

"After the close of Queen Anne's War, by the ratification of the treaty of peace between France and England, at Utrecht, a treaty was made with the Indians at Portsmouth, N. H., in July, 1713, and quiet reigned throughout the frontiers for many years. The emigrants pushed their settlements farther and farther into the wilderness, and the smoke curling up from many a cabin along the green hillsides, and in the rich valleys, gave signs of advancing civilization. The distant. Indians, however, were still hostile and treacherous, although, being deserted by France, they were compelled to make peace.

"In 1717 they began to be more and more insolent, killing the cattle and threatening the lives of the settlers, and occasioned so much alarm that a fast was ordered. These outrages were imputed to the instigations of the French missionaries, the Jesuits, who were jealous of the growth of the English plantations. In August, 1717, however, a congress was held with them at Arrowsick on the Kennebec river, and the treaty of 1713 was renewed .* This apparent friendship lasted but a short time, owing, as was said, to the advice of Father Rasle and the Jesuits, for in 1720 they began to threaten again, and in June, 1722, attacked the settlement at Merry Meeting bay, on the southern shore of Lake Winnipisiogee, and 'carried off nine families.'t

"During all the previous Indian wars, Dunstable was the frontier town, and therefore exposed to greater dangers than its more interior neighbors. Now other settlements had commenced beyond us, although yet in their infancy, and incapable of affording much protection. As early as 1710 settlements were made in Hudson. Londonderry (then called Nutfield) was settled in 1719, and Litchfield (then called Brenton's Farm, or by its ancient Indian name, Naticook) in 1720. Chester was also settled in 1720, and Merrimack and Pelham in 1722. During the years 1722-3-4, frequent ravages were committed and much alarm excited. As we look around on our beautiful villages and thickly peopled towns, we can scarcely realize that a little more than a century ago the yell of the Indian was heard even here, and the shriek of the murdered settler went up to heaven with the flames of his desolated home.

"In the summer of 1723 the Indians attacked Dover and Lamprey river, and, fearing an attack upon the settlements in this vicinity, a garrison of thirty men was posted in Dunstable. It was still considered a frontier town, and was the rendezvous of all the scouting parties which traversed the valleys of the Merrimack and the Nashua. The scouts were drafted from the different regiments, and were constantly out upon excursions against the Indians. In November, 1723, Capt. Daniel Peeker arrived at Dunstable with such a company from Haverhill, and having received recruits here, marched to Pennichook brook, Souhegan, Anconoonook hills, Piscataquog, Amoskeag, Annahooksit, Contookook, Cohasset, (Goffe's Falls) and Beaver brook, but 'discovered no enemy.' A small party was sent out by him 'under the command of Jonathan Robbins of Dunstable,' and were gone several days but without success. #

"At the same time a company under the command of Lieut. Jabez Fairbanks of Groton was also scouting up and down the Nashua. In this company were six men from Dunstable, viz: Joseph Blanchard, Thomas Lund, Isaac Farwell, Ebenezer Cummings, John Usher, and Jonathan Combs. Upon a petition from the selectmen of the town, stating its exposed situation, and the necessity that they should be allowed to stay at home to guard it, they were all discharged, upon the condition, however, that they should perform duty at Dunstable. §

"In the winter and spring of 1724, Lieutenant Fairbanks and his company were scouting about 'Nashuway river,' 'Nisitisit hills,' 'The Mines,' or Mine falls, 'Penichuck pond,' 'Naticook,' 'Souheganock,' 'Nesenkeag,' 'Dunstable meeting house,' and other places in this vicinity. In

*Penhallow. I N. H. Hist. Coll., 89. I Belknap, 189.

+ Belknap, 201.

# Mass. Records, Journals of Scouts, page 47. Robbins was a volunteer, and a lieutenant under Captain Lovewell in 1725.

§ Mass. Military Records, 1723, pages III-145.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.

May, 1721, men were at work planting both north and west of Nashua river, and a part of this company were posted here as a garrison .*

" In August, 1724, the English sent a body of troops to attack the Indian town at Norridgewock, Me. The town was surprised, and a large number of Indians slain, together with Father Rasle, the Jesuit, their priest, who was considered by the English as the instigator of all these outrages. By this attack the eastern Indians were much alarmed and weakened. But about this time a party of French Mohawks, to the number of seventy, made an incursion into this neighborhood. 'September 4, they fell on Dunstable and took two in the evening. Next morning Lieutenant French with fourteen men went in pursuit of them, but being waylaid, both he and one-half of his men were destroyed. After this as many more of a fresh company engaged them, but the enemy being much superior in number, overpowered them, with the loss of one man killed and four wounded.'t A more particular account of this mournful event has been preserved and collected from various sources with much care and labor. It must prove interesting, at least to the descendants of the actors in these scenes, many of whom still reside among us, and may serve to make us all realize more fully the nature, extent and worth of the sufferings of those into whose labors we have entered."

"The two captives mentioned above were Nathan Cross and Thomas Blanchard. They had been engaged in the manufacture of turpentine on the north side of the Nashua, near the spot where the upper part of the city now stands, and were seized while at work and carried off by the Indians. As there were at that time no houses or settlements on that side of Nashua river at that place, these men had been in habit of returning every night to lodge in a saw mill on the south side of the river. This mill was probably John Lovewell's which stood on Salmon brook at the bridge, by the house of Miss Allds, the mud sills of which are now visible. The night following their capture they came not as usual, and an alarm was given, as it was feared they had fallen into the hands of the Indians.

"A party consisting of ten of the principal inhabitants of the place, beside their leader, started in pursuit of them under the direction of Lieut. Ebenezer French. In this company was Josiah Farwell, who was next year lieutenant at Pequawkett under Lovewell. When this party arrived at the spot where these men had been laboring, they found the hoops of the barrels cut and the turpen- tine spread upon the ground. From certain marks made upon the trees with wax mixed with grease, they understood that the men were taken and carried off alive.

"In the course of the examination, Farwell perceived that the turpentine had not ceased spreading and called the attention of his comrades to this circumstance. They concluded that the Indians had been gone but a short time and must be near and decided on instant pursuit. Farwell advised them to take a circuitous route to avoid an ambush; but unfortunately he and French a short time before had a misunderstanding and were then at variance. French imputed this advice to cowardice and cried out, 'I am going to take the direct path ; if any of you are not afraid let him follow me.' French led the way and the whole of the party followed, Farwell following in the rear.

"Their route was up the Merrimack towards which they bent their course to look for their horses upon the intervals. At the brook; near Satwych's (now Thornton's) Ferry they were waylaid. The Indians fired upon them and killed the larger part instantly. A few fled, but were overtaken and destroyed. French was killed about a mile from the place of action under an oak tree lately standing in a field belonging to John Lund of Merrimack. Farwell in the rear, seeing those before him fall, sprung behind a tree, discharged his piece and ran. Two Indians pursued him. The chase was vigorously maintained for some time, without either gaining much advantage, till Farwell passing through a thicket, the Indians lost sight of him, and probably fearing he might have loaded again, they desisted from farther pursuit. He was the only one of the company that escaped.

"A company from the neighborhood immediately mustered and proceeded to the fatal spot to find the bodies of their friends and townsmen. Eight of them were found and conveyed to the burying place. 'Coffins were prepared for them and they were decently interred in one capacious grave.' The

* Mass. Records, Journal of Scouts, page 51.

f Penhallow. I N. H. Hist. Coll., 109.

# Naticook brook, the stream which crosses the road just above Thornton's. The scene of the ambush must have been near the present highway.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

names of these persons given in the Boston News Letter were Lieut. Ebenezer French, Thomas Lund, Oliver Farwell and Ebenezer Cummings who belonged to Dunstable, and all of whom excepting the last, left widows and children, Daniel Baldwin and John Burbank of Woburn and Mr. Johnson of Plainfield.

"Cross and Blanchard, the first named, were carried to Canada; after remaining there some time they succeeded, by their own exertions, in effecting their redemption, and returned home."*

The gun owned and used by Cross was carefully preserved by his descendants, and is now in the possession of the Nashua Historical society.

"The place of their interment was the ancient burial ground near the state line, in which there is a monument still standing, with the following inscription, copied verbatim et literatim.

" Memento Mori. Here lies the body of Mr. Thomas Lund who departed this life Sept. 5th 1724 in the 42nd year of his age. This man with seven more that lies in this grave was slew all in a day by The Indians."

"Three other grave stones stand close beside the above, very ancient, moss covered and almost illegible. One was erected to 'Lt. Oliver Farwell, aged 33 years;' one to 'Mr. Ebenezer Cummings, aged 29 years,' and one to 'Mr. Benjamin Carter, aged 23 years.'

"It is related by Penhallow, that after the first attack 'a fresh company engaged them' but were overpowered 'with the loss of one killed and four wounded.' The Indians, elated with their success, moved forward to Nashua river, and this second fight is said to have taken place at the ancient fordway, where the highway crossed the Nashua, and very near its mouth. It was probably at this time that the circumstance occurred which has given to that portion of the village its name. Tradition reports that the Indians were on the north side of the river and the English on the south, and that after the fight had lasted a long time across the stream without decisive result, both parties drew off, and that after the Indians had departed, upon a large tree which stood by the river side, near the Concord railroad bridge, the figure of an Indian's head was found carved by them, as if in defiance. Such was the origin of 'Indian Head.'

"There is another version of the account, indeed, which relates, that a fight once took place there between the whites and the Indians; that the latter were defeated, and all of them supposed to be slain; but that one escaped, and carved upon a tree the Indian head as a taunt and a threat of vengeance.

"Sometime during this year, William Lund, 'being in the service of his country, was taken prisoner by the Indian enemy and carried into captivity, where he suffered great hardships and was obliged to pay a great price for his ransom.' The time, place and circumstances of his capture and return are not known, and this brief record is all that remains."t

Lovewell's war and Lovewell's fight have always been surrounded with a halo of romance. An expedition in the fall of 1724 was incepted and led by Capt. John Lovewell of Dunstable against the Pequawketts, a fierce tribe of Indians that had their headquarters in the region between Lake Winni- pisiogee in New Hampshire and a pond near Fryeburg, Me., since known as Lovewell's pond.

Inasmuch as the bold Captain Lovewell and several of his men were from Dunstable, it is deemed pardonable to insert herein something more than a mere reference to that war and to the bloody and fatal fight at Pigwacket, in which the brave leader was shot dead, "pierced through by an Indian ball " and the whole company defeated. As narrated by Mr. Fox, the story is as follows :- }

"In consequence of this attack, and of the devastation everywhere committed by the Indians, John Lovewell, Josiah Farwell and Jonathan Robbins petitioned the general assembly of Massachu- setts for leave to raise a company and to scout against the Indians. The original petition, signed by them is still on file in the office of the secretary of state in Boston, and is as follows :-

* Belknap, 207: note. Manuscript corrections thereof by John Farmer, in the possession of the late Isaac Spalding.

+ Mass. Military Records, 1734.

į Fox's History, page 110, et seq.

28.4

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

" The humble memorial of John Lovell, Josiah Farwell, Jonathan Robbins, all of Dunstable, sheweth :

"That your petitioners, with near forty or fifty others, are inclinable to range and to keep out in the woods for several months together, in order to kill and destroy their enemy Indians, provided they can meet with incouragement suitable. And your petitioners are imployed and desired by many others, humbly to propose and submit to your honors' consideration, that if such soldiers may be allowed five shillings per day, in case they kill any enemy Indian and possess their scalp, they will imploy themselves in Indian hunting one whole year, and if within that time they do not kill any, they are content to be allowed nothing for their wages, time and trouble.

"Dunstable, Nov., 1724."

JOHN LOVEWELL, JOSIAH FARWELL, JONATHAN ROBBINS."

" Lovewell* was a man of great courage and fond of engaging in adventurous enterprises. He was particularly successful in hunting wild animals, and in time of war was engaged in exploring the wilderness to find the lurking places of the Indians who ravaged the settlements in New England. His father, it is said, had been an ensign in the army of Cromwell and a soldier under the famous Captain Church in the great Narraganset Swamp fight and his sons inherited his military taste and ardor. This petition was granted, changing the conditions into a bounty of £100 per scalp. The company was raised and a commission of captain given to Lovewell. They became greatly distin- guished, first by their success and afterwards by their misfortunes.

" Lovewell was then in the prime of life and burning with zeal to distinguish himself. With his company of picked men he started upon an excursion into the Indian country. The headquarters of the Pequawketts, a fierce and dangerous tribe, were in the region between Lake Winnipisiogee and the pond in Fryeburg, Me., since known as 'Lovewell's pond.' It was called Pequawkett, is filled with lakes, ponds and streams affording excellent fishing and hunting, and embraces the present towns of Conway, Wakefield, Ossipee, Fryeburg, etc. Dec. 10, 1724, while northward of Lake Winnipi- siogee, the party came 'on a wigwam wherein were two Indians, one of which they killed and the other took, for which they received the promised bounty of one hundred pounds a scalp, and two shillings and six pence a day besides.'t

" Other similar expeditions had been attempted, but without much success. Some had fallen into ambuscades, and some after long and dangerous journeys through the pathless wilderness had returned without meeting an enemy. But the success of Captain Lovewell roused their spirits and he determined upon another excursion. This company was soon augmented to eighty-eight.# He marched again, February, 1725, and visiting the place where they had killed the Indian found his body as they had left it two months before. Their provisions falling short, thirty of them were dismissed by lot and returned home.

"The remaining fifty-eight continued their march till they discovered a track, which they followed until they saw a smoke just before sunset, by which they judged that the enemy were encamped for the night. This was Feb. 20, 1725. 'They kept themselves concealed till after mid- night, when they silently advanced and discovered ten Indians asleep around a fire by the side of a frozen pond. Lovewell was determined to make sure work, and placing his men conveniently, ordered a part of them to fire, five at once, as quick after each other as possible, and another part to reserve their fire. He gave the signal by firing his own gun, which killed two of them. His men firing according to order killed five more on the spot. The other three starting up from their sleep, two of them were immediately shot dead by the reserve. The other though wounded attempted to escape by crossing the pond, but was seized by a dog and held fast till they killed him.

"Thus in a few minutes the whole company was destroyed and some attempt against the frontiers of New Hampshire prevented ; for these Indians were making from Canada well furnished with new guns and plenty of ammunition. They had also a number of spare blankets, moccasins and snow- shoes, for the accommodation of the prisoners which they expected to take, and were within two days march of the frontiers.

* This famous Indian fighter was from near Salmon brook in Nashua.

+ Penhallow. I N. H. Hist. Coll., 100. I Belknap, 208.

# So says Report of Committees on the subject in Mass. Records-Towns. 1728.

285

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

" The pond where this exploit was performed is at the head of a branch of Salmon Falls river, in the township of Wakefield, and has ever since borne the name of Lovewell's pond. The action is spoken of by elderly people at this distance of time," says Belknap in 1790, from whom the above is chiefly taken, "with an air of exultation, and considering the extreme difficulty of finding and attacking Indians in the woods, and the judicious manner in which they were so completely surprised, it was a capital exploit."

"The brave company, with the ten scalps stretched on hoops and elevated on poles, entered Dover in triumph, and proceeded thence to Boston, where they received the promised bounty of one hundred pounds for each scalp out of the public treasury .*

"Penhallow adds that 'the guns were so good and new that most of them were sold for seven pounds ($23.33) a piece. The plunder was but a few skins, but during the march our men were well entertained with moose, bear and deer, together with salmon trout, some of which were three feet long, and weighed twelve pounds a piece.'t Scarcely had Lovewell returned from this successful excursion, when Capt. Eleazar Tyng of this town, collecting a large company of volunteers, many of them also from this town, marched into the wilderness. They scouted around Pemigewasset river and Winnipisiogee lake for a month but returned without accomplishing anything.}

"'Encouraged by his former success, and animated still,' as Penhallow says, 'with an uncommon zeal of doing what service he could,' Lovewell marched a third time into the wilderness, intending to attack the Pequawketts in their headquarters on Saco river. Just before he left, it is said, that being at a house in what is now Nashua, he was warned to be upon his guard against the ambuscades of the enemy. He replied, 'That he did not care for them,' and bending down a small elm beside which he was standing into a bow, declared 'that he would treat the Indians in the same way.' This elm is still standing, a venerable and magnificent tree.

"He set out from Dunstable with forty-six men, including a chaplain and surgeon. Two of them proving lame returned. Another falling sick, they halted and built a fort fortified by pointed stakes, on the west side of Ossipee pond. Here the surgeon was left with the sick man, and eight of the number for a guard. The number of the company was now reduced to thirty-four. §

"The names of this brave company are worthy of preservation, and their numerous descendants may trace back their descent to such ancestry with pride. They were Capt. John Lovewell, Lieut. Josiah Farwell, Lieut. Jonathan Robbins, Ensign John Harwood, Ensign Noah Johnson, Robert Usher and Samuel Whiting, all of Dunstable; Ensign Seth Wyman, Corporal Thos. Richardson, Timothy Richardson, Ichabod Johnson and Josiah Johnson of Woburn; Eleazer Davis, Joseph Farrar, Josiah Davis, Josiah Jones, David Melvin, Eleazer Melvin and Jacob Farrar of Concord; Chaplain Jonathan Frye of Andover; Seargt. Jacob Fullam of Weston; Corporal Edward Lingfield of Nutfield, (now Londonderry) ; Jonathan Kittredge and Solomon Keyes of Billerica; John Teffts, Daniel Woods, Thomas Woods, John Chamberlain, Elias Barson, Isaac Lakin and Joseph Gilson of Groton; Abiel Asten and Ebenezer Alger of Haverhill, and one who deserted them in battle, and whose name has been considered unworthy of being transmitted to posterity.

"Pursuing their march northward they came to a pond about twenty-two miles distant from the fort, and encamped by the side of it. Early the next morning May 8, 1725, (May 19, new style, ) while at their devotions they heard the report of a gun, and discovered a single Indian standing on a point of land which runs into the pond more than a mile distant. They had been alarmed the preceding night by noises round their camp, which they imagined were made by Indians, and this opinion was now strengthened. They suspected that the Indian was there to decoy them, and that a body of the enemy was in their front.

* Belknap, 208. The original journal of this expedition, in Lovewell's hand writing, is still preserved among the papers in the office of the secretary of state at Boston. Many of the company were from this town, but the names of few have been preserved. Beside the officers already named, and those who accompanied them to Pequawkett, were Zaccheus Lovewell, Thos. Colburn, Peter Powers, Josiah Cummings, Henry Farwell, Win. Ayers.

+ I N. H. Hist. Coll., 113.

+ Mass. Records. Tyng's Journal, 1725.

§ The report of the committee upon Lovewell's tour says that he started with forty-seven men, three of whom returned home sick and lame. Military Records and tour, 1728. They had his muster roll before them.

286

HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.

"A consultation being held they determined to march forward, and by encompassing the pond, to gain the place where the Indian stood. That they might be ready for action they disencumbered themselves of their packs, and left them without guard at the northeast end of the pond, in a pitch pine plain, where the trees were thin, and the brakes at that time of the year small. Penhallow adds that fearing a snare, 'the captain calling his men together, proposed, whether it was best to engage them or not?' They boldly replied, 'That as they had come out on purpose to meet the enemy, they would rather trust Providence with their lives and die for their country, than return without seeing them.' Upon this they proceeded .*

"It happened that Lovewell's march had crossed a carrying place, by which two parties of Indians, consisting of forty-one each, commanded by Paugus and Wawha, who had been scouting down Saco river, were returning to the lower village of Pequawkett, distant about a mile and a half from this pond. Having fallen on this track they followed it till they came to the packs which they removed, and counting them found the number of his men to be less than their own. They therefore placed themselves in ambush to attack them on their return. The Indian who stood on the point, and who was returning to the village by another path, met them and received their fire, which he returned and wounded Farwell and another with small shot. Lieutenant Wyman firing again killed him and they took his scalp.

"Seeing no other enemy they returned to the place where they had left their packs, and while they were looking for them the Indians rose and ran towards them with a horrid yelling. A smart firing commenced on both sides, it being about ten of the clock. Captain Lovewell and eight more were killed on the spot. Lieutenant Farwell and two others were wounded. Several of the Indians fell, but being superior in numbers they endeavored to surround the party, who, perceiving their intention, retreated hoping to reach a shelter behind a point of rocks which ran into the pond, and a few large pine trees standing on a sandy beach. In this forlorn place they took their station. On their right was the mouth of a brook at that time unfordable; on their left was the rocky point. Their front was partly covered with a deep bog, and partly uncovered, and the pond was in the rear. The enemy galled them in front and in flank, and had them so completely in their power, that had they made a prudent use of their advantage, the whole company must either have been killed or obliged to surrender at discretion, being destitute of a mouthful of sustenance, and escape being impracticable.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 47

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652