USA > New Hampshire > Register of officers and members of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Hampshire, 1724-1725 > Part 3
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DIARY OF HON. THEODORE ATKINSON.
trifell we might Speak to them first I told him I acted according to my Instruction which directed me not Speake to them unless came & made overture of peace then I could offer them Conduct to N E: &c at times ffair & ffoul
18 Sabath In the morn I waited on the 22Govr: about Mrs. 3ºRollings and English Prisoners, at Three Riv- ers he told before but passt a Letter to the Coman- der about her & a Possative order for her to Come up if She was bought by the french-Dispatched 2 men on Purposse in the Afternoon we went to the Genralls to meet the Enemies where we told them that our errt into this Country was to the Generall but in as much as they had desired to See us we Was Glad to See them they Asked us if we could make no proposals of Peace we told them no they then told us if the English would remove 1 mile West of Saco river & build them a Church & restore them their minister & they would be brothers ag" we told them we had no Warr' to Dispute but if they were amind to Dispute that mat' they might Have Save Conduct with us to. Boston or Piscataqua & for their Safety not onley in their Passage but while there & for to See Justice Don them his L. S: would Send his Sone with them they answered that This was the onley place to Conclude a peace being yt the Na- tions was near & Could Come readyly to be wit- nesses-then his Lordship told them By Pere 26La Chap that Perhapps their Demands was unreasonable & desired them to Speak what they would Consent to but that matter was not fairely told the Indians as our Interpreator told us However the Jesuit being there Clouded the affair So we Broke up
19 waited for Govern Dispatche a Cannoe which we bought for 36 L run to the Bar &c
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20 waited on the 22Governour & recd his Letters & ther dispatches & took leave & fitted Every thing for our Journey & about 10 Clock Put Down the river in our Conoe about 30 miles & Campt Early for that some of our Company was yet behind here I killd one wood Duck the river runs N E-Wind fresh at South West here about Sun down Madm 31L Stage over tooke us a Mircht wife bound for N : E : to See here relatives she being an English Wo: Daughter to Mr Plaisted of York ---
22 We Set out Early & traveld in our Conoes Down the river untill we came to the mouth of Shambly river were Stopd at South the men told us to be careful for the Indians, intended us a mischeff we travelld up y. river about miles being agst a Strong Stream we Saw 3 or 4 Indians Couch behind a fence which we were Zelous to have Spies we found a Convenient place & Campt kept watch all night 23 we Sot our about Sun rising & paddled about 6 Leags up the river where we saw a number of the Enemy we Could not Count them because of the wood There was Six canoes that Lay nere the water, we Said nothing to them nor they to us but we went a Shore at the first house after being about 8 miles the man [?] told us they had ben there & that the Chief told him that the Gentle were at mount royall & came to the Gover to make a peace but twas not in his power & that upon our return he would follow . us he told them that we Should Certainly Carry frenchmen with us they told him they Should See to that when the Time Came we proceeded up the river to Chambly fort where we arrived about 4 . Clock Showed our pass port &c here Mr 2+Leguil overtook us who brot an order from the 22Govr for a Guard of 6 men we supped till near Sun set & then
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DIARY OF HON. THEODORE ATKINSON.
passed abt 1 mile where we Campt at the falls we travelld 25 mils S: fair
24 we got all our Luggage & Conoes above the rifts and falls at the fort & which is about 6 miles & proceeded about 2 miles further & then Campt on the West Side of the river
25 Sabath Rain this Day till aboute 4 Clock then Cleared up & we moved up above the other falls about 2 Leag
26 we proceeded Early in the morn & passed up the river about 25 miles into the 19Lake & passed on the West Side of the Lake till about 4 Clock & Campt being faire we travelled about 45 miles to Day
27 rain in the morn about 2 Clear we Set out being then Clear & over the great travers which is about 12 miles from Side to Side and Lodged at the So West Side of it we got this Day 60 mile on our Journey fair
28 we Sot out about Sun 1/2 hour high & pas'd a Cross the 19Lake to Crown point which is called the End of the Lake the guard Left us over there for we Continued about 25 miles up the river in all about 70 miles & Campt on the west Side of the 15Drownd Lands Calld so because the country was all over flown on the wood side
29 we was again Early & passed thro the 15Drown Lands where we met the Indians that was sent with the Let- ters to New England & he Brot advice of the 10 Indians that was Kiled by Some of our People we passed the Little fall's at the Entrance of 17Wood Creek & Continued agt the Stream about 15 miles & Campt on the west side fair & very warm 45 miles 30 we prosseed as Early as the Sun Shone on the Creek that we could See the Sunk Logg & Ship. we got to fort 17Nicholson abt 10 Clock which is 3 miles from
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SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS.
the head of the Creek were Land all but what was necessary to transport the Canoes we got to the head of the Creek abt 12 & Proceeded to Carry all our things about 4 miles on the Carring place & Lodged at Our Old Camp where we Lodgd when we passed up Rained & hindred our proseedings-
1 May We left mad™ Cono And passed on with our Lougage one half at a time being too heavey & being all absent from our Camp mad" had ordd a fire to Day her tent which was ticken & while we were ab- sent it fired & burnt almost up-we got all our things & got Down to Sarritogoe about Sun Set Stopd at Bloods sometime
2 Sabath Now rain the wind at N Coll "Dudley & my Self with one Cono Set Down the River in order to Send for our horses but it Cleard up about 10 Clock & the rest followed us & all arived about 5 Clock at Allbany Safe & Sent for our horses Imedi- ately Lodged at Capt Collings Now faire & Clear 3 This morn rain till about 11 Clock then Cleard up & we Sent all the Captives [?] on foot towards West- field & Delivered Each of them a gun Seyany & Chapman had each of them a Gun of mine-One of our Indians being about to return I wrote to the Govr Son Monsieur 29Croaniell a Letter as follows-in the afternoon waited on the Comision Monsr :
I Should be very ungratefull Should I omite by the first Opportunity after my Safe arrivall to ac- knowledge The Cevility I have recd from yr fathers family in Genl. perticularly for the Last that of the Guard on our Journey which was shorte & pleasant beyond expectations being but 7 days from Sham- bley to Allbany-upon our arrivall here greate In- quirey was made what we had Effected at Canada &
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DIARY OF HON. THEODORE ATKINSON.
how we found matters their Mentioned your fath" Generousity & Civility to our Persons we Likewise Left with the Comissionrs at Albany Some few re- marks respecting his Govm & our own the head of which are as follows
That your father had Rcd a message from this Govt to Intreat & pray him to restrain Our Enemy from molesting This Prov. which was far Different he said from our Demands-
2 That his Lordship was very much displeased that this Govn. Should pretend to build a fort at the Onondagas river & that he would pull it Down if any Should be built which was Contrary to the Article of Peace between the two Crowns as a for M. 23Lonquil goin up in to that Contrary with Souldiers
3 That His Lordship had So much Intrest with the five nations that he Could Set them at war with the Subjects of Great B
4 That we knew the Abinacas was Suplyed & En- couraged in the war by the Gov: m' of Canada in the war ag" Ne Englª
5 The unreasonable Demands which the Abinacas made by the Jesuit fathers with respect to their Lands taking in all Lands except the Garrison of Annap- olis that we Should build their Town & restore their Dead fathers to them
6 That not withstanding his Lordship promised we Should have all the Captives in the hands of the french as the were purchased from the Indians they Demanded & recd Considerable more
These are the heads of what we have Left at York Gov when we get to our respective govermt I shall Do my Self The Hon & Justice to give ym the heads of our returns to them-& Sr. shall always Esteem his Lordship for the Generosity & Civility lie Shewd
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to our persons & Shall never fail to mention it But his Suplying the Abinacas & Encouraging the other nations in the warr is So opposite to Harmoney be- tween our Princes that I cant believe he has any Instructions from the King of france that will Justify him & am affraid will Cause him a great Uneasiness from the Court of france where we Shall represent his affairs I have no news only that a Partie of our Volunteers met with 10 Indian men & Killd them all at one Shot & Carried their Scalps to Boston & recd a 1000 pounds I hope His Lordship will reconsider & Doubt not but I shall See you with Some of the Enemy at boston or Elsewhere before the fall of the year
I am with Due regards Sr to his Lordship family Your most Sincere friend & most Humble & most Obedient Servt TA
4 This morn we had a Treaty with the french mohawks which was as follows is Brothers-We rejoyce that it came to pass that Some of your Tribe came with us from Canada & that we all Safely arrived here in Albany we are very Sensable that caynawaga & Schohanady Indians our Breatheren have ben faith- full & true to the agreemt & treaty of Peace made with us in this Place & Look upon such upright Car- riage as a Great happyness both to our Breatheren of those tribes as well as our Selves we do now again renew & Confirm that treaty & Desire it may Continue forever between us here we gave a Belt - our Breathern ye Cagnawagas & other tribes yt made that treaty with us are very Sensible of the difficulty yt is between & the Abinacgua Indians and altho we desire nothing more then to Live in Peace
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DIARY OF HON. THEODORE ATKINSON.
with them & Deal honestly & farely & for this we that are here present as you know have taken the hand to offer them peace if they have a minde there- for Yet we have not Prevaled on them & beleiving Our Brethern the Cagnawaga & Other Indians to have Some Influence over those that are at warr with us we do therefor (as the Governour of Canada has alsoe advised you) desire that By Some proper way & means you our Breatheren will advise & Influence those Indians the Abinagues to See us & hear Con- cerneing peace & thise to be don as Soon as Possable to Prevent as Soon as Possable to Prevent any more Blood being Spilt
A Belt
If upon our Bretherns motion the Abinagues incline to peace & will notifie us thereof & a peace be agread on therefor we Desire that Some of our Brethren as Deputies from our Tribes may be Present & See the Justice of our Side & be wittnesses thereto that So no future misunderstanding may acrue & we desire that these things now Said may be Carried home to yr Tribes & that you will Set your Selves about So good & great a work & So pleasing to God & all good men-
Belt
Whereas it has ben proposed to us that yr people may come & hunt on Connecticut River near us we do Invite you there to provided first that some methods may be found out whereby we may distinguish you from our Enimies & Some of Our People Shall go out with you-
According to Custom they always return as they re- ceive but they being but few & it being to their whole Tribes they promise to deliver our message to all the old men warriers & Souldiers & would do it faith-
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fully as be comes them being what was very pleasing & to them & very good & that we Should hear from them as Soon as possable-The Comiss. invited us in ye afternoon In the afternoon we drank a Glass of wine with the Comissioners again & the Indians De- sired they might be there to Speak with them about an Errant to which they Brot from Canada Last Winter those was the Indians which we tracked and Concerned about-according they repeated Some of their message By Some wampum & then asked weither they might rehearse what we had Said to them in the morn accordingly we repeated it to ym We Likewise gave the Comissioners Some remarks which we had made at Canada relating to the Gov- ernmt & our own which is as follows-Viz-We the Subscribers having been at Canada on an Arrant from the Governments of New Hampr & the Massa- chusetts Concerning the Unjust war the Abinacgae or Eastern Indians have with the afore Sd. Gov- ernmt. & the Gover. of Canada his assisting & abet- ting them therein thinck Proper to Acquaint the Comissioners of the Indian Affairs in Albany & by them the Governr of York of Some transaction in the french Country which may be worthy of Observa- tions After we had delivered Our Message Moun. 22Vaudreuill the Gov: of Canada told us that our Errand was not as he had recd. one from the Gover of New York to pray him to restrain those Indians from medling with yt Prov: which he had Don upon y' Earnest request whereas our demand was not of that nature-Monseur Vaudreull was very angry that the Govermt of New York Should pretend to build any Block house or fortification on or near the river of Onontaga & told us that he Should Look on such a Proceeding as a violation of ye Peace made at
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*Utrick & would Certainly Demolish any Such Build- ing & accordingly at this very Juncture Monsr. 23Lon- guil who is the Second man in the Govment of Can- ada is gone up into the Unontaga & Seneca Country with a considerable detachment of french Souldiers his business we do not pretend to Say but we are very apt to think that Such officers & men being in that Country can in no ways tend to the Continuing those five nations In their allegiance & dependance on his Maj King George-
Mon : 22Vaudreull told us frankly & plainly that he Could at any time Set the five nations of Iroquois expressly Excepted in the treaty of Utreck as de -- pending on the British dominions on the English & Cause them to Kill & Captivate the Subjects of ye King-
Mon : 22Vaudreuil has by himself or others So farr Instigated the Abinagues to make Demand on the Governmt of the Massachu : of thirty Leagues on the Sea Cost all with in the Grant of that Prov: from the Crown of Great Britain & in which has ben Settled Severall Town & many hundred Inhabitants & forts built by order from home & Some of it Possessed up- wards of four score years This the same has ben fairly Purchased & possessd as aforesd & asking those Indians how far their Demands Eastward yr answer was in the Presents of the Governr 22Vaud- reuil the whol Country of Lacada or nov Scotia Ex- cepting only the fort of Annapolis Royal notwith- standing the Sd Country of Lacada belongs to the Brittish Crown & these unreasonable Indians was Countinanced by the Sd Governour and a numerous Company of french who heard all their Discourse- The Sd Indians told us plainly that they would have
* Utrecht.
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no peace with the Sd Two governments unless all the Sd Land was delivered up : the forts Demollished the Church at Neridgwak rebuilt the Plunder there taken returnd their 27 Preast restored to them who was killed in that action at the head of our Indian Enemies as he had often ben before we Demanded an answer to our Proposalls made to the 22Governr of Canada in writting to Prevent any mistake he would not give any such answer under his hand tho at the Same time he had not Encouraged the Indians in the war not with Standing the Contrary was provd by many Let- ters of his to the Preast 27Ralle & other Papers & Let- ters taken By the English at Severall times-The sd 22 Governour on our demand of the Captive answerd as for those in the Indians hands he would do noth- ing as for those in the french hands we Should have them paying what they Cost & we could not have them without purchassing of them at any Price their masters were pleased to demand & the purchas Consideration in many Exceedinly advanced from the Originall or first Cost by all which it plainly ap- pears what abuses hardships & Intollerable burthen his Maj good Subjects lye under Under being used more Like Brute Creatures then men & Christian and Calls aloud upon all men under the King to Send a hellping to get the aforesd Governments out of this Unjust warr-
6 rain all Day Lay Still & made up our accot. of the Journey
7 our horses arrived albany about 1 Clock we paid a visit to Mr 13Ranslers & about 5 Clock Crossed the river being accompany'd by Severall of the Comisn & other Gentlemen of the City when we Saw our
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DIARY OF HON. THEODORE ATKINSON.
horses they Look nothing but the Image of Death but there was no relief [?] in the Case
we mounted about Sun Set & went over to Kender- hook got there about 12 Clock but 3 of our horses tired & they Lay out all night
8 we waited till about noon for Mr 14Schulier & 13Rans- ler and as Soon as they Came up we Set for *12house- attonnack our men that tired their horses Set all out on foot we arrived at *houseattonnick at Sun set our men about 11 Clock we meat a Guard of 12 men Swam our horses over the river at night-2 horses tired
9 Sabath day we Sot out about Sun rising about noon Coll Dudly horse tired & 4 more that they was obliged to take the Souldiers horses & Leav there own on mountains arrived at Westfield about Sun set again Lodged at 32Ingersoll-
10 moved about 2 Clock after refreshing our horses as well as ourselves & rid to Springfield about 8 or 10 mile here we Crossed Connecticut river
11 mounted about 8 with Severall Gentlemen & Soldiers & arrived at fQuabauge alias brookfield about 11 our by Sun 30 miles
12 mounted about 8 & rid to #Lester before noon past worster & westborough & Lodged at Marlebrough & at 11 Clock heard of the misfortune of Cap Lovell & Companey being Dislodged
13 Mounted Early & rid thro Sudbury Westtown Water- town Newtown Cambridge brookline & roxbury to Boston got there about 8 of the Clock at night-
14 Set out from Boston & rid to Ipswich about 12 at night ---
* Housatonic, now Great Barrington.
t Quabang, now Brookfield.
Į Leicester.
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THIS BOULDER FROM THE HILL SIDE
ISTSET HERE BY
CITIZENS OF CHARLESTONN WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE
UNION HISTORICAL SOCIETY O
CHARLESTOWN NH
AND
SPRINGFIELD VT
AND OF THE
SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS IN THE STATE DE NEW HAMPSHIRE `TO MARK THE SITE OF THE ;
OLD FORT BUILT IN 174
DEDICATED AUGUST, 30 1804 BEING THE ISDF ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDIAN RAID.
BRIEF RELATION of the
Times, Events and Actors in the foregoing compiled from the best authorities and official sources, by Capt. Geo, A. Gordon, Genealogist of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Hampshire
A
1
Brief Relation
Two years before the date covered by the events nar- rated in this manuscript, Col. Samuel 33Shute, the royal governor of the province of New Hampshire and-of the Massachusetts Bay for eleven years, had resigned and departed to England; and John $Wentworth, New Hampshire born and a successful ship-master and mer- chant at Portsmouth, who had been, in succession to George Vaughan, appointed by King George, lieutenant governor of the province of New Hampshire, became the provincial executive. This is notable as marking the close of political identity of New Hampshire with Mas- sachusetts; though for a few succeeding governors, the incumbents were the same, yet the affairs of each prov- ince were separately administered; and the long con- tinued and persistent efforts of the Massachusetts men, both in politics and in religion, to absorb New Hamp- shire and consolidate all of northern New England into one province, came to an end and was forever abandoned.
Peace, apparently, had settled upon the New Hamp- shire community, and new towns were incorporated in the name of the King. Crops were abundant. The for- ests supplied naval stores, masts and lumber; the fish- eries and the hemp production added a valued quota to the stock of the merchants, who developed a brisk and remunerative trade with the motherland and with the continent. Portsmouth ships visited every European port; and the wares of Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland, and Great Britain could be found in Ports- mouth warehouses. Though the southern boundary was
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yet unsettled, owing to the stubborn grip which the Bay province maintained upon the border territory which she asserted was hers, the settlements upon the Piscata- qua and the Merrimack were thriving and prosperous. The Scotch-Irish were coming into the province in large numbers and were exhibiting their characteristic indus- try and sobriety. With the Indian natives, New Hamp- shire ever held peaceful relations; with the sparse num- ber within her limits intercourse was friendly; and an effort to establish trading posts among them was matur- ing, delayed and ultimately doomed to failure, because of the distrust and apprehension felt by the tribes to- ward the Massachusetts settlements in the province of Maine.
Suddenly, the Indians became menacing and war par- ties, from outside, invaded the province. To quiet and meet these demonstrations, expeditions under Lovewell, 16Thomas Westbrook, 35Moulton and 34Harmon, resulting in the killing of Paugus and Father ""Rasle, were suc- cessfully prosecuted. These successes invited revenge and ravaging parties soon disquieted and distressed the frontier.
During the Indian war of 1723-'24, the governor of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England had sent a delegation to the Six Nations, of New York, with whom the Bay province was at peace, with a view to secure their efforts, as altogether the most prominent and most forcible of the Indian powers in the north, to restrain the Eastern Indians (dwellers beyond the Ken- nebec) and pacify them. In furtherance of this object, a deputation from the Mohawks met a similar deputation from the Penobscots and the Micmacs, at Boston. But the quarrel of the General Court with the executive and apprehension of smallpox rendered the convention in- consequential. Col. John 37Stoddard, of Northampton,
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was commissioned to continue the overtures to the Iro- quois, and after several conferences, without result agreeable to the mind of Massachusetts, Colonel Stod- dard submitted his farewell to the Indians .:
'Tis now more than a year since the Commission from the Massa- chusetts Bay tendered you the hatchet against the Eastern Indians which you took and laid by your side to use in case they would not hearken to proposals of peace which you did propose to them at Boston, with threatening, in case they would not hear you.
To this the Iroquois replied, in September, 1724 :
That the Eastward Indians had answered and said that, in order to peace with the Boston government, they did desire two things, viz : the Return of the Land; and, secondly, the Return of the Hostages; and, from that we think the method respecting peace to lye with you ; and, inasmuch as there is peace between the two Crowns of England and France, that the matter of peace lieth with you.
All Mankind is not without thinking: and our thoughts are that the delivering up the captives (meaning the Hostages) is the likeiest way for Peace.
*
We would not have you take it that we forsake you: for why should we do it neither, brother, would we do it; and, upon this, we lay down a Belt of Wampum.
At this juncture, prudently and wisely foreseeing hos- tilities, the government of Massachusetts, then under the skilful and able administration of Lieut .- Gov. 38Dummer, had conceived the idea of a friendly deputation from the English colonies to the French governor of Canada, whom they considered the influential instigator of Indian raids, the source of their military supplies, and the ready asylum and retreat of the warriors after the forays. To this end, the governor addressed the executives of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire in November, 1724, agreeable to a vote of the General Court, which authorized the same, as follows :
The following Vote Passed both Houses respecting a Message to be sent to Monsieur 22Vandrieul, Governor of Canada, viz :
Resolved, that his Honour the Lieut. Govr be Desired, in the Name of this General Court, by an Express earnestly to Move his Excellency,
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Governor Burnet, to Appoint and Order a suitable person of his Gov- ernment to join with any Person or Persons that may be appointed here, to repair to Monsr 22Vandrieul, Governor of Canada, & there Demand all & every of his Majestie's subjects, that have been Captivated by the Indian Enemy & Carried into & Detained in any Part of his Govern- ment, And Likewise demand that the said Governour Vandrieul with- draw the Countenance & Assistance which, in violation of the Treaty of Utreicht & Contrary to the friendship and Alliance between the two Crowns, he has given to the said Indians in the Prosecution of their Unjust War Against his Majesties subjects of these Colonys, Other- wise, if our Friend Indians, Who have with Difficulty been Restrained, should in Pursuit of the Enemy Indians Commit the Like Hostilities upon the french families, who dwell Promiscuously with them, as have been by the french Indians Committed upon the Inhabitants of this Province, the Blame will be entirely owing to his Conduct, And Like- wise Inform him, That if the Indians shall still Persist in the War against us, The several English Governments will find themselves Obliged with their United force, by the Help of God, to Prosecute and Pursue them to the uttermost.
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