USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 7
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 7
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These incursions of the Indians kept the settlement in constant alarm ; but the season passed without an attack.
APPRENTICES.
At this period, and for nearly a century thereafter, apprentices were bound to service by legal indentures. The duties and obli- gations of a party taking an apprentice will be seen from an in- denture, given in this year 1752, by Nathaniel Meloon :
" Contoocook Oct 19, 1752
" I the subscriber Nathaniel Meloon Promise & Engage to Use my Endeavor to Instruct John Harris in Husbandry work from ye day of the date hereof till he is of the age of twenty one years and during the whole of sd Time to provide for & give to sd Harris Sufficient Meat, drink, washing Lodging & Clothing also to teach or cause him to be taught to read, write & Cypher if he be capable of Learning and at the
1
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age of twenty one years to dismiss sd Harris & give him two New Suits of Apparrel Home Made from head to feet,-and upon failure of any of the Above Articles do hereby bind and oblige myself to pay to Stephen Gerrish of Contoocook the Sum of one hundred pounds Law- full Money. In confirmation of all which I have hereunto set my hand the day & year above written
NATHANIEL MELOON " Testis " PHINEAS STEVENS."
NEW STYLE.
In order to rectify the errors that had grown into the calendar of the year by the procession of the equinoxes, Pope Gregory XIII established a new one, October 5, 1582, in which ten days were omitted. The New Style was adopted in France, Spain, Denmark, and Portugal the same year; but England, being a Protestant country, held on to the old calendar till 1752, when by act of Parliament eleven days were stricken out to make the calendar compare with that of other countries,-thus establishing the New Style.
ROAD TO COÖS.
A committee was appointed by the N. H. Assembly to sur- vey and mark a road to Coos. It consisted of Zacheus Love- well of Dunstable, John Talford of Chester, and Caleb Page of Starkstown. They hired sixteen men at Amoskeag, Penacook, and Contoocook. The party was out twenty-two days. Jonathan Burbank, Benjamin Eastman, and Peter Bowen joined it from Contoocook. John Stark was the pilot, and one of the men was Robert Rogers, afterwards the celebrated ranger.
THE CURRENCY.
May 30. Voted to raise a sum sufficient to pay Mr. Stevens, according to the original agreement.
" VOTED to raise eight pounds lawful money equal to £60 old tenor, to defray necessary charges."
From this vote we are able to ascertain the value of the cur- rency. This depreciation added greatly to the hardships of the colonists. The Indians were troublesome, and many families were obliged to remove to the garrison, the men going out in companies to work on their farms.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
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In connection with this meeting there is the following record :
" Whereas there is several men in this Society that hath proposed to work on the highways Gratis, Jacob Flanders is choose to take a suit- able time to invite said men to work on the way called Clay hill, and take the names of them that worketh."
Notwithstanding the hardships of the time, the colonists were prompt in two things,-in paying the minister every shilling in accordance with the original agreement, and improving their highways. They were also prompt in looking after the claim set up by the heirs of Capt. John Mason. Joseph Coffin, Joseph Ger- rish, and John Fowler were appointed "to wait on the Lords & see on what terms they will acquit their title to said township."
THE KILLING OF SABATIS AND PLANSAWA.
During the summer, Sabatis and Plansawa, who had stolen the negroes from Canterbury, made their appearance in Con- toocook with furs for sale. After being in the vicinity for some time, they suddenly disappeared; and ru- mor soon reported that Peter Bowen and John Morril had killed them. Their bodies were found buried near Stirrup Iron brook. The Northern Railroad passes over the spot. At the time of the construction of the road, in 1846, a small image was thrown up by the workmen, which is now in the museum of the Essex In- stitute, Salem, Mass. It undoubtedly was a " Medicine" or charm possess- ed by one of the Indians, and which was usually carried in a bag gaily decorated with beads and colored porcupine quills. It is hardly prob- "INDIAN MEDICINE." able that the image is the ideal of an Indian artist, but more likely that of a French Canadian priest. The Jesuits, in their Christianizing of the Indians, made use of various instrumentalities pandering to the superstitions of the
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aborigines; and this image, in all probability, was a Jesuit " Med- icine."
ACTION OF THE GOVERNOR.
The Indians were killed during a period of peace between France and England. Rumors of the murder became wide-spread, and Gov. Shirley of Massachusetts was apprehensive that the Ind- ians would take revenge upon the frontier. The act of Bowen became an inter-colonial question, resulting in correspondence be- tween Gov. Shirley and Gov. Wentworth, involving legislative action, the arrest of Bowen and Morril, and a general excitement throughout the community. Gov. Shirley began it,-the people of Massachusetts, or, rather, His Excelleney, being more exer- cised in regard to it than any one in New Hampshire. He sent a letter to Gov. Wentworth :
" Boston Feb 4th 1754
" Sir
"Your excellency may remember my letter to you dated 17th of September last wherein I acquainted you with an account we had of a barbarous Murther said to be committed within the Province of New Hamp- shire upon two Indians of a tribe in amity with the English. I was afraid it had then come to the knowledge of the Indians, & that complaint would have been made at the conference, but no notice was taken of it then. I have this day received a letter from Capt Lithgow of Fort Richmond [in Maine] advising me that it is now come to their knowl- edge & that they are determined to revenge the murther.
" I shall send your excellency copy of his letter so far as relates to this affair. It will probably be attended [with disastrous] consequences to the Frontier of one or both of the Provinces if this murther be not detected & punished. I will send to Col. Minot who gave me the first Information & desire him to obtain all further information possible & transmit it by the next Post, until when your excellency has some knowledge of the Persons concerned so as to be able to secure them. I doubt not you will think it prudent to keep the affair as private as may be. I am with great respect, Sir your Excys most Humbl and most Obedient servt
"W. SHIRLEY."
On the 9th of February, Gov. Shirley sent a second letter urging that "justice be done to the Indians in this unhappy affair." The action of Gov. Shirley was based on the affidavits of three
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[1754.
citizens of Massachusetts who had been visiting Contoocook and vicinity, and who had talked with Bowen in regard to the mat- ter.
AFFIDAVITS OF THOMAS BARRET AND EPHRAIM JONES.
" Thomas Barret & Ephraim Jones, both of lawful age testify & de- clare that in the month of August 1753 being in the town of Rumford in the Province of New Hampshire at the house of Henry Lovejoy.
" That two Indians one named Sabbatis & the other Plansawa came to said Contoocook about the beginning of June & having the value of about two hundred Pounds Old Tent in Beavers & other effects: that said Sabbatis being known to be one of the two Indians who took two Negroes at that settlement the year before & carried one of them to Canada, the other making his escape, the said Bowen procured a gallon of Rum from Rumford & he with one or two others, whose names I do not remember gave said Indians rum very freely & took an opportunity to draw the charges out of the Indian's [guns] without their knowledge & then went with them into the woods & getting some distance apard said Bowen had an engagement with said Sabbatis who it is said flashed his gun at him & the sd Bowen struck his hatchet in sd Indian Head then chopped him several times in the Back & afterwards with a knife stabbed him to death. The other Indian coming up to him begged him that he would not kill him but sd Bowen without speaking to him struck him on the head & killed him on the spot & leaving him by the Path side till next morning it is said that Bowen with his son as it is supposed went & dug a hole by the Path side & threw them into it & covered them with earth but so shallow that the dogs or other creatures uncovered them & the bones have often been seen since.
Thomas Barret Ephraim Jones.
" Middlesex ss.
" Concord Feb 9, 1754.
" Then the above Thomas Barret & Ephraim Jones came before me the subscriber & made oath to the truth of the foregoing declarations.
" James Minot Justice of the Peace.
" Eleazer Melvin of lawful age testifieth & declares that he heard the substance of the foregoing Declaration or to the same purport in Aug last from Mr. Lovejoy & some others & further declares that about the same time in conversation with sd Bowen he asked him concerning the
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sd Indians whether they were certainly dead & he answered he would warrant it & that they never would do any more mischief to the English or to that effect & if he killed them he did it in his own defence as he could prove.
" Eleazer Melvin."
LIBERATION OF THE PRISONERS.
Upon the receipt of these affidavits, Gov. Wentworth caused the arrest of Bowen and Morril, who were taken to Portsmouth, and confined in the jail. The time for their trial was fixed for Thursday, the 21st of March.
The offence of Bowen and Morril was not so great in the eyes of the citizens of Contoocook and Canterbury, as in the eyes of Gov. Shirley. Quite a party of them visited Portsmouth, to be present at the trial, or, rather, before the trial. During the night before the assembling of the court, about one hundred men, armed with axes and crow-bars, broke open the jail, knocked the irons from the limbs of the prisoners, and set them at liberty. What citizens of Contoocook took part in the affair is not known, ex- cept that the leader was Simeon Ames, of Canterbury.
GOV. WENTWORTH'S MESSAGE.
The governor brought the affair to the notice of the council the next morning.
[From the Council Records.]
" Ilis excellency acquainted the Council that the high sheriff of the . Province had informed him that at two of the clock in the morning of this present day a number of persons to the amount of one hundred or more made an attempt upon the Province Gaol with axes, iron crows & broke open the doors of the prison & rescued the prisoners indicted for the murther of two Indians said to be killed at or near Contoocook Vis- John alias Anthony Bowen & John Morrel & aided & assisted them the said Bowen & Morrel in their escape-His Excellency then desired the Council what steps they thot necessary or proper to be taken in the affair in order to the apprehending the said Bowen or Morrel or either of them & bringing the persons who broke open the Gaol as aforesaid or was aid- ing or assisting in the said breach or rescous the Council apprehended that such a number of persons as were supposed to be the authors of the rescous must be many of them known & as it is suggested that some
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[1754.
of them are known & may be brought to justice without offering any reward-but with respect to the two Prisoners Bowen & Morrel that his excellency be advised & desired to issue a Proclamation offering a reward of two hundred pounds Old Teur to any person or persons that shall apprehend the sd Bowen & the like sum of £200 in Old Tent to any person or persons that shall apprehend the sd Morrel & bring them or either of them to his Majesty's Gaol in Portsmº & all necessary charges in bringing the said prisoners or either of them to the said Gaol."
Gov. Wentworth also sent a message to the assembly, asking that body to aid in upholding the dignity of the state.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
The citizens of Contoocook and Canterbury bestirred themselves to present their side of the story. Col. Joseph Blanchard, justice of the peace in Bedford, visited Canterbury, and took deposi- tions.
" Elisabeth Miles Wife of Josiah Miles of. Canterbury in the Province of New Hampshire Testifies & says -- That some time in the month of May 1752 two St Francis Indians (as they called themselves) named Sabbattis & Christo came to Canterbury Sabbattis made his General Lodging at the said Josiah's House for Eight or Ten Days & was Treated with all Possible Friendship & Courtesy, Notwithstanding the said Sabbattis often Discovered a Restless & Malicious Disposition & Several Times (Her husband being absent) with Insulting threats put her in very great Fear. Constantly kept a long knife Naked in his hand and on seeing any man come towards the House (of which he kept a constant watch) arm'd himself-That the evening after he went away a Negro man of the said Josiah's was taken (named Peer) and another belonging to James Lindsey of Canterbury aforesaid Named Tom and carried away said Peer of the value of five hundred pounds Old Tenor at the least.
" That the said Peer about three days after return'd pinion'd & Bound with Indian Lines and said that Sabbattis and Christo had taken them and that by accident he made his Escape.
" That sometime in the month of May 1753 she was going to the field and an Indian (named Plansaway) spoke to her behind a Fence & asked for her husband who was there at work close by, her husband enquired what company he had and he said Sabbattis, he enquired what he came for or how he dare come (meaning Sabbattis) he evaded an answer. her husband Desired him to go into the house (being vehemently sus- picious they were designed for Further Mischief) where he kept him
.
Moses dollars
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that night and urged the appearance of Sabbattis. Plansaway said he was afraid that he or Lindsey would kill him for stealing their negroes the year Before.
" That after assurance that if he made his appearance he should not be hurt. Next day searching in the woods found him and after a par- ley he came in-
" The wife of James Lindsey a near neighbor, hearing the Indians was there came to the house (the Englishmen were all gone out to work) and finding Sabbattis there said Lindsey's wife urged his ingratitude that after he had received so much kindness at their house to commit such a Villanous Act as to Rob her of her slave with some Few more words to the same Purpose Both the Indians immediately armed them- selves with their guns Sabbattis with a long knife and Plansaway with a Hatchet and with a furious Gesture Insulted her holding the Hatchet over her head making attempts as if he would strike and told her if she said one word more about it he would split her brains out if he died for
it the next minute -- Sabbattis went out to her husband in the field and told him that if he ever see the said Lindseys wife any more he would kill her be the event what it would (as her husband then told her) that the said Sabbattis insisted that the said negro was Lawful Plunder the Deponent sold the said Indians two shirts & happened to see them when they shirted and there was next [their] skin Tyed a Number of small Metump Lines not such as are usually made for Tying Packs-a collar of a Length about sufficient to go around a Mans Neck and as she then apprehended was what is called Captive Lines-
" That the Deponent and her husband frequently seeing them un- common Lines Asked what Business Sabbattis and he could have there as they had not brought their packs for trade-at length Plansaway said he had a kinsman (named Sabbattis) who had at Cape Sable killed an Indian and that they agreed for his Redemption (being held by them) to pay five hundred pounds to get an English Slave.
"That Sabbattis being his Namesake offered to assist him in the Re- demption and said the Hunting was best this way.
" That the Indian must be released by the money or other ways (by Summer) or he must be put to Death.
" Canterbury May 21st 1754
" Before JOSEPH BLANCHARD
" Jus of Peace."
Other documents relating to this affair may be found in N. H. Prov. Papers, Vol. VI.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
[1754.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Public sentiment in Contoocook and Canterbury sided with Bowen and Morrel, though the part taken by the latter in the murder does not appear. The people rejoiced that the Indians, who had murdered and scalped many captives, were beyond the possibility of doing further mischief. Gov. Shirley, of Massachu- setts, however, took a different view, and wrote a letter to Gov. Wentworth urging him to appease the Indians by giving presents " to the Relatives of the deceased Indians for wiping off the Blood as they term it." He also urged the re-arrest of Bowen and Morrel.
Gov. Wentworth determined to uphold the dignity of the law, and the sheriff and his assistants arrested Simeon Ames, of Can- terbury, as the ringleader of the liberators.
"I will go with you," was the prompt reply of Ames when ar- rested ; " but we will have dinner first."
The sheriff was pleased to accept the generous hospitality of his prisoner.
"You will allow me to ride my own horse to Exeter," said Ames.
The sheriff had no objection, as himself and assistant were mounted. The party started, and rode till nearly sunset, reaching Brentwood. The officers-one on each side-had enjoyed the society of their prisoner. They were ascending a hill; the offi- cers' horses were jaded, while Ames's was comparatively fresh, and very fleet.
" I declare, it is most sunset. Good evening, gentlemen. I don't think I will go with you any further to-night."
In an instant he was gone. At a touch of the rein the horse wheeled, and the rider, bowing politely, disappeared. The offi- cers sat upon their horses in blank astonishment, knowing that it would be useless to attempt to overtake a man who was going like the wind away from them ;- besides, public sentiment was on the side of Ames.
Gov. Wentworth wisely adopted the advice of Gov. Shirley-to make a present to the Indians. This was done, and no further attempts were made to punish the offenders. The Indians were appeased, and the matter dropped.
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SCOUTING PARTY.
Early in the spring Governor Wentworth sent out a party un- der Col. Lovewell, Maj. Talford, and Capt. Page, to explore the " Upper Cohos." John Stark was employed as guide, he having been taken up the Connecticut when captured by the Indians. The party left Rumford March 10, reached Piermont in seven days, spent one night on the banks of the Connecticut, and then, though no Indians were seen, made a precipitate return.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
May 19. Meeting at Contoocook. £175 was voted to the support of Mr. Stevens, at the rate of 29$ per pound. Six of the Newbury proprietors attended the meeting,-Samuel Fow- ler, Edmund Morss, Thomas Person, Samuel Gerrish, John Thorla, and Joseph Coffin. £12 was voted to each man as com- pensation for time and expense.
The money voted at the meeting in 1752 for the construction of a fort not having been expended, it was voted to divide the money.
CAPTURE OF THE MELOON FAMILY.
Before the month was through, the Indians began their depre- dations.
It was known that parties of Canadian savages were in the vicinity ;- their foot-prints had been discovered ; they had been seen. Some of the settlers farthest from the fort had hastened to place themselves under the protection of the garrison. At this time Mr. William Emery had erected a log house at the foot of Corser hill, a few rods west of Little brook, on land owned by Miss Nancy E. Couch.
Mr. Emery knew that Indians were in the region, and, his wife being sick, hastily abandoned his house on the 10th of May, leav- ing all his goods, and fleeing to the fort.
Mr. Nathaniel Meloon, one of the first settlers of the town, had pushed five miles beyond Emery's-a mile beyond the northerly line of the town-and built a home in West Stevenstown, not far from the present West Salisbury meeting-house. Mr. Meloon's family consisted of himself, wife, and five children,-Nathaniel,
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[1754.
thirteen years old, Mary eleven, Rachael ten, John six, David three, and Sarah thirteen months.
Mr. Meloon started before sunrise, on the morning of the 11th, for Penacook, but was captured by the Indians probably not far from Emery's house, which they broke open and rifled. Mr. Me- loon was on horseback, and the horse being of no use to them, they left it tied at Emery's. Taking their captive with them, they returned to his house about nine o'clock. Nathaniel was at work in the field. It would seem that the boy discovered the Indians about the same time that they saw him. He took to the woods, and, although pursued by two, managed to secrete himself. At the direction of the Indians his father called him, but the tones of his voice were of warning, and he did not come out from his hiding-place till the Indians had left. He ran to the river, swam it several times to elude pursuit, and hastened towards the fort, but met Stephen Gerrish, John Flanders, William Emery, and others, who were out on a scout, and returned with them to find Emery's house plundered, and his father's horse at the door. They proceeded to West Stevenstown, and found his father's house also rifled.
The attack was on Saturday, the 11th of May. On the next Wednesday, the 15th, Stephen Gerrish was in Portsmouth, lay- ing the case before the Governor and Council, soliciting aid for the defence of the town.
[From the Council Records.]
" At a council holden in Portsmouth on Wednesday May 15th 1754. " Present
His excellency the Governor
Henry Sherburne
Theodore Atkinson Richd W. bird
Esqr.
Jno Downing
Sampson Sheaffe
Dan el Warner Esqr.
Joseph Newmarch
" Mr. Stephen Gerrish appearing at this Board presented a petition of Phineas Stevens & eight others inhabitant at Contoocook setting forth that the Indians had begun hostilities in that part & had capti- vated a family & rifled the house of another &c & being examined what
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he knew of the affair says on Sat. the 11th Inst he saw a lad son of Nathaniel Malloon who lived at a place called Stevenstown about five miles from Contoocook who informed him that his father & family were taken as he supposed by the Indians he having seen a number of Ind- ians near his fathers house which occasioned him the sd lad to run into the woods by which he escaped upon which report the said Gerrish & sundry others went immediately to the house where they had found the feather beds emptied upon the floor & the tickins carry'd off-Most of the meal that was in the house was carry'd.
" They tracked the Indians some way from the house-that the fam- ily consisting of the man his wife & three children were all gone off and by the said signs he imagined were all carried into captivity. The petitioners therefore prayed some speedy succours to guard & defend them to prevent if possible future depredations-upon which petition & information his excellency asked the council what they would advise in the Premises. The council considering thereof did advise IIis Ex- cellency to give the necessary orders for enlisting or impressing twenty effective men to be immediately sent to Contoocook, Canterbury & Stevenstown to be destined as his excellency shall think most advanta- geous for guarding the inhabitants in these parts one month."
The Indians were mercenary, rather than revengeful and blood- thirsty. Tempting as the scalps of the captives might be, the lives of the French in Canada, the rum and the blankets and trinkets which the English slaves would sell for, awakened their greed, and the captive family were not inhumanly treated.
Her infant was sick, and the savages, under pretence of giving it medicine, took it from the mother's arms, and the parents never again beheld it.
THE PRISONERS IN CANADA.
Arriving in Canada, the prisoners were sold to the French, and the family separated. A child-Joseph-was born, November 20, 1755. In 1757, Mr. Meloon, his wife, and three sons were ship- ped on a French vessel for France; but the ship was taken by a British man-of-war, off Newfoundland, and they were landed in Portland, from whence they made their way to Contoocook, and finally to their log cabin in Salisbury, where life was once more begun.
Rachel was left behind in Canada. Being but ten years old at the time of her captivity, and living with the Indians, she took readily to their mode of life. In 1763, Samuel Fowler, Esq., un- 5
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dertook to bring her home. He found her, at the age of fourteen, in her habits and predilections, an Indian. She had little inclina- tion to return to civilized life, and Mr. Fowler found it necessary to use great precaution on his return, for fear she might give him the slip, and make her way back to Canada. She returned to Salis- bury, subsequently married, but never wholly forgot the habits of her captivity.
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