USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 8
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 8
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The affidavits of William Emery, John Flanders, and Nathaniel Meloon, Jr., are preserved in the Provincial Records of New Hampshire, Vol. VI, and are of interest as picturing the event.
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM EMERY.
" William Emery of Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire of Lawful age-Testifies & says-That on the Tenth Day of May 1754 his wife being ill & People afraid to tarry & take care of her there being an Outhouse moved her into Town with the rest of the family about five miles-the next morning he Returned to his House & found it Plun- dered what of his goods was not carried off was spoilt of the value & to his damage Two Hundred Pounds Old Tenor at the Least & the same time found Nath1 Maloon's Horse tyed at his said House which Maloon his wife Rachel & Sarah & son Samuel were captivated & carried away by the Indians & of clothing Bedding & Provisions of the value of two hundred & thirty Pounds Old Tenor at the least.
" Province of New ? Hampshire
" Contoocook
" May 22ª 1754 the above Named William Emery made oath to the truth of the aforesaid written Deposition before
" JOSEPH BLANCHARD "Just of Peace "
TESTIMONY OF JOHN FLANDERS.
"John Flanders of Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire of Lawful age Testifys & says-
' That in May 1753 an Indian named Planseway came to Contoocook aforesaid exulting & telling of his Frequent coming to that place in the war how many he killed & taken [from] Merrymack in the war-The Deponent told him that in the Fall he intended to Catch some Beaver to make him a hat & asked Planseway if he would hurt him if he see him, who answered yes if he found him a hunting he would kill him & earnestly repeated it several times-
67
CIVIL HISTORY.
1754.]
" And the Deponent further says That on the 11th day of May 1754 in the Forenoon at Contoocook aforesaid William Emery came to the Body of the Town & Informed that somebody had that morning broke open his house taken many things & spoiled others, a house his family had moved from the night Before all his clothing (his beds empty'd & ticks cut to pieces) & supposed it to be Indians the Deponent & others Immediately went, found the house strip'd & Plunder'd to the said Em- ery's Damage at least Two hundred Pounds old Tenor.
" That they proceeded to the house of Nathaniel Meloon in Stevens- town so called which was about six miles Farther & met with said Meloon's Eldest son who gave account of the Indians that day captivating his Father & Mother & three children who returned with the scout to his Father's house where they found it plundered & strip'd & by the best accts the Deponent could get of the things missing broke & Cutt to pieces were of the value & to Meloons damage at least two hun- dred & thirty pounds old Tenor.
" Province of Contoocook May 22d
New Hampshire S 1754
" The above named John Flanders made Oath to the truth of the aforewritten Deposition.
" Before JOSEPH BLANCHARD
"just Peace
" A copy exam'd by William Parker. Not Pub."
TESTIMONY OF NATHANIEL MELOON.
"Nathaniel Maloon the son of Nathaniel Maloon of Stevenstown in New Hampshire aged about 14 years Testifies & says-
" That at Stevenstown aforesaid on the 11th day of May 1751 in the morning before sunrise his Father set out Designing to go to Penacook a place of about twenty miles distant whose road went by the house of Mr. William Emery of Contoocook. That the same morning about nine of the clock the Deponent was at work in his Fathers field & soon a number of Indians he thought ten or a dozen running to the house & too took after the Deponent, but a thicket near was Quick out of sight & made his escape & hid not far off. Some time afterwards he heard his Father call him sundry times-
"That after he supposed the Indians Drawn off made his escape to Contoocook.
" Province of ₹ At Contoocook
New Hampshire S the 22d of May 1754.
" The above named &c
" Before JOSEPH BLANCHARD
"Jus Peace."
68
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1754.
EXPEDITION TO THE UPPER CONNECTICUT.
A report that the Indians were building a fort on the upper Connecticut induced the Governor and Council to send out another and stronger party to reconnoitre the country. It was commanded by Capt. Peter Powers, of Hollis. The company assembled at Rumford, and on Saturday, June 15th, marched to Contoocook.
The beginning of the march is given from Powers's journal :
"Sat June 15th 1754. This day left Rumford & marched to Contoo- cook which is about 8 miles & here tarried all night.
"Sunday June 16 This day tarried at Contoocook & went to meet- ing & tarried here all this night.
"Mon June 17 This morning fair & we fixed our packs & went & put them on board our canoes about nine of the clock & some of the men went in the canoes & the rest on the shore. And so we marched up the river Merrimack to the crotch or parting thereof & then up the Pemigewasset about one mile & a half & camped above the carrying place, which carrying place is about one hundred rods long, & the whole of this days work is about thirteen miles."
The route was up Baker's river. The party reached the Con- necticut at Piermont, where four of their number, being disabled, descended the Connecticut to Charlestown in a canoe, while the others pushed on up the Ammonoosuc nearly to Littleton, and then crossed a ridge of high land to the Connecticut in Dalton, and from thence went as far north as Israel's river. The main body encamped there, while Powers and two men pushed up the valley to the present town of Northumberland, whence they came upon a fresh Indian trail. Not deeming it prudent to proceed any farther, the company returned to their packs, which had been left on the Ammonoosuc, and from thence to the present village of Haverhill, which they reached July 6. The leaves of the diary giving an account of the return are wanting, but in all proba- bility Capt. Powers arrived at Contoocook about a week later. This was the first exploration of the upper valley of the Connec- ticut.
ATTACK ON STEVENSTOWN.
In August, the Indians, under Capt. John Sasup, swooped down upon East Stevenstown. Philip Call, one of the early settlers of Contoocook, had concluded to locate himself on the rich intervale
69
CIVIL HISTORY.
1754.]
of Stevenstown. He built his cabin near the Merrimack, about a mile and a half beyond the north line of Contoocook, near what is now South Franklin. It was on the 15th of the month that the Indians made their attack. Mrs. Call and her son's wife and in- fant were in the house, while the father, son, and Timothy Cook,- whose father had been killed, in 1746, at Clay hill,-were at work in the field. Upon the approach of the Indians, Mrs. Call, senior, met them at the door, and was instantly killed by a blow from a tomahawk. She fell across the threshold. Mrs. Philip Call, junior, with her infant, crawled into a hole behind the chimney. She succeeded in keeping her child quiet, and was not discovered. The father and son had seen the Indians, and attempted to get to the house in advance of them, but, discovering that there was a large party, took to the woods. Cook fled towards the Merrimack, plunged in, but was shot and scalped. Philip made all haste to Contoocook, swimming the river several times to baffle his pursu- ers. The Indians, about thirty in number, rifled the house, and, suspecting that a party would be sent up from the fort, secreted themselves in the woods.
The force sent out from the fort consisted of thirteen men. The Indians allowed them to pass, rose from their ambush, gave a whoop, made a rush, but succeeded only in capturing Enos Bishop, whose home was on Queen street, west of the house now owned by Prof. John Jackman.
The remaining twelve, disconcerted by the suddenness of the attack, fled in every direction, and finally all reached the fort, not having fired a gun.
BISHOP'S CAPTIVITY.
Bishop was taken to Canada, reaching St. Francis village in thirteen days, with Samuel Scribner and John Parker taken from Stevenstown. They were sold to Frenchmen.
In October, Bishop found means to send a letter to Rev. Jede- diah Jewett, of Rowley, Mass.
" Montreal, Oct. 19, 1754.
" Rev. Sir-The reason of my directing these lines to you is because it seems most likely that they will sooner arrive to the hands of a per- son of your note than to any body else. Before I proceed I shall give you a short description of my captivity. That day Sir, in August last
70
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1754.
[the 15th] that you left my house at Contoocook I was taken by the Ind- ians & by them carried to St. Francois, where we arrived in thirteen days; & after I had been with them eight weeks they sold me to a French gentlemen for 300 livres, which sum must be paid before I can be free which looks somewhat difficult to me. But I hope I have some friend in Rowley that will contribute that sum for my relief; & I shall take it a favor with you if you will move a contribution in your parish. There will be no difficulty in my redemption if the money be paid & there is no difficulty in coming at any time of the year. In the winter the people pass on the ice all the way to Albany except a few miles. Inform the people at Contoocook that Maloon & his wife are sold to a French minister near Quebeck, & his boy in this town & his oldest girl is with the Indians; their youngest child died I believe at St. Francois about a month ago. Samuel Scribner who was taken at Bakerstown where I was I hear is sold to the french at Chambly, about 12 miles from this place; & Robert Barker taken at the same place sold to a French- man about a mile from St. Francois. They all desire release.
" I can write no more at present only to ask an interest in your pray- ers & beg leave to subscribe myself
"Your most obedient & humble servant " Enos Bishop.
"N. B. Caution the frontier to be on their guard. If any person comes or sends for me let them repair to Col. John Lydius, of Albany for direction."
The families on the outskirts of the town, and all that had set- tled in Stevenstown, upon the attack of the Indians abandoned their homes and fled to the fort. The citizens organized for de- fence.
THE ALARM.
Two of the party sent up from the fort at the time of the attack upon Philip Call were Ephraim Foster and Andrew Moor. Possi- bly they were not citizens of Contoocook, as no other mention of their names is found in any of the records or documents. It is probable that they were sent to alarm the lower towns, for we find Andrew McClary, of Epsom, hastening to Portsmouth and giving the Governor and Council information concerning the attack. McClary's account is on record in the "Council Minutes." The attack was on the 15th. On the 18th, McClary was in the council chamber, at the capitol, giving the following statement :
Hule . Minson
71
CIVIL HISTORY.
1754.]
" Portsmouth Aug 18, 1754.
"The said Andrew McClary being examined declared that Eph'm Foster & Stephen Moor acquainted the declarant that they were at Stevenstown the day after the mischief was done by the Indians & found the body of Mrs. Call lying dead near the door of her house, scalped & her head almost cut off & upon further search found the body of a man named Cook dead & scalped. That the Indians were supposed to be about thirty in number according to the account of eight men. [Mr. Price, writing from tradition, says thirteen-possibly a misprint.] that upon hearing the news went immediately from Contoocook to Ste- venstown & in that way passed the enemy who soon followed them & see- ing the Indians too many in number to engage they parted & endeavored to escape. One of the company, one Bishop, stood sometime & fired at the Indians, but was soon obliged to run. Cook was found dead by the river's side. Bishop supposed to be killed & sunk in the river, he being still missing-that there were two men belonging to the plantation at a distance working in a meadow, that as yet were not come in [Scribner and Barker] And it is feared they had fallen into the hands of the enemy- that as the declarant had understood all the inhabitants consisting of about eight families were come down into the lower town & had left their improvements, corn, hay & cattle."
CAPT. JOHN WEBSTER.
When the attack was made on West Stevenstown, in May, and the Meloon family captured, Gov. Wentworth ordered Capt. John Webster, of Manchester, to march at once with twenty men to protect the inhabitants in the vicinity of Contoocook. The com- pany marched on June 24; but no enemy being then in the vicin- ity, the men returned to their homes.
The attack on East Stevenstown, and the disaster to the party that went up from Contoocook, created universal alarm.
TROOPS CALLED OUT.
The Council advised the calling out of a large force. On August 16, the following order was issued to Col. Joseph Blan- chard, of Dunstable :
" To Col Joseph Blanchard,
" Upon the mischief done by the Indians at Stevenstown, I have or- dered a detachment from Captain Odlins troop* of 24 men and officers
* This company was from Exeter and vicinity.
72
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1755.
to command, also a like number from Captain Stevens troop to guard the inhabitants in that frontier until I can relieve them by a sufficient number of foot & as your regiment lies contiguous to the frontier where the mischief was done I have thought proper to order & direct that you forthwith enlist and impress fifty men or more, if you think that num- ber is not sufficient & put them under an officer you can confide in & order them forthwith to march to Contoocook & Stevenstown to relieve the detachment of horse posted there.
" B. WENTWORTII."
CAPT. GOFFE'S COMPANY.
The company was commanded by John Goffe, of Derryfield. Robert Rogers, afterwards the renowned ranger, enlisted as a pri- vate in this company. From Contoocook were the following citi- zens :
Dea. Jesse Flanders, John Flanders,
Stephen Hoit,
William Courser,
Jacob Hoit, Joseph Eastman, Jr.
The company was in service during the winter, frequently mak- ing long marches on snow-shoes. The head-quarters were in the garrisons of Canterbury and Contoocook.
DEATH OF REV. MR. STEVENS.
Jan. 19, 1755. The people of Contoocook met with a sad loss in the death of Rev. Mr. Stevens, who for fifteen years had been their minister, and who had taken an active part in all of the af- fairs of the plantation.
Rev. Mr. Price says of him,-" We have not the means of as- certaining particularly the success of his labors, for want of church records ; but that he was very dear to the people of his charge, and his services satisfactory, are evidenced by their united attach- ment to his interest amid the trying scenes and sufferings to which he and they were called."
MR. STEVENS'S ESTATE.
The amount of worldly effects owned by Mr. Stevens will be seen from the appraisers' account :
"We the Subscribers being appointed a Committee to apprize the Estate real & personal of the Revd Mr Phinehas Stevens, late of the Place
73
CIVIL HISTORY.
1755.]
called Contoocook within his Majestys Province of New Hampshire, Clerk Deceased, being first sworn to the faithful Discharge of the said Trust have taken the following Inventory of the said Estate.
" Vis-
" Of personal Estate-
" Imprimis. To Books-
Mr Pool's Synopses Criticorum in five volumes in Folio
7.10. 0.
Other books the whole of them
1. 5. 0.
Item, To a Swivel Gun
2.10. 0
item, To Beds, Bedding & Bedsteads
45.12. 6.
item, To Pewter
12.10. 0
item, To two warming pans
3. 2. 6.
item, To two Looking Glasses
5.10. 0.
item, To two Brass Kettles
4. 0. 0.
item, To a toasting-Iron & Gridiron
0.6. 0.
item, To a Spit
0. 6. 0.
item, To a Spool wheel
1. 5. 0
item, To a Cupboard
0.15. 0.
item, To two Caggs
0.10. 0.
item, To a great Wheel
0. 5. 0
item, To Andirons
0. 8. 0.
item, To Tongs
0. 6. 0.
item, To another pair of Tongs & fire shovel & irons
2.10. 0.
item, To an iron Kettle
0.12. 0.
item, To two iron Trammels
1. 5. 0.
item, To a little Pot
0.12. 0.
item, To two Box irons & Heater
1.10. 0.
item, To five Chairs at 0.3.9. apiece
0.18. 9.
item, To a Frying Pan
0. 6. 0.
item, To an iron Pot
[]
item, To a pair of hand-Bellows
0. 5. 0.
item, To a brass Skillet & Frame
0.10. 0.
item, To another brass Skillet & Frame
0.12. 6.
item, To a brass Skimmer
0. 5. 0.
item, To three tables at 5s apiece
0.15. 0.
item, To a Cradle
0. 2. 6.
item, To hay at the Meddeo
2. 2. 6.
item, To 2 Tobes
0.10. 0.
item, To Iron
0. 2. 6.
Chaffing Dish
0.5. 0.
item, To a Coat,
2. 0. 0.
item, To a great Coat
1. 0. 0.
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CIVIL HISTORY. [1755.
item, To two Gowns
3.10. 0.
item, To Stockings
0.18. 6.
item, To a pair of Leather Breeches
0.15. 0.
item, To a Jacket
item, To a Hat
2.0.0.
item, To a pair of Boots
0.15. 0.
item, To Shoes 0. 5. 0.
item, To a Morter Pestel
0. 7. 6.
item, To a Razor
0. 0. 6.
item, To Shirts
2. 0. 0.
item, To a half Bushel & Sive
0. 5. 0.
item, To one old Saddle & Bridle
2. 0. 0.
item, To Tea Furniture
0.10. 0.
item, To two Chests
1. 0. 0.
item, To an old Portmantle
0. 5. 0.
item, To Salt
0.10. 0.
item, To Glass Bottles
0. 5. 0.
item, To an ax
0. 5. 0.
item, To a Scithe to cut Bushes
0.12. 6.
item, To Plow irons
1. 5. 0.
Stock.
" To a Mare
30. 0. 0.
item, To two Cows
12.10. 0.
item, To a Heifer
3. 0. 0.
item, To a Calf
1.10. 0.
item, To five Sheep
2.10. 0.
item, To three Swine
6. 5. 0.
" Real Estate & Buildings.
" Imprimis, To the House-Lot, House & Barn 90. 0. 0.
item, a House in the Garrison
item, To a five acre Intervale Lot
25. 0. 0.
item, To a House Lot adjoining to Ensign Joseph Eastman's 25. 0. 0.
item, To one eighty acre Lot, half an eighty-acre Lot, & two House-Lots all joining together 215. 0. 0.
item, To one hundred acre Lot 25. 0. 0.
item, To one common Right 7. 0.0
item, To half a hundred-acre lot, & half a common Right 16. 5. 0.
item, To one eighty-acre-Lot in the Township of Rumford 62.10. 0."
APPLICATION FOR INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
Jan. 28. At a meeting of the proprietors in Newbury, a third
75
CIVIL HISTORY.
1756.]
attempt was made to obtain corporate powers ; but in consequence of the intense cold, the meeting adjourned without action to Feb- ruary 11.
Feb. 11. The proprietors met at the house of Daniel Clark. Joseph Greenleaf and Joseph Gerrish were chosen a committee to petition the Great and General Court for an enlargement of the powers of the proprietors in regard to the collection of taxes.
June 12. At a meeting in Contoooook, Benj. Lunt, Henry Rolfe, and Joseph Coffin were appointed to settle with the admin- istrator of Rev. Mr. Stevens's estate.
To defray the current expenses of the plantation, £100 was ap- propriated.
George Jackman, Stephen Gerrish, and Jacob Flanders were chosen to look after the parsonage.
Joseph Coffin, Benj. Lunt, and Henry Rolfe were appointed a committee to procure "twenty pounds of powder, lead, & flints, [or their] equivelent [and] to take care of the same."
Ninety pounds was voted towards defraying the expenses in- curred at the funeral of Rev. Mr. Stevens.
A committee was appointed to secure the services of another preacher, and Rev. Mr. Varney was employed.
THE MINISTER'S LOT.
Feb. 7, 1756. The proprietors met at the meeting-house, but, on account of the cold, an adjournment was had to the nearest dwelling-house. Capt. Stephen Gerrish, Jacob Flanders, and Dea. George Jackman were chosen a committee to provide further preaching.
Ezekiel Flanders and Samuel Fowler were appointed a commit- tee to see whether a lot of eighty acres should be set off to the right of the first settled minister.
TWO CITIZENS KILLED BY INDIANS.
Mr. Flanders, who was thus chosen, soon after went to New- found lake, in Hebron, accompanied by Edward Emery, to set their traps for beaver. While there they were waylaid by Ind- ians. One was shot while skinning a beaver, and the other while carrying a beaver into camp, as was subsequently learned from the Indians.
76
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1756.
THE CHARTER.
Another attempt was made to obtain a town charter. Joseph Coffin, John Moody, and Stephen Gerrish were appointed to press the claims of the plantation before the Governor and Council. The efforts of the committee were in this end successful, as will be seen further on.
ESCAPE OF ENOS BISHOP FROM CANADA.
In October, Enos Bishop, who had been captured by the Indians, in 1754, made his escape from Canada. From a letter published in the N. Y. Mercury, Oct. 25, 1756, written by an officer in the garrison at No. 4, Charlestown, we have an account of his escape :
" No 4, Oct 4, 1756.
" This day arrived here one Enoch Bishop, an English captive from Canada, who was taken two years since. He left Canada twenty-six days ago in company with two other English captives viz : William Hair late of Brookfield enlisted in Gen. Shirley's regiment & taken at Oswego ; the other name unknown taken from Pennsylvania. They came away from Canada without a hatchet, gun or fire works, & with no more than three loaves of bread & four pounds of pork. As they suffered much for want of provisions, his companions were not able to travel any farther than a little this side of Cowass [Coos] where he was obliged to leave them last Lord's Day without any sustenance but a few berries. Six men were this morning sent out to look for them but it is feared they perished in the wilderness."
SOLDIERS IN THE FRENCH WAR.
We have not been able to ascertain what citizens of Contoocook enlisted in the war against the French and Indians. It is not likely that their names would be found on the proprietors' records. It is known that Philip Flanders was killed at Crown Point. He was a ranger in Maj. Rogers's company. He was the son of Jacob Flanders, one of the first settlers, and lived at the south end of Water street. He was brother of Dea. Jesse Flanders, who was in one or more of the campaigns against the French and Ind- ians.
Andrew Bohonon, one of the first settlers of Contoocook, also served in one or more campaigns. He was brother-in-law of Philip and Jesse Flanders, having married their sister Tabitha.
77
CIVIL HISTORY.
1757.]
SAMUEL FOWLER'S DISSENT.
June 1, 1757. A proprietors' meeting was held, and a com- mittee, consisting of Joseph Coffin, John Moody, and Capt. Ste- phen Gerrish, was appointed " to provide some suitable gentleman to preach."
Mr. Samuel Fowler again entered his dissent, which is on record :
[From the Records.]
" To the proprietors of Contoocook in their annual meeting assembled. " The humble petition of Samuel Fowler sheweth that your peti- tioner as a proprietor among you hath hitherto used his best endeavors according to his ability to promote the settlement and advantage of the plantation and his estate therein has born its part to all the publick taxes thereof for that end, but as your petitioner, which is not un- known to you is of a different persuasion from you with respect to the publick worship of God among you and as he is now about to take his estate into his own hands, cannot with freedom of conscience pay the ministerial taxes for the support of publick Worship in your way he humbly intreats your compassionate regards in that respect. And as our king thro the kindness of God has been pleased to exempt those of this persuasion from such taxes you would also be pleased to free your petitioner from the like tax in this place & your petitioner will still be willing to use his best endeavors for the good of the plantation & pay any other taxes or charges which in Law reason or justice may be thought equitable & in any other proper way pay or bear his full proportion of charge for promoting the interest of the plantation that so his land or interest in this place may not be sold for the ministerial taxes, which otherwise they will be liable to which as your petitioner upon the most serious reflection on the case sees no way to prevent, and therefore again begs your favour in this respect, which will greatly oblige your petitioner who on this occasion hopes he shall be ready on all proper opportunities to treat you with suitable tokens of acknowledgement.
" SAMUEL FOWLER."
Up to this time Mr. Fowler had resided in Newbury, but dur- ing the year removed to Contoocook. He was an original propri- etor, and accepted with his associates the grant which stipulated that a minister should be supported. His associates might have pleaded, against his rights of conscience, that he voluntarily and without protest accepted the grant, and was therefore debarred from dissent; but with great liberality they waived all limita- tions, and passed the following votes :
78
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1757.
" Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for the year 1750."
" Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for 1751."
" Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be granted for the year 1752."
"Voted that the prayer of the petitioner be answered for 1753 & also for 1755."
The committee on preaching employed Rev. Stephen Scales, who began to preach during the summer.
CAPTURE OF MOSES JACKMAN BY INDIANS.
During the month of June, four Indians made their appearance in Canterbury, near the house of Thomas Clough. The family were not at home. The Indians entered the house, secured some meal, and secreted themselves in the woods.
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