USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 2 > Part 13
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The danger thus increafing, a reinforce-
May 24. ment was fent by the Maffachufetts Affem- bly, to thefe diftreffed towns. Capt. Paine, with a troop, came to Number-four ; and about twenty of his men, going to view the place where Putnam was killed, fell into an ambufh. The enemy rofe and fired, and then endeavored to cut off their retreat. Capt. Phinehas Stevens, with a party, rufhed out to their relief : A fkirmifh enfucd ; in which five men were killed on each fide, and one of ours was taken. The Indians left fome of their guns and blankets behind. June 19.
In about a month after this, another en- gagement happened at the fame place. As Capt. Stevens and Capt. Brown were going into the meadow, to look for their horfes, the dogs difcovered an ambufh, which put the narrative. men into a pofture for action, and gave them Bolton the advantage of the firft fire. After a fharp poAt. Fv. ning
Droitnie's
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HISTORY OF
1746. encounter, the enemy were driven into a fwamp, drawing away feveral of their dead. In this action one man only was loft. Seve- ral blankets, hatchets, fpears, guns and other things, were left on the ground, which were fold for forty' pounds old tenor. This was reckoned 'a great booty from fuch beggarly ' enemies.'
June 24,
At Bridgman's fort, near fort Dummer, William Robins and James Baker were kill- ed in a meadow. Daniel How and John Beeman were taken. How killed one of the Indians before he was taken.
July 3.
· When the people wanted bread they were obliged to go to the mills, with a guard, every place being full of danger. A party who went to Hinfdale's mill, with Colonel Willard at their head, in fearching round the mill, difcovered an ambufh. The enemy were put to flight with the lofs of their packs.
Lag. 3.
At Number-four, one Phillips was killed ; and as fome of the people were bringing him into the fort, they were fired upon ; but none were hurt. Having burned fome buildings, and killed fome cattle, the enemy went and ambufhed the road near Winchef- ter, where they killed Jofeph Rawfon.
Ang. 6.
Tene 27.
MIS. letter.
Whilft the upper fettlements were thus fuf- fering, the lower towns did not efcape. A party of Indians came down to Rochefter, within twenty miles of Portfmouth. Five men were at work in a field, having their arms at hand. The Indians concealed them- felves ; one of them fired, with a view to in- duce the men to difcharge their pieces, which they did. The enemy then rufhed upon
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them before they could load again. They retreated to a fmall deferted houfe and faf- tened the door. The Indians tore off the roof, and with their guns and tomahawks difpatched Jofeph Heard, Jofeph Richards, John Wentworth and Gerfham Downs. They wounded and took John Richards ; and then croffing over to another road, came upon fome men who were at work in a field, all of whom efcaped ; but they took Jonathan Door, a boy, as he was fitting on a fence. Richards was kindly ufed, his wounds were healed, and after eighteen months he was fent to Bofton in a flag of truce. Door lived with the Indians and acquired their manners and habits ; but, after the conqueft of Canada, returned to his native place.
Soon after this, another man was killed at Rochefter. Two men were furprifed and taken at Contoocook; and a large party of Indians lay in Ambufh at Penacook, with an intention to attack the people, while affemblcd for public worfhip ; but feeing them go arm- ed to their devotions, they waited till the next morning, when they killed five and took two.
In thefe irritating fkirmifhes the fummer was fpent; till a large body of French and Aug. 23. Indians attacked Fort Maffachufetts, at Hoo- Norton's fuck. This fort was loft for want of ammu- narrative. nition to defend it. After this fuccefs, the enemy remained quiet during the reft of the fummer.
The profpect of an expedition to Canada had induced many of the foldiers who were pofted on the frontiers to inlift into the regi- ments, becaufe they preferred active fervice to the dull routine of a garrifon. The de-
1746,
Aug 6.
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HISTORY OF
1746. fence of the weftern pofts was not only haz- ardous, but ineffectual ; and fome perfons in the north-weltern part of Maffachufetts thought it inexpedient, to be at the charge of defending a territory, which was out of their November. jurifdiction. Their petitions prevailed with the Affembly, to withdraw their troops from the weftern parts of New-Hampfhire. The
Suniner's & Olcott's MS. letters.
inhabitants were then obliged to quit their eftates. They depofited in the earth, fuch furniture and utenfils as could be faved by that means ; they carried off on horfeback fuch as were portable ; and the remainder, with their buildings, was left as a prey to the enemy, who came and deftroyed or car- ried away what they pleafed. Four families, who remained in Shattuck's fort (Hinfdale) defended it againft a party of Indians, who attempted to burn it. Six men only were left in the fort at Number-four, who, in the fol- lowing winter deferted it ; and it was wholly deftitute for two months. In this time fome gentlemen, who underftood the true intereft of the country, prevailed on the Affembly of Maffachufetts, to refume the protection of thofe deferted places ; and to employ a fuffi- ciency of men, not only to garrifon them, but to range the woods and watch the motions of the enemy.
1747.
April 4.
In the latter end of March, Captain Phine- has Stevens, who commanded a ranging com- pany of thirty men, came to Number-four ; and finding the fort entire, determined to keep poffeffion of it. He had not been there many days, when he was attacked by a very Jarge party of French and Indians, command -- ed by M. Debelina. The dogs, by their bark-
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ing, difcovered that the enemy were near ; 1747. which caufed the gate to be kept fhut, beyond the ufual time. One man went out to make difcovery and was fired on; but returned with a flight wound only. The enemy, find- ing that they were difcovered, arofe from their concealment and fired at the fort on all fides. The wind being high, they fet fire to the fences and log-houfes, till the fort was furrounded by flames. Captain Stevens took the moft prudent meafures for his fe- curity ; keeping every veffel full of water and digging trenches under the walls in fev- eral places ; fo that a man might creep through, and extinguifh any fire, which might catch on the outfide of the walls. The fire of the fences did not reach the fort ; nor did the flaming arrows which they inceffantly fhot againft it take effect. Having continued this mode of attack for two days, accompa- nied with hideous fhouts and yells ; they prepared a wheel carriage, loaded with dry faggots, to be pufhed before them, that they might fet fire to the fort. Before they pro-/ ceeded to this operation, they demanded a ceffation of arms till the fun-rifing, which was granted. In the morning Debeline came up with fifty men, and a flag of truce which he ftuck in the ground. He demanded a
parley, which was agreed to. A French offi- cer, with a foldier and an Indian, then ad- vanced ; and propofed that the garrifon fhould bind up a quantity of provifions with their blankets, and having laid down their arms fhould be conducted prifoners to Mon- treal. Another propofal was that the two commanders fhould meet, and that an anfwer
A A
Stevens's letter, in B. fton E. vening Polt, April 27.
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HISTORY OF
1747. fhould then be given. Stevens met the French commander, who, without waiting for an anfwer, began to enforce his propofal, by threatening to ftorm the fort, and put every man to death, if they fhould refufe his terms, and kill one of his men. Ste- vens anfwered, that he could hearken to no terms till the laft extremity ; that he was intrufted with the defence of the fort, and was determined to maintain it, till he fhould be convinced that the Frenchman could per- form what he had threatened. He added, that it was poor encouragement to furrender, if they were all to be put to the fword for killing one man, when it was probable they had already killed more. The Frenchman re- plied, 'Go and fee if your men dare to fight any ' longer, and give me a quick anfwer.' Ste- vens returned and afked his men, whether they would fight or furrender. They unani- moufly determined to fight. This was im- mediately made known to the enemy, who renewed their fhouting and firing all that day and night. On the morning of the third day, they requefted another ceffation for two hours. Two Indians came with a flag, and propofed, that if Stevens would fell them provifions they would withdraw. He anf- wered, that to fell them provifions for money was contrary to the law of nations ; but that he would pay them five bufhels of corn for every captive, for whom they would give a hoftage, till the captive could be brought from Canada. After this anfwer, a few guns were fired, and the enemy were feen no more.
In this furious attack from a ftarving
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enemy, no lives were loft in the fort, and 1747. two men only were wounded. No men could have behaved with more intrepidity in the. midft of fuch threatening danger. An ex- prefs was immediately difpatched to Bofton, and the news was there received with great joy. Commodore Sir Charles Knowles was fo highly pleafed with the conduct of Capt Stevens, that he prefented him with a valu- able and elegant fword, as a reward for his bravery. From this circumftance, the town- fhip, when it was incorporated, took the name of Charleftown,
Small parties of the enemy kept hovering, and fometimes difcovered themfelves. Ser- geant Phelps killed one, near the fort, and efcaped unhurt, though fired upon and pur- fued by two others.
Other parties went farther down the coun- try ; and at Rochefter, they ambufhed a com- pany who were at work in a field. The am- June 7. bufh was difcovered by three lads, John and George Place, and Paul Jennens. The In- dians fired upon them. John Place returned the fire and wounded an Indian. Jennens prefented his gun but did not fire ; this pre- vented the enemy from rufhing upon them, till the men from the field came to their re- lief and put the Indians to flight.
At Penacook, a party of the enemy dif- July 28. covered themfelves by firing at fome cattle. They were purfued by fifty men ; and re- Pott. treated with fuch precipitation, as to leave their packs and blankets, with other things behind. One man had his arm broken in this conflict. About the fame time, a man was killed there, who had juft returned from
Haven's MS. lettere:
Bolton Evening
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HISTORY OF
1747.
Cape Breton, after an abfence of two years. Another was killed at Suncook ; and at Not- tingham, Robert Beard, John Folfom and Elizabeth Simpfon, fuffered the fame fate.
Upham's MS. letter.
In the autumn, Major Willard and Cap- tain Alexander, wounded and took a French- man, near Winchefter, who was conducted to Bofton and returned to Canada. Soon after, the enemy burned Bridgman's fort ; (Hinfdale) and killed feveral perfons, and took others from that place, and from Num- ber-four, in the enfuing winter. No purfuit could be made, becaufe the garrifon was not provided with fnow-fhoes, though many hundreds had been paid for by the Govern- ment.
The next fpring, Captain Stevens was 1748. again appointed to command at Number- Olcott's four, with a garrifon of an hundred men ; MS, letter. Capt. Humphrey Hobbs being fecond in command. A fcouting party of eighteen, was fent out under Capt. Eleazer Melvin. They difcovered two canoes in Lake Cham- plain, at which they fired. The fort at Crown Point was alarmed, and a party came out to intercept them. Melvin croffed their track, and came back to Weft River ; where as his men were diverting themfelves by fhooting falmon, the Indians fuddenly came upon them and killed fix. The others came in at different times to Fort Dummer.
May 25.
Doolittle's parrațive.
May I.
On a Sabbath morning, at Rochefter, the wife of Jonathan Hodgdon was taken by the Indians, as fhe was going to milk her cows.
Haven's She called aloud to her hufband. The In- MS. letter. dians would have kept her quiet, but as the. perfifted in calling, they killed her, appar-
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ently contrary to their intentions. Her huf- 1748. band heard her cries, and came to her affift- ance, at the inftant of her death. His gun miffed fire, and he efcaped. The alarm, oc- cafioned by this action, prevented greater mifchief.
The next month, they killed three men be- June 16. longing to Hinfdale's fort, Nathan French, Jofeph Richardfon and John Froft. Seven were taken ; one of whom, William Bick- ford, died of his wounds. Capt. Hobbs, and forty men, being on a fcout near Weft River, were furprifed by a party of Indians, with whom they had a fmart encounter, of three hours continuance. Hobbs left the ground, having had three men killed and four wound- ed. The fame party of the enemy killed two men and took nine, between fort Hinf- dale and fort Dummer.
The ceffation of arms between the belli- 1749. gerent powers did not wholly put a ftop to the incurfions of the enemy ; for after it was known here, and after the garrifon of Number-four was withdrawn, excepting fif- June'1 7. teen men, Obadiah Sortwell was killed, and a fon of Capt. Stevens was taken and carried to Canada ; but he was releafed and re- turned.
During this affecting fcene of devaftation and captivity ; there were no inftances of de- liberate murder nor torture exercifed on thofe who fell into the hands of the Indians ; and even the old cuftom of making them run the gauntlet was in moft cafes omitted. On the contrary there is an univerfal teftimony from the captives who furvived and returned, in favor of the humanity of their captors.
June 26.
July 14.
Olcott's MS. lettere.
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HISTORY.OF
1749. When feeble, they affifted them in travelling ; and in cafes of diftrefs from want of provi- fion, they fhared with them an equal propor- tion. A fingular inftance of moderation deferves remembrance. An Indian had furprifed a man at Afhuelot ; the man afked for quarter, and it was granted : Whilft the Indian was preparing to bind him, he feized the Indian's gun, and fhot him in one arm. The Indian, however, fecured him ; but took no other revenge than, with a kick, to fay 'You dog, how could you treat 'me fo ?' The gentleman from whom this information came, has frequently heard the ftory both from the captive and the captor. The latter related it as an inftance of Englifh Olcott's MS. letter. perfidy ; the former of Indian lenity.
There was a ftriking difference between the manner in which this war was managed, on the part of the Englifh and on the part of the French. The latter kept out fmall par- ties continually engaged in killing, fcalping and taking prifoners ; who were fold in Can- ada and redeemed by their friends, at a great expenfe. By this mode of conduct, the French made their enemies pay the whole charge of their predatory excurfions, befides reaping a handfome profit to themfelves. On the other hand, the Englifh attended only to the defence of the frontiers ; and that in fuch a manner, as to leave them for the moft part infecure. No parties were fent to harrafs the fettlements of the French. If the whole country of Canada could not be fubdued, nothing lefs could be attempted. Men were continually kept in pay, and in expectation of fervice ; but fpent their time either in
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garrifons, or camps, or in guarding provi- 1749. fions when fent to the feveral forts. Though large rewards were promifed for fcalps and prifoners, fcarcely any were obtained unlefs by accident. A confufion of councils, and a multiplicity of directors, caufed frequent changes of meafures, and delays in the exe- cution of them. The forts were ill fupplied with ammunition, provifions, clothing and fnow-fhoes. When an alarm happened, it was néceffary, either to bake bread, or drefs meat, or caft bullets, before a purfuit could be made. The French gave commiffions to none but thofe who had diftinguifhed them- felves by fome exploit. Among us, perfons frequently obtained preferment, for them- felves or their friends, by making their court to Governors, and promoting favorite meaf- ures in town meetings, or General Affem- blies.
A community recovering from a war, like an individual recovering from ficknefs, is fometimes in danger of a relapfe. This war was not decifive, and the caufes which kin- dled it were not removed. One of its effects was, that it produced a clafs of men, who, hav- ing been for a time releafed from laborious occupations, and devoted to the parade of mili- tary life, did not readily liften to the calls of induftry. To fuch men peace was burden- fome, and the more fo, becaufe they had not the advantage of half pay. The interval be- tween this and the fucceeding war was not. long. The peace took place in 1749, and in 1754 there was a call to refume the fword.
1747.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. XXI.
Purchase of Mafon's claim. Controverfy about Representation .. Plan of extending the fettlements. Jealoufy and refentment of the Savages.
WHILST the people were contend- ing with an enemy abroad, an attempt was making at home, to revive the old claim of Mafon, which their fathers had withfood, and which for many years had lain dormant, till recalled to view by the politicians of Maf- fachufetts, as already related. After Thom- linfon had engaged with Mafon, for the pur- chafe of his title, nothing more was heard of it, till the controverfy refpecting the lines was finifhed, and Wentworth was eftablifh- 1744. ed in the feat of government, and in the of- fice of furveyor of the Woods. The agree- ment which Thomlinfon had made, was in behalf of the Reprefentatives of New-Hamp- fhire ; and the inftrument was lodged in the hands of the Governor, who fent it to the Houfe for their perufal and confideration. It lay on their table a long time, without any formalnotice. Quickening meffages were fent time after time; but the affairs of the war, and Mafon's abfence at fea, and in the expe- dition to Louifbourg, where he had a com- pany, together with a difinclination in the Houfe, which was of a different complexion from that in 1739, prevented any thing from being done.
O&. 30.
Affembly
Records.
1745.
Feb. 22'
In the mean time Mafon fuffered a fine and recovery, by which the entail was docked, in the Courts of New-Hampfhire, and he became
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الله
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entitled to the privilege of felling his intereft. 1745. He alfo prefented a memorial to the Affem- bly, in which he told them that he would wait no longer ; and unlefs they would come 1746. to fome refolution, he fhould take their fi- lence as a refufal. Intimations were given, that if they would not ratify the agreement, a fale would be made to other perfons, who food ready to purchafe. At length the Houfe came to a refolution, ' that they would ' comply with the agreement, and pay the ' price ; and that the wafte lands fhould be Jan. 29. ' granted by the General Afembly, to the in- ' habitants, as they fhould think proper.' A committee was appointed to treat with Mafon, about fulfilling his agreement, and to draw the proper inftruments of convey- ance ; but he had on the fame day, by deed Jan. 30. of fale, for the fum of fifteen hundred pounds currency, conveyed his whole intereft to twelve perfons, in fifteen fhares. When the Houfe fent a meffage to the Council to inform them of this refolution, the Council objected to that claufe of the refolve, 'that ' the lands be granted by the General Af- ,' fembly,' as contrary to the royal com- mitlion and inftructions ; but if the Houfe would addrefs the King, for leave to difpofe of the lands, they faid that they were con- tent.
Thefe tranfactions raifed a great ferment among the people. Angry and menacing words were plentifully thrown out againit the purchafers ; but they had prudently ta- ken care to file in the Recorder's office a deed of quit-claim to all the towns which had been fettled and granted within the limits of
B B
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HISTORY OF
Records of deeds.
Affembly Records.
1746. their purchafe .* In this quit-claim, they inferted a claufe in the following words, 'excepting and referving our refpective 'rights, titles, inheritance and poffeffions, ' which we heretofore had, in common or ' feveralty, as inhabitants or proprietors of -4 ' houfes or lands, within any of the towns, ' precincts, diftriets or villages aforefaid.' This precaution had not at firft its effect. A committee of both Houfes was appointed to confider the matter, and they reported, that ' for quieting the minds of the people, and ' to prevent future difficulty, it would be beft ' for the Province to purchafe the claim, for ' the ufe and benefit of the inhabitants ; ' provided that the purchafers would fell it 'for the coft and charges.' This report was accepted, concurred and confented to, by every branch of the legiflature. A com- mittee was appointed to confult Council, and agree on proper inftruments of conveyance. The fame day, this committee met with the purchafers, and conferred on the queftion, whether they would fell on the terms propo- fed ? At the conference, the purchafers ap- peared to be divided, and agreed fo far only, as to withdraw their deed from the Recorder's
Auguft 4.
* The purchafers of this claim were Theodore Atkinfon. three fifteenths. M. H. Wentworth, two fifteenths. Richard Wibird. John Went worth (fon of the Governor.) George Joffrey. Samuel Moorc. Nathaniel Mefferve. The towns quit claimed were,
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Thomas Packer.
Thomas Wallingford. Jotham Odiorne. Jofhua Peirce. John Moffat, one ff- teenth cach.
Portfmouth, Londonderry,
Dover, Chefter,
Exeter, Nottingham,
Hampton, Barrington,
and afterward
Gofport, Rochefter,
Kingfton, Canterbury,
Bow, Chichefter, Epfom,
Barnftead,
Gilmantown.
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office. The committee reported that they 1746. could make no terms with the purchafers ; Aug. 12. in confequence of which the deed was again Aug. 28. lodged in the office and recorded.
Much blame was caft on the purchafers, for clandestinely taking a bargain out of the hands of the Affembly. They faid in their vindication, ' that they faw no profpect of 'an effectual purchafe by the Affembly, ' though thofe of them who were members, ' voted for it, and did what they could to ' encourage it ; that they would have gladly ' given Mafon as much money, for his private ' quit-claim to their feveral ' rights in the ' townfhips already granted and fettled ; ' that Mafon's claim had for many years ' hung over the Province, and that on every ' turn they had been threatened with a pro- ' prictor ; that Mafon's deed to a committee 'of Maflachufetts, in behalf of that Province, 'for a tract of land adjoining the boundary ' line, had been entered on the records, and ' a title under it fet up, in oppofition to grants ' made by the Governor and Council ; that ' it was impoflible to fay where this evil ' would ftop, and therefore they thought it ' moft prudent to prevent any farther effects ' of it, by taking up with his offer, efpecial- ' ly as they knew that he might have made a ' more advantageous bargain, with a gen- ' tleman of fortune in the neighbouring ' Province ; but that they were ftill willing, ' to fell their intereft to the Affembly, for the ' coft and charges ; provided that the land be ' granted by the Governor and Council ; and that ' the agreement be made within one month ' from the date of their letter.'
Sept. 4. MS Ictter, in Proprie- tary Office:
Lsen iCola امـ
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HISTORY OF
1746.
1747.
Aug. 20.
Within that month, the alarm caufed by the approach of D'Anville's fleet, put a ftop to the negociation. After that danger was over, the affair was revived ; but the grand difficulty fubfifted. The purchafers would not fell, but on condition that the lands fhould be granted, by the Governor and Council. The Affembly thought that they could have no fecurity that the land would be granted to the people ; becaufe the Gover- nor and Council might grant it to themfelves, or to their dependents, or to ftrangers, and the people who had paid for it might be ex- cluded from the benefit which they had pur- chafed. A propofal was afterward made, that the fale fhould be to feoffees in truft for the people ; and a form of a deed for this purpofe was drawn. To this propofal, the purchafers raifed feveral objections ; and as the Affembly had not voted any money to make the purchafe, they declined figning the dleed ; and no farther efforts being made by the Affembly, the purchafe refted in the hands of the proprietors. In 1749 they took a fecond deed, comprehending all the Ma- fonian grants, from Naumkeag to Pafcata- qua ; whereas the former deed was confined to the lately eftablifhed boundaries of New- Hampfhire. This latter deed was not re- corded till 1753.
Records of deeds,
1748.
After they had taken their firft deed, the Mafonians began to grant townfhips, and continued granting them to petitioners, often without fees, and always without quit-rents. They quieted the proprietors of the towns, on the weftern fide of the Merrimack, which had been granted by Maffachufetts, before
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