USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 14
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Thirteen years had almoft elapfed fince 1689. the feizure of the four hundred Indians, at Cochecho, by Major Waldron ; during all which time, an inextinguifhable thirft of revenge had been cherifhed among them, which never till now found opportunity for gratification *. Wonolanfet, one of the fachems of Penacook, who was difmiffed with his people at the time of the feizure, always obferved his father's dying charge not to quarrel with the Englifh ; but Hag- kins, another fachem, who had been treated with neglect by Cranfield, was more ready to liften to the feducing invitations of Caftine's emiffarics. Some of thofe In- dians, who were then feized and fold into flavery abroad, had found their way home, and could not reft till they had revenge. Accordingly a confederacy being formed between the tribes of Penacook and Pig- wacket, and the ftrange Indians (as they were called) who were incorporated with them, it was determined to furprife the major and his neighbours among whom they had all this time been peacably con- verfant.
* The inveteracy of their hatred to Major Waldron on accoun! of that tranfaction, appears from what is related by Mr. Williams in the narrative of his captivity, which happened in 1704. When he was in Canada, a jefuit difcourfing with him on the caufes of the r wars with New-England, «juftified the Indians in what they did "againft us ; rcheaning fome things done by Major Waldron " above go years ago, and has july God retaliated then, " page . 8.
246 1689. -
HISTORY OF
In that part of the town of Dover which lies about the firft falls in the river Co- checho, were five garrifoned houfes ; three on the North fide, viz. Waldron's, Otis's and Heard's ; and two on the fouth fide, viz. Peter Coffin's and his fon's. Thefe houfes were furrounded with timber-walls, the gates of which, as well the houfe doors, were fecured with bolts and bars. The neighbouring families retired to thefe houfes by night ; but by an unaccountable negligence no watch was kept. The In- dians who were daily paffing through the town vifiting and trading with the inhab- itants, as ufual in times of peace, viewed their fituation with an attentive eye. Some hints of a mitchievous defign had been given out by their fquaws ; but in fuch dark and ambiguous terms that no one could comprehend their meaning. Some of the people were uneafy ; but Waldron who, from a long courfe of experience, was in- timately acquainted with the Indians, and on other occafions had been ready enough to fufpect them, was now fo thoroughly fecure, that when fome of the people hint- cd their fears to him, he merrily bade them to go and plant their pumpkins, faying that he would tell them when the Indians would break out. The very even-
ing
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ing before the mifchief was done, being told by a young man that the town was full of Indians and the people were much concerned ; he anfwered that he knew the Indians very well and there was no danger.
The plan which the Indians had pre- concerted was, that two fquaws fhould go to each of the garrifoned houfes in the evening, and afk leave to lodge by the fire ; that in the night when the people were afleep they fhould open the doors and gates, and give the fignal by a whiftle; upon which the ftrange Indians, who were to be within hearing, fhould rufh in, and take their long meditated revenge. This plan being ripe for execution, on the evening of Thurfday the twenty-feventh of June, two fquaws applied to each of the garrifons for lodging, as they frequent- ly did in time of peace. They were ad- mitted into all but the younger Coffin's, and the people, at their requeft, fhewed them how to open the doors, in cafe they fhould have occafion to go out in the night. Mefandowit, one of their chiefs, went to Waldron's garrifon, and was kindly enter- tained, as he had often been before. The fquaws told the major, that a number of Indians were coming to trade with him the next day, and Mefandowit whilft at
fupper,
1689. 4
HISTORY OF
248 1689. L fupper, with his ufual familiarity, faid, ' Brother Waldron, what would you do if ' the ftrange Indians fhould come ?' The major carelefsly anfwered, that he could affemble an hundred men by lifting up his finger. In this unfufpecting confidence the family retired to reft.
When all was quiet the gates were open- ed and the fignal was given. The Indians entered, fet a guard at the door, and rufh- ed into the major's apartment, which was an inner room, Awakened by the noife, he jumped out of bed, and though now advanced in life to the age of eighty years, he retained fo much vigour as to drive them with his fword, through two or three doors ; but as he was returning for his other arms, they came behind him, ftun- ned him with an hatchet, drew him into his hall, and feating him in an elbow chair on a long table, infultingly afked him, " Who fhall judge Indians now ?" They then obliged the people in the houfe to get them fome victuals ; and when they had done eating, they cut the major acrofs the breaft and belly with knives, each one with a ftroke, faying, " I crofs out my ac- " count." They then cut off his nofe and cars, forcing them into his mouth ; and when fpent with the lofs of blood he was falling
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falling down from the table, one of them held his own fword under him, which put an end to his mifery. They alfo killed his fon in law Abraham Lee ; but took his daughter. Lee with feveral others, and having pillaged the houfe, left it on frc. Otis's garrifon, which was next to the major's, met with the fame fate ; he was killed, with feveral others, and his wife and child were captivated. Heard's was faved by the barking of a dog juft as the Indians were entering : Elder Wentworth, who was awakened by the noife pufhed them out, and falling on his back, fet his feet againft the gate and held it till he had alarmed the people ; two balls were fired through it, but both miffed him. Coffin's houfe was furprized, but as the Indians had no particular enmity to him, they fpared his life, and the lives of his family, and contented themfelves with pillaging the houfe. Finding a bag of money, they made him throw it by handfuls on the floor, whilft they amufed themfelves in fcrambling for it. They then went to the houfe of his fon who would not admit the fquaws in the evening, and fummoned him to furrender, promifing him quarter : He declined their offer and determined to de- fend his houfe, till they brought out his father
1 689.
250 ₹689.
HISTORY OF
father and threatened to kill him before his eyes : Filial affection then overcame his refolution, and he furrendered. They put both families together into a deferted houfe, intending to referve them for prif- oners ; but whilft the Indians were bufy in plundering, they all efcaped.
Twenty three people were killed in this furprifal, and twenty nine were captivat- ed ; five or fix houfes, with the mills, were burned ; and fo expeditious were the Indians in the execution of their plot, that before the people could be collected from the other parts of the town to oppofe them, they fled with their prifoners and booty. As they paffed by Heard's garrifon in their retreat, they fired upon it ; but the people being prepared and refolved to defend it, and the enemy being in hafte, it was pre- ferved. The prefervation of its owner was more remarkable.
1689.
Elizabeth Heard, with her three fons and a daughter, and fome others, were re- turning in the night from Portfmouth. They paffed up the river in their boat un- perceived by the Indians, who were then in poffeffion of the houfes ; but fufpecting danger by the noife which they heard, after they had landed they betook them- felves to Waldron's garrifon, where
they
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they faw lights, which they imagined 1689. were fet up for direction to thofe who inight be feeking a refuge. They knocked and begged earneftly for admif- fion ; but no anfwer being given, a young man of the company climbed up the wall, and faw, to his inexpreffible furprize, an Indian ftanding in the door of the houfe, with his gun. The woman was fo over- come with the fright that he was unable to fly ; but begged her children to fhift for themfelves ; and they with heavy hearts, left her. When fhe had a little recovered the crawled into fome bufhes, and lay there till day-light. She then perceived an Indian coming toward her with a piftol in his hand ; he looked at her and went away ; returning, he looked at her again ; and the afked him what he would have ; he made no anfwer ; but ran yelling to. the houfe, and the faw him no more. She kept her place till the houfe was burned, and the Indians were gone ; and then re- turning home, found her own houfe fafe. Her prefervation in thefe dangerous cir- cumftances was the more remarkable, if (as it is fuppofed) it was an inftance of juftice and gratitude in the Indians. For at the time when the four hundred were feized in 1676, a young Indian efcaped and
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1689.
and took refuge in her houfe, where fhe concealed him ; in return for which kind- nefs he promifed her that he would never kill her, nor any of her family in any fu- turc war, and that he would ufe his influ- ence with the other Indians to the fame purpofe. This Indian was one of the party who furprifed the place, and the was well known to the moft of them.
The fame day, after the mifchief was done, a letter from Secretary Addington, written by order of the government, di- rected to Major Waldron, giving him no- tice of the intention of the Indians to fur- prize him under pretence of trade, fell in- to the hands of his fon. This defign was communicated to Governor Bradftreet by Major Henchman of Chelmsford, who had learned it of the Indians. The letter was difpatched from Bofton, the day be- fore, by Mr. Weare; but fome delay which he met with at Newbury ferry prevented its arrival in feafon.
Maff. Rec.
Appendix No. 47.
The prifoners taken at this time were moftly carried to Canada, and fold to the French ; and thefe, as far as I can learn, were the firft that ever were carried thither *. The
" One of thefe prifoners was Sarah Gerrith, a remarkably fine child of foren years old, and grand-daughter of Major Waldron, who e boufe the lodged that fatal aight. Some circumftances attending
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The Indians had been feduced to the French intereft by popith emiffaries, who had
1689.
attending her captivity are truly affecting. When the was awaken- ed by the noife of the Indians in the houfe, the crept into ano- ther bed and hid herfelf under the clothes to efcape their fearch. She remained in their hands till the next winter, and was feld from one to another fevera! times. An Indian girl once pufhe ! her into a river ; but, catching by the buthcs, the efcaped drown- ing, yet durft not tell how the came to be wet. Once the was fo weary with travelling that the fhe did nor awake in the morning till the Indians were gone, and then found herfelf alone in the woods, covered with fnow and without any food ; having found their tracks fhe went crying after them till they heard her and took her with them. At another time they kindled a great fire, and the young Indians told her the was to be roafted. She burit into tears, threw her arms round her mafter's neck, and begged him to fave her, which he promifed to do if fhe would behave well. Being arrived in Canada, fhe was bought by the Intendant's lady, who treated her courteoufly, and fent her to a nunnery for education. But when Sir William Phips was at Quebeck the was exchanged, and returned to her friends, with whom the lived till the was fix- teen years old.
The wife of Richard Otis was taken at the fame time, with an infant daughter of three months old. The French priefts took this child under their care, baptized her by the name of Chriftina, and educated her in the Romifh religion. She paffed fome time in a numery, but declined taking the veil, and was married to a Frenchman, by whom he had two children. But her defire to fee New-England was fo ftrong, that upon an exchange of prifoners in 1714, being then a widow, the left both her children, who were not permitted to come with her, and returned home, where the abjured the Romifh faith. M. Siguenot, her former conteffor, wrote her a flattering letter, warning her of her danger, inviting her to return to the bofom of the catholic church, and repeating many grofs calumnies which had formerly been vented againft Iu- ther and the other reformers. This letter being thewn to Gover - nor Burnet, he wrote her a fenfible and mafterly anfwer, refuting the arguments, and detecting the falfchoods it contained : Both thefe letters were printed. She was married afterward to Capt. Thomas Baker, who had been taken at Deerfield in 1704, and lived in Dover, where the was born, till the year 1773.
Mr. John Emerfon, by declining to lodge at Maior Waldren's on the fatal night, though ftrongly urged, met with an happy efcape. He was afterward a minifter at New-Cattle and Porti- mouth.
[ Some of the circumfrances relating to the deftruction" o" Cochecho are taken from Mather's Magnahis. The others from: the tradition of the futterers and their defendants.
~54 168g.
HISTORY OF
had began to fafcinate them with their religious and national prejudices. They had now learned to call the Englifh here- ticks, and that to extirpate them as fuch was meritorious in the fight of heaven. When their minds were filled with religi- ous phrenzy, they became more bitter and implacable enemies than before ; and find- ing the fale of fcalps and prifoners turn to good account in Canada, they had ftill farther incitement to continue their de- predations, and profecute their vengeance.
The neceffity of vigorous meafures was now fo preffing, that parties were imme- diately difpatched, one under Captain Noyes to Penacook, where they deftroyed the corn, but the Indians efcaped ; another from Pafcataqua, under Captain Wincal, to Winnipifeogee, whither the Indians had retired, as John Church, who had been ta- ken at Cochecho and efcaped from them, reported : One or two Indians were killed there, and their corn cut down. But thefe excurfions proved of imall fervice, as the Indians had little to lofe, and could find an home wherever they could find game and fith.
In the month of Auguft Major Swaine, tvith feven or eight companies raifed by the Maffachufetts government, marched
to
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to the eaftward ; and Major Church, with another party, confifting of English and Indians from the colony of Plymouth, foon followed them. Whilft thefe forces were on their march, the Indians, who lay in the woods about Oyfter river, obferv- ed how many men belonged to Huck- ing's garrifon ; and feeing them all go out one morning to work, nimbly ran between them and the houfe, and killed them all (being in number eighteen) except one who had paffed the brook. They then attacked the houfe, in which were only two boys (one of whom was lame) with fome women and children. The boys kept them off for fome time and wounded fever- al of them. At length the Indians fet the houfe on fire, and even then the boys would not furrender till they had promifed them to fpare their lives. They perfidi- oufly murdered three or four of the chil- dren ; one of them was fet on a fharp ftake, in the view of its diftreffed mother, who with the other women and the boys were carried captive. One of the boys efcaped the next day. Captain Garner with his company puriued the enemy, but. did not come up with them.
The Maffachufetts and Plymouth com- panies proceeded to the caftward, fettled garrifons
16S9. L
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HISTORY OF
1689. garrifons in convenient places, and had fome fkirmifhes with the enemy at Cafco and Blue Point. On their return, Major Swaine fenta party of the Indian auxiliaries under Lieutenant Flagg toward Winni- pifeogee to make difcoveries. Thefe In- dians held a confultation in their own language ; and having perfuaded their lieutenant with two men to return, nine- teen of them tarried out eleven days longer ; in which time they found the enemy, ftaid with them two nights, and informed them of every thing which they defired to know ; upon which the enemy retired to their inacceffible defarts ; the forces returned without finding them, and in November were difbanded.
Magnalia, lib. 7. p. 57.
Nothing was more welcome to the dif- treffed inhabitants of the frontiers than the approach of winter, as they then expected a refpite from their fufferings. The deep fnows and cold weather were commonly a good fecurity againft an attack from the Indians ; but when refolutely fet on mifchief, and inftigated by popifh en- thufiafm, no obftacles could prevent the execution of their purpofes.
The Count de Frontenac, then governor of Canada, was fond of diftinguithing himfelf by fome enterprizes againft the American
1690.
257
1690. L
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
American fubjects of King William, with whom his mafter was at war in Europe. For this purpofe he detached three parties of French and Indians from Canada in the winter, who were to take three different routes into the Englifh territories. One of thefe parties marched from Montreal and deftroyed Schenectada, a Dutch village on the Mohawk river, in the province of New- York. This action which happened at an unufual time of the year, in the month of February, alarmed the wholecountry ; and the eaftern fettlements were ordered to be on their guard. On the eighteenth day of March, another party which came from Trois Rivieres, under the command of the Sieur Hertel, an officer of great repute in Canada, found their way to Salmon falls, a fettlement on the river which divides New-Hampfhire from the province of Maine. This party confifted of fifty two men, of whom twenty five were Indians under Hoophood a noted warrior. They began the attack at day-break, in three different places. The people were fur- prized ; but flew to arms and defended themfelves in the garrifoned houfes, with a bravery which the enemy themfelves applauded. But as in all fuch onfets the affailants have the greateft advantage, fo ther
S
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HISTORY OF
1600.
Charlevoix hv. 7. P. .4.
Magnalia. ub. 7. p.68.
they here proved too ftrong for the defen- dants ; about thirty of the braveft were killed, and the reft furrendered at difcre- tion, to the number of fifty four, of whom the greater part were women and children. After plundering, the enemy burned the houfes, mills and barns, with the cattle* which were within doors, and then retreat- ed into the woods, whither they were pur- fued by about one hundred and forty men, fuddenly collected from the neighbouring towns, who came up with them in the after- noon at a narrow bridge on Woofter'sriver. [Berwick. ] Hertel expecting a purfuit, had pofted his men advantageoufly on the op- pofite bank. The purfuers advanced with great intrepidity, and a warm engage- ment enfued, which lafted till night, when they retired with the lofs of four or five killed ; the enemy by their own account loft two, one of whom was Hertel's ne- phew ; his fon was wounded in the knee ; another Frenchman was taken prifoner, who was fo tenderly treated that he em- braced the proteftant faith, and remained in the country. Hertel on his way home- ward met with a. third party who had marched
# Charlevoix fays they burned " twenty feven houfes and two thoufand head of cattle in the barns." The number of buildings, including mills, barns and outhoufes, might amount to near twenty ; but the number of cattle as he gives it, is incredible.
$59
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
marched from Quebec, and joining his 1690. company to them attacked and deftroyed r the fort and fettlement at Cafco, the next May. Thus the three expeditions plan- ned by Count Frontenac proved fuccefs- ful ; but the glory of them was much tarnifhed by acts of cruelty, which chrift- ians fhould be afhamed to countenance, though perpetrated by favages *. S 2 After
* The following inftances of cruelty exercifed towards the prif- aners taken at Salmon falls are mentioned by Dr. Mather.
Robert Rogers, a corpulent man, being unable to carry the burden which the Indians impofed upon him, threw it down in the path and went afide in the woods to conceal himfelf. They found him by his track, ftripped, beat and pricked him with their fwords ; then tied him to a tree and danced round him till they had kindled a fire. They gave him time to pray, and take leave of his fellow- prifoners who were placed round the fire to fee his death. They pufhed the fire toward him, and when he was almoft flifled, took it away to give him time to breathe, and thus prolonged his mifery ; they drowned his dying groans with their hideous finging and yelling ; all the while dancing round the fire, cutting off pieces of his fleth and throwing them in his face. When he was dead they fett his body broiling on the coals, in which itate it was found by his friends, and buried.
Mehetabel Goodwin was taken with her child of five months old. When it cried they threatened to kill it, which made the mother go afide and fit for hours together in the fnow to lull it to fleep ; her mafter feeing that this hindered her from travelling, took the child, itruck its head againft a tree, and hung it on one of the branches ; fhe would have buried it but he would not let her, telling her that if The came again that way fhe might have the pleafure of feeing it. She was carried to Canada, and after five years return- Ed home.
Mary Plaifted was taken out of her bed, having lain in but three weeks." They made her travel with them through the fnow, and "to eafe her of her burden," as they faid, ftruck the child's head againft a tree, and threw it into a river.
An anecdote of another kind may relieve the reader after thefe tragical accounts. Thomas Toogood was puniued by three Indians and overtaken by one of them, who having inquired his naine
260 1690.
Mag. lib. 7. P. 73.
HISTORY OF
After the deftruction of Cafco the eaft- ern fettlements were all deferted, and the people retired to the fort at Wells. The Indians then came up weftward, and a party of them under Hoophood fometime in May made an affault on Fox Point, [in Newington] where they burned feveral houfes, killed about fourteen people, and carried away fix. They were purfued by the Captains Floyd and Greenleaf, who came up with them and recovered fome of the captives and fpoil, after a fkirmifh in which Hoophood was wounded and loft his gun. This fellow was foon after kill- ed by a party of Canada Indians who miftook him for one of the Iroquois, with whom they were at war. On the fourth day of July eight perfons were killed as they were mowing in a field near Lam- prey river, and a lad was carried captive. The next day they attacked Captain Hil- ton's garrifon at Exeter, which was reliev- ed by Lieutenant Bancroft with the lofs of a few of his men ; one of them, Simon Stone,
wis preparing Arings to bind him, holding his gun under his arm, which Tongood feized and went backward, keeping the gun pre- fented at him, and protetting that he would Shoot him if he alarm- ed the others who had stopped on the opposite fide of the hill. By this dexterity he efcaped and got fafe into Cochecho ; whilft his adverfary had no recompence in his power but to call after him by the name of Nogsod. When he returned to his companions without gun or prifoner, their derifion made his mifadventure the more grievous.
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Stone, received nine wounds with fhot, and two ftrokes of a hatchet ; when his friends came to bury him they perceived life in him, and by the application of cor- dials he revived to the amazement of all.
1 690.
Mag. lib. 7. P. 74.
Two companies under the Captains Floyd and Wifwal were now fcouting, and on the fixth day of July difcovered an In- dian track, which they purfued till they came up with the enemy at Whelewright's Pond, [in Lee] where a bloody engage- ment enfued for fome hours ; in which Wifwal, his lieutenant, Flagg, and fergeant Walker, with twelve more, were killed, and feveral wounded. It was not known how many of the enemy fell, as they al- ways carried off their dead. Floyd main- tained the fight after Wifwal's death, till his men, fatigued and wounded, drew off ; which obliged him to follow. The enemy retreated at the fame time; for when Captain Convers went to look after the wounded, he found feven alive, whom he brought in by funrife the next morning, and then returned to bury the dead. The enemy then went weftward, and in the courfe of one week killed, between Lam- prey river and Almfbury, not lefs than forty people.
The
262 1 690.
Mag. 73.
HISTORY OF
The cruelties exercifed upon the cap- tives in this war exceeded, both in number and degree, any in former times. The moft healthy and vigorous of thein were fold in Canada, the weaker were facrificed and fcalped ; and for every fcalp they had a premium. Two inftances only are re- membered of their releafing any without a ranfom ; one was a woman taken from Fox Point, who obtained her liberty by procuring them fome of the neceffaries of life ; the other was at York ; where, after they had taken many of the people, they reftored twoaged women and five children, in return for a generous action of Major Church, who had fpared the lives of as many women and children when they fell into his hands at Amarifcogin.
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