USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 15
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MS Letter.
The people of New-England now look- ed on Canada as the fource of their troubles, and formed a defign to reduce it to fubjec- tion to the crown of England. The en- terprize was bold and hazardous ; and had their ability been equal to the ardour of their patriotifm it might probably have been accomplished. By ftraining every nerve, they equipped an armament in fome degree equal to the fervice. What was want- ing in military and naval difcipline was made up in refolution ; and the command
was
263
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
1690.
was given to Sir William Phips, an honeft man, and a friend to his country ; but by no means qualified for fuch an attempt. Una- voidable accidents retarded the expedition, fo that the fleet did not arrive before Quebec till October ; when it was more than time to return. It being impoffible to continue there to any purpofe ; and the troops growing Gckly and difcouraged, after fome inef- fectual parade, they abandoned the enter- prize.
This difappointment was feverely felt. The equipment of the fleet and army re- quired a fupply of money which could not readily be collected, and occafioned a pa- per currency ; which has often been drawn into precedent on like occafions, and has proved a fatal fource of the moft compli- cated and extenfive mifchief. The peo- ple.were almoft difpirited with the prof- pect of poverty and ruin. In this melan- choly ftate of the country, it was an hap- py circumftance that the Indians volunta- rily came in with a flag of truce, and de- fired a ceffation of hoftilities. A conference being held at Sagadahock, they brought in ten captives, and fettled a truce till the firft day of May, which they obferved till the ninth of June ; when they attacked Storer's garrifon at Wells, but were brave-
Nov. 29.
169).
ly
264
1691. Mag. 78.
MS Letter of Morril to Prince.
Fitch's MS. 1 692. Januar, 25.
HISTORY OF
ly repulfed. About the fame time they killed two men at Exeter, and on the twenty-ninth of September, a party of them came from the eaftward in canoes to Sandy Beach [Rye] where they killed and captivated twenty-one perfons. Captain Sherburne of Portfmouth, a worthy officer, was this year killed at Macquoit.
The next winter the country being alarmed with the deftruction of York, fome new regulations were made for the general defence. Major Elitha Hutchinfon was appointed commander in chief of the militia ; by whofe prudent conduct the frontiers were well guarded, and fo con- ftant a communication was kept up, by ranging parties, from one poft to another, that it became impoffible for the enemy to attack in their ufual way by furprize. The good effect of this regulation was prefently feen. A young man being in the woods near Cochecho, was fired at by fome Indians. Lieutenant Wilfon imme- diately went out with eighteen men ; and finding the Indians, killed or wounded the whole party excepting one. This ftruck a terror and kept them quiet the remainder of the winter and fpring. But on the tenth day of June, an army of French and Indians made a furious attack
on
265
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on Storer's garrifon at Wells, where Cap- tain Convers commanded ; who after a brave and refolute defence, was fo happy as to drive them off with great lofs.
Sir William Phips, being now governor of Maffachufetts, continued the fame me- thod of defence ; keeping out continual fcouts under brave and experienced officers. This kept the Indians fo quiet that, ex- cept one poor family which they took at Oyfter river, and fome fmall mifchief at Quaboag, there is no mention of any def- truction made by them during the year 1693. Their animofity againft New-Eng- land was not quelled ; but they needed a fpace torecruit ; fome of their principal men were in captivity, and they could not hope to redeem them without a peace. To obtain it, they came into the fort at Pemaquid ; and there entered into a folemn covenant ; wherein they acknowledged fubjection to the crown of England ; engaged to aban- don the French intereft ; promifed perpet- ual peace ; to forbear private revenge ; to reftore all captives ; and even went fo far as to deliver hoftages for the due perform- ance of their engagements. This peace, or rather truce, gave both fides a refpite, which both earneftly defired.
The people of New-Hampfhire were much reduced ; their lumber trade and hufbandry
1689.
1693.
Aug. IL.
Mag. p. S,.
266
HISTORY OF
1693. -
hufbandry being greatly impeded by the war. Frequent complaints were made of the burden of the war, the fcarcity of pro- vifions, and the difpiritednefs of the peo- ple. Once, it is faid in the council minutes that they were even ready to quit the pro- vince. The governor was obliged to im- prefs men to guard the outpofts ; they were fometimes difmiffed for want of pro- vifions, and then the garrifoned officers were called to account and feverely punifhed : Yet all this time the public debt did not ex- ceed four hundred pounds. In this fituation, they were obliged to apply to their neigh- bours for affiftance ; but this was granted with a fparing hand. The people of Maf- fachufetts were much divided and at vari- ance among themfelves, both on account of the new charter which they had receiv- ed from King William, and the pretend- cd witchcrafts which have made fo loud a noife in the world. Party and paffion had ufurped the place of patriotifm ; and the defence, not only of their neighbours, but of themfelves was neglected to grati- fy their malignant humours. Their gov- ernor too had been affronted in this prov- ince, on the following occafion.
Sir William Phips, having had a quar- rel with Captain Short of the Nonfuch fri-
gate
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gate about the extent of his power as vice admiral, arrefted Short at Bofton, and put him on board a merchant thip bound for England, commanded by one Tay, with a warrant to deliver him to the fecretary of ftate. The fhip put into Pafcataqua, and the Nonfuch came in after her. The lieutenant, Cary, fent a letter to Hinckes, prefident of the council threatening to im- prefs feamen if Short was not releafed. Cary was arrefted and brought before the council, where he received a reprimand for his infolence. At the fame time Sir William came hither by land, went on board Tay's fhip, and fent the cabbin-boy with a meffage to the prefident to come to him there ; which Hinckes highly refent- ed and refufed. Phips then demanded of Tay his former warrant, and iffued anoth- er commanding the re-delivery of Short to him, broke open Short's cheft, and feized his papers. This action was looked upon by fome as an exertion of power to which he had no right, and it was pro- pofed to cite him before the council to an- fwer for affuming authority out of his ju- rifdiction. The prefident was warm ; but a majority of the council, confidering Sir William's opinion that his vice admiral's commiffion extended to this province, (though
1693.
March ;o.
268
HISTORY OF
I 693. MS in files.
(though Ufher had one, but was not prefent) and that no perfon belonging to the province had been injured, advifed the prefident to take no farther notice of the matter. Soon after this Sir William drew off the men whom he had ftationed in this province as foldiers ; and the council advifed the lieutenant governor to apply to the colony of Connecticut for men and provifions ; but whether this requeft was granted does not appear.
The towns of Dover and Exeter being more expofed than Portfmouth or Hamp- ton fuffered the greateft fhare in the com- mon calamity. Nothing but the hope of better times kept alive their fortitude. When many of the eaftern fettlements were wholly broken up, they ftood their ground, and thus gained to themfelves a reputation which their pofterity boaft of to this day.
The engagements made by the Indians in the treaty of Pemaquid, might have been performed if they had been left to theirown choice. But the French miffion- aries had been for fome years very affidu- ous in propagating their tenets among them, one of which was ' that to break ' faith with hereticks was no fin.' The Sieur de Villicu, who had diftinguifhed himfelf
1694.
NEWHAMPSHIRE.
himfelf in defence of Quebec when Phips was before it, and had contracted a ftrong antipathy to the New-Englanders, being then in command at Penobfcot, he with M. Thury, the miffionary, diverted Ma- dokawando and the other fachems from complying with their engagements ; fo that pretences were found for detaining the Englifh. captives, who were more in number, and of more confequence than the hoftages whom the Indians had given. Influenced by the fame pernicious councils, they kept a watchful eye on the frontier towns, to fee what place was moft fecure and might be attacked to the greateft ad- vantage. The fettlement at Oyfter river, within the town of Dover, was pitched upon as the moft likely place ; and it is faid that the defign of furprizing it was publickly talked of at Quebec two months before it was put in execution. Rumours of Indians lurking in the woods there- about made fome of the people apprehend danger ; but no mifchief being attempted, they imagined them to be hunting parties, and returned to their fecurity. At length, the neceffary preparations being made, Villieu, with a body of two hundred and fifty Indians, collected from the tribes of St. John, Penobfcot and Norridgweg, at- tended
269
1694. -
Magnalia, lib 7.p.Só
Charlevoix liv. 15. p.
270
HISTORY OF
1694.
tended by a French prieft, marched for the devoted place.
Oyfter river is a ftream which runs into the weftern branch of Pafcataqua ; the fettlements were on both fides of it, and the houfes chiefly near the water. Here were twelve garrifoned houfes fuf- ficient for the defence of the inhabitants, but apprehending no danger, fome fami- lies remained at their own unfortified houfes, and thofe who were in the garri- fons were but indifferently provided for defence, fome being even deftitute of pow- der. The enemy approached the place un- difcovered, and halted near the falls on Tuefday evening, the feventeenth of July. Here they formed two divifions, one of which was to go on each fide of the river and plant themfelves in ambufh, in fmall parties, near every houfe, fo as to be ready for the attack at the rifing of the fun ; and the firft gun was to be the fignal. John Dean, whofe houfe ftood by the faw-mill at the falls, intending to go from home very early, arofe before the dawn of day, and was fhot as he came out of his door. 'This firing, in part, difconcerted their plan ; feveral parties who had fome diftance to go, had not then arrived at their ftations ; the people in general were immediately alarmed,
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
alarmed, fome of them had time to make their efcape, and others to prepare for their defence. The fignal being given, the attack began in all parts where the enemy was ready.
Of the twelve garrifoned houfes five were deftroyed, viz. Adams's, Drewv's, Edgerly's, Medar's and Beard's. They entered Adams's without refiftance, where they killed fourteen perfons ; one of them, being a woman with child, they ripped open. The grave is ftill to be feen in which they were all buried. Drew fur- rendered his garrifon on the promife of fecurity, but was murdered when he fell into their hands ; one of his children, a boy of nine years old, was made to run through a lane of Indians, as a mark for them to throw their hatchets at, till they had difpatched him. Edgerly's was eva- cuated ; the people took their boat, and one of them was mortally wounded before they got out of reach of the enemy's fhot. Beard's and Medar's were alfo evacuated and the people efcaped.
The defencelefs houfes were nearly all fet on fire, the inhabitants being either killed or taken in them, or elfe in endeav- ouring to fly to the garrifons. Some ef- caped by hiding in the bufhes and other fecret
1694.
272 1694.
HISTORY OF
fecret places, Thomas Edgerly, by con- cealing himfelf in his cellar, preferved his houfe, though twice fet on fire. The houfe of John Bufs, the minifter, was de- ftroyed, with a valuable library. He was abfent, his wife and family fled to the woods and efcaped. The wife of John Dean, at whom the firft gun was fired, was taken with her daughter, and carried about two miles up the river, where they were left under the care of an old Indian whilft the others returned to their bloody work. The Indian complained of a pain in his head, and afked the woman what would be a proper remedy : theanfwered, Occapee, which is the Indian word for rum, of which fhe knew he had taken a bottle from her houfe. remedy being agreeable, he took a large dofe and fell afleep ; and the took that opportunity to make her efcape, with her child, into the woods, and kept herfelf concealed till they were gone.
The other feven garrifons, viz. 'Burn- ham's, Bickford's, Smith's, Bunker's, Davis's, Jones's, and Woodman's were re- folutely and fuccefsfully defended. At Burnham's the gate was left open : The Indians, ten in number, who were ap- pointed to furprize it, were afleep under the
273
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
the bank of the river, at the time that the alarm was given. A man within, who had been kept awake by the tooth-ach, hearing the firft gun, roufed the people and fecured the gate, juft as the Indians who were awakened by the fame noife were entering. Finding themfelves dif- appointed, they ran to Pitman's, a defence- lefs houfe, and forced the door at the mo- ment that he had burft away through that end of the houfe which was next to the garrifon, to which he with his family, taking advantage of the fhade of fome trees, it being moonlight, happily efcaped. Still defeated, they attacked the houfe of John Davis, which, after fome refiftance, he furrendered on terms ; but the terms were violated, and the whole family was either killed or made captives. Thomas Bickford preferved his houfe in a fingular manner. It was fituate near the river, and furrounded with a palifade. Being alarmed before the enemy had reached the houfe, he fent off his family in a boat, and then thutting his gate, betook himfelf alone to the defence of his fortrefs. Defpifing alike the promifes and threats by which the Indians would have perfuaded him to furrender, he kept up a conftant fire at them, changing his drefs as often as he T could,
1694.
274 1694.
HISTORY OF
could, thewing himfelf with a different cap, hat or coat, and fometimes without either, and giving directions aloud as if he had had a number of men with him. Finding their attempt vain, the enemy withdrew, and left him fole mafter of the houfe which he had defended with fuch admirable addrefs. Smith's, Bunker's, and Davis's garrifons, being feafonably appriz- ed of the danger, were refolutely defended; one Indian was fuppofed to be killed and another wounded by a fhot from Davis's. Jones's garrifon was befet before day ; Capt. Jones hearing his dogs bark, and imagin- ing wolves might be near, went out to fecure fome fwine and returned unmolefted. He then went up into the flankart and fat on the wall. Difcerning the flash of a gun, he dropped backward ; the ball entered the place from whence he had withdrawn his legs. The enemy from behind a rock kept firing on the houfe for fome time and then quitted it. During thefe tranf- actions the French prieft took poffeffion of the meeting-houfe, and employed himfelf in writing on the pulpit with chalk ; but the houfe received no damage.
Thofe parties of the enemy who were on the fouth fide of the river having com- pleted their deftructive work, collected in a field
275
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
a field adjoining to Burnham's garrifon, where they infultingly fhewed their pri- foners, and derided the people, thinking themfelves out of reach of their fhot. A young man from the centry-box fired at one who was making fome indecent figns of defiance, and wounded him in the heel : Him they placed on a horfe and carried away. Both divifions then met at the falls, where they had parted the evening before, and proceeded together to Capt. Wood- man's garrifon. The ground being un- even, they approached without danger, and from behind a hill kept up a long and fevere fire at the hats and caps which the people within held up on fticks above the walls, without any other damage than galling the roof of the houfe. At length, apprehending it was time for the people in the neighbouring fettlements to be col- lected in purfuit of them, they finally withdrew ; having killed and captivated between ninety and an hundred perfons, and burned about twenty houfes, of which five were garrifons *. The main body of them retreated over Winnipifeogee lake, where they divided their prifoners, fepa- rating thofe in particular who were moft T 2 intimately
* Charlevoix with his ufual parade boafts of their having killed two hundred and thirty people, and burned fifty or fiaty houfes He fpeaks of only two forts, both of which were fturmed.
1694.
276
HISTORY OF
1694.
intimately connected, in which they often took a pleafure fuited to their favage na- turet.
About forty of the enemy under Tox- us, a Norridgwog chief, refolving on far- ther mifchief, went weftward and did ex- ecution as far as Groton. A fmall par- ty having croffed the river Pafcataqua, came to a farm where Urfula Cutts, wid- ow of the deceafed prefident, refided, who imagining the enemy had done what mifchief they intended for that time, could not be perfuaded to remove into town till her haymaking fhould be finithed. As the was in the field with her labourers, the enemy fired from an ambufh and killed her, with three others. Colonel Richard Waldron
Magnalia, lib. 7. p.86.
+ Among thefe prifoners were Thomas Drew and his wife who were newly married. He was carried to Canada, where he contin- ued two years and was redeemed. She to Norridgwog, and was gone four years, in which the endured every thing bue death. She was delivered of a child in the winter, in the open air, and in a violent fnow ftorm. Being unable to fuckle her child, or provide it any food, the Indians killed ir. She lived fourteen days on a decoction of the bark of trees, Once they fet her to draw a fled up a river againft a piercing north-weft wind, and left her. She was fo overcome with the cold that the grew ileepy, laid down and was nearly dead, when they returned ; they carried her fenfelefs to a wigwam, and poured warm water down her throat, which re- covered her. After her return to her hufband, fhe had fourteen children ; they lived together till he was ninety three and the eigh- ty nine years of age ; they died within two days of each other and were buried in one grave.
0 Thefe particular circumfrances of the deftruction at Oyfter river were at my defire collected from the information of aged peo- ris by John Smith, Er. a defendant of one of the fuffering tam- ;les.
277
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Waldron and his wife with their infant fon (afterward fecretary ) had almoft thar- ed the fame fate ; they were taking boat to go and dine with this lady, when they were ftopped by the arrival of fome friends at their houfe ; whilft at dinner they were informed of her death. She lived about two miles above the town of Portfinouth, and had laid out her farm with much ele- gance. The fcalps taken in this whole expedition were carried to Canada by Ma- dokawando, and prefented to Count Fron- tenac, from whom he received the reward of his treacherous adventure.
There is no mention of any more mif- 1695. chief by the Indians within this province till the next year, when, in the month of July, two men, were killed at Exeter. The following year, on the feventh day of 1696. May, John Church, who had been taken and efcaped from them feven years before, was killed and fcalped at Cochecho, near his own houfe. On the twenty-fixth of June an attack was made at Portfmouth plain, about two miles from the town. The enemy came from York-nubble to Sandy-beach in canoes, which they hid there among the bufhes near the fhore. Some fufpicion was formed the day before by reafon of the cattle running out of the woods
1694.
278
HISTORY OF
1696. woods at Little-harbour ; but falfe alarms were frequent and this was not much re- garded. Early in the morning the attack was made on five houfes at once ; fourteen perfons were killed on the fpot, one was fcalpedand left for dead, but recovered, and four were taken. Theenemy having plun- dered the houfes of what they could carry, fet them on fire, and made a precipitate retreat through the great fwamp. A com- pany of militia under Captain Shack- ford and Lieutenant Libbey purfued, and difcovered them cooking their breakfaft, at a place ever fince called Breakfaft hill. (Rye] The Indians were on the farther fide, having placed their captives between them- felves and the top of the hill, that in cafe of an attack they might firft receive the fire. The lieutenant pleaded to go round the hill, and come upon them below to cut off their retreat ; but the captain fear- ing that in that cafe they would, accord- ing to their cuftom, kill the prifoners, rufhed upon them from the top of the hill, by which means they retook the captives and plunder, but the Indians, rolling down the hill, efcaped into the fwamp and got to Their canoes. Another party, under anoth- er commander, Gerrifh, was thenfent out in ihallops to intercept them as they fhould crofs
279
Magnalia, lib. 7.p. 89.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
crois over to the eaftward by night. The 1696. captain ranged his boats in a line, and or- dered his men to referve their fire till he gave the watch-word. It being a calm night the Indians were heard as they ad- vanced ; but the captain, unhappily giving the word before they had come within gun-fhot, they tacked about to the fouth- ward, and going round the Ifles of Shoals, by the favour of their light canoes efcaped. The watch-word was Crambo, which the captain ever after bore as an appendage to his title *. On the twenty-fixth day of July, the people of Dover were waylaid as they were returning from the public worfhip, when three were killed, three wounded, and three carried to Penobfcot, from whence they foon found their way home.
The next year on the tenth of June, the town of Exeter was remarkably pre- ferved from deftruction. A body of the enemy had placed themfelves near the town, intending to make an affault in the morning of the next day. A number of women and children contrary to the advice of their friends went into the fields, with- out a guard, to gather ftrawberries. When they
* The account of this tranfaction I bad from the late Judge Parker, who had taken pains to preferve it. It is mentioned, but not circumftantially, by Dr. Mather. Magnalia, 1b. 7 p &c.
1 697.
280
HISTORY OF
1697. they were gone, fome perfons, to frighten them, fired analarm ; which quickly fpread through the town, and brought the people together in arms. The Indians fuppofing that they were difcovered, and quickened by fear, after killing one, wounding ano- ther, and taking a child, made a hafty re- treat and were feen no more there. But on the fourth day of July they waylaid and killed the worthy Major Froft at Kit- tery, to whom they had owed revenge ever fince the feizure of the four hundred at Cochecho, in which he was concerned.
Mag. lib. 7. p. 91. MS Journal.
The fame year an invafion of the coun- try was projected by the French. A fleet was to fail from France to Newfoundland and thence to Penobfcot, where being join- ed by an army from Canada, an attempt was to be made on Bofton, and the fea- coaft ravaged from thence to Pafcataqua. The plan was too extenfive and compli- cated to be executed in one fummer. The fleet came no further than Newfoundland ; when the advanced feafon, and fcantinefs of provifions obliged them to give over the defign. The people of New-England were apprized of the danger, and made the beft preparations in their power. They ftrengthened their fortifications on the coaft, and raifed a body of men to de- defend
28ť
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
fend the frontiers againft the Indians who were expected to co-operate with the French. Some mifchief was done by lurking parties at the eaftward ; but New- Hampthire was unmolefted by them during the remainder of this, and the whole of the following year.
After the peace of Ryfwick, Count Frontenac informed the Indians that he could not any longer fupport them in a war with the Englith, with whom his na- tion was then at peace. He therefore ad- vifed them to bury the hatchet and reftore their captives. Having fuffered much by famine, and being divided in their opini- ons about profecuting the war, after a long time they were brought to a treaty at Cafco ; where they ratified their former engagements ; acknowledged fubjection to the crown of England ; lamented their former perfidy, and promifed future peace and good behaviour in fuch terms as the commiffioners dictated, and with as much fincerity as could be expected. At the fame time they reftored thofe captives who were able to travel from the places of their detention to Cafco in that unfavourable feafon of the year ; giving affurance for the return of the others in the fpring ; but many of the younger fort, both males and females
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