USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire > Part 24
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It appears from Penhallow, (Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. i. 48) that the Indians fell on a garrison in Dunstable, "that had twenty troopers posted in it, who by their negligence and folly, keeping no watch, suffered them to enter, which tended to the destruction of one half of their number. After that, a small party attacked Jacob Galusha's house, who held them in play for some time, till the old man's courage failed," and he surrendered himself. "About the same time," says Penhallow, " Joseph English, who was a friendly In- dian, going from Dunstable to Chelmsford, with a man and his wife on horse- back, was shot dead, the woman taken, but the man made his escape." See a more particular account of the attack on Dunstable, on the 3 July, 1706, in Coll. of N. H. Hist. Soc. i, 133, and in Pike's MS. Journal.]
* [1707. On the 23 June, this year, a petition, alleging various instances of misconduct in Governor Dudley was presented to Queen Ann at Windsor.
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1707.
Early in the spring, the governor applied to the assemblies of both his provinces, and to the colonies of Rhode Island and Con- necticut, requesting them to raise one thousand men for the ex- pedition. Connecticut declined ; but the other three raised the whole number, who were disposed into two regiments, of which Colonel Wainwright commanded the one, and Colonel Hilton the May 18. other. They embarked at Nantasket in twenty three transports furnished with whaleboats, under convoy of the Deptford man of war, Captain Stuckley, and the province galley, Captain Southack. The chief command was given to Colonel March, who had behaved well in several scouts and rencounters with the Indians, but had never been tried in such service as this. May 26. They arrived before Port Royal in a few days, and after burning some houses, killing some cattle round the fort, and making some ineffectual attempts to bombard it, a jealousy and disagreement among the officers, and a misapprehension of of the state of the fort and garrison, caused the army to break up June 6, 7. and reimbark in a disorderly manner. Some of the of- ficers went to Boston for orders ; some of the transports put in at Casco; a sloop with Captain Chesley's company of six- ty men arrived at Portsmouth : Chesley suffered his men to dis- June 13, perse, but ordered them to return at the beat of the drum : Being called to account for this conduct, he plead- ed that " general orders were given at Port Royal for every man ' to make the best of his way home."1 The governor, highly chagrined and very angry, sent orders from Boston that if any more vessels should arrive, the men should not be permitted to come on shore " on pain of death." After a while, he ordered Chesley's company to be collected and reimbarked, offering a pardon to those who might voluntarily return, the rest to be se- verely punished. By the latter end of July, they went on board, and with the rest of the army, returned to the place of action. At the landing, an ambuscade of Indians from among the sedge on the top of a sea-wall, greatly annoyed the troops. Major Walton* and Captain Chesley, being then on shore with the New-Hampshire companies, pushed their men up the beach, flanked the enemy, and after an obstinate struggle put them to
(1) Council Records.
The same petition was read before the general assembly of New-Hampshire, when the council and representatives in full assembly, nemine contradicente, voted that some of the charges were scandalous, unheard of, and false re- proaches, and drew up an address to the queen in which " they acquit and justify his administration from all those calumnies and pray her majesty's fa- vor to him." Dudley's Defence and Apology in MS. dated 10 Nov. 1707.]
* [Shadrach Walton, son of George Walton (see note to page 94) was born in 1658, and was often engaged in public life. He was appointed by manda- mus, one of the counsellors of the province in 1716, and died 3 October, 1741, aged 83 years. Benjamin Walton, who graduated at Harvard college in 1729, is said by Mr. Winthrop to have been a son of Colonel Walton.]
175
PROVINCE. JOSEPH DUDLEY.
1707.]
flight. The command was now given to Wainwright, and the ar- my put under the direction of three supervisors ; but no means could inspire that union, firmness and skill which were necessary. By the last of August, the whole affair was at an end, and the army returned sickly, fatigued, disheartened, and ashamed ; but with no greater loss than sixteen killed and as many wounded.
While this unfortunate expedition was in hand, the frontiers were kept in continual alarm. Two men were taken May 22. from Oyster river, and two more killed* as they were July 3.
driving a team between that place and Dover. Captain Sumersby pursued with his troop and recovered the contents of the cart. Stephen and Jacob Gilman, brothers, were ambushed between Exeter and Kingston ; their horses were killed, but both of them escaped to the garrison.1 Kingston, being a new plantation, was much exposed, and was this summer weakened by the de- sertion of eight men. The remaining inhabitants complained to the government, who ordered the captains of Exeter and Hamp- ton to take them up as deserters, and oblige them to return to the defence of their settlements, or do duty at the fort during the governor's pleasure.2 They were afterwards bound over to the sessions for contempt of orders. The state of the country at this time was truly distressed; a large quota of their best men were abroad, the rest harassed by the enemy at home, obliged to continual duty in garrisons and in scouts, and subject to severe discipline for neglects. They earned their bread at the continual hazard of their lives, never daring to stir abroad unarm- ed. They could till no lands but what were within call of the garrisoned houses, into which their families were crowded ; their husbandry, lumber trade and fishery were declining, their taxes increasing, their apprehensions both from the force of the enemy and the failure of the Port Royal expedition, were exceedingly dismal, and there was no prospect of an end to the war, in which they were now advanced to the fifth summer. Yet under all these distresses and discouragements, they resolutely kept their ground and maintained their garrisons, not one of which was cut off during the whole of this war, within the limits of New-Hamp- shire.
In September, one man was killed at Exeter, and two Sept. 15. days after, Henry Elkins at Kingston. But the severest Sept. 17. blow on the frontiers happened at Oyster river, a place which suffered more than all the rest. A party of French Mohawks painted red, attacked with an hideous yell a company who were in the woods, some hewing timber and others driving a team, un-
(1) Penhallow, p. 45. (2) Council Records.
* [John Bunker and Ichabod Rawlins, both of Dover. The enemy were supposed to be from 20 to 30. They slaughtered many cattle at the same time. Rev. John Pike, MS. Journal.]
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1707.
der the direction of Captain Chesley, who was just returned the second time from Port Royal. At the first fire, they killed seven and mortally wounded another. Chesley, with the few who were left fired on the enemy with great vigor, and for some time check- ed their ardor ; but being overpowered, he at length fell. He was much lamented, being a brave officer. Three of the scalps taken at this time were soon after recovered at Berwick.
The next year, a large army from Canada was destined against the frontiers of New-England. Dudley received information of 1708. it in the usual route from Albany, and immediately or- dered guards in the most exposed places of both his prov- inces. A troop under Captain Robert Coffin patroled from Kings- ton to Cochecho, and scouts were kept out continually. Spy- boats were also kept out at sea between Pascataqua and Winter harbors. Four hundred Massachusetts soldiers were posted in this province. The towns were ordered to provide ammunition, and all things were in as good a state of preparation as could be Aug. 29. enemy's force having been diminished by various acci- expected. At length, the storm fell on Haverhill ; but the dents, they proceeded no farther, and every part of New-Hamp- shire was quiet. Hilton made another winter march to Pequaw- ket with one hundred and seventy men, but made no discovery.1
The next spring, William Moody,* Samuel Stevens, and two sons of Jeremiah Gilman were taken at Pickpocket-mill in 1709. Exeter, and soon after, Bartholomew Stevenson was kill-
May 8. ed at Oyster river. Colonel Hilton and Captain Davist performed their usual tour of duty in scouting, and the people this June 20. summer kept close in garrison, on a report that two hundred Indians had marched against them from Montreal. But the principal object now in view was a desire of wiping off the disgrace of a former year by an attempt, not on Port Royal, but on Canada itself. For this purpose, solicitations had been made in England by Francis Nicholson, Esq., who had been lieutenant-
(1) Penhallow, 45, 48.
* [He was retaken within a month afterwards by some Deerfield men, who, in their course up French river, met with a body of the enemy in canoes, on whom they fired, and overset, killing and wounding several of them. In one of their canoes was William Moody with only one Indian with him. The English persuaded him to make his escape by killing his adversary. This he attempted to do, but overset the canoe in the struggle, and then swam to- wards the shore, and was met on the bank of the river, by several English who came to his rescue. In the mean time, a number of the enemy arrived at the bank, re-captured Moody, who was most inhumanly tortured by being fastened to a stake and roasted alive. His flesh was afterward devoured by the savages. Penhallow in Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. i. 60,61. Pike, MS. Journal.]
t [James Davis was the son of John Davis of Dover, and was born 23 May, 1662. He was an active and useful officer, and after this period became a colonel of the militia. He died in 1749, aged 87. He had nine children, whose ages averaged 87 years each.]
177
PROVINCE. JOSEPH DUDLEY.
1709.]
governor of Virginia, and Captain Samuel Vetch, a trader to No- va-Scotia, who was well acquainted with the French settlements there, and made a full representation of the state of things in A- merica to the British ministry. An expedition being determined upon, they came over early in the spring with the queen's com- mand to the governors of the several provinces, to raise men for the service. Vetch was appointed a colonel, and Nicholson, by nomination of the governor of New-York, and consent of the other governments, was made commander in chief. The people of New-Hampshire were so much exhausted, and their men had been so ill paid before, that it was with great difficulty, and not without the dissolution of one assembly and the calling of another, that they could raise money to levy one hundred men and procure two transports for conveying them. After the utmost exertions had been made by the several governments, and Nicholson with part of the troops had marched to Wood-creek, and the rest with the transports had lain at Nantasket three months waiting for a fleet, news arrived that the armament promised from England was diverted to another quarter. Upon which, the commander of the frigates on the Boston station refused to convey the troops, the whole army was disbanded, and the expense the colonies had been at was fruitless. A congress of governors and delegates from the assemblies met in the fall at Rhode-Island, who recom- mended the sending of agents to assist. Colonel Nicholson in rep- resenting the state of the country, and soliciting an expedition against Canada the next spring. The ministry at first seemed to listen to this proposal, but afterward changed their minds, 1710.
and resolved only on the reduction of Port Royal. For this purpose, Nicholson came over in July with five frigates and a bomb ketch ; the colonies then had to raise their quotas ; Aug. 1. the New-Hampshire assembly ordered one hundred men,
who were got ready as soon as possible, and put under the com- mand of Colonel Shadrach Walton. The whole armament sailed from Boston the eighteenth of September, and on the twenty- fourth, arrived at the place. The force now being equal to its reduction, Subcrease, the governor, waited only the compliment of a few shot and shells as a decent pretence for a surrender ; which was completed on the fifth of October, and Vetch was ap- pointed governor of the place which in honor of the queen was called Annapolis.1
Whilst this expedition was in hand, and before the appointment of the commanders, New-Hampshire sustained an heavy loss in the death of Colonel Winthrop Hilton. This worthy offi- July 22. cer being concerned in the masting business, and having
several large trees felled about fourteen miles from home, went out
(1) Hutchinson and Penhallow. [The latter spells the name of the French governor Supercass, while the former has it Subercase.]
25
178
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1710.
with a party to peel the bark that the wood might not be injured by worms. While engaged in this business, they were ambushed by a party of Indians, who, at the first fire, killed Hilton with two more, and took two; the rest being terrified, and their guns being wet, made no opposition, but escaped. The next day, one hun- dred men marched in pursuit, but discovered only the mangled bodies of the dead. The enemy in their barbarous triumph had struck their hatchets into the colonel's brains, and left a lance in his heart. He was a gentleman " of good temper, courage and " conduct, respected and lamented by all that knew him," and was buried with the honors due to his rank and character.1 *
Flushed with this success, they insolently appeared in the open road at Exeter, and took four children who were at their play. They also took John Wedgwood, and killed John Magoon near his brother's barn, a place which for three days, he had visited with a melancholy apprehension arising from a dream that he should there be murdered.
The same day that Hilton was killed, a company of Indians who had pretended friendship, who the year before had been peaceably conversant with the inhabitants of Kingston, and seem- ed to be thirsting after the blood of the enemy, came into the town, and ambushing the road, killed Samuel Winslow and Sam- uel Huntoon. They also took Philip Huntoon and Jacob Gil- man, and carried them to Canada ; where, after some time, they
(1) Penhallow, p. 58.
* [Colonel Hilton was about 39 years of age. He was descended from two of the most distinguished fathers of New-England. His father Edward Hil- ton, who was son of Edward Hilton, the first settler at Dover, married Ann Dudley, born 16 October, 1641, who was daughter of Rev. Samuel Dudley and Mary Winthrop, the son and daughter of governors Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop. Col. Hilton married Ann Wilson, of Exeter, who, after his death, married Capt. Jonathan Wadleigh, and died 8 March, 1744. The chil- dren of Colonel Hilton were five daughters and one son, Winthrop, who was born 21 Dec. 1710, five months after his father's death. He married widow Wiggin, originally Martha Weeks, of Greenland. Their children were, 1. Winthrop, of Newmarket, who was killed by the fall of a tree in January, 1775, (N.H.Gazette) leaving children, Andrew, Winthrop, Sarah and Ichabod ; 2. Ichabod, who died in March, 1822, aged 82, and whose children were Winthrop, of Newmarket, Susanna and Ann. There is a valuable memoir of Col. Hilton in the Collections of Farmer and Moore, for 1822, vol. i. 241 -- 251. At the close of it, it is said, " the colonel, respected and lamented by all who knew him, was buried with the honors due to his rank and character, in his own field on the west bank of Lamprey river by the side of his Ameri- can ancestors, where several of his descendants of four generations have since been gathered around him. A cluster of wild rose bushes grows rank over his grave, and the inscription on his moss-covered monument shows when a brave and a good man died, and where the remains of him who sincere- ly loved and faithfully served both God and his country, have long since mouldered into dust." Dudley Hilton, a brother of the colonel, was of the party, and was never heard of after the attack.
An elegant silver headed cane which belonged to Colonel Hilton is in pos- session of John Kelly, Esq., of Northwood, whose children are lineal de- scendants from the colonel.]
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PROVINCE. JOSEPH DUDLEY.
1710.]
purchased their own redemption by building a saw-mill for the governor after the English mode.1
The last that fell this summer was Jacob Garland, who was killed at Cochecho, on his return from the public worship. As the winter approached, Colonel Walton with one hundred and seventy men traversed the eastern shores, which the Indians usually visited at this season for the purpose of gathering clarns. On an Island where the party was encamped, several Indians decoyed by their smoke, and mistaking them for some of their own tribe, came among them and were made prisoners. One of them was a sachem of Norridgewog, active, bold and sullen : when he found himself in the hands of enemies, he would answer none of their questions, and laughed with scorn at their threatening him with death. His wife, being an eye witness of the execution of the threatening, was so intimidated as to make the discoveries which the captors had in vain desired of the sachem ; in consequence of which, three were taken at the place of which she informed, and two more at Saco river, where also five were killed. This success, inconsiderable as it may appear, kept up the spirits of the people, and added to the loss of the enemy, who were daily diminishing by sickness and famine.
In the spring, they renewed their ravages on the frontiers in small parties. Thomas Downs, John Church,* and three 1711. more were killed at Cochecho ; and on a sabbath day, several of the people there fell into an ambush as they were re- turning from public worship. John Horn was wounded, and Humphrey Foss was taken ; but, by the determined bravery of Lieutenant Heard, he was recovered out of the hands of the en- emy. Walton, with two companies, marched to the ponds about the fishing season ; but the Indians had withdrawn, and nothing was to be seen but their deserted wigwams.2
After the reduction of Port Royal, Nicholson went to England to solicit an expedition against Canada. The tory ministry of Queen Anne, to the surprise of all the whigs in England and America, fell in with the proposal ; and on the eighth of June, Nicholson came to Boston with orders for the northern colonies to get ready their quotas of men and provision at the arrival of the fleet and army from Europe; which happened within sixteen days; and whilst the several governors were holding a consulta- tion on the subject of their orders. A compliance with them in so short a time was impossible ; yet every thing that could be done was done; the nature of the service conspiring with the wishes of the people, made the governments exert themselves to the utmost. New-Hampshire raised one hundred men ; which was more than they could well spare ; one half of the militia be-
(1) MS. Letter of Ward Clark to Prince. (2) Penhallow, p. 60.
* [He was the son of John Church, who was killed by the Indians, 7 May, 1696. He was 43 years of age .. ]
180
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1711.
ing continually employed in guarding the frontiers. They also voted them subsistence for one hundred and twenty-six days, be- sides providing for them on shore before their embarkation. Two transports were taken up at eight shillings per month per ton ; and artillery stores were issued from the fort. The colony forces formed two regiments under the command of Vetch and Walton. The army which came from England were seven veteran regi- ments of the Duke of Marlborough's army, and a battalion of marines, under the command of brigadier-general Hill, which, joined with the New-England troops, made a body of about six thousand five hundred men, provided with a fine train of artillery. The fleet consisted of fifteen ships of war from eighty to thirty- six guns, with forty transports and six storeships under the com- mand of Admiral Walker.1 A force fully equal to the reduction of Quebec.
The fleet sailed from Boston on the thirtieth of July ; and a fast was ordered by Dudley to be kept on the last Thursday of that, and each succeeding month, till the enterprise should be finished." This was an imitation of the conduct of the long par- liament, during the civil wars in the last century. But the san- guine hopes of success which had been entertained by the nation and the colonies were all blasted in one fatal night. For, the fleet having advanced ten leagues into the river St. Lawrence, in the night of the twenty-third of August, the weather being thick and dark, eight transports were wrecked on Egg-Island near the north shore, and one thousand people perished ; among whom there was but one man who belonged to New-England. The next day, the fleet put back, and were eight days beating down the river against an easterly wind which would in two days have carried them to Quebec. After rendezvousing at Spanish river, in the island of Cape-Breton, and holding a fruitless consultation about annoying the French at Placentia, the expedition was bro- ken up : the fleet returned to England, and the New-England troops to their homes. Loud complaints and heavy charges were made on this occasion ; the ignorance of the pilots ; the obstinacy of the admiral ; the detention of the fleet at Boston ; its late arrival there ; the want of seasonable orders ; and the secret intentions of the ministry, were all subjects of bitter alter- cation ;3 but the miscarriage was never regularly enquired into, Oct. 9. and the voyage was finally settled by the blowing up of the admiral's ship, with most of his papers, and four hundred seamen, at Spithead.
The failure of this expedition encouraged the Indians to harass 1712. the frontiers as soon as the season would permit. In
April, one Cunningham was killed at Exeter; Ensign Tuttle at Dover, and Jeremiah Crommet at Oyster river. On
(1) Penhallow, page 64. Hutch. vol. 2, page 190. (2) Council Records .- (3) Dummer's defence and letter to a noble lord.
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PROVINCE. JOSEPH DUDLEY.
1712.]
one of the upper branches of this stream, the enemy burned a saw-mill with a large quantity of boards. A scouting party, who went up the river Merrimack, had the good fortune to surprise and kill eight Indians, and recover a considerable quantity of plunder, without the loss of a man. The frontiers were well guarded. One half of the militia did duty at the garrisons and were ready to march at a minute's warning ; a scout of forty men kept ranging on the heads of the towns, and the like care was taken by sea, spy-boats being employed in coasting from Cape Neddock to the Great Boar's head. Notwithstanding this vigilance, small parties of the enemy were frequently seen. Stephen Gilman and Ebenezer Stevens were wounded at Kingston. The former was taken and put to death. In July, an ambushı June 3. was discovered at Dover, but the enemy escaped ; and while a party was gone in pursuit of them, two children of John Waldron were taken, and for want of time to scalp them, their heads were cut off. There being no man at that time in Heard's garrison, a woman named Esther Jones mounted guard, and with a com- manding voice called so loudly and resolutely, as made the enemy think there was help at hand, and prevented farther mischief.
In the autumn, the news of the peace of Utrecht arrived in America ; and on the 29th of October, the suspension of arms was proclaimed at Portsmouth. The Indians being informed of this event, came in with a flag of truce to Captain Moody at Cas- co, and desired a treaty ; which the governor, with the council of each province, held at Portsmouth, where the chiefs and 1713. deputies of the several belligerent tribes, by a formal wri- July 11. ting* under hand and seal, acknowledged their perfidy, promised fidelity, renewed their allegiance, submitted to the laws, and begged the queen's pardon for their former miscarriages. 1 The frequent repetition of such engagements and as frequent violations of them, had by this time much abated the sense of obligation on the one part, and of confidence on the other. But it being for the interest of both parries to be at peace, the event was peculiarly welcome.
To preserve the dependence of the Indians, and to prevent all occasions of complaint, private traffic with them was forbidden and ||truck houses established||| at the public expense ; and 1714. the next summer, a ship was fitted out by both provinces,
and sent to Quebec, where an exchange of prisoners was ef- fected.
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