USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
(1) Hutch. Hist. Mass, ii. 309. New-England Courant. MS. of Hugh Adams.
went the next spring and redeemed his wife, the three younger children and the nurse but he could not obtain the elder daughter of seventeen years old, though he saw and conversed with her. He also redeemed Ebenezer Downs. He made a second attempt in 1727, but died at Crown-point, on his way to Canada. The girl was married to a Frenchman, and never returned.
* [He was afterwards colonel of a regiment of provincials at the seige of Louisburg in 1745. He was also a member of the executive council of Mas- sachusetts, and sustained with high reputation, the first civil and military of- fices in the county of York. He died in the town of York, 20 July, 1765, aged 77. Alden, Coll. of Epitaphs, ii. 118.]
t [From the Memoir before quoted, it may be proper to give an abstract of the French account of the attack on Narrantsonak or Norridgewog, as given by Father de la Chasse, superior general of the missions to New France. (See 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. 254.)
" There were not above fifty fighing men in the village. These took to their arms, and ran out in confusion, not with any expectation of defending the place against an enemy already in possession, but to favor the escape of their wives, their old men and children, and to give them time to gain the oth- er side of the river, of which the English had not then possessed themselves.
" The noise and tumult gave Father Rasles notice of the danger his con- verts were in. Not intimidated, he went out to meet the assailants in hopes to draw all his attention to himself and secure his flock at the peril of his own life. He was not disappointed. As soon as he appeared, the English set up a shout, which was followed by a shower of shot, and he fell near a cross which he had erected in the middle of the village, and with him seven Indians, who had accompanied him to shelter him with their own bodies. The Indians, in the greatest consternation at his death, immediately took to flight, and crossed the river, some by fording, and others swimming. The enemy pursued them until they entered far into the woods ; and then returned, and pillaged and burnt the church and the wigwams. Notwithstanding so many shot had been fired, only thirty of the Indians were slain, and fourteen wounded. After having accomplished their object, the English withdrew with such precipita- tion that it seemed rather a flight than a victory." 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. 254, 255.]
# [Sebastian Rasles, or Ralle, was of a respectable family in Franche-Comte, and was born about the year 1657. Being appointed a missionary from the Society of Jesuits to the Indians of North America, he embarked at Rochelle, in France, on the 23d of July 1689, and arrived at Quebec, in October follow- ing. He immediately applied himself to learning the language of the Abna- kis ; and went to reside in their village, containing 200 inhabitants and situ- ated about three leagues from Quebec, in the midst of a forest. Among the various tribes of Indians, he passed the rest of his life, conforming to their customs, living upon their unpalatable food, in irregular and uncertain sup-
207
PROVINCE. JOHN WENTWORTH.
1724.]
The parties of Indians who were abroad, continued to ravage the frontiers. Two men being missing from Dunstable, a scout of eleven went in quest of thein. They were fired upon by thir- ty of the enemy, and nine of them were killed.1 The Sept. 5. other two made their escape, though one of them was badly wounded .* Afterward another company fell into their ambush
(1) New-England Courant.
plies ; taking long journeys through a rugged wilderness, without shelter or comfortable repose by night, and with incessant fatigue by day. He is said to have been a man of superior sense and profound learning ; and particular- ly skilled in Latin, which he wrote with classical purity. See Memoir of him in 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. 250-257.]
* [The persons taken were Nathan Cross and Thomas Blanchard, who had been engaged in the manufacture of turpentine on the north side of Nashua river, near where Nashua village now stands. At that time, there were no houses or settlements on that side of the river. These men had been in the habit of returning every night to lodge in a saw mill on the other side. That night they came not as usual. An alarm was given, as it was feared they had fallen into the hands of the Indians. A party consisting of ten of the princi- pal inhabitants of the place started in search of them under the direction of one French, a sergeat of the militia. In this company was Joseph Farwell, who was the next year lieutenant under Lovewell. When this party arrived at the spot where these men had been laboring, they found the hoops of the barrel cut, and the turpentine spread on the ground. From certain marks on the trees made with coal mixed with grease, they understood that the men were taken and carried off alive. In the course of the examination, Farwell perceived the turpentine had not ceased spreading, and called the attention of his comrades to this circumstance. They concluded that the Indians had been gone but a short time, and must be near, and decided upon an instant pursuit. Farwell advised them to take a circuitous route, to avoid an ambush ; but un- fortunately, he and French had a short time previous had a misunderstanding, and were then at variance. French imputed this advice to cowardice, and called out, " I am going to take the direct path ; if any of you are not afraid, let him follow me." French led the way, and the whole party followed, Far- well falling in the rear. Their route was up the Merrimack, towards which they bent their course to look for their horses upon the interval. At the brook, near Lutwyche's (now Thornton's) ferry, they were way-laid. The Indians fired upon them, and killed the larger part instantly. A few fled, but were overtaken and destroyed. French was killed about a mile from the place of action, under an oak tree, lately standing in a field belonging to Mr. Lund of Merrimack. Farwell, in the rear, seeing those before him fall, sprung behind a tree, discharged his piece and ran. Two Indians pursued him : the chase was vigorously maintained for some time, without gaining much advantage, till Farwell passing through a thicket, the Indians lost sight of him, and probably fearing he might have loaded again, they desisted. He was the only one of the company that escaped. A company from the neigh- borhood mustered on the news of this disaster, proceeded to the fatal spot, took up the bodies of their friends and townsmen, and interred them in the burying ground in Dunstable.
My friend J. B. Hill, Esq., of Exeter, Maine, to whom I am indebted for the preceding note, communicated in 1823, informs me, that in the old church yard in Dunstable, on the road to Boston, near the south line of the town, is a monument with the following inscription, copied verbatim et literatim.
" Memento Mori. Here lies the body of Mr. THOMAS LUND, who departed this life, Sept. 5th, 1724, in the 42d year of his age. This man with seven inore that lies in this grave was slew all in a day by the Indiens."
208
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1724.
and engaged them ; but the enemy being superior in number overpowered them, killed one, and wounded four, the rest
Sept. 7. retreated. At Kingston, Jabez Colman* and his son Jo- seph, were killed as they were at work in the field.1 The success of the forces at Norridgewog and the large premium offered for scalps, having induced several volunteer companies to go out, they visited one after another of the Indian villages, but found them deserted. The fate of Norridgewog had struck such a ter- ror into them, that they did not think themselves safe at any of their former places of abode, and occupied them as resting places only, when they were scouting or hunting.
One of these volunteer companies, under the command of captain John Lovewell of Dunstable, was greatly distinguished, first by their success and afterwards by their misfortunes. This company consisted of thirty. At their first excursion to the Dec. 19. northward of Winnipiseogee lake, they discovered an In-
dian wigwam, in which were a man and a boy.2 They killed and scalped the man and brought the boy alive to Boston, where they received the reward, promised by law, and a hand- some gratuity besides.
By this success, his company was augmented to seventy. They marched again, and visiting the place where they had killed the Indian, found his body as they had left it two months before. 3 Their provision falling short, thirty of them were dismissed 1725.
by lot and returned. The remaining forty continued their march till they discovered a track, which they followed till they saw a smoke just before sunset, by which they judged that Feb. 20. the enemy were encamped for the night.4 They kept themselves concealed till after midnight ; when they silently ad- vanced, and discovered ten Indians asleep, round a fire, by the side of a frozen pond. Lovewell now determined to make sure work ; and placing his men conveniently, ordered a part of them to fire, five at once, as quick after each other as possible, and an- other part to reserve their fire : he gave the signal, by firing his own gun, which killed two of them ; the men firing according to order, killed five more on the spot ; the other three starting up
(1) Penhallow, p. 106. (2) Ibid. p. 107. (3) New-England Courant .- (4) MS. of Hugli Adams.
Blanchard and Cross were carried to Canada. After remaining there some time, they succeeded by their own exertions in effecting their redemption, and returned to their native town. The text says that the party who went after them consisted of eleven; Penhallow says fourteen, but the number stated in this note is probably correct, it being derived from the late colonel E. Bancroft of Tyngsborough.]
* [The late venerable Samuel Welch, of Bow, who died 5 April, 1823, in the 113th year of his age, remembered the death of Colman, as well as the capture of Colcord and Stevens, mentioned under May, 1724, and related to the editor some of the circumstances of these attacks of the Indians, less than a month before his death. It scemed from his account that Colman was shot, " one ball through his neck and another through his hip."]
209
PROVINCE. JOHN WENTWORTH.
1725.]
from their sleep, two of them were immediately shot dead by the reserve. The other, though wounded, attempted to escape by crossing the pond, but was seized by a dog and held fast till they killed him. Thus in a few minutes the whole company was de- stroyed, and some attempt against the frontiers of New-Hamp- shire prevented ; for these Indians were marching from Canada, well furnished with new guns, and plenty of ammunition ; they had also a number of spare blankets, mockaseens and snow-shoes for the accommodation of the prisoners whom they expected to take, and were within two day's march of the frontiers.1 The pond where this exploit was performed is at the head of a branch of Salmonfall river, in the township of Wakefield, and has ever since borne the name of Lovewell's pond. The action is spoken of by elderly people, at this distance of time, with an air of ex- ultation ; and considering the extreme difficulty of finding and attacking Indians in the woods, and the judicious manner in which they were so completely surprised, it was a capital exploit.
The brave company, with the ten scalps stretched on hoops, and elevated on poles, entered Dover in triumph, and pro- Feb. 24. ceeded thence to Boston ; where they received the bounty of one hundred pounds for each, out of the public treasury.
Encouraged by this success, Lovewell marched a third time ; intending to attack the villages of Pequawket, on the upper Mar. 9.
part of the river Saco, which had been the residence of a formidable tribe, and which they still occasionally inhabited.2 His company at this time consisted of forty-six, including a chaplain and surgeon. Two of them proving lame, returned ; another falling sick, they halted and built a stockade fort on the west side of great Ossipee pond ; partly for the accommodation of the sick man, and partly for a place of retreat in case of any misfortune. Here the surgeon was left with the sick man, and eight of the company for a guard. The number was now reduced to thirty- four .* Pursuing their march to the northward, they came to a
(1) Penhallow, p. 110. (2) Symmes's Memoirs.
[The names of this brave company deserve to be transmitted to posterity. They were Capt. John Lovewell, Lieut. Joseph Farwell, Lieut. Jonathan Rob- bins, Ensign John Harwood, Sergeant Noah Johnson, Robert Usher and Sam- uel Whiting, all of Dunstable ; Ensign Seth Wyman, Corporal Thomas Rich- ardson, Timothy Richardson, Ichabod Johnson and Josiah Johnson of Wo- burn ; Eleazar Davis, Josiah Davis, Josiah Jones, David Melvin, Eleazar Melvin, Jacob Farrar and Joseph Farrar of Concord ; Chaplain Jonathan Frye of Andover ; Sergeant Jacob Fulham of Weston ; Corp. Edward Lingfield of Nutfield ; Jonathan Kittredge and Solomon Keyes of Billerica ; Jolin Jefts, Daniel Woods, Thomas Woods, John Chamberlain, Elias Barron, Isaac Lar- kin and Joseph Gilson of Groton ; Ebenezer Ayer and Abiel Asten of Haver- hill ; and one whose name was considered unworthy of being transmitted to posterity. Noah Johnson was the last survivor of this company. He was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, and one of the first settlers of Pembroke, the town granted to the survivors and the heirs of those who were killed, where he was deacon of the church. He removed to Plymouth in his old age, and there died 13 August, 1798, in the 100th year of his age.]
29
210
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1725.
pond, about twenty-two* miles distant from the fort, and encamped by the side of it. Early the next morning, while at their devo-
May 8. tions, they heard the report of a gun, and discovered a single Indian, standing on a point of land, which runs into the pond, more than a mile distant. They had been alarmed the preceding night by noises round their camp, which they imagined were made by Indians, and this opinion was now strengthened. They suspected that the Indian was placed there to decoy them, and that a body of the enemy was in their front. A consultation be- ing held, they determined to march forward, and by encompass- ing the pond, to gain the place where the Indian stood ; and that they might be ready for action, they disencumbered themselves of their packs, and left them, without a guard, at the northeast end of the pond, in a pitch-pine plain, where the trees were thin and the brakes, at that time of the year, small. It happened that Lovewell's march had crossed a carrying-place, by which two parties of Indians, consisting of forty-one men, commanded by Paugus and Wahwa, who had been scouting down Saco river, were returning to the lower village of Pequawket, distant about a mile and a half from this pond. Having fallen on his track, they followed it till they came to the packs, which they removed ; and counting them, found the number of his men to be less than their own. They therefore placed themselves in ambush, to attack them on their return. The Indian who had stood on the point, and was returning to the village, by another path, met them, and received their fire, which he returned, and wounded Lovewell and another with small shot. Lieutenant Wyman firing again, killed him, and they took his scalp.+ Seeing no other enemy, they returned to the place where they had left their packs, and while they were looking for them, the Indians rose and ran to- ward them with a horrid yelling. A smart firing commenced on both sides, it being now about ten of the clock. Captain Love-
* The printed accounts say forty ; it is probable that the march was circui- tous.
t This Indian has been celebrated as a hero, and ranked with the Roman Curtius, who devoted himself to death to save his country. (See Hutchin- son's History, vol. ii. page 315.)
Having been on the spot where this celebrated action happened, and having conversed with persons who were acquainted with the Indians of Pequawket, before and after this battle, I am convinced that there is no foundation for the idea that he was placed there as a decoy ; and that he had no claim to the character of a hero. The point on which he stood is a noted fishing place ; the gun which alarmed Lovewell's company was fired at a flock of ducks ; and when they met him he was returning home with his game and two fowling pieces. The village was situated at the edge of the meadow, on Saco river ; which here forms a large bend. The remains of the stockades were found by the first settlers, forty years afterward. The pond is in the township of Frye- burg, [where, on the 19 May, 1825, was holden the first Centennial Celebra- tion of " Lovewell's Fight," and an Address delivered by Charles S. Daveis, Esquire. The Address, containing 64 pages 8vo. was published at Portland the same year, ].
211
PROVINCE. JOHN WENTWORTH.
1725.]
well and eight more were killed on the spot. Lieutenant Farwell and two others were wounded. Several of the Indians fell ; but, being superior in number, they endeavored to surround the party, who, perceiving their intention, retreated ; hoping to be sheltered by a point of rocks which ran into the pond, and a few large pine trees standing on a sandy beach. In this forlorn place, they took their station. On their right was the mouth of a brook, at that time unfordable ; on their left was the rocky point ; their front was partly covered by a deep bog and partly uncovered, and the pond was in their rear. The enemy galled them in front and flank, and had them so completely in their power, that had they made a prudent use of their advantage, the whole company must either have been killed, or obliged to surrender at discretion ; be- ing destitute of a mouthful of sustenance, and an escape being impracticable. Under the conduct of Lieutenant Wyman, they kept up their fire, and shewed a resolute countenance, all the re- mainder of the day ; during which, their chaplain, Jonathan Frye,* Ensign Robbins, and one more, were mortally wounded. The Indians invited them to surrender, by holding up ropes to them, and endeavored to intimidate them by their hideous yells ; but they determined to die rather than yield; and by their well di- rected fire, the number of the savages was thinned, and their cries became fainter, till, just before night, they quitted their advanta- geous ground, carrying off their killed and wounded, and leaving the dead bodies of Lovewell and his men unscalped. The shat- tered remnant of this brave company, collected themselves to- gether, found three of their number unable to move from the spot, eleven wounded but able to march, and nine who had received no hurt. It was melancholy to leave their dying companions behind, but there was no possibility of removing them. One of them, en- sign Robbins, desired them to lay his gun by him charged, that if the Indians should return before his death he might be able to kill one more. After the rising of the moon, they quitted the fatal spot, and directed their march toward the fort, where the surgeon and guard had been left. To their great surprise, they found it deserted. In the beginning of the action, one man, (whose name has not been thought worthy to be transmitted to posterity ) quitted the field, and fled to the fort ; where, in the style of Job's messen- gers, he informed them of Lovewell's death, and the defeat of the whole company ; upon which they made the best of their way home ; leaving a quantity of bread and pork, which was a season- able relief to the retreating survivors. From this place, they en- deavored to get home. Lieutenant Farwell and the chaplain, who had the journal of the march in his pocket, and one more,
* [He was the son of Capt. James Frye of Andover, where he was born .- He graduated at Harvard college in 1723. The large elm near the house of Mr. John Peters in Andover, was set out by him. Abbot, Hist. Andover, 135.]
212
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1725.
perished in the woods, for want of dressing for their wounds. The others, after enduring the most severe hardships, came in one after another, and were not only received with joy, but were recompensed for their valor, and sufferings ; and a generous pro- vision was made for the widows and children of the slain.1
A party from the frontiers of New-Hampshire, were ordered out to bury the dead ; but by some mistake, did not reach the place of action. Colonel Tyng, with a company from Dunstable, went to the spot, and having found the bodies of twelve, buried them, and carved their names on the trees where the battle was fought. At a little distance, he found three Indian graves, which he opened ; one of the bodies was known to be their warrior Paugus. He also observed tracks of blood, on the ground, to a great distance from the scene of action. It was remarked that a week before this engagement happened, it had been reported in Portsmouth, at the distance of eighty miles, with but little varia- tion from the truth.2 Such incidents were not uncommon, and could scarcely deserve notice, if they did not indicate that a taste for the marvellous was not extinguished in the minds of the most sober and rational.
This was one of the most fierce and obstinate battles which had been fought with the Indians. They had not only the advantage of numbers, but of placing themselves in ambush, and waiting with deliberation the moment of attack. These circumstances gave them a degree of ardor and impetuosity. Lovewell and his men, though disappointed of meeting the enemy in their front, expected and determined to fight. The fall of their commander, and more than one quarter of their number, in the first onset, was greatly discouraging ; but they knew that the situation to which they were reduced, and their distance from the frontiers, cut off all hope of safety from flight. In these circumstances, prudence as well as valor dictated a continuance of the engagement, and a refusal to surrender ; until the enemy, awed by their brave resistance, and weakened by their own loss, yielded them the honor of the field. After this encounter, the Indians resided no more at Pequawket, till the peace .*
The conduct of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor of Cana- da, was so flagrant a breach of the treaty of peace, subsisting be- tween the crowns of England and France, that it was thought, a spirited remonstrance might make him ashamed, and produce some beneficial effects. With this view, the general court of
(1) Symmes's Memoirs. (2) Penhallow's Indian wars.
* This account of Lovewell's battle is collected from the authorities cited, and from the verbal information of aged and intelligent persons. The names of the dead, on the trees, and the holes where balls had entered and been cut out, were plainly visible, when I was on the spot in 1784. The trees had the appearance of being very old, and one of them was fallen.
213
PROVINCE. JOHN WENTWORTH.
1725.]
Massachusetts proposed to the colonies of New-York, Connecti- cut, Rhode-Island and New-Hampshire, to join in sending com- missioners to Canada on this errand. New-Hampshire was the only one which consented ; and Theodore Atkinson was appoint- ed on their part, to join with William Dudley and Samuel Thax- ter on the part of Massachusetts .*
The instructions which they received from the lieutenant-gov- ernors, Dummer and Wentworth, by advice of the council and assembly of each province, were nearly similar.1 They were to demand of the French governor, restitution of the captives who had been carried into Canada ; to remonstrate to him on his in- justice and breach of friendship, in countenancing the Indians in their hostilities against the people of New-England ; to insist on his withdrawing his assistance for the future; and to observe to him, that if in the farther prosecution of the war, our Indian allies, should in their pursuit of the enemy commit hostilities against the
If French, the blame would be entirely chargeable to himself.2 the French governor or the Indians, should make any overtures for peace, they were empowered to give them passports, to come either to Boston or Portsmouth, for that purpose, and to return ; but they were not to enter into any treaty with them. The com- missioners were also furnished with the original letters of Vau- dreuil to the governors of New-England, and to the Jesuit Ralle, and with copies of the several treaties which had been made with the Indians. The gentlemen went by the way Jan. 20. of Albany, and over the lakes, on the ice, to Montreal, Mar. 2 where they arrived after a tedious and dangerous journey.
The Marquis, who happened to be at Montreal, received and entertained them with much politeness. Having delivered their letters, and produced their commissions, they presented their re- monstrance in writing, and made the several demands agreeably to their instructions ; using this among other arguments, "Those ' Indians dwell either in the dominions of the king of Great-Brit- ' ain, or in the territories of the French king. If in the French 'king's dominions, the violation of the peace is very flagrant, they "then being his subjects ; but if they are subjects of the British ' crown, then much more is it a breach of the peace, to excite a ' rebellion among the subjects of his majesty of Great-Britain.'3
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.