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CHAPTER XXII.
The last French and Indian war, which terminated in the conquest of Canada. Controversy concerning the lands westward of Connecticut river.
BY the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, it was stipulated, that 'all things should be restored, on the footing they were ' before the war.'3 The island of Cape-Breton was accordingly restored to France ; but the limits of the French and English territories on the continent, were undetermined ; and it was the policy of both nations to gain possession of important passes, and to which each had some pretensions, to hold them, till the limits should be settled by commissioners mutually chosen. These commissioners met at Paris ; but came to no decision. By the construction of charters and grants from the crown of England, her colonies extended indefinitely west- ward. The French had settlements in Canada and Louisiana, and they meditated to join these distant colonies, by a chain of forts and posts, from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi ; and to extend the limits of Canada, as far eastward, as to command nav-
(1) MS. letters of Governor Wentworth. (2) Printed conference .- (3) Printed treaty.
years, having withdrawn her protection, and left the people in a defenceless state, and exposed to the fury of the savages, the settlers abandoned the place, and many of them returned to their former places of residence in Massachu- setts. The Indians very soon set fire to their forts, which, with every house except one, they reduced to ashes. They returned about three years after- wards, when nothing but desolation and ruin was to be seen about their form- er habitations. They recommenced their settlements, and were not after- wards molested by the Indians. N. H. Gazetteer, 248.
1755. Madbury was incorporated. 1756. Sandown was incorporated.]
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igation in the winter, when the great river St. Lawrence is impas- sable. These claims of territory, extending on the one part from east to west, and on the other from north to south, necessarily in- terfered. The colonies of Nova-Scotia, New-York and Virginia, were principally affected by this interference ; and the encroach- ments made on them by the French, were a subject of complaint, both here and in Europe.
It was foreseen that this controversy could not be decided but by the sword ; and the English determined to be early in 1754. their preparations. The Earl of Holderness, secretary
of state, wrote to the governors of the American colonies, recom- mending union for their mutual protection and defence. A meeting of commissioners from the colonies, at Albany, having been appointed, for the purpose of holding a conference with the Six Nations, on the subject of French encroachments, within their country ; it was proposed, by Governor Shirley, to the several governors, that the delegates should be instructed on the subject of union.1
At the place appointed, the congress was held ; consisting of delegates from Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, Rhode-, June 19. Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland ; with
the lieutenant-governor and council of New-York. They took their rank in geographical order, beginning at the north. One member from each colony was appointed to draw a plan of union ; Hutchinson of Massachusetts, Atkinson of New-Hampshire, Hop- kins of Rhode-Island, Pitkin of Connecticut, Smith of New-York, Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Tasker of Maryland." The sub- stance of the plan was, that application be made, for an act of parliament, to form a grand council, consisting of delegates from. the several legislative assemblies, subject to the control of a presi- dent-general, to be appointed by the crown, with a negative voice. That this council should enact general laws ; apportion the quotas of men and money, to be raised by each colony ; determine the building of forts ; regulate the operations of armies ; and concert all measures for the common protection and safety. The dele- gates of Connecticut alone, entered their dissent to the plan, be- cause of the negative voice of the president-general. It is worthy of remark, that this plan, for the union of the colonies, was agreed to, on the fourth day of July ; exactly twenty-two years before the declaration of American Independence, and that the name of FRANKLIN appears in both .* +
(1) Shirley's letters and speeches. (2) Atkinson's MS. Journal.
[The plan of a proposed union of the several colonies of Massachusetts- Bay, New-Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode-Island, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, for their mutual defence and security, and for extending the British settlements in North-America, with the reasons and motives for each article of the plan, (as far as could be remembered) is given entire in the Works of Franklin, Philadelphia edition, 1809, vol. iv. p. 5-38.]
$10
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1754.
With the plan of union, a representation was made to the king, of the danger in which the colonies were involved. Copies of both were laid before the several assemblies. They were fully sensible of their danger from the French ; but they apprehended greater danger from the plan of union. Its fate was singular. It was rejected in America, because it was supposed to put too much power into the hands of the king ; and it was rejected in England, because it was supposed to give too much power to the assemblies of the colonies. The ministry made another proposal ; that the governor, with one or two niembers of the council, of each colony, should assemble, and consult for the common defence, and draw on the British treasury for the sums expended ; which should be raised by a general tax, laid by parliament, on the colonies. 1_ But this was not a time to push such an alarming innovation ; and when it was found impracticable, the ministry determined to em- ploy their own troops, to fight their battles in America, rather than to let the colonists feel their own strength, and be directed by their own counsels.
To draw some aid however from the colonies was necessary. Their militia might serve as guards, or rangers, or laborers, or do garrison duty, or be employed in other inferior offices ; but Brit- ish troops, commanded by British officers, must have the honor of reducing the French dominions in North America.
The savage nations in the French interest were always ready, on the first appearance of a rupture, to take up the hatchet. It was the policy of the French government, to encourage their depredations, on the frontiers of the English colonies, to which they had a native antipathy. By, this means, the French could make their enemies pay the whole expense of a war ; for all the supplies, which they afforded to the Indians, were amply compen- sated, by the ransom of captives. In these later wars, therefore, we find the savages more dextrous in taking captives, and more tender of them when taken, than in former wars ; which were carried on with circumstances of greater cruelty. 1
No sooner had the alarm of hostilities, which commenced be- tween the English and French, in the western part of Virginia, spread through the continent; than the Indians renewed their attacks on the frontiers of New-Hampshire .* A party of them
(1) Franklin's Examination, 1766.
+ At this congress, a present from the crown was distributed to the Indians. The commissioners of New-Hampshire, Atkinson, Wibird, Sherburne and Weare, by direction of the assembly, made them a separate present. It is a custom among the Six Nations to give a name to their benefactors on such oc- casions. The name which they gave to the province of New-Hampshire was So-saguar-owane. I have inquired of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, the meaning of this name : He informed me that So signifies, AGAIN; saguar, a DISH ; and owane, LARGE.
* [On the 16 May, Nathaniel Meloon, who had recently removed his fam- ily from the fort in Contoocook to Stevens-town, now the west part of Salis- bury, was captured by the Indians, together with his wife and four children,
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made an assault, on a family at Baker's-town, on Pemigewasset river ; where they killed a woman, and took several cap- Aug. 15. tives .* Within three days, they killed a man and woman at Steven's-town in the same neighborhood ; upon which Aug. 18. the settlements were broken up, and the people retired to the lower towns for safety, and the government was obliged to post soldiers in the deserted places.1 After a few days more, Aug. 29. they broke into the house of James Johnson, at Number- Four, early in the morning, before any of the family were awake ; and took him, with his wife and three children, her sister Miriam Willard, and two men, Peter Laboree and Ebenezer Farnsworth. The surprisal was complete and bloodless, and they carried them off undisturbed. The next day, Johnson's wife was delivered of a daughter, who from the circumstance of its birth was named Captive. The Indians halted one day, on the woman's account, and the next day resumed their march; carrying her on a litter, which they made for the purpose, and afterwards put her on horse-back. On their march, they were distressed for provision ; and killed the horse for food. The infant was nourished, by sucking pieces of its flesh. When they arrived at Montreal, Johnson obtained a parole, of two months, to return and solicit the
(1) Council minutes.
viz. Rachel, John, Daniel and Saralı. Nathaniel his eldest son escaped .- They were carried to Canada, and upon their arrival there, the children were separated, and sold to the French. Mr. Meloon and wife were permitted to live together, and their son Joseph, lately living in Salisbury, in this state, was born in their captivity in 1755. After a servitude of more than three years in Canada, the parents, with their three sons, were shipped for France ; but on their voyage, near the Grand Banks, were taken by the British, and safely landed at Portland, in Maine, from whence they travelled by land, and returned home after an absence of four years, of tedious captivity. Their daughter Rachel, who was nine years when taken, returned after nine years, though much against her inclination. She had become much attached to the Indians, had learned their language and could sing their songs, and ever after retained a partiality for their manners and habits. Sarah the youngest child is supposed to have died soon after their arrival in Canada. Rachel tho mother was the second woman who moved into the town of Salisbury. She lived until 1804, when she died at the age of 94. Price, Hist. of Boscawen, 113 .- Coll. of N. H. Hist. Soc. ii. 26 .- Coll. of Farmer and Moore, ii. 376 .- Gazetteer of N. H. by do. 233 .- Hough's Concord Courier, 1804 .- MS. letter Moses Eastman, Esq.]
* [The woman killed was the wife of Philip Call. Timothy Cook, son of Elisha Cook who was killed in 1746 (see page 289.) was killed at the same time. The captives were Samuel Scribner and Robert Barber of Salisbury, whow ere both sold to the French, and Enos Bishop of Boscawen, who arrived in thirteen days at St. Francois, and within eight weeks, was sold to a French gentleman at Montreal for 300 livres. On the 26 September, the next year, he, with two others escaped from Montreal, and after travelling twenty-six days, eighteen of which were without any food other than what the wilder- ness afforded them, he arrived at Charlestown, and from thence returned to their friends. A sum of money had been raised for his ransom, but the per- son by whom it was sent, converted it to his own use. After his return, Bish- op represented his sufferings to the general court, and received £50 from the public treasury. Price, Hist. Boscawen, 113, 114 .- Farmer and Moore, Hist. Coll. i. 62, 63 .- Gazetteer of N. H. 233 .- Papers in Secretary's office.]
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HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. [1754.
means of redemption.1 He applied to the assembly of New- Dec. 19. Hampshire, and after some delay obtained one hundred and fifty pounds sterling.2 But the season was so far ad- vanced, and the winter proved so severe, that he did not reach Canada till the spring. He was then charged with breaking his parole ; a great part of his money was taken from him by violence ; and, he was shut up with his family in prison ; where they took the small pox, which they happily survived. After eighteen months, the woman, with her sister, and two daughters, were sent in a cartel ship to England ; and thence returned to Boston .- Johnson was kept in prison three years ; and then, with his son, returned and met his wife in Boston ; where he had the singular ill fortune, to be suspected of designs unfriendly to his country, aad was again imprisoned ; but no evidence being produced against him, he was liberated. His eldest daughter was retained in a Canadian nunnery.3
The fort and settlement at Number-Four, being in an exposed situation, required assistance and support. It had been built by Massachusetts when it was supposed to be within its limits. It was projected by Colonel Stoddard of Northampton, and was well situated, in connection with the other forts, on the western frontier, to command all the paths by which the Indians travelled from Canada to New-England. It was now evidently in New-Hamp- shire ; and Shirley, by advice of his council, applied to Went- worth, recommending the future maintenance of that post, to the care of his assembly ; but they did not think themselves interested in its preservation, and refused to make any provision for it. 4 The inhabitants made several applications for the same purpose ; but were uniformly disappointed. They then made pressing re- monstrances to the assembly of Massachusetts, who sent soldiers for the defence of that post, and of Fort-Dummer, till 1757; 5 when they supposed that the commander in chief of the king's forces would take them under his care, as royal garrisons. It was also recommended to the assembly of New-Hampshire to build a fort at Cohos ; but this proposal met the same fate.
The next spring, three expeditions were undertaken against the French forts. One against Fort du Quesne, on the Ohio,
was conducted by General Braddock ; who was defeated 1755. and slain. Another against Niagara, by Governor Shirley, which miscarried ; and a third against Crown-Point, by General Johnson. For this last expedition, New-Hampshire raised five hundred men, and put them under the command of Colonel Jo- seph Blanchard." The governor ordered them to Connecticut
(1) Olcott's MS. letter. (2) Assembly records. (3) [Narrative of the cap- tivity of Mrs. Johnson, in the Collections of Farmer and Moore for 1822, vol. i. 177-239.] (4) Shirley's MS. letters. (5) Massachusetts Records.
* [Colonel Blanchard was of Dunstable, where he was born 11 February, 1705. He was appointed by mandamus, one of the counsellors of New-Hamp-
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river, to build a fort at Cohos, supposing it to be in their way to Crown-Point. They first marched to Baker's town, where they began to build batteaux, and consumed their time and provisions to no purpose. By Shirley's advice, they quitted that futile em- ployment, and made a fatiguing march through the woods, by the way of Number-Four, to Albany. Whilst Johnson lay encamped at Lake George, with his other forces, he posted the New-Hamp- shire regiment at Fort Edward. On the eighth of September, he was attacked in his camp, by Baron Dieskau, commanding a body of French regular troops, Canadians and savages. On the morn- ing of that day, a scouting party from Fort Edward discovered wagons burning in the road ; upon which Captain Nathaniel Fol- som was ordered out, with eighty of the New-Hampshire regiment, and forty of New-York under Captain McGennis. When they came to the place, they found the wagoners and the cattle dead ; but no enemy was there. Hearing the report of guns, toward the lake, they hasted thither ; and having approached within two miles, found the baggage of the French army, under the care of a guard, whom they attacked and dispersed. When the retreating army of Dieskau appeared, about four of the clock in the afternoon, Folsom posted his men among the trees, and kept up a well di- rected fire, till night; the enemy retired, with great loss, and he made his way to the camp, carrying his own wounded, and several French prisoners, with many of the enemy's packs.1 This well- timed engagement, in which but six men on our side were lost, deprived the French army of their ammunition and baggage ; the remains of which were brought into camp the next day. 2 After this, the regiment of New-Hampshire joined the army. The men were employed in scouting, which service they perform- ed in a manner so acceptable, that no other duty was required of them. Parties of them frequently went within view of the French fort at Crown-Point ; and at one time they brought off the scalp of a French soldier, whom they killed near the gate.3
After the engagement on the Sth of September, when it was found necessary to reinforce the army, a second regiment, of three hundred men, was raised in New-Hampshire, and put under the command of Colonel Peter Gilman. These men were as alert, and indefatigable as their brethren, though they had not opportu- nity to give such convincing evidence of it. The expedition was no farther pursued ; and late in autumn the forces were disbanded and returned home.
(1) Folsom's information. (2) Johnson's printed letter. (3) Atkinson's MS. letters.
shire in 1740, and sustained the office until his death, 7 April, 1758. He was distinguished as a land surveyor, and in conjunction with Rev. Samuel Lang- don, prepared a map of New-Hampshire, which was published in 1761, being inscribed to the Hon. Charles Townsend, his majesty's secretary at war, and one of the privy council.]
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1755.
The exertions made for the reduction of Crown-Point, not only failed of their object, but provoked the Indians, to execute their mischievous designs, against the frontiers of New-Hamp- shire ; which were wholly uncovered, and exposed to their full force. Between the rivers Connecticut and St. Francis, there is a safe and easy communication by short carrying-places, with which they were perfectly acquainted. The Indians of that river, therefore, made frequent incursions, and returned unmolested with their prisoners and booty.
At New-Hopkinton, they took a man and a boy ; but perceiv- ing the approach of a scouting party, they fled and left their cap- tives. At Keene, they took Benjamin Twitchel, and at Walpole they killed Daniel Twitchel, and a man named Flint .* 1 At the same place, Colonel Bellows, at the head of twenty men met with a party of fifty Indians ; and having exchanged some shot, and killed several of the enemy, he broke through them and got into the fort ; not one man of his company being killed or wound- ed.+ After a few days, these Indians, being joined by others to the number of one hundred and seventy, assaulted the garrison of John Kilburn, in which were himself, John Peak, two boys and several women ; who bravely defended the house and obliged the enemy to retire, with considerable loss. Peak was mortally wounded.2 į Some of these Indians joined Dieskau's army, and
(1) Sumner's MS. letter. (2) Fessenden's MS. letter.
* [They had gone back to the hills, about a mile east from the settlement, to procure some timber for oars. One of them was scalped ; the other they cut open and took out his heart, cut it in pieces and laid them on his breast. Their bodies were buried near where they were found ; and a ridge of land, the west side of the road, about two miles north of Walpole village, towards Drewsville, points out the spot hallowed by the remains of the first victims of Indian massacre in the town of Walpole. Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. ii. 51, 52.]
t [It appears that Colonel Bellows and his men were returning home, each having a bag of meal on his back. From the motions of the dogs, they sus- pected the near approach of the enemy. The colonel ordered all his men to throw off the meal, advance to an eminence before them, carefully crawl up the bank, spring upon their feet, give one whoop, and then drop into the sweet fern. This manœuvre had the desired effect; for as soon as the whoop was given, the Indians all arose from their ambush in a semicircle around the path Bellows was to follow. His men immediately fired which so disconcert- ed the plans and expectations of the Indians, that they darted away into the bushes without firing a gun. Finding their number too great for his, the col- onel ordered his men to file off to the south and make for the fort. Ibid. ii. 55,56.]
# [The defence of Kilburn's garrison, of which a particular account is given in the Coll. N. H. Hist. Soc. ii. 55-57, was one of the most heroic and suc- cessful efforts of personal courage and valor recorded in the annals of Indian warfare. The number of Indians was about 200, some accounts say 400, against whom, John Kilburn, his son John, in his 18th year, John Peak (whose name was erroneously printed Pike in the former editions) and his son, and the wife and daughter of Kilburn, were obliged to contend for their lives .- The leader of the Indians, named Philip, was well acquainted with Kilburn, and having approached near the garrison and secured himself behind a tree, called out to those in the house to surrender. " Old John, young John," said he, " I know you, come out here :- We give you good quarter." " Quarter,"
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1755.]
were in the battle at Lake George. At Number-Four, they killed a large number of cattle, and cut off the flesh. At Hinsdale, they attacked a party, who were at work in the woods ; killed John Hardiclay and John Alexander, and took Jonathan Colby. The others escaped to the fort. Within a few days afterward, they ambushed Caleb Howe, Hilkiah Grout, and Benja- July 27. min Gaffield, as they were returning from their labor in
the field. Howe was killed ; Gaffield was drowned in attempting to cross the river ; and Grout made his escape. The Indians went directly to Bridgman's fort, where the families of these un- fortunate men resided. They had heard the report of the guns, and were impatient to learn the cause. By the sound of feet without, it being in the dusk of the evening, they concluded that their friends had returned, and too hastily opened the gate to re- ceive them ; when to their inexpressible surprise, they admitted the savages, and the three families, consisting of fourteen persons, were made captives .* 1
After the defeat and death of Braddock, the chief command of the operations against the enemy fell into the hands of Shirley ;
(1) Gay's MS. letter.
vociferated Kilburn, with a voice of thunder, " you black rascals, begone, or we'll quarter you." The Indians soon rushed forward to the attack, but were repulsed by Kilburn and his men, who were aided by the females in running bullets and in loading their guns, of which they had several in the house. All the afternoon, one incessant firing was kept up till near sundown, when the Indians began to disappear ; and as the sun sunk behind the western hills, the sound of the guns, and the cry of the war whoop died away in silence .- Peak, by an imprudent exposure before the port hole, received a ball in his hip, which, for want of surgical aid, proved fatal on the 5th day. Kilburn lived to see the town of Walpole populous and flourishing, and his fourth generation on the stage. On a plain unpolished stone in Walpole burying ground is the following inscription :
" In Memory of JOHN KILBURN,
who departed this life for a better, April 8th, 1789, in his 85th year of his age. He was the first settler of this town in 1749."
His son John spent the last years of his life in the town of Shrewsbury, Vermont, and died in 1822. at the same age of his father. Ibid. ii. 55-58. Rev. Mr. Fessenden in the letter referred to, says, " but four families settled in town until after the reduction of Canada."]
* One of these, the wife of Caleb Howe. was the fair captive, of whom such a brilliant account is given in the life of General Putnam, published by Col- onel Humphreys. She is still living at Hinsdale, and has obliged the author with a particular narrative of her sufferings and deliverance. This account, drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Gay, is too long to be here inserted, and too enter- taining to be abridged ; but will probably be published at some future time. [It appeared in the appendix to the iii. volume.] As to that part of the story, that the people of Hinsdale chose her to go to Europe, as their agent in a case of disputed lands ; it was never known or thought of by them till the life of Putnam appeared in print. Gay's MS. letter. [Eunice, the wife of Benja- min Gaffield, after having been carried to Canada and sold to the French, was sent to France, from thence to England, and from England to Boston. (News- paper.) She afterwards married a Mr. Pratt, and lived until the present year (1830) when she died at Dana, in Massachusetts, at the age of 97.]
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