USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 20
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 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
239
INDIAN HISTORY.
when Sabatis proposed a second race, that the horse should be unloaded of the baggage and should start a little before him. Bowen refused to start so but consented to start together. They ran, and as soon as the horse had got a little before the Indian Bowen heard a gun snap. Looking round he saw the smoke of powder and the gun aimed at him; he turned and struck his tomahawk in the Indian's head. He went back to meet Plausawa, who, seeing the fate of Sabatis, took aim with his gun at Bowen; the gun flashed ; Plasawa fell on his knees and begged for his life. He pleaded his innocence and former friendship for the English ; but all in vain. Bowen knew there would be no safety for him while the companion and friend of Sabatis was living. To secure himself he buried the same tom- ahawk in the skull of Plausawa. This was done in the road on the bank of Merrimack river, near the line of Contoocook, now Boscawen. Bowen hid the dead bodies under a small bridge, in Salisbury. The next spring the bodies were discovered and buried. That bridge has ever since, to this day, been called Indian Bridge. N.
Nov. 28, 1823."
The above article is supposed to have been contributed for the Historical Collections by Parker Noyes.
There is a story in Peter Harvey's Reminiscences of Daniel Webster which is more curious than authentic. It evidently refers to this matter of the death of Sabatis and Plausawa, and the indictment, imprisonment and escape from jail of Bowen and Morrill. It is only referred to here to show how well a man can state facts who knows hardly anything about them.
CAPTURE OF THE MELOON FAMILY.
For several years previous to 1754 (from 1744) some depre- dations had been committed upon the lives and property of the inhabitants of Canterbury, Contoocook, Penacook und Hopkin- ton, by the Indians. It is an important fact that James John- son, a prisoner in Canada from Charlestown, No. 4, early in 1754 heard some of the Indians of the St. Francis tribe say
240
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
that they had sent eight of their men to Merrimack river, to take revenge for killing two of their number, known as Sab- batis and Plausawa. Accordingly, on the IIth of May of this year these Indians arrived in this vicinity and first made their attack on Nathaniel Meloon and family, who had recently re- moved from Contoocook to West Stevenstown. Meloon was taken prisoner in Contoocook, near Wm. Emery's house, (now Webster ) while on the way back from his residence to the fort in Contoocook, on business. They knew him and knew where he lived, and directed him to his dwelling, to which they repaired and took as prisoners his wife, his children, Mary and Rachel, John and David, also Sarah, then an infant thirteen months old. The eldest son, Nathaniel, Jr., was at work in the field at a short distance from the house, planting corn and in plain sight. The father was ordered to call him, which he did; but the son saw the Indians, and understood his father's wish for him to escape by the significance of his voice. He dropped his hoe, fled to the woods, swam the Blackwater, eluded the pursuit of the Indians, and reached the fort in safety.
The Indians plundered the house, and then returned with their captives to Canada. The infant (Sarah) was soon after- wards taken sick, and the Indians took the child from the mother, and probably destroyed it. The prisoners were sold in Canada, Meloon and his wife to a French Priest near Quebec. The children were scattered. Another child, whose name was Joseph, was born Nov. 1755. In 1757, Meloon, his wife and three sons were shipped in a French vessel destined to France. The ship was captured by a British man of war off Halifax, and Meloon and family were landed at Portland, and from that place they found means of returning to their former residence.
Rachel remained in Canada until 1763. She was about nine years old when taken prisoner, and when Samuel Fowler of Boscawen found her in 1763, she was so much attached to the Indian mode of living that she had little inclination to return to civilized life. She, however, was induced to return, and afterwards married Reuben Greeley, whose son was Nathaniel Greeley, a respected citizen of Salisbury. Reuben was a veteran soldier, who died at Valley Forge in 1778.
241
INDIAN HISTORY.
When rescued Rachel was about to be married to Peter Louis, an Indian. She was at one time taken by the Indians to the Mississippi, but they were not permitted by the resident Indians, the Flat Heads, to remain, so she returned to Canada with her captors. Rachel always retained a partiality for the manners and habits of Indian life. She learned the Indian language and was accustomed to sing her Indian songs. The following is a specimen :
She dokina wen to markit, Asoo, sa, sika me a saw, So waka catawunka naw, Chicka way sa catawunka naw.
The girk tha went su su tunga tuck, Run au by oo a soo sa soas, Run au by oo a soo sa soas, Jo etuh butka -.
EFFORTS TO REDEEM THE CAPTIVES.
In the House, December 19, 1754, "it was voted one hun- dred and fifty pounds sterling money of Great Britain towards the redemption of seventeen persons taken captive by the St. Francis Indians and now in the hands of the French and Indians," amongst whom were Nathaniel Meloon and family, Samuel Scribner, Robert Barber, and Enos Bishop.
Voted, "That there be a tax laid on the Polls and Estates for 450 pounds new tenor bills of credit to be added to the above sum for redemption of the above captives."
The Journal of the House, March 26, 1762, shows "that Nathaniel Meloon and his family were allowed for himself and family captured and carried to Canada in 1754, ten pounds sterling."
The boy, David, was redeemed in July, 1761, as appears by a petition of the father, presented to the Governor and Council and the Assembly.
The petition bears the date of March 12th, 1762, and is as follows : 16
242
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
To his Excellency, Benning Wentworth, &c.
The humble petition of Nathaniel Meloon of Stevens Town, so called, in said Province, Sheweth, that your petitioner about seven years ago was with his wife and three children captivated by the Indian enemy and carry'd to Canada, where your petitioner and his wife remained captive about four years and seven months.
That one of said children dyed in Canada, one remained captive with the In- dians and the French until July last, and the other is still a captive with some of the Indians.
That your petitioner has been put to great costs and trouble to redeem one of his said children, and expects to be at much more cost and trouble ( if he shall be enabled ) to redeem his other child now with the Indians. That your petitioner and his family have become very poor and indigent by means of their said captivity ( beside the miserys and punishments they underwent during the same ) so that your petitioner cannot adventure upon the redemption of his child now remaining with the Indians, unless aided and assisted by the honble Court, to whose favor and clemency he commits himself.
Humbly hoping that your Excellency and Hons will take this poor and distress- ed case under your wise consideration and grant him such relief and assistance in the premises as to your Excellency and Hons in your wonted clemency and benevo- lence shall deem mete.
And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray &c. NATHANIEL MELOON.
The following affidavits have been preserved, and are here inserted as supplying additional interesting details concerning these events :
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM EMERY.
William Emery of Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire of Lawful age- Testifies & Says - That on the Tenth Day of May 1754 his wife being Ill & People afraid to tarry & take care of her there, being an outhouse, moved her into Town with the rest of the family about five miles-the next morning he Returned to his House and found it Plundered what of his goods was not carried off was spoilt of the value & to his damage Two Hundred Pounds Old Tenor at the least & the same time found Nath'l Maloon's Horse tyed at his said House which Maloon his wife Rachel & Sarah & Son Samuel were captivated & Carried away by the Indians & of Clothing Bedding & Provisions of the value of Two hundred & Thirty Pounds Old Tenor at the least.
Province of New 3
Hampshire,
Contoocook
May 22d 1754 the above Named William Emery made oath to the truth of the aforesaid written Deposition before
JOSEPH BLANCHARD Just of Peace.
243
INDIAN HISTORY.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN FLANDERS.
John Flanders of Contoocook in the Province of New Hampshire of Lawful age Testifies & says -
That in May 1753 an Indian named Planseway came to Contoocook aforesaid exulting & telling of his Frequent coming to that place in the war how many he killed & taken [ from ] Merrymack in the war - The Deponent told him that in the Fall he intended to Catch some Beaver to make him a hat & asked Planseway if he would hurt him if he see him, who answered yes if he found him hunting he would kill him & earnestly repeated it several times -
And the Deponent further says That on the 11th day of May 1754 in the Fore- noon at Contoocook aforesaid William Emery came to the Body of the Town & in- formed that somebody had that morning broke open his house taken many things & spoiled others, a house his family had moved from the night Before all his clothing (his beds empty'd & ticks cut to pieces ) & supposed it to be Indians the Deponent & others Immediately went, found the house strip'd & Plunder'd to the said Emery's Damage at least Two hundred Pounds old Tenor.
That they proceeded to the house of Nathaniel Maloon in Stevenstown so called which was six miles Farther & met with said Maloon's Eldest son who gave account of the Indians that day captivating his Father & Mother & three children who re- turned with the scout to his Father's house where they found it plundered & strip'd & by the best accts the Deponent could get of things missing broke & Cutt to pieces were of the value & to Maloon's damage at least two hundred & thirty pounds old Tenor.
Province of
Contoocook May 22d
New Hampshire 1754
The aboved named John Flanders made Oath to the truth of the aforewritten Deposition.
Before JOSEPHI BLANCHARD just Peace.
TESTIMONY OF NATHANIEL MELOON.
Nathaniel Maloon the son of Nathaniel Maloon of Stevenstown in New Hamp- shire aged about 14 years Testifies & says -
That at Stevenstown aforesaid on the 11th day of May 1754 in the morning be- fore sunrise his Father set out Designing to go to Penacook a plaće about twenty miles distant whose road went by the house of Mr William Emery of Contoocook. That the same morning about nine of the clock the Deponent was at work in his Fathers field & soon a number of Indians he thought ten or a dozen running to the house & two took after the Deponent, but a thicket near was quick out of sight & made his escape & hid not far off. Some time afterwards he heard his Father call him sundry times -
That after he supposed the Indians Drawn off made his escape to Contoocook.
Province of ¿ At Contoocook
New Hampshire § the 22d of May 1754.
The above named &c
Before JOSEPH BLANCHARD
Jus Peace.
244
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
THE PEOPLE BECOME ALARMED.
It appears from an old account book, which once belonged to Captain John Webster, a leading citizen, first of Contoocook and afterwards of Stevenstown, who owned a sawmill in Con- toocook, was interested in the lumbering business and in farm- ing, and who then kept a small retail store, that the neighbor- ing inhabitants of Stevenstown were so far forewarned as to provide themselves with ammunition against the impending dangers. The records of Stevenstown indicate that there were no more than eight families then settled in that town. We find in Capt. Webster's book, under the date of July 15, 1754, the following charges or entries :
Stephen Call, Dr. To one Pound of Powder,
I Pound ro Shillings.
Rob't Barber, Dr. do do
do
do
Sam'l Scribner, Dr. do
do
do
do
Ephraim Collings, Dr.
do
do
do
do
Also, July 19, 1754, there was delivered to Ephraim Collings "60 Bullets and two pounds of Powder, to be kept in store." The price is not stated.
John Bowen, who afterwards became a citizen in Salisbury, was charged with "breaking and destroying two of my mill- saws." His trespass was waived. From the above charges it appears that the price of powder was high, or the standard of the State currency was quite low.
ATTACK ON PHILIP CALL'S HOUSE.
On the 16th of August of this year, as Philip Call, his son Stephen, and Timothy Cook were at work on their farm, the savages suddenly appeared at the door of the dwelling-house, and as Mrs. Philip Call opened it she was at once struck down, killed and scalped.
Philip Call was an experienced and well-trained warrior. His first service appears to have been performed in 1744, under Capt. Jeremiah Clough, of Canterbury, being engaged about three months in scouting and in defending the garrison in that town. Also a similar service of two months, in the winter of
245
INDIAN HISTORY.
1745 ; also in June, 1746; again, from July to December in the same year, under Capt. Daniel Ladd and Capt. Jere. Clough. His son, Stephen Call, was engaged with him in the latter ser- vice. Philip was also engaged in garrison duty in Canterbury and in defending the people of that town against the Indians, from the 5th of January, 1747, to the 12th of November follow- ing, inclusive.
It is a tradition and perhaps an established fact, that when the house was attacked, Stephen Call's wife, being within, con- cealed herself and her infant child (John) behind the chimney, and was not discovered by the Indians. Both Philip and his son Stephen escaped into the adjoining forest. Timothy Cook was pursued and in endeavoring to cross Merrimack River was fired upon and killed.
He was the son of Thomas Cook, who had been slain at Clay Hill in Contoocook, on the 4th day of May, 1746, by the Indians.
The attack on the Call family was made by a party of thirty or more Indians, under command of Capt. Sasup. Two men set out from the fort at Contoocook, at the time of the attack upon Philip Call; they were Ephraim Foster and Andrew Mooar. After their return to the fort they were sent to warn settlers further south, and it appears that Andrew McClary, of Epsom, hastened to Portsmouth, to give the Governor and Council information of the attack. On the 18th McClary ap- peared before the Governor and Council and made the following statement :
PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 1754.
The said Andrew M'cClary being examined declared that Ephm Foster and Stephen Mooar acquainted the declarant that they were at Stevenstown the day the mischief was done by the Indians and found the body of Mrs. Call lying dead near the door of the house, scalped and her head almost cut off & upon further search found the body of a man by the name of Cook dead and scalped. That the In - dians were supposed to be about thirty in number according to the account of eight men; that upon hearing the news went immediately from Contoocook to Stevenstown & in that way the enemy who soon followed then and they endeavored to escape. One of the company, one Bishop, Stood Some time and fired at the Indians, but was soon obliged to run. Bishop was supposed to be killed and Sunk in the river he being still missing; that there were two men belonging to the plantation at a distance haying in a meadow that as yet were not come in ( Scrib-
246
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
ner & Barber ) and it is feared that they had fallen into the hands of the enemy - that is the declarant had understood all the inhabitants, consisting of about eight families were come down into the lower town ( Contoocook ) and had left their im- provements, corn hay & cattle.
[ From the Council Records.]
At at council holden in Portsmouth on Wednesday May 15th 1754. Present
His excellency the Governor Henry Sherburne Theodore Atkinson Rich'd Wibbird Jno Downing 1
Esqrs.
Sampson Sheaffe Daniel Warner Joseph Newmarch
Esqrs.
Mr. Stephen Gerrish appearing at this Board presented a petition of Phineas Stevens & eight others inhabitants at Contoocook setting forth that the Indians had begun hostilities in that part & had captivated a family & rifled the house of another &c [ Emery and Maloon ] & being examined what he knew of the affair says on Sat the 11th Inst he saw a lad son of Nathaniel Malloon who lived at a place called Stevenstown about five miles from Contoocook who informed him that his father & family were taken as he supposed by the Indians he having seen a number of Indians near his fathers house which occasioned him the sd lad to run into the woods by which he escaped upon which report the said Gerrish & sundry others went immediately to the house where they had found the feather beds emptied upon the floor & the tickins carry'd off - Most of the meal that was in the house was carry'd.
They tracked the Indians some way from the house -that the family consisting of the man his wife and three children were all gone off and by the said signs he imagined were all carried into captivity. The petitioners therefore prayed some speedy succours to guard & defend them to prevent if possible future depredations - upon which petition & information his excellency asked the council what they would advise in the Premises. The council considering thereof did advise His Ex- cellency to give the necessary orders for enlisting or impressing twenty effective men to be immediately sent to Contoocook, Canterbury & Stevenstown to be destined as his excellency shall think most advantageous for guarding the inhabi- tants in those parts one month.
SAMUEL SCRIBNER AND ROBERT BARBER.
These two hardy men had located within half a mile of our northern boundary line, near Emerystown, (Andover,) and at that time were our most remote settlers. They had already got out the timber to build a house, and at the time of their capture were mowing in the meadow now owned by Elbridge
247
INDIAN HISTORY.
Shaw. Scribner's back was to the Indians. Barber saw them coming and?shouted out to Scribner, who was but a few rods from him, "Run, Scribner, run, for God's sake, run ; the Indians are upon us !" Whether he did not hear him or misinterpreted the words is not known, but he kept on whetting his scythe until grasped from behind by an Indian. Barber ran, but went directly into an ambush of the savages. An Indian, holding up a scalp before Barber, asked him in broken English if he knew it. He said, " Yes, Mrs. Call's." The Indians took along their prisoners, Barber, Scribner and Bishop, and it being near night they camped on the southern shore of what is now called Webster Lake. In the early morning they started for St. Francis, Canada, which place they reached after a journey of thirteen days. For the last nine days they subsisted on berries, roots, etc., which they found in the wilderness. On arriving at their destination they were kindly treated, although obliged to work very hard. Scribner was sold to a Frenchman, at Cham- blee. Barber was sold to a Frenchman, about a mile from St. Francis, for 500 livres, a livre being ten pence sterling or 1814 cents, called in these times a twenty cent piece. September 26, 1755, Barber made his escape, with two others. After Bar- ber's capture his wife returned to the fort at Contoocook. They had no children, and after a time, thinking her husband dead, she married again. After his escape and return, finding how matters stood, the widowed Barber accepted the situation, also married again, and settled on the farm now owned by George Wells, where he resided for a long time. His daughter, Esther Barber, was the mother of Abel Morrill, 3d, and was the first white woman born in Salisbury.
Soon after Scribner and Barber were captured, friends piled up the lumber they had got out for a house, and after Scribner's return to Salisbury, he built the large two-story house known as the Scribner house, at the North Road.
Information having been conveyed to Contoocook of the dis- asters' of Stevenstown, on the 16th, the next day, a number of the people from Contoocook, supposed to be thirteen in number or more, visited the residence of Philip Call and found the bodies
248
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
of Mrs. Call and Timo. Cook, and upon their return met the Indians, some thirty in number. Not deeming it prudent to hazard an engagement with a force so much superior, they dis- persed in different directions ; none firing a gun except Enos Bishop, who after making some resistance was forced to sur- render at discretion. Bishop, Barber and Scribner were all, as prisoners, conveyed to Canada and sold at Chamblee and St. Francis. Bishop found means to escape and return home within a year from his captivity. Scribner was subsequently ransomed by the State Government within less than two years.
In the meantime the Proprietors of Stevenstown paid for five men to render assistance to the suffering settlers of their town, and the State authorities ordered Col. Jos. Blanchard, with a body of men under his command, and Capt. John Webster with another company to reconnoitre our frontiers and assist the fugitive inhabitants of Stevenstown, who had retired to the fort at Contoocook, in gathering their crops and in collecting and securing their cattle and other property. They discovered no Indians and were soon discharged.
But little progress was made in the settlement of this town until after 1760, when Canada had been subdued.
Early in the winter of 1755, Gov. Wentworth ordered Col. Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable to raise a regiment of six hun- dred men, and to rendevous at the fort in Stevenstown in the spring. This fort had doubtless been built on what is well known as the Webster Farm, as a defense against the Indians, and was afterwards known as the " Salisbury fort." We cannot state the precise date when this fort was erected from any existing recorded evidence. It was probably built some time between 1746 and 1750, as there were various scouting parties then ordered and employed west of the Merrimack and on our frontiers, about the Pemigewasset and Winnipisiogee rivers. The early records of the town make mention of the existing fort and that it was located about forty rods southerly of the cemetery on the Webter intervale and surrounded by eight acres of cleared land, carly cultivated.
249
INDIAN HISTORY.
It seems quite certain that his regiment arrived in April, 1755 ; he was not engaged in erecting a fort, but did spend about six weeks in preparing boats for transporting his troops and baggage up the river. This effort was found fruitless, and Gov. Wentworth ordered the troops to proceed through the Province to No. 4, ( Charlestown ) thence to Crown Point by the Albany route. The time of service of this regiment expired in October. The authorities of our State ordered the enlistment of a regi- ment of three hundred more men to take the place of Blanchard's regiment. They were mustered into service about the 20th of September, 1755, and were discharged at the end of three months.
In these regiments we find may of our pioneer settlers in this town, who while detained at the fort had opportunity to explore the surrounding territory. We find the names of Benja. San- born, Benj. Baker, Samuel Judkins, John Bean, Robert Smith, Tristram Sanborn, Andrew Bohonon, Henry and John Elkins, John Webster, Thomas Welch, Jacob Hancock, Nehemiah Heath, Ebenezer Johnson, Tristram Quimby, Samuel Lovering, Iddo Webster, Benj. Huntoon, B. Clifford, Edward Eastman, John Wadleigh, Jere. Quimby, John Fellows. Most of these men, then soldiers from the neighborhood of Kingston, soon after 1760 became permanent settlers in Salisbury.
In 1756, Col. Nath. Meserve raised a regiment for the Crown Point expedition, consisting of seven hundred men. Length of service from May to December that year.
In Col. Meserve's regiment, in addition to the names of men already mentioned, we find Jona. Fifield, John Smith, D. Gil- man, Reuben Hoyt, Sam'l Fifield, John Ash, Sam'l Scribner, who had now returned from captivity, J. Blaisdell and Daniel Stevens. In Meserve's regiment, for eight months service in the Crown Point expedition for 1757, we find the following addi- tional soldiers, who afterwards became permanent residents in Salisbury: J. Merrow, Joseph Webster, Benj. Pettengill, John Sanborn and Stephen Webster. A portion of this regiment suffered severely at the surrender of Fort William and Mary. It has been said that l'hilip Call was killed, or died, in this
250
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
campaign. We do not hear of him afterwards, and no stone marks his grave here.
In 1757, Major Thomas Tash enlisted a battalion of two and three months men, mustered in in August and discharged in November. We append the following names found in this bat- talion : John Cross, Sam'l Scribner, Robert Barber, the two latter in the same company, and Matthew Pettengill.
In 1758, Col. John Hart raised a regiment of 700 men, for seven months, commencing in April, for the Crown Point expe- dition. We find upon the roll the following-named men who aftewards became residents of Salisbury: Moses Garland, Moses Sanborn, Benj. Shaw, Sam'l Scribner, James Johnson, William Hoyt, and Nathaniel Meloon, who had been restored to freedom.
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.