USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Swanzey > The history of Swanzey, New Hampshire, from 1734 to 1890 > Part 3
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Mr. Blake says :- " The sand bank, so called, is evidently the site of an Indian village, and bears strong evidence of having been forti- fied. A dark line of earth mixed with ashes and charcoal extends nearly around an enclosure of several acres. This may have been the line of a palisade or row of stakes stuck in the ground for the purpose of defence. The sand has drifted so much of late years that the line is very indistinct or nearly gone. Old residents of the locality state that when they were boys Indian relics were readily picked up on the spot, but few of them were preserved. The large quantity of chip- pings now found there as well as occasional pieces of pottery, indi- cate that these implements of war and domestic economy were made on the spot, and that for a time it was a permanent stopping place for the Indians."
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Mr. Pratt states that he dug up, near this dark line of earth above mentioned, a clay vessel nearly entire, but that it soon crumbled in pieces when exposed to the air. Mr. Wheelock published in 1888, in the New England Observer, the following description of the Indian dam which is in the Ashuelot river between the Sand Bank and West Swanzey :
" The low water in the Ashuelot, occasioned by the repairs at the Swanzey mill has exposed the old traditional Indian dam two miles above. Indians were lazy, and this work of theirs is the more sur- prising on this account ; perhaps there is nothing like it in the state. The river at this point is now almost a rapid and strewn with boulders for thirty rods or so. It is less than a hundred feet wide, but the dam being in the shape of a harrow pointing down stream is more than that distance. By skilful stepping it is possible to pass the point of the harrow, the apex of the dam, and somewhat farther. It is made of stones such as a man could lift, picked up in the stream above. It varies from six to twelve feet in thickness, according to the depth of water. It looks like a tumbled down wall mixed with gravel, but it. must have cost weeks of labor. It is natural to suppose that the dam was made to aid in fishing for salmon with nets and spears. Below the dam is a flat boulder reached by stepping stones. Here stood the young brave and watched the silver-bellied salmon, and struck at him with his flint-pointed spear. Near by the old dam lives Jonas L. Moore. Here lived his father and grandfather before him. For one hundred and thirty years this has been called the Indian dam. Mr. Moore's father, in his boyhood, used to cross the river on the wall. The reason it is now so unknown is because the eel grass in the back water of the pond covers and conceals it. The Observer's represen- tative was shown a beautiful spearpoint of Twin mountain flint. The elder Moore dug up a half peck of arrow and spearheads, all in one pocket. They were carelessly left on a stump and lost years ago. Some twenty Indian fire-places have been ploughed up here. These were simply circles in the middle of the wigwam, paved with stones from the river. The Swanzey Antiquarian Society should have a draw- ing of this dam showing the two eastern wings and the boulder."
How much of the land in the vicinity of the Sand Bank had been subject to the rude cultivation practised by the Indians is not known. The fact that the first proprietors of Swanzey directed their attention to the meadow land on the Ashuelot above the Sand Bank and to the north part of the meadow on the South Branch, indicates that those meadows were found to be in condition to be easily brought under cul- tivation.
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The year 1745 found settlements in Swanzey, Keene, Winchester, Hinsdale, Putney and Charlestown. The settlement in most of these towns commenced about ten years previous to this time. They had now a small population of hardy, industrious people. Meeting houses had been built in Keene and Winchester and a schoolhouse in Swan- zey. Churches had been formed in Swanzey, Keene and Winchester, and ministers settled. Roads had been constructed between some of the towns, and in most of the towns a saw mill and a grist mill had been built. Much land had been cleared and numerous houses built. As already stated the Indians had left the locality before these settle- ments commenced and gave the settlers no trouble during these first few years. England and France were at war in 1745, and the war was transmitted to their colonies in America.
The St. Francis Indians instigated by the government of Canada, and with the Squakheags for allies, commenced the work of burning buildings, capturing, scalping and murdering the people of the Eng- lish colonies.
March 26, 1745. The Indians burned the house of Rev. Timothy Harrington, of Swanzey. The house stood upon Meeting House Hill (on the Carpenter farm).
July 5. Two Indians took William Phips of Putney as he was hoe- ing corn. When they had carried him half a mile one of them went down a steep hill to fetch something which had been left. In his ab- sence Phips, with his hoe, knocked down the Indian who was with him, and then seizing the Indian's gun shot the other as he ascended the hill. Phips was subsequently killed by three other Indians. The Indian whom Phips knocked down with his hoe died of his wound.
July 10. Deacon Josiah Fisher of Keene was killed as he was driv- ing his cow to pasture. He was found dead and scalped in the road, near where the Lamson block now stands on Main street.
Oct. 12. The garrison at Putney was attacked by French and Indians. It was defended with so much bravery that they failed to capture it. The Indians had one of their number killed. At the time the fort was attacked Nehemiah How was cutting wood about eighty rods from the fort. He was discovered and captured and no attempt was made for his rescue. As the enemy were leading How up the West bank of Con- necticut river David Rugg and Robert Baker were discovered crossing the river in a canoe. They were fired upon and Rugg was killed ; Baker made for the opposite shore and escaped. Rugg was scalped and the scalp was placed on the top of a long pole and carried through Charlestown to Crown Point in triumph. How, the prisoner, was
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carried to Quebec where he died in prison. At the time How was captured the enemy killed some of the cattle and drove some away.
April 19, 1746. A party of about forty French and Indians, under command of Ensign De Neverville, appeared at Charlestown and cap- tured Capt. John Spofford, Lieut. Isaac Parker and Steven Farns- worth. Captain Spofford had built a saw mill and a grist mill two years previous. He with the other men had been to the mill for boards with four oxen. As they were returning they were ambushed, cap- tured and taken to Canada. After some time they were permitted to return to Boston under a flag of truce. Capt. Spofford's mills were burned, the oxen killed, and their tongues cut out.
April 23. A numerous band of Indians made their appearance in Keene. They were discovered by Ephraim Dorman early in the morn- ing, in what was then a swamp east of the settlement. Mr. Dorman was out looking for his cow. He immediately gave an alarm by crying, Indians ! Indians ! and ran for the fort. Two Indians, who were con- cealed in bushes between him and the fort, sprang forward, aimed their pieces at him and fired, neither hitting him. Throwing away their arms, they then endeavored to capture him. Mr. Dorman, being a strong man, knocked one of them senseless ; with the other he had a sharp contest, stripped him of his blanket, leaving him nearly naked. He made his escape and reached the fort in safety.
Most of the people were in the fort when the alarm was given ; some were out attending to their cattle. Those who were out and in hear- ing distance rushed for the fort. A Mrs. Kinney had gone to a barn to milk her cow. She was aged and corpulent, and could walk only slowly. Before she reached the fort she was fatally stabbed in the back. John Bullard was at his barn. He endeavored to reach the fort, but was fatally shot in the back just before he reached it. He was carried in and expired in a few hours. A Mrs. Clark was at a barn about fifty rods from the fort. As she started for it, an Indian undertook to capture her. She gathered her clothes about her waist, and ran pursued by the Indian, who threw away his gun that he might outrun her. She, animated by the cheers of her friends, outran him and reached the fort in safety.
Nathan Blake was at his barn ; hearing the cry of Indians, and pre- suming that his barn would be burned, he determined that his cattle should not be burned with it. Throwing open his stable door, he let them loose. Considering that his retreat to the fort was cut off, he went out at a back door, intending to secrete himself at the only place where the river could be crossed. He had gone but a few steps when
AUTOGLYPH PRINI, W . ALLEN, GARDNER, MAIS
BOULDER BY CHARLES H HOLBROOK'S HOUSE,
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he was hailed by a party of Indians concealed in a shop between him and the street. Looking back he saw several guns pointed at him, and at this instant several Indians started up from their place of conceal- ment near him. Feeling himself in their power he gave himself up. They shook hands with him, and to the remark he made that he had not yet breakfasted, they smilingly replied that it must be a poor Eng- lishman who could not go to Canada without his breakfast.
Mr. Blake was pinioned and conducted by an Indian into the woods and started for Canada. At Montreal he, with another person by the name of Warren, was compelled to run the gauntlet. Warren re- ceived a blow in the face for which he knocked down the Indian who gave it. For this he was assaulted by several Indians who beat him unmercifully, by which he was made a cripple for life. Blake ex- hibited more patience and fortitude and received no considerable in- jury. He was then conducted to Quebec, and from there to an Indian village several miles north.
Mr. Blake was a strong, athletic man. He could run with great speed, and was put to many tricks with Indians whom he beat. To have him beaten. a celebrated Indian runner was procured to run against him. At the time the race was to be run the whole tribe assembled. A Frenchman from Quebec was present, and, seeing the excitement, advised Blake to let the Indian beat, intimating that fatal consequences might ensue if he did not. Blake acted upon the Frenchman's advice and permitted his antagonist to reach the goal a moment before him.
In 1747, a Frenchman by the name of Raimbut was taken prisoner in Winchester. He held the rank of lieutenant. He was anxious to return to Canada. Considering his rank he agreed that if he could be taken to Canada he would procure the release of Blake and a prisoner by the name of Allen who was captured at Deerfield, Mass. To carry the arrangement into effect the governor of Massachusetts sent in February, 1748, John Hawks, Matthews Clesson and John Taylor, accompanied by Raimbout to Canada, under a flag of truce. The party went on snow shoes, and carried their provisions on their backs. They returned with Blake and Allen about the first of May.
Mr. Blake had married Elizabeth, a daughter of Abraham Graves of Swanzey, in 1741. She sent money by the men to buy the ransom of her husband if the negotiations failed.
The number of Indians in the party that made the attack upon Keene at the time of Blake's capture was estimated at about a hundred. They skulked around all sides of the fort during the forenoon and fired whenever they supposed their shot might be effectual. Wheneyer an
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Indian was seen by those in the fort he was fired at, and a number of them were seen to fall. It was supposed that as many as ten were killed, and their bodies consumed in a building which they burned. The Indians did not immediately leave the vicinity of the fort. Some three days after their first appearance they killed a number of cattle in the meadow, southeast of the fort.
When the attack was made upon Keene the firing was heard at the fort in Swanzey, the commander of which sent an express immediately to Winchester, with the information that the Indians had made an at- tack upon Keene. From Winchester the information was expressed from fort to fort to Colonel Pomroy, the military commander at North- ampton. Colonel Pomroy, at the head of the military forces at that place, immediately started, and adding to his force as he proceeded by pressing horses and men into his service, he arrived at Keene with four hundred or five hundred men in a little more than forty-eight hours from the time the express left Swanzey, the distance down and back being at least ninety miles.
The military force after scouring the woods in the vicinity only found where the Indians encamped east of Beech hill.
May 2. At Charlestown, some women went to do their accustomed milking where the cows were kept, attended by a guard of soldiers. Eight Indians who had concealed themselves to await their arrival, fired and killed Seth Putnam. As the Indians were scalping him the soldiers fired and mortally wounded two of them, whom their com- panions carried off.
May 6. Deacon Timothy Brown and a soldier by the name of Robert Maffett left the fort in Swanzey to go to Keene. They were waylaid by a party of Indians that had been lying about the fort and captured. They were carried to Canada but subsequently released. Maffett be- longed to Lunenburg, Mass., and was doing garrison duty at Swan- zey. He shot and broke the Indian chief's arm before he surrendered.
At the same time that Brown and Maffett were taken, a party lay around the fort at Keene watching for an opportunity to plunder or take prisoners. One night the watch thought he heard some one try- ing the strength of the picket gate, when he fired. In the morning beads and blood were seen at the place where the fire was directed.
Massachusetts sent additional forces for the protection of these frontier New Hampshire towns, as no protection was being rendered them by the latter province. Captain Paine went with a force for the defence of Charlestown. About twenty of his soldiers went to view the place where Putnam had been killed a few days previous. A party
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of Indians lying in ambush fired upon them and then endeavored to cut off their retreat to the fort. Captain Stevens with a party rushed out for their assistance. In the conflict that ensued five were killed on each side, and the Indians took one prisoner. They retreated leav- ing some of their guns and blankets. This conflict occurred about May 24, 1746.
About a month later another conflict was had at the same place. Captain Stevens and Captain Brown went into the meadow to look for their horses. Their dogs gave indications that Indians were am- bushed for them, when they put themselves into position and gave the first fire. After a short encounter the Indians were driven into a swamp taking with them several of their number who had been killed. They left, when they retreated, guns, spears, hatchets and blankets. Captain Stevens and Captain Brown lost but one of their men.
June 24. Some twenty Indians attacked a number of men who were at work in a meadow near Bridgman's fort, Hinsdale. They killed William Robins and Jonas Barker, captured Daniel How and John Beaman, wounded Michael Gilson and Patrick Ray.
July 24. Colonel Willard and a guard of twenty men went with a team from Fort Dummer to Hinsdale's mill and when near the mill were ambushed. None of Colonel Willard's men were killed or cap- tured. One man was wounded.
Aug. 3. The enemy appeared again near the fort at Charlestown. Dogs were kept at the fort and they gave the first intimation to those within of the presence of the enemy by barking and by actions pecu- liar to them when Indians were in the vicinity. Captain Stevens, the commander, in order to satisfy himself that an enemy was in the vi- cinity, sent out scouts. The men were scarcely out of the fort when they were fired upon, and Ebenezer Phillips killed. He was so near the fort that a soldier crept carefully out at night and fastened a rope to him when he was drawn in and buried. No other one of the scouts was injured. The enemy, after they were discovered, put forth every effort to take the garrison. They fired their muskets against the walls and made other demonstrations in Indian fashion to effect their ob- ject. They hung around the fort two days, and burned all the build- ings outside except one. Of the buildings burned were the mills that Captain Spofford was rebuilding where his had been previously burned. Before they left they killed most of the horses, cattle and hogs. A company of troops from Massachusetts was stationed at the fort at the time and sixteen of their horses were killed.
Aug. 6. Winchester was visited by thirty of these Indians. A num-
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ber of men were passing in a road near which the Indians had con- cealed themselves, when the latter fired and killed Joseph Rawson and wounded Amasa Wright.
Oct. 22. Jonathan Sartwell was captured near Fort Hinsdale.
The year 1746 must have been one of extreme peril to these frontier towns. The settlers were few and widely scattered. Cultivation of their land was their main dependence for support. To go outside the forts to labor upon their farms was at all times extremely dangerous. The Indians were constantly moving from place to place. After they had inflicted some outrage upon the inhabitants of one place, off they would go to another settlement, and the first intimation of their com- ing would be the capture or killing of some unsuspecting person.
Late in the year Massachusetts appears to have decided not to con- tinue her military protection to these New Hampshire towns, and the forces which she had kept at Charlestown were withdrawn and after- wards the settlement was abandoned.
The settlements at Keene and Swanzey were continued through the winter and it is not known that they were disturbed.
To show the condition of the New Hampshire towns in the Ashue- lot and Connecticut valleys, we will quote the following from Rev. H. P. Saunderson's history of Charlestown. "During the winter, 1846- 47, the Indians were so ice-bound in Canada, that the frontiers suffered only in apprehension, as no incursions were made upon them. In this interval, some gentlemen who had the wisdom to perceive that the pro- tection of the Connecticut river settlements was required by the true interests of the country, fortunately prevailed on the assembly of Massachusetts to make the needful provision for the defence of the forts and garrisons which in consequence of the withdrawal of her troops had been deserted. They, moreover, sought to convince them, that this would require not only a sufficiency of men to afford garri- sons for the places that would be able to resist such assaults as would be likely to be made upon them, but also an equal additional force to range the woods and watch the motions of the enemy, and prevent their depredations, by anticipating their designs, and by suddenly fall- ing upon and surprising them in their encampments, when they had not the least expectation of an assault ; thus practising upon them their own tactics.
The prime mover in this matter, we have reason to believe, was Captain Stevens; who, by the promptness and wisdom with which he had acted, had already gained no inconsiderable influence with the government. He had personally addressed a memorial to Governor
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Shirley, setting forth his views of the situation, from which the fol- lowing is an extract : 'No. 4 is situated upon Connecticut river, about 45 miles above Northfield ; on which place (No. 4) the enemy have continually endeavored to do spoil; and many great advantages have been lost for want of a suitable number of soldiers at that garrison. Fort Massachusetts, that was, is situated about 34 miles from Deerfield, and is the proper road of an enemy coming upon our frontiers when they come by Wood Creek and the drowned lands, as No. 4 is when they come by Otter Creek. Now it appears to me if one hundred men were early sent to each of these posts, say by the latter end of March, and suitable encouragement was given to them to go and waylay the streams the enemy come upon when they issue out from Crown Point, they might be very much discouraged in com- ing in small parties as heretofore : which in my opinion will be of the greatest service to the public and the only effectual method to carry on the war. If anything be done it should be done early in the Spring, as it is evident from past experience that this enemy will be down by the first of April. There is one thing which I have observed while among the Indians ; they are a people which are greatly elated and flushed up when they have success and as soon discouraged when they are disappointed.'
In their endeavours, these gentlemen, with Captain Stevens at their head, were only partially successful; for the assembly, at this time, could be induced to go no further than to detail such a number of men for garrisoning the forts as, in their estimation, would be sufficient to repel the enemy in case of attack; and the subject of taking the of- fensive was postponed, for some future consideration.
This being the state of affairs, in the latter part of March, 1747, Capt. Phinehas Stevens, with thirty men, was ordered by Governor Shirley to march to No. 4 and take possession.
This post, for more than two months, had been entirely deserted and fears were entertained that, in case it should be left longer, it would either be burned or taken by the enemy. The movement was timely, and in every respect most fortunate. Stevens marched through the wilderness and arrived at No. 4 on the 27th of March, to find the fort in good condition ; but what was his surprise, on entering it to find himself and company heartily welcomed by an old spaniel and a cat, which had been left behind at its desertion, and had remained in it during the winter, as its sole defenders and occupants.
Captain Stevens and company had been in possession of the fort only a few days before they were led to surmise the presence of an
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enemy. Their suspicions were first aroused by the uneasy appearance of the dogs, and their continued barking. These indications of some- thing that was not right induced them to keep the gate closely barred. But here we must let Captain Stevens tell his own story. In his re- port to Governor Shirley, dated April 9, 1747, he says, 'Our dogs being very much disturbed, which gave us reason to think that the enemy were about, occasioned us not to open the gate at the usual time ; but one of our men being desirous to know the certainty, ven- tured out privately to set on the dogs, about nine o'clock in the morn- ing ; and went about twenty rods from the fort firing off his gun and saying, choboy, to the dogs. Whereupon, the enemy, being within a few rods, immediately arose from behind a log and fired ; but through the goodness of God, the man got into the fort with only a slight wound. The enemy being then discovered, immediately arose from their ambushments and attacked us on all sides. The wind being very high, and every thing exceedingly dry, they set fire to all the old fences and also to a log house about forty rods distant from the fort to the windward; so that within a few minutes we were entirely surrounded with fire all which was performed with the most hideous shouting and firing, from all quarters which they continued, in a very terrible manner, until the next day at ten o'clock at night, without in- termission ; during which time we had no opportunity to eat or sleep. But notwithstanding all their shouting and threatenings, our men seemed not to be in the least daunted, but fought with great resolu- tion ; which doubtless, gave the enemy reason to think we had deter- mined to stand it out to the last degree. The enemy had provided themselves with a sort of fortification which they had determined to push before them and bring fuel to the side of the fort, in order to burn it down. But instead of performing what they threatened, and seemed to be immediately going to undertake, they called to us and desired a cessation of arms until sunrise the next morning which was granted ; at which time they would come to a parley. Accordingly the French General Debeline came with about sixty of his men, with a flag of truce, and stuck it down within about twenty rods of the fort in plain sight of the same, and said if we would send three men to him he would send as many to us to which we complied. The Gen- eral sent in a French lieutenant with a French soldier and an Indian.
Upon our men going to Monsieur, he made the following proposal ; viz. :- that in case we would immediately resign up the fort, we should all have our lives and liberty to put on all the clothes we had, and also to take a sufficient quantity of provisions to carry us to Mon-
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