History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 16

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 16

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While they were at the house of Tilly Parkhurst, aforemen- tioned, which was about six miles from the place they entered Royalton, his son, Phineas Parkhurst, who had been to alarm the people on the east side of the river, just as he entered the stream on his return, discovered the Indians at his father's door. Finding himself in danger, he immediately turned to go back, and the Indians just at this time happened to see him, and fired upon him. This was the first gun they fired after they entered the town. The ball entered his back, went through his body, came out under his ribs, and lodged in the skin. Notwithstand- ing the wound, he was, however, able to ride, and continued his retreat to Lebanon, in the State of New-Hampshire, the distance of about sixteen miles, with very little stop, supporting the ball between his fingers. He now resides in that town, and sustains the character of a useful physician, and an industrious, inde- pendent farmer.

That party of Indians, which went down on the east side of the river, extended their ravages as far as the house of Capt. Gilbert in Sharon, where a public house is now kept, by Capt. Dana. Here they took a nephew of Capt. Gilbert, by the name of Nathaniel Gilbert, a boy about fifteen years of age. They now resolved to return, and commenced that waste of property,

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which tracked their progress. As they retraced their steps, they set fire to all the buildings they found, of every description. They spread desolation and distress wherever they went. Houses filled with furniture, and family supplies for the winter; barns stored with the fruits of industry, and fields stocked with herds of cattle, were all laid waste.

They shot and killed fourteen fat oxen in one yard; which, in consequence of the inhabitants being dispersed, were wholly lost. Cows, sheep, and hogs; and indeed every creature designed by the God of nature, to supply the wants of man, which came within their sight, fell a prey to these dreadful spoilers. Parents torn from their children; husbands separated from their wives; and children snatched from their parents, presented to view an indiscribable scene of wretchedness and distress. Some were driven from their once peaceful habitations, into the adjacent wilderness for safety; there to wait the destruction of their property ; stung with the painful reflection that their friends, perhaps a kind father, and an affectionate brother, were made captives, and compelled to travel with a tawny herd of savage men, into the wild regions of the north; to be delivered into the hands of enemies, and undergo the fatigues and dangers of a wretched captivity : Or what was scarcely more to be deplored, learn with pain that they had fallen the unhappy victims, to the relentless fury of the savage tribe, and were weltering in their gore, where there was no eye to pity, or friendly hand to admin- ister relief !

The third party of Indians, who went up the river, first came to the house of Gen. Stevens. Daniel Havens, whose escape I have mentioned, went directly there, and warned the family of their danger. Trembling with fear, he only stepped into the house, told them that "the Indians were as thick as the D - - - 1 at their house," and turned and went directly out, leaving the family to secure their own retreat.

Mrs. Stevens and the family were in bed, excepting her hus- band, who, as before stated, had gone down the river, about two miles from home. She immedately arose from her bed, flung some loose clothes over her; took up her child, and had scarcely got to the fire, when a large body of Indians rushed in at the door.

They immediately ransacked the house in search of men; and then took the beds and bedding, carried them out of doors, cut open the bed-ticks, and threw the feathers into the air. This made them sport enough. Nor did they fail to manifest their infernal gratification by their tartarean shouts, and disingenu- ous conduct.

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Mrs. Stevens entreated them to let her have some clothes for herself and child; but her entreaties were in vain. They were deaf to the calls of the needy; and disregarded the demands of justice. Her cries reached their ears, but nothing could excite one single glow of sympathy. Her destitute and suffering condi- tion was plain before their eyes, but they were blind to objects of compassion. Alas! what bitterness of soul; what anguish; what heart rending pangs of fear, distressed her tender bosom! Surrounded by these pitiless, terrific monsters in human shape, with her little offspring in her arms, whose piercing shrieks and tender age called for compassion; exposed to the raging fire of savage jealousy, unquenchable by a mother's tears; anxious for the safety, and mourning the absence of her bosom friend, the husband of her youth; it is beyond the powers of the imagination to conceive, or language to express the sorrows of her heart!

At one moment securely reposing in the arms of sleep, with her darling infant at her breast; the next, amid a savage crew, whose wicked hands were employed in spreading desolation and mischief; whose mortal rage, exposed her to the arrows of death ! After plundering the house, they told Mrs. Stevens, to "begone or they would burn." She had been afraid to make any attempt to escape; but now gladly embraced the opportunity. She has- tened into the adjacent wilderness carrying her child, where she tarried till the Indians had left the town.

"Strangers to want! can ye, presumptuous say, No clouds shall rise to overcast your day? Time past hath prov'd how fleeting riches are, Time future to this truth may witness bear; By means no human wisdom can foresee, Or power prevent, a sudden change may be; War in its route may plunder all your store And leave you friendless, desolate and poor." Noyes.

A boy by the name of Daniel Waller, about fourteen years old, who lived with Gen. Stevens, set out immediately to go to the General, and give him the information. He had proceeded about half a mile, when he met the Indians, was taken prisoner, and carried to Canada.

They left the house and barn of Gen. Stevens in flames, and proceeded up the river as far as Mr. Durkee's, where they took two of his boys prisoners, Adan and Andrew, and carried the former to Canada, who died there in prison.

Seeing a smoke arise above the trees in the woods adjacent, the hostile invaders directed their course to the spot, where they found a young man by the name of Prince Haskell, busily en- gaged in chopping for the commencement of a settlement. Has- kell heard a rustling among the leaves behind him, and turning

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around beheld two Indians, but a few feet from him. One stood with his gun pointed directly at him, and the other in the atti- tude of throwing a tomahawk. Finding he had no chance to escape, he delivered himself up a prisoner, and was also carried to Canada. He returned in about one year, after enduring the most extreme sufferings, in his wanderings through the wilder- ness, on his way home.

A Mr. Chafee, who lived at the house of Mr. Hendee, started early in the morning to go to the house of Mr. Elias Curtis to get his horse shod. On his way he saw Mr. John Kent ahead of him, who was upon the same business. Wishing to put in his claim before Mr. Chafee, he rode very fast, and arrived at the house first. He had scarcely dismounted from his horse, when the Indians came out of the house, took him by the hair of his head, and pulled him over backwards. Seeing this, Mr. Chafee immediately dismounted, jumped behind the shop, hastened away, keeping such a direction as would cause the shop to hide his re- treat. Thus he kept out of sight of the Indians, effected his escape, and returned to the house of Mr. Hendee. On receiving the alarm given by Mr. Chafee, Mr. Hendee directed his wife to take her little boy about seven years old, and her little daughter, who was still younger, and hasten to one of their neighbors for safety, while he should go to Bethel, the town west of Royalton, and give the alarm at the fort.

Mrs. Hendee had not proceeded far, when she was met by several Indians upon the run, who took her little boy from her. Feeling anxious for the fate of her child, she enquired what they were going to do with him. They replied that they should make a soldier of him; and then hastened away, pulling him along by the hand, leaving the weeping mother with her little daughter, to witness the scene, and hear the piercing shrieks of her darling son.

This leads me to notice one instance of female heroism, blended with benevolence, displayed by Mrs. Hendee, whose name deserves ever to be held in remembrance by every friend of hu- manity.

She was now separated from her husband, and placed in the midst of a savage crew, who were committing the most horrid depredations, and destroying every kind of property that fell within their grasp. Defenceless, and exposed to the shafts of envy, or the rage of a company of despicable tories and brutal savages, the afflicted mother, robbed of her only son, proceeded down the river, with her tender little daughter hanging to her clothes, screaming with fear, pleading with her mother to keep away the Indians !

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In this condition, possessing uncommon resolution, and great presence of mind, she determined again to get possession of her son. As she passed down the river, she met several tories who were with the Indians, of whom she continued to inquire what they intended to do with the children they had taken, and re- ceived an answer that they should kill them. Still determined not to part with her son, she passed on, and soon discovered a large body of Indians, stationed on the opposite side of the river. Wishing to find the commanding officer, and supposing him to be there, she set out to cross the river, and just as she arrived at the bank, an old Indian stepped ashore. He could not talk Eng- lish, but requested by signs to know where she was going. She signified that she was going to cross, when he, supposing she intended to deliver herself up to them as a prisoner, kindly offered to carry her and her child across on his back; but she refused to be carried. He then insisted upon carrying her child, to which she consented. The little girl cried, and said, "she didn't want to ride the old Indian." She was however per- suaded to ride the old Indian, and they all set out to ford the river.

Having proceeded about half way across, they came to deeper and swifter water, and the old Indian, patting the mother upon the shoulder, gave her to understand that if she would tarry upon a rock near them, which was not covered with water, till he had carried her child over, he would return and carry her also. She therefore stopped, and sat upon the rock till he had carried her daughter and set it upon the opposite shore; when he re- turned and took her upon his back, lugged her over, and safely landed her with her child.

Supported by a consciousness of the justice of her cause, braving every danger and hazarding the most dreadful conse- quences, not excepting her own life and that of her children, she now sat out to accomplish her object.

She hastened to the Commanding Officer, and boldly in- quired of him what he intended to do with her child. He told her that it was contrary to orders to injure women or children. "Such boys as should be taken, he said, would be trained for sol- diers, and would not be hurt."

You know said she, in reply, that these little ones cannot endure the fatigues of a march through the vast extent of wilder- ness, which you are calculating to pass. And when their trem- bling limbs shall fail to support their feeble bodies, and they can no longer go, the tomahawk and the scalping knife will be the only relief you will afford them! Instead of falling into a mother's arms, and receiving a mother's tender care, you will

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yield them into the arms of death, and earth must be their pil- low, where the howling wilderness shall be their only shelter- truly a shelter, from a mother's tears, but not from the jaws of wild beasts, nor a parent's grief. And give me leave to tell you, added she, were you possessed of a parent's love-could you feel the anguish of a mother's heart, at the loss of her "first born," her darling son, torn from her bosom, by the wicked hands of savage men, no entreaties would be required to obtain the release of my dear child !

Horton replied that the Indians were an ungovernable race, and would not be persuaded to give up anything they should see fit to take.

You are their commander, continued she, and they must and will obey you. The curse will fall upon you, for whatever crime they may commit, and all the innocent blood they shall here shed, will be found in your skirts "when the secrets of men's hearts shall be made known;" and it will then cry for vengeance on your head !

Melted into tears at this generous display of maternal af- fection, the infamous destroyer felt a relenting in his bosom, bowed his head under the weight of this powerful eloquence and simple boldness of the brave heroine: and assured her that he would deliver her child up, when the Indians arrived with him. The party who took him had not yet returned. When he arrived, Horton, with much difficulty, prevailed on the Indians to de- liver him up. After she had gained possession of him, she set out, leading him and her little girl, by the hand, and hastened away with speed, while the mingled sensations of fear, joy and gratitude, filled her bosom. She had not gone more than ten rods, when Horton followed, and told her to go back, and stay till the scouting parties had returned, lest they should again take her boy from her. She accordingly returned and tarried with the Indians till they all arrived and started for Canada. While she was there, several of her neighbor's children, about the same age of her own, were brought there as captives. Possessing benevolence equal to her courage, she now made suit for them, and, by her warm and affectionate entreaties, succeeded in pro- curing their release. While she waited for their departure, sit- ting upon a pile of boards, with the little objects of charity around her, holding fast to her clothes, with their cheeks wet with tears, an old Indian came and took her son by the hand and endeavored to get him away. She refused to let him go, and held him fast by the other hand, till the savage monster, vio- lently waved his cutlass over her head, and the piercing shrieks of her beloved child filled the air. This excited the rage of the barbarous crew, so much as to endanger her own, and the life of

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the children around her, and compelled her to yield him into his hands. She again made known her grievance to Horton, when, after considerable altercation with the Indians, he obtained her son and delivered him to her a second time; though he might be said to "fear not God, nor regard man." Thus, like the importunate widow who "troubled the unjust judge," this young woman obtained the release of nine small boys from a wretched captivity, which doubtless would have proved their death! She led eight of them away, together with her daughter, all hanging to her own clothes, and to each other, mutually rejoicing at their deliverance. The other, whose name was Andrew Durkee, whom the Indians had carried to the house of Mr. Havens, was there released according to the agreement of Horton with Mrs. Hen- dee, and sent back, on account of his lameness.

Being told that the great bone in his leg had been taken out, in consequence of a fever sore, an old Indian examined it, and cried out "no boon! No go!" and giving him a blanket and a hatchet, sent him back.

Mrs. Hendee carried two of the children across the river on her back, one at a time, and the others waded through the water, with their arms around each other's neck. After cross- ing the river, she traveled about three miles with them, and encamped for the night, "gathering them around her as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings." The names of the children who were indebted to her for their release from the savage tribe, were Michael Hendee, Roswell Parkhurst, son of Capt. Ebenezer Parkhurst, Andrew and Sheldon Durkee, Joseph Rix, Rufus and Fish, Nathaniel Evans, and Daniel Dow- ner. The latter received such an affright from the horrid crew, that he was ever afterwards unable to take care of himself, wholly unfit for business: and lived for many years, wandering from place to place, a solemn, tho' silent witness of the distress and horror of that dreadful scene.

Mrs. Hendee, now (1818) lives in Sharon, where the author visited her, and received the foregoing statement of this noble exploit from her own mouth. It is also corroborated by several gentlemen now living, who were eye witnesses.

She has buried her first, and second husband; and now lives a widow, by the name of Moshier. Her days are almost gone. May her declining years be crowned with the reward due to her youthful deeds of benevolence. She has faced the most awful dangers, for the good of mankind, and rescued many from the jaws of death !

In view of the exceeding riches of that mercy which has protected her through such scenes of danger, may she devote her life to the service of the Mighty God, and, at last, find a

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happy seat at the right hand of Him, "who gave himself a ran- som for all." And thus let the children, who are indebted to her bravery and benevolence, for their lives, "rise up and call her blessed." Gratitude forbids their silence. For, to maternal affection and female heroism alone, under God, they owe their deliverance from savage cruelty. The boldest hero of the other sex, could never have effected what she accomplished. His ap- proach to the savage tribe to intercede in behalf of those de- fenceless children, most surely would have brought upon himself a long and wretched captivity, and perhaps even death itself !

The Indians having accomplished their nefarious designs, returned to the house of Mr. Havens, with their prisoners, and the plunder of houses which they had devoted to destruction. Here was the place where they had commenced their ravages. The old man, as before observed, having concealed himself under a log, at the time he espied the Indians in the morning, while hunting for his sheep, still remained in sorrowful silence undis- covered. He had considered it unsafe to move, as a party of the crew had continued there during the day, and had twice come and stood upon the log, under which he lay, without finding him.

After collecing their plunder together, and distributing it among them, they burnt the house and barn of Mr. Havens, and started for Canada. It was now about two o'clock in the after- noon. They carried off twenty-six prisoners from Royalton, who were all delivered up to the British, as prisoners of war.

They all obtained their release and returned in about one year, excepting Adan Durkee, who died in camp at Montreal.

Twenty one dwelling houses, and sixteen good new barns, filled with hay and grain, the hard earnings of industrious young farmers, were here laid in ashes, by the impious crew. They killed about one hundred and fifty head of neat cattle, and all the sheep and swine they found. Hogs, in their pens, and cattle tied in their stalls, were burnt alive. They destroyed all the household furniture, except what they carried with them. They burnt the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, and giving his wife a hatchet, and a flint, together with a quarter of mutton, told her "to go and cook for her men." This, they said to aggravate her feelings, and remind her of her forlorn condition.

Women and children were left entirely destitute of food, and every kind of article necessary for the comforts of life; almost naked, and without a shelter. Wandering from place to place, they beheld their cattle rolling in their blood, groaning in the agonies of death; and saw their houses laid in ruins. Dis- consolate mothers and weeping orphans, were left to wander through the dreadful waste, and lament the loss of their nearest friends, comfortless and forlorn.

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The Indians took away about thirty horses, which were how- ever of little use to them, but rather served to hinder their prog- ress. Their baggage was composed of almost every article com- monly found among farmers; such as axes, and hoes, pots, ket- tles, shovels and tongs, sickles, scythes, and chains; old side saddles, and bed-ticks emptied of their feathers, warming pans, plates and looking-glasses, and indeed nearly all kinds of arti- cles, necessary for the various avocations of life.

On their return, they crossed the hills, in Tunbridge, lying west of first branch, and proceeded to Randolph, where they encamped for the first night, near the second branch, a distance of about ten miles. They had, however, previously dispatched old Mr. Kneeland, a prisoner whom they considered would be of the least service to them, with letters to the militia, stating that, "if they were not followed, the prisoners should be used well- but should they be pursued, every one of them would be put to death."

The alarm had by this time spread thro' the adjacent towns, and the scattering, undisciplined militia, shouldered their mus- kets, and hastened to pursue them. They collected at the house of Mr. Evans in Randolph, about two miles south of the encamp- ment of the Indians. Here they formed a company, consisting of about three hundred in number, and made choice of Col. John House, of Hanover, N. H., for their commander. They supposed the Indians had gone to Brookfield, about ten miles from that place, up the second branch. With this expectation they took up their march about twelve o'clock at night, hoping they should be able to reach Brookfield, before light, and make them prison- ers. They had scarcely started, when the American front guard, to their utter surprise, were fired upon by the rear guard of the enemy. Several fires were exchanged, and one of the Americans wounded, when Col. H-, through cowardice, or want of skill, commanded them to halt, and cease firing. He then ordered them to make stand, and kept them in suspense till the Indians had made their escape. To hasten their flight, the savage tribe were compelled to leave at their encampment a considerable quantity of their plunder; nearly all of the horses, and made good their retreat.

Here they killed two of their prisoners, by the name of Joseph Kneeland, and Giles Gibbs. The former was found dead, with his scalp taken off, and the latter with a tomahawk in his head.

At day light, Col. H- courageously entered the deserted camp, and took possession of the spoil, but alas, the enemy were gone, he knew not where! Urged by his brave soldiers, who were disgusted at his conduct, he proceeded up the second branch as

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far as Brookfield in pursuit of the enemy, and not finding them, disbanded his men and returned.

Had Col. H- possessed courage and skill adequate to the duties of his station, he might have defeated the enemy, it is thought, without the least difficulty, and made them all pris- oners. His number was equal to that of the enemy, well armed with muskets and furnished with ammunition. The enemy, though furnished with muskets, had little ammunition, and were cumbered with the weight of much guilt, and a load of plunder. They had encamped upon a spot of ground which gave the Americans all the advantage, and their only safety rested in their flight. The American force consisted of undisciplined militia, who promiscuously assembled from different quarters, but were full of courage, animated by the principles of justice, and de- termined to obtain redress for the injuries they had received from the barbarous crew.

Many of them likewise had friends and connexions, then in possession of the Indians, to obtain whose freedom, they were stimulated to action. But alas! their determination failed, their hopes were blasted! They were forced to relinquish their ob- ject, and suffer their friends to pass on, and endure a wretched captivity .- They however forced the Indians to leave the stream, and take their course over the hills, between the second and third branch, which brought them directly, and unexpect- edly, to the house of Zadock Steele, whom they made prisoner, and took to Canada.

To his "captivity and sufferings," as related by himself, in the following pages, the reader is referred for a further account of the expedition of the Indians, and its dreadful consequences.

CHAPTER XII.

THE BURNING OF ROYALTON.

WITH NEW FACTS AND TRADITIONS.

The inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants were in con- stant danger of invasion by the British with their blood-thirsty redskins. As has been said, the frontier was kept quite con- stantly guarded, but this guard was not sufficiently large to pre- vent incursions of small bodies of the enemy, who, favored by the dense forests, and entirely familiar with their ground, slipped in from Canada, took the settlers unawares, accomplished their purpose of capture or destruction, and fled back to their covert in Canada, generally without loss to themselves. They avoided places where fortifications were built, unless they knew that no force was in possession.

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 16

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280