USA > Vermont > History of eastern Vermont, from its earliest settlement to the close of the eighteeth century with a biographical chapter and appendixes > Part 9
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78
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1755.
and Quimby, escaped to the fort. Of the settlers, John Alex- ander was killed and scalped, and Amasa Wright and his sur- viving companion, whose name is not recorded, saved them -. selves by flight. An alarm was immediately sounded, and the "Great Gun" at Fort Dummer, on the opposite side of the river, was fired. Thirty men from Northfield answered the summons, but their assistance availed only in burying the dead, for the enemy had gone too far to warrant a pursuit. A week pre- vious to this occurrence the Indians burned an outhouse with its contents, situated about six miles above West river, and dur- ing the whole summer hostile bands scattered in every direction among the settlements, were watching for opportunities to plun- der and destroy. Information of these transactions was sent to Governor Wentworth by Col. Ebenezer Hinsdell, and the clos- ing words of his letter, "we are loath to tarry here merely to be killed," convey in strong terms, a knowledge of the danger which encircled the settlers, and of the incompetency of their forces to afford protection.
Although the governor was willing and anxious to furnish the requisite aid, the New Hampshire Assembly were unwilling to render the least. Application was then made to the Massa- chusetts Legislature, and Nathan Willard, the commander at Fort Dummer, in a memorial presented in the month of August, described the situation of that post. He stated that the enemy were continually lurking in the woods around and near the fort ; that during the past summer nineteen persons, living within two miles of it, had been " killed or captivated ;" that it was impossible to succor them by reason of the insufficiency of the garrison, which numbered only five men on pay, and that in case of an attack there was no reason why the enemy should not be perfectly successful. In view of these representations, the Legislature directed Capt. Willard to add six men to his present force, to serve until the first of October following. Si- milar assistance was granted to other garrisons on the frontiers.
The expedition against Crown Point, which had been planned during the spring and summer, was consummated in the fall of this year. The unwearied efforts of General, afterwards Sir William Johnson, to whom the command had been given, though attended with success, were not rewarded with the con- quest of the desired station ; and the victory of the 8th of Sep- tember, which defeated the Baron Dieskau and his French and Indian forces, though it served to cheer the spirits of the Eng-
79
THE SUPPORT OF FORT DUMMER.
1755.]
lish in America, was purchased by the loss of some of the best men in the colonies. Of this number was Col. Ephraim Wil- liams, who was shot through the head as he was leading on his regiment in the conflict. His death was universally regretted by his countrymen. His exertions, during a service of many years on the frontier, had won him the esteem and admiration which is due to virtue and valor; and the endowment which he made by his will for establishing the college which bears his name, has kept his memory green in the hearts of succeeding generations, and added to his renown as a warrior the praises of scholars and philanthropists .*
As has been previously stated, Fort Dummer, although situ- ated without the borders of Massachusetts, had been long sup- ported by that province. The Board of Trade had, on the 3d of August, 1749, declared it proper and just, that New Hamp- shire should reimburse Massachusetts for its maintenance ; yet no attention had been given to this advice, and Massachusetts had continued as before to support a garrison at that station. In order to obtain payment for their services, the Council of Massachusetts, "in confidence of his Majesty's goodness and justice," appointed a committee on the 29th of May, 1752, con- sisting of Samuel Watts, John Wheelwright, and Thomas Hutchinson, who, with a committee from the House, were ordered to take such steps as they should deem necessary to accomplish this object. On the 4th of June, a few days after these appointments were made, the Council, by the advice of their committee, directed Josiah Willard, the Secretary of the province, to write to Mr. Bollan, the agent for Massachusetts in England, in order to learn what course should be pursued with the Board of Trade. Letters were sent on the 25th, but no answer being received, the Secretary, on the 27th of December, 1753, again wrote for instructions. In the latter communica- tion, he stated that Massachusetts had defended the lands west of Connecticut river, for one hundred years past, at an expense probably of £100,000 sterling; that at one of the best forts in the government, standing about twenty-five miles east of Hud- son river,t she had kept a garrison of forty men during the war, and had retained men in pay ever since the peace; that she had been long expecting a reimbursement of the charge for supporting Fort Dummer, and defending the other parts of the
" Hoyt's Indian Wars, pp. 271-282.
+ Fort Massachusetts.
80
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1755.
frontier of " what is now called New Hampshire ;" and that the order of his Majesty in Council in 1744 was conditional, either that Massachusetts should be reimbursed her charges, or that the fort with a proper. district of land contiguous should be assigned her. Referring more particularly to that order, the Secretary remarked in conclusion, that the Fort and a few miles of country around it, so far from being an adequate com- pensation for the expense the province had incurred, were so much the contrary, that she would rather esteem them a bur- den, as thereby she would not only lose all the past expenses, but be subjected also to a constant future charge. On the 12th of August, 1755, the subject was again discussed before the Council of Massachusetts, and Thomas Hutchinson and William Brattle, with such persons as the House might add, were chosen " to prepare the draft of a memorial and petition to his Majesty, therein giving a full representation" of the affair, and praying for a speedy reimbursement of the charges which had been paid by the province. Thus did Massachusetts from year to year repeat her attempts to obtain what was due her for her services and expenditures. But her efforts were foiled by the vigilance of the New Hampshire agents, and her object rendered more and more unattainable by delay .*
* Various MSS. Mass. Council Records, xxi. 316.
CHAPTER IV.
THE FRENCH WAR. TOWN SETTLEMENTS.
Command of Fort Dummer given to Nathan Willard-Complaint against him- Indians in ambush-Attempt to construct a Military road from Charlestown to Crown Point-Rangers at Hinsdale's Fort-Capt. Burk-Incursion at Charles- town-Capture of Mrs. Moore of Brattleborough-Robert Rogers, the distin- guished Ranger-Events at the close of the French war-Destruction of St. Francis-Sufferings of Rogers's party on their return-Land route from Con- necticut River to Lake Champlain-Conquest of Canada by the English- Peace restored-Grants by Governor Benning Wentworth-Westminster char- ter renewed-Settlement of Towns on Connecticut River-Putney-Halifax- Marlborough-Wilmington-New Fane-Rockingham-Townshend-Hinsdale.
ALTHOUGH hostilities had been continued in the provinces during the year 1755, war was not formally declared between England and France until the beginning of the year 1756. Several expeditions were partially planned, yet little was done during the campaign in the way of regular warfare. Means were taken as in former years to defend the settlements along the Connecticut. Small forces were posted by Massachusetts at Charlestown and on Ashuelot river in New Hampshire, also at Northfield, Greenfield, Deerfield, Fort Massachusetts, and at the stations in the Massachusetts cordon. The garrison at Fort Dummer having become reduced to three men, Capt. Nathan Willard, who was stationed at that post, made known his condi- tion to the Massachusetts Legislature, and asked for aid. By a vote of the House, passed April 8th, nine men were placed under his command, and an allowance was made for their sup- port from the funds of the province. Besides the garrison, the fort was at that time inhabited by several families. No sooner had Willard obtained an increase of his force, than he com- menced a pitiful persecution against these families whom he had been appointed to protect. They, unwilling to increase the disturbance by resistance, endured his conduct in silence for a
6
82
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1756.
reasonable time, but finding that he was not inclined to change his treatment towards them, except for the worse, they, on the 17th of May, memorialized the General Court of Massachusetts, · in these words :-
"The command being given to Nathan Willard-we will a little acquaint your honours of the managements and carryings on in said fort, and that in several articles, and,
" First ; as to all the Willards' swearing against the province in favour of New Hampshire.
"Secondly ; as to their selling the province stores, both of powder and lead to Hampshire forts, as also to Hampshire soldiers.
"Thirdly; as to the province guns lying about in ye said fort, the locks in one place and the barrels in another, and two or three of them that are half eat up with rust.
" And as your honours have been pleased to allow nine men to that fort until ye 10th day of next June, under the comand of Captain Nathan Willard, he has put in Oliver Willard, Wilder Willard, William Willard, and as there are four large Province Houses in ye fort, these four Willards have each of them an house.
" And as Capt. Nathan Willard has a large province house to himself, and has turned all the rest of the families into two small rooms, in which families are five soldiers ;- for by repair- ing the province houses a little, makes them their own.
"And as there are four acres of land allowed in ye Hamp- shire charter for the benefit of ye said fort, they keep all the land to themselves, and will allow but a small garden spot to the rest of the soldiers,-as their treatment is so hard of ye soldiers, and ye distressed inhabitants who are obliged to flee thither for shelter in these distressing times, with us, we have thought fit to make ye above representation of facts, which we are ready to prove true.
"Our distresses are great for which we begg your honours compassionate consideration, and relief, and as in duty bound shall ever pray."*
There is no doubt that this petition was answered to the satisfaction of those who presented it, for Massachusetts was ever
* This memorial was signed by Capt. Fairbank Moore, Benjamin Moore, Fair- bank Moore Jun., Robert Cooper, Anson Cooper, John Kathan, John Kathan Jun., Daniel Shattuck, Daniel Shattuck Jun., Joshua Cooper, Gideon Shattuck MSS. in office Sec. State, Mass., Ixxv. 547
83
CONTINUED ASSAULTS OF THE INDIANS.
1756.]
generous in defending not only her own frontiers, but those of other provinces ; and at this period especially, the fear of exter- nal foes admitted not the toleration of any internal enmities or jealousies.
The necessity of preparation was soon after made evident by the commencement of the annual incursions of the Indians. In June they took Josiah Foster with his wife and two children from Winchester, New Hampshire, and not many days after, Lieut. Moses Willard was killed, and his son wounded near the fort of Charlestown. During the summer several acts of hosti- lity were committed in the neighborhood of Fort Massachusetts, and in the majority of cases, the plans of the Indians were attended with success. At a place called the Country farms in the north part of Greenfield, they attacked a party of five men on the 12th of August, while at labor. Of these only one escaped, two of the others being killed, and two captured .* On the 20th of the same month, as Zebulon Stebbins of Hins- dale, and Reuben Wright were returning from Northfield on horseback, they discovered a party of Indians in ambush, who fired on them, and wounded Wright. The two men then re- treated some distance, but the Indians still pressing on, Steb- bins turned upon them, received their fire, and returning it wounded one of them. This checked their pursuit, and enabled both Wright and Stebbins to make their escape. A good result was effected by this event, as it placed the people in the vicinity on their guard, and prevented the capture of several persons for whom the Indians were lying in wait. Many depredations were committed in the frontier towns before the close of the season, and the inhabitants of those places most exposed, were kept in a state of continual alarm by the reports of Indian vindictiveness and cruelty, which were constantly saluting their ears, and which in some instances were corrobo- rated by the scenes they had witnessed.
Early in the spring of this year, the government of Massa- chusetts had been engaged in discussing the feasibility of con- structing a road between a point on the right bank of Connecti- cut river, opposite Charlestown, and a point on the right bank of Lake Champlain opposite Crown Point, for the purpose of facilitating military operations in that quarter. As the result
* A detailed account of this event and of others similar is given in Hoyt's Indian Wars, pp. 284, 285.
84
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1756.
of these deliberations, the following vote was passed in the House of Representatives on the 10th of March, and met with the approbation of the Governor and Council. "Whereas it is of great importance that a thorough knowledge be had of the distance and practicability of a communication between Num- ber Four on Connecticut river and Crown Point; and that the course down Otter creek to Lake Champlain should be known -therefore voted, that his Excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby desired as soon as may be, to appoint fourteen men upon this service, seven of them to go from said Number Four, the directest course to Crown Point, to measure the distance, and gain what knowledge they can of the country; and the other seven to go from said Number Four, to Otter creek afore- said, and down said creek to Lake Champlain, observing the true course of said creek, its depth of water, what falls there are in it, and also the nature of the soil on each side thereof, and what growth of woods is near it. Each party of said men to keep a journal of their proceedings and observations, and lay the same, on their return, before this Court. They to observe all such directions as they may receive from his Excellency. One man in each party to be a skillful surveyor, and the persons employed, shall have a reasonable allowance made them by the Court for their services."
A plan was also proposed during the summer for building a strong fort on the high lands, between the sources of Black river and Otter creek. A military post at that place was deemed important, as it would afford an opportunity of hindering the enemy in their advances from Lake Champlain, facilitate ope- rations against them at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and afford a convenient station for scouting parties from Connecti- cut river.
The route which had engaged the attention of the govern- ment of Massachusetts, had not escaped the notice of Lord Loudon, the commander-in-chief of the English forces, who also desired that it might be carefully surveyed and marked, and the result reported to him. Col. Israel Williams, upon this request, drew up a topographical sketch and description of the country, compiled from the journals and notations of officers who had traversed it at the head of scouting parties. This survey he communicated to his lordship. In order to carry out the provisions of the General Court, Williams was further directed to make a more accurate examination of the country
85
BURK'S RANGERS.
1756, 1757.]
with the assistance previously voted, and to give such additional information as might seem to him necessary. Owing to the number and hostility of the Indians in that region, the attempt proved too hazardous for accomplishment. Surveys were, how- ever, made as far as the height of land, but the construction of the road, and the design of building a fort at a point so remote and so little known, was abandoned .*
Massachusetts had learned that her best policy was to raise the usual forces at the commencement of the year, without waiting the requests of defenceless towns and almost abandoned garrisons. Such was the course she pursued in the year 1757. In addition to the garrison troops, " one hundred men were employed on the eastern frontier, and forty-five under a captain and lieutenant, on the west side of Connecticut river, to range the woods north of Falltown." The latter company-known as Rangers-under the command of Capt. John Burk,t were stationed at Hinsdale's fort, on the east bank of the Connecticut. During the month of March they made frequent marches through the neighboring country for the purpose of discovering concealed Indians. Their course was sometimes along the main stream of West river, and again by its south or west branches. Not unfrequently they ascended to the top of West. river mountain, there to watch for the smoke of the enemy's camp fires. Orders were given to the Commissary General to provide these scouting parties with snow-shoes and moccasins, the better to enable them to perform their toilsome labor.
The most important incursion of the enemy on the western frontier during the year, was made at Charlestown in the spring. A body of French and Indians attacked the mills in that place, and captured Samson Colefax, David Farnsworth, and Thomas Adams. The alarm having been given by the firing, the inhabitants repaired to the mills, but finding the enemy too numerous for them, retreated without venturing a blow. The
* Hoyt's Indian Wars, pp. 286, 287. Mass. Court Records.
+ Captain Burk was present at the siege of Fort William Henry in August, 1757, and belonged to the Massachusetts regiment, commanded by Col. Frye. After the capitulation, "he was seized, and after a violent struggle, was stripped of the whole of his clothes, and afterwards escaped into the woods. Straying in various directions, he was overtaken by darkness in the margin of a morass, and, unable to direct his course, lay down in the thick grass and passed the night, covered only by the damp vapor of the swamp. The next day he renewed his march, and fortunately arrived safely at Fort Edward."-Hoyt's Indian Wars, p. 292.
86
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1758.
enemy then burned the mills and departed, taking with them, in addition to the other prisoners, Thomas Robbins and Asa Spafford, whom they met returning from hunting. Farnsworth and Robbins, after being in Canada some time, returned ; the others died there. About the same period, a man was wounded near Rice's Fort, in Charlemont. With these exceptions, the frontiers remained in comparative quiet. But the English were, nevertheless, suffering in another quarter, for the surrendry of Fort William Henry to the French-that deadly and decisive blow of the campaign-afforded them a melancholy subject of contemplation. For many years, scarcely able to maintain what was deemed justly their own, they, by this event, lost one of their most important posts, and the flower of their soldiery .*
At the beginning of the year 1758, the British government, in order to repair the disasters of the preceding campaign, determined to employ a formidable force against the French, both by sea and land. The provinces of Massachusetts, Con- necticut, and New Hampshire, voted levies to the number of fifteen thousand men ; and this army, increased by a fleet and a large land force from England, aroused the spirits of the colonists, by the confidence which power and skill inspire, and awakened within their breasts the expectation of success. For the defence of her own frontiers, Massachusetts made the usual provision, while New Hampshire, changing the method upon which she had so long acted, voted men and supplies for the protection of the forts within her own boundaries, which had before been maintained by the magnanimity of the Bay Pro- vince. The incursions on the frontiers were not so frequent this year as on former occasions, but commenced early in the season. At midnight, on the 6th of March, a party of Indians attacked the house of Capt. Fairbank Moore, situated on West river, in the township of Brattleborough. Having surrounded the building, they burst in the door, and killed and scalped Capt. Moore and his son, but not until one of their number had been slain, and several wounded. Mrs. Moore, the wife of the son, and the mother of four children, the youngest of whom was but three or four weeks old, aroused by the yells of the savages, and scarcely knowing what she did, sprang from the bed, and
* Accounts of the capture of Fort William Henry by the French, are given in Hutchinson's Hist. Mass. Bay, i. 315; Williams's Hist. Vt., i. 376-401; Life of Putnam in Humphrey's Works, pp. 259-266 ; Carver's Travels, pp. 181-186; Hoyt's Indian Wars, pp. 288-295; Belknap's Hist. N. H., ii. 298-300.
87
CAPTIVITY OF MRS. MOORE.
1758.]
hastily drew on three pairs of Capt. Moore's long stockings, which in the event were the means of preserving her life. Snatching up the baby, and the child next in age, she endea- vored to escape, she knew not whither, by taking a sled-path in which her husband had been drawing wood the day before. She had gone but a short distance, when the Indians overtook her and brought her back. They then searched for portable provisions, and having found a quantity of beans, mixed them with about twenty pounds of tallow, and boiled them in it. This compound being cooled, was put in sacks, and served them for food on the road. Mrs. Moore was then provided with snow-shoes, her babe was committed to her own care, the house was burned, and the party set out on their long march, the children being led or carried by the Indians. They reached Fort Ticonderoga in safety, on the tenth day after their depart- ure, having crossed the Green Mountains in the most inclement season of the year. Thence Mrs. Moore and her children were taken to Montreal, where they remained in captivity until the year 1762, when they were all redeemed, and returned to their friends .*
On the 20th of the same month, the enemy appeared at Col- rain, wounded John Morrison and John Henry, burned a barn, and killed several cattle. In the following September, Major Bellows discovered a party of Indians numbering about two hundred crossing Connecticut river above Brattleborough, and advancing towards Ashuelot. No incursions were made at this time in the immediate vicinity ; but soon after Asahel Stebbins was killed at Charlestown, his wife and Isaac Parker, a soldier, taken captive, and a number of cattle feeding in the adjacent woods, slaughtered.
* Hoyt notices this transaction as having occurred in the month of September ; another account says February. Hoyt locates Mr. Moore's residence in Hinsdale; another account near Fort Dummer. The relation given in the text is, however, believed to be correct. The farm on which Mr. Moore lived, is now occupied by Newman Allen, Esq. To an account of this transaction, which appeared in the columns of the Vermont Phoenix in the year 1849, is appended the following note : "Mr. Moore and his son, alluded to above as having fallen victims to the Indians, are supposed to have been buried near the side of their log-house which
was burnt. On Monday last, bones believed to have been theirs were found in Mr. Allen's barn-yard, covered with about one foot of earth and a board over, but apparently with no coffin or box around them. One of the skulls contained an ounce bullet, which was undoubtedly the cause of death."
Mrs. Moore was a daughter of Capt. John Kathan of Putney
Consult Belknap's Hist. N. H., ii. 302. Hoyt's Indian Wars, p. 296.
88
HISTORY OF EASTERN VERMONT.
[1758, 1759.
In regard to the operations of the English on Lake Champlain, great had been the anticipations of success at the opening of this campaign. The result, however, not only fell far short of what had been deemed as almost certain, but for a time brought disgrace and ridicule on the soldiers and generals of the Crown. Abercrombie was defeated at Ticonderoga by a force far his inferior, and it was only the opportune victories of Amherst at Louisburg, Bradstreet at Fort Frontenac, and Forbes at Fort du Quesne on the Ohio, which availed to restore in the provinces that confidence, which, in the spring, had looked forward to the defeat of the French, as an event hardly admitting of a doubt.
On their own frontiers, the governments of Massachusetts and New Hampshire still retained in their employ the scouting par- ties which had so long been the defence of those provinces. Al- though the ranging service brought not the honor acquired in a regular or provincial corps, yet it was in this service that Robert Rogers, the most celebrated of rangers, learned the details and minutiæ of Indian warfare which enabled him to conduct the expedition against the village of St. Francis, in the following year, with the most triumphant success ; it was in this service that the mind of John Stark received its lessons of brave sol- diery and heroic daring, and his arm gained that strength which, during the Revolution, was so manfully exerted in defence of the liberties of his country on the field of Bennington.
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