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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporta une empreinte d'impression ou d'iliustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — *> signifie "A SUIVflE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., ifteuvent dtre fllm6s d des taux de r6ductiu;)vdiff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 A partir de I'anglo sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le i^ombre d'images ndcessaire. Les dirgrammes suivants illustrent la nr.6thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY STEPHEisT Williams; WHO WAS TAKKN BY THE FRENCH AND INDIANS AT DkERFIFLD, Febru.irv 2:), 1703-4. . ' WRITTEN BY HIMSELF TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. Introduction, . . ' .. -3 Cavtivity ok Stephen Williams, ... 5 Attack on the Families ok Wells and Broughton, , 13 Captivity ok Daniel Belding, . ■ . 14 John Allen and Wi^-e Killed, '- . . 17 Indian Depredations, 1704-8, . . .17 Captivity of Mahltman Hinsdale . . 18 Capt. r^ENjAMiN Wright's Scout to Shambly, . 20 Capt. Thomas Baker's Scout to Cowass. ' , 22 Indian Raid.s on the Frontiek, 1710-24, . . 25 Lieut. Timothy Cuils^s \V(iUNJ.'ED in Delrfield Meadows, 26 Deacon Samuel Field ^V'■ouNDED at Greenfield, . 27 Letter from Svephen Williams to Prksidknt Wheelock, 27 Notes by the Editor, . , .28 Atherton's Letter, where is it ? . . 34 WHAT BEFELL STEPHEN WILLIAMS IN HIS CAPTIVITY. WITH AN APPENDIX. PRINTED KROM THK ORIC.TNAI, BY THE POCUMTUCK VALLEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIA- TION. Stephkn was a s<7n of Rev. John Williams, " Rldeemed Captive," and WAS taken prisoner at Deerfikld, Feb. 29, 1703-4. Edited by GEORGE SHELDON. DEERFIELD, MASS. 1889. Coi'VRir.HTED, 1889, Hy Pocumtuck Vallky Mkmoriai. Assdciviion. Aix Rkjiitk Rksehvei). tRINTRD 3Y K. A. HALL ft CO., GREENFIELD, MASS. U- INTRODUCTION. The aecounl of Steplien Williams's captivity has been called a journal, but it is not a diary of events recorded day by day. It bears internal evidence of having been written by the captive boy after his return, and before 1700, The oria I travailed till about ',) o'clock ot night vv"'out one morsel of victual, i travailed about 50 mile y' day and night: for my supper I had one spoonfuU of Indian corn; in y° jnorning 5 or cornels, but must travail. Then we left the river and travailed till about noon on y" west side of y' river and y" we came to two wigwams, whore were sighns of Indians but no Indians, (in these wigwams they left y' packs and went a hunting if perhaps y^ might find somenxouse buried in y" snow by y" hunting Indians, but C(»uld hot find any. I waiulered about *fe lost myself ct llellowed, my master come t(t me tfe was very angr;/ w"" me threatened to kill me, \\v lift up the breech of his gun in order thereto, Hut God kept lack his hand, fo!" w"" I de- sire his name might be praised. Y' indiai's will never allow any- body to Hollow in y" woods. Y' maimer is to make a noise like wolves or any other wild creatures, when they would call to ono another, My master sent y" indian lad & I to those wigwams but he him- self took his gun & went out a hunting, (now y' were only we I What Befell Stephen WiUnms ni hix Cfi)>i'lvihj. 7 thr.'.' in comj.aHv, wv !i;t«l l.-t't all y* army) Wc ina.lo a liiv, hut had no vitiials to tlrcss, only a inuusi- pauncli w" y iiuiitinj; iii- .liim.s had left. Wo tooU y paunch and hoilod \v"'out dressing' of it, I,, I w' wuH in it served for thickoninj,' y" broth. Tlu^rc nvo parsed y' uiijlit and y" noxt day till alx.nt noon, thon there cotnu an indian i^irl iV hroujrht U8 fionie mouses njeat dryed, W'l thought was f r,e.4 victualf4 ever I eat. We travailed with y' indian girl about 10 iuileis were was two wi«.w;ims. My muHter y' left us y" day before waK gi)t there, whHes we tarried hero y' french y' were in y* army pasHod by. Within a day or two we travailed seven or eight mil- northward to a place where they liad Uilled aoine tnocjHe: where they iiiudc wigsvanirt (for \' maimer wis when they killed any moose to move to y" A' ly by y"' till f had eathen y'" np.) Now there was two Engiishmen of our town in company w'" me, who eaine up from y" Army, to wit Deacon lloit" .. to cover me withall, but this did r.ot last long, for I was forced to carrj such a pack w" 1 travailed y^ I could not rise up without some help, was forced to cut wood cfe c;arry it sometimes a consideral)le way on my Back. After y' manner 1 lived till y" hunting time was over, without any society but y"' in- human pagans. Y'^ we travailed with a design to go to Cow ass, where was y" rendezvouze but before we had got quite there we met some Indians y' stopt us, they told us y* all y^ Indians were coming away from Cowass w''' within a day or two canie to us. Now y*^^ rt^son of there deserting y'^ land was this, there came one Englishman w"' six of our Indians' 6c destroyed a family of Indi- ans about 20 miles below Cowass.) Here we staid where these In- dians met us a month or six weeks, suffered much for want ])rovi- sion for there was not much to be got a hunting then, & if y' was any thing it was as nothing amongst so many. The cheif of our provisions was roots of several sorts, & bark of trees. Here 1 ^■■1 8 What Befell Stephen Williams in his Couptimty. met y" above said jacol) Ilix. Deacon Iloit aviib already dead for want of provision, this liix he lookt like a ghost, was nothing but skin & bone could scarce go yet had no victualn but w' he got him- self, for he liad been o,t Cowas with y" indians a planting corn where he suffered much for nant of provisions) I was better of it tha?i they, for wliiles I was hunting we had meat enough, but neither l)read or salt to oat w''' it. Tht get any. When she came home (being disturbed by y" french) asked v/liat 1 had been doing, t;.hey replied nothing, at which she was very angry. I will notlieat you myself (says she) for my husband or- dered me to the contrary, but will tell y" Jesuit, y*' nexftime he comes (i w y^" were liot gone so far but that y*^ Jesuit knew where they W( r, who often visits y'") Within a day or two, y« Jesuit comes, sne was as good as h-^r word, did complain ; he rakes nie out and whips m- witii a whip w"' six cords several knots in each cord. After a few days lie comes again & brings me a letter from my What Befell Stephen Willia/ms m his Captivity . 11 i)e Father bj' wieli I understood he was a prisoner as well as I, which 1 told y® Indians, they said they Itclioved it. ITe likcwiso said in his letter y* y" governor of New Eng: would take care we sliould he redeemed. Whilst I lived here I made about fourscore weight of sugar w"' y*' sap of maple trees for y® Indians. My ralstresr had a mind to go to Sorel & because y'' was a barrel of sap to boil she sent me to y'' sugar place over night to boil it, y*^ so she might go in y' morn- ing. I went and kept a good fire under y'^ kettle, little thinking of its coming to sugar, till it was spoiled for want of stirring, for y^ manner is to stir it when it conies almost to sugar; for. which they were very angry & would not give me any vituals; — -It being now spring we went in canoes to Sorel, & soon as we got there y"^ wom- an y' brought me vituals across y'' river when I was there before, came & desired y" Indians to let me go to y" fort, w'*' y^' consented to; I went l)ut remembering y^ bad eifect of tarrying all night l)o- for-j durst not do so again, without y'- indians leave. I went to y'' Indians (and carried y'" some vituals) y* french Sc lived as a serv* with the Jesuits at the seminary; his business was to wait upon them & cutt wood, make fires & tand the gar Indians, wlio kill'' him outright i% took his wife, whom they kill'' about a mile or two from the place. About the middle of July, 1704, a friend indinn was killed at llatlield Mill. His name was Kindness. The enemy had not op- •tnnity to scalp him. On tlie same week, Thomas Russell, a iiori \..iiiig man of Hatfield, (being then a soldier at Deerfield) was sent out into v" woods with others as a scrit, but he rambling from his "(iMipany, v/as kill'' by y* Indians. Some tracks discover' Deacon Sheldon [also Ensign] w''* some orliors went after y'" & came in sight of y'", & shot at y% & y^ at y' onglish at a great distance, tfe then y'' past along on y" west side of y' Town, & fir'' y'" gusis in a bravado, & went along up to y" Northward, ct kill'' Tho Russell July 20, 1704. July 30, 1704, one Dr. Grossman with two or three more men w I re riding in the night between Hadloy and Springfield & were fir' upon by the enemy, who wound'' Dr. Grossman in the arm. This is y*" only time (that I can learn) that they ever fir'' upon any- hnily travelling in tho night. July 31, 1700, Sam' Chapin & his Brother went np to their farm (at a place called Ghicoby in y'" north part of Springfield) and .per- ceiving some signs of Indians liast'"' towards the town, but the In- dians follow** them about a mile and an half, and then fir"* upon them and shot Sam" Ghapinthro'' the side, but he recovered of his wound: The same company of Indians (as is supposed) went to Drookfield and kill'' the widow Taft, as she was milking ctob' 13, 1708, Al'ijah Bartlett was kill** at Brookfield, and Jo- seph Jennings and Benjnmin Jennings and .lohn Green were wound" and a boy of John Woolcot's was taken. Octob'26, 1708, Ebenezer Field of Ilatiield, going to Deerf", was kill" near Muddy (or as some call it bloody) (fot there it was that Capt. Lathroi) and his company wore cutt off in philips war,) Brook. Aprill 11, 1709, M' Mahuman Hinsdell was driving his teem, from Northampton loaded with apple trees, without any fear of in- dians (the leaves not being put forth) was met by two indians about half of a mile from the pine bridge) who took him prisoner and cari" him a vay into y*' west woods. The Indians were civil & courteous to him on y'' journey. They arriv" at Shamble within about eleven days & an half after they took Mr. Hinsdell. From Shamble they cari" Mr. Hinsdell to Oso", where he was ohlig'' to run the Gauntlett (as they call it) [i. e. to run from the indians who persue & if th when — This is erased] for near three quarters of a mile, but he ran so briskly as not to receive a blow till he came near the Fort when he was met by an indian, who taking hold of y'^ line (that was round his neck and hung upon his Back) pull'' him down, and so he was struck by one fellow; after he was got into y'" Fort, he was set in y" midst of a company and oblig" to sing and dance, & while thus employ", he was struck a very severe blow upon the naked back, by a youth'y* was of such an age as to think y* engag- Appendrlx, 19 iii<; in some warlike expedition, but this l)oirig contrary to thoir iiriiiiil custuin (ho haviiifj porfonu'' y" ooroiiiony of running y''gaunt- lett) was reHonted not only by M' II. y' Biiltcjrer, but by y" Indians ill i,fcnerall &c. From this Fort Mr II was cari'' to tliu Frcncdi (Jovenour who know him (for tluH wa8 y 2'' time of M/ Ilijisdolls I'.iptivity) and told him ho expect'' a full a(!Conntof newB from him, Ufspocially about an expiditlon (which he .suspected was on foot). Ye governour told him if he would give him a full accont of what news then^ was v.\ his country, he would treat him with respect, but if lie found he did not, he would uso him worse than a De\ ill ifee. Ihit M' II. endeavored as best he could to avoid giving him an ac- coinit ifec. But when M'' Whiting of BeUorica was brot into the (oiintry by y" indians and gave an account of an expidition on foot, M' II. was taken and juit into y' dungeon &c. [After a whilt) (tcii" Nicholson sent an indian as a spy into yj country who was to endeavor to draw of y' Indians from the French, and join with dcii" Nicholson, this ])lan — this is erased, but gives a clue to the story |. After a while y'' Indians desired of the CTOverneur, that tliey nrght have M' H. to burn, (pretending they should fight the better if they could burn an Englishman) and he was delivered to the Indians, who were plotting to leave y'" French & go over to (ten" Nicholson tfe y'' Dutch, and designed to have made use of M' H. to have introdu'' them. All was kept private from the FreiKih, & M' llinsd(^!l was led away towards Montreal from (^uheck. The Indians connnunicated their design to M' II. who was overjoy'' with the account (for he thought of, nothing but be- ing sacriliced by them) & enconrag'' it, but before they were ready to execute y* design, a certain indian fell sick, and in his sickness making confession to a priest, discover'' the plot, and so all was dash''. The fellow y*' was the projector of it (being one that had come from Allbany, or from some of tlie live nations to them) had timely notice, so as to escape to Shand)le, where he putt a trick n|)on y" ji'Kcer of y*" Fort, pretending to him that he was sent from the governeur, to make what discovery he conld of y'" English, npon which y'' officer supply'' him with arms, amunition & provi- sion and he had been gone but a little while into the woods before his psuers (the plot being wholly ript up) came after him, but yet he was gone, so as to escape his psuers. M' H. was taken from y" Indians and again eommif to prison, and the next year M' H. and Mr. Joseph Clesson"" were sent to France in a man of war — and in France he met with great kindness, particularly from the Ld intend- % 20 App^nffix. ant at KoHlioUe, and after a \vh\h tliey worn .sliip"* at Saint Moloos for London, wln're tlusy met with t^rt-at I of his men to Ly in wait of y" Canos Supposing Some Indians would Come there. And then tlie Capt, wif.h y" Levt & y*" rest of y men set forwnrd up y" White River taking y'^ Nor west Branch, following it up to the Head then we Steared to French river & travailing down sd River till we Came to y® 3* Falls tfe y' we built two Canoes cfe then set out for the Lake & when we came there the wind was so high y^ we were forvred to lye by a Day or two. After that one Evening we esp'ed a lire y*^ opposite Side. Supposing it to be indiau we then forthwith Tm bark tfe Steared our Course towards the fire and while we was upon y" water, there arose a terrible Storm of thunder & Lightning which put out the fire y^ we before espied & thro' Gods Goodness we all got safe to land & Drawing up our Canos upon y'' Land turned them up for Shelter till next morning le ife coming t<» a [Hiiiit of Land iicir Fnrtlo- iiMiU, \v<' t'spit'd 2 (^'aiiuf. of Indians in iimidn'r H coniin;;^ towardn II-. llicii we paddled lo l.;ind vV riniriin<;' ii|» y' Haidv, l>y this tliin' liinst! indiaii Canon wan iijot against iis, iV tlion wo ^avts tlit'tn a Salutation out of the tmih.>v'l of oiir i^iiiis riinicd orio ovtT-hoard \' w'v Htill continued iirinu; caused y'" to I'addle away w"' all Speed A- left y* fellow Swimming ahont ^ when they liad ijjot out of y' n icli of our ;jjun.s hoth (Janos j^^ot to«i;eth•'■ other w"' (JoiiHiderahle plunder in in, tfe when they was iiiisv.'d off we niani'd out one uld not Let him, with that the Capt liollowed to him & bid him knock in him in y' head, with that he took up a hatchet to Do it but y^ Indian rising up took hold of y'' hatchet & got it away from him and tlien catched up the Paddle ife Laid it on his head & tliey skuifling together turned over the Canoe and part- ed in the water, & the Indian Swam to the Contrary Shore, As he got out of the water we ])ined him to the Bank with seven Bullets. The Captive also Swimming towards us, but being very weak fell ilown a great pace & Cried out ho should Drown before he Could c' ipiaiiiiiii 22 Appendix. Ki 1 » : 1 '■•*& "I i Si 'm get to Shore, vuu 4,iiat Lient Wolls iiung down his gun upon y'' Bank i% run Down ank but the Capt being with y*= captive y' came to y'' shore Immediately examiiuid him how many Indians there was, he n)ade answer 19 being in 5 Canos 2 being down stream froin that wh'.jh we shot upon, And 2 above, ha-ing i^een at Exeter took 4 captives (men), wlncii they there had with them and those 2 canos y' was passed byjwas y'' Indians y* Miade y^' fii-st shoot upon us. Antl we also received Several Siioots from those y*' were ahove ns, which Landed on y" other side of the River. Now we being under no advantage to defend ourselves we every one made y'" best of our way and shirked for our Selves & in a short Time Caj)t Write & 5 of his men got together, three more yet »nissing. The next Day came 2 more to us where we hid some of our Provisions & there wtiiting some hours for the other man. But he Came not while we tarried there, whereas Capt. Write thinking best to leave a Suitable quantity of Provisions and other necesseries in Case he ever came it might by of service to him in his journey homeward, It being one John IJurt of ISTorthampton. Then seting forward on uiir Journey ho>i>nwMrds *fc Came to our (Janoas that we left on White Uiverthen v^e got into them ct Came down y" river to y'' mouth of it, where we left 6 men formally mentioned in our His- tory. And tinding them gone, then we set forward homeward *fe after vfQ had got home, those six men t'ormally mentioned Inform- ed us w' tliey had Litt of (1 Days after we left them. These 6 men espied a Cano of 2 Indians Coming Down the River & called to them not knowing but y*^ that they was Scattocooks but they refus- ed to come to them tte paddled to the contrary shore. Then they fired wounding one, but they geting to tiie shore Left ye Canoa & plunder. After that y- men made y'' bett of their way home And some Time after they Were got home was Informed y' they were Scattocooks. Now returning to our former Story, having an account of two of those Captives y' were with y'' indiana that we Litt of on y*" french. river, are riow returned home, tte gave us an account y* we then Ajppendix. 23 killed 4 Indians. And Moody that we liad taken from thepi we Lost a^ain, we being then in such a friglit, every one took to his heals, But moody heing so weak & feeble was not able to follow, MOW after this the Indians all gathered together on the other Shore, k Moody seeing them hallowed to them to fetch him over & one (•nine vi' after they had got him over they Burnt him on the Sp,)t. \V,> wafe informed al o y' w" the Indians got to Canada they Burnt (»ii(> more of these Captives Andrew Gilman by name. Now to say a liltle '.More concerning Burt, what became of him, having some Transient stories y' a man's bones, and a Gun was found by some rniliaiis above y" Great Falls upon Connect' Iliver about 60 miles ai)'>\x^ Deeriield, which some thirdv was sd Burt. The nu'iber of Days we was taking this march was 32, and the men's Names are as follows: Capt Beuj" Write of North*"". Lcvj John Wells, killed, of Deer''. I'eiiry Write, of Spring''. Timothy Childs, of Deer''. ^ •lull' Iloit, of Deer*'. Jabez Olmstead, Deer''. .Inlin Ourt, Lost, North*"". '1 (•>('' Ephraim ) t r -f at i- i 'PI S) Indums of Natick. J nomas lagan ) The other 6meny* set out w"' us y' we left at y** mouth of White River are as follows: Eisen' Severance of Deer''. Math" Clesson of Nortii'"". X nomas McCrann'>. of Spring". Joseph Wait of ITatf''. Josp. Root of Ilattield. Tlie other we cannot at present call by name. [John Strong of Northampton was with Capt. Wright, and probably John King of Nhn was the sixth left at White River.] CAPT. THOMAS BAKER'S SCOUT. Another Story related to me ])y IJvet (Jhilds Concerning Cai)t. Baker'i'ife his Company, and what happened to them in their march i>> as follows: April tlu! B(?ginning Capt Baker, Lieut Sam" Williams'" Lieut Martin Kelhjgg" with 28 men set out from Deerfield uj) Connect liiver Designing for Cowass on purpose to Destroy a family or two 24 Appendix. \A of IiuUans that they lieard was there. But when arrived found no signs of any enemy there. Then afterwards we took our journey for merriniack k eouiing upon it at y" head of the west I^raneh fol lowing of it Down one Day, & then finding two Indian Tracks vs^liich went down the river we continuing our Course next Day Down y'" river after them, towards nigiit finding the Tracks of 4 more & tlien encampt. The officers next morning thought it best to sen-' fortii a Small Company of ov,r men to see what they could Disiover And in about two hours they retui'ned again & Informed by what thin' had Discovered that there was a party of Indians not far off. Then the ofti(!er8 took 3 of there Soaldiers to make further DiHcovcry ordering the re.st of the Company to Lye still & be very Careful] & m'>ke no rout till they returned and in about .3 ..ouis they returned c^' Informed their Company that they liad discovered some Wigwams. Judging [three (?)] of them to be Indians with families, with that y*^ whole Company moved in abort half a mile ■of them, and then finding y" wigwams to be on y" [bank ?] of the river and a swamp Lying upon the back side. And Judging it to be best to Devide y^ Company into two parts Livt AVilliams & Livt Kellogge taking f»ne iial,f & Ca))t Baker y'' other. Agreeing also y' one part should go round y'' Svvamjt up Stream, and the other ]>art Down Stream. Soon after we parted the Company of Capt Baker espied a straggling Indian Comittg directly towards them, with a hatchet Stuck in his Girdle & a Stick on his Shouldier, which we judged was a going to peal Bark. Now we knowing that we should be Discovered was o'oliged to fire him Down & did so, now many guns being Discharged at liim. Alarmed y'' other Indians & caused the tother part of the men to come back again. After that word was given out to run to the wigwams. After running a Little way Litting of some Indiu)i dogs which we following lojid us to the wigwams upon the river Bard< & there finding 12 Indians Jest encred into their Canoes to Cross the river & espjing a uuud)er of S([uas & Poposes on the other Side running into the wdods, but we fii-ing brislcly on them that was on y^' water, Soon turned the bulk of tljem out of their Canoas, and the other Jump- ed out and Swam to"^hc Contrary Shore. So we judged we had killed 8 or !♦ and afterwards was informc^d by Some Easterd Cap- tives y' we did kill 9. After the skirmi.sh was over, we viewed their habitation & judged that ihey had Lived there two or three years, by the (juantity of Furs we found there. The Place where we Litt of these Indians, was where the two Brar^ches of Appendix. 25 tlio river come together." After this we reti^rned to the place where we left onr Packs, with a small quantity of plunder and there we packed up and Steared our Course for Dunstable & in Time reached it, froivi thence we travailed to Chensford, And tlie People being very kind to us. Oui Capt with a Waitirg-man, went to Boston to Inform his Excellency Gov Dudley of his good service done the Province, ordering the Lieut to take the men and iii.iroh to Marlborough & there to wait for him & in a little time he C.iiTie and ordered us to march homewards, from thence wf^ march- to l^rookfield which was a very hard Day's travail by reason of some men being very Lame, frotn thence we marched to LTadley, from thence to Hatfield, from thence to Deer'' w'' we first set from. Finis." e( [On a scrap of paper in the hand writing of Stephen WilHams, is found the following: "Capt. Baker & my Brother's expedition to Cowass & over to Merri- ,mack, where they killed my old master \\^ottanammon in April, 17 12."] July 22, 1710, John Grosvenor, Ebenezer Howard, John White, Benjamin and Stephen Jennings and Joseph Kellogue slain in the meadows at Brc>oktield. Aug. 11, 1711, Samuel Strong of Northampton w"' his son Sam" going very early in the morning irrto y" Field was ambush'' by a party of Indians, who iir'' upon them and kill'' and scalp'' the young man and wound'' the old gentleman, and then took him captive and ••arri'' him to Canada; but he is since return'' Ijome again. July 29, 1712, Benjamin Wright a lad, son to Joseph Wright of Soipnnick in Springf being in a meadow at scipmnck, was taken by the Indians, and afterwards kill'' in the woods as was sopos**. July 80, 1712, a scout of men that were out about Deerf being very (Careless & noisy, as they travell'' were tir^ upon by a party of Indians, who kill'' Samuel Andross of Conn., and took Jonathan Barrett, and William San ford captives." June 18, 1724, a small company of Indians fell upon some men in' ITattield at a pkuje call'' mill swamp about four miles from town, and kill'' Benjanun Smith, and took captive Joseph Allis, and Aaron Wells, the former they kilP within a day or two &c. 26 AppendioB. IH LIEUT. TIMOTHY CFIILDS WOUNDED. .Inly 10, 1724, Story of Lievt CliildV" relatiiijj^, concerning liis beinir woiinded at Deerlield is as follows — lie Being at work with 8 men Sz 2 boys Nortliward of the Town, Capt Wells'' working with a ('onipany of men farther North M'ard Still with 4 guardsmen, Having done his work a Little before me, came by and I Desired him to wait a few minutes and so I would go with him home, now he told me he had a Little piece of [workj to do in harrow meadow, West of the Town Plot. Then I desired him to Le/'" inethe guards that he had with hitn, of which two men tarried, and i. a Short Tune we iinished om- work and mounted our horses to go home & came to y*" South End of Pine Hill when the liode Carried us Close to the Hill, there being fired upon by th-'ee Indians that were Laid the Rode, Myself was wounded ^ in both Shouldiers & in one finger, which was so broken that it was forced to be cutt off which was on my right hand & y'" same Shouldier the Ballett going so far thro that it was cutt out ony*^ other Side, which hpn very much Disabled my Arm from ahnost any Serv'co: Theic bf. ng^ one man behind me at the same Time, Sam" Allen" by Name, who also was wounded by a Shool going into his Buttock. My horse being also shoot in y" Neck made him Spring forward, so that he threw us both off, but finding that wo had y" use of our Leggs soon made our escape, Calling to the rest of y'" men to face about, with y' they turned and fired upon y^' Enemy. With that they ran doM'n where we had fallen of y'' horse, and catehed up Allen's hat. People being alarmed in the Town came out with great Speed. The Indians running aci'ost y'' hill passed over y*' river at Cheap- side & soon got to the woods with(.at any Damage. Afterwards our people finding 3 packs sui)posing them to be the Packs of these same Indians which fired upon us which were in Number three. Finis. Here is also an account of Mr. Atherton in this paper, which Levit Childs" somewhere found, Desiring me to write it -over again, to hand it to you. And after i had perused it, I thought it not worth a while to Draw it all over, so I told him it was best to send it down to you, whereas he consented, provided I would write to yon & also desire y* you would lay it u]) safe, so that the person may come l)y it again, for he sets much by it, It being, as I under- stand, his father's own handwriting."' I did Design also to take down another story from Capt. Wells," Ajypendhi. 27 but he putting it off from tiino to time, lius heeu the cause of my Ne^'lect; hut as soon as he will attend it 1 will gladly do it. Im ai)t to [suspect that?] ye cai)t [thinks?] that you have got it already, which makes him s(j Little concerned about it. perhaps you can Hoon tell whether you have it ur no. The story is concerning w' hi>i)pened to him ife his Company l)etween Northfleld cV: Deerfield.'" Thus much Sr. from your h.umble Servn* EBEN^ GRANT. P. S. My humble service to M" Williams. DEACON FIELD WOUNDED. August 25,- 1725, Deacon Sam" Field, Deacon Sam" Child, Sergt Joseph' Seavrance, John Wells and Joshua Wells, and Thomas Bardwell, went over Deerf'' river to goto Green River Farms,'' and they took a cow with them, designing to put her in a pasture; the iudians ainbush'' them, but Deacon Child driving the cow discover'^ them and cry'' out Indians; John Wells discharged his gun at an In- dian who fell upon his fireing. Deacon Field being at some dis- tance from the company rode towards them, but the company being before separated from one another, retreated to.wards the mill,'" and at a considerable distance from the hill they half, y^John We'ls might load his gun, and then tlu Indians fir'' upon them, and wound" Dea- c-n Sam" Field, the ball passing thror.gh the I'ight Ilypocondria, cutting off three plaits of the mysenteria; a gut hung out of the W(iund in length almost two inches, which was cut off" even with the Body; the buUei passing between the lowest and the next rib, cut- ting at its going forth part of the lower rib, his hand being close to his body when f ball came forth, it entered at the root of the heel of f Thnud), cutting the J3one of the fore linger, resting between y'' fore and 2'' linger; was cut out, and all the wounds thro' the bles- sing of God upon means were hea''' in less than five weeks by Doc- tor^Thomas Hastings,'" whose death since y" war is a great frown up- on us &c. [Letter from Dr.'* v:tephen Williams of Longmeadow to President Wheelock*' of Dartmouth Coll.] "L. M., March 13, 1781. Reverand Dear Sr.: M^ Smith call"' at my house (and s'' it was at your desire) and Gave me anacc^ of your state &'y' of your counec- tiims & of your Seminary & ki. wn of your vicinity—he appears to be an intelligent man—I thank you y' he was desired to call and to t w # Hi II 38 Appendix. inform mc of these things he did: I conclude he will be able to in- form yon of wliat is remarkable this way & shall not pretend to do it myself, but w'' inform you that tliro' Gods great mercy I do yet live & am able to preacii. I have lately sprained my foot & vras oblig'^ to keep in liouse seven weeks Sundays y^ 1 was carri'' to y' House of God. We in the family are comfortable & Mrs. W"'" joins me in re- spectful & aiftionate salutations to you & your Hon'' mother & all in near relation to yon, whose w^ellfare I heartily desire and pray for. I am your affectionate humble sev', g, \7, Write. P. S. I would let you know tliat Last Sabbath was 77 years since I was taken Captive.'" My text was ps. 37:5. Every traveller is not e([ually intelligent w"' M"- Smith, so I hope to hear from you (or some of your connections) by letters, w'^'' are wont to be refi r'ng to me. g, yf Eev. president Wheelock." X NOTES. {Referred to by miinbers in the text.) 1. This house was built for Mr. Williams, by the inhabitants of Deerfieltl, as part of the encouragement for him to settle among them as minister under the following vote, passed September, 1686: " That they will build him a hous : : 42 foot long, 20 foot wide, with a lentoo on the back side of the house and finish sd house: co fence his home lot, and within two years after this agreement to build him a barn." ' This house and barn with all their contents were burned. They were replaced by the town in 1707, on the return of Mr. Williams from captivity. Mr. Williams died here in 1729; the house was re- paired, about 1754, by his son, Maj. FLlijah, who died in 1771, leaving it to his son, Esq. John Williams, John sold it, in 1789, to Consider Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson died here, Dec. 4, 1854, aged 94, leaving the homestead and other estate to his widow Esther (Harding). She died June 15, 1875, aged 85. By her will, the old home lot, with other prrperty, was devoted to the establishment of a free Academy and Library. The building for these covers part of the ground on which stood the house in which Stephen was born, and from whence he was carried into captivity. 'I'he house, built in 1707, was removed a few rods west of the new Academy, where it now stands in perfect condi- tion on the old home lot. 2. Hatfield, twelve miles south. Men also came from Hadley and Northampton; the whole party numbered about forty, and were joined by about twenty from Deerfield. Of the nine killed, four were from Hadley, three from Hatfield, and two of Deerfield. 3. This place is at the foot of Leyden hills, very near the north line of Greenfield. The P. V. M. Association has secured an acre of land there, and has placed a granite monument to mark the spot wher^ Mrs. Williams was murdered. This was dedicated with appropriate ceremonie.s, August 12, 1884, the anniversary of her birth. 4- Just north of Brattleboro village, at the mouth of West river. 5. On the frozen Connecticut river. A thaw had set in since they left Deerfield, and this haste was probably in the fear of the breaking »p of the river. 6. At what ir now Williams river. Stephen's father says, in The 30 NoUi. v: ■! ! I ! \ > Redeemed Captive: "The enemy who said to us sing us one of Zion's Songs, were ready, some of them, to upbraid us, because our singinj; was not So loud as theirs." 7. David Hoyt, ancestor of the Connecticut Valley family of Hoyts. This Cowass — i. e., place of pines — was near the mouth of Wells river, probably in the present town of Newbury, N. H. 8. This "Englishman" was Caleb Lyman of Northampton. He left Hatfield June 7, 1704, with two Englishmen and five Mohegans. On the 10th, one Englishman was inj jred by an accident, and the other turned back with him. The rest continued north until the enemy was discovered. On the night of the 14th, they surprised a wigwam witii nine inmates; they killed four men, a lad of 14, and a child of 2. They took a woman captive, and after obtaining what information they could about the Indians at Cowass, killed and scalped' her. Two Indi ans escaped, one badly wounded. With what plunder he could gather, Lyman set out for home that night, and arrived ]\.\\\ii 19, with six scalps, and claimed the bounty. Let us be thankful that the baby's scalp was not presented. For this service Lyman secured ,-/^?i, and the five Mohegans ^^50. They claimed ^500 scalp-money and the next sum- mer, Owaneco, son of Uncas, refused to let his men go out, because this was not paid. It seems that ^40 was given to them as a comprtv misc. From this relation, it does not appear that the methods of the Puri tan English and Indian Scouts were any less '^^viige or merciless than those of the Romish French and Indian scouts. Lyman's mission was to ascertain the condition of things at Cowass. where rumor said the enemy had a strong fort, from which incursions could easily be made on our frontiers. This object was fru.«trated by this discovery of the Indians 20 miles below. The important ultimate result ot Lyman's attack, as seen in the text, was not known here un til the return of Ensign Sheldon, from Canada, in May, 1705. Mean- while, there was an active correspondence between the Governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut, about raising 300 men in Massachu- setts and 200 in Connecticut, who were to march to Cowass and break up the nest, where the hornets whose stings were felt on our frontiers were supposed to be hatched. This project was given up only when the facts were known. 9. Called by the Indians Pascomuck. Sieur de Montigney, with about 70 French and Indians, destroyed this hamlet. May 11. 1704, and these were tvv'o of the captives then taken, Mrs. Bradley was wife of Joseph Bradley of Haverhill, and was now in her second captivity. 10. Sagamore George was a chief of the Pennakooks. I^otea. 31 K. dapt. John Livingstone, son of Robert of Albany. He was sent by Gov. Dudley, with Ens. John Sheldon, on his first journey to Canada. Living.ston, in his youth, spent a year in the family of Gov. Fitz-John Winthrop of Connecticut, and, in 1701, marriecj Mary, his only daughter. He was captain of a company in the service in Mas- sachusetts, in 1704, and the same year was sent by Gov. Dudley as commissioner to the Five Nations. His second wife was Elisabeth, daughterof Mrs. Sarah Knight, whose journal of travel in NewP^ngland has been published. He died in England, without issue, about 1720. 12. Ensign John Sheldon from Deerfield, son of Isaac of North- hampton, born Dec, 5, 1658. He was the builder of the historic "Old Indian House." This was the first of his three visits to Canada for the redemption of captives. He went of his own motion, but with letters from Gov. Dudley and accompanied by Capt. John Livingstone, and John W ;lls. He, with his compaliions, left Deerfield for Canada, about Dec. 24, 1 704, on snow shoes, going by the way of Albany and the Lakes. He returned the last of May, 1705, by the same route, es- corted by Capt. Courtemanche, with 8 soldiers, and bringing back his two sons— Ebenezer, 13, and Remembrance, 12 — , Hannah (Chapin), the wife of his Son John, and Esther, daughter of John Williams. With John Weils of Deerfield and Joseph Bradley of Haverhill as at- tendants, Dudley sent him again as a commissioner for the exchange of l)risoners. The party left Deerfield in January, 1705-6, by the old route and arrived at Montreal early in March. May 30, he took ship- ping at (Quebec, and arrived at Boston, August i, 1706, with 43 re- leased captives, one of them his daughter Mary, 19 years of age. The next year, Ensign Sheldon was despatched a third timer He left Deerfield April 17, 1707, with Edward Allen and Nathaniel Brooks of Deerfield, and F.dmund Rice, probably of Westboro, as attendants, and reached Quebec May 9. He returned with seven captives, reach- ing Albany Aug. 24, being escorted by Monsieur de Chambly, with six soldiers. 13. Doubtless, Chateau Richer, now a place of 2000 inhabitatls, on the St. Lawrence, 15 miles Ijelow Quebec. T4. William, son of Gov. Dudley, by whom he was sent with dis- patches to Gov. Vaudreuil, in a vessel commanded by Capt. Vetch; Courtemanche went with him. 15. Monsieur Courtemanche was a Canadian of high rank. He ac- companied John Livingstone and Ensign Sheldon, on their return from Canada, May, 1705, being sent by Vaudreuil as a commissioner for exchanging capti^'es. He was well treated by Gen. Dudley, but noth- ing was accomplished in the way of exchange of prisoners. Dudley's 82 Kotea. I V\\ \}\ W- \- son William returned io Quebec with him by sea in a vessel under (!apt. Vetch, who also carried a hogsheatl of wine as a present from Dudley to Vaudreiiil. 1 6 ('apt. Saniiifl V'etcii was a Scotchman by birth. lie marriol before 1701 a sister of (!apt John Liviiij^stone. He was much cm ployed i)y Dudley; was (!ol. in the (!anada expedition of 1709; was afterwards (\o\. of Nova Scotia. He died in London, T732. 17. His brother Sauuiel, Jonathan Hoyt, and six or eight others, whose names are not found, came home in the same vessel. 18. Hroughton lived on the site where Elbert Amidon built thr house he now lives in, ai:d Widow Wells where Jona. Ashley now lives \(). She was widow of Lit t. 'I'homas Wells, the first military com- mander of Deerfield. His commission, signed by Andros, hangs in Memorial Hall. The daughters were: Mary, aged 21, Sarah, 19, and Hepzibah, 9. ThE latter recovered, married John Dickinson of Hat- field and lived to be 87. She was grandmother of Consider Dickinson — our noted "Uncle Sid." 20. Son of Joseph Kcllogue, of Hatfield, born, 1669. 21. Probably John, son of John Holmes of Northampton. 22. Mary Wells and her mother were both killed in the raid of 1 70.}; Mary in the town, her mother on the march. 23. An Indian named Ashpelon was leader of the party which madt the attack on Hatfield and Deerfield, Sept. 19, 1677. This was prob- ably the same man, but he is not elsewhere noticed in history. . ?4. The imprisonment of these Indians was a stirring event in the history of the times. There was great excitement among the Indians about Albany, as well as among the Iroquois. An extended correspond- ence followed between the (Governors of New York and Massachusetts. 25. Joseph Barnard, son of Francis of Hartford and Hatfield, was born in 1641, and settled in Deerfield, where he was Recorder for the Proprietors of the I^edham Grant, and the first Town Clerk. 26. Where the road from the Mill to the Bars crosses Barnard's brook. It is now called Indian Bridge. 27. Capt. Jonathan Wells, the boy-hero of the Turners Falls fight; he was son of Thomas of Wethersfield and Hatfield, born 1659, died at Deerfield, 1739, where he was for many years Military Commander and a Justice of the Peace. 28. Mr. Belding's house stood on the lot next north of tlte Pocum- tuck House, which was sold to Joseph Stebbins, in 1761. Belding came back and died here in 1731. Note>i. 83 29. Ai the foot of Meeting-house Hili, where Grange Hall and l>hilo Munn's shop stand, the land lay low, and a brook ran across the street which was crossed by the bridge mentioned in the text. 30. Rev. John Williams. There was no surgeon or doctor then living here. It was (luite common for the ministers of early times to practice chirurgery and medicine among their people. Samuel fielding was 9 years old at this time. He lived in 3'' Deerfield until his death, Dec. 14, 1750. Williams an account of the attack. He doubtless gave S»^ephen 32. Oso fort, as it was called by the Deerfield captives, has recently been identified by Miss C. Alice Baker as that of the Mission of Sault ail kecollet. 33. Col. Peter Schuyler was the distinguished mayor of Albany. He was intimately acquainted with Indian- affairs and often gave sea- sonable notice of intended raids, on our fronti-r. V warning letter was sent to Deerfield in 1 703. He was a personal friend of Rev. John Williams, and there is a tradition, or story, abroad that he caused the portrait of Mr. Williams to be painted at Albany. This "tradition" may have originated in the fertile brain of 'lev.Elcaser Williams, of "St, Regis Bell" and the "Dauphin" fame. 34. Martin Smith was among the first settlers at Deerfield, being here in 1673; he was captured by Indians at Wapping, Oct. 13, 1693; returned Dec, 1698; perished in the disaster of Feb. 29, 1703-4. 35. Clesson was captured by De Rouville, June 22, 1709. He was son of Mathew of Norrhampton,, who is said to have come from Ire- land. Joseph settled at Deerfield, where he was a prominent military man; -was a lieutenant in Father Ralle's War; a captain in the last French war, and died June 4. 1 753. aged abou' 70. 36. Benj. Wright was son of Samuel of Northampton and North- field, born, 1660; was a famous partisan officer; he died, 1743. 37. Timothy Childs, son of Richard of Barn.stable, born Sept. 22, 1686. He settled in Deerfield; married Widow Hannah Sheldon, one of the Deerfield captives. They were ancestors of the Pittsfield fam- ily of Childs. He died Feb. 20, 1776. 38. Jonathan Hoyt was one of the Deerfield captives who came back with Stephen Williams. He was afterward active in the Indian wars, und was commander of the fort in Deerfield, 1746. His Indian master often visited him at Deerfield. He was born April 6, 1688, and died May 23, 1779. fA 8i Noteti. I I ; t { Hi 11! Si i 39. Capt. Thomas Baker of Northampton. He was born about 1683, and died in 1 753. He was one of the captives taken at Deerfield, Feb. 29, 1704, and one of four who escaped and reached home in June, 1705. In 1714, he leil the party which escorted John Stoddard and Rev. John Williams to Canada, as Massachusetts (!ommissioners to treat for the return of prisoners; while there, occurred the romantic episode of his marriage to Madam Le Beau, nee Mai,^aret Otis, which is so fully and so well treated by Miss C. Alice Baker, in her paper be- fore the P. V. M. Association, upon Christina Otis. 40. Brother of Stephen Williams. He was born Jan. 24, 1689-90; was a captive of 1704: was leader of a party escorting French prisoners from Deerfield to Canada in 17 12; was elected Town Clerk in April, 1713, and died June 30, of the same year. 41. Kellogg, was son of Martin, born in 1686; was a captive of 1704, and escaped in June, 1704, with Thos. Baker, John Nims and Joseph Pettee; was taken again in 1708. He learned the language of the Indians and the French. On his return, he was employed as inter- preter, and in that capacity was sent with Stoddard and Williams to Canada in 1714; was teacher of Indian boys under the Hollis Fund. He died Nov, 30, 1743. His brother Joseph and sister Rebecca — cap- tives, i 704 — ,were also employed by the goverment as teachers and inter- preters. Joanna, another sister, married an Indian, at Cagnawaga; and never returned. 42. One of them since called Bakers river. 43. They were Connecticut soldiers, under Sergt. Thomas Taylor. 44. He was killed by Indians, while bravely defending his children f«*om the Indians, at the Bars fight, August 25, 1 746. . 45. Rev. Hope Atherton, minister of Hatfield, i^on of Gen. Humphrey Atherton, born, 1646, died June 8, 1677. He was chaplain in the Tur- ners F'alls expedition, and wrote -in account of his singular experience with the Indians, after being lo"^* from the command in the retreat. This, without doubt, is the pap'i referred to here. Another paper hafi been discovered, refering to this same document, which is given here, in hopes that it may afford a clue through which some interested person shall recover the original narration, or a copy. Henry R. Stiles, M. D., from No. i, Wall St., N. Y., writes Sylvester Judd, Sept. 19, 1857, giving him a copy of a letter sent to Pres- ident Stiles, his father, by Rev. Stephen Williams. With Williams's letter was a copy of the paper drawn up by Hope Atherton in regard to his own adventures after the Falls fight; this paper was given Will- mm Note». 86 iaiTij, by the only son of Alherton; the copy was returned to Judd. WlllTf IS it? Stephen Williams writes President Stiles, June 8, 1781: "Jonathan Wt'lls himself told me that the Itidians told him that after the Falls fight, that a little man in a blaf k <:tat, and without any hat, came towards them, but they were afraid and ran from them [him?J thinking it was the Englishman's (3od." 40. The fight, or rather massacre, at Pcskeompskut, or Turners I alls. May 19, 1676. 47. In the northwesterly part of Greenfield, now called Greenfield Mtvidows. 4S. The mill referred to was on the site of the present Green River mill, which has been so occupied since 1715. 49. Hastings was a man of note in his day, living in Hatheld, where he was born, Sept. 24, 1679, and died Ai)ril 14, 1728. A woeful elegy on his death, lamenting this public loss, can be seen in Memorial Hall. TluTe was no doctor in Deerfield for more than fifty years after the first settlement. 50. Williams received the honorary degree of O. H. from Dart- iiKHith, in 1773. 51. John Wheelock, LLD., was born in Lebanon, Ct., Jan. 28, 1754; was graduated from Dartmouth in the first class, in 1773; was piom'inent in the first half of the Revolutionary War, both in military and civil service. His father was the first president of I)art:nouth and tiic son succeeded him in that office at the age of 25, 52. At the date of this letter. Dr. Williams was in his 87th year, and had been preaching 66 years.