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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 ori<?lnal manuscript was giv- 
 en to our Association by his lineal descendant. Miss Eunice Stcbbins 
 Doij^gett of Chicago. In iierintere8tinglet'^er,tran8inittingit through 
 Miss 0. Alice Baker, she speaks of it as a "precious document, 
 which, from my first glimpse of it, I felt should go to the P. V. 
 M. Association for safe keeping." 
 
 The manuscript, in brown paper cover, on which is written by 
 another hand, "Account of the Captivity of Revd. Doctor Williams, 
 wrote by himself," covers sixteen closely written pages, nearly six 
 by three and one-half inches in size. Through the liberality of 
 Charles Deane, LL.D., of Cambridge, the contents are now put 
 into a useful and permanent form. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams was a son of Rev. John Williams, 
 the "Redeemed Captive," He was born at Deerfield, May 14, 1693; 
 taken captivu P\^bruary 21), 1703-4; graduated at Harvard in 1713; 
 was settled minister of Longmeadow, in 1710; was interpreter for 
 Governor Belcher in tlie treaty made by him with the Indians, at 
 Deertield, August, 1735; was chaplain under Sir William Pepperell 
 in the Louisburg expedition in 1740; and the Canada land cam- 
 paigns of 1 755, under Sir Willliam Johnson, and 1756, under Gen. 
 Winslow. He died at Longmeadow, June 10, 1782, aged eighty- 
 nine. 
 
 The don(;r of this relic is descended from Stephen Williams, 
 through his daughter Eunice, born September 1, 1733, who mar- 
 ried. May 1, 1753, William Stebbins of Longmeadow. Their 
 dangliter, Eunice Stebbins, married Rev. Joseph Barker of Middle- 
 boro. Eunice Barker, their daughter, and Elkanah Doggett, mar- 
 ried in 1816, were the parents of Eunice Stebbins Doggett. 
 
 A portion of the papers given in the Appendix have been print- 
 ed in a mutilated form. All are now given verbatim — save the 
 substitution of capitals at the beginning of sentences — from the 
 
IntrodttcHon. 
 
 original manuscript of Stephen Williams, and arc a valnable ad- 
 dition to local history. 
 
 y^'l^/^^^^ ^rU^Mi/'i't 
 
 Deertield, March 16, 1889. 
 
WHAT BEFELL STEPHEN WILLIAMS IN HIS 
 
 CAPTIVITY. 
 
 On tlio last of February 1 iof the Frencli and indiaiiB eanif <S! 
 .-iirprisod our Fort vfe took it, and aft<n-tliey liad broken into <»nr bouse 
 i\j.took n8 prisoners, they HarbarioUHly ninrdered a Brother & 
 Sister of mine, as tliey did Several of our nei^bbonrff. They i-ith'd 
 our house & then inarched away with us that were C'aptivw, and 
 set our house' & barn alire, as they did y' greatest pai-t of y' town, 
 Wlien y' j^reatest part of y" enemy were g-one out )i town there 
 came some PJnglish from y" next town'' y' drove th.^^c; indiaiis y' re- 
 mained in y" town away, but they were quickly driven back again 
 by the rest of y" Arniiw, '.) of y"" were slain as they retreated. 
 Then they marched a little further it stoped tor they had sev- 
 eral wounded men that hindered them. Thtjre they tould us y' if 
 the English j.ersued y'" they wonld kill us, but if otherwyse they 
 would not, but they ([uickly proved y"'selves lyars for before tiuiy 
 <](4)arted from y' place y l)arbai-iously murdered a chikl of about 
 two years old. 
 
 There my master took away my Englisli shoes and gave me In- 
 dian ones in y" room of y"' w"'' I think were better to travail in. 
 Then we marched 5 or 6 miles further were we took up our 
 Loduinir. Then one English man run back to Deerf: which pro- 
 Yoked y'" nnich: They told us if any mo-e ran away they would i)urn 
 y' rest.' There they slew our negro man. They next morning we 
 'travailed abont 2 or 3 miles & then they murdered my ever honor- 
 ed inothe'- who having gone over a smal river which water rnning 
 very swift flung her down She being wet was not able to travail any 
 further.' We travailed S or 9 mile further <k Lodged y' night. 
 'There some (»f us were Distributed for some had five or six Captives 
 & others none. Then they called y' Captives together to make 
 a more Equal Distribution, but 1 remained w"' my former master. 
 Here they searched me And took away my silver buttons & buckels 
 w"" I had on my shirt. Before we came to a small river named y" 
 westriver about thirty miles above Deerf: they murdered 3 or 4 
 uiore persons. W" they came to y" west river ^ where they had slays 
 & Dogs w"" which they drew there wounded men they travailed 
 
fl 
 
 Wtat Befell Stephen WiUiama in Mb Captivity, 
 
 (wc thonglit) iifi iftlioy Oiwlgned to kill u.s all fur yMravailod 35 
 OH 40 iniies a (lav.* TIumt tlioy killeil thnir a duH/tMi of women and 
 OliildrtM), for thero numnor was if any loitered to kill y'". My 
 feet were very sore 8o y' I wac afraid tliey would kill ine also. We 
 rested on the Sabbath day: they »A\a my fatlier liberty to preach.'" 
 there we sanj? a psalm for they retpiired of us a song. 
 
 Y' next dsiy we travailed a great way farther y" we had at any time 
 before. About the middle of the day scMue y' were in y" rere tired at 
 some Geeae y' tlcw over w'"' put y'" into a couhiderable fright, for 
 y' thought y" English were come up w"' y'", then they began to bind 
 the [»risoners and to prepare y'"8olvrt for battle, but w" they under- 
 stood w' y matter wa? they shot a volly for joy, l)oasting y' y' 
 English could not overtake y'"- T coming to my lion: Father he 
 told mc he was taken lamo in his Ankel w'Hie sprained in y" fall of 
 y" year, he said likewise he thought he should be killed, & if I 
 shoidd live to got to Canada to tell y"' who 1 was ttc, w"'' then did 
 terrific me much, but it pleased (i. to strenthen him to perform his 
 journey. The next day was a tempestuous day tfe I froze my great 
 toe of my left foot. The day after w"*" was Wednesday my master 
 bid me go down to y" river w* him (very early In f morning) w'*' 
 startled me for he did not use to be so early. There y' river part- 
 ed & I went up one branch, my father w"" my brs. & sisters the 
 other. I never saw my father for 14 months after. I did not eat 
 anything iny" morning yet must travail all tlay, yt>a 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" <k one jaenb Ilix, a souldier. 
 (now luy masier was not yet eoiru) to his own family, from hence 
 he w(!tit. to look for his family tfe within a day or two sent for me. 
 I thought tlii.s v.-as liavd to g(. away alone (y' is to any English per- 
 suiis) "ll(Mv I left Deacon lloit ^ .1 II. Deacon Uoit T never 
 Raw more for Ik; Was dead before 1 cairie from hunting) I went 
 w"' V'' messenger and after a tedious days travail wo came to my 
 mtister family. He gave mc to his br. w"' whom I continued 2 or 
 M months thereabonts hunting nu)08e, bears, tfe ^ea^'ers, (but w" I 
 lirst arrived here they were extraordinary kvid took care of my 
 toe y* was frozen, would not suffer me toony work, gave me a dear 
 8kin to ly on & a bears 8k.>.. 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. Th<!re was in company now 
 one M" Brydley of Haverhill, & one hannah eastman, one Daniel 
 Ar<]cry of Haverhill, tfe one M" Jones k, Margaret Iliggens, her 
 rnaid. who were taken at Noi-thampton fiu'iTis.' 
 
 Now from jience we set away for Canada, my master had so 
 much lumber to carry y* we were forced to carry a pack a mile or 
 two and go back and fetch another, w*^^'' was /ery tedious, Jacob 
 Hix died at the first carrying place of y*^ french river. This was 
 an exceeding tedious march to me we being so loadcn, the other 
 indians left us, I suffered much in this journey, for when we came 
 to y frencli river it was as much as our canoe would carry ou" lum- 
 ber, y*" water Avas so shallow, so y* I was forced to travail afoot on 
 ye bank without any shoes. My feet were much galled and one 
 or two of my toes almost cut of v»^ith y'' stones, I had little or 
 any-thing to eat. My master killed a duck one day in the rive- & 
 for my part I had y"^ guts whicl\ I laid on ye coals without clean- 
 ing y"' which seemed a sweot morF o me, they did oat skins &c., 
 but w" we arrived at y'' Lake we Wo^-e stipplyed witb' fish & fowl, 
 for there is a great nund)or both of fl-^h "c fowl, The Indian boys 
 do kill the (Toese with there bows & arrows they are so bould. 
 Fish can be easily taken with luioks, one day ar, we sayled on y" 
 lake two young indian shot a fish with a 'oullei & took" it into y" 
 canoe, it wjis as large as 1 am. I arrived at Chamble in August 
 w'' Avas about half a y*i';)A' from y' time I was taken, The french 
 was kind to me, gave me bread m hich I had not eaten iir a great 
 while. They told "me my Father & brothers & sisters was got to 
 Canada which I was glad to hear of for I was afraid my youngest 
 brother was killed. AV^hiies I tarried here a Frenchman came & 
 desired y" indians to let me go with him, which they did, I went 
 w"' y'' frenchman wlio gave me some vituals, & made me ly down 
 in his couacli, which iriy masters son perceiving told his father 
 who thought be did it to hide me ife did vlesighn to steal me, upon 
 which he came A; fet(;ht me away and would not let mo go to the 
 fort any more for which I suffered, (wliiles I war. here y" french 
 dressed my feet y' were wounded at which y" indians seemed to be 
 
What Befell Stephen WilUams m Ms Captivity, 9 
 
 vext.) From here wo went towards Sorel — but tarried a day or two 
 near at frencli-inans house about 3 mile from ShamWe, who was 
 kind to me & would have lodged me in his liouse but y'' indians would 
 not allow it mistrusting he would convey me away in y" night pri- 
 vately — From iionce we. went to Sorel & as soon as we had landed, 
 tliere came a H'oman a crost y" river oa purpose to bring me soihe 
 vituals & seemed to pity me, here we tarried a day or two, my 
 master bid me to go to y® fort a visiting w'' was about four score 
 rod off. I went tfe at a frenchmans porswasiou tarried all night «fe 
 till next day a1)out noon, when my master came for nie, he was 
 very angry with me & after y*- would never auffer me to go to a 
 french house alone. From this place we went to st francis y" 
 iiidian fort. My master could not compl}^ with y rites & customs, 
 wliereupon lie went to Albany, &, gave me to his kinsman Saciia- 
 rnore George'"* (now this George when he was at Cowas told y° 
 fre'ich governour y' I was his prisoner, whereas he had then noth- 
 ing to do with m.e, whereupon y'' governour empowered one Mr: 
 Shamble a captain to buy me who made a bargain w^'' George, give 
 him earnest money.) now being put in^c his hands he was not will- 
 nig y*^ y" french should know it. But having a desire to go to 
 Shamble y'' place where Monsi.ar Shamble lived took ine witli 
 liim, bu .vithin ten miles of Shamble left me alone in y° woods, 
 while ho w'** those y* were w*'' him went to S.'amble. After he 
 came from Shamble we went a h.unting, caught about 30 beavour 
 in y® brooks which run into ye river bet'.vixt Shamble and Sorel; 
 after we liad done hunting we went again to k:t francis fort were I 
 continued till towards spring, & then removed because y" small 
 pox was among y'' indians & my masters children had not had it, 
 so y* he moved. 
 
 But whiles 1 coiitinned there' tnonsiur Shamble heard y* I was 
 w^*" Sagomore Gecrge, & came to buy me, I seemed to be willing 
 to go w'*" him, at which the indians were much distunbed & would 
 liot let me go because 1 showed a forwardness to go, & did likewise 
 threaten to kill me, did complain to y" Jesuit wlio came & said to 
 me, what no love Indian tliey ha\ e saved your life &c. 
 
 It is no wonder y' children y^ are small will not speaK o y' 
 friends when y^' come to see to y™, l^t they will scofe and deride 
 y"', because y'^ indians have taught tliem so, will be angry if they 
 do otherwise. 
 
 Whiles I lived here I observed y* some English children would 
 
 *This numeral, and similar preceding ones, refer to notes in the Appendix. 
 
10 
 
 What Befell Stephen WUUams in his Cwptivitn/. 
 
 f' 
 
 seofu at me (when before y'' indiaiis whorse than y" Indian children, 
 but when abne they would talk familiarly with me in English about 
 y' own country etc., whereas w" before ,y" Indians they would pre- 
 tend they could not speak eTio-lish, Here the Indiana did say some- 
 thing to me about religion but not nmclu being eastern Indians 
 were not zealous as y° macquas are. [i w*'' a young warrier .fee.?] 
 
 The french governor after he heard 1 was in y^ country, (because 
 of my father's entreties) was often sending to y*^ indians to buy me 
 whs were quite wearied out because of y" many messages he sent. 
 Y*^ governor was not willing to give above 30 crowns w''era8 tbey 
 stood for 40. At length because wearied out my master v;ent to 
 ye jesu:*'' ife got j;)en ink & paper «fe would have me to write to my 
 father (for we had heard y' he was turned & had 200 pounds a 
 year allowed him which I believe some of y'" believed) after he 
 had got paper he takes another Indian with hiu) y* could speak 
 good Lngli&h who was to indite for me— y'' substance of y"" letter 
 was this (j^ if he did not buy me before spring they would not sell 
 me afterwards & y* he must give 40 crowns for me) they carrried 
 it to y Jesuit who could speak English to read, to see whether. I 
 had vvritten as y^' oi'dered me tfe w" they found I had they were 
 well pleased. My master liad a mind to go a hunting & would 
 have taken we with him, but because he had sent such word (y* 
 they must buy by such a time) he left me at home y^ I might l)e 
 ready i/ they should send to bay me. And when captain living- 
 stone" and Mr. Sheldon'" where come to Canada my mistriss thought 
 there would be an exchange of prisoners, and lest the french should 
 then take me away for nothing she removed up in y'' woods about 
 half a mile from y'^ river, y* if they came they might not find ^ne. 
 Whiles on a certain day my mistress weiit to a french house to get 
 vituals, and ordered me to spend this day in getting wood, but it 
 proved a tempestuous day & we had half a cart load of wood at y'' 
 door (which is a great deal for indians to have) so y* I did n'>t 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) <k asked y"' to let me ly at y'' 
 fort which they granted. I kept Ijere about a fortnight & lay at y'' 
 fort every night. The french were vcy kind provided vituals for 
 me & would give me some to carry to y*^^ indians, M'hich pleased y'" 
 well; As we went back to st francis fort we met a french canoe 
 who told us y' the french governour would come to st francis fort 
 (piickly, upon w^'' my mistress said to me your time is short you 
 have to live with me. (truly I hoped it was) When we came to st 
 francis we went to inasters island where I began to make prepara- 
 tions to plant corn, but before wf began to plant the governour 
 came & bought me after a long parley, for 40 crowns. "With him 
 [ went to 8orel where I met with captain Livingstone <fe several 
 captives. Oapt. Livingstone told me I should go home to N. E. 
 with him w'' revived me very much to think of going home, but 
 the governour quickly altered his mind, said I must not go. From 
 hence I went down lo Quebec w*^'' y" lord intendant. When I 
 came to Quebec I found several English people y* wei'e prisoners 
 there. One. Mrs. Hill took care of me cut my hair for me (now 
 my hair wjis like an Indian one side long and the othe." short). She 
 got me a shirt & a pair of b/eeches & a jacket & stockings &c for me. 
 From hence (.n y« 11 of Mav I was sent to live with my father at 
 Chatauriche'"' while I lived here y'' french were very courteous & 
 kind to me as they were to my Father. This seemed almost home 
 to me, because I was got to my Father, who I had not seen for 14 
 
12 
 
 What Befell Stephen Williams in hia Captivity. 
 
 months. When Mr. Dudley" came to Canada my father & I was 
 sent up to Quebeek. Wlien we were at Quebeck Captain Courte- 
 marche" took us to his house, entained us very nobly, he said bo 
 received kindness at N. E. Whiles we were at Qub: the Seminary 
 a famous building was ])urnt, & uyon Mr, Dudley, & captain 
 Yetcb," petitioning, y'' governour ojave me liberty to come hoaie 
 and accordingly I came away on y*" 12 of October 1705 (but I left 
 my Honoured Father tt brs. & sisters behind) & after a tedious 
 voyage I arrived safe at Boston in New EtjghiTid, which was on y° 
 21 of November 1705". And 1 desire that the name of God may 
 be praised & adored for his wonderful goodness to me in sparing 
 my life when I was as it were at y" Brink of eternity & that he 
 stayed y" hands of those y*^ took up y' weapons to slay me with, 
 
 finis. 
 N. B. That while with Indians 1 was in Great Danger of being 
 drowned several times. 
 
 [The postscript was evidently written at a later period than the body 
 of the narrative.] 
 
 f-#, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 [Notes and stories found among the papers of Stephen Williams, 
 whicli, with the exception of a single sheefc^ are in his own hand writ- 
 ing of about 1 731.] 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF SOME ANCIENT THINGS. 
 
 [Murderous attack on the families of Thomas Broughton and wid. 
 Hepzibah Wells'*" June 6, 1693.] 
 
 Y*' suspect'' mischief before Broughton &; Wells family & Capt. 
 Wells laid in w"' Cii^^awak to find out w' was doing & he suspect'' 
 it, but c** get nothing. 
 
 Several Indians trading liv'^ over the river at Carters Land & Jnno 
 6, 1693, in y^ n' abt midnight y^ came upon y"' & kill'' Thomas 
 Broughton & his wife and xdren 8, & scalped 8 of y'' widow Wells'" 
 Daughters (Lan' laid asleep in y*^ chamber not hurt & Nath' Kel- 
 logue''" jump'' out of Mrs. Wells chamber window & escaped) 2 di'' 
 of y"" w''" & y" 3'' Jived, & one Holmes laid in y* chamber at B. & saw 
 y'" and heard y" people plead for y'' lives, the man plead'' ii his own life 
 might not be spar'' his xdren might. Y^ answered in indian, we don't 
 care for y'= xden & will kill y'" all, and Holmes" lay still and escap**. 
 
 jyjrs "WTQiig y;-jig from home w"' a sick child & ventur'' there w"' 
 it before the people went w*** her [& then she returned, having hid 
 
 her xdren erased] & took care of y xdren & then hid herself 
 
 no body came till break of y'' day. [No expert has been able to say 
 with certainty that tlie above story of Mrs. Wells' night of horror has 
 been correctly deciphered. The same is true of the next sentence.] 
 
 Kellogue escap'', a Beam hung [or being] in y" chamber w'^'' y** 
 indian run ag"' & Beat him back. 
 
 Some of y* indians came into y*^ Town in y' morning & y" En- 
 ghsh sent for y'' young capt and Cliedaw w"' y" indians deliver'' np 
 & y® wound'' [ ] Mary (Wells)" accus'' Chedaw, & he trembling 
 & quivering deny** it, & Broughton accus'^ y*^ jo^ng capt. he deny'' 
 it. T. Broughton liv' a day or 2 & dy''. Ashpelon'" s'' y' y" young 
 woman did not talk ling [talk ?] as if she was iit to give an evidence — 
 she seem'* distracf. These 2 accus'' were car'' to Springf '' & putt into 
 
S' 
 
 ^ , \ 
 
 14 
 
 Apjmi^ix. 
 
 cnstody," but broke away from prison by y' lielp of some Dutchmen 
 as was tho't y' came y' to see y'", & all y'' bunting indiaiis drew off; 
 from that time 'twas suppos'^ y^' those y* did y'' mischief were some 
 Canada indians principally, but y' some of y'' hunting indians had 
 join'- w"' y'", but y' y'' generality of y'' trading indians were igno- 
 rant of it, cfe I remend)er w' my Indian mistress s'' to me ab' it. 
 
 [The following is a fragment, but as it refers to the above tragedy, 
 it is given a place for what it is worth on the chance that some one 
 may be able to interpret it.] 
 
 One of the persons kill'' aste'' from one y' had him in custody, by 
 N. Uellett, y'' fellow had gived out insulting wrd w" in diink ct 
 had conspired w"' y*-" french at y'^ great falls, this before B. Ar Welle 
 family cut oif, & tho't to be an occasion of it it; w" Warwelets son 
 was killed by Seaost {I) or Taidvlin (?) and anothei' man at Merri- 
 mak {() river spos'' to be an occasion. 
 
 [Joseph I'arnard'-" shot Aug. 21, 1695.] 
 
 Joseph Barnard, Henry White, Philip Maltoon [Mattoon) God- 
 frey Nima, going to mill, came to the place att y' Drain'^" & their 
 horse snuthng ik, being fright*', one of y'" cry'' out indians! indians! 
 & y^' turned ab' tfe y*" indians fir'' upon y"' & wound'' Mr. Barnard in 
 left hand (one wrist broke to pieces) oneBidlet in y" body, his horse 
 shot down <fe then N. took him up, tfe his horse shot down, & then 
 he was mounted behind M. and came of home. 
 
 Capt. W[ells" the commander of the fort| y*^ n^ before, was con- 
 cerned ab' Indians y*" n' before, ifec'' not sleep & tho't he w'' take care 
 to prevent it, <Sz, went out to stop tneso men, but seeing Mr. B. tho't him 
 a prudent man, & let them go. -[Mr. Barnard died Sept. G, 1695.] 
 
 CAPTIVITY OF DANIEL BELDING. 
 
 T^' 16,1696, John Smead & John Gillett being in the woods, 
 looking or tracking Bees, were besett by a company of French Mo- 
 lAwks. J. G, was taken prisoner & J. S. escaped — the indians fear- 
 ing a discovery by S. 16 of them hastetied away towards the town, and 
 three were left with J. G. It being lecture day the people were got out 
 of y'^ meadows, that so y^' might attend y'' lecture, so that y'^ enemy 
 came as far as Mr. Dan' Beldings house," that was within gun shot of 
 y'" fort. Mr. B. being belaf' a''' his work'was but just got home f"" the 
 Fiealdstfe left his cart (y' was baded w*''corn) ik went into y^' house 
 & left his y^' xdren w"' y' cai-t, & y" indians rushed upon them & took 
 him prisoner & his son Nath' ag'' 22 years of age & his daughter Es- 
 ther age 13 years & kill'' his wife & his sons Daniel & John & his 
 
Append/ix. 
 
 it 
 
 (laiiijliter Thankful, & one of y'" took I:is son Sam' from the cart, but 
 lie kick '' & scratdi'' <k bit, so that y" intlian set him down «fe struck y" 
 Q{\»p of his hatchet into y" side of Ids liead; lie twich'' twice or thrice 
 to pull it out and so left him for dead [illegible] & as he came to him- 
 self he look'' up & saw y"' runidng fr'" him. Bled considerably &, 
 brains came out at y" wonnd «fe went in a niaz'' condition towards y" 
 Fort, til he came toy'' little bridge"" where fell off & was carr''4<^ Mr; 
 W"'""" tfc was so bad as left for dead, but it pleas' god hie life was spar- 
 & his wound healed & he is yet living;'" he was once or twice account'' 
 to be dying & once accf a^ dead, a day or two after his being wound**. 
 
 Abigail Belding another daughter was shot in y*" arm as she was run- 
 uiug to the fort, but it is generally tho't y*" bullet y' struck her came 
 from y" Fort. Sanih Belding another of y" daugbters, hid herself 
 among some Tobacco in _) - chamber atjd escap''. 
 
 The people in the fort (l)eing then at the i)ublic worship) were 
 alarmed & shot from the Fort &, wound'' one of y "^ enemy in the fleshy 
 part of the tliigh. the ir.lians tired at y" Fort & w(mnd'' one Mr. W"' 
 [Zebediali] as he opn''y'' gate, the enemy presently withdrew (were 
 not one quarter of an hour in doing y" e.xploit) and were followed by 
 some Brisk young men into the meadow, who came within 30 rods of 
 them (fe fired at them & y*^ Indians at them again without damage on 
 either side, the Indians kill'' some cattle that were feedini; in v'' mead- 
 ows, & a boy tliat had the care of the cattle hid himself in the weeds & 
 escap''. the enemy went up (ireen River & came to their companions 
 that they bad left with Gillett. John Smead came into the Town soon 
 after Mr. Belding's fai lily were well off. Y" 1"' night y° enemy lodg'' 
 in around hole near the river, alx)ve y" rock, at Nf'' St., where y' fires 
 were fresh, thence set away for Canada by y'^ way of Otter Creek, leav- 
 ing Connecucut river &e. Whei' they came near Otter creek, they 
 came upon some tracks of Albany Indians that were going to Canada, 
 (for in those times y*" Indians from Albany were wont to go a-scalping, 
 as they call it, to Canada) they sent out their scouts <k, were upon the 
 lookout, and at length discovered y' smoak; and then they flung down 
 their packs & painted theniselves & ty'' theit English captives to trees 
 & left two men to guard them: & proceeded to y' business, & having 
 divid'' themselves into two companies, they sett upon the secure com- 
 pany (w'^'' consist'' of six mew) & kill'' two of y"-, took two & 2 escap''. 
 Among y" slain was one Uroen an Indian known among y" english 
 {&. suspect'' to be a bloody fellow & sometimes mischievous to^y" 
 english). Of their own men one was wound'' in y" fleshy part of 
 the thigh (as one had been before at D'fd.) the prisonei-s were one 
 
id 
 
 Ajypendi^. 
 
 fc H 
 
 n 
 
 a Scatacook itKnaii ife y"^ other a young Albany Molmwk. When 
 tlio skirmish was over, tlu- EiigliBh were brot up tfe so tliey proceed'' 
 on their journey, Mr. 15. a.sked tlie Scactacook Indian^ (now his fel- 
 h)w prisoners) what he thought the enemy would do with them, who 
 reply'' that they would not kill y'" english prisoners, but give some of 
 them to y" fronch & keep some of them themselves; but he expected 
 to be burnt himself, but when tiiey came to y® lake, one rainy night, 
 they made no fire, and some of them lodg*" under y' canoes, from 
 whom this Scatacook iruide his escape having loosed himself by some 
 means from his cords ifec.,and altho ho Wiis psu''the enemy could not re- 
 cover him &c. As to the young Albany Mohawk, he was kept alive, 
 being of their oAvn nation (the french mohawks went f rom y' nation 
 over to Canada for y* sak of y** romish religion). W" Mr. B. & com. 
 pany came to the fort call'' ()60,'^the males were obliged to run the 
 Gauntlet near it, Mr. li being a very nimble or light footed man, re. 
 ceived but few blows, setting out, but the other men were much ahus'' 
 by clubs, firebrands, &c. 
 
 They arriv'' at Canada 8'"' 9. Now they found what the Scata. 
 cook Indian liad said to be true, for the indians kept Mr. B. himself 
 & his daughtar with them, & gave J. G. & N. B. to the french. 
 J. G. worked as a serv' to y" Nuns at their Fartn. N. B. worked 
 for the Holy Sisters. On y" 9"' of July following, Mr. B. was sold 
 
 > 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<len etc. He accounted himself favorably dealt with. In j'" 
 winter following Co" Abr'" Schyler with some others came to Cana- 
 da cV: l)rought with them a copy of y^' Articles of peace between 
 England and France ct return'' home w"' some Dutch Captives. In 
 April! following Co" Peter Schyler^"' & Co" A. Schyler & the Dutch 
 Dominie, w''"' some others, came to Canada &, the French governor 
 gave liberty to all captives, English tfe Dutch, to return home, yea 
 alowed them to oblige all under 16 years of age to return w**" them, 
 those above y* age were to be at their liberty &c. These Dutch 
 Gentleman gather'' up w*^ ca])tive8 both English & Dutch they could 
 & returned June 8, &, took Mr. B & his xdren and Martin Smith'* 
 with ab' 20 more English with them, & arrived at Albany in about 
 15 days, where y'" Dutch showed to him a great deal of kindness, 
 offered to send him home directly to Deerf'', Co" Schyler cloth'' 
 him & his xdren at the desire of his brother Mr. John Belding of 
 Norwalk, who paid him for the clothes &c. after about three weeks' 
 stay at Albany, Mr. B. & his children went aown the river to N. 
 
Appendix. 
 
 17 
 
 1 .rk where his B' had provided a place for his entertainment & 
 from York he went in a vessill to Stamford &, from there went to 
 .N^)fwalk to his friends tfc after some stay tliere, return'' to D'f'd. J. 
 (i. not home a UttU; hoforc him hy the way of France & so to Eng- 
 1,111,1, having received great kiiuhiess in Englajid. 
 
 Decrfield, May 10, 17o4, John Allen and his wife going ont from 
 the Oarrison, about two miles, upon some business, were ambush'* 
 !.v tlu> 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 <fec. 
 
 July 9, 1708, Sam" and Joseph Parsons of Northampton (sons to 
 ''apt. John Parsons) being in the woods looking after cattle were 
 ■■-lain by the Indians. 
 
 July 26, 1708, about 7 or 8 Indians rushed into the house of 
 leivetent Wright (at a place called Scipmuck in Springfield) and 
 kill'' and scalp** (and they beat their heads to pieces) Aaron Parsons 
 & Barejah Hubbard, who were soldiers, knockt down and scalp** old 
 Mrs. Wright, who yet liv** aliout three months, and then dy*'. Two 
 children of Henry Wriglits that lay in the cradle, they knock** on 
 
in 
 lii 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 !■ 
 
 'I: til 
 
 18 
 
 A]ypendix. 
 
 the head; one of them rly' that iiij^ht, tl»e other recover'' and iBBtill 
 living; they took TJeiiry Wright's wife captive whom 'tis supoH'' 
 they afterward kill" and scalp''. J.iev' Wright got out rf his shop 
 window atid escap", and a daughter of liis ran out at a door (wliich 
 latch" on the outside) iuid pull" the string after her and so oscap". 
 The house was not fortiti(!d, but had Mankers at two corners it(;. 
 
 Au<'-nfit, 1708, a scout of six men al)ont an hundred mile above 
 Deertield, were fell upon by a party of indians, and one Barber of 
 Windsor was slain, but after he had receiv" his mortal] wound, he 
 got up on his knees <te shot tlie very indiatJ that had shot him, and 
 fell down and dy^ so that when the indians came to them (whicli 
 was in a few minutes) hey were both dea<l lying within a few ro<ls 
 one of another, this account 1 had from an indian, who upon relat- 
 ing the nuitter add'', no h , i. e. not Ikrber, but his (/host. At tlu; 
 same time Mart'" Kellogue jun.' was taken (which was the second 
 time of his going into cai)tivity) but he, l)efore he was taken, dis- 
 charg" his gun, and M'ound" an Indian in the thigh. 
 
 (>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<iridnert8 ertpi'cialiy from 
 Mr Agent Duinmer, who iiitereeed' witli tlie L(M*dH of tlie Adinir 
 alty, wlio order"' tlioin on hoard one of the (^ueenH Ships which 
 hronght thein to IthocU) inhmd whence they got home if» Bafty to 
 their faniiiieK, after M' Ilinndell had heen ahi-ent from his family al)' 
 three years and an half. 
 
 [He returned Oct.. 1712. Mr. Hinsdell wa.s the first white mau 
 born in Deerfic'U. His fi'-st captu'-e by Indians was Feb. 2, 1704. 
 He died May 2, 1736. The above narrative bears evidence of beinji; 
 taken from iiis own mouth.] 
 
 Aug. 8,1709, John Clary and Robert (franger were slain at 
 Brookfield 
 
 CAPT. BENJAMIN WRKIUT'S SCOLnV 
 
 Xlever'' Sir — After D'le Regards these May Inform yon what 
 Lieut Childh"' and Mr Hoit'" related to me concerning the travails 
 of Capt Write »& his Company towards Canada vfe w'' happened to 
 theni about that time it is as follows - 
 
 Ca])t Write tfe a Small (Jom])any of men designing for Canada to 
 destroy y' enemy, in y*^ Beginning of April 1710, we then set out 
 from Deeriield in Nmnber Containing lO, and travailed up Con 
 nectieut River which is usually Called 120 Miles. There we dis- 
 covered two Bark Canos, by reason of that our Capt was pleased 
 to Leave ♦> 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 <k then we making search /oi the tire that 
 we afore espied & found it had only been y" woods on fire. After 
 that we set out for Canada in our Canoes on y*" west side of the 
 Lake till two hours by sun at night & then the wind arose again 
 
Appfndh. 
 
 21 
 
 which forcoti us to lyo by till next day in y'" attoniouii i*k tlum wo 
 it out for Sliiitnl>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<M% and all ^'ot into on(% tfe 
 left >•'■ other w"' (JoiiHiderahle plunder in in, tfe when they was 
 iiiisv.'d off we niani'd out one <d' our Cfinoes and fcteluMl in tlioirs. 
 Ami he that was Swinnrdn^ al)(»ut we Called to Shore to us, And 
 l.cvt Childs kilhid him i^: some of y" men walped him. And by 
 Information that we had aftiirward by the Capti'os, y' were then 
 ill Canada three wen* killed at the Same Time. And after that 
 Sl^irmish, we made tin; i)est of our way h<»nu!war(h <S: CaiiK; to y" 
 French Kiver after Dark, 'and so proceeded all* that night up y' 
 French River till we Come to the Falls, and there we Left our Cano« 
 and took our Packs upon our liacks and travaih^d homewards upy" 
 River, and comeing to a (.'rook that was in the river, we Left y'' 
 river tfe took y"* nearest Cutt acrost y' Elbow and st) come to y'' riv- 
 er again, wdiich was about nine of y'' clock that morning, <Sc there 
 we espied a </anoa (toming down y'' river with four Indians in it 
 and a Captive-man, which \v'a8 taken at Exeter, named William 
 Moody. We Immediately fired on tluini and killed 2 the first 
 slioot & wounded y'' JJ'' & y'' 4"' fluin[)ed out ik Swam to y'' Con- 
 trary Shore, then our Capt ordered some of his men to tarry there 
 k fire at him when he got to Shon;, and they did So, tfe afterwards 
 we was Informed y' he was so wounded, that in a fev/ Days after he 
 got to Canada, died. Now the rest of the men followed y'' Canoa 
 as it fell Down Stream, and the Capt Called to the (^aptive to pad- 
 dle y" Canoe to Land, but he re|)lied he (!0uld not l)eeause the* 
 wounded Lidian wt>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 <k (matched up a pool ."t licld ont to liiin & ho 
 catchod hold of it & y' Litmt. drew him to Lsiud. And John Strong 
 heing upon tlie Bank heard y" sticks Crack hehind him & Looked 
 "ound ifc cried out Indians tte was Immediately fired upon by them 
 k was woulided in the face & breast with a ('harge of Cutt Shoot, 
 but not mortal. With that Lieut Wells sprung up the Bank to get 
 his gun & was nvortally shot. Now the men being scattered along 
 upon the P>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.