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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. i 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ] w Tl Prii A N ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTIVITY O F ELIZABETH HANSON, Late of Kachecky in New-England : Who, with Four of her Children, and Servant- Maid, was taken Captive by the Indians, and carried into Canada, Setting forth The various remarkable Occurrence*, fore Trials, and wonderful Deliverances which befel them after their Departure, to the Time of their Redemption. A NEW EDITION. Taken In Subftance from her own Mouth, by SAMUEL BOWNAS. LONDON: ■■-'•"Bi- Printed and Sold by Jamis Phillips, Georgc-Yard, Lombard-Streett l^^^* r m ..u.'-,$'' :'J. " ■ « l^«.« '•'.« ea ^ ' hi • -< >, THE Remarkable Captivity f OF THE WIFE AND CHILDREN O F ;i*rV JOHN H J N S N. ON the 27th of the fixth month called Auguft 1725, my hufband and all our mtn-fervants being abroad, eleven Indians, armed with tomahawks and guns, who had fome time before been Ikulking about the fields, and watching an opportunity of our mens abfence, came furioufly into the houfe. No fooner were they entered, than they mur- dered one of my children upon the fpot 5 in- tending, no doubt, by this ad of cruelty, to ftrike the greater degree of terror into the minds of us who furvived. After they had thus done, their captain came towards me, with all the appearance of rage and fury it is pofTible to imagine : neverthelefs, upon my earneft requeft for quarter, I prevailed with him to grant it. A 2 I hai \ I ; .d-,*fT: mm ( 4 ) I had with me a fervant-mald and fix chil- dren i but two of my little ones were at that time playing in the orchard. My yoiingeft child was but fourteen days old ; and myfelf, of confequence, in a poor weak condition, and very unfit to endure the hardfhips I after- wards met with, as by the fequel will appear. The next flep they took was to rifle the houfe, which they did with much hurry and precipitation; being appreh.enfive, in all pro- bability, of a furprize. And as it was lare in the afternoon, they packed up what linen, woollen, and other things they liked, and forthwith turned us out of the lioufe. Being now at tlie door, my two cliildrcn, who had been playing in the orchard (the one fix, the other four years of age) came m fight; and oeing terrified at the appearance of 'the naked Indians, they cried aloud. ' On which one of the Indians ran up to them-; and taking one under each arm, brought them to us. My m.aid prevailed with the biggelb to be flill i but the other would not be paci- fied by any means, but continued fiiricking and crying very much. Wherefore, to eafe themfelves of the noife, and prevent the dan- ger of a difcovery that might arife from ir, They made no more to do, but knocked out its brains before m*y face. 1 bore this as well as the nature of fb iinbarnful a circumftance v/ould permit •, no.t daring to difcover much' bf my iineafinefs, ^leij it lliould provoke them to commit the i^Al .. ^■. ''- like t e h n : chii- ,t that .ingeft lyfdf, lition, after- ppear, k the ry and 11 pro- is lare linen, 1, and ildrcn, d (the ame in fa ranee Iv- On them-; It them biofO'etb )e paci- iricking to eale he dan- froiti if, ced out ■)i.) ■r.:itl' ■e of f6 lit •, no.t eafinefs, imit die like C 5 ) like outrage upon the reft : but could have been glad they had kept ou' of fight till we had been gone from the houfe. The Indians having now killed tv/o of my children, the next thing they did was to fcalp them •, a practice common with them when- ever they kill any EngliQi people. This they do by cutting off the Ikin from the crown of the head ; which they take with them as an evi- dence of the number they have flain. And ic has been currently reported, that the French, in their wars with the Engliih, have given the Indians a pecuniary reward for every fcalp they brought to them. - This being done, they prepared to leave the houfe in great hafte, without committing any other violence than taking what they had packed up, together with myfelf and little babe fourteen days old, my little boy of fix years, one daughter about fixteen, another ivbout fourteen, and my maid-fervant. r It was now, as I faid before, but fourteen days fince my lying-in; and being very ten- der and weakly, and turned out from a warm room, with every thing fuitable to my cir- cumftances, it increafed the feverity of the hardlLips 1 underwent exceedingly. Never- thelefs, I found the cafe was fuch, that I muft either go or die ; for I could make no refift- ance, neither would any pretenfions avail. Accordingly we began our journey, each having fome of the plunder to carry, and I my infant : the other three were able co travel A alon v-» n »^M4«i^W»1Va' i: f t- ( 6 ) alone. But my new mailer, the Indian cap- tain, was fometimes humane enough to carry my babe in his arms j which I looked upon as. a fingular favour^ becaufe he had bcfides a very heavy burthen, and confiderably more than he could take up without the help of his men. We pafled through feveral fwamps and brooks, carefully avoiding all beaten paths, and every track that looked like a road, left "we Ihould be furprized by our footfteps. We travelled that night, 1 fuppofe, near ten miles in a diredl: line, and then we halted. The Indians kindled a fire, and we took up our quarters by it. They took it in turn to reft themfelves, while a party of them kept watch, in order to prevent a furprize. For my part,, I was very wet, as well as weary ; and having no other lodging but the cold ground in the open woods, could get but little reft. Never- thelefs, when day-light appeared, we fet for- ward again, and travelled very hard all that day, pafling through feveral fwamps, rivers, and brooks, and ftill avoiding all beaten paths, for the reafon already meotioned. When night came on, I found myfelf again very wet, and heartily tired, having the fame lodging, the cold ground and open woods. — Thus did we travel for twenty-fix days fuc- cefTively, and in general very hard ; though fometimes we were helped a little by water,, over lakes and ponds. — We climbed up abun- dan,ce of high mouutains s fome of which were cap- carry (on as> des a more :lp of '.) I ( 7 ) were fo deep, that I was fain to crawl up them on my hands and knees ; but when I was under thefe difHculties, my Indian mailer would, for the moft part, carry my infant : and this I efleemed as a favour from the Al- mighty, in that his heart was fo tenderly in- clined to alTiIl me. Nay, he would fometimes take my very blanket ; {o that, having no incumbrance, 1 was enabled to give fomc alTiflance to my little boy, and now-and-thea- carry him in my arms. When we came to any difficult place, my mafter would lend me his hand; or if it were Iteep, he frequently ufed to pufh me up before him. in all which he difcovered more civi- lity and humanity than I could have cxped- cd ; and for which I was thankful to God, as the moving caufe. We had now fome very great runs of wa- ter and brooks to pafs i in wading through which we fometimes met with great difficulty, being frequently up to our middles, and fome of the children to their fhoulders and chins. But the Indians carried my babe (that is, my little boy) through them on their Ihoulders. At the fide of one of thefe rivers, the In- dians would have had my eldcft daughter fing them a fong. Whereupon a paffage in the cxxxviith Pfalm was brought to her remem- brance ; to wit, *' By the rivers of Babylon wept, whea " there we fat down. Yea, we ** we remembered Zion. We hansed our « harps on the willows in the midft thereof. A 4 V For .f I ( 8 ) (C For they that carried us away captive, re-. quired of us a fong; and they that wafted us, required of us mirth." When my poor child had given me this account, it affected me greatly, and my heart was filled with forrow. Yet, on her account, I rejoiced that flie had fo good an inclination ; which fhe ftill. further manifeftcd, by wiftiing for a Bible, that we might have the comfort of reading the Holy Text at leifure times, for our fpiritual confolation under the afflic- tions we then fuffcred. Next to the difficulty of croffing the rivers, were theprodigiousfwamps and thickets,which were very hard to pafs through. But here alfo my mailer would fometimes lend me his hand; and as theypafled thro' quickly one after the other, it became pretty tolerable for the hindmoft. But the greatefl: difficulty of all, and which deferves firft to be named, was our ■want of proper fuflenance j for we were now reduced to very great extremity; having often nothing to eat but pieces of old beaver (kin match-coats, which the Indians, in their jour- ney to our fettlement, had concealed (for they came to us naked, as I faid before) but now in their return, took along with them. They were ufed more for food than raiment, being cut out in long narrow llraps, of which they gave us fome little pieces. Thefe, after their example, we laid upon the fire till the fur was finged off, and then ate them as dain- ty ,i..i. i^.A^.^. f this ' heart croiint. ( 9 ) ty morlels ; experimentally knowing, that ** to the hungry every bitter thing Is I'weet.'* Of this ditr, mean as it was, we had but a fcanty allowance. And what (till fiirtiier increafed my aflliclion, was the complaints and moans of my poor children. Sometimes indeed tlie Indians caught a fquirrel, or a beaver; at others, we met with nuts, berries, and roots : and fometimes we ate the bark of trees i but had no corn for a long while, till a party of the younger Indians went back, and brousjht fome from the Eno;lilh inhabi- tants, of which they gave us a very ihorc allowance. But when they killed a beaver, we lived high while it laded, as their cullom was to allow me the guts and garbage for myfclf and children; but they would by no means I'ufFer us to wafli and cleanfe them, which occafioned this kind of diet to be very loathfome ; and indeed nothing but pining hunger would have made it in the leail de- gree tolerable. My didrcfles did not all center here. I had yet another afBiclion no lels feverc than the former; and this was it. By daily travel and . hard living, my milk was almoll dried up ;,. and how to prefcrve my poor babe's life, was a matter of no little concern to me, having many times no other luHenanct^ ior it thaa cold water, which I took into my^ mouth, and dropped' on my breaft for it to fuck in when I gave it the teat, with what little milk ic could draw from thence. Ac other times, :^' A 5 ■ when 1 I.I k; [ 10 ] when I could procure any broth of beaver* guu, I fed it with that; by which means, and keeping it as warm as I could, its life was preferved till I came to Canada, where I met with better food. - When we were pretty far advanced in our journey, the Indians divided; and, to our great forrow, divided us amongft them. My eldefl daughter was taken away firfl, and car- ried lo another part of the country, far dif- tant from us. And we had not travelled far> before they parted again, and took from me my fecond daughter, and my fervant maid j fo that I had now only the babe at my bread, arid my Httle boy of fix years old. We three remained with the captain j but my daughter and fervant underwent very great fufiferings after they were taken from us, travelling very "hard for three days together, without any fuf- tenance but cold water ; and on the third day the ferv^t fell down in a fwoon as dead; at which the Indians feemed furprized, and be- gan to fhew fome figns of tendernefs ; not being willing to lofe any of their captives by death, after they had brought them fa near their own home ; hoping, no doubt, in cafe they lived, to obtairf a cohfiderable price for their ranfom. Accordingly, in a few days after this; they drew near their journey^s end, where they found greater plenty of corn and other food i but flefh often fell very (hort, as they had no other way of procuring it but hunting. .. ■"••■■■ '. - • It »avcr5 iy and 'e was I met n our o our , My d ca^- ir dif- rd far^ m me maid j 3rea(t, J three .ighter erings gvery ly fuf- d day id ; at fid be- 1 J not ptives em fa ibt, in price w days s end, rn and ort, as it but It C n ) It was not long before my daughter and fervant were parted alfo j and my daughter's mafter falling fick, he was thereby difabled from hunting. All their corn was likewife fpent; and fo great were their diftreffes, that they were compelled to feed on the bark of trees for a whole week, being almofl famifhed to death. In this fore extremity it was providentially ordered, that fome other Indians, hearing of their mifery, came to vifit them (for they are very kind and helpful one to another) and brought with them the guts and liver of a beaver i which, as they were but four in number (viz. the Indian, and his wife, and^ daughter, and my daughter) afforded them a good repaft. By this time my matter and our company got to their journey's end : where we met with better entertainment, having corn,.veni- Ibn, wild fowl, and whatever elfe the Indians took in hunting. But my matter's family being fifteen in number, it fometimes occa- fioned us to have very fhort commons,. efpe- cially when game was fcarce.. "^^ ' Our lodging was ftill on the cold ground,, in a poor little wigwam, which is a kind of fmall ftielter, made with rin"'", of trees and- mats for its covering, after the manner of a^ rentr Thefe are fo eafily fee up and takcn^ down, that they often remove them from place to place. Our fnoes, ftoekings, and other clothes being worn out in this long journey -\ A 6 , throughi vA. Jt.i.l>ftf. ■.-.- i .1 1; \ (i II',' i; m ( 12 ) through buflies and fwamps, and the feafon coming on very (harp and cold, we were poorly defended from the injuries of the wca^ ther, which now grew fo fevere, that one of my own feet, one of my babe's, and both my little boy's, were frozen with cold But al- though this brought no fmall exercife upon me, yet through mercy we all did well. Notwithflanding we were now come to the end of our journey, the Indians abode not long in one place j but often removed from one fpot to another, carrying their wigwams, which were not a little troublefome, whither- foever they went. — Thefe frequent reniovals were made for the fake of hunting, but were attended with great inconveniences, by reafon of the dampnefs of the ground whereon the "wigwams were pitched ; which rendered our lodging much more unpleafant and unwhole^ fome, than if we had continued in one place. At length we arrived at the Indian fort, "whe»*e many of the people came to vifit my mailer ang his family, and congratulate him on hi^ fafe return, and the fuccefs of his ex- pedition. Publick rejoicings were made upon it (which in their way perhaps were a kind of thanklgivingi) and thefe were attended with dancing, firing of guns, beating on hol- low trees inftead of drums, (liouting, drink- ing, and feafting for feveral days together with much excefs. But while the Indians were in their mirth and jollity, my mind was earneflly exercifed towards :.aj:!i,,.J'' tii.i.i ( '3 ) towards the Lord, that I, with my dear chil- dren, who were now feparated from me, mighc bepreferved from repining againftGod under onr prefent afRi6^ion. But that, on the other hand, we might have our dependance upon him, who rules in the hearts of men, and can do what he pleafes in the kingdoms of the earth ; knowing that his care is over thofe who put their tru(t in him. — But I found it very difficult to keep my mind under that patient refignation, fo neccifary to be found in fuch fore trials and afflictions as then fell to my lot : being under various fears and doubts concerning my daughters, who were feparated from me, which greatly increafed rhy troubles : fo that I can fay my afflidions were not to be fct forth by words to the full extent of them. . . • . , ' . We had not long been arrived, before my mailer went abroad to hunt for provifions for the family, and was abferit about a week. Be- fx)re he fet out, he ordered me to procure wood, and gather nuts : in doing which I was very diligent during the time of his abfence, cutting the wood, and putting it up in order. But no fooner was he returned, than I quickly, perceived he was very much difpleafed ; for he had met with no fuccefs in his huntino-. expedition; and fo flrongly did his difap- pointment work upon him, that he began ta revenge it on us his captives. He allowed me, however, a little. boiled corn for rqyfclf and child i but looking upon us with a very » ' *>'j>.r angry «<• m i'>i ( H J angry countenance, he threw a flick at me' with fo much violence, as plainly demon- ftrated that he grudged us the food we had received from him. .v ^ ^i^r *» Hereupon his fquaw and daughter broke forth in a violent fit of crying; which occa- fioned me to fear that fome mifchief was in- tended againil us ; and in confcquence of this I inftantly withdrew from his prefence into another wigwam. He foon followed me; and in great fury tore my blanket from my back-, then taking my little boy from me,, he knocked him down as he went along be- fore him. But the poor child, not being hurt,. ' but only frighted with the fall,> ftarted up>. aiid ran away without crying. ■ My mailer then left us j but his wife's mo- ther came and fat down by me, telling me I muft fleep there that nights After this fhe went out foi a while,, and then returned with* a fmall fkin to cover my fttt-, giving me ta underftand withal, that my mailer was now* determined to kill us. ■ j 'I-'' ^j nr I was very defirous to know the caufe of this determination -, ; urging to her that I had been very diligent, during his abfence, to do as he had ordered me : and in the beft man- ner I was able endeavoured to make her fen- fible how unreafonable he was ; although we had no other means of making ourfelves in- telligible to each other, but by figns. She flill continued to make figns to me that I muft- dki advifing me (by painting upwards) to UT pray Sir- at me' emon- /e had broke occa- ^as in- ■jce of efencc rd me ; m my n me,, ig be- l hurt,- :d up>. "s mo- me I is fhe d with me to novr ufe of I had to do man- ir fen- gh we es in- le ftill: [ muft ds) to pray E 15 T pray to God ; and endeavouring, by other figns, and tears intermixed, to inftruft me in that which was moft needfi.il» to prepare for death, which now appeared to be nigh at hand from my bloody mafter, who had con- ceivt^d evil aguinft me without anyjuft caufe;. but his ill fuccefs in hunting, and the fcarcity of provifions, had made him quite outra- geous. • ■—:•■' -''■ ^" ' ' .; ^ ■ ' '"■' •• The poor old fiquaw, his mother-in-law, was very kind and tender to mej and all that night would not leave me ; but came and laid herfelf dovvri at my feet, fignifying her intention to ufeher endeavours to- appeafe his wrath. — For my own part, I got but little reft that night ; though my babe flept fweetly by my fide : but I dreaded the tragical dfefign of my mailer, and looked every hour when he would enter the wigwam to execute his bloody purpofe. — But here again kind pro- vidence interpofed. For being weary with hunting, and having toiled in the woods with- out fuccefs, he went to reft, and forgot to put in pradrice the horrid purpofe he had formed. The morning being come, he went forth again to hunt. 1 dreaded his return empty- nanded J and prayed in my heart that he might take fdmething tdfatisfy his hunger, and quell his ill humour. And before he had becrt long gone, he returned with booty j having fhot fomc wild ducks. He now appeared in a better temper, and ordered thre fowls to be drdftd fpecdily. For thtfc Indians, when^ ever ;sf: ■ yj^..-'--. .tvJ,.l . .L'L.ik 'J. \:-\... =•- _■»* 'ilr^ m M i ( i6 ) ever they are in pofTeiTion of plenty, fpend it as freely as they take it : often confuming in the fpace of two days, through gluttony and drunken nefs, as much as, with prudent management, might ferve a week. And thus tjicy live, for the mod part, either in riot or excefs i or undergo very great hardlliips for want of neceflaries. , < | . . As this was a time of plenty, 1 felt the comfort of it, together with the reft of the family ; having a part fent to me and my children •, which was very acceptable. — I was now ready to think the bitternefs of death was paft for this time, and my fpirit grew a little eafier ; yet this lafted not long before my mafter threatened my life again. But of this I took notice, that whenever this ill tem- per predominated, he was always pinched with hunger-, and that when fuccefs attended his hunting, he was much better humoured ; though indeed he was naturally hot and paf- fionate, and often threw ^illcks and ftones at me> or whatever elfe lay in nis way, by reafon whereof my life was continually in danger; but that God, whofe providence is over all his works, fo prefer ved me, that I. never re- ceived any great damage from this Indian ; for which mercy I ever d'efire to b? Uiankful to myi Curator. ,i;|.,,,5 \ ,^^, .,.;,, .^j^, j;. j»; ..p! ^, When flefh was tcarQCyVfc were only atlow- ecl the guts and garbage; but were not per- mitted td'cleanfe . ^nem any other way, than juft by emptying; the dphg out.ofitl^emi and J! m , fpend 1 fuming ;luttony prudent .nd thus 1 riot or hips for felt the t of the and my '.^ — I was of death t grew, a ig before But of 5 ill tem- pi nched attended mo u red ; and paf- (lones at by reafon danger ; over all lever re- 5 Indian ; Uiankful i . ,. , — ly allow- not per- yay than hem, and after- ( 17 ) afterwards boiling them together with the broth of fowls -, which would have been ex- tremely naufeous, had not hunger compelled us to eat; Ljt, in time, this kind of food, which often fell to our lot, became pretty tolerable to a keen appetite ; though at ano- ther time I could by no means have difpenfed with it. And this led me to confider that none are able to lay what hardfliips they can fuffer, till the trial comes upon them. For that which in time pad I had thought not fit for food in my own family, 1 (hould now have efteemed a fweet morfel, and a dainty difh. By this time I was reduced fo low, through fatigue of fpirits, hard labour, mean diet, and the frequent want of natural reft, that my milk was intirely dried up again, and my helplefs babe very poor and weak, appearing to be little more than fkin and bones; for I could perceive every joint of it, from one end of its back to the other j and how to pro- cure any thing that might fuit its weak appe- tite, I was at a very great lofs. Whereupon one of the Indian fquaws, perceiving my un- eafinefs, began fome difcourfe with me, and withal advifed me to take the kernels of wal- nuts, and after I had cleanfed them, to beat them up with a little water; which accord- ingly I did, and the water looked like milk. Then (he bid me add to this water a little of ithe fineft Indian corn meal, and juft boil it jup together. I did fo -, and found it very- palatable. 'is I I! ?i' {■ >' J C i8 ) palatable, and foon perceived that it noiir-^ rifhcd my babe, for it quickly began to thrive and look well; which gave me great com- fort. — I afterwards iinderftood, that with this kind of diet the Indian children were oftea fed. But the c nfort I received on my dear child's recovery from the brink of death, was foon mixed with bitternefs and trouble. For my mafter, obferving its thriving condition^ ulcd often to look upon it, and fay, that when-. it was fat enough, he would have it killed and eaten. Purfuant to this threat, he obliged me to fetch a ftick, which he faid he had pre- pared to roaft my babe upon. And as foon. as I had braught it, he made me (ir down by him, and undrefs the infant. The child now- being naked, he began to feel its arms, legs^ and thighs ; and having palTed this examina- tion upon it, he informed me, that as it was not yet fat enou. hv 1 mud drefs it again till it was in better cafe. — ^But notwichftanding he thus adied, I could not perfuade myfelf he was in earneft, but that he did it with a view to affli,6t and aggravate me : neither could I think but that our lives would be preferved from his barbarous hands, by the over-ruling power of Him, in whofe Providence I put my trufl: both night nd day. A little while after this my mafter fell fick ; and during his illnefs, as he lay in his wig- wam, he ordered his own fon to beat mine^ But the old fquaw, the Indian boy's grand- ^. mother,. thrive : com- ch this z oftca y dear :h, was *. For iditioriy Lt when: killed )bliged id pre- is fooa own by Id now legst tamina- it was- ain till :anding j^felf he a view :ould I eferved -ruling i I put jllfick; lis wig- t mine^ i grand- mothcr;^. ( '9 ) mother, would not fuffer him to do it. Where- upon the father was fo much provoked, that he feized hold on a ftick, very (harp at one end> and threw it at my little boy with fuch violence, that it ftruck him fo fevere a blow on the breafl:,. as made his countenance change as pale as death through pain. I intrcated him not to cry ; and though he was but fix years old> and his bread very much bruifed^ he bore it with wonderful patience, not fa much as once complaining. So that the- patience of the child reftraincd his barbarity ; which it is hardly ta be doubted would have tranfported him further in his refentinenc had he cried : for complaining always aggravated his paffion greatly, and his anger grt* w hotter upon it. A (hort time after, on the fame day, he got upon his feet j but was much out of order,. But notwithftanding he wa^ fick, his wife and daughter let me know that he ftill purpofed to kill us j which made me now very fearful,, unlcfs Providence interpofed, in what man- ner it would end.^ I therefore laid down my child, and going out of his prefence, went ta cut wood for the fire, as I ufed to do, hoping: this would in part abate his pafiion ; but I ftill feared, that before I returned to the wig- wam my two children would be killed. In this fituation I had no way left, but ta caft my care upon God, who had hitherto helped and protedted me and mine. — But while my mafter remained in this feud, the old >rc% M ::ti ( 20 ) old fqiiaw (his mother-in-law) left liim ; buC my miitrefs and her daughter Hill remained with him in the wigwam. As foon ab I returned with my wood, the daughter came to me. I aflced her if her fa- ther had killed my children? She anfwered me by a fign that he had not 5 and Teemed to be pkafed that he had forborn it. For in- ftead of venting his fury on mc and minr, the Lord, in whom I had put my truft, inter- pofed in the needful time, and mercifully delivered us from the cruel purpofe he had, threatened to put in execution. Nor was he himfelf without fome fenfe of the fame, and that the hand of God was concerned therein, as he afterwards confeffed to thofe who were about him. For a little time after he had got upon his feet he was (buck with violent pains, and fuch a grievous ficknefs, that he uttered his complaints in a very doleful and hideous manner ; which when I underftood (not having yet feen him) I went to another fquaw, who was come to vifrt him, and could fpeak Englifh, and allied her if my miftrefs (for fo I iifed to call the Indian's wife) thought my mailer would die I She anfwered it was very likely he would ; for he grew worfe and worfe. I then told her he had tlruck my little boy a dreadful blow, without any provoca- tion ; and had threatened in his fury to kill us all. The fquaw confefied that the abufe he had offered to my child, and the mifchief he had done him, was the caufe why God , . afflided ' 'ij. r; but- nained id, the her fa- fwered ned to ♦or in- mine, inter- •cifully he had was he \e, and ;herein, 10 were he had violent that he- ul and crftood another i could -niftrels hought it was Drfe and ly little rovoca- to kill e abufe nifchief ly God aBVicted ( 21 ) aini^led him with that rickncfs and pain ; and told me that he had promifcd never to abulc us in fuch fort again. ' . . ^ After this he recovered : but I do not re- member, that from thenceforward he cither Itruck me or my children fo as to hurt us, or with that mifchievous intent as he before ufed to do i nor was he fo pafuonate after- wards as he had been accuftomed to be. All which I looked upon as the Lord's doing, and marvellous it was in my eyes. A few weeks after this, my mafter made another remove ; which was the largeli: he had ever made, being two d^iys journey, and moflly over the ice. The tirft day the ice was bare ; but fome fnow failing on the fc- cond, it made it very difficult to travel over. J received much hurt by, frequent fails : liav- ing, befides,. the care of my .infant, which increafed my trouble not a .little.; It was night when we arrived ait oUr campj and I was ordered to gotandlfetch water-, but havi ing fat a while on the cold ground, I could neither (land nor go, by reaion that my limbs were fo benummed with cold : yet I dared not refufej and therefore attempted it .foy crawling on my hands and knee? ^ but-^ young Indian fquaw belonging to -another family being come to fee ourpeoptei (he ir^ compaffioa took tije kettle, and, kniiwing where to go, whjcjl I did n.or, fetched the water for iw-, which I took as a great favour. fi ( ^^ ) in that her heart vas inclined to do me this lervicc. .. ^/ ; .. i'n* m u : 1 now fdw the defign of this journey. My maftcr, as I fuppofe, being weary of keeping us, waj willing to m?ke what ranfom he could of us i and therefore went further to- wards the French fettlements, leaving his family at this place; where they had a great dance, feveral other Indians coming to our people. This held fome time j and while they were employed in it, I got out of the way as far as I could into a corner of the ■wigwam •, but every time they came by me in their dancing, they would bow my head towards the ground, and frequently kick me with great fury. Divers of them were bare- footed, and the rell had only mockfans on. The dance lafted fome time j and they made, in their manner, great rejoicing and noife. - t It was not many days before my m after returned from the French ; but in fuch an ill humour, that he would not fuffer me to abide in his prefence. I had a little flielter made with boughs, having firft digged through the fnow, which was then pretty deep, quite to the ground. In this hole I and my poor thildren were put to lodge ; and as the wea- ther was then very (harp, and the frofts hard (it beirtg then the month called January) our lodging was extremely bad. But our flay was not long in this wretched place, before my mafter took me and my children to the French, in order to get a chapman for «;• : this My :ping n he rr to- g his great our while )f the )f the )y mc head :k me bare- ^s on. nade, jife. n after an ill abide made yh the ite to poor "wea- hard uary) t our place, ildrca pman for ( 23 ) for us. "When wc came among them, I wa* expofcd to falc, anil the price my inaftcr put upon me was 800 livres. But nobody aj)- pcaring difpofcd to comply with his demands, and a Frenchman offering no more than 600 livres, it threw him into fuch a rage, that he faid in his pafllon, if he could not have his price, he would burn me and the babe in the view of the city of Port-Royal. The French- man bade him make the fire ; and added, *' I will help you, if you think that will do ** you more good than 600 livres i" calling him fool, and roughly bidding him begone: but at the fame time he was very civil to me; and for my encouragement bade me be of good cheer, for I fliould be redeemed, and not go back with the Indian again. I was obliged, however, to retire with my maftcrthat night; but the next morning I was redeemed for 600 livres. n . , •• y,', . In driving the bargain with my maftcr, the Frenchman alked him why he demanded- ^ fo much for the little babe's ranfom ? urging, that when it came to have its belly full it would die. The Indian laid. No ; it would not die, having already lived twenty -fix days on nothing but water; and that he believed it was a devil. The Frenchman laid. No; but the child is ordered for a longer life 5 and it hath pleafed God to prefcrve it to admi^ ration. My mailer anfwered. No, that was not the cafe, but it was a devil ; and he be- ^. ^ ...r^. . ; . licved I '!^, ( 24 ) licved it would not die, unlefs they tojk a hatchet, and knocked out its brains. This ended their difcourfe -, and I was re- deemed as aforefaid, with my little babe for 600 livres. My little boy was likewife re- deemed for an additional fum. And by this means we exchanged our lodging and diet m xh for the better, the French being kind and civil to me beyond what I could exped or defire. The day after I was redeemed, a Romifh pried took my babe from me 5 and according to their cuftom they baptized it -, urging, that if it died before, it would be damned ; and accordingly they gave it the n me of .Mary Ann TrolTways •, telling it, that if it died then, it would be faved, being baptized. And my landlord alfo, fpeakin^ to the pried who performed the ceremony, faid, it would be well if TrolTways were to die then, being in a Hate of falvation. But the prieft replied, ^Jthat the child having been miraculoufly pre- icrved through fo many hardfliips, it might be defigned for fome great work, and, by its life being continued, might glorify God jTJUch more than if it were to die then. A very feafonable remark, and 1 wifti it m.iy prove true. I had then been about five months among the Indians, and one month with the French, when my dear huiband, to my unfpeakable joy and comfort, came to me. He was inuch concerned for the redemption of his ■..•.^^. ., chil- ?'jk a as re- fC for fe re- y this i diet ; kind ;xpe6t omifh )rding ■nncd -, me of Lt if it 3tized. : prieft would being plied, y pre^ might by its God n. A it m.iy |among Tench. rakable [e was of his chil- ( 25 ) children 5 two of oilr daughters, and the fer- vant*maid, being ftill in the hands of the Indians; and OnPy myfelif and the two little ones redeemed. - .j^ - AcGordinglyj after much difficulty and trouble, he recovered cur younger daughter and the maid ; but we could by no means obtain our e'ldeft fft^m th^m. For the fquaw to whom' fhe was given' had a fon, and fhe intended a match between' my daughter and him, hoping in time to prevail upon her to comply : for the Indians are feldom guilty of iny indeci^rtt carriage t'd\^ards their captive womerti tinlefs trtuch Overtaken' in liquor. The aflfe6kion thej^ had for my daughter made them refufd all offers and terms of ranfom. So that after my huft>and had waited, and ufed his utmoft endeavours to obtain our child^ wewere atlaft obliged to depart home- wiards, and leave our daughter, to our great gricfj anrvongft the Indians^ We accordingly fet forward over the lake,' with' three of our children and fervant, in company wirh fundry' 6't!he'i^s ; Wnd, by the kindiiefs of Frovidc^nce/ got well home on the I ?i 'of the I'e vertth mdn f h, ^called Septem- ber; in ihef year 1725.' Froni wh'ich it ap- pisiars, 'that I h^d b :empt- abouic iconrt-5 Q went were i but i way, iQ was^ it, he Lord'e ic -was under ble to t;hcy : . half- y kiflf* reft In y chil- ihopc \ pray, "that ■3 f i that the Lord will chable me patiently to ibbmit to his^will in all' things ; carneftly be-; ieeching the God and Father of all our ncier- cies, to be a Father to my fa^erlefs children, and give them that blefllng which makes truly rich, and adds no Torrow withjtj and that as they grow in yearsj they lyiay grow, in, grace, and . experience the ^oy of his fal- vation, which is come by Jehis Chrft, ouc Lord and Saviour. Amen; ! it bno ./ j.-as ^?ji n After the death of my dear hu/band, my kinfman proceeded on his:joui^n^)P;^nd ythtn he arrived at Canada, he. . ufed . all rpoiTible means to obtain my -daughter's fre^domi l^viC all .his' endeavours proved inefFe(^a]% 0ie being i^ill in the handk of the fame o)d fquaw, who defigned at any rate to oblige my daughter to marry her fon, and for that rea- fon utterly rejedted any propofal fot her re- demption, r But . herein ; (be 1 miffed j of . her aim J for.'whilift Ihe was endejlvouriog :to bring my daughter to conient, a Frenchnnn, who had taken . a great 1 iki ng , t6 hci ^ iri ter- pofed... .Heufpared no pains ^by perfuafiOnito gain her confent; fetting before her the im- mediate privilegefhe would obtain iby be- coming his. wifcyito .wit, hen frcedoiti jfebm captivity among the Indians j for in fuch a » cafe, it feems, they have .no pretence to de- tain their captives any longer after marrying a Frenchman j/but the^wdman then becomes the fole property of her hulband. Thefe rcmonftranccs and perfuafions, added to the . impro- t I '■; I sn > ■fi iiYlprobability of her being red'eeihedi from thei Indians by ajiy other meins, * ait dafibi pre* railed $ and accordingly fhe was .married to: the Frenchman, and fettled aimongft thao people. . . * ,1 „.,ji ^: Thus, as well as I was able by the help of fnemory (not having been in a condition ta kiep< ai journal) I have giveni^a fhort but true accouht.4 y6un^:mnldnr)}'whd' was fucking at her r (bi^aft^hcrnihs^Hvascaivie^ into captivity. UJ f-. I 6 r ; from h pre- led to t that lelp of [ion to rt. but •ilc tri-^ t havd ntend- icrciful: iicrebyt •ed up s&.and be in^ b'4'Oriw Ingi ac-i ►uth by fev^nth Samuel vcd the jfoi^.aii I grown 5 at her >tiYity,