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Lorsque le document est trop grend pour Atre reproduit en un seul oiichi, 11 est fiimA i partir de I'angle supArleur gauche, de gauche * droite, et de haut en bas, en prenent le nombre d'imeges nioesseire. Les diagrammes suivents iilustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 8 6 -'I ( ''■ y- .•*«*^" CAPTIVITY ■•■■"'iA-.';;",-^ '^m';v','V, O F '■s. ELIZABETiyHANSON, 5^ v^ipr^ Nowfor^ATE of Kachecky, in New-England: Who, with Four of fail Children and Servant-Maid» was t&en captive 1^ the Indians, ^d carried lAJtO (lANADi^. SITTlNGFOaTK various remarkable Occurrences, fore Trials, and ji|;iderfi^ Deliverances which befel them after theis , P^turer to the Time of their Redemptiou, ^ ■MK|I Taken in Subftance from her own Mouth, By. SAMUEL BOWNAS. le'&lCONo Edition, //T(^.^>/ t O N D O N: / ' ■l/'/r*er/^t /-^ M^ fifilCfl M Md by Samubl Ct arr> Til Bf«i^4iwet, near Cheapficlc. MoccLXft # % y i>^v: 'i '■*,' ^ .•»»^,. r V. X rt --^:.- - ■'71 D -i Ju Y TI TIT ^ AD U O ' I ^V: O Z V A K IT T -I il i\ S i vT ,^ • •■ tr . t^/ $ . . .< I ' » "^T V. 11 T ;t C 1 O VI I •£•- '.■ 2 I ^ '!» .v.tiTitul a;:o3i'J ^liil v \\r o a M o J ' f .T c :: Ji /. J J n -j r ? / ? yd ■ ftc?? hr ". I y.nh^l v. •3) n';f;viO iKrf! (iwS'biJO.^ • ;i.Lf v«' ■'W^ ) - X V 'm ■ L 4' ** 3: ^U ' "" ■I . I " ■»» ' W 'iiW r 1 ■ I , v lo.'nr/f >«• ^ j^J»Mi^' .J C A PIT IV IT Y ELIZABETH HANSON. 1..' •\ 4 -n-fvii ■ Af^'l* N the 27th bability of a furprifc. And as it was late in the afternoon,* they jpack'd up what linen, woollen, and other things they liked, and ^forthwith' turned us out of the houfe. P^ • ' -^ h Being now at the door, my two children who had been playing in the orchard (the one fix, the other four years of age) came in .liffht ; and being terrified at the appearance .bf the naked Indians, they cried aloud. On 'Which one of the Indians ran up to them ; and taking one under each arm, brought 4:hem to us. My maid prevailed with the biggefl; to be ftill ; but the other would not be pacified by any means, but continued ihrieking ^nd crying very much. Wherefore, ■to eafe themfclves of the noife, and prevent jthe danger of a diicovery that might arife from it, they made no more to do, but 4cno mournful a clrcumftance woul^ permit rnc^ btull S ~ daring I id fix chil- vere at that youngeft md myfelf, condition, dfhips I af. Jcl will ap- to rifle the hurry and in all pro- vas late in s^hat linen, hked, and ife. '..ii'' 'o children chard (the c) came in ippearance loud. On to them; brought with the would not continued i^herefore, d prevent ight arife do, but ice. ire of Ho mh i not ■4 .5 J M f 5^ daring to difcover much of my uiieafinefs, left it (hould provoke them to commit the* like outrage upon the reft : but could hav^» been glad they had kept out of fight till w^ had been gone from the houic.i^^ *^'f «^4&i<}&D The Indians having now killed two of my^ children, the next thing they did was to fcalp them i a praflice common with them when-- ever they kill any Englifti people. This they i do by cutting off the (kin from the crown 6i-> the head ; which they take with them as an ^ evidence of the number they have (lain. And^-' it has been currently reported, that the French," in their wars with the Engli(h, have given the Indians a pecuniary reward for every fcalp they brought to them. '- - ' ' [[ This being done, they prepared to leave' the h(y*fe in great hafte, without committing- any other violence than taking what they hadi packed up, together with my(clf and little" babe fourteen days old, my little boy of Cix^ years, one daughter about fixteen, anc N^r^ about fourteen, and my maid-(ervant. ^ - *.'- ^^ ; It was now, as I faid before, but fourteerti days fince my lying-in; and being very ten-v der and weakly, and turned out from a warnv room, with every thine fuitable to my circum-- ftances, it increafed the feverity of the hatd-^ Ihips I underwent exceedingly. Neverthclefs* I found the cafe was fuch, that I muft either go or die ; for I could make no refiftanc«»' neither would any perfuafions availv^ jj^ •^^■-' ^ '-^^^' B z Ac^ ' t4] j^GC<^r#9g(y ^^ \^SM our jpiiMrneyr cacli hjiying ^me of ^^ {Mv^ndjer to cvry, an^ I my infitnt: the oi^eif t^ec wer-e able to tra- . viri ^^ifine. But tny new na#er,^ the In4iaa captain; was fon^times h^i^ahe enough to c^ry ray b^be in kh ^^v ^ipV I looked iwon as ^ fingu}^ fayoui*) becaufe he had be- fi3^ a v^ n^ayy Wr^^n^ and confiderably more than h^ Qou]^ take up without the help 0^.1^ men. :-; ' :,M^:^^m'ji: -n i-p We paflfba through leverai f^aiifips and Imoi^s i Ctf «&illy ay^* Noyerthelj^s, when day-light ap- p^ed, we ifX. ib^ard ag2^|l, and travelled^ iiery h^iM iim %» pM^ipg through fevc* tajt fwan^ps, rivers^ and brooks, a^d ftill. avoids ing sdl beaten ^hh ^9^ d^P r^^on already^ ooentioned. When night C4|n^ pni I. ^nd myfelf a|;aii^ yery wet» and heari^ily tired, having the lame lodging, thQ CQi4igris»indtand open woods.--- Thus » ^ i, < - vney, each vry, andt I able tQ trii?^, the (n4ian enough to :li I looked he had be- onfiderably vit the hplp * .» ratpps and iten paths, i road, l(sft leps. fe near ten we halted, e topic up in turn to^ them kepc >rife. For as weary;, : the CQki i get but, flight ap- I travelled) iugh fevc», ftiUavoid:^ i3>n already^ ^elf a^aii^ the lanie woods. — thus f [5] Thus did wf trayel fiir twctttgr-^ 4g^ 9i<^* cc^ely^ and v^ genera^ very hajirdi 5, dmi«ll> fom^times we were belp^4()^ ^i^^^*^ ^J w^t^ over Ukes and ponds.^->We cjl^inl^d upa^m^ dance of high mouataijis v &Qne pt wUqI^ w^i^ fo ileep, that I was fain to crawl vf( thPfl^ <|i^ n^y hands, and knees,: Biu: when I w^s HQ4t3(: thefe diJk;ul;tie$, my Indian matter WQvki i^. the moft part carry my infant: aad t;h^ X efteemed as a favour from th^, Akpighty^ Uk that his heart was fo tenderly inc;Une4 to a& fift me. Nay9 he would fpmetin^^ t^kt mj: very blanket *, fy that, having npincuqpitbninjQ^ I was enabled, to give fome aiSftan^cc ta my- little boy, and now-and-thea cainy htm Ukmf arms. When we came to aiiy di4l(cvi)( ]^e« mfi friafter would lend ipe hi^ b.an4: S','' , had con- cealed "■f ;[ 7 '3 cealed (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 (li'aps, of which they gave us fome little pieces. Thefe, after their example, we laid upon the fire till the furr was (indged ofi^ and then ate them as dainty morfels ; experimen- tally knowing, that /tf ^^^ J^^f^ilfy i'i^^fyMPfr thing is fweet, r ' ^ ^ " - - - ' - — f > - ^^- Of this diet, mean as it was, we had but a fcanty allowance. And what dill further in^ creafed my afflidlion, was the complaints and moans of my poor children. Sometimes ii^- deed the Indians caught a fquirrel, or a bea- ver; at others, we met with nuts, berries, and ropts \ and fometimes we ate the bark of trees ; but had no corn for a long while ; till a party of the younger Indians went back and brought fome from the Englifh inhabi- tants, of which they gave us a very fhort allowance. But when they killed a beaver, we lived high while it lafted ; as their cuflom was to allow me the guts and garbage for my- felf and children > but they would by no means fuffer us to walh and cleanfe them \ which oc- caHoned this kind of diet to be very loath- fome \ and indeed nothing but pining hunger would have made it in the leafl degree to* lerable. ii ni p^ ,K'V:'12^ # ft' My diftreffes did not all center here, l^ad yet another afflidtion no iefs fevere than - ^' - ; -^ - . . ^he m--- i ( \ h > I tiie tbtmer^ mi tlib wis it. By daily tr&tel mA had living, my lAiik was almoft dried lip I and how tonirektvt khy ^oor babe's life, wn^ A matter or no little conterh to me; hiting many times nd other fuftenance for it dMUl 6bkl water; whith I took into my mouth, ifid dir6t»ped oti my bread for it to fuck in When I gave it the teat, with what litde milk it OOUtd draw from thenr At other timei, when I could procure any broth of beaver's guts, I JFed it with that: by which means, and keeping it a^ warm as I could, its life was pttferVM dll I cume to Canada, where I tttet with better fbod. When we were pretty far advanced in 6ur jOOmey, the Indians divided; and, to oUr Imat mv^^ divided Us amohgft them. My ddeft daughter was taken away firft, and car- tiid to inotlier part of the country, far dif- Utii ttom ^ And we had m^ travelled far, Mbre thev parted again, and took from me fliy iecOna daughter and my fervant-mald *, fo ttiat I had now only the babe at my bieaft, und My Kftle boy of fix years oki. We three Mintfkied with the captain ; but my daughter lind ftfvant underwent very great fufferings afiser they were taken frqm us i traveling very hard fi» three days together, without any fufttnanei but cold water \ and 6n the third day the fervant fell down in a fwoon as dead i at which the Indians feemed furpriied, and began to (hew fome figns of tendemefs ; noc being f daily trttd ilrtioft dried r Ube'3 Uft, -rn to me; enance for it > toy mouth, to fuck in It Uttlc milk other timei, of beaver's tich means, iild, its life St, where I ced in 6ur nd, to biir [hem. My ft, and car- ry, far dif- avelled far, k from me ^ant-maM; my bi-caft. We three ^ cfaughter fufferings elBng very thout any the third I as dead t riied, an4 Defs; not being [9] being willing to lofe any of their captives hf death, after they had >rought them {o near their own home ; hoping, no doubt in cafe they lived, to obtain a confiderablc price for their ranfom. Accordiiiglv, in a ^w dayd after this, they drew near tneir journey's end, where they found greater plenty of corn anicl other food •, but fklh often fell very (horf, a9 they had no ocher way of procuring it but hunting. J -^^r-:^':^ r. ;^a -^ 2f7; /:/o.> It was not long before my daughter and fervant were parted alfo ; and my daughter's m after falling dck, he was thereon difabled from hunting. All their corn was likewife fpcnt i and fo great were their diftrefies, that they were compelled to feed on the bark of trees for a whole week, being almoft famifhed. to death. In this fore extremity it was providentially ordered, that (bme 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; which, as they were but four in number (viz. the Indian and his wife and daughter, and my daughter) afforded them % good repaft. ; * By this time my mafter and our company got to their journey's end \ where we met with better entertainment, having corn, veni- f(M)^ wild fowl, and whatever elfc the Indian^ C toQk » I *■! [ IP] took in hunting. But my mailer's family being fifteen in number^ it fometimes occa- fioned us to have very fhort commons, efpe- cially when game was fcarce. * ' ' ■ Our lodcine was (till on the cold ground, in a poor little wigwam, which is a Kind of fmall fhelter, made with rinds of trees and matts for its covering, after the manner of a tent. Thefe are fo eafily fet up and taken down, that they often remove them from place to place. Our fhoes, (lockings, and other clothes being worn out in this long journey through bulhes and fwamps, and the fealbn coming on very (harp and cold, we were poorly defended from the injuries of the weather i 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 the cold. But although this brought no fmall cxercife upon me, yet through mercy we all did well. - r " • ' > Notwithllanding we were now come to the ^nd of our journey, the Indians abode not long in one place *, but often removed from one fpot to another, carrying their wigwams, which were not a little troublefome, whither- foever they went.- — Thefe freq^ucnt removals were made for the fake of hunting j but were attended with great inconveniences, by reafon of the dampnefs of the ground whereon the wigwams were pitched j which rendered our 4 ^ lodging lodf fomi wh( mi 7 ■J^. • * V« fter's family :times occa- inions, efpe- old ground, is a kind of f trees and nanner of a ) and taken them from -kings, and 1 this long ps, and the i cold, we injuries of evere, that )abe*s, and i with the : no ihiall ercy we all )me to the abode not >ved from wigwams, , whither- t removals but were by reafon icreon the lered our lodging [ " ] lodging much n .>re unpleafant and unwhole- fome than if we had continued in one place. At length we arrived at the Indian fort, where many of the people came to vilit my mailer and his family, and congratulate him on his fafe return, and the fuccefs of his ex- pedition. Publick rejoicings were made upon It (which in their way perhaps were a kind of thankfgiving) *, and thefe were attended with dancing, firmg of guns, beating on hollow trees inftead of drums, fhouting, drinking^' and feafting for feveral days together wiSi much excels. x i r .. ^n: Aj.^a But while the Indians were in their mirth and jollity, my mind was earnedly exercifed towa>rds the Lord, that I, with my dear children, who were now feparated from me, might be pre- ferved from repining againft God under our prefent affliction. 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 truft in him.— But I found it very difficult to keep my mind under that patient refignation, (o neceflfary to be found m 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 Rx^^t\y incrcafed C z my t&M#M I'^^f^l f! i [14 ] ntf troubles : lb chat I can fay my afflidions were not to be fet forth by words to th full extent of them, ju ..^..;:* -r.^ i::.-,-'..: -_.< : We had not long been arrived, before my mafter went abroad to hunt for provifions fen: the family, and was abfent about a week. Before he fet out, he ordered me to procure: <#ood, and gather nuts : in doing which I was^ very diluent, during the time of his abfencev cutting the wood, and putting it up in order. B^t no iboner was he returned than I quickly perceired he was very much difjpleafed ; for he nad met with no fuccefs in his hunting ex- pedition i and fo ftrongly did his difappoint- ment work upon him, that he began to re- venge it on us his captives. He allowed me, however, a little boiled corn for myfelf and child ; but looking upon us with a very angry countenance, he threw a flick at me with fo much violence, as plainly demonftrated that he grudged us the food we had received from him. :.'■". > ' " i' ■':. ■■ *-%, . ■: f : 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 againfl us ; and in confequence of this I inflantly withdrew from his prefence into another wigwam. He foon followed me; and in great fury tore my blanket from my back i then taking my little boy from me, he knocked him down as he went along before him. thei mu [13] him. But the poor child, not being hort^- but only frightened with the fail, ftarted up^ and ran away without crying. r My Mailer then left us ; but his wife's mo- ther came and fat down by "^^> telling me h muft flecp there that night. After this (tie went out for a while, and then returned with a fmall ikin to cover my feet % giving me to underiland withal, that my mailer was now determined to kill us, . io-i .■.^. , I was very defnx>us to know the caufc of this determination ; urging to her that I iiad been very diligent, during his abfence, to do as he had ordered me ; and in the befl man- ner I was able endeavoured to make her fen«t fible how unreafonablc he was •, although we had no other means of making ourfelves in«* telligible to each other but by figns. She ftill continued to make figns to me that I muft die ', advifmg me (by pointing upwards) to pray to God-, and endeavouring, by other figns, and tears intermixed, to inilrud me in that which was moft needful, to prepare for death, which now appeared to be nig;h at hand from my bloody mafter ; who haJcon- ceived evil againft me without any jult caufe i but his ill fuccefs in hunting, and the fcarcity of provifions, had made him quite out* rageous. The poor old fquaw, his mother-in-law, was very kind and tender to me -, and all that night k^^h night would not leave me ; but came and laid herfelf down at my feet, fignifying her inten- tion to ufe her 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 defign of my matter, and looked every hour when he would enter the wigwam to execute his bloody purpofe. — But here again kind providence in- Cerpofed. For being weary with hunting, 4nd having toiled in the woods without fuc- cefs, he went to reft, and forgot to put in pradlice the horrid purpofe he had formed. - •^ The morning being come, he went forth again to hunt. I dreaded his return empty- handed; and prayed in my heart that he might take fomething to fatisfy his hunser, and quell his ill humour. And before he had * been long gone, he returned with booty ; having (hot fome wild ducks. He now ap- peared in a better temper, and ordered the fowls to be drefled fpeedily. For thefe In- dians, whenever they are in pofleflion of plenty, fpend it as rreely as they take it: crftcn confuming in the fpace of two days, through gluttony and drunkennefs, as much as with prudent management might ferve a week. And thus they live, for the moft part, either in riot and excels; or undergo very great hardfhips for want of ncccflaries. •< ei/i .» , .' » •• ^ , -t f rfl f ■'■ i •"' ' . I, 1^ / eiv/. A» )peafe his : little reft weetly by defign of ' when he lis bloody idence in- hunting, hout fuc- to put in brnled. > ent forth empty - that he s hunger, re he had 1 booty; I now ap- Jered the thefe In- feflion of take it: wo days, as much It ferve a :he moft undergo lifaries. [ 15] * As this was a time of plenty, I felt the comfort of it, together with the reft of the family j 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 ma- fter threatened my life ag^in. But of this I took notice, that whenever this ill temper predominated, he was always pinched with hunger; and that when fuccefs attended his huhting, he was much better-humoufed ; though indeed he was naturally hot and palTionate, and often threw fticks and ftones at me, or whatever elfe lay in his way, by reafon whereof my life was continually in danger; but that God whofe providence is over all his works, fo preferved me, that I never received any great damage from this Indian ; for which mercy 1 ever defire to be thankful to my Creator. , .^ When flcfh was fcarce, we were only al- lowed the guts and garbage ; but were not permitted to cle^^fe them any other way than juft by emptying the dung out of them, and afterwards boiling them together with the broth of fowls ; which would have been ex- tremely naufeous, had not hunger compelled us to eat; but in time this kind of toodt wliich often fell to our lot, became pretcy tolerable to a keen appecicc ; though at an« [ i6] Other time I could by no means have dif- penfecl with it. And this led me to confider that none are able to fay what hardships they can fufFcr till the trial comes upon them. For that which in time paft I had thought not fit- for food in my own family, I ihould now have efteemed a fweet morfel, and a dainty ^ By this time I was reduced fo low, through fatigue of fpirits, hard labour, mean diet, and the ft'equerit want of natural reft, that my milk was intirely dried up again, and my helpless babe very poqr and weak, appearing to be little more than ikin and bones ; for I could perceive every joint of it, from one ^nd of its back to the other *, 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 j which accord- ingly I did, and the water looked like milk. Then (he bid me add to this water a little of the fined Indian corn meal, and juft boil it up together. I did fo; and found it very palatable, and foon perceived that it nou- riflicd my babe, for it quickly began to thrive and look well ; which gave me great com- fort. — I afterwards underftood, that with this e [ 17 3 _ kind of diet the Indian children were often But the comfort I received on my dear child's recovery from the brink of death,' was foon mixed with bittefnefs and trouble.'* For my matter obferving its thriving con- dition, ufed often to look upon it, and fay, that when it was fat enough, he'd have it killed and eaten. Purfuant to this threat, he obliged me to fetch a (tick, which he faid he had prepared to roaft my babe upon. And as foon as I had brought it, he made me fit down by him, and undrefs the infant. The child now being naked, he began to feel its arms, legs, and thighs; and having pafled this examination upon it, he informed me, that as it was not yet fat enough, I muft drefs it again, till it was in better cafe. — But not- withftanding he thus adled, I could not per- fuade myfclf he was in earneft, but that he did it with a view to afflidb 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 truft both night and day. . ' A little while after this, my mafter fell fick 'y and during his illnefs, as he lay in his wigwam, he ordered his own fon to beat mine. But the old Squaw, the Indian boy's firandmQther, would not fuffer him to do it. ;t«»i ■ .)'■ ,■ f*fi^- [ i8 ] Whereupon the father was fo much provoked, that he feized hold on a flick, very fharp at one end, and threw it it my little boy with fuch violence, that it flfruck him fo fevere a blow on the breaft, as made his countenance change as pale as death, through pain. — I in- treated him not to cry •, and though he was but fix years old, and his breaft very much bruifed, he bore it with wonderful patience, hot fo much as once complaining. So that the patience of the child reftrained his bar- barity; which it is hardly to be doubted would have tranfported him further in his re- fentment, had he cried -, for complaining al- ways aggravated his paffion greatly, and his anger grew hotter upon it. ^ A ffiort time after on the fame day, he got upon his feet ; but was much out of order. But notwithftanding he was fick, his wife and daughter let me know that he ftill purpofed to kill us ; which made me now very fearful, unlefs Providence interpofed, in what manner it would end. — I therefore laid down my child i and going out of his prefence, went to cut wood for the fire, as I ufed to do, hoping this would in part abate his pafllon ; but I ftill feared that before I returned to the -wigwam, my two children \ her freedom from* captivity among the In- dians ; for in fuch a cafe it feems they have no pretence to detain their captives any longer after marrying a Frenchman j but the woman then becomes the fole property of her huf- band. Thefe remonftrances and perfuafions, added to the improbability of her being redeem- ed from the Indians by any other means, at lad prevailed *, and accordingly (lie was married to the Frenchman, and fettled amongfl that people. Thus, as well as I was able by the help of memorv (not having been in a condition to keep a journal) I have given a Ihort but true account of fome of the remarkable trials, and wonderful deliverances that have befallen me and mine. Which I never intended to publiih, but that I hoped the merciful kind- nefs and goodnefs of God might thereby be manifefted v and tlie reader ftirred up with more care and fear to riglucoufnefs and hu- mility, and then will my purpofe be an- fwered. N. B. V. K r 28 J , B. The fitbftancc of the foregoing ac- count was taken from her own fnouch by Samuel Bcywnas. And in th^ Seventh Memihi called Scptembei*, 1741, Samuci Hfvpwood w^ with her, and received the relation much to the fame purpole-, at which time he faw the child (then grown a yoiirig woman) who was flicking at her breait when fhc was carried into captivity. i .. /:. ,,» 1 •1 •• ! '. > v>.>. .V.' FINIS. )808( ■^ i .« ti #•. • hby enrh niicl the at own her