e 
 
 T 
 
 Hcuuiiu iiiuiiiiiy i.i/e,ij III wuiiipiiiijr wiiii i» liiiisniHii 
 
 iind his wife, who went to redeem some of their 
 children^ and were so happy ns to obtain what 
 
(Kuigntcr snouia m time be prevaiiea Wiiip 
 ry. The Indians are very civil toward theiri 
 %vonicD« not offerinff «nv incivililv bv an^ 
 
I 
 
 l> 
 
 persuasions enticing my cMld to marry, in order I 
 to obtain Ik r freedom, by reason tbat tliose cap- I 
 tives married by the French, are bv that mar- I 
 
oairy, in order 
 that tiiose cap- 
 : by that mar- 
 
 
m 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 would sometimes take my very blanket, so that I 
 had nothing to do but take my little boy by the 
 hand for his help, and fssist him as well as I 
 collide taking him up in my arms a little at times, 
 because so smaU ; and when we came at very bad 
 places, he would lend me his hand, or coming be- 
 hind, would push me before him ; in all which, he 
 shewed some humanity and en ility more than I 
 could have txpected : For which privilege I was 
 scct-eily thankful to God, as the moving cause 
 thereof. 
 
 Next (0 this, we had some very great runs of 
 water aiid brooks to wade through, in which at 
 times we met with much dilUculty, wading often 
 to our mid'lles, and sometimes our prirls were up' 
 to their .shoulders and chins, the Indians carrying 
 my boy on their shoulders. A* the side of one 
 of these runs or rivers, the Indians would have 
 my liidcst daughter Sarah to sing them a song : 
 Then was brought into her remembrance that 
 passage h> the 137th Psalm, " By the rivers of 
 Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wfept when 
 We remembered Zion; we hanged our harps on the; 
 will#ws in the midi^t thereof ; for they that carried 
 us away captive, required of us a song, and they 
 that w^aste^ us required of us mirth." When my 
 poor child had given me this account it was very 
 affecting, and my heart was very full of trouble^ 
 yet on my child's account, 1 » as glad thivt she had 
 so good an inclination, which she yet further man-* 
 ifested in longing for a bible, that we might have 
 the comfort of reading the holy text at vacant 
 times, for our spiritual comfort under our present 
 affliction. 
 
 Next to the difficulties of the rivers were the 
 prodigious swamps and thiakets, very difficult tot 
 
 -u-i 
 
so that I 
 >y by the 
 JVell as I 
 •■ at times; 
 
 very bad 
 >ming be- 
 which, he 
 'e than I 
 ?ge 1 was 
 ng cause 
 
 It runs of 
 which at 
 ling often 
 were up 
 i carrying 
 de of one 
 >uld have 
 (1 a song : 
 »iice that 
 rivers of 
 6pt when 
 rpsonthe 
 at carried 
 and they 
 When my 
 was very 
 f trouble^ 
 Vt she had 
 ther man-' 
 light have 
 at vacant 
 ir present 
 
 were the 
 iiflicult tof 
 
 pass through; in which places my master would 
 sometimes lead me by the hand a great way to* 
 gether, and give me what help he was capable of 
 under the straits we went through ; and we pass- 
 ing one after another, the first made it pretty 
 passable for the hindmost. 
 
 But the greatest difliculty that deserves the first 
 to be named, was want of food, having at times noth- 
 ing to eat but pieces of old beaver-skin match-coats, 
 which the Indians having hid (for they came naked 
 as is said before) which in their going back again 
 they took with them, and they were used more for 
 food than raiment : Being cut into long narrow 
 straps, they gave us little pieces, which by the 
 Indians' example we laid on the fire until the hair 
 was singed away, and then we ate them as a sweet 
 morsel, experimentally knowing, " that to the 
 hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." 
 
 It is to be considered furtl^er, that of this poor 
 diet we had but very scanty allowance ; so that 
 we were in no danger of being over charged. But 
 that which added to my trouble, was the com- 
 plaints of my poor children, especially the little 
 boy. Sometimes the Indians would catch a squir- 
 rel, or a beaver, and at other times we met with 
 nuts, berrieo, and roots they digged out of the 
 ground, with the bark of some trees ; but we had 
 no com for a great while together, though some 
 of the younger Indians wfent back and brought 
 some com from the English inhabitants (the har- 
 vest not being gathered) of which we had o. little 
 allowed us : But when they caught a beaver, we 
 lived high while it lasted, they allowed me the 
 guts and garbage for myself and children : But 
 not allowing us to clean and wash them as they 
 QUGcht, nkade the food ver^ irksome to us to feed 
 
 M 
 
so 
 
 upon, and nothing besides pinching hunger could 
 have made it any way tolerable to be borne. 
 
 Th*; next difficulty was no less hard to me; 
 for my daily travel and hard living made my milk 
 dry almost quite up, and how to preserve my 
 poor 'jabe'slife, was no small care on my mind ; 
 having no other sustenance for her many times 
 but cold water, which I took in my mouth, and 
 let it fall on my breast, when I gave her the teat 
 to suck in, with what it could get from the breast; 
 and when I had any of the broth of the beaver's 
 guts, or other guts, I fed my babe with it, and as 
 well as I could I preserved her life until I got to 
 Canada, and then I had some other food, of which 
 more in its place. 
 
 Having by this time got considerably on the 
 way, the Indians parted ; and we were divided 
 amongst them. This was a sore grief to us all : 
 But we must submit, and no way to help ourselves. 
 My eldest daughter was first taken away, and 
 carried to another part of the country, far distant 
 from us, where, for the present, we must take 
 leave of her, thougli with a heavy heart. 
 
 We did not travel far after this', before they di- 
 vided again, taking my second daughter and ser- 
 vant maid tVorn me, into fmofhcr part of the coun- 
 try : So, I having now cnJy my babe at my breast, 
 and little boy six years old, we remained with the 
 captain stil! • But my daughter and servant un- 
 rttrwtnt great hardships after they were parted 
 from me. travelling three days, without any food, 
 taking nothing for support but cold water ; and 
 the third day. w hat with the cold, the wet, and 
 hunger, the servant ftil down as dead in a swoon, 
 being both very cold and wet, at which the 
 Indians witli whom they were, were surprised) 
 
11 
 
 pger could 
 borne. 
 (1 to me; 
 le my milk 
 isevve my 
 my mind ; 
 any times 
 touth, and 
 iv the teat 
 ;he breast ; 
 e beaver's 
 I it, and as 
 lil I got to 
 I, of which 
 
 )ly on the 
 e divided 
 to us all : 
 ourselves, 
 iway, and 
 far distant 
 must take 
 rt. 
 
 re they di- 
 r and ser- 
 f the coun- 
 ty breast, 
 d with the 
 rvant un- 
 ire parted 
 
 any food, 
 fiterj and 
 
 wet, and 
 n a swoon, 
 vhich the 
 surprised) 
 
 shewing some kind of tenderness, being unwilling 
 then to lose them by death, having got them so 
 near home, hoping, if they lived, by their ran- 
 som to make considerable profit of them. 
 
 In a few days after this, they got near their jour- 
 ney's end, where they had more plenty df corn 
 and other food : But flesh often fell very shdrt, 
 having no other way to depend on for it but hunt- 
 ing ; and when that failed, they had very shoi«t 
 commons. It was not long ete my daughter and 
 servant were likewise parted ; and my daugh- 
 ter's master being sick, was not able to hunt for 
 flesh : Neither had they any corn in that place, 
 }f\it were forced to eat bark of trees for a whole 
 week. 
 
 Being almost famished, in this distress, Provi- 
 dence so ordered that some other Indians hear- 
 ing of their misery and want came to visit them ; 
 (these people being very kind and helpful to one 
 another, which is very commendable) and brought 
 unto tBem the guts and liver of a beaver, tvhich 
 afforded them a good repast, being but four in 
 number, the Indian, his wife and daughter, and 
 my daughter. 
 
 By this time my master and our compaary got 
 to our journey's end, where we were better fed 
 at times, having some corn and venison, afnd wild 
 fowl, or what they could catch by himting in the 
 woods; and my master having a large family, 
 fifteen in number. We had at times very slrort 
 commons, more especially when game was scarce. 
 
 But here ojir lodging was still on the coM gimind, 
 in a poor wigwam (which is a kind of little sheH 
 ter made with the rind of trees and rants for a 
 Covering, something like a tent). These are so 
 
i!; 
 
 II 
 
 iiliil 
 
 IS 
 
 easily set up and taken down, that they oft re- 
 move them from one place to another : Our shoes 
 and stockings and our other cloaths being worn 
 out in this long journey through the bushes and 
 swampsj and the weather coming in very hard, 
 we were poorly defended from the cold, for want 
 of necessaries ; which caused one of my feet, one 
 of the little babe's, and both of the little boy's to 
 freeze ; and this was no small exercise, yet through 
 mercy we all did well. 
 
 Now though we got to our journey's end we 
 were never long in one place, but very often re- 
 moved from one place to another, carrying our 
 wigwams with us, which we could do without 
 much difficulty. This being for the conveniency 
 of hunting, made our accommodations much more 
 unpleasant than if we had continued in one place, 
 by reason the coldness and dampness of the 
 ground, where our wigwams were pitched mide 
 it vtry unwholesome and unpleasant lodging. 
 
 Having now got to the Indian it ^t, many of the 
 Indians came to visit us, and in their way wel- 
 comed my master home, and held a great rejoic- 
 ing, with dancing, firing of guns, beating on ■ lol- 
 low trees, instead of drums, shouting, drinking 
 and feasting after their manner, in much excess 
 for several days together, which I suppose in their 
 thoughts was a kind of thanks to God put up for 
 their safe return and good success : But while 
 they were in their jollity and mirth, my mind vvas 
 greatly exercised towards the Lord, that I, with 
 my dear children separated from me, might be 
 preserved from repining against God, under our 
 affliction on the one hand, and on the other, we 
 might have our dependence on him who rulea the 
 hearts of men, and can do what be pleases in the 
 
13 
 
 jey oft re- 
 dur shoes 
 »eing worn 
 bushes and 
 very hard, 
 d, for want 
 ly feet, one 
 tie boy*s to 
 ^et through 
 
 y*s end we 
 y often re- 
 irrying our 
 do without 
 :onvemency 
 much more 
 1 one place, 
 ess of the 
 Iched mide 
 lodging, 
 many of the 
 r way wel- 
 jreatrejoic- 
 ting on !>ol- 
 ig, drinking 
 luch excess 
 pose in their 
 i put up for 
 But while 
 ly mind vvaS 
 that I, with 
 le, might be 
 1, under our 
 e other, we 
 ho rules the 
 leases in the 
 
 kingdoms of the earth, knowing that his care is 
 over them w ho put their trust in him ; but I found 
 it very hard to keep my mind as I ought, in the 
 re^gnation which is proper it should be in, under 
 silch alflictions and sore trials, as at that time I 
 suffered in being under various fears and doubts 
 concerning my children that were separated fronv 
 me, which helped to (Cdd to and greatly increase 
 my troubles : And here I may truly say, my af- 
 flictions are not to be set forth in words to the ex- 
 tent of them. 
 
 Wc had not been long at home ere my master 
 went a hunting, and was absent about a week, he 
 ordering me in his absence to get in wood, gather 
 nuts, 8cc, I was very diligent, cutting the wood 
 and putting it in order, not having very far to 
 carry it : But when he returned, having got no 
 
 Srey, he was very much out of humour, and the 
 i^appi intment was so great that he could not 
 forbear revenging it on us poor captives. How- 
 ever he allowed me a little boiled corn for myself 
 and child, but with a very angry look threw a 
 stick or wtn-cbh at me, with such violence am did 
 bespeak he grudged our«attng. At this his squaW 
 and* daughter brbke tnt ih a great (crying. This 
 inade me fesr mischief wta hatching against us i 
 And on it, I immediately went out of his prenence 
 into another wigwam ; upon which he eame after 
 me, and in gredt fiiry tore my blanket oil my 
 )^ack, and took my little boy from me and strtiek 
 him down ash« went along befofe him ; but the 
 
 J 1001- c hild Hot beinig^ hurt, only frightened in the 
 iril, stftrted up and ran away, without crying; 
 then the Indian my inaster kft me ; but his wife's 
 litiothe1>'caiA^ and sat dowu by me, and (old me I 
 li^a^t^lee|rth^thtit night. She then going from 
 
 ( 
 
I « ' 
 
 u 
 
 uie a little time, came back with a small skin t6 
 oover my feet withal, informing me that my master 
 intended now to kill us ; and I being desirous to 
 know tl e reason, expostulated, that in his absence 
 I had been diligent to do as I was ordered by him. 
 Thus as well as 1 could, I made her sensible how- 
 unreasonable he was. Now, though she could not 
 understand me, Hot 1 her, but by signs, we reason- 
 ed as well as we could : She therefore made signs 
 that I must die, advising me, by pointing up with 
 her fingers, in her way, to pray to God, endeav- 
 ouring by her signs and tears to instruct me in 
 that which was most needful, viz. to prepare for 
 death, which now threatened me ; the poor old 
 squaw tvas so very kind and tender, that she 
 would not leave me all the night, but lai(^ her- 
 self down at my feet, designing what she could 
 to assuage her son-in-law's wrath, who had con- 
 ceived evil against me, chiefly as I understood 
 because the wt^nt of victua's urged him to it My 
 rest was little tjus night, my poor babe sleeping 
 sweetly by me. 
 
 I dreaded the tragical desi^ of my master, 
 looking every hour for his coming to execute his 
 Woody will upon us : but he being wea^y with 
 hunting and travel in the woods, having toiled for 
 nothing, went to rest and foi^t it. Next morn- 
 ing he applied himself again to hunting in the 
 woods, but I dreaded his returning empty, and 
 prayed secretly in my heart, that he might catch 
 some food to satisfy his hunger and cool his ill 
 humour. He had not been gone but a little time 
 until he returned with booty, having^ shot some 
 wild ducks ; and now he appeared m a betljer 
 temper,ordered the fowls to be dressed with speedl 
 for these kind «f people, whcii they have plenty, 
 
 s 
 t 
 a 
 •J 
 c 
 s 
 
 r 
 
 tl 
 
 li 
 t 
 
 t: 
 
 n 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 8 
 t 
 
 V 
 
 n 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 11 
 
 n 
 
 SI 
 
 tl 
 
 a 
 
 V 
 c 
 
 tl 
 
 n 
 
 V 
 
 tl 
 
15 
 
 spend it as freely' as they get it j using witfj glut- 
 tony and drunkenness, in two days time as much 
 as, with prudent management,might serve a week. 
 Thus do they live Tor the most part, either iruex- 
 cess of gluttony and drunkenness, or under great 
 straits of want of necessaries. However, in this 
 plentiful time I felt the comfort of it in part with 
 the fatfiily, having a portion stint for me and my 
 little ones, which was very acceptable. Now, I 
 thinking the bitterness of dtath was oyer for this 
 time, my spirits were a little easier. 
 
 Not long after this, he got into the like ill hu* 
 mour again, threatening to take away my life, But 
 I always observed whenever he was in such a tem- 
 per, he wanted food and was pinched with hun- 
 ger. But Avhen he had success in huntirtg, to 
 tak eeitt»er' bears, ])envers. bucks or fowls, on 
 which he couid fill his belly, he was better hu^ 
 moured, though he was naturally of a very hot 
 and passionate temper, throwing sticks, stones, 
 o». whatevier lay in his wayi on every slight occa- 
 sion, This made me in continual danger of my 
 life J but God, whose Providence is over all his 
 works, so preserved me tnat 1 never received a- 
 ny ll^^ge from him thAt was of Any greAt con- 
 sequence tame; for which I ever desire to be 
 thankful tomy^ftkcr. 
 
 When flesh was scarce we had only the guts 
 and garba'^e^llowed to our part ; and not being 
 permitted to cleanse the guts any otherwise than 
 emptying th« dung, without so much as washing 
 them, as before isnoted^ in that filthy pickle we 
 niust boil them, and eat theiA, which was very un- 
 pleasant : But hunger ihade up thatdiffieulty, so 
 that this food which was Very often our lot, be- 
 came pretty tolerable to a sharp appetite, which 
 
 If V 
 
 11 
 
10 
 
 E(l willi. 
 
 otljevwise could not have hetn dispcnset 
 Thus I considered, none knows wimt they can 
 undergo, until they are tried ; for what 1 had 
 thought in my own family not fit for food, would 
 here haye been a dainty diah and sweet marsel. 
 h' By this time, what with fatigue qf spirits, hard 
 
 labour, mean diet, and often want of natural rest, 
 I wftti brought so low, that my milk "tras dried up, 
 my babe very poor and weak, just skin and how : 
 for I could perceive all her joints from one end of 
 the back to the other ; and how to get what 
 would suit her weak appetite I was at a losis ; on 
 which one of the Indian squaws perceiving my 
 uneasiness about my child, began some discouisfe 
 "sviih me in which she advised me to take thekernels 
 of walnuts, clean them and beat them witji a little 
 water,which I did,and when 1 had so dontf, the wa- 
 ter looked like milk ; then she advised me to wid 
 to this water, a little of the finest of Indian corn 
 meal, and boil it a little together ; 1 did so audit 
 became palatable, and was very nourishing to the 
 babe, so that she began to thrive and look well ; 
 which was before more like to die than liv?. I 
 found that with this kind of diet the Indian? did 
 often nurse their infants. This was no small com- 
 fort to me : but this comfort was soon mixed with 
 bitterness and trouble, which thus happened ; iny 
 master taking notice of my dear babe's thriving 
 condition, would often ?ook upon her and say, when 
 she was fat enough she would be killed, and he 
 would eat her ; and pursuant to his pretence, at 
 a c^tain time? he made me fetch him <i stick that 
 iie had prepared for a spit to roast the child upon, 
 as he said, which when I had done, he made me 
 sit down by him, and undress the infant. When 
 the ciuld was naked, he felt her arms, legs, and 
 
 \} 
 ni 
 
 ni 
 bi 
 ei 
 fi 
 
 ei 
 d 
 
 ir 
 d 
 
 S( 
 
 si 
 e 
 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 n 
 h 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 
 V 
 
 a 
 a 
 a 
 t: 
 b 
 s 
 ii 
 u 
 e 
 Q 
 fi 
 h 
 
17 
 
 thighs,and told ine slie was not fat enough yet ; I 
 must dress her again until she was better in case. 
 Now though he thus acted, I could not persuade 
 ni} self, that he intended to do as he pretended ; 
 but only to aggravate and aQiict me : neither ev- 
 er could 1 think Uit our lives would be preserved 
 from his barbarous hnnds, by the over- ruling pow- 
 er of him in whose providence I put my trust both 
 day and night. 
 
 . A little time after this- my ntftster fell sick, and 
 in his sickness, as he lay in his wig\vam, he or- 
 dered his own son to beat my son ; but the old 
 squaw the Indian boy's grandmother would not 
 suffeV him to do it : then his father being provok- 
 ed, caught up a stick very sharp at one end, and 
 with great violence threw it from him, at my son, 
 and hit him on the breast, with which my qhild 
 was much bruised, and the pain, with the surprise 
 made him turn as pale as death; I entreating 
 him'tiot to cry, and the boy though but six years 
 old, bore it with wonderful patience^ not so much 
 as tn the least complainhig, so that the child's 
 >^rtence assuaged the barbarity of his heart : 
 who, no doubt, would have carried his passion 
 and resentment much higher, had the child cried, 
 as always complaining did ag^^vate his passion, 
 and his anger grew hptter upon it. Some littlt 
 timi^ after> on the same day ue got upon his feet^ 
 but far from being well. However, though he was 
 sick, his wife and daughter let mc know, he 
 intended to kill us, and I was under a fear, 
 unless Providence now interpdsed, hdw it wOuM 
 eud. I therefore put down niy child, and going 
 out of his presence, went to cut wood for the fire 
 as V used t(» do, hoping that would in part allay 
 his passion ; but withal ere I came to the wigwaili 
 
 I 
 
 !•; 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ''V 
 
 r 
 
 4)- J' 
 
(If 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 18 
 
 ugain 1 expected my child would be killed in this 
 mad fit> having no other way but to cast roy care 
 upon God) who had hitherto helped and cared 
 fov mc and mine. 
 
 Under this great fcud^ the old squawy iny mas- 
 ter's mother-in-law left him ; but my mistress 
 and her daughter al>ode in the wigwam with my 
 master ; and when I came M'ith my wood^ the 
 daughter came to me, whom I asked, if her lath- 
 er had killed my children, and she made me a sign 
 No,with a countenance that seemed pleased it was 
 so : for instead of his further venting hispassion 
 on me and roy children, the Lord in whom I trust- 
 ed did seasonably interpose, and I took it as a 
 merciful deliverance from him, and the Indian 
 was under some sense of the same as himaelf did 
 confess to them about him afterwards. 
 
 Thus it was, a little after he got up on his feet, 
 the Lord struck him with great sickness, and a 
 violent pain, as appeared by the complaint he 
 made in a doleful and hideous manner ; which 
 when I understood, not having yet seen hinif I 
 went to another squaw, that was come to »^m aiy 
 master, which could both; speak and under^nd 
 EDgliah, and enquired of her if my mistress ( for 
 so I always called her, and him master) thought 
 that master would die ? she answered^ yes, it was 
 very likely he would, being worse and warse : 
 Then I told her, he struck my boy a dreadfi^l 
 blow without at^y provocation at all,and had threat- 
 fM^ to kill us all ii^ his fury and passion ; upon 
 which the squaw told me my master had confes- 
 sed tlie above abuse he offered my child, and that 
 tlie mischief he had done^ was the cause why God 
 afHicted him with that sickness and pain, and he 
 had promised never to abuse us in such sort more : 
 
 
 and 
 
 past 
 
 strn 
 
 witli 
 
 do. 
 
 mar 
 
 S 
 olhc 
 but 
 two 
 day 
 som< 
 diou 
 dam 
 balx 
 the; 
 inti 
 havi 
 neiti 
 antl 
 peo] 
 took 
 Idic 
 as a 
 was 
 
 1 
 terl 
 ingi 
 fore 
 left 
 grea 
 our 
 wen 
 the 
 cam( 
 myj 
 

 ID 
 
 and after this he soon recovered, but was not so 
 passionate ; nor do I rcinenibcr he ever ui'tcr 
 strrck cither nie or children, so as to hurt us, or 
 with that niiiichievoiis ialcul as be Tore he used to 
 do. This I took as the Lord's doing and it was 
 marvellous in my eyes. 
 
 Sonic few weeks after this, my master made an- 
 other remove, having as hci'ore made several ; 
 but this was the longest ever he made, it being 
 two days journey, and mostly upon ioe. The first 
 day's journey the ice was bare, but the next day 
 some snow falling, made it very troublesome, te- 
 dious and difHcult travelling ; and I took much 
 damage in often falling, having the care of my 
 babe, uhat added not a little to my uneasiness ; and 
 the last night when we came to encamp, it being 
 in the night, I was ordered to fetch water ; but 
 having sat awhile on the cold ground, I could 
 neither go npr stand ;, but crawling on my handisi 
 antl kncesy a young Ijidian squaw came to see our 
 people, being of another ^.mify, in compassion 
 took the kettle, and knowing where to go which 
 1 did not, fetched the water for me. This I took 
 as a great <kiadness and favour, that her hfait 
 was incUned to do me this service. 
 
 I DOW saw the design of this^umey ^ my m<ta- 
 ter being as I suppose^ wcAry to keep us, was will- 
 ing to make what he could of our ransom $ there- 
 fore he went further towards the French, and 
 left his family in this place, where they had a 
 great dance, sundry other Indians coming |o 
 our people, this held scnnc time, and whilC; they 
 were in it, I got out of their way in a oornor of 
 the wigwam as well I could ; byt every time they 
 came by me in their dancing, they would bow 
 my head towards the ^ound, and frequently liisk 
 
 I 
 
 
 1 ; 
 
 'V, 
 
 Jk 
 
■■H 
 
 H 
 
 >» 
 
 i'' 
 
 ^1 ^ i^v 
 
 SO 
 
 inc uilh ns grcftt fury lis th**;' ccmld bcnp, lieiiig 
 sundry of tljcm bnretoot, am others linviiig Iii- 
 (liun moi'kosons; This (Ifliicc leld some time, •iid 
 tncy made (in their mnnnir) great rejoicings and 
 noise. 
 
 It was not many days ere my master returned 
 from the Frcncli ; hut he was in such a humour 
 M-hcn he came back, he w^iuld not sufTer me in hiR 
 presence. Therefore I hml a little shelter made 
 with some boughs, they having digged through 
 the snow to the ground, the snow being pretty 
 deep. In this hole I and my poor children were 
 ])ut to lodge, the weather being very sharp, with 
 iiard frost, in the month called January, made it 
 more tedious to me and my children. Our stay 
 was not long in this place, before he took me to 
 the French, in order for a chapman ; and when we 
 came among them I was exposed for sale, and he 
 asked for rae eight hundred livres : But his ehap- 
 man not complying with his demand, put him in 
 a great rage, offering him but six hundred, he 
 8oid in a great passion, if he could jQOt have his 
 demand, he would make a great fire and burn me 
 and the babe in the view of the town, which was 
 named Fort-Royal. The Fi*eflchman bid the In- 
 dian make his fire, and I will, says he, help you, 
 if you think that will do you more good than six 
 hundred livres, calling my master fool, and speak- 
 ing roughly to him, bid him be gone. But at the 
 same time the Frenchman was civil to me ; and 
 for my encouragement, bid me be of good cheer, 
 for I should be redeemed, and not go back with 
 them again. 
 
 Retiring ndw with my master for this night, the 
 next day I was redeemed for six hundred livres j 
 and in treating with my master^ the Frenchman 
 
nr, lie'iii^ 
 
 invinj; Iii- 
 
 titne, •tid 
 
 icings and 
 
 r returned 
 a liumour 
 r me in \\w 
 elter made 
 d through 
 ng pretty 
 dren were 
 liarp, with 
 y, nirtde it 
 Our stay 
 ook me to 
 i when we 
 le, and he 
 t his cliap- 
 lut him in 
 mdred, he 
 >t have his 
 id burn me 
 which was 
 bid the In- 
 , help you, 
 )d than six 
 and speak- 
 But at the 
 } me ; and 
 ood cheer, 
 back with 
 
 } night, the 
 red iivresj 
 Frenchman 
 
 queried, Wb\ he asked ho nuicli lor ihc child'^ 
 rnnsum ? Ligiiig, when sbe had Iter belly lulK 
 .'ihe would die. My master auid, No, she woiild 
 iiottlie, having alrcii'ly lived t\veuty-»ix days on 
 uoliiing but water, beliexiug the child to be a 
 devil. The Freuobtuau told bini. No, the child 
 is ordered tor longer lil'e ; and it h is pleaacd God 
 to preserve her to admiration. My miiater said 
 No, she was a devil, and he believtd she AVould 
 not die, unless they look a hatchet and beat her 
 brains out. Thus ended their discourse, and I 
 was, aH aforesaid, wilb my babe, ransomed for six 
 hundred livres, my little lioy, likewise at the 
 .same lime, for an additional sum of livrea, was 
 redeemed also. 
 
 I now having chftn^*ed my landlord, my tablo 
 and diet, as well as my lod^ng, the French weri 
 civil beyond what I could either desire or expect. 
 But the next day after I was redeemed, the Rom- 
 ish priest took my babe from me, and according 
 to their cufttom, they baptized her, urging if she 
 died beforo fhaty she would be damned, like some 
 of our modwa ^etcuded reformed priests, and 
 they gave hep a name as pleased them best, which 
 was .viary Ann FroBsways, telling me, my child, 
 if she now died, would be saved, being baptized ; 
 and my landlord speaking to the priest that bap- 
 tized her, said. It would ht well nowFrossways 
 was baptized for her to die, being now in a state to 
 be saved. But the priest said, No,the child having 
 been so miraculously preserved tfirough so many 
 hardahifis, she may be designed by God for some 
 great work, and by her life being still continued, 
 may much more glorify God tlum if she should 
 now die. A very sensible remark, and 1 wish it 
 may prove true. 
 
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 I luivHig been about five months amongst the 
 Imlians, in about one month after I got amongst 
 the French, my dear husband, to my unspeakable 
 comfort and joy, came to me, who was now him- 
 self concerned to redeem his children, two of 
 our daughters being still captives, and only myself 
 and two little ones redeemed ; and through great 
 dilficulty and trouble he recovered the younger 
 daughter. But the eldest we could by no means 
 obtain from their hands, for the squaw to whom 
 she was given, had a son whom she intended my 
 daughter should in time be prevailed with to mar- 
 ry. The Indians are very civil toward theircaptive 
 women, not offering any incivility by any ihde- 
 cent carriage (unless they be much over gone in 
 liquor) whWl' is commendable in them so far. 
 
 However the affections they had for my daugh- 
 ter mad:> ihem ^'efuse all offers iind terms of ran- 
 som ; so that after my poor husband had waited 
 and made what attempts and endeaVours he could 
 to obtain his child, and all to no purpose, we were 
 forced to make homeward, Icaving'feur daoghtct* 
 to our great gnef, behind us, arafnfStthe Indians, 
 and set forward over the lake, wkR three of our 
 children and the servant-maid, in company with 
 sundry others, andbv the kindness of Providence 
 we got well home onthit first day* of the seventh 
 month, 1725. From Whifeh it aj^ars 1 had been 
 from home, amongst the Indians and French, a- 
 bout twelve months and six days. *'*'*' 
 
 In the series of which time, the many deliver- 
 ances and Wonderful providences of Gob unto us, 
 and over us, hath been, and I hope will so remain 
 lobe as a continued obligation on my mind, ever 
 to live in that fear, love and obedience to God, 
 duly regarding, by his grace, with meekness and 
 
 wlsdoi 
 liness 
 praise 
 blesset 
 But 
 joy hii 
 daugh 
 willmi 
 lay in 
 niakin 
 took h 
 seconc] 
 and hi 
 childr 
 they y 
 taken 
 we wt 
 not ge 
 the L< 
 was fr 
 compc 
 meut, 
 tue hi 
 kinsm 
 Lord 
 great ; 
 I ther 
 enabU 
 things 
 here, 
 of all 
 childr 
 maket 
 thataj 
 and e: 
 cornel 
 
mongst the 
 ;ot amongst 
 inspeakable 
 ,s now him- 
 pen, two of 
 only myself 
 rough great 
 he youngei' 
 ly no means 
 iw to whom 
 (tended my 
 Arith to mar- 
 heir captive 
 f any ihde- 
 ver gone in 
 n so far. 
 • my daiigh- 
 •ms of 1 an- 
 il ad waited 
 urs he could 
 se, we were 
 ir daoghtct 
 the Indians, 
 hreeof our 
 ipany with 
 Providence 
 he seventh 
 
 I had been 
 French, a- 
 
 ny deliver- 
 ob unto us, 
 
 II so remain 
 mind,, ever 
 »e to God, 
 ekness and 
 
 23 
 
 wisdom, to appi ove myself by his spirit, in all ho- 
 liness of life, and godliness of conversation, to the 
 praise of him that hath called roe, who is GoD 
 blessed for ever. 
 
 But my dear husband, poor man ! could not en- 
 joy himself in quiet with us, for want of his dear 
 daughter Sarah, that was left behind ; and not 
 willing to omit any thing for her redemption which 
 lay in his power, he could not be easy without 
 making a second attempt ; in order to which, he 
 took his journey about the nineteenth day of the 
 second month, 1727, in company with a kinsman 
 and his wife, who went to redeem some of their 
 children, and were so happy as to obtain what 
 they went about : But my dear husband being 
 taken sick on the way, grew worse and worse, as 
 we were informed, and was se^ible he should 
 not get over it ; telling my kinsman, that, if it vra.* 
 the Lohd's will he must die in the wilderness, he 
 was freely given up to il. He was under a good 
 composure of mind, and sensible to his last mo- 
 ment, and died, as near as we can guess, in about 
 tue half-way between Albany and Canada, in my 
 kinsman's arms, and is at rest, I hope, in the 
 Lord : And though my own children's loss is very 
 great ; yet I doubt not but his gain is much more ; 
 I therefore desire and pray, that the Lord will 
 enable me patiently to submit to his will in all 
 things he is pleased to suffer to be my lot wnile 
 here, earnestly supplicating the God and Father 
 of all our mercies, to be a father to my fatherless 
 children, and give unto them that blessing which 
 maketh truly rich, and adds no sorrow with it$ 
 that as the^ grow in years they may grow in grace, 
 and experience the joy of his salvation, which is 
 come by JEausCHRisT;Our Lord andiiiavior. Amco. 
 
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 24 
 
 Now though my husband died, by reason of 
 Tehich his hibonr was ended, yet my kinsman 
 prosecuted the thing, and left no stone unturned 
 that he thought, or could be advised, was proper 
 to tHe obtaining my daughter's freedom: but could 
 by no means prevail ; for as is before said (she be- 
 ing in another part of the country distant from 
 where I was) and given to an old squaw, who in- 
 tended to marry iicr in time to ner son« using wuat 
 persuasions sue could to effect Her end sometimes 
 by fair means, and sometimes by severe. In tne 
 mean time a Frenchman interposed and they, by 
 persuasions enticing my cMlu to marry, in order 
 to obtain l»er freedom, by reason that tliose cap- 
 tives married by the French, are by that mar- 
 riage made free among them, the Indians having 
 then no pretence l«ngerto keep them as captives, 
 she therefore was prevailed upon, for the reasons 
 afore assigned, to marry, and shc was accordingly 
 married to t^e said Frenchman. 
 
 Thus, as well, and as near as I can from my 
 memory (not being capable of keeping a journal) 
 I have given a short, but a true account of some of 
 tl>e remarkable trials and wonderful deliverances, 
 which I never purposed to expose ; but that I hope 
 thereby the merciful kindness and goodness of 
 God may be magnified, and the rcAder hereof pro- 
 voked with more care and fear to serve bim in 
 rigHtt ousness and Humility and then my designed 
 end and purpose will be answered. 
 
 E. H. 
 
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 k\i . 
 
by reason of 
 my kinsman 
 one unturned 
 , was proper 
 om: but could 
 said (she be- 
 distant from 
 law, who in- 
 n, using wuat 
 td sometimes 
 ^ere. In tne 
 and they, by 
 rry, in order 
 It those cap- 
 •y that mar- 
 iians having 
 as captives, 
 • the reasons 
 5 accordingly 
 
 can from my 
 ng ajoumal) 
 mt of some of 
 Icliverances, 
 It that I hope 
 
 goodness of 
 r hereof pro- 
 lerve Mm in 
 
 my designed 
 
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