THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 GROTON 
 
 DURING 
 
 THE INDIAN WARS. 
 
 BY 
 
 SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D. 
 
 GROTON, MASS. 
 
 1883.
 
 CambrtBgc : 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON, 
 UNIVERSITY PRESS.
 
 F 
 
 TO 
 
 jfflemorp 
 
 BRAVE MEN AND HEROIC WOMEN 
 
 WHOSE HOMES WERE DESTROYED, WHOSE KINDRED WERE SLAIN, AND WHOSE 
 
 CHILDREN WERE CARRIED INTO CAPTIVITY, DURING THE 
 
 SEVERAL ASSAULTS ON THE TOWN BY 
 
 THE INDIANS, 
 
 THIS ACCOUNT OP THEIR SUFFERINGS 
 
 s Inacribeb 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 1.C667-iO
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. KING PHILIP'S WAR 7 
 
 II. KING WILLIAM'S WAR 51 
 
 III. QUEEN ANNE'S WAR 86 
 
 IV. BUMMER'S WAR 125 
 
 V. KING GEORGE'S WAR 148 
 
 VI. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR 157 
 
 VII. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 179 
 
 INDEX 193
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE early settlers of Groton encountered many trials and 
 privations in planting the town. The men worked hard in 
 felling trees and breaking ground, and the women toiled 
 faithfully in their rude homes. They were used to hardships, 
 and took them with Christian resignation. Their daily life 
 taught them the true principles of philosophy. They lived 
 on the rough edge of civilization, and nothing stood between 
 them and an unbroken wilderness. These pioneers were a 
 devout people ; and the strength of their religious belief is 
 shown in no way so clearly as in the fortitude with which they 
 met their lot in life. The prowling Indians were their neigh- 
 bors, whose movements required careful watching. There 
 were families of savages scattered along the interval land of 
 the Nashua Valley, from Lancaster to the Merrimack River, 
 who at times annoyed the settlers by killing pigs and stealing 
 chickens. Judging from the number of stone implements 
 found in the neighborhood, there was an Indian village just 
 above the Red Bridge, on the west side of the river. It 
 probably consisted of a few families only, belonging to the 
 Nashua Tribe, as they were called by the English. Like all 
 their race these Indians were a shiftless people, and often
 
 8 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 changed their abodes, going hither and thither, as they found 
 good hunting-grounds and fishing-places. They bartered skins 
 and furs with the planters ; and so much business was carried 
 on in this way, that the government sold to individuals the 
 right to trade with them. As early as July, 1657, Mr. John 
 Tinker, one of the original selectmen of the town, appointed 
 by the General Court, paid eight pounds for the privilege of 
 trafficking with them at Lancaster and Groton. A few of 
 these natives knew a little English, which they had picked 
 up from contact with the whites. Gookin refers to them in 
 his " History of the Christian Indians," when he speaks of 
 " some skulking Indians of the enemy, that formerly lived 
 about Groton, the principal whereof was named Nathaniel, 
 he and his party did this and other mischief afterward, in 
 burning several houses at Chelmsford." 1 This Nathaniel was 
 taken subsequently at Cocheco, now Dover, New Hampshire, 
 and hanged in Boston. Some of these vagrants took an 
 active part in the burning of Groton during King Philip's 
 War. The leader of the savages at this assault was John 
 Monaco, or Monoco, nicknamed " One-eyed John," from the 
 loss of an eye. After he had taken by stratagem a garrison- 
 house, he entered into a long conversation with Captain 
 Parker, who was stationed in another house near by, and 
 called him his old neighbor. From this fact I infer that 
 " One-eyed John " knew Captain Parker, and had previously 
 lived in the vicinity. Warfare among the aborigines did not 
 require generalship so much as knowledge of places; and 
 the head of an assaulting party was one familiar with the 
 clearings and the lay of the land in the threatened territory. 
 During the ensuing autumn this leader was brought to the 
 gallows in Boston, where he suffered the extreme penalty of 
 the law. 
 
 The Indians soon acquired from the English the love of 
 strong drink, which is sure to lead to disputes and quarrels. 
 
 1 Archasologia Americana, II. 471.
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 The earliest documents at the State House, relating to Groton 
 and the savages, give an account of a drunken brawl which 
 ended in murder. The affair took place in the Mcrrimack 
 Valley, and several men of this town were summoned to 
 appear as witnesses at the investigation before the General 
 Court in Boston. In the spring of 1668 Captain Richard 
 VValdron built a trucking or trading house at Penacook, now 
 Concord, New Hampshire, where a few weeks later one 
 Thomas Dickinson was murdered by an Indian while under 
 the influence of liquor. The homicide created great excite- 
 ment, and it has been supposed to have delayed the perma- 
 nent settlement of the place for many years. A warrant 
 was issued directing the constable of Groton to summon 
 John Page, Thomas Tarbell, Jr., Joseph Blood, and Robert 
 Parish, all of this town, before the General Court in order to 
 give their testimony, which they did under oath. It ap- 
 peared by the evidence that there had been a drunken row, 
 and that Dickinson was killed by an Indian, who acknowl- 
 edged the crime and expressed great sorrow for it, but 
 pleaded drunkenness in extenuation of the deed. The cul- 
 prit was tried at once by a council of the Indians, who 
 sentenced him to be shot, which was done the next day. It 
 is interesting now to note the high temperance stand taken, 
 more than two hundred years ago, by the Chief Tohaunto, 
 which places him abreast of the most earnest opposers of the 
 rum traffic at the present time. 
 
 Throughout this narration I purpose to give, as far as 
 practicable, the exact language of the men connected with 
 the events ; and for this reason many original documents are 
 printed in full. Some of the papers relating to the affair at 
 Penacook are as follows : 
 
 To the Constable of Groatcn 
 
 These. Require yo" in his Maj tys name, to sumone & require John 
 Page & such othe r of y c toune y' went vp to Inquire for y c ir catle. at
 
 10 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 Pemicook presently on the death of the Englishman murthured by y' 
 Indians there lately in a drunken fitt. as is sayd & others y l yo" know- 
 to make theire Appearances before the Generall [Court] now sitting in 
 Boston on 27 th Instan'. at eight of y c clocke in the morning to give 
 in their euidences in y' J Case relating to y e sd murthe r & y' occasion 
 thereof by selling strong liquo r s & by whom as they know or have heard 
 making yo r return of this warrant to the Secretary at or before y' time 
 hereof yo" are not to faile dated in Boston, the 1 5 th of Octobe' 1668. 
 By the Court EDW : RAWSON Sere" ' 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 These thre men namly John Page Thomas an Robard 
 
 Tarball Juni r & Joseph Blood are Summanced Parish 
 
 to apear e at the Generall Court, according to the premises : 
 by mee MATTHIAS FARNWORTH 
 
 Constable of Grawton 
 To the Constable Grawten 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 155.] 
 
 The words " an Robard Parish " appear in the original, in 
 one corner of the writing, as given above. They were evi- 
 dently put in after the document was written. 
 
 The Deposition of Danll Waldron being called to speak what I 
 know about the Death of Thomas Dikison who was killed by an 
 Indian as they say : my selfe with many others was sent up by my 
 father to see the corps and enquire into his death when we came 
 there we found the man dead and an Indian lying dead by him and 
 examining the Indians how he came by his death they said the Indian 
 that lay dead by him killed him with his knife : and enquiring further 
 why he killed him the Indians told us they asked him and he gave 
 them no answere but bid them shoott him : and further enquiring 
 whether the Indian were Drunk they answered that he was not Drunk 
 and after this we saw him buried presently, and we returned home the 
 next Day 
 
 This was taken vpon oath : this 20 : I of y e 8 : [ mo 1668 before vs 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. i ;;.] 
 
 SIMON WILLARD 
 W M HATHORXF.
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. II 
 
 Wee whose names are herevnto subscribed doe testifye that in or 
 aboute y e Month of June last past goeing to Pennycooke to enquire 
 after Cattle yt were lost, rideing to y e ffort at the sayd Pennicooke, 
 meeteing w th some of the Indians belonging thereto told us, y' an 
 Englishman was Killed by an Indian, and that all our Englishmans 
 Laws they had Killed the Indian, wee farther enquireing of them how 
 and whether the Indians were drunck when the Englishman was 
 Killed, and they answered all Indians were then drunck or else they 
 had noe Kild Englishman ; And farther wee Evidence Tohaunto 
 a Sagamore being afrayd that wee had brought Liquors to sell desired us 
 if wee had any, that wee would power it vppon the ground for it would 
 make ye Indians all one Divill, And farther wee meeteing wth Thomas 
 Payne, who told us he was Cap' \Valdern's serv 1 , asking him whether 
 the Indians were druncke when the Englishman was Killed, and he 
 answered not drunck ; and after farther discourse wth ye sd Payne he 
 sayd that ye pson that was Killed was Peter Coffins man and farther 
 sayd that if the Killing of the Man did not prevent it his the sayd 
 Paynes Master Capt Walderne and Peter Coffin did intend to send 
 Carpenters to build there and also to have ground broake vpp to be 
 improved, and wee farther affirme that wee saw a Rundlett which 
 would hold at least six Gallons in the Trucking House near the sayd 
 ffort ; after wch wee meeteing wth the Indians then there, and telling 
 them yt Thomas Payne told us that they were not drunck when The 
 Englishman was Killed the Indians then sayd yt Payne much Lyed, 
 for wee had Divers Quarts of Liquors the same day that the sayd 
 Englishman was Killed upon and one of the Indians Cofnaunded his 
 Squagh to wash a Bladder, wherein the Indian sayd there was a Quart 
 of Liquors and wee doe adiudge it to be as much ; or using words to 
 the same effect 
 
 JOHN PAGE 
 Octob r 27'.'' 1668 ROBB PARRIS 
 
 THOMAS TARBALL 
 
 Sworne in Court, 27, octobe r 1668 : JOSEPH BLOUD 
 
 EDW : RAWSONT Secret y 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 161.] 
 
 During a series of years before King Philip's War the 
 Indians had been supplied with arms and ammunition,
 
 12 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 though this was contrary to the laws of the colonies. The 
 French in Canada and the Dutch in New York had carried 
 on considerable traffic with the natives in these contraband 
 articles ; and occasionally some avaricious settler would 
 barter with them, giving powder and shot in exchange. 
 The possession of firearms made the Indians bold and 
 insolent, and the tendency of events was toward open hos- 
 tilities. This tendency was strengthened by a feeling of sus- 
 picion on the part of the colonists, and by one of jealousy 
 on the part of the savages. Distrust always grows out of 
 suspicion, and the fears of the settlers began to be excited 
 when they thought of their exposed situation. Under these 
 circumstances, it was wise to prepare for all emergencies; 
 and at an early day a military company was organized in 
 this town. The following entry is made in the manuscript 
 records of the General Court during the session beginning 
 May 6, 1673 : - 
 
 James Parker of Groaten hairing had the care of the military Com- 
 pany there for seuerall yeares. is Appointed & ordered to be their 
 leiftennant & W" Larkin to be ensign e to the sajd Company there 
 
 [General Court Records, IV. 718.] 
 
 The two officers of this organization were each promoted 
 one grade during the next autumn, which would indicate that 
 the company was filling up in numbers. At the session of 
 the General Court beginning October 15, 1673, the record 
 reads : 
 
 The military Company of Groaten being destitnt of military 
 oficers The Court Judgeth it meet to choose & Appoint James Parker 
 to be their captane W" 1 Lakin to be leiftennant & Nathaniel Lawrence 
 to be their ensigne 
 
 [General Court Records, IV. 726.] 
 
 Before this time there had been in Middlesex County a 
 company of troopers, or cavalry, made up of men living
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 13 
 
 in the frontier towns, of which Groton was one as men- 
 tioned in the General Court Records of October, 1669. 
 
 One of the prominent men in the history of the Colony at 
 this period was Major Simon Willard. A native of Eng- 
 land, he came to Massachusetts in the year 1634. He had 
 lived at Concord, Lancaster, and Groton, and in all these 
 places exerted a wide influence. He had rilled various civil 
 offices, and in his day was a noted military man. His farm 
 was situated at Nonacoicus, now included within the limits of 
 Ayer; and his dwelling-house was the first building burned 
 at the attack on Groton, March 13, 1676. During several 
 months previously he had been engaged with his men in 
 scouting along the line of frontier settlements and protecting 
 the inhabitants. At this assault Major Willard came with a 
 company of cavalry to the relief of the town, though he did 
 not reach the place in time to be of service in its defence. 
 He died at Charlestown, on April 24, 1676, a very few weeks 
 after this town was abandoned. Benjamin Tompson, the 
 earliest native American poet, pays the following tribute to 
 his character, in a little pamphlet published during King 
 Philip's War, and entitled " New England's Tears." It is 
 certainly rude in expression, and probably just in its concep- 
 tion, but not accurate as to the date of his death : 
 
 About this Time Died Major Willard Esq ; who had continued 
 one of our Senators many years, and Head of the Massachuset Bands. 
 In 23 April 1676. 
 
 EPITAPHIUM. 
 
 Great, Good, and Just, Valiant, and Wise, 
 New Englands Common Sacrifice : 
 The Prince of War, the Bond of Love, 
 A True Heroick Martial Dove : 
 Pardon I croud his Parts so close 
 Which all the World in measure knows, 
 We envy Death, and well we mav, 
 Who keeps him under Lock and Ke\.
 
 14 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 His Praises will, or are more largely celebrated ; but let this be 
 accepted according to the Nature of my Writings, which are but Brief 
 and General. 
 
 The first mention of anything in the town- records, relating 
 to the Indians or the War, is the following: 
 
 At a meeting of the sellect men Jully 2 July 22 75 a rat made 
 for the defraying of the charg of the ware and put in to the hand 
 of William Longiey constable to gather the sume 23! 14" 4 added 7 
 shill more than the Just proportion 
 
 The mutterings of warfare were now beginning to be heard, 
 and the colonists were looking for protection. Captain Par- 
 ker writes to Governor Leverett, under date of August 25, 
 1675, that the inhabitants "are in a very great strait" and 
 " much discouraged in their spirits ; " that they want ammu- 
 nition and twenty good muskets for their pikemen. The 
 letter itself, with the quaint expressions of two centuries ago, 
 gives a good idea of their narrow circumstances, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 To the honoured John Leneret Esquir Goucrnour of the Massechusets 
 
 collcny 
 
 Honoured sir with the rest of your counsell I have made bold to 
 enform your worships how the case stand with vs that the Indians are 
 aproach 5 near to vs our scouts hau discouerd seuerall tracks very 
 near the habetable parts of the town and one Indian they discouerd 
 but escapt from them by skulking amongst the bushes and som of the 
 Inhabitants of our town have heard them in the night singing and 
 halloeing. which doe determin to vs their great height of Insolency : 
 we are in a very great strait our Inhabitants are very much discour- 
 aged in their spirits and their by diseuaded from their callings I haue 
 receiued 20 men from the worshipfall Major Wellard and Captain 
 Mosselly men to help secur our town, but notwithstanding we are in a 
 very weak capacity to defend ourselues against the Insolency and 
 potency of the enemy if they shold apear in number and with that 
 violenc that they did apear at quabog [Brookfield] the which the 
 good lord forbid if it be his good pleasur, much honoured and
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 15 
 
 respected the good lord be with you In your consultations that you 
 may vnderstand what to doe for your new england Israel at such a tini 
 as this and in particular ourselues and for our dear neighbours at Lan- 
 chester vpon whom the enemy haue made an Inraid 6 persons are 
 already found and buryed the 7?^which they doe expect is kild is not 
 as yet found you may be pleased to tak notice that we shall want 
 ammunition spedily by reason that we hau parted with som to Cap' 
 Mosselly men and som we spent 'in the fight at quabog as also I hau 
 suplyed the souldiers with amunition that were sent to me that was 
 Imployed in the seruice they hauing spent their ammunition If you 
 could help vs with 20 good muskets for our pik men and I will return 
 them again or else giu a valluable price for them in such pay as 
 we can produce among ourselues not else at present but leaue you 
 to the guidance of the God of heauen who is the only wise counsellor 
 and remaine 
 
 Your seruant to cofhaund in any seruice to my power 
 
 JAMES PARKER Cap 1 
 from Groten 
 
 August 25 75 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVII. 244.] 
 
 A few days before the date of this letter, Captain Samuel 
 Moseley writes from " Nashowah Allies Lankcster: i6 : h Augs' 
 1675 " that, in accordance with instructions from Major- 
 General Denison, he had sent "to Groatton : 12: men." 
 These are among the ones alluded to in Captain Parker's let- 
 ter, as having arrived to help secure the town. Captain 
 Moseley further says: 
 
 also last nightt aboutt seaven A Clocke we martched Into Nashowah 
 [Lancaster] wheare we are Att Presentt butt shall as soone as the Con- 
 stable Hajth prest vs a dozen Horsses ; Proseed for groatton & so to 
 Chenceford ; according to the ord r s Majo r Willerd gaue me yesterday 
 Att Quoahbauge [Brookfield]. 
 
 I Massachusetts Archives, LXVII. 239.] 
 
 The letter was written a few days after Major \Villard and 
 Captain Parker, both of Groton, had gone with forty-six men
 
 1 6 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 and five Indians, to the rescue of Brookfield, on August y, 
 1675, and just in the nick of time saved that town from 
 massacre. An interesting account of this affair, written by 
 Captain Thomas Wheeler, is found in the second volume of 
 the " Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society." 
 Captain Wheeler was a brave soldier, and severely wounded 
 in that campaign. Evidently he could fight better than he 
 could spell, judging from the following certificate : - 
 
 To the honered Governer &> Counccll of tlic Massathusets Colony in 
 New England 
 
 These are to signyfie that Cornellius Consert the Dutchman was 
 vppon the Contryes Servis Att quabauge & by the Councle of warre 
 there was sent out Cap 1 of the forlorne And Afterward marched to 
 Grotton & Chensford & According to my best Advice Continued in 
 the Countryes servis six weekes Cornellius being Reddy to depart the 
 Country & myselfe being here att boston the Major Willard being 
 Absent I granted this ticket. 
 
 THOMAS WHELER Cap' 
 
 BOSTON October y e 13 
 
 1675 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII. 7.] 
 
 In those days there was no physician here to offer his pro- 
 fessional skill to the government in its time of need, and 
 even a small military force was sure to require medical or 
 surgical attendance. It therefore became necessary to im- 
 press into the public service a surgeon, as well as a horse with 
 accoutrements, as we find from the following order: 
 
 2}) the Constable of Boston. 
 
 These Require you in his Majes tyq name forthwith to Impresse M r 
 W m Haukins Chirurgeon : Imediately to prepare himself \v lh materials 
 as Chirurgeon & to dispatch to Marlbory. to Capt Mosely & attend his 
 motion & souldiers at Groaten. or elsewhere : for wch End you are
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 1 7 
 
 also to Impresse an able horse & furniture for him : to Goe : w :h the 
 post 
 
 Dated at Boston if h Augus' 1675 making Return hereof to the 
 Secret" 
 
 By y e Council 
 
 EDW. RAWSON Secret y 
 IMassachusetts Archives, LXVII. 241.] 
 
 The constable made the indorsement on the order that Dr. 
 Hawkins was duly warned. According to Savage's Genealogi- 
 cal Dictionary he was a butcher, but in his will he is styled 
 a surgeon, a union of callings which is rather suggestive. 
 
 At this time King Philip's War had begun, and open hos- 
 tilities had alarmed the inhabitants of the place. The Council 
 passed an order on September 8, 1675, that Cornet Thomas 
 Brattle and Lieutenant Thomas Henchman should take fifty 
 men, of whom thirty were to come from Norfolk, then a dif- 
 ferent county from the present one, and twenty from Middle- 
 sex, and place them in the garrisons at Dunstable, Groton, 
 and Lancaster, in such proportions as they should deem 
 expedient. The order is as follows : 
 
 For Cornet Thomas Bratle cV Leif tenant Thomas Henchman 
 
 You are herby impoured & appointed with a party of horsmen 
 vnder your coiuand, forthwith to march to Chelmsford to attend & 
 put in execution the instructions following : 
 
 i first you are ordered with fifty soldiers that are appointed to meet 
 you, at Leift Henchmans vizt thirty y' are to come from the county of 
 Norfolke & twenty out of the county of Midlesex, that are ordered to 
 meet you at Groton these fifty men you are ordered to sett in garri- 
 sons in the frontier townes of Dunstable, Groton, and Lancaster &c in 
 such proportion as in your discretion shal bee expedient placing them 
 vnder the comand of the cheefe military officers of each towne : 
 giueing those officers direction : to joyne & lyst other meet persons of 
 their owne companyes with them, & order them euery day to surraund 
 the townes y e y are to secure ; & if they can to carry doggs with y m to 
 search for & discouer any enimy that may aproch nere such towne &
 
 18 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 at night to repaire vnto such corps du gaurd, as are appointed to them 
 for the security of the s d place, and there to keep watch by night ; 
 & furthermore you are to declare vnto the Inhabitants of each Towne 
 (you are herby orclerd to garrison) that the Gouerno r & council do 
 expect their bee meet prouisions of victual made for the garrison sol- 
 diers herby ordered, at y 1 ' charge of towne ; whch is not to bee brought 
 vnto the acco 1 of the publicke ; & if any town or people decline so to 
 Doe so you are herby ordered not to leaue any soldiers with them. 
 
 Secondly you are further ordered, to Vse your best endeuor to setle, 
 compose & quiet matters respecting the Indians our neighboars, par- 
 ticularly those that Hue at Wamesit, Nashubah, & Malborough ; y 1 } ou 
 endeuer to put in execution the printed order, relating to those indi- 
 ans & particularly y 1 you procure some english man or men to bee 
 with y" 1 or at least, to visit y'" once a day to be as guardians for securing 
 the english and indians, that neither the one or other may bee piudiced 
 or injured, &: the council are willing to allow such person or psons a 
 meet compensation for their seruice in y 1 Imploy. And concerning 
 the Indians at Marlborow who are ordered to reside at Hassanamesit 
 about twelue miles distant whether you are to order the cheefe officer 
 of Malborow to conuey them, &: if you can possibly procure, an 
 english man or two to reside with them, at Hassanamesit according as 
 the printed order proude but in case that can not bee obtained y" 
 those indians must be left at Hassanamesit with exp r se charge punck- 
 tualy to Obserue the printed order. 
 
 Lastly you are to endeauor either one or both of you (if it may bee) 
 to gaine the Indian Sachem called Wannalanset to com in againe and 
 Hue at wamesit quietly [and] pecabley you may promise him in the 
 Councills name y' if hee will returne &: his people <S: line quietly at 
 Wamesit hee shal susteyne no p r iudise by the english : only you are to 
 ppose to him y' he deliuer for a hostage to the english his sonne who 
 shalbe wel vsed by vs. & in case hee come in & can bee gained then 
 you are to impour him to informe the Pennakooke & Xatacook indians 
 & all other indians on the East side of Merrimack Riuer, that they may 
 hue quietly & peacable in y r places & shall not bee disturbed any 
 more by the english prouided they do not assist or ioyne with any of 
 or enimiy nor do any dammage or preiudice to y" english : 
 
 And hauing put in execution these instructions you are to returne 
 home and giue an acco' thereof to the Council.
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. IQ 
 
 And what euer is necessary for fulfiling these Instructions you arc 
 herby impowred by order of the Gouno r & Councel to do it. 
 
 past by y c Councel 8 September 1675 
 
 E R S. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVII. 252.] 
 
 About this time the question of withdrawing a considerable 
 force from the garrisons seems to have been considered ; but 
 a protest against such action was drawn up and signed by 
 Simon Willard and three others, who were probably the 
 officers in command. From the representation they made, 
 it is not likely that any troops were taken away. The com- 
 munication was as follows : 
 
 Honerd Gentlemen the Gouvr 6* Councell 
 
 This afternoon, we had acordinge to your order, discourse with 
 Capt Hincksman, in reference to his actings in his waye as to the 
 comisione he reed frome you, he is to take : 80 men frome oure 
 Garisons, that is all we haue or mor, & we : stand in neede of more 
 but we dare not be so bold, our corne, that littill . we haue, is time it 
 weare gathered, but if our scouts be taken off heer is littill be gathered, 
 & many will be hardly kept with vs, but will rune awaye frome all our 
 townes, you hapily may thinke we are afrayd, we will not bost ther- 
 about, but we dare saye, our liues are not dear vnto vs, in any way 
 that God shall call vs to, our thoughts are that it is not advisable to 
 march vp to penicooke wher ther are many Indians at the p r sent, 
 yet many abroad about all our towns as apears dayly, but our p r sent 
 thoughts are, that it might be for p r sent saftie for the country, that a 
 Garison wear settled ouer Merrimake Riuer about donstable, that ther 
 maye be enttercorse betwene our towns & that Garison, we haue 
 apoyntted Capt Pakr & left Hinckesmen, who will relatte y things to 
 giu you reall light, much further than is meet now to do, or then time 
 will pmitt, we are not willinge to truble you any further, but rest 
 your humble servants 
 
 GROATON this 25"' : 7 : 75 
 
 SIMON WILLARD, 
 SALOM A DAMES 
 JAMES PARKER : 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVII. 265.] JAMES KlDDER
 
 20 KING- PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 In the autumn of this year October 27, 1675 the town 
 was assessed \ i. lOs. as her rate to carry on the war; and, 
 when paid in money, one quarter to be abated. (Archives, 
 LXVIII. 29.) This amount appears to be in addition to 
 the rate made at a general town meeting on July 22 of the 
 previous summer. 
 
 It is evident, from an entry in the town-records, that ther.e 
 was about this time a slight lull in the local excitement. It 
 is recorded: 
 
 At a Generall Towne meeting held no- 8 1675 It was this day 
 agreed vpon and by vote declared that there should be a committe 
 chussen to treat with Mr Willard about sending down to the general! 
 court to Enforme and supplicat to them that we may haue payd to vs 
 what is our due from the countrey and also that the Billit of the soul- 
 diers may be vpon the countreys account and also agreed vpon that if 
 this would not doe for to stand it out at law with them 
 
 and the commitee chussen was Cap' Parker Leiftenant Lakin 
 William Longley seni- John Page. 
 
 It will be seen by this vote that the inhabitants of the town 
 did not now feel greatly alarmed ; but one month later they 
 had become more apprehensive of danger, as the following 
 extract will show : 
 
 At a Generall Towne meeting held Decem 9 75 It was this day 
 agreed vpon and by vot declared that the soldiers that are still remain- 
 ing in the town shalbe continued in the towne at the town charge till 
 such tim as we heare a returne from the army goei[ng] against the 
 naroganset and then the towne to meet againe to consider what is fur- 
 der to be done. 
 
 The ensuing winter must have been a hard one for the 
 colonists, not only here but throughout New England. The 
 Indians had burned some towns and threatened others, and it 
 was a season of distrust and despair. The time was rapidly 
 approaching when this place would suffer, and soon- the 
 stroke came. It seems from the following " request," now in
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 21 
 
 the possession of Dr. John S. H. Fogg, of South Boston, that 
 the assault was not unexpected : 
 
 To the Hono'ed the Genera II Co r t of the Massachusetts Colony, 
 
 in AE : 
 
 The humble request of the inhabitants of the Town of Groton, 
 humbly sheweth, 
 
 That Wheras in this day of Calamity & distresse, wee are fellow- 
 sufferers with our brethren & neighbo r s, in the sad & doleful conse- 
 quences of the present unhappye warre ; though wee have cause to 
 adore & praise that mercy which hath preserved us from such desola- 
 tion under which o r neere neighbo r s are now bleeding ; yet o r suffer- 
 ings are such, as, except the Lord helpe, wee are sinking under. 
 Esteeming it therefore o r duty to apply o r selves to yo r hono rs , whom 
 wee account o r publicke fathers, & trust you will improve yo r wisdome 
 & abilityes for us : wee doe earnestly crave o r present state to be con- 
 sidered, & weighed in a just balance ; who are brought neere to 
 utmost streights. The enemye (as we groundedly suppose) waiting 
 an opportunity against us ; the season of the yeere calling to employ- 
 ment, & hasting to passe away from us : ourselves brought into a 
 narrow compasse, & ready to undergoe sore sufferings, by reason of 
 necessary arising inconveniencyes ; o r provision neere consumed, & 
 souldiers quartered amongst us hastening the expense of it ; our wives 
 & children, some removed, others removing ; our cattel lying open to 
 dayly hazards of being seized ; These things portend to us a famine, 
 & poverty, coming upon us with as great fury on the one hand, as the 
 enemy on the other ; & wee at the present are unable to be beneficial 
 to the publicke & private interest incumbent upon us. Wee humbly, 
 & upon o r knees crave yo r hono r s direction & assistance in this case, as 
 the Lord shall direct whither wee shall goe or stay, or what way we 
 may be set in, & wheras we were summoned to send in o r deputy we 
 did esteeme o r present state required the presence of o r souldiery at 
 home, especially men in place & office with, us : wee therefore, being 
 small in number, & dayly waiting the approach of the enemye, have 
 (not in any despising of authority) refrained from chusing one : & 
 withal have chosen, o r Rever! 1 Pasto r M r Sam e " Willard to present this 
 o r humble request, & farther to expresse o r minds and humble desires, 
 as occasion may present, & yo r hono' 5 shall see meet to enquire into.
 
 22 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 Commending you to the most hygh, & supplicating the God of heaven 
 to reveale counsel! in this day of darknesse, & to make you instru- 
 ments of his glorye, & his peoples peace ; Wee rest, 
 
 Yo r hono rs 
 From Groton this humble 
 
 Febr : 19. 75. Suppliants 
 
 SIMON WILLARD 
 JAMES PARKER : 
 
 [Superscription] 
 
 To the Hono r ed the Generall Co r t 
 
 of the Massachusetts Colonye 
 
 Assembled in Boston 
 
 The following petition, sent to the Council then in session 
 at Boston, was written four days before the burning of Lan- 
 caster, and five weeks before the destruction of Groton. The 
 original paper, in the handwriting of the Reverend Samuel 
 Willard, is now among the Shattuck Manuscripts in the 
 library of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 
 Mr. Willard was the minister of Groton at that time, and the 
 son of Major Simon Willard. The perilous condition of 
 the frontier towns in the neighborhood is well portrayed in 
 this document. Allusion is made to the sudden removal of the 
 W T amesit Indians, a friendly tribe living near the present site 
 of the city of Lowell, which created considerable alarm, as 
 it was then feared that they had joined the enemy. It turned 
 out, however, to be groundless, as they had gone into the 
 wilderness only for a short time, in order to keep clear of the 
 intricacies of King Philip's War. 
 
 To the hono r ed Counsill of the. Massachuscts sitting in Boston. 
 
 The humble petition of us whose names arc subscribed, humbly 
 sheweth ; 
 
 That wheras it seemeth meet to yo r Worships to commend to o r 
 hon r ed Majo r Willard, <S: impose upon him the mainteining a con- 
 tinued scout of fourty troopers & Dragoons to range between Groton,
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 23 
 
 Lancaster, & Marlborough, for the securing of the interest of the 
 Countrey in those parts ; wee make bold humbly to p r sent o r concep- 
 tions upon that account : For Marlborough wee conceive the present 
 supply left there in garison doe Answer the end more fully, & alsoe 
 will render o r scout an unnecessary burden, for Lancaster Groton, 
 wee find by experience that o r safety is little advanced in this way, by 
 reason of soe long absence, & soe great distance of this scout neces- 
 sary in this method : besides the incumbrance lying upon us for 
 quarters for horse & men, besides, the drawing up of o r men from 
 severall Townes to such a limit, seemes to carry inconvenience with it, 
 the Towns from whence o r forces are raised especially Chelmsford & 
 Bellerikey, being weake & in want of more strength at home, & danger 
 accreuing to them, by the sudden and suspicious removall of the 
 Wamassuk Indians, whose troopers doe hereupon desire a release ; 
 moreover the conceptions of the Townes related conceive humbly, 
 that a scout of garrisoned souldiers, though of a lesse number, & those 
 footmen, whom the Townes may out of themselves make Dragoons. 
 by order fro authority, as occasion may present ; would be more for 
 the security of the Townes, besides the hazard in which so small a 
 number must needs goe in, as wee have sufficient ground to suspect 
 by experience, & many emergencyes which may suddenly fall out 
 before addresse bee made to yo r Worships ; wee humbly p r sent to yo r 
 Hon r s to consideration, & if it seeme Rational!, to alter, or adde to 
 this matter according to yo r discretion. 
 
 Yo r Hono rs humble suppliants : 
 
 JAMES PARKER : 
 GROTON: Febr : 6. 1675. THO: WHEELER 
 
 HENRY WOODIS 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Capt. Parke r Wheeler & Woodys letter to y e Couns'l Rec feb. 8. 
 
 [Superscription] 
 To the hono r ed the Councill of The Massachusets sitting In Boston. 
 
 The following order, signed with the initials of Daniel 
 Gookin and Thomas Danforth, the two members of the 
 Council living in Cambridge, was issued during an emer-
 
 24 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 gency, and subsequently approved by a majority of that body. 
 The town was threatened, and there was no time for delay. 
 Major Willard's quarters were at Nonacoicus, and it was to 
 that place that Captain Cook and his command were ordered 
 to go. It is highly probable that these Essex and Norfolk 
 men formed a part of the force that came under Major Wil- 
 lard to the relief of the town, as mentioned by Mr. Hubbard 
 in his Narrative. 
 
 To M r Joseph Cooke 
 
 You are hereby ordered & impowred to take ye comand of the 
 Dragoons & Troops, now Impressed out of Essex and Norff for the 
 service of the Country., you are to conduct them vp to Major Willard, 
 taking speciall care that they make no waste of their aitiunition, & 
 demeane themselves silently & vigilanty, so as may be for their 
 ovvne security, & gaineing an opportunity if providence put any, for 
 distressing the enemy, & securing the English interest, all w ch you 
 are carefully to intend, and all the said soldjers, you are [to] take 
 their names in a list, who are hereby required to obey you as their 
 comander, & when you shall come to the Majors Quarters, you are 
 required to attend his further order, & in so doing this shall be yo r 
 warrant, making returne to ye Councell of w' you shall do herein. 
 
 By order of the Council!. 
 D. G. 
 T. D. 
 
 date in Camfcr. The Council mett on the 
 
 16. i. 167^ 16 : of March 1675 6. 
 
 Essex. 48. And Approoved of this Act of 
 
 Norff. 40. Majo r Gookin & M r Danforth 
 
 as Attest E R S 
 
 p r sent 
 Gou r 
 
 M r BRADS' 
 M r GOOKIN 
 M r DNF 
 M r STOUGHTON- 
 
 M TYNG 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII. 162.]
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 25 
 
 Nearly one-and-twenty years had passed since the little 
 settlement in the wilderness was begun, and Groton was fast 
 approaching its majority. The new town had enjoyed a mod- 
 erate share of prosperity, and was slowly working out its 
 destiny. The founders were poor in this world's goods, but 
 rich in faith and courage. They had now tasted the hard- 
 ships of frontier life, but not as yet felt the horrors of savage 
 warfare. The distant thunders of a threatening storm were 
 beginning to be heard, and the occasional flashes put the 
 early settlers on their guard. King Philip's War had broken 
 out during the summer of 1675, and the outlying settlements 
 were exposed to new dangers. The inhabitants of this town 
 took such precautions as seemed needful, and trusted in 
 Providence for the rest. They were just beginning to pre- 
 pare for the work of another season, when a small band of 
 prowling Indians alarmed the toxvn by pillaging eight or 
 nine houses and driving off some cattle. This occurred on 
 March 2, 1676, and was a sufficient warning, probably, to 
 send the inhabitants to the garrison-houses, whither they were 
 wont to flee in time of danger. These places of refuge were 
 usually houses surrounded by a strong wall of stone or tim- 
 ber, built up as high as the eaves, with a gateway, and port- 
 holes for the use of musketry. 
 
 In Groton there were five such garrison-houses, and under 
 their protection many a sleepless, anxious night was passed 
 by the inmates. Four of these houses were very near each 
 other, and the fifth was nearly a mile away. The sites of 
 some of them are well known. One was Mr. Willard's house, 
 which stood near the High School ; another was Captain 
 Parker's house, which stood just north of the Town Hall ; and 
 a third was John Nutting's house, on the other side of James's 
 Brook. The fourth was probably north of John Nutting's, 
 but perhaps south of Mr. Willard's. There is a tradition that 
 one stood near the house formerly owned and occupied by 
 the late Eber Woods, which would make the fifth garrison- 
 house " near a mile distant from the rest." Richard Sautell,
 
 26 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 the first town-clerk, was living on this site at that time, and 
 his house would have been a convenient rallying point for 
 the neighbors. He probably was the Richard Sawtell who 
 was a member of Major Appleton's company in this War. 
 
 It is recorded in the inventory of his estate, on file in the 
 Middlesex Probate Office at East Cambridge, that Timothy 
 Cooper, 1 of Groton, was " Sleine by the Indeins the Second 
 clay of march 1675-6." Cooper was an Englishman by birth, 
 and lived, probably, somewhere between the present site of 
 the Baptist meeting-house and the beginning of Earmers' Row. 
 It is not known that there was other loss of life at this time, 
 but the affair was serious enough to alarm the inhabitants. 
 They sought refuge immediately in the garrison-houses, as 
 the Indians were lurking in the vicinity. On March 9 the 
 savages again threatened the beleaguered town, and, by a 
 cunningly contrived ambush, managed to entrap four men at 
 work, of whom one was killed and one captured, while the 
 other two escaped. This second assault must have produced 
 great alarm and consternation among the people of the town. 
 The final and principal attack, however, came on the I3th, 
 when the enemy appeared in full body, thought to be not 
 less than four hundred in number. The inhabitants at this 
 time all were gathered into the several garrison-houses for 
 protection. During the previous night the savages scattered 
 throughout the neighborhood, and the first volley of shot on 
 the morning of the I3th was the signal for the general burning 
 of the town; and in this conflagration the first meeting-house 
 of Groton was destroyed, together with about forty dwelling- 
 houses. This building, erected at the cost of many and great 
 privations, was the pride of the inhabitants. With its thatched 
 roof it must have burned quickly; and in a very short time 
 nothing was left but a heap of smoking embers. Although 
 
 1 John Cooper, of Weston Hall, England, in his will, written November 21, 
 1654, and proved the next year, mentions his " brother Timothy Cooper no~w in 
 New England," with children. The will is on file in the Registry of Probate, 
 London.
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 27 
 
 it had never been formally dedicated to religious worship, it 
 had been consecrated in spirit to the service of God by the 
 prayers of the minister and the devotion of the congregation. 
 In this assault John Nutting's garrison was taken by strata- 
 gem. The men defending it had been drawn out by two 
 Indians, apparently alone, when the savages in ambush arose 
 and killed one of the men, probably John Nutting himself, 
 and wounded three others. At the same time the garrison- 
 house, now defenceless, was attacked in the rear and the pali- 
 sades pulled down, allowing the enemy to take possession. 
 The women and children, comprising those of five families, 
 escaped to Captain Parker's house, situated between James's 
 Brook and the Town Hall. 
 
 There is a tradition, which is entitled to credence, that 
 John Nutting was killed while defending his log-house fort 
 during King Philip's War. His wife's name appears a few 
 months later in the Woburn town-records as " Widow Nut- 
 ting," which is confirmatory of the tradition. 
 
 II. 
 
 Several printed accounts of King Philip's War appeared 
 very soon after it was ended, and these furnish nearly all that 
 is known in regard to it. At that time there was no special 
 correspondent on the spot to get the news ; and, as the means 
 for communication were limited, these narratives differ some- 
 what in the details, but they agree substantially in their gen- 
 eral statements. 
 
 With the exception of Hubbard's Narrative, the contempo- 
 rary accounts of this assault on the town are all short ; and 
 I purpose to give them, in the words of the writers, for what 
 they are worth. The first is from " A Brief History of the 
 Warr with the Indians in Newe-England," by Increase Mather,
 
 28 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 published in the year 1676. This account, one of the ear- 
 liest in print, is as follows : - 
 
 March the loth. Mischief was done, and several lives cut off by 
 the Indians this day, at Groton and at Sudbury. An humbling Provi- 
 dence, inasmuch as many Churches were this day Fasting and Pray- 
 ing. (Page 23.) 
 
 March 13. The Indians assaulted Groton, and left but few houses 
 standing. So that this day also another Candlestick was removed out 
 of its place. One of the first houses that the Enemy destroyed in this 
 place, was the House of God, h. e. which was built, and set apart for the 
 celebration of the publick Worship of God. 
 
 When they had done that, they scoffed and blasphemed, and came 
 to Mr. Willard (the worthy Pastor of the Church there) his house 
 (which being Fortified, they attempted not to destroy it) and taunt- 
 ingly, said, What will you do for a house to pray in now we have 
 burnt your Meeting-house ? Thus hath the enemy done wickedly in 
 the Sanctuary, they have burnt up the Synagogues of God in the 
 Land ; they have cast fire into the Sanctuary ; they have cast down 
 the dwelling place of his name to the Ground. O God, how long 
 shall the Adversary reproach ? shall the Enemy Blaspheme thy Name 
 for ever 1 why withdrawest thou thine hand, even thy right hand / 
 pluck it out of thy bosome. (Page 24.) 
 
 Several accounts of the war appeared in London in 1676, 
 only a few months after the destruction of this town. They 
 were written in New England, and sent to Old England, 
 where they were at once published in thin pamphlets. The 
 authors of them are now unknown, but undoubtedly they 
 gathered their materials from hearsay. At that time Indian 
 affairs in New England attracted a good deal of attention in 
 the mother country. One of these pamphlets is entitled : 
 " A True Account of the most Considerable Occurrences 
 that have hapned in the Warrc between the English and the 
 Indians in New England, ... as it hath been communicated 
 by Letters to a Eriend in London." This narrative says : 
 
 On the 1 3th of March, before our Forces could return towards our 
 Parts, the Indians sent a strong party, and assaulted the Town of
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 29 
 
 Growton, about forty miles North-west from Boston, and burn'd all 
 the deserted Houses ; the Garrison'd Houses, which were about ten, 
 all escaped but one, which they carryed, but not the English in it ; 
 for there was but one slain and two wounded. (Page 2.) 
 
 Another account, entitled : " A New and Further Narra- 
 tion of the State of New England, being a continued account 
 of the Bloudy Indian-war," gives the following version : - 
 
 The 1 4th of March the savage Enemy set upon a Considerable 
 Town called Groughton, and burnt Major Wilberds House first 
 (who with his family removed to Charls Town) and afterwards de- 
 stroyed sixty Five dwelling-houses more there, leaving but six houses 
 standing in the whole Town, which they likewise furiously attempted 
 to set on fire ; But being fortified with Arms and Men as Garisons, 
 they with their shot, killed several of the Enemy, and prevented so 
 much of their designe ; Nor do we hear that any person on our side 
 was here either slain or taken captive. (Page 4.) 
 
 A few pages further on it says : " Grant ham and Nasha- 
 way all ruined but one house or two." (Page 14.) Few 
 persons would recognize this town under the disguise of 
 Grant/mm. 
 
 A third one of these London pamphlets, bearing the title 
 of " News from New-England," says : - 
 
 The ith of March following these bloody Indians march't to a con- 
 siderable Town called Croaton where they first set fire to Major Wil- 
 lards house, and afterwards burnt 65 more, there being Seaventy two 
 houses at first so that there was left standing but six houses of the 
 whole Town. (Page 4.) 
 
 The details of the burning of the town are found in " A 
 Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England," 
 written by the Reverend William Hubbard, and printed in the 
 year 1677. It is the fullest history of the events relating to 
 Groton appearing near the time ; and very likely many of the 
 facts were obtained from the Reverend Mr. Willard. The
 
 30 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 account is not as clear as might be desired, and contains 
 some glaring discrepancies. It is as follows : 
 
 March 2. They assaulted Groton : the next day over night Major 
 Willard with seventy Horse came into the Town ; forty Foot also 
 came up to their relief from Watertown, but the Indians were all fled, 
 having first burned all the Houses in the Town, save four that were 
 Garisoned, the Meeting-house being the second house they fired, 
 Soon after Capt. Sill was sent with a small Party of Dragoons of 8 
 Files to fetch off the Inhabitants of Groton, and what was left from 
 the spoyle of the enemy, having under his conduct about sixty Carts, 
 being in depth from front to reer above two mile : when a party of 
 Indians lying in ambush, at a place of eminent advantage, fired upon 
 the front and mortally wounded two of the vaunt Carriers, who dyed 
 both the next night ; and might (had God permitted) have done emi- 
 nent damage to the whole Body, it being a full hour before the whole 
 Body could be drawne up, which was done with care and Courage : 
 but the Indians after a few more shot made, without doing harm, 
 retired, and made no further assault upon them, being the same Party 
 of Indians which the day before had burned some part of Chelms- 
 ford. Soon after this Village was deserted and destroyed by the 
 enemy : yet was it a special providence, that though the carts were 
 guarded with so slender a Convoy, yet there was not any considerable 
 loss sustained. 
 
 The Surprizall of Groton was after this manner. 
 
 On March, 2. The Indians came in the night and rifled eight or nine 
 houses and carried away some cattle, and alarmed the Town. 
 
 On March, 9. About ten in the morning a parcel of Indians (having 
 two dayes lurked in the town, and taken possession of three out-houses 
 and feasted themselves with corn, divers swine and poultry which they 
 there seized) laid an ambush for two Carts, which went from their 
 garison to fetch in some hay, attended with four men, two of which, 
 espying the enemy, made a difficult escape, the other two were set 
 upon, and one of them slain, stript naked, his body mangled, and 
 dragged into the high-way, and laid on his back in a most shamefull 
 manner : the other taken Captive ; and after sentenced to death, but 
 the enemy not concuring in the manner of it, execution was deferred, 
 and he by the providence -pf God escaped by a bold attempt the
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 3' 
 
 night before he was designed to slaughter, and fled to the Garison at 
 Lancaster, the cattle in both towns wounded, and five of them slain 
 outright. 
 
 March, 13. Was the day when the enemy came in a full body, by 
 their own account 400. and thought by the Inhabitants to be not 
 many fewer. The town was at this time (having been put into a 
 fright by the sad Catastrophe of Lancaster the next bordering town) 
 gathered into five Garisons, four of which were so near together, as to 
 be able to command from one to the other, between which were the 
 cattle belonging to those Families driven into pastures, which afterward 
 proved their preservation ; the other was near a mile distant from the 
 rest. 
 
 This morning the Indians (having in the night placed themselves 
 in several parts of the town) made their Onset ; which began near the 
 four Garisons ; for a body of them having placed themselves in Am- 
 buscado, behind a hill, near one of the Garisons, two of them made 
 discovery of themselves, as if they had stood upon discovery. At this 
 time divers of the people, nothing suspecting any such matter, (for 
 the day before, many had been upon discovery many miles, and found 
 no signs of an Enemy being so near) were attending their occasions, 
 some foddering their cattle, some milking their Cows, of whom the 
 Enemy might easily have made a seizure, but God prevented ; they 
 having another design in hand, as soon after appeared : These t\vo 
 Indians were at length espyed, and the Alarm given ; whereupon the 
 most of the men in the next Garison, and some also of the second 
 (which was about eight or nine pole distant) drew out and went to 
 surprise these two Indians, who kept their station till our men reached 
 the brow of the hill, then- arose the ambush and discharged a volley 
 upon them, which caused a disorderly retreat, or rather a rout, in 
 which one was slain, and three others wounded : mean while another 
 ambush had risen, and come upon the back side of the Garison so 
 deserted of men, and pulled down the Palizadoes : The Souldiery in 
 this rout, retreated not to their own, but passed by to the next Gari- 
 son, the women and children meanwhile exposed to hazard, but by 
 the goodness of God made a safe escape to the other fortified house 
 without any harm, leaving their substance to the enemy, who made a 
 prey of it, and spent the residue of the day in removing the corn and 
 household-stuff (in which loss five Familyes were impoverished) and
 
 32 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 firing upon the other Garison : here also they took some Cattle. No 
 sooner was the signal given by the first volley of shot, but immediately 
 in several parts of the town at once, did the smoakes arise, they firing 
 the houses. 
 
 In the afternoon they used a stratagem not unlike the other, to 
 have surprised the single Garison, but God prevented. An old Indian 
 if an Indian passed along the street with a black sheep on his back, 
 with a slow pace, as one decrepit : They made several shot at him, but 
 missed him, at which several issued out to have taken him alive, but 
 the Watchman, seasonably espying an ambush behind the house, gave 
 the signal, whereby they were prevented. 
 
 The night following the enemy lodged in the town, some of them 
 in the Garison they had surprized, but the Body of them in an adja- 
 cent valley, where they made themselves merry after their savage man- 
 ner. The next morning they gave two or three Volleyes at Capt. 
 Parkers Garison, & so marched off, fearing as was thought that supply 
 might be nigh at hand. This assault of theirs was managed with their 
 wonted subtlety, and barberous cruelty : for they stript the body of 
 him whom they had slain in the first onset, and then cutting off his 
 head, fixed it upon a pole looking towards his own land. The corpse 
 of the man slain the week before, they dug up out of his grave, they 
 cut off his head and one leg, and set them upon poles, and stript off 
 his winding-sheet. A infant which they found dead in the house first 
 surprised, they cut in pieces, which afterward they cast to the swine. 
 There were about forty dwelling houses burnt at that time, besides 
 other buildings. This desolation was followed with the breaking up of 
 the town, and scattering of the Inhabitants, and removal of the Candle- 
 stick, after it had been there seated about twelve years. 
 
 Concerning the surprizing of Groton, March 13. There was not 
 anything much more material, then what is already mentioned, save 
 only the insolency of John Monaco or one 'eyed John, the chief Cap- 
 tain of the Indians in that design : who having by a sudden surprizal 
 early in the morning seized upon a Garison house in one end of the 
 Town, continued in it, plundering what was there ready at hand, all 
 that day ; and at night did very familiarly in appearance, call out to 
 Capt. Parker that was lodged in another Garison house, and enter- 
 tained a great deal of Discourse with him, whom he called his old 
 Neighbour : dilating upon the cause of the War, and putting an end
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 33 
 
 to it by a friendly peace : yet oft mixing bitter Sarcasmes, with several 
 blasphemous scoffs and taunts at their praying and worshipping God 
 in the meeting house, which he deridingly said he had burned. Among 
 other things which he boastingly uttered that night : he said he burnt 
 Medfield (though it be not known whither he was there personally 
 present or no) Lancaster, and that now he would burn that Town of 
 Groton, and the next time he would burn Chelmsford, Concord, 
 Watertown, Cambridge, Charlstown, Roxbury, Boston, adding at last 
 in their Dialect, What Me will, Me do not much unlike the proud 
 Assyrian (if his power had been equal to his pride) sometime 
 threatned against Jerusalem, but was by the remarkable providence 
 of God, so confounded within a few months after, that he was bereft 
 of his four hundred and fourscore (of which he now boasted) and 
 only with a few more Bragadozio's like himself, Sagamore Sam, old 
 Jethro, and the Sagamore of Quobaog were taken by the English, 
 and was seen (not long before the writing of this) marching towards 
 the Gallows (through Boston Streets, which he threatned to burn at 
 his pleasure) with an Halter about his neck, with which he was 
 hanged at the Towns end, September 26. in this present year 1676. 
 So let thine Enemies perish O "Lord, and such contempt be poured on 
 all them that open their mouthes to blaspheme thy holy Name. 
 
 Things looked with a pritty sad face about those parts at this time ; 
 yet though the Righteous fall seven times, let not their Enemies rejoyce, 
 for the Righteous shall rise again, but their wicked Enemies shall fall 
 into mischief, and rise no more. It was ebbing water with New- 
 England at this time, and a while after ; but God shall turn the 
 stream before it be long, and bring down their Enemies to lick the 
 dust before them. 
 
 After this April \ 7. Captain Sill, being appointed to keep Garison 
 at Groton, some Indians coming to hunt for Swine, three Indians drew 
 near the Garison house, supposing it to have been deserted, were 
 two of them slain by one single shot made by the Captains own 
 hands, and the third by another shot made from the Garison. (Pages 
 72-76.) 
 
 The following paragraph is taken from " A Table " in 
 Hubbard's Narrative, and is found on the fourth page after 
 page 132. 
 
 3
 
 34 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 Groton, surprized March 2. as is related pag. 60. & 61. [72-76?] 
 the place consisting of about 60. families, was soon after deserted, yet 
 are there 14. or 15. houses left standing to this day, though not inhab- 
 ited for the present, pag. 73. 
 
 I am inclined to think that the first paragraph in this 
 account was written soon after the occurrence of the events, 
 before the details were fully known, and that the remainder of 
 the narrative was made up from more trustworthy sources. 
 All after the second paragraph, beginning with " The Sur- 
 prizall of Groton" is presumably accurate, and may have been 
 written out after conference with persons knowing the facts. 
 At any rate, the first paragraph is very confusing, and it is 
 impossible now to explain the inconsistencies. 
 
 Mr. Butler, in his " History of Groton," has endeavored to 
 reconcile them. He says : 
 
 In order to make this narrative consistent with itself, as to time and 
 a regular succession of events, as they happened, conjecture and 
 explanations are necessary. 
 
 It seems there were three attacks upon Groton, one on the second 
 of March, one on the ninth, and the third and principal one on the 
 thirteenth. On the second of March they rifled houses, carried away 
 cattle, &c. ; on the ninth, feasted on swine, poultry, &c. killed one 
 man, and made another captive, who afterwards escaped to Lancas- 
 ter ; and on the thirteenth they burnt the town, killed one man, and 
 wounded three. After this, the inhabitants moved to Concord. The 
 words in the first paragraph, under date of March second, " the next 
 day over flight" are evidently a misprint. Major Willard, with seventy 
 horse, and forty foot from Watertown, could not have come to the 
 relief of the town upon such short notice. Besides, it is said, " the 
 Indians had all fled, having burnt all the houses in town, except four 
 garrisons." Now this did not happen till the thirteenth. Suppose we 
 read instead of "next day over night'' next day fortnight; then 
 would Major Willard have come on the seventeenth, when, to be 
 sure, the Indians had all fled. The first paragraph gives only the 
 general result of the principal attack, and the particulars of the removal 
 of the inhabitants. Then, in the second paragraph, the author gives
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 35 
 
 the account of the first attack, and in the third paragraph, under date 
 of March 9, the particulars of the second attack ; the last clause in 
 this paragraph seems to have no connection with the rest. Then fol- 
 low the particulars of the third attack, on the thirteenth, and the 
 departure of the enemy on the fourteenth. The " place of eminent 
 advantage," where the Indians fired on the teams which were carrying 
 off the inhabitants, under Captain Sill, is said to be "the ridges." 
 (Pages 81, 82.) 
 
 The ambush, mentioned by Hubbard, " Ambuscado," as 
 he calls it, lay probably back of the hill behind Governor 
 Boutwell's house, and it was on the hill that the two Indians 
 were discovered. The valley where the savages made them- 
 selves merry on the night after the assault may have been 
 easterly of the cemetery. 
 
 The Indians were a cowardly set, and never attacked in 
 open field. They never charged on works in regular column, 
 but depended rather on craft or cunning to defeat their adver- 
 sary. The red hellhounds as they were sometimes called 
 by our pious forefathers were always ready to attack women 
 and children, but afraid to meet men. The main body of the 
 savages passed the night following the final attack in " an 
 adjacent valley," which cannot now be easily identified, but 
 some of them lodged in the garrison-house which they had 
 taken ; and the next morning, after firing two or three volleys 
 at Captain Parker's house, they departed. They carried off a 
 prisoner, John Morse, the town-clerk, who was ransomed 
 a short time afterward. The following reference to him in an 
 undated letter, written by the Reverend Thomas Cobbct to 
 the Reverend Increase Mather, shows very nearly the time of 
 his release : 
 
 May y e i2th [1676] Good wife Diuens [Divoll] and Good wife 
 Ketle vpon ransom paid, came into concord. & vpon like ransom 
 presently [a]fter John Moss of Groton & lieftenant Carlors [Kerley's] 
 Daughter of Lancaster were set at liberty & 9 more w'out ransom. 
 
 [Mather Manuscripts in the Prince Collection, at the Boston Public Library, 
 I. 76.]
 
 36 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 The ransom for John Morse was paid by John Hubbard, of 
 Boston, and amounted to " about five pounds." Morse's 
 petition to the council, to have Hubbard reimbursed, is as 
 follows : 
 
 To the Hono ed _ Council conveened at Boston Aug". 17^ 1676. 
 The humble Petition of John Morse 
 
 Sheweth. That yo r petition' being an Inhabitant of Groton ; hath 
 together (with many others) been deprived of his Estate by the 
 calamity of the \varr ; and himselfe carried away captive by the 
 Enemy ; and about five pounds in mony laide down by M r John 
 Hubbard of Boston for 'his ransome, and understanding that there 
 hath been some Stock raised by a contribution towards the ransoming 
 of the captives. Yo r petition" doth humbly pray that hee may bee con- 
 sidered in the distribution of the s' 1 Stock, and that M r Hubbard may 
 be reimbursed thereout ; hee having not of his own wherewith to pay 
 him. and yo r petition^ shall for ever thankfully acknowledge yo r 
 Hono? ffavo r therein and for ever prayer. 
 
 This petition is Granted 17 August 1676 : 
 
 per Consiliu : E R S. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXIX. 48.] 
 
 A few days passed after the final assault on the town 
 before it was abandoned altogether by the settlers. Hub- 
 bard says that when the inhabitants, under convoy of some 
 dragoons, left the place, they were attacked by a small party 
 of Indians who the day before had burned a part of Chelms- 
 ford. The date of the affair at Chelmsford was, according to 
 Hubbard's Narrative (page 83, verso}, about March 18, and 
 this fact helps to fix the time when the town was abandoned ; 
 although in another place, in " A Table " on the fifth un- 
 numbered page after page 132, he says that it occurred in 
 the beginning of April. A garrison, however, was still main- 
 tained here for some weeks later, under command of .Captain 
 Joseph Sill, of Cambridge ; and from it three Indians were 
 killed on April 17, two of them by a single shot made by
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 37 
 
 the Captain himself, and the third by one of his men. Soon 
 afterward it was given up as a military post. The following 
 orders relate to supplying it with ammunition : 
 
 It is ordered that twelve pound of pouder w th shot answerable be 
 delivered to the comittee of Militia of Chelmsford for so much lent by 
 them out of their store to Captain Sill at Groton. 
 
 And It is further ordered that the Comisarys M r Jn faireweather 
 &c Convey ouer to y e Constable charlstown half a barrell of powde' 
 & propoytionable shott to be deliuered to the persons Appointed : to 
 Carry the same, to Capt Scyll at Groaten : together w th twelve pounds 
 of powde r w th shott Answerable to be Conveyd & deliu rd to y e Comittee 
 of militia of chelmsford for so much lent by them to Cap 1 Scyll for the 
 Country service. 
 
 past EDW RAWSON Secrety 
 
 22 Aprill 1676. 
 
 To the Constables of Charls Toune. 
 
 These Require you in his Maj tys name forthwith on sight heereof to 
 Impresse two able men Compleately Armed w th fower Day 5 prouission 
 and two very substantiall horses bridles & sadles & well shod to Con- 
 vey & Carry the Amntion to Chelmsford & Groaten & deliuer the 
 same to Cap' Scill : as Comissary faireweather shall direct, making y e 
 returne hereof dated in Boston the 22 th of Aprill 1676. 
 
 By y e Council 
 
 EDW D RAWSON Secrety 
 
 Deacon Elliot. 
 
 you are ordered to deliuer two of the Country 5 horses xf best you 
 haue in y r hands to Constable Mousall for y e ends aboue exprest 
 22 Aprill 1676 
 
 By y c Council EDW RAWSON Secrety 
 
 Y e substance of y s as to horses was deliuered to y e Constable of 
 Maulden & Wooburne for y* end. 
 
 E R S 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII. 221.]
 
 38 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 The following petition and depositions are found among the 
 Shattuck Manuscripts, and refer to this period. " Alse " 
 Woods was Alice, the wife of Samuel Woods. 
 
 To the Right Honrfble the Goif and Councell sitting in Boston 
 
 The Petition of Daniell Addams Humbly sheweth that yo r Petition' 
 went out as a voluntear : upon the scout : from Concord in company 
 with some of Concord and some of Lancaster : and they corneing to 
 Grauton yo r petitione r there killed an Indian : and hath rec'd no wages 
 from the Country for any service that he hath done : notwithstanding 
 he hath beene out upon the same acco 1 severall times both the Last 
 sumer and the Last winter and is now goeing out againe under the 
 Coihand of Leift Curtis : 
 
 Yo r Petitione r therefore humbly requests the favo r of your Hono r s 
 to consider the premises and to grant him an order to the Treasure" 
 for his satisfaction according as the Law allows in that case so shall 
 he be ever engaged to pray &c 
 
 DANIELL ADDAMS 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 The Petition of Daniell Addams 21 Aprill 1676 
 
 Att Groton the i4th of march 1676 thire was Daniell Adams whoe 
 was uary helpefull to the tovvne of groton with som others of Lankstar 
 and the said Daniell adams did kill one Indan att M r Willards garason 
 
 Witness JOHN CADYE 
 and SAMUEL WODS 
 
 we whoe see him fall to the graund and not Rise againe 
 
 As witness NICKCOLASS CADYE 
 
 Samuell Woodes of Grotten aged aboute forty yers of age witnis 
 that he saw tooe indens standing upon Captine parkers Land at 
 grotten and danill adams shote ai tham and one of thame falle doune 
 and the other ran away 
 
 17 : day of 2 : month : 1676 : 
 
 the mark T of SAMUELL WOODES 
 
 Alse Woods aged about forty yeares testifieth & saith ; that at 
 Grooton upon the day that the moste of the Towne was burnt by the
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 39 
 
 Indians : she heard severall say that Uaniell Adams had killed an 
 Indian ; and she went vp presently into M r Willards Garritt & saw two 
 Indians stand over a dead Indian about halfe an hour & then they 
 carried him away & further saith not 
 
 The mark O of ALSE WOODS 
 
 The spring of 1676 was a critical season for the frontier 
 towns of Massachusetts. During the war some of them had 
 been destroyed, others threatened, and all had been alarmed. 
 A proposition was brought before the Council for the better 
 protection of the towns in Middlesex County, and referred to 
 a special committee. It will be noticed that the order of the 
 Council was dated two days after the burning of Groton, 
 though it was probably under consideration before the de- 
 struction of the town ; but the report made by the committee 
 was written a fortnight later. The particulars of this propo- 
 sition are not now known ; but they can be learned infcrcn- 
 tially from the report, which is as follows : 
 
 Cambridge 28 i m 1676 
 
 In Obediance to an order of the Hon rd Council, march, 15 th 167^ : 
 appointing us whose names are vnder writtin, as a comittee to consult 
 y- seuirall townes of y c County of middlesex, with reference to y e best 
 meanes of the preseruation of our outtownes remote houses and 
 farmes, for their planting and security from y c common enemie. We 
 haueing sent to y e seuerall townes to send us their apprehentions by 
 some one mete person of each towne, This day wee consulted con- 
 cerning y e same, and haue concluded to propose as followeth : 
 
 i : That y e townes of Sudbury, Concord and Chelmsford be 
 strengthened with forty men a peice, which sd men are to be im- 
 proued in scouting betwen towne and towne, who are to be comanded 
 by men of prudence, courage and interest in y j sd townes and y c 
 partys in each towne are to be ordered to keepe together in some 
 place comodious in y sd townes, and not in garison houses : and these 
 men to bee vpon y e towne charge of y e country. 
 
 2. That for y e security of Billerica there be a garison of a number 
 competent at Weymessitt who may raise a thousand bushells of come
 
 40 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 vpon y e land of y e Indians in that place may be improued dayly in 
 scouting and ranging y e woods betwen Weymissitt & andeuor and on 
 y e west of concord river on y u east & north of Chelmsford, which 
 will discouer y c enemie before hee comes to y e townes, and preuent 
 lurking indians' about our townes. Also they shalbee in a readyness 
 to y e succour of any of the three townes at any time when in distress, 
 Also shall be ready to joyne with others, to follow y e enemie, vpon a 
 suddin after their appearing. 
 
 3 That such townes as lankester, groaton & marlbourough that are 
 forced to remoue : and haue not some aduantage of settlement (pecu- 
 liar) in y e bay, be ordered to settle at y e frontire townes that remain for 
 their strengthening : and y e people of y e said townes to which they 
 are appointed, are to see to their accomodations, in y e sd townes. 
 
 4 : That y e said townes haue their owne men returned, that are 
 abroad, and their men freed from impress, during their present state. 
 
 5 : That there be appointed a select number of persons in each 
 towne of midlesex who are vpon any information of the distress of 
 any towne, forthwith to repaire to the releife thereof and y l such in- 
 formation may be seasonable, the townes are to dispatch posts, each 
 towne to y e next, till notice be conueyed ouer y e wholl County, if 
 need bee. 
 
 And in reference to y e line of stockadoes or stone worke, proposed 
 to o r serious Consideration, after our best aduice vpon it, it is con- 
 ceived by our seines and by all y e psons sent by y e seuerall townes, 
 That it is not aduisable, for y e Reasons following 
 
 1. The excessiue charge to effect it, maintaine and keepe it, the 
 line being conceiued by those that know it best, to be longer than is 
 proposed, neither can seuerall ponds fall in y c said line, vnless it be 
 run so crooked that it wilbee more disadvantage than profit. 
 
 2. The length of time before it can be accomplished, in which time 
 it is to be feared that many of y e townes included, wilbee depopulated, 
 vnless other meanes preuent. 
 
 3 the damage it wilbe in taking off labourers, which in this season 
 of y e year had need be improued in sowing and planting, Help in 
 many places being uery scarce, 
 
 ult : y e vselesness of it when it is done, it being so easy a matter to 
 break thro' it, and y c Riuers which are to fence a great part of these 
 townes are fordable, in seuerall places, and in all other places passable
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 41 
 
 by rafts &c. which is much in vse with y e indians at this day. we might 
 add y e great discontent and murmuring of y people in general! so 
 farr as wee haue had oppertunity to discourse concerning it. That 
 wee fear y e imposing of such a thing, would effect an ill consequence. 
 These things considered besids seuerall other reasons of weight that 
 might be added, cause us to present our apprehentions as in y 1 ' first 
 place wee did that y c drawing of this line at this time is not aduisable. 
 but all with Humbles submission to yo r Hon r : s in y e case. 
 Yo r Humble Seru" ts 
 
 HUGH MASON 
 JONATHAN DAX FORTH 
 RICHARD LOVVDEN 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Returne of Midd. coiiiittee. 28. i. 1676. 
 [Shattuck Manuscripts ] 
 
 There was another proposition at this time before the 
 Council, somewhat wider in its scope and later by a few days 
 in its date, which may have been akin to the one just men- 
 tioned and considered by this committee, although it relates 
 in no way to Groton. It was proposed to build a stockade or 
 stone wall, eight feet high* from the Charles River to the 
 Concord, a distance of twelve miles, more or less, as a 
 defence again 1 c the Indians. This line, in connection with 
 the Concord and the Merrimack Rivers, it was thought, would 
 form a barrier against the savages, and protect all the towns 
 lying within the district. This complicated system of defence 
 was favored by the Council, and deemed sufficiently feasible 
 to be referred to a board of twenty commissioners, appointed 
 respectively by the towns most interested in the matter. The 
 document giving the details of the affair is as follows : 
 
 At a Councill held in Boston 23 Mrch 167^ 
 
 Wheras seueral considerable psons, haue made aplication to vs and 
 proposed it as a very nescesary expedient for the publike welfare, and 
 particulerly for the security of the whole county of Essex & a great 
 part of Midlesex from inroads of the comon enmy, That a line or
 
 42 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 fence of stockadoes or stones (as the matter best suteth) to be made 
 about eight foot high; extenede[n]g from Charles Riuer, where it is 
 nauigable, vnto Concord riuer not far from Georg farley house, (lining 
 in Billerkey,) which fence (as y c Councill is informed) is not in length 
 aboue twelue miles ; a good part wherof is allready don by large 
 ponds, that wil conueniently fal in the line, & vpon this fence seuerll 
 inhabitants belonging to watertown Cambridge Wooburne & Bilerekey, 
 are all ready seated ; (as is iudged about halfe the distance), And 
 vpon Merrimack riuer on the west side are planted the townes of 
 Andeuer, Wamesit Bradford & Nevvbury, vnto the Sea, & vpon Charles 
 riuer are planted part of Waterton Cambridge Charles town vnto 
 the bay ; by which meanes that whole tract wilbe enuironed, for the 
 security & safty (vnder God) of the people, their houses goods and 
 cattel ; from the rage & fury of the enimy 
 
 For the prosecuting this proposall, to effect, (which the Council 
 app r hend is of Great concernement.) 
 
 It is ordered that the Seueral townes that fall within this tract 
 aboue mentioned ; vizt Salem, Charles town, Cambridge Watertowne, 
 Ipswich, Xewbery, Rowly, Linne, Andeuer, Topsfield, Reding, Woo- 
 burne, Maldon, Billerekey, Gloster, Beuerly, Wenham Manchester 
 Bradford & Meadford ; doe each of them choose one able & fitt man 
 as their commissioner wch comisioners are all ordered to meet at 
 Cambridge vpon the last day of March at 8 of the clock in the morn- 
 ing and from thence pceed (takeing such guides & helpes as are 
 nesciary and take an exact suruay of the place proposed for this line 
 and to offer vnto the Councel in writing an expedient how the same 
 may bee prosecuted & effected & what proportion wil fall vnto euery 
 towne included w'hin the same (wherin respect is to bee ; had to the 
 quality of Estates & number of the inhabitants, within the said townes, 
 & also to propose wais & methoods how the said line or fence shalbe 
 made, maintened & defended ; for the Ends intended, And that the 
 Returne to [be] made to the Counsel as soone as may bee 
 
 And the Council doe further declare & promise that they are & 
 wilbe ready at all times to promote & incorage this Affayre, and to 
 make such further orders & giue such other directions as may best 
 conduce to the effectuall prosecution and finishing the said worke : 
 puided all wais & it is herby intended y* all charges respecting this 
 affayre bee defrayed, by the inhabitants included within this line ac-
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 43 
 
 cording to a due & equal proption ; as the said Comissioners or the 
 greater number of y m shall determine ; and this order is to bee forth- 
 with printed & sent by the Secretary ; to the Constables & select men 
 of eny of y townes aboue named to bee put in execution accordingly 
 By y Council 
 
 EDW D RAWSON Secrety 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII. 174.] 
 
 The population of Groton at the time of its destruction was 
 about three hundred inhabitants. The Reverend Mr. Hub- 
 bard, in his Narrative, estimates the number of families at 
 sixty, and five persons to a family may be considered a fair 
 average. The same authority says that there were forty 
 dwelling-houses, besides other buildings, burned in this as- 
 sault, and only fourteen or fifteen houses left standing. 
 
 Fortunately the loss of life or limb on the part of the in- 
 habitants of the town was small, and it is not known that 
 more than three persons were killed of whom one was 
 Timothy Cooper, and another, without doubt, John Nutting 
 and three wounded ; two were made prisoners, of whom one 
 escaped from the savages and reached Lancaster, and the 
 other, John Morse, was ransomed. 
 
 The lot of these early settlers was indeed hard and bitter ; 
 they had seen their houses destroyed and their cattle killed, 
 leaving them nothing to live on. Their alternative now was 
 to abandon the plantation, which they did with much sadness 
 and sorrow. The settlement was broken up, and the inhabi- 
 tants scattered in different directions among their friends and 
 kindred. 
 
 According to the Reverend Elias Nason, in his " History of 
 the Town of Dunstable, Massachusetts " : 
 
 HOUND MEADOW HILL, in the northwesterly section of the town 
 [Dunstable], is said to have received its name from the circumstance 
 that when Groton was assaulted by the Indians during Philip's War, 
 a pack of hounds, employed by the English, pursued a party of 
 the savages to this eminence, on which two of them were slain. 
 (Page 69.)
 
 44 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 In the autumn of 1879 the town of Groton erected a monu- 
 ment to commemorate the site of the meeting-house which 
 was burned during this assault. It bears the following in- 
 scription : 
 
 NEAR THIS SPOT 
 
 STOOD THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE OF GROTON 
 
 BUILT IN 1666 
 
 AND BURNT BY THE INDIANS 
 13 MARCH 1676 
 
 The monument, in connection with two others, was dedi- 
 cated by appropriate exercises in the Town Hall, on February 
 20, 1880, when an historical address was delivered, and sub- 
 sequently printed. 
 
 The following list of soldiers, who served in the garrisons at 
 Groton during King Philip's War, is given in " A Journal 
 appertaining to the Colony of Mattachusits," kept by John 
 Hull, Treasurer of the Colony, and now in the library of the 
 New England Historic Genealogical Society. The respec- 
 tive dates refer to the time when the men were paid in 
 Boston, and not necessarily to the time of their service. The 
 figures w r ithin the parentheses indicate the page of the Jour- 
 nal where the name is found. 
 
 November 9, 1675. 
 
 * <* 
 
 Samuel Read (54) or 16 oo 
 
 John Bush (54) 03 07 08 
 
 Samuel Bull (54) 02 04 06 
 
 John Largin [Lakin ?] (54) 02 02 oo 
 
 Timothy Forgly (54) 02 02 oo 
 
 Samuel Whitney (54) oo 04 04 
 
 November 30, 1675. 
 
 Thomas Chamberlain (62) 02 09 08 
 
 Jeremiah Morse (62) ***
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 45 
 
 Thomas Bancroft (62) ** 
 
 John Wood (62) i 10 * 
 
 Josiah Wheler (62) 02 12 02 
 
 Hugh Taylor (62) 03 01 08 
 
 Jacob Dane (62) 03 oo oo 
 
 David Church (62) 04 10 oo 
 
 Shuball Sternes (62) 03 oo oo 
 
 Thomas Wood (62) 03 01 08 
 
 William Gill (62) 03 07 08 
 
 John Hawes (62) 01 10 oo 
 
 Onesiphorus Stanly (62) 03 05 02 
 
 John Damon (62) 03 01 08 
 
 Daniel Starling (62) 03 03 04 
 
 Jonathan Sprague (62) 03 oo oo 
 
 Thomas Dunnell (62) 03 oo oo 
 
 Jacob Winslow (62) 03 06 oo 
 
 Pelatiah Smith (62) 03 oo oo 
 
 Thomas Micheson (63) 03 05 02 
 
 December 20, 1675. 
 
 John Codington (101) . . 01 15 02 
 
 Jonathan Parker (101) 03 08 oo 
 
 Ephraim Bemish (101). . . 030804 
 
 Timothy Frogly ( 1 01 ) ... 011600 
 
 JohnTedd (101) .... 03 06 oo 
 
 Samuel Hagar (101) . . . 3 6 
 
 Israel Hill (101) 02 06 02 
 
 Daniel Canada (101) . . 4 i oo 
 
 Nathaniel Domton (101) . . . 03 oo oo 
 Sebread Taylor (101) . . . 
 
 Thomas Frost (101) . . 03 12 oo 
 
 Samuel Allen (101) 03 09 04 
 
 William Doule (101) . . . . 
 William Halford (101) . 
 
 January 25, 1675-6. 
 
 Benjamin Simons (130) . . . 
 
 Lot Johnson (130) 03 oo oo
 
 46 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 Samuel Bull (130) 02 02 oo 
 
 Samuel Cleaveland (130) 02 08 oo 
 
 Daniel Canada (130) oo 18 oo 
 
 Jacob Dane (130) oo 18 oo 
 
 Jeremiah Moss (130) . . . oo 06 oo 
 
 Simon Stone (130) 03 18 oo 
 
 Samuel Hager (130) oo 18 oo 
 
 Fphraim Bemis (130) oo 12 oo 
 
 Subaell Stearnes (130) 01 10 oo 
 
 Thomas Frost (131) oo 07 oo 
 
 Timothy Frogly (131) "000700 
 
 David Church (131) 01 06 06 
 
 February 29, 1675-6. 
 
 Nath. Hill (154) "Under Cap' Wheler& at Groton Garrison" 01 12 10 
 
 Jonathan Hill (154) 011210 
 
 Joseph Foster (154) 011210 
 
 John Waldo (154) 011210 
 
 Francis Dudly (154) 01 12 10 
 
 Samuel Fletcher, Sen. (154) 01 04 05 
 
 Samuel Fletcher, Jr. (154) 011210 
 
 Eleazer Brown (154) 01 19 04 
 
 Cyprian Stevens (154) oo 14 03 
 
 Benjamin Graves (154) 01 19 04 
 
 John Bates (154) 01 12 10 
 
 Stephen Goble (154) 011210 
 
 April 24, 1676. 
 
 Thomas Foster (216) 03 oo oo 
 
 Elea/er Ball (216) oo 06 oo 
 
 Jonath Crisp (216) 02 10 06 
 
 Daniel Adams (216) oo 06 10 
 
 June 24, 1676. 
 
 Zachary Crisp (239) 02 15 08 
 
 Mathias Smith (246) 01 06 06 
 
 Nathaniel Green (246) or 12 06
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 47 
 
 William Clough (246) 01 06 06 
 
 John Goff (246) 01 ii oo 
 
 James Chever (246) 01 n oo 
 
 Edmund Gage (246) 01 06 06 
 
 William Bordman (246) 01 02 03 
 
 Benjamin Graves (246) ." oo 10 oo 
 
 John Hands (246) 01 06 06 
 
 Morris Trulove (246) 01 06 06 
 
 Joseph Pollard (246) 01 n oo 
 
 Moses Wheat (262) 02 08 oo 
 
 Humphry Millard (262) oo 06 10 
 
 Thomas Region (262) 02 14 oo 
 
 Timothy Cutler (262) 02 08 08 
 
 Richard Griffeth (262) 011600 
 
 July 24, 1676. 
 
 Richard Pasmore (338) 04 04 oo 
 
 John Bush (338) 01 02 oo 
 
 John Potter (338) 01 04 oo 
 
 Symon Willard (338) oo 19 03 
 
 In the early spring of 1678, just two years after the attack, 
 the old settlers returned to re-establish the town. Undaunted 
 by their bitter experience, they came back to begin life anew 
 in the wilderness, with all its attendant hardships. It does 
 not appear that the inhabitants were molested by the Indians 
 during this period to any great degree, but they were by no 
 means leading lives of ease or security. The following 
 petition to the General Court, one year after their return to 
 the old settlement, gives a good idea of the situation and 
 circumstances : 
 
 The humble petition and request of the greatest number of the former 
 inhabitants of y K Towne of Groton 
 
 Humbly sheweth to the Honored Generall Court setting in Boston : 
 as followeth viz : 
 
 We who have been great sufferers, by y hand of God, in the late
 
 t 
 48 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 Wars by our heathenish enemyes, as is well knowne to all : &c by 
 which we haue bine enforced, to five before our enimyes ; to our great 
 & greivous losse. <S: trouble. By y- good hand of God to us. haue had 
 so much repreaue, & respitt, as we haue many of us, had y liberty <.\: 
 oppertunity, to returne to the places, though not y- houses of our 
 former abode. And now being under <$: exercised with many & 
 great difficultyes ; Apprehending it our duty, to addresse ourselues ; not 
 onely to our heavenly father ; butt earthly fathers also, in this time 01 
 need : do humbly begg our case may be seriously considered, & 
 weighed, & that some direction, and releife may be affoarded unto 
 us. 
 
 Some of us y- Inhabitants haue ventured : our lines some while 
 since to returne againe, and many others have followed us, whose 
 welcome company is rejoycing unto us. Vett our poverty. & the non- 
 residence of others, doth occation us great and unavoidable trouble. 
 We haue (through Gods goodnesse, & blessing our endeavours, >.\: 
 attempts) procured & obtained the ministry of y c word amoung us ; 
 & haue bin at some considerable charge about it. And are willing (i 
 God please) to keep, & maintaine, it among us. Butt there is some 
 discouragements, upon sundrey accounts. We haue had seuerall 
 towne meetings to consult the good, & welfare of the towne & place 
 & how things may be caried on. as to defraing publiq charges. And it 
 hath bin, voated in our meetings (our visible estate being small) to 
 lay it on y e lands, y 1 so an equality in some respect might be reached 
 unto. This is by y e most judged to be the present best yea y- onely 
 present possible way for us to proceed in. which we desire your 
 honoured selues to putt y r countenance of authority upon. As also 
 That our late dredfull suffering mines, and impoverishments may by 
 your honoured selues be so fare minded S: considered, that we may 
 for the present (till we a litle recover ourselues) be releised from 
 Countrey charges. We would be rightly understood, as to our first 
 request That the way by lands accomodations for the levying towne 
 charges may be stated butt for y'-' present few years, till God by his 
 providence may alter our capacity & condition : Thus craving rjdone 
 for this our boldnesse That successe & a blessing may Attend you in 
 all your affaires ; That God will accomplish his promises <S: built y e 
 wast places, sett up his house & ordinances whence they have been 
 removed delight to build. & plant us againe, S; not to pull us downe &
 
 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 49 
 
 pluck us up That we may yett see This our Jerusalem a quiett habita- 
 tion Thus prayeth your humble & unworthy petitioners : 
 
 Alt A towne meeting at Groton JAMES PARKER 
 
 May 20'!' 1679 Ther red & voated Select man 
 
 by the inhabitants : And clarke in y c 
 
 name of y c rest. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXIX. 224.] 
 
 It answ r to this Pet" It is. ordered by this Court f for 3 : yeares 
 next comeing in all levyes made for y benefit of y c s' 1 place & y 
 maintenance of Gods ordinances there, those y' haue lands there & 
 are not ressid' upon y e place shall pay rates for y r Lands ther as those 
 do y' are ressid' and y' the Inhabitants ther ressid' be abated one single 
 rate p r ann. to y country for ye like times The magis ts haue past this 
 their brethren the deputyes hereto consenting 
 
 EDW D RAWSON Secre' 
 
 29 th May 1679 
 
 The deputs Consent hereto provided that the cattle vpon the place 
 be lyable to pay rates also w th reffer r ence to the consent of o r Hon r0(1 
 magistrs hereto 
 
 WILLIAM TORREY Cleric. 
 
 30 th May 1679 Consented to by the magis ts 
 
 EDW U RAWSON Secret. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXIX. 229.] 
 
 Captain James Parker was the town-clerk during the years 
 1678 and 1679, and in the early history of Groton was with- 
 out question its most influential inhabitant. The following 
 letter among the Shattuck Manuscripts, written by him a year 
 after the destruction of the town, would seem to show that 
 he was then living in Chelmsford, where Major Henchman's 
 farm was situated : 
 
 From M r hinchmanes ffarme ncr mercmack : 23: i'" i6f 
 
 To the Honred Gouner and Counsell thes may informe youer 
 honeres that Sagemore Wanalanset Came this morning to informe 
 me, and then went to M r tinges to informe him that his son being one 
 
 4
 
 50 KING PHILIP'S WAR. 
 
 y e outher sid of meremack Riuer : a hunting with his Dauter with him 
 up the Riuer ouer against Souhegan upon the : 22 day of this instant 
 about tene of the clock in y c morning : he Discoured 1 5 Indens on 
 this sid the Riuer which he soposed to be Mohokes by ther spech he 
 caled to them thay answared but he culd not understand ther spech : 
 and he hauing a Conow ther in the Riuer he went to breck his conow 
 that thay might not haue ani ues of it, in y j mene time thay shot about 
 thurty gunes at him and he being much frighted fled and came home 
 forth with to nahamcok wher ther wigowemes now stand 
 not Eles at Present but but \_sic~\ I 
 
 Remain your saruan to Cofnand 
 
 JAMES PARKER 
 
 Re d 9. night answered 24 : march. 76 
 
 [Superscription] 
 
 To the Honred Gouurner 
 and Counesuell att 
 
 Bostoun 
 hast post hast
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 I. 
 
 AFTER King Philip's War the colonists were at peace with 
 the Indians, but it was a suspicious kind of peace. It re- 
 quired watching and a show of strength to keep it; there was 
 no good-will between the native race and the white intruders. 
 The savages at best made bad neighbors ; they were treacher- 
 ous and addicted to drink. The following entries in the town 
 records show that they were a shiftless and drunken set : - 
 
 Jnneuary 31 1681 It [was] agred upon by the select men That 
 the Indanes shall be warned out of the Toune forth with and if the 
 shall neiglect the warning and if any of them be taken drounke or in 
 drinke or with drinke Then these parsons ar to be sezecl and brout be 
 foure the select men either by counstable or by any other parson and 
 be pounesed accordin as the law doth direct and the Informar shall 
 be sattised for his paines 
 
 March 28 1682 two Indian squaws being apprehended In drinke 
 & with drinke brought to y select men one squaw Nehatchechin swaw 
 being drouncke was sentanced to receive & did receive ten stripes 
 the other John Nasquuns sway was sentanced to pay 3 s 4'' cash and 
 loose her two quart bottle and the Liquour in it awarded to Sarg :u Laken 
 who seized them.
 
 52 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Captain Francis Nicholson, writing from Boston to London, 
 August 31, 1688, speaks of the feeling here at that time. He 
 says : 
 
 Att night [August 19] I came to Dunstable (about 30 miles from 
 hence) from thence I sent two English men and an Indian to Pene- 
 cooke being sixty miles up the river Merymeck ; the men told me they 
 should be 3 dayes in doeing of it ; soe next day I went through Groton 
 and Lancaster, where the people were very much afraid (being out 
 towns) butt I told them as I did other places, that they should nott be 
 soe much cast down, for that they had the happinesse of being subjects 
 of a victorious King, who could protect them from all their enemies. 
 
 [Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 
 IH.55I-] 
 
 Dunstable was formerly a very large township, and its orig- 
 inal territory now includes several towns, lying mostly in New 
 Hampshire. The earliest settled parts of it come within the 
 present limits of Nashua. 
 
 The following letter is preserved among the Shattuck Man- 
 uscripts, and shows that the condition of the town was still 
 unsettled. It gives in a few words a good insight of the situ- 
 ation of affairs at the time : 
 
 GROTON, July: 16. 1689 
 
 To the honred Gouner and councell and Representiues : thes Lins 
 shew the Request of your humbell sarunts the inhabtants of the towne 
 of groton and ouer presant unsetled and almost destrected condition ; 
 we mack bold to troubell you once more ; craning youer aduice and 
 asistanc if it may be obtained that we may go on with ouer bisnes ; 
 to gat in our haruest and do other nessary worke : the barer heare of 
 James Knop and James Parker Jun r are fuly abell to aquaint the 
 honred councell ouer conditon boath in miletary & other cases ; in the 
 towne ; ouer ofesers are by the new choice 
 
 James Parker sener cap' 
 Jonas Prescot Lef 
 John Lacken ensin. 
 *$ order of the towne of groton 
 JOSIAH PARKER, dark.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 53 
 
 July. 17. 1689. The comission offic r s nominated as above are 
 allowed & confirmed by y e Gov r & Counsell. and they do order Cap' 
 Prout to deliver unto James Knop and James Parker for y c use of s ' 
 Town forty pounds of powder and one hundred weight of Lead taking 
 their bill to repay it again into ye stoar in some Convenient time. & 
 do also appoynt y Major of ye Low' Regim' of y l Comd to order y c 
 Impressing of ten soldiers in a meet proportio out of ye seu r all com- 
 panyes under his couiand. to be sent as soone as may be for their 
 releife. 
 
 By order of ye Gov r & Councill 
 
 Is A ADDINGTON, Sec r y. 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Groton Military Officers, past 1 7? July. 89. 
 
 The military company of the town was still kept up, and 
 known as the Foot Company; and, during a part of the year 
 1689, was supported by some cavalry under the command of 
 Captain Jacob Moore. James Parker, Sen., was appointed 
 the captain of it; Jonas Prescott, the lieutenant; and John 
 Lakin, the ensign ; and these appointments were confirmed 
 by the governor and council, at a convention held in Boston, 
 July 13, 1689. A month later, August 10, Captain Parker 
 was ordered to supply Hezekiah Usher's garrison at Nonacoi- 
 cus with " three men of the men sent up thither or of the 
 Town's people for y e defence of y l Garrison being of publique 
 concernment." Groton was one of the four towns that were 
 designated, August 29, as the headquarters of the forces de- 
 tached for the public service against the common enemy 
 Casco, Newichewanick (Berwick), and Haverhill being the 
 others. The Middlesex Upper Regiment and the Suffolk 
 Horse were stationed here ; and soon afterward is recorded 
 an order to send " to the head Quarter at Groton for supply 
 of the Garrison there one Thousand weight of Bread, one 
 barrell of Salt, one barrell of powder three hundred weight of 
 Shott, and three hundred fflints, Six quire of Paper." Eleven 
 troopers were sent to this post, September 17, under Cornet
 
 54 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 John Chubbuck, in order to relieve Corporal Ebenezer White 
 and his command ; a fortnight later Cornet Chubbuck was 
 succeeded by John Pratt. (Archives, LXXXI. 24, 60, 63, 67, 
 74, Si.) The commissary of the post at this time was Jona- 
 than Remington, who seems to have had but little duty to 
 perform. Shortly afterward, the order came from the Gov- 
 ernor and Council to discharge him, as well as Captain Moore 
 and his company of cavalry, from the public service. The 
 record is as follows : 
 
 Upon information there is but little work for a Comissary at Groton 
 the Representatives do agree & order that the Comissary there ; be 
 discharged from said Imploymen' : 
 
 Ordered by the Representatives That Capt' 1L: Jaccob Moore w th his 
 Company at Groton be forth w th drawne off and discharged desireing 
 the Hon rd Gov r & Councill Consent 
 
 Novemb r ; 6 th : 1689: EBENEZER PROUT Clerk 
 
 Consent' 1 to by the Gov r 
 & Councill 
 
 1st ADDINGTON Sec ry 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXXV. 71, 73.] 
 
 Jeremy Sweyne writes, from " Berwick att Salmon falls 
 Octob r 15. 89,"- 
 
 Capt. Wiswell with ye biggest part of his part of his company 
 scouted up westward into ye chestnut woods 4 dayes but found none 
 of ye enimy nor yet where y y haue lately binn, it is supposed y l small 
 party of Indians may be in ye chestnut cuntry beyond Groaton, . . . 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXXV. 56.] 
 
 John Paige, of Groton, went in the expedition to Canada, 
 in the year 1690, under Major Wade; he was wounded in the 
 left arm, and did not entirely recover for two years. His sur- 
 geon's bill, amounting to seven pounds, was paid out of the 
 public treasury. The petition in his behalf, now among the 
 Shattuck Manuscripts, is as follows :
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 55 
 
 To his Excellency S" William Pliips Knight Cap" Generall and Gor- 
 ernour in chiefe of their Maj' 1 " Province of the Massachusetts Bay 
 in New England, and Hon rd Council and Representatives thereof 
 now assembled in Generall Court sitting att Boston ffebruary 23' 
 169! 
 
 The petition of John Paige of Groton for himself and in behalf of 
 his son John Paige who was a souldier under the comand of Major 
 Wade in the Late Expedition to Canada against y coition enemy 
 
 Humbly Shevveth That yo r Petitio r s son the s' 1 John Paige att 
 Canada received a Grevious wound in his left arme, of which after 
 his returne home he lay lame und r the Chyrurgeons hand for the 
 Space of Twelve months and upwards, before he gatt cure, and 
 after he gatt cure was a twelve month more before he could doe or 
 performe any reasonable bodily Labour to procure himself a Lively 
 hood. 
 
 That Yo r Petition" sons cure came to Seaven pounds w ch yo r Peti- 
 tio r undertooke the payment of to the Chyrurgeon, and of wh dl he hath 
 only rec li from the country thirty shillings, w ch was soe much allowd 
 and ordered by the Comittee formerly appointed to Inspect y c affaires 
 of Canada wounded men, his Son being att that time under cure, butt 
 not cured till a very Considerable time aft r and soe had said thirty 
 shillings allowed him for payment of y e Chyrurgeon for what he had 
 done to that time 
 
 Now Forasmuch as yo r Petitio r hath formerly made Applycation to 
 yo r Ex cy and this hon ri1 Court referring to y c premisses Butt nothing 
 hither haveing therein been done, yett hopes you will not deale by 
 his son worse then by others of y e wounded men. 
 
 Yo r Petitio r Therefore for himself and in behalf of his said son 
 humbly Entreats yo r Exc cy and this hon rd Court to take y c premisses 
 into consideracofi. and that you will please to allow and order unto yo r 
 petition' the remainder of s d moneys for the cure of his son, as also 
 that you will please to allow unto his son Such compensation for the 
 loss of his time and for payment of his Dyatt during the continuance 
 of his afores d lameness, as to yo r wisdoms shall seeme most meet & 
 requisite. 
 
 And yo r Petition' as in 
 
 duty bound Shall ever pray 
 
 JOHN PAIGE
 
 56 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 This may certifie that John Paige Sone of the Petition' was under 
 the hands of me Jonathan Prescott Chyrurgeon above a twelve months 
 time, and that his cure pformed by me came to seaven pounds 
 
 JONATHAN PRESCOTT 
 
 voted that John Page Jun r son of the Petition" shall for the payment 
 of the Chirurgion and Dyet Dureing the time of his Cure Receive out 
 of the publicque treasury of this province Twelve pounds deducting 
 out of s' 1 suiTie what he has all ready Reced : passed in the Affirmative 
 by the House Re. NATH : BYFIELD Speaker 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 John Paige of Groton his petition 
 1693 27 febr Vof. 1 in Council . 12. to be p d deducting &:c. 
 
 Anything relating to the brave men who suffered in the 
 Indian wars is now of interest, and I offer no apology for 
 giving incidents that may to some persons seem trivial. 
 
 Cotton Mather mentions, in his Magnalia, a few instances 
 of " mortal wounds upon the English not proving mortal," and 
 gives the case of an inhabitant of this town who was in a gar- 
 rison at Exeter, New Hampshire, when that place \vas as- 
 saulted, July 4, 1690. He says : 
 
 It is true, that one Simon Stone being here Wounded with Shot in 
 Nine several places, lay for Dead (as it was time !) among the Dead. 
 The Indians coming to Strip him, attempted with Two several Blows 
 of an Hatchet at his Neck to cut off his Head, which Blows added you 
 may be sure, more Enormous Wounds unto those Port-holes of Death, 
 at which the Life of the poor Man was already running out as fast as 
 it could. Being charged hard by Lieutenant Bancroft they left the 
 Man without Scalping him ; and the English now coming to Bury the 
 Dead, one of the Soldiers perceived this poor Man to fetch a Gasp ; 
 whereupon an Irish Fellow then present, advised 'em to give him 
 another Dab with an Hatchet, and so Bury him with the rest. The 
 English detesting this Barbarous Advice, lifted up the Wounded Man, 
 and poured a little Fair Water into his Mouth at which he Coughed ; 
 then they poured a little Strong Water after it, at which he opened 
 his Eyes. The Irish Fellow was ordered now to hale a Canoo ashore
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 57 
 
 to carry the Wounded Men up the River unto a Chirurgeon ; and as 
 Teague was foolishly pulling the Canoo ashore with the Cock of his 
 Gun, while he held the Muzzle in his Hand, his Gun went off and 
 broke his Arm, whereof he remains a Cripple to this Day : But 
 Simon Stone was thoroughly Cured, and is at this Day a very Lusty 
 Man ; and as he was Born with Two Thumbs on one Hand, his 
 Neighbours have thought him to have at least as many Hearts as 
 Thumbs /" (Book VII. page 74.) 
 
 Many families who have lived in Groton trace back their 
 line of descent to this same Simon Stone, who \vas so hard to 
 kill, and to whom, fortunately, the finishing " Dab with an 
 Hatchet " was not given. 
 
 Occasionally the early settlers gave Christian names to the 
 savages living in their neighborhood, perhaps with some 
 baptismal rite. These names were used in connection with 
 their Indian ones, though sometimes followed by the word 
 " Indian " as a surname. Instances of this custom are not 
 uncommon. The following certificates of Josiah Parker, the 
 town-clerk, relate to Jacob Nonantinooah, or Jacob Indian, 
 who had been living in the vicinity. From the official posi- 
 tion of the writer they were of considerable authority : 
 
 Josiah Parker of Groton testifyes that he is very well acquainted 
 vv th y e Indian now in prison named Jacob Nonantinooah & that he 
 Can say of his certain knowledge y' he hath seen him every month 
 since y e last Indian warr began, except it was when he y e said Jacob 
 was in y e Countrey service under y e Cofnand of Capt" Noah Wiswall 
 in the years Eighty nine & Ninety : allso if he be required he Can 
 produce severall y' Can testify y e same Hee further saith that as far 
 as it is possible to know an Indian he is a friend to the English <N: 
 hath manifested the same both in word an Action & whereas severall 
 of y e Inhabitants of Groton have been out in y e woods on hunting 
 they have taken this said Jacob w'l 1 them who in y night hath showne 
 his Care more then any of them in his watchfullness : expressing him- 
 selfe to them that it did Concerne him so to do, for if they were Sur- 
 prized by y e enemy Indians he should be worse dealt w 1 ! 1 then the 
 English : also many other Instances might be mentioned : 
 
 JOSIAH PARKER
 
 58 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 GROTON Decmbr. 8 1 ! 1 1691 
 
 The testomoneys of Josiah Parker aged. 36 : years : and of Joseph 
 Parker aged 40 yeres : Thomas Tarball aged. 25 : years or there 
 abouts ; testify concarning Jacob Indein now in prison ; that the two 
 winters last past y c s a Jacob has bin gineraly in owr tovvne with his 
 famely Except when he was out a hunting and then the s' 1 Joseph 
 Parker or s' 1 Tarball were out with him or soni other Inglesh men who 
 have geeuen sd Jacob a good coment as to his care and wachfulnes as 
 to y c enemy boath by night and day and by the best inquiery that we 
 can make s' 1 Jacob has never bin out a hunting aboue once without 
 som English Companey with him & then he was not gon aboue a 
 fortnight and that was about two years sence ; the which if caled too 
 am redy too testify upon oath pr me 
 
 JOSIAH PARKER 
 
 GROTON Decmbr. 8 th . 1691 
 
 Concarning the man that has accuesed the Indeins in prison he is 
 a man litell to be credeted for on the : 2 th day of this Instent at 
 Euening : Let' 1 Boweres and : I : at Mr. Sumers'is at charlestowne 
 discorsing him namly Abraham Miller about y c s' 1 Indeins : and, 
 teling him that he was mistaken for thes Indeins ware not at Canedy 
 at that time when he charged them ; s' 1 Miller sd Zoundes that if ever 
 he saw them Indens again out of prison he would kill them : and 
 being a litell cautioned to be sober minded he broke out with an oath 
 that if he ware but out of ye countrey himselfe ; he wished the In- 
 deins would knock out y e braines of every person in New england. 
 This was spok before M r Sumers & his wife and severall outliers ; y c 
 s' 1 person being asked whether he ware not in a passion sometime 
 after he Replyed no he was of y c same mind still that if he ware out 
 of y countrey he did not care if all the Rest ware knocked their 
 braines out to which if caled to am redy too testify upon oath. 
 Pr me 
 
 JOSIAH PARKER 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 323.] 
 
 Thirteen chapters of a history of the town were published 
 in the " Groton Herald" between December 12, 1829, and 
 July 3, 1830. of which Mr. Butler wrote the first eleven, and 
 Mr. Lemuel Shattuck the other two chapters. The following
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 59 
 
 extract is taken from the last one, which appeared in tin 
 issue of July 3 : 
 
 For many years subsequent to this period, the system which had 
 been followed in 1675 and 6, of settling in garrisons for protection 
 against the Indians, was continued. From an account of the " settle- 
 ment of the garrisons in the west regiment of Middlesex," the follow- 
 ing, relating to Groton, is extracted and is valuable. 
 
 Groton, Afarcli i 7///, 1691-2 
 Ensign Jno. Lakin and 
 Jno. Paris, 
 
 Widdow Blood, Junr. 
 William Sanders, 
 
 Jno. Lakin, 10 men. 
 
 Nathaniel Blood, 
 Jno. Alexander, 
 Benjamin Palmer and 
 their familys. 
 
 Capt. [James] Parker and 
 Samuel Parker, 
 James Parker, 
 Zac. Parker, 
 William Longley, 
 Jno. Nutting, 
 Thomas Tarbell, 
 James Robinson, 
 James Nutting, and 
 their familys. 
 
 Enosh Lawrence 
 Lieut. Lakin and 3 sons, 
 Joseph Lawrence, 
 Samuel Walmer, 
 James Blood, 
 Jno. Shadock, 
 Samuel Kemp, 
 Daniel Barney and 
 their familys. 
 
 f 1 1 men. 
 
 13 men.
 
 60 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Lt. [Jonas] Prescott and 
 Nathaniel Lawrence, 
 James Knop, 
 Elias Barnes, 
 Samuel Scripture, 
 Ephraim Filbrook, 
 Daniel Peirce, 
 Jno. Barnes, 
 Steven Holding, 
 Jno. Perrum, 
 Samuel Davis and 
 their familys. 
 widdow Sawtle with 
 y"'. 
 
 Jno. Davis, 
 
 Nicholas Cade, 
 
 Cornelius Church, 
 
 Jno. Cade, 
 
 Joseph Cade, 
 
 Joshua Whitting, [Whitney] 
 
 Joshua Whitting, Junr. [Whitney] 
 
 Peleg Lawrence, 
 
 Jonathan Lawrence, 
 
 James Fisk, 
 
 Samuel Fisk, 
 
 Robert Robin and 
 
 their familys. In all 31 men. 
 
 Jno. Farnsworth and 
 Mathew Farnsworth, 
 Benjamin Farnsworth, ' 
 Samuel Farnsworth, 
 Widdow Farnsworth, 
 Simon Stone, 
 Jno. Stone, 
 
 Nicholas Hutchins and 
 their familys.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 6 1 
 
 At Mr. Hezekiah Usher's farm. 
 Samuel Bennet, ^ 
 
 Bennet, and ^5 men. 
 Three Souldiers. 
 
 (91 men.) 
 
 The " Whitting's " names are wrongly spelt. They should have l)een 
 Whitney. They and many other of these families were from Water- 
 town. Their sister Ruth, the widow of Mr. John Shattuck, who was 
 drowned in Charlestown Ferry in 1675, anc ^ tne mother of the Shat- 
 tuck families in Groton and Pepperell, married Enosh Lawrence/ 
 Several curious facts might be related concerning many of these 
 families, were it consistent with the time and object of this communi- 
 cation. Could not the location of each of these eight garrisons be 
 ascertained ? 
 
 Mr. Butler prints this list of garrisons in his History (page 
 91), and gives an additional one between Enosh Lawrence's 
 and Jonas Prescott's, as follows : 
 
 William Green and 
 John Lawrence, 
 Abigail Parker, widow, 
 Joshua Wheat, 
 Samuel Church, 
 Joseph Parker, 
 John Greene, 
 Daniel Cady, 
 John Page and sons, 
 Samuel Woods, sen., 
 Thomas Woods, and 
 their families. 
 
 ii 
 
 men. 
 
 This garrison was omitted from Mr. Shattuck's list, probably 
 by an oversight; and the " 11 men" are needed to make up 
 the sum total of "91 men." It would gratify curiosity to 
 know the sites of these several garrison-houses, and where 
 each family lived ; but this can be stated only in a general 
 and imperfect manner.
 
 62 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Ensign John Lakin, and the families named with him, are 
 believed to have lived in that part of the town known as 
 Nod, and the outlying district. 
 
 Captain James Parker's land lay, in part, on both sides of 
 the present Main Street, and his house stood near the site 
 of the Town Hall. The persons named with him lived, mostly, 
 in the northerly part of the village. 
 
 Enosh Lawrence, and those associated with him, occupied 
 the northerly part of the town. 
 
 Lieutenant Jonas Prcscott's house-lot was at the southerly 
 end of the village, and those in the garrison with Prescott 
 lived near by. 
 
 John Davis and his associates dwelt in the southeasterly 
 part of the town, on the " Great Road " to the Ridges. 
 
 John Farnsworth and the others with him lived in the 
 south part of the town. 
 
 Hezekiah Usher's farm was at Nonacoicus, now included 
 in the town of Aycr. Usher's will, on file in the Suffolk 
 County Probate Office, is dated Nonacoicus, April 17, 1689. 
 He had married the widow of President Hoar, of Harvard 
 College, who was a daughter of John Lisle, one of the Com- 
 missioners of the Great Seal, under Cromwell ; but the mar- 
 riage was not a happy one. She left him and went to England 
 in the year 1687, and did not return until after his death, 
 which took place at Lynn on July II, 1697. 1 hi s w ^ 
 he refers very plainly to his domestic troubles, and bitterly 
 blames his absent wife. 
 
 William Green lived near the site of Lawrence Academy ; and 
 those with him, southerly and easterly of this neighborhood. 
 
 During this period the Indians began again to be trouble- 
 some, and for the next fifteen or twenty years continued their 
 occasional depredations by murdering the inhabitants, burn- 
 ing their houses, destroying their crops, or killing their cattle. 
 Into these garrison-houses the neighboring families gathered 
 at night, where they were guarded by armed men who 
 warned the inmates of any approach of danger.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 63 
 
 David Jeffries, writing from Boston, September 16, 1692, to 
 Lieutenant-Governor John Usher, says : - 
 
 y e 14 th Inst at night a Post came to towne fro Majo r Hinrksman, 
 w ch gave an ace" of about 80 or 100 Indians, y' our scouts had made 
 discovery of in y night siting j> theire fires hammering of slugs for 
 theire gunns our scouts was soe neare them y 1 they could see y' Indi- 
 ans & heare them talke, yesterday morning we had news y 1 y c Indians 
 had killd two men at Groton Jera : Bowers is gone out w t!l about 
 100 men after them. . . . 
 
 The letter is now in the possession of Mr. William Lloyd 
 Jeffries, of Boston. 
 
 A few weeks later James Blood was killed by the " French 
 and Indian enemy" on October 13, 1692, according to Mr. 
 Lemuel Shattuck, in his Shattuck Memorials (page 78). Mr. 
 Butler mentions the fact, but does not give the date. Possi- 
 bly there is an error in regard to the time, and Blood may 
 have been one of the men killed, as mentioned by David 
 Jeffries. 
 
 At times troops were stationed here by the Colonial au- 
 thorities for the protection of the town ; and the orders and 
 counter-orders to the small garrison tell too well that danger 
 was threatening. In the mean while King William's \Var 
 was going on ; and the enemy had material and sympathetic 
 aid from the French in Canada. The second attack on 
 the town came in the summer of 1694, and the accounts 
 of it I prefer to give in the words of contemporary writers. 
 Sometimes there are discrepancies, but, in the main, such 
 narratives are trustworthy. 
 
 The attack was made on Friday, July 27, and Cotton 
 Mather, in his Magnalia, thus refers to it: 
 
 Nor did the Storm go over so : Some Drops of it fell upon the 
 Town of Groton, a Town that lay, one would think, far enough oft" the 
 Place where was the last Scene of the Tragedy. 
 
 On July 27. [1694,] about break of Day Groton felt some sur- 
 prizing Blows from the Indian Hatchets. They began their Attacks
 
 64 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 at the House of one Lieutenant Lakin, in the Out-skirts of the Town ; 
 but met with a Repulse there, and lost one of their Crew. Never- 
 theless, in other Parts of that Plantation, (when the good People 
 had been so tired out as to lay down their Military IVatcK) there 
 were more than Twenty Persons killed, and more than a Dozen car- 
 ried away. Mr. Gershom Hobart, the Minister of the Place, with 
 part of his Family, was Remarkably preserved from falling into their 
 Hands, when they made themselves the Masters of his House ; though 
 they Took Two of his Children, whereof the one was Killed, and the 
 other some time after happily Rescued out of his Captivity. (Book 
 VII. page 86.) 
 
 Charlevoix, a French missionary in Canada, gives from his 
 own standpoint another version, as follows : 
 
 The Abenaqui chief was Taxous, already celebrated for many ex- 
 ploits, and commendable attachment to our interests. This brave man, 
 not satisfied with what he had just so valiantly achieved, chose forty of 
 his most active men, and after three days' march, by making a long 
 circuit, arrived at the foot of a fort [at Groton] near Boston, and 
 attacked it in broad day. The English made a better defence than 
 they did at Pescadoue [Piscataqua]. Taxous had two of his nephews 
 killed by his side, and himself received more than a dozen musket 
 balls in his clothes, but he at last carried the place, and then continued 
 his ravages to the very doors of the capital. 
 
 [History of New France, IV. 257, Shea's edition.] 
 
 The following reference to the assault is found in the re- 
 port, made October 26, 1694, by M. Champigny, to the Min- 
 ister Pontchartrain. The original document is in the Archives 
 of the Marine and Colonies at Paris; and I am indebted to 
 Mr. Francis Parkman, the distinguished historian, for a copy 
 of it: 
 
 These Indians did not stop there ; four parties of them have since 
 been detached, who have been within half a day's journey of Boston 
 [/'. e., at Groton], where they have killed or captured more than sixty 
 persons, ravaged and pillaged everything they found, which has thrown 
 all the people into such consternation that they are leaving the open 
 country to seek refuge in the towns.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 65 
 
 A French " Relation " of an expedition by Villieu also 
 mentions the assault. A copy of the paper is found in the 
 Massachusetts Archives at the State House, in the volume 
 marked "Documents collected in France," IV. 251. The 
 writer gives the date of the attack some days later than is 
 usually assigned. He says : 
 
 On the 30th the Indians of the Penobscot, not having taken as 
 many prisoners and as much booty as those of the Kennebec, because 
 they had not found enough to employ themselves ; at the solicitation 
 of Villieu and of Taxous their chief, some fifty of them detached them- 
 selves to follow this last person, who was piqued at the little that had 
 been done. They were joined by some of the bravest warriors of 
 the Kennebec, to go on a war party above Boston to break heads by 
 surprise \casser des fetes a la surprise], after dividing themselves into 
 several squads of four or five each, which cannot fail of producing a 
 good effect. (Pages 260, 261.) 
 
 Judge Sewall, in his Diary, printed in the " Collections of 
 the Massachusetts Historical Society," writes: 
 
 Friday, July 27. Groton set upon by the Indians, 21 persons 
 kill'd, 13 captivated, 3 badly wounded. About 9. night, Mr. Lodo- 
 wick comes to Boston. Between 10. and n. there is an Alarm, 
 through the Town kept up till near day-break. Mr. Brattle was arriv'd 
 at Col. Shrimpton's, there he told me of Mr. Lodowick's unhappi- 
 ness in coming just then. During the Alarm, Mr. Willard's little 
 daughter Sarah dies, buried on Sabbath-day a little before Sunset. 
 (V. Fifth series, 391.) 
 
 The child Sarah, mentioned by Sewall, was a daughter, only 
 a few months old, of the Reverend Samuel Willard, the minister 
 of Groton when the town was previously burned ; but at this 
 time he was settled over the Old South Church in Boston. 
 
 The Reverend John Pike makes the following reference to 
 the assault, in his Journal, printed in the Proceedings of the 
 same Society for September, 1875 : 
 
 July 27. The enemy fell upon Groton ab' day-break, killed 22 
 persons & Captivated 13. (XIV. 128.) 
 
 5
 
 66 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Governor Hutchinson, in his " History of the Province of 
 Massachusetts Bay," published during the following century, 
 writes : 
 
 Having crossed Merrimack, on the 2yth of July [1694] they fell 
 upon Groton, about 40 miles from Boston. They were repulsed at 
 Lakin's garrison house, but fell upon other houses, where the people 
 were oft* their guard, and killed and carried away from the vicinity 
 about forty persons. Toxus's two nephews were killed by his side, 
 and he had a dozen bullets through his blanket, according to 
 Charlevoix, who adds that he carried the fort or garrison and then 
 went to make spoil at the gates of Boston ; in both which facts the 
 French account is erroneous. (II. 82.) 
 
 II. 
 
 In the assault of July, 1694, the loss on the part of the 
 inhabitants was considerably greater than when the town was 
 destroyed in the attack of 1676. It is said that the scalps of 
 the unfortunate victims were given to the Count de Frontenac, 
 governor of Canada. A large majority, and perhaps all, of the 
 prisoners taken at this time were children. The Indians had 
 learned that captives had a market value ; and children, when 
 carried off, could be more easily guarded than adults. It was 
 more profitable for the savages to exchange prisoners for a 
 ransom, or sell them to the French, than it was to kill them. 
 It is now too late to give the names of all the sufferers, but a 
 few facts in regard to them may be gathered from fragmen- 
 tary sources. The families that suffered the severest lived, for 
 the most part, in the same general neighborhood, which was 
 near the site of the first meeting-house. Lieutenant William 
 Lakin's house, where the fight began, was situated in the 
 vicinity of Chicopee Row.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 The following list of casualties, necessarily incomplete and 
 in part conjectural, is given as an approximation to the loss 
 sustained by the town : 
 
 Killed. Captured. 
 
 John Longley's family 7 3 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hobart's i i 
 
 John Shepley's 4? i 
 
 James Parker, Jr.'s 2 3 ? 
 
 Alexander Rouse's 2 i 
 
 Mr. Gershom Hobart, the minister, whose house was cap- 
 tured in this assault, lived where the Baptist meeting-house 
 now stands. One of his boys was killed, and another, Ger- 
 shom, Jr., was carried off. There is a tradition extant that 
 a third child was concealed under a tub in the cellar, and thus 
 saved from the fury of the savages. Judge Sewall writes in 
 his Diary, under the date of May i, 1695 : 
 
 Mr. Hobarts son Gershom is well at a new Fort a days Journey 
 above Nerigawag [Norridgewock], Masters name is Nassacombewit, a 
 good Master, and Mistress. Master is chief Captain, now Bambazeen 
 is absent. 
 
 [Massachusetts Historical Collections, V. Fifth series, 403, 404.] 
 
 It is not known exactly when he was rescued from captiv- 
 ity, but probably not long afterwards. The inscription on the 
 Shepley monument says that " the Indians massacred all the 
 Sheples in Groton save a John Sheple 16 years old who the[y] 
 carried captive to Canada and kept him 4 years, after which 
 he returned to Groton and from him descended all the Sheples 
 or Shepleys in this Vicinity; " but there is no record to show 
 how many there were in this family. Mr. Butler, in his 
 History (page 97), makes substantially the same statement, 
 but does not mention any number. In my list it is placed at 
 five, which is conjectural ; of this number probably four were 
 slain. Shepley lived near where the Martin's Pond road starts 
 off from the North Common. The knowledge which the bov
 
 68 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 John obtained of their language and customs, while a prisoner 
 among the Indians, was of much use to him in after-life. 
 Tradition relates that, when buying furs and skins of them, he 
 used to put his foot in one scale of the balance instead of a 
 pound weight. In the summer of 1/04, while he and thirteen 
 other men were reaping in a field at Groton, they were at- 
 tacked by about twenty Indians. After much skirmishing, 
 Shepley and one of his comrades, Butterfield by name, suc- 
 ceeded in killing one of the assailants, for which act they 
 each were allowed four pounds by the government. He was 
 the direct ancestor of the late Honorable Ether Shepley, 
 of Portland, formerly Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
 the State of Maine, and of his son, the late General George 
 Foster Shepley, formerly a Justice of the Circuit Court of 
 the First Circuit of the United States. 
 
 Sheplcy's petition to the General Court, which gives the 
 particulars of the attack, is as follows : 
 
 To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq r Cap'. General and Goremo''. 
 in Chief in &> over her ^Iaf : '^ Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay 
 &> ril in New England To tJie Hon ! ' ! ; her Maf": s Council in s* Pror- 
 ince and To the Hon 1 ' 1 .* tlie House of Representatives now convened in 
 General Assembly within &" for said Province. Octob''. 25?'' 1704. 
 
 The Humble Petition of John Shepley of Groton Sheweth 
 That when Major Taylor was at Groton, having drawn off most of 
 his men from the place, and marched to Col. Tyngs yo. r Petitioner and 
 Thirteen men more being some reaping and y c rest Warding in a ffield 
 at Groton afores' 1 the Indians to the number of about twenty came 
 upon them when yo r . Petitioner and the rest betook themselves to their 
 Arms, and three others being along with yo r Petitioner, the Indians ran 
 round the ffield & met them & the s' 1 Indians made several shott at the 
 English, but amongst the rest one lusty stout Indian with a holland 
 shirt on ran about 8 or 10 Rodcl side by side with yof Petitioner & 
 the other 3 men in his Company, about 10 Rodd to the right hand of 
 them when he fired upon us, and as soon as he had fired yo r Petitioner 
 fired being loaded with a slugg & another of the Company at the same
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 time fired a Bullet at him, whereupon the s' 1 Indian fell down and 
 cryd out ; There were 3 of our first Company kilPd or carryed 
 away, Afterwards ye s l1 Indian was found dead & a slugg & I Juliet 
 in his Body his Scalp being sent up to his Excellency by Major 
 Taylor. 
 
 Yo r Petitioner therefore humbly prays yo r Excellency c\: Hon r> to 
 take the premises into yo' Consideration and he may be allowed 
 such Encouragem' for his service herein as the Law allows 
 or as to yo r Excellency & Hono r ." in yo r Wisdoms shall seem 
 meet 
 
 and yor Petitioner shall pray m 
 
 JOHN SHEPLEY. 
 Octob' 26 th 1704. 
 In Council, 
 Read and sent down. 
 
 On the back of the petition is written : 
 
 In the House of Representatives 
 Octo!^ 27: i 704 Read and 
 
 Resolved. That the sum of four Pounds be allowed and Paid 
 out of the publick Treasury to the Petition! and the like Sum 
 of four Pounds to Samuel Butterfield, who this House is Inform' 1 
 did assist in the killing of the Indian mentioned in the Petition, 
 and that no other or further sum be allowed for the killing of the 
 s d Indian 
 
 JAM " CONVERSE Speaker 
 Sent up for Concurrence 
 
 in Council. 
 Die pdict. 
 
 Read and Concurr'd 
 
 Is A ADDINGTON Secry. 
 
 [Endorsed] John Shepley's Petition Octo: i 704 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 496,497.] 
 
 While it was resolved, in connection with this petition, that 
 no further sum be allowed for the killing of the Indian, But- 
 terfield subsequently obtained an additional sum of five pounds
 
 70 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 from the public treasury in consequence of his services and 
 the loss of his accoutrements. The application for help, 
 dated April 10, 1706, is printed on page 95; and from this 
 document it appears that Butterfield was captured with 
 another man at this time, and a third one was killed. The 
 attack occurred in the month of August, 1704. 
 
 A petition to the General Court, dated May 31, 1699, an d 
 signed by Josiah Parker, says that " James Parker Jun r Brother 
 to yo r humble Pet" r was killed, with his Wife, several of his 
 Children also were then carryed away Captive." In the list of 
 casualties I have placed the number of these children at 
 three, which is conjectural on my part. The site of Parker's 
 house is unknown. 
 
 The petition for the relief of the family is as follows: - 
 
 PROVINCE OF Y E MASSACHUSETTS BAY : May 31^ 1699 
 
 To his Excellency The' Right Hon H f Richard Ectrle of Bcllomont 
 GoTerinf. in CJiief of his Majesties Prorince of the Massachusetts 
 Bay in New England and to y" Hon bl ' y f Council and Representa- 
 tives in Gen" Court Assembled 
 
 The Petition of Josiah Parker of Cambridge humbly sheweth 
 That whereas in the year 1693 [1694?] the Indian enemy made an 
 assault upon the Town of Groton in which, among others James 
 Parker Jun r Brother to yo r humble Pet'! r was killed, with his Wife, 
 several of his Children also were then carryed away Captive, one of 
 which named Phinehas Parker something less than a year ago was (by 
 a Master of a Vessell belonging to Ipswich) redeemed from the Indians 
 at y e Eastward : which said Master has been reimbursed by yor Pet nr 
 w cl ' is to the Value of about six pounds in Money. 
 
 The earnest request of yo[ humble Pet n . r to yo r Excellency & to this 
 Hon' 1 .' 1 -* Court is that you would please to consider him & that allow- 
 ance may be made him out of the publick Treasury for what he lias 
 disburst Also he desires humbly that you would please something to 
 consider the said Phinehas who is a poor Orphan now- about twelve 
 years old, and is like wise lame of one of his Leggs occasioned by y 
 cruelty of y e Salvages and it is very questionable whether ever lie will
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 71 
 
 be cured, & has little or nothing left him of his Fathers estate for his 
 support If therefore what has here been suggested by yo r humble 
 Pet"/ may be accordingly considered and granted, it will greatly oblige 
 him, as in duty Bound, 
 
 Ever to Pray, &c 
 
 JOSIAH PARKER 
 June 3 1699 Read ist tyme 
 
 June 6 th 1699 read a 2'! time, June y th read a 3 rd time and Voted 
 that the Petitioner be Allowed six pounds money out of the publick 
 Treary 
 
 Sent up for Concurrence 
 
 JAM s CONVERSE 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 401.] 
 
 The late Reverend James Delap Farnsworth, in a manu- 
 script account of William Longley, now in the library of the 
 New England Historic Genealogical Society, says that " two 
 of his neighbors named Rouse" were killed in the same mas- 
 sacre. Alexander Rouse lived in the vicinity, and this refer- 
 ence by Mr. Farnsworth is to him and his wife. There 
 was one " Tamasin Rouce of Grotten " received January 17, 
 1698-99, on board the Province Galley at Casco Bay; and 
 she, doubtless, was a daughter. (Archives, LXX. 399.) Two 
 commissioners had been sent to Casco Bay, in order to make 
 a treaty of peace with the Indians, and to bring away the 
 prisoners. One of the commissioners "took certain Minutes 
 of Remarkable Things from some of the captives," and Cot- 
 ton Mather, in his Magnalia, gives his readers what he calls 
 " a Taste of them." Mather speaks of the little girl, and 
 says : 
 
 Assacombuit sent Thomasin Rouse, a Child of about Ten Years old, 
 unto the Water-side to carry something. The Child cried : He took 
 a Stick and struck her down : She lay for Dead : He took her up and 
 threw her into the Water : Some Indians not far off ran in and fetch'd 
 her out. This Child we have now brought home with us. (Book 
 VII. Page 95.)
 
 72 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Among the " Nams of thos Remaining Still in hands of 
 the french at Canada," found in a document dated October, 
 1695, are those of " Lidey Langly gerl " and " Jn" Shiply 
 boy." In this list the residences of both these children are 
 incorrectly written, Lydia's being given as Dover, New Hamp- 
 shire, and John's as Oyster River. They both belonged in 
 this town, and were taken at the assault of July 27, 1694. 
 The name of Thomas Drew appears in the same list as of 
 Groton, which is a mistake, as he was of Oyster River. 
 (Archives, XXXVIII. A 2.) 
 
 This expedition against Groton was planned in part by the 
 Indians at a fort called Amsaquonte above Norridgewock, in 
 Maine. It was arranged also in the plan of operations that 
 Oyster River now Durham, New Hampshire should be 
 attacked on the way ; and the assault on that town was made 
 July 1 8, nine days before the one on Groton. At Oyster 
 River more than ninety persons were either killed or cap- 
 tured ; the prisoners from the two towns appear to have been 
 taken to Maine, where they were brought frequently together 
 during their captivity. On January 21, 1695, Lieutenant- 
 Governor William Stoughton issued a proclamation, in which 
 he refers to the " tragical outrages and barbcrous murders " 
 at Oyster River and Groton. He says that several of the 
 prisoners taken at these places " are now detained by the said 
 Indians at Amarascoggin and other adjoining places." l 
 
 Hezekiah Miles, alias Hector, a friendly Indian, at one 
 time a captive in the enemy's hands, made a deposition 
 before the Lieutenant-Governor and Council, at Boston, May 
 31, 1695, stating that, - 
 
 in the month of July 1694. there was a gathering of the Indi- 
 ans at the said new Fort [Amsaquonte] and preparations to go forth 
 to war, and that two or three days before they intended to set out, they 
 kild and boyld several dogs, and held a Feast, where was present 
 
 1 Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 
 IX. 613, 614.
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 73 
 
 Egeremet, Bomaseen, Warumbee, & Ahasombamet with divers others, 
 of the chief among them, they discoursed of falling upon Oyster 
 River and Groton ; and Bomaseen was to command one of the Com- 
 pany, & the day before they intended to set forth, myself with ffour 
 Indians more were despatched away to Canada with a Letter from the 
 Fryar and were upon our Voyage thither and back again about ffourt" 
 days and brought down about two barrels of powder, shot proportion- 
 able & some fire armes. About the time of our return, the Indians 
 came in after the Mischief done at Oyster River & Groton, and in 
 particular, I saw Bomaseen in his Canoo, which was well laden, there 
 was two English Captives, some scalps, and a large pack of Plunder 
 brought in that Canoo, and Bomaseen two or three days after his 
 return home went away to Canada. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, VIII. 39.] 
 
 Ann Jenkins, in a deposition given June 11, 1695, testifies 
 that she was taken on July 18, 1694, at Oyster River, and 
 that she, 
 
 with nine Captives more were Carried up to penecook & were Left 
 with Three Indians & that party went to Groaten Bomazeen being their 
 Commander. In nine dayes they returned & brought twelue Captives 
 & from thence with their Cannoes sometimes a float & sometimes Car- 
 ried untill that we Came to Norridgeawocke which tooke us fifteen 
 dayes & staied about two months there then dispersed into the woods 
 twoe or thre families in a place & kept Removeing toe and froe staie- 
 ing about a week in a place untill they brought vss down to pemaquid 
 & delivered vss to Cap' March. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, VIII. 40.] 
 
 The story of William and Deliverance Longley's family is a 
 sad one to relate. They were living, with their eight children, 
 on a small farm, perhaps a mile and a quarter from the village, 
 on the east side of the Hollis road. Their house was built of 
 hewn logs, and was standing at the beginning of the present 
 century. The old cellar, with its well-laid walls, was dis- 
 tinctly visible forty years ago, and traces of it could be
 
 74 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 seen even to very modern times. The site of this house has 
 recently been marked by a monument bearing the following 
 inscription : 
 
 HERE DWELT 
 
 WILLIAM AND DELIVERANCE LONGLEY 
 
 WITH THEIR EIGHT CHILDREN. 
 
 O.\ THE 27TH OF JuLV 1694 
 THE INDIANS KILLED THE FATHER AND MOTHER 
 
 AND FIVE OF THE CHILDREN 
 
 AND CARRIED INTO CAPTIVITY 
 
 THE OTHER THREE. 
 
 It was erected in the autumn of 1879, at the expense of 
 the town, on land generously given for the purpose by Mr. 
 Zechariah Fitch, the present owner of the farm. 
 
 On the fatal morning of July 27, 1694, the massacre of this 
 family took place. The savages appeared suddenly, coming 
 from the other side of the Merrimack River, and began 
 the attack at Lieutenant William Lakin's house, where they 
 were repulsed with the loss of one of their number. They 
 followed it up by assaulting other houses in the same neigh- 
 borhood. They made quick work of it, and left the town 
 as speedily as they came. With the exception of John 
 Shepley's house, it is not known that they destroyed any of 
 the buildings ; but they pillaged them before they departed. 
 They carried off thirteen prisoners, mostly children, and 
 perhaps all, who must have retarded their march. There 
 is a tradition that, early in the morning of the attack, the 
 Indians turned Longley's cattle out of the barnyard into
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 75 
 
 the cornfield, and then lay in ambush. The stratagem had 
 the desired effect. Longley rushed out of the house, 
 unarmed, in order to drive the cattle back, when he 
 was murdered, and all his family either killed or cap- 
 tured. The bodies of the slain were buried in one grave, 
 a few rods northwest of the house. A small apple-tree 
 growing over the spot, and a stone lying even with the 
 ground, for many years furnished the only clew to the final 
 resting-place of this unfortunate family, but these have now 
 disappeared. 
 
 William Longley was town-clerk in the year 1687, and also 
 from 1692 till his death in 1694; and only one week before he 
 was killed, he had made entries in the town records. His 
 father, William Longley, Sen., also had been town-clerk, dur- 
 ing the years 1666 and 1667, and died November 29, 1680. 
 The father was one of the earliest settlers of the town, as well 
 as the owner of a thirty-acre right in the original Groton plan- 
 tation. Lydia, John, and Betty were the names of the three 
 children carried off by the savages, and taken to Canada. 
 Lydia was sold to the French, and placed in the Congregation 
 of Ndtre Dame, a convent in Montreal, where she embraced 
 the Roman Catholic faith, and died July 20, 1758, at the ad- 
 vanced age of eighty-four years. Betty perished soon after her 
 capture, from hunger and exposure ; and John, the third child, 
 remained with the savages for more than four years, when he 
 was ransomed and brought away, much against his own will. 
 At one time during his captivity he was on the verge of 
 starving, when an Indian kindly gave him a dog's foot to 
 gnaw, which for the time appeased his hunger. He was 
 known among his captors as John Angary. After he came 
 home, his sister Lydia wrote from Canada, urging him to 
 abjure the Protestant religion ; but he remained true to the 
 faith of his early instruction. 
 
 Their grandmother, the widow of Benjamin Crispe, made 
 her will April 13, 1698, which was admitted to probate 
 in Middlesex County, on the 28th of the following Dcccm-
 
 76 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 bcr; and in it she remembered these absent children as 
 follows : 
 
 I give and bequeath Vnto my three Grand-Children y l are in Cap- 
 tivity if they returne Vizdt three books one of y 1 " a bible another a 
 Sermon booke treating of faith and the other a psalme book. 
 
 The old lady herself, doubtless, had read the " Sermon 
 booke treating of faith ; " and it must have strengthened her 
 belief in Divine wisdom, and been a great consolation in her 
 trials. She did not know at this time that her granddaughter 
 was a convert to the Roman Catholic faith. The knowledge 
 of this fact would have been to her an affliction scarcely less 
 than the massacre of her daughter's family. 
 
 John Longley returned about the time that his grandmother 
 died ; and subsequently he filled many important offices in 
 the church and town. Like his father and grandfather, he was 
 the town-clerk during several years. The following paper 
 signed by him is now in the possession of the New England 
 Historic Genealogical Society: - 
 
 John Longley of Groton of about fifty four Years of age Testifyes 
 & Saith That he was Taken Captive by the Indians at Groton in July 
 1694. and Lived in Captivity with them More than four Years ; And 
 the Two Last years and an half at Penobscot as Servant to Madoca- 
 wando of s d Penobscot And he was always Accounted as Chief or One 
 of y e Chief Sachems or Captains among the Indians there and I have 
 Often Seen the Indians Sitting in Council When he always Sat as 
 Chief: And Once in perticuler I Observed a present was made him of 
 a Considerable Number of Skins of Considerable Vallue As an Ac- 
 knowledgement of his Superiority. 
 
 JOHN LONGLEY 
 
 Midd x ss. Groton July 24* 1736. 
 
 Deacon John Longley above named personally appearing Made 
 Oath to y? Truth of the above written Testimony. 
 
 Before me Benj 1 Prescott Jus' of peace. 
 (Knox Manuscripts, Waldo Papers, L. 13.]
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 77 
 
 In the month of July, 1877, I was in Montreal, where I pro- 
 cured, through the kindness of the Mother Superior at the 
 Congregation of Notre Dame, a copy of the French record 
 of Lydia's baptism, of which the following is a translation : - 
 
 On Tuesday, April 24, 1696, the ceremony of baptism was per- 
 formed on an English girl, named Lydia Longley, who was born April 
 14, 1674, at Groton, a few miles from Boston in New England. She 
 was the daughter of William Longley and Deliverance Crisp, both 
 Protestants. She was captured in the month of July, 1680 [1694?] by 
 the Abenaqui Indians, and has lived for the past month in the house 
 of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. The godfather 
 was M. Jacques Leber, merchant ; the godmother was Madame Marie 
 Madeleine Dupont, wife of M. de Maricourt, Ecuyer, Captain of a 
 company of Marines : she named this English girl Lydia Madeleine. 
 [Signed] LYDIA MADELEINE LONGLEY, 
 
 MADELEINE DUPONT, 
 
 LEBER, 
 
 M. CAILLE, acting curate. 
 
 [The date of capture in this record is written out in full, and the omission of 
 one word would cause the mistake; i.e., "mil six cent quatre-vingt," omitting 
 quatorzc.} 
 
 After this attack of July 27 the town was left in strait- 
 ened circumstances, and the inhabitants found it difficult to 
 meet the demands made on them. In this emergency they 
 petitioned the General Court for relief, which was duly 
 granted, as appears by the following document : - 
 
 GROTON Octob r i5 th 1694 
 To the Honored General! Court : 
 
 The humble petition and earnest request of the Inhabitants of 
 Groton humbly sheweth ; That whereas w^e the present survivers 
 of this Towne do understand that ourselves either without invoice, or 
 according to some former or according to your honours pleasures arc 
 willed & domed for a rate or Levy, a considerable some of moneys 
 amounting to 50"'" ; we therefore being feelingly apprehensive of our 
 utter incapacity, in present circumstances without apparent wrong to
 
 78 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 us ; to pay said sum humbly make bold under God to addresse this 
 honored great generall Court, with both our humble petition and a 
 discovery of our condition : our petion is that we may If it be your 
 honourable pleasure to remitt us our assessment and not putt us upo 
 further inevitable streights & Miseryes. This we humbly petion, and 
 that we may not be thought unjustly to withdraw y e shoulder from 
 puting our strength & help to support and cary on the government of 
 their, our Majestyes, in this part of their dominion, and be unwilling 
 to bear our part with the rest of their Majestyes subjects on this 
 New England shoar as we have constantly & proportionally heitherto 
 done and as arguments and Reason to prevail in this case, we make 
 bold to spread our conditio before your honored selues : not to run 
 back very farr 
 
 1 It pleased God the disposer of all men & humane affairs to place 
 us upon y e outward borders of y e inhabited land on this side y coun- 
 try, which by some is alledged as an argument against us, yett lett 
 Reason butt speak & the union and communion not onely of naturall, 
 but Christian societyes haue its argument and it will tell us of bearing 
 one another's burdens, and of that smpathetick property that is a 
 naturall body & rationally ought to be both in cyvill & politick also : 
 and therefore whatever our alledged priveledges are, or haue bin. we 
 ought not to be Grudged them, for indeed our out edge & distant 
 Living hath bin in these times of late awfull dealing our hurt & 
 damage both as to psons & estates beyound parrelell with any in- 
 ward Townes, as plaine & undeniable Reason & argument is ready to 
 be given. 
 
 2 The providence of y" wise God, did order it That very grievous 
 troublesome and mortall sicknesse, was amoungt us the last year by wh 
 we were not onely leasoned considerebly in our numbers, but demin- 
 ished in our estates It being so generall That one could not help y 
 other by w : h great charge of Doct r s came upo us, losse of y' ; season- 
 able Labour of our inhabitants, to the indamaging the estates of y e 
 most, unrecovered by many to this day. 
 
 3 we might add our constant (in these late times) standing upon 
 our guard, and considerable charge, of building & repairing forts, for 
 our owne and the countryes safty. & securing their majestyes subjects, 
 both here, and in the inmost places. 
 
 4 This years soar and awfull troubles by y e late deaths captivityes
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 79 
 
 and consequent meseryes, whereby we lost severall able valuble psons, 
 whose estates are either, much lessened, or removed by others, out 
 our reach : beside by inevitable losse of corne, It is Judged by many 
 of our Towne that a third part at lest of our Indian corne, is wholy 
 lost ; and now of late psons haue bin hendred much in their corne, 
 & hay harvest, beside the hand of God upon our husbandry, as to rye 
 much blasted, not halfe a usuall crop and by early frost, Indian corne 
 much hurt, & damnifyed, that severall familyes will be at a losse for 
 corne, not having for halfe y e year through : Thus Leaving our petion 
 & condition to your honours serious consideration hoping you may 
 see, reason to indulge us in that matter praying to God who setts 
 amoung y e god to direct, & preside, and bless^, your psons & consul- 
 tations to conclude & determine what may be for y present & future 
 weal & prosperity, of these plantation, we rest and remaine yours in 
 all duty & service. 
 
 James Parker Sen r : William Laken Sen r . Select men in the name 
 of y e Select men by y e voat of y e Towne of Groton : 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, CXIII. 89.] 
 
 Upon reading this Petition of the Inhabitants of Groton Setting 
 forth their great distress and impoverish' by reason of the desolations 
 made upon them by the Enemy Praying to be Eased and abated of 
 their proportion to the last publick Tax or Assessm' amounting to the 
 sum of Fifty pounds. 
 
 Voted, 
 
 That the said Town be abated one halfe of the afores'. 1 Sum of Fifty 
 pounds, and that Mr Treasurer do Suspend the calling for the other 
 halfe until the Fifteenth day of December next. The Assessor" forth- 
 with to proportion the same upon their Inhabitant" and to commit the 
 List thereof unto their Constables, so that they may be collecting 
 
 Octob r 22' 1 1694 : Past in the affirmative by the house of Repre- 
 sentatives and sent up to his Ex cy and Gouncil for Consent 
 
 NEHEMIAH JFAVET speaker 
 
 Vot'. 1 a concurrence in Council, die pdict. 
 
 Is f ADDINGTON Secry. 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Vote for abatement to Groton. Oct" 1694. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, CXIII. 97.]
 
 80 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor William Stoughton writes from Bos- 
 ton, September 5, 1695, to Captain James Converse: 
 
 I order That at your next passing over Merrimack with your Com- 
 pany towards Dunstable <S:c That you advise with MajT Henchman and 
 M r Jon: 1 Ting concerning the posting yo r men in the several Frontiers 
 of Dunstable, Bilrica Chelmsford Groton, Lancaster and Marlboro for 
 the better inforcem' of the Garrisons there & maintaining a good 
 brisk Scout for the discovery of the Enemy to prevent their annoying 
 of those Towns during the Harvest Season, . . . 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LI. 44.] 
 
 In accordance with this order, eight men were posted at 
 Groton ; soon afterward there were nine, of whom seven were 
 inhabitants of the town. 
 
 Captain James Converse writes from Woburn : 
 
 WOOBOURNE (7'. ir y e 7'. h (1696) 
 
 May it pleas your Hon r ' 
 
 The Subscriber receiving a letter from your Hon' of yV first Courant, 
 and therein, a Comand to wait upon your Hon r y"' next day in ord r to 
 receive some further Instructions, referring to a Journey to Groaton, 
 to speak with some Volanteers &c : I was also ordered to take Cap 
 Cowers & L! Crasby with me to Groaton, but I hearing their scouts 
 had discovered sundrey track of the Enemy, I suposed those men 
 might be in y': Woods with their scouts, and so it proued, for this 
 reson I took with me Cap tn Thof Bancroft of Redding, and only one 
 soldier with vs, we came to Groaton on fryday morning (the time y 1 
 I was ordered to be there) where I mett with M r Daniel ffitch 
 & his second, and y c rest of their Volanteers all but two or 3 
 Indians, y 1 left them (by force) in y e morning, pretending to returne 
 horn, . . . 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LI. 68.] 
 
 John Haywood, in his " Gazetteer of Massachusetts " (Bos- 
 ton, 1849), under Groton, says that one man was killed here, 
 May 20, 1697, and three wounded. (Page 162.) The same
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 8 1 
 
 statement is made in George Wingate Chase's " History of 
 Haverhill, Massachusetts " (page 201 ) ; though I find no other 
 authority for it. Perhaps it is the same affair mentioned in 
 the next sentence. 
 
 Cotton Mather says that one man was killed at Groton, in 
 the year 1697, and another, with two children, carried into 
 captivity. (Magnalia, Book VII. page 91.) He does not give 
 the date clearly, but inferentially it is June. The prisoner 
 was Stephen Holden, who was captured, with his two oldest 
 sons, John and Stephen, Jr. John was released in January, 
 1699, at which time the father and the other boy were yet 
 remaining in the hands of the savages. It was not long, how- 
 ever, before they too were freed; for, in the following June, 
 the House of Representatives voted three pounds and twelve 
 shillings for the expenses that had been incurred in bringing 
 them back. 
 
 Holden's petition to the General Court to be reimbursed 
 for buying his own freedom is as follows : 
 
 To The Honored &* great Assembly now setting in Boston The hum- 
 ble petition and Request of Stephen Holden of Groton 
 
 Honored S rs It having pleased the Almighty God to order it that 
 myselfe & my two biggest sons tho small were taken captiues by the 
 Indian enemyes from our towne of Groton and being with the Esterne 
 enemy & my 2 sons about one year & ten moneth when tho it was my 
 portion to escape with my life thro Gods mercy beyound what I 
 did expect or look for & I think fared better than some other Eng- 
 lish yett great hardship and difficultyes I underwent, but being very 
 desirous with one of my sons that was there to gitt home If it might 
 be fore the English vessells came I was necessitated to give my 
 promise to my Indian Pilates whom I satisfyed att Richmans Island 
 by English that I borrowed of there thre pound &: twelue shillings If 
 I might haue y e boldnesse I would humbly craue That It might be paycl 
 out of Publiq stock I should take it thankfully att your hands Thus 
 with my thankefulnesse to God that both myselfe & both my children 
 he hath graisosly returned to our home againe commend your honours 
 
 6
 
 82 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 and concerments into y L> hands & wishing y c Presence & benidiction of 
 y e soveraine God I take Leaue & subscribe myselfe your humble sen-ant 
 & suppliant 
 
 STEPHEN HOLDEN 
 
 GROTOX May 27'"' 1699 
 
 June 6 th 1699 once read. & Voted by the house of Representatives 
 that the aboves'. 1 Peticoner Stephen Holden of Grotton be paied out 
 of the publick Treary Three pounds & twelve shillings money 
 Sent up for Concurrence, 
 
 JAM;" CONVERSE Speaker 
 19. July, 99. Read and past in Councel 
 
 Is A ADDIXGTON Secry 
 Consented to 
 
 BELLOMONT 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 400.] 
 
 Among the names of the captives received on board the 
 Province Gaily, January 17, 16989, at Casco Nay, were 
 " John Moulding of Grotten " and " Tamasin Rouce of Grot- 
 ten." It is recorded, a week later, that " Steven Moulding of 
 Grotten" and "Steven Moulding Jim' of ditto" are "yet in 
 the Indian hands." (Archives, LXX. 398, 399.) 
 
 It is evident that the early settlers were still having a hard 
 time during this period. All the records go to show that 
 between the assaults of the savages and the short crops they 
 found it difficult to obtain a livelihood. Again they were 
 obliged to ask the General Court for an abatement of their 
 taxes, which they did, in a petition, as follows : - 
 
 To the Honored Luten". 1 Govern 1 the Honored Councill and Repre- 
 sentitives In the Court Assembled : The humble petition of the towne 
 of Groton by orderly warning mett upon octob r the (4"') 1697 then 
 voating (after Serious discourse upon the present times & awfull cir- 
 cumstances of them and our pticular immergencys) our dislike of the 
 present help granted to us as we are greeved att y e management S: 
 oversight of it : & voating that capt ne James Parker and Ensigne John
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 83 
 
 Farnsworth should be our Agents to present and promote this petition 
 of ours by such discourse as might be needfull in our behalfe att the 
 Court. Honored Sirs : We being in some measure necessitated (by 
 the constancy and Long continuance of the righteous hand of Almighty 
 Clod upon us) to know more experimentally the troubles concomitant 
 and consequent of bloody & cruell warr, Then by Sympathy it can be 
 possibly knowne by others : And that by Reason our stages & dwell- 
 ings happene to be upon y e very dint, brinck & in y e mouth of more 
 unavoidable difficultyes, fears dangers & death by the cruell sword of 
 the wildernesse, then many others are or can be, Therefore as we ap- 
 prehend the case to stand with us, being diminished in our numbers, 
 and greatly impoverished in our out wards, desirous as we hope in 
 measure we have done to be constantly putting up our petitions to the 
 Lord of hosts and god of armyes to afford us conduct & Assistance 
 every way so we would not wanting to cry to &: humbly call upon our 
 Moses & Aaron to give us advise & to extend their helping hand 
 who if any are, we are in the wildernesse where y r is Scorpions and 
 subtle Finny Serpents mortally wounding and killing of us as your 
 Honor d Selves hear by Rumour upon Rumour, but we not onely hear 
 butt feel see & woefully experience the same. Honored Sirs we desire 
 with all gratitude and thankfullnesse to acknowledge your fatherly care 
 of us hitherto, Butt yett we for our parts If still we must abide in the 
 Front. We beg If it may seem good in your eyes that we may be 
 Released from countrey charges to his Majesty or in plaine words coun- 
 trey Rates & that we may be pleasured with some sutable proportion 
 of souldiers not of ourselves which if we may be worthy once more to 
 obtaine we haue agreed not to sell them away for men of ourselves as 
 we wickedly did. The way of a changable scout we thought might 
 do us a kindnesse, which if it had bin with good inspection & man- 
 agement attended It might have done It hath appeared to us more 
 wayes than one that gitting y" Money hath bin more aimed at thO 
 carefull ordering, or doing the worke to earn it hath bin ; we beg that 
 If for this autumnal & winter season you may soe meet to order y c 
 chargable scout that it may be no lesse the 1 2 : & that it it may be putt 
 into a carefuller & honester hand than it hath bin both for the place & 
 benifit of this poor Towne we are able if called thereto to Alledge 
 sufficient Argum 1 " that if we have the same or other souldiers It is a 
 thing requisite that some other .pson might Inspect them
 
 84 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 
 
 Thus craving pdone for our boldnesse wishing y Lord to be your 
 president in all publike matters that may be before you \ve humbly 
 subscribe ourselves yours in all obedience <S: loyalty 
 
 SIMON* STONE \ 
 
 THOMAS TARBELL v ^ e ' ect 
 v men 
 
 SAMUEL PARKER ) 
 
 ELIEZAR PARKER 
 
 Oct 15"' 1697. Read Constable of Groton 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Oct. 97 
 
 Voted in y house of Representatives 
 
 In answer to sd petition. That they are Eased in this Last tax as they 
 desired : & as to y e Scout y 1 they Judg it needfull y' Six of their owne 
 Souldiers be Imployed dayly : & y f y j Comand r in cheif put in a sutable 
 pson to Inspect y e same 
 
 Sent up for Concurrence : 
 
 PENN TOWXSEND Speaker 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 360, 361.] 
 
 It is said, on the authority of Judge Se\vall's Diary, that 
 there were three persons badly wounded in the assault of 
 July 27, 1694. One of them, undoubtedly, was Enoch Law- 
 renc, whose given name is sometimes written Enosh. His 
 petition to the Governor for help is as follows : 
 
 7b his Excellency Joseph Dudley Es<f. Cap'. Gen 11 - and Govcrno r in 
 Chief in and over her Majesties Province of the Massachusetts 
 Bay in New England. 
 
 To the Honorable Council and Representatives of y c said province 
 In Court assembled. 
 
 The humble Petition of Enoch Lawrence Humbly Sheweth that 
 your petitioner is a very poor man and by reason of wounds in his 
 hand, received in a fight with the Indians in the former indian War is 
 allmost wholly disabled from following his dayly Labour upon which 
 he depends for a Livelyhood both for himself and his family. 
 
 Yo" Petition" therefore prays That he may have Freedoine from 
 Taxes, and something allowed him for a maintainance granted by yo r
 
 KING WILLIAM'S WAR. 85 
 
 Excellency and this honour 1 '.' Court and yo r Petition' shall ever 
 pray &c 
 
 ENOCH LAWRENCE 
 In Council. 
 1 6 Octo. 1702. Read and sent down. 
 
 Is? ADDINGTON Secry. 
 Octobr : i 7"' i 702. 
 Read in the house of Representatives. 
 In answer to y prayer of Enoch Lawrence, y e petitioner 
 Resolved that the said Petition 1 " be freed from publick Taxes cS: be 
 allowed and paid out of the Publick Treasury of the Province as a 
 Pension during his life : three pounds p r annu. 
 Sent up for Concurrence 
 
 JAM S CONVERSE Speaker 
 Oct 19!' 1702. In Council. 
 
 Read and Voted a Concurrance 
 
 Is? ADDINGTOX, Secry. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXX. 583.]
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 I. 
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR, as it is commonly called in America, 
 broke out in the year 1702, when England declared war 
 against France and Spain ; and the American colonies were 
 drawn into the contest. The Indians in New England were 
 in sympathy with the French; and they kept the frontier 
 settlements continually on the alert. Strict vigilance, on the 
 part of the colonists, was the price of their safety. Military 
 companies were still held under discipline and drill, and from 
 time to time were reviewed by the proper officers. In the 
 year 1702, Chief Justice Samuel Sewall accompanied Gov- 
 ernor Joseph Dudley through Middlesex County on a tour 
 of inspection ; and in his Diary, under date of October 28, he 
 writes : 
 
 Went to Groton, saw Capt. Prescot and his company in Arms. 
 (Gov r had sent to them from Dunstable that would visit them). 
 Lancaster is about 12 Miles Southward from Groton. Concord is 16 
 Miles | and Ten- Rod from Groton. 
 
 [Massachusetts Historical Collections, VI. fifth series, 67.] 
 
 The captain of this company was Jonas Prescott, an active 
 man in the affairs of the town. He was a blacksmith
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR 87 
 
 by trade, and the ancestor of a long line of distinguished 
 families. He was the grandfather of Colonel William Pres- 
 cott, the commander of the American forces at the Battle of 
 Bunker Hill; who was himself the father of William Fres- 
 cott, the lawyer and jurist, and the grandfather of William 
 Hickling Prescott, the historian. 
 
 After these alarms there was a short respite, which con- 
 tinued till 1704; when the frontier towns were again exposed 
 to savage warfare, and this town suffered with the others. 
 
 Samuel Penhallow, in "The History of the Wars of New- 
 England" (Boston, 1726), thus refers to the attack on this 
 place in August, 1704 : The Indians - 
 
 afterwards fell on Lancaster, and Groaton, where they did some 
 Spoil, but not what they expected, for that these Towns were season- 
 ably strengthened. . . . 
 
 And yet a little while after they fell on Groaton, and Nashaway 
 [Lancaster], where they kill'd Lieut. Wyler [Wilder], and several 
 more. (Pages 24, 25.) 
 
 In the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society is a 
 manuscript diary of John Marshall, of Braintree, which has 
 the following entry : 
 
 The begining of this month of august [1704] the Indians did 
 mischeif at Lancaster Killed 3 or 4 persons burnt their meeting 
 house : and did some harm allso at Groton. the same week. Killed 
 one or more : about 200 men went out after them who weer gone 20 
 days under major Taylor, but Returned Without doing any spoill on 
 them : 
 
 The attack on Lancaster was on July 31, and that on 
 Groton probably within a day or two of the same time. 
 
 There were two regiments in Middlesex County at this 
 period ; one made up of men living in towns near Boston, 
 called the Lower Regiment, and the other of men living in 
 the more distant sections of the county, known as the Upper 
 Regiment. The following letter, from Major James Converse,
 
 88 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 is printed in the Reverend Samuel Sewall's " History of 
 Woburn" (pages 543, 544), and refers to " y e towns in y c 
 Lower Regain'," meaning the towns from which the Lower 
 Regiment was raised. There were some prowling Indians in 
 the neighborhood at this time, and the outlying settlements 
 were alarmed : - 
 
 [Superscription] 
 
 For His Exc y . Joseph Dudly, Esq r . Capt". Gen" Gon r In Chief e, &c. 
 
 These. 
 
 \VOOH N August i4 th , 1704. 
 May it pleas Your Exc y . 
 
 I Received Your Excel" Order of y e lo'] 1 Courrant, I Rec'.' it y: 
 same day about 4 in y. afternoone, for the detaching 45 Soldiers 
 &c : and to post y'! 1 in 3 squadrons under y e Comand of a Sarg' to 
 Each, viz. Groaton, Lanchester & Malburow. I forthwith sent out 
 my Warrants to all y'r touns in y e Lower Regam 1 ; the Soldiers were 
 all Impress' 1 y! night and y e nth day and began to March, the 12 
 day I went and posted them according to Order, Giueing the sarg 1 ? 
 written Orders to obserue till further Orders, directing them to take 
 advice of the Capt s of the Respectiue touns : 
 
 At Malburow, John Benjamin sarg! 15 men ^ 
 
 Lanchester, Benjamin Wilson sarg' 14 men >- 45. 
 
 Groaton, Joseph Child, sarg' 16 men 3 
 
 here is y e whole Number Your Excelencey sent for, posted according 
 to order. I think there are too many garrasons in every towne. If 
 these men be Reposted, one at a garrason, and two at another, I shall 
 account my labour lost, and y. men next to thrown away, Saving 
 alwayes, what is in Obedience to Your Exc" Comand there is nothing 
 lost or thrown away. 
 
 Exc 1 S r I pray for a gracious pardon, and am 
 
 Your Very Humble Ready and Obedient Serv 1 
 
 JAMS. CONVERSE. 
 
 A party of Indians, numbering about thirty, made their 
 appearance in town, and killed a man on the night of October 
 25, 1704. Pursuit was at once made for them, but it was tin-
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 89 
 
 successful. "The Boston News-Letter," October 30, 1704, 
 gives the following account of the affair : 
 
 On Wednesday night [October 25] an English man was kill'd in 
 the Woods at Groton by the Indians which were afterwards descryed 
 in the night by the Light of their Fires, by a Person Travailing from 
 Groton to Lancaster, and judged they might be about Thirty in num- 
 ber ; pursuit was made after them, but none could be found. 
 
 From Marshall's Diary we learn the name of the man who 
 was slain. It is there recorded : 
 
 on the 25 day [October, 1704,] mr Breck was ordained at marl- 
 borrough. the next day a man was killed and scalped by the indians 
 he belonged to the town of Groton his name was davis : a very use- 
 full man and much Lamented : 
 
 It has been a tradition thaj^aaaxnet Davis was killed by the 
 Indians, but the date of his death was unknown ; this entry, 
 however, seems to fix it. It is said to have happened in 
 the early part of the evening, while he was taking in some 
 clothes which had been washed and hung out to dry. He 
 lived near the present " Community," where W. Dickson 
 resided when the map in Mr. Butler's History was made; and 
 Davis's Fordway in the river near by, named after him, is still 
 remembered by the older people of that neighborhood 
 
 It is not surprising that the inhabitants, upon the renewal 
 of hostilities, were obliged to ask for help from the General 
 Court. They had already suffered much in life and property, 
 and were little able to bear new burdens. They represented 
 to the Governor that they had been greatly impoverished by 
 their loss of horses and cattle, of corn and hay, and that 
 they were scarcely able to hold out much longer; but the 
 crowning calamity of all was the illness of the minister, Mr. 
 Hobart, which prevented him from preaching. Their means 
 were so limited that they could not support him and supply 
 his place besides. They were obliged to earn their living at 
 the peril of their lives ; and some were thinking of leaving
 
 90 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 the town. They spent so much time in watching and guard- 
 ing, that they seemed to be soldiers rather than farmers. 
 Under these discouraging circumstances they asked for help, 
 and were allowed out of the public treasury twenty pounds 
 to assist them in procuring another minister, besides ten 
 pounds to be divided among those who were the greatest 
 sufferers in the late attack upon them. 
 
 Their petition to the General Court is in the handwriting of 
 Jonas Prescott, and gives a pathetic account of their situation. 
 It is as follows : 
 
 To his exalancy Joseph Dutly esquir captain genarall comander in in 
 and oucr hur maiesties pronines of the masiacheusits bay in new 
 Ingland and to the honorable counsil and raprasantitifes in genarall 
 court asambled at boston this Instant Desember 1704 : 
 
 The humble patition of the Inhabitants of the town of groton in 
 the county of midlsax in the prouians aforesd humbley sheweth 
 
 1 That wharas by the all dessposing hand of god who orders all 
 things in infinit wisdom it is our portion to Hue In such a part of the 
 land which by reson of the enemy Is becom uary dangras as by wofull 
 exsperiants we haue fait both formarly and of late to our grat damidg 
 & discoridgmant and spashaly this last yere hauing lost so many par- 
 sons som killed som captauated and som ramoued and allso much corn 
 & cattell and horses & hay wharby wee ar gratly Impouerrished and 
 brought uary low & in a uary pore capasity to subsist any longer As 
 the barers herof can inform your honors 
 
 2 And more then all this our paster mr hobard is & hath been for 
 aboue a yere uncapable of desspansing the ordinances of God amongst 
 vs & we haue aduised with the Raurant Elders of our nayboring 
 churches and thay aduise to hyare another minister and to saport mr 
 hobard and to make our adras to your honours we haue but litel laft 
 to pay our deus with being so pore and few In numbr athar to town or 
 cuntrey & we being a frantere town & lyable to dangor there being no 
 safty in going out nor coming in but for a long time we haue got our 
 brad with the parel of our Hues & allso broght uery low by so grat a 
 charg of bikling garisons & fortefycations by ordur of athorety & 
 thar is saural of our Inhabitants ramoued out of town & others ar
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 91 
 
 prouiding to remoue. axcapt somthing be don for our Incoridgment 
 for we are so few & so por that we canot pay two ministors nathar 
 ar we wiling to Hue without any we spand so much time in wach- 
 mg and warding that we can doe but litel els & truly we haue liued 
 allmost 2 yers more like soulders then other wise & accapt your 
 honars can find out som bater way for our safty and support we 
 cannot uphold as a town ather by remitting our tax or tow alow pay 
 for building the sauarall forts alowed and ordred by athority or alls 
 to alow the one half of our own Inhabitants to be under pay or to 
 grant liberty for our remufe Into our naiburing towns to tak cor for 
 oursalfs all which if your honors shall se meet to grant you will 
 hereby gratly incoridg your humble pateceners to conflect with the 
 many trubls we are ensadent unto 
 
 whar fore your humble pationars humbly prays your axcalancy & this 
 honared court to tak this mater into your scares consedration and 
 grant releef acordingly and your pationars shall as in duty bound 
 foreur pray 
 
 by ordur of the town of groton 
 
 JONAS PRESCOTT 
 JAMES NUTTING 
 JOSEPH LAKEN 
 
 Jan7 2? 1704 Read. SAMUEL PARKER 
 
 Jan r f 3 : 1704 In the House of Representatives. 
 
 In Answer to the Petition on the other side 
 
 Resolved That there be allowed, and Paid out of the Publick Treas- 
 ury, the sum of Twenty Pounds, to the Town of Grotton to Encourage 
 & Assist them in Procuring another Minister, to help them under the 
 present Disability of their Pastour M r . Hubbard, & Ten Pounds more 
 be allowed & Paid out of the publick Treasury, to Jonathan Tyng 
 Esq. & Mr Nathan! Hill, to be by them proportionably distributed 
 to such of the s d Town, as in their Judgment have been greatest suf- 
 ferers, in the late outrages made upon them by the Enemy 
 
 Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 JAM S CONVERSE Speaker 
 In Council. Read and concurr'd. 
 
 Is A ADDINGTON Secry 
 4 th January. 1 704. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 107, 108.]
 
 92 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 . 
 
 Two years later, another assault was made on the town, 
 though with little damage. I again quote from Penhallow's 
 History of the Wars of New-England : 
 
 [July 21, 1706.] Several Strokes were afterwards made on Chelms- 
 ford, Sudbury and Groton, where three Soldiers as they were going to 
 publick Worship, were way-laid by a small Party, who kill'd two, and 
 made the other a Prisoner. (Page 36.) 
 
 A few additional particulars of these " Strokes " are found 
 in the Reverend John Pike's Journal, printed in the Proceed- 
 ings of the Massachusetts Historical Society for September, 
 1875:- 
 
 July 21, 1706. Sab : 2 souldiers slain, <$: one carried away by the 
 enemy at Groton. They were all new-Cambridge [Newton] men, cV 
 were returned to their Post from one Bloods house, who had invited 
 y m to Dinner. (XIV. 143.) 
 
 Marshall, in his Diary, briefly alludes to this affair thus : 
 on the 21 [July] they Killed 2 and took one captive at groton. 
 
 The Reverend Jonathan Homer, in his History of New- 
 ton, as published in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, 
 V. 2/3, gives the names of these men as John Myrick, Na- 
 thaniel Heal}', and Ebenezer Seger, and says they were all 
 three killed by the Indians. This statement, however, is in- 
 accurate, as John Myrick was not one of the three soldiers, 
 and furthermore was alive after this date. It is sufficiently 
 clear from the following contemporaneous petitions that two 
 of these men were brothers by the name of Seager, and the 
 third one was Nathaniel Healy. It was one of the Seager 
 brothers who was taken prisoner. 
 
 To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq r Captain Gcnerall and Gorcr- 
 nour in Chief in and Orcr her Majesties Province of the Massa- 
 chusetts bay &> the Hon b!f f. Council &> Representatives in General I 
 Court Assembled 
 
 The Humble Petition of Nathaniel Healy of Newtown in said 
 Province
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 93 
 
 < 
 
 May it please your Excellf Your Humble Petitioner having at his 
 own proper Cost Armed his Son Nathaniel Healy into her Majesties 
 Service under the Command of Capt" Josiah Parker At Groton on the 
 21 day of July 1706. Yo' Petitioners said Son was slain and his Gun 
 Carried away by the Enemy who Waylaid him and Others as they were 
 going to Meeting On the Sabbath day 
 
 Your Petitioner humbly Prays that he may be Supplied with Another 
 Gun at the Province Charge for Another of his Sons, Or be otherwise 
 allowed as Your Excellency shall think meet 
 
 And Your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray &c 
 
 NATHANAEL HEALY 
 
 In the House of Representatives. 
 
 June 5'!' 1707. Read. 
 
 Resolved That the Sum of Twenty Shillings be Allowed & Paid 
 out of the publick Treasury to Nath 1 ' Healy the Petitioner in full for 
 the Gun above mentioned 
 
 Sent up for Concurrence. 
 
 JOHN BURRILL Speak r 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 5 June. 1707. In Council. 
 
 Read and Concurr'd 
 
 Is A ADDINGTON Secry 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 345.] 
 
 To His Excellency the Governour And the Honorable Councill & to 
 the Representatives the humble Petition of Henry Seager of New- 
 toum 
 
 Sheweth 
 
 That y r Petitioner had, The Summer before Last, Two Sons prest 
 out in to y e Countreys Service at Groton, And were whilst in the Ser- 
 vice by the Providence of God, one of them Kill'd by the Enimy y e 
 other Taken Captive ; So y! they both of them Lost their Arms w dl I 
 think were Justly valuable at five pounds, and four Powder horns, half 
 a Pound of Powder, twenty bullets & a Snapsack,
 
 94 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 
 
 Y r Petitioner therefore humbly prays that he may be Considered 
 herein, out of the Countrey Treasure as shall be y r Good Pleasure 
 And y r Petitioner shall ever Pray &c a 
 
 HENRY H SEAGER 
 
 [his mark] 
 4 Nov m 1707 
 
 In Council. 
 Read and Recommended to the House. 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 In the House of Representatives 
 Nov : 14: 1707. Read. 
 
 In Answer to the Petition on the other side 
 
 Resolved That the sum of forty shillings be Allowed & Paid, out of 
 the publick Treary to Henry Seager the Petitioner. 
 Sent up for Concurrence. 
 
 JOHN BURRILL Speak' 
 15 Nov. 1 707. 
 
 In Council 
 Read and Concurr'd 
 
 Is ADDINGTON Secry. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 419.] 
 
 Penhallow, in his History, gives several instances of ex- 
 treme cruelty to the prisoners on the part of the savages, and 
 mentions the following case of a man who was captured in 
 this town : 
 
 A third was of Samuel Butterfield, who being sent to Groton as a 
 Soldier, was with others attackt, as they were gathering in the Harvest ; 
 his bravery was such, that he kill'd one and wounded another, but 
 being overpower'd by strength, \vas forc'd to submit ; and it hapned 
 that the slain Indian was a Sagamore, and of great dexterity in War, 
 which caused matter of Lamentation, and enrag'd them to such degree 
 that they vow'd the utmost revenge ; Some were for whipping him to 
 Death ; others for burning him alive ; but differing in their Sentiments, 
 they submitted the Issue to the Squaw Widow, concluding she would 
 determine something very dreadful, but when the matter was opened, 
 and the Fact considered, her Spirits were so moderate as to make no 
 other reply, than, " Fortune L'guarc. Upon which some were uneasy ;
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 95 
 
 to whom she answered, If by killing him, you can bring my Husband 
 to life again, I beg you to study what Death you please ; but if not let 
 him be my Servant ; which he accordingly was, during his Captivity, 
 and had favour shewn him." (Pages 38, 39.) 
 
 The account of Butterfield's case was in substance originally 
 printed in a pamphlet entitled "A MEMORIAL of the 
 Present Deplorable STATE of New England" (1707),- 
 now of great rarity, which appeared twenty years before 
 Judge Penhallow's History was published. This pamphlet 
 has since been reprinted in the introduction to the sixth 
 volume, fifth series, of the " Collections of the Massachusetts 
 Historical Society." The account is as follows: 
 
 A Man had Valiantly Killed an Indian or two before the Salvages 
 took him. He was next Morning to undergo an horrible Death, 
 whereof the Manner and the Torture was to be assigned by the 
 Widow Squa of the Dead Indian. The French Priests told him, they 
 had indeavoured to divert the Tygres from ther bloody Intention, but 
 could not'prevail with them ; he must prepare for the terrible Execu- 
 tion. His cries to God were hard, and heard ; when the Sentence of 
 the Squa, was demanded, quite contrary to every ones Expectation, 
 and the Revengeful Inclination so usual and well-known among these 
 Creatures, she only said, His Death won't fetch my Husband to Life; 
 Do not/iing to him ! So nothing was done to him. (Page 58.*) 
 
 Butterfield remained a captive for more than a year. It is 
 not known how he obtained his release. His petition to the 
 General Court sets forth the fact that he was an inhabitant of 
 Chelmsford, and was sent by Captain Jerathmel Bowers to 
 Groton, in order to help Colonel Taylor, in August, 1704, 
 when the enemy came upon the place. It is as follows : - 
 
 To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq r Cap'. General and Cover no r in 
 Chief and To the Hono bl f the Coitncil and House of Representatives 
 now in General Assembly convened at Boston within 6* for her 
 Majesties Province of the Massachus*. Bay April 10"' 1706. 
 
 The Humble Petition of Samuel Butterfield Sheweth 
 * That yo' Petitioner is an Inhabitant of the Town of Chelmsford,
 
 96 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 and in the month of August 1704, when the Enemy came upon 
 Nashoway & Groton & : yo r Petitioner (with others) was sent out by 
 the Cap' Jerathmel Bowers to Groton to assist Col : Taylor, when yo r . 
 Petitioner being ordered out with some others to Guard a Man who 
 was going to work in the field, the Enemy came upon them, killd one 
 man and took yo!" Petitioner and one other Prisoners, tho yo[ Petitioner 
 made all the resistance possible, killed one, and knockt down two 
 more after they had seized him, for which yo r Petitioner was cruelly 
 used by them afterwards & threatened to be burnt, several times. 
 May it please this Great and Generall Assembly. yo r Petitioner was 
 very well accoutred in all respects when he was taken, and then was 
 stript of all and was between fourteen and fifteen months a Captive 
 exposd to great hardships, and has sustained great Loss and damage. 
 
 Yo r Petitioner therefore humbly prays the favor of this great and 
 General Assembly to take the premises into yo r serious Consideration 
 and Grant him such Recompense for his Losses and sufferings, as 
 afores'. 1 as to yo T . wisdom and Goodness shall seem meet. 
 
 and yo r Petitioner (as in duty bound) shall ever pray &c. 
 
 SAMUELL BUTTERFIELD 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Apr! 1 10 : 1706, Read. 
 
 In the House of Representative 
 
 Resolved That the Sum of Five Pounds be allowed, & Paid out of 
 the Publick Treasury to Sam! 1 Butterfield the Petitioner in Considera- 
 tion of his Losse, & service. 
 Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 THOMAS OAKES Speaker 
 April. 1 1. 1 706. 
 
 In Council. 
 
 Read & concurr'd. 
 
 Is? ADDINGTON Secry. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 195, 196.] 
 
 Butterfield had previously received, October 27, 1/04, a 
 bounty of four pounds for killing the Indian mentioned in 
 this petition ; but the present award was for his services and 
 personal loss.
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 97 
 
 The following petition to the Governor was presented in the 
 year 1706, probably in the summer, as at that time the town 
 was engaged in settling the Reverend Mr. Bradstreet as the 
 minister: 
 
 To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq Cap'. General and Govern" in 
 Cheif in and over her Majestyes Province of the Massachusetts 
 Bay &*c. and to the Ho bte the Council and Representatives of s'' 
 Province. 
 
 Wee the inhabitants of the Towne of Groton cannot but with all 
 thankfulness acknowledge the great Care that his Excy and Govern! 
 hath taken for our Preservation and defense in these times of danger. 
 Notwithstanding all which, wee have bin by our Enemy extreamly 
 impoverished not being capable of making those improvements which 
 are necessary for our subsistance, but our Outlands upon which wee 
 have a Considerable dependance lye neglected ; and many of us are 
 reduced to the Last necessity ; our Stocks are like to Suffer much in 
 the Winter ; and are in great fears that wee have mett w th Considerable 
 losses in them already from the Enemy and wee are now at Extream 
 Charge in the Settling of our Minister ; So that wee are greatly reduced 
 and impoverished ; 
 
 Wee would therefore humbly intreat that our Languishing Circum- 
 stances may be taken into your Consideration ; and that our propor- 
 tion of the Publique tax may this year be remitted to us ; and wee 
 hope that not only our present afflicted State but our future duty- 
 full deportment will be Such as may testifie for us, and afford 
 yo r hon rs Satisfaction in so notable an instance of Charity, and 
 Compassion 
 
 JONAS PRESCOTT 
 JONATHAN LAWRENCE 
 JN" FARNESWORTH 
 
 | Select 
 
 NATH. WOODS 
 ROBT. ROBBIN 
 In behalf of the Towne of Groton 
 
 ( men. 
 
 NS ) 
 
 IMassachusetts Archives, CXIII. 391. ] 
 
 7
 
 98 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 The following account of a court-martial, held at Gro- 
 ton, has some interest from the fact that it gives the names of 
 a few of the men engaged in the public service at that time. 
 The officers composing the court-martial were undoubtedly 
 in command of companies in this neighborhood : - 
 
 GROTON Febr 17, 1706-7 
 i o clock in y e morning 
 May it please your Excy. 
 
 I rec'. 1 your Excy s Letter, and immediatly upon the return 
 of our forces this evening CalPd a Court Marshal and made perticuler 
 inquisitio into Waymans affair, the Coppy of which I send enclosed, 
 and pray your Excellencye's perticuler direction thereupon : Tarbol 
 who was the person who pretended the discovery altho. imprudent and 
 so blamable yet would begg your Excellencyes favour for him as a very 
 honest man willing to do service and infinitely concern'd for this ill 
 accident, So that the uneasiness and trouble that has posses'd him is 
 in it self so considerable a punishment that he seems to need no 
 other Gladly should wee have found out the Ringleaders of the mutin- 
 ous and disorderly returne but after much Examination cant effect it. 
 Wee all wait your Excys ord rs and shall proceed accordingly and am 
 Yor Exeys most obedt Servt 
 
 EPHR : HUNT. 
 
 Die Solis Ferbuary 16. 1706-7. 
 
 At a Court Marshal held at Groton By orders of his Excellency 
 [Joseph Dudley], -For the Tryal of Leiv! Seth Wayman, Serj! Thomas 
 Tarbol and Comp' 1 &c. 
 
 Present 
 
 Col Ephraim Hunt Presid' 
 
 Cap' Jonathan Prescott. Cap' Jonas Prescott 
 
 Cap! Josiah Parker Cap' Steph. Williams 
 
 Cap! Thomas Nichols Cap' Joseph Bulkeley 
 
 Cap' Benjamin Willard. 
 
 Col Eph. Hunt the Presid! opned the Court, By declaring them- 
 selves by his Excellencys perticul r Ord r to be a Court Marshal for 
 y e Tryal of Lieu' Seth Wayman, for a false report brought by s d Way-
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 99 
 
 man of the discovery of the Indian Enemy near Monadnock on the 
 6 th instant, and for their returne home, in a mutinous disorderly man- 
 ner without Endeavours after a Sufficient discovery. 
 
 Liev' Seth Wayman examin'd about the sending out of his scouts 
 on the Sixth instant sayth that 
 
 On the Sixth instant on our incamping on Sun about an hour high 
 wee Sent out Two Scouts, of four men each ; One to march on the 
 left Wing ; the other on the Right ; To march about a mile and a half 
 right out upon discovery from the Noyse of our Hatchetts 
 
 He further Saith that after they had bin upon the Scout about an 
 hour, that he Saw both Scouts returning together, running towards our 
 Camp as men affrightened, and called to me at a distance to put 
 out our fires, for they had discover'd a Body of the Enemy. Then 
 Corp! Tarbol coming up to me told me that he had discover'd the 
 Enemy ; The first of their Camps that he discover'd, he sd the Noyse 
 of their Hatchetts, were as bigg as our Company, and so reached halfe 
 a mile. 
 
 The other part of our Scout told me they had discover'd the Track 
 of Doggs, which they Judg'd to be Twenty or Thirty. 
 
 Corp! Tarbol conduct of the Scout March'd on the Right wing ; 
 being Examined concerning his discovery saith 
 
 That they took a Circuler March till they had stear'd out of the 
 noyse of our owne Camp ; and then thinking wee had heard the Noyse 
 of our owne Hatchetts, wee took another Circle to the left that wee 
 might be sure wee were out of the noyse of Hatchetts ; After a 
 short time travelling wee heard a noyse of Hatchetts, upon the left 
 wing on the side of a Hill which was near us upon which wee march'd 
 towards the Place upon discovery, and presently I discover'd a Smoak 
 and immediatly march'd towards it till the smoke cover'd me ; 
 (leaving the rest of the men behind) I then heard a great discourse 
 of men which I took to be Indians and French, and so it held a 
 Considerable way round the Hill, at least half a mile as I judged, 
 upon which wee return'd another way till wee came to our owne 
 tracks ; and then wee met with the other Scout, and upon our ac- 
 count to them of what wee had discov'd, they told us they had met 
 with a track of twenty or Thirty Doggs, which they Judg'd to be the 
 Enemyes Doggs, upon which we return'd together to the Camp, to 
 make report to our Cap' Comander and thereupon Liev! Wayman our
 
 100 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 CoiTiand r call'd his Officers together, hut before he had liberty to speak 
 his men interrupted him ; he bid them move off, Scatter, and stand on 
 their Guard, upon which three quarters of our men ran away home- 
 wards, the Cap: Sent his Serjeants and went himself to stop them, but 
 could not do it, and so wee were forced to march home. 
 
 Samuel Shaddock and William Nutting of Serf Tarbol's scout con- 
 firm e Tarbol's account, and perticulerly that article of the disorderly 
 returning of our men or riming away from their Cap! upon the infor- 
 mation rec' 1 of this discovery. 
 
 The Examination of Samuel Scripture (Conduct of the Scout on the 
 left wing who saith That on the sixth of february upon our incamping 
 I was sent upon discovery about Sun an hour high at night to march on 
 the left wing, and having march'd about a mile and a quarter, wee met 
 with a Track which Jonathan Butterfield who was w th me thought to 
 have bin a bitch wolfe and her Whelps, but I thought to be Indian 
 Doggs, and followed their track about a quarter of a mile, and after a 
 small Stop wee saw Tarbols scout who call'd us away and told us they 
 believ'd there was a thousand Indians upon which wee hastened away 
 but Tarbols scout ran so fast that I could not come up with them to 
 und r stand what their discovery was till I came to the Cam]) ; where 
 Tarbol related what he had seen, all our men Crowded to hear news ; 
 Lieu 1 Wyman Ord r d his men to stand farther off and give room that 
 he might discourse his officers, upon which many of them ran away, 
 and the Cap' Sent Serf Parham to stop them ; Lieu' Wayman seing 
 his men desert him, and Tarbols men representing y c Enemy as so 
 very numerous thought it adviseable to draw off and accordingly wee 
 made the best of our way home. 
 
 The PLxam. of Jonathan Butterfield being of the scout on the Left 
 wing Confirmes Sam 1 Scriptures information, and tells us Lieu! Wa\ - 
 man talk'd of marching immediately to the Place of discovery but 
 many of our men moved off disorderly which the Cap' sent the 
 Serf." to Stopp, but could not do it and so were forced to return 
 home. 
 
 Serf Jn" Parham being examin'd upon the Article of Lieu' Waymans 
 men's disorderly and mutinous running away sayth 
 
 That Above half of them ran away upon Tarbol's Examination 
 and that Leiv' Wayman sent him after them with Orders to turne 
 about and fire in case of an attack in the rear.
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 1OI 
 
 Leiv' Seth Wayman being examin'd of his proceedings upon his 
 receiving advice of Tarbols Scout Sayth 
 
 That upon recieving this account he incouraged his men by telling 
 them that they had a brave advantage of the Enemy, in that they had 
 discover'd them and were not themselves discover'd, and there was a 
 great prospect of doing Spoil upon them, and determined that four 
 squadrons of men which wee had stated, should fall upon four scouts 
 of the Enemy My officers advised me not to go on, saying it 
 would be presumption, and an apparent hazzard of mens lives to En- 
 counter so great a Company, upon which Serj' Tarbol threw down 
 his Cap, and offer'd himself to go if but four men would go with 
 him, but officers advising to the Company and many of my men 
 withdrawing and running away disorderly I found myself too weak to 
 attaque them and accordingly made the best of my way home 
 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Court Martial at Groton. 1 6 FebT 1 706. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LI. 153-157.] 
 
 At various times in its early history, the town was threat- 
 ened by bands of roving Indians, who did whatever damage 
 lay in their power to do. Such incursions kept the inhab- 
 itants on the alert, and from time to time companies were 
 organized for the purpose of scouring the neighborhood. It 
 was in an emergency of this kind, probably, that Lieutenant 
 Wayman's company was reconnoitring through the region 
 around and about the Monadnock Mountain. 
 
 On March 12, 1694-5, an Act was passed by the General 
 Court, which prohibited the desertion of frontier towns by 
 the inhabitants, unless permission was first granted by the 
 Governor and Council. There were eleven such towns, and 
 Groton was one of them. The law required the inhabitants 
 of these out-towns, who owned land or houses, to take out a 
 special license, on pain of forfeiting their property, before 
 they could quit their homes and live elsewhere. It was 
 thought that the interest of the Crown would be prejudiced.
 
 102 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 and encouragement given to the enemy, if any of these 
 posts were deserted, or exposed by lessening their strength. 
 Many towns were threatened by the Indians about this time, 
 and a few were attacked. It is recorded that some of the 
 settlers here left the town, and there was probably a move- 
 ment among the inhabitants in other places to do the same. 
 This fact, undoubtedly, occasioned the enactment, which was 
 to remain in force " unto the end of the session of the gen- 
 eral assembly to convene in May, one thousand six hundred 
 ninety-six (if the present war so long last), and no longer, 
 nor afterwards." 
 
 A similar Act was again passed on March 22, 1699-1700, 
 which embraced fourteen frontier towns, of which Groton was 
 one, and seven other towns that " lye more open than many 
 others to an attack of an enemy." This enactment had a 
 limitation in point of time similar to the preceding one. 
 Subsequently this Act was revived on June 8, 1702, with the 
 limitation, though no towns arc specified by name ; again on 
 June 28, 1706, it was re-enacted, to remain in force until June 
 29, 1707; and still later, but not for the last time, it was 
 passed on June 10, 1707. This continuous legislation to 
 prevent the desertion of the frontiers shows clearly the un- 
 settled condition of the out-lying towns during Queen Anne's 
 War, and Groton was no exception. In the following letter, 
 Captain Josiah Parker refers to the law, which was passed a 
 month before the date of writing: 
 
 On a lecter day. Groton July 9. 1707 
 
 May it plese your Excelency I have Read your Excelencyes order 
 to y e Inhabitants and the law against deserting the frontiers, I could do 
 it no sooner for several of the inhabitants ware gon to plainfeild and 
 Returned yesterday, only two stayd behind ; S r one of those that 
 designe to Remove is the Barer & a selectman and lives on the outsid 
 the Towne. I thought good to send him, who can acquaint your 
 Excelencey who is Removed & who are meditating the same 
 
 Cap' Bulkely & h his men are gon to Lancaster and the other halfe
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 103 
 
 here, and do Expect a Relece thay being men of concidrable husban- 
 drey ; y e most of them, all y people that will worke in Companeys have 
 gards to Cover them to their Content, if your Excelencey Plese I 
 should very glad of a Relie ; I am your 
 
 Excelences most Humble 
 
 Servent JOSIAH PARKER 
 
 [Superscribed] 
 
 To His 
 
 Excelencey The 
 
 Gounour att 
 
 Roxbury 
 On Her Maj ts Service 
 
 GROTON July 9. 1707. 
 May it please yo r Excy. 
 
 According to yo r Excyes Cofnands wee have Sent an account of 
 those that are either actually remov'd, or meditating of it. Our Peo- 
 ple are reduc'd to that degree that they find themselves unable to 
 subsist any long!: Would pray your Excy either to grant Liberty for 
 their Remove or that they may be reduc'd here intirely to a Garrison 
 (of the Towne militia) for the pr e serving the frontiers ; wee thankfully 
 acknowledge your Excyes great Care of us hitherto, and would pray 
 the Continuance of your Regards, without which wee are an undon 
 people Wee take leave to subscribe 
 
 (may it please yo r Excy) 
 
 Your Excys most obed' Serv ls 
 
 JOSEPH LAKIN 
 
 Town clarck 
 JOHN FARNSWORTH 
 
 JONATHAN BOIDON 
 
 JOSEPH LAKIN ; 
 
 H ^ 
 / 
 
 N } 
 
 men 
 
 [Superscribed] 
 
 To His Excelencey 
 
 The Gounour att 
 Roxbury
 
 IO4 
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 GROTTO N July ye 9 day 1707 
 
 Joseph Paraham 
 Samuill Dauis 
 Danill Cadein 
 John Cadein 
 John hoare 
 Samuill farnsworth 
 Joseph Boidon 
 Josiah Whetney 
 Corenallus Whitney 
 Joseph lawranc 
 Ebenezer Nutting 
 of persons gon 
 
 John Stem 
 
 Jonathan Pag 
 
 Nathanill Woods 
 
 Danill lawranc 
 
 John Shattuck 
 
 Nathanill Parker 
 
 Benimin Lakin 
 
 Jonathan boidon 
 
 John huchin 
 
 Zachariah lawranc 
 
 Edman Chambrlin 
 
 John Hall 
 
 Samuell Shattuck 
 
 Zerrubbubl Kamp 
 
 Zachariah Sartwall 
 
 John Gilson 
 
 Abraham lakin 
 
 Josiah lakin 
 
 Joseph lakin 
 
 Willuam Lakin 
 
 Willuam Shattuck 
 
 John Farnsworth 
 
 of the persons that are consedring of going 
 
 JOSEPH LAKIN \ Se]act 
 
 IOHN FARNWORTH > 
 
 ; men 
 JONATHAN BOIDON ) 
 
 JOSEPH LAKIN 
 
 Town clarck 
 
 for Groton 
 [Massachusetts Archives, CXIII. 418-420.] 
 
 A man by the name of Brown was killed here, on June 1 1, 
 1/07. The affair is thus referred to in Pike's Journal, printed 
 in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 
 for September, 1875 : - 
 
 Jun. ii, 1707. mr Dudley Bradstreets man was slain by the Indians 
 at Groton nomine Brown. (XIV. 145.)
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 105 
 
 During this period the savages were still skulking in the 
 neighborhood, doing what injury they could. The following 
 item, taken from "The Boston News-Lettcr," of August 25, 
 1707, describes an event which alarmed the people of this 
 town : 
 
 On Monday last the i6th Currant, Thirteen Indians on the Fron- 
 tiers, surprized two men at their Labour in the Meadows at Marl- 
 borough, about 4 miles distant from the Body of the Town, took 
 them both alive ; and as they parted out of the Town, took a Woman 
 also in their marching off, whom they kill'd : How one of the Pris- 
 oners broke away in a Scuffle, and brought home the Indians Gun 
 and Hatchet, and acquainted the Garison and Inhabitants, who 
 speedily followed them, and were joyned by 20 from Lancaster, 
 being in all 40 odd came up with the Enemy, who were also en- 
 creased to 36, and on Tuesday at ten of the Clock found them, and 
 in two hours exchanged ten Shot a man, in which Skirmish we lost 
 two men, and had too slightly wounded ; and no doubt we kill'd sev- 
 eral of the Enemy, whose Tracts of being dragg'd away we saw, but 
 recover'd but one of them, tho' tis probably conjectur'd that we kill'd 
 10 or 12 at least ; we took 24 of their Packs, and drove them off their 
 ground, and are yet pursued by two Parties of the Forces from Lan- 
 caster and Groton, at our Forces overtaking and attacking the Enemy, 
 they barbarously murdered the Captive. 
 
 The people must have lived in constant dread of the In- 
 dians during most of Queen Anne's War. Sometimes an 
 outlying farmhouse was attacked and burned, some of the 
 inmates killed and others carried away in captivity ; some- 
 times the farmer was shot down while at labor in the field, or 
 while going or coming. This was the fate of John Shatttick, 
 and his son John, a young man about nineteen years of age, 
 who were killed May 8, 1709. 
 
 They were returning from the west side of the Nashua River, 
 where Mr. Shattuck owned land, and were attacked just as 
 they were crossing the Stony Fordway, near the present site 
 of Hollingsworth's paper-mills, where they were killed. At 
 the time of his death Mr. Shattuck was one of the selectmen 
 of the town. During the autumn of 1882 Messrs. Tileston
 
 106 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 and Hollingsworth, of Boston, the owners of the mills, caused 
 a suitable stone' to be placed by the wayside, bearing the 
 following inscription : 
 
 NEAR THIS SPOT 
 
 JOHN SHATTUCK, 
 
 A SELECTMAN OF GROTON, 
 
 AND 
 
 HIS SON JOHN 
 WERE KILLED BY THE INDIANS, 
 
 MAY 8, iyog, 
 
 WHILE CROSSING STONY FORD\VAY, 
 
 JUST KELOW THE PRESENT DAM. 
 
 1882. 
 
 A remarkable fatality seems to have followed Mrs. Shat- 
 tuck's kindred. Her husband and eldest son were killed by 
 the Indians, as has just been mentioned. Her father, James 
 Blood, was likewise killed, September 13, 1692. So also 
 were her uncle, William Longley, his wife and five children, 
 July 27, 1694; and three others of their children were carried 
 away into captivity at the same time. A relative, James 
 Parker, Jr., and his wife were killed in this assault, and their 
 children taken prisoners. Her step-father, Enoch Lawrence, 
 received a wound in an engagement with the Indians, proba- 
 bly in the same attack of July 27, 1694, which almost wholly 
 prevented him from earning a livelihood for himself and 
 family. The three Tarbell children, who were carried off to 
 Canada by the Indians, June 20, 1/07, were cousins of Mrs. 
 Shattuck. John Ames, who was shot by the savages at the 
 gate of his own garrison, July 9, 1724, \vas the father of 
 Jacob, who married her niece, Ruth Shattuck. And lastly, 
 her son-in-law, Isaac Lakin, the husband of her daughter
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 107 
 
 Elizabeth, was wounded in Lovewell's Fight at Pequawket, 
 May 8, 1725. These calamities covered a period of only 
 one generation, extending from the year 1692 to 1725. 
 
 The Reverend Wilkes Allen, in his " History of Chelms- 
 ford " (page 35, note}, says that Major Tyng was wounded by 
 the Indians between Groton and Concord, some time during 
 the year 1711, and that he was taken to the latter town, where 
 he died. 
 
 Near the end of Queen Anne's War there were eighteen 
 garrisons in this town, containing, in all, fifty-eight families, 
 or three hundred and seventy-eight persons. Of this num- 
 ber, seventeen were soldiers in the public service. The 
 details are given in "A List of Frontier Garrisons Reviewed 
 by Order of his Excellency the Governour [Joseph Dudley], 
 In Novemb; 1711," as follows: - 
 
 N'> Garisons Familys Inhabit" 1 Souldiers Souls 
 
 1 Serj' Gillson 3 6 i 25 
 
 2 Deacon Whittneys 48 32 
 
 3 Lieu* Lawrance i i 2 
 
 4 Cap 1 Prescott 4 8 i 41 
 
 5 Samuel Parker 3 8 o 27 
 
 6 M r Bradstreet i i 3 10 
 
 7 M[ Hubbards 3 12 o 32 
 
 8 M; Lakins 7 9 i 30 
 
 9 Ens g Shipple 6 7 2 30 
 
 10 M r Shaddock 5 6 2 26 
 
 1 1 Corp Tarbell 4 6 2 23 
 
 1 2 M r Holdings i 3 2 12 
 
 1 3 Ensf Farnsworth 3 4 i i X 
 
 14 M r Filbrick 7 8 o 40 
 
 15 M[ Stones 2 3 o 12 
 
 1 6 Chamberlain i 4 
 
 1 7 y c Cap' Mill i i i 6 
 
 1 8 Mr Farnsworth 2218 
 
 58 93 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXI. 874.]
 
 108 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 It would be interesting to identify the several sites of these 
 garrison-houses, but that is no\v impossible. Mr. Bradstreet's 
 house is the only one in the list still standing. It was built 
 during the year 1706, and is situated on Hollis Street; it was 
 occupied by A. W. Churchill when the map, - opposite to 
 page 247, in Mr. Butler's History was made. 
 
 Captain Prescott lived at the southerly end of the village, 
 on the farm known as the birthplace of Colonel William 
 Prescott. Mr. Hubbard or Hobart, as commonly written 
 dwelt on the site of the Baptist Meeting-house. Mr. Lakin's 
 house was probably in the neighborhood of the cemetery, 
 and Ensign Shepley's stood near by, on the Martin's Pond 
 road. Mr. " Shaddock " was perhaps William Shattuck, who 
 lived in the vicinity of XVattle's Pond; and Corporal Tarbell's 
 farm is now occupied by James Lawrence. Captain Pres- 
 cott's mill at the Forge Village, now in Westford, is evidently 
 meant by " y e Cap 1 Mill." 
 
 An allusion is made probably to some one captured during 
 Queen Anne's War, in the following extract from the account 
 of a " Missionary Tour in Maine," written in the year 1/98, 
 by the Reverend Paul Coffin, and printed in the fourth volume 
 of the " Collections of the Maine Historical Society: " 
 
 Mr. Russel of Canaan [Maine] told me he lived in an house at 
 Groton, the owner of which was captivated by the indians, about 
 ninety years past and brought to Norridgwogg, where he built the first 
 Moss-house which the indians and French first had there. This 
 pleased his new masters so well that they gave him his redemption. 
 (Pages 379, 380.)
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 109 
 
 II. 
 
 IN a list of prisoners held by the French and Indians in 
 Canada, March 5, 1710-11, are the names of " Zech : Tarbal, 
 John Tarbal, Sarah Tarbal, Matt. Farnsworth [and] Lydia 
 Longley" (Archives, LXXI. 765), all of Groton, though no 
 date of capture is given. Lydia Longley was taken by the 
 Indians on July 27, 1694, and the particulars of her case have 
 already been told. The Tarbell children were carried off on 
 June 2O, 1707; but it is unknown when Matthias Farnsworth 
 was captured, and this entry appears to be the only record of 
 the fact. Sarah, John, and Zechariah were children of Thomas 
 and Elizabeth (Wood) Tarbell, who, with a large family, lived 
 on Farmers' Row, near where James Lawrence's house now 
 stands. Sarah was a girl nearly fourteen years of age, John 
 a lad of twelve years, and Zechariah only seven, at the time 
 when they were taken. They were near kindred of the 
 Longley family, who had been massacred thirteen years 
 before. The father was unquestionably the Corporal Tarbell 
 who commanded, in the autumn of 1711, one of the eighteen 
 garrisons in the town. 
 
 The story of their capture and captivity is a singular one, 
 and sounds like a romance. They were picking cherries early 
 one evening, so tradition relates, and were taken before 
 they had time to get down from the tree. It should be borne 
 in mind that the date of capture, according to the new style 
 of reckoning, was July i, when cherries would be ripe enough 
 to tempt the appetite of climbing youngsters. These children 
 were carried to Canada, where, it would seem, they were 
 treated kindly, as no inducement afterward was strong enough 
 to make them return permanently to their old home. The 
 girl, Sarah, was sold to the French, and placed in a convent at 
 Lachine, near Montreal ; but what became of her subsequently 
 I am unable to say.
 
 HO QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 Thomas Tarbcll, the father of these children, made his will 
 September 26, 1715, which was admitted to probate six weeks 
 later, and is now on file at the Middlesex Probate Office in 
 East Cambridge. After making certain bequests to different 
 members of his family, he says : 
 
 all the rest & residue of my Reall Estate I give to be Equally di- 
 vided between my three children, John, Zachary, & Sarah Tarbell, 
 upon their return from Captivity, or In Proportion unto any of them 
 that shall return, & the rest, or the parts belonging to them that do not 
 return, shall be Equally divided among the rest of my children. 
 
 During my visit to Montreal in the summer of 1877 I saw, 
 at the Congregation of Notre Dame, the French record, of 
 which the following is a translation : 
 
 On Monday, July 23, 1708, the ceremony of baptism was per- 
 formed on Sarah Tarbell, who was born at Groton in New England, 
 October 9, 1693. Her parents were Thomas Tarbell and Elizabeth 
 Wood, both Protestants, and she was baptized by the minister shortly 
 after her birth. Having been taken by the savages on Monday, June 
 20, 1707, she was brought to Canada; she has since been sold, and 
 has lived with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, estab- 
 lished at Lachine, where she abjured her religion on May i. Her 
 godfather was M. Jacques Urbain Robert de Lamorandiere, Secretary 
 of M. 1'Intendant ; and her godmother was Madame Marguerite Bonat, 
 
 r 
 
 wife of M. Etienne Pascaud, the deputy treasurer of the King in this 
 country. 
 
 Her name Sarah has been changed to Marguerite. 
 
 [Signed] MG TF - BONAT. 
 
 PASCAUD, 
 LAMORAXDIERE, 
 MERIEL, PRETRE. 
 
 The boys remained for many years with their captors at 
 Caughnawaga, an Indian village on the right bank of the St. 
 Lawrence River, directly opposite to Lachine.
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. I I I 
 
 It is supposed that they left this place about the year 1760, 
 when they moved up the river, in order to establish another 
 settlement. 
 
 In the year 1713 John Stoddard and John Williams were 
 appointed by Governor Joseph Dudley, to go to Quebec and 
 treat with the Governor-General of Canada for the release 
 of the New England prisoners. They were accompanied 
 by Thomas Tarbell, probably the elder brother of the 
 boys, and we find his petition presented to the House of 
 Representatives, June I, 1715, "praying consideration and 
 allowance for his Time and Expences in going to Canada, 
 with Major Stoddard & Mr. Williams, Anno 1713, to re- 
 cover the Captives." 
 
 The petition was referred, and, on the next day, 
 
 Capt. Noyes from the Committee for Petitions, made Report on 
 the Petition of Thomas Tarboll, viz. That they are of Opinion that 
 nothing is due from the Province to the said Tarboll, since he pro- 
 ceeded as a Volunteer in that Service to Canada, & not imployed by 
 the Government, but recommended him to the favour of the House. 
 
 The report was accepted, and, in consideration of Tarbell's 
 services, he was allowed ten pounds out of the public treasury. 
 Captain Stoddard's Journal, giving an account of the nego- 
 tiations, is printed in " The New England Historical and 
 Genealogical Register" (v. 26), for January, 1851, and 
 Tarbell's name is mentioned in it. 
 
 We find no further trace of these boys, now grown up to 
 manhood, during the twenty-five years following this attempt 
 to release the New England prisoners. In the winter of 1739 
 John and Zechariah Tarbell came back to Groton in order to 
 visit their kinsfolk and see their native town. They were so 
 young when carried away that their recollections of the place 
 were of course very indistinct. It is not known now under 
 what circumstances or influences they returned. An itemized 
 bill of the expense incurred in bringing them back from
 
 112 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 Canada was made out against their brothers, Thomas and 
 Samuel, and perhaps paid by them. Shortly afterward Thom- 
 as Tarbell petitioned the General Court for means to enable 
 him to meet the necessary charges of the journey, besides 
 the expenses of an interpreter ; and a conditional loan was 
 granted. The record does not say whether it was ever paid 
 back by him. The papers relating to the subject are as 
 follows : 
 
 I)' Mess"? Thomas 6* Samuel Tharbell to William Rogers Jun r C' 
 
 1733/9 
 
 Jan ry To 5o'! J Biskett 10 3 
 
 40 Ib Pork a 7 '' 1:34 
 
 ii Gall s Brandy 8 9 
 
 8 blanketts Stroucls each q s 2.V I , 
 
 \ 6 10 
 Ells a 6 6 p Ell ) 
 
 To Lodging Victu! &: 9 days a j- each i 16 o 
 
 To Horse Hire to Kinderhook & expenc e 1 5 9 
 
 To Lodging Victu 1 &f at Westenhook 7 2 
 
 To horse Hire from Westfield to Gro" 10 
 
 N. York mony \2 \ 3 
 at 200 p C advance 24 2 6 
 
 -Dl3<5 
 
 To Cash paid Expences at Glasco ) ,. 
 
 [Blandford] N. E. M[oney]. )* 
 To d? paid d'.' at Westfield 10 
 
 To d? paid d and Horse Hire at 
 
 Springfield 
 To d.' paid d'.' at Lambs between ~\ 
 
 Springfield and Kingstown V 66 
 
 [Palmer] j 
 
 To d.' at M r Ashleys i 7 2 
 
 To d? paid at Howards & Richerdsons i 2 
 
 To d: 1 paid at M r Huberds 14 6 
 
 To d" paid at Boston &" ~\_} 5 
 
 [Amount carried forward, ^44 M 9]
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 113 
 
 [Amottnt brought forward, ^44 *4 9] 
 To my Trouble for bringing your ~\ 
 Brothers from Canada to Albany I 
 & here, from y e io'. h feb7 to [ 
 April 27'!' is 77 days at 2O/ 
 
 ji2i M 9 
 1011-7 
 
 1739 Boston April ig'I 1 Errors Excepted 
 
 p WILLIAM ROGERS Jun' 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XV. A 15, 16.] 
 
 \ To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq Gov 
 Province of the f ^, 7 . , -,, TT ,, ,, -,,, T r j- n . 
 
 > Chief The fforr Council! 6* House of Rep'"' 
 Massachusetts Bay I . J 
 
 J in Generall Court Assembled Apr ill 23'' 1739 
 The Petition of Thomas Tarbell of Groton Elder Brother To his 
 Two Unfortunate Brothers Taken into Captivity in the former Wars 
 humbly Sheweth 
 
 That he does with utmost thankfullness acknowledge The Great 
 favour of this Court Expressed towards his said Brothers and for y" 
 Great encouragement you have been pleased to give In order to Excite 
 them to come over & settle amongst us 
 
 But in as much as the Charges of their coming down and y e Inter- 
 preter who attended them amounts To one hundred 6* Twenty one 
 pound 14 9 [The italicised words in the petition are erased, and 
 " fourty pound new tennor Bill " interlined.] which your petitioner 
 must Pay & not being in a Capacity to Raise so much mony at this 
 time he most humbly prays your Excellency & Hon rs would of your 
 Great Goodness be pleased to make him a Grant of so much or to 
 allow him to receive y e same out of the Publick Treasury and Grant 
 him such time for Repaymt thereof again as to your Excellency & 
 Hon rs in your great Goodness shall seem meet, your petitioners giving 
 good security therefor & as in Duty bound shall Ever pray &c 
 
 THCT TARBELL. 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XV. A 17.] 
 
 In the House of Rep rfs April 24"'' 1739. 
 Read and in answer to this petition 
 
 Voted that Mr Treasurer ffoye be & hereby is impowered and 
 directed to advance to the petitioner Thomas Tarbell the sum of 
 
 8
 
 114 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 Thirty Nine pounds Eleven shillings and seven pence out of the 
 publick Treasury provided the said Tarbell give good security for re- 
 imbursing the Treasury the said sum within the space of two years at 
 the farthest, in Case his two Brothers do not within that time return 
 with their ffamilics & dwell among us in this Government 
 Sent up for Concurrence 
 
 J. Quixcv Sp* r 
 
 In Council April 24 1739 Read and Nonconcured. 
 
 SIMON FROST Dep' Sec ry 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XV. A 17.] 
 
 In the House of Representatives April 21. 1739 
 
 In Consideration of that Clause in His Excellency's speech for 
 inducing some English Captives lately come from Canada to return 
 hither again by giving them some proper Encouragement Ordered 
 that the sum of Forty pounds new tenor bills be granted & allowed 
 to be paid out of the publick Treasury to Joseph Kellogg Esq' and by 
 him to be paid and disposed of to & for the use of the two Captives 
 viz' John Tharbell and Zechariah Tharbell in the following Manner 
 viz 1 Sixteen pounds thirteen shillings & four pence part thereof to be 
 laid out at their discretion as a present to their wives in the purchase 
 of such things as they are desirous of, and that the like sum of sixteen 
 pounds thirteen shillings & four pence be given to be at their own 
 disposal!, and the remainder thereof viz. six pounds thirtteen shillings 
 & four pence be given them to bear their charges homewards 
 
 and further the assurance of this Government is hereby given them 
 that if they shall return with their Families to live among us they shall 
 be put & kept in the pay of the province as Soldiers at Fort Dummer 
 during Life to give them bread for their Families without being obliged 
 to the duty of the Garison only behaving themselves peaceably and 
 Orderly among us ; and that each of them shall have a right in some 
 new township, or two hundred acres of Land a piece for an Inherit- 
 ance to them, and their heirs, where it shall be found most fit and 
 convenient and also that on their return again with their ffamilies to 
 dwell here as aforesaid this Government will pay to their Brethren 
 namely Thomas & Samuel Tharbell the am" of Mr William Rogers Junr
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 115 
 
 his accompt for the Charge of their Journey down & now exhibited 
 being forty pounds, eleven shillings & seven pence 
 Sent up for Concurrence 
 
 J. QUINCY Sp kr 
 In Council April 24. i 739 
 Read and Concurr'd 
 25 : Consented to, J WILLARD Secry 
 
 J BELCHER 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XV. A 18, 19.] 
 
 On April 20 Governor Belcher brought the case of these 
 captives to the attention of the Council and the House of 
 Representatives ; and this action on his part prompted the 
 petition of Thomas Tarbell. The Governor then made a 
 speech, in which he said: 
 
 There are lately come from Canada some Persons that were taken 
 by the Indians from Groton above thirty Years ago, who (its believed) 
 may be induced to return into this Province, on your giving them 
 some proper Encouragement : If this Matter might be effected, I 
 should think it would be not only an Act of Compassion in order 
 to reclaim them from the Errors and Delusions of the Romish 
 Faith ; but their living among us might, in Time to come, be of great 
 Advantage to the Province. 
 
 This subject was referred the same day to a Committee 
 consisting of John Read, of Boston, William Fairfield, of 
 Wenham, Thomas Wells, of Deerfield, Benjamin Browne, of 
 Salem, and Job Almy, of Tiverton. On the next day, April 
 21 as we read in the printed Journal of the House of 
 Representatives the chairman of 
 
 The Committee appointed to consider that Paragraph in His Ex- 
 cellency's SPEECH relating to the Encouragement of two English 
 Captives from Canada, viz. John Tharbell and Zechariah Tharbell, 
 made report thereon, which he read in his Place, and then delivered 
 it at the Table ; and after some debate thereon, the House did not 
 accept the Report ; and having considered the "same Article by Article,
 
 Il6 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 the House came into a Vote thereon, and sent the same up to the 
 honourable Board for Concurrence. 
 
 On the 23d, we find 
 
 A Petition of Thomas Tharbell of Groton, Elder Brother of the 
 t\vo Mr. Tharbclls lately returned from Captivity in Canada, praying 
 he may be allowed the Loan of some Money to enable him to pay 
 William Rogers, jun. his Account of Charges in bringing his Brethren 
 to Boston. Read and Ordered, That the Petition be considered to 
 morrow morning. 
 
 On the next day, 
 
 The House pass'd a Vote on the Petition of Thomas Tharbell of 
 Groton, praying as entred the 23d current, and sent the same up to 
 the honourable Board for Concurrence. 
 
 All these efforts, however, to reclaim the two men from 
 savage life proved unavailing; for it is known that they re- 
 mained with the Indians and became naturalized, if I may 
 use the expression. They married Indian wives, and were 
 afterward made chiefs at Caughnawaga and St. Regis, vil- 
 lages in Canada. Their descendants are still living among 
 the Indians, and the Tarbells of the present day, in this town, 
 are their collateral kindred. Nearly forty years after their 
 capture, Governor Hutchinson met them in New York State, 
 and in his " History of the Province of Massachusetts Bay '' 
 refers to them thus : - 
 
 I saw at Albany two or three men, in the year i 744, who came 
 in with the Indians to trade, and who had been taken at Groton in 
 this, that is called Queen Ann's war. One of them - Tarbell, 
 was said to be one of the wealthiest of the Cagnawaga tribe. He 
 made a visit in his Indian dress and with his Indian complexion (for 
 by means of grease and paints but little difference could be discerned) 
 to his relations at Groton, but had no inclination to remain there. 
 (II. 139-) 
 
 This is another account from " The Galaxy " magazine, for 
 January, 1870: -
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. II 7 
 
 It is related that, about a century and a half ago, while a couple of 
 boys and a girl were playing in a barn at Groton, Massachusetts, 
 some Indians suddenly appeared, seized the boys and fled, carrying 
 them to the village of Caughnawaga, nine miles above Montreal, 
 where they grew up with the Indian habits, manners, and language, 
 being finally adopted as members of the tribe ; and married Indian 
 brides selected from the daughters of the principal chiefs. (IX. 124.) 
 
 Some years after this time, these two young men now oc- 
 cupying the position of chiefs moved up the St. Lawrence 
 River, accompanied by several others, all with their families, 
 and established the village of St. Regis. This Indian settle- 
 ment is pleasantly situated on the right bank of the St. Law- 
 rence, the boundary line which separates the State of New 
 York from Canada running through it. From its peculiar 
 position, it was agreed, during the last war with England, that 
 the Indians should remain neutral, but the compact was 
 often broken. In the summer of 1852 the tribe numbered 
 about eleven hundred persons, of whom it is said that not one 
 was of pure Indian origin. 
 
 Many interesting facts concerning the Tarbells at St. Regis 
 are found in the " History of St. Lawrence and Franklin 
 Counties, New York" (Albany, 1853), by Dr. Franklin B. 
 Hough. A part of the village comes within the limits of 
 Franklin County; and the author has gathered up some 
 of the stories still told about these two brothers in that 
 neighborhood. He gives the following accounts, which arc 
 largely traditional, but with some truth at the bottom : 
 
 About a hundred and thirty years ago, three children (a girl about 
 twelve or thirteen years of age, and two younger brothers) were play- 
 ing together in a barn, in the town of Groton, Massachusetts, and 
 being absent from the house longer than was expected, their mother 
 became solicitous about them, and went to find them. The girl was 
 lying on the floor, with a limb broken, and the boys were missing. 
 
 She related that seeing some Indians coming, she fled to the upper 
 part of the barn, and fell by accident from the beams above, and that
 
 Il8 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 they had seized the two boys and carried them away. The stealthy 
 manner of this seizure, and the time that had elapsed, forbade pursuit 
 with any hope of success, and the distracted parents were left to mourn 
 the loss without consolation or hope. The probable motive for the 
 seizure of these children was the expectation that a bounty would be 
 offered for their ransom ; or perhaps they might be exchanged for 
 French prisoners. 
 
 As afterwards appeared, these boys were taken by the Caughnawaga 
 Indians to their village near Montreal, where they were adopted as 
 their own children, growing up in habits, manners, and language 
 as Indians, and in due time they married the daughters of chiefs of 
 that tribe. The names of these chiefs were Sa-kon-en-tsi-ask and 
 Ata-wen-ta. ' 
 
 But they possessed the superiority of intellect and enterprise which 
 belonged to their race ; and this led to a series of petty quarrels, 
 growing out of the jealousy of the young Indians of their age, which 
 disquieted the village, and by the party spirit which it engendered, 
 became a source of irritation and trouble in the settlement, and of 
 anxiety on the part of their missionary, who labored in vain to 
 reconcile the difficulties between them. 
 
 Failing in this, he advised the two young men (one of whom they 
 had named Ka-re-ko-wa) to remove with their families to a place by 
 themselves, where they might enjoy tranquillity, and be beyond the 
 reach of annoyance from their comrades. 
 
 This advice they adopted ; and taking with them their wives, and 
 followed by their wives' parents, these four families departed in a bark 
 canoe, with their effects, to seek in a new country, and in the secluded 
 recesses of the forest, a home. 
 
 They coasted along up the St. Lawrence, and at length arrived at 
 the delightful point on which the village of St. Regis now stands, where 
 they landed and took possession. 
 
 The name of these youths, was TARBELL, and their descendants 
 have always resided at St. Regis, and some of them have been dis- 
 tinguished as chiefs and headmen of the tribe. One of these named 
 Lesor Tarbell, and a son of his name, was a prominent chief, about 
 fifty years since, and very much esteemed by the whites for his 
 prudence, candor, and great worth of character. 
 
 The name of Tarbell is said to be very common in Groton to 
 this dav.
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 119 
 
 Another traditional version of the account differs in some particulars 
 from that just related, and is as follows : 
 
 Three lads and an elder sister were playing together in a field, 
 when they were suq)rised by a small party of Indians. One of the 
 boys escaped, but the rest were seized, and marched that day about 
 fourteen miles into the woods, towards Canada, when it coming on 
 dark, they came to a halt, and camped for the night. Thinking their 
 prisoner secure, the Indians were less watchful than usual, and finally 
 all fell asleep. 
 
 The girl, about twelve years old, kept awake, and seeing the rest 
 asleep, her first thought was to awaken her brothers, and attempt to 
 escape ; but fearing to disturb the Indians, should she attempt this, and 
 thus prevent any possibility of escape, she crept carefully out from 
 among them, and struck off in the direction of her home, which she 
 at length reached after undergoing great hardship. 
 
 One of the lads on growing up went off to the northwest ; the other 
 married, and subsequently, with his wife and one or two other families, 
 moved off, and made the first settlement at St. Regis. 
 
 From the abundance of partridges which the thicket afforded they 
 called it AK-WIS-SAS-NE, " where the partridge drums," and this name it 
 still retains. 
 
 These families were living very peaceably together, and had made 
 small clearings for cornfields, when they were joined by Father 
 Anthony Gordon, a Jesuit from Caughnawaga, with a colony of these 
 Indians, in 1760. 
 
 The year of this settlement is known by the fact that they were met, 
 near Coteau du Lac, by Lord Amherst, who was descending the St. 
 Lawrence, to complete the conquest of Canada. Gordon named the 
 place ST. REGIS. (Pages 111-113.) 
 
 In former years the St. Regis Indians had certain rights in 
 a land reservation in the State of New York ; and more than 
 once treaties were made between the Governor of the State 
 and the chiefs of the tribe, among whom were descendants of 
 these Tarbell boys. A treaty was signed on February 20, 
 1818, in behalf of the Indians, by Loran Tarbell and Thomas 
 Tarbell, and two other chiefs. Another treaty was signed on 
 September 23, 1825, by eleven chiefs and trustees of the
 
 120 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 tribe, including Peter Tarbell, Thomas Tarbell, Mitchel Tar- 
 bell, Louis Tarbell, and Battice Tarbell. Some of these 
 names, I am sure, will sound familiar to the older inhabitants 
 of Groton. It is very likely that Battice is the same as Sabat- 
 tis, an Indian name, which is said to be a corruption of Saint 
 Baptiste. 
 
 Dr. Hough writes about one of the earlier members of the 
 family as follows : 
 
 A half breed Indian, who usually was known as PETER THE BIG 
 SPEAK, was a son of Lesor Tarbell, one of the lads who had been 
 stolen a\vay from Groton by the Indians, and who subsequently be- 
 came one- of the first settlers who preceded the founding of St. 
 Regis. 
 
 He was a man of much address and ability as a speaker, and was 
 selected as the mouthpiece of the tribe on the more important occasions 
 that presented themselves. (Page 182.) 
 
 The statement is wrong, however, that Lesor was the name 
 of one of the captured boys. It is perfectly well known that 
 their names were John and Zechariah, but it is not improb- 
 able that one of their sons was named Lesor. If this was the 
 case, it was intended, doubtless, for Eleazer, the name of their 
 youngest brother, who was less than two months old when 
 they were carried off. It certainly would be a very touching 
 tribute to their childish recollections if they had remembered 
 this little babe at home, and carried him in their thoughts for 
 so many years. 
 
 In the year 1772 the Reverend Mr. Ripley and Lieutenant 
 Taylor went on a mission to Canada, in order to induce some 
 Indian children to join the Charity School at Hanover, New 
 Hampshire. They returned September 21, bringing with 
 them eight boys from Caughnawaga, and two from Lorette, 
 a village near Quebec. Among these lads was a descendant 
 of one of the Tarbell captives. An account of this visit to 
 Canada is given in the appendix to a pamphlet entitled " A 
 Continuation of the Narrative of the Indian Charity School,"
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 121 
 
 by Eleazer Whcelock, D. D., and published in the year 1773. 
 The following extract is taken from it : 
 
 The same day a council of the chiefs of that tribe [Caughnawaga] 
 was called to consider of the proposal of sending their children to this 
 school, which Mr. Ripley had left to their consideration, in which they 
 were to a man agreed in the affirmative, and acknowledged with grati- 
 tude the benevolence and kindness of their offer : They continued 
 united and firm to the last in that determination against the most warm 
 and zealous remonstrances of their priest, both in public and private ; 
 in consequence of which determination, nine of their boys were made 
 ready to accompany Mr. Ripley hither ; three of which were children 
 or descendants from captives, who had been captivated when they 
 were young, and lived with them, till they were naturalized and married 
 among them. One was a descendant from Rev. Mr. Williams who was 
 captivated from Deerfield in 1 704, but the boy was taken sick with the 
 measles, and thereby his coming was prevented ; but may be expected 
 in the spring. Another was a descendant from Mr. Tarbull, who was 
 captivated from Groton, in the year 1700 [1707?], who is now a 
 hearty and active man, and the eldest chief, and chief speaker of the 
 tribe. He expressed great affection to his relations in New-England, 
 sent his love to them, and desired they might be informed that he had 
 a grandson at this school. The other was son to Mr. Stacey, who was 
 captivated from Ipswich, and is a good interpreter for that tribe. 
 (Pages 39, 40.) 
 
 Another reference to the same subject is found in the 
 first volume of Farmer & Moore's " Collections," published 
 at Concord, New Hampshire, in the year 1822. It is as 
 follows : 
 
 In 1772, Rev. SYLVANUS RIPLEY and Lt. JOSEPH TAYLOR, who acted 
 as interpreter, went on a mission to the Indian tribes in Canada. 
 They returned to Hanover on the 2ist of September, and brought 
 with them ten children from those tribes, to receive an education in 
 the school at Dartmouth College. Two of these children were taken 
 by the Indians in former wars, while they were young, and were 
 brought up in the language and customs of the natives. One of them 
 was a grandson, about eight years old, of a Mr. Tarbell, who was
 
 122 QUEEN AXNE'S WAR. 
 
 taken from Groton, in Massachusetts, in the year 1704 [1707?], when 
 he was about ten years old. Mr. Tarbell was then in vigorous health 
 and the oldest chief in the village. He expressed much joy in seeing 
 Messrs. Ripley and Taylor, and earnestly encouraged his grandson in 
 leaving his Indian relatives to receive the benefits of education. 
 There was another youth, a grandson of Mrs. Eunice Williams, who 
 was taken captive with her father, the Rev. John Williams, of Deer- 
 field, Feb. 29, 1 704, that would have accompanied them, but was 
 prevented by indisposition. (Pages 63, 64.) 
 
 A Frenchman by the name of Fovel visited St. Regis in 
 the year 1826, and induced one of the Tarbell family, whose 
 Indian name was Joseph Torakaron, to accompany him to 
 Europe. Torakaron was to travel in the character of an 
 Indian chief, and Fovel was to act as interpreter and agent. 
 The story is thus told by Dr. Hough, in his History: 
 
 In 1826, a young Frenchman, by the name of Fovel, who had been 
 for some time at Montreal, visited St. Regis, and induced one Joseph 
 Torakaron, (sometimes known by his English name of Tarbell,) to con- 
 sent to accompany him to Europe. Torakaron was to travel in the 
 character of an Indian chief, (which office he then held at St. Regis,) 
 and his companion in that of interpreter, solicitor, treasurer, and 
 agent. The motives held out to the chief were, that they should be 
 able to obtain donations for the endowment of their church, and 
 doubtless large sums as presents to themselves. Having made all 
 necessary arrangements, and being furnished with letters from St. 
 Regis, Montreal and Quebec, certifying the standing of Torakaron at 
 home, the two proceeded by way of New York and Havre, to Paris. 
 The conductor here obtained an interview with Charles X, and so 
 favorable an impression was made upon the mind of the king, that he 
 presented them with three fine paintings, and a large sum in money, 
 and other valuable articles. 
 
 Thence they proceeded by way of Marseilles, to Rome, and 
 obtained an interview with the pope. 
 
 During a conversation, the pope asked the Indian if he could 
 converse in another language than his own, and finding him able to 
 use the English and French to some degree, he invited him to a
 
 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 123 
 
 second interview alone. The result was, that a set of books and silver 
 plate, for the service of the church, a rosary of jewels and gold, worth 
 it is said $1400, and other articles of value, were given him. They 
 thence returned to Marseilles, where they spent the winter, and in 
 1828 returned by way of Paris and Havre to New York. Here the 
 treasurer, or interpreter, or whatever else he might be called, evinced 
 his true character by absconding with every article of value, except 
 the rosary and paintings, leaving Torakaron without means even to 
 return home. He was enabled to do so through the charity of friends, 
 and the paintings were soon after deposited in their destined place. 
 Two are now at St. Regis, and the third in the church at Caughna- 
 waga. Of the former, those who visit the church will recognize in a 
 painting over the altar, the portrait of St. Regis, and in the one to the 
 left, near the pulpit, that of St. Francois Xavier. (Page 166.) 
 
 In the summer of 1877 I visited St. Regis, where I met a 
 grandson of one of the Tarbell captives. He was more than 
 eighty years old, and could speak only Indian ; and I had 
 to talk with him through an interpreter. I learned that 
 he was aware that his grandfather had been taken when 
 a boy, from a town near Boston, and that he had kinsfolk 
 still living there. What interested me exceedingly was the 
 physical resemblance between him and some of his collateral 
 relations, who lived and died at Squannacook within my 
 recollection. He was a man of ordinary size, with a sunburnt 
 face and gray hair, though somewhat bald. There was but 
 little appearance of Indian blood in his veins, and he would 
 have passed anywhere for a good-looking old man. He lived 
 with one of his sons in a small house that was clapboarded 
 and painted, and one of the best in the village, where, 
 surrounded by his grandchildren, he was passing the declining 
 years of his life in comfortable ease. 
 
 I was also interested to learn from the Reverend Francis 
 Marcoux, the parish priest, that the Tarbells were among the 
 most prominent families of the settlement, where there are, 
 perhaps, forty persons who bear the name. They keep up,
 
 124 QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. 
 
 in a great measure, the same given names that are common 
 among their kindred in this neighborhood. The inhabitants 
 of St. Regis, for the most part, retain the English names of 
 their fathers, and besides, have Indian ones. 
 
 In tracing the career of these boys and their descendants 
 down nearly to the present time, the account sounds more 
 like fiction than the sober truth of history. The trail of their 
 adventures is covered up with so many improbabilities that 
 the mere narration of them excites marvel and wonder. 
 
 During the War of the Rebellion, Louis Tarble, a son of 
 Thomas, of St. Regis, who was descended from one of the 
 captives, served two years in the Thirty-fourth New York 
 Volunteers, and subsequently in the Eleventh United States 
 Infantry. After his discharge from the army he died at 
 Norway, Herkimer County, New York. 
 
 During the present summer of 1883 Mr. Lawrence, the 
 owner of the Tarbell farm, proposes to place in the wall by 
 the wayside a stone bearing this inscription : 
 
 NEAR THIS SPOT 
 THREE CHILDREN 
 
 SARAH, JOHN, AND ZECHARIAH TARBELL 
 
 WERE CAPTURED 15Y THE INDIANS, 
 
 JUNE 20, 1707. 
 
 THEY WERE TAKEN TO CANADA WHERE 
 THE SISTER WAS PLACED IN A CONVENT. 
 
 THE BROTHERS BECAME CHIEFS OF THE 
 
 COUGHNAWAGA TRIBE , AND WERE AMONG 
 
 THE FOUNDERS OF ST. REGIS WHERE 
 
 THEY HAVE DESCENDANTS NOW LIVING. 
 
 l88 3 .
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 DURING the summer of 1723 "the Indian enemy" as 
 the early settlers were wont to call them still threatened 
 the western frontier towns. On August 16, 1723, according 
 to the printed Journal of the House of Representatives, 
 Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, at that time the acting Gov- 
 ernor of the Province, was desired immediately to order 
 detachments of men, varying from three to six, from the 
 inhabitants of the several towns along the line of outer set- 
 tlements, to be constantly employed in scouting and ranging 
 the woods in their respective towns ; and under this order 
 Groton was to have six. On August 24 it was ordered by 
 the House of Representatives, that these scouts should be 
 placed under the direction of the chief military officer of the 
 several towns, and such officer should receive five shillings a 
 week for his services. Owing to informalities in the matter, 
 a dispute arose between the House and the Lieutenant- 
 Governor, who within two days sent two messages to that 
 body, and some slight modifications were made in the original 
 draft. Lieutenant Jabez Fairbanks, of Lancaster, commanded 
 the company which included the Groton men. The follow-
 
 126 
 
 BUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 ing document gives a list of his men at the beginning of the 
 winter : 
 
 LANCASTER December y e 2 th 1723 
 
 May it plese your Hon er I have in observance of your Hon rs order 
 Inlisted fifteen able bodyed men fit for service & haue sent the List of 
 them herewith to your Hon r with y e List of those that ware in y e ser- 
 vice before and haue put them on duity : we haue made no decovery 
 of y e Inemy as yet : the barer is one that is in the service & is Capable 
 if your Hon r Seas Case to demand : to give a full account of our 
 management your Humble 
 
 Servant JABEZ FAIRBANKS 
 
 [Superscribed] 
 
 To y e Hon" William Dumer Esq Left Govener & for His Majesties 
 service, by M r Edward Hartwell 
 
 A List of the Names of y e Soldiers first enlisted in Lancaster 
 Groaton & Dunstable 
 
 Edward Hartwill 
 Aaron Willard 
 Benjamin Osgood 
 Benjamin Houghton junr 
 John Bennit 
 Samuell Sawyer 
 Jonathan Shipley 
 Joseph Blood 
 James Shattuck 
 
 The names of those last in Listed 
 
 Joseph Blanchard 
 
 Ephraim Wheeler 
 
 David Osgood 
 
 Joseph Wheelock 
 
 Ezra Sawyer 
 
 Benjamin Harris 
 
 Phinehas Parker 
 
 David Satell 
 LANCASTER December the 2th 1723 
 
 Samuell Scripter 
 John Stephens 
 William Larrance 
 Jabaz Davice 
 Thomas Chamberlin 
 Ephraim Chandler 
 Benjamin Nicholes 
 John Barrit 
 
 Isaac Woods 
 Jacob Lakin 
 Thomas Lund 
 Isaac Fanvell 
 Ebenezer Cumins 
 John Usher 
 Jonathan Combs 
 
 JABEZ FAIRBANKS 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXII. 144, 145.]
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 127 
 
 On December 7, 1723, the House of Representatives passed 
 the account of Colonel Joseph Buckminster, for going and 
 sending expresses, on public business, between Boston and 
 Groton and other towns ; and fifty-five shillings were allowed 
 for the service. On the same day the sum of ^94 los. was 
 allowed for paying the company under the command of Ser- 
 geant Edward Hartwell, made up of scouts at Groton, Shrews- 
 bury, and Lancaster, and the further sum of 40 $s. gd. for the 
 subsistence of the men ; and the money was to be placed in the 
 hands of Benjamin Prescott, of Groton, for his disbursement. 
 This company of scouts was the one raised by Lieutenant 
 Fairbanks. On December 10, a petition was presented from 
 Jonathan Hubbard, of Groton, praying that he might be paid 
 & 4-r. for entertaining Samuel Barnard, a trooper belonging 
 to Captain Bowman's company, who was taken sick at his 
 house, while in the public service ; and the committee, to 
 whom the matter was referred, made a report recommending 
 its payment. 
 
 The military company at this post, during the campaigns of 
 1723 and 1724, was composed of soldiers principally from 
 Groton, Lancaster, and Dunstable, and commanded by 
 Lieutenant Fairbanks. Some of them were detailed as 
 guards to protect the more exposed garrisons, and others 
 were scouting in the neighborhood. They were so scattered 
 that the commanding officer found it difficult to drill them 
 as a company. Fortunately, however, they were not engaged 
 in much fighting, though the enemy had been lurking about 
 and threatening the town. 
 
 The following Groton men are borne on the rolls of 
 Lieutenant Fairbanks's company, June 18, 1724, and repre- 
 sent some of the most influential families at that time. The 
 period of their service is given, with the amount of their 
 pay:
 
 128 UUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Phinias Parker, Serj! 
 
 Nov. 
 
 25 to Jan. 12 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 Jon? Shipley, Sent! 1 
 
 
 
 IO ,, 
 
 4 
 
 1 1 
 
 5 
 
 Jo s Blood 
 
 
 
 June 13 
 
 15 
 
 IO 
 
 
 Ja s Shaduck 
 
 
 
 T> 
 
 15 
 
 IO 
 
 
 Samuel Screpter 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 IO 
 
 
 W" Lawrance 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 
 Josiah Bauden 
 
 Jan. 
 
 13 
 
 IO 
 
 18 
 
 6 
 
 Jacob Ames 
 
 Nov. 
 
 25 v 
 
 M 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Isaac Woods 
 
 ,, 
 
 ,, ,, ,, 
 
 M 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Jason Williams 
 
 
 
 J. 
 
 M 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Nath 1 Lawrance 
 
 
 
 ,, ,, 
 
 M 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Jon' 1 Shepley, Serj! 
 
 Jan. 
 
 3 >' " 
 
 M 
 
 1 1 
 
 6 
 
 Tho s Chamberlin 
 
 Nov. 
 
 29 
 
 M 
 
 2 
 
 IO 
 
 Mich 1 Gillson 
 
 April 
 
 28 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 i 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XCI. 
 
 124.] 
 
 
 
 
 
 The following letters from the commanding officer, to 
 Lieutenant-Governor William Dummer, show how these 
 scouts were employed during a part of their service : - 
 
 GROTON May 28 th 1724. 
 May it please your Honour 
 
 I have Posted the men Committed to my care at the Towns of 
 Lancaster Groton Dunstable & Turkey Hill [Lunenburg] according 
 to your Honours Orders ; and Improve them in the best manner I 
 can for the protection of the People & Discovery of the enemy and 
 I think to General Satisfaction I have ordered one man to M r 
 [Benjamin] Prescotts Garrison During his attendance on the Court. 
 I beg leave further to acquaint your Honour that y ' people in these 
 Towns apprehend themselves in Great Danger, and cannot (in my 
 humble opinion) be in any measure safe with so small a number of 
 men. 
 
 I am your Honours Humble 
 
 & most obedient Serv' 
 
 JABEZ FAIRBANKS 
 
 (Massachusetts Archives, LXXII. 176.]
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 129 
 
 LANCASTER, July if 1724. 
 May it please your Honour. 
 
 I recieved your Letter the Last night in the evening, and not before 
 tho' I suppose I might have had it sooner had the bearer pleased, 
 Your Honour is pleased in your Letter to give me my choice of 
 A Lieutenants Post in Groton or Turkey Hills or A Serjeants at 
 Lancaster. I am sensible that Serjeants Pay in Town would be as 
 Profitable as to keep constantly abroad, but yet upon Some Consid- 
 erations I choose to Abide in the Post I am, and to go to Groton. 
 I return my thanks to your Honour for the choice you have given 
 me. I would Inform your Honour that on Monday Last I sent A 
 Scout to Rutland who Returned yesterday and gave me an Account 
 that In the way they discovered the tracks of four or five Indians 
 bearing towards Wochoosett who they Judged had been gone 2 or 3 
 days. Yesterday Part of Groton men & Part of this Town went out 
 for the week to range above the Towns to see what Discovery they 
 could make, and I am my self this Day going out with what men I 
 can Raise to see what I can discover. I desire the favour of your 
 Honour, That the souldiers now under my Command in Lancaster 
 and Groton might have the Liberty of abiding with me or of being 
 Dismist. If it be your Honours Pleasure to let Edward Hartwell who 
 hath been a Serjeant under me Abide still in that Post in this Town I 
 should take it as a favour. I stand ready to attend your Honours 
 Orders & Command and am Si 
 
 Your Humble Sen-ant 
 
 JABKZ FAIRBANK. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LIT. 9 ] 
 
 GROTON July 2o th 1724. 
 May it please your Honour 
 
 I have attended your orders in posting the men at the Towns of 
 Groton Lancaster & Turkey hill precisely except at Turkey Hill 
 there is but eleven men Cap' Stevens having not as yet sent so many 
 as ordered & I have Taken my post at Groton where I Improve the 
 Souldiers in the best manner I can agreeable to your orders, & have 
 ordered them to Lodge in some of y most Exposed Garrisons as often 
 as may be, but I find it impossible to Improve So Small a number of 
 men So as to answer y? Necessities of the people here, whose circum- 
 
 9
 
 130 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 stances are So verry Difficult and Distressing that I am not able fully 
 to Represent to your Honour. 
 
 the poor people are many of them obliged to keep their own Gar- 
 risons and part of them Imployed as Guards while others are at their 
 Labour whose whole Time would be full Little enough to be expended 
 in getting bread for their families. My own Garrison at Lancaster is 
 very much exposed & with Humble Submission I think Requires Pro- 
 tection as much as any in that Town, therefore I Humbly pray your 
 Honour would be pleased to give me Leave to post a Souldier 
 there Dureing my absence in the service of the province I beg your 
 Honours Pardon for giving you this Trouble ; and as[k] Leave to 
 Subscribe my Selfe 
 
 Your most Obedient Humble Serv 1 
 
 JABEZ FAIRBANKS 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LII. 17.] 
 
 For some Journals, kept in this neighborhood by Lieu- 
 tenant Fairbanks during the years 1723 and 1724, see Massa- 
 chusetts Archives, XXXVIII. A 49-54, 56-65. 
 
 Colonel Tyng writes, July 23, 1724, from Dunstable, to 
 Lieutenant-Governor William Dummer, that he has sent ten 
 men of his company to Groton, agreeably to orders, and that 
 he is going himself "to dispose the 10 men there." (Archives, 
 
 LII. 22.) 
 
 In the printed Journal of the House of Representatives, 
 May 28, 1725, is found the petition of Dr. Blasdell, asking 
 that an allowance be made for his professional services during 
 this campaign. It is as follows : 
 
 A Petition of Henry Blasdell of Groton, shewing that by Virtue of 
 a Warrant from Col. Goffe he served as Surgeon to the Western 
 Forces from the loth of September to the 6th of December past, being 
 twelve Weeks and three Days, for which Service and the Medicines 
 he administered to the Forces in the Service of the Province, he 
 thinks he deserves Twenty six Pounds Fourteen Shillings for the 
 Reasons mentioned in the Petition, and praying that the same may be 
 allowed him out of the publick Treasury. 
 
 It is recorded in the same Journal, June 1 1, 1725 : -
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 131 
 
 On the Petition of Henry Blasdell of Groton, a Surgeon Impressed 
 into the Service by Col. Edmund Goffe, praying as entred the 28/// of 
 May last, which was read and Accepted, and Resolved, That the Sum 
 of Seventeen Pounds, Nine Shillings be allowed and paid out of the 
 publick Treasury to Dr. Henry Blasdell for his Wages, Druggs 
 and Medicines in the Service of the Province as mentioned in the 
 Petition. 
 
 Penhallow, in " The History of the Wars of New-England," 
 speaking of the Indians at this period, says : - 
 
 The next damage they did was at Groton, but were so closely 
 pursued, that they left several of their Packs behind. (Page 102.; 
 
 It was on Thursday, July 9, 1724, that John Ames was 
 shot by an Indian, one of a small party that attacked 
 his garrison in the northwesterly part of the town. Ames 
 lived on the north side of the Nashua River, a short dis- 
 tance below the Hollingsworth paper-mills. He is said to 
 be the last person killed by an Indian within the township. 
 The Indian himself was immediately afterward shot by Jacob 
 Ames, one of John's sons. "The Boston Gazette," July 13, 
 1 724, thus refers to the event : 
 
 A Man was kill'd last Week at Groton, by the Indians, and 't is 
 suppos'd one Indian was kill'd by one of our Men in the Garrison ; 
 the Indians left their Packs, 5 in number, which were taken and 
 secur'd by the English. 
 
 In the Gazette of July 27, it is said that " An Indian Scalp 
 was brought to Town last Week from Groton." 
 
 " The New England Courant," July 13, 1/24, reports that 
 " Last Week the Indians kill'd a Man at Groton, and had 
 one of their own Men very much wounded." The same news- 
 paper, in its issue of July 27, says that " The Scalp of an 
 Indian lately kill'd at Groton is brought to Town." 
 
 " The Boston News Letter," July 16, 1724, gives the follow- 
 ing version :
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 From Groton \ve are inform'd, That 5 Indians came into that Place, 
 and kill'd one Man, upon which one of our Men shot out of the Gar- 
 rison and kill'd an Indian and got his Scalp in order to bring to Town, 
 and have likewise taken the Indian Packs. 
 
 The same paper, of July 30, says that " An Indian Scalp 
 from Groton \vas brought in here last Week." 
 
 These accounts, taken in connection with Jacob Ames's 
 petition, found in the printed Journal of the House of 
 Representatives for November 20, 1724, and herewith given, 
 show conclusively that they relate to the assault in which John 
 Ames was killed. It is equally certain that Penhallow, in his 
 History, refers to the same attack when he speaks of the 
 damage done at Groton in the summer of 1724. 
 
 A Petition of Jacob Ames, shewing that he was one of the Weekly 
 Scouts near the Garrisons on the Westerly part of the Town of Groton ; 
 and on the Ninth Day of July last, when it was the Petitioners Week 
 to be on Duty, a Number of Indians appeared at the Garrison of the 
 Petitioners Father John Ames, and killed him at the Gate, and then 
 rush'd violently into the Garrison to surprise the People there. And 
 the Petitioner did with Courage and Resolution by himself defend the 
 Garrison, and beat off the Indians, Slew one of them and Scalp'd him ; 
 praying, That altho' it happened to be his Week to be on Duty, that 
 this Court would take the Premises into their wise and serious Consid- 
 eration, and grant what other Allowance more than the Establishment 
 by Law, shall to them seem meet, for his aforesaid Sen-ice. Read, 
 and in Answer to this Petition. Resolved, That over and above the 
 Fifteen Pounds due to the Petitioner by Law, for recovering the said 
 Scalp, and the good Services done this Province thereby, the Sum of 
 Fifteen Pounds be allowed and Paid out of the Publick Treasury to 
 the said Jacob Ames for his good Service as aforesaid. 
 
 Sent up for Concurrence. 
 
 Mr. Butler, in his History, gives the following version of 
 this affair, which was gathered largely from grandchildren 
 of the Ezra Farnsworth mentioned in it. The account was 
 taken down in writing more than a hundred years after the
 
 BUMMER'S WAR. 133 
 
 occurrence of the event, which will explain any inaccuracies 
 due to tradition. Mr. Butler refers the assault to a period 
 much later than the actual fact: 
 
 An Indian had been seen, for several days, lurking about the to\vn, 
 it was conjectured, upon some ill design. Mr. -Ames, who lived on 
 the intervale, on the west side of Nashua river, now owned by John 
 Boynton, Esq., went into his pasture to catch his horse. Discovering 
 the Indian, he ran for his house ; the Indian pursued and shot him 
 as he entered his gate. The dead body prevented the gate's closing, 
 as it would otherwise have done of itself, and the Indian pressed in 
 to enter the house, where Ames had a son and daughter. The son 
 seized his gun, and shot at him, as he entered the gate. The ball, 
 striking the latch of the door, split, and one part of it wounded the 
 Indian, but not severely. As the son attempted to close the door 
 against the enemy, after the shot, the Indian thrust his foot in, and 
 prevented. The son called to his sister to bring his father's gun 
 from the bedside, and at the same time striking the Indian's foot 
 with the breach of his gun, compelled him to withdraw it, and closed 
 the door. While the Indian was in the act of reloading his gun, the 
 young man found means to shoot through a crevice and killed him. 
 Two men, at work about a mile distant in a mill, Ezra and Benjamin 
 Farnsworth, hearing the reports of the guns, and suspecting the cause 
 thereof, were soon at the place, aud found the bodies of Ames and 
 the Indian both weltering in their blood. This is the last man killed 
 by an Indian within the bounds of Groton. (Pages no, in.) 
 
 Mr. Butler says, in his History (page 100), that " in the 
 summer of 1723, one man was killed at Groton." I am in- 
 clined to think that this allusion is to John Ames, as I can 
 find no other authority for the statement. 
 
 Governor Saltonstall, of Connecticut, writes from New 
 London, under date of July 23, 1724, that the friendly 
 Indians of that neighborhood seem inclined to hunt for 
 scalps around Monadnock and the farther side of Dunstable 
 and Groton. (Archives, LII. 23.) This was owing to an 
 offer made about this time by the governments of Massachu- 
 setts and New Hampshire, of a bounty of a hundred pounds
 
 134 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 for every Indian's scalp that should be taken and shown to 
 the proper authorities. This expedient stimulated volunteers 
 to scour the \vilderness for the purpose of hunting Indians; 
 and Captain John Lovewell, of Dunstable, organized a com- 
 pany, which soon became famous. 
 
 The story of Lovewell's Fight was for a long time repeat- 
 edly told in this neighborhood, and there is scarcely a person 
 who has not from early infancy heard the particulars of 
 that eventful conflict. It was in the spring of 1725 that 
 Captain Lovewell, with thirty-four men, fought a famous 
 Indian chief, named Paugus, at the head of about eighty 
 savages, near the shores of a pond in Pequawket, now within 
 the limits of Fryeburg, Maine, and known as Lovewell's 
 Pond. Of this little Spartan band, seven belonged in 
 this town; and one of them, John Chamberlain by name, 
 distinguished himself by killing the Indian leader. 
 
 The fullest account of the Fight is found in a pamphlet 
 entitled, " Lovewell Lamented, or, a SERMON occasion'd by 
 the Fall of the Brave Capt. John Lovewell and Several of his 
 Valiant COMPANY, in the late Heroic Action at Piggwacket 
 pronounc'd at Bradford, May 16 1725 By Thomas Synnnes, 
 V.D.M." (Boston, 1725.) The sermon contains an historical 
 preface, duly attested by three of the company, which gives 
 many particulars of this ill-fated expedition. It includes a 
 list of the men who took part in the fight, with the names of 
 the killed and wounded. According to this list, the following 
 Groton men were members of Lovewell's company, and present 
 during the action : John Jefts, Daniel Woods, Thomas Woods, 
 John Chamberlain, Elias Barren, John Gilson [Isaac Lakin?], 
 Joseph Gilson; of whom Thomas Woods, Daniel Woods, 
 and John Jefts were killed in the Fight, and Elias Barren, 
 John Chamberlain, and John Gilson [Isaac Lakin?], wounded. 
 It is stated by Mr. Symmes, in his preface, that Barron sub- 
 sequently " strayed from the rest, and got over Ossipy River, 
 by the side of which his Gun Case was found, & he has ner
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 135 
 
 been heard of since." (Page viii.) Joseph Gilson was the 
 only one of this quota who escaped injury. 
 
 The first edition of the sermon was published on July i, 
 and exhausted in a very few days. A second edition was 
 issued about the middle of July, with a title-page somewhat 
 changed from the original one, as follows: "Historical 
 Memoirs Of the Late Fight at Piggwacket, with a SERMON 
 Occasional by the Fall of the Brave Capt John Lovewell 
 And Several of his Valiant Company ; in the late Heroic 
 Action there. Pronounc'd at Bradford, May, 16. 1725 By 
 THOMAS SVMMES, V.D.M. he eeond Edition Corrected." 
 (Boston, 1725.) In this edition the running title of "An 
 Historical PREFACE " is changed to " Memoirs of the Figlit 
 at Piggwacket." A few corrections are made; in the list 
 both of the soldiers and of the wounded, the name of Isaac 
 Lakin is given in the place of John Gilson's. 
 
 Captain Lovewell, the commander of the company, was a 
 brave officer and a noted man. He was at this time in the 
 prime of life, and ambitious to distinguish himself. He had 
 previously led two successful expeditions against the Indians, 
 and his very name inspired confidence. Only a few weeks 
 before, his second expedition had returned to Dover, New 
 Hampshire, where he made a triumphal entry at the head of 
 his company. They bore ten Indian scalps stretched on 
 hoops, and were received with great joy and excitement; 
 thence they proceeded to Boston, where they were paid a 
 large bounty by the government. The following Groton 
 men were members of the company which went on this 
 second expedition : Jacob Ames, Ephraim Farnsworth, 
 Reuben Farnsworth, Benjamin Parker, Samuel Shattuck, 
 Samuel Tarbell, and Henry Willard. Throughout New 
 England, Lovewell's daring was made the subject of talk, 
 and the public looked to him as a natural leader in border 
 warfare. 
 
 It was " about the \6th of April, 1725," says Mr. Symmes,
 
 136 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 in the preface to his sermon, " that the Brave LOVEWELL 
 began his March from Dunstablc to Piggwacket, with Forty- 
 Six Men under his Command." 
 
 WHEN they 'd Travell'd a little way, Toby, an Indian falling 
 Lame, was oblig'd to return, with great Reluctancy. 
 
 WHEN they came as far as Contoocook, one Win. Cummins of 
 Dunstable was so disabl'cl by a Wound he 'd Receiv'd from the 
 Enemy some time before, that the Capt. dismiss'd him, with a Kins- 
 man of his to accompany him. 
 
 THEN they Travell'd as far as Ossipy, and there one Benjamin 
 Kiddcr of Nutfield [now Londonderry, New Hampshire,] falling 
 Sick ; the Capt. made a Halt, and tarried while they built a small 
 Fortification, for a place of Refuge to repair too, if there should be 
 Occasion. Here he left his Doctor, a Serjent and Seven other Men, 
 to take care of Kiddcr, and of a Considerable Quantity of Provision, 
 here left to lighten the Men, and facilitate their March ; and for a 
 Recruit upon their Return. 
 
 WITH his Company now reduc'd to Thirty-Four Men with him- 
 self, the Capt. Travell'd to Pigwacket, which is about Forty Miles from 
 said Fort. 
 
 THEIR names that made up this Company (excepting his that 
 started from them in the beginning of the Battle, and ran back to the 
 Fort, which I 'd be excus'd from mentioning) were as follow." 
 (Pages ii. iii.) 
 
 Here Mr. Symmes gives the names of the thirty-three men 
 who were in the famous Fight, purposely omitting the one that 
 ran away. It has since transpired that this soldier, who so 
 ingloriously fled from the battle-field, was Benjamin Hassell, 
 of Dunstable, a corporal in the company. (" History of 
 Manchester, New Hampshire," by Chandler Eastman Potter, 
 page 1 60.) 
 
 With the small force now at his command, the heroic 
 captain pressed forward to meet the enemy, and in a few 
 days reached the borders of Saco Pond, since known as 
 Lovewell's Pond, southeast of the present village of Frye-
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 137 
 
 burg, Maine. On the morning of Saturday, May 8, while 
 engaged at prayers they heard a gun, and shortly afterward 
 discovered an Indian on a point of land which ran into the 
 pond. They were distrustful of an ambush, and a consulta- 
 tion was held in order to see whether they should advance or 
 retreat. Their decision was to proceed at all hazards. They 
 said : " We came out to meet the Enemy ; we have all 
 along prayed GOD we might find 'em ; and we had rather 
 trust Providence with our Lives, yea Dy for our Country, 
 than try to Return without seeing them, if we may, and be 
 called Cowards for our Pains." After this answer, Lovewell 
 ordered his men to move forward cautiously ; and they soon 
 reached a place where they halted and took off their packs, 
 and piled them up together. Leaving these behind without 
 a guard, and advancing a short distance, they came upon the 
 Indian whom they had previously descried. He was return- 
 ing to his companions with some game that he had killed. 
 Several guns were instantly discharged at him, when he in 
 turn fired and w r ounded Lovewell himself and another man ; 
 after which he was killed and scalped. The company then 
 turned back, and with their wounded leader repaired to the 
 place where they had left their packs. In the mean while 
 Paugus, the far-famed chief of the Pequawkets, at the head of 
 eighty warriors on their way home from a marauding expe- 
 dition, had discovered the pile of packs, and, counting them, 
 had learned the number of the English. Finding that the 
 force w r as much less than his own, Paugus placed his men in 
 ambush and awaited the return of Lovewell. When the 
 company came up for their packs, the Indians with hideous 
 yells rushed forth suddenly from their hiding-places and 
 began to fire. The brave captain ordered his men to return 
 it, which was done with terrible effect. Lovewell himself fell 
 at the first shot, and eight of his men soon shared the same 
 fate. Ensign Wyman, of Woburn, then assumed the com- 
 mand, and, perceiving that the Indians were trying to surround
 
 138 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 them, ordered a retreat to the pond, where he took his stand. 
 A ledge of rock projecting into the water on one side of him, 
 and a deep brook on the other, made a position favorable for 
 defence. The fighting continued, and during the day the 
 savages vainly endeavored to compel the valiant band to sur- 
 render ; but they would not listen to the proposition. Paugus 
 was slain in the action by John Chamberlain, of Groton. 
 After the death of their chief, the Indians became somewhat 
 disheartened, and for a time withdrew from the skirmish. 
 Later in the day the combat was resumed, when, it is sup- 
 posed, the enemy had received reinforcements, but with no 
 decisive result. As night approached, they again withdrew, 
 and left this little forlorn band masters of the field. About 
 midnight the survivors, with the exception of three men 
 mortally wounded and unable to travel, fell back and directed 
 their course to the fort, where they expected to find their 
 former companions ; but in this they were sadly disappointed. 
 It seems that, at the beginning of the fight, a member of the 
 
 O O O 
 
 company, escaping, made his way to the fort, and reported 
 that Lovewcll and his men were all cut to pieces, which he 
 may have believed. This was the man, Hassell, whose name 
 Mr. Symmes carefully refrains from mentioning. Disap- 
 pointed, at finding the fort abandoned, the survivors of this 
 memorable command made their way back to the settlements 
 as best they could, coming in at different places along the 
 frontier line. 
 
 The name of Lovewell at once became famous, and the 
 story of this expedition was told in every household, and 
 even in the pulpit. It was made the subject of ballads, 
 which were sung at the family firesides, and excited the 
 popular heart with the memory of the brave and adventurous 
 leader. Peace aT^ followed the action at Pequawket, and 
 
 ^ 
 
 deep and sincere was the public feeling at its restoration. 
 
 Judge Potter, in his " History of Manchester, New Hamp- 
 shire " (page 160), gives the names of the nine men left with
 
 BUMMER'S WAR- 139 
 
 Kidder in the fort at Ossipee. Among them is that of John 
 Gilson, of Groton, who is mentioned incorrectly in the first 
 edition of Symmes's Sermon, as one of the soldiers taking 
 part in the Fight. T/his shows that he belonged to the origi- 
 nal company, and started out on the expedition. The two 
 Gilsons from this town were cousins. 
 It is related in Symmes's Sermon : - 
 
 SOME of the Indians holding up Ropes, ask'd the English if 
 they 'd take Quarter, but were Answer'd Briskly, they 'd have none 
 but at the Muzzle of their Guns. (Page vii.) 
 
 The savages had learned at this period that it was better 
 financially for themselves to carry prisoners to Canada, and 
 sell them to the French, than to slay them in battle ; and 
 for this reason they would rather capture than kill their 
 enemy. The reference to holding up ropes means tying 
 them with ropes and taking them away as prisoners, instead 
 of massacring them. 
 
 The following account of the killing of the Indian sachem 
 has come down to the present generation both as written 
 history and tradition. The story goes that some time dur- 
 ing the day John Chamberlain went to the pond to wash 
 out and cleanse his musket, which by continual firing had 
 become foul. While thus engaged he spied the old chief, 
 whom he knew personally, a short distance off, doing the 
 same thing to his gun. A challenge was at once given and 
 taken, each confiding in his own dexterity. Paugus had 
 nearly finished loading his piece, and was priming it from the 
 powder-horn, when Chamberlain struck the breach of his own 
 gun on the ground, causing it to prime itself, and in this way 
 got the start of his Indian foe. He at once fired, and the 
 bullet passed through Paugus's heart, just as the old chief 
 was aiming at him. 
 
 A third edition of Symmes's Sermon was printed in the 
 year 1799, at Fryeburg, Maine, within two miles of the
 
 140 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 battle-field. It was edited by Elijah Russell, then publishing 
 " Russell's Echo " newspaper in that town. The account of 
 the Fight is substantially the same as that given by Mr. 
 Symmes, though there is some additional matter. 
 
 It is said that Indians are wont to avenge the death of their 
 slain kindred ; and stories are told of their coming to Gro- 
 ton, during the last century, in order to wreak their revenge 
 on Chamberlain. Such accounts may not be authentic, but 
 they are characteristic of the times in which they are said 
 to have occurred, and perhaps have some foundation in fact. 
 An attempt has been made in modern times to take from 
 Chamberlain the credit of killing the Indian chief, but the 
 earlier records and traditions seem to confirm the story. 
 After a careful examination of the whole subject, I am led 
 to believe that the weight of evidence is in its favor. The 
 following incidents relating to Chamberlain are mentioned 
 in the account of Lovewell's Eight, which appears in connec- 
 tion with the third edition of Symmes's Sermon. Through- 
 out the pamphlet Mr. Russell, the editor, writes the name 
 " Lovell," which spelling is in accordance with the 
 pronunciation. 
 
 Several of the Indians, particularly ^Hntps their Chief, were well 
 known to LOVELL'S men, and frequently conversed with each other 
 during the Engagement. In the course of the Battle, jJangus and 
 John Chamberlain discoursed familiarly with each other ; their guns 
 had become foul, from frequent firing ; they washed their guns at the 
 pond, and the latter assured Paugus that he should kill him ; Paugus 
 also menaced him, and bid defiance to his insinuations : when they 
 had prepared their guns, they loaded and discharged them, and Paugus 
 fell. 
 
 A son of Paugus. after it had become a time of peace, went to 
 Dunstable [Groton?], to revenge his father's death, with the death of 
 Chamberlain He did not go directly to Chamberlain's, but to the 
 house of a neighbor, where he tarried several days, upon some pre- 
 tended business, that his design might not be discovered ; his errand 
 was however suspected, and a hint given to Chamberlain who cut a
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 141 
 
 port-hole above his door, through which he very early one morning 
 discovered an Indian behind his wood-pile, lying with his gun pointed 
 directly to the door ; and it was supposed that the same musket which 
 had conveyed the mean of death to the bosom of the great Paugus, 
 also proved fatal to his son, as he was not afterwards heard of. 
 
 It is also reported of this Chamberlain (who was a stout and a 
 courageous man, and who used to say that he was not to be killed 
 by an Indian), that he was once fired at by an Indian, as he was at 
 work in a saw mill, at night ; he was in a stooping position, and did 
 not discover the Indian till he fired, who was so near him that he 
 immediately knocked him down with a crowbar, with which he was 
 setting his log. (Pages 23, 24.) 
 
 Charles James Fox, in his " History of the old Township 
 of Dunstable " (Nashua, New Hampshire, 1846), says: 
 
 An Indian once called on Chamberlain at his saw-mill, intending to 
 way-lay him on his return homeward at nightfall, through the forest. 
 It was a time of peace, but Chamberlain suspected the character of 
 his pretended friend, and the motive of his visit. While engaged in 
 his work, he invited the Indian to examine the wheelpit, and seizing 
 the opportunity, knocked him on the head with a handspike without 
 compunction. (Pages 133, 134.) 
 
 The following tale from a story-book is founded on one of 
 the visits said to have been made by a son of Paugus, in 
 order to avenge his father's death, and contains evidently 
 many inaccuracies both in regard to time and place : - 
 
 The old French war was over. The banners of England had long 
 streamed above the towers of Quebec. The Indians had left the 
 lakes and woods of New Hampshire, for the broader waters, and 
 deeper forests, of Canada and the west. Time had tamed the iron 
 sinews of the rangers, untamable by any other enemy, or they were 
 sleeping " each in his narrow cell forever laid." Where the red man 
 once roamed after the moose, prowled upon the scout, or lighted the 
 council fire, now stood the infant village, and the peaceful neighbor- 
 hood. The water-fall at whose roaring foot the Indian once darted 
 his nide spear into the salmon, or hooked the trout upon his curved
 
 142 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 bit of bone, now turned the wheel of the clumsy grist-mill, whither 
 the jogging farmer brought his "rye and Indian," over moss and hill, 
 and through bush and swamp, in safety. The congregations, as they 
 gathered together " at meeting," no longer brought their charged guns 
 to the house of worship, or feared that the prayers of their minister 
 would be interrupted by the war-whoop. Of Lovell's men, scarcely a 
 survivor remained of the few that lived through the desperate fight, at 
 Pequawket. Chamberlain was still alive. He was an old grey-headed 
 man. He had long given over hunting, and peace had changed his 
 war spear into an implement of husbandry ; of all his hunting and 
 fighting years, nothing remained to him but the gun that killed Paugus 
 at Lovell's pond, and the bullet pouch and yellow powder horn, cov- 
 ered over with Indian devices, which were the spoil of the savage in 
 that terrible encounter. These he had preserved with an old man's 
 care. His cottage, from which went up the solitary smoke that caught 
 the eye of Lovell and his men, now was the centre of a considerable 
 hamlet. A wild stream ran past it, and, a little way below it, tumbled 
 down a fall, upon which stood one of the rude saw- mills of that day, 
 and old Chamberlain, once the swift hunter and the strong and proud 
 warrior, was now the humble owner, and more humble tender. He 
 had survived his wife and his children. Few of his neighbors ven- 
 tured to be familiar with him, on account of the stern peculiarity of his 
 character ; and he passed his days in solitude, except such association 
 as men had with him in his humble vocation. 
 
 In the year I777, 1 towards the close of one of those fair days in 
 autumn, which make up the " Indian summer," a number of the vil- 
 lagers of P , had gathered into their one-story tavern, to talk over 
 
 their little politics, as they were wont, when they were surprised and 
 startled by the entrance of a young Indian among them. An Indian, 
 
 at that time, had got to be a rarity in P , He was tall, over six 
 
 feet, and finely formed, after the fashion of the forest. He had a belt 
 of wampum around his waist, and from it hung his tomahawk. A 
 long gun was in his hand, and he stood in moccasins, with the grace 
 and dignity of the son of a chief. He placed his gun behind the 
 door, and silently took his seat by himself. A little before sunset the 
 farmers left the inn and returned to their homes. One old hunter 
 
 1 It could not have been so late, by many years.
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 143 
 
 remained with the landlord and the young savage. The hunter eyed 
 the Indian with keen attention, his suspicions were awakened at the 
 sight of this warrior, armed, so remote from the residence of the near- 
 est tribe, and in a time of peace. He was acquainted with the 
 Indians in the old wars, and his suspicions were heightened and con- 
 firmed, when he heard the young chief ask the landlord, in a low and 
 indifferent tone, if " one Chamberlain dwelt in the village." The land- 
 lord pointed out to him the mill, where the old man labored, and the 
 cottage where he dwelt. The Indian took his gun and went out. 
 
 " Some of the blood of old Paugus," said the hunter, " and, I '11 
 venture my life, come to avenge the death of that chief upon Cham- 
 berlain. I '11 give the old man warning." He hastily stepped out, and 
 following a winding path, that led down to the saw-mill, where the old 
 man was still at his toils, he reached the mill, and told Chamberlain, 
 that young Paugus, from Canada, had come with his rifle and toma- 
 hawk to avenge upon him the death of that chief. Chamberlain's 
 cheek turned ashy pale, and he sternly replied, " tell young Paugus I 
 have the gun that slew his father, and he had far better return to his 
 forest than molest me in my old age ; " as he spoke, he pointed 
 to his long gun as it hung upon prongs of the moose horn, driven 
 into the saw-mill plate, and near it was suspended the bullet-pouch 
 and powder-horn of Pequawket. The hunter had given his warning 
 and retired. The sun was setting to the south of Moosehillock. 
 Chamberlain took down his gun, tried his flint. charged it, took 
 the pouch and horn and flung them upon his side, hung up near the 
 saw-gate the old garment he had worn at work through the day, 
 hoisted the gate of the mill and set it rapidly agoing, looked keenly 
 around him, in every direction, and retired to an eminence a few rods 
 distant, crowned with a clump of thick bushes, and crouched down 
 to await the approach of his mysterious enemy. He was not, how- 
 ever, mysterious to Chamberlain. The old man remembered every 
 trait in the Indian character, and calculated with great accuracy as to 
 the time and manner of Paugus's advance. Just as it was growing too 
 dusky to distinguish a human form, except towards the west, the old man 
 descried him creeping cautiously from a bunch of bushes, eight or ten 
 rods above the mill, by the torrent, with his cocked rifle before him, 
 and his hand upon the lock. The young savage heard the noise of the 
 saw-frame, and could discern it in rapid motion, and shrunk back into
 
 144 DUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 the thicket. He came out again, a little distance from where he went 
 in, and, with the wary motions of the ambush, reconnoitered the mill. 
 Chamberlain marked him all the while, as the catamount eyes the fox. 
 Young Paugus came out of the bushes the third time, and in a new 
 quarter, and was stealthily advancing, when something seemed to 
 catch his eye in the form of his father's slayer he stopped short 
 brought his rifle to his eye, and, with quick aim, fired. The re- 
 port rung sharp and low upon the still air, as if the gun itself were 
 muffled, or afraid to speak above its breath. Young Paugus crept 
 out upon a mill log, that extended over the rapid, and stretching 
 himself up to his full height, as if to ascertain, without advancing, 
 the success of his shot. The old man could spare him no longer. 
 He saw the well-remembered form of the old Pequawket chief, as the 
 young savage stood against the sky of the west, which was still red with 
 the rays of the sunken sun. He levelled the fatal gun it blazed 
 young Paugus leaped into the air six feet, as the ball whistled through 
 his heart and his life^ss body fell far down into the rapid, that 
 foamed below him, while his vengeful spirit fled and mingled with that 
 sterner one, which parted long before at Lovewell's pond, in 
 
 " The land where their fathers had gone." 
 
 Chamberlain returned slowly and gloomily to his cottage. 
 
 The next morning a bullet hole through the centre of the old gar- 
 ment he had hung at the saw-frame, admonished him, that the aim, as 
 well as the vengeance of old Paugus, had descended to his sons ; and 
 as he mused upon those he had slain, and reflected, that although he 
 was old, he still might have again to lift his gun against the blood of 
 Paugus. or himself fall by their avenging hand, he wished bitterly, that 
 some other bullet than his own had slain that renowned chief, and 
 that they had never met to quench their battle thirst, and scour out 
 their foul guns, upon the shore of Lovewell's pond. 
 
 [Caleb Butler's " History of Groton," pages 108-110.] 
 
 John Chamberlain, the surviving hero of Lovewell's Fight, 
 was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Chamberlain, of 
 Chclmsford, where he was born March-S* sa. 29, 1692. The 
 father was a carpenter and miller, who afterward removed to 
 Groton, and lived about a quarter of a mile northerly of
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 145 
 
 Wattle's Pond, on the left-hand side of the road to Hollis. 
 He is supposed to have died about the year 1709. After the 
 Fight the son was known as " Paugus John," and bore that 
 name through life. He owned a mill, situated near Brown 
 Loaf, on a small stream formed by the confluence of Mar- 
 tin's Pond Brook, and another, now called Paugus Brook. 
 His death took place about the year 1758. 
 
 If ever young Paugus came to Groton in order to avenge 
 his father's death, and it seems very evident from tradition 
 that he did, it was undoubtedly at this place. Furthermore, 
 there is a deep hole in Paugus Brook, known as Paugus's Hole, 
 wherein it is said that Chamberlain sunk the body of the 
 Indian, after he had killed him. 
 
 Many other stories about the Indians have come down by 
 tradition, and some of them are probably true. The follow- 
 ing one, told me by Mr. Charles Woolley, relates to Isaac 
 Lakin, one of Lovewell's men, and has never before appeared 
 in print. 
 
 Lakin lived in a log-house near the Nashua River, in the 
 north part of the town. The house had no glass windows, 
 but had shutters instead, and a door that swung on wooden 
 hinges. One day an Indian was seen lurking about the 
 house, and hiding behind the stumps, apparently bent on 
 mischief. Lakin seized his gun, and, standing at a crack in 
 the shutters, told his wife to swing the door so that it would 
 creak on its hinges. Hearing the noise, and seeing the door 
 open, the Indian sprang from behind a stump, and started for 
 the house, when Lakin fired and shot him dead. Seeing 
 no signs of other Indians, after dark he dug a hole and 
 buried him. 
 
 The following letter shows the feeling of security which 
 prevailed in this neighborhood soon after Lovewell's expe- 
 dition. It is unsigned, but in the handwriting of Josiah 
 Willard, the Secretary of the Province :
 
 146 BUMMER'S WAR. 
 
 SIR. 
 
 The Enemy being drawn off & the Season of Danger pretty 
 well over, You must forthwith see that the Soldiers in the Frontiers be 
 reduced to the following Numbers ; Viz, Twenty five Men at Dunstable 
 & Dracut, Ten at Turkey Hills, Fourteen at Groton, Fourteen at Lan- 
 caster, Twenty five at Rutland & ten at Brookfield, & That all the 
 Rest of the Soldiers in the Counties of Middlesex & Essex Including 
 L Brentnals Scouts be forthwith disbanded : And the several officers 
 are required to put these Orders in Execution accordingly. 
 [To] COLL. TYXG 
 
 Oct. 20, 1725. 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXII. 263.] 
 
 Dummer's War, or Lovcwell's War, as it is sometimes 
 called, ended early in the year 1/26 ; and peace again 
 reigned along the frontier borders. There was a respite of 
 hostilities during a considerable period, and the outlying set- 
 tlements grew in number as well as population. 
 
 The General Court allowed, June 17, 1/25, the sum of .30 
 to the family of Ellis or Elias Barren, of Groton, who got lost 
 after the action, and never was found. According to a peti- 
 tion in the printed Journal of the House of Representatives, 
 December 21, 1726, his widow's name was Priscilla. 
 
 Eleazer Davis, of Concord, who was in the famous Fight, 
 subsequently removed to the town of Harvard, which was 
 made up in part of Groton, and incorporated on June 29, 
 1732. In the Journal of the House of Representatives, June 
 15, 1738, is entered : - 
 
 A Petition of Eleazer Daris of Harvard in the County of Worces- 
 ter, praying the Consideration of the Court on Account of his Suffer- 
 ings and Services, particularly the Wounds and Smarts received in 
 the Fight under the Command of the late Capt. Lovcwell, against the 
 Indian Enemy at Pigwacket. 
 
 Read and Ordered, That John Russell, and Robert Hale, Esqrs ; 
 Mr. Moodey, and Mr. Terry, be a Committee to consider the said 
 Petition, and report what may be proper to be done thereon.
 
 DUMMER'S WAR. 147 
 
 On the following day Mr. Russell, the chairman of the 
 Committee, reported an order that : 
 
 the Sum of four Pounds per Annum of the new tenor Bills, be 
 granted and allowed to be paid out of the publick Treasury for the 
 space of five Years to the Petitioner Eleazer Davis, to commence 
 from the first Day of this Instant June, by way of Stipend or Pension, 
 on Account of the Wounds and Smart received as within mentioned. 
 
 In the same Journal, June 16, 1738, is recorded: - 
 
 A Petition of Josiah Sartell, shewing that he was a Soldier in the 
 Service of the Province for sundry Years, and was in divers Fights 
 against the Indian Enemy, wherein many of them were slain, and he 
 himself was wounded in some of the Engagements, that he has re- 
 ceived nothing in Consideration of his Smart and Services, but the 
 established Pay, that he has a large Family, and under low Circum- 
 stances : that he lately presumed for want of Lands and Means of 
 purchasing, to go upon some of the Province Land on the West side 
 of Connecticut River, adjoining to Northfield, a new Canada Town 
 and some Farms, has built a small House thereon, and improved 
 some of the Lands there, praying that he may obtain a Grant, or be 
 allowed to purchase such Part of the Province Land there, as the 
 Court shall think convenient in Consideration of the Premisses. Read 
 and Ordered, That the Petition be considered on Tuesday the 2Oth 
 Instant. 
 
 It was voted, June 22, that one hundred acres of the un- 
 appropriated lands of the Province be granted the petitioner ; 
 and, in the record of this date, the name is spelled Joseph 
 Sautell. It is now unknown when or where his term of service 
 took place.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 Ix the year 1744 v/ar was again declared between England 
 and France, called by the English colonists King George's 
 War. Civilization had now pushed the belt of frontier towns 
 far into the wilderness ; and Groton was no longer exposed 
 to the assaults of the Indians, though at times threatened 
 with danger. Her sons and soldiers, however, were still 
 found, during this period, on the outer rim of settlements, 
 whenever and wherever their services were needed, either to 
 extend the borders or to defend them. A military organiza- 
 tion was kept up in the town, ready for emergencies here, or 
 elsewhere in the neighborhood. 
 
 The first settlement of Charlestown, New Hampshire, 
 then known as No. 4, was made in the year 1740, by three 
 brothers, Samuel, David, and Stephen Farnsworth, natives of 
 Groton ; and they were soon followed by Isaac Parker and 
 his sons, and Obadiah Sawtell, also of this town. The Farns- 
 worths were leading men at Charlestown, and they distin- 
 guished themselves on several occasions in fights with the 
 Indians. Samuel Farnsworth, the eldest brother, was killed 
 in a skirmish, May 2, 1746. David was taken prisoner by a
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 party of French Indians, April 20, 1757, and carried to 
 Canada. He managed to escape, and reached home, not a 
 long time probably after his capture. Stephen, the youngest 
 brother, had also his bitter experience with the enemy. He 
 was captured, April 19, 1746, and taken to Montreal, where 
 he remained seventeen long months before he was exchanged. 
 His health was so broken down by the hardships of his cap- 
 tivity that he never fully regained it. He died September 6, 
 1771, leaving behind the reputation of a brave man and a 
 good citizen. 
 
 Ebenezer Farnsworth, a native of Groton, and a kinsman 
 of the three brothers just mentioned, was captured, August 
 30, 1754, by the St. Francis Indians, at Charlestown. He 
 was carried to Montreal and held a prisoner during three 
 years. His ransom was paid in the summer of 1755, but he 
 was not then set at liberty. Mrs. Susanna Johnson and her 
 sister, Miriam Willard, were taken at the same time. 
 They were both daughters of Moses Willard, who had for- 
 merly lived in the south part of this town. A full account of 
 the affair is given in " A Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. 
 Johnson," published at Walpole, New Hampshire, in 1796. 
 Two years later, on June 18, 1756, Moses Willard, the father, 
 was killed by the Indians, at Charlestown ; and in the same 
 attack his son, Moses, Jr., had a narrow escape from death 
 by the hands of the savages, being severely wounded at the 
 time. 
 
 Lieutenant Isaac Parker was taken by the Indians at the 
 same time with Stephen Farnsworth, and remained in cap- 
 tivity until the following winter, when he was returned to 
 Boston under a flag of truce. 
 
 The Sawtell family is also largely represented in Charles- 
 town, where the name is now spelled Sartwell. It is a numer- 
 ous family in that town, and they sprang from the early settler, 
 Obadiah, who went from Groton. He, too, had a sad ex- 
 perience in savage warfare, and once was captured by the
 
 150 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 Indians. He was taken by them, May 24, 1/46, and remained 
 a prisoner until August 20, 1747. lie finally met his death 
 at their hands, June 17, 1749, being attacked while ploughing 
 in his corn-field, unsuspicious of any danger. 
 
 Charles Holden, Isaac Holden, and Seth Walker, natives 
 of Groton, were early settlers and proprietors of Charlestown. 
 Moses Wheeler was another pioneer, and a distinguished sol- 
 dier, taking part in some of the fiercest encounters of the 
 French and Indian War. He was a large man, and noted for 
 his strength. He was called by the Indians " the strong 
 man." Moses Willard, Isaac Fanvell, and Micah Fuller, 
 other settlers, were also from this town. Eleazer Priest, son 
 of Joseph Priest, of Groton, and a soldier, was captured by 
 the Indians, March 15, 1748, at Charlestown, and died at 
 Louisburg, Nova Scotia, in September of that year, while 
 on his way home. 
 
 In the year 1746 Charlestown was deserted on account of 
 the Indians, and the retiring inhabitants took up their abode 
 mostly in Groton, Lunenburg, and Leominster. Many of the 
 facts concerning this frontier settlement in the Connecticut 
 Valley, I have found in the " History of Charlestown, New- 
 Hampshire, the Old No. 4," written by the Reverend Henry 
 H. Saunderson, and published in the year 1876. 
 
 During King George's War, alarms in New England were 
 sometimes caused by the presence of French vessels along 
 the coast. In the early autumn of 1746 an attack on Boston 
 was threatened by the Duke d'Anville's fleet ; and it is said 
 that more than eight thousand men under arms rushed at 
 short notice to the defence of the capital. Among these sol- 
 diers was a company from Groton, under the command of 
 Captain William Lawrence. The alarm was of short dura- 
 tion, and the term of service on the part of the men corre- 
 spondingly short, ranging from two to twelve days. The 
 muster-roll of the company during this brief period is now 
 in the possession of Mr. James Lawrence Bass, of Boston ; and
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 151 
 
 I am indebted to his courtesy for a copy of it. Mr. Bass is a 
 great-great-grandson of Captain Lawrence, and the roll has 
 come down with other family papers. The list of officers 
 was : 
 
 William Lawrence, captain, 
 
 James Prescott, lieutenant, 
 
 John Woods, lieutenant, 
 
 Obadiah Parker, sergeant, 
 
 Hezekiah Sawtell, sergeant, 
 
 Amos Lawrence, sergeant, 
 
 William Prescott, clerk, 
 
 John Pratt, corporal, 
 
 Joseph Page, corporal, 
 
 Israel Hobart, corporal, 
 
 Jonathan Longley, sentinel. 
 
 Captain Lawrence lived on the west side of the present 
 Main Street, just north of James's Brook, and always took a 
 prominent part in the affairs of the town. He was a son of 
 John and Anna (Tarbell) Lawrence, was born August 11, 
 1697, and married Susanna, one of the eight daughters of 
 Jonas Prescott. Captain Lawrence subsequently became the 
 colonel of his regiment, and during many years represented 
 the town in the General Court. He was an older brother of 
 Sergeant Amos Lawrence, the ancestor of several distinguished 
 families. 
 
 Lieutenant James Prescott was a son of Benjamin and 
 Abigail (Oliver) Prescott, and born on January 13, 1/20 i. 
 Through his aunt Susanna he was a nephew of the company 
 commander ; and by his own subsequent marriage to a cousin, 
 he became a son-in-law of the same officer. During a long 
 life he was much engaged in public affairs ; and in the militia 
 he passed through all the grades of office from ensign to 
 colonel. He was the elder brother of the company clerk, 
 who in later years became distinguished as the commander 
 of the American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill. At this
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 time William Prescott was only twenty years old, and this 
 episode in his career was his earliest military experience. 
 His term of service was five days, for which he received 
 the sum of five shillings and tenpence, as his signature on 
 the back of the roll shows. The other officers were well- 
 known men of recognized ability. The list of privates in the 
 company was : 
 
 Amos Holdin 
 James Burt 
 Sam" Scripture Jn r 
 Ebenezer Farnsworth Jn r 
 Joseph Farwell Jn r 
 David Sawtell Jn r 
 John Preist 
 Thomas Lawrence 
 Ambros Lakin 
 Benj a Page 
 William Bush 
 Oliver Farnsworth 
 Oliver fanvell 
 Isaac Peirce 
 Samuel Nichols 
 Benjamin Chase 
 Amos Robinson 
 Ruben Woods 
 William Simonds 
 John Sawtell 
 Mathias Farnsworth 
 Zechariah Sawtell 
 Benj 1 Davis 
 Josiah Farnsworth 
 Sam" Kemp 
 Isaac Green 
 Jonathan Green 
 Sam" farwell 
 James Hartwell 
 
 James Tarbell 
 Zecheriah Longley 
 John White Jn r 
 Benj: 1 Steward 
 John Harris 
 William Tucker 
 Stephan Johnson 
 John Whitman 
 Nathaniel White 
 Abial Stone 
 John Farwell 
 John Edwards Jn r 
 Sam" Tenney 
 Thomas Curtis 
 Joseph Blanchard Jn r 
 Thomas Powers 
 Jonathan Patch 
 Eleazor Wood 
 Oliver Corey 
 Oliver Whitcomb 
 Sam" Hore 
 Lemuel Barret 
 Robart Chapin 
 Josiah Hasting 
 Jonathan Parker 
 Bennet Wood 
 William Warrin 
 Simon Davis Jn r 
 David Powers Jn r
 
 KKNG GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 Nathan Hartwell Simon Blanchard 
 
 Jonathan Nutting Abel Jewett 
 
 Nathaniel Woods Robert Robins Jn r 
 
 John Tarbell Ephrain Philbrek 
 
 Receipts for service are in existence which seem to show 
 that this muster-roll was incomplete. Some of the men were 
 from Littleton and others from Lancaster. Private Thomas 
 Lawrence, who was a nephew of the Captain, subsequently 
 served with great credit during the French and Indian \Yar 
 as a commissioned officer, and lost his life in a skirmish with 
 the Indians at Half-way Brook, near Lake George, on July 20, 
 1758. 
 
 In the Journal of the House of Representatives, April 22, 
 1746, is found "A Petition of William Tarbell of Groton, a 
 Soldier wounded in the Service of the Province, praying a 
 Consideration therefor." The petitioner belonged to the 
 same family as the Tarbell children who were carried off to 
 Canada, and was probably their nephew. 
 
 In the summer of 1747 a body of Indians made their 
 appearance within the limits of Fitchburg, and committed 
 various acts of depredation. Attacking the garrison of John 
 Fitch, early one morning, they killed two soldiers ; and, burn- 
 ing the house, carried off as prisoners Fitch and his wife, with 
 their four children. An alarm was at once given, and Rufus 
 C. Torrey, in his History of Fitchburg (1865), says: - 
 
 Soldiers arrived in an incredibly short period, from Groton, Lan- 
 caster, and even from Westford. They immediately put themselves 
 under the command of Major Hartwell, and started in pursuit. They 
 had not proceeded far beyond the smoking ruins of the garrison, 
 before they discovered a paper stuck in the bark of a tree. This 
 contained a request, signed by Fitch, not to have his friends pursue 
 him ; for the Indians had given him to understand what his destiny 
 was to be if they were not molested ; but if they should be pursued, 
 and likely to be overtaken, then they should forthwith kill him, together 
 with his wife and children. The soldiers, on the receipt of this, returned. 
 (Page 49.)
 
 154 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 Scouting parties went out, from time to time, as occasion 
 required, in order to reconnoitre the country and protect the 
 neighborhood. They were made up largely of men used to 
 hardships and fond of adventure, who were training in a good 
 school for future service. Some of the most efficient soldiers 
 during the Revolutionary War received the rudiments of their 
 military education at this period. 
 
 Near the end of King George's War, the town was again 
 threatened with danger; and a company of thirty-two men, 
 under the command of Captain Thomas Tarbell, scouted in 
 this vicinity for six days in July, 1748, but they do not appear 
 to have discovered the enemy. A few days afterward another 
 company, of thirty-six men, was sent on a similar expedition, 
 but with no better success. In the rolls of these two com- 
 panies are many nam'es prominent in the annals of the town 
 from its very beginning. Among them are the Prescotts, the 
 Lawrences, the Shattucks, the Ameses, the Bancrofts, the 
 Shepleys, the Parkers, a son of the Reverend Mr. Bradstreet, 
 and a grandson of the Reverend Mr. Hobart. 
 
 A List of the Names of the men that Scouted In the woods In July 
 last under the comand of Cap! Tho" Tarbell of Groton & the Number 
 of I )ays the ware In s ' Service 
 
 We Set out yf 7 Day & : Returned y e i^ Except Jacob Ames who 
 
 was Taken sick & Returned back y? 2'.' Day 
 Groton Get; 21"; 1748 
 
 attest THO^ LAWRENCE Cler. 
 
 Liu Eleazer Green Sam u Kemp Ju r 
 
 Ensighn Stephen Holden Jona^ Shattuck Ju' 
 
 Sarga' John Page John Gilson Jill 
 
 Serg. Simon Pearce Joseph Patterson 
 
 Sam 1 ! Shattuck Ju r Timothy Mores 
 
 James Shattuck Neb? Jewett 
 
 Eleazer Tarbell Edm? Bancroft 
 
 Jonathan Holden Isaac Holden 
 
 Elias Ellett Pilott Jerah' Powers
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 155 
 
 John Shattuck Nath? Smith 
 
 Moses Woods Jona! Lawrence 
 
 Tho? Lakin Henry Jefts 
 
 John Keemp Aaron Woods 
 
 Jona" Sartell Jacob Ames 
 
 Moses Blood Eleazer Green Ju' 
 
 Henrey Farwell John Parker Ju[ 
 
 also by the authority a fore sd on the 28th of July I marched in to 
 The- wilderness in quest of the Enemy with The men whose Names 
 are hear after written and Returned the 29 Day : and we found our 
 Selues both preuision and amanision both Times. 
 
 John Bulkely Jonas Parker 
 
 James Prescott Ruben Woods 
 
 John Gilson Jonathan Lawrance 
 
 Dudley bradstreet Jeremiah hobart 
 
 Jeremiah Shattuck Isaac Lakin Jun 1 
 
 William Nutting Joseph bennett 
 
 Tho s Lawrance Joseph Chandler 
 
 Isaac Green Isaac Patch Jun r 
 
 Jos. Sheeple John Nutting Jr 
 
 Tho s Woods Jonathan prescot 
 
 Joseph Parker Daniel Pollard 
 
 Nathaniel Parker Ebenezer Lakin 
 
 W- bennett Peter Parker 
 
 Nathaniel Shattuck Sam" bowers 
 
 Ezekiel Nutting Tho s Chamberlin 
 
 Joseph Gilson Ebenezer blood 
 
 Isaac Gilson Nathaniel Davis Jun r 
 
 James fisk Josiah Sartell clerk 
 
 THO TARBELL Cap 1 
 [Endorsed] 
 
 Nouember io th 1748 this may Certifie that the Cap 1 and men 
 within mentioned ware sent oute by me and by Co" Willards order 
 Directed to me : 
 
 WILLIAM LAWRENCE 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XCII. 156.]
 
 KING GEORGE'S WAR. 
 
 Daniel Farmer, a Groton soldier, was taken prisoner, July 
 14, 1748, in a skirmish with the Indians, near Fort Dummer. 1 
 He was carried to Canada, and kept till the following October, 
 when he was allowed to return home. 
 
 Fort Dummer was situated on the west bank of the Con- 
 necticut River, in the present town of Brattleborough, Ver- 
 mont. Two of its early commanders had been connected 
 with Groton by the ties of kindred. Colonel Josiah Willard, 
 for many years in command of the Fort, was a grandson of 
 the Reverend Mr. Willard ; and he was succeeded by Lieuten- 
 ant Dudley Bradstreet, a son of the Reverend Mr. Bradstreet, 
 and a native of this place. 
 
 Jonathan Nutting, whose petition is found in the Journal 
 of the House of Representatives, June 9, 1755, and herewith 
 given, was undoubtedly a Groton man : 
 
 A Petition of Jonathan Nutting, a Soldier at St. George's Fort, 
 representing the Difficulties he is reduced to by Reason of the great 
 Charge he was at in a long Sickness which befell him in the Year 
 1751; and praying for such Allowance out of the public Treasury for 
 his Relief, as may be judged reasonable. 
 
 Joseph Gilson, whose application for an allowance appears 
 in the same Journal, January 11, 1/60, and is here printed, 
 was probably the soldier who served in Captain Lovewell's 
 expedition to Pequawket, during the spring of 1725 : 
 
 A Petition of Joseph Gilson of Groton, representing his Services 
 and Sufferings for his Country, praying a Compensation, for the 
 Reasons mentioned. 
 
 King George's War was brought to an end by the treaty 
 of Aix-la-Chapelle, in the year 1748. 
 
 1 Benjamin H. Hall's "History of Eastern Vermont." (Page 50.)
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 IT was not many years after this period that another war 
 broke out, known in America as the French and Indian War. 
 It was the last and severest of the intercolonial struggles, and 
 the Indians fought on each side, though mostly against us. 
 The first conflict of arms took place in May, 1754, and the 
 war continued until a treaty of peace was made in February, 
 1763. Several expeditions were organized at different times, 
 in which Groton men bore their part. 
 
 Thomas Lawrence was the second lieutenant of a company, 
 in an expedition up the Kennebec River during the summer 
 of 1754. His subsequent career shows him to have been a 
 brave man, a better fighter than speller, judging from the 
 following petition on file at the State House : - 
 
 Prouince of ~\ To His Exdency William Shear -ly Esq r Cap* Gen- 
 
 the Massetuchsets C eral and Commandder in Chceff of s* Prouince 
 
 and to the Honnorrable His Majesty's Counsel 
 
 and House of Rcpresentaues Now Assembled at 
 
 Boston the 30'* of October A : D : 1754 
 
 The Pertision of Thomas Larrance of Groton in the County of 
 Meddelsex 
 
 Humbly Shueth that you pertisener Chearfully Ingaged in the Ex- 
 peditision Wich hath ben performed to the Eastward up Cenebeck 
 Riuer and Went in the Copasety of a Second LeP in the Company
 
 158 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 under the Command of Cap' Humphry Hobbs and alhvays Encleuered 
 to pcrfourme Euery Command according to the best of His Powar 
 and after His Return from the Long march up Cenebeck Riuer your 
 Petisionner was called upon to Asist in raiseng of a block House at 
 Fert Hallefax Wich he ded and in Laying Down one of the plank it 
 being too Heauy for Him it gaue His Back a sudden Rinch Wich 
 I often Feel the Effects of to this Day and fear shall as Long as I live 
 and soon after was Taiken With a slow feaver Wich is Now more than 
 six Weakes and it is Now Fiue Weaks next Saterday since I Landded 
 at Boston and was carred to M rs Sharrows Whare I Have Laid Euer 
 since but Now throw the Graite goodness of God am Gott so Well as 
 to Indeuer to Ride Home in a Chair if I had one, and by Reason 
 of this Long and Tedious sickness hath ocationed Graite Expence as 
 may Apear by the Accompts Hear unto annexe!. Whearfore I humbly 
 Pray your Exelancy and Honnours to Grant such Releaf in the prem- 
 eses as in your Graite Wisdom and Goodness you shall see meet and 
 your pertisinour as in Duty Bound shall euer Pray 
 
 THOMAS LAWRANCE 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXIV. 258.] 
 
 Two days afterwards the sum of 11 io.y. *jd. was allowed 
 the petitioner out of the public treasury. The bill of his 
 physician, Gillarn Tayler, was 2 6s. ^d., and that of his land- 
 lady, Mary Sharrow, .59 I is. 6d., old tenor, equivalent to 
 / iSs. iod., lawful money. 
 
 Fort Halifax was situated on the east side of the Kennebec 
 River, within the present limits of Winslow, Maine. This 
 town was incorporated in the year 1/71, arid so named after 
 General John Winslow, who was in command of the expedition 
 sent to that region when the fort was built. 
 
 Henry Woods was in the same expedition, and his petition 
 is as follows : 
 
 "} 77? his Excellency William Shirlev Esq r Cap'. Gcn- 
 Province of the f j ^i , < 
 
 ,, , -r, eral Lrovernour ana Commander tn Chief in & 
 
 Massachusetts Bay ( 
 
 Over Province 
 
 To the Hon''! c his Majesties Council and House of Representatives 
 assembled at Boston Feb r ? 5'!' 1755
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 The Petition of Henry Woods of Groton In the County of Midds* 
 Humbly shevveth that your Petitioner Enlisted himself to go (the sum- 
 mer past) in the Expedition to the Eastward on Kenebeck River ; & 
 always faithfully Perform'd what service I was call'd For, But about 
 the beginning of Sepl last, was Taken sick att Fort Hallifax, (with the 
 nervous Feaver) & Lay there about ninety Days ; So' bad a Consid- 
 erable Part of the Time That Life almost dispair'd of. But Thro : 
 Divine Goodness arriv'd at Boston the ninth of Dec[ Last : and was 
 Carryed to M r . s Sherrows : and there Lay Confined by a Feaver-Sore 
 (under the hand of Doc'. r Taylor) more Than a month and then 
 Convey'd in a Chair to Groton not being able Ever since, to do an 
 hours work, or walk about the House without something to lean 
 upon 
 
 May it Please Your Excellency : & Hon rs Your Petitioner would 
 Crave Leave to inform you, That Clafford S: Hambleton the Two men 
 That nurs'd me at Hallifax Demanded of me Six Pounds and .Eight 
 Slullings Lawful Money : Saying that Cap! Melvin Promis'd them so 
 much p day as amounted to that sum. And when I arriv'd at Boston 
 hearing that Cap' Melvin was dead : I then Gave them a Part in 
 money, and a note of hand for the Remainder. 
 
 M r f Sherrows Demands are about five Pounds fifteen Shillings. I 
 have forgott, what Doc'. r Taylors ace' was ; But am Inform'd That your 
 Excellency, and Hon7 were Pleas'd to allow his Ace' (upon my for- 
 mer Petition) for which I give your Excellency and Hon rs hearty 
 Thanks. Praying That you would be Pleased again to take under 
 your Compassionate Consideration my Difficult & Distressing Circum- 
 stances : and Grant such Relief as in your Great Wisdom & Goodness 
 you may think Proper, and your Poor Distressed Petitioner as in Duty 
 shall Ever Pray 
 
 HENRY WOODS 
 
 Groton Feb7 io'. h 1755 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LXXIV. 330.] 
 
 From the Journal of the House of Representatives, Janu- 
 ary i, 1755, it appears that Woods had previously presented 
 another petition. 
 
 In answer to the second petition, he was allowed, February 
 20, ^5 for his nurses before he came to Boston, and the 
 further sum of 5 os. "d. for his landlady.
 
 160 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 The chair mentioned in these petitions was a vehicle which 
 long since passed out of use. It resembled a chaise with the 
 top taken off, and was generally wide enough to carry two 
 persons. 
 
 According to the same Journal, March 31, 1756, Woods 
 made a third application for relief, one year later. It is as 
 follows : 
 
 A Petition of Henry Woods of Groton, in the County of Middlesex, 
 setting forth, that being a Soldier in the Expedition to the River Ken- 
 nebcck in the Year 1754, was taken sick, and by his long Confinement 
 then contracted such Indisposition as has rendered him unable to 
 Labour for his Support as heretofore ; that he was put to great Ex- 
 pence thereby, and has received but a partial Allowance therefor ; and 
 praying such further Relief under his distressed Circumstances, as 
 shall be judged meet. 
 
 Thomas Lawrence was the son of Thomas and Prudence 
 Lawrence, and born at Groton, on September 3, 1720. He 
 is said to have been a man of great size and strength. 
 During the summer of 1758 he commanded a company be- 
 longing to the force operating around Lake George ; and in 
 the memorable skirmish at a place called Half-way Brook, 
 July 20 of that year, he was killed, with four of his men : 
 namely, Corporal Nehemiah Gould, Privates Abel Sawtell, 
 Ebenezer Ames, and Stephen Foster. More than twenty 
 soldiers were slain in the action, and all but one scalped by 
 the savage allies of the French. The Reverend Samuel 
 Sewall, in the Appendix to his " History of Woburn, Massa- 
 chusetts " (page 550), prints the journal kept by Samuel 
 Thompson, which gives a full account of the affair. 
 
 Captain Lawrence lived in that part of Groton which is 
 now Pepperell ; and on the departure of his company for 
 the army, the Reverend Joseph Fmerson preached a sermon. 
 It was delivered May 7, 1758, before " Capt. Thomas Law- 
 rence, and Part of his Company of Soldiers : Before their 
 going out into public Service." and afterward published.
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 161 
 
 Like all discourses of that period it is purely doctrinal 
 in its character, and contains not one word of interest to 
 the present generation. It would have been easy for the 
 author to have given some information about the various 
 enlistments of the men, and a history of the company gen- 
 erally; but on these points he is utterly silent. It may be 
 said, however, in his behalf, that he was talking to them and 
 not to us. 
 
 Sergeant Oliver Lakin, of Captain Lawrence's company, 
 was taken prisoner in the action at Half-way Brook, though 
 he subsequently escaped. The following entry in regard to 
 him is found in the Journal of the Massachusetts House of 
 Representatives for January 10, 1760: - 
 
 A Petition of Oliver Laken of Groton, in the County of Middlesex, 
 shewing, that he was a Soldier in the Pay of the Province Anno 1758, 
 and was on the 2Oth Day of July the same Year, Captivated by the 
 Indian Enemy, suffered many & great Hardships, and was obliged to 
 borrow a Sum of Money to purchase his Freedom from Captivity ; he 
 therefore prays he may be allowed the Sum of Money he borrowed ; 
 also the Charges of his Passage home, and a further Allowance for his 
 Loss of Time and Sufferings &c. 
 
 The answer to the petition is found two days later, in the 
 proceedings of January 12, as follows: - 
 
 The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of Oliver Lakin, 
 Reported thereon. 
 
 Read and accepted in Part, viz. Resolved, That the Sum of eight 
 Pounds, be allowed and paid out of the public Treasury to William 
 Lawrence, Esq ; for the Use of the Petitioner, in full Consideration 
 for his Services and Sufferings therein mentioned. 
 
 Sent up for Concurrence. 
 
 The petitioner was a son of William and Miriam Lakin, and 
 a great-grandson of Ensign John Lakin, one of the original 
 proprietors of the town. 
 
 The following letter, from Lieutenant Woods to his com- 
 pany commander, is found in Miss Hemenway's "Vermont
 
 162 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 Historical Gazetteer" (IV. 1155, 1 156), and refers to Lakin's 
 release from captivity : - 
 
 To Captain Ephraim Wesson, Groton, in the Bay Government : 
 
 CAMP AT TlCONDEROGA, ) 
 
 August y e 1 2th, 1759. \ 
 
 Sir : These with my regards to you and yours, are to let you 
 know that I am in good health. 
 
 Sir : To my great joy I received your letter, which informed 
 me that you and all my friends were well ; also that Oliver Larkin 
 [Lakin?] was returned from captivity, and the remarkable account of 
 his getting home from the enemy. Give my compliments to said Oliver, 
 and tell him that we are paying them for their old tricks. As fur the 
 affairs among us, our employ is chiefly fatigue duty. Part of the army 
 is at Crown Point, and part is at this place. \Ve are repairing this Fort 
 with all expedition, and the rest of the army are building a new Fort 
 at Crown Point. We hear that there is a party of men gone to lay 
 out a road to No. 4 [now Charlestown, New Hampshire]. The 
 army is very healthy, and our company are well that are at this place. 
 So I conclude, and subscribe myself your well-wishing friend. 
 
 HENRY WOODS. 
 
 In the Journal of the House of Representatives, June 13, 
 1759, there is 
 
 A Petition of David Sartweli of Groton, in the County of Middle- 
 sex, setting forth that his Son Abel Sartweli, went forth in the Expe- 
 dition against Canada the last Year; that near Half-Way-Brook (so 
 called) he was in an Engagement with the Enemy, and killed ; that his 
 Gun was then lost; he therefore prays the Stoppage may be taken 
 off, and the Treasurer be directed to allow him the three Pounds 
 mentioned. 
 
 Also in the same Journal, March 30, 1761, is 
 
 A Petition of John Erriu, Junr. of Groton, a Soldier in the Year 
 1758, setting forth, that he was wounded by the Enemy, and lost his 
 Gun, praying for an Allowance for his Gun, &c. 
 
 In the muster-roll of the company his name appears as 
 Erwin.
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 163 
 
 Interesting papers, relating to Captain Lawrence's company, 
 are now in the possession of General A. Harleigh Hill, of 
 Groton, Vermont, a great-grandson of Captain Wesson, who 
 succeeded to the command of the company after the unfor- 
 tunate affair of July 2O, 1758. General Hill is the author of 
 the chapter on " The History of the Town of Groton, in Cale- 
 donia County," which appears in Miss A. M. Hemenway's 
 " Vermont Historical Gazetteer," and gives many interesting 
 facts about that town. Some of its early settlers were natives 
 of Groton, Massachusetts ; and it was through them that the 
 name of their birthplace was carried into the Green Moun- 
 tain country. I wish to acknowledge my obligations to Gen- 
 eral Hill for his kindness and courtesy, not only in furnishing 
 copies of these papers, but in many other ways. Owing to 
 the want of space, some of the sub-headings in the muster-roll 
 and in the two " Returns " of the men enlisted are omitted 
 in this printed copy. The papers are as follows : - 
 
 A Muster-Roll of A. Company of Foot in his Majesty's Service, under 
 the Command of Captain Thomas Lawrence from March 13. 1758. 
 to July 20"' Then Captain Ephraim Wesson to November 30. 
 1758, in A Regiment raised by the Province of the Massachusetts- 
 Bay, for the Reduction of Canada, Whereof EBENEZER NICHOLS 
 Esq. is Colonel Viz. 
 
 Men's Names 
 
 Qality 
 
 Of what 
 Town 
 
 Names of Fathers, & Mas- 
 ters of Sons under Age, 
 & Servants. 
 
 Thomas Lawrence Esq 
 Ephraim Wesson . . 
 Ditto 
 
 Captain . . 
 First Lieut. . 
 Captain . . 
 Sec d Lieut. . 
 First Lieut 
 Ensign . . . 
 
 Groton. 
 PeppereH 
 
 Westford. 
 Groton. 
 Groton. 
 
 j 
 
 Leonard Spaulding . . 
 Ditto 
 
 Joseph Far we 11 . . . 
 Ditto .... 
 
 Henry Woods . . . 
 Ditto 
 
 Serjant . . 
 Ensign . . . 
 Second Lut . 
 
 Ditto 

 
 164 
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 Men's Names 
 
 Qality 
 
 Of what 
 Town 
 
 Names of Fathers, & Mas- 
 ters of Sons under Age, 
 & Servants. 
 
 Xathaniel Lakin . . . 
 
 Serjant . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Oliver Wright . . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Westford 
 
 
 Oliver Lakin .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 Oliver Parker .... 
 
 Corp! . . . 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Serjant . 
 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Ensign . . . 
 
 ,, 
 
 
 Nehemiah Goold 
 
 Corp!. . . . 
 
 No. i. 
 
 
 Simon Gilson .... 
 
 Corp!. . . . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Ephraim Severance 
 
 Corp!. . . . 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 Moses Sawtell . . . 
 
 Cent. . . . 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Corporal . 
 
 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Serjant . . . 
 
 
 
 Oliver Shattuck . 
 
 Cn.<. .... 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Serjant . 
 
 
 
 Eleazer Spaulding . . 
 
 Cent. . . . 
 
 Pepperill 
 
 
 Ditto . 
 
 Serjant . 
 
 
 
 Joseph Hartwell . . 
 
 Cent. . . . 
 
 Westford 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Corp!. . . . 
 
 
 
 Simeon Foster 
 
 Cen< . . . 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 Ditto 
 
 Corp ' 
 
 
 
 David Shattuck . . . 
 
 i 
 Drumer . . 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 Eleazer Ames . . . 
 
 Cen.'. . . . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 j William Lawrence 
 
 Archelus Adams . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton 
 
 I his Guardian. 
 
 John Boyden .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 Robart Blood . . . 
 Aaron Blood .... 
 
 Do 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell 
 Westford . 
 
 ( Ephraim Chandler 
 | his Guardian. 
 
 Josiah Butterfield . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Westford . 
 
 Josiah Butterfield. 
 
 Moses Blood .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell. 
 
 
 John Chamberlain . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell. 
 
 
 Joel Crosby .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Westford . 
 
 \ Son in law to And w 
 ( Spaulding. 
 
 Daniel Douglass . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton . 
 
 ( Servant to Isael 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 ( Hobart. 
 
 John Erwin .... 
 
 Cent.. . . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 John Erwin 
 
 James Fisk .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton . 
 
 James Fisk 
 
 Oliver Farnsworth . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 Stephen Foster . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 William Farnsworth . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Eleazer Fisk .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Benjamin Farmer . 
 
 Do 
 
 Westford 
 
 
 
 

 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 I6 5 
 
 Men's Names 
 
 Qality 
 
 Names of Fathers, & Mas- 
 ters of Sons under Age, 
 Town & Servants. 
 
 Daniel Gilson . . . 
 
 Cent. . . . 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 John Gragg .... 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton. . 
 
 Jacob Gragg 
 
 .Moses Goold .... 
 
 Do. . 
 
 Lunenburg 
 
 
 Ephraim Hall . . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Joseph Kemp . . . 
 
 Do. . . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 Sam" Kemp Jum" 
 
 Silas Kemp 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton . . Hezekiah Kemp 
 
 Stephen Kemp . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell . j Servant to Edmund 
 
 Simon Lakin .... 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell ( Ba croft - 
 
 Simeon Nutting . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Isaac Nutting . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 Isaac Nutting 
 
 Benjamin Nutting . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Westford . 
 
 Joseph Nutting 
 
 John Nutting . , . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 John Nutting 
 
 Eleazer Parker . . . 
 
 Do. . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 ( Under y e Care of the 
 
 
 
 
 ( Select Men 
 
 Joseph Page .... 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 Joseph Page 
 
 William Parker . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 William Parker 
 
 Obediah Perry . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 Stephen Peirce . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 Stephen Peirce 
 
 Jonathan Phelps . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton. 
 
 
 Nathaniel Parker . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell . 
 
 Nathan 1 Parker 
 
 Leonard Parker . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . 
 
 Leonard Parker 
 
 Benjamin Richardson . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Westford 
 
 
 David Shattuck jr . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Abel Sawtell .... 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 David Sawtell 
 
 Jonathan Sheple . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 ( James Prescott Esq 
 
 
 
 
 ( his guardian 
 
 Lemuel Sheple . . . 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 ( James Prescott Esq 
 
 
 
 
 ( his Guardian 
 
 Joseph Sawtell . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 j Samuel Tarbell his 
 
 
 
 
 1 Guardian 
 
 Thomas Shattuck . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell. 
 
 
 Thomas Scott . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell . 
 
 John Scott 
 
 Benjamin Shattuck . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Pepperell 
 
 
 Josiah Sheple . . . 
 
 Do. . . . Groton. 
 
 
 Nathan Wesson . . . 
 
 Do. ... Wilmington \ Son to Stephen Wes- 
 
 
 
 i son 
 
 Zachariah \Villis 
 
 Do. . . . 
 
 Westford . J Servent to Philip 
 
 
 
 
 ( Robins 
 
 Benjamin Woods . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Groton . . 
 
 Son to John W r oods 
 
 Simon Wheeler . . . 
 
 Do. ... 
 
 Westford 

 
 1 66 
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 .-/ Return of men Inlisted for his majestys Service in the intended 
 Expedition against Canada 1758 
 
 
 
 
 
 Names of the fathers 
 
 Mens Names 
 
 Where 
 born 
 
 in what Company 
 
 In what Rigement Jt 
 
 of Sons under age 
 and masters of Ser- 
 
 
 
 
 
 vants 
 
 Arch al us Adams 
 
 Newbury 
 
 Colo Charles Prescott 
 
 Col s Elisha Jones 25 
 
 
 John Nutting 
 Simon Gilson 
 Eleazer Fisk 
 
 Groton 
 Groton 
 Groton 
 
 Capt. Jerh Shattuck 
 Capt Jer'' Shattuck 
 Capt Jerh Shattuck 
 
 Col oliver Wilder 20 
 Col. oliver Wilder 27 
 Col. oliver Wilder 26 
 
 Son to John Nut- 
 ting Jun 
 
 Leonard Parker 
 
 Groton 
 
 Capt. John Bulkley 
 
 Col" Wilder 16 
 
 Son to Leonard Par- 
 ker 
 
 The above Written is a True acct of all the men by me Inlisted for 
 his Majestys Service in the Expedition now Carrying on against 
 Canada in a Company to be comanded by Capt Thomas La\vrance in 
 Col Ebenezer Nichols's Ridgiment 
 
 JOSEPH FARWELL 
 GROTON Apriel y e 15 th 1758 
 
 A List of the Men that I Have Listed for Canada <&c /Domini 
 
 1758 
 
 Simon Larkin [Lakin] 
 
 Silas Kemp 
 
 Isaac Nutting Jun r 
 
 Jonath. Phelps in the Rume of Simon Ames of Groton 
 
 Nath a Parker Jun r 
 
 Robert Blood 
 
 William Farnsworth 
 
 Oliver Shattuck in the Rume Soloman Shattuck of Pepperrell 
 
 John Chamberlin in the Rume of Peter Thursten of Pepperrell 
 
 Nathan Wesson 
 
 Thomas Shattuck 
 
 Tho s Scott 
 
 Stephen Kemp 
 
 Eleazer Spoulding in the Rume of Joel Parkhtirst of Dunstable 
 
 Stephen Foster 
 
 "$ EPHRAIM WESSON Lev 1
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 16 7 
 
 GROTON April 15 th 1758 
 
 This may Certifie whome it may concerne that the above named 
 Soldiers were this day mustered & passed Before me 
 
 WILLIAM LAWRANCE 1 1 , u 
 
 j Master 
 
 A Return of the. Men Enlisted for his Majesty's service in t/ie 
 intended expidition against Canada, 1758 
 
 Names 
 
 Where boni 
 
 In what Company. Jo 
 
 < 
 
 Time of 
 Service. 
 
 Simon Larkm . 
 
 Groton, . 
 
 Capt. Jeremiah Shattuck, 42 
 
 March 30. 
 
 Silas Kemp, . 
 
 Groton, . 
 
 Capt. James Prescott, . i 16 
 
 March 30. 
 
 Isaac Nutting jr 
 
 Groton, . 
 
 do. John Bulkley . . i 19 
 
 March 30. 
 
 Jonathan Phelps, . 
 
 Andover, 
 
 do. John Bulkley . . 31 
 
 March 30. 
 
 Nathan Wesson, 
 
 Wilmington 
 
 do. Thomas Pierce, . 18 
 
 March 30. 
 
 Thomas Shattuck . 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 Cap J. Shattuck, ... 22 
 
 March 31* 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, . 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 J. Shattuck, ... 19 
 
 April 3.' 
 
 Ebenezer Spaulding 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 Capt Oliver Coburn, . . 24 
 
 April 3.' 
 
 Stephen Foster, 
 
 Chelmsford 
 
 Cap. John Bulkley ... 23 
 
 April 4. 
 
 Robert Blood . . 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 Capt J. Shattuck ... 27 
 
 April 5. 
 
 W m Farnsworth . 
 
 Groton, . 
 
 J. Shattuck ... 21 
 
 April 5. 
 
 Oliver Shattuck 
 
 Groton, . 
 
 J. Shattuck ... 27 
 
 April 5. 
 
 Thomas Scott, . . 
 
 Groton, '. 
 
 J. Shattuck ... 19 
 
 April 5. 
 
 Stephen Kemp, . . 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 J. Shattuck ... 17 
 
 April 5. 
 
 John Chamberlain . 
 
 Groton, . . 
 
 Capt J. Shattuck ... 36 
 
 April 10. 
 
 The above written contains a true account of the men that I have 
 Enlisted for his Majesty's service in the intended expedition against 
 Canada, in a Company to be commanded by Captain Thomas 
 Lawrence, to be in Colonel Ebenezer Nichols 1 Regiment 
 
 EPHRAIM WESSON. 
 PEPPEREL, Aprill y e 15 th 1758. 
 
 N. HAMPTON June 2 d 1758 
 
 SIR You are to repair to Hadley and there wait for Col Nichols ; 
 arrival that you may give him an Ac' of the Spare Blankets of the 
 Regiments which were left there at Mr Oliver Smiths. If he doth not 
 come by the fourtenth Intant, you are directed to Join the Regiment, 
 by the first Opportunity 
 
 I am your Friend J? CU.MING 
 
 To Liu' Eph'" Wesson
 
 1 68 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 By his Excelencys Command to Captain Tho" Lawrancc. 
 
 You are hereby Directed to Colect the men In your company with- 
 out Delay and prepare a list of them & the number of arms your men 
 will take of their own. 
 
 From the day they are collected till they arive at Worcester where 
 the Kings J 'revisions, will be delivered out to the Regiments you are 
 to take care that your men are Victualed as Follows that is Sixpence 
 Pr day Sterling & no more, you are to take care they dont Exceed 
 that and also Such a part for each meal as to take the whole of s d Six- 
 pence for the day. you are to acquaint the Taverners : accordingly 
 you are to deliver s' 1 Taverners, a list of the names, & the N" of the 
 men Ware Supplied at So much P r Meal and this list with the certificate 
 shall be the Taverners Voucher to his accompt to be laid before the 
 Governor & Council for their Passing upon it and granting warenty 
 for the payment of the same. 
 
 You are to take Particular Care that no Straglers be left behind 
 you are further Directed to Use the utmost of your Endevers that one 
 quarter of your men Provide their own arms 
 
 EBEN R NICHALS 
 
 An account of the arms that Cap*. Lanrance and his men had of their 
 own that was lost in the fight at the half way brook July the 2 o" 1 
 
 1758 
 
 the guns Lost the kings arms 
 
 Cap! Laurance i Serg 1 oliver Lakin i 
 
 Serg'. oliver wright i Corp! Nehemiah Goold i 
 
 Simon wheeler i Stephen foster i 
 
 Eleazer Ames i Abel Sawtell i 
 
 Joel Crosby i 
 
 Total 4 
 
 Total 5 
 
 The two papers here given refer to the expedition against 
 Crown Point : 
 
 GROTON June y c 25" 1755 
 
 Rec' 1 of Lieut Ephraim Wesson Six pounds Seven Shilings and 
 three pence old tenor as Subsistance to albaney each of us are soldiers 
 to Crown Point.
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 169 
 
 Jonas Woods Japtha Richardson 
 
 Isaac Patch Isaac Wesson 
 
 Isaac Patch junr Zach a Wilthe [Withee] 
 
 Jonathan Foster Nathaniel Nutting 
 
 his John Trowbridge 
 
 Simeon X Foster Jonathan Green 
 
 mark 
 
 his 
 
 Joseph X Denow 
 mark 
 
 A List of the names that are inlisted for the Expedison to Crown Point 
 into Capt Reeds Compeney by me Ephraim Wesson 
 
 Isaac Patch Zacriah Wethe [Withee] 
 
 Isaac Patch Jun r Isaac Wesson 
 
 Jonathan Green Nathaniel Wesson 
 
 John Hobart Japtha Richardson 
 
 Jonathan Foster Joseph Denoro 
 
 Semeon Foster John Trobridge 
 
 Jonas Woods John Shipley 
 
 Nathaniel Shatuck Nathaniel Nutting 
 
 The following letter was written by Colonel William Law- 
 rence to the Honorable Spencer Phips, at that time the 
 Lieutenant-Governor of the province. Colonel Lawrence 
 was then in command of the soldiers stationed along the 
 frontiers in this neigborhood. The letter was dated a few 
 weeks before the Battle of Lake George, a period of great 
 excitement among the inhabitants of the border towns. 
 Lieutenant Lawrence, who is mentioned, was a younger 
 brother of the writer : 
 
 May it- Please your Honour 
 
 I had Desired Lieu' Lawrence to order a Scout to Pequage [Athol] 
 before I Reef your Honours Letter which he had Done & from thence 
 to Northfield tho none was Placed at Pequage but in as much as Pe- 
 quage Does not appear more Exposed to the Enemy if so much as 
 several other Places between y? rivers merimack and Connetticut that 
 are within this Province and I apprehending your honour might not be
 
 1/0 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 So well acquainted with the Curcomstances of those Frontiers I Did 
 not order y: Lieu! to Place but ten men at Pequage for if fifteen had 
 been sent there other places must have been left so naked that no 
 Scouting Could have been Done which I am sencable was y: Courts 
 Disigne but if what I have ordered Should not be agreeable I 
 should be Glad to know your Honours mind. I find it is Difficult to 
 satisfie the People with so few men in so long a Frontier but shall 
 take yf best Care I Can so far as I am concern 1 ' to give orders for 
 Every thing to be Done that your Honour Shall think best but if Pos- 
 sible I think best to keep out all y;' new plantations in this Province 
 but I am afraid that thirty men is not sufficient. So with Great 
 Regard, I remain your Honours most Humble and obedient Servant 
 to Command. 
 
 WILLIAM LAWRAXCE 
 
 GROTON July y? 29: 1755 
 To y? Hon^l e Spencer Phips Esq r . e 
 [Massachusetts Archives, LIV. 521.] 
 
 It was in the spring of 1755 that the territory of Acadia, 
 or Nova Scotia, fell under British authority; and the con- 
 quest was followed by a terrible act of cruelty and violence. 
 The simple Acadians, unsuspicious of the designs of the 
 English leaders, were assembled in their churches, in obe- 
 dience to military proclamation; and thence, without being 
 allowed to return to their homes, were driven at the point 
 of the bayonet on board ships, to be scattered over all 
 the English colonies in America. This was done with so 
 little regard to humanity that, in many instances, wives 
 were separated from husbands, and children from parents, 
 never to see one another again. It \vas upon an incident 
 connected with this act of tyranny that Longfellow's poem 
 of Evangeline is founded. T\vo of the French families, 
 ten persons in all, were sent to Groton, where one of the 
 mothers died, not many months after her arrival, perhaps 
 from the rude transplanting. A few years later an Acadian 
 family is mentioned as living here ; but the household had
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 171 
 
 become divided, some of the little children being sent to the 
 neighboring towns. Our pity for these unfortunate people 
 will be stronger when we reflect that they were miserably 
 poor, among a race who spoke a strange language, followed 
 other customs, and abominated their religion. Under these 
 circumstances their homesickness must indeed have been 
 bitter ; but we have reason to believe that they were treated 
 with tender care by the people here. We learn from the 
 records that they were furnished with medical attendance, and 
 articles necessary for their bodily comfort. 
 
 Many interesting papers bearing on this subject are found 
 among the Archives at the State House, in the two volumes 
 marked " French Neutrals," as these people were sometimes 
 called. The following documents are there given : 
 
 The Province of the Massachusetts Bay D' 
 To the Town of Groton for Keeping Ten Franch Persons and 
 
 findeing them many Nesecareyes for thare Support when many of 
 
 them Ware Sick &c. 
 
 Begining the 2 I s . 1 of May AD 1756. To Jan?' y e 6'. h 1757 
 
 F 1 James Prescott Esq r as by his Acco c ;o 600 
 
 F 1 Mr. Benj" Stone o 16 4 o 
 
 F 1 Mr. Sam! 1 Bowers for Provisions &c i 1 7 7 o 
 P d Barnibus Mach Charril and others for a Lume Wheels 
 
 and Tacklin about s d Lume 112 o o 
 P? to John Sheple for moveing' them and for Pro- 
 visions &c 0480 
 Pi 1 John Page for Sundreys &c 0122 
 P d Amos Lawrence for Provisions &c 0200 
 F 1 M rs Isaac Woods for Pork and Syder &c 11200 
 P? Cap! Tho* Tarbell for Milk and Meat &c 0780 
 P d Jacob Grag for Syder milk & Wood Carting &c 2003 
 F 1 Abraham Wheeler for Provisions &c 0520 
 P' 1 James Stone for Meal 0180 
 P? Nathl 1 Parker for Wood & House Rent o 10 o o 
 
 [Amount carried forward 7 16 4 i]
 
 1 72 
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 \_Amount brought forward 7 16 4 i] 
 
 P.' Doct r Oliver Prescott for Doctering them 2560 
 
 P d Josiah Sartell for Suger Rum & Molasses & Peas 0770 
 P d LeH William Nutting for House Rent and other 
 
 things that He provided for them 2 13 4 o 
 P d the Wid Elizabeth Sheple for what she Did for the 
 
 franc h and Provisions c 0800 
 
 JAMES PRESCOTT 
 AMOS LAWRENCE 
 ? STONE 
 
 short of i s p week 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXIII. 306.] 
 
 THO TARBELL 
 JOSIAH SARTELL 
 
 I0 9 
 
 Selm 
 
 for 
 
 Groton 
 
 The Province of the Massachusetts Bay D r 
 
 To The Town of Groton from Jan? 1 ye 20"' 1757 to This Day for 
 Supporting the two franch famileys in s d Town c being ten in 
 Number 
 
 P. d BenjP Lawrence for Wood 
 
 P d Isreal Hobart for Wood & Milk &c 
 
 P. 1 s d Hobart for more Wood meat & Salt 
 
 P d Doc'. r Oliver Prescott for them 
 
 P d Doc" Oliver Prescott for meats 
 
 P: 1 Isreal Hobart for malts & Wood & milk 
 
 P. d s d Hobart for House Rent & Milk 
 
 P d Josiah Sartell for Rum molasses & Sugar when sick at 
 
 Sundrey Times and Wood 
 P d John Ames for removeing the franch 
 also one ax Provided for them 
 
 Totall -; 13 9 o 
 
 By Order of the Select men of sd Town Groton Sep'. ye 2 d , i 75 7 
 
 JOSIAH SARTELL 
 
 Since the aboue was Paid for the franch &c we have Paid out in 
 October Last for thare further Support in Life and for Buring one of 
 
 x> 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 - 
 
 o 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 I 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 6 
 
 o 

 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 173 
 
 the mens wife and findeing funariel things &c the whole Sum To Israel 
 Hobart which is jC l 1 9 9 2 
 
 P d Abel Lawrence for Diging the Grave & 0280 
 
 P? Docter Oliver Prescott for Vesn. & Medicins o 8 1 1 o 
 
 211 4 2 
 
 ? This By Order of the Selectmen of s d Town Nov r 
 ye 22* 1757 7 T 3 9 
 
 a little above 6 ce p week total 10 5 i 2 
 
 p JOSIAH SARTELL 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXIII. 461.] 
 
 On the back of the paper is written : 
 Warn 1 Advis d Dec r 6. 1757 
 
 In the report of a Committee, dated April 18, 1761, ap- 
 pointed by the General Court to distribute French Neutrals 
 among the towns of Middlesex County, it is stated that they 
 have assigned to 
 
 Groton Rain Bobbin [aged] 37 
 
 Marg' his wife 39 
 
 John his son 13 
 
 Matturen D 1 1 
 
 Joseph D 8 
 
 Eliz 5 weeks 
 
 Pepperil Marg' Marshal 18 
 
 Mary Bobbin daug' of Rain Bobbin 3 
 
 Townsend Paul Oliver Bobbin 7 
 
 Peter Bobbin son to Rain Bobbin of Groton 5 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXIV. 468.] 
 
 The surname, perhaps, is spelled wrong, as people in those 
 days were not used to writing foreign, wojds ; very likely it 
 should have been Beaubien. The/emomal authorities showed 
 but little humanity when they took away these small children 
 from their mother and put them in different towns. Other
 
 174 
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 families were sent at the same time to Dunstable, Westford, 
 and Littleton. 
 
 Many Groton men were in the expedition sent against Nova 
 Scotia, which brought away these poor French families. The 
 Journal of Colonel John Winslow, the commander of the ex- 
 pedition, in three folio volumes, containing copies of the vari- 
 ous muster-rolls of his command, is preserved in the library of 
 the Massachusetts Historical Society. The force was made 
 up of two battalions, and each battalion had a lieutenant- 
 colonel and two majors. It appears that each of the field- 
 officers commanded a company, or had one called by his 
 name ; and there was one known as Governor Shirley's 
 Company. The muster-rolls have a common heading, dated 
 "Bason of Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia May 28"' 1755." 
 From the Journal I gather the following names of soldiers, 
 either natives or residents of this town, who took part in' the 
 affair : 
 
 LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN WINSLOW'S COMPANY. 
 
 Men's Names Station Age Place of Birth Last residence Occupation 
 
 Abiel Parker 
 Gideon Parker 
 Samson Blood 
 John Lakers [Lakin ?] 
 Gabriel Lakers 
 Nath 11 Ballard 
 John Gilson 
 
 Sergeant 
 Private 
 
 Groton 
 
 Groton Labourer 
 
 Isaac Holden 
 Joseph Fairwell 
 Thomas Woods 
 Sam! Sartwell 
 Johnathan Goold 
 Josiah Williams 
 Asa Holden 
 John Sherrin 
 W Holden 
 Jonas Green 
 Ephr 1 ." Parker 
 
 Framingham 
 Groton 
 
 CAPTAIN HUMPHREY HOBBS'S COMPANY. 
 
 Sergeant 
 Private 
 
 Groton Groton Labourer 
 
 Luninburg 
 Groton 
 
 Boxford 
 Bloody point 
 Groton 
 
 Shirley 
 Groton 
 
 Taner 
 
 Cooper 
 
 Labourer
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 '75 
 
 CAPTAIN HUMPHREY HOBBS'S COMPANY Concluded. 
 
 Men's Names 
 
 Station 
 
 Age 
 
 Place of Birth 
 
 Last residence 
 
 Occupation 
 
 Sam! Bason 
 
 Private 
 
 2O 
 
 Townsend 
 
 Groton 
 
 Cordwr 
 
 Silas Parker 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Amasa Gilson 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Solomon Gilson 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jacob Nutten 
 Jon? Holclen 
 Elijah Robins 
 Benj? Robins 
 Nathan Whipple 
 
 " 
 
 28 
 18 
 23 
 
 22 
 22 
 
 ' 
 
 t 
 
 Westford 
 Groton 
 
 Cordwinder 
 Labourer 
 Sadler 
 
 CAPTAIN THOMAS 
 
 OSGOOD'S COMPANY. 
 
 Phineas Kemp 
 Phineas Parker 
 
 Private 
 
 24 
 21 
 
 Groton 
 
 Bellerica 
 Littleton 
 
 Husbandman 
 
 Sam" Green 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 ,, 
 
 Metford 
 
 Cordwainer 
 
 LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE SCOTT'S COMPANY. 
 
 Will 111 Saunderson 
 Aaron Davis 
 John Burt 
 Josiah Boyden 
 
 Drum^ 19 Groton Groton Farmer 
 
 Private 23 Harwidck Carpenter 
 
 20 Fanner 
 
 20 Groton 
 
 CAPTAIN PHINEAS STEPHENS'S COMPANY. 
 
 Benj a Gilson 
 Charles Riev 
 
 Private 
 
 20 
 
 22 
 
 Groton 
 
 Hinsdale 
 Keen 
 
 Husbandman 
 
 CAPTAIN ABIJAH WILLARD'S COMPANY. 
 
 Will" Bart 
 
 Private 
 
 28 
 
 Groton 
 
 Harvard 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Jonathan Cressey 
 Jonah Chamberlain 
 Nehemiah Gould 
 
 " 
 
 25 
 25 
 
 21 
 
 " 
 
 Groton 
 
 " 
 
 Nehemiah How 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 TJ 
 
 
 }} 
 
 Samuel Martin 
 Joseph Paterson 
 David Saunders 
 Lemuel Turner 
 
 ,, 
 
 IS 
 
 25 
 19 
 
 18 
 
 Lunenburgh 
 Groton 
 
 Lancaster 
 
 Cooper 
 Labourer 
 
 Nath 1 Turner 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 tj 
 
 
 
 
 
 Zachariah Tarball 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 " 
 
 Lunenburgh 
 
 
 
 CAPTAIN EPHRAIM 
 
 JONES'S COMPANY. 
 
 Isaac Green 
 Ezekiel Brown 
 Moses Woods 
 
 Serjant 
 Corporal 
 
 39 
 34 
 45 
 
 Groton 
 Concord 
 Groton 
 
 Groton 
 Pepperrell 
 
 Yeoman
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 CAPTAIN 
 
 EPIIRAIM JONES'S COMPANY 
 
 Concluded. 
 
 
 Men's Names 
 
 Station Age 
 
 Place of birth 
 
 Last residence 
 
 Occupation 
 
 Will" 1 Spaulding 
 
 Corporal 23 
 
 Groton 
 
 Pe])perrell 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 Abraham Boyenton 
 
 Private 42 
 
 
 
 Groton 
 
 Husbandman 
 
 Oliver Elliote 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 Pepperrell 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 Sam" Fisk 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 Cooper 
 
 Nathan Fisk 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 Jonas Fletcher 
 
 2 5 
 
 Weston 
 
 Groton 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Jabez Kempt 
 
 18 
 
 Groton 
 
 Pepperrel 
 
 ,, 
 
 John Kemp 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 
 
 Husbandman 
 
 Oliver Kemp 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Hezekiah Kemp 
 
 1 7 
 
 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 
 Simon Lakin 
 
 42 
 
 
 
 Pepperrel 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 Simon Lakin Jun 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 Labourer 
 
 George Lessley 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 Hollis 
 
 
 
 John Nutting 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 
 Will"' Shed 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 
 Pepperrel 
 
 
 
 Job Shattuck 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 Groton 
 
 
 
 Nath 1 Savtell 
 
 17 
 
 Boston 
 
 
 
 Husbandman 
 
 Eleaz 1 : Spaulding 
 
 21 
 
 Groton 
 
 Pepperrell 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 Jon? Stevens 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 i, 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Isaac Williams 
 
 22 
 
 
 
 ,, 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 David Wright 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cordwainer 
 
 Jon a Woods 
 
 39 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yeoman 
 
 Eleaz r Wipple 
 
 20 
 
 ,, 
 
 
 
 Labourer 
 
 Josiah Wright 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 Isaac Robins 
 
 CAPTAIN SAMUEL GILBERT'S COMPANY. 
 Private 40 Groton Stow 
 
 Joyner 
 
 During the latter part of this war some of the soldiers 
 I think it was one half were supplied with bayonets, and 
 known as " bayonet-men." At the State House are found 
 the lists of such as belonged to the two Groton companies. 
 They are now of considerable interest, as showing some of 
 the men who did military duty in that eventful period. The 
 lists are dated December 19, 1758. These names are largely 
 represented in the families living in the town at the present 
 day. 
 
 The following is the list of the bayonet-men who belonged 
 to Captain John Bulkley's company :
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 177 
 
 Stephen Peirce, Sergeant, 
 
 Ephraim Severance, Corporal, 
 
 Peter Parker, Corporal, 
 
 Lemuel Parker, 
 
 David Shattuck, 
 
 Jonathan Peirce, 
 
 Shattuck Blood, 
 
 Jacob Nutting, 
 
 Jacob Gragg, Jr., 
 
 Jeremiah Shattuck, 
 
 Ephraim Nutting, Jr., 
 
 Benjamin Green, 
 
 Oliver Lakin, 
 
 Josiah Sheple, 
 
 Simeon Foster, 
 Caleb Blood, 
 Jonathan Pratt, 
 Peter Gilson, 
 John Erwin, 
 Nathaniel Woods, Jr., 
 Nehemiah Turner, 
 Seth Phillips, 
 Nehemiah Trowbridge, 
 John Woods, Jr., 
 Jonathan Gilson, 
 Jonathan Phelps, 
 Nathaniel Lawrence, 3d. 
 
 On the back of the paper are given the names also of 
 Sergeant Reuben Woods and Jonathan Sheple, Jr. 
 
 The following is the list of the bayonet-men in Captain 
 James Prescott's company : - 
 
 Joseph Page, Sergeant, 
 Timothy Moors, Corporal, 
 John Stone, 
 Isaac Farnsworth, 
 Isaiah Holden, 
 Ebenezer Farnsworth, 
 Ebenezer Farnsworth, Jr., 
 Joseph Medcalf, 
 John Archable, 
 Nathan Whiple, 
 David Tarble, 
 David Sawtell, Jr., 
 Abijah Warren, 
 Silas Parker Barron, 
 
 Joseph Page, Jr., 
 David Brown, 
 Jonathan Stone, 
 Obadiah Sawtell, 
 Ebenezer Kemp, 
 Ebenezer Hartwell, 
 Nathaniel Stone, 
 Jonas Stone, 
 Joshua Holden, 
 Jonathan Addems, 
 David Sawtell, 
 William Parker, Jr., 
 Elisha Rockwood, Jr. 
 Oliver Farwell. 
 
 The names also of Sergeant Elisha Rockwood, Corporal 
 Abel Lawrence, and Ephraim Sawtell, Jr., appear in another 
 place on the same paper.
 
 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 Joseph Longley, of Groton, a sjon of John, who was 
 taken prisoner by the Indians in July, 1694, was mortally 
 wounded at the siege of Fort William Henry, in August, 
 1758. His son, Joseph, Jr., also served, as a very young 
 man, during one year of the French and Indian War, and 
 subsequently with great credit during five years of the Revo- 
 lution. The son died at Hawley, Massachusetts, July 8, 1836, 
 at the advanced age of ninety-two years. 
 
 According to the inscription on the monument to the 
 memory of Captain Abram Child, in the old burying-ground, 
 he entered the army at the age of seventeen years, and served 
 under General Amherst at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga 
 and Crown Point during the summer of 1759.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 THE following papers are found among the files of the 
 Middlesex County Court, at East Cambridge, in the bundle 
 marked " 1659 April 5." They appear to be in the nature 
 of promissory notes, and are in the handwriting of John 
 Tinker, who a few months later had from the government a 
 monopoly to trade with the Indians at Groton and Lancas- 
 ter. My attention was called to them by Henry Stedman 
 Nourse, Esq., of Lancaster, to whom I am indebted for the 
 copies. Petobawok and Petapowok are different forms of 
 Petaupaukett the Indian name of Groton. Cattaconamak 
 and Catacomumok are other forms of Catacoonamug, and 
 apply to the tract of land in the neighborhood of Shirley. 
 There is a Catacoonamug Brook in that town. Boundary 
 lines between places were never distinctly marked by the In- 
 dians, but left indefinite. The expression " in foure moones " 
 evidently means four months ; but I am in doubt in regard 
 to that of " 2 hunting times: " 
 
 These j> r sents testefieth That wee James Indian otherwise called 
 Quagnisheman of Cattaconamak : Nomahnacomak of Petobawok and
 
 ISO MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 Mahmachecomak of Cataconamak do acknovvledg ourselves to owe 
 and to be indebted unto John Tinker the sume of twenty five pounds 
 and ten shillings at the Rates of six a peny vvompom. to be give to 
 him the said John Tinker his kindred frends or whome evr he shall 
 Appoynt, the one halfe therof in foure moones in good beaver at prises 
 as all marchants give, and the other halfe in nine moneths in like good 
 beaver at like prices at his house at Petapowak, and for the good per- 
 farmanc thereof we binde ourselves and either of us. our kindred 
 frends and all we have, In Wittness whereof we the said James, 
 Nomanacomak and Mahmacheckomok have hereunto sett our markes 
 dated feb r 13"' 1656 Signed by James and Nomanacomak in the 
 g'sents of 
 
 RICHARD SMITH the mark CM of 
 
 JOHN X V WHITCUM JAMES INDIAN 
 
 his mark 
 
 Signed by MAMACHECOMAK in the the mark X of 
 
 <g r sents of ROBERT BLOOD NOMANACOMAK 
 
 the mark ;? W of the mark X of 
 
 JOHN WHITCOM MAMACHECOMAK 
 
 This within said Engagement is againe owned and Consented to and 
 Confirmed, and delivered as theire act and deed at the house of Jn 
 Tinker in Lancaster the i8 th : 12'": 1657 and do agree all shall be 
 paid in 2 hunting times after this date, at least 
 
 ddy [delivery?] in the <gsents of us 
 
 JACOB FFARER 
 JOHN ( 2 WHITCOMB Jun 
 his marke 
 
 These p r sents testefieth That wee Wamscahacetts and mamacheco- 
 mak of Cattacomumok and Nomanacomak of Petapowok do herby 
 acknoledg to be indebted to John Tinker of Petapowok the sume of 
 Twenty one pounds thirteen shillings which is fourskore & six fadum 
 and three shillings at 6 wompoms a peny and five shillings a faddum 
 to be paid to the said John Tinker, or his Kindred or frends which he 
 shall apoynt, one halfe thereof in foure mounethes and the other halfe 
 in ten moneths and to the true performance, or to be well paid wee 
 Wamscahacet Mamachecomak & Nomanacomok do binde ourselves
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. l8l 
 
 and either of us our kindred and Trends and all that we have, to make 
 it good, wittness our markes dated : feb r 14 th 1656 
 
 Signed by the mark X of MAMACHECOMAK 
 
 MAMACHECOMAK and the mark X of NOMANACOMAK 
 
 NOMANACOMAK in the sents of the mark ' N ^ of WAMSCAHACET 
 
 ROBERT BLOOD 
 the 2 W mark of 
 
 JOHN WHITCOM 
 
 This within said Engagement is againe consented to, acknoledged 
 and Confirmed by the within said Womscahacett, Nomanacomack 
 and Mamachecamak by owning it and delivering of it as their act and 
 deed, only they agree amongst themselves that Nomanacomek shall 
 pay one of the skins, mahanuet one. & James two, and Womscahacet 
 sixteen 
 
 ddy At the house of Jno. Tinker in Lancaster 18 : i2mo : 1657 
 In the presents of us 
 
 JACOB FFARER 
 JOHN 2 WHITCOMB Jun r 
 his mark 
 
 The following entry in the Records (I. 174) of the Middle- 
 sex County Court, April 5, 1659, appears to be connected 
 with this transaction : 
 
 Nanamakamucke, mamakekummuk Indians, appearing w th an In- 
 dian Interpreter before the Court, do acknowledge a Judgmen) of forty 
 & two pounds, seaventeen shill : & six pence to be pd. in peage, at six 
 a peny, to Mr Jno. Tinker, for the paymt of s'vrall bills cancelled, & 
 left on file in Court. 
 
 The Company of Massachusetts Bay received from the 
 Council for New England their grant of land, or the patent 
 by which they held their territory ; and they received from 
 the King their charter, securing to them the right to make 
 their own laws and choose their' own officers. Property in
 
 182 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 
 
 the soil was given to the Company by the patent ; yet the 
 rights of the Indians as previous occupants were recognized 
 by the local government, and often regarded by the English 
 proprietors in the acquisition of land. It was certainly to the 
 credit of the early settlers that they acknowledged these 
 rights and were willing to extinguish them by purchase. 
 This action on their part did not make the title to the land 
 any clearer in a court of law, but it established a principle. 
 During some years before the charter was annulled, its im- 
 pending fate was feared, and the colonists thought that their 
 landed possessions might be forfeited to the Crown. In this 
 state of affairs they undertook to strengthen their claims 
 by purchase from the Indians ; and many instances are re- 
 corded of sales to them. It was thought, moreover, that 
 buying the land of the original owners would give a title 
 paramount even to that of the King. Various entries are 
 found in the tow r n-rccords of Groton, which show that the 
 early proprietors took similar action in regard to their 
 territory. 
 
 I herewith give several extracts from the records, bearing 
 on this point, without any attempt to correct the spelling or 
 modernize the language. The crude and illiterate phrases 
 impart a coloring to that period, and deepen the light and 
 shade of those times, which a finished picture would not 
 represent. Moreover, they are a fair expression of the 
 daily life of the common people, which was rough, honest, 
 and true. 
 
 At a ginarall Town meting upon 25 d 10 m 1683 John Page 
 John Parish Insin Lorinc 
 
 as you are C'hosin a comity for and in the behalf of the Towne 
 you are desiered for too prone the Rit and titill we haue too our 
 Tooun ship by all the legall testimony which can be procucrid when 
 the Toown is sent too by aney a Tority and if aney ingins can prone 
 a lagiall titall too the Remainer of our Town ship you haue power 
 too by it at as easi a lay as you can and mack it as snr as may be in
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 183 
 
 the behalf of the Toown and you shall haue Reasinabll satisfackion 
 for your payns. 
 
 JONATHAN MORS Clark 
 in the nam of the selckt men 31 d 10 m 1683 
 
 It will be noticed that the town-meeting was held on Christ- 
 mas ; and three weeks later the Committee made their report, 
 giving the expenses of their work, as follows : 
 
 at A ginnrall Town meting upon the 14 d n m 1683 the Toown 
 comity did giue in thar acount of thar chargis for the purchis of our 
 Town ship with the indins 
 
 thar Chargis in money-Eckspencis i 10 
 
 2 for thar tym in Town pay twelue 
 
 shilins apese which doo amount too i 16 o 
 
 uotid that the comity was too entr the ded 
 in too the cunty records for this sum 
 
 14 d ii m 1683 at a ginnrall Toown meting it was agred upon 
 and uoted that this publick chargis con sarning the purchis of our 
 Toown ship shall be raysed by the furst grants and too horn thay war 
 furst grantid too 
 
 at the sam meting it was agred upon and by not declarid that if any 
 parsin doo Refus too pay for the purchis of this ingin titell too our 
 Toown ship thar pur porsion thar nams are too be entred in too the 
 Toown buck 
 
 at a ginnrall Toown meting upon the 14 d 11 m 1683 4 it was 
 agred upon and uoted that this Bublick chargis con sarning our purchis 
 of our indin titll shall be Leuied upon our ffurst grants of lands and 
 thay shall pay in hose hands thay are found 
 
 In accordance with the vote passed at this town-meeting, 
 " that the comity was too entr the ded in too the cunty 
 records," the instrument was duly recorded in the Middlesex 
 Registry of Deeds (IX. 27), at East Cambridge. It is as 
 follows : 
 
 Co all people to whom these p r sents shall come greeting know yee 
 M r John Tom Dublit & his wife & their Eldest son little Indians to 
 Jame ffox, alias Gasumbitt, M r Jacob alias Patatuck all ^rotton
 
 1 84 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 of Weymessit & Thomas Waban of Natick all of them Indians & 
 Inhabitants as afores' 1 and within the Massachusetts Colony in New 
 r England for and in consideration of the full & just sum of 
 for 2810 twenty and eight pound ten shill. to me well and truly payd 
 & security given to them according to law by Corporall John Page, Ens : 
 Nathaniel Lawrence & John Parresh all of the Towne of Grotton. \v ch 
 is to the full satisfaecon & content of the afores' 1 Indians and thereof 
 and of every part thereof do acquitt, release and discharge y c s d John 
 Page & Nathaniel Lawrence & John Parresh & their heyrs & Admin- 
 istrators for ever by these p r sents. fjabt granted, bargained &: sold, 
 aliened enfeoffed & confirmed, & by these p r sents do fully, 
 freely clearly and absolutely grant, bargaine sell, alien, 
 enfeofe & confirme to the now Inhabitants of the Towne of Grot- 
 aii that Plan- ton afores d and to their heyrs & Associates forever All 
 
 tation called , 
 
 Grotton & every part of that Iract ot land which is called Grot- 
 
 ton plantation according to the full Extent of the bounds thereof, on 
 both sides of Nashaway River, as it is granted to them by the 
 hon ble Gen" Court of the Massachusetts Colony. Co 
 J)ai) ant to IjolU the abovs' 1 Tract of land with all the 
 priviledges & appurtenances to the same apperteyning or in any 
 wise belonging to them the s' 1 Inhabitants of the Town of Grotton & 
 to their heyrs & Associates forever & to their & their only propper 
 use and behoofe And .they the s d M r John Tom Dtiblitt & his 
 wife and their son ..the Eldest of them, little James ffox & Jacob 
 Pataatuck & Thomas Waaban for themselvs, their heyrs & Adminis- 
 trators do covenant, promise & grant to and with the afores' 1 John 
 Page, Nathaniel Lawrence & John Parresh (as Trustees for & in be- 
 halfe of the whole Inhabitants of the afores d Towne of Grotton) & 
 with their heyrs & Assigns forever, that they the s d M r John Tom 
 Dublitt & his wife & their Eldest son &: little James ffox, alias 
 Gasumbitt & Jacob Patatuck & Thomas \Yaaban & each of them 
 are the true and propper heyrs of the aboues d Tract 'of land as to all 
 manner of Indian Title, that either is or may conceived to be. 
 And that they have good right, full powr & lawfull Authority the 
 p r mises to grant, bargaine & confirme to them the s 1 Inhabitants of 
 Grotton & to their heyrs, Associates & Assigns forever. And that 
 they the s d Inhabitants of the Town of Grotton their heyrs Associ- 
 ates & Assigns forever shall and may at all times & from time to
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 185 
 
 time forever hereafter quietly and peaceably have, hold, occupy, 
 possess & enjoy the s d whole Tract of land or plantation with all 
 the priviledges, profitts & commodityes of the same without the law- 
 full lett, hindrance, Eviction expulsion, sute, molestation or denyall 
 of them the s d M r John Tom Dublitt & his wife & their Eldest son 
 little James ffox, Jacob alias Patatuck & Thomas Waaban their 
 heyrs or Executors, Administrators or Assigns of them or of either 
 of them or of any other person or persons whatsoever whither In- 
 dian or English claiming or having any right, title or Interest therein 
 or thereunto by from or under them or either of them (as to Indian 
 Title of land) or by any other lawfull ways or means whatsoever. 
 
 In witness whereof, the s d M r John Indian & Tom Dublitt and 
 his wife & their Eldest son little James ffox, Jacob alias Patatuck 
 & Thomas Waaban have affixed their hands & seals 
 
 , ioth Janur 1683 
 
 hereunto this tenth day of January, In the year of our 
 Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty & three, four, and in the 
 thirty and five year of y e reigne of our sovereigne Lord King 
 Charls the second 
 
 Read, 
 
 signd, 
 
 sealed 
 
 & deliverd 
 
 in y e presence of us 
 
 THO : HINCHMAN his mark & scale -f- M R JOHN and scale 
 
 JOHN FFISKE TOM O DUBLITT his mark and scale 
 
 JONATH. DANFORTH Sen r his E wife her mark & scale 
 
 JAMES BROWN LITTLE D JAMES his mark & scale 
 
 JAMES RUMBLY MARSH JACOB 8 PATATUCK his mark & scale 
 
 CAP T E TOM THOMAS WABAN & scale 
 
 his marke TOM S DUBLITTS SON & scale 
 
 mark 
 
 Pompequoout, alias M r John, Thomas Neepamimp alias Dublitt 
 & Sarah his wife. Pasumbitt, alias little James fox & Petatook alias 
 Jacob Indians of Weymeset & Thomas Waban Indian of Natick, 
 acknowledged the within written Instrument to be their Act & Deed 
 
 Jan. ii. 1683/4 
 
 Before PET : BULKELEY Assis 1 . 
 
 Recorded. 17. 3. 1684 
 
 by THO : DANFORTH. R.
 
 1 86 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 James Rumbly Marsh, one of the witnesses to the deed, 
 was a friendly Indian, of much service to the English during 
 King Philip's \Var. He is mentioned by Gookin in the 
 " History of the Christian Indians," where his middle name is 
 written Rumney, which is the correct spelling. He was the 
 spy who gave timely information in regard to the intended 
 attack on Lancaster, which, however, was not heeded. Rum- 
 ney Marsh is the old name of Chelsea ; and James, by living 
 in that town, acquired this designation. Sometimes he was 
 called James Ouannapohit or Quanapaug. 
 
 By referring to the proceedings of a town-meeting, held on 
 June 8, 1702, it will be seen that other persons besides the 
 Committee, acting doubtless on their own responsibility, had 
 acquired nominal rights from the Indians. The following 
 votes were then passed : - 
 
 at a town meting legally warned Jun eighte 1 702 the town did 
 note that thay would giue Peleg larraness Eairs three acers of 
 madow whare thay ust to Improue and tenn acers of upland neare 
 that madow upon the Conditions following that the aboue sd Peleg 
 larrances heirs do deliuer up that Indian titelle which thay now 
 haue to the town 
 
 JAMES BLANCHARD Clarke 
 
 at a town leaglly warned Jun : eight 1702 the town : did uot that 
 thay would giue to robart robins Sener three acers of madow where 
 he uste to Improue : and ten acers of upland near his madow upon 
 the Conditions forlowing that he aboue sd Robart Robbins doth 
 deliuer up that Indian titels which he now hath : to the town 
 
 JAMES BLAXCHARD town Clarke 
 
 The general practice of selling land to the English caused 
 some hard feeling among those Indians who received none 
 of the purchase money. Naturally they felt dissatisfied with 
 the proceedings ; and only a few months after the sale to the 
 town of Groton, a considerable number of them requested the
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 1 MATTERS. 187 
 
 General Court to have a committee appointed, who should 
 examine the subject in all its bearings. The petition is as 
 follows : 
 
 To the Hcnred Governer Deputy Governer and assistants together 
 with the Honred hous of deputyes now sitting In Generall Court 
 assembled In boston Sept 1 "- (IO M ) (W84) 
 
 The petition of Cap' Tom and Will Nahaughton and Thomas 
 Dublett (Indians) & Diuers other most humbly sheweth that whereas 
 your servants haue been and are aproued freinds to the English and 
 sence the warr [King Philip's] the Honred Generall Court was pleased 
 to state for the Indians severall plantations, one of which we vnder- 
 stand to be at malbery, we doe vnderstand that no man is to bye 
 Indian land without leau from your Honers, we se dayly that Thomas 
 Woban and great James [som others interlined] appropriate to them 
 selues the Indian land at malbery and sell it and y l without order and 
 keep all the pay to them selues, and chaleng the land of Groaton and 
 Concord Chelmsford and bilerikye, now we beseech y l your honers 
 woold be pleased to take so much nottes of the bisenes for vs as to 
 appoint a committy to Inqire into bisenes y' Justess may be dun for 
 the Indians in this Case for many Indians are much disqieted about 
 it, we haueing shrouded our selues under the wing of your honers pro- 
 tection, doe Rest hopeing for a gracious answer and subscribe our 
 selues your Redy servants to our power 
 
 Dat the (i st ) of Sept br 1684 CAP' TOM 
 
 WITT NAHAUGHTON 
 THO S DUBLETT 
 
 [and twenty-five other Indians, who 
 signed by making their marks.] 
 
 [Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 287.] 
 
 The grant of land made in the spring of 1658, by the 
 General Court, to Major Simon Willard, was in satisfaction of 
 a debt due him from John Sagamore, an Indian living at 
 Pawtucket, in the neighborhood of the present city of Lowell. 
 The land lay in the south part of Groton, then known as 
 Nonacoicus, and now included within the limits of Aycr. 
 The entry in the General Court Records is as follows :
 
 188 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 In Answer to the petition of Majo r Symon Willard The Court 
 
 Judgeth it meete to graunt his Request viz a farme of five hundred 
 
 acres on the south side of the Riuer that Runneth from Nashaway 
 
 [Lancaster] to Merremack betweene Lancaster & Groten 
 
 Courts L*raur,t L -J 
 
 to Major Sy- & is In sattisfaction of a debt of forty fower pounds Jn' J 
 mon wiiiard. Sagamore o f Patuckett doth owe to him Provided he 
 make ouer all his Right title & Interest in the execution obtayned agt 
 the sajd Sagamore to the countrje wch was donne (IV. 281.) 
 
 The following Indian names, applied by the early settlers 
 to streams, ponds, or places, in the original township of 
 Groton and its neighborhood, are for the most part still in 
 common use. The spelling of these words varies, as they 
 were first written according to their sound and not according 
 to their derivation. They have been twisted and distorted so 
 much by English pronunciation and misapplication, that it is 
 doubtful whether an Indian would recognize them in their 
 foreign garb. Yet, even with this drawback, they furnish one 
 of the few links in the chain of historical facts connecting 
 us with pre-historic times in America. It is rare to find an 
 Indian word in an early document spelled twice alike : 
 
 Babittasset the name of a village in Pepperell. 
 
 Baddacook the name of a pond in the eastern part of the tow r n. 
 
 Catacoonamug the name of the neighborhood of Shirley, as well as 
 
 of a brook in that town. 
 Chicopce the name of a district in the northern part of the town, but 
 
 now applied to a highway approaching it, called Chicopee Row. 
 Hmnhaiv the name of a brook in YVestford. 
 Kissacook the name of a hill in Westford. 
 Massapoag the name of a pond, lying partly in Groton and partly 
 
 in Dunstable. 
 
 Mulpus the name of a brook in Shirley. 
 Nagog the name of a pond in Littleton.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 189 
 
 Nashoba the old name of Littleton, now applied to a hill in that 
 
 town, as well as to a brook in Westford. 
 
 Nashua the name of the river running through the township. 
 Nissitisset the name of a river in Pepperell. 
 Nonacoicus the name of a brook in Ayer, though formerly applied 
 
 to a tract of land. Sometimes the word is abbreviated to 
 
 Coicus. 
 
 Nubanussuek the name of a pond in Westford. 
 Petaupaukett a name found in the original petition to the General 
 
 Court for the grant of the town, and used in connection with the 
 
 territory of the neighborhood ; sometimes written Petapawage 
 
 and Petapaway. 
 Quosopanagon the name of a meadow " on the other side of the 
 
 riuer," mentioned in the land-grant of Thomas Tar bell, Jr. ; the 
 
 same word as Quasaponikin, formerly the name of a tract of land 
 
 in Lancaster, but now given to a meadow and a hill in that town, 
 
 where it is often contracted into Ponikin. 
 Squannacook the name of a river in the western part of the town 
 
 flowing into the Nashua ; formerly applied to the village of West 
 
 Groton. 
 
 Tadmuck the name of a brook and a meadow in Westford. 
 Unquetenassett, or Uhquetenorset the name of a brook in the 
 
 northern part of the town. It is sometimes shortened into 
 
 Unquety. 
 Wabansconcett another word found in the original petition for the 
 
 grant of the town, and used in connection with the territory of 
 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 The following letter from the Honorable James Hammond 
 Trumbull, whose authority in Indian philology is unques- 
 tioned, gives the meaning and derivation of the original name 
 of the town : 
 
 HARTFORD, Dec. 22, 1877. 
 
 MY DEAR DR. GREEN, Petaupauket and Petapawage are two 
 forms of the same name, the former having the locative post-position 
 (-ef), meaning " at " or " on " a place ; and both are corruptions of 
 one or the other of two Indian names, found at several localities in
 
 190 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 New England. From which of the t\vo your Groton name came, 
 I cannot decide without some knowledge of the place itself. I leave 
 you the choice, confident that one or the other is the true name. 
 
 "Pootuppog" used by Eliot for "bay," in Joshua, xv. 2, 5, literally 
 means " spreading " or " bulging water," and was employed to 
 designate either a local widening of a river, making still water, or an 
 inlet from a river expanding into something like a pond or lake. 
 Hence the name of a part of (old) Saybrook, now Essex, Conn., 
 which was variously written Pautapaug, Poattapoge, Potabauge, and, 
 later, Pcttipaug, &c., so designated from a spreading cove or inlet 
 from Connecticut River. Pottapoug Pond in Dana, Mass., with an 
 outlet to, or rather an inlet from, Chicopee River, is probably a form 
 of the same name. So is " Port Tobacco," Charles County, Md. (the 
 " Potapaco " of John Smith's map), on the Potomac. 
 
 But there is another Algonkin name from which Petaupauk and 
 some similar forms may have come, which denotes a swamp, bog, or 
 quagmire, literally, a place into which the foot sinks ; represented by 
 the Chippeway/^tf^, a bog or soft marsh, and the Abnaki potepaug. 
 There is a Pautipaug (otherwise, Pootapaug, Portipang, Patapogue, 
 &c.) in the town of Sprague, Conn., on or near the Shetucket River, 
 which seems to have this derivation. 
 
 If there was in (ancient) Groton a pond or spreading cove, con- 
 nected with the Nashua, Squannacook, Nissitisset, or other stream, or 
 a pond-like enlargement, or '"bulge," of a stream, this may, without 
 much doubt, be accepted as the origin of the name. If there is none 
 such, the name probably came from some " watery swamp," like 
 those into which (as the " Wonder Working Providence " relates) 
 the first explorers of Concord " sunke, into an uncertaine bottome in 
 water, and waded up to their knees." 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL. 
 
 The last suggestion, that the name came from an Algonkin 
 word signifying swamp, or bog, is probably the correct one. 
 There are many bog meadows, of greater or less extent, in 
 different parts of the town. Two of the largest one situ- 
 ated on the easterly side of the village, and known as Half-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 191 
 
 Moon Meadow, and the other on the westerly side, and known 
 as Broad Meadow, each covering perhaps a hundred acres 
 of land are now in a state of successful cultivation. Before 
 they were drained and improved, they would have been best 
 designated as swamps, or bogs. 
 
 A singing-book, entitled " Indian Melodies," was published 
 at New York, in the year 1845, containing a tune called 
 " Groton." The compiler of the work was Thomas Commuck, 
 a Narragansett Indian, then living at Manchester, Wisconsin 
 Territory. He asserts that all the tunes mentioned in the 
 book, as well as their names, are Indian, which is a mistake. 
 Groton is an old English word, in use more than eight hun- 
 dred years ago, and its Latin form is found in Domesday 
 Book. 
 
 There are several tunes called Groton, given in different 
 singing-books, but the earliest one that I can find is in Jacob 
 Kimball's " Rural Harmony," published at Boston, in the 
 year 1793 ; and I am inclined to think that the author of the 
 work wrote it himself. Mr. Kimball was born in Topsfield, 
 Massachusetts, on February 15, 1761, and graduated at Har- 
 vard College in the class of 1780. He studied law with 
 Judge William Wetmore, of Salem, and was admitted to the 
 bar in the year 1795. Before this time he was a school- 
 teacher and a noted composer of music. He wrote quite a 
 number of tunes, and some of them were named after the 
 towns where he taught singing. At one time he lived in 
 Amherst, New Hampshire ; and it is highly probable that he 
 named the tune after this town. He died at Topsfield, on 
 July 24, 1826.
 
 192 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 Gibbet Hill, in the immediate neighborhood of the village, 
 was so named at a very early day in the history of Groton. 
 It is mentioned in the land-grant of Sergeant James Parker, 
 which was entered in the town-records by Richard Sawtell, 
 the first town-clerk, who filled the office from June, 1662, to 
 January, 1664-5. The tradition is that the hill was so called 
 from the fact that once an Indian was gibbeted on its summit. 
 If this ever occurred, it must have happened before Richard 
 Sawtell's term of office. The town was incorporated by the 
 General Court on May 25, 1655, but no public records were 
 kept before June 23, 1662.
 
 INDEX, 
 
 ABNAQUI, chief, Taxous, 64. 
 
 Acadia, 170. 
 
 Adams (Addams), Archelus: soldier, 
 
 164; return, 166. 
 Adams, Daniel : petition, 38 ; wages, 
 
 46. 
 
 Adams, Jonathan, bayonet-man, 177. 
 Adams, Salom, petitioner, 19. 
 Addington, Isaiah, secretary, 53, 54, 69, 
 
 82. 85, 89, 91, 93, 96. 
 Ahasombamet, 73. 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, treaty, 156. 
 Ak-wis-sas-ne, settlement, 1 19. 
 Albany (Albaney), N. Y., 112, 168; 
 
 Tarbells in, 116. 
 
 Alexander, John, in garrison, 59, 
 Allen, Rev. Wilkes, quoted, 107. 
 Allen, Samuel, paid, 45. 
 Almy, Job, on committee, 115. 
 Ames family, prominent, 154. 
 Ames, Ebenezer, private, 160. 
 Ames, Eleazer : soldier, 164 ; gun lost, 
 
 168. 
 Ames, Jacob : private, 128, 155 ; shoots 
 
 Indian, 131 ; petition, 132; under 
 
 Lovewell, 135. 
 
 Ames, John: shot, 106, 131 ; paid, 172- 
 Ames, Simon, not enlisted, 166. 
 Amherst, N. H., 191. 
 Amherst, Heneral Jeffrey, 178. 
 Ammunition, 93. 
 Amsaquonte Fort, Maine, gathering of 
 
 Indians at, 72. 
 
 Andover (Andeuer), Mass., commis- 
 sioner from, 42. 
 Anville, Duke d', fleet of, 150. 
 Appleton, Major, reference to, 26. 
 Archable, John, bayonet-man, 177. 
 Archaeologia Americana, allusion, S. 
 
 Ashley, Mr., allusion, 112. 
 Assyrian, the proud, allusion, 33. 
 Ata-wen-ta, Indian chief, 1 18. 
 Augary (Longley), John, 75. 
 Ayer, Mass., 13, 62, 187. 
 
 BABBITASSET, 188. 
 
 Baddacook Pond, 188. 
 
 Ballard, Nathaniel, private, 174. 
 
 Ball, Eleazer, paid, 46. 
 
 Bambazeen (Bomazeen), allusion, 67. 
 
 Bancroft family, prominent, 154. 
 
 Bancroft, Captain Thomas, So. 
 
 Bancroft, Edmund, private, 154, 165. 
 
 Bancroft, Lieutenant, charges the In- 
 dians, 56. 
 
 Bancroft, Thomas, paid, 45. 
 
 Baptist meeting-house, location, 26. 
 
 Barnard, Samuel, trooper, 127, 
 
 Barnes (Barron ?), Elias, in garrison, 
 60. 
 
 Barnes, John, in garrison, 60. 
 
 Barney, Daniel, in garrison, 59. 
 
 Barrett (Barret, Barrit), John, soldier, 
 126. 
 
 Barrett, Lemuel, private. 152 
 
 Barron, Elias: wounded, 134; allow- 
 ance to family, 146. 
 
 Barron, Silas, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Bart, William, private, 175, 
 
 Basin of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, 
 174. 
 
 Bason, Samuel, private, 175. 
 
 Bass, James Lawrence, muster-roll in 
 possession of, 150, 151. 
 
 Bates, John, paid, 46. 
 
 Bauclen (Boyden), Josiah, soldier, 128. 
 
 Bay Government, 162.
 
 194 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bayonet-men, list of, 176, 177. 
 
 Beaubien (Bobbin) family, 173. 
 
 Belcher, J., signature, 115. 
 
 Bellomont, Lord, signature, 82. 
 
 Bemis (Bemish), Ephraim, paid, 45, 46. 
 
 Benjamin, John, sergeant, 88. 
 
 Bennett (Bennet, Bennit), John, soldier, 
 
 126. 
 
 Bennett, Joseph, private, 155. 
 Bennett, Samuel, at a farm, 61. 
 Bennett, William, private, 155. 
 Berwick, Maine, letter from, 54. 
 Beverly (Beuerly), Mass., commissioner 
 
 from, 42. 
 
 Billerica (Bilerekey, Bilerica, Bilerikye, 
 Billerekey, Billerikey, Billerkey, Bil- 
 rica), Mass., So, 175, 187 ; forces weak 
 in, 23; security, 39; inhabitants sitting 
 on the fence, 42. 
 Biscuit (Biskett), 112. 
 Blandford (Glasco), Mass., 112. 
 Blanchard, James, clerk, 186. 
 Blanchard, Joseph, private, 126. 
 Blanchard, Joseph, Jr., private, 152. 
 Blanchard, Simon, private, 153. 
 Blankets, 132, 167. 
 
 Blasdell, Dr. Henry, petition, 130, 131. 
 Blood (Bloud), Aaron, soldier, 164. 
 Blood, Caleb, bayonet-man, 177. 
 Blood, Ebenezer, private, 155. 
 Blood, James : in garrison, 59 ; killed 
 
 63, 1 06. 
 
 Blood, Joseph: soldier, 126, 128; sum- 
 moned as a witness, 9, 10. 
 
 Blood, Moses, private, 155, 164. 
 
 Blood, Nathaniel, in garrison, 59. 
 
 Blood, Robert (Robart) : private, 164, 
 166, 167; witness, 180, i8t. 
 
 Blood, Samson, private, 174. 
 
 Blood, Shattuck, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Blood, Widow (Widdow), Jr., settled 
 in garrison, 59. 
 
 Bloody Point, 174. 
 
 Bobbin (Beaubien), Eliz., age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin, John, age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin, Joseph, age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin. Margaret, age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin, Mary, age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin, Matturen, age, 173. 
 
 Bobbin, Paul Oliver, age 173. 
 
 Bobbin, Peter, age, 173. 
 Bobbin, Rain, age, 173. 
 Boidon (Boy den), Jonathan, about to 
 
 leave Groton, 104. 
 Boidon, Joseph, left Groton, 104. 
 Bomascen (Bambazeen), allusion, 73. 
 Bonat, Mme. Marguerite (Mgte), god- 
 mother, 1 10. 
 
 Bordman, William, paid, 47. 
 Boston (Bostoun), 16, 115, 176; Indian 
 hanged there, 8 ; General Court, 9 ; 
 boast concerning, 33 ; attack on, i 50 
 Boston Gazette, 131. 
 Boston Public Library, 35. 
 Boston News-Letter, 89, 105, 131. 
 Boutwcll, Governor George S., resi- 
 dence, 35. 
 Bowers, Captain Jerathmel, So, 95, 96 ; 
 
 after the Indians, 63. 
 Bowers, Lieutenant, allusion, 58. 
 Bowers, Samuel: private, 155; paid, 
 
 171. 
 
 Bowman, Captain, allusion, 127. 
 Boxford, Mass., 174. 
 Boyclcn (Bautlen, Boiden, Boydon), 
 
 John, soldier, 164. 
 Boyden, Josiah, private, 128, 175. 
 Boyenton, Abraham, private, 176. 
 Boynton, John, Esq., allusion, 133. 
 Bradford, Mass., commissioner from, 
 
 42. 
 Bradstreet, Lieutenant Dudley, 154- 
 
 156. 
 
 Bradstreet, Rev. Dudley, settlement, 
 97; his man slain, 104; in garrison, 
 107 ; allusion, 154, 156. 
 Bradstreet, Simon, allusion, 24. 
 Bragadozios, reference to, 33. 
 Braintree, Mass., Marshall's Diary, 87. 
 Brandy, 112. 
 Brattleborough, Vt., 156. 
 Brattle, Cornet Thomas, order concern- 
 ing, 19- 
 
 Bread, supplied, 53. 
 Breck, Mr. Robert, ordained, 89. 
 Broad Meadow, 190. 
 Brookfield, Mass. : allusion, 14 ; rescue 
 
 of, 1 6. 
 
 Browne, Benjamin, on committee, 115. 
 Brown, David, bayonet-man, 177.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 195 
 
 Brown, Eleazer, paid, 46. 
 
 Brown, Ezekiel, sergeant, 175. 
 
 Brown, James, witness, 185. 
 
 Brown, Mr., killed, 104. 
 
 Buckminster, Colonel Joseph, account 
 of, passed, 127. 
 
 Bulkley ^Bulkeley, Bulkely, Bulkly), 
 Captain John, company, 166, 167, 
 176, 177. 
 
 Bulkley, Captain Joseph : at court- 
 martial, 98 ; in Lancaster, 102. 
 
 Bulkley, John, private, 155. 
 
 Bull, Samuel, paid, 44, 46. 
 
 Bunker Hill, battle, 87, 151. 
 
 Burrill, John, speaker, 93, 94. 
 
 Burt, James, private, 152, 175. 
 
 Bush, John, paid, 44, 47. 
 
 Bush, William, private, 152. 
 
 Butler, Caleb, references to his His- 
 tory, 58, 61, 63, 67, 89, 132, 133, 144, 
 188. 
 
 Butterfield, Jonathan, allusion, 100. 
 
 Butterfield, Josiah, soldier, 164. 
 
 Butterfield, Samuel : comrade of John 
 Shepley, 68 ; four pounds given to, 
 69; captured, 70; petition, 95, 96. 
 
 Byfield, Nathaniel, speaker, 56. 
 
 CADY (Cade, Cadein, Cadye), Daniel 
 (Danill) : in garrison, 61 ; left Gro- 
 ton, 104. 
 
 Cady, John : witness, 38 ; in garrison, 
 60; left Groton, 104. 
 
 Cady, Joseph, in garrison, 60. 
 
 Cady, Nicholas (Nickolass) : witness, 
 38 ; allusion, 60. 
 
 Cambridge, Mass. : two council-mem- 
 bers living in, 23 ; allusion, 36 ; com- 
 missioners meet at, 42; new (Newton), 
 92. 
 
 Canaan, allusion, 108. 
 
 Canada (Canedy): French in, 12, 63; 
 expedition to, 54, 55 ; Indians not at, 
 58; captives, 72, 109; governor-gen- 
 eral, in; Tarbell brothers brought 
 from, 112; mission to, 120-122; In- 
 dians in, 141; allusion, 149; expe- 
 dition against, 166-168. 
 
 Canada, Daniel, paid, 45, 46. 
 
 Candlestick, removal of, 32. 
 
 Carlors (Kerley), Lieutenant, daughter 
 
 set at liberty, 35. 
 Casco Bay, 82. 
 
 Casco, Maine, headquarters, 53. 
 Catacoonamug (Catacomumok, Catta- 
 
 comumok, Cattaconamak), brook and 
 
 territory, 179, 180, 188. 
 Caughnawaga : Indian village, 1 10 ; chief 
 
 at, 1 16 ; Tarbells in, 1 17 ; Jesuit from, 
 
 119; boys from, 120; council of the 
 
 tribe, 121 ; painting in, 123. 
 Cavalry-troopers, 12. 
 Chair (vehicle), 160. 
 Chamberlain (Chamberlin), garrison, 
 
 107, 108. 
 Chamberlain, Edmund (Edman), about 
 
 to leave Groton, 104. 
 Chamberlain, Elizabeth, mother of 
 
 John, 144. 
 Chamberlain, John : kills Indian chief, 
 
 134; Paugus slain, 138, 139; stories 
 
 concerning, 140-145; soldier, 164, 
 
 166, 167. 
 
 Chamberlain, Jonathan, private, 175. 
 Chamberlain, Thomas, private, 44, 126, 
 
 128, 144, 155. 
 
 Champigny, M., report by, 64. 
 Chandler, Ephraim, soldier, 126, 164. 
 Chandler, Joseph, private, 155. 
 Chapin, Robert (Robart), private, 152. 
 Charity School at Hanover, N. H., 
 
 1 20. 
 
 Charles County, Md., 190. 
 Charles River, proposed stockade from, 
 
 41,42. 
 Charlestown (Charles town, Charles 
 
 Toune, Charlestowne, Charls Toun, 
 
 Charls Toune, Charlstown, Charls 
 
 town), Mass.: death of S. Willard 
 
 at, 13; removal of the Wilberds 
 
 (Willards), 29 ; boast concerning, 33 ; 
 
 constables, 37 ; commissioner from, 
 
 42 ; allusion, 58. 
 Charlestown Ferry,- Mass., 61. 
 Charlestown, N. H. : first settlements, 
 
 148; No. 4, 162. 
 Charles X., interview with, 122. 
 Charlevoix, P. F. X. de : quoted, 64 ; 
 
 as authority, 66.
 
 196 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chase, Benjamin, private, 152. 
 
 Chase, George Wingate, historian, Si. 
 
 Chelmsford (Chemsford, Chcnceford), 
 Mass, 15, So, 187; horsemen, 17; 
 forces weak, 23 ; burned, 30 ; boast 
 concerning, 33 ; garrison, 36 ; ammu- 
 nition, 37; strengthened, 39; Captain 
 Parker, 49; strokes on, 192. 
 
 Chelsea, Mass., 186. 
 
 Chever, James, paid, 47. 
 
 Chicopee River, 190. 
 
 Chicopee Row, Groton, Lieutenant La- 
 kin's house, 66, iSS. 
 
 Child, Captain Abram, 178. 
 
 Child, Joseph, sergeant, 88. 
 
 Chirurgeons, 55, 57. 
 
 Christmas, town-meeting on, 183. 
 
 Chubbuck, John, cornet, 54. 
 
 Church, Cornelius, in garrison, 60. 
 
 Church, David, paid, 45, 46. 
 
 Church, Samuel, in garrison, 61. 
 
 Churches, elders of, 90. 
 
 Churchill, A. W., allusion, 108. 
 
 Circuit Court, of first circuit, 68. 
 
 Cleaveland, Samuel, paid, 46. 
 
 Clough, "William, paid, 47. 
 
 Cobbet, Rev. Thomas, letter, 35. 
 
 Coburn, Captain Oliver, 167. 
 
 Cocheco, now Dover, X. H.. 8. 
 
 Codington, John, paid, 45. 
 
 Coffin, Peter, intention of, n. 
 
 Coffin, Rev. Paul, author, 108. 
 
 Coicus Brook, 189. (See Xonacoicus.) 
 
 Collections of Farmer and Moore, 
 121. 
 
 Collections of the Maine Historical 
 Society, 188. 
 
 Collections of the Xew Hampshire 
 Historical Society, 16. 
 
 Colonial History of Xew York, 52. 
 
 Colonists, suspicion of, 12. 
 
 Combs, Jonathan, soldier, 126. 
 
 Commuck, Thomas, compiler, 191. 
 
 Community, Groton, 89. 
 
 Concord, Mass. : \Villard, an inhabitant 
 of, 13 ; boast concerning, 33 ; strength- 
 ened, 39; governor's tour, 86; allu- 
 sions, 185, 187. 
 
 Concord, X. H., formerly Penacook, 9, 
 121. 
 
 Concord River, proposed stockade from, 
 
 41,42. 
 Congregation Xotre Dame, in Montreal, 
 
 75- "O' 
 
 Connecticut, governor of, 133. 
 Connecticut River, 147, 169. 
 Connecticut Valley, 150. 
 Consert, Cornellius, Dutchman, 16. 
 Constables, Groton, 89. 
 Constabulary order, 16. 
 Continuation of the Xarrative of the 
 
 Indian Charity School, 120. 
 Contoocook, X. H., 136. 
 Converse, Captain James, So. 
 Converse, James, speaker, 69, 82, 85, 
 
 88, 91, 
 
 Converse, Major James, letter, 187. 
 Cooke, Joseph, order of council to, 24. 
 Cooper, John, quoted, 26. 
 Cooper, Timothy, killed, 26, 43. 
 Cordwainers, 175, 176. 
 Corey, Oliver, private, 152. 
 Coteau du Lac, Canada, encounter of 
 
 Lord Amherst near, 119. 
 Council, 82, 85; orders of, 16, 17, 24, 
 
 89; petitions, 19, 22, 36, 38, 53, 90, 
 
 93' 95! protection, 39; proposition 
 
 before, 41 ; letter to, 49; deposition, 
 
 72. 
 
 Court-martial, account of, 98. 
 Crasby (Crosby), Lieutenant, So. 
 Cressey, Jonathan, private, 175. 
 | Crisp (Crispe), Benjamin, widow of, 75. 
 
 Crisp, Jonathan, paid, 46. 
 i Crisp, Zachary, paid, 46. 
 
 Cromwell, Ol'ver, allusion, 62. 
 1 Crosby, Joel : soldier, 164; lost, 168. 
 Crown, interest of the, 101. 
 Crown Point, X. V, 162, 168, 175. 
 Cuming, John, 167- 
 Cumins, Ebenezer. soldier, 126. 
 Cummins, William, wounded, 136 
 i Curtis, Lieutenant, 38. 
 i Curtis, Thomas, private. 152. 
 Cutter, Timothy, paid, 47. 
 
 DAMON, John, paid, 45. 
 Dane, Jacob, paid, 45, 46-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 197 
 
 Danforth, Jonathan : petitioner, 41 ; 
 witness, 185. 
 
 Danforth, Thomas : allusion, 24 ; re- 
 corder, 185. 
 
 Dartmouth College, Indian in, 121. 
 
 Davis (Davice), Aaron, private, 175. 
 
 Davis, Benjamin, private, 152. 
 
 Davis, Eleazer, petition of, 146, 
 147. 
 
 Davis, Jabaz, soldier, 126. 
 
 Davis, John : in garrison, 60; location 
 of garrison, 62. 
 
 Davis, Nathaniel, private, 155. 
 
 Davis, Samuel, in garrison, 60; killed, 
 89 ; left Groton, 104. 
 
 Davis, Simon, Jr., private, 152. 
 
 Davis's Fordway, Groton, 89. 
 
 Deerfield, Mass., 115, 121. 
 
 Denison, Major-General Daniel, in- 
 structions of, 15. 
 
 Denoro, Joseph, private, 169. 
 
 Denow, Joseph, private, 169. 
 
 Diary, Sewall's, 84, 86. 
 
 Diary, Marshall's, 89. 
 
 Dickinson, Thomas, murder, 9, 10. 
 
 Dickson, Walter, 89. 
 
 Diuens (Divoll), Goodwife, ransomed, 
 
 35- 
 
 Divill (Devil), drink makes, n. 
 Documents collected in France, 65. 
 Dogs : track discovered, 99 ; Indian, 
 
 100. 
 
 Domton, Nathaniel, paid, 45. 
 Douglass, Daniel, soldier, 164. 
 Doule, William, paid, 45. 
 Dover, N. H. : formerly Cocheco, 8, 
 
 72 ; triumphal entry into, 135. 
 Dracut, Mass., men at, 146. 
 Dragoons : from different towns, 23 ; 
 
 sent to Groton's relief, 30; attacked, 
 
 36. 
 
 Drunkenness, among the Indians, 10. 
 Dublit, James Fox, 183-185. 
 Dublit, John Tom, 183-185. 
 Dublett, Thomas, petition, 187. 
 Dudley, Francis, paid, 46. 
 Dudley (Dutly), Governor Joseph, 68, 
 
 84, 88, 90, 92, 95, 97, 98, in; tour 
 
 in Middlesex County, 86. 
 Dummer, fort, Vt., 156. 
 
 Dummer, Lieutenant-Governor Wil- 
 liam, 125 ; letters to, 128-130. 
 
 Dummer's War, end of, 146. 
 
 Dunnell, Thomas, paid, 45. 
 
 Dunstable (Donstable), Mass., 19, 52, 
 133, 174, 188 ; garrison, 17; troops, 
 80 ; governor's tour, 86; military list, 
 126; men posted, 128; march from, 
 136; Paugus there, 140; men at, 142. 
 
 Durham, N. H., 72. 
 
 Dupont, Madeleine, signature, 77. 
 
 Dutch in New York, 12. 
 
 Dutly (Dudley), Joseph, 90. 
 
 EAST CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 179, 183; 
 
 probate office, 26, 1 10. 
 Edwards, John, Jr., private, 152. 
 Egeremet, feast, 73. 
 Eleventh United States Infantry, 124. 
 Eliot, authority, 190. 
 Ellett, Elias, private, 154. 
 Elliot, Deacon, order to, 37. 
 Elliote, Oliver, private, 176. 
 Emerson, Rev. Joseph, sermon, 160. 
 England : war with France and Spain, 
 
 86; agreement during, 117. 
 Epitaphium on Simon Willard, 13. 
 Erwin, John, 164; bayonet-man, 177. 
 Essex Company, disbanded, 146. 
 Essex, Conn., 190. 
 
 Essex County, Mass., security of, 41. 
 Evangeline, poem, 170. 
 Exeter, N. H., Simon Stone at, 56. 
 
 FAIRBANKS, Lieutenant Jabez, 125; 
 
 company raised by, 1 27 ; letters, 
 
 128-130. 
 
 Fairfield, William, on committee, 115. 
 Fairwell (Farwell), Ilenry, private, 155. 
 Farley, George, house, 42. 
 Farmer, Benjamin, soldier, 164. 
 Farmer, Daniel, prisoner, 155. 
 Farnsworth (Farnesworth) brothers, 
 
 133 ; settlement, 148. 
 Farnsworth, Benjamin, in garrison, 60. 
 Farnsworth, David, escape, 148, 149. 
 Farnsworth, Ebenezer : prisoner, 149; 
 
 bayonet-man, 177.
 
 198 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Farnsworth, Ebenezer, Jr., private, 
 
 152. 
 
 Farnsworth, Ephraim, under Lovewell, 
 
 135- 
 
 Farnsworth, Ezra, allusion, 132. 
 
 Farnsworth, John : garrison, 61 ; loca- 
 tion, 62 ; ensign, 83 ; signature, 97 ; 
 selectman, 103 ; about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104; in garrison, 107, 108. 
 
 Farnsworth, Josiah, private, 152. 
 
 Farnsworth, Matthew, in garrison, 60. 
 
 Farnsworth, Matthias, constable, 10 ; 
 capture, 109. 
 
 Farnsworth, Mr., garrison, 107. 
 
 Farnsworth, Oliver, private, 152, 164. 
 
 Farnsworth, Reuben, under Lovewell, 
 
 !35- 
 Farnsworth, Rev. James Delap, quoted, 
 
 /I- 
 Farnsworth, Samuel : in garrison, 60 ; 
 
 left Groton, 104; killed, 148. 
 Farnsworth, Stephen, death, 149. 
 Farnsworth, Widow, in garrison, 60. 
 Farnsworth, William, soldier, 164, 166, 
 
 167. 
 
 Farrer (ffarer), Jacob, witness, 180. 
 Farwell (Fairwell), Henry, private, 
 
 155- 
 
 Farwell, Isaac: soldier, 126; in Charles- 
 town, 150. 
 
 Farwell, John, private, 152. 
 
 Farwell, Joseph : soldier, 163 ; signa- 
 ture, 166; sergeant, 174. 
 
 Farwell, Joseph, Jr., private, 152. 
 
 Farwell, Oliver, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Farwell, Samuel, private, 152. 
 
 Fast-days, 28. 
 
 Filbrick (Filbrook, Philbrick, Phil- 
 brook), Ephraim, in garrison, 60, 107, 
 1 08. 
 
 Fisk, Eleazer, soldier, 164, 166. 
 
 Fisk, James: in garrison, 60; private, 
 155, 164. 
 
 Fisk, Nathan, private, 176. 
 
 Fisk, Samuel : in garrison, 60 ; private, 
 176. 
 
 Fitchburg, Mass., garrison, 153. 
 
 Fitch (ffitch), Daniel, So. 
 
 Fitch, Zachariah, owner of Longley 
 Farm, 74. 
 
 Fletcher, Jonas, private, 176. 
 
 Fletcher, Samuel, Sr., paid, 46. 
 
 Fletcher, Samuel, Jr., paid, 46. 
 
 Fogg, Dr. John S. H., " request " in 
 possession of, 21. 
 
 Foot Company, still retained, 53. 
 
 Forge \ 7 illage, Mass., 108. 
 
 Forgly (Frogly), Timothy, paid, 44. 
 
 Foster, Jonathan, private, 169. 
 
 Foster, Joseph, paid, 46. 
 
 Foster, Simeon : soldier, 164 ; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Foster, Stephen: private, 160, 164, 166, 
 167; firearms lost, 168. 
 
 Foster, Thomas, paid, 46. 
 
 Fovel : in St. Regis, 122; true charac- 
 ter, 123. 
 
 Fox, Charles James, author, 141. 
 
 Foye (ffoye), Mr., treasurer, 113. 
 
 Framingham, Mass., 174. 
 
 France, war with England, 86. 
 
 Franklin County, N. V., 117. 
 
 French and Indian War, 150, 153. 
 
 French and Indian enemy, 63. 
 
 French, in Canada, 12, 63; in Groton, 
 108. 
 
 French Indians, 149. 
 
 French Neutrals, 171. 
 
 French Refugees, 170-174. 
 
 French War, over, 141. 
 
 Frogly (Forgly), Timothy, paid, 45, 46. 
 
 Frontenac, Count de, scalps given to, 66. 
 
 Frontier garrisons, list of, 107. 
 
 Frontier towns, So; law regarding, 102. 
 
 Frost, Thomas, paid, 45, 46. 
 
 Fryeburg, Maine, 134, 137, 139. 
 
 Fuller, Micah, in Charlestown, 150. 
 
 GAGE, Edmund, paid, 147. 
 Galaxy Magazine, 116. 
 Garrison-houses : refuge sought in, 25, 
 
 26; destroyed, 27 ; Indians lodge in, 
 
 35 ; location, 61 ; still standing, 108. 
 Garrisons : protection in, 59 ; exposed, 
 
 129. 
 Gasumbitt (James Fox), Indian, 183- 
 
 185. 
 ' Gazetteer of Massachusetts, 80.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 199 
 
 General Court : appointment by, 8 ; 
 witness in, 9; in Boston, 10; entries 
 in manuscript records, 12 ; request, 
 21 ; petitions, 47, 55, 68, 70, 77, 81, 
 82,89,90, 112, 113, 187; application 
 for relief, 77, 78; act passed, 101 ; 
 allowance, 146; committee, 173; 
 grand, 184. 
 
 George, lake, N. Y., 153, 160. 
 
 George Farley's house, reference to, 42. 
 
 Gibbet Hill, Groton, 192. 
 
 Gilbert, Captain Samuel, company, 176. 
 
 Gill, William, paid, 45. 
 
 Gillson, Michael, soldier, 128. 
 
 Gillson, sergeant, garrison, 107, 108. 
 
 Gilson, Amasa, private, 175- 
 
 Gilson, Benjamin, private, 175. 
 
 Gilson, Daniel, soldier, 165. 
 
 Gilson, Isaac, private, 155. 
 
 Gilson, John : about to leave Groton, 
 104; fighting Indians, 134, 135, 168, 
 174; at Ossipee, 139. 
 
 Gilson, John, Jr., private 154. 
 
 Gilson, Joseph: escape, 135; private, 
 155; application of, 156. 
 
 Gilson, Peter, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Gilson, Simon: soldier, 164, 166. 
 
 Gilson, Solomon, private, 175. 
 
 Glasco (Blandford), Mass., allusion, u. 
 
 Gloucester (Gloster), Mass., commis- 
 sioner from, 42. 
 
 Goble, Stephen, paid, 46. 
 
 Goffe, Colonel, warrant from, 130. 
 
 Goff, John, paid, 47. 
 
 Gookin, Major Daniel: quoted, 8, 186; 
 allusion, 23, 24. 
 
 Goold (Gould), Jonathan, private, 174. 
 
 Goold, Moses, soldier, 165. 
 
 Gordon, Father Anthony, joins Indians, 
 119. 
 
 Gould (Goold), Corporal Nehemiah : 
 killed, 160; muster-roll, 164; firearms 
 lost, 1 68. 
 
 Gould, Nehemiah, private, 175. 
 
 Gragg (Grag), Jacob, 165; paid, 171; 
 bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Gragg, John, soldier, 165. 
 
 Graves, Benjamin, paid, 46, 47. 
 
 Great Road, Groton, 62. 
 
 Green, Benjamin, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Green, Eleazer, Sr., 154. 
 
 Green, Eleazer, Jr., private, 155. 
 
 Green, Isaac: private, 152, 155; ser- 
 geant, 175. 
 
 Green, Jonas, private, 174. 
 
 Green, Jonathan, private, 152, 169. 
 
 Green, Nathaniel, paid, 46. 
 
 Green, Samuel, private, 175. 
 
 Green, William : in garrison, 61 ; loca- 
 tion, 62. 
 
 Greene, John, in garrison, 61. 
 
 Green Mountains, 163. 
 
 Griffith, Richard, paid, 47. 
 
 Groton (Croaton, Grantham, Grauton, 
 Grawten, Grawton, Groaten, Groaton, 
 Groatton, Grooton, Groten, Grotten, 
 Grotton, Groughton, Growton) : pri- 
 vations of settlers, 7 ; Indian traffic, 
 town burnt, 8 ; drunken brawl, 9; 
 death of Thomas Dickinson, 10; testi- 
 mony, ii ; Indians and firearms, 12; 
 troops, Willard epitaph, 13 ; war- 
 taxes, Indian molestation, 14; de- 
 fences, 15; rescue of Brookfielcl, 
 Captain Thomas Wheeler, physi- 
 cians, 16; garrisons, 17; action of 
 council, iS; force lessened, 19; as- 
 sessment in 1675, 2O > hard winter, 
 21 ; frontier perils, 22 ; dragoons, 
 23 ; threatened by Indians, 24 ; pros- 
 perity, houses, and garrisons, 25 ; 
 assaults, meeting-house destroyed, 
 26; Nutting killed, 27; sanctuary 
 burned, English pamphlets about 
 King Philip's War, 28 ; conflagration, 
 29; Hubbard's account of the sur- 
 prizall, 30 ; palizadoes and ambush, 31 ; 
 stratagem of old Indian, babe cut 
 in pieces, One-eyed John, 32; Indian 
 sarcasm, Indians shot by Captain 
 Sill, 33; conflicting accounts recon- 
 ciled, 34 ; ambuscado, prisoners for ran- 
 som, Cobbet's account, 35; Morse's 
 petition, town abandoned by settlers, 
 36; action of council about horses 
 and ammunition, 37 ; the Adams pe- 
 tition and Woods testimony, 38 ; 
 critical season, report about defences, 
 39; stockadocs, 40; river stockade, 
 41; report of committee, 42; fam-
 
 200 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ilies, prisoners, hounds, 43; church, 
 monument, 44 ; list of soldiers- 
 45-47 ; town re-established, 47 ; pe- 
 tuion for help, 48 ; James Parker's 
 letter to the governor, 49-50 ; In- 
 dian vices, 51 ; Nicholson's letter, 
 unsettled condition of town, 52 ; cav- 
 alry, military headquarters, 53 ; com- 
 missary, 54; surgeon's bill lor John 
 Paige, 55 ; slight incidents, 56 ; Si- 
 mon Stone's danger, Indian baptism, 
 57 ; Jacob Indian, 58 ; garrison lists, 
 59-62 ; beginning of King William's 
 War, 63 ; accounts of Cotton Mather 
 and Pere Charlevoix, 64; allusions 
 by Judge Sewall and the French, 
 65 ; Canadian attack, 66 ; casualties, 
 captives, 67; Shepley petition, 68; 
 allowance, 69 ; Parker family's relief, 
 70; girl captive, 71; Indian expe- 
 dition, 1695, 72; captives taken to 
 Canada, 73 ; Longley family, 74-76; 
 straitened condition of the town, 77; 
 petition, 78, 79; troops posted, So; 
 men killed, Si ; Holclen petition, 
 short crops, 82 ; aid asked for, 83 ; 
 the wounded, 84 ; action of council, 
 85 ; Queen Anne's War, Indian sym- 
 pathy with French, 86 ; the Prescotts, 
 attack in 1704, 87; Governor Dud- 
 ley's order, 88; renewal of hostilities, 
 89; distress of the farmers, 90; re- 
 quest for relief, 91 ; assault in 1706, 
 92; Ilealy petition, 93; Seager pe- 
 tition, 94 ; cruelty towards prisoners, 
 95; Butterfield allowance, 96 ; settle- 
 ment of Bradstreet, 97 ; court-mar- 
 tial, 98-100; roving savages, 101 ; 
 desertion of frontier towns, 102-104 ; 
 Indian depredations, 1707-9, 105; 
 Shattuck and Lawrence families, 
 106 ; frontier garrisons, 107 ; location 
 of houses, captives, 108; Tarbell 
 children, captives in Canada, 109- 
 124; Indian enemy, 125; military 
 list, 126; colonial payments, military 
 company, 127; scouts, 128; Fair- 
 banks letters, 129; medical services, 
 130; murder by Indians, 131 ; scalps, 
 132; Farnsworth affair, 133; Love- 
 
 well's fight, 134 ; the Symmes sermon, 
 135-137; Paugus, 138; prisoners to 
 Canada, 139; Indian vendetta, 140- 
 144; traditions, Isaac Lakin, 145; 
 Lovewell's War, Eleazer Davis, 146 ; 
 Sartell petition, 147 ; dangers in 1744, 
 settlers in Charlestown, No. 4, 148; 
 ransoms, 149; King George's War, 
 150; muster-roll, 151; privates, 152; 
 receipts, relief to Fitchburg, 153; 
 dangers in 1748, 154; list of scouts, 
 155; Fort Dummer, allowance, peace, 
 156; last intercolonial struggle, 157; 
 Lawrence petition, Fort Halifax, 158; 
 Woods petition, 159; military ser- 
 mon, 160; Lakin petition, 161 ; leg- 
 islative action, 162; roster, 163-167; 
 arms lost, 168; Crown Point expe- 
 dition, Lake George, 169; Acadia, 
 170 ; French refugees, 171-173 ; mus- 
 ter-rolls, 174-176; bayonet-men, 177; 
 old burial-ground, 178; Indian prom- 
 issory notes, 179-181 ; land-grants, 
 182; Christmas town-meeting, 183; 
 Indian bond, 184, 185 ; monetary dis- 
 satisfaction, 186 ; Indian petition, 
 187; farm-grant, 188; Indian geo- 
 graphic names, iSS, 189 ; Indian name 
 for Groton, 190; Indian Melodies, 
 191 ; Gibbet Hill, 192. 
 
 Groton, Vt., 163. 
 
 Gun : payment for, 93 ; lost, 162. 
 
 HAGAR, Samuel, paid, 45, 46. 
 Halford, William, paid, 45. 
 Half-Moon Meadow, Groton, 191. 
 Half-way Brook, 153, 159, 160, 162, 
 
 1 68. 
 Halifax, fort, Maine : situation of, 158 i 
 
 allusion, 159. 
 
 Hall, Benjamin H., author, 156. 
 Hall, Ephraim, soldier, 165. 
 Hall, John, about to leave Groton, 104 
 Hall, Robert, on committee, 146. 
 Hands, John, paid, 47. 
 Hanover, charity school, 120. 
 Hardwick (Harwidck), Mass., 175. 
 Harris, Benjamin, soldier, 126.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 2O I 
 
 Harris, John, private, 152. 
 
 Hartwell (Hartwill), Ebenezer, bayo- 
 net-man, 177. 
 
 Hartwell, Edward, sergeant, 126, 127. 
 
 Hartwell, James, private, 152. 
 
 Hartwell, Joseph, soldier, 164. 
 
 Hartwell, Major, in command, 153. 
 
 Hartwell, Nathan, private, 153. 
 
 Harvard, Mass., 175. 
 
 Harvard College, 62, 191. 
 
 Harvest season, So. 
 
 Hassanamesit, Indians ordered to re- 
 side at, 18. 
 
 Hassell, Benjamin: coward, 136; false 
 report of, 138. 
 
 Hasting, Josiah, private, 152. 
 
 Hathorne, William, witness, 10. 
 
 Haverhill, Mass. : headquarters, 53 ; 
 History of, Si. 
 
 Havre, France, 122. 
 
 Hawes, John, paid, 45. 
 
 Hawkins (Ilaukins), William, butcher 
 and surgeon, 16, 17. 
 
 Hawley, Mass., 178. 
 
 Haywood, John, author, So. 
 
 Healy, Nathaniel, killed, 93. 
 
 Hemenway, Miss A. M., authoress, 
 161, 163. 
 
 Henchman (Hinchman, Hinchmanes, 
 Hincksman), Thomas: lieutenant, 17; 
 captain, 19; account, 63; major, So; 
 witness, 185. 
 
 Henchman's farm, letter from, 49. 
 
 Herkimer County, N. Y., 124. 
 
 High School, Groton, 25. 
 
 Hill, General A. Harleigh, author, 163. 
 
 Hill, Israel, paid, 45. 
 
 Hill, Jonathan, paid, 46. 
 
 Hill, Nathaniel, paid, 46. 
 
 Hinsdale, N. H., 175. 
 
 Historical Memoirs, sermon, 135 
 
 History of Charlestown, N. II., 150. 
 
 History of Chelmsforcl, Mass., 107. 
 
 History of Dunstable, Mass., 43, 141. 
 
 History of Eastern Vermont, 1 56. 
 
 History of Fitchburg, Mass., 153. 
 
 History of Groton, Mass., 144, 163. 
 
 History of Manchester, N. H., 136, 
 
 138- 
 
 History of New France, 64. 
 
 History of St. Lawrence and Franklin 
 Counties, N. Y., 117. 
 
 History of the Christian Indians, S, 186. 
 
 History of the Province of Massachu- 
 setts Bay, 66, 116. 
 
 History of the Wars of New England, 
 27, 28, 131. 
 
 Hoar, president of Harvard College, 62. 
 
 Hoar (Hore), Samuel, 152. 
 
 Hoare, John, left Groton, 104. 
 
 Hobart (Hubbard), Rev. Gershom, 62, 
 64, 89, 154; family casualties, 67; 
 disability, 91 , garrison, 107, 108, 112 
 
 Hobart, Israel (Isael) : corporal, 151, 
 164; paid, 172. 
 
 Hobart, Jeremiah, private, 155. 
 
 Hobart, John, private, 169. 
 
 Hobbs, Captain Humphrey, his com- 
 pany, 174, 175. 
 
 Holden (Holdin, Holding, Holdings, 
 Moulding), Amos, private, 152. 
 
 Holden, Asa, private, 174. 
 
 Holden, Charles, Charlestown, N. H., 
 150. 
 
 llolden, Isaac: Charlestown, N. H., 
 150; private, 154; sergeant, 174. 
 
 Holden, John, captured, Si, 82. 
 
 Holden, Jonathan, private, 154, 175. 
 
 Holden, Joshua, bayonet-man, 177, 
 
 Holden, Mr., garrison, 107, 108. 
 
 Holden, Stephen (Steven): in garrison, 
 60; captured, Si, 82; ensign, 154. 
 
 Holden, Stephen, Jr., captured, Si. 
 
 Hollingsworth's paper-mills, 105, 131. 
 
 Hollis road, Groton, 73, 108. 
 
 Homer, Rev. Jonathan, authority, 92. 
 
 Hore, Samuel (Sam'll), private, 152. 
 
 Houghton, Benjamin, Jr., 126. 
 
 Hough, Dr. Franklin B., author, 117, 
 1 20. 
 
 Hound Meadow Hill, name received, 
 
 43- 
 House of Representatives, 85, 89; vote 
 
 about the Iloldens, Si ; tax vote, 84. 
 Howard & Richardson, allusion, 112. 
 How, Nehcmiah, private, 175. 
 Hubbard's ambuscado, 35. 
 Hubbard, John, ransom paid by, 36. 
 Hubbard, Jonathan, petition, 127. 
 Hubbard, Rev. Mr. (See Ilobart.)
 
 2O2 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Hubbarcl, Rev. William : account of 
 King Philip's War, 27 ; narrative, 
 
 2 9> 33. 3 6 > 43- 
 
 Huberd (Hobart?), Mr., 112. 
 Huchin (Ilutchins), John, about to 
 
 leave Groton, 104. 
 Hull, John, treasurer of Massachusetts, 
 
 44- 
 
 Hull's /ournal, 44. 
 
 Humhaw Brook, Westford, iSS. 
 
 Hunt, Ephraim, signature, 98. 
 
 Hutchins (Huchin), Nicholas, in garri- 
 son, 60. 
 
 Hutchinson, Governor, quoted, 66, 116. 
 
 IMPLEMENTS, stone, discovered, 7. 
 
 Indian corn, 79. 
 
 Indian, Jacob, 57. 
 
 Indian Melodies, 191. 
 
 Indian summer, 142. 
 
 Indian, surname, 57. 
 
 Indian Wars, brave men in, 56. 
 
 Indians : characteristics, 7 ; love of 
 drink, 8, 10, 51 ; murder, 9; supplied 
 with arms, n, 12; burn towns, 20, 
 36; prowling, 25; ambush, 27, 31, 
 32, 137 ; rifle houses, 30; onset, 31 ; 
 infant cut in pieces, 32 ; swine-hunt- 
 ing, 33; feasted, 34; hellhounds and 
 cowards, 35; killed, 38; stockade 
 against, 41, 42 ; given Christian 
 names, 57 ; murdering, 62 ; hatchets, 
 63 ; children guarded by, 66 ; pris- 
 oners, 72 ; pilates, 8 1 ; sympathy with 
 French, 86 ; cruelty, 94 ; bounty for 
 killing, 96; jealousy, 118; treaties 
 with governor of New York, 119; 
 pope's questions, 122; scalps, 132; 
 hunting, 134; prisoners sent to Can- 
 ada, 139; land-titles, 186. 
 
 Ipswich, Mass., 121 ; commissioner 
 from, 42. 
 
 Israel, the New England, 15. 
 
 JAMES'S Brook, garrison-houses, 25, 27, 
 
 151. 
 
 James, Indian, 180. 
 Jeffries, David, letter to, 63. 
 
 Jeffries, William Lloyd, letter in pos- 
 session of, 63. 
 
 Jefts, Henry, private, 155. 
 
 Jefts, John, killed, 134. 
 
 Jenkins, Ann, testimony of, 73. 
 
 Jerusalem, allusion, 49. 
 
 Jethro, Old, Indian, 33. 
 
 Jewet, Nehemiah, speaker, 79. 
 
 Jewett, Abel, private, 153. 
 
 Jewett, Neha, private, 154. 
 
 Johnson, Lot, paid, 45. 
 
 Johnson, Mrs. Susanna, captured, 149. 
 
 Johnson, Stephen, private, 152. 
 
 Jones, Captain Ephraim, company, 
 176. 
 
 Jones, Colonel Elisha, 166. 
 
 KAMP (Kemp), Zerrubbubl (Zerubba- 
 bel), about to leave Groton, 104. 
 
 Ka-re-ko-wo, Indian youth, 118. 
 
 Keene (Keen), N. H., 175. 
 
 Kellogg, Joseph, treasurer for the Tar- 
 bells, 114. 
 
 Kemp (Kamp, Kempt), Ebenezer, bayo- 
 net man, 177. 
 
 Kemp, Hezekiah, private, 165, 176. 
 
 Kemp, Jabez, private, 176. 
 
 Kemp, John, private, 155, 176. 
 
 Kemp, Joseph, soldier, 165. 
 
 Kemp, Oliver, private, 176. 
 
 Kemp, Phineas, private, 175. 
 
 Kemp, Samuel : private, 152; in gar- 
 rison, 59. 
 
 Kemp. Samuel, Jr., private, 154, 165. 
 
 Kemp, Silas, private, 165-167. 
 
 Kemp, Stephen, private, 165-167. 
 
 Kemp, Zerubbabel, about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104. 
 
 Kennebec Indians, more successful than 
 the Penobscot, 65. 
 
 Kennebec River, expedition up, 157. 
 
 Kerley (Carlors), Lieutenant, daugh- 
 ter set at liberty, 35. 
 
 Ketle, Goodwife, ransomed, 35. 
 
 Kidder, Benjamin, sick, 136, 139. 
 
 Kidder, James, petitioner, 19. 
 
 Kimball, Jacob, 191. 
 
 Kinderhook, N. Y., allusion, 112.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 203 
 
 King Philip's War : letters on, 28 ; A 
 New and Further Narration, 29; a 
 friendly Indian in, 186. 
 
 Kingstown (Palmer), Mass., 112. 
 
 Kissacook Hill, Westford, 188. 
 
 Knop, James : representative, 52, 53; in 
 garrison, 60. 
 
 Knox manuscripts, 76. 
 
 LACHINE, Canada, convent at, 109. 
 
 Lakin (Laken, Lakers, Largin, Larkin), 
 Abraham, about to leave Groton, 104. 
 
 Lakin, Ambrose, private, 152. 
 
 Lakin, Benjamin (Benimin), about to 
 leave Groton, 104. 
 
 Lakin, Ebenezer, private, 155. 
 
 Lakin, Isaac, 134, 135; wounded, 106; 
 story, 145. 
 
 Lakin, Isaac, Jr., 155. 
 
 Lakin, Jacob, soldier, 126. 
 
 Lakin, John, 44, 161 ; ensign, 52, 53 ; 
 in garrison, 59 ; its location, 62 ; pri- 
 vate, 174. 
 
 Lakin, Joseph : signature, 91 ; select- 
 man, town-clerk, 103 ; about to leave 
 Groton, 104. 
 
 Lakin, Josiah, about to leave Groton, 
 104. 
 
 Lakin, Miriam, 161. 
 
 Lakin, Nathaniel, soldier, 164. 
 
 Lakin, Oliver : sergeant, 161, 168 ; peti- 
 tion, 162; bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Lakin, Simon, private, 165-167, 176. 
 
 Lakin, Simon, Jr., 176. 
 
 Lakin, Thomas, private, 155. 
 
 Lakin, William: ensign and lieutenant, 
 12; on committee, 20; in garrison, 
 59, 107, 108 ; house attacked, 64, 66. 
 74; selectman, 79; about to leave 
 Groton, 104. 
 
 Lamorandiere, Jacques Urbain Robert 
 de, godfather, 110. 
 
 Lancaster ( Lanchester, Lankester, 
 Lankstar,) : Mass , 7, 23, 35, 52, 80, 
 88, 89, 127, 175, 179, 186, 189; traffic, 
 8; Willard there, 13 ; raid, 15 ; garri- 
 sons, 17, 130; catastrophe, 30; boast 
 concerning, 33 ; helpful, 38 ; compul- 
 
 sory removal, 40 ; escape to, 43 ; gov- 
 ernor's tour, 86; Indian attack, 87 : 
 Captain Bulkley there, 102; comman- 
 der from, 125, 126; enlistment, 126; 
 men posted, 129; men there, 146; 
 men from, 153. (See Nashua.) 
 
 Langly, Lidey (Lydia), captive, 72. 
 (See Longley.) 
 
 Lawrence (Larrance, Larraness, Law- 
 ranc, Lawrance, Lorinc), family, 
 154. 
 
 Lawrence, Abel : paid, 173; corporal, 
 177. 
 
 Lawrence, Amos: sergeant, 151 ; paid, 
 171. 
 
 Lawrence, Anna (Tarbell), mother of 
 captain, 150. 
 
 Lawrence, Benjamin, paid, 172. 
 
 Lawrence, Captain, biography, 151. 
 
 Lawrence, Colonel William, letter, 169, 
 170. 
 
 Lawrence, Daniel, about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104. 
 
 Lawrence, Enoch (Enosh): in garrison, 
 59 ; location, 62 ; wounded, 84, 85, 
 1 06. 
 
 Lawrence, Ensign (Insine), 182. 
 
 Lawrence, James, owner of Tarbell 
 farm, 124. 
 
 Lawrence, John : in garrison, 61 ; father 
 of captain, 151. 
 
 Lawrence, Jonathan: in garrison, 60 ; 
 signature, 97 ; private, 155. 
 
 Lawrence, Joseph, about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104. 
 
 _ . . 
 
 Lawrence, Lieutenant, in garrison, 107. 
 
 Lawrence, Nathaniel, 184: ensign, 12; 
 in garrison, 60 ; soldier, 128; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Lawrence, Peleg, in garrison, 60, 186. 
 Lawrence, Thomas : private, 152, 155, 
 163 ; lieutenant, 157 ; biography, 160 ; 
 captain, 166-168. 
 I Lawrence, William: soldier, 126, 128; 
 
 clerk, 155; guardian, 164. 
 Lawrence, Prudence, 160. 
 i Lawrence, Zachariah, about to leave 
 
 Groton, 104. 
 
 Lawrence Academy, Groton, 62. 
 1 Leber, signature, 77.
 
 204 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Lecture (lecter) day, 102. 
 
 Leominster, Mass., people in, 150. 
 
 Lessley, George, private, 176. 
 
 Leverett, Governor John, Parker's cor- 
 respondence with, 14; allusion, 24. 
 
 Levy, Groton, 77. 
 
 Lisle, John, allusion, 62. 
 
 Littleton, Mass., 175, 188, 189; men 
 from, 1 53. 
 
 Londonderry, N. IL, 136. 
 
 Lodowick, Mr., in Boston, 65. 
 
 Longfellow, H. W., poet, 170. 
 
 Longley family, sad story, 73, 74. 
 
 Longley, Betty, captive, 75. 
 
 Longley, John : casualties in family, 67 ; 
 captive, 75; return, 76. 
 
 Longley, Jonathan, sentinel, 151. 
 
 Longley, Joseph, wounded, 178. 
 
 Longley, Joseph, Jr., death, 178. 
 
 Longley, Lydia Madeleine : captive, 75 ; 
 signature, 77. (See Langly.) 
 
 Longley, William: constable, 14; on 
 committee, 20; in garrison, 59; ac- 
 count of, 71; town-clerk, murdered, 
 75 ; family, 106. 
 
 Longley, Zachariah (Zechcria), private, 
 152- 
 
 Lorette, Canada, boys from, 120. 
 
 Louisburg, N. S., death in, 150. 
 
 Lovewell, Captain John, 134, 144. 
 
 Lovewell Lamented, 134. 
 
 Lovewell's Fight, 107. 
 
 Lovewell's Pond, 134-144; company 
 arrives there, 137. 
 
 Lovewell's War, end of, 146. 
 
 Lowden, Richard, petitioner, 41. 
 
 Lowell, Mass., 187 : Wamesit Indians 
 near, 22. 
 
 Lower Regiment, Middlesex County, 
 87, 88. 
 
 Lund, Thomas, soldier, 126. 
 
 Lunenburg (Luninburg), Mass., 174, 
 175 : people in, 150. 
 
 Lynn (Linne), Mass., commissioner, 42. 
 
 MACCARROLL (Mach Charril), Barna- 
 bas (Barnibus), paid, 171. 
 Magnalia, Mather's, 56, 6^, 71, Si. 
 Mahmachecomak, 180; signature, 181. 
 
 Main Street, Groton, 62, 151. 
 
 Maiden (Maulden), Mass. : constable of, 
 37 ; commissioner from, 42. 
 
 Manchester, Mass., commissioner from. 
 42. 
 
 Manchester, Wis., 191. 
 
 Marcoux, Rev. Fran9ois, parish priest, 
 123. 
 
 Marine and Colonies, Archives, 64. 
 
 Marlborough (Malbery, Malbury, Marl- 
 borow, Marlbors'), Mass., 23, So, 88, 
 187; Hawkins sent there, 16; Indians, 
 18 ; surprise, 105. 
 I Marseilles, France, 122. 
 
 Marshall's Diary, 89, 92. 
 j Marshall, John/S". 
 j Marshall, Margaret, age, 173. 
 
 Marsh, James Rumbly, witness, 185, 
 1 86. 
 
 Martin, Samuel, private, 175. 
 
 Martin's Pond road, Groton, 67, 
 
 Massachusetts : S. Willard in, 13 ; offer 
 made by, 133, 134. 
 
 Massachusetts Archives, references, 10, 
 15, 17, 19, 20, 24, 36, 37,43, 49, 54, 58, 
 64,69, 71-73, 79,80,82,84,85, 91,93, 
 94, 96, 97, 101, 104, 107, 109, 113, U4 ( 
 126, 128, 130, 133, 146, 155, 158-173, 
 187. 
 
 Massachusetts (masiacheusits) Bay, 
 70; province of, 84. 
 
 Massachusetts Colony, 16, 22, 184. 
 
 Massachusetts Historical Society Col- 
 lections, 67, 86, 87, 92, 95, 104, 174. 
 
 Mason, Hugh, petitioner, 41. 
 
 Massapoag Pond, iSS. 
 
 Mather, Rev. Cotton, quoted, 56, 63, 
 71, 81. 
 
 Mather, Rev. Increase : quoted, 27, 28 ; 
 letter to, 35. 
 
 Mather Manuscripts, 35. 
 
 Maulden (Maiden), Mass., constable of, 
 
 37- 
 
 Meadforcl (Medford), Mass., commis- 
 sioner from, 42. 
 
 Medfield, Mass., boast of John Monaco 
 concerning, 33. 
 
 Medford (Meadford, Metford), Mass., 
 
 42, 175- 
 Meeting-house monument, 44.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 2O: 
 
 Mel vin, Captain, promise, 159. 
 
 Memorial of the Present Deplorable 
 State of New England, 95. 
 
 Meriel, pretre, signature, no. 
 
 Merrimack River: allusion to, 7, 169; 
 Indians on the east side, 18; garrison, 
 19 ; hunting on side, 50; Indians cross. 
 66; attack near, 74; military pas- 
 sage, 80. 
 
 Merrimack Valley, braw! there, 9. 
 
 Metcalf (Medcalf), Joseph, bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Metford (Medford), Mass., 175. 
 
 Micheson, Thomas, paid, 45. 
 
 Middlesex County, Mass., 17, 39, 40; 
 troopers in, 12; committee, 41; 
 court, 179; governor's tour, 86; reg- 
 iments, 87 ; company disbanded, 146. 
 
 Middlesex Probate Office, no; inven- 
 tory in, 26. 
 
 Middlesex Registry of Deeds, 183. 
 
 Middlesex Upper Regiment, at Groton, 
 
 53- 
 
 Miles, Hezekiah, Indian, 72. 
 Military watch, 64. 
 Millard, Humphrey, paid, 47. 
 Mill, Captain's, garrison, 107, 108. 
 Missionary tour in Maine, 108. 
 Mohokes (Mohawks), 50. 
 Monaco (Monoco), John : principal in 
 
 burning of Groton, 8 ; captain of In- 
 dians, 32. 
 Monadnock Mountain : Indians near, 
 
 99; Wayman there, 101 ; Indians 
 
 scalp-hunting there, 133. 
 Montreal, Canada, 76, 109, 117, 122; 
 
 prisoner there, 149. 
 Moody, Samuel, on committee, 146. 
 Moore, Captain Jacob, commander of 
 
 cavalry, 53. 
 Moors (Mores), Timothy, bayonet-man, 
 
 154, 177- 
 
 Moosehillock, Groton, 143. 
 Morse (Mors, Moss), Jeremiah, paid, 
 
 44, 46. 
 Morse, John : town-clerk, 35 ; ransom, 
 
 36- 43- 
 
 Morse, Jonathan, clerk, 183. 
 Moseley (Mosseley), Captain Samuel, 
 
 16; helps Parker, 14; letter, 15. 
 
 Moses and Aaron, allusion, 83. 
 Moss-house, first, 108. 
 Mousal, constable, 37. 
 Mulpus Brook, Shirley, 188. 
 Muster-roll of Captain Lawrence's com- 
 pany, 163. 
 
 Mutiny, ringleaders, 98. 
 Myrick, John, 92. 
 
 NAGOG Pond, Littleton, 188. 
 
 Nahamcok, Indian village, 50. 
 
 Nahaughton, Will, petition, 187. 
 
 Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. John- 
 son, 149. 
 
 Narrative of the Troubles with the In- 
 dians in New England, 29 
 
 Nashoba (Littleton), Mass., hill and 
 brook, 189. 
 
 Nashua '(Nashaway, Nashowah, Nash- 
 oway), Mass., Moseley there, 15. 
 (See Lancaster.) 
 
 Nashua, N. H., 141. 
 
 Nashua River, 133, 184, 189, 190; Indi- 
 ans there, 87; enemy upon, 96; Shat- 
 tucks near, 105; north side, 131; log- 
 house, 145. 
 
 Nashua tribe, few families belonging 
 to, 7. 
 
 Nashua Valley, savages there, 7. 
 
 Nashubah (Nashoba), Mass., Indians 
 there, 18. 
 
 Nason, Rev. Elias, quoted, 43. 
 
 Nasquuns, John, drunkard, 51. 
 
 Nassacombewit, Indian, 67. 
 
 Natacook Indians, 18. 
 
 Nathaniel, principal Indian, 8. 
 
 Natick, Mass., 184. 
 
 Nehatchechin, drunken squaw, 51. 
 
 Nerigawag (Norridgewock), Maine, 
 67. 
 
 Newbury (Newbery), Mass., situation, 
 42. 
 
 New England : ebbing waters in, 33 ; 
 wish of Indian regarding, in; allu- 
 sion, 121. 
 
 New England Courant, 131. 
 
 New England Historical and Genealo- 
 gical Register, 1 1 1.
 
 2O6 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 New England Historic Genealogical 
 
 Society, 22, 44, 71. 
 New England's Tears, by B. Tompson, 
 
 '3- 
 
 New Hampshire, 8 ; Concord in, 9 ; 
 allusion, 52 ; offer made by, 133, 134. 
 
 Newichewanick (Berwick), Maine, 53. 
 
 News from New England, in London 
 pamphlets, 29. 
 
 Newton (New Cambridge), Mass., His- 
 tory and men of, 92. 
 
 New York City, 122. 
 
 New York, Colonial History of, 72. 
 
 New York State, Dutch in, 12. 
 
 Nichols (Nicholes), Benjamin, soldier, 
 126. 
 
 Nichols, Captain Thomas, at court- 
 martial, 98. 
 
 Nichols, Colonel Ebenezer, regiment, 
 166-168. 
 
 Nichols, Samuel, private, 152. 
 
 Nicholson, Captain Francis, letter, 52. 
 
 Nissitisset River, Pepperell, 189. 
 
 Nod, Groton locality, 62. 
 
 Nomanacomak : Indian, 180; signature, 
 181. 
 
 Nonacoicus (Coicus), 62, 187, 189; in 
 Aver, 13 ; Major Willard's quarters, 
 24. 
 
 Nonantinooah, Jacob, certificates re- 
 lating to, 57, 58. 
 
 Norfolk, Mass., a different county, 17. 
 
 Norridgewock (Nerigawag, Norridge- 
 awocke, Norridgwogg), Maine, 67, 
 72, 73 ; man brought to, 108. 
 
 North Common, Groton, 67. 
 
 Northfield, Mass., 169; land adjoining, 
 147. 
 
 Northampton, Mass., letter from, 167. 
 
 Notre Dame, Congregation, record 
 there, no. 
 
 Norway, N. Y., Tarbell's death there, 
 124. 
 
 Nourse, Henry Stedman, 179. 
 
 Nova Scotia, 150, 170; expedition, 174. 
 
 Nubanussuck Pond, \Yestford, 189. 
 
 Nutfield (Londonderry), X. II., 136. 
 
 Nutting (Xutten), Benjamin, soldier, 
 165. 
 
 X T utting, Ebenezer, left Groton, 104. 
 
 Xutting, Ephraim, Jr., bayonet-man, 
 177- 
 
 Nutting, Ezekiel, private, 155. 
 
 X'utting, Isaac, 165. 
 
 Xutting, Isaac, Jr., private, 166, 167. 
 
 Xutting, Jacob, private, 175; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Xutting, James : in garrison, 59 ; signa- 
 ture, 91. 
 
 Xutting, John : house used as garrison, 
 25 ; killed 43 ; in garrison, 59 ; soldier, 
 165, 1 66. 
 
 Xutting, John, Jr., private, 155, 165. 
 
 Xutting, Jonathan: private, 153; peti- 
 tion, 156. 
 
 X T utting, Joseph, 165. 
 
 Xutting, X'athaniel, private, 169. 
 
 Xutting, Simeon, soldier, 165. 
 
 X T utting, \Yilliam : testimony, 100 ; pri- 
 vate, 155; paid, 172. 
 
 OAKES, Thomas, speaker, 96. 
 Old South Church, pastor of, 65. 
 " One-eyed John " (nickname for Mon- 
 aco), 8, 32. 
 
 Osgood, Benjamin, soldier, 126. 
 Osgood, Captain Thomas, his company, 
 
 J 75- 
 
 Osgood, David, soldier, 126. 
 Ossipee (Ossipy), X T . H., fort there, 
 
 136, 139- 
 
 Ossipee River, 134. 
 
 Outlands, neglected, 97. 
 
 Outlying towns, condition of, 102. 
 
 Out-towns, law regarding, 101. 
 
 Oyster River (Durham), N. H., allu- 
 sions, 72, 73. 
 
 PAGE (Pag, Paige), Benjamin, private, 
 
 1 52- 
 Page, John: witness, 9, 10; on com- 
 mittee, 20, 182; in Canada', 54; peti- 
 tion, 55 ; his son, 56; in garrisons, 61 ; 
 sergeant, 154; paid, 171; corporal, 
 184. 
 
 Page, Jonathan, about to leave Groton, 
 104.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 207 
 
 Page, Joseph: corporal, 151; soldier, 
 
 165; bayonet-man, 177. 
 Page, Joseph, Jr., bayonet-man, 177. 
 Palisades, pulled down, 27. 
 Palmer, Mass., 112. 
 Palmer, Benjamin, settled in garrison, 
 
 59- 
 
 Pamphlets on King Philip's War, 28. 
 Paris, France, 64, 122. 
 Parish (Paris, Parrish), John, 182, 184} 
 
 in garrison, 59. 
 Parish, Robert, witness, 9. 
 Parker family, prominent, 154. 
 Parker, Abiel, sergeant, 174. 
 Parker, Abigail, in garrison, 61. 
 Parker, Benjamin, under Lovewell, 
 
 135- 
 
 Parker, Captain Josiah : town-clerk, 
 5 2 > 5 57; quoted, 70; petition, 
 71; Nathaniel Healy under, 93 ; 
 court-martial, 98; letter, 102. 
 
 Parker, Eleazer (Eliezar) : constable, 
 84 ; soldier, 165. 
 
 Parker, Ephraim, private, 174. 
 
 Parker, Gideon, private, 174. 
 
 Parker, James, Sr. : acquaintance with 
 Monaco, 8; lieutenant and captain, 
 12, 52, 53, 59, 82; letters, 14, 15, 49, 
 50; at Dunstable, 19; on commit- 
 tee, 20 ; suppliant, 22, 23 ; escape to 
 house of. 27 ; garrison, 32, 59, 62 ; 
 house fired, 35; Indians on land, 38; 
 selectman, 79 ; sergeant, 192. 
 
 Parker, James, Jr. : casualties in fam- 
 ily, 67; killed, children captives, 70. 
 
 Parker, John, Jr., private, 155. 
 
 Parker, Jonas, private, 155. 
 
 Parker, Jonathan : paid, 45 ; private, 
 152. 
 
 Parker, Joseph : testimony, 58 ; in gar- 
 rison, 6l ; private, 155. 
 
 Parker, Lemuel, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Parker, Leonard, soldier, 165, 166. 
 
 Parker, Lieutenant Isaac, 148; captured, 
 149. 
 
 Parker, Nathaniel : about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104; private, 155, 165, 166; paid, 
 171. 
 
 Parker, Obadiah, sergeant, 151. 
 
 Parker, Oliver, soldier, 164. 
 
 Parker, Peter, private, 155; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 Parker, Phinehas (Phinias) : child of 
 
 James, Jr., 70; soldier, 126; sergeant, 
 
 128; private, 175. 
 Parker, Samuel : in garrison, 59, 107 ; 
 
 selectman, 84 97; signature, 91. 
 Parker, Silas, private, 175. 
 Parker, William, soldier, 165. 
 Parker, William, Jr., bayonet-man, 177. 
 Parker, Zachariah, in garrison, 59. 
 Parkhurst, Joel, not enlisted, 166. 
 Parkman, Francis, historian, 64. 
 Partridges in St. Regis, 119. 
 Pascaud, M. Etienne, signature, no. 
 Pasmore, Richard, paid, 47. $. 
 
 Patatuck, Jacob, Indian, 183-185. 
 Patch, Jonathan, private, 152. 
 Patch, Isaac, private, 169. 
 Patch, Isaac, Jr., private, 155, 169. 
 Patterson (Paterson), Joseph : scout, 
 
 154; private, 175. 
 Paugus : Indian chief, 134, 137; killed 
 
 by John Chamberlain, 138, 139; his 
 
 avengers, 140-145. 
 Paugus's Hole, 145. 
 Paugus Brook, 145. 
 Payne, Thomas, servant, n. 
 Pearce, Simon, sergeant, 154. 
 Peirce, Stephen, soldier, 165. 
 Penacook ( Penecooke, Penicooke, Pen- 
 
 nakooke, Pennycooke),now Concord, 
 
 N. II., 9-11, 52; Indians there, 18; 
 
 not advisable to go there, 19. 
 Penhallow, Judge Samuel, historian, 
 
 87,92,94,95, 131, 132. 
 Penobscot Indians, 65. 
 Pepperell (Pepperrell, Pepperil), Mass., 
 
 173, 175, 188. 
 Pequawket (Pequaket, Piggwacket) : 
 
 fight there, 107, 134, 142 ; tribe, 
 
 '37- 
 Perham (Paraham, Parham, Perrum), 
 
 John : in garrison, 60; sergeant, 100. 
 Perham, Joseph, leaving Groton, 104. 
 Perry, Obadiah, soldier, 165. 
 Petaupaukett (Petapawage, Petapawav, 
 
 Petapowok, Petobawok), Indian name 
 
 of Groton, 179, 189. 
 Peter, the Big Speak, 120.
 
 208 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Pettipaug (Pautapaug, Poattapoge, 
 Potabauge), Indian name for Say- 
 brook (Essex), Conn., 190. 
 
 Phelps, Jonathan: private, 165-167; 
 bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Philbrick (Filbrick, Filbrook, Philbrek, 
 Philbrook), Ephraim (Ephrain) : in 
 garrison, 60, 107 ; private, 153. 
 
 Phillips, Seth, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Phips, Hon. Spencer, letter, 169, 170. 
 
 Phips, Sir William, governor, 55. 
 
 Physicians, 136; scarcity of, 16. 
 
 Pierce, Daniel, in garrison, 60. 
 
 Pierce, Isaac, private, 152. 
 
 Pierce, Jonathan, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Pierce, Stephen, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Pierce, Thomas, 167. 
 
 Piggwacket (Pequawket), fight, 135, 136. 
 
 Pike, Rev. John, journal, 65, 92, 104. 
 
 Piscatacjua (Pescadoue), 64. 
 
 Pollard, Daniel, private, 155. 
 
 Pollard, Joseph, paid, 47. 
 
 Pompequoonet (Mr. John), 185. 
 
 Pontchartrain, minister, 64. 
 
 Pootuppog (bay), 190. 
 
 Portland, Maine, 68. 
 
 Potapaco (Port Tobacco), Md., 190. 
 
 Potomac River, 190. 
 
 Potter, John, paid, 47. 
 
 Potter, Judge Chandler Eastman, au- 
 thor, 136, 138. 
 
 Powers, David, Jr., private, 152. 
 
 Powers, Pilot Jerahl, private, 154. 
 
 Powers, Thomas, private, 152. 
 
 Pratt, John : succeeds Chubbuck, 54 ; 
 corporal, 151. 
 
 Pratt, Jonathan, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Prescott (Prescot) family, prominent, 
 154. 
 
 Prescott, Abigail Oliver, 151. 
 
 Prescott, Benjamin : 151 ; treasurer, 
 127 ; ordered to garrison, 128. 
 
 Prescott, Captain Jonathan, at court- 
 martial, 98. 
 
 Prescott, Colonel Charles, 166. 
 
 Prescott, Colonel William : ancestry, 
 87; company-clerk, i;i, 152. 
 
 Prescott, Dr. Oliver, paid, 172. 
 
 Prescott, James : lieutenant. 151 ; paid, 
 '55- I 7 l ' guardian, 165, captain, 177. 
 
 Prescott, Jonas : lieutenant, 52, 53 ; 
 in garrison, 60; captain, 86; signa- 
 ture, 91,97; court-martial, 9^ ; daugh- 
 ters, 151. 
 
 Prescott, Jonathan : chyrurgeon, bill of, 
 56; private, 155- 
 
 Prescott, William Hickling, historian, 
 
 87- 
 
 Priest, Eleazer, captured, 150. 
 
 Priest, John, private, 152. 
 
 Priest, Joseph, 150. 
 
 Prince Collection, 35. 
 
 Prisoners, sold to the French, 66. 
 
 Prout, Captain, orders issued to, 53. 
 
 Prout, Ebcnezer, clerk, 54. 
 
 Province galley, 71, 82, 
 
 Province of Massachusetts Bay, 172. 
 
 QUABOG (Quabauge, Quobaog, Quoah- 
 
 bauge), Brookfield, Mass., 14-19; 
 
 sagamore of, 33. 
 Quagnisheman (James Indian), of Cat- 
 
 taconamak, 179. 
 Quannapohit (Quanapaug, James Rum- 
 
 bly Marsh), 186. 
 Quebec, Canada, 120, 122; journey to, 
 
 Hi; allusion, 141. 
 Quincy, Josiah, speaker, 114, 115. 
 Quosopanagon (Ponikin, Quasaponi- 
 
 kin), meadow and hill, 189. 
 
 RA\VSON, "Edward, secretary, 10, n, 17, 
 
 !Q. 24, 37, 43. 49 
 Read, John, on committee, 115. 
 Read, Samuel, paid, 44. 
 Red Bridge, Groton, 7. 
 Reading (Redding, Reding), Mass., So ; 
 
 commissioner from, 42. 
 Reed, Captain, 169. 
 Region, Thomas, paid, 47. 
 Relation, French, 65. 
 Remington, Jonathan, commissary, 54. 
 Ripley, Rev. Sylvanus, in Canada, 120- 
 
 122. 
 Representatives, House of, 6S. 91. 9-;. 
 
 95-97, 114, 125, 127, 130, 132, 146, 
 
 '53. i S 6 - '59-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 209 
 
 Revolution, soldiers in the, 154. 
 Rice, Charles, private, 175. 
 Richardson, Benjamin, soldier, 165. 
 Richardson, Jephthah (Japtha), private, 
 
 169. 
 
 Richmond (Richman's) Island, 81. 
 Robbins (Robin), Robert (Robart), 186; 
 
 in garrison, 60; selectman, 97. 
 Robins, Benjamin, private, 175. 
 Robins, Elijah, private, 175. 
 Robins, Isaac, private, 176. 
 Robins, Philip, 165. 
 Robins, Robert, Jr., private, 153. 
 Robinson, Amos, private, 152. 
 Robinson, James, in garrison, 59. 
 Rockwood, Elisha, sergeant, 177. 
 Rockwood, Elisha, Jr., bayonet-man, 
 
 177- 
 Rogers, William, Jr.: signature, 113; 
 
 money owed to, 116. 
 Rome, Italy, 122. 
 Ropes, holding up, 139. 
 Rouse (Rouce), Alexander: casualties 
 
 in family, 67 ; killed, 71. 
 Rouse, Tamasin (Thomasine) : at Casco 
 
 Bay, 71 ; captive, 82. 
 Rowley, Mass., commissioner from, 42. 
 Roxbury, Mass. : boast concerning, 33 ; 
 
 governor at, 103. 
 
 Rumney Marsh (Chelsea), Mass., 186. 
 Rundlett, holding six gallons, n. 
 Rural Harmony, 191. 
 Russel, Mr., quoted, 108. 
 Russell, Elijah, editor, 140. 
 Russell, John, on committee, 146. 
 Russell's Echo, 140. 
 Rutland, Mass.: men there, 146; scout 
 
 in, 129. 
 Rye and Indian, 142. 
 
 SACO Pond, company, 137. 
 Sagamore John, 187. 
 Sagamore Sam, 33. 
 Sa-kon-en-tsi-ask, Indian chief, 118. 
 Salem, Mass., 115, 191 ; commissioners 
 
 from, 42. 
 
 Saltonstall, Governor, quoted, 133. 
 Salmon Falls, N. H., 54. 
 
 Salt, supplied, 53. 
 
 Sanders, William, in garrison, 59. 
 
 Saunders, David, private, 175. 
 
 Saunderson, Rev. Henry 11., author, 
 150. 
 
 Saunderson, William, drummer, 175. 
 
 Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, 17. 
 
 Sawtell (Sartell, Sartwell, Satell), fam- 
 ily, descended from Obadiah, 149. 
 
 Sawtell, Abel : soldier, 160, 165 ; fire- 
 arms, 1 68. 
 
 Sawtell, David: soldier, 126, 165; pe- 
 tition, 162; bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Sawtell, David, Jr., private, 152. 
 
 Sawtell, Ephraim, Jr., bayonet-man, 
 177. 
 
 Sawtell, Hezekiah, sergeant, 151. 
 
 Sawtell, Jonathan, private, 155. 
 
 Sawtell, Joseph, petition, 165. 
 
 Sawtell, Josiah : petition, 147; clerk, 
 
 155; P akl > '7-- 
 
 Sawtell, Moses, soldier, 164. 
 
 Sawtell, Nathaniel, private, 176. 
 
 Sawtell, Obadiah, 148 ; sad experience, 
 149, 150; bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Sawtell, Richard: his tale, 25; town- 
 clerk, 191, 192. 
 
 Sawtell, Samuel, private, 174. 
 
 Sawtell, Zachariah : about to leave 
 Groton, 104; private, 152. 
 
 Sawyer, Ezra, soldier, 126. 
 
 Sawyer, Samuel, soldier, 126. 
 
 Saybrook, Conn., 190. 
 
 Scorpions, 83. 
 
 Scott, John, 165. 
 
 Scott, Lieutenant-Colonel George, com- 
 pany, 175. 
 
 Scott, Thomas, soldier, 165-167. 
 
 Scripture (Screpter, Scripter), Samuel : 
 in garrison, 60, examination, 100; 
 soldier, 126, 228. 
 
 Scripture, Samuel. Jr., private, i ^2. 
 
 Seager (Seger), Ebenezer, killed, 92 ; 
 one brother, prisoner, 92. 
 
 Seager, Henry: petition, 93 ; his mark, 
 
 94- 
 
 Sermon booke, 76. 
 
 Serpents, finny, allusion. 83. 
 
 Severance, Ephraim, soldier, 164; bayo- 
 net-man, 177.
 
 21O 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Sewall, Chief-Justice Samuel, 67, 84; 
 diary, 65; tour in -Middlesex County, 
 86. ' 
 
 Sewall, Rev. Samuel, historian, 88. 
 
 Sharrow (Sherrow), Mary, landlady, 
 158, 159. 
 
 Shattuck (Shadock, Shaddock), family : 
 fatality of, 106; prominent, 154. 
 
 Shattuck, Benjamin, soldier, 165. 
 
 Shattuck, David: soldier, 164; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Shattuck, David, Jr., soldier, 165. 
 
 Shattuck, James, 126, 128. 
 
 Shattuck, James, Jr., 154. 
 
 Shattuck, Jeremiah : private, 155; cap- 
 tain, 166, 167; bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Shattuck, Job, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Shattuck, John : in garrison, 59 ; drown- 
 ing, widow, 61 ; about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104; shot, 105; memorial stone, 
 106; private, 155. 
 
 Shattuck, Jonathan, private, 154. 
 
 Shattuck, Lemuel, author, 58, 63. 
 
 Shattuck, Mr., garrison, 107, 108. 
 
 Shattuck, Xathaniel, private, 155, 169. 
 
 Shattuck, Oliver, soldier, 164, 166, 167. 
 
 Shattuck, Ruth, 106. 
 
 Shattuck, Samuel: testimony, 100; 
 about to leave Groton, 104; under 
 Lovewell, 135. 
 
 Shattuck, Solomon, not enlisted, 166. 
 
 Shattuck, Thomas, private, 165-167. 
 
 Shattuck, William, about to leave Gro- 
 ton, 104. 
 
 Shattuck Manuscripts, 22, 38, 49, 52, ^4. 
 
 Shattuck Memorials, 63. 
 
 Shed, William, private, 176. 
 
 Shepley (Shceple, Sheple, Sheples, 
 Shipley, Shiply, Shlpple), family: 
 massacre and monument, 67 ; promi- 
 nent, 154. 
 
 Shepley, Elizabeth, paid, 172. 
 
 Shepley, General George Foster, Jus- 
 tice of circuit court, 68. 
 
 Shepley, Hon. Ether, Chief-Justice, 68. 
 
 Shepley, John : casualties in family, 67 ; 
 petitioner, 69; captive, 72; ensign, 
 107, 108; private, 169, paid, 171. 
 
 Shepley, Jonathan: soldier, 126, 165; 
 sergeant, 128. 
 
 Shepley, Joseph, private, 155. 
 
 Shepley, Josiah, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Shepley, Lemuel, soldier, 165. 
 
 Shetucket River, 190. 
 
 Shirley (Shearly), Lieutcnant-Govcrnor 
 William, 157 ; company named after, 
 174. 
 
 Shirley, Mass., 174, 188. 
 ' Shrewsbury, Mass., 127. 
 i Sill, Captain Joseph: dragoons, 30; at 
 Groton, 33; at the Ridges, 35; com- 
 mand of garrison, 36; powder lent 
 _to, 37. 
 
 Simonds, William, private, 152. 
 
 Simons, Benjamin, paid, 45. 
 
 Smith, Captain John, map, 190. 
 
 Smith, Mathias, paid, 46. 
 
 Smith, Nathaniel, private, 155. 
 
 Smith, Oliver, blankets, 167. 
 
 Smith, Pelatiah, paid, 45. 
 
 Smith, Richard, witness, 180. 
 
 Soldiers, paid, 44. 
 
 Souhegan, allusion, 50. 
 
 Spain, war with England, 86. 
 
 Spaulding, Andrew, 164. 
 
 Spaulding, Eleazer, soldier, 164, 166, 
 167, 176. 
 
 Spaulding, Leonard, soldier, 163. 
 I Spaulding, William, corporal, 176. 
 
 Sprague, Conn., 190. 
 
 Sprague, Jonathan, paid, 45. 
 
 Springfield, Mass., 112 
 
 Squagh (Squaw), commanded by hus- 
 band, 1 1. 
 
 Squannacook (West Groton), village 
 and river, 123, 189, 190. 
 
 St. Baptiste, corruption of, 120. 
 
 St. Francis Indians, at Charlestown, 
 N. II., U9. 
 
 St. George's Fort, Maine, 156. 
 
 St. Lawrence River, no; Tarbells es- 
 tablished near, 117, Lord Amherst 
 descending, 1 19. 
 
 St. Regis, Canada: chief at, 116, estab- 
 lished, 117 ; paintings in. 123. 
 
 Stacey, interpreter from Ipswich, 121. 
 
 Stanley, Onesiphorus, paid, 45. 
 
 Starling, Daniel, paid, 45. 
 
 State Mouse : documents at, 9 ; allu- 
 sion, 65 ; petition, 157.
 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 21 I 
 
 Stearns (Sternes), Shubael (Shuball, 
 
 Subaell), paid, 45-46. 
 Stephens, Captain Phineas, 175. 
 Stephens, John, soldier, 126. 
 Stevens, Cyprian, paid, 46. 
 Stevens, Jonathan, private, 176. 
 Steward, Benjamin, private, 152. 
 Stoddard, John, sent to Quebec, in. 
 Stone (Stones), Abiel, private, 152. 
 Stone, Benjamin, paid, 171. 
 Stone, James, paid, 171. 
 Stone, John: in garrison, 60; about 
 
 to leave Groton, 104 ; bayonet-man, 
 
 177- 
 
 Stone, Jonas, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Stone, Jonathan, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Stone, Mr., garrison, 107. 
 
 Stone, Nathaniel, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Stone, Simon: paid, 46; wounded, 56; 
 descent of, 57 ; in garrison, 60 ; select- 
 man, 84. 
 
 Stony Fordway, Groton, attack, 105. 
 
 Stoughton, Lieutenant-Governor Wil- 
 liam: allusion, 24; proclamation, 72; 
 letter, 80. 
 
 Sudbury, Mass. : mischief by Indians, 
 28 ; strengthened, 39 ; strokes made 
 on, 92. 
 
 Suffolk Horse, at Groton, 53. 
 
 Sumers (Summers), Mr., house of, 58. 
 
 Sweyne, Jeremy, quoted, 54. 
 
 Symmes, Rev. Mr., sermon, 134-140. 
 
 TABLE, Hubbard's, quoted, 33. 
 
 Tadmuck Brook, Westford, 189. 
 
 Tarbell (Tarbal, Tarball, Tarble, Tar- 
 bol, Tarbull), brothers: bill against, 
 112; petition, 113. 
 
 Tarbell children: captured, 106; pris- 
 oners, 109; turn Indians, 116; story, 
 117-120; captives, 123; stone erect- 
 ed, 124. 
 
 Tarbell, Captain Thomas, scout, 1 54. 
 
 Tarbell, Corporal : discovers enemy ; 
 99; garrison, 107, 108. 
 
 Tarbell, David, bayonet-man, 177. 
 
 Tarbell, Eleazer (Eleazor), 120; private, 
 154- 
 
 Tarbell, James, private, 152. 
 
 Tarbell, John : return to Groton, 1 1 1 ; 
 private, 153. 
 
 Tarbell, Lesor (Eleazer), 120. 
 
 Tarbell, Loran, 119. 
 
 Tarbell, Louis, 120; in War of the Re- 
 bellion, 124. 
 
 Tarbell, Mitchel, 120. 
 
 Tarbell, Peter, 120. 
 
 Tarbell, Samuel, 165; under Love well, 
 
 135- 
 
 Tarbell, Sarah, baptized, no. 
 Tarbell, Sergeant, offer, 101. 
 Tarbell, Thomas : testimony, 58 ; in 
 
 garrison, 59; selectman, 84; ser- 
 geant, 98; will, no, in; petition, 
 
 115, 119 ; paid, 171. 
 Tarbell, Thomas, Jr.: witness, 9, 10; 
 
 land-grant, 189. 
 
 Tarbell, William, petition, 153. 
 Tarbell, Zachariah : return to Groton, 
 
 in ; private, 175. 
 Taxes, 83; in Groton, 79. 
 Taxous (Toxus) : Abenaqui chief, 64 ; 
 
 expedition, 65 ; two nephews killed, 
 
 66. 
 
 Tayler, Gillam, physician, 158. 
 Taylor, Hugh, paid, 45. 
 Taylor, Lieutenant Joseph, in Canada, 
 
 120-122. 
 Taylor, Major, 87 ; at Groton, 68, 69 ; 
 
 colonel, 95. 
 
 Taylor, Sebread, paid, 45. 
 Tedd, John, paid, 45. 
 Tenney, Samuel, private, 152. 
 Terry, Ebenezer, on committee, 146. 
 The Ridges, Groton, 35. 
 Thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, 
 
 124. 
 
 Thursten, Peter, not enlisted, 166. 
 Ticonderoga, N. Y., 162, 178. 
 Tileston & Hollingsworth, stone raised 
 
 by, 105. 
 Tinker, John, selectman, 8 ; Indian 
 
 traffic, 179, 180. 
 Tiverton, R. I., 115. 
 j Toby, Indian, 136. 
 
 i Tohaunto, chief, 1 1 .- temperance of, 9. 
 Tom, Captain, petition, 187. 
 j Tompson, Benjamin, poet, 13.
 
 212 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Topsfield, Mass., 191 ; commissioner 
 
 from, 42. 
 
 Torakaron (Tarbell), Joseph, in Eu- 
 rope, 122. 
 
 Torrey, Rufus C., author, 153. 
 Torrey, William, clerk, 49. 
 Town Hall, Groton, 25, 27, 62. 
 Town-meeting, 1675, - > on Christ- i 
 
 mas, 133. 
 
 Town militia, preserving frontiers, 103. 
 Townsend, Mass., 173, 175. 
 Townsend, Penn, speaker, 84. 
 Trowbridge (Trobridge), John, private, 
 
 169. 
 
 Trucking-house, n. 
 Trulove, Morris, paid, 47. 
 Trumbull. James Hammond, letter, 189. 
 Tucker, William, private, 152. 
 Turkey Hills (Lunenburg), Mass., 146; 
 
 men posted at, 128, 129. 
 Turner, Lemuel, private, 175. 
 Turner, Nathaniel, private, 175. 
 Turner, Nehemiah, bayonet-man, 177. 
 Tyng (Ting, Tinges, Tings, Tyngs), 
 
 Colonel William. 146. 
 Tyng, Edward, allusion, 49. 
 Tyng, Jonathan : allusion, 24; petition 
 
 '68 ; order, So. 
 
 UNQUETEXASSETT (Unquetenorset, Un- 
 
 quety) Brook, 189. 
 
 Upper Regiment, Middlesex County. 87. 
 Usher, Hezekiah : garrison supplied, 
 
 53 ; will, 62. 
 Usher, John : letter, 63; soldier, 126. 
 
 VERMONT Historical Gazetteer, 162. 
 
 163. 
 
 Villieu, Lieutenant Sebastian de, expe- 
 dition, 65. 
 
 WAAKAN (Waban), Thomas, 184. 
 Wabansconcett, locality. 189. 
 Wachuset (Wochoosett) Mountain, 
 
 I2Q. 
 
 Wade, Major Nathaniel, commander of 
 
 expedition to Canada, 54. 55. 
 
 Waldo, John, paid, 46. 
 
 Waldo Tapers, 76. 
 
 Waldron (Waldern), Captain Richard, 
 
 trading-house, 9, 11. 
 Waldron, Daniel, deposition, 10. 
 Walker, Seth, in Charlestown, 150. 
 Walmer (Warner), Samuel, in garrison, 
 
 59- 
 
 Wamesit : village, 18; situation, 42. 
 
 Wamesit Indians, near Lowell, 22. 
 
 Wamscahacet ( Wamscahacetts, Wom- 
 scahacett, Womscahacet), Indian, 
 180; signature, 181. 
 
 Wannalanset ( Wanalanset), Indian sa- 
 chem. 18 ; information by, 49. 
 
 Warren (Warrin), Abijah, bayonet-man, 
 177. 
 
 Warren, William, private, 152. 
 
 Wars of New England, 87. 
 
 Warumbee, Indian, 73. 
 
 Watertown (Watertowne), Mass. : relief 
 from, 30; boast concerning, 33 ; sol- 
 diers from, 34: commissioner from, 
 42. 
 
 Wattle's Pond, Groton, 145. 
 
 Wayman (Wyman), Seth, trial, 98-101. 
 
 Wells, Thomas, on committee, 1 1 ;. 
 
 Wenham, Mass., 115; commissioner 
 from, 42. 
 
 Wesson, Captain Ephraim : letter, 162, 
 163 ; lieutenant, 166. 
 
 Wesson, Isaac, private, 169. 
 
 Wesson, Nathan, soldier, 165-167. 
 
 Wesson, Nathaniel, private, 169. 
 
 Wesson, Stephen, 165. 
 
 Westenhook, N. V., 112. 
 
 Westfield, Mass., 112. 
 
 Westford, Mass., 153, 174, 17;, 188, 
 189. 
 
 Weston, Mass., 176. 
 
 West Regiment, Middlesex County. 59. 
 
 Wethe (Wilthe, Withee), Zachariah, 
 private, 169. 
 
 Wetmore, Judge William, 191. 
 
 Weymessitt (Wamesit); garrison, 39; 
 allusion, 184. 
 
 Wheat, Joshua, in garrison, 61. 
 
 Wheeler (Wheler), Abraham, paid. 171. 
 
 Wheeler, Captain Thomas: letter, 16; 
 suppliant, 23.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 213 
 
 Wheeler, Ephraim, soldier, 126. 
 
 Wheeler, Josiah, paid, 45. 
 
 Wheeler, Moses, pioneer, 150. 
 
 Wheeler, Simon : soldier, 165 ; gun lost, 
 168. 
 
 Wheelock, Eleazer, D. D., author, 121. 
 
 Wheelock, Joseph, soldier, 126. 
 
 Whipple (Whiple), Eleazer, private, 
 176. 
 
 Whipple, Nathan: private, 175; bayo- 
 net-man, 177. 
 
 Whitcomb (Whitcom), John, witness, 
 180, 181. 
 
 Whitcomb, Oliver, private, 152. 
 
 White, Ebenezer, corporal, 54. 
 
 White, John, Jr., private, 152. 
 
 White, Nathaniel, private, 152. 
 
 Whiting (Whitting), Joshua, in garri- 
 son, 60. 
 
 Whiting, Joshua, Jr., in garrison, 60. 
 
 Whitman, John, private, 152. 
 
 Whitney (Whitting), the name, 61. 
 
 Whitney, Cornelius (Corenallus), about 
 to leave Groton, 104. 
 
 Whitney (Whittney), Deacon, 107. 
 
 Whitney, Josiah, about to leave Groton, 
 104. 
 
 Whitney, Samuel, paid, 44. 
 
 Widow Nutting, John's wife, 27. 
 
 Widow Squaw (Squa) : question sub- 
 mitted to, 94; penalty decided by, 
 
 95- 
 
 \Vilder, Colonel Oliver, 166. 
 Wilder (Wyler), Lieutenant Nathaniel, 
 
 87. 
 
 Willard (Wellard), Aaron, soldier, 126. 
 Willard, Captain Abijah, his company, 
 
 175- 
 
 Willard, Captain Benjamin, at court- 
 martial, 98. 
 
 Willard, Colonel Joseph, Fort Dum- 
 mer, 156. 
 
 Willard, Henry, under Lovewell, 135. 
 
 Willard, Josiah : secretary, 115; letter, 
 
 '45. H6- 
 
 Willard, Major Simon: witness, 10; 
 prominent man, 13; helps Parker, 14; 
 communication, 19; petition, 21 ; sup- 
 pliant, 22; unable to relieve Groton, 
 34; paid, 47 ; allusion, 171. 
 
 Willard, Miriam, captured, 149. 
 
 Willard, Moses : killed, 149; in Charles- 
 town, 150. 
 
 Willard, Moses, Jr., narrow escape, 
 149. 
 
 Willard, Rev. Samuel: petition, 21; 
 hand-writing, 22 ; Indian taunts, 28 ; 
 facts obtained from, 29 ; garrison, 
 38; garret, 39; allusion, 156. 
 
 Willard, Sarah, 65. 
 
 Willard house, used as garrison, 25. 
 
 William Henry, fort, N. Y., siege, 178. 
 
 Williams, Captain Stephen, court-mar- 
 tial, 98. 
 
 Williams, Isaac, private, 176. 
 
 Williams, Jason, soldier, 128. 
 
 Williams, John, sent to Quebec, in. 
 
 Williams, Josiah, private, 174. 
 
 Williams, Mrs. Eunice, 122. 
 
 Williams, Rev. John, captured from 
 Deerfield, 121. 
 
 Willis, Zachariah, soldier, 165. 
 
 \Vilson, Benjamin, sergeant, 88. 
 
 Wilthe (Wethe, Withee), Zachariah, 
 private, 169. 
 
 Winslow, General John, 158; journal, 
 174. 
 
 Winslow, Jacob, paid, 45. 
 
 Winslow, Maine, 158. 
 
 Winter, hard, 97. 
 
 Wiswell, Captain Noah : finds no en- 
 emy, 54; Indian under his command, 
 
 57- 
 Withee (Wethe, Wilthe), Zachariah, 
 
 private, 169. 
 
 Woburn (Wooburne), Mass. : inhabi- 
 tants sitting on the fence, 42 ; letter, 
 So; History, 88; allusion, 137. 
 
 Wochoosett (Wachuset) Mountain, 129. 
 
 Wood, Bennet, private, 1152. 
 
 Wood, Eleazer (Eleazor), private, 152. 
 
 Wood, Elizabeth, no. 
 
 Wood, John, paid, 45. 
 
 Wood, Thomas, paid, 45. 
 
 Woods (Wods, Woodes), Aaron, pri- 
 vate, 155. 
 
 Woods, Alice (Alse) : wife of Samuel, 
 38 ; in Willard's garret, 39. 
 
 Woods, Benjamin, soldier, 165. 
 
 Woods, Daniel, killed, 134.
 
 214 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Woods, Eber, garrison, near house of, 
 
 25- 
 Woods, Henry: suppliant, 23; petition, 
 
 158-160; letter, 162; soldier, 163. 
 Woods, Isaac: soldier, 126, 128; paid, 
 
 171. 
 
 Woods, John, 165; lieutenant, 151. 
 Woods, John, Jr., bayonet-man, 177. 
 Woods, Jona, private, 176. 
 Woods, Jonas, private, 169. 
 Woods, Moses : private, 155 ; corporal, 
 
 175- 
 
 Woods, Nathaniel : selectman, 97 ; 
 about to leave Groton, 104. 
 
 Woods, Nathaniel, Jr., 153; bayonet- 
 man, 177. 
 
 Woods, Reuben (Ruben): private, 152, 
 155; sergeant, 177. 
 
 Woods, Samuel, in garrison, 61. 
 
 Woods, Thomas : in garrison, 61 ; 
 killed, 134; private, 155. 
 
 Woolley, Charles, authority, 145. 
 
 Worcester, Mass., 168. 
 
 Wright, David, private, 176. 
 
 Wright, Jo.siah, private, 176. 
 
 Wright, Oliver: soldier, 164; sergeant, 
 1 68. 
 
 Wyler (Wilder), Lieutenant Nathaniel, 
 
 87. 
 
 ! Wyman (\\ayman), Ensign Seth, com- 
 mander, 137, 138. 
 
 XAVIER, St. Francis, portrait, 123. 
 YEOMAN, 175, 176. 
 
 University Press : John Wilson and Son, Cambridge.

 
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