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The Burning 
 
 of Royalton 
 
 Vermont 
 
 By Indians 
 
ZADOCK STEELE. 
 Reprodticed front an oil painting done in 1835. 
 
Burning of Royalton, Uermont 
 
 ,-. 
 
 By Indians 
 
 A careful research of all that pertains to the 
 subject, including a reprint of Zadock Steele's 
 Narrative, also a complete account of the va- 
 rious anniversaries and the placing of a mon- 
 ument commemorating the event, has herein 
 been made 
 
 BY 
 
 IVAH IdUNKLEE 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 BOSTON 
 Geo. H. Ellis Co., Printers, 272 Congress Street 
 
 1906 
 
Copyright, igo6 
 By IVAH DUNKLEE 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 fHemortal CElJtti«tt ^Publtgljeli in iffiag, 1906 
 
 Cloth-bound copies of the History of the Burning of 
 Royal ton by Indians, without advertisements, $i.io, 
 postpaid. Order from 
 
 IVAH DUNKLEE, 
 
 " Oakfield," 
 Weymouth, Mass. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This work has been arranged according to the passing of 
 time which brought about the historic sequence of events. 
 First, a glimpse of Royalton to-day is given, then in Zadock 
 Steele's graphic description we see the pioneer settlement as it 
 was when the Indians surprised it, and in natural order the 
 happenings of the years thereafter are recorded down to the un- 
 veiling of the monument commemorating the event. 
 
 The task has been made a pleasure because of the enthu- 
 siastic co-operation of the townspeople, who have not tired 
 in rendering every aid possible in telling the story, which 
 covers a period of 125 years. 
 
 No one was more interested in this work than that very 
 big-hearted, pubUc spirited woman, the late Mrs. Katherine 
 Fletcher Kendall Rix, who generously loaned me her cherished 
 copy of Zadock Steele's narrative. I owe much to Mrs. 
 George Allen Laird, who has unstintedly given her assistance, 
 and thanks are due the town clerk, William Skinner, and Dr. 
 D. L. Burnett. 
 
 The illustrations used in Dr. Burnett's article were kindly 
 loaned by M. J. Sargent and Son, South Royalton, those in 
 the Phineas Parkhurst story by Byron N. Clark, and the others 
 by G. A. Cheney. 
 
 I. D. 
 
 
 < mT?5G7 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 ROYALTON AS IT IS TO-DAY 5 
 
 Zadock Steele's Narrative lo 
 
 The Royalton Lapayette saw in 1825 37 
 
 The 50TH Anniversary in 1830, and the Original Poem sung 
 
 BY Eliza Skinner Denison 40 
 
 Dramatization of Zadock Steele's Account by Soldiers' Aid 
 
 Society in Civil War Time 41 
 
 The Centennial Anniversary 42 
 
 Location of Many of the Historic Sites by D. L. Burnett, M.D. 44 
 
 Gut of Granite Memorial by D. G. Wild 51 
 
 Turning of the Sod for the Monument 51 
 
 Woman's Club of Royalton 53 
 
 Ceremonies at Unveiling of Monument 55 
 
 Address by Rev. William Skinner Hazen, D.D . 59 
 
 Poem by Rev. J. Newton Perrin 71 
 
 Poem by Charles S. Scarff 55 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Story of Phineas Parkhurst 79 
 
 Notes 84 
 
ROYALTON AS IT IS TO-DAY. 
 
 In all the White River Valley there is no more picturesque 
 town than Royalton, Vt., and its lustily flourishing offspring, 
 SoutI Royalton. Snug to the river lie the hearts of the towns, 
 but the outlying farms and summer houses are scattered 
 among the hills, that are in reality mountains, shutting in the 
 river-winding valley. This region is famous for its echoes. 
 Even the engine blasts are taken up and tossed from height 
 to height until the blatant tones are transformed into "the 
 horns of Elfland sweetly blowing." It is a wonderful land 
 under high cultivation now, and a popular resort for summer 
 travellers, who are unanimous in calling this the Switzerland 
 of America. 
 
 It is, however, the sterling worth of the people that makes 
 the region remarkable. A few facts show the place as it is 
 to-day. The population at the last census in 1900 was 1427. 
 There are 23,292 acres of town, and real estate for taxation 
 stands at $537,845, personal real estate at $166,876. There 
 were 347 polls, and the grand list for town in 1905 was $7,741.21. 
 The expense of the new steel bridge was $12,281.96. 
 
 This farming town is without industries, but it has several 
 large water powers which need capital for development. The 
 two creameries absorb the dairy products and are satisfactory 
 to the farmers. Its public buildings number a town house, a 
 town clerk's office at Royalton, with extensive grounds an- 
 nexed, and there is a large and well-furnished building and 
 farm for the poor. 
 
 The town has ever been renowned for its academy, which 
 was chartered in 1807. From here have gone forth many men 
 and women who have made their mark, and to-day it is the 
 Central School in the town system. There are graded schools, 
 and besides the Congregational and Episcopal churches at 
 
6 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Royalton there are the Congregational, Methodist, and Cath- 
 olic churches in South Royalton. The stores of both places 
 are excellent, there are two hotels, a Woman's Club, and able 
 physicians and lawyers. 
 
 In sight of all this prosperity it is difficult to realize that 
 the only serious raid made by the British and Indians upon 
 the northern frontier during the Revolutionary War was right 
 at this point, and that Oct. i6, 1780, the little settlement of 
 Royalton, numbering 300 souls, was practically wiped off the 
 face of the earth. 
 
 An account of that day of horrors comes down to us in a 
 quaint little leather-bound volume of which there exist but a 
 few copies, of these only two or three are in good condition, 
 and because of their rarity there is a great price upon them. 
 .This book, entitled "The Indian Captive," is in two parts, 
 and only the first, which tells of the burning of Royalton, is 
 here given. 
 
 Zadock Steele, the grandson of the first-settled Congrega- 
 tional minister of old Tolland in Connecticut, was then a 
 young man of twenty-one. According to his account he spent 
 the day helping families escape to the woods with whatever 
 of their effects they could carry, and passed the night in a log 
 house upon his father's lot near the Brookfield line. Early 
 in the morning, while he was asleep, the house was surrounded 
 by Indians, who made him captive, and then set fire to the house. 
 
 One of the Indians bore away on his shoulder a bag of Steele's 
 grass seed. A rent in the sacking let fall the seed, and behold 
 in the spring, and for many years after, the exit of the red 
 men was marked by a trail of rankly growing grass that led 
 into the wilderness toward Canada where Steele was kept in 
 captivity for two years. He finally made his escape, and, 
 after enduring great sufferings, found his way back to the old 
 familiar valley. In time he married, and no stories ever held 
 his children spell-bound like those their father told them of 
 that never-to-be-forgotten day when Indians made him captive. 
 He was nearly sixty years old when, at the exhortation of family 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 7 
 
 and friends, he chronicled the story of "The Burning of Royal- 
 ton." With his son Horace as amanuensis, he narrated in 
 words quaintly graphic and deeply religious the happenings 
 of that day as he knew them by personal experience and the 
 testimony of neighbors. 
 
 It has been a matter of pride to the loyal-hearted people 
 of the va%y to treasure every word, incident, and relic that 
 centres around that historic date, Oct. 16, 1780. The anni- 
 versaries have been marked with a pronounced demonstra- 
 tion of public spirit. Sometimes they have taken the form of 
 simple gatherings on the village green; in Civil War time the 
 tragedy was retold in dramatic form and the proceeds sent 
 to the boys in blue; then there was the outdoor spectacular 
 re-living of the memorable day; again the assembly of the 
 people to select a suitable spot for the erection of a monument 
 commemorating the event, and finally the unveiling of the 
 monument in 1906. 
 
 In these glimpses into the life of the valley is seen the pro- 
 gress of a strong, able people — the kind who make America 
 the power it is in the world today. 
 
District of Vermont, to wit: — (L.S.) Be it remembered, that on the 
 twenty -fifth day of January, in the forty -second year of the Independence 
 of the United States of America, Horace Steele, of the said district, hath 
 deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof, he 
 claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit: 
 
 "The Indian Captive, or a Narrative of the Captivity and Sufferings 
 of Zadock Steele, Related by Himself." To which is prefijced an account 
 of the burning of Royal ton. "Hath this been in your days, or even in 
 the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your chil- 
 dren tell their children, and their children another generation," Joel. 
 
 In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, 
 "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
 charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during 
 the times therein mentioned." 
 
 JESSE GOVE, 
 Clerk of the District of Vermont. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The author of this work neither seeks nor expects praise. To preserve 
 in memory the sufferings of our fathers, is the principal object of its pub- 
 lication. As no particular account of the burning of Royalton had ever 
 before been published, it was thought advisable that it should be pre- 
 fixed to the "narrative" which was about to be printed. 
 
 The great confusion which prevailed on that dreadful day; the long 
 lapse of time since the event; the disadvantages resvilting from the frailty 
 of human recollection, and the writer's inexperience, is the only apology 
 he offers for the imperfections of the work. 
 
 For the information respecting this tragical scene, he is indebted to the 
 goodness of General Stevens, Colonel Edson and others who were eye 
 witnesses. 
 
THE BURNING OF ROYALTON 
 
BURNING OF ROYALTON. 
 
 As an union of interest always strengthens the bonds of af- 
 fection; so a participation in extreme sufferings will never fail 
 to produce a mutual sensibility. Prompted by a generous 
 glow of filial love and affection, we generally take delight in 
 surveying whatever gave our forefathers joy, and are ready 
 to drop a sympathetic tear when we review the sufferings which 
 they have undergone. But contrary to the laws of sympathy 
 and justice, the attention of the public is often engrossed with 
 accounts of the more dreadful conflagrations of populous cities 
 in foreign countries, or the defeat of armies in the field of 
 carnage, while the destruction of small frontier settlements 
 by the Indian tribes in our own country, is at the same time 
 little known, if not entirely forgotten. Thus the miseries of 
 our neighbors and friends around us, whose bitter cries have 
 been heard in our streets, are too often suffered to pass 
 unnoticed down the current of time into the tomb of ob- 
 livion. 
 
 The burning of Royalton was an event most inauspicious 
 and distressing to the first settlers of that town. Nor is it a 
 little strange that, among the numerous authors who have 
 recorded the events of the American Revolution, some of 
 them have not given place in their works to a more full detail 
 of that afflictive scene. 
 
 Laboring under all the difficulties and hardships to which 
 our infant settlements were generally subject, and striving 
 by persevering industry to soar above every obstacle which 
 might present itself to obstruct their progress; they had 
 filled their barns with the fruits of the land; their storehouses 
 were crowded with the comforts of life, and all nature seemed 
 to wear a propitious smile. All around them promised pros- 
 perity. They were far removed from the noise of war and 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 II 
 
 though conscious of their danger, fondly hoped they should 
 escape the ravages of a savage foe. 
 
 Royalton was chartered in the year 1779. A considerable 
 settlement, however, had taken place previous to that time, 
 and the town was in a thriving condition. Large stocks of 
 cattle, which would confer honor upon the enterprise of farm- 
 ers in old countries, were here seen grazing in their fields. 
 
 United by common interest, living on terms of friendship, 
 and manifesting that each one in a good degree "loved his 
 neighbor as himself," harmony prevailed in their borders; 
 social happiness was spread around their firesides and plenty 
 crowned their labors. But, alas ! the dreadful reverse remains 
 to be told ! While joys possessed were turned to sorrows, their 
 hopes for joys to come were blasted; and, as the former strongly 
 marked the grievous contrast between a state of prosperity 
 and affliction; the latter only showed the fallacy of promising 
 ourselves the future. 
 
 On the morning of the i6th of October, A. D., 1780, before 
 the dawn of day, the inhabitants of this town were surprised 
 by the approach of about three hundred Indians, of various 
 tribes. They were led by the Caghnewaga tribe and had 
 left Canada, intending to destroy Newbury, a town in the 
 eastern part of Vermont on Connecticut river. A British lieu- 
 tenant by the name of Horton was their chief commander, 
 and one LeMott, a Frenchman, was his second. Their pilot, 
 or leader, was a despicable villain by the name of Hamilton, 
 who had been made prisoner by the Americans at the taking 
 of Burgoyne in 1777. He had been at Newbury and Royalton 
 the preceding summer, on parole of honor, left the latter 
 place with several others under pretense of going to survey 
 lands in the northern part of this state, and went directly to 
 the enemy. He was doubtless the first instigator of those 
 awful depredations which were the bitter fruits of this 
 expedition, and ought to stamp his name with infamy and 
 disgrace. 
 
 On their way thither, 'tis said, they came across several 
 
12 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 men from Newbury who were engaged in hunting near the 
 place where Montpelier village now stands, and made them 
 prisoners. They made known their object to these hunters 
 and inquired of them whether an armed force was stationed 
 at Newbury. Klnowing the defenceless state of that town and 
 hoping they should be able to induce the Indians to relinquish 
 their object and return to Canada, they told them that such an 
 armed garrison was kept at Newbury as would render it ex- 
 tremely dangerous for them to approach; thus artfully dis- 
 sembling by ambiguity of expression the true condition of 
 their fellow townsmen, and like Rahab the harlot, saved their 
 fathers' house from destruction. 
 
 Unwilling, however, that their expedition should prove 
 wholly fruitless, they turned their course to Royalton. No 
 arguments which the prisoners could adduce, were sufficient 
 to turn them from that determination. 
 
 Following up Onion River as far as the mouth of Stevens 
 Branch, which empties into the river at Montpelier, they steered 
 their course through Barre, at that time called Wildersburgh, 
 proceeded up Gaol branch which forms a part of Stevens' 
 branch and traveled over the mountains through Orange and 
 Washington; thence down the first branch of White River 
 through Chelsea and Tunbridge to Royalton. They laid in 
 their encampment at Tunbridge, not far distant from Royal- 
 ton, during the Sabbath, the day preceding their attack upon 
 the latter place, for the purpose of concerting measures to 
 carry into effect their atrocious and malignant designs. Here 
 were matured those diabolical seeds of depredation and cruelty, 
 from which sprang bitterness, sorrow and death! 
 
 As they entered the town before daylight appeared, dark- 
 ness covered their approach and they were not discovered till 
 Monday morning at dawn of day when they entered the house 
 of Mr. John Hutchinson, who resided not far from the line 
 separating Royalton from Tunbridge. He was totally igno- 
 rant of their approach and wholly unsuspicious of danger till 
 they burst the door upon him. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 13 
 
 Here they took Mr. John Hutchinson and Abijah Hutch- 
 inson, his brother, prisoners and plundered the house; crossed 
 the first branch and went to the house of Mr. Robert Havens, 
 who lived at a small distance from Mr. Hutchinson's. Mr. 
 Havens had gone out into his pasture in pursuit of his sheep, 
 and having ascended a hill about forty rods from his house, 
 hearing his neighbor Hutchinson's dog bark, halted, and 
 stood in pensive silence. Here he listened with deep anxiety 
 to know the extent of the evil he feared. But alas! he little 
 expected to find a herd of savage men. It was his only fear 
 that some voracious animal was among his sheep, which so 
 disturbed the watchful dog. While he listened in silence, with 
 his thoughts suspended, he heard a noise as of sheep or cattle 
 running with full speed through the water. Casting his eye 
 to the west toward his own dwelling he beheld a company of 
 Indians just entering the door! Seeing his own danger he 
 immediately laid down under a log and hid himself from their 
 sight. But he could not hide sorrow from his mind. Here he 
 wept. Tears trickling down his withered cheeks bespoke the 
 anguish of his soul while he thought upon the distress of his 
 family. With groanings unutterable he lay awhile; heard the 
 piercing shrieks of his beloved wife and saw his sons escaping 
 for their lives. 
 
 Bath'd in tears the hoary sage 
 
 In sorrow lay conceal'd; while death 
 
 In frightful form stood thick around him. 
 
 With bow-bent readiness and arrows dip'd 
 
 In venom, promiscuous flying. 
 
 Vigilance with his years had fled 
 
 And hope was almost out of sight; 
 
 Safety quite gone and far beyond his reach. 
 
 Laden with the weight of years, decrepit and infirm, he 
 was sensible if he appeared in sight it would prove his death. 
 He therefore resolved not to move until a favorable oppor- 
 tunity presented. His son, Daniel Havens, and Thomas Pem- 
 
14 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 ber, were in the house and made their appearance at the door 
 
 a little before the Indians came up. Beholding the foe but a 
 
 few rods distant, they run for their lives. Daniel Havens made 
 
 his escape by throwing himself over a hedge fence down the 
 
 bank of the branch and crawling under a log; although a 
 
 large number of Indians passed directly over it in pursuit of 
 
 him. Who can tell the fears that agitated his bosom while 
 
 these savage pursuers stepped upon the log under which he 
 
 lay. And who can tell the joys he felt when he saw them pass 
 
 off, leaving him in safety! A quick transition from painful 
 
 fear and imminent danger, to joyful peace and calm retirement. 
 
 They pursued Thomas Pember till they came so near as to 
 
 throw a spear at him which pierced his body and put an end 
 
 to his existence. He run some time, however, after he was 
 
 wounded, till by loss of blood he fainted, fell and was unable 
 
 to proceed farther. The savage monsters came up, several 
 
 times thrust a spear through his body, took off his scalp and 
 
 left him, food for worms! While they were tearing his scalp 
 
 from his head, how did his dying groans pierce the skies and 
 
 call on Him who holds the scales of justice to mark their cruelty 
 
 and avenge his blood! 
 
 He had spent the night previous at the house of Mr. Havens 
 
 engaged in amorous conversation with a daughter of Mr. 
 
 Havens, who was his choice companion, the intended partner 
 
 of his life. 
 
 "... what jealous cares 
 Hang on his parting soul to think his love 
 Exposed to wild oppression and a herd 
 Of savage men"; while himself lay 
 With his eyes uplifted, fainting, doomed 
 To wait and feel the vital blow. 
 
 By imagination we view the fair survivor surrounded by 
 the savage tribe, whose frightful aspect threatened ruin; her 
 soul overwhelmed with fear and stung with grief, bereft of her 
 dearest friend. Hear her exclaiming with sorrowful accents, 
 in the language of the poet: 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 15 
 
 "You sacred mourners of a nobler mould, 
 
 Bum for a friend whose dear embraces hold 
 
 Beyond all nature's ties; you that have known 
 
 Two happy souls made intimately one, 
 
 And felt the parting stroke; 'tis you must feel. 
 
 The smart, the twinges, and the racks I feel; 
 
 This soul of mine, that dreadful wound has borne, 
 
 Off from its side its dearest half is torn, 
 
 The rest lies bleeding, and but lives to mourn." 
 
 They made the house of Mr. Havens their rallying point, 
 or post of observation, and stationed a part of their company 
 there to guard their baggage and make preparations for re- 
 treat, when they had completed their work of destruction. Like 
 the messenger of death, silent and merciless, they were scarcely 
 seen till felt. Or if seen, filled the mind with terror, nor 
 often afforded opportunity for escape. Moving with violent 
 steps, they proceeded down the first branch to its mouth, 
 while a number armed with spears led the van, and were 
 followed by others, armed with muskets and scalping knives. 
 
 The former they called runners, who were directed to kill all 
 those who should be overtaken in an attempt to escape, while 
 the latter were dominated gunners, took charge of the prison- 
 ers and scalped those who were killed. 
 
 They had not proceeded far before a young man by the 
 name of Elias Button, being ignorant of their approach, made 
 his appearance in the road but a few rods from them. Espy- 
 ing his danger, he turned and ran with the greatest possible 
 speed in his power to escape their cruel hands. The savage 
 tribe pursued him with their usual agility; soon overtook the 
 trembUng youth; pierced his body with their spears, took off 
 his scalp and left him weltering in his gore! Young, vigorous 
 and healthy, and blest with the brightest hopes of long life 
 and good days, he was overtaken by the merciless stroke of 
 death, without having a minute's warning. Innocence and 
 bravery were no shield, nor did activity secure him a safe re- 
 treat. That they might be enabled to fall upon the inhabitants 
 
l6 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 unawares and thereby secure a greater number of prisoners, 
 as well as procure a greater quantity of plunder, they kept 
 profound silence till they had arrived at the mouth of the 
 branch. 
 
 After killing Pember and Button and taking such plun- 
 der as most pleased their fancy, they proceeded to the house 
 of Joseph Kneeland, who resided about half a mile distant 
 from the house of Mr. Havens. Here they found Messrs. 
 Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown, together 
 with Joseph Kneeland and his aged father, all of whom they 
 made prisoners. They then went to the house of Mr. Elias 
 Curtis, where they took Mr. Curtis, John Kent and Peter Ma- 
 son. Mrs. Curtis had just waked from the slumbers of the 
 night, and was about dressing herself as she sat upon her bed, 
 when the savage monsters entered the door and one of them 
 instantly flew at her with a large knife in his hand and seized 
 her by the neck, apparently intending to cut her throat. While 
 in the very attitude of inflicting the fatal wound, the murder- 
 ous wretch discovered a string of gold beads around her neck, 
 which attracted his attention and prevented the dreadful stroke 
 of death. Thus his avidity for gold allayed his thirst for human 
 blood. His raging passions were suddenly cooled; curiosity 
 restrained his vengeance and spared the life of the frightened 
 object of his cruelty. He had put the knife to her throat and 
 eternity seemed open to her view, but instead of taking her 
 life, he only took her beads and left her rejoicing at her de- 
 liverance. The barbarous looks of the wicked crew bespoke 
 their malignant designs and caused horror and dismay to fill 
 the minds of all who beheld them. But alas! who can tell 
 what horror thrilled the bosom of this trembling woman! 
 What dreadful pangs were made to pierce her soul! Behold 
 the tawney wretch, with countenance wild, and awful grimaces, 
 standing by her bedside, holding her by the throat with one 
 hand and the weapon of death in the other! See, standing 
 around her a crowd of brutal savages, the sons of violence; 
 foul tormentors. In vain do I attempt to paint the scene. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 17 
 
 Nor will I pretend to describe the feelings of a kind and ten- 
 der mother, who, reposing in the arms of sleep, with her in- 
 fant at her bosom, is roused from her slumbers by the approach 
 of a tribe of savage Indians at her bedside. 
 
 "No dangers seen; no fear to raise a sigh; 
 
 No dangers fear'd; and yet was ruin nigh. 
 
 Dark was the night, and scarce a trembling breeze 
 
 Was heard to whisper thro' the neighboring trees, 
 
 When to sleep's arms the household was withdrawn, 
 
 To rest in safety till the morrow's dawn; 
 
 The morrow dawns and blushes at the sight 
 
 Of bloody scenes, that shun detecting light; 
 
 Urg'd by a nameless thirst for human prey, 
 
 A savage hand approach'd where beauty lay; 
 
 Where innocence, and youth, and age reclin'd 
 
 In sleep, refreshing as the Southern wind. 
 
 The sire, though bending with a load of years, 
 
 To save his daughter — every danger dares; 
 
 By some rough hand this ancient hero dies — 
 
 The trembling mother for her husband sighs; 
 
 Sighs and entreats to spare her infant's life, 
 
 Her sighs they hear, and spare him — with the knife. 
 
 Pleas'd with the charm of beauty drenched in tears, 
 
 The savage tribe to gloomy desarts hears 
 
 The weeping mother void of all defence, 
 
 Save what she hoped from Heav'n and innocence." 
 
 To prevent an alarm from being sounded abroad, they com- 
 manded the prisoners to keep silence on pain of death. While 
 the afflicted inhabitants beheld their property wasted, and 
 their lives exposed to swell with grief. But they were de- 
 barred the privilege of making known their sufferings to their 
 nearest friends, or even to pour out their cries of distress, 
 while surrounded by the savage band whose malevolent ap- 
 pearance could not fail to spread fear and distress in every 
 bosom. They plundered every house they found till they ar- 
 rived at the mouth of the branch. Here the commander, a 
 British officer, took his stand with a small party of Indians, 
 while some went up, and others down, on each side of the 
 
l8 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 river, to complete the work of destruction. They had already 
 taken several horses, which some of them rode, to facilitate 
 their march and enable them to overtake those who attempted 
 to make their escape. Frightened at the horrible appearance 
 of their riders, who were in no way qualified to manage 
 them, the horses served rather to impede than hasten their 
 progress. 
 
 Instigated by "the powers of darkness"; fired with rage; 
 eager to obtain that booty which they acquired by the pillage 
 of houses ; and fearful at the same time, that they should them- 
 selves fall a prey to the American forces, they pursued their 
 ravages with infuriated zeal and violence and horror attended 
 their movement. 
 
 "Uproar, revenge and rage, and hate appear 
 In all their murderous forms; and flame and blood 
 And sweat and dust array the broad campaign 
 In horror; hasty feet, and sparkling eyes, 
 And all the savage passions of the soul, 
 Engage in the warm business of the day." 
 
 Gen. Elias Stevens, who resided in the first house on the river 
 above the mouth of the branch, had gone down the river about 
 two miles, and was engaged at work with his oxen and cart. 
 While busily employed in loading his cart, casting his eye 
 up the river he beheld a man approaching, bareheaded, with 
 his horse upon the run, who, seeing Gen. Stevens, cried out: 
 "For God's sake, turn out your oxen, for the Indians are at 
 the mill." * Gen. Stevens hastened to unyoke his oxen, turned 
 them out, and immediately mounted his horse and started 
 to return to his family, filled with fearful apprehensions for 
 the fate of his beloved wife, and tender offspring! He had 
 left them in apparent safety, reposing in the arms of sleep. 
 Having proceeded on his return, about half way home, he 
 met Capt. Joseph Parkhurst, who informed him that the 
 
 *The Mills, to which he referred, owned by a Mr. Morgan, were situated 
 on the first branch near its mouth. 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 19 
 
 Indians were but a few rods distant, in swift pursuit down the 
 river and that unless he returned immediately he would inevi- 
 tably fall into their hands. 
 
 Apprized of his danger he turned and accompanied the 
 captain down the river. Conjugal and paternal affection 
 alone can suggest to the imagination of the reader what were 
 the feelings of Gen. Stevens, when compelled for his own 
 safety, to leave the wife of his bosom, and their little ones, to 
 the mercy of a savage foe! 
 
 What pains did he feel when he found himself deprived 
 of all possible means to afford them relief! Nor could he ex- 
 pect a more favorable event than to find them all sacrificed at 
 the shrine of savage barbarity! Who, not totally devoid of 
 sympathy, can refrain to drop a tear as he reflects upon those 
 painful emotions which agitated the General's breast, when he 
 was forced to turn his back upon his beloved family, while 
 thus exposed to danger! Indeed, it was his only source of 
 consolation that he might be able to afford assistance to his 
 defenceless neighbors, and as they soon came to the house of 
 Deacon Daniel Rix, he there found opportunity to lend the 
 hand of pity. Gen. Stevens took Mrs. Rix and two or three 
 children with him, and they all rode off as fast as possible ac- 
 companied by Deacon Rix and several others on foot, till they 
 arrived at the place where the General first received the alarm. 
 Filled with anxiety for his family, and not having seen any 
 Indians, Gen. Stevens, here concluded again to return, hoping 
 he should be able to reach home in time to secure his house- 
 hold from danger, before the Indians arrived. Leaving Mrs. 
 Rix and children in the care of a Mr. Burroughs he started 
 for home and had proceeded about half a mile when he dis- 
 covered the Indians in the road ahead of him but a few rods 
 distant. He quickly turned about, hastened his retreat, soon 
 overtook the company he had left and entreated them imme- 
 diately to leave the road and take to the woods to prevent 
 being overtaken. Those who were on foot jumped over the 
 fence, hastened to the woods out of sight of the Indians, where 
 
20 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 they remained in safety undiscovered by the savage foe, who 
 kept the road in pursuit of General Stevens. He passed 
 down the road about half a mile, and came to the house of Mr. 
 Tilly Parkhurst, his father-in-law. Seeing his sister engaged 
 in milking by the barn, he told her "to leave her cow immedi- 
 ately or the Indians would have her," and left her to secure her 
 own retreat. They were now in plain sight, not more than 
 eighty or a hundred rods off. The road was full of them, run- 
 ning like bloodhounds. The General rode to the house, told 
 them to run for their lives, and proceeded to warn others who 
 lived contiguous. By this time the way was filled with men, 
 women and children and a large body of Indians in open view 
 but just behind them. The savage tribe now began to make 
 the surrounding wilderness re-echo with their frightful yells. 
 Frightened and alarmed for their safety, children clung to 
 their parents, and half distracted mothers, filled with fearful 
 apprehensions of approaching destruction, were heard to make 
 the air resound with their cries of distress! General Stevens 
 endeavored to get them into the woods out of sight of the Ind- 
 ians. Fear had usurped the power of reason and wisdom's 
 voice was drowned in the torrent of distraction. All was at 
 stake. The enemy hard by, and fast approaching. Defence- 
 less mothers with helpless infants in their arms fleeing for 
 their lives. Despair was spread before them, while the roaring 
 flood of destruction seemed rolling behind them. Few could 
 be persuaded to go into the woods and most of them kept the 
 road till they arrived at the house of Capt. E. Parkhurst in 
 Sharon. Here they halted a moment to take breath, hoping 
 they should not be pursued any farther. The Indians being 
 taken up in plundering the houses, had now fallen considera- 
 bly in the rear. But the unhappy victims of distress had not 
 long been here when the cruel pursuers again appeared in 
 sight. 
 
 Screaming and crying, now witnessed the horrors of that 
 dreadful scene. Groans and tears bespoke the feelings of a 
 heart agitated with fear and swollen with grief. There was 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 21 
 
 no time to be lost. While they waited they waited for de- 
 struction. Children hanging to their mothers' clothes; mothers 
 inquiring what they should do and calling for assistance; floods 
 of tears and piercing shrieks all presented to view a most pain- 
 ful scene. Seeing the Indians approaching with hideous yells 
 that thrilled the heart of everyone, Gen. Stevens put his mother 
 and sister upon his own horse; Capt. Joseph Parkhurst put 
 Mrs. Rix and three of her children upon another horse, with- 
 out a bridle, and ordered them to hasten their flight. There 
 yet remained the wife of Capt. E. Parkhurst, who stood in 
 the most critical situation in which a woman can be placed; 
 begging and crying for help; surrounded by six small children, 
 clinging to her clothes, and pleading with her for protection. 
 Alas! how awful was the spectacle, how affecting the scene! 
 To see a woman in this deplorable condition, pleading for 
 succor when none could help; when safety and support had 
 fled; and dangers rushed upon her! A heart not devoid of 
 sympathy could not fail to weep. Conscious of her wretched 
 situation, feeling for her dear children, being told there was 
 no probability of her escape, gathering her little ones around 
 her she wept in bitterness of soul; tears of pity ran down her 
 cheeks while she waited the approach of the savage tribe to 
 inflict upon her whatever malice could invent, or inhumanity 
 devise. 
 
 Her husband, to whom she fain would have looked for 
 protection, was gone from home when all her woes fell upon 
 her. Well might she say, "Therefore are my loins filled with 
 pain; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a 
 woman that travaileth, my heart panted, fearfulness affrighted 
 me; the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto 
 me." While Mrs. Parkhurst saw her friends and neighbors 
 fleeing from her and beheld the Indians approaching with 
 impetuous step, her bosom throbbed with anguish; horror 
 seized her soul, and death, immediate death! both to her 
 and her children, "stood thick about her," threatening to 
 thrust his dagger into her aching heart. There was no time 
 
22 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 to decide on the priority of claims to pity, or the demands of 
 justice. Those who were nearest at hand first received assist- 
 ance; not, however, without regard to that affection which 
 arises from consanguinity or matrimonial connection. And 
 these relations not only unite the hearts but connect the hands 
 in scenes of distress. 
 
 At the time Gen. Stevens put his mother and his sister upon 
 his horse the Indians were not eight rods from him. They, 
 in company with Mrs. Rix and her children, rode off as fast 
 as possible. The general followed with several others on 
 foot. Part of the Indians pursued them, while others en- 
 tered the house and plundered it of its furniture. They tooii 
 her eldest son from her, then ordered her, with the rest of 
 her children, to leave the house. She accordingly repaired 
 into the fields back of the house with five of her children and 
 remained in safety till they had left the place. Soon after Gen. 
 Stevens started, his dog came in his way and caused him to 
 stumble and fall, which so retarded his progress that he was 
 obliged to flee to the woods for safety, leaving the women and 
 children to make the best of their retreat. The Indians pur- 
 sued down the road after them with frightful yells, and soon 
 overtook those who were on foot. They took Garner Rix, son 
 of Deacon Rix, a boy about fourteen years old, just at the 
 heels of his mother's horse, while she was compelled to wit- 
 ness the painful sight. Alas! What distress and horror filled 
 her bosom, when she, with three of her children, no less dear 
 than herself, fleeing from the savage foe, mounted upon a horse 
 snorting with fear, having nothing but a pocket handkerchief 
 in his mouth for a bridle, saw her wearied son faint for want 
 of breath, fall a captive to this barbarous crew. Cruel fate! 
 The trembling youth, overwhelmed with fear and bathed in 
 tears was now torn from his tender parents and compelled to 
 roam the wilderness to unknown regions. Nor was the dis- 
 consolate mother with her other little ones left in a much 
 more safe condition. 
 
 Exposed and expecting every moment to fall to the ground. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 23 
 
 which, if it proved not their death, would leave them a prey 
 to the savage monsters. No tongue can tell the pains she 
 felt nor pen describe the horrors of her soul to behold her little 
 son while fleeing for his life fall into the hands of these sons 
 of cruelty; what kind and tender mother would not feel her 
 heart to bleed? 
 
 May we not listen to the voice of imagination and hear her 
 say: 
 
 "Oh, infinite distress! such raging grief 
 
 Should command pity, and despair relief. 
 
 Passion, methinks, should rise from all my groans, 
 
 Give sense to rocks and sympathy to stones." 
 
 The Indians pursued the women and children as far as 
 the house of Mr. Benedict, the distance of about a mile. They 
 effected their escape though surrounded with dangers and 
 pursued with impetuous and clamorous steps. Here they dis- 
 covered Mr. Benedict on the opposite side of a stream called 
 Broad Brook, which ran near the house. They beckoned to 
 have him come over to them. Choosing, however, not to haz- 
 ard the consequences of yielding to their request, he turned 
 and ran a short distance and hid himself under a log. He 
 had not long been in this situation when these bloodthirsty 
 wretches came and stood upon the log and were heard by 
 him to exclaim in angry tone "if they could find him he should 
 feel the tomahawk." 
 
 After standing upon the log some time and endeavoring 
 to espy the concealed trembling object of their pursuit, they 
 left him and returned to the house. Ah! What joy filled his 
 bosom when he saw these messengers of death pass away 
 leaving him in safety! How must his heart have glowed with 
 gratitude towards the "Great Preserver of men," at this un- 
 expected deliverance from the most imminent danger. His joys 
 were not unmingled with sorrow as the fell destroyers were 
 still at his house, committing ravages and wasting his property. 
 But no man can be supposed to put his property in competition 
 with his life. 
 
24 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 The Indians pursued down the river about forty rods farther, 
 where they made a young man by the name of Avery, prisoner 
 and then concluded to return. 
 
 While they were at the house of Tilly Parkhurst, afore- 
 mentioned, which was about six miles from the place they en- 
 tered Royalton, his son, Phineas Parkhurst, who had been to 
 alarm the people on the east side of the river, just as he en- 
 tered the stream on his return, discovered the Indians in his 
 father's door. Finding himself in danger, he immediately 
 turned to go back and the Indians just at this time happened 
 to see him and fired upon him. This was the first gun they 
 fired after they entered the town. The ball entered his back, 
 went through his body, came out under his ribs and lodged in the 
 skin. Notwithstanding the wound he was, however, able to 
 ride, and continued his retreat to Lebanon in the state of New 
 Hampshire, the distance of about sixteen miles with very little 
 stop, supporting the ball between his fingers. He now resides 
 in that town and sustains the character of a useful physician 
 and an industrious, independent farmer. 
 
 That party of Indians which went down on the east side of 
 the river extended their ravages as far as the house of Capt. 
 Gilbert in Sharon, where a public house is now kept by Capt. 
 Dana. Here they took a nephew of Capt. Gilbert, by the 
 name of Nathaniel Gilbert, a boy about fifteen years of age. 
 They now resolved to return and commenced that waste 
 of property which tracked their progress. As they retraced their 
 steps they set fire to all the buildings they found of every de- 
 scription. They spread desolation and distress wherever they 
 went. Houses filled with furniture and family supplies for the 
 vdnter; barns stored with the fruits of industry and fields 
 stocked with herds of cattle, were all laid waste. 
 
 They shot and killed fourteen fat oxen in one yard, which, 
 in consequence of the inhabitants being dispersed, were wholly 
 lost. Cows, sheep and hogs, and indeed every creature de- 
 signed by the God of nature to supply the wants of man which 
 came within their sight, fell a prey to these dreadful spoilers. 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 25 
 
 Parents torn from their children; husbands separated from 
 their wives; and children snatched from their parents, presented 
 to view an indescribable scene of wretchedness and distress. 
 Some were driven from their once peaceful habitations into the 
 adjacent wilderness for safety, there to wait the destruction 
 of their property stung with the painful reflection that their 
 friends, perhaps a kind father and affectionate brother, were 
 made captives and compelled to travel with a tawney herd of 
 savage men into the wild regions of the north to be delivered 
 into the hands of enemies and undergo the fatigues and dan- 
 gers of a wretched captivity; or, what was scarcely more to 
 be deplored, learn with pain, that they had fallen the unhappy 
 victims to the relentless fury of the savage tribe and were welter- 
 ing in their gore, where there was no eye to pity or friendly hand 
 to administer relief! 
 
 The third party of Indians, who went up the river, first 
 came to the house of Gen. Stevens. Daniel Havens, whose 
 escape I have mentioned, went directly there and warned the 
 family of their danger. Trembling with fear he only stepped 
 into the house, told them that "the Indians were as thick as 
 
 the D 1 at their house," and turned and went directly out, 
 
 leaving the family to secure their own retreat. 
 
 Mrs. Stevens and the family were in bed, excepting her 
 husband, who, as before stated, had gone down the river, 
 about two miles from home. She immediately arose from her 
 bed, flung some loose clothes over her, took up her child, and 
 had scarcely got to the fire when a large body of Indians rushed 
 in at the door. They immediately ransacked the house in 
 search of men and then took the beds and bedding, carried 
 them out of doors, cut open the bedticks and threw the feathers 
 into the air. This made them sport enough. Nor did they 
 fail to manifest their infernal gratification by their tartarian 
 shouts and disingenuous conduct. 
 
 Mrs. Stevens entreated them to let her have some clothes 
 for herself and child, but her entreaties were in vain. They 
 were deaf to the calls of the needy, and disregarded the demands 
 
26 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 of justice. Her cries reached their ears, but nothing could excite 
 one single glow of sympathy. Her destitute and suffering 
 condition was plain before their eyes, but they were blind to 
 objects of compassion. Alas! What bitterness of soul; what 
 anguish; what heart rending pangs of fear, distressed her 
 tender bosom. Surrounded by these pitiless, terrific monsters 
 in human shape, with her little offspring in her arms, whose 
 compassion, exposed to the raging fire of savage jealousy, 
 unquenchable by a mother's tears, anxious for the safety and 
 mourning the absence of her bosom friend, the husband of her 
 youth; it is beyond the powers of imagination to conceive or 
 language to express the sorrows of her heart 
 
 At one moment securely reposing in the arms of sleep, with 
 her darling infant at her breast, the next amid a savage crew, 
 whose wicked hands were employed in spreading desolation 
 and mischief; whose mortal rage, exposed her to the arrows 
 of death, after plundering the house, they told Mrs. Stevens to 
 "begone or they would bum." She had been afraid to make 
 any attempt to escape, but now gladly embraced the oppor- 
 tunity. She hastened into the adjacent wilderness, carrying 
 her child, where she tarried till the Indians had left the town. 
 
 "Strangers to want! Can ye, presumptuous say, 
 No cloud shall arise to overcast your day? 
 Time past hath prov'd how fleeting riches are, 
 Time future to this truth may witness bear; 
 By means no human wisdom can foresee, 
 Or power prevent, a sudden change may be. 
 War in its route may plunder all your store 
 And leave you friendless, desolate and poor." 
 
 A boy by the name of Daniel Waller Noyes, about fourteen 
 years old, who lived with Gen. Stevens, hearing the alarm 
 given by Mr. Havens, set out immediately to go to the General 
 and give him the information. He had proceeded about a half 
 mile when he met the Indians, was taken prisoner and carried 
 to Canada. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 27 
 
 They left the house and bam of Gen. Stevens in flames and 
 proceeded up the river as far as Mr. Durkee's, where they 
 took two of his boys prisoners, Adam and Andrew, and carried 
 the former to Canada, who died there in prison. Seeing the 
 smoke arise above the trees in the woods adjacent, the invaders 
 directed their course to the spot, where they found a young man 
 by the name of Prince Haskell busily engaged in chopping for 
 the commencement of a settlement. Haskell heard a rustling 
 among the leaves behind him, and turning around beheld 
 two Indians but a few feet from him. One stood with his 
 gun pointed directly at him and the other in the attitude of 
 throwing a tomahawk. Finding he had no chance to escape, 
 he delivered himself up as prisoner and was also carried to 
 Canada. He returned in about one year after enduring the 
 most extreme sufferings in his wanderings through the wilder- 
 ness on his way home. 
 
 A Mr. Chafee, who lived at the house of Mr. Hendee, started 
 early in the morning to go to the house of Mr. Elias Curtis to 
 get his horse shod. On his way he saw Mr. John Kent ahead 
 of him who was upon the same business, wishing to put in his 
 claim before Mr. Chafee, he rode very fast and arrived at the 
 house first. He had scarcely dismounted from his horse when 
 the Indians came out of the house, took him by the hair of his 
 head and pulled him over backwards. Seeing this, Mr. Chafee 
 immediately dismounted, jumped behind the shop, hastened 
 away, keeping such a direction as would cause the shop to hide 
 his retreat. Thus he kept out of sight of the Indians, effected 
 his escape and returned to the house of Mr. Hendee. On 
 receiving the alarm given by Mr. Chafee, Mr. Hendee directed 
 his wife to take her little boy about seven years old and her little 
 daughter, who was still younger, and hastened to one of their 
 neighbors for safety, while he should go to Bethel, the town west 
 of Royalton and give the alarm at the fort. 
 
 Mrs. Hendee had not proceeded far when she was met by 
 several Indians upon the run, who took her little boy from her. 
 FeeHng anxious for the fate of her child she inquired what 
 
28 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 they were going to do with him. They replied that they should 
 make a soldier of him; and then hastened away, pulhng him 
 along by the hand, leaving the weeping mother with her little 
 daughter, to witness the scene and hear the piercing shrieks of 
 her darling son. 
 
 This leads me to notice one instance of female heroism, 
 blended with benevolence, displayed by Mrs. Hendee, whose 
 name deserves ever to be held in remembrance by every friend 
 of humanity. 
 
 She was now separated from her husband and placed in 
 the midst of a savage crew who were committing the most 
 horrid depredations and destroying every kind of property 
 that fell within their grasp. Defenceless and exposed to the 
 shafts of envy or the rage of a company of despicable tories 
 and brutal savages, the afflicted mother, robbed of her only 
 son, proceeded down the river with her tender little daughter 
 hanging to her clothes, screaming with fear, pleading with her 
 mother to keep away the Indians! 
 
 In this condition, possessing uncommon resolution and 
 great presence of mind, she determined again to get possession 
 of her son. As she passed down the river she met several 
 tories who were with the Indians of whom she continued to 
 inquire what they intended to do with the children they had 
 taken and received an answer that they should kill them. Still 
 determined not to part with her son, she passed on and soon 
 discovered a large body of Indians stationed on the opposite 
 side of the river. Wishing to find the commanding officer and 
 supposing him to be there, she set out to cross the river, and 
 just as she arrived at the bank an old Indian stepped ashore. 
 He could not talk EngHsh, but requested by signs to know 
 where she was going. She signified that she was going to 
 cross, when he, supposing she intended to deliver herself up 
 to them as a prisoner, kindly offered to carry her and her child 
 across on his back, but she refused to be carried. He then in- 
 sisted upon carrying her child to which she consented. The 
 little girl cried and said, " She didn't want to ride the old Indian." 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 29 
 
 She was, however, persuaded to ride the old Indian and they all 
 set out to ford the river. 
 
 Having proceeded about half way across they came to deeper 
 and swifter water and the old Indian, patting the mother upon 
 the shoulder, gave her to understand that if she would tarry 
 upon a rock near them which was not covered with water, till 
 he had carried her child over, he would return and carry her also. 
 She therefore stopped and sat upon the rock till he had carried 
 her daughter and set her upon the opposite shore; when he 
 returned and took her upon his back, lugged her over and safely 
 landed her with her child. 
 
 Supported by a consciousness of the justice of her cause, 
 braving every danger and hazarding the most dreadful conse- 
 quences, not excepting her own life and that of her children, 
 she now sat out to accomplish her object. 
 
 She hastened to the commanding officer and boldly inquired 
 of him what he intended to do with her child. He told her 
 that it was contrary to orders to injure women and children. 
 "Such boys as should be taken," he said, "would be trained 
 for soldiers, and would not be hurt." 
 
 "You know," said she, in reply, "that these little ones can- 
 not endure the fatigues of a march through the vast wilderness, 
 which you are calculated to pass. And when their trembling 
 limbs shall fail to support their feeble bodies and they can 
 no longer go, the tomahawk and the scalping knife will be the 
 only relief you will afford them ! Instead of falling into a moth- 
 er's arms, and receiving a mother's tender care, you will yield 
 them into the arms of death, and earth must be their pillow, 
 where the howling wilderness shall be their only shelter — truly 
 a shelter from a mother's tears, but not from the jaws of wild 
 beasts, nor a parent's grief. And give me leave to tell you," 
 added she, "were you possessed of a parent's love — could you 
 feel the anguish of a mother's heart, at the loss of her ' first bom,' 
 her darling son, torn from her bosom, by the wicked hands of 
 savage men, no entreaties would be required to obtain the re- 
 lease of my dear child!" 
 
30 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Horton replied that the Indians were an ungovernable race, 
 and would not be persuaded to give up anything they should 
 see fit to take. 
 
 "You are their commander," continued she, "and they must 
 and will obey you. The curse will fall upon you for whatever 
 crime they may commit, and all the innocent blood they shall 
 here shed, will be found on your skirts 'when the secrets of 
 men's hearts shall be made known,' and it will then cry for 
 vengeance on your head!" 
 
 Melted into tears at this generous display of maternal af- 
 fection, the infamous destroyer felt a relenting in his bosom, 
 bowed his head under the weight of this powerful eloquence 
 and simple boldness of the brave heroine, and assured her that 
 he would deliver her child up, when the Indians arrived with 
 him. The party who took him had not yet returned. When 
 he arrived, Horton, with much difficulty, prevailed on the 
 Indians to deliver him up. After she had gained possession of 
 him she set out, leading him and her little girl by the hand, 
 and hastened away with speed, while the mingled sensations 
 of fear, joy and gratitude, filled her bosom. She had not gone 
 more than ten rods, when Horton followed and told her to go 
 back and stay till the scouting parties had returned, lest they 
 should again take her boy from her. She accordingly returned 
 and tarried with the Indians till they all arrived and started for 
 Canada. While she was there, several of her neighbors' chil- 
 dren about the same age of her own, were brought there as 
 captives. Possessing benevolence equal to her courage, she 
 now made suit for them and, by her warm and affectionate 
 entreaties, succeeded in procuring their release. While she 
 waited for their departure, sitting upon a pile of boards, with 
 the little objects of charity around her, holding fast to her 
 clothes, with their cheeks wet with tears an old Indian came 
 and took her son by the hand and endeavored to get him away. 
 She refused to let him go and held him fast by the other hand 
 till the savage monster violently waved his cutlass over her 
 head, and the piercing shrieks of her beloved child filled the 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 31 
 
 air. This excited the rage of the barbarous crew, so much 
 so as to endanger her own and the life of the children around 
 her, and compelled her to yield him into his hands. She 
 again made known her grievance to Horton, when, after con- 
 siderable altercation with the Indians, he obtained her son and 
 delivered him to her a second time; though he might be said 
 to "fear not God nor regard man." 
 
 Thus like the unfortunate widow who "troubled the un- 
 just judge" this young woman obtained the release of nine 
 small boys from a wretched captivity, which doubtless would 
 have proved their death. She led eight of them away, together 
 with her daughter, all hanging to her own clothes, and to each 
 other, mutually rejoicing at their dehverance. The other 
 whose name was Andrew Durkee, whom the Indians had car- 
 ried to the house of Mr. Havens, was there released according 
 to the agreement of Horton with Mrs. Hendee, and sent back, 
 on account of his lameness. 
 
 Being told that the great bone in his leg had been taken out, 
 in consequence of a fever sore, an old Indian examined it and 
 cried out, "No boon! no go!" and giving him a blanket and a 
 hatchet, sent him back. 
 
 * Mrs. Hendee carried two of the children across the river 
 on her back, one at a time, and the others waded through the 
 water with their arms around each others' neck. After cross- 
 ing the river she traveled about three miles with them and en- 
 camped for the night, "Gathering them around her as a hen 
 gathereth her chickens under her wings." 
 
 The names of the children who were indebted to her for their 
 release from the savage tribe, were Michael Hendee, Roswell 
 Parkhurst, son of Capt. Ebenezer Parkhurst, Andrew and 
 
 Sheldon Durkee, Joseph Rix, Rufus and Fish, Nathaniel 
 
 Evans and Daniel Downer. The latter received such an af- 
 fright from the horrid crew that he was ever afterwards unable 
 to take care of himself, wholly unfit for business and lived for 
 many years wandering from place to place, a solemn, though 
 
 ♦Mrs. Hendee was at this time 27 years of age. 
 
32 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 silent witness of the distress and horror of that dreadful 
 scene. 
 
 Mrs. Hendee, now (1818) lives in Sharon, where the 
 author visited her and received the foregoing statement of 
 this noble exploit from her own mouth. It is also corrobo- 
 rated by several gentlemen now living, who were eye wit- 
 nesses. 
 
 She has buried her first and second husband, and now lives 
 a widow, by the name of Moshier. Her days are almost gone. 
 May her declining years be crowned with the reward due 
 her youthful deeds of benevolence. She has faced the most 
 awful dangers for the good of mankind and rescued many from 
 the jaws of death! 
 
 In view of the exceeding riches of that mercy which has 
 protected her through such scenes of danger, may she devote 
 her life to the service of the Mighty God, and, at last, find a 
 happy seat at the right hand of Him, ''who gave Himself a 
 ransom for all." And thus let the children who are endebted 
 to her bravery and benevolence for their lives, "rise up and call 
 her blessed." Gratitude forbids their silence. For, to mater- 
 nal affection and female heroism alone, under God, they owe 
 their deliverance from savage cruelty. The boldest hero of 
 the other sex could never have effected what she accomplished. 
 His approach to the savage tribe to intercede in behalf of those 
 defenceless children, most surely would have brought upon 
 himself a long and wretched captivity, and perhaps even death 
 itself. 
 
 The Indians having accomplished their nefarious designs, 
 returned to the house of Mr. Havens with their prisoners, and 
 the plunder of houses which they had devoted to destruction. 
 Here was the place where they had commenced their ravages. 
 The old man, as before observed, having concealed himself 
 under a log at the time he espied the Indians in the morning 
 while hunting his sheep, still remained in sorrowful silence 
 undiscovered. He had considered it unsafe to move, as a 
 party of the crew had continued there during the day, and had 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 33 
 
 twice come and stood upon the log under which he lay without 
 finding him. 
 
 After collecting their plunder together and distributing it 
 among them they burned the house and bam of Mr. Havens 
 and started for Canada. It was now about 2 o'clock in the 
 afternoon. They carried off twenty-six prisoners from Royal- 
 ton who were all delivered up to the British as prisoners of 
 war. 
 
 They all obtained their release and returned in about one 
 year, excepting Adan Durkee, who died in camp at Montreal. 
 
 Twenty-one dwelling houses and sixteen good new bams 
 were filled with hay and grain, the hard earnings of industri- 
 ous young farmers, were here laid in ashes by the impious crew. 
 They killed about one hundred and fifty head of neat cattle 
 and all the sheep and swine they found. Hogs in their pens 
 and cattle tied in their stalls, were bumt alive. They destroyed 
 all the household fumiture except what they carried with 
 them. They bumt the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, and 
 giving his wife a hatchet and a flint together with a quarter 
 of mutton, told her to "go and cook for her men." This they 
 said, to aggravate her feelings and remind her of her forlorn 
 condition. 
 
 Women and children were left entirely destitute of food and 
 every kind of article necessary for the comforts of life; almost 
 naked and without a shelter, wandering from place to place, 
 they beheld their cattle rolling in their blood, groaning in the 
 agonies of death and saw their houses laid in ruins. Discon- 
 solate mothers and weeping orphans were left to wander through 
 the dreadful waste and lament the loss of their nearest friends, 
 comfortless and forlorn. 
 
 The Indians took away about thirty horses, which were, 
 however, of Httle use to them, but rather served to hinder their 
 progress. Their baggage was composed of almost every arti- 
 cle commonly found among farmers: such as axes and hoes, 
 pots, kettles, shovels and tongs, sickles, scythes and chains, 
 old side saddles and bed-ticks emptied of their feathers, warm- 
 
34 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 ing pans, plates and looking-glasses, and indeed nearly all 
 kinds of articles necessary for the various avocations of life. 
 
 On their return they crossed the hills in Tunbridge, lying 
 west of first branch, and proceeded to Randolph, where they 
 encamped for the first night near the second branch, a distance 
 of about ten miles. They had, however, previously dispatched 
 old Mr. Kneeland, a prisoner whom they considered would be 
 of the least service to them, with letters to the mihtia, stating 
 that, "if they were not followed, the prisoners should be used 
 well — but should they be pursued every one of them would be 
 put to death." 
 
 The alarm had by this time spread through the adjacent 
 towns and the scattering, undisciplined militia shouldered their 
 muskets and hastened to pursue them. They collected at the 
 house of Mr. Evans in Randolph, about two miles south of 
 the encampment of the Indians. Here they formed a company 
 consisting of about three hundred in number and made choice 
 of Col. John House of Hanover, N. H., for their commander. 
 They supposed the Indians had gone to Brookfield, about ten 
 miles from that place, up the second branch. With this ex- 
 pectation they took up their march about 12 o'clock at night, 
 hoping they should be able to reach Brookfield before light and 
 make them prisoners. They had scarcely started when the 
 American front guard, to their utter surprise were fired upon 
 by the rear guard of the enemy. Several fires were exchanged 
 and one of the Americans wounded, when Col. House, through 
 cowardice or want of skill, commanded them to halt and cease 
 firing. He then ordered them to make a stand and kept them 
 in suspense till the Indians had made their escape. To hasten 
 their flight the savage tribe were compelled to leave at their 
 encampment a considerable quantity of their plunder, nearly 
 all of the horses, and made good their retreat. 
 
 Here they killed two of the prisoners by the name of Joseph 
 Kneeland and Giles Gibbs. The former was found dead with 
 his scalp taken off and the latter with a tomahawk in his head. 
 
 At daylight Col. House courageously entered the deserted 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 35 
 
 camp and took possession of the spoil, but alas, the enemy were 
 gone, he knew not where! Urged by his brave soldiers, who 
 were disgusted at his conduct, he proceeded up the second 
 branch as far as Brookfield in pursuit of the enemy and not 
 finding them, disbanded his men and returned. 
 
 Had Col. House possessed courage and skill adequate to the 
 duties of his station he might have defeated the enemy, it is 
 thought, without the least difficulty and made them all prison- 
 ers. His number was equal to that of the enemy, well armed 
 with muskets and furnished with ammunition. The enemy, 
 though furnished with muskets, had little ammunition, and 
 were encumbered with the weight of much guilt and a load 
 of plunder. They had encamped upon a spot of ground which 
 gave the Americans all the advantage, and their only safety 
 rested in their flight. The American force consisted of undis- 
 ciplined militia, who promiscuously assembled from differ- 
 ent quarters, but were full of courage, animated by the prin- 
 ciples of justice and determined to obtain redress for the in- 
 juries they had received from the barbarous crew. 
 
 Many of them likewise had friends and connections then 
 in possession of the Indians, to obtain whose freedom, they 
 were stimulated to action. But alas! Their determination 
 failed, their hopes were blasted; They were forced to relin- 
 quish their object, and sufifer their friends to pass on and en- 
 dure a wretched captivity. They, however, forced the Indians 
 to leave the stream and take their course over the hills between 
 the second and third branch, which brought them directly 
 and unexpectedly to the house of Zadock Steele, whom they 
 made prisoner and took to Canada. 
 
 Names of a part of the persons killed and taken at the burn- 
 ing of Royalton : 
 
 Zadock Steele taken at Randolph, Experience Davis, Elias 
 Curtis, J. Parks, Moses Parsons, Simeon Belknap, now living 
 in Randolph, Samuel Pember, Thomas Pember, killed at Roy- 
 alton, Gamer Rix, now living in Royalton; Daniel Downer, 
 Joseph Kneeland, killed at the encampment at Randolph; 
 
36 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Jonathan Brown, now residing in Williamstown ; Adan Durkee, 
 died at Montreal; Joseph Havens, Abijah Hutchinson, John 
 Hutchinson, now living in Bethel, George Avery, John Kent, 
 Peter Mason, Giles Gibbs, killed at Randolph, Peter Button, 
 killed at Royalton ; Nathaniel Gilbert. 
 
 The following persons were released by the intercession of 
 Mrs. Hendee: 
 
 Daniel Downer, Jr., Andrew Durkee, Michael Hendee, 
 Roswel Parkhurst, Sheldon Durkee, Joseph Rix, Rufus Fish, 
 Fish, Nathaniel Evans. 
 
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THE ROYALTON LAFAYETTE SAW IN 1825 
 
 Fifty years after the peaceful valley had been laid waste 
 by Indians and the inhabitants scattered far and wide, a very 
 different picture was presented. In place of the once sparsely 
 inhabited settlement of isolated farm houses scattered among 
 the hills and along the river there had arisen a busy little town 
 centering around its mill, stores, academy and church. 
 
 Its development is realized when one recalls that five years 
 previous to the fiftieth anniversary Royalton had been one of the 
 six towns in the state honored by a visit from Lafayette. What 
 the popular hero saw that day has been recorded, and so we 
 too have a glimpse into the happy valley. His coming was by 
 invitation from the legislature of 1824. On the morning of 
 June 25, 1825, the brilliant retinue entering the state at Wind- 
 sor, Vt., was met by Governor Van Ness and staff. Royalton 
 was thronged with people. The Cascadnac house was the 
 centre of activity, and landlord Col. Smith, famed for his gen- 
 iality, felt the importance of the responsibility when he mar- 
 shalled his forces in the kitchen, dining room and entire house 
 in preparation for the entertainment of the distinguished guest, 
 and that he might know just when to have all in readiness, well- 
 mounted youths of the town were sent out along the way toward 
 Windsor and stationed horn blasts apart. At the first sight of 
 the oncoming cavalcade the signal blast was to be given and 
 caught up by the next and the next until the valley itself re- 
 echoed with tidings that Lafayette had come. 
 
 The town was brilliantly astir that morning. From Tun- 
 bridge came a full company of cavalry in new uniforms — ^blue 
 trousers, white vests, bright red coats and a peculiar shaped 
 cap with stiff plumes of blue and white — no expense had been 
 
38 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 spared on these uniforms; even coat buttons had been ordered 
 in Boston at the expense of $37 each. 
 
 Every building in town was dedicated this day to hospital- 
 ity. Between the church and academy, where now runs the 
 railroad, was a long one-story wooden building without win- 
 dows, but with numerous openings provided with heavy 
 wooden shutters. One end was partitioned off for a wood- 
 shed, kitchen and store-room, and the remainder with its three 
 long tables and benches built in the hall had been dedicated 
 to feasts on training and other great days. 
 
 Here the women of the town were assembled ready to cater 
 to all those not entertained at the hotel, and in front of this 
 building was formed a long procession of school children and 
 townspeople led by two five-year-old boys — Horatio Nelson 
 Smith and Dudley Chase Denison. Oel Billings, father of 
 Frederick Billings, was marshal of the day. 
 
 Finally all was in readiness. Landlord Smith stood on 
 the piazza listening, when suddenly a horn blast broke the 
 spell of waiting. All the echoes of the valley were set flying, 
 and Lafayette's coming was more triumphantly announced 
 than it could have been by telephone message or telegram. 
 
 Over the Woodstock and Royalton turnpike the proces- 
 sion came, making but one stop at the toll bridge, where La- 
 fayette accepted a glass of wine. 
 
 At the bridge the turnpike veered across the flat in front 
 of the house at present occupied by Mr. Nathan Hale, so the 
 village was entered by what is now known as Bridge street. 
 
 It was a fair sight that met Lafayette's eyes — the singing 
 children advancing to meet him, the people delighting to honor 
 him, and then the setting of the scene, the river- winding- valley 
 and the hills climbing up and up to the sky. 
 
 To the children it seemed like a wonderful fairy tale. There 
 was the dazzling retinue set to the sound of martial music 
 coming gayly through the bridge and up into the heart of the 
 town. All eyes centered on the quaint carriage drawn by six 
 cream colored horses and the man within, who bowed and 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 39 
 
 smiled with courtly grace. Directly following came ten car- 
 riages bearing distinguished people, then the cavalry and the 
 eager outriders who had proclaimed on their horns the coming 
 of the hero. 
 
 From the balcony opposite the hotel Judge CoUamer de- 
 livered the address of welcome. After dinner Gen. Lafayette 
 reviewed the Revolutionary soldiers in town Jknd endeared 
 himself to all by calling those whom he had met by name. 
 
 In a happy speech he congratulated the people on the beau- 
 tiful location of the town. He noted the energy and thrift 
 and indomitable spirit of the people and saw ample evidences 
 everywhere that the Indians would at that day have found the 
 devastation of Royalton a very different matter from what 
 they had forty-five years before. 
 
 (Authority for account of Lafayette's visit, a paper read before the Woman's 
 Club, Nov. 18, 1905, by Mrs. Charles W. Joiner.) 
 
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 It was five years after the coming of Lafayette, Oct. 16, 
 1830, that the people of the valley met on the village green and 
 in a spirit of joyful gratitude for all the blessings that had since 
 been vouchsafed celebrated the fiftieth anniversary. The 
 sentiments of all were voiced in an original hymn sung by 
 Eliza Skinner Denison. 
 
 Where our fathers dwelt midst dangers, 
 
 Now their children dwell secure; 
 War and fear to them are strangers, 
 
 Hardships they no more endure. 
 
 Where the Indian warwhoop sounded, 
 Childhood shouts ring o'er the plain; 
 
 Where the wild deer fearless bounded. 
 Wave the fields of ripened grain. 
 
 War from our bright land is banished. 
 
 By our fathers' valiant hands; 
 All our enemies are vanished, 
 
 Peace presides o'er all our land. 
 
 God be praised, by whose rich blessing. 
 
 Peace and plenty we enjoy! 
 May His mercy never ceasing. 
 
 Still our hearts and tongues employ! 
 
 Grant us, O our Great Creator, 
 
 Hearts of gratitude to Thee; 
 And through Christ, our Mediator 
 
 Set our sin-bound spirits freel 
 
DRAMATIZATION OF ZADOCK STEELE'S ACCOUNT 
 
 BY SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY IN CIVIL 
 
 WAR TIME. 
 
 During the Civil War the women of the town were anxious 
 to make money to send to the "Boys in Blue." 
 
 Zadock Steele's narrative was therefore staged by the Sol- 
 diers' Aid Society, April i, 1863, in the form of tableaux and 
 dialogues. The band gave its services and the people gath- 
 ered in the town hall in such numbers that a well filled purse 
 was sent to the front. The eight scenes devoted to "The 
 Burning of Royalton" were graphically portrayed by the actors; 
 for then, as now, the traditions and history of Oct. 16, 1780, 
 were so ingrained in the hearts of the people that it seemed 
 part of their very blood. 
 
 The curtain went up on an early morning scene in a kitchen 
 where the mother was preparing breakfast. Suddenly a man 
 appeared at the door and shouted, "The Indians are coming!" 
 and then pandemonium reigned. Indians swarmed over the 
 stage, seizing valuables and dragging the boys away. One 
 of the chief characters was "Mrs. Hendee," of course, and 
 the lines spoken by her are full of spirit and eloquence. The 
 ride of Phineas Parkhurst was cleverly suggested. "Miss 
 Downer" rushed in to tell "Mrs. Belknap" and " Mrs. Brown" 
 that she had seen the Indians shoot at Phineas Parkhurst, but 
 that he did not fall, only pressed his hand to his side and rode 
 away for his hfe. 
 
 At the close of the sixth scene the curtain falls on "Mrs. 
 Rix" bewailing the seizure of her son Gamer by the Indians. 
 
 Not a cent of money was spent on printing and so far as is 
 known the only program of that evening in existence today is 
 in the possession of Miss Gertrude Denison. It is written in 
 pencil on a sheet of writing paper and is evidently intended 
 for the use of the stage manager. Besides the program there 
 are three written scenes, the ist, 4th and 6th. 
 
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 In one hundred years the growth of the township had been 
 such that the Centennial Anniversary, Oct. i6, 1880, was held 
 at South Royalton, a flourishing branch of the town, situated 
 farther down the White River near the point where the high- 
 way to Tunbridge crosses the river. 
 
 This day was the greatest in the history of the place, and 
 the presence of people from the surrounding towns made the 
 attendance rival the great conventions at county fairs. 
 
 The celebration was distinctive from all others in that it 
 was spectacular. On the heights above where the railroad 
 station now is there had been erected a temporary settlement 
 and more than a hundred boys and men of the town, masquer- 
 ading as Indians, decked with warpaint and feathers and bran- 
 dishing tomahawks and battle axes, swooped down from the 
 still higher heights and surrounded the dwellings. Women 
 and children realistically rushed out and made their escape 
 as best they could, while the invading Indians drew out the 
 feather beds, tossed the feathers in air, wrecked all the fur- 
 niture, set fire to the dwellings and then made merry in a war 
 dance. 
 
 A temporary museum containing relics that had survived 
 the Indian raid, was an interesting feature of the day. Among 
 the curios was the bullet extracted from Phineas Parkhurst, 
 and there were fragments of a table just as the Indians left it 
 after smashing things generally in the home of John Hutchin- 
 son. This table descended to Mrs. Wm. Bliss of Royalton, 
 whose mother was Mrs. Hutchinson's infant daughter. 
 
 Honorable D. C. Denison, the orator of the day, made an 
 able recapitulation of historic events. Nothing tells the spirit 
 of this anniversary better than the experience of one small 
 boy, Fred D. Galup, who took part as an Indian. As he left 
 
50 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 43 
 
 the house early in the morning he said: "Mother, may I 'holler' 
 and make all the noise I want to today?" " Yes," answered 
 the smiling mother, and it's family tradition that the boy 
 came back at night too tired to make any more noise for a 
 week. 
 
THE 123RD ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 Interest in the history of the Indian raid upon the Vermont 
 frontier was again stimulated at the 123rd anniversary by 
 an article written by Daniel L. Burnett, M. D., South Royal- 
 ton, Vt., and published in the October number, 1903, of the 
 Inter- State Journal. 
 
 This article is particularly interesting in that it not only 
 gives a resume of the Zadock Steele narrative, but careful re- 
 search had brought forth new facts, and the location of many 
 of the historic old farms, once pillaged and burned, as well as 
 various scenes of action on that dramatic day, were identified 
 by photographs and in many instances by the names of the 
 present day residents. 
 
 PLACES OF INTEREST 
 
 LOCATED BY DANIEL L. BURNETT, M. D. 
 
 Photogkaphs by Mrs. Ada L. Miller and W. E. Graham. 
 
 In the cemetery at South Tunbridge, Vt., close beside the 
 country road with its passersby, stands an old fashioned head- 
 stone with this inscription: 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 45 
 
 PETER BUTTON 
 
 WAS KILLED BY 
 
 THE INDL^NS 
 
 IN ROYALTON, OCT. 1 6, 
 
 1780. 
 
 AGED 30 YEARS. 
 
 Not far from this cemetery did the hardy pioneer receive 
 his death wound from the savages and on the farm adjoining 
 his descendants Hve to this day. 
 
 The 1 6th of October, 1780, is a date which will always be 
 a landmark in Royalton town history. 
 
 Early on that Monday morning the settlers were surprised 
 by a mixed band of Indian, French and Tories, numbering 
 about 300 men. This body of invaders left Canada with the 
 intention of falling upon Newbury, Vt. The leader was a 
 Lieut. Horton of the British Army, and a Frenchman by the 
 name of LeMott was second in command. Their guide was 
 one Hamilton, who was taken prisoner by the Americans at 
 the time of General Burgoyne's surrender to General Gates at 
 Saratoga. Hamilton had been at Newbury and Royalton on 
 parole, and had left the latter place the preceding summer on 
 pretence of surveying lands in the northern part of the state. 
 
46 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 He, however, went directly to Canada and was, probably, the 
 chief instigator of the raid. It is also a tradition that he had 
 had trouble with certain ones of the Royalton settlers and 
 wished for revenge. However this may be, the primary in- 
 tention was to fall upon and destroy Newbury as was before 
 stated. 
 
 Their course from Canada was up Lake Champlain by boat 
 to near the mouth of the Winooski river, thence following 
 the course of this river to about the site of Montpelier, where 
 the party fell in with some hunters, who, learning that New- 
 bury was in danger, told them that that place was well forti- 
 fied and a body of soldiers was stationed there. Thus, by a 
 false report, was Newbury saved the horrors that visited Roy- 
 alton. The invaders were unwilling to lose their journey, so 
 determined to fall upon Royalton. 
 
 "Following up Onion River as far as the mouth of Steven's 
 branch, which empties into the river at Montpelier, they steered 
 their course through Barre, at that time called Wildersburgh; 
 proceeded up Goal branch which forms a part of Steven's 
 branch and traveled over the mountains through Orange and 
 Washington; thence down the first branch of White River 
 through Chelsea and Tunbridge to Royalton. They laid in 
 their encampment at Tunbridge, not far distant from Royal- 
 ton, during the Sabbath." — (Zadock Steele's narrative.) 
 
 The site of this old Sabbath Day encampment is on the 
 farm known by the name of the Adams Rowell farm and is 
 easily seen from the main highway from South Royalton to 
 Chelsea. It may be identified as being about one mile nearly 
 directly west from the highway at Lester Corwin's near by 
 the foundation of an old barn on the top of the hill. 
 
 Before day-break on this Monday, Oct. i6, 1780, the Indians 
 surprised the settlers. The first place visited was that of Mr. 
 John Hutchinson on the farm now occupied by Fred Smith, 
 where John Hutchinson and his brother, Abijah Hutchinson, 
 were taken prisoners, and the buildings were plundered. Cross- 
 ing the branch they came to the home of Robert Havens, which 
 
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OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 47 
 
 Stood on the little eminence in the meadow on the farm now 
 occupied by Lester Corwin. Bricks and stones from the old 
 house are still to be found on this site. Mr. Havens, hearing 
 some disturbance early in the morning and thinking there 
 was trouble with his sheep, arose early, went upon the hill 
 to the east of his house and so was gone when the Indians 
 came. Mrs. Havens, being sick in bed at this time, was taken 
 out of doors upon a feather bed and left in the yard, unharmed. 
 A young man by the name of Thomas Pember, the accepted 
 lover of Lorenza Havens, one of Robert Havens' daughters, 
 attempted to escape by running, — was overtaken, speared, 
 and scalped. Pember had often said that he could outrun 
 any Indian, but he received a tomahawk wound in his arm, 
 was tracked by means of the blood and weakened by the 
 loss of the blood and therefore was no match for his savage 
 pursuers,* Daniel Havens, a son of Robert, made his 
 escape by secreting himself in the bushes on the bank of the 
 stream. 
 
 Making the Hutchinson and Havens Meadows the base of 
 operations, the savages scoured the adjacent country. 
 
 At this date the course of the highways was different than 
 at present. No bridge then spanned the stream as there now 
 does at South Tunbridge. The highway passed along the 
 west banks of the branch to the farmhouse now occupied by 
 George W. Ward. On the easterly side no road was yet built 
 in the valley, but the hill road passed as high as it now does, 
 and finally bore down to the stream at the Joseph Dearborn 
 place, thus meeting the road of the westerly side of the branch 
 by means of a bridge across the stream. Peter Button was 
 passing along this hill road from his home near the cemetery 
 and was surprised by the savages. He attempted to make his 
 escape by flight but was soon overtaken, speared and scalped. 
 Button was killed in the woods back of Joseph Dearborn's 
 
 * Pember was buried in the Hutchinson meadow but later his remains were 
 removed to the old cemetery at Randolph Center. 
 
48 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 place. Near this savage death scene Robert Havens was 
 hidden and it is supposed that the Indians mistook Button for 
 Havens for whom they were searching. 
 
 After killing Pember and Button, and leaving a squad on 
 the Havens meadow to guard the prisoners and plunder, the 
 savages proceeded down the branch to its mouth. The home 
 of Joseph Kneeland, the site of which is now occupied by- 
 George W. Ward's house was the first to suffer. Here Simeon 
 Belknap, Giles Gibbs, Jonathan Brown, Joseph Kneeland 
 and his aged father were captured. From the Kneeland place 
 the foe went to the home of Mr. Elias Curtis, who was taken 
 prisoner, together with John Kent and Peter Mason. Tra- 
 dition says that Mrs. Curtis was awakened by their entrance 
 to the house and one of the savages approached the bed, seized 
 her by the throat and apparently was about to kill her with a 
 large knife, when, seeing her gold beads about her neck, he 
 hastily tore them off, and thus was his attention diverted from 
 taking her life. 
 
 The Indians made a stand on the meadows near the mouth 
 of the branch, and from there sent a party up the White River 
 and two parties down the river — one on. either side. 
 
 The squad going up the river went as far as the mouth of 
 the second branch of the White River, plundering and taking 
 prisoners. Bethel was provided with a fort with, probably, 
 a miHtia company at this time, and consequently the savages 
 dared go no farther in that direction. There is now standing 
 an outbuilding on the Edward Rix farm that was standing 
 on that eventful day. The timbers were then green, and, al- 
 though it was set on fire, it did not bum. Mr. Rix has taken 
 up the original floor, the boards of which were charred by 
 this attempt to bum the building. Adan and Andrew Durkee 
 were taken prisoners at this place. The former was taken to 
 Canada, where he afterwards died in prison, and Andrew, being 
 lame, was rescued by Mrs. Hendee. 
 
 The party of Indians, who went down the east side of White 
 River, proceeded as far as Sharon village, where a nephew 
 
I 
 
 THE BARN WHICH THE INDIANS TRIED TO BURN. 
 
 (The smaller building.) The timbers were then green, and, although set on fire, it 
 did not burn. Now standing on the Edward Rix farm, about three miles north-west 
 from South Royalton, on the direct road to Bethel. 
 
 OLD KETTLES FOUND WHERE THE INDIANS CAMPED. 
 
 The property of Mrs. Hannah Benson, a grand-daughter of Lorenza Havens. 
 
LORENZA HAVENS. 
 
 {From a photograph taken when past ninety years old.) 
 
 Lorcnza Havens was a daughter of Robert Havens, whose 
 farm was made the rendezvous of the siivages, and whose Ijuild- 
 ings were burned by them. Her lover, Thomas Pember, was 
 speared and scalped within sight of the house. She afterwards 
 became Mrs. Lovejoy, and has many descendants in Royalton 
 and vicinity. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 49 
 
 of Capt. Gilbert, Nathaniel Gilbert, by name, a boy about 
 fifteen years of age, was taken prisoner. 
 
 The settlers on the east side of the river were fortunate in 
 being warned of the approach of the foe by Phineas Parkhurst, 
 son of Tilly Parkhurst. Tilly Parkhurst lived about one and 
 one-half miles down the river from the present site of South 
 Royalton village. Phineas Parkhurst was returning to his 
 father's house, after warning the settlers on the east side of 
 the river, and, stepping out into the river, was seen by the 
 Indians, who immediately shot at him. The ball struck him 
 in one side of the abdomen, and coursed between the muscles, 
 and lodged just under the skin. Parkhurst grasped the ball 
 between his fingers and rode his horse to Lebanon, N. H. He 
 afterwards became a practitioner of medicine and surgery. 
 
 The party of Indians who went to the west side of the river 
 found many settlers. The first house plundered in this vicin- 
 ity was that of Deacon Daniel Rix which stood near the site 
 of Don Blake's present home. Mrs. Rix and two or three 
 children were taken by Gen. Elias Stevens on his horse, and a 
 Mrs. Benton and several children were taken by Capt. Joseph 
 Parkhurst, and, accompanied by Deacon Rix and several 
 others on foot hastened down the road for some distance, when, 
 not having seen any Indians, Gen. Stevens decided to return 
 up the river. He had gone only a short distance when he saw 
 the Indians approaching. He hastily retraced his steps and 
 warned the party. Those who were on foot hastened over the 
 fence and escaped into the woods in safety. Gen. Stevens 
 fled, pursued by the Indians, who, however, were hindered by 
 taking time to plunder and bum buildings. At Tilly Park- 
 hurst's, who was the father-in-law of Gen. Stevens, he found 
 his sister engaged in milking and told her to leave the cow im- 
 mediately or the Indians would have her. 
 
 The road was now full of men, women, and children, fleeing 
 for their lives, and the savages were close behind plunder- 
 ing, burning, and taking prisoners. The Indians went as 
 far as the mouth of Broad Brook, and then returned to the 
 
5© BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT,, BY INDIANS 
 
 mouth of the Chelsea Branch, where their companions were 
 stationed. 
 
 Among the individual deeds of heroism in connection with 
 this day of horrors, the bravery and thoughtfulness of Mrs. 
 Hendee is pre-eminent. 
 
 ^^ ^* ^f* ^* *j* 3K 
 
 The exact place where she crossed the river with the 
 children is not positively known, and several locations are 
 given. It seems very probable, however, that there might 
 have been several such crossing places. * There is excellent 
 authority that one of the places was just above the head of 
 the island in South Royalton village in the rear of the 
 present home of Erwin Doubleday, straight across to the 
 Charles Southworth meadow. 
 
 After the return of the various scouting parties to the mouth 
 of the branch, they, with their prisoners and plunder, returned 
 to the Robert Havens house which they burned, and then 
 started for Canada at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ #^ 
 
 The prisoners were taken to Montreal and its vicinity, and 
 most of them returned in about two years, with the exception 
 of Adan Durkee, who died, a prisoner, in Montreal. 
 
 ♦Mr. Edward Rix, now living in Royalton, whose father was one of the 
 rescued children, says his father had often taken him, when a boy, to this place 
 and told him that there was where Mrs. Hendee had crossed with the children. 
 
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THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 The one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary was marked 
 by a celebration out of the ordinary. A former resident of 
 Royalton, Daniel G. Wild, of Brooklyn, N. Y., had given $200 
 to the Royalton Woman's Club to erect a monument to com- 
 memorate the historic event. On October 16, 1905, therefore, 
 the whole town devoted itself to the fitting observance of the day. 
 At an early morning hour the Selectmen, Elmer Doyle, Hiram 
 Benson and Charles Black, accompanied by Representative 
 R. B. Galusha, convened in the town clerk's office and formally 
 granted the right to erect the proposed monument. At 3 o'clock 
 in the afternoon the members of the club, together with the 
 teachers and pupils of the Central School, and a large gathering 
 of citizens from Royalton and surrounding towns, gathered on 
 the park at the head of Bridge street to unite in the simple ser- 
 vice that marked the day. 
 
 Mrs. Charles W. Joiner, chairman of the Monument Com- 
 mittee, had charge of the program. After the prayer by Rev. 
 Joel F. Whitney, Mrs. Joiner gave a brief recital of the tragic 
 histor)-^ which was of particular interest on this occasion, as 
 there were a number present who were descended from captives 
 that were taken by Indians to Canada. Mr. Wild, the donor of 
 the $200 for the monument, is a direct descendant of the 
 brave Mrs. Hendee, who forded the river and was instrumental 
 in rescuing so many children. In closing, Mrs. Joiner made 
 an eloquent appeal to the school children to acquaint themselves 
 with the history and heroism of the first settlers and to care for 
 and protect the monument which was to be erected. 
 
 Miss Fannie Eastman, the acting president of the club, 
 turned the first sod on the green in front of the town clerk's 
 office, the site selected for the monument. As she did this, 
 she recited the following lines which she had written : 
 
$2 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Dear old Royalton, thee we love 
 All our other thoughts above, 
 And the spot we mark today 
 Shall be dear to us alway. 
 They who plant the trees plant hopes, 
 But they who put to granite strokes 
 Mark that which ever shall endure 
 ' ' And through the ages standeth sure. 
 
 Mrs. Seymour Culver then planted the staff of the stars and 
 stripes where the sod had been turned, and the entire assembly- 
 joined in singing "America." 
 
 William Skinner, the Town Clerk, accepted the gift for 
 the town and voiced the gratitude of the people to Mr. Wild 
 for making possible this memorial of an event so important 
 historically. 
 
 One of the most interested observers of this ceremony was 
 Mrs. Katherine Fletcher Kendall Rix (widow of the late William 
 Rix), who watched from her window. This was her last par- 
 ticipation in any public event, as only a few weeks later her life, 
 so rich in public interests, came to a close in the 9 2d year of her 
 age. 
 
ROYALTON WOMAN'S CLUB. 
 
 And what has the Royalton Woman's Club done to entitle 
 it to the honor of placing the memorial tablet ? 
 
 From the organization in 1896 it has been progressive. In 
 1898 admittance was gained to the Vermont Federation of 
 Women's Clubs, and one of the first achievements by the club 
 out of the ordinary was the Hghting of the village streets. In 
 these kerosene lamps, now replaced by electric lights, the women 
 took especial delight, as many of them came from Boston, 
 where they had long done service in illuminating Boston Com- 
 mon. 
 
 The members next gave their attention to the condition of 
 the original grant of the town. This parchment was granted 
 by New York (Thomas Chittenden, governor) to George Ban- 
 yar, William Smith, Whitehead Hicks and John Kelley and 
 was surveyed and allotted by them in 1770. The first settlement 
 was made in 1 771 by Robert Havens, who moved there with his 
 family from Sharon, Vt. The grant was accompanied by a 
 map which is one of the best of this vicinity ever made. Time 
 and the desire of many a man to trace the boundaries with his 
 fore finger threatened the record with dissolution, had not the 
 women of the club come to the rescue and sent the much worn 
 and in places almost illegible parchment away to Massachusetts 
 to be restored by experts. 
 
 In the entire state of Vermont there are less than a half dozen 
 of the original parchment grants in existence and Royalton is 
 justly proud of her possession. 
 
 The establishment of the Penny Savings System in the schools 
 of the town system was the next work that appealed to the 
 women. 
 
 At the time of the erection of the memorial, the officers of 
 the club were : 
 
54 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 President, Mrs. C. W. Joiner; Vice-President, Miss Gertrude M. Deni- 
 son; Recording Secretary, Mrs. H. W. Dutton; Corresponding Secretary, 
 Mrs. George Allen Laird; Treasurer, Miss Ida C. Lyman. Members: 
 Mrs. P. S. Belknap, South Royalton; Miss Mattie Buck, Mrs. Seymour 
 Culver, Mrs. H. W. Dutton, Miss Alice Chase Denison, Miss Gertrude 
 M. Denison, Miss Fanny Eastman, Mrs. R. B. Galusha, Miss Alice Deni- 
 son Grant, Mrs. M. L. Hinckley, Mrs. C. W. Joiner, Mrs. A. W. Lyman, 
 Miss Ada C. Lyman, Mrs. George Allen Laird, Mrs. F. F. Russel, Mrs. 
 D. C. Steams, W. Concord, N. H.; Mrs. William Skinner, Miss C. S. 
 Stickney, Mrs. Levi Wild, Mrs. J. F. Whitney, Miss Mary Whitney. 
 
 Presidential List — Mrs. George Allen Laird, the first president, served 
 four years. In 1903 she was elected for a fifth time, but refused to serve. 
 Mrs. C. W. Joiner is now serving her second term. Mrs. D. C. Stearns, 
 on account of illness, did not serve her first term, but was elected the third 
 time and resigned the honor because of her removal from town. Others 
 who have served are Miss Doubleday and Miss Gertrude Denison. 
 
rr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * , 
 
 ^-'/Sl 
 
 l^^,si#; 
 
 
 fe^^^fj 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
 
 THE ACADEMY. 
 
THE UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT, 
 
 May 23rd, 1906, was dedicated to the unveiling of the monu- 
 ment. There was a large and representative gathering of 
 townspeople on the village green and in the Congregational 
 church. Former residents of Royalton and descendants of 
 captives came from far and near, and a band set patriotic 
 echoes a-flying. The president of the Woman's Club, Mrs. 
 Charles W. Joiner, was in charge of the ceremonies. The par- 
 ticipants of the program were nearly all descendants of cap- 
 tives. After the invocation by Rev. J. F. Whitney, Katherine 
 Dewey recited the following poem written by C. W. Scarff, of 
 Burlington, Vt.: 
 
 THE STORY OF ROYALTON. 
 
 My song relates to Royalton 
 
 When settlement had just begun; 
 
 To the stalwart men of the wild frontier; 
 
 Their noble wives, and their children dear. 
 
 And hark ye all who are gathered round, 
 
 Behold, you are standing on sacred ground. 
 
 For in this vale long years ago 
 
 They fell a prey to the red skinned foe: 
 
 Their homes laid waste, and the fire-brand 
 
 Spread desolation throughout the land. 
 
 But the Martyr blood of sacrifice 
 
 Cried out from earth to the angry skies, 
 
 And the answer came as the lightning flash, 
 
 And the onward sweep of the whirlwind crash, 
 
 Arousing the settlers throughout the state 
 
 To rise in arms ere it be too late, 
 
 And when the clouds of war rolled by 
 
 And the sun appeared in the peaceful sky, 
 
 It shone on a land forever free 
 
 And consecrated to liberty. 
 
56 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 You doubtless know the story well 
 
 That dear old grandsire used to tell, 
 
 Of how the hardy Pioneer 
 
 Encamped within the forest here: 
 
 Hewed out a cabin all by hand: 
 
 Set up a home and cleared the land: 
 
 How year by year their numbers grew 
 
 As thrifty families used to do, 
 
 And how they coaxed abundant yield 
 
 From meadow lot and cultured field, 
 
 Nor dreamed that they had aught to fear 
 
 From straggling Indians camping near. 
 
 And so they toiled in sweet content 
 
 Within this wild environment. 
 
 But hark! what mystic sounds I hear 
 
 In rhythmic cadence soft and clear! 
 
 'Tis but the tread of phantom feet: 
 
 Of spectral travelers down the street. 
 
 In thought I see them on their way 
 
 To the house of God on that Sabbath Day. 
 
 Their hearts aglow with joy and song 
 
 As peacefully they move along. 
 
 How beautiful the hills of green: 
 
 The river winding down between: 
 
 Reflecting silvery clouds on high 
 
 As they wing their way athwart the sky. 
 
 Was ever a scene on earth more fair 
 
 Than the congregation gathered there ? 
 
 But the vision passes from my sight 
 
 And the forms are lost in the shades of night. 
 
 But O! what a change the morrow brings, 
 
 For at break of day the Tocsin rings. 
 
 To Arms! to meet in mortal strife 
 
 With fiends of the torch and scalping knife. 
 
 A British captain in command 
 
 As onward rush that hostile band. 
 
 They took the settlers unaware 
 
 Without a warning to prepare. 
 
 No time their household goods to save: 
 
 No time to flee to sheltering cave: 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 57 
 
 Husbands were torn from their wives' embrace 
 
 And families scattered from place to place. 
 
 And thus they fell an easy prey 
 
 And were safely bound and led away. 
 
 Nor did the savages retreat 
 
 'Till their stroke of vengeance was complete. 
 
 Scarce a home in town escaped the fate 
 
 Of devouring torch and fiendish hate, 
 
 And clouds of smoke in the stifling air 
 
 Completed the scene of black despair. 
 
 But let us turn from history's page 
 
 And legend of departed age; 
 
 For transient was that hapless time 
 
 Of war and waste and nameless crime, 
 
 And view the town in peaceful mood, 
 
 A modern, thrifty neighborhood. 
 
 The handiwork of God remains 
 
 Redeemed from wounds and free trom stains. 
 
 Behold the brooks, the sparkling rills, 
 
 The rocks, the everlasting hills! 
 
 The same old sod they used to tread: 
 
 The same vast firmament o'er head, 
 
 Are parts of God's eternal plan 
 
 That forms the heritage of man. 
 
 And now we come to the final scene, 
 
 Assembled here on the village green. 
 
 This Monument to dedicate, 
 
 A fit memorial of the fate 
 
 That once befell the pioneers, 
 
 Lest we forget in coming years. 
 
 Grow green, O grass, o'er crumbled grave 
 
 Of dusky foe and hero brave: 
 
 Blow softly, O ye winds of time. 
 
 And cool the rancor of this crime: 
 
 Shine brightly, O ye orb of day. 
 
 And melt the mists of hate away! 
 
 Then all may live as all men should, 
 
 By the golden rule of brotherhood. 
 
58 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 The flags veiling the monument were drawn away by Helen 
 Dewey, Gertrude Dewey, David Wild (all descendants of 
 Gamer Rix) and Max Bliss, a descendant of John Hutchinson. 
 Then the assembly gathered in the church. Prayer was of- 
 fered by Rev. E. E. Wells, South Royalton; a quartette ren- 
 dered the hymn which was sung at the Centennial Anniversary; 
 Rev. Sherman Goodwin, of South Royalton, read the Scripture ; 
 and Mrs. P. G. Belknap sang a solo. 
 
 A very able address was given by Rev. William Skinner 
 Hazen, D.D., of Beverly, Mass., a grandson of Rev. Azel Wash- 
 bum, an early minister of the Congregational church. He 
 began by a brief notice of some of the saUent points in the 
 early history of Vermont, and then passed to that of Royalton. 
 
ADDRESS BY REV. WILLIAM SKINNER HAZEN, D.D. 
 
 Royalton! It is a name which was a household word in 
 my boyhood home; the residence of my maternal grand- 
 parents, and the early home of my sainted mother; Royalton, 
 of which in my earliest days I never tired of hearing and from 
 one of whose honored citizens I received my name; Royalton, 
 of which I cherished so high regard that to my childish imag- 
 ination it seemed most like heaven of any place on earth. 
 
 It was originally granted by New York to George Banyan, 
 William Smith, Whitehead Hicks and John Kelley, and was 
 surveyed and allotted by them in 1770. Robert Havens and 
 his family made the first permanent settlement in 1771. He 
 was joined by EHsha Kent and family the next year. The set- 
 tlers had purchased under the New York charter. On learn- 
 ing that the Vermont legislature was about to treat this town- 
 ship as vacant land, and grant it to Eliakim Spooner and others, 
 they obtained a grant of the same. This second charter was 
 issued to Comfort Seaver and sixty others Dec. 20, 1791. The 
 town was probably organized about the year 1774 or 1775. 
 The early records are missing so that the exact date cannot 
 be determined. 
 
 In 1780 the population of the town was about three hun- 
 dred, and it was in a prosperous condition. The harvest of 
 that year was hardly secured, when a party of hostile Indians 
 visited it, and the settlement was laid in ashes. It happened 
 this way. While one force swept through the western border 
 of the state, doing httle damage, an expedition set out against 
 Newbury with the ostensible purpose of capturing Lieutenant 
 Whitcomb, who, some years before, while scouting on the 
 Richelieu, had mortally wounded and robbed the British 
 General Gordon. Lieutenant Horton of the British army 
 commanded this force. The second in command was La- 
 
60 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Motte, a Canadian, aided by a man named Hamilton, an 
 escaped prisoner, who, during the previous summer, had been 
 in Newbury and Royalton. The force consisted of three hun- 
 dred men, all but seven of whom were Indians. Leaving the 
 lake they followed up the Winooski, guided by old warriors 
 who were familiar with this ancient war path of their people 
 in the days when their attacks were the constant dread of the 
 New England frontiers. Reaching the place now the capital 
 of the state, they captured two hunters from Newbury among 
 the tall pines that then covered the narrow valley. By these 
 they were told that Newbury was expecting an attack, and the 
 people were prepared for it. Upon learning this, they changed 
 their plans, and turned their attention toward Royalton. 
 
 There had been a small fort and garrison at this place, both 
 of which had been moved to Bethel only a short time before. 
 The enemy went on, passing through what is now Barre and 
 over the mountains through Orange and Washington till they 
 came to a stream which empties into White River. Follow- 
 ing the course of this stream, they advanced till they came near 
 some settlements. Here they halted, and sent out reconnoi- 
 tering parties, who reported that all was quiet among the in- 
 habitants. They left a strong guard at this place, and went on 
 down the stream. Reaching Tunbridge Saturday evening, 
 they lay in camp during the Sabbath. Early Monday morn- 
 ing, the 1 6th of October, 1780, while it was yet dark, they sur- 
 prised the settlers and began their destructive work. They 
 first entered the house of Mr. John Hutchinson, taking him 
 and his brother Abijah prisoners. They then went to the home 
 of Mr. Robert Havens, where they killed Thomas Pember and 
 Elias Button. From here they proceeded to the house of Joseph 
 Kneeland, captured him and his father, and Simeon Belknap, 
 Giles Gibbs and Jonathan Brown. They then invaded the 
 house of Elias Curtis, making him, John Kent and Peter Mason 
 prisoners. So far the business was conducted with the greatest 
 silence, and prisoners were forbidden upon pain of death mak- 
 ing any outcry which would arouse the people. 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 61 
 
 Reaching the mouth of the branch, they made a stand, and 
 sent out small parties in different directions to plunder the 
 dwellings and bring in prisoners. One party went down White 
 River about a mile to Sharon, burned two houses and bams, 
 did much damage and took a number of prisoners. Another 
 party went up the river, captured David Waller, a young boy 
 who lived with Gen. Stevens, plundered and set fire to the Gen- 
 eral's house. They then proceeded in that direction about 
 three miles, killing the cattle, and plundering and setting fire 
 to the buildings as they passed along. Reaching another 
 stream that empties into White River, seeing a number of men 
 on the opposite shore, and being within three miles of the fort 
 they did not cross the stream, but retreated to the place where 
 in the early morning they made their first attack. 
 
 By this time the people were thoroughly aroused, and "the 
 infernal clamor of the war-whoop resounded among the hills 
 that had so long been strangers to its echoes, giving to the 
 panic another terror." Reaching the place of their first attack 
 about two o'clock with their plunder and prisoners, they filed 
 oflf to the left, passed up another branch of White River, where 
 there were some small settlements. They took a number of 
 prisoners, plundered and burnt the houses and property, and 
 proceeded about three miles into Randolph. They encamped 
 in a very secure place, easily defended, having the bank of the 
 river on their left, and a ridge of hills in their front, right and 
 rear. Having secured their prisoners and stationed their sen- 
 tries, they kindled their fires, prepared and ate their food, and 
 lay down to sleep. During the day, "burning, pillaging," says 
 the historian, "and making prisoners as they swooped with 
 the celerity of falcons upon one and another isolated home- 
 stead or defenseless hamlet, they killed four persons, captured 
 twenty-five and destroyed quantities of provisions and gar- 
 nered harvests." Mr. Conant says, "By two in the afternoon 
 they had killed two men, taken twenty-six prisoners, burned 
 twenty-one houses and twenty bams with their contents, and 
 killed all the cattle, sheep and swine they could find. They 
 
62 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 captured and took with them about thirty horses." It is said 
 that two small buildings, a woodshed and com bam were the 
 only ones which escaped the flames, so thorough was the work 
 of destmction of these savages. 
 
 Before starting on their retreat Mrs. Hendee, the young 
 wife of one of the settlers, with great courage and determination, 
 approached them. She pleaded so eamestly and persistently 
 for the release of her little boy that he was restored to her. 
 Encouraged by her success she continued her entreaty till nine 
 other small boys were set free. One of the Indians then in a 
 fit of good humor offered to carry her over the river on his back. 
 She accepted the offer, and her savage gallant carried her safely 
 over, although the water was half his depth, and she soon 
 reached home with her httle band of boys to the no small sur- 
 prise of their parents. 
 
 I have gathered these other facts of interest. In one of 
 the houses first attacked two women, suddenly awakened by 
 the rashing in of the savages, were so frightened as to lose self- 
 control. They went out of doors, dishabille, and stood motion- 
 less till the Indians brought their clothes. This act of kind- 
 ness restored their senses. They dressed, took their children 
 and fled to the woods, while the savages were plundering the 
 house. At another place one of the women had the boldness 
 to approach the Indians for distressing helpless women and 
 children, saying that, if they had the courage of warriors, they 
 would cross the river and go and fight men at the fort. The 
 Indians bore her remarks patiently, and only replied, " Squaw 
 shouldn't say too much." At stiU another place a woman 
 having her gown carried out of the house with other plunder 
 resolved to recover it. Seeing it in a heap of articles at the 
 door which the savages were dividing among themselves, she 
 seized it. One of the Indians knocked her down with his gun. 
 But she was not discouraged. Patiently waiting her oppor- 
 tunity when the savages were collecting more plunder, she again 
 seized her gown, and walked off, having one child in her arms 
 and leading another by the hand. 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 63 
 
 But to return to our narrative. The inhabitants surprised, 
 frightened, and scattered were unable to do anything in their 
 own defense. However, the report of the invasion soon spread 
 among the adjacent settlements, and aroused those on the Con- 
 necticut River and adjoining towns. By evening several hun- 
 dreds — ^two hundred and fifty men, one authority says — had 
 collected at the place where the attack commenced. They 
 organized by choosing Captain House, who had served several 
 campaigns in the Continental army, as their commander. By 
 this time the enemy were encamped seven or eight miles ahead. 
 Captain House and his undisciphned, but brave, corps, with 
 great enthusiasm, began a vigorous pursuit of the savage army 
 in a dark night in an almost trackless wilderness, guided by 
 a few marked trees amidst the logs, rocks and hills with which 
 the country abounded. In spite of all obstacles they pushed 
 on till they reached the place where the last houses had been 
 burnt. Being now evidently near the enemy, they advanced 
 with great caution. The sentries of the marauders were 
 stationed nearly half a mile in the rear. Near the place where 
 they had crossed the last stream there was a large log which 
 served as a foot bridge. Not far from the river was a gentle 
 rise of the land with a number of large trees near the path. 
 The Indian sentries were posted behind these trees. Some of 
 Captain House's men were on horseback and some on foot. 
 The front guard had passed the log, and the enemy's sentries 
 and about one-third the main body had crossed the stream. 
 The van, arriving within a few yards of the Indian sentries, 
 were fired upon, and one man was wounded. Returning the 
 fire the Vermonters killed one and wounded one or two more. 
 The Indian guards then fled to their camp. Captain House's 
 army, advancing a little farther, formed within three hundred 
 yards of the Indian camp, and waited for daylight. The 
 savages were now greatly agitated. Fatigued, and in a pro- 
 found slumber after one of their ravenous suppers, they were 
 filled with fear and confusion. However, they were soon suf- 
 ficiently quieted to form plans for their safety, which gave ample 
 
64 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 evidence that they were not lacking in the arts of policy. They 
 sent one of their prisoners, an old man, informing the Vermont- 
 ers that, if they attacked them, they would instantly put every 
 one of the prisoners to death. The expectation of an attack 
 had already proved fatal to two of them. Thinking the Ver- 
 monters would certainly relieve them, one of the prisoners 
 refused to march, and another was doomed on account of the 
 Indian that had been slain. As they lay bound on the ground 
 the savages tomahawked and scalped them. 
 
 While the Vermonters were considering the message from 
 the Indians, the warriors formed to cover their retreat. Imme- 
 diately crossing the stream they moved through Randolph, 
 where they captured Zadock Steele, thence through the west 
 part of Brookfield to the valley of the Dog River in Northfield 
 and on to the Onion River. Following that river to its mouth, 
 they embarked for Canada, reaching St. John and Montreal 
 without being molested. House and his men, waiting for the 
 dawn, and deliberating on the message brought them by the 
 prisoner till the enemy had left their camp, went about five 
 miles further into Brookfield. Thinking pursuit vain, they 
 returned to their homes. By caution and delay they lost the 
 opportunity of attacking the enemy to advantage. 
 
 Some blame Captain House for this failure and charge him 
 with gross negligence and incompetence, and say the enemy 
 shrewdly outwitted him. But, after all, it is a question whether 
 it was not wiser to return as he did. Had he pursued, precious 
 lives might have been sacrificed and such enmity of the Indians 
 aroused as would have proved fatal to the settlers. On reach- 
 ing Montreal, " the prisoners were sold," according to the nar- 
 rative of Zadock Steele, " for half a Joe each, or eight dollars 
 a head." Most of them were afterwards exchanged, and the 
 following summer returned to their homes. But Steele did 
 not escape till two years later. 
 
 My first knowledge of this appalling incident in the history 
 of the town which meant so much to the early settlers, is asso- 
 ciated with a venerable, gray headed old man with a group 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 65 
 
 of school children around him listening with intense interest to 
 the narrative of his capture, when only thirteen years old, the 
 long and wearisome journey through the wilderness to Canada, 
 his experience with the Indians, his ransom by a French lady 
 who bought him, treated him like a mother her child and when 
 the war was over sent him back to his parents, who could 
 not regard him other than as one risen from the dead. They 
 had not heard from him since the day of his capture. Though 
 it was never my privilege to hear the story from his own lips, 
 yet I distinctly remember the highly revered old man, and no 
 one could meet him without feeling that the divine direction, 
 "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face 
 of the old man," applied to him. 
 
 From different sources I have gathered the following facts 
 which I will give mostly in the language of Grandpa Rix in 
 his talks with the children. "As we hurried on," he says, 
 "we encountered dozens of men, women and children who had 
 fled from their homes terror stricken, seeking some place of 
 safety. Some fled to the mountains, others to the woods, while 
 larger numbers kept the road, following down the River road 
 towards the Fort, some four or five miles distant. We travelled 
 on with all possible speed, but were not within a mile of the 
 Fort when the terrible war whoop of the savages resounded in 
 our ears. On they came yelling and shouting and hideous in 
 their fantastic dress and war paint. In a few minutes they 
 have overtaken and surrounded us, a little company of de- 
 fenseless men, women and children. My little brother Joe and 
 myself were torn from mother notwithstanding her piteous 
 pleadings and entreaties. I had a stout club in my hand with 
 which I tried to defend myself, determined to sell my liberty 
 as dearly as possible, but that was quickly wrested from me. 
 We were securely bound and marched back to the place where 
 the captain of the band awaited the coming of the raiding 
 party. Oh, the scenes of that terrible day, dear children, seem 
 burned on my memory, and even today, I can hardly think of 
 them with any degree of composure." Then describing the 
 
66 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 efforts of Mrs. Hendee to secure the release of the boys of which 
 we have already spoken, Mr. Rix says, "I could never describe 
 to you the utter despair which took possession of me when 
 I found Mrs. Hendee's efforts for my release were in vain. 
 My disappointment and grief were too deep for tears and to 
 be torn from my parents in this cruel manner seemed worse 
 than death. It was a long march through the wilderness and 
 with the other prisoners I was taken to Montreal." He was 
 loaded with heavy packs which he carried as long as he could 
 and then fell under them. He said if he had been told that 
 he would be killed he could not have carried the burden far- 
 ther. When his Indian keeper took in the situation, the boy 
 was relieved of part of his burden. But to continue the narra- 
 tive in Mr. Rix's own words, "A kind-hearted French lady 
 saw me and became interested in my behalf, and, at length, 
 succeeded in obtaining my release from the Indians. She 
 took me to her home and treated me with the utmost kindness, 
 and at last was instrumental in sending me home. In parting 
 she made me a present of a gold guinea." "Did you spend 
 it on the way home, Grandpa?" "No, but I will tell you, 
 children, how I did spend that guinea. A few Sabbaths after 
 I reached home, a young minister came to preach for us. The 
 price for his services was a guinea a Sunday. As father was 
 Treasurer of the Society, the duty of paying the minister de- 
 volved upon him, but there was no money in the treasury. 
 I went to the little box in which I kept my small treasures and 
 brought the guinea to father to pay the minister." "That is 
 a noble-hearted boy," said my father, "but you shall never 
 lose anything by this, my son." Mr. Rix describes his recep- 
 tion on reaching home in this interesting manner. "One 
 Sabbath morning early in October, the family were at break- 
 fast, when suddenly the door opened and I bounded into the 
 room and was clasped in my parents' arms. 'Bless the Lord, 
 oh my soul!' exclaimed my father. 'We have trusted in Thee 
 and Thou hast brought it to pass, that Thou hast restored to 
 us our dear son, blessed be Thy holy name!' My dear little 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 67 
 
 brothers and sisters crowded around me almost wild with joy, 
 as my mother said, *I think that was the happiest day of all 
 our lives.'" 
 
 But to turn our thoughts again to the sorely afflicted Roy- 
 alton. The day after the raid, "a deep snow covered the 
 smoking ruins and desolated fields. It was a sad beginning 
 of Winter for the afflicted and homeless women and children, 
 the men prisoners or killed, their houses and provisions burned, 
 their horses carried off." It is difficult for us with our peace- 
 ful, even luxurious homes and abundant provisions to picture 
 even in imagination their trying, desolate, suffering condition. 
 They faced hardships such as would have utterly discouraged 
 persons of less courage and resolution. With genuine "Ver- 
 mont pluck" they gathered what remained of their scattered 
 effects and set themselves in the spirit of real heroism to the 
 work of repairing what seemed ruined fortunes. 
 
 To call to mind such experiences in the life of our forbears 
 and dedicate a monument made possible by the patriotic 
 efforts of the Woman's Club, encouraged by the generous gift 
 of a distinguished grandson of one of the captives, a monu- 
 ment as enduring as the granite of which it is constructed, 
 a silent, yet eloquent witness to the passerby of the trials, 
 the hardships, the losses, the sufferings, and yet the heroic 
 bearing of the early settlers of this historic town is the purpose 
 of the hour. We read of an ancient people whose leader 
 directed them to build a monument of unhewn stones to com- 
 memorate an important event in their history, and said by way 
 of explanation, "That this may be a sign among you that when 
 your children ask their fathers in time to come saying, What 
 mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That 
 the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant 
 of the Lord, when it passed over Jordan: and these stones 
 shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever." 
 So when the children of Royalton shall stand with their fathers 
 by this beautiful monument, not of rough stones from the 
 river, but of finely wrought granite from the eternal hills of 
 
68 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 their native State, and ask, "What mean ye by this stone?" 
 the reply shall be, "This stone is for a memorial unto the chil- 
 dren of Royalton of the heroic bearing and intense suffering of 
 the fathers and mothers in the early settlement of the town, 
 especially when visited by a savage foe, their homes were in 
 ashes, their property was taken or ruthlessly destroyed and 
 many of their number were carried into captivity." 
 
 But to be more specific in regard to the things for which 
 these distinguished people stood in the midst of malignant 
 foes, hardship, suffering, loss of all earthly goods, in some 
 instances the loss of life which every one holds most dear. 
 They stood for principle. With the courage of their convic- 
 tions, they were true to the highest type of manhood. They 
 could not be bribed or swerved one iota from what they re- 
 garded right, and hence duty. In that spirit they came into 
 this then uninhabited wilderness to make homes for them- 
 selves and children, to create a healthy atmosphere in which 
 to live, to establish a government in which the rights of all 
 the people should be respected, for they "are not only the 
 governed but the governors." They had the spirit of Presi- 
 dent Roosevelt. A friend congratulated him on his brilliant 
 success. He replied, "I put myself in the way of things hap- 
 pening, and they happened." So these early settlers in the 
 face of fearful odds, even at the risk of life, without hesitation 
 put themselves in the way of things happening and they hap- 
 pened, sometimes with great loss, but never with loss of self- 
 respect, of character. Firmly grounded in principle, no thought 
 of loss or gain could shake them in the least. "Graft" 
 was unknown to them. It stands for something entirely for- 
 eign to the motives which actuated them, to the purposes they 
 would accomplish. The self-seeking, ambitious politician was 
 not found in their company. If by chance one strayed within 
 their borders he felt at once like a stranger among a foreign 
 people, — out of place and lonesome in the extreme. Office 
 sought them, rather than they the office. "Boss" and "boss- 
 ism" are plants of modern discovery and growth. They had 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 69 
 
 no place in their social or political life. They could not flour- 
 ish in their soil. Their ideals were lofty and noble, entire 
 strangers to the modern inventions of the twentieth century. 
 They lived and wrought, whether for the State or the indi- 
 vidual, in bUssful ignorance of "bossism in poUtics" or "graft 
 in high finance." Who will deny that they are to be highly 
 commended for such ignorance, even if they are now pro- 
 nounced "behind the times." Their word was as good as 
 a bond. They daily stood before their fellows, in their inter- 
 course with them as the embodiment of all that is truly honor- 
 able, honest, just and of good report. 
 
 Coupled with this devotion to principle and integrity of 
 character, and in some sense the inspiration of it, were intelli- 
 gence and religion, enHghtenment of mind and intelligent ser- 
 vice of God. Very soon after the town was organized, in 
 1774 or 1775, or as some say in 1777, the Congregational Church 
 was formed and about a score of years later Royalton Academy 
 was incorporated. Thus the Church and the School join 
 hands in advancing the highest interests of the people. As 
 some one has recently said, "The Church and the School- 
 house are our only standing army." They have made an in- 
 delible impression upon the succeeding generations for all that 
 is most desirable in this life and pointed them to the attain- 
 ment of the enduring riches. To some in this progressive 
 age with modem views and methods it may seem that they 
 were too severe in their ideas, narrow-minded and bigoted. 
 It may be said that they might have liberalized their doctrinal 
 views and principles of practice to advantage. But however 
 that may be, it must be acknowledged that with all their stern- 
 ness and so-called narrow-mindedness, they produced strong 
 characters, developed men and women of power and com- 
 manding influence in the various vocations they chose. It is 
 questionable if any later generation with all the boasted improve- 
 ments, the superior advantages and open doors of opportunity 
 have developed men and women of more sterhng integrity 
 of character or better equipped for the stern duties of Hfe, 
 
yo BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 or who have risen to higher eminence or achieved greater suc- 
 cess in Ufe. All honor, then, to the fathers and mothers of 
 those times which tried men's souls, who in the face of fear- 
 ful odds, of privation, hardship, suffering, laid the foundation 
 of institutions as enduring as the eternal hills by which they 
 were surrounded, under whose benign influence their children 
 and their children's children to the latest generation have 
 been and are to be trained for efficient service in Church and 
 State as well as in the more quiet walks of private Ufe. How- 
 ever those of this advanced age may be disposed to criticise 
 and even ridicule the ideas and practices of the early fathers, 
 they can hardly estimate the worth of the invaluable bless- 
 ings they have received, all unconsciously, perhaps, from the 
 very practices and their results they are disposed to criticise 
 and even ridicule. 
 
 In this time of commercialism and modem thought, when 
 men are "hurrying to and fro," 
 
 "Seeking for some great thing to do, 
 Or secret thing to know," 
 
 there is great danger of drifting away from the ideals of the 
 fathers, of lowering the standard of manhood and the plane 
 of action of men in their deahngs with one another and man- 
 agement of the affairs of State. Indeed, it sometimes seems 
 as though the standard were already lowered and that there 
 was a tendency downward in all those things that make for 
 the noblest character, the strictest integrity, the realizing the 
 highest ideals in pubUc as well as private life. If this is not 
 the drift what mean the frequent defalcations, the stain on the 
 character of prominent men who have stood well before the 
 people and seemed worthy the positions to which they have 
 been elevated and the trust reposed in them. What mean 
 this talk of "tainted money," these startling revelations in the 
 realm of Insurance in the East and land grabbing and rob- 
 bing of the government in the West ? To check this down- 
 ward tendency, this apparent drift away from the lofty prin- 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 ft 
 
 ciples and high ideals of the fathers, it is well to pause and 
 recall the foundations laid by the fathers, the principles that 
 actuated them, the character they developed and the work 
 they accomplished, their vital service to freedom and the State, 
 when they fought valiantly and with singleness of aim for 
 the truth and would not compromise or equivocate or in the 
 slightest degree tone down their righteous indignation at evil, 
 no matter what the consequences might be. Poets may sing 
 most beautifully and orators may declaim most eloquently of 
 the heroism, the devotion to principle, the integrity of char- 
 acter, the hardships, the sufferings, the extremely trying ex- 
 periences of the fathers, but the voice of the poet and the tongue 
 of the orator will soon be silenced while the message of this 
 monument will continue to be presented most impressively 
 to each succeeding generation so long as time shall last. Heed- 
 ing this message, following its instructions as in the past so 
 in the future, each succeeding generation shall continue to 
 make history of which the people may well be proud. But, 
 friends, after all that is said and done, the most worthy trib- 
 ute we can pay those whose virtues and labors we commem- 
 orate this day is by dedicating ourselves anew to the principles 
 for which they stood, and by fidelity to the sacred trust com- 
 mitted to us pass the goodly heritage they left us to the next 
 generation untainted, but increased in value by high-minded 
 living and honorable service. 
 
 After a prayer written by Professor William Rix, Utica, 
 N.Y., and delivered by Rev. Levi Wild, there followed an 
 original poem by Rev. J. Newton Perrin, Jr., great-grandson 
 of Garner Rix, captive. 
 
 THE BURNING OF ROYALTON. 
 
 The cabins of the pioneer, 
 
 Dotting White River lands, had come 
 
 To where, with mingled hope and fear, 
 Was christened soon fair Royalton. 
 
72 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 O Royalton, our Royalton, 
 
 Mother of loving children thou: 
 Of whom the many have passed on; 
 
 While these thy wings are nesting now; 
 Others claim heritage in thee 
 
 From where'er winds of heaven blow, 
 Still cherishing the dear roof -tree 
 
 Though by strange waters they may sow. 
 
 The settlers, beating measures true 
 
 Against the woody giants, clear 
 The virgin soil till not a few 
 
 Wide farms and tillages appear. 
 Sleek sheep and cattle graze the slopes 
 
 Of rounded hills; and oft are found 
 Barns that are tested to their copes, 
 
 For peace and plenty here abound. 
 Sounds of blithe industry and cheer 
 
 Float from the dwellings. At the mill 
 The old stone swirls to noisy gear, 
 
 Led by the streamlet from the hill. 
 The calm-eyed oxen press the yoke. 
 
 Their burdens slowly gaining ground. 
 While hoof of horse with rapid stroke 
 
 Awakes betimes the echoes round. 
 And children play about the home. 
 
 Nor share their guardians' alarms. 
 The maiden deftly plies the loom. 
 
 The mother holds the babe in arms. — 
 
 Dread war! The crimes done in thy name 
 
 Pierce to the skies, nor die away! 
 And blood and woe have cried, "For shame!" 
 
 Since men first fought in ancient day. 
 A Briton's blood "the border" stains; 
 
 Revenge no golden rule may know; 
 England her red men, fierce, retains; 
 
 And settlements must be laid low! 
 Yet all is fair in war forsooth ? 
 
 Then is much foul which men call fair. 
 As when on happy hearths the sleuth 
 
 Steals suddenly and unaware! 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 73 
 
 Filing primeval water-ways 
 
 Down from the wigwams of the north, 
 A cruel, sullen horde forays 
 
 To ruin homes of noble worth! 
 
 October as a glad surprise 
 
 Floods the far-famed Green Mountain state. 
 Then hills bouquets toss to the skies, 
 
 With autumn's coloring replete. 
 A peaceful Sabbath day, begun 
 
 In rest and worship, had its fill. 
 And at the night-fall dropped the sun 
 
 Behind his well-accustomed hill. 
 The stiu-dy farm folk are awake 
 
 By the first glint the dawn affords, 
 And some the morning meal partake. 
 
 And some have gone to fields and woods, — 
 When, as a herd let loose from hell, 
 
 The Redcoats' troop of Copperskins, 
 With knife and noose and torch and yell 
 
 And gun and tomahawk, begins 
 Wild havoc homestead haunts among! 
 
 Falls the forged bolt as from clear sky! 
 Who stays behind meets captive thong; 
 
 Who turns to flee, if seen, must die. 
 And those there were of tender years. 
 
 And women left alone that mom, 
 Who rose to weep most bitter tears, 
 
 And find their loved ones from them torn! 
 
 Alas the day! Around the hearth 
 
 When grandsires told it to the young, 
 All hushed would be the cry of mirth, 
 
 And children to their mothers clung. 
 The dreadful scourge had passed full soon: 
 
 But on those dimly burning pyres 
 Hopes of the desolate consume; 
 
 While hapless husbands, lovers, sires. 
 Sons, brothers, in captivity 
 
 Or death are held. "O Lord, how long?" 
 Vengeance belongeth unto Thee! 
 
 And mercy doth to Thee belong! 
 
74 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 Oh, silence, smoke and sacrifice! 
 
 Yet suffering captives shall retrace 
 The trail, homes on these ruins rise, 
 
 And industry here throb apace. 
 But never will the dead return! 
 
 Nor life be as it was before. 
 For howe'er much may memory spurn 
 
 Her tragic guest, he's at the door! 
 
 Vicarious fathers, in those days 
 
 Ye dared life for the race unborn! 
 And heartily we speak your praise; 
 
 The cup of eulogy we turn. 
 Fadeless exemplars! Hero band! 
 
 Strong and unconquerable were ye, 
 Upspringing to possess the land 
 
 When crushed by sad adversity! 
 And, daughters of this vicinage. 
 
 By whose good auspices we meet. 
 What high ideals, in that age. 
 
 Of womanhood both brave and sweet 
 Adown the vista we can see! 
 
 Those annals never shall be told 
 Without a meed to Dame Hendee 
 
 And heroines of dauntless mold! 
 
 Ah, Royalton, old Royalton, 
 
 The stately centuries glide by! 
 Yet hearts will never cease to turn 
 
 Back to the dire calamity 
 Which tried thee as the gold is tried. 
 
 Nor in the furnace found thee dross. 
 But of true worth and purified — 
 
 That crucible thy lustrous cross! 
 
 The congregation joined in the singing of "America," 
 and Rev. C. E. Beals pronounced the benediction. Miss 
 C. Stickney was the pianist. 
 
 At the close of the exercises in the church Mrs. Clara 
 Denison McClellan gave a reception in her spacious colonial 
 house. 
 
A significant mile-stone in the passing of time is the monu- 
 ment on the village green which marks the 125th Anniversary. 
 The inscription on one side reads: — 
 
 erected by 
 
 royalton 
 
 woman's club, 
 
 OCT. 16, 1905. 
 
 And on the other: — 
 
 COMMEMORATING 
 
 THE BURNING OF 
 
 ROYALTON 
 
 BY 
 
 INDIANS, 
 
 OCT. 16, 1780. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
DK. PHINEAS PAKKHURST'S TOMBSTONE. 
 
STORY OF PHINEAS PARKHURST. 
 
 Phineas Parkhurst was the Paul Revere of Oct. i6, and 
 this is his story as now known: — He had called on the evening 
 of Oct. 15 at a neighbor's house in the north part of the town, 
 and had been persuaded to spend the night there. The name 
 of the host is unknown, but while the family sat at breakfast 
 'the alarm was given and Phineas escaped on horseback ac- 
 companied by his hostess and her daughter. They forded 
 the river, probably screened by the fog, and as they fled he 
 warned the inhabitants on the east side of the main stream. 
 After leaving the two in a place of safety, he returned to spread 
 the alarm and assist others in escaping. He attempted to 
 cross the river opposite his father's house, but seeing the Ind- 
 ians in possession turned back. The Indians fired, and the 
 ball, passing through his body, lodged under the skin. Grasp- 
 ing it between his thumb and fingers he forced his horse up 
 the bank and galloped down stream still giving the alarm, 
 though bent on his own escape and eager to find a surgeon. 
 A few miles further on a young girl gave stimulant to the half 
 fainting rider and water to the horse in exchange for the half- 
 whispered warning, "Indians at Royalton." As he passed 
 Stephen Tilden's tavern in Hartford he could only motion 
 to the alarm gun standing in the doorway; a mile further on, 
 the jaded horse and suffering rider crossed White River to 
 its south side, then on to Robinson's ferry over the Connecti- 
 cut River, and at Dr. Hall's door, on the opposite bank, the 
 faithful horse bearing the nearly exhausted youth halted, 
 and the ride was done. But what a change had been wrought ! 
 His passing through the land had awakened the alarm guns, 
 gathered the men to arms, and hurried the women and chil- 
 
8o BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 dren to the woods. At his word the militia marched that 
 afternoon to Royalton, and the whole valley, and all the ad- 
 jacent land, was a-quiver with excitement. That famous 
 ride ended the first chapter in Phineas Parkhurst's history. 
 
 The house is yet standing in West Lebanon on the road to 
 Butmanville where Dr. Laban Gates extracted "a ball from 
 the abdomen of Phineas Parkhurst of Royalton," and the 
 room is still pointed out where he lay during his convalescence. 
 On his recovery he studied and practised medicine, under the 
 direction of Dr. Nathaniel Hall, Lebanon's first doctor, and 
 one of her soldiers in the Revolution. During this time Phineas 
 was often seen in Royalton, as he owned land there, and the 
 record of his intended marriage gives the information that 
 "both were of Royalton." In March, 1784, he was married 
 by Rev. John Searle to his cousin, Lucy Pierce, and they took 
 their wedding journey over the same road which Phineas had 
 ridden when giving the alarm. 
 
 They settled not far from Dr. Hall's, and "the bride's dowry 
 consisted of a cow, a pig, three plates, three knives and forks, 
 and three cups and saucers. In six months her cow and pig 
 went to pay her husband's debts, and she had cut up her wed- 
 ding dress, a linen gown dyed with copperas, which she spun 
 and wove herself, to make him shirts. His white cravat, of 
 which he had but one, she washed overnight. Yet in these 
 narrow circumstances the foundation of Phineas Parkhurst's 
 reputation as a physician was laid, and much of the experience 
 won which placed him among the first of his profession in the 
 two States in which he practised." 
 
 A word picture tells us, "He was short of stature, thick- 
 set, carried his head a little forward when considering a case." 
 A proof of his loyalty is in the record that he attended free 
 of charge the family of the young woman who refreshed him 
 on his ride from Royalton. A privilege that he enjoyed with 
 the minister of the town was his life-long exemption from 
 paying toll over the Lyman toll-bridge built in 1800. As 
 family physician to Elias Lyman this honor was accorded. 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 81 
 
 His life as a doctor was not an easy one, as his field of prac- 
 tice covered many miles in Vermont and New Hampshire; 
 the roads were primitive, there were few bridges and the 
 greater part of the population scattered among the hilltops. 
 The record runs, "He went always on horseback, with his 
 physic stowed in saddle-bags; in heat and cold, ploughing 
 through snowdrifts, wallowing in spring mud, wet with rain 
 and streams in flood, yet never refusing a call however distant 
 or unprofitable." 
 
 In those days according to the Day Book of Dr. Dan Wright, 
 Hartford, Vt., 1805, the charge for an ordinary visit was a 
 shiUing, and yet at the end of ten years' practice Dr. Parkhurst 
 was able to buy a property two miles from West Lebanon on 
 the Mascoma River, which included a dam and mill, small 
 farm, and house which stood near Lebanon's first church and 
 opposite Pine Cemetery. Here he began breeding mules for 
 market, and through this venture alone he acquired wealth and 
 much renown. The mules were sold South, and for the Penn- 
 sylvania coal-fields, and were also shipped from Boston, New 
 London, and New Haven to the West Indies. In his visits to 
 Boston and other cities Dr. Parkhurst came into touch with the 
 best thought of the day, and he lived in keeping with his posi- 
 tion as one of the ablest men of New England. After 14 years 
 in the square, story and a half house he enlarged it to its pres- 
 ent proportions and even today it bespeaks taste and elegance. 
 At that time it was said to be one of the finest establishments 
 in the country. Here the children grew up; the eldest, Phineas, 
 studied medicine with his father after graduating from Dart- 
 mouth College, married Persis Kendall of Templeton, Mass., 
 and in 181 1 settled in Hartford, Vt., where a son, Kendall, 
 was bom. In the Ubrary at Keene, N. H., there hangs "The 
 first Landing of Columbus," done in embroidery by Harriet 
 Parkhurst, in 181 4. Besides the eldest daughter, Lucy, there 
 were Susan and Nancy. 
 
 After 1 810 Dr. Parkhurst made so many real estate purchases 
 
82 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 that he was reported to own nearly the whole town of Lebanon. 
 Over sixty deeds recorded his possessions. 
 
 In the spring of 1817 he sold his big house to the Rev. John 
 Ford and his English wife, and he himself removed to Lebanon 
 village, where he lived in a great house on Carter's Corner 
 which had been used as a tavern, but which he transformed 
 into an up-to-date residence. At this time he was 57 years 
 of age. It was soon after this that his house became one 
 of mourning. In a few years six of his children died with 
 consumption. Only Harriet who married George Goldth- 
 waite Ingersoll, a Unitarian minister of Burlington and Keene, 
 lived to old age. Horace died at the age of 16. Phineas left 
 a wife and son, Susan had married John Wright of Norwich 
 and left an infant daughter; Lucy, wife of Jason Allen, left 
 a son; Nancy, wife of Asa Francis, a daughter, and Sarah 
 was engaged to marry Colby Benton, who walked as chief 
 mourner at her funeral, and years after married Susan's infant 
 daughter. 
 
 After the death of his children. Dr. Parkhurst became still 
 more absolutely devoted to his profession. An epigrammatic 
 reply of his when invited to make a speech at Dr. Muzzy's 
 Medical Society at Hanover shows the man. He said, "I 
 can't talk, but, by Judas! I can practise with the best of ye." 
 
 In a quaint picture (which was used as a fire board in the 
 Lafayette hotel) now in the village library at Lebanon he is 
 represented, as the townspeople familiarly saw him, riding 
 in his sulky drawn by a little horse, wearing the famous tall 
 hat and with whip in hand. Mules are in front of his house. 
 
 In his last years his granddaughter, Mrs. Colby Benton, 
 took care of him. Over and over again he related stories of 
 his early life; told how he enlisted when sixteen on Aug. 13, 
 1776, at Windsor, Vt., in Captain Joseph Hatch's Company of 
 Rangers, and again Sept. 20, 1777, as a fifer in Captain WilHam 
 Heaton's Company, Colonel Peter Olcott's Regiment, North- 
 ern Department, and he reckoned it as one of the most im- 
 portant events in his history that he was present at the sur- 
 
OCTOBER l6, 1780 83 
 
 render of Burgoyne. He is said to have lost his mind, and 
 the pain of his old wound led him to think the Indians were 
 coming and that he must mount his horse and away. The end 
 came for him on the anniversary of that memorable day in 
 his life, Oct. 16. 
 
 The inscription on his tombstone epitomizes his history. 
 
 "DR. PHINEAS PARKHURST, 
 
 , BORN 
 
 IN PLAINFIELD, CONN., — 
 
 IN THE REVOLUTION, 
 
 WAS AT THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE: 
 
 AND BEING WOUNDED AT THE BURNING 
 
 OF ROYALTON, VT., REMOVED TO THIS 
 
 TOWN WHERE HE RESIDED OVER 6o YEARS 
 
 DIED 
 
 16, Oct., 1844, 
 
 JE. 85. 
 
 The skilful physician, the upright man." 
 
 (Authority. Article on Dr. Phineas Parkhurst in the Vermont Antiquarian, 
 December, 1904, by Kate M. Cone, Hartford, Vt.) 
 
NOTES. 
 
 At the time of the raid Royalton had been settled ten years. 
 
 "Royalton, after one winter of desolation, arose from its 
 ashes and as a first step toward rehabilitation went valiantly 
 to work to get its land difficulties settled and itself recognized 
 as a township by the State of Vermont." 
 
 (Authority. Kate M. Cone, in the Vermont Antiquarian, December, 1904.) 
 
 "The object of this raid was to capture Lieutenant Whit- 
 comb, an American officer, who, while out with a scouting 
 party on the Sorel River, had mortally wounded General Gor- 
 don, a British officer, as he was riding between Chambly and 
 St. John, and had taken from him his watch and sword. Ex- 
 pecting to find Lieutenant Whitcomb at Newbury, an expe- 
 dition was planned against that town, and in the beginning of 
 October, a party of a 10 men, all but 7 of them Indians, started 
 on their mission of plunder and revenge, under the command 
 of Horton, a British Lieutenant, and one Le Mott, his assist- 
 ant. Their guide was a man named Hamilton, who had been 
 made a prisoner by the Americans at the surrender of Bur- 
 goyne in 1777, and had been at Royalton and Newbury on a 
 parole of honor during the preceding summer." 
 
 WILLIAM RIX, 
 In St. Albans Weekly Messenger. 
 Oct. 18, 1880. 
 
 "About a mile above the present village of Royalton was a 
 farm well known to the Indians. There was on it a large 
 Indian clearing, where they planted corn in their spring mi- 
 grations to the Connecticut to be used on their return in the 
 fall. On this farm the well-known Durkee family lived, and 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 85 
 
 two of the boys were taken by the Indians from a corn bam, 
 in process of building. One of them died in captivity. That 
 rude old barn, indestructible by the fire set to it because of the 
 green timber, still stands there with the fire marks on it." 
 
 WILLIAM RIX, 
 In St. Albans Weekly Messenger. 
 Oct. 18, 1880. 
 
 "The family of Mr. Daniel Rix had just come into the 
 settlement from Connecticut. Mr. Rix had returned to Con- 
 necticut on business, and his wife, with five or six children, 
 was warned by the valiant Gen. Elias Stevens, as he rode 
 swiftly by telling the people that Indians, 'Hell hounds,' as 
 he called them, were coming. Mrs. Rix caught an old horse, 
 improvised a bridle from a skein of yarn, managed to get all 
 the children on the horse but one. Garner, a boy 13 years old, 
 and started with the Indians in full cry behind. Garner was 
 picked up by the Indians, and Jo, five years old, slipped off 
 the horse and was gathered in with other captives. The father 
 of William Rix, Esq., now living in Royalton, was one of these 
 children, an infant two years old. Among the children which 
 Mrs. Hendee succeeded in rescuing was little Jo Rix, who 
 lately died in Michigan at the age of 96 years. Gamer Rix 
 was ransomed by a French lady in Montreal, treated as her 
 son and sent home by her when the war was over. He had 
 not been heard from since he was taken captive till he ap- 
 peared in his father's cabin one Sunday morning a year after. 
 He died in Royalton at the age of 85." 
 
 (By William Rix in his account of the Centennial Anniversary published 
 in St. Albans Weekly Messenger, Oct. 18, 1880.) 
 
 A REFUGE CELLAR. 
 
 At the present time there is still an old cellar, near Arthur 
 Eaton's, that was depended upon as a retreat in those days 
 when the fear of the Indians was in the air. It was like the 
 
86 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 castles on the Rhine, ready to shelter the inhabitants of the 
 valley whenever the alarm should be given, but on that one 
 great occasion when the savage hordes crept upon the little 
 settlement like a thief in the night, there was no time to seek 
 this retreat, although it is probable that after the sacking of 
 the town when almost all shelter had been destroyed that a 
 number did congregate here. This supposition is substan- 
 tiated by the finding of domestic utensils, pots and kettles, in 
 and near the cellar. 
 
 EVEN LOVE PAID THE PENALTY. 
 
 Even love has been foiled because of the treachery that 
 led the attack on Royalton. Fully one hundred years after 
 the depredations of the enemy, a Royalton man while in Can- 
 ada met a young woman whom he greatly admired. On his 
 return home they corresponded, and when he next visited the 
 British province he was her avowed lover. It seems that the 
 heart of the maiden also inclined strongly toward him, but yet 
 no eloquence of his could induce her to go to Royalton as his 
 bride. His business would not admit of his taking up his res- 
 idence in Canada. The maiden confessed that her reluctance 
 was due to the fact that she was the granddaughter of Lieu- 
 tenant Horton who led the attack on the peaceful valley, and 
 she did not feel that she wanted to become an inhabitant of 
 the place he had so wronged. 
 
 HORTON IN OLD AGE. 
 
 In 1857 two young men from Royalton visited Canada and 
 were entertained by the Reids of De Ramsay, JoUet County, 
 P.Q. De Ramsay is situated on the L'Assumption River 
 between 75 to 100 miles north of Montreal. Mrs. Reid was 
 a Horton, and her father, an English soldier, was at that time 
 living with her. It was common repute that he was held in 
 
OCTOBER 1 6, 1780 87 
 
 very high esteem by the EngHsh government, and that he was 
 accorded much distinction; as, for instance, he was granted 
 the privilege of ordering what he would from England, and 
 the package would be forwarded to him free of charge. At 
 the time of this visit Honon was 97, and, as it is thought that 
 he was none other than the one who led the attack on Royal- 
 ton, this would make his age at that time about 21. 
 
 MORE ABOUT THE CAPTIVES. 
 
 Among the captives who escaped from the Indians within 
 two years were Zadock Steele, Pember and Miles. It was 
 exactly two years to a day that Davis returned to Dresden, 
 and found and claimed his old horse. Nearly three years 
 passed before Simeon Belknap returned. His experience 
 in getting away from the Indians was thrilling, an account 
 of which was written by his grandson, Levi Belknap, more 
 than 25 years ago for the history of Barnard, which has never 
 been printed. The MSS. is now in the possession of a grand- 
 son, Franklin Belknap, of Chicago. 
 
 DESCENDANTS OF ZADOCK STEELE. 
 
 Zadock Steele was the grandson of the first settled Congre- 
 gational minister of Tolland, Conn., Rev. Stephen Steele, 
 who was bom in Hartford in 1696, and was graduated at Yale 
 in 1 718. Zadock was also the great-grandson of George Steele, 
 whose will is a part of the Hartford Probate Records of 1663, 
 and who accompanied the colony which came from New Town, 
 Mass. (now Cambridge), and formed the first settlement at 
 Hartford, Conn. So far as known, there are four grand- 
 children of Zadock Steele surviving: Dr. J. A. Steele, of 
 Minneapolis, a son of Zadock Steele's son, Solomon; and the 
 three children of Sanford Steele, namely: Lydia M. Pingree, 
 
88 BURNING OF ROYALTON, VT., BY INDIANS 
 
 wife of ex- Governor Pingree, of Vermont, and now resident 
 of Hartford, Vt.; Hiram R. Steele; and Sanford H. Steele. 
 The two latter are practising law in New York City. Their 
 eldest brother, Benjamin H. Steele, who died in 1873, was a 
 judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont from 1865 
 to 1870, having been appointed at the age of 28 years. 
 
 Finis. 
 
n8o 
 
 Chocolate Drinkers 
 
 Of Vermont will be interested in knowing that, 
 the very year Royalton was burned by the Indians, 
 Baker's famous Chocolate was first put on the 
 market. In all that time — over 125 years now 
 — nothing has displaced it, and 46 highest awards 
 in Europe and America have been won. 
 
 Registered. 
 U. S. Pat. oi 
 
 When you see the trade-mark, the greatly admired 
 "chocolate girl," by Liotard, that hangs in the 
 Dresden Gallery, you may know you have the 
 genuine article. 
 
 BAKER'S CHOCOLATE is always uniform, al- 
 ways reliable, and everywhere obtainable. 
 
 JV alter Baker & Co.^ Ltd. 
 
 DORCHESTER, MASS. 
 
 Established lySo 
 
ANNOUNCEMENT. 
 
 Photographs of the monument taken on the day of the unveiling, with 
 prominent Royalton people and speakers grouped around it, 30 cents each. 
 Carefully packed and postpaid, $^ a dozen. A photograph that every loyal 
 Vermonter should possess. Order the 1 6 x 20 size for framing, by express, 
 prepaid, ^1.65 each. Stereo view^s, 30 cents each or $3 a dozen. 
 
 I will also send to any address twenty-seven beautifully colored 
 souvenir post- cards of New England or New York State, no two alike, for 
 50 cents, or thirteen of the same for 25 cents, and twenty black and 
 white Vermont post-cards for 25 cents, all postpaid. 
 
 A feature is made of local scenery on post-cards at popular prices. 
 Write for terms. 
 
 One of my specialties is fine portraits in crayon, sepia, and pastel, 
 from small photos and tintypes- Outdoor photography of every description 
 done, and all my work is guaranteed. 
 
 W. E. GRAHAM, Photographer, 
 BETHEL, VERMONT. 
 
 Sight-seeing and Business become a ^Joy 
 
 AFTER A 
 
 GOOD DINNER 
 
 And that is what you can always get at 
 
 F. M. CROSBY & CO. 
 
 Restaurant 
 
 19 School Street, Boston, Mass. Near City Hall 
 
 5.30 to 7.30 P.M., Music 
 
 Crosby's restaurant is on the site of the beautiful garden or 
 Lady Arabella Johnson, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln and 
 the good angel of Governor Winthrop's band of colonists. 
 
WILLIAM SKINNER 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 Wooly Lumber^ Carriages^ Harness^ Wagons^ 
 Farm Implements^ Farm Stocky etc. 
 
 ROYALTON, VT. 
 
 NOTARY PUBLIC TOWN CLERK 
 
 WOODSTOCK INN, 
 
 WOODSTOCK, VT. 
 
 ON THE WOODSTOCK RAILWAY. 
 OPEN SUMMER AND WINTER. 
 
 COUNTRY CLUB GOLF LINKS near the Inn. 
 PUBLIC LIBRARY. - FINE DRIVES. 
 
 Address ARTHUR B. WILDER, Manager. 
 
 WOODARD'S 
 
 SOUTH ROYALTON HOUSE, 
 
 SOUTH ROYALTON, VT. 
 
 Near Railroad Station, Post-office, Churches, and Business. 
 
 STEAM HEAT, ELECTRIC LIGHTS. LIVERY AND 
 TRANSIENT STABLES CONNECTED. 
 
 RATES, $2.00 PER DAY. 
 
 Established in 1851, C. H. WOODARD, Proprietor. 
 
 THE TOP BUTTON OF A TOP-COAT 
 
 Is a little thing, but if properly employed may prevent pneumonia. A Life 
 Insurance premium is a small per cent, and unimportant in amount, but what 
 a duty it performs ! 
 
 Send this coupon for particulars or write S. S. BALLARD, GENERAL 
 AGENT, NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, NEW LANG- 
 DON BLOCK, MAIN STREET, MONTPELIER, VERMONT. 
 
 Please send me mformation regarding your NEW BOND, LIFE FORM 
 
 or ENDOWMENT, for $ , issued for age 
 
 Name 
 
 Address 
 
Better than CoflFee Richer than Coffee 
 Seven-eighths Coffee 
 
 Wherever you are in the country 
 you may obtain 
 
 Choice Groceries 
 
 from 
 
 S. S. PIERCE CO. 
 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 by sending for their publication, "The Epicure," and 
 
 ordering by mail 
 
Do not misunderstand me. I 
 am a protectionist. I thor- 
 oughly believe in the princi- 
 ple upon which our system is founded, 
 that of providing adequate protection to 
 American labor against un-American 
 conditions abroad. It is the imperfec- 
 tions and abuses of the system which I 
 attack, for these are oppressing our con- 
 sumers and threatening our foreign trade. 
 They must be eradicated, or the whole 
 system will fall. It is not sane and 
 reasonable protection which we must 
 overthrow, but monopoly and graft. 
 
 — Eugene N. Foss. 
 
HOW TO MAKE VERMONT A PARADISE. 
 
 A MAN has bought this space simply to help the work, and, as he has noth- 
 ing to advertise, it occurs to him to fill it by giving a little good advice 
 on all sorts of subjects. Line all the roads with maple-trees. Com- 
 pel every voter to vote unless he is too ill or too far from home, under penalty 
 of fine, imprisonment, and even disfranchisement, according to persistence. 
 If a brass band organizes in town, don't organize another. Do away with 
 water bars on hill roads. Drain, shape, and surface the road so that it will 
 not need them. Keep more sheep; they will pay. If bears become trouble- 
 some, make hunts and invite the cities. Put bath-rooms into your houses, 
 unless they are there already; this appUes to farmers as well as villagers. Let 
 judges shorten the time of trials at least one half; this means better prepara- 
 tion by lawyers and the exclusion of all testimony that is not essential to the 
 salient points. Go to church once every Sunday. Let weak churches con- 
 solidate. Develop vocal music; make it high class; it will be attractive and 
 refining. Tiirn the cold shoulder to candidates who run bureaus or make 
 money campaigns or work fraternities. Discuss principles more and candi- 
 dates less. Consolidate all the taxes in town into one bill to each tax-payer, 
 Require the railroads to maintain sanitary comforts and cleanliness at all sta- 
 tions. Don't ask too high prices for summer board; better draw more people. 
 The opportunities out West are not what they once were, and life in large 
 cities is a grind. The opportunities in Vermont are better and greater than 
 ever before, and in the long run no other occupation affords so much satisfac- 
 tion as farming. If any man commits waste in forests, make him feel popular 
 displeasure. Going around without coats in villages is bad form; so is wear- 
 ing barnyard boots at town meetings. Sometimes cases of immorality occur 
 in remote regions, followed by crime. They hurt the reputation of the whole 
 community, and impair the value of property. Watch out for them, and head 
 them off by the good advice of a friendly committee, and by sterner measures, 
 if necessary. Every town in Vermont should present a high type of civiliza- 
 tion. Give more heed to town records, church records, and local history. It 
 isn't necessary to drink or to use tobacco in order to have a good time. Try 
 to persuade the Central Vermont Railroad to build a passenger subway under 
 the tracks on the west side of the station at White River Junction. Grub up 
 the roadsides, destroy caterpillar tents, and generally cultivate a trig appear- 
 ance. Now all these things are easy, and they will make Vermont a Paradise. 
 It is fashionable now to go clean shaven. T. R. 
 
Hotel Brunswick 
 
 Boylston and Clarendon Streets 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PLANS 
 
 Amos Barnes, Proprietor 
 Herbert H. Barnes, Manager 
 
 Ladies travelling alone will find this famous hos- 
 telry particularly advantageous, as reasonable 
 rooms may be secured, and the location 
 is in the very heart of artistic 
 Boston and also near the 
 shopping district. 
 
 Popular with business men because of its unexcelled 
 cuisine and perfect service. 
 
WASHINGTON STREET THROUGH TO WINTER STREET 
 
 You may now confidently go SHOPPING IN 
 
 BOSTON by mail. 
 
 GILCHRIST CO., 
 
 The most progressive department store in town, has 
 
 made this possible by organizing a model 
 
 mail order department. 
 
 Special Mail Order Buyers, 
 
 Women of good taste and experience, receive your 
 order, and, exercising the same care, judgment, 
 and independence that you would your- 
 self, they visit the different depart- 
 ments and painstakingly 
 make selection. 
 
 The sole endeavor of our buyers is to please our 
 
 customers. If the goods sent do not exceed 
 
 expectation in quality and value, they 
 
 may be returned at our expense 
 
 for credit or refund. 
 
 Clearly write your name, address, and all details, 
 
 and your order will be filled the 
 
 same day received. 
 
ITINERARIES OF 
 
 AMERICAN EDITION^^' " 
 
 Travel is the Royal Road to 
 Knowledge. 
 
 There is no more interesting, profitable, 
 or inexpensive way of spending the win- 
 ter in travel than by taking a tour around 
 the world. ^ Conducted parties leave 
 in the fall and winter, east and west 
 bound, at frequent intervals. 
 
 Thomas Cook fy Son^ 33 ^ Washington St,^ 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
^ COFFEE SATISFACTION | 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 (A BOSTON PRODUCT) 
 
 WHITE 
 HOUSE 
 
 coinnE 
 
 DOES SATiSFY 
 
 
 ^ The same high standard has been ^ 
 ^ maintained for more than fifteen years. ^ 
 § It is packed wnder the BEST SAN- § 
 § ITARY CONDITIONS in the finest, | 
 ^ cleanest coffee factory in the world. ^ 
 I It's the "J^eal Thing. J- J- ^ ,^ ^ 
 
 you 
 
 A CAREFUL TEST 
 PRO YES IT THE BEST 
 
 haven^t tried it you 
 
 SS In I, 2, and 
 
 S ground or 
 
 K If your deale 
 
 S DWIN 
 
 1^ DrSnr'infil Cn 
 
 3 lb. air-tight tin cans only — whole, 
 pulverized. Never sold in bulk. 
 
 dealer fails to supply it, write us. 
 
 IN the early set- 
 tlement days 
 nearly every 
 Vermont gar- 
 den had a few 
 rows of coffee beans. 
 Since that day the 
 story of coffee, like 
 everything else, has 
 been one of evolu- 
 tion, and to-day noth- 
 ing superior to the 
 famous 
 
 ''White 
 
 House 
 
 Coffee" 
 
 is known. 
 
 Its characteristic de- 
 licious aroma distin- 
 guishes it from all 
 other brands. 
 Never sold in bulk, 
 but in one, two, or 
 three pound air-tight 
 tin cans, and may 
 be either whole or 
 ground. 
 
 "The Story of the 
 White House and 
 its Home Life," pub- 
 lished by this firm, is 
 the most complete 
 of anything that has 
 been published on 
 the sulDJect. There 
 has been a great 
 demand for this his- 
 toric work, and you 
 may have a copy, 
 beautifully illustra- 
 ted, by writing to 
 
 DwiNELL- Wright 
 
 Co. 
 Boston Chicago 
 
 DWINELL-WRIGHT COMPANY, S^ 
 
 „ Principal Coffee Roasters, Boston or Chicago. CS 
 
The New England 
 Conservatory of Music 
 
 GEORGE W. CHADWICK, Director 
 
 THERE are privileges and advantages connected 
 with the student life at the New England Conserv- 
 atory of Music that mark it an institution of unusual 
 efficiency. The remarkable equipment and strong organ- 
 ization for musical education have resulted from a growth 
 of more than fifty years. The material increase is signifi- 
 cant, but of greater importance is the experience that has 
 come with these fifty years of progress. To-day no 
 school in America can contribute as much and none in 
 Europe oflfer more toward a musical education than the 
 New England Conservatory of Music. 
 
 Every branch of a musical education has a special 
 master. The student's capacity sets the only limitation 
 to his progress. 
 
 Owing to the practical training of students in our 
 Normal Department, graduates are much in demand as 
 teachers. Practical Pianoforte Tuning Course in one year. 
 
 The imposing Conservatory building and its splendid 
 equipment, the new residence buildings, the detailed 
 descriptions of courses, are best told about in the year- 
 book, which will be sent on request. 
 
 Address RALPH L. FLANDERS, Manager, 
 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass. 
 
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 GRAMTE 
 
 conPA^Y 
 
 BLUE + RED 
 
 PIWK i- WHITE 
 
 GFIAMTE 
 
 MARBLE • mOMZL 
 SLATE 
 
 ^55 50YLST0AJ Street 
 
 JEL+BACKBAY 2481-2 BOSTO/*!, AASS. 
 
 Send for Illustrated Catalogue. 
 
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