History of the War with Indian Savages, Article 20
ARTICLE. XX. Bloody Fiſhing at Oyſter-River. And Sad work at Groton.
A Years Breathing Time, was a great Favour of Heaven to a Country, quite out of Breath, with Numberleſs Calamities: But the Favour was not ſo Thankfully Enjoyed, as it ſhould have been. And now, The Clouds Return after the Rain. The Spectre that with Burning Tongs drove Xerxes to his War upon the Graecians, had not loſt his Influence upon our Indians. The Perfidy of the Indians appeared firſt, in their not Reſtoring the Engliſh Captives, according to their Covenant; but the perfidious Wretches Excuſed this, with many Proteſtations. That which added unto our Jealouſies about them, was, their Inſolent carriage towards a Sloop, commanded by Captain Wing; and the Information of a Fellow called Hector, That the Indians intended moſt certainly to break the Peace, and had promiſed the French Prieſts, taking the Sacrament thereupon, to deſtroy the firſt Engliſh Town they could Surprize. Rumours of Indians Lurking about ſome of the Frontier-Plantations, now began to put the poor people into Conſternation; but upon an Imagination, that they were only certain Bever Hunters the Conſternation of the people went off into Security. 'Tis affirmed by Engliſh Captives, which were then at Canada, that the Deſolation of Oyſter-River was commonly talk'd in the Streets of Quebeck, Two months before it was Effected; for the Spies had found no Town ſo Secure as That. And now, what was Talk'd at Quebeck in the month of May, muſt be Done at Oyſter River in the month of July; for on Wedneſday, July 18 1694. the Treachearous Enemy, with a great Army fell upon that place, about break of Day, and Killed and Captiv'd, Ninety Four, (or, an Hundred) perſons; about a Score of whom, were men belonging to the Trained Band, of the Town. Several perſons Remarkably Eſcaped this Bloody Deluge, but none, with more Bravery, than one Thomas Bickford, who had an Houſe, a Little Palliſado'd, by the River Side; but no man in it beſides himſelf. He dexterouſly put his Wife, and Mother, and Children aboard a Canoo, and Sending them down the River, he Alone, betook himſelf to the Defence of his Houſe, againſt many Indians, that made an Aſſault upon him. They firſt would have perſwaded him, with many fair Promiſes, and then, terrified him with as many Fierce Threatnings, to yield himſelf; but he flouted and fired at them, daring 'em, to come if they durſt. His main Stratagem was, to Change his Livery as frequently as he could; appearing Sometimes in one Coat, Sometimes in another, Sometimes in an Hat, and Sometimes in a Cap; which cauſed his Beſeigers, to miſtake this One for Many Defendents. In fine, The pittiful Wretches, deſpairing to Beat him out of his Houſe, e'en left him in it; whereas many that opened unto them, upon their Solemn Engagements of giving them Life and Good Quarter, were barborouſly butchered by them; and the Wife of one Adams, then with Child, was with horrible Barbarity Ripped up. And thus there was an End of the Peace, made at Pemmaquid! Upon this, the Friends of Mrs Urſula Cutt, (Widow of Mr John Cutt, formerly Preſident of New-Hampſhire,) deſired her, to leave her Farm, which was about a Mile above the Bank Expoſed unto the Enemy, on the South ſide of Piſcataqua River. She Thank'd them for their Care, but added, that ſhe believed, the Enemy had now done their Do for this Time; and however, by the End of the Week, her Buſineſs at the Farm would be all diſpatched, and on Saturday, ſhe would Repair to her Friends at the Bank. But, alas, before the End of the week, ſhe ſaw the End of her Life: On Saturday, about one or two a Clock, in the Afternoon, the Buſineſs at the Farm was Diſpatched, ſure enough! The Indians Then Kill'd this Gentlewoman, and Three other People, a little before they had Finiſhed a point of Husbandry, then in their Hand. Nor did the Storm go over ſo: Some Drops of it fell upon the Town of Groton, a Town that lay, one would think, far enough off, the place, where was the laſt Scene of the Tragedy. On July 27. About break of Day, Groton felt, ſome Surprizing Blows, from the Indian Hatchets. They began their Atta…ques, at the Houſe of one Lieutenant Lakin, in the out skirts of the Town: but met with a Repulſe there, and loſt one of their Crue. Nevertheleſs, in other parts of that Plantation, (when the Good People had been ſo tired out, as to lay down their Military Watch,) there were more than Twenty perſons killed, and more than a Dozen carried away. Mr. Gerſhom Hobart, the Miniſter of the place, with part of his Family, was Remarkably preſerved, from falling into their Hands, when they made themſelves the Maſters of his Houſe; though they Took Two of his Children, whereof the one was killed, and the other ſome Time after happily Reſcued out of his Captivity.
I remember, The Jews, in their Book Taanith, tell us, The Elders Proclaimed a Faſt in their Cities, on this Occaſion, becauſe the Wolves had Devoured two Little Children beyond Jordan. Truly, The Elders of New-England, were not a little concerned at it, when they ſaw the Wolves thus devouring their Children, even on this ſide of Merrimack!