Narrative of the Troubles with the Indians in New England, Narrative 2 (2 of 2)
The ancient Indians being asked what they thought was meet to be done in the said Case, said, he was worthy to dye for such an affront, yet they would be glad if his life might be spared, offering to be joyntly bound in his behalf, to pay forty Beaver Skins at the next Fall-Voyage, giving their hands in token of their Fidelity, and also leaving their Arms in the hands of the English as a Pledge of their faithful keeping those Articles of Peace concluded on betwixt them. If they proved themselves honest men, they were to have their Arms delivered them again, which was accordingly performed the last Iune, 1676. They having in the mean time carried themselves peaceably toward the English. The day after, viz. Iuly 19. 1675. An Indian of great note amongst them, called Robin hood with great Applause of the rest, made a dance, and sung a Song to declare their content in what was transacted. And so they parted, setting the Indians at liberty, that had engaged thus for their friend Sowen, the Indian; but yet to this day one Skin of Beaver was never paid to the English, as was promised; The Indians all this time were well provided for of victuals by Capt. Lake, with other supplies of Rhum and Tobacco, even to the disgusting of some English then present.
But the Indians left as Hostages upon Sowens account, how Civilly soever they were treated, ran all away at the last, trusting more to the Celerity of their own feet, then to the Civility of their English Friends; who after they were escaped, joyned with a parcel of their Fellows soon after about twenty in all, in robbing the house of one Mr. Purchase an antient Planter about Pegypscot River, and a known Trader with the Indians, what ever wrong may be pretended by the said Indians, as done them in their Trading, (of which more may be spoken afterwards) that will no whit excuse their perfidious Treachery, and falshood in breaking Covenant with the English, dissembling, and seeking all Advantages of Cruelty against their English Neighbours, of which in the following Winter and Summer, 1676. there will be a more full and undenyable discovery. This was done in the beginning of September, 1675. Those Indians that first assaulted Mr. Purchase his house, did no other mischief, save plundering it of strong Liquor, and Amunition, also killing a Calf or two, with a few Sheep, but no more then what they eat, and spoyling a Feather Led by ripping it open, to turn out the Feathers, contenting themselves with the Case, which they might more easily carry away. They offered no incivility to the Mistress of the house, (her husband, and her Sons, being at that time from home) yet one of her Sons approaching near the house, and finding it possessed of those new Inhabitants, he rode away with all speed, and yet no faster then there was need; for an Indian followed him with a Gun under his Coat, to have shot at him, if he could by his flattery, and dissembling, have got him within the reach of his Piece.
It is said, that at the first they used fair words, and spake of Trading, but as they went away, told those of the house, that there were others coming after that would deal far worse with them, which within a short time after c…me to pass, for these were but the messengers of Death, which was soon after infl…cted, and that in a most Barbarous manner upon sundry Inhabitants of the Neighbouring Plantations.
The English in those parts being much incensed hereat, Twenty five of them soon after going up Cas…o Bay in a Sloop and two Boats to gather Indian Corn, and to look to what they had upon the said Bay neer Amocoscoggen River; when they came near the houses, they heard a knocking, and a noise about the houses, and presently esp…ed two or three Indians, who did not yet see them: The English being come a good way from their Vessel, endeavoured to get between the Indians, and the woods, which when they perceived, they ran toward the water side, but the English in pursuit killed one of them, and wounded another, who yet escaped away in a Cano… cross the River, a third running back toward the woods, fled to the other Indians, and acquainted them with what was done, who presently came down; and lay in wait to intercept the English, that thought of no dange…, but scattered themselves all about the place to gather their Corn, and lade the Boats therewith, but before they were ready to go away, The Indians coming down, fired upon them, and forced them all into the Sloop; had not some of them been better prepared then the rest; they might all have been cut off; for some little resistance being made by them that were ready with their Guns, it gave the rest an opportunity to get all into the Sloop; yet not without many wounds: So with much ado, they all escaped with their lives, leaving the two Boats almost laden with Corn for a prey …o the Indians, who presently bu…ned one, and plundred the other of all that was t…erein some are ready to think that the English did imprudently to begin the Quarrel, and not first enquire into what the Indians were about in the house, and seek Redress according to the forementioned Agreement, made at the Court in Kennibeck. But if this hapned after what follows next to be related viz. that which was done to Old Waterly, and his Family; (the English can be blamed for nothing, but their negligence & Security, in that having alarmed their enemies, they stood not better upon their guard), which is not very certain. For 'tis thought that within a few dayes after, or the next week more horrible outrage was committed upon the Family of an ancient man, whose Name was Waterly, an Inhabitant of Casco Bay, who had some years before removed from Gloucester, or Cape Anne out of some discontent, which afterwards he often bewailed resolving either to have returned back, or else to have removed to some securer place, but he was arrested by the Sons of violenc…, before he could Effect his purpose. This old man with his wife, his Son, and his daughter in Law (at that time great with Child) with three grand Children were cruelly murdered by those barbarous Salvages, at one time: another of his grand Children was taken alive, and led into Captivity, a daughter of his was said to be carryed to Narhagauset, which shews they joyned with the Southern Indians in the Rebellion; when once these Indians had embrued their hands in English blood, they were emboldened to the like bloody Attempts in the Adjacent places.
This Waterly lived so far from Neighbours, or else was encompassed with Creeks or Rivers, that no Relief could presently be sent to him, however Lieut, Ingerson of Casco the next day with a File of men, repaired to the place where his house-stood, to see what was the Reason of the Fire they discerned the day before, there they found the house burned to ashes, the bodies of the old man and his wife half consumed with the fire, the young woman killed, and three of the grand Children, having their brains dashed out, and their bodies were laid under some Oaken Planks, not farr from the house; one girle of about eleven years old, was …arried Captive by them, and having been carried up and down the Country some hundreds of miles, as far as Narhaga…set Fort, was this last Iune returned back to Major Walderns, by one Squando the Sagamore of Saco; A strange mixture of mercy and Cruelty.
Soon after Capt. Bonithon's and Major Philips Dwellings were assaulted, one on the East, the other on the West side of Saco River. It is said, they had seasonable notice of what was intended against them, by their Barbarous Enemies, Those Amonoscoggan Indians; viz. by an Indian of Saco, their Neighbour, better minded then the rest of his Country men: who observing a strange Indian coming to his Wigwam in Company with some of his acquaintance, one of whom informed him, after the rest, (with the stranger) were gone; That the said stranger came from the Westward, and that his business was to perswade the Eastern Indians to fall upon the English in their dwellings here, as the rest had done to the Westward. Captain Bonithon, either upon this Information, or upon the knowledge of what was done a little before at Casco, had left his house, and was retired over the River with his Family to Major Philips his Garrison. Thus two are better then one: for otherwise, both might have been destroyed: For upon the 18th. of September following, being the 7th. day of the week, about eleven a Clock, they at Major Philip… his Garrison saw Capt. …onithon's house on fire on the East side of Saco River, which by the good Providence of God was to them as the firing of a Beacon, giving them notice to look to themselves, their Enemies being now come; for otherwise, they might to their great disadvantage have been too suddenly surprized, for within half an hour after, they were upon them, when a Sentinel placed in the Chamber gave notice that he saw an Indian by the Fence side, near a Corn Field, Major Philips not willing to believe till he might see with his own Eyes, ran hastily up; another of his men, coming after, cryed Mr. what mean you? do you intend to be ki…l…d, at which words, he turned suddenly back from the window, out of which he was looking, when presently a Bullet struck him on the shoulder, grazing only, upon it without breaking the bone. The Indians upon the shot, thinking he had been slain thereby, (as they heard afterwards) gave a great shout, upon which they discerned that they were surrounded by them, whereupon they presently fired on the Enemy from all Quarters, and from the Flankers of the Fortification, so as they wounded the Captain of the Indians, who presently leaving the Assa…lt retired three or four miles from the place, where he soon after dyed, as they were informed: He counselled them to leave the siege, but they were resolved not so to quit the place; nor were those within less resolute to defend it: one of the best men was soon after disabled from any further Service, by a wound which he received in one of the Volleys made upon them by the Assaylants; But that no whit daunted the rest of the Defendants, who continuing still firing amain upon the Enemy: This Dispute lasted about an hour, after which the Enemy despairing to take the house by Assault, thought upon a device how to burn it.
First, firing the house of one of his Tenants, then his Saw-M…ll, after that his Corn M…ll, hoping by that means to draw them cut of the Garcison to put out the fire, but missing of their purpose in that, they called out, you English Cowardly Dogs, come out and quench the Fire: They continued this sport all the afternoon, continually almost without any Intermission firing upon them: The besieged hoped for Relief from the Town, but none came, The Major still encouraging his men to stand it out, which they manfully did all that night, when they were a armd almost every half hour: and betwixt whiles they could hear their Axes and other Instruments, knocking about the Mills till the next day: They within the house conceived they were preparing some Engine wherewith to burn the house, which proved accordingly, for about 4 or 5 a Clock in the morning at the setting of the Moon, the Major was called by his men to look out, when he saw a Cart with four Wheels, having a Barricado built in the fore part, to keep off Shot, and filled with combustible matter, birch rindes, straw, powder, and Poles twenty Foot long, apt to fire the house: he bid them let them drive it within Pistol shot, before they made any shot against them; His m…n we…e a little discouraged at the sight of this Engine: but he bid them, be of good Courage; and use the means, putting their trust in God, who, he was confident would deliver them: The Cart, when brought a little nearer, became unweildy by Reason of the Barricado planted in it, and being to pass through a small gutter, one Wheel stuck fast in the Slough, which brought the Cart suddenly to the Left, whereby the Drivers lay all open to their right Flanker, when presently they fired upon them out of the said Flanker, and having so fair a shot upon them, and not being above Pistol shot from the place, they killed six of the Enemy, and wounded fifteen, as they found afterwards, which no doubt made them too late to repent of their Resolution, not to follow their Captains Counsel and Example in leaving the Siege; for now they presently departed: So as at Sun rise, they within the house espyed forty of them marching away, but how many more were in the Company they could not tell.
The Indians it seemed went toward Blue poin, where it is said they killed several pe…sons: but those in the house fea…ed they went for more help, and expected their Return, but it seems their Courage failed them, as to another Att…mpt, upon an house so well garrisoned, and …anfully defended. Major Philips sent to the Town for help, acquainting them with what had passed, but none was sent them, either that da…, or the next, so as having spent almost all their Amunition, the people that w…re w…th him, would not be perswaded to tarry longe…, then the Munday …: which constrained him and his Family to remove to the Town; about a Fortnight after, the Indians hearing thereof, came and burnt down the empty house. There were fifty persons in the said house during the time of the Siege, and but ten able hands; they had five more that could do something, but through Age, or minority, not able to make any notable Resistance; yet so it pleased God, in whose hands are all mens lives and limbs, and who is never wont to fail them, who in time of danger are ready so to confide in his power, and goodness, as not to neglect the use of due means for their own Preservation, so to order things, that not one person of all those fifty, was either killed, or mortally wounded. Major Philips himself was wounded, but not dangerously at the beginning of the Assault, his Mal's with other Edifices were the first day burned by the Enemy, & so were all the houses at Saco, or most of them soon after, that were above the F…sher-mens stages. One Mrs. Hitcock being carried Captive by the Enemy from the same place, dyed in the Winter following, by eating some poysonous Root, in stead of a ground out, as was reported by the Indians afterwards.
Much about the same time, five persons going up to the River of Saco, were all kiiled by the same Indians.
These Tragedies being thus acted at Casco Bay, and Saco, those Barbarous Enemies dispersed themselves in parties, intending to do all the mischief they could to all the English, inhabiting about that side of the Country; In the same Month of September they came down towards Pascat…qua, doing the like Spoyle upon the Inhabitants of the several Branches of that River, which they had been doing elsewhere; In the first place they burned the two Cheslyes houses abou… Oyster River, and killed two men that were passing along the River in a Canoo; and carried away an old Irish-man, with a young man taken from about Exceter, who yet both of them soon after made an escape to a Garrison at Salmon-Falls in Kittary by the help of an Indian better minded then the rest, the first after seven weeks, the other after a Months Captivity.
Much about that time, one Goodman Robinson of Exceter with his Son were travelling toward Hampton, where, as they passed along, they were way-laid by three Indians, viz. Iohn Samson, Cromwel, and Iohn Linde, who shot down the old man, whom they left dead upon the place; his Son, hearing the Guns escaped their hands, by running into a Sw…mp, whither the Indians pursued him, but could not overtake him, so as he got safe into Hampton about midnight, where he declared what befel him by the way, and how narrowly he avoided the danger, intimating like wise, that he feared his Father was killed, which was found too true, by Lieut. Swet, who the next day with a dozen Souldiers, of the Town, went to search those woods, where they sound the poor old man, shot through at his back, the bullet having pierced through his body, and was stopped by the skin on the other side: Another of Exceter, called Foulsam, was at the same time driving a pair of Oxen in the same Road, where, soon after he heard the Report of the Guns when Robinson was killed, he espyed the th…ee Indian… creeping upon their bellies towards him, to do as much for him as they had done for Robinson, but leaving his Oxen, he put on his horse with all speed, and so was delivered from the danger that the other fell into, it is reported that one of the Indians made a shot at him; but he was either gotten out of their reach, or else they m…ssed their aim at that time. The same Indians had a little before met with another English man in those woods, one Charles Randlet, whom they carryed Captive, although he soon after escaped out of their hands, by the help of another Indian called Iames. It is said there were four Indians of that Company, and that the fourth was sent away with Randlet, so that there were but three seen together at the killing, and pursuing the other forementioned. One of the said Indians, viz. Iohn Samson was killed by some of Capt. Hathorns Souldiers at Casco Bay in September following 1676 when the Scouts of our forces came upon the Indians on the sudden, and had a small brush with them; but all the rest made a shift to get away: As for the other two, viz. Cromwel, and Io…n Linde; one of them, it is said, is since killed, or taken and sold away, the other is at Kennibeck, whom vengeance may also in due time overtake, as it hath done the other.
Within a few dayes after that barbarous Fact at Oyster River, two Indians, viz one named Andrew, and the other Hope-hood, the Son of him called Robin Hood, assaulted the house of one Tozer at Newechewannick, wherein were fif…en persons, yet all women and Children, who without all d…ubt had all of them fallen into the merciless hands of the two cruel and barbarous Caytiffes, had not a young maid of about Eighteen years of Age first espyed them, who being endued with more Courage then ordinarily the rest of her Sex use to be, (the blessing of Iael light upon her) first shut to the dore, whereby they were denyed Entrance, till the rest within escaped to the next house, that was better Fo…tified; That young Ui…ago kept the dore fast against them so long till the Indians had chopt it in pieces with their Ha…chets, when entring the house, they knocked the poor maid down with their Hatchets, and gave her many other wounds, leaving her for dead upon the place; after which, they passed on toward the next dwelling, in their way meeting with two Children, that had escaped the house first broken open by them, they killed one of them, of three years old, which could not follow fast enough, or else they that carryed it, could not convey it over a Fence soon enough to save themselves and it; And carryed away the other of seven year old, which yet was returned safe within half a year after: The poor Maid that had ventured her own Life so far, to save many others, was by a strange Providence enabled to recover so much strength after they were gone, as to repair to the next Garrison, where she was soon after healed of her wound…, and restored to perfect health again.
The next day toward night more of the Barbarous Enemies being gathered together they made another Assault upon the neighbouring dwellings.
The English, as many as could be spared out of the Garrison, (not above eight in number) pusued after them about half a mile, but night coming on, it was judged best to retreat, l…st otherwise they might have been Intercepted in their return home, by any of them lying in Ambush, which is their usual way of doing mischief. After divers shot made on both sides, but five of the Enemies appeared: who yet took the Advantage of Captain Wincals absence, (whose dwelling was not far off) to burne his house and Bar…e, with another house, and two Barns more, wherein was much English Corn; above an hundred Bushels was supposed to be in one of them. After they had done this mischief they fled away.
The next day after, the same Indians, or others of their Fellows, came upon the other side of the River, from whence they shot over several times, to some that were grinding in the Mill, but after the exchanging of many shot on both sides of the River, betwixt them, six of the Enemy shewed themselves in the Twilight, uttering several Insolent and barbarous Speeches calling our men English dogs, &c. yet all this while out of reach of their shot, and then they ran all away like dogs after they had done barking.
After this, those very Indians, as was supposed, burned five or six houses about Oyster River, and killed two men, viz. one William Roberts and his Son in Law. The Inhabitants of Dover, with some other R…solute young men, being much provoked by these many Insolencies, and injuries done by the Enemies, obtained liberty from the Major of the Regiment, to try whether they could not meet with some of the Indians, by secret Ambushes, and sculking amongst the Bushes and Trees, as the Indians used to do with them, to which End about twenty divided themselves into several small parties: soon after as they were looking after the Enemy, a party of ours espyed five of the Indians, some gathering Corn in the Field while the rest of them were busied in beating of an Oven to bake some of the fruit which they gathered also in the same Field.
The English were at such a distance that they could not make any sign to their Fellows, without being discovered by the Indians in the Field; wherefore two of them crept as near as they could to the house, at one end of the Field, where they suddenly rushed upon two of the wretches, and knocked them down with the Butt end of their Muskets, which was not done so silently, but the other three in the Field took the Alarm, and fled away, who else might as easily have been surprized as the other two.
These Outrages thus daily committed, filled all the Plantations about Pascataqua with fear and confusion; scarce any place, where there was not either Reason for some to complain of the loss of their Friends, or burning of their houses; which caused most of them that lived scatteringly, at any distance from Neighbours, either to garrison their houses, or else to desert their own dwellings, and to repair to their next Neighbours that were better fortified then themselves; But all the Inhabitants in those parts in general, were Alarmed to stand upon their Guard.
On the seventh of October following, being a day of publick Humiliation, a man was sh…t down as he was riding between two garrison houses about Newechewannick▪ and dyed of his wounds within two hours after; About the same instant of time two young men were shot dead about a mile from that place; These two had their Arms or Guns with them, which were carryed away by them that killed them, together with their upper garments; It is not said that these three last, (though killed upon a day of Humiliation) were surprized in their repairing to, or returning from the place of publick worship, which would in a great measure have abated the sorrow of their sad Funerals, if when they were suddenly arrested by the Harbingers of Death, they had been found so doing.
Soon after this, they Assaulted another house at Oyster River, the which, although it was garrisoned, yet meeting with a good old man, whose Name was Beard without the Garrison, they killed him upon the place, and in a barbarons manner cut off his head, and set it upon a Pole in derision, not far off about the same time they burned another house and Barne.
Upon the sixteenth of October being Saturday, about an hundred of the Indians were gathered together, to Assault Newechewannick; They began with one named Tozer, half a mile from the upper Garrison, at Salmon Falls. The said Tozer was presently killed his Son taken Captive, (but returned after some Months Restraint) several Guns being shot at this Assault, Alarmed Lieut. Plaisted at the next Garrison, who like a man of a publick Spirit immediately sent out seven men from the Garrison under his Command, to see what the matter was, but being met by an Ambush laid in the way as they went, lost two or three of their Company, the rest hardly escaping back to the place whence they came, whereupon, the said Lieut. Plaisted immediately dispatched away a Messenger to Major Waldern at Quechecho, which because it seems to be the last time that ever that good and useful man set pen …o paper, shall here be Inserted.