NARRATIVES OF THOSE WHO WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE, OR KILLED BY THE INDIANS--BOSCAWEN, MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: A Chronological Register of Boscawen, In the County of Merrimack, and State of New-Hampshire, From the First Settlement of the Town to 1820" by Ebenezer Price, A.M. Pastor of the Second Church in Said Town. Printed by Jacob B. Moore, Concord (1823) Pages 112-116 NARRATIVES OF THOSE WHO WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE OR KILLED BY THE INDIANS. Mrs. Duston's captivity, spoken of by Belknap and other historians, having concern in our history, we shall offer the outlines of the extraordinary story. Mrs. Duston, her infant babe, but only a week old and her nurse, the widow Mary Niff, were taken captive by the Indians at Haverhill, Mass. March 15, 1698; while her husband magnanimously retreated with their seven older children, from before the enemy to a place of safety. The Indians soon barbarously dispatched the tender babe, and conveyed the enfeebled, afflicted mother and nurse up the Merrimack river to a small island in the mouth of Contoocook river, which forms the south-east corner of this town. Here the Indians, 10 or 12, for the number is variously state, after refreshing themselves, being fatigued and fearless, lay down and readily sunk into a profound, but fatal sleep. Mrs. D. viewing the circumstance as favourable to her escape, improved the moment. By the aid of her nurse and a captive youth, with the death weapons of her savage enemies, instantly despatched them all, except two, who made their escape. And in retaliation took the scalps of their captors slain, and one of their birch canoes, returned down the river to Haverhill in safety, to the unspeakable joy and astonishment of her family and friends; and was soon after generously rewarded by the Massachusetts government for this unexampled deed. This heroic exploit took place April 30, 1698, about 35 years before the settlement of this town. Josiah Bishop was the first of the settlers, who was taken by the Indians. He was surprised and taken, when at work in his field, at the lower end of King-street. The Indians took him into the woods; but finding him unyielding to their wishes, they killed him, as reported by other captives, who were informed by the perpetrators. On May 4, 1746, several men were at work on Clay Hill, and were surprized by a party of Indians in ambush. Thomas Cook and Caesar, the negro servant of Rev. Mr. Stevens, were killed, and Elisha Jones was taken captive; and carried to Canada, and there sickened and died. The following August, two others were taken captive by the Indians; not inhabitants of the town, but belonging to Hopkinton; and it is recollected that one of them bore the name of Putney, and the name of the other, a young man, Abraham Kimball. 1752. In April the two Negroes belonging to Messrs. Miles and Lindsey, were taken captive in Canterbury by Sabatis and Plausawa. And the following year 1753, Bowen and Morrill killed those two Indians at Indian-Bridge in Boscawen. See the account Section 9, page 44. May 1754. Nathaniel Meloon and family were taken captive. Mr. M. had recently moved his family from the fort to Stevenstown, the westward part of Salisbury. while on his way back to the fort on business, a party of Indians came upon him, and took him. They knew him where he lived, and directed him home. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. M. and five children, named Nathaniel, Rachel, John, Daniel and Sarah; and in surprise all were taken captive, except their eldest son, who was at work in the field in sight. The father was ordered to call his son, and he did; but the son saw the Indians, and understood his father's wish for his escape, by the significance of his voice, dropped his hoe, fled to the woods, swam Blackwater river, eluded the Indian's pursuit, and reached the fort in safety. The alarm being thus given, a strong detachment marched directly up, in hope of recovering the captives but it was too late. The Indians had hastily taken a few things and the six captives, and were out of their reach, on their way to Canada. Mr. Meloon'syoungest daughter, about a year old, was sick, and being exposed grew worse. The Indians took the child from the parents, under pretense of applying medicine, who never beheld her afterwards. In other respects they were treated humanely by their savage captors, though their travel and fare were very hard. When they arrived at Canada, they were separated, and sold to the French. Mr. M and his wife, however, lived together, and their son Joseph, now living in Salisbury, N.H. was born in their captivity, 1755. After a servitude of more than three years in Canada, Mr. M. and wife and their three sons were shipped for France; but on their voyage, near the Grand Banks, were taken by the British, and safely landed at Portland, Me., from whence they traveled by land, and once more regained their home, after an absence of 4 long years in tedious captivity. Their eldest daughter, Rachel, was left behind, and continued in Canada, among the French and Indians nine years; when Samuel Fowler, Esq. employed by her parents, brought her home, though much against her inclination. She afterwards married, and had a family; but always retained a partiality for the manners and habits of an Indian life. August 15, 1754, a party of Indians came to the house of Philip Call, who had just before moved from the fort into the edge of Bakerstown, now the Eastwardly part of Salisbury. Mrs. Call was in the house, but Mr. Call, his son and a hired man were laboring in the field. They saw the Indians, and ran towards home; but before they arrived, the barbarous enemy had killed Mrs. Call with a tomahawk, while her husband and son were so near as to hear the fatal blow. The Indians took her scalp, and immediately retired to the woods. Mr. Call's young man repaired to the fort as quick as possible to give information; and to the avoid the chase of the Indians, he swam the Merrimack several times. A detachment of fourteen men well armed with muskets, marched directly on; but the Indians, in the mean time, suspecting that an alarm had been given, and that they should be pursued secreted themselves in ambush by the way side. Our men no sooner passed them, than the Indians rose from their ambush, gave the war-whoop, rushed upon them and took Enos Bishop. Timothy Cook, whose father had been killed at Clay Hill, plunged into the river; seven shots were made at him, and the seventh took his life. But the other twelve of the detachment made their escape, and returned in safety to the fort, not having been able, for some cause, to fire a single gun. Mr. E. Bishop was carried captive to Canada, and there unfortunately, by accident, lost one of his eyes, but the next year made his escape and returned home. It seems that provision was made for his ransom, but he made his escape before it was applied. 1756. Ezekiel Flanders and Edward Emery were killed by Indians, when hunting beaver by New-found pond, between Bristol and Hebron, in the county of Grafton, N. H. The Indians afterward informed, that one of them was shot when skinning a beaver in the camp, and the other shot at the same time, in sight of the camp, bringing in a beaver on his back. Mr. Moses Jackman, now living, at the age of 73, son of Richard Jackman, deceased, was taken captive by the Indians, June 1757, when about 11 years old. Being on a visit at his uncle Clough's in Canterbury, and at that time hoeing in the orchard with Dorset, Mr. Clough's Negro man; four Indians of the St. Francis tribe unexpectedly leaped over the log fence within a few rods of them. The sight was so appalling, that Dorset caught young Jackman by the arm, and endeavored to hide; but when the Indians had gotten within a few feet of them, they separated, Jackman ran toward the barn, but before he reached it he stumbled, and fell, and was taken by an old Indian and young sanop, who pursued him. He very soon made an attempt to escape out of their hands by running, but was re-taken, beaten and tied; and to intimidate him, as it should seem, the old Indian, who held his hatchet over him as if to cleave, his head asunder, but stopped the blow. This was all the violent usage he experienced from his savage master. Dorset, who had fled to the woods, was pursued by the other two Indians; who took the poor fellow, after he made the most obstinate resistance, and received from them much abuse, by beating his face and head; which drew from him many bitter cries of "master! murder! murder!" The Indians soon joined in company with their captives, and without rifling the house, the family having all gone down to the fort, the set off for Canada. They travelled through the woods and crossed Merrimack river, at the falls, having made a light raft for Dorset, who cold not swim, and one carried young Jackman upon his shoulders. Their first night's encampment was by Smith's river. Jackman being without shoes, his feet and legs were very much injured, and for his relief and comfort the Indians kindly provided him with moccasons and stockings. He was too young to notice the points or the distances of their daily marches or the country over which they passed; but after several days hard travel, supported mostly by the scanty game they took in their way, the Indians reached their encampment, where they had large packs of beaver fur and one canoe. Here they stopped long enough to make another canoe, and then embarked with their captives and effects, and descended the stream, which brought them into Lake Champlain; -- thence to St. Johns and Montreal. At Montreal, Jackman and Dorset, were imprisoned for a fortnight, while the Indians were employed in trafficking of their furs. But on their return to the no small grief of these captives they were separated; and Jackman never saw or heard from Dorset afterwards. The Indians soon after this conveyed Jackman to St. Francis, and sold him to a Frenchman. While on this tour, he saw Christie, whom he had often seen in Boscawen, and knew him and was recognized by the Indian. He lived with his new master until 1761, after peace was settled between the French and the English, and he regained his liberty. This was to Jackman a very long and tedious servitude, especially so the first year. He was among strangers; unacquainted with their language; his diet new and unpleasant, and the impressive thought of home quite overpowered him ñ impaired his health, and prevented his growth. He, however, regained his health, acquired such acknowledge of the French language as to speak it fluently; found in his mistress much kind indulgence, both in food and employment, which rendered his situation tolerable; though never prevented, for a moment, the ardent desire to be restored to the company of his relatives. To secure to him so desirable a blessing, his widowed mother employed Mr. Enos Bishop to go in pursuit of him; how found him, and pilotted him home in safety, after a captivity of four years; in which term, though between the age of 11 and 15, he had grown but one inch. The foregoing, is for substance, the account which Mr. Jackman verbally gave to the writer. It may not be improper to conclude this article of captivities by subjoining the capture and imprisonment of Lieut. John Flanders, by the British, at Quebec, in 1775. On the alarm being given at Lexington, John Flanders, Junior volunteered his services; -- joined the company of Capt. Joshua Abbot, of Concord, N.H. with others, in April, and continued in the service to the last of the following September. At this time, the expedition to Quebec was undertaken, and Col. Arnold took command of the troops. Oct. 1, 1775, Flanders enlisted in the company of Capt. Henry Dearborn, since Secretary of war, and commander of the U. S. Army in the late war. their march was by the way of Kennebec river, through the woods over the high lands ñ carrying their batteaux and baggage; and after experiencing incalculable hardships from bad travelling, want of accommodation, the advanced season, want of provision, and prevailing sickness, which proved fatal to many, they arrived at Point Levi, opposite to Quebec, Nov. 9. Here they continued making preparations for storming the city until the 31st of Dec., when the unsuccessful attempt was made. The fatal day, when the brave Montgomery fell, Arnold carried off with the wounded, 60 killed and 350 were taken prisons, on entering the city. Among the latter was John Flanders; who was taken, imprisoned, and secured in irons. from his irons, however, he was liberated the 1st of March, 1776, by order of the British commander, but continued in prison until the 1st of August following; then was permitted to sign a parole, and return home. He shipped, and on the 25th of September landed at N. York; from thence he travelled on foot, and was once more welcomed by his friends in his native town, after an absence of eighteen months. He was three months in the service ñ more than seven imprisoned, two of which in irons, and nearly two months on his passage home months of hardships, deprivations and peril. From Flander's Journal." (end)