1676] KING PHILIPS WAR 87

Plymouth. A defeat at Scituate would probably have rendered

the rest of the towns m the colony defenceless, and they would
have been destroyed in accordance with the plan of Philip and
his warriors. The little fort at Middleboro was the only one
on the west, and there was nothing to have prevented the
Indians, had they passed Scituate, from continuing their march
of destruction to Plymouth.
The war lasted nearly two years. About thirteen towns were
destroyed, and many others were attacked about six hundred
;

whites were killed in battle, beside the many unknown who

perished from starvation and in massacre.

HATCHET, PIPE, MORTAR, AND PESTLE

 CHAPTER VI

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS, 1689-1765

T the close of King Philip's War, the old colony was

not threatened by attacks of Indians, and suffered
nothing from any of the hostilities which were occur-
ring in the remote parts of the country. Middleboro
was represented in all of the campaigns fought against the
Indians or the French and Indians, in the expeditions organ-
ized in defence of the colonies in behalf of the mother coun-
try, and in resisting the aggressive attacks of France to obtain

possession of the various strongholds but the names of the

;

soldiers enlisted in these campaigns have most of them been

forgotten, about one third of them being Indians.
News of an invasion of England by France reached Boston
in the winter of 1688,^ and on the loth of January, 1689, a
proclamation was issued by Sir Edmund Andros, commanding
the officers, civil and military, and all other of his Majesty's
loving subjects, to be ready to use their utmost endeavor to
hinder any landing or invasion that might be intended but ;

so bitter was the feeling against Governor Andros that this

proclamation was generally disregarded. The colonies of New
England had enjoyed a period of peace from the close of King
Philip's War until the year 1689, when the Indians on the north
and western frontier settlements, instigated by the long and
bitter enmity of the French against the English, commenced a
series of barbarous attacks.
In August, 1689, the court at Plymouth appointed commis-
sioners to confer with the other colonies as to the course of
conduct that they should take in repelling these assaults, and,
as a result, there was a general Indian war, in which all of the
New England colonies engaged, known as King William's War
1 Barry's History of Massachusetts, First Period, pp. 499, 500.
1689-1763] THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 89

(1689-97). The troops from Plymouth and Massachusetts col-

onies were placed under the command of the celebrated Captain
Benjamin Church, who had achieved such renown in King
Philip's War. Middleboro was required to furnish one soldier
and one musket, and to raise the sum of fourteen pounds by
taxation towards meeting the expense of this threatened war.
The tax was to be paid on or before the 26th day of Novem-
ber, 1689, one third in money, one third in grain, and one third
in beef and pork. It is interesting to notice the price at

which these articles were then rated namely, the grain was to
;

be received and credited as follows corn, two shillings per

:

bushel rye, two shillings and sixpence per bushel barley, two
; ;

shillings per bushel ;

wheat, four shillings per bushel ;
beef,
ten shillings per hundred, and pork twopence per pound.
Early in May, 1690, a congress of delegates met in New
York to consider means of defence. Plymouth ^ and Massa-
chusetts colonies, with Connecticut, were to furnish three hun-
dred and fifty-five men. The militia were to meet at Albany

and then proceed to Montreal. Middleboro's quota was one

soldier. An expedition had been planned to sail to Quebec,
and extensive preparations were made for combined attack on
that stronghold of the French. On June 5, 1690, Middleboro
was ordered to send three soldiers, and to raise twenty-one
pounds, sixteen shillings, and sixpence as her proportionate
part of the expenses. Of the three soldiers drafted, Thomas
Tomson and James Soule, for reasons which do not appear on
record, declined to go, and were sentenced to pay a fine of
four pounds each, or be imprisoned until the fines were paid.
Benjamin Wood, John Tomson, and John Allen took part in
this expedition. Port Royal and Acadia were conquered, but
the combined attack on Quebec was a failure, owing to the
jealousy and disagreement of the officers in charge of the cam-
paign. Captain Church, in a second expedition into Maine, was
to threaten the eastern Indians, but this was also a failure, and
a crushing miortification and sorrow ensued to Massachusetts.^

1 Parkman's Frontenac and New France, chap, xii, pp. 235, 236.
2 Palfrey, History of New England^ Book IV, chap. ii.
90 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1689-1763

The next call for troops in Middleboro was in 1722, for

defence against another threatened Indian attack. This war
lasted until 1725. A number of men from Middleboro, with
friendly Indians, joined this expedition. Of the company
William Canedy was an ensign, and was afterwards
raised,
promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He was placed in com-
mand of a small fort at St. George's River, which was attacked
on the 25th of December, 1723, by a large force of French
and Indians. He so bravely defended this fort until reinforce-
ments and the enemy ^ was repelled with such great
arrived,
he was rewarded with a commission as captain.
loss, that

The following is a list ^ of privates and officers :

—
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

William Canedy, capt. Robert Stanford, ens.

Benjamin Wright, lieut.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Joseph Bowdin, sergt. Richard Pomeroy, corp.

Joseph Studson, sergt. Joseph Braydon, corp.
Joseph Meeds, sergt. John Oliver, corp.
Benjamin Durfee, corp.

PRIVATES

John Attamon Henry Pesent

Thomas Tainor Josiah Crook
Daniel Chislen Isaac Phillips
Joshua Tripp Elisha Sachem
Benjamin Solomon Peter Washonks
Joel Daniel Joshua Hood
John Pechue Samuel Copeluck
John Pepeens Ned John
Abraham Jones Josiah Popmemanock
Joseph Wood Eliakim Quacom
Nehemiah Nahawamah Amos Stanks
Abel Obediah Joshua Wicket
James Queich David Job
Simon Tremmetuck Jacob Paul
1 The Peirce Family, p. 106.
2 These lists are taken from the History of Plymouth County, p. 994.
1689-1763] THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 91

Thomas Daniel John Comshite

Abel Tom Mose Peig
IsaacHassaway Tom Wily
Eben Cushen Abel Blinks
Job Mark Peter Dogamus
Samuel Oliver John Boson
John Quoy Roban Jenney

Another roll bore the following names :

—
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

William Canedy, capt. Stephen Whitaker, ens.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Daniel Elenthorp, sergt. Edward Bishop, corp.
Francis Punchard, corp.

PRIVATES
Peter Parrey Philip Butler
Thomas Lawrence Daniel Ross
Stephen Morrells John Murphy
John Norris Josiah Meeds
Benjamin Speen Daniel Griffin
John Church Thomas Dan
Jeremiah Belcher John Pelkenton
Elkanah Topmon William Thomas
Isaac Chamberlain William Kelley
John White

Middleboro men were

the siege of Louisburg, the
at
strongest fortress in the New
World, captured and destroyed in
1745. General Shirley had proposed to the General Court an
expedition to capture Louisburg, and a circular letter was sent
to all Massachu-
the colonies as far south as Pennsylvania.
setts furnished three thousand two hundred and fifty men.^
The commander-in-chief was William Pepperrell of Maine.
On June 17 Louisburg capitulated.^ A
thanksgiving day was
appointed on July 18, and Thomas Prince preached a sermon
on this at the Old South Meeting-house.
1 Barry, History of Massachusetts, Second Period, vol. ii, p. 141.
2 Hildreth, History of United States, vol. ii, chap, xxv, p. 397.
92 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1689-1763

In 1755 occurred the French and Indian War, which lasted

eight years, and was by far the most important campaign which
up to that time had been carried on by the EngHsh against the
French, who had succeeded in inducing the Indians in the
northwest of the EngHsh possessions to join with them. This
included most of the Indian troops in New York State, and a
few in Vermont and New Hampshire. The English outnum-
bered the French fifteen to one,^ but the French controlled
the two large rivers. General Braddock, sent over in 1755 by
England, was defeated at Fort Duquesne, which was recap-
tured two years later. In 1759 General Wolfe and General

Montcalm were both killed at Quebec, but the fall of this city
was the turning-point in the war. From that day France lost
her territory in America.
Middleboro furnished one company under command of Cap-
tain Benjamin Pratt, and parts of another under command
of Captain Samuel Thatcher for this year. The names of the
officers and privates in Captain Pratt's company were as fol-
lows :
—
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Benjamin Pratt, capt. David Sears, 2d lieut.

Sylvester Richmond, ist lieut. Nelson Finney, ens.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Seth Tinkham,^ sergt. Archippas Cole, corp.

Lemuel Harlow, sergt. Seth Billington, corp.
Silas Wood, sergt. Jesse Snow, corp.
Abiel Cole, sergt. John Miller, corp.

MUSICIANS

Perez Tinkham Jacob Tinkham

PRIVATES

Jacob Allen Joseph Bent

Jesse Bryant Abner Barrows
1 Montgomery, History of United States, p. 134.
2 Seth Tinkham left a diary of this campaign, which has been published in the
History of Plymouth County, p. 995.
1689-1763] THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 93

Abner Barrows, Jr. Jeremiah Jones

Isaac Bennett Jeremiah Jones, Jr.
John Bennett John Knowlton
Samuel Bennett James Littlejohn
Benjamin Barrows Robert Makfun
Abraham Barden Thomas Miller
William Barlow David Miller
Eliakim Barlow Noah Morse
John Barker Jonathan Morse
Perez Cobb Jacob Muxom
Onesimus Campbell IsaacNye
Gideon Cobb Thomas Peirce
Gershom Cobb Job Peirce
William Cushman Paul Pratt
Peter Crapo Francis Pomeroy
Thomas Caswell Samuel Pratt
Jesse Curtis Samuel Pratt, Jr.
Ezekiel Curtis Henry Richmond
Counselor Chase Nathan Richmond
Jabez Doggett Moses Reding
Simeon Doggett Job Richmond
Ebenezer Dunham Noah Raymond
Adam David Barnabas Sampson
Elkanah Elmes Jabez Sampson
John Elmes Jacob Sampson
John Ellis Obadiah Sampson
John Eaton John Sampson
Asa French Crispus Shaw
William Fuller Perez Shaw
Simeon Fuller Zebedee Sears
Jedediah Holmes Peleg Standish
John Harlow Robert Seekel
Zuril Haskell Benjamin Streeter

The Rev. Ebenezer Hinds, pastor of the Second Baptist

Church, was the chaplain of this regiment, and accompanied
them during the entire service.
Captain Abiel Peirce,^ a young man of remarkable courage
and enterprise, early noted among the people of the town for
his character and devotion to the interests of the mother coun-
try, served as a private soldier under General Winslow in the

1 The Peirce Family, p. 102.

94 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1689-1763

expedition to Acadia in the summer and fall of 1755. For his

prudence and bravery he was afterwards promoted to the rank
of lieutenant, and still later to the rank of captain. He was
in the expedition to Canada, and present at the battle of Que-
bec, "the key of Canada," ^ September 13, 1759. Before the
attack on Quebec he was detailed to serve as a temporary aide-
de-camp on the staff of General Wolfe. He saw General
Wolfe receive his fatal wound, and heard him say as he fell,
" Support me, let not my soldiers see me drop." Then came

the shout, " The day is ours " "They run They give way
! !

everywhere !
" A light came into the eyes of the dying hero,
who eagerly asked, "Who fly.?" and being told it was the
French, exclaimed, " Now, God be praised, I die happy."
The company under command of Captain Thatcher probably
consisted of many who had served under Captain Pratt, and
the following are the names of the officers and privates, most
of them Middleboro men :
^ —
" Samuell Thacher Capt.
John Peirce Lieut.
Ignatious Elmes Insign
Abner Barrows
Robert Barrows
Samuel Bobbitt
William Barlow
Ruben Barrows
Joshua Caswell Sick at Albany
Joseph Drake Desarted
David Delano Died the 8 of Septm
Remembrance Donham
Ebnezer Donham
James Fance
Isreal Felix Sick at Albany
1 Barry,Hidory of Massachusetts, vol. ii, p. 238.
2 The above names are from the diary of Abner Barrows, a son of Coombs
Barrows, now in the possession of Miss Sarah T. Barrows, his great-granddaugh-
ter. It is a small book, about 3! inches wide by 5I inches long, which was proba-
bly carried in his pocket and the entries made from day to day. The list of the
ofificers and privates in this company are in his handwriting at the end of the diary.
He was from twenty-three to twenty-five years old at the time he was in this ser-
vice, and lived afterwards in the old Barrows house.
1689-1763] THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 95

Samuel Hunter
Peter Hulburt Desarted
Ebenezer Norcutt at Albany
John Reed
Barnabas Raymond
William Ransom
Gibbin Sharp
Ephraim Thomas
Oxenbridge Thacher Adj
Perez Tinkham
William Terry Sick at Albany
William Tupper
Nathan Thomas
Lemuel Wood
"
Benjamin Washburn Sick at Albany

Abner Barrows kept a diary of his service in the French and

Indian War
from 1756 to 1758. This diary is dated, "Boston,
May II, 1756," the day they left Boston, and contains records

of the events during their march, —

the places where they
encamped, the number of miles travelled each day, with the
incidents of their camp life. They reached Albany on the
23d ofMay, taking twelve days to travel a distance which can
now be done by cars in a few hours. After arriving at Albany
they proceeded to Saratoga, and to Fort William Henry. The
regiment to which this company belonged performed no spe-
cial service, and the men were discharged and returned to

their homes. Mr. Barrows enlisted again in 1757, and served

during the campaign of 1758.
The following is a copy of a portion :
—
1758, July 2. D Nothing Remarkable hapnd Kept about
our Incampment Our army consists of about twenty two thou-
sand.
July 3 this Day thair Was a Generial muster through the
Whole Incampment Every Regement mustered by them selves
and was Desmised about middle of the after Noon.
July 5 this Day
Whole Incampment by about half way
the
betwext Brake of Day & Son Rise Struk thair tents and
marched Down to the Lake thair Shipt in Battoes & in Whail
Botes Rowed Down the Lake about Sixteen miles made Some-
96 HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO [1689-1763

thing of a halt about three ours or Better then Rowed in our

Botes again Sometimes Rowed Sometimes Layd on our ores
Till after Day Light by the Son about three hours high then
our men Viz Regulars Landed about half a mile above the
advanced Guard of our Enemy s- Major Roggers With his
Rangers Went tords them and they perceiving they Was an
army they hauled Down thair Tents Ran of With all Speed
Left bag and baggage for a prey thay fired a good many Guns
which Did no harme Several of the Enemy Wair kild or Taken
prisoners
July 6 this morning about Eight o Clock the army Landed
our Regulars fired on a few french men and Indians & killed
two or three ye french that Wair att the advance Guard Ran
off with all Speed all and all thair Things behind allmost be-
hind them Soon after We Landed thair Went out two or three
parties of men after thay had bin out afi our or two we heard
a Very smart Fiiring which Lasted about an hour & toward
Night thay brought the prisoners that thay had taken Which
amounted to the Number of about 150 thay had upwards of
fifty or 60 Slain this Day we Reckned that our men had up-
wards of fifteen or 20 Slain Som Wounded & brought In to
the C mp our Lord how Was Slain this Day
July 7 this morning Severial Regments marcht from Whair
We Landed ours with them then after we had travled three
or fore miles thay all Returnd to the Camp then our Regment
took meet for two Days & no Bread then about two or three
ours after we came in our Regment & a Good many more
Regments marcht towards the Enemys fort & made Several
Brest works for our own Safegard Whair our Regement Loged
in the Night
Saturday July the 8 this morning all the Regements that Lay
in their Breast Works travled about a mile then our Regment
and one more Viz Colo Bayleys Regment Lay a long two Deep
In order for combat the Light Infantry Regment Lay advanced
before Us we Lay thair two or three hours Divers Guns Wair
Fired in our front Till all In a Sudden thair Was a very Brisk
fire in our frontWe Lay a Short Time Prepared for the Enemy
But perceiving thay Did not Come then the Regment that
Lay Before Us advanced forward and our Regment marched
Briskly the fire Continued in one Continued Volley the Biggest
Part of five hours the french that we thus Ingaged wair in thair
Brest Work & in thair Intrenchments our Regulars Began the
fire With the Enemy thair Was abundance of them Slain Som
Conclude thair was two or 3 thousand of them Slain thair Was