Research Notes - Northfield Settlement & Raids

Northfield, Massachusetts

The town, as granted by the General court in 1672, was eight miles long by four and a half miles wide, extending 3/4 of a mile from the river west, and 3 3/4 miles east.  . . . The outlines were not regular. 

The river is the Connecticut river which runs north to south.

Second settlement - 1685 - added a tract of land to the south, on the east side of the river.  Another addition was made so that the town bounded Deerfield to the south.

River Indians:

In the 1670s thought to be have been about 1200 people and of that 300 warriors

Agawam - occupied region above & below Springfield. 

Nonotucks / Norwottucks - head of the falls of the Connecticut to Mount Wequomps / Sugarloaf

Squakheags - claimed area of Northfield

Pacomptocks - valley of the Deerfield river, largest, most warlike, best known

Timeline:

1656 the Pacomptocks attacked by Uncas, the Mohegan sachem, Pacomptocks won and killed many of Uncas' men.

1657 Pacomptocks requested permission of the white court to make war against Uncas. Did it anyway when they were refused permission. 

1663 Mohawks from New York came and attacked Pacompocks and continued on to attack the Squakheags. 

1669 Massachusetts tribes combined to take revenged and marched on the Mohawks with approximately 600 to 700 warriors. Nonotucks, Pacomptocks & Squakheags all participated. They were defeated by the Mohawks, probably b/c the whites tried to shut it down and may have warned the Mohawks in that attempt. After this the Squakheags left the area altogether. 

1669 Deerfield was settled, 16 miles south of Northfield site. 

1670 a party from Northampton, consisting as near as can be ascertained, of Joseph Parsons Senior, Mr. William Janes, George Alexander and Micah Mudge, "went upon discovery" of the place, examined the location with care, and ascertained that the native claimants were ready and anxious to sell the tract. 

1671 early in spring the group above with Caleb Pomeroy and perhaps others, went up and consummated the purchase. They didn't make full payment, but balance was paid in 1686. 

1671 May a group of 33 men petitioned the General Court to be allowed to settle Northfield. These include William Jeanes, John Searle and Joseph Jeanes.  The court refused the petition.

1672 23 men successfully repetitioned the court including William Jeanes.  In the fall the town was laid out and the court issued orders for the citizens of the town:

1. That all those that have land granted there shall be there at the place which their familys according to the time prefixed and set by the Court, i.e. 18 months from the date of the Court's grant to the inhabitants.
2. That whereas some persons might go thither and tarry so little and short a time as may frustrate and retard and hinder the work intended by the Court, viz. the settling of a Plantation; and also detriment and damage to those that shall settle there, we do therefore order that all those that take up land at Squakehege shall build upon it and continue in their own persons and familys, if they be such as have familys, but if not in their own persons for the space of four years from the time of their familys coming thither; otherwise their land to fall into the hands of those that shall have power to dispose of it others - except in case of death or some other inevitable Providence, in such cases to remain to the heirs of such persons. 
3. That every person that shall take up land there shall be liable to bear all equal charges according to the number of acres each man hath there, as purchase money, and all other public charges except Country Rates.
4. That all that have land in any Common cornfield or meadow shall make good and sufficient fence, according to his due proportion for what land he hath in the said field or meadow.
5. And it is further ordered, that there shall be a convenient lot laid out for a Minister, both home-lot and meadow. 
6. That no inhabitant be received into the Plantation without the approbation of three of the Committee and the major part of the Company, till this Committee's power be ended. 

20 home-lots were marked off at the outset, sixteen on the west anf four on the east side of the street. These lots were twenty rods wide and inteneded to contain 7 1/2 acres each. Only 16 of these lots, however, were taken up by actual settlers. The list of heads of families, who put up dwellings here in this First Settlement included Elder William Janes who had a houselot on the west side of the street. 

At the time the home-lots were assigned, Great meadow and Pauchaug were each divided among the settlers. 

Sounanett, a Pacomptock chief owned part of the land where Northfield was founded.  His daughter Asogoa sold it to Northampton in 1673.  The town sold it to the Northfield settlers.

Rev. John Hubbard wrote a history of the town: "In (the spring of) 1673 settlers came on, planted down near one to another,  built small huts, covered them with thatch, and near their centre made one for public worship and employed Elder William Janes as their preacher; also ran a stockade and fort around a number of what they called houses, to which they might repair in case they were attacked by the enemy." 

The evidence is conclusive that the majority of the buildings were set close together in a quadrangular space, covering perhaps 30 by 40 rods, which was surrounded by a stockade. This stockade is near where the Zechariah Field fort was built in the last settlement. It was on the high ground which was good for both defence and watching and near the meadow road. 

The rule adopted for the division of meadow land is not clearly stated, but is believed to have been according to the amount of purchase money each man put into the common stock. This represented his share in the adventure, and was the basis of taxation, and rightfully, of land apportionment. 

The crops first planted were flax, Indian corn and wheat. . . . The settlers had a good store of cattle . . . They had also a considerable flock of sheep.  Wool and flax were the materials necessary for winter and summer clothing; of which every new settlement was expected to furnish its own supply. 

It is difficult to determine the precise number of inhabitants in the aggregate, that made a lodgement here - and constituted the homelife of the little village, during the brief period of its continuance. Probably there was coming and going; some of the older children of a family did not move hither with the parents; and such infants as were born here were recorded with the rest at the old home in Northampton. The following sketch of the several families will afford a basis for a tolerably correct estimate of about 85 people.

• William Janes. He came from England in 1637; was a first settler at New Haven; was at Northampton as early as 1656; a teacher at both places. He was an earnest forwarded of the new plantation, came hither with the first company, and became both teacher and preacher. His second wife was Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bascom Sen., and widow of John Broughton. They had four children, the youngest less than a year old, and probably four or five children of the first wife came with the parents. 
• Ralph & Alice Hutchinson, 4 young children.
• James & Mary (Broughton) Bennett. He was killed at the Falls fight, May 19, 1676. Mary was daughter of Hannah (Bascom) (Broughton) Janes. 
• Thomas & Mary (Newell) Bascom, 3 children, brother of Hannah (Bascom) (Broughton) Janes.   
• Robert & Hepzibah (Bascom) Lyman  3 or 4 children, one born 1674, sister of Hannah (Bascom) (Broughton) Janes. 
• George Alexander, wife Susanna, 2 youngest children
• John & Sarah (Gaylord) Alexander, 1 child, son of George above. 
• Thomas & Abigail (Alexander) Webster, 3 children. Abigail daughter of George above.
• Micah & Mary (Alexander) Mudge and 2 children. Mary daughter of George above.
• Samuel & Elizabeth (Burt) Wright, 7 children. He was killed by Indians in the first attack Sept. 2, 1675. 
• Cornelius & Mary (Ballard) Merry, 5 children
• William & Patience (--?--) Miller, 8 children. She was a physician and surgeon.
• Thomas & Abigail (Alvard) Root, 3 children.
• John & Anne (Baxter) Hilliard/Hilyer, 2 children
• William & Elizabeth (Lawrence) Smead, 5 children
• Joseph & Phebe (--?--) Dickinson, 5 children. He was killed with Capt. Beers, Sept. 4, 1675. 

The Indians throughout the valley continued on friendly terms with the whites till the spring of 1675. They had been accustomed to set their wigwams on the commons and sometimes on the homelots. They had bartered and begged, as the case might be. Usually they were peaceably inclined. In some of the settlements they liked to take land of the English to plant on shares, the stipulation being that the whites should plow the same, the Indians finding the seed and returning half the crop.  There were mutual jealousies and distrust . . . 

The first signs of a change of feeling and purpose ont he part of the Indians, noticed this spring, were a neglect to make the usual arrangements for planting corn; and a simultaneous removal of their effects to their forts and hiding-places. Some friendly squaws gave significant hints to certain exposed families at Northampton.

1675 The Indians suddenly disappeared about the time of the Brookfield fight, Aug. 2, 1675. There are reasons for believing that they went to Paquayag, and perhaps to Wenimisset, which was a common rendezvous point. King Philip, after he came into this neighborhood, made efforts to unit all these clans in his interest. And though he was not present at any encounter with the whites, it is evident that his influence was a stimulant. There were among the River Indians several survivors of earlier Indian battles who were capable of planning and executing raids. 

Companies of soldiers under Captains Lothrop and Beers were sent up by the Council at Boston. The Council of Connecticut sent up Capt. Thomas Watts of Hartford with 40 dragoons. Lt. Thomas Cooper of Springfield with 27 mounted troops and 10 Springfield Indians joined Capt. Watts and all marched to Brookfield.  All troops arrived in Brookfield on the 7th. Lothrop & Beers set up headquarters there and the troops searched for the Indians through the 21st finding no one. 

Joseph Dickinson left Northfield to consult with friends in Hadley. He was killed  returning with Capt. Beers company when it was attacked on September 4th.

The Indians attacked Deerfield on September 1st and Northfield on the 2nd. 

There is little doubt that the party who attacked Northfield September 2, 1675 and fought Captain Beers two days afterwards, were former residents, who had left their women and children somewhere to the east. 

The Indians lying in wait near Miller's river, appeared in force at Northfield. They had just received the large reinforcement of a war party of Nashaways, headed by Sagamore Sam and One-eyed John, the latter of whom was probably the leading spirit in this attack on our village and the assault on Capt. Beers two days later. 

It was the season for drying their flax; and ignorant of what had happened the day before in Deerfield, our people went about their work as usual on that morning. Both the soldiers and settlers appear to have been scattered in the meadows and homelots when the assault was made. According to Rev. Mr. Hubbard, "some were killed in their houses, others as they were coming out of the meadows; the rest, men, women and children, fled to their fort, unable to sally out and repel the enemy. The savages kept around them, killed many of their cattle, destroyed their grain (wheat which was harvested and in the stook), burnt up the houses that were outside the stockade, and laid all waste." 

The number of whites officially reported as killed, was eight, viz: Sgt. Samuel Wright age about 45, Ebenezer Janes age 16, Jonathan Janes age 14, sons of Elder William Janes, Ebenezer Parsons age 20, John Peck of Hadley, Nathaniel Curtis of Northampton, Thomas Scott and Benjamin Dunwich, residence unknown. Only one Indian was reported killed. 

Here then were these 16 families crowded within the small stockade, and the bodies of their friends lying unburied where they fell, and the savage foe lurking in the adjacent thickets and ravines. The terror of these mothers and little children, and the anxiety of these fathers can hardly be exaggerated. 

On September 4th Capt. Richard Beers company heading for Northfield was attacked by Indians. Beers and 7 more men were killed. 

After the abandonment of Squakheag/Northfield by the settlers, the Indians returned in a body, and made this their headquarters for the remainder of the season.  

After its desertion and destruction in 1675, the town "lay waste" for 7 years, before any movement for resettlement was made. In the mean time . . . Samuel Wright, Joseph Dickinson and James Bennett were killed by the Indians . . . Others had given up their rights and settled permanently elsewhere. Most of the proprietors, or their heirs, however, still held on to their grants, and at no time relinquished the purpose of rebuilding the town. 

1677 April Gov. Andros wrote "The River Indians have fled, some to Canada, and the rest scattered among the tribes." 

1677 Sep. Hatfield was attacked by "the old enemy and former neighbors, who had fled to the French about Quebec, and were lately come from thence."

1682 As preliminary  to a resttlement of the place, in the spring of 1672 the original proprietors sent a petition ot the General court, asking that the vacancies in the Committee might be filled, and the Committee impowered to act in the premises. 

1683. In the spring of 1683, "The Committee with the proprietors, having met several times about it, and after much agitation, they ordered and agreed as follows:

1. That there shall be 40 familys settled in the town plot, and every man to have an equal proportion, and every home-lot to be 20 rods wide. 
2. They did agree to throw up Pauchaug and the upper division in the Great Meadow by the town, to incourage more inhabitants to join with them for the better settling of the place.
3. That every person that has 60 acres granted of interval land, shall settle two inhabitants upon it.
4. They did also agree to go again thither with their families, by the 10th day of May 1686, or else to leave their lands.
5. That if there be any alter their minds, or not performing the condition of settling two familys upon 60 acres, they shall have the remainder of their land at the further end of the plantation."

House lots were granted as follows:

• Ensign John Lyman 45 acres
• Joseph Parsons, Senior 90 acres
• Mr. William Janes 60 acres - taken up by his son Samuel, and the home-lot next north of the one on which the Elder built in 1673 was assigned to him. 
• George Alexander 60 acres
• Samuel Wright's heirs 60 acres
• John Alexander 35 acres
• Robert Lyman 40 acres
• William Miller 55 acres
• Joseph Dickenson's heirs 50 acres - taken up by his son Samuel
• Ralph Hutchinson 40 acres
• Micah Mudge 30 acres
• Cornelius Merry 30 acres
• John Hilyerd 30 acres
• William Clarke 40 acres
• Samuel Davis 30 acres
• Nath'l Alexander 40 acres
• John Clary Jr. 50 acres 
• John Woodward 35 acres
• Benjamin Palmer 30 acres
• Richard Francis 36 acres
• Isaac Warner 30 acres
• Richard Lyman 35 acres
• Eleazer Warner 20 acres
• John Hutchinson 25 acres
• Daniel Warner 20 acres
• Zachery Lawrence 25 acres
• Benjamin Wright 30 acres

And there were seven men who backed out of the enterprise.

1684 May 28 the townsmen laid out highways 10 rods wide through the town and out to the meadows. 

1685 Spring of 1685 the town was rebuilt. As one of the first necessities of frontier life, they built a substantial fort. This was placed on the Robert Lyman home-lot, owned in the Third Settlement by Zechariah Field.

1686 March 18 "A grant of a home-lot and that Island commonly called Mr. Jane's Island, lying a little above Pauchaug," was made to Joseph Janes: and a home-lot and 20 acres of interval was granted to Judah Hutchinson. Hutchinson took up his home-lot, but Janes did not. A new fort was built on the John Clary home-lot. This was necessary for the protection of the gristmill and as a resort for the families located at this end of the street. Probably watches were kept at night, and wards in the day-time, from the 1st of May to the time of the "fall of the leaves" - the Indians commonly choosing this season for their attacks, as the leaves afforded better concealment. All males from 16 to 60, except those exempted by law, were required to train four days in a year, and were liable at all times to be called upon to take their turn in watching, warding and scouting. 

The records contain no evidence to show that . . . Mr. William Janes . . . became an actual resident in this second attempt, though he paid annual taxes. There were about 29 actual heads of families in the new settlement. 

• Nathaniel & Hannah (Allen) Alexander son of George Alexander.
• Samuel & Sarah (Lewis) Boltwood. Samuel killed in Deerfield raid 1704.
• John Clary, Jr. - He and his daughter Sarah age 15 were killed in the 1688 raid by Indians near his mill.
• Samuel Davis.
• Samuel Dickinson son of Joseph Dickinson killed in 1675.
• John Holmes
• John Hutchinson, son of Ralph.
• Judah Hutchinson, son of Ralph.
• Samuel Janes son of William Janes, killed by Indians in the 1704 raid. 
• Joseph Janes, son of William Janes, died unmarried 1695. He received a home-lot grant and an island, but did not move there. 
• Zachary Lawrence
• Ensign John Lyman
• Moses Lyman son of Ensign John Lyman.
• John Lyman son of Robert Lyman
• Richard Lyman son of Richard Lyman Jr. and received his lands.
• Benjamin Palmer
• Robert Poag/Poick
• Joseph Root, son of Thomas Root, Sr. 
• Jacob Root, son of Thomas Root, Sr. 
• Daniel & Martha (Boltwood) Warner 
• Joseph Warriner 
• William Weeks
• John Woodward
• Benjamin & Thankful (Taylor) Wright. He married 2nd Mary Barker. 

1687 3rd and last purchase of Indian lands. Took in the earlier two deeds and added land on both the eastern and western borders of the tract. 

1688 Land grants were apportioned. A piece of land was reserved for a burying-place on the meadow hill, said to be the place where Sgt. Samuel Wright was killed during the 1675 raid. He was interred where his bones were found, where he fell. A company of Canadian Indians raided south through Northfield in July and the Squakheags warned the inhabitants of their hostile intentions. The English, trusting in the treaty between the English and French, failed to take the alarm. 

1688 August 16 - "six persons, three men, two women and a girl were murdered by Indians at Northfield!" so writes Micah Mudge, and adds, "a hatchet was found beside one of the persons murdered, which was seen and well known to have been with those eleven Indians when they passed thro' Northfield on their way to Deerfield."

Thomas Wells gave an affidavit: "One Camaghtesett who was Capt'n or chief of the said 8 Indians told this examinant in ye Indian language which he well understood, that ye said 11 Indians were rogues and that he feared they were gone to do mischief, and that they would have done mischief at Northfield as they came down the River, had they not been in company with them:  And that the said Wahacoet told him that they were sent out by the ffrench, and had orders to kill English, Indians, Dutch and Maquas, and that he should bring no English captives but only their scalps; and advised the English inhabitants to be careful of themselves. - That about three days after, this examinant heard that five Indians were killed and others taken by Indians at Spectacle Pond near Springfield: And about three weeks after, that 3 men and 2 women and a girl were murdered by Indians at Northfield, which this examinant verily believes was done by the said 11 Indians."

From an allusion contained in a letter written by Col. Pynchon, it is evident that the killing of these six persons was done at night or early morning; and that the families assaulted lived near Clary's mill. A mass of human bones lying as if in one grave, with some rusty nails and knots to indicate rude coffins, was found by W.H. Webster, when cutting down the bank to make room for a wall south of his new barn. The remains of coffins sufficiently attest the fact that they are the bones of white settlers; and the proximity to the fort (which stood a few rods to the south), whither the slain would naturally be carried, indicates that this was the common grave of the 6 victims. 

The utter consternation which seized the people at this "amazing stroke," is well illustrated by the fact that they dared not carry the bodies of their friends to the cemetery for burial; that one-half the families immediately left the town; and that the names of the persons killed were no where recorded. Careful investigation leaves no reasonable doubt, however, that the miller, John Clary, and his daughter aged 15, were two of the number. 

1688 Oct. 30 - Committee for Northfield sent a ltter to Governor Andros at Boston:

. . . Hon'd Sir, We have had a great deal of care and trouble in the resettling of this Plantation. Many have had grants and have forfeited them again, so that we have had many meetings about it, which have not been without great expense of time and some charges to us. But we were willing to be at any pains so that we could settle the place. 

While we were writing of this, we did receive a paper from Northfield inhabitants wherein they did desire the inhabitants which are not there may be sent away [which have failed to occupy their grants or have deserted the place may be declared forfeit of their rights], or else it will be hard for them to hold the place, because it doth discourage those that are there; they fear the place will be deserted . . . "

1688 Nov. 1 Governor Andros issued an order to the Council of War at Hartford, for raising a company of 60 men in the Connecticut colony, to be placed under command of Col. Robert Treat, and sent to Northfield. . . . These troops afforded a sufficient protection to the inhabitants; but as the Government had no commissary department, the soldiers, who were quartered on the families, ate up their substance. There could not have been more than 15 families left in the town, which gave an average of 4 soldiers to a household. 

1689 - Samuel Davis & Micah Mudge representing the people of Northfield sent this petition to the General Court at Boston:

The tears, fears and groans of the broken remnant at Northfield presenting themselves before the Honor'd General Court at Boston, 

Shew: "That we are indeed objects of your pity and commisseration, more than we know how to express or maintain a due sense of: the state of our outward man is very afflictive, and for our souls we have need to cry aloud Have pity on us! for the hand of God hath touched us, and ye Almighty hath dealt bitterly with us! A bitter cup of sorrow, blood and slaughter was reached forth to us in ye former Indian War. Our place burnt, and laid desolate, our people slain, and ye rest all driven away; ye town not only left waste but also bearing sad marks of divine wrath in that desolation. 

"Since which we thought we saw ye Lord calling us to rebuild those walles, went up under an expectation of having 40 families speedily dwelling there. About 25 were come, and we in a hopeful way, when ye Divine hand smote us again with an amazing stroke. Six persons in a moment slain by Indians last summer, which was astonishment to all ye rest. Since which half of our small number have deserted us, yet keep the land which by covenant is not theirs till they have dwelt upon it four years. Hereby we are reduced to twelve mean families. Our small number, in a place so remote, exposed us to ye rage of ye heathen; as it were inviting them to prey upon us. Our estates are exhaust by maintaining garrison soldiers and being kept from our labor. Our burdens of watching, warding, fencing, highways - we for ourselves and them that are absent - overbearing to us; besides all other hardships unavoidable in a new place. Our wives and children (that we say not ourselves) ready to sink with fears. We have no soul food, nor see any likelihood of attaining any . . . If you see meet to order us to throw up all, and leave it wholly to the enemies, and their insulting, Tho its hard (we feel it) we would submit. If we stay, we could humbly beg, if your Honors see meet, that those that have lots among us may be caused either to come and dwell on them, or quit them to others that would. And that such as come may be ordered to have the next lots to them that are now inhabited. And that we may have a Committee for our help to order our public occasions in this our weak beginning. . . . and ever praying ye Lord's blessing on you remain

Ye humble servants Samuel Davis, Micah Mudge"

How the remnant passed the winter is not known. An order of the County court, dated June 25, 1690, gives the winding up of the this settlement:

"This Court doth order that all the inhabitants of Northfield that have any corn or other provisions, viz. hogs, horses, cattle etc. do transport it down within the space of 6 to 8 days; and that which after said time aforesaid fixed is yet to fetch, order will be given for the fetching down for the use of the country, except what is taken to pay carters or horsement, except what the authorities see cause to return to the owners." 

1690-1713 - The Northfield settlers generally returned to their former homes. Some soon after died, their death being hastened, to human appearance, by hardship and watching, and disappointment. Some waited their chance to resettle the deserted plantation. Some removed permanently to Enfield and Westfield; and a considerable number soon joined a colony that settled at Lebanon, Ct. 

(To understand some of the events to be narrated, the reader should remember that war between France and England was declared in 1690 and continued through 1698; and that the French governor of Canada was tireless in efforts to instigate the Indians living the entire length of the New England border to harras and depredate on the settlements.)

1693 - July 27 - 26 Indians attacked Brookfield, killing and plundering the Wolcott, Mason and Lawrence families

1695 - Act passed by Massachusetts General Court that Indians found within 5 miles of the Connecticut River to be treated as enemies. 

1697 - Treaty of Ryswick

1698 - July 14 - 4 Indians attack men in Hatfield and captured some boys, who later escaped

1702 - Queen Anne's War began and lasted through 1713.

1704 - The great event of this war in our valley, was the destruction of Deerfield by a combined force of French and Indians under Herel de Rouville, Feb. 29, 1704. The number of assailants was reported at 200 French and 142 Indians. The number of English killed was 47. 112 captives were taken of whom 2 escaped, 22 were killed or perished on the way to Canada. Only 60 returned to their friends. 

Of the persons connected with Northfield history, in this affair, are the following: . . . 

Two sons of Elder William Janes, viz., Samuel and Benjamin and Moses Hutchinson, son of Ralph, with two other families, had settled near together on a fertile tract called Pascommuck, at the north east foot of Mt. Tom in Northampton. May 13, 1704, a party of French and Indians attacked this hamlet, and killed and captured no less than 33 persons. Samuel Janes his wife and 3 children, 4 children of Benjamin Janes, Moses Hutchinson and one child, and others (in all 19( were killed. "The English pursuing of them caused the Indians to knock all the captives on the head save 5 or 6." Three of those thus stunned were found alive, and subsequently recovered. One of the three was Hannah (Bascom) Janes, wife of Benjamin Janes, who in addition to the blow of the hatchet, was scalped. She was finally cured, and they settled in Coventry, Connecticut, whence he returned to Northfield in 1716. The other two were children, sons of Samuel Janes, Samuel aged 11 and Jonathan aged 8. At his majority Jonathan settled on his father's estate in Northfield. 

Temple, J.H. & George Sheldon. History of the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts, Albany, NY: Joel Munsell, 1875