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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Faith Bridges & Salem Witch Trials

Share from Juanita Daigle 

So many ancestral lines, like mine, trace back to the famous Salem Witch Trials.

One of my ancestors was Faith Bridges (who married Daniel Black) was the daughter of  Edmund Bridges (1612-1684) and Alice Millington.  Faith's brother was also named Edmund Bridges and he was married to Sarah Towne who was accused of being a witch but was released, but her sister Rebecca Towne, wife of Francis Nurse, was arrested and hung in the trials. For more information about the case of Sarah Towne Bridges 

Another of my ancestors was Sarah Proctor (1639-1672) who married Capt John Dodge, she was the daughter of John Proctor (1595-1672) and Martha Harper (1607-1659). Sarah's brother was John Proctor (1631-1692) who married widow Elizabeth (Thorndike) Bassett. Both John Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth, were arrested but Elizabeth was released and John was executed on August 19, 1692 in the Salem Witch trials. Here are links to read more about the trials of John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth. In 1692 14 complaints were filed in the Salem Witch Trials; twelve were against relatives of the Proctor family but only John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Rebecca Towne (aka Rebecca Nurse) were convicted, and only John and Rebecca were executed.

Some interesting facts about Faith Bridges: 

And this site shows court records about Faith Bridges and her husband Daniel Black:  "The Essex County Court records are full of a bewildering number of references to Edmund Bridges in connection with John Gould...In March, 1664, an individual called John Millington was sentenced to be whipped, or to pay a fine of ten pounds, "for his great misdemeanor" and also to be bound for twenty pounds.  A person, whose name is deliberately left out, deposed that in January her brother, Edmund Bridges, asked her to go to Salem with him, but she did not go and Edmund and his wife left without her.  Whilst they were gone, John Millington offered "uncleaness to her, and she told him that she would not yield to him for all of Topsfield". Although Millington later prayed that she, the one to whom he had offered "uncleaness" would forgive him, Sarah Bridges acted as a witness in the resulting court case. She referred to her sister.  It is not at all clear who this sister was...The reference may have been to Faith, one of Edmund Bridge's sisters. Faith and her husband Daniel Black, were involved in domestic troubles, and at one point had been ordered to sit in the stocks for an hour. Danile was ordered to live peaceably with his wife, and to refrain from threatening her, while she, for her part, was to be orderly, not gad abroad or be in the company of other men. If either party disobeyed these rules, they were to be whipped."
And some amusing information about Daniel and Faith (Bridges) Black:  "Faith Bridges, b. Mass; m. Daniel Black. "The Essex County Court records are full of a bewildering number of references to Edmund Bridges in connection with John Gould...In March, 1664, an individual called John Millington was sentenced to be whipped, or to pay a fine of ten pounds, "for his great misdemeanor" and also to be bound for twenty pounds. A person, whose name is deliberately left out, deposed that in January her brother, Edmund Bridges, asked her to go to Salem with him, but she did not go and Edmund and his wife left without her. Whilst they were gone, John Millington offered "uncleaness to her, and she told him that she would not yield to him for all of Topsfield". Although Millington later prayed that she, the one to whom he had offered "uncleaness" would forgive him, Sarah Bridges acted as a witness in the resulting court case. She referred to her sister. It is not at all clear who this sister was...The reference may have been to Faith, one of Edmund Bridge's sisters. Faith and her husband Daniel Black, were involved in domestic troubles, and at one point had been ordered to sit in the stocks for an hour. Daniel was ordered to live peaceably with his wife, and to refrain from threatening her, while she, for her part, was to be orderly, not gad abroad or be in the company of other men. If either party disobeyed these rules, they were to be whipped." 
Some great links to information about the trials are:

Interesting reading: "The Salem witchcraft papers, Volume 2: verbatim transcipts of the legal documents of the Salem witchcraft outbreak of 1692" click here

The Diary of Samuel Sewall, 1674-1729

Actual accounts of the accusatory papers and execution, click here.
Below is the "Title page and last page of Strange Phenomena of New England in the 17th Century including the "Salem Witchcraft, 1692", from the writing of Cotton Mather, New York, 1846" from the LOC (Library of Congress).

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A Condemned 1692 Salem Witch & Her Husband Speak Out

A Share from 

Ulrich Molitor. De Lamiis et Phitonicis Mulieribus, 1493

Mary Towne Easty, the daughter of William Towne & Joanna Blessing Towne of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, was baptized on August 24, 1634. One of 8 children, she & her family sailed for Massachusettes around 1640.

Mary married Isaac Easty in 1655, in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Isaac, a successful farmer, was born in England on November 27, 1627. Together the couple had 12 children. Two of Easty's sisters, Rebecca Nurse & Sarah Cloyse, were also accused of witchcraft during the Salem outbreak.

At the time of her questioning, Easty was about 58 years old. Her examination followed the pattern of most in Salem: girls had fits & were speechless at times. The magistrate became angry when she would not confess her guilt, which he deemed proven beyond doubt by the sufferings of the afflicted.

Easty was condemned to death on September 9, 1692. She was executed on September 22nd, despite an eloquent plea to the court to reconsider & not spill any more innocent blood. On the gallows she prayed for a end to the witch hunt.

Petition of Mary Easty To his Excellency S'r W'm Phipps: Govern'r and to the honoured Judge and Magistrates now setting in Judicature in Salem.

That whereas your poor and humble petitioner being condemned to die Doe humbly begg of you to take it into your Judicious and pious considerations that your Poor and humble petitioner knowing my own Innocencye Blised be the Lord for it and seeing plainly the wiles and subtility of my accusers by my Selfe can not but Judge charitably of others that are going the same way of my selfe if the Lord stepps not mightily in i was confined a whole month upon the same account that I am condemned now for and then cleared by the afflicted persons as some of your honours know and in two dayes time I was cryed out upon by them and have been confined and now am condemned to die the Lord above knows my Innocence then and Likewise does now as att the great day will be know to men and Angells -- I Petition to your honours not for my own life for I know I must die and my appointed time is sett but the Lord he knowes it is that if it be possible no more Innocent blood may be shed which undoubtidly cannot be Avoyded In the way and course you goe in I question not but your honours does to the uttmost of your Powers in the discovery and detecting of witchcraft and witches and would not be gulty of Innocent blood for the world but by my own Innocency I know you are in this great work if it be his blessed you that no more Innocent blood be shed I would humbly begg of you that your honors would be plesed to examine theis Afflicted Persons strictly and keep them apart some time and Likewise to try some of these confesing wichis I being confident there is severall of them has belyed themselves and others as will appeare if not in this wor[l]d I am sure in the world to come whither I am now agoing and I Question not but youle see and alteration of thes things they my selfe and others having made a League with the Divel we cannot confesse I know and the Lord knowes as will shortly appeare they belye me and so I Question not but they doe others the Lord above who is the Searcher of all hearts knows that as I shall answer att the Tribunall seat that I know not the least thinge of witchcraft therfore I cannot I dare not belye my own soule I beg your honers not to deny this my humble petition from a poor dying Innocent person and I Question not but the Lord will give a blesing to yor endevers.

Petitions for Compensation and Decision Concerning Compensation

Account of Isaac Easty -- Case of Mary Easty

Topsfield Septemb'r 8 th. 1710

Isaac Esty (Senior, about 82 years of age) of Topsfield in the county of Essex in N.E. having been sorely exercis'd through the holy & awful providence of God depriving him of his beloved wife Mary Esty who suffered death in the year 1692 & under the fearfull odium of one of the worst of crimes that can be laid to the charge of mankind, as if she had been guilty of witchcraft a peice of wickedness witch I beleeve she did hate with perfect hatered & by all that ever I could see by her never could see any thing by her that should give me any reason in the lest to think her guilty of anything of that nature but am firmly persuaded that she was innocent of it as any to such a shameful death-Upon consideration of a notification from the Honored Generall Court desiring my self & others under the like circumstances to give some account of what my Estate was damnify'd by reason of such a hellish molestation do hereby declare which may also be seen by comparing papers & records that my wife was near upon 5 months imprisioned all which time I provided maintenance for her at my own cost & charge, went constantly twice aweek to provide for her what she needed 3 weeks of this 5 months she was in prision at Boston & I was constrained to be at the charge of transporting her to & fro. So that I can not but think my charge in time and money might amount to 20 pounds besides my trouble & sorrow of heart in being deprived of her after such a manner which this world can never make me any compensation for.

I order and appoint my son Jacob Esty to carry this to the Honored Committee Appointed by the Honored Generall Court & are to meet at Salem Sept. 12, 1710. Dated this 8th of Sept. 1710.

Easty's family was compensated with 20 pounds from the government in 1711 for her wrongful execution.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A Grand Adventure-Looking for Relatives Part 2

A Share from Margaret T. Deiotte 


A good day at the library. I spent six hours with one file of correspondence that Nathan Goold sent out in 1893/4 to every Tukey relative he could find to try and put the Tukey family genealogy together. A Herculean job given he only had phone books, the postal service and various relatives to pass the information along.

In the file I found 3 letters from Stephen H. Tukey (gg grandfather). He provided lots of information that he had copied from his mother's bible (which went from Maine to California and back with Stephen's brother Francis) and from his grandmother's bible (which was burned in the Portland fire of 1866). The information filled in some gaps with his brothers and sisters and also revealed that there were several Tukeys in Boston and at least one in New York, both places that he moved to after leaving Portland which may have provided connections in those cities.

From Stephen's letter and those of M.M. Tukey, we learn that the original John probably had a brother by the name of William. Also, the immigration from England was to Malden, MA where John worked as a shipwright before moving to Portland. The librarian informed me that it would have been unlikely for a ship in 1744 to come directly from England, so I need to look for John in Massachusetts. [As a side light, there is a John Tuckey who was a ship master sailing between England and Jamaica in 1702. This gives me a ship's name to track down since passenger records are listed by ship, not by date.] Several other letters support the original name as being Tuckey, including the following from Stephen:
"When making those visits back to Portland it was my pleasure to call upon Uncle William and his daughter Mrs. Sarah Chase.. On one occasion she brought from the closet a large pitcher which had the name of Tuckey on it. She told me it was part of a set of ware manufactured for the Tuckey's and brought to this country by John. That Tuckey was the original way of spelling it but when he came to this country he dropped the 'c'."
This set included a punch bowl and cups and was mentioned by other family members. Of course there is also another family crest involved in this - not the one we have from grandpa Tukey. Also with Rufus Tukey's descendants are the cannon ball that landed in William Tukey's bedroom when Mowat attacked Portland in 1775 (obviously it didn't disappear in the Portland fire), some grapeshot and a spike that belonged to Tallyrand. Great family stories - who knows if they are true.

An interesting sidelight. Nathan Goold wrote and heard back from a John Tukey in Port Townsend, WA. This John Tukey left Portland at an early age and sailed around the horn in 1852. He came to Puget Sound in 1853 and stayed. His letter was hard to read. It was several pages but only about 3 sentences - very run on. He talks about serving in the militia and fighting Indians and that he has a life he loves that is much better than that in Maine.

Next Day


A glorious day in Maine. Barbara picked me up and off we went for a two hour schooner cruise around Portland's harbor. Sponsored by the Maine Historical Society, the cruise featured a perspectives on the history of the area as well as gorgeous views of lighthouses, islands, and rocky shores.

We had a late lunch on the water front and then headed to the Maine Historical Society for one quick hour of research.
We found another gold mine of preserved papers on our family - not nearly enough time to get through them. We will have to start again on Tuesday. We did find a will of Ezekiel Cushing plus other Cushing family data which tie three generations together (Hannah Cushing [who married Stephen Tukey], her father Jeremiah and her grandfather Ezekiel). To give you a flavor of Ezekiel's six page will, I have copied the opening paragraph:
"In the name of God amen. I Ezekiel Cushing of Falmouth in this County of Cumberland and the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. Esq. being disordered in the body but of sound mind and memory (Blessed be God) calling to mind that it is appointed to all men to die, do this eleventh day of April in the fifth year of the reign of George the third, King of Great Britain, reg, and in the year of our Lord 1765 make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following."
I love the language, so different than the shortened, spare prose of current times. We also got leads on land grants and property exchanges (they are indexed in paper form through 1735 then indexed and preserved on microfilm for 1735-1800). The originals should be at the Cumberland County courthouse. We shall see - more tasks for Monday and Tuesday. More miscellany - We will not find a will for John Tukey since there was a fire in the courthouse in the early 1800s so the only wills and probates available are from 1808 forward - unless copies have been preserved by the family. We may be able to find Abigail Sweetser Tukey's since she died in 1837.
We then ran over to the Portland Public Library (open til 5pm). There we found lists of marriages which Barbara copied and I found several land transfers witnessed or participated in by Seth Sweetser, Ezekiel Cushing, or Jeremiah Cushing. The deeds establish that these 3 men were in Portland/Falmouth by 1731 - nice to have a verified date.
That's all for today. Ghost tour at the cemetery tomorrow!

Saturday Surname -- Phelps of Essex Co., Massachusestts

Share by Barbara Poole and her blog Life from the Roots
See More New England Connections to Phelps
Gwen Boyer Bjorkman Hannah Phelps
Joseph Phelps East Windsor Connecticut
This post has several links to records Records Edward Phelps Sr & JR & Family
 William Preston Phelps oil on canvas of Mt. Monadnock from Dublin, NH & Articles 




1.EDWARD PHELPS was born ABT 1620 in of Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 OCT 1689 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married ELIZABETH ADAMS 1651 in Newbury / Andover, Massachusetts, daughter of ROBERT ADAMS and ELEANOR WILMOT. She was born ABT 1624 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 4 MAY 1718 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.



Children of EDWARD PHELPS and ELIZABETH ADAMS were:

+2  i.Elizabeth PHELPS was born 1646 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 27 JUL 1692 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

3  ii.Edward PHELPS was born ABT 1650.

4  iii.Samuel PHELPS was born 1651 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 JAN 1746 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah CHANDLER 29 MAY 1682 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

5  iv.Bridget PHELPS was born ABT 1652.

6  v.John PHELPS was born 15 DEC 1657 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 JUN 1677 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

7  vi.Eleanor PHELPS was born 1660 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married William CHANDLER 21 APR 1687 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+8  vii.EDWARD PHELPS was born 1663 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 NOV 1748 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts or Andover.


Generation No. 2



2.Elizabeth PHELPS (EDWARD PHELPS1) was born 1646 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 27 JUL 1692 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married JOSEPH BALLARD 28 FEB 1665 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of WILLIAM BALLARD and GRACE BERWICK. He was born ABT 1645 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 SEP 1722 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.



Children of Elizabeth PHELPS and JOSEPH BALLARD were:

9  i.Joseph BALLARD was born 26 JAN 1667 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 SEP 1732 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Rebecca JOHNSON 17 AUG 1698 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died 22 JAN 1754.

10  ii.Elizabeth BALLARD was born ABT 1669 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died MAY 1706.

11  iii.Ellenor BALLARD was born 24 AUG 1672 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 21 NOV 1707 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married John JOHNSON 13 SEP 1689 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

12  iv.William BALLARD was born 3 DEC 1674 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 SEP 1707 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

13  v.Hannah BALLARD was born 17 JUL 1677 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

14  vi.Dorothy BALLARD was born 8 NOV 1679 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died in (Prob.) Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She married Joseph SIBSON. He died in (Prob.) Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

15  vii.Hezekiah BALLARD was born 22 MAR 1682 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 4 NOV 1751 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Rebecca DAVIS 13 MAY 1713 in (Prob.) Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She was born ABT 1692 in Poss. Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 JAN 1754.

16  viii.Uriah BALLARD was born 16 NOV 1684 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died AFT 1765 in (Prob.) Wilton, New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth MANSUR ABT 18 OCT 1712 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was born in (Prob.) Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

17  ix.Tabitha BALLARD was born 19 MAR 1687 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 MAR 1687 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

18  x.Tabitha BALLARD was born 28 MAR 1688 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 FEB 1691 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
8.EDWARD PHELPS (EDWARD PHELPS1) was born 1663 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 NOV 1748 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts or Andover. He married RUTH ANDREWS 9 MAR 1682 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of ROBERT ANDREWS and GRACE. She was born 27 MAY 1664 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 FEB 1744 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.



Children of EDWARD PHELPS and RUTH ANDREWS were:
+19  i.RUTH PHELPS was born 1 JUN 1684 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 25 DEC 1739 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

20  ii.Hannah PHELPS was born 4 NOV 1685 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 APR 1737. She married John FLETCHER 1712.

21  iii.Lydia PHELPS was born 16 JAN 1687 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 1735. She married Josiah SAWTELL 4 FEB 1713 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

22  iv.Elizabeth PHELPS was born 27 JAN 1690 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 SEP 1770 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel WILLARD 19 AUG 1717 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

23  v.Barsubah PHELPS was born 8 MAY 1692 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 FEB 1694 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

24  vi.Edward PHELPS was born 20 MAR 1693 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1784 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary BENNETT 24 NOV 1718, daughter of THOMAS BENNETT and MARY BOOTH. She was born 31 AUG 1693 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

25  vii.Bathsheba PHELPS was born 7 MAR 1695 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married John BENNETT 23 JUL 1718.

26  viii.Robert PHELPS was born 8 MAY 1699 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1749 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Dorothy.

27  ix.Sarah PHELPS was born 1700 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 JUN 1776. She married Benjamin Goodridge \ GOODRICH 8 APR 1730.

28  x.Joshua PHELPS was born 1701 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Rebecca.

29  xi.Rebecca PHELPS was born ABT 1703 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph WILSON 21 SEP 1726 in Petersham, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.



Generation No. 3




19.RUTH PHELPS (EDWARD PHELPS2, EDWARD PHELPS1) was born 1 JUN 1684 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 25 DEC 1739 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in the Old Settlers Burial Yard, Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married THOMAS CARTER 25 DEC 1706 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of SAMUEL CARTER and EUNICE BROOKS. He was born 3 APR 1682 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 MAR 1738 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in the Old Settlers Burial Yard, Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.



Children of RUTH PHELPS and THOMAS CARTER were:


30  i.Ruth CARTER was born 26 APR 1708 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 AUG 1760.
+31  ii.Abigail CARTER was born 29 DEC 1711 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 OCT 1804 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
+32  iii.John CARTER was born 23 APR 1713 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 8 MAY 1766 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

33  iv.Thomas CARTER was born 30 APR 1716 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 MAR 1802. He married Betty SAWYER 19 JAN 1739.

34  v.Elizabeth CARTER was born 17 JAN 1718 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph OSGOOD FEB 1740.

35  vi.James CARTER was born 8 FEB 1720 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 JUL 1800. He married Prudence SAWYER 29 MAR 1744. He married Mary WALKER 2 JUN 1747.
+36  vii.SARAH CARTER was born 10 NOV 1725 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 MAR 1799 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

37  viii.Phenihas CARTER was born 5 DEC 1727. He married Mary SAWYER 22 FEB 1738.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Deborah Sampson: Woman Warrior of the American Revolution

A Share by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks and her blog History of Massachusetts 
Despite the fact that women were not allowed to join the military until the 20th century, several women still fought as secret soldiers during the American Revolution. One such woman was Deborah Sampson from Plympton, Mass.


Sampson, a direct descendant of the Mayflower pilgrim William Bradford, grew up in poverty. Like most children in poor families, she was hired out as an indentured servant until the age of 18. After she was released from indentured servitude, she worked as a local school teacher.
After the Revolutionary War broke out, Sampson decided to join the military. Like the secret female soldiers in the Civil War,  Sampson was young, poor, unmarried and wanted to serve her country like men did while earning some money in the process. Since she didn’t have any family to take care of, already held a low rank in society and had limited opportunities to earn money as a woman, she had very little to lose.

Engraving of Deborah Sampson by Herman Mann circa 1797
Engraving of Revolutionary War soldier Deborah Sampson. Published in “The Female Review” by Herman Mann, circa 1797


Disguising herself as a man by sewing herself a man’s coat, waistcoat and breeches, Sampson traveled to Worcester in May of 1781 (although some sources indicate she enlisted in 1782), where she enlisted in Captain Webb’s company in the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the alias Robert Shurtliff.
The war had already moved on to the New York area by the time Sampson enlisted and she was sent to fight as a light infantryman in the Hudson Valley. According to  Sampson’s biographer, Herman Mann, who personally interviewed Sampson for his book “The Female Review,” Sampson found war to be exhausting and terrifying:
“She says she underwent more with fatigue and heat of the day, than by fear of being killed; although her left-hand man was shot dead at the second fire, and her ears and eyes were continually tormented with the expiring agonies and horrid scenes of many others struggling in their blood. She recollects but three on her side who were killed, John Bebby, James Battles and Noble Stern. She escaped with two shots through her coat, and one through her cap…She now says no pen can describe her feelings experienced in the commencement of an engagement, the sole object of which is to open the sluices of human blood. The unfeigned tears of humanity has more than once started into her eyes in the rehearsal of such as scene as I have just described.”


While fighting in New York, Sampson was wounded in battle. “The Female Review” states she was shot in the thigh during a skirmish with Tory soldiers, but according to her pension application in 1818, Sampson stated she received the wound at the Battle of Tarrytown. After removing the bullet herself, the wound never healed properly and caused her pain and discomfort for the rest of her life. She was wounded again four months later when she was shot through her shoulder. Although Sampson survived her wounds, she eventually came down with a fever shortly after being dispatched to fight in Pennsylvania and was hospitalized. It was then that the doctors discovered her true identity. After Sampson recovered she was given a honorary discharge and returned home to Massachusetts where she eventually married and had three children.


Sampson kept a journal of her experiences during the war but it was lost in October of 1783 after a boat she was traveling on while returning from Pennsylvania capsized during a storm. Years later, in 1797, Sampson met Herman Mann  who worked with her to publish her biography “The Female Review.” Following publication of the book, Sampson embarked on a public speaking tour throughout eastern New York and New England. During her performances, she dressed in her male uniform and performed maneuvers from the manual of arms.
Like many soldiers of the revolution, Sampson had difficulty trying to obtain a pension. After she campaigned unsuccessfully to secure a pension in 1790, she became discouraged and feared Congress would never award her any money for her role in the war. With the success of her biography and speaking tour, Sampson renewed her campaign and gained the support of Paul Revere, who visited her farm in 1804 and wrote a letter to Congress stating “I think her case much more deserving than hundreds to whom Congress have been generous.”  The following year she was finally awarded a pension and eventually won a general service pension in 1821.
Sampson died of yellow mountain fever in April of 1827 and was buried in Rock Ridge cemetery in Sharon, Mass. After her death, several statues and monuments were erected in her honor in Sharon. Over a century later, the Massachusetts legislature named Sampson the official state heroine and declared May 23 “Deborah Sampson Day.”

Deborah_Sampson_Statue_Sharon_public_library
Statue of Deborah Sampson at the Sharon Public Library


Deborah Sampson’s memoirs “The Female Review” published in 1797

Sources:
“The Female Review”; Herman Mann, Deborah Sampson; 1797
“Women and Children First: Nineteenth Century Sea Narratives & American Identity”; Robin Miskolcze; 2007
“Women in the Military and Armed Conflict”; Helena Carreiras; 2008
“Writing Early American History”; Alan Taylor; 2005
PBS: Freedom: A History of U.S. Biography: Deborah Sampson: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web02/features/bio/B01.html
Massachusetts Historical Society: A Woman Soldiers in the Revolution: http://www.masshist.org/database/358use-onview-id
National Women’s History Museum: Deborah Sampson: http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/deborah-sampson/

Saturday, September 21, 2013

A Fearless Hero: Captain William Nichols War of 1812

By Melissa Berry Newburyport News

 A fearless hero during the War of 1812

---- — Our ships all in motion once whitened the ocean.
They sailed and returned with cargo
Now doomed to decay, they are fallen a prey
To Jefferson — worms — and Embargo
 — Newburyport Herald 1808


On a recent visit to the Custom House, Michael Mroz and Kevin MacDonald shared riveting tales of the War of 1812 and the Port’s valiant fight for maritime rights against the Brits. Newburyport was particularly distinguished for the bravery and success of its privateers who were “helping to thin out the enemy’s merchant ships.”
Much like the Revolution, this conflict depended on the voluntary service of brave locals. Despite the popularity of privateering during the war for independence, Federalists thought the practice was “unprincipled.” Governor Strong ordered a public fast to protest the war, and the atmosphere was one of angst. MacDonald stressed the impact of the economic crisis caused by the Embargo Act; it crippled the local merchants and the whole Merrimack Valley market hit ground zero. The effect was devastating, and for the first time, soup kitchens rose up to feed the once-prosperous citizens.


The sentiment was universal: “In every seaport there was much distress. Labor was impeded; the most industrious were enforced to idleness; poverty took the place of plenty. Many a noble man became a mere wreck of humanity.” The destitution spread with the “Great Fire” of 1811 that left many homeless as “nearly two hundred and fifty buildings were totally and suddenly consumed.”

Although this privation capped the harbor like a thick fog, a gallant hero “with flashing eyes and lion heart courage” eventually emerged to lift people’s spirits. A vibrant, daredevil seaman born and bred in the Port, Capt. William Nichols sent many of his enemies to Davy Jones’ Locker, while spinning tales of aquatic omnipotence that would put Ulysses to shame.
To the locals, he was “fearless” and, to the Brits, the “Holy Terror.” For his “daring and bravery, he had but few equals,” and he “was suited to become among privateersmen what John Paul Jones is upon naval records.” Mroz calls him the “Indiana Jones” of the briny deep, and he commanded the most advantageous privateer on the Eastern seaboard, the Decatur.
Before the war, the temerarious Nichols enjoyed several adventures on the high seas, and this is, no doubt, why Benjamin Pierce placed him in command of the Decatur. Pierce himself witnessed Nichols’ first stunt on the brig Alert. The Brits captured Nichols, but a crafty plan would turn fates. Nichols had “loaded and concealed a brace of pistols” in preparation for this very moment, and at the magic midnight hour, “he and his companions rose on the British seamen and regained possession of the vessel, securing the hatches over four men in the hold, and sending the rest adrift in a jolly-boat.”
The Vestal again captured the crew and brought them to England. Only confined for a brief interlude, Nichols narrowly escaped by “traversing gardens and leaping hedges,” and then he hopped a coach to London and bumped into the very sergeant he had just busted away from. Nichols responded to his opponent: “Here are three guineas you can have, but never me!” Luckily, the sergeant favored coin and Nichols went free.
Leaving port on Aug. 4, 1812, the Decatur sailed out to make history. Nichols’ first encounter was not with the enemy, but rather a two-hour pursuit with the Constitution, during which he threw off 12 of his 14 guns to out-run her. When this famous quick-fire frigate finally approached, Nichols suspected he would become a prize; however, he was pleased to find Captain Hull wearing an American naval uniform. Nichols tipped Hull off that the Brit frigate Guerriere had indeed given him chase the day before — the very vessel Hull was in hot pursuit of. The next day the Constitution fell in with the Guerriere, and the legend of “Old Ironsides” was born.



Even without guns, Nichols was determined to venture on, but the crew did not share his buoyancy. He mustered around the mutinous lot, “appearing to multiply himself on the eyes of his despondent crew,” while asserting, “You shall be masters of this brig, or I will.” He then flattened the insurgent ringleader with a billet of wood to restore order.
Out of this conflict “rallied some of the bravest spirits of war about him.” That very same day, the Decatur captured two prizes, thus replenishing arms and the crew’s spunk. The Duke of Savoy and the Elizabeth were sent sailing up the Merrimack, conjuring the Port with the vigor of heavy guns and a blazing exposé of 50 flags. No doubt, this Brit vanquisher was a sight for sore eyes!
The story of Capt. William Nichols will be continued tomorrow.
A man 'not born to be shot'
The adventures of Port privateer Captain Nichols continued, and the Decatur’s reputation soared: “Ranging over the ocean, she was known and feared wherever an English flag spread to the breeze.” Nichols was on a spree. After capturing the Duke of Savoy on Aug. 22, he would total nine prizes by Sept. 1, all of great value and well-stocked with guns.
With cargo valued at $400,000, one of Nichols’ biggest scores was the Diana, a ship armed and ordered to Newburyport. Although this stint at sea was a success, the Neptunian exploits had to be suspended — out of 160 original crew members, he had but 27 remaining. He had several prisoners on board as well, including a few British officers.
 
Nichols set a course for home, but the primordial powers were not yet finished with him. Before long, he was “called upon to meet one of the severest tests of his courage and skill.” This fateful encounter with the Commerce would be a fiery one.
When Nichols asked the few crew remaining if they would fight despite the ominous odds, the “three cheers” response must have given him a potent surge of panache.
Although his “illy armed and feebly manned brig” was up against “an enemy twice her size, double the number of heavy guns and full of men well equipped with small guns,” Nichols rose to the occasion, boldly asserting his “iron will.” While simultaneously manning his vessel and working the guns, Nichols dodged repetitive gunfire from British Captain Watts. Watts directed 14 shots his way, but missed each time, eventually throwing down his musket and swearing: “This man was not born to be shot!”
Ready to take the ship, though Nichols surged forward with just 10 men, the command to “Fire!” shot from his lips “as though he had a hundred men for the work.” In spite of the raging sea and wild wind, the gutsy crew took the lead and seized control of the enemy ship. Remarkably, the Decatur suffered no losses, and Dr. Bricket of Newburyport went on board to tend the wounded. Watts, hit by a cannon ball, met his maker during the night, along with three other British officers. No doubt impressed by his tactical prowess, the remaining crew signed up with Nichols on the spot, and he agreed to share the prize.
On her second cruise out, the Decatur captured prize after prize, but was eventually taken by the Surprise and brought to Barbados. Because of his reputation, Nichols was looked upon with high regard and respect. He was a parolee, rather than a prisoner, until the Vestal showed up. The captain, no doubt remembering the humiliation he suffered during the stunt on the Alert, decided to “get even” and took Nichols prisoner.
As an “uncaged lion would have been safer freight,” a special 5-by-7 wooden crate hosted the “Holy Terror.” They kept Nichols for 34 days, and then held him in a Brit prison. His release finally came after negotiations for an exchange.
Nichols returned home and quickly hit the seas once again in the brig Harpy, with which he “successfully preyed on enemy ships and brought in rich cargos.”


Although a lion heart roared in Nichols, according to his contemporaries, he possessed a warm, watery disposition and “was of tender sensibilities, always exhibiting the greatest affection for his mother and his family.” Even at sea, both foes and comrades noted his “great civility, indulgent lenity, and humane usage.” After Nichols captured his ship, Capt. William Drysdale, grateful for the hospitality while imprisoned, extended an invitation to his home, Stepney Green in London, should Nichols ever be in the area.
Benjamin Pierce, in a letter to Col. Thomas Barclay, the commissioner of prisoners, called him “modest and unassuming, yet brave and decided.” Pierce also noted that Nichols “was strictly moral and sincere; as a husband, parent, and neighbor, tender, indulgent, and affable.”
Later appointed as the Port’s Collector of Customs, Nichols purportedly regretted that “his advanced years did not permit him to engage in the service of the country upon the sea.”
Often referred to as “the forgotten war,” the War of 1812 is still alive and thriving at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport.
Take a tour, visit Nichols’ portrait and collections, and learn how America won her nationalism and freedom.
Special thanks to USS Constitution Museum historian Matthew Brenckle for his contribution. He notes, “The War of 1812 established America among world nations as major players and not the poor Colonial cousins!”


1713 Treaty of Portsmouth

       
Tracing of Piscataway River in New England (by I.S.) ca. 1665, showing settlement around the Piscataqua including Strawberry Bank. Courtesy of the Baxter Rare Maps Collection, Maine State Archives. Original in the British Library.
A Great Share from blog of Charles B. Doleac, Esq. I added a few pictures into the blog.  
TIMELINE OF THE SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWNS
In 1603, the French king granted a charter to DeMonts for the territory in the "New World" between 40 and 48 degrees North Latitude. In 1606, King James I granted the Virginia charter, in two parts, with North Virginia covering nearly the same ground as the French charter.
In 1623, English settlers established colonies at Dover Point, and Odiorne Point (now Rye) near the mouth of the Piscataqua. Hilton’s Point was first settled in 1628. As a frontier under constant threat from attack by the French and their native allies, garrison houses are evidence of the well-substantiated fear the English had of the Wabanaki. The covert military tactics of the First Nations had already influenced European warfare and fear of those terror tactics was an effective weapon in itself. Some attribute the 1692 Salem Witch hysteria to this environment of paranoia.
On April 20, 1700, the Earl of Bellomont, English royal governor of New England and New York wrote, "If there should be a generall defection of the Indians, the English in a moneth’s time would be forced to take refuge in their Towns where I am most certain they could not subsist two moneths."
As the English settlements pushed deeper into Wabanaki hunting and fishing grounds that the tribes understood the treaties had protected, the First Nations retaliated with attacks: on the settlements in Dover in 1689 and 1694 and on the coastal towns of Maine. By 1703 few English settlements northeast of Wells, Maine remained, except Falmouth. Yet, as historians Tad Baker and John Reid observe, "The unwelcome reality was that native forces were capable of doing irreparable harm to outlying colonial settlements, either English or French, and of striking even inside core areas. Second, the nations themselves consistently pursued strategic objectives ... such as protecting borders and promoting favorable trade agreements. Warfare, for the Wabanakis, was not the preferred method to achieve those goals."
Gov Dudley

At the meeting in Portsmouth in 1713, Gov. Dudley of Massashuetts referenenced seven previous treaties between the English and the Wabanaki that tried to define expectations on both sides. By this time, the First Nations seem to have conceded the shores of the Piscataqua River -- the Piscataqua themselves and the Squampscott had been the first the suffer the consequences of the epidemic brought to the seacoast aboard European vessels -- while warning the English away from outlying settlements such the Portsmouth Plains (attacked in 1696). The 1713-14 Treaty ushered in a time of peace and prosperity in Portsmouth, exemplified by the MacPhaedris (Warner) House, built in 1716 and other growth that followed.
 As Dartmouth College historian Jere Daniell puts it in his book, Colonial New Hampshire, the war between the English and the French (and their native allies) "[A]ccelerated the process which made Portsmouth the business hub not just of New Hampshire but of all New England north of the Merrimack River. At the outbreak of hostilities, Hampton, Dover and Portsmouth all had about the same number of residents and Exeter although smaller, served as an important center for the export of lumber. The towns developed differently during the armed conflict. Hampton continued to grow but remained a predominantly agricultural community... Exeter and Dover barely held their own in population and witnessed a decline in their maritime commerce. Portsmouth, on the other hand, thrived. Population increased rapidly as families moved in from the frontier.and the Isles of Shoals. The British government placed orders for a number of warhsips which guaranteed employment for many of the new arrivals. .. At various times New Englanders organized military expeditions against the enemy and used Portsmouth as a staging area; when that happened the town bustled with economic activity... It was entirely fitting that the community was chosen to host the signing of the peace trwaty... The town could well help sponsor the lavish ceremonies required on occasions of such importance and local inhabitants had even more to celebrate."

Main phases for settlement:

1623 The first settlement in New Hampshire, established by David Thompson in 1623 at Odiorne's Point, and named Pannaway.
1629-38 Four original town grants: Dover (1623 called Hilton's Point), Portsmouth (1630 called Piscataqua/Strawbery Banke), Exeter (1638 called Squampscott), Hampton (1638 called Winnacunnet
1728 "Narragansett" townships
Seven Narragansett townships were granted by Massachusetts in 1728 and the years following to veterans of King Phillip's War, also known as the Narragansett War, or to their heirs.


  • Narragansett Township No. 1 (now Buxton, Maine)
  • Narragansett Township No. 2 (now Westminster, Mass.)
  • Narragansett Township No. 3 (now Amherst, N. H.)
  • Narragansett Township No. 4 (now Goffstown, N. H.; the land was found unsuitable, and replacement land was subsequently granted in what is now Greenwich, Mass.)
  • Narragansett Township No. 5 (now Bedford, N. H.)
  • Narragansett Township No. 6 (now Templeton, Mass.)
  • Narragansett Township No. 7 (now Gorham, Me.)
1735           "Monadnock" townships (Masonian Proprietors' grants)


Jaffrey is one of three contiguous towns collectively known as the Monadnock townships (the others are Rindge and Dublin) that were laid out in the 1740s, shortly after the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was resolved. Each was granted by the Masonian Proprietors, a group of wealthy Portsmouth citizens who operated essentially as a speculative land company and granted many of southern New Hampshire's towns. The recipients of Jaffrey's thirty-five-square miles of primeval forest in 1749 were forty individuals, most of them residents of Dunstable (now Nashua and Hollis). Their new settlement was known variously as "Monadnock No. 2," "Middle Monadnock," or "Middletown."

Royal Gov Wenworth

1741 Land grants following end of King George's War and setting of NH-MA border
1760 Land grants by Royal Gov Wentworth following surrender of Canada
In the eighteenth century, Massachusetts granted unappropriated land to the veterans of Sir William Phipps' expedition against French-held Canada in 1690, as compensation for their services. Whole townships were granted to certain military companies, and became known as Canada townships. These were located in the northern extremes of Massachusetts, and in the District of Maine, then part of Massachusetts. Several Canada Townships were found in 1740 to lie within the territory of New Hampshire, and additional land within Maine was conveyed to the disappointed proprietors. Eight Canada townships were granted in south-central New Hampshire—among them, Beverly Canada (now Weare), Rowley Canada (now Rindge), Salem Canada (now Lyndeborough and Wilton) and Ipswich Canada (now New Ipswich).


In 1623, English settlers established colonies at Dover Point, and Odiorne Point (now Rye) near the mouth of the Piscataqua. Hilton's Point was first settled in 1628 (local tradition 1623), and was probably palisaded across the neck.There were up to 50 garrison houses built in and around Old Dover Township (including present-day Somersworth, Rollinsford, Madbury, Durham, and Lee) between 1623 and an attack in 1689 which burned five of the garrisons.

Several of the garrison houses were burned in that attack:
Capt. Peter Coffin's Garrison (built 1650's, fortified 1683 on the south side of the Cocheco River), on Orchard Street near Central Avenue, Tristram Coffin's Garrison, near the old Belknap School.


Major Richard Walderne's (Waldron's) Garrison (built 1664, fortified 1674), on the north-side of the Cocheco River
Richard Otis' Garrison (fortified 1683) on Mt. Vernon Street
Paine's Garrison at Rogers Street and Portland Avenue
Others survived the attack:
Capt. John Heard's (Hurd's) Garrison (built 1660's, fortified 1675) on Central Avenue near Garrison Hill
Capt. John Gerrish's Garrison (built 1670), along the Bellamy (Back) River
Richard Pinkham's Garrison (fortified 1675, dismantled 1825),
Tibbet's Garrison between Pinkham's Garrison and the second Meeting House
Varney's Garrison (unknown date) dismantled 1830's,
Lt. Zachariah Field's Garrison (built 1690 or 1694, fortified 1707) on "Field's Plains",
Meserve's Garrison (unknown date),
Benedictus Torr's Garrison (1700 ?) burned and rebuilt,
Ezekiel Wentworth's Garrison (1700's),
Lt. John (Jonathan) Hayes' Garrison (1707 ?) dismantled 1812.



William Damme House

The William Damme Garrison (1675) is the only remaining intact garrison house in Dover. Originally located south of the Bellamy (Back) River near Garrison Road and Spruce Lane. it was moved to the Woodman Institute Museum in 1916. The second Dover Meeting House (1654) on Dover Neck (Nutter Hill) was fortified in 1667 and 1683 with a 100-foot square, eight-foot high stockade around the house. It was demolished by 1695. Site is marked with monument.
Odiorne's Point
was the site of the state's first European settlement, Pannaway Plantation (1623 - 1627), which had a blockhouse named the Citadel of Safety, and the first Great House, built by David Thompson. The settlement was abandoned in 1627. The John Odiorne Garrison was built here in 1670.


Berry Brook Rye NH







The William Berry Garrison (1649) was located at Sandy Beach on Washington Road. John Locke's Garrison  was on Locke's Neck. It was attacked in 1694.  
Strawbery Banke, was the original name for Portsmouth from 1630 to 1653. An outer defense fort was excavated in 1803 at the northeast corner of High Street and Market Square, now the Peirce Block. Portsmouth originally included Newington, Rye, New Castle (until 1693), and Greenland. The second Great House (1631 or 1634 - 1685) built by William Chadbourne for the Laconia Company was located on Water (Marcy) and Court Streets.  There were at least three other garrison houses: one at the head of Jacob Sheafe's Wharf on Water Street, the John Cutt Garrison on Market and Court Streets, and the Russell Garrison near the "Ferryways." None remain. Elsewhere in town were the Asa Ham Garrison (unknown date) at Bartlett Street on Islington Creek, the Plains Garrison (1690's) which was attacked in 1696, and the Henry Beck Garrison (1664) on the south-side of Sagamore Creek (west of the present-day bridge). Other houses included the Sherburne House (1695) now part of Strawbery Banke Museum.
The site now named Fort Constitution, a New Hampshire State Historic Site, was placed in 1631 and known as The Castle through 1666. From 1692 to 1775, the site was known as Fort (or Castle) William and Mary. The Castle was the site of the July 1713 meeting between the English and the "Eastern Indians."
Fort Star (1653 - 1776, intermittent), Star Island, Isles of Shoals -- A two-gun stone fort built as a defense against Indians and French. The site is west of the present hotel, facing the mainland. Rebuilt with 11 guns and regarrisoned in 1692 for King William's War, and later for Queen Anne's War. Regarrisoned again with nine guns in 1745 for King George's War. In 1776 the fort was dismantled and the settlers removed to the mainland. No remains.
1629           First "NH patent." Division of Gorges-Mason holdings at the Piscataqua River
1629-35       Laconia Company formed (Gorges/Mason) for inland fur trade. Focused on Piscataqua fishery until bankruptcy in 1635
1631           Stratham ("Winnicutt") established (incorporated 1716)

Rev John Wheelwright
1638 Founding of Exeter ("Squampscott") under Rev. John Wheelwright (brother-in-law to Anne Hutchison) following his expulsion from MA Bay April 3, 1638. Exeter originally included present-day Stratham, Newmarket, Newfields, Epping, and Brentwood. Exeter Garrison Houses -- John Gilman's Garrison (1690 or 1709) was built at the intersection of Water and Clifford Streets as a fortified house that protected an adjacent mill. The house was expanded in 1770. Restored in the 1950's, it is now owned by Historic New England and open for tours.
Edward Sewell's Garrison (1676), located on Epping Road, has been greatly altered over time. A town fort, the Great Fort, was located near the Meeting House (1695).
Hampton was founded in 1638, and included present-day North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, South Hampton, Kensington, East Kingston, and Kingston Hampton Falls Garrison Houses -- Bonus Norton's Garrison (1700's) was located near the Hampton causeway on Lafayette Blvd. James Prescott's Garrison (1668 ?) (aka Prescott's Fort) was on Applecrest Farm. Daniel Tilton's Garrison (1667) was on Monument Square. 
Hampton Garrison Houses -- Thomas Philbrick's Garrison (before 1647 known as William Sanborn's Garrison) was torn down in 1855. Col. Joshua Wingate's Garrison (1700), later known as Edmund Toppan's Garrison, was located near Whittier's Corner, and demolished in 1900. The Hampton Meeting House was palisaded in 1689 following the attacks in Dover. It was enlarged in 1692 to allow room for small houses within the palisade.  John Dearborn's Garrison (1690's) in North Hampton was a settlers' garrison house located near the village green and the first town Meeting House (1734). Later known as Simon Dearborn's Garrison (1720's).
1638           Settlement of Greenland as parish of Portsmouth (incorporated 1704)
Greenland Garrison Houses -- Capt. Walter Neale's Garrison (1660's) was located on Heard's Neck near the mouth of the Winnicut River. It was the only recorded garrison house in town. The  Samuel Weeks' House (1638; rebuilt 1710), still standing, originally may have been another garrison house.


The Weeks House in Greenland NH.

1639           North Hampton settled
1641-43       Absorption of Dover and Portsmouth by Massachusetts for strategic value of Piscataqua River given Anglo-Dutch tensions (war 1652-54) and English Wabanaki tensions in Maine.
1643           Absorption of Exeter by Massachusetts
1659           Penacook (later Concord) settled
Concord Garrison Houses -- A town fort named Irish Fort (1725 - 1726) (or Penacook Fort 2) was at the old Penacook settlement, later renamed Rumford, then Concord. It was an outpost of Londonderry. A Penacook Indian fort was located on the east bank of the Merrimack River, probably on Sugar Ball Bluff. Col. Richard Waldron's Trading Post  (1667 - 1668), East Concord was located on the east side of the Merrimack River at or near the Penacook Indian village.
1664            Jackson House (Portsmouth NH) built.
 1665           Merrimack NH settled (established 1722)
1666-         The King's Commissioners order a fort to be built at Fort Point, New Castle, over the objections of the Mass Gen. Court. 1697: New Castle (NH) chartered as parish of Portsmouth
1669           Durham created as a parish of Dover (incorporated 1732) known as Oyster River Plantation until 1732.
Durham Garrison Houses -- There were 12 active garrison houses with 20 militia soldiers posted within at the time of the 1694 "Oyster River Massacre." Four were destroyed:
Francis Drew's Garrison (1640's ) at Drew's Point 
Thomas Edgerly's Garrison north of Meader's Creek
John Meader's Garrison (1660's) on Hill's Neck
Charles Adams' Garrison
Others survived:
William Beard's Garrison (also attacked in 1675) on Beard's Creek,
Lt. James (John) Davis' Garrison (1654) at the mouth of the Oyster River on Wagon Hill Farm (also survived 1689 attack),
Thomas Bickford's Garrison palisaded, on Durham Point,
James Bunker's Garrison (1650's) near Bunker's Creek (also survived 1689 attack)
Robert Burnham's Garrison
Stephen Jones' Garrison
(1672) on Jones' Creek

John Goddard's Garrison (1630's)
Valentine Hill's Garrison (built 1649), now incorporated into the Three Chimneys Inn,
Mathes' (Matthews') Garrison (survived 1694 attack),
Smith's Garrison (survived 1689 attack),
Capt. John Woodman's Garrison (1656 ) at the head of Beard's Creek (survived 1694 attack), burned in 1896, John Rand's Garrison and William Durgin's Garrison were built in 1695. Others included: Jonathan Chesley's Garrison (1716 ), Capt. Samuel Chesley's Garrison (1700 ), Philip Chesley's Garrison (1700 ), Joseph Chesley's Garrison (1707), George Chesley's Garrison (1699 ), David Davis' Garrison (2) (1720's ) at Packer's Falls (moved in 1790), Jabez Davis' Garrison (unknown date) one mile from the town,  the Pendergast Garrison (1737) near Packer's Falls,, and James Tilley's Garrison (1710's) near Packer's Falls.

In the 1690's, Newmarket -- Several garrison houses were located here, including the David Davis Garrison (1) (1695) on Lubberland Road. It was attacked in 1696, and was renamed Capt. John Smith's Garrison (1696). It was demolished in 1880. On the Lamprey River was Doe's Garrison (1650), which still existed when photographed by HABS in 1937.
1671           Congregational church gathered in Portsmouth under Joshua Moody
1680           Establishment of the royal province of New Hampshire
1680           Settlement at landing on Salmon River (later Rochester)
1681           Settlement at Newfields (part of Exeter)



Newfields Garrison Houses -- Capt. William Hilton's Garrison (1680), on Fowler's Hill, was a palisaded log house with a sentry box on the barn. Attacked in 1690. Demolished in 1822. Col. Edward Hilton's Garrison was attacked in 1706, It was later known as Col. Winthrop Hilton's Garrison. Aaron Rollins' Garrison was attacked in 1723, located near the lower falls of the Piscassic River. There was once another garrison house on the old Hall's Mill Road. The Hilton Family cemetery is located in Newfields. The Thyng Family cemetery is located on the Newfields/Exeter town line.


The Hilton family cemetery in Newfields NH.

 1689           Overthrow of Dominion of New England; temp return of NH to MA jurisdiction
1689-97       King William's War (War of the League of Augsburg)
1690           Lyndeborough established as "Salem-Canada"
1690           Newington established as "Bloody Point"  
Newington Garrison Houses -- Anthony Nutter's Garrison (1663) was at Welshman's Cove. Nicholas Harrison's Garrison was on Fox (Bloody) Point, renamed John Downing's Garrison in 1707. Lt. William Furber's Garrison (1690's) was at Welch Cove. John Dam's Garrison (1690's) was also at Welch Cove. Newington was known as Bloody Point until 1714.
1691           New Massachusetts provincial charter including all of Maine and Nova Scotia
1692           Re-establishment of royal government in NH
1694           Kingston established (5th NH town) – peace treaty w/Indians following King William's War
Kingston Garrison Houses (1700's), Kingston
Aaron Sleeper's Garrison (1700) was on Exeter Road. Tristram Sanborn's Garrison was west of Sleeper's.
1702           Accession of Queen Anne
1702-11       Queen Anne's War (War of the Spanish Succession)
1704           Greenland incorporated and Leonard Weeks constructs brick house (extant) 
1709            James Stackpole's or the Sligo Garrison (1709 ?) was on Sligo Road at "The Point".  Rollinsford, once known as Salmon Falls, was seperated from Somersworth in 1849.
1709          Gilman Garrison House built in Exeter, NH

Gilmam Garrison

1712           Meeting house (extant) built in Newington, NH
1713           Chester Wood (later Hooksett) established
1717           Addison (later Marlborough, chartered 1761) established
1718          Sayward-Wheeler House built in York Harbor, ME
1722           Rochester established -- There were five blockhouses built in 1744 at town expense, three on the road to Norway Plains (unnamed), Squamanagonic Blockhouse at Squamanagonic (present-day Gonic), and Newichawannock Blockhouse at the Newichawannock River (Salmon Falls River). There were several other private garrison houses in the area. Copp's Garrison, Goodwin's Garrison, Rawlins' Garrison, the Rev. Amos Main Garrison on Rochester Hill, and Richard Wentworth's Garrison were a few of the private garrison houses.

Ossipee Town Center

1725         Indian fort at "Wigwam Village" destroyed, rebuilt by English and town named Ossipee. Abenaki Fort (1650's - 1676), Center Ossipee-- An Abenaki one-acre log palisade built by British labor for protection against the Mohawks. It was destroyed by the colonial militia during King Philip's War. The site, owned by the Ossipee Historical Society, is at the Indian Mound Golf Club at Ossipee Lake.Capt. John Lovewell's Fort  (1722 - 1725), Center Ossipee -- A colonial militia fort. Weirs Blockhouse (1736), Weirs Beach A 14-foot square log blockhouse. This area was once a part of Gilmanton.Fort Winnipesaukee (1722), East Alton. A colonial militia fort was proposed for Fort Point on Alton Bay. It was to be 100 feet square, with two or four 14-foot square blockhouses at the corners. It was probably never built, due to lack of funds.
Derry Located in Derry Village and East Derry, which was once a part of old Londonderry Township, were Capt. James Gregg's Garrison, Samuel Barr's Garrison, and a few other garrison houses. A blockhouse was built next to the East Parish parsonage.
1726           Rye incorporated as parish of New Castle


1727           Nottingham-- A town blockhouse on the North River. It was attacked by Indians in 1747 and the defenders killed. A stone marker (1936) is on NH 152. (There is a "Fort Hill" northeast of town.)
1727           Settlement of Canterbury
1728           Settlement of Narragansett forts No. 3 (Amherst): Amherst Garrison Houses -- (1750's), Amherst There were seven garrison houses recorded in this area during 1753, as well as a town blockhouse. The town was never attacked by Indians. Amherst was originally known as Souhegan West.Milford Garrison Houses (1747), Milford--William Peabody's Garrison was located on the north-side of the Souhegan River (possibly located in Amherst), and William Colburn's Garrison was located in East Milford north of Long Pond. Milford was originally known as Monson. No. 4 (Goffstown)  No. 5 (Bedford) : Bedford Garrison Houses -- Located here were Capt. John Goffe's Garrison (1745) opposite Cohas Brook at Goff's Falls, Robert Walker's Garrison, and two other unnamed garrison houses. Bedford was originally known as Souhegan. Pembroke (No. ?) -- James Moore's Garrison (built 1730, fortified later) was said to be the first framed house built in the area. Rev. Aaron Whittemore's Garrison (1737 ?) was located south of the cemetery on Pembroke Street.
1733           Settlement of Arlington (later Winchester)
(1744 - 1745 or 1746), Winchester The town was attacked by Indians in 1745 or 1746, then abandoned until 1753. Most of the settlers' homes were palisaded, including Josiah Willard's Fort and Alexander's Fort.
1735           Settlement of Starkstown, Alstead, Gorhamtown, Piscataquog (later New Boston), Bakerstown (later Salisbury), New Ipswich
1735-36       Monadnock No. 1 (Mason), No. 2 (Jaffrey/Rindge/Dublin/Wilton/ Westmoreland) -- (1730's, 1740's), Westmoreland-- Great Meadows Fort (1730's), a square log blockhouse also known as Fort at Number Two Township. Also nearby was Daniel How's Fort (1740's). No. 3 (Arlington). No. 4 (Charlestown) -- Fort at Number 4  (1744 - 1760), Charlestown. A reconstruction of the fortified settlement known as Number Four Township, located on the Connecticut River. Also known as Fort Stephens in 1747 after Lt. Phineas Stephens. Attacked by the French in 1747. The settlement was named Charlestown in 1753. Used again during the American Revolution, it served as a staging point for Patriots heading to Bennington, Vermont in 1777.  No. 5 (Hopkinton/Roxbury), No. 6 (Henniker/Nelson), No. 7(Hillsborough/ Orford), No. 8 (Washington)


1736           Walpole settled: A large L-shaped log house, built in 1752, that was palisaded and armed with one gun. Another fort was built nearby along the Connecticut River to protect settlers going back and forth to North (Upper) Westminster, Vermont. This area was once Number Three Township. John Kilbourn Garrison (1749 - 1755), Walpole a palisaded settlers' home located about one-third mile south of the Cold River. It was attacked in 1755. Site marked with granite monument.
1736-47       Keene. Fort Keene  (1736 or 1738 - 1747),  A double-stockaded town fort that was 90 feet square, with 20 barracks and two wells. The town was attacked and burned by Indians in 1746. The settlers holed up in the fort for one year then abandoned the area, not returning until 1750 - 1752. Site located at 300 Main Street. The town was previously named Upper Ashuelot.Swanzey Garrison Houses -- (1738 - 1747), Swanzey-- Capt. Nathaniel Hammond's Garrison was palisaded, as was John Evan's Garrison (1). There was also Meeting-House Hill Fort. The town was abandoned in 1747 after several Indian attacks.
 1736-49       Land grants to soldiers returning from Canada: Rowley-Canada (Rindge), Sylvester-Canada (Richmond), Salem-Canada, Beverly-Canada (Weare)
1737           Hooksett.  A settlers' garrison house built.
1740-48       King George's War (War of the Austrian Succession)
1741           Settlement of MA-NH boundary and appt of Benning Wentworth as Governor of NH


Royal Governor Benning Wentworth's home in Portsmouth.
1741-49       Towns chartered by Wentworth: Atkinson,
Brentwood:  -- Stephen Dudley's Garrison (1684), torn down before 1835, undetermined location. Henry Marshall's Garrison (1705) at Marshall's Corner, Nicholas Dudley's Garrison (1720 ?) (son of Stephen) near Deer Hill, and William Graves' Garrison (1720's), demolished 1860's. Brentwood was seperated from Exeter in 1742.
Canterbury (est 1727), Dublin (Monadnock), Dunbarton (Starkstown est 1735), Effingham,
Epping (MA charter): (1740's ?) -- David Lawrence's Garrison was located by the railroad bridge. Richard Sanborn's Garrison was located at Red Oak Hill. There was a third garrison house elsewhere (undetermined location). None exist today.
Goffstown, Grantham, Hale's Location, Hampstead,


Hillsborough (1735) ­-- Hinsdale Garrison Houses -- Fort Hinsdale (1742) a blockhouse built on Ash Swamp Brook near Oak Hill to compliment Fort Dummer just across the river in Vermont. Also known as the Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdale Garrison (also spelled Hinsdell). Daniel Shattuck's Garrison (built 1736, fortified 1741 - 1748) (aka Fort Shattuck), was also located on Ash Swamp Brook. It was fortified by connecting it with a palisade to an identical structure on the other side of Ash Swamp Brook. John Evans' Garrison (2) (built 1741, fortified 1754) was located south of the Ashuelot River. Robert Cooper's Garrison (1737) was located near the Hinsdale Meeting House. Hinsdale Indian Fort An Indian fort was located on a hill by the Connecticut River, with a deep trench extending to the river.
Hollis:  (1740's), West Hollis-- A settlers' garrison house built in 1732, later fortified.

Hudson,  -- Hills' Garrison (1710) built by either Nathaniel Hills or Henry Hills. Site marked with stone monument. Joseph Blodgett's Garrison (1710's) was located about 2.5 miles south of the mouth of the Nashua River. Site marked with stone monument. John Taylor's Garrison was between Derry Road (NH 102) and Litchfield Road (NH 3A), about one-half mile south of the Hills Garrison. Capt. Robert Fletcher's Garrison (unknown date) once stood at the state line along the Merrimack River. Hudson and Pelham were known as Nottingham West in 1733, previously part of Dunstable (Nashua).
Jaffrey (Monadnock No. 2), Mason (No. 1),
Merrimack (1665, settled 1722):  A trading post for the Indian trade. The Penecook Indian village Naticook was here.
Middleton
Nashua (Dunstable): Nashua Garrison Houses -- The Cummings Garrison was located east of the Daniel Webster Highway and south of Split Brook. The Galusha Garrison was east of the railroad at the state line. The Harwood Garrison was south of (?) Brook along the Merrimack River. The Thomas Lund Garrison was east of the Daniel Webster Highway on the north-side of (?) Brook. The Queens Garrison was on Bowers Street. The John Solendine Garrison was near the Lund Garrison, possibly near Salmon Brook. The Rev. Thomas Weld Garrison was in South Nashua. The Whiting Garrison was on Robinson Road east of Salmon Brook. Nashua was originally known as Dunstable. The town was attacked by Indians in 1702. (1653 - unknown), Nashua-- A trading post for the Indian trade. The Penecook Indian village Wataunick was here.


New Durham (Cocheco), Newton, North Hampton (1639), Pelham, Plaistow, Rindge (Monadnock No. 1),  Salem (1736),
Sanbornton  (1746 - 1747), Sanbornton-- A six-walled colonial militia fort west of Winnisquam and north of East Tilton, on the north shore of Little Bay. The fort's stone blocks were later removed to build a dam on the lake.
South Hampton, Sutton, Tuftonboro, Warren, Wilton (No. 2, 1730s), Winchester (Arlington 1733), Windham
1746-48       Lt. Archibald Stark's Fort  Manchester -- A 125-foot square stockaded fort and blockhouse located on Baker Brook, on the northwest side of Nutt's Pond, in present-day Precourt Park. Built for the protection of the settlers of both Goff's Falls (Moore's Settlement) and Amoskeag Falls (Manchester). Site was marked in 1929. Foster's Garrison (1746) was located near Amoskeag Falls.
1749           Cocheco established (later New Durham)
1750           Peterborough Slip established (later Temple)
1751           Holderness settled
1753           Grenville established (later Newport)
1753           Buckingham established (later Unity)
1755           Madbury established-- Abraham Clark's Garrison (1693) demolished 1836, David Daniel's Garrison on David's Lane, Eli DeMerritt's Garrison (1720) demolished 1836, located near Pudding Hill, Capt. Paul Gerrish's Garrison, Daniel Meserve Jr.'s Garrison in Freetown on Harvey's Hill, William Tasker's Garrison (built 1693, fortified after 1694 Indian attack) on Moharimet's Hill, demolished 1820 ?, and William Twombly's Garrison (1730's) demolished 1842.
1760           Surrender of Canada/Accession of George III
1761-65       129 towns chartered by Royal Gov Benning Wentworth: Acworth, Albany, Alstead (1735), Amherst (Narragansett No. 3, 1728), Atkinson, Bath, Benton, Boscawan, Brookline, Campton, Canaan, Candia, Chatham, Colebrook, Columbia, Concord (Penacook, 1659), Conway, Cornish, Croyden, Dalton (Chiswick), Danville,
Deerfield:  (1743), Deerfield A settlers' garrison house once located south of town. Site is marked.
Dorchester, Dunbarton (Gorhamtown 1735), Eaton, Ellsworth, Enfield, Franconia (Indian Head), Fremont, Gilsum (1752), Goffstown (Narragansett No. 4), Goshen, Grafton, Grantham, Groton (Cockermouth), Hancock, Hanover, Harrisville, Haverhill (Lower Coos), Henniker (No. 6), Hillsborough (No. 7 1735), Holderness (1751),


Hooksett (Chester Wood, 1713): Chester Garrison Houses -- Benjamin Hills' Garrison (unknown date and location), and Major John Tolford's Garrison (1724) on Walnut Hill Road, torn down in 1883.
Hopkinton (No. 5, 1735): Hopkinton Garrison Houses -- Aaron Kimball's Garrison (1730's) was on Hopkinton Road east of town. Putney's Garrison (unknown date) was built by Samuel and John Putney on Putney's Hill west of town. Site is marked by stone tablet. David Woodwell's Garrison (unknown date) was located one-half mile east of Contoocook on NH 103. Site is marked.
Jaffrey (1736, Monadnock No. 2 1749),  Jefferson, Lancaster, Landaff, Lebanon,
Lee: -- There were garrison houses here during the 1680's. Also here was Capt. Nathaniel Randall's Garrison (1720's, demolished 1850), Joseph Doe's Garrison (1737), later renamed Elijah Fox's Garrison (demolished 1880), and the Jones' Garrison (1700) in Newtown.
Lempster, Lincoln, Lisbon, Lyman, Lyme,
Lyndeborough (Salem-Canada 1690), Lyndeborough Garrison (1740's) A town garrison or blockhouse was here for the protection of the settlers of Salem-Canada, the original name of the settlement.
Madbury (1755), Marlow (Addison, 1717), Mason (No. 1, 1741), Meredith (New Salem "Masonian" 1743), Moultonborough, Nelson (Monadnock, No. 6), New Hampton, New Boston (Piscataquog 1736), New Durham (Cocheco 1749), Newington (Bloody Point 1690s meeting house 1712), New Ipswich (1735), Newport (Grenville 1753), Northumberland (Stonington), Northwood, Orange (Cardigan), Orford (No. 7 , 1735),


Peterborough:  (1750's)-- A town fort or blockhouse was probably built here, garrisoned by 15 to 20 men, to protect the then-frontier settlement. The town was attacked by Indians in 1750, with the fort built afterwards.
Piermont, Plainfield, Raymond, Rindge (Monadnock No. 1, Rowley-Canada 1749),  Rumney, Salisbury (Bakerstown 1736), Sandwich,
Seabrook (1638 part of Hampton): -- Gove's Garrison (1703) was located near present-day Lafayette and New Zealand Roads. It no longer exists. Others may have also existed. Seabrook was once a part of Hampton, then Hampton Falls, until 1768.
Shelburne, Springfield (Protectworth),
Stratford: Stratford Fort (1768, 1775), Stratford -- The first Indian trading post on the northern frontier was established here in 1768. Site is marked. A settlers' log fort was built nearby in 1775.
Surrey, Tamworth, Temple (Peterborough Slip 1750), Thornton, Unity (Buckingham 1753)