11th great grandparent (JR; Lark; Camilla SMITH; George Ensign SMITH; Harriett Camilla ENSIGN; Martin Luther ENSIGN; Mary BRONSON; Sylvanus BRONSON; David BRONSON; Mary TAYLOR; Hannah GILLETT; Hannah DICKINSON; Frances FOOTE; Nathaniel FOOTE and wife Elizabeth DEMING.
[original spelling]
Pg. Xxvi (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin)
The following narratives of Indian atrocities relate particularly to the children and other descendants of [11th Great-grandfather] Nathaniel Foote, the settler, and those connected with them by marriage.
[Family of Nathaniel Foote the settler - chronological Indian atrocities:
Son in-law John Dickinson - killed at Falls Fight -1676.
Grand son in-law Samuel Gillett - killed at the Falls Fight -1676.
Granddaughter Hannah Dickinson Gillett Jennings - taken captive by Indians - 1677.
Grandson Samuel Foote’s - wife Mary Merrick and two of her children taken captive - 1677
Granddaughter Elizabeth Foote Berlding [Belden] and three children slain by the Indians, two children wounded, her husband Daniel Belding [Belden] taken captive with one son and one daughter - 1696.
Grandson in-law Daniel Belding [Belden] taken captive with second wife Hephzibah Hephzibah was Killed - 1703 or 1704.
Granddaughter Sarah Dickenson Lane Kellogg - she and husband and four children taken captive - 1704 - Sarah escaped, her 4 year old son killed.
Great grandson Samuel Foote killed by Indians - 1704 (had be taken captive with mother Mary Merrick Foote in 1677.)
Great granddaughter (born while mother was in captivity) Captivity Jennings’ husband Abijah Bartlett killed by Indians -1708.
Grandson in-law Stephen Jennings Killed by Indians - 1710.]
[10th Great-Grandmother] Frances Foote, daughter of [11th Great-Grandfather] Nathaniel Foote, the settler, was married to [10th Great-Grandfather] John Dickenson first of Wethersfield, (Conn.,) after wards of Hadley, (Mass,) in 1648, - by whom she had a family of children [John Dickenson was slain at the Falls Fight]. --[9th Great-Grandmother] Hannah Dickenson, the eldest of the children, was born at Wethersfield, December 6, 16 1648, and was married to [9th Great-Grandfather] Samuel Gillett, of Hatfield, September 23, 1668. Mr. Gillett was lost at the “Falls Fight,” (the great fight with the Indians at Turner‘s Falls, on the Connecticut River,) May 19, 1676. His widow, Mrs. Hannah Gillett, was afterwords married to Stephen Jennings, of Hatfield, May 15, 1677, and was captured by the Indians and carried to Canada, September 19, 1677. She returned in 1678. Hencer, a daughter born soon after her return, was, very appropriately named “Captivity.”
[Hannah's father John Dickenson and her first husband Samuel Gillett had been killed by Indians at the Fall's Fight, later her second husband Stephen Jennings would be killed by Indians.]
[Hannah had been remarried only a few months when on 19 Sept. 1677 she and her 5-year old daughter Mary and her 4-year old son Samuel were captured during an Indian attack on Hatfield. Hannah was pregnant at the time. When the authorities refused to pursue the Indians in fear of ambush, her husband and Benjamin Wait set out together to recover the captives who were headed for Canada. After a journey that lasted all winter they reached Canada in January and negotiated a ransom with the French. There Hannah had a daughter she named Captivity Jennings on 22 Jan. 1678. Hannah returned home with her children in June 1678.[36] On 22 July 1710 Stephen Jennings while engaged in making hay was ambushed and killed by Indians at Brookfield. Captivity Jennings married Abigah Bartlett. He too was killed by Indians Oct. 1708.(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bart/GILLET.htm)]
In or soon after the year 1690, Mr. Jennings removed with his family to Brookfield, (Mass.,) - a place which “has been famous for Indian inhabitants, Indian wars, and Indian barbarities,” - where on the 20th of July, 1710, he and five others, being at work in the meadow making hay, were sprung upon suddenly by the Indians, ++ and killed.
++ “The last mischief which was done by the Savages in Brookfield, was about the 20th of July, 1710. Six men, viz: Ebenezer Haward, John White, Stephen and Benjamin Jennings, John Grosvenor and Joseph Kellogg, were making hay in the meadows, when the Indians, who had been watching an opportunity to surprize them, sprung suddenly upon them, dispatched five of them, and took the other, (John White,) prisoner - White, spying [pg. xxvii] a small company of our people at some distance, jumped from the Indian that held him and ran to join his friends; but the Indian fired after him, and wonded him in the thigh, by which he fell; but soon recovering and running again. He was again fired at and received his death wound.” (History of Brookfield, by Rev. doct. Fiske, Pastor of the third church in that town.)
“The six men who in 1710, were killed in the meadows between this place and the south Parish, were buried in the Old Burying Ground, (which is situated about 80 rods southwest of the Meeting House.) The six graves are still discernable in the line next west of Mr. Cornelius White’s.” (Historical Discourse of Rev. Joseph I. Foote, Pastor of the first church of Brookfield, November 27, 1827.)
Pg. xxvii (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin)
His [Mr. Jennings] daughter “Captivity,” after she grew up to womanhood, became herself a captivator; inasmuch as she captivated Abijah Bartlett, of Brookfield, to whom she was married:- but, as if her fate was mysteriously linked with savage barbarity, he likewise was slain by the Indians, in October, 1708.
[9th Great-Grand Aunt] Sarah Dickenson, another of the daughters of John Dickenson was married to Samuel Lane, of Hatfield, (Mass.,) 1677. He died in Suffield, (Conn.) After his death she was again married to Martin Kellogg, then of Hatfield, afterwards of Deerfield, and subsequently of Suffield, by whom she had four children. She was his second wife. His first wife was Anna Hinsdale.
When Deerfield was destroyed by the French and Indians, February 29, 1704, Mr. Kellogg and four of his children, viz: Martin, born of his first wife, October 26, 1686, and Joseph, born November 8, 1691, Joanna, born February 8, 1693, and Rebecca, born December 2, 1695, all of his second wife, - were captured and taken to Canada. Mrs. Kellogg escaped. Epaphras Hoyt. Esq., in his Book entitled “Indian Wars,” gives the following history of this family: [Jonathan Kellogg age 4 was killed.]
“Among the captives was a family of Kelloggs, whose history is interesting. They were Martin, Joseph, Joanna and Rebecca. Rebecca, the youngest, resided at Cabnawaga, (N.Y.,) until a woman grown, and became extensively acquainted with the language of the Indians in that quarter. She and her two brothers, Martin and Joseph, who also learned the Indian language, were often employed as interpreters, the two latter at Indian treaties. Joseph attended one in that capacity, at Albany, in 1754; and accompanying Governor Shirley on the expedition against Oswego the nest year, did at Schenectady. Rebecca married a Mr. Benjamin Ashley, and was repeatedly employed as an interpreter by missionaries. In 1757, she accompanied the Rev. Gideon Hawley on a dangerous and tedious tour through the woods to Susquehannah river, on a mission to the Indians in that quarter, and [Pg. xxviii] died at one of their towns the same year. Martin was several times captured by the Indians, and conveyed to Canada, and afterwards bore a captain’s commission. He was remarkable for bodily strength, and firmness of mind; and many expolits of his early life, are related. Mr. Sargeant employed him in the Hollis School, where his knowledge of the Indian language rendered him eminently useful. He spent the last years of his life, at Newington, (Conn.,) and died about 1758.”
Pg. xxviii (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin) Martin Kellogg, son of Martin Kellogg aforesaid, settled in the first Society in Wethersfield, (Conn.,) and, for a season, dwelt on the lot next east of the Congregational meeting house, known as the Latimer place, where he was married to Dorathy Chester, daughter of Stephen Chester, son of John Chester, and of Sarah his wife, daughter of Governor Thomas Welles, all of the same town, January 13, 1716. Mr. Kellogg subsequently removed with his family to Newington Society, in the same town, where he continued to reside until his death, - which, according to a record on the stone at his grave, occurred on the “13th of November, 1753, in the 68th year of his age.”
Joanna Kellogg, the remaining captive child of Martin Kellogg, senior, through choice, remained among the Indians, and when she grew up, was married to an Indian chief. She died, leaving children. Before her death, she, together with several of her children, visited her half-brother, martin Kellogg, at Newington; but could not be induced to take up her residence with him. Her love of the “wild woods,” was too strong, and she returned to her Indian home. +
+ I have this account relating to Joanna Kellogg, from my friend Gen. Martin Kellogg, of Newington, great grandson of Capt. Maritn Kellogg, referred to in the account.
The difficulty of retaining in civilized society those who have been so long in captivity as to become accustomed to savage life, was often very great. A singular instance is found in page 240 of the Brookfield Record of lands. “December 9, 1714, Then granted to Margaret Otice, alias Lebue, one that was a prisoner in Canada, and lately came from thence, forty acres of upland in Brookfield, and twenty acres of meadow; provided she returns not again to live in Canada, but tarries in this province or territory, and marries to Capt. Thomas Baker.” The proposal was accepted. Capt. Baker was the first representative sent from this town to the General Court. Note to Rev. Dr. Fisk’s History of Brookfield.
[9th Great-Grand Aunt] Elizabeth Foote, daughter of Nathaniel Foote, of Wethersfield, (Conn.,) son of Nathaniel Foote, the settler, was married to Daniel Belden [Belding - 9th Great-Grand Uncle], of Hatfield, (Mass.,) Nov. 10 1670. They had fourteen children.
“Elizabeth, wife to Daniel Belden ye head of the family, together with Daniel Belden, John Belden and Thankful Belden, their children, were all of them slaine by the enemie, September 16, 1696.”
Pg. xxix (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin) “Sept. 16, 1696, The Indians came along from up Green-River to the town, and assaulted Mr. Daniel Belden’s house, - took Mr. Belden his son Nathaniel and daughter Esther captive, killed his wife and three children, and wounded Samuel and Abigail, but they recovered, - altho’ Samuel had a hatchet stuck in his head, and some of his brains came out at the wound.”
“The Indians making an Assault upon Deerfield, in this Present War, they struck a Hatchet some Inches into the Skull of a Boy there, - even so deep, that the Boy felt the force of the Wrench used by ‘em to get it out. There he lay a long while Weltering in his Blood; they found him, they Dress’d him; considerable Quantities of his Brain came out form time to time when they opened the Wound; yet the Lad recovered, and is now a Living Monument of the Power and Goodness of God.”
[Mother Elizabeth Foote Belding, granddaughter of Nathaniel Foote the Settler - 16 Sep 1696 Slain by the enemy [Indians].
Her children:
16 Sep 1696 Taken captive daughter 23yrs - Elizabeth -
16 Sep 1696 Taken captive daughter 12 yrs old - Esther -
16 Sep 1696 Severely Wounded 11 yrs old son Samuel - left for dead
16 Sep 1696 Wounded 6 yrs old daughter Abigail
16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians son 15 yrs - Daniel
16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians son 3yrs - John
16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians daughter 8 months old - Thankful
Taken captive at a latter date - Father Daniel Belding - with his second wife Hephzibah - Hephzibah was killed.]
On the 17th day of February, 1699, Mr. Daniel Belden [Belding - 9th Great-Grand Uncle] afore-said was married to [spouse 2 of 9th Great-Grand Uncle] Hepzibah Welles, widow of Thomas Welles, Jun., of Hatfield. He died in 1691. In 1693, two of the children of Mrs. Welles were slain by the Indians, and her other daughter severely injured.
“June 6, 1693. The Widow Hepzibah Welles’ three daughters were knock’d in the head and scalp’d; two of them died, but the other lived.”
In the desolation which befell Deerfield, by an incursion of the French and Indians, February 29, 1703/4, Mrs. Welles herself, then Mrs. Belden, together with Rev. Mr. John Williams and his wife and children, and about one hundred and twenty of their neighbors, were by them taken captive and marched for Canada: but, horrible to relate, Mrs. Belden together with Mrs. Williams and several other women, were most cruelly put to death on the way.
“Hepzibah Belden was killed after they went out of town.”
“He that took me was unwilling to let me speak with any of the prisoners, as we march’d; but on the morning of the second day, he being appointed to guard the rear, I was put into the hands of my other master, who permitted me to speak to my wife when I overtook her, and to walk with her to help her in her journey. On the way we discoursed of the happiness of those who had a right to an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens: and God for a father and friend; as also that it was our reasonable duty quietly to submit to the will of God, and to say, The will of the Lord be done. My wife told me, her strength of body began to fail, and that I must expect to part with her; saying, she hoped God would preserve my life and the life of some, if not all our children with us; and commended to me, under God, the care of them. She never spoke any discontented word as to what had befallen us, but with suitable expressions, justified God in what had befallen us. We soon made an halt, in which time my chief surviving master came up, upon which I was put upon marching with the foremost, and so made to take my last farewell of my dear wife, the desire of my eyes, and companion in many mercies and afflictions. Upon our separation from each other, we asked for each other, grace sufficient for what God should call
[Pg. xxx (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin) ] us to. * * * * * * I was made to wade over a small river, and so were all the English, the water above knee deep, the stream very swift; and after that to travel up a small mountain; my strength was almost spent before I came to the top of it. No sooner had I overcome the difficulty of that ascent, but I was permitted to sit down, and be unburdened of my pack. I sat pitying those who were behind, and intreated my master to let me go down and help my wife; but he reused, and would not let me stir from him. I asked each of the prisoners, (as they passed by me,) after her, - heard that passing through the above said river, she fell down and was plunged over head and ears in the water; after which she traveled not far, for at the foot of the mountain, the cruel and blood-thirsty Savage who took her slew her with his hatchet at one stroke, - the tidings of which were very awful: and yet such was the hard heartedness of the adversary, that my tears were reckoned to me as a reproach.” (Hatfield Town Records)
Pg.. xxx (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin)
[9th Great-Grand Uncle] Samuel Foote of Hatfield [son of Nathaniel Foote, of Wethersfield, (Conn.,) and grandson of Nathaniel Foote, the settler, and was born May 1 1649.] was married to Mary Merrick, of Springfield, in the same State, in 1671. They had eight children. The mother and two of the three first born children, viz: Nathaniel, born 1672; Mary, born July 9, 1674, and Samuel born about 1676, are referred to in the Record, of which the following is a copy,-
“Goodwife Foote and two children were carried away by the Indians, in ther irruption on Hatfield, September 19, 1677” (Hatfield Town Records)
They were all subsequently restored. And the following article has reference to Samuel Foote, one of the above children.
“Samuel Foote was slain at Deerfield, in the meadow, near the town, February 29, 1703 / 1704.” (Rev. John Williams‘ “Redeemed Captive.”)
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6 comments:
You and I are related in multiple ways, and we share ancestors who were killed by Indians. Calling these incidents "Indian atrocities" is really inappropriate. After all, it was their land, it was being invaded, and they were trying to protect themselves. By the same standard, I don't like the name "Mountain Meadows Massacre." Both titles are unnecessarily inflammatory and keep us from objective analysis of complex truths.
I do like your website, though, and was happy to find it.
Thank you for your interest Mary.
As hard as people try to rewrite history, I believe we can't change the past with carefully chosen words. The words used are historical but more importantly this is my family and their history. I have strong feelings as I find troubling facts from the live of my ancestors.
I feel just as strongly and saddened by family history when my ancestor committed the atrocities against the natives. Much as we both would like we can't change the history on either side. We can however learn from it.
I have received a surly comment about the word atrocity quoted in this post. More study of the times could be helpful.
The purpose for immigration by different people and their settlements is worth consideration.
It is interesting that facts about Colonial land purchases are to often left out of modern versions of Colonial history.
A study of Colonial American Military History is important when concerned with the atrocities on all sides. Involved were many Natives American Tribes, French, Dutch, English, and Spanish forces.
At first Native Americans and Colonist were welcoming on both sides but when leadership changed so did attitudes. Natives fought against colonist and colonist against Natives. When Natives tribes were fighting other tribes some sought help from and joined the English. Other times the French organized the natives to help them defeat the English. To often retaliation on all sides was a motive for atrocity.
Definition of Atrocity: an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury.
I apologize for my surliness! I've been working for almost two years on the family tree of a friend/distant cousin who, it turns out, is related on both parents' sides to almost every individual involved in the Deerfield raid and related incidents. It's impossible not to become emotional when reading the accounts -- even the newer, more balanced scholarly research on the captivity narratives. I certainly shed tears. But I appreciate, and agree with, your comment on the need to understand the nuances of intertribal warfare, shifting alliances, and I guess especially the French vs. English and Dutch motives, religious as well as territorial. Too often the true stories of these ancestors were grossly exploited as propaganda, and commercial gain. And you're quite right: not all of our Puritans considered native peoples sub-human. Sigh. And, it's not like any people have a franchise on atrocity -- "ethnic cleansing," genocide, torture, cruelty beyond imagination? (As a little boy my dad told me bedtime stories about people being skinned alive, and worse, by Indians. Only recently did I learn that the ancient Japanese term for a Dutchman was "red-haired barbarian." My late father would have chuckled!) I can't apologize for being sensitive. I can perhaps empathize from first hand experience how superficial "liberal" attitudes are sometimes hypocritical. In any event: it's very rare for me to be surly, much less mean! So, at least you got my attention. But seriously, right now I'm going back to work on everyone from Foote to Frary in King Philip's War, and as much as I will continue to learn, it's heartbreaking research. Thank you. Steven
I just want to say thanks for the research and time needed to post a blog as historically interesting and accurate as this. Our paths intersect in Hannah Dickinson, whose first husband Samuel Gillett was a relative of my wife (whose family history I am writing about). It always seems like US history books jump from Plymouth to the Revolutionary War and we aren't taught much about the settling of the interior of Massachusetts, Connecticut, etc.
Thanks again, Tony
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