Born ‎19 Jan 1644 Sowerby, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, died ‎12 Mar 1691 Lancaster, Worcester Co., MA‎, 47 years

Born ‎20 Mar 1634 Sowerby, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, died ‎1718 Lancaster, Worcester,Co., MA‎, 83 or 84 years
Subject: Garrisons at Lancaster, MA 1704
Source: Source: The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts 1643
- 1725 Edited by Henry S. Nourse, A.M. Lancaster, 1884, p.143
"Pursuant to comand from his Excellency bearing date April 15th 1704, for the Settleing of Garrisons in ye Towne of Lancaster & ordering men to ye Same, Wee the subscribers do hereby Direct & Coman you yt (that)
Inhabitants of sd Lancaster to Repaire to you'r Several Garrisons
according to appointment as followeth & Attend you'r Duties therein.
Dat. 20th April 1704.
On ye east side of ye River
John Moore & Jonathan Moore Allowed a Garrison yt (that) said persons
John Moore Comander
Jonathan Moore
Will'm Sawyer
Joseph Sawyer
Josiah Wheeler
John Hinds
James Keyes
John Whetcomb Sen'r allowed a Garrison himselfe Comander
Josiah Whetcomb Jun'r
David Whetcomb
Hezekiah Whetcomb
Jacob Houghton
Henry Houghton
John Wilder Jun'r
Bear Hill
John Priest Sen'r
John Priest Jun'r
John Warner
Caleb Sawyer
James Atherton S'r
James Atherton Ju'r
Simon Willard & Benjamin Bellows allowed a Garrison said Simon Willard Comand'r
Benjamin Bellows
John Willard
Joshua Atherton
Henry Willard
James Houghton
Joseph Hutchins
Joseph Waters
Hezekiah Willard
James Smith
Capt Thomas Wilder & John Houghton Sen'r allowed a Garrison Capt Wilder Comand'r
John Houghton S'r
John Wilder J'r
Jonas Houghton
Robert Houghton
John Rugg
Thos Wilder
Beatrix Pope Widow
John Houghton J'r
Joseph Houghton
Gamaliell Beaman
John Beaman Sen'r
James Snow S'r
James Snow J'r
Jeremiah Willson
James Buttler
On ye West Side Penicook River Called ye Neck - Serg't Josiah White
A Garrison Himselfe Comander
Joseph Wheelock
John Glazier
George Glazier
Joseph Glazier
Ensigne Peter Josllin a Garrison Himselfe Comander
Will'm Divoll
John Beaman J'r
John Johnson
Cyprian Steevens
Sam'll Bennitt
Jonathan Whetcomb
George Hervey (error - see below)
On ye west side Nashuway River Mr Andrew Gardner & Thomas Sawyer Ju'r A Garrison Thomas Sawyer Comander
Mr. Gardner
Jabez Fairbank
Nath'l Sawyer
John Harriss
Daniell Rugg
Sam'll Prescott
At ye Corne Mill
John Prescott Sen'r
John Prescott Jun'r
John Keyes
Ebenezer Prescott
Leut Nath'll Wilder a Garison himselfe Comander
Sam'll Carter
Ephraim Wilder
Thomas Ross
John Carter
Jonathan Tyng
Tho. Browne
John Lane
Jerapmel Bowers
[Copy of a document in possession of Dr. John S. H. Fogg of South Boston]
p.145
The locations of these garrisons can be fixed approximately by the known residences of the householders belonging to them.
1. Those in John Moore's garrison lived on the Marlborough road in the southeast part of Bolton, near the district now called Fryville. The graves of the brothers John and Jonathan Moore are in the burial ground on the old road to Hudson.
2. Those composing the Whitcomb garrison lived also in Bolton, toward the northeast corner. Families descended from them resided there until recently.
3. The Priest garrison was at the easterly side of Bare Hill in Harvard
4. The Josiah White garrison was upon the east side of the Neck where
Edward Houghton now lives.
5. Those belonging to Peter Joslin's garrison lived along the highway from the Sprague Bridge to the North Village. "Hervey" is an error for Hewes.
6. Those forming the Simon Willard garrison dwelt along the road thru Still River village.
7. Capt. Thomas Wilder's garrison was on the Old Common north of the highway and, according to Joseph Willard, Esq., about twenty rods in rear of the house known as the Dr. David Steuart Robertson place.
8. The six men whose names are headed by that of Gamaliell Beman, had homes upon the east slope of Wataquadock Hill. In the description of their lands frequent mention is made of "the cold spring" and "the hill where Simon Pipo had a planting
field."
9. Rev. Andrew Gardner lived by the well a few rods westerly from the house of the late Colonel Francis B. Fay; Samuel Prescott, across the road south; Thomas Sawyer, where his venerable descendant, Mrs. Sally Case resides; Nathaniel Sawyer and
Jabez Fairbank, half a mile westerly in the Deer's Horns neighborhood.
10. The Prescott garrison site is in Clinton, southeast of and very near the crossing of High and Water Streets.
11. Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder's home was upon the slope of George Hill, next his father's home lot. His brother Ephraim Wilder lived near, and his brother-in-law, Samuel Carter, on the farm now owned by Frank D. Taylor. Thomas Ross lived half a
mile north on the first lot of John Smith.
On July 30 1704, Sabbath morning or Monday morning Indians invaded Lancaster - Killed 2 or 3 persons - burnt ye Meeting house and some other homes [Journal of Rev. John Pike].
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
Subject: Lancaster in Philip's War
Source: Source: The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts 1643
-1725 Edited by Henry S. Nourse, A.M. Lancaster, 1884 p.100
Quanapaug finding that he must soon meet Philip, and having effected the the main purpose of his errand, evaded his suspicious foes by a cunning stratagem, and on the 24th, 11th mo., 1675, bought to his employers, the Governor and Council, full
knowledge of the hostile forces and their fell intent. The emergency demanded speedy energy; it met inaction.
Rumors of coming woe meantime stirred the air in the Nashaway valley. The chief military officer, the minister, and other leading citizens went to the Bay to awaken the Council from their lethargy and beg for help. It was too late. February 9th
1675/6, about ten o'clock at night, Job Kattenanit, the second spy, completely exhausted, dragged himself to Major Gookin's door in Cambridge. He had deserted wife and children, and alone travelled upon snow shoes through the pathless wilderness from
New Braintree, a terribly fatiguing march of eighty miles, to save his English friends. James Quanapaug had foretold that on the morrow the blow would be struck at Lancaster. Let Daniel Gookin tell Job's story and the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Daniel Gookin:
"He brought tidings that before he came from the enemy at Menemesse,
a party of Indians, about four hundred, were marched forth to attack and burn Lancaster, and on the morrow, which was February 10th they would
attempt it. This time exactly suited with James his information before hinted, which was not then credited as it should have been; and consequently no so good means used to prevent it or at least to have lain in ambushments for the enemy. As soon
as Major Gookin understood this tidings by Job, he rose out of his bed and, advising with Mr. Danforth one of the Council that lived near him, they despatched away post in the night to Marlborough Concord and Lancaster, ordering forces to surround
Lancaster with all speed. The posts were at Marlborough by break of day and Capt. Wadsworth with about forty soldiers marched away as speedily as he could possibly to Lancaster (which was ten miles distant). But before he got there the enemy had set
fire on the bridge. But Capt. Wadsworth got over and beat off the enemy, recovering a garrison house, that stood near another bridge, belonging to Capt. Stevens, and so through God's favor prevented the enemy from cutting off the garrison, God
strangely preserving that handful with Capt. Wadsworth, for the enemy were numerous, about four hundred, and lay in ambushment for him on the common road, but his guides
conducted him in a private way and so they got safe to Cyprian Stevens, his
garrison house very near the other only bridge and a little ground parting them. This house burnt was the minister's house Mr. Rowlandson wherein were slain and taken captive about forty persons, the minister's wife and children amongst them.
[Daniel Gookin's History of the Praying Indians]
p.104 London 1676. News from New England being a True and Last Account of the present Bloody Wars, etc.
"In a town called Nashaway which they set Fire to, and burnt to the Ground, taking no less than 55 Persons into their Merciless Captivity, of these 55 Captives, the Minister of the Towns Relations made no less than 17 of them: viz. Mrs. Rowlandson,
the Ministers Wife, and three of his children, her Sister [Elizabeth Kerley] and seven Children and her Sister Drew [Hannah Divoll] and four Children.
Another pamphlet published in London late in the same year, entitled "A new and further Narrative of the State of New England," copies its facts from the preceding.
A List of the Casualties - Feb'y 10 1675/6 Compiled from all Known Sources of Information KILLED IN ROWLANDSON GARRISON
Ensign John Divoll
Josiah Divoll, son of John, aged 7
Daniel Gains
Abraham Joslin aged 26.
John MacLoud
Thomas Rowlandson, nephew of the minister, aged 19.
John Kettle, aged 36
John Kettle, Jr.
Joseph Kettle, son of John, aged 10.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kerley, wife of Lieut Henry Kerley
William Kerley, son of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 17
Joseph Kerely, son of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 7
Mrs. Priscilla Roper, wife of Ephraim.
Pricilla Roper child of Ephraim, aged 3.
CARRIED CAPTIVE FROM ROWLANDSON GARRISON
Mrs. Mary Rowlandson wife of the minister - ransomed.
Mary Rowlandson, dau of the minister - aged 10, ransomed.
Sarah Rowlandson, dau of the minister - aged 6, wounded & died Feb 18.
Joseph Rowlandson, son of the minister, aged 13, ransomed.
Mrs. Hannah Divoll, wife of Ensign John Divoll, ransomed.
John Divoll, son of Ensign John Divoll, aged 12, died - captive?
William Divoll, son of Ensign John Divoll, aged 4, ransomed.
Mrs. Ann Joslin, wife of Abraham Joslin, killed in captivity.
Beatrice Joslin, dau of Abraham Joslin, killed in captivity.
Joseph Joslin, brother of Abraham Joslin, aged 16
Henry Kerley, son of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 18
Hannah Kerley, dau of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 13
Mary Kerley, dau of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 10
Martha Kerely, dau of Lieut Henry Kerley, aged 4
A child Kerley, name & age unknown
Mrs. Elizabeth Kettle, wife of John Kettle, ransomed
Sarah Kettle, dau of John Kettle, aged 14, escaped.
Jonathan Kettle, son of John Kettle, aged 5.
A child Kettle, daughter of John Kettle.
Ephraim Roper alone escaped furing the assault.
Mrs. Rowlandson writes: "Of thirty-seven persons who wer in this one house, none escaped either present death or a bitter captivity save only one." (Most authorities are united, however, in stating the number of the garrison as 42. Seven persons
are therefore unaccounted for in above list.
KILLED OUTSIDE OF ROWLANDSON GARRISON, BEING ALL OF SOUTH LANCASTER
John Ball
Mrs. Elizabeth Ball, wife of John
An infant child of John Ball
Jonas Fairbank
Joshua Fairbank, son of Jonas, aged 15.
Ephraim Sawyer, aged 26
Henry Farrar
Richard Wheeler
CAPTIVE
Two of John Ball's family, names unknown
The whole number of casualties being 55, nine remain not ascertained. A soldier from Watertown aged 20, named George Harrington, was killed near Prescott's Mills a few days after the massacre and John Roper was killed the day the town was finally
abandoned by all its inhabitants, March 26, 1676.
p.106
So great was the terror inspired throughout the Bay towns by the quick
succeeding Indian raids of this period that it was seriously proposed to abandon and fence out Lancaster, Groton and other outlying towns by
a stockade eight feet high and twelve miles in length, from Watertown to Wamesit [Massachusetts Archives, LXVIII 174.]
"Three pounds per head bounty was voted by General Court for the killing or capturing of "sculking Indians."
p.107
Lancaster March 11, 1675/6 - Letter to the Governor and Counsell
"A humble Petition of the poor distressed people of Lancaster (excerpt)
"...many of us heare in this prison, have not bread to last us one month & our other provisions spent & gon, for the genrallyty, our Town is drawn into two garisons - sixteen soulders....we areseartaynly a bayt (bait) for the enemy. We are
sorrowful to leave the place but hoplesse to keep it unlesse mayntayed by the Cuntrey....our women cris dus daily...which dus not only fill our ears but our hearts full of Greefe and makes us humbly Request yo'r Hon'rs to send a Gard of men & that if
you please so comand we may have Carts about fourteen will remove the whool eight of which has presed long at Sudbury but never came for want of a small gard of men, the whooll that is, all that are in the Garison, Kept in Major Willards house which is
all from y're Hon'rs most humble servants & suplyants - Lancast'r March 11, 1675/6 Jacob FFarrar
John Houghton Sen'r
John Moore
John Whittcomb
Job Whittcomb
Jonathan Whittcomb
John Houghton Jun'r
Cyprian Steevens
The other garrison are in like distresse & soe humbly desire yo'r like pitty & ffatherly care, having widows & many fatherless children - the number of carts to Carey away this garison is twenty carts. Yo'r Hon'rs Humble pettisioners John Prescott
Sen'r
Tho. Sawyer Sen'r
Tho. Sawyer Jun'r
Jonathan Prescott
Tho Willder
John willder
Sarah Wheeler, Wid.
Widow Ffarbanks
John Rigby
Nathaniell Wilder
John Rooper
Widow Rooper
The whole is in the handwriting of Cyprian Steevens.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXVII, 156.]
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Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
Subject: Early Births Recorded at Lancaster, MA
Source: The Early Records of Lancaster, Massachusetts by Henry S. Nourse A. M. 1884 Part 2 page 317
Year Mo Day Name Parents
1672 12 13 John Houghton John Jr & Mary (Farrar)
Marriage 1 Mary PRESCOTT b: 22 FEB 1668/69 in Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts
* Married: 20 NOV 1698 in Lancaster, Worchester, Massachusetts
* Note:
New England Marriages to 1700:
John Houghton (?1672-1724) & 1st wife Mary (Prescott) Goss (1669-) wife of Philip (Goss) Nov 20, 1698 Concord/Lancaster