3

HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.

Psalm CXLV. 4.

One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts.

TO perpetuate a knowledge of the dealings of God with us is equally the dictate of patriotism and religion. No one, who loves his country, can meditate on the favours, which have been poured upon her, without desiring, that they may be accurately told to future generations. No one, who loves the Lord, can think on his kind care and ever watchful protection without feeling, that his interpositions should be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance. Under the combined influence of these feelings a venerable monarch of Israel said, "Give ear, O my people, to my law, incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us, we will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful works, that he hath done; that the generation to come might know them, even the children, that should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments."*

* Ps. lxxviii.

But whilst national blessings ought to be gratefully remembered, it is equally important, that particular favours should not be forgotten. Perhaps no other historical facts are capable of exciting in us so deep an interest, as those which respect our own ancestors and the place of our residence. It is, then, desirable to trace their history from their first settlement in this place to the present time, to know their trials, and sufferings, to call to mind early interpositions for their protection, and to tell to the rising generation the story of the toils, which they endured; of the miseries, to which they were exposed; and of the peculiar favours, which they received at the hand of the Lord.

This place was originally the residence of Indians. These ponds and brooks and hills and plains were calculated to attract the attention of the sons of the forest and to supply them with the necessaries of life. Here they kindled their fires and pursued their game. The earliest notice, which I have found of them is dated in 1648. At this time they were divided into several small and independent factions, called the Quaboag Indians and governed by Quacunquasit and other Sachems. Their residence for the most part was west and north of Wickaboag pond, extending up the borders of the stream far into New Braintree. This was the "chief seat" of the Nipmuc Indians, a tribe occupying the territory between the Connecticut river and the eastern line of Worcester county, and extending southward nearly twenty miles into the state of Connecticut.

In 1660 several inhabitants of Ipswich obtained

*See Appendix, A. fHubbard Ind. Wars, p. 111. Sometimes written Nipmug and also Nipnet.

a grant of land in this place of six miles square on the condition, that they should have twenty families resident here within three years, an able minister settled within the said term and provision made for his future support.*

At what time the English settlement began is uncertain. Some have supposed, that "small beginnings were made here" previously to the grant. From the conditions of this article it is probable, that the place began to be occupied by English residents as early as the year 1650.‡ The first inhabitants came into the bosom of an extensive wilderness. Marlborough was the nearest settlement on the east; Springfield and Northampton on the west. Thus remote from those, who would assist them in an hour of trial, and relying on the arm of the Almighty for protection, they began to remove the forest and cultivate the soil. They lived in harmony with the natives by whom they were thickly surrounded, and on the 10th of November 1665, fairly purchased the land of Shattoocquis, who claimed to be "the sole and proper owner."§ The inhabitants gradually increased, and in October 1673, were incorporated as a town, which was called Brookfield.||

Previously to 1675, a part of the Nipmuc Indians had been controlled chiefly by Philip. In this year he extended his influence over the whole. And when this sagacious and patriotic king saw the English gradually and rapidly extend their settlements over the land, and daily increase in numbers and in power; he knew, that if they were suffered

* See Appendix, B.

† Dr. Fiske.

The earliest English settlement in the county of Worcester was at Lancaster in 1643; the next at Brookfield probably in 1660; the third at Mendon in 1667. § See Appendix C., See Appendix D.

to advance without restraint, they would soon cover the face of the country and exclude the heirs of the soil from the fields, the hunting grounds and the graves of their fathers. Under the influence of these gloomy prospects his undaunted mind conceived the plan of exterminating the English, or driving them from the country.* He infused his spirit into all the natives over whom he had influence. On the 14th of July† 1675, some of the Nipmucs in the neighbourhood of Philip's territory murdered four or five of the inhabitants of Mendon. This is said to have been the first injury ever committed by the Indians against the English of the ancient colony of Massachusetts. Messengers were immediately sent by the government to ascertain the disposition of the Nipmucs, and indications of their inclination to join the confederacy for the destruction of the English were discovered. The Indians, however, professed a desire to remain at peace; and the 2d of August was appointed as a day for making a treaty.‡

Such was the condition of the first inhabitants of this place at the beginning of the most formidable contest, that New England ever sustained. They were few. The number of families probably did not exceed twenty. Nearly 30 miles distant from any English settlement, and from any individual, who would give them protection, they were surrounded by treacherous and powerful and merciless enemies. They confidently expected, that on the arrival of the appointed day articles of stipulation would be mutually adopted and inviolably observed. A place for the meeting of the contract

*See Appendix, E.

Old Style. This must be remembered in each date previous to 1752. See Appendix E. 2.

ing parties was agreed upon.* Captain Hutchinson, who had been appointed by the governor and council to form the treaty, arrived with twenty horsemen. On the second of August some of the principal inhabitants accompanied them, unarmed, to the hill near the north end of Wickaboag pond, where they had promised to meet the Indians, but the latter had not arrived. They advanced up the valley towards the "principal rendezvous" of the Nativest, and as they were passing between a steep hill on the one side and a swamp on the other, they were assailed by the Indians, eight of the company were killed and three mortally wounded. Amongst the latter was Capt. Hutchinson. Those who survived, returned by a circuitous route to the town, because they were informed by friendly Indians in their company, that according to the customs of savage warfare, the path in which they had come would be found thickly lined by enemies ready to cut off those, who escaped the fury of the onset. The inhabitants collected into one house. This they fortified in the best manner, which the emergency of the case would permit. The Indians rushed in upon the town and set fire to most of the buildings. Suddenly about twenty houses with their barns were consumed. They next assailed the fortified house. In addition to an almost constant discharge of balls against it during nearly three days, numerous attempts were made to set it on fire. At length they loaded a cart with hemp, flax, and other combustible matter, and having joined together several long poles, they attached them to the cart and endeavoured to propel it against the fortification. But a signal and timely and almost incredible dispensation of Providence See Appendix H.

*See Appendix F. †See Appendix G.