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The Boy Captives

An Incident of the Indian War of 1695



by John Greenleaf Whittier












THE township of Haverhill; even as late as the close of the

seventeenth century; was a frontier settlement; occupying an

advanced position in the great wilderness; which; unbroken by the

clearing of a white man; extended from the Merrimac River to the

French villages on the St。 Francois。  A tract of twelve miles on the

river and three or four northwardly was occupied by scattered

settlers; while in the centre of the town a compact village had

grown up。  In the immediate vicinity there were but few Indians;

and these generally peaceful and inoffensive。  On the breaking out

of the Narragansett War;(1) the inhabitants had erected

fortifications; and taken other measures for defence; but; with the

possible exception of one man who was found slain in the woods in

1676; none of the inhabitants were molested; and it was not until

about the year 1689 that the safety of the settlement was seriously

threatened。  Three persons were killed in that year。  In 1690 six

garrisons were established in different parts of the town; with a

small company of soldiers attached to each。  Two of these houses

are still standing。  They were built of brick; two stories high; with a

single outside door; so small and narrow that but one person could

enter at a time; the windows few; and only about two and a half feet

long by eighteen inches wide; with thick diamond glass secured

with lead; and crossed inside with bars of iron。  The basement had

but two rooms; and the chamber was entered by a ladder instead of

stairs; so that the inmates; if driven thither; could cut off

communication with the rooms below。  Many private houses were

strengthened and fortified。  We remember one familiar to our

boyhood;a venerable old building of wood; with brick between

the weather…boards and ceiling; with a massive balustrade over the

door; constructed of oak timber and plank; with holes through the

latter for firing upon assailants。  The door opened upon a stone…

paved hall; or entry; leading into the huge single room of the

basement; which was lighted by two small windows; the ceiling

black with the smoke of a century and a half; a huge fireplace;

calculated for eight…feet wood; occupying one entire side; while;

overhead; suspended from the timbers; or on shelves fastened to

them; were household stores; farming utensils; fishing…rods; guns;

bunches of herbs gathered perhaps a century ago; strings of dried

apples and pumpkins; links of mottled sausages; spare…ribs; and

flitches of bacon; the fire…light of an evening dimly revealing the

checked woollen coverlet of the bed in one far…off corner; while in

another



                  〃The pewter plates on the dresser

Caught and reflected the flame as shields of armies the

sunshine。〃(2)



(1) The 〃Narragansett War〃 was a name applied to that part of

King Philip's War which resulted from the defection of the powerful

tribe of Narragansetts; formerly allies of the English; to the standard

of the Indian chief。

(2) Longfellow's *Evangeline;* lines 205; 206。





Tradition has preserved many incidents of life in the garrisons。  In

times of unusual peril the settlers generally resorted at night to the

fortified houses; taking thither their flocks and herds and such

household valuables as were most likely to strike the fancy or

minister to the comfort or vanity of the heathen marauders。  False

alarms were frequent。  The smoke of a distant fire; the bark of a

dog in the deep woods; a stump or bush; taking in the uncertain

light of stars and moon the appearance of a man; were sufficient to

spread alarm through the entire settlement and to cause the armed

men of the garrison to pass whole nights in sleepless watching。  It is

said that at Haselton's garrison…house the sentinel on duty saw; as

he thought; an Indian inside of the paling which surrounded the

building; and apparently seeking to gain an entrance。  He promptly

raised his musket and fired at the intruder; alarming thereby the

entire garrison。  The women and children left their beds; and the

men seized their guns and commenced firing on the suspicious

object; but it seemed to bear a charmed life; and remained

unharmed。  As the morning dawned; however; the mystery was

solved by the discovery of a black quilted petticoat hanging on the

clothes…line completely riddled with balls。



As a matter of course; under circumstances of perpetual alarm

and frequent peril; the duty of cultivating their fields; and gathering

their harvests; and working at their mechanical avocations; was

dangerous and difficult to the settlers。  One instance will serve as an

illustration。  At the garrison…house of Thomas Dustin; the husband

of the far…famed Mary Dustin (who; while a captive of the Indians;

and maddened by the murder of her infant child; killed and scalped;

wit the assistance of a young boy; the entire band of her captors;

ten in number); the business of brick…making was carried on。  The

pits where the clay was found were only a few rods from the house;

yet no man ventured to bring the clay to the yard within the

inclosure; without the attendance of a file of soldiers。  An anecdote

relating to this garrison has been handed down to the present time。 

Among its inmates were two young cousins; Joseph and Mary

Whittaker; the latter a merry; handsome girl; relieving the tedium of

garrison…duty with her light…hearted mirthfulness and



       〃Making a sunshine in that shady place。〃(1)



(1)                      〃Her angel's face

As the great eye of heaven shyned bright

And made a sunshine in the shadie place;

Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace。〃



Spenser: *The Faerie Queene;* bk。 I。 canto iii。 st。 4。



 

Joseph; in the intervals of his labors in the double capacity of

brick…maker and man…at…arms; was assiduous in his attentions to his

fair cousin; who was not inclined to encourage him。  Growing

desperate; he threatened one evening to throw himself into the

garrison well。  His threat only called forth the laughter of his

mistress; and; bidding her farewell; he proceeded to put it in

execution。  On reaching the well he stumbled over a log;

whereupon; animated by a happy idea; he dropped the wood into

the water instead of himself; and; hiding behind the curb; awaited

the result。  Mary; who had been listening at the door; and who had

not believed her lover capable of so rash an act; heard the sudden

plunge of the wooden Joseph。  She ran to the well; and; leaning

over the curb and peering down the dark opening; cried out; in

tones of anguish and remorse; 〃O Joseph; if you're in the land of the

living; I 'll have you!〃  〃I 'll take ye at your word;〃 answered

Joseph; springing up from his hiding…place and avenging himself for

her coyness and coldness by a hearty embrace。



Our own paternal ancestor; owing to religious scruples in the

matter of taking arms even for defence of life and property; refused

to leave his undefended house and enter the garrison。  The Indians

frequently came to his house; and the family more than once in the

night heard them whispering under the windows; and saw them put

their copper faces to the glass to take a view of the apartments。 

Strange as it may seem; they never offered any injury or insult to

the inmates。



In 1695 the township was many times molested by Indians; and

several persons were killed and wounded。  Early in the fall a small

party made their appearance in the northerly part of the town;

where; finding two boys at work in an open field; they managed to

surprise and capture them; and; without committing further

violence; retreated through the woods to their homes on the shore

of Lake Winnipiseogee。  Isaac Bradley; aged fifteen; was a small

but active and vigorous boy; his companion in captivity; Joseph

Whittaker; was only eleven; yet quite as large in size; and heavier in

his movements。  After a hard and painful journey they arrived at the

lake; and were placed in an Indian family; consisting of a man and

squaw and two or three children。  Here they soon acquired a

sufficient knowledge of the Indian tongue to enable them to learn

from the conversation carried on in their presence that it was

designed to take them to Canada in the spring。  This discovery was

a painful one。  Canada; the land of Papist priests and bloody

Indians; was the especial terror of the New England settlers; and

the anathema maranatha(1) of Puritan pulpits。  Thither the Indians

usually hurried their captives; where they compelled them to work

in their villages or sold them to the French planters。  Escape from

thence through a deep wilderness; and across lakes; and mountains;

and almost impassable rivers; without food or guide; is regarded as

an impossibility。  The poor boys; terrified by the prospect of being

carried still farther from their

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