Reading Me n
in th e
Early Colonial Wars
Loea Parker Howard 30 3 3 !
4 7 4 4
INDE! OF REA DING MEN IN THE
COL ONIAL
ARNOL D E H , JOS P AN ATWELL, JONATH J O SIA H ATWOOD, BA CHEL OR , BENJAMIN O DAYID BACHEL R, E O BACH LOR, J HN P BANCROFT, JOSE H O BANCR FT, SAMUEL
BANCROFT, THOMAS N O 3RD BA CR FT, THOMAS
BATT, JOHN R BEA D, EBENEZER O BR WN, EDWARD O BR WN, JOHN
BROWN , JOHN , JR . O BR WN , THOMAS
BROWN , THOMAS, JR .
BOUTEL, JOHN
BOUTWELL , JOHN
BOUTWELL, JOHN, JR . A BRYANT, ABR HAM
BRYANT , ABRAHAM , JR . AN BRY T, FRINK
BRYANT , JAMES
BRYANT, JEREMIAH , JR .
BRYANT, JONATHAN O BRYANT, TIM THY B AN RY T , WILLIAM , JR . N BUR AP, BENJAMIN
BURNAP, JOHN ! BU TON, JOHN V I
CARR, JAMES
CHAMBERLAIN , EDWARD COCGIN , WILLIAM O C WDREY, NATHANIEL DI! , JOHN DI! , JONATHAN
DAMON, EBENEZER A BEz DAMON, J O S DAM N, THOMA O DAM N , SAMUEL V DA IS , BENJAMIN
EATON, JOHN O O EAT N, J NATHAN
EATON, JOSHUA
EATON, THOMAS
EATON , THOMAS, JR .
EATON, TIMOTHY O EMERS N, JOHN O EMERS N , PETER O EMERY, J HN O FAY, J SIAH O FELCH , J SEPH
FLINT, BENJAMIN
FLINT, DANIEL B N Z R FLINT, E E E E
FLINT, ELIEZER
FLINT, JAMES
FLINT, JOSEPH
I FL NT , KENDALL
FLINT , THOMAS
FLINT, YOUNG
FOSTER, ABRAHAM
S FO TER, ABRAHAM , JR . OS O F TER, J NATHAN O F STER, SAMUEL
GARDNER, DANIEL O GILBERT, J SEPH O ! E GOING, (G WING ) EB NEZER O L GO DWIN, KENDA L
GOODWIN , NATHANIEL OO G DWIN, TIMOTHY
GOULD , WILLIAM V GREENE , DA ID R O HA NDEN , J HN
HARNDEN, SAMUEL O HARTSH RN, JAMES
HARTSHORN, JONATHAN O HARTSH RN , JOSEPH E HARTSHORN , SAMU L
HARTSHORN, SAMUEL, JR . HA SEY , WILLIAM G O S HOD MAN , TH MA Woburn JOHNSON , EDWARD ( )
JEFFREY, JOHN L EMUEL L JENKIN , O JAQUITH , J NATHAN
JONES , WILLIAM E K NDALL, ASA
KENDALL, JOHN P E KNIGHT, STE H N S LAMSON, AMUEL
S . LAMSON , AMUEL, JR
S O O S LAM N, TH MA
OV L EJOY, PHINEAS
LUNN, NICHOLAS ! LYNDE, (LYNDSEY ) HUGH V iii
MA CKINTI ER , BENJAMIN MA CKI NTI ER , EBENEZER MA CKINTI ER O , J NATHAN MA CKINTI ER , TIMOTHY AN M NING, WILLIAM MEL L ENDY , RICHARD N MERROW, DA IEL
NICHOLS , BENJAMIN DIDEMUS NICHOLS ,
NICHOLS , EBENEZER
NICHOLS, JAMES
NICHOLS , JOSEPH
NICHOLS , JOSHUA
NICHOLS, THOMAS
NICHOLS , TIMOTHY, JR .
NOYES , ISAAC
PARKER, ASA
PARKER, BENJAMIN R PA KER, EBENEZER
PARKER, EPHRAIM
PARKER, GREENE AN PARKER, H ANIAH , JR .
PARKER, JOHN AN PARKER, JONATH
PARKER, JONATHAN , JR .
PARKER, JOSHUA N PARKER, NATHA IEL R PA KER, PHINEAS
PARKER, THOMAS , JR .
PEARSON , EBENEZER
PEARSON , JONATHAN E PI RCE , ROBERT
PIKE , JAMES , JR .
POOLE , BENJAMIN E POOL , JAMES L E N POO , JOH O O L E P , J ONA T HA N PO O L E O NA T HA N , J , JR .
EDW RD PRATT , A
EP HRA M PRATT , I ix
PROYT ! , (PRATT ) WILLIAM
PROCTER, GERSHAM
RAND , HARRAN RA YNER, THOMAS
RICHARDSON , THOMAS
ROBBINS , WILLIAM
RUSSELL , TIMOTHY V SA AGE , EPHRAIM
SAWYER, WILLIAM
SHELDEN , WILLIAM SHEL DING ! , (SHELDEN ) ABRAHAM
SMITH , SAMUEL A STICKNEY, ABR HAM
STIMPSON, JAMES
STIMPSON , TIMOTHY
STIMPSON, WILLIAM
SWAYNE , JEREMIAH SWEETZER , MICHAEL
TAYLOR, ROBERT E E TAYL OR , S A BR D A BEz TEMPLE , J
TEMPLE , JOHN
TEMPLE , RICHARD
TEMPLE , ROBERT
TOWNSEND , JACOB
UPHAM , PHINEAS . UPTON HEZEKIAH
UPTON, JA COB
WALKER, RICHARD L WA TON , ISAAC
WALTON , JOHN
WALTON , JOSIAH , JR . O WALT N , NATHAN
WELMAN, ISAAC
WESTON, JAMES
WESTON , JOHN
WESTON , JONATHAN
WILLIAMS , JAMES Printed by
The Readin Chroni le Press In c g c ,
Readin Massa huse tts g, c A FOREWORD
The records of Rea ding men in the Colonial wars are widely scattered in variou s Official documents and give a very impe rfect idea of w h o o or n e the s ldiers were , whe and where th ir
oo For o I a service t k place . this reas n , h ve gath ered these items Of local history into on e pam phlet that will give a bette r picture Of the her oic sacrifices made by our early townsmen in the
e of o o def nse their h mes and their Col ny .
These records have been Copied fr om pay
o o o th e o r lls , muster r lls , rders Of military c un cil on file in the State Archives ; fro m t own and
‘ ' ’ family re cords ; and fr om a feW so-ldiers j our
o a o o on als . It is pr bable th t s me d cuments c tain
‘ ing t h e names Of Rea ding soldiers have been o oo o of verl ked . The n tes giving the year birth
’ and the father s name will help to identify the
o n ot o s ldier , but will always pr ve reliable , as the Town re cords sometimes list tw o pers ons with I o the same name and year of birth . h pe that ii descendants of these men will inform me Of omissions and errors ; and add informa tion fr om
n o their ow family rec rds .
for e o Material the text has b en f und, in the ’ o Wa r BO d e S ldiers Of King Philip s by g , Syl ’ ’ vester s O f New nd o Indian Wars Engla , Eat n s o 250 th V o Hist ry, the Anniversary lume , and o o o the Reading T wn Rec rds . The library f the New England Historic Genealogical S ociety and the local hist ories in the Woburn Pub
o of e lic Library have als been great assistanc .
Loea Parker H oward
Concord Massa , chusetts, A ri 1 9 1 4 p l , 93 .
READING ’ S EA R L I EST SOL DI ER
In Obedience to the l aws of the Massach u o o o w as setts Bay C l ny , an Infantry C mpany formed in Reading soon afte r its incorp orati on2 1 644 a . in . Richa rd Walker was its first capt in n Col o He had been an ensig under . J hn Endi
Go of a e 1636 a tt S lem as arly as . He and Edw rd o o of o o J hns n , captain the W burn c mpany , were members Of the Ancient and Honorable Artil
o o e o lery C mpany t g ther , and d ubtless were well h is h o acqua inted . In ist ry Of New England o o o o t wns , J hns n wr te that when skirmishing at
Saugus,
“ He fought the Eastern Indians there Who se p oisoned arrows filled the air
tw o of o o And which , th se angry f es ’ o in VValk- o L dged safe Captain er s cl thes .
t o o Capt . Walker and w o thers app inted by
e m of the Ass bly, made a treaty neutrality in 1 4 5 h f 6 with t e French o Arcadia . He was a selectman and a representative from Reading and owned over 300 acres of land o on here . His h mestead was the prese nt Elm 2
a e street (W kefield) near Winn str et , and ex “ to o C reat e o in , tended the sh re Of the P nd , cluding land recen ty owned by the Ice Com
Ceme tr pany and the Lakeside y .
e to e He return d Lynn and di d there . KING PHILIP ’ S WAR
The crue l treacher ous treatment Of Chief Mian tonomo by the B oston and Plymouth au th orities had cost them the help of the p ower
" Narran an setts 1675 ful g , and by September , o o Philip , chief Of the P kan kets , had the sup p ort O f all the tribes from the Merrimac to th e Connecticut in a long and desperate at E tempt to destr oy the New ngland settlements . The towns in the Connecticut V alley suffered from seve re attacks and Maj or Samuel Apple ton Of Ipswich wa s placed in command Of the
oo e to o o tr ps s nt their relief . He pr m ted En S ign J onathan Poole of Reading t o be on e of o o his captains , and placed his c mpany n rth Of
ounc o t o the t own Of Hatfield . The C il bjected this assumption of auth ority by Maj or Apple t on o , but he justified his acti n by the desperate o o o an o nc situati n that c nfr nted him , d the C u il confirmed the app ointment after a pers onal in i o t erv ew with Captain P ole .
’ Hubbard s account of the attack on Hatfield “ o 19 1675 or Oct ber , , states that seven eight 4
hundred Indian s came up on the Town in all Quarters But th ey were so well ente rtained on all Hands whe re they attempted to break in upon the Town that they found it to o h ot for o o o them , Maj r Applet n with great c urage de
on e of o o fending end the T wn , Captain M sely o n as st utly maintaini g the Middle , and Captain ” P- O ole the other end .
I n o th e oo distri N vember , when tr ps were
- to o of Ous to . buted the garris ns vari wns , Capt Po ole was assign ed to Hadley wi th 30 of his
m n oo - n e . S n afterward Major Appleto was withdrawn fr om the Connecticut V alley and Captain Poole was left in comman d there dur
o o How e ing the f ll wing winter . w ll he per o e o o in f rm d his ardu us duties is sh wn a letter , addressed to the Massa chusetts Council by the
Rev . Mr . Russell
Had e Mar 1 6 1 676 l y, ch ,
o w h e for Capt . P ole o hath been last h re ye government Of ye souldiers and as president Of ye Council Of warr here doth earnestly entreate fo r a liberty to repa ire to his ow n very much ff for su ering family at least a while . We may n ot be so selfish as to be unsen sible to his kind n esse to us in his stay here or the losse to him
’ READING MEN IN CAPTAIN JONATHAN POOLE S COMPANY
l 5 J onathan Poole Samue l F-oster 2 Jo se ph Hartshorn William J ones 3 6 Benjamin Davis J ohn Burnap 4 7
a r . o o J mes Pike , J Th mas H dgman 8 10
e . o Phin as Upham , Lieut Edward Br wn 9 J ohn Boute l
1 . 1 . . 634 1 . 678 of Capt Jonathan Poole , b , d , son John Poole one T of the earliest and wealthiest settlers of Reading. hey lived on the site of the Wakefield Rattan Works and owned
- a grist mill and a fulling mill there . 2 . 1652 . . on Joseph Hartshorn , b , d lived the south side f o . St . . Elm St opposite Winn , Wakefield
3 . n f Benj . Davis was probably a so o George Davis who came from Lynn ; was in the list of house holders in Read 1 667. ing,
4 . w old re James Pike o ned the Jaquith house , now O i placed by that the late Wendell Bancroft . This home stead extended along Washington St . as far as the Parker 1 99 ! 6 . Tavern . Sold before to Ens Nathaniel Parker whose land lay to the east . 5 ’ . Samuel Foster s farm included the Meadow Brook Golf
of . . Course , west Grove St and north to the Ipswich River 1 08 1654 . 6 . 7 . John Burnap , b In sold his house , barn and of on St . orchard the east side of High , north the Jaquith ’ h t t Nath l . e t e place to Lieu . Parker Lat r Burnap homes ead ' St . of t on Ash , south and east the presen Reading Green 1 woausses . 1 6 T 6 7. 7. homas Hodgman was a house holder in His ’ son Josiah s homestead of 36 acres was south of Scotland
Hill and the Prescott farm .
8 U : . t . Lieut . Phineas pham b in Malden but credi ed to
R eading ; was severely wounded . 1 645 . 9. . John Boutel , b The Boutel homestead was near
on t . the Dana Parker place Salem S , extending north into the present cemetery . r w 1 1640 . o 0 . . S Edward Brown , b on of Nich las B o n who “ ” 1638 owned the Lucius Beebe place east Of the Pond ; in , the town of Lynn gave him 210 acres within the bounds of
Reading . THE GREAT SWAM P FIGHT
M ajor Appleton was wi thdra wn fr om the
Connecticut V alle y so that he might direct th e: Massachusetts forces that assembled at Wick ’
R I o o . o . to t f rd , . , at ack King Philip s str ngh ld His lieutenant in the First Middlesex Company 1 a n of a was Jeremiah Sw y e Re ding .
on 19 oo o At daybreak Dec . , the tr ps fr m
od I s o t Massachusetts , Rh e land and C nnecticu began their long march of sixteen miles through o intense c ld and a heavy snow storm . They ’ o o reached the Indian fort at ab ut tw o O cl ck .
ou for o th e With t waiting any rganized attack , Massachu setts men being I n fr ont rushed for
o I ce I n a n ou ward acr ss the impetu s Charge . Th e first co mpany to enter met with a terrible fire o o an ! o fr m the fr nt d the anks . Others c ming on p ie rc i ng into th e breach though suffering
o e o o th e o severe l ss s , dr ve the Indians fr m f rt a nd o w ood s be ond int the swamp and y , and set to th e o ou fire f rt . Then thr gh a bitter winter w h o o night , these men had marched fr m dawn oo till high n n , had engaged in a desperate life
1 4 1 1 n 1 . 3 . 6 7 0 so of Maj . Jeremiah Swayne , b , d . , Jeremiah w who early came to Reading from Charlesto n . Major Swayne was a ph y s ica n and was highly valued for his service in be half O f both town and colony . The Swayne homestead was in the eastern part of the present town of Wakefield on th e “ ” country way from Saugus to Reading . 8
o oo now and death struggle fr m n n till sunset , carrying mo re than tw o hundred dead and ‘ o o o w unded, pl dded in the deepening sn w and unbr oken ro ads for sixte en mil-es to their qua r ” o o of o ters o f the day bef re . A sc re the w unded h m died during that terrible nig t a rch . Seven
me n e o captains leading their were kill d, and f ur o f o mo e ther O ficers were w unded, a ng the latt r
w . a s Lieut Swayne .
f 1 1 o e o . 6 676 Order the Gen ral C urt , Sept , .
’ Whereas at th e firing Of Maj or Applet on s
a o tent at Narrag nsett , divers armes and cl thes were lost by the fi er be longing to particular per
o l st of om t th e s ns , a y wh is aken and is in hands of Captain Swayne the n left to Maj or Appleton ; wh o heret ofore ha ve re ceived n o sa ttisfaction fo r ou o o e the same , this C rt d th rder that r para tion be ma de by th e country to the pers on s ” damn ifi e fi r d by sayd e .
10 167 . 5 e On Dec , wh n the Massachusetts ' s oldiers were assembled o n Dedham Plain to be ’ gin their ma rch against King Philip s str ong h o a o o t o t e ld , pr clamati n was made them in h “ n o f o o ame the G vern r , that if they played the oo o o o man , t k the f rt and dr ve the enemy ut Of o o the Narragansett c untry , they sh uld ha ve a ” n gratuity Of la d besides their wages . 9
A fter the war they petitioned th e Genera l Court to re deem this promise and rece i ve d the following answer :
,n to o of o s answer the petiti n J hn Lyn ey , n 22 o of o o e r . R bert P rter , S and m re inhabitants
i e D ammon Lyn , Jerem ah Swayne , Samu l , Sam
o o n r . uel Lambs n , William R bbi s , James Pyke , J ,
-O lls of o and James Nich Reading, Wm . Raym nd and 5 m ore of Beverly and Samuel L in coln e
o o f a th e o u and three m re Hingh m , C urt J dgeth it meet to gran t the peti tio ners a tract of Land
in the Nipmug country Of eight mil-es square ” for o m o their enc urage ent . This and ther later grants were known a s the Narraga nsett Towns f o o . Westminister , Templet n , Amherst , (N . H ) o Me and Buxt n , ( ) Several Reading families
e 1677 e o o . settled in this t rrit ry In , R ading v ted six acres Of land to each man wh o was in this “ w a r with the provision that they S hall n ot ”
to on e of . 1686 sell except their number In , o n the t wn gave toCapt . Sway e his choice Of ’ fifty acre s a t a place calle d Edw ard s Nec k ” o o n that j ins the W burn li e . 10
READING MEN IN THE SWAM P FIGHT
10 1675 to o n Oct . , , A Return the C u cil by 1 om o on e of Lieut . Th as Bancr ft requ st his oo of Capt G kin , Reading men impressed by us : 2 5 Samuel Lams on ! Th omas Nich ols James Carr Nich olas Lunn ” ' ! David Bachelor Wlilliam Robbins >“ 4 Samuel Damon William Roberts Robert Taylor The following volunteered 6 >" 7 ! ame s Nicho ls S eabred Taylor >“ >t Thomas Lams on Th omas Br own Isaac Welman
! ’ Men in Capt . Davenport s company that led the van in the K ’ charge on ing Philip s stronghold .
1 . 1673 . S r In , Capt Thomas Bancroft married a ah Poole
t . and settled on a large farm on West S , given to them by
Capt . Jonathan Poole and Lieut . Thomas Bancroft of Lynn fi l e d . The Bancroft part was a lot given to Capt . Richard
Walker by the Town in 1652 . 2 . . w Samuel Lamson lived near Salem and Pearl Sts , here K Francis ingman lived later .
3 . . 1643 David Bachelor , bap in Dedham , son of John who came to Reading and bought a homestead of Henry Felch 1 48 (Wakefield) in 6 . 4 . Samuel Damon lived in the neighborhood of John and
Salem Sts .
5 . Thomas Nichols , eldest son of Richard and Annis who
St . lived on Elm , Wakefield, was a captain , a selectman for
thirty years . 1680 P r ecilla William Robbins , married Going Reading . 1 5 4 8 . 1 5 f 6 . : . 6 7 o James Nichols b , d , a brother Capt . Thom 1 32 on . 7 as In gave a half of his homestead High St . adjoining ’ Nath l Ensign Pa'rker to his son Ebenezer , later a colonel ’ r l r 4 1 14 i b c T a . 16 3 . 7 . 7. S ea d o y , b , d The Taylor fam ly h “ ’ lived in Nort Reading, near Pudding Point 1 1
’ In Capt . David Henchman s company were 1 ’ o r and o n Th mas Parker , J . , Sergt J h Parker , 3 on of o o o s s Deac n Th mas the emigrant . J na son om n o than , a third , was with Th as Ba cr ft
th - e ro o 1 7 6 5 . in G t n in Dec .
i a wa s of t e Sergt . Ephra m Sav ge in charge h garris on at Quoboag ( Brookfi eld) early in 1676 .
e st o o 1676 Wh n the Indians de r yed Sac in , Robert Temple w h o had been there since 1670 ! to o o ed . was killed, and his family B st n His “ son to e , Richard came R ading and will be o o o menti ned in c nnecti n with a later war .
a —o o oo In pay r ll Of the Three C unty Tr p ,
1675 u e - . . . e o f Oct , nd r Lieut Wm Has y Read
1 r 1636 - 1699 . Thomas Parker J . , , lived near junction Of
S . of alem and Lowell Sts in the eastern part Wakefield .
1640 - 1688 2 . S . . ergt John Parker , , lived on Prospect St
- oi . - _h is on 19 at Bare Hill . Brook Rd A picture house is p . m e 18 1 o f th e V o . 675 Memorial lu e He was wound d on July , , R near Pocasset , . I .
1 - 1680 a ar 656 . Jonath n P ker ,
’ 3 . Deacon Thomas Parker s homestead was a few rods north of the present Wakefield Town Hall . John Parker (3) sold it to Jonathan Poole before 1712 . See the Parker Gene alogy by Theodore Parker .
1697 of 4 . Richard Temple in bought sixteen acres land ,
h . with a house , barn and orc ard of James Pike It included the
- land from Summer Ave . to the meadow east of the W . S . Park 1698 18 of er School . In he bought acres adjoining the widow of Benj . Hartshorn . 12
ing besides several Reading men named else !
h r f o 16 4 e a e o o . 3 w re , the names J hn Br wn b , 1 o h 164 5 oh oh a o f t e a . n J n E t n ( Pl yne) b , and J 1 64 . a o r . 3 B chel , b
1677 o on Ken In March , the garris n the ’ n -ebeCk o w as ec to at Richm nd s Id . r alled
-O l Piscataqua ( Sac ) to which p ace Capt . Swayne led his fifty men and ten natives for the relief Of th e settlers w h o scattered from D over to to ff o io Wells , began su er fr m the destruct n o ow wr ught by the pr ling sa vages .
The horr ors Of Indian warfare were br ought home to Reading people before the close Of ’ 1675 i a a t Philip s War . In August , B lleric was
tacked and fourteen p eople kille d Or captured . “ l th 2 r Co . e o on e 3 d Lynd rep rted , I went that night to Billerica where I fou n d about 30 0 men
a o o e M-edfor in rms fr m W burn , R ading and d n M o a . . o son under c duct Of j Wm J hn , Maj . Jere
- n a n d . miah Sway e Maj Wade . That night we ma rch ed to th e Merrimack and guarded the ” e o e e A ndorver o thr e f rds b tw en and Chelmsf rd . 1 1 . 0 676 a o On Apr , , S muel Richards n, wh ose ‘ on bo of o farm was the eastern rder W burn , wa s
1. 1673 In , John Eaton inherited from his father , Jonas , a farm with a house and barn where the mill at “ Slab City” lately stood . This was four years before the marriage of Sergt . Nathaniel Parker who built the first house near the
Reading Common .
14
butchered his wife and the thre e youngest chil ff n o o . O e dren . The ther five they carried Of n to e s these , u able ke p up with the avages was struck with a tomaha wk and left for dead in an o w o n adj ining swamp , here the child was f u d
e afterwards alive . The p ople in the vicinity tak a ot o o ing the al rm g t gether , and the next m rn
out . o o h ing set in pursuit C ming up n t eir trail , they pressed them s o hard that they recaptured three of the children ; and so terrified were the Indians that they dropp ed the ir plunder and the e remaining captive . Aft r this success , the Read to o o ing men returned their h uses , but nce they h a d t o th e retired, the savages swarmed west ward until they had start-led the pe ople Of o o o Chelmsf rd Sudbury and Gr t n . When in the
o e o e latter t wn , they waylaid thre s ldiers as th y o to two were g ing church , killing and capturing o the ther .
’ S vest r I r l 111 e s ndian a s o . 93 yl W V p . 15
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS
o 1689 o Ab ut the year , the French g vernment dire cted Couint Fr on tenac to e mploy his Indian allies in harrassing New England settlements . It was the commencement of a despe rate strug gle between tw o great nations for the p ossession f u o . America Its fisheries , timber and f rs were inexha ustible sources of nationa l wealth and o n oo p wer . In these wars many Readi g men t k part .
1689 th e u o In August , , Massach setts C uncil and Repres entative s ordered
n o d oo That, six hu dred men, h rse an f t be raised forthwith in Their Maje sties Service for the Suppression and Destruction of th e Indian o th e o Enemy . Eighty men fr m L wer Middle sex Regi ment w ere ordered to re ndezvous at
o . a o . W burn under Capt J mes C nverse , Lieut Thomas Bancroft Of Reading Was next in com
T n o -cd to n ow mand . hey were th e rder what is
’ th n I n ila s e o o w . d t wn Of S uth Ber ick, Mai e The n had attacked and massacred the inhabitants Of o Wells , Exeter and Sac .
2 8 . e On August , Maj J remiah Swayne was 16 placed in command of seven Massachusetts com o o o o pan ics and a party fr m the Plym uth C l ny , in an expedition t o clear the border towns of enemies as far East as Falm outh ( P ortland)
e to s o H was unable urr und the Indians , as the y retreated into the wilderness when attack
: a co e out . ed besides this , Indi n s uts , s nt by Capt of o Wiswall, betrayed the plans the white s ldiers during th e w eek in which they treacher ously
in m of th e otw ith stand lived the ca ps enemy . N ing the fault found by his failure to m eet th e I n
o o our dians , C tt n Mather speaks Of him as ” - Honest Maj or Swayne .
He rep orted to . th e Coun cil fr om Salmon ! “ o o Falls as f ll ws : Capt . Wiswall with the big gest part Of his company scouted up westward into ye chestnut woods 4 dayes but found none — Of ye en imy it is supp osed yt a small party of I n dians may be in ye chestnut country beyond ” G r oaton .
ct . 1 O 5 , 1 689 .
1690 n e o In , New Engla d r s lved to attack n Ca ada . Sir William Phipps with a fleet tw o o n d t carrying th usa men sailed up the S . Lawrence ; but the great dela y before arriving th e o l at Quebec made attempt a t tal fai ure . The chapel o f Notre Da me des V icto ires in the L ow e o o er City , under the gr at f rtress t wering far o to o o ab ve it , still remains c mmem rate this “ victory of the French army over the Yankee ” n K ight .
Several Reading men were in this expedition 1 o on e of Capt . Ephraim Savage in c mmand Of
' the vessels was wounded . When Sir William at to o o tempted land s ldiers at St . Charles in rder to divert Count Fro ntenac from th e main attack
o e o in fr nt Of the city , the general in charge r p rt “
. 7 t to n so ed Oct , we at empted la d ldiers but a ’ o st rm prevented and Capt . Savage s vessel went ash ore ; the tide fell and left them dry ; the enemy came up on them but they manfully de fended themselves ; the enemy were aw ed by “ a o guns from Sir Willi m , and at the tides c ming ” loa ot off o in they f ted and all g in safety . Am ng
o i re rt the men in the L wer M ddlesex g . under ’ Nath l f . o o Maj Wade Medf rd, were Lieut . ’ 2 ' 3 Na th l o o - P l o . oo e r D e . r. G dwin, Li ut J na . A , J ,
1 . Capt . Ephraim Savage was very wealthy and a man Of
to . great ability . He returned Boston Was a cousin of Chief l Justice Samue Sewell . on of 2 . Lieut . Goodwin lived the east side the Pond ; was re resen a selectman for many y ears , also the town clerk and p i tat ve . 1 2 166 . 3 h . 7 7 3 . Lieut . Jonat an Poole , b , d ; succeeded to the homestead below the present Town Hall ; was a selectman and
a justice . 18
1 a o w h o on J mes Stimps n , died his return, Daniel z ’ Merrow eo e o , a surg n s mat , w unded, Richard nd a and William Temple a Lieut . Abrah m Bry ’ a antf w h o built the Parker T vern .
Cotton Mather in his Magnalia relates the ’ a o n follow mg of Capt . B ncr ft s part i the build Me 1 92 ing of the fort at Pemaquid ( ) in 6 . W His Excellency , Sir illiam Phipps being
n ow o o of Ne w l a arrived the G vern r Eng and, p plied himself with all possible vigo ur t o carry on o 4 50 the war . He raised ab ut men and in pursu
c o o an e Of his instructi ns fr m Whitehall, he laid the foundatio ns of a fort at P emmaquid which was the finest thing that had bee n seen in these
f . parts o America . Capt Wing assisted with o o Capt . Bancr ft went thr ugh the former part Of the work and th e latter part wa s finishe d by
a . Capt . M rch
' 1 ’ 24 . Dr . Stimpson lived on Cowdrey s Hill . This , July , 9 1 16 0 . , , James Stimpson , Sr , being bound for Canada upon ’ Coun tre s the y Service , do leave this my last will and testament . ’ If God s Providence so dispose that I , ye said James return
n . no more . From his will o file at Cambridge His family
were left in great want and had to ask the Court for help .
2 - in - m 2 166 . . Daniel Merrow, b . , a son law of Dr Sti pson , ’ ’ and listed as a surgeon s mate , succeeded to his father s home
n ut . stead o West St . so h of the Bancroft farm The house was doubtless built before 1667 and perhaps was the first in “ ” the Wood End of Reading . 71 1 14 a 16 . . 7 S 3 . . Lieut Abraham Bryant , b , d , married ar h , f 1693 O . daughter Capt Thomas Bancroft , in , and built the 1 Parker Tavern . His military service in Canada in 690 was
proved by Isaac Baldwin . 19
His Excellency attended in this matte r with these worthy Captains did in a few months dis a for i w patch service the K ng ith a prudence ,
-er and industry , and thriftiness , great than any for reward they ever had it .
’ The fort called the William and Henry was of o e n . built st ne in a quadrangular figure , b i g 7 o 37 . ab ut ft in compass . There were la id ab ove 20 00 o of o t h . i a s cart l ads st ne eighteen guns , m ounted and it had generally at least sixty men
o for p sted in it its defense .
Cotton Ma ther also describes what he te rms
A Remarkable Experience of One of Lieut . ’ Th o-mas Ban cro -ft s S oldiers while Fighti ng the ” o s Indians at Exeter. The st ry may eem rather but ! trivial , it is certainly interesting
4 1690 On July , , while eight white men were
am h re gathering hay in a field near L _ p y River , they were set on by a large number Of Indians w h o slew them all and t ook a lad into captivity . ’ ol o The next day they attacked C . Hilt n s garri
on t o one s a . Exeter . Lieut Ba ncr ft being stati d in the town with a small force at a distance prob
e or o ably Of thr e f ur miles , relieved the garri son at a loss h owever of eight or nine of his
party . 20
It is true that on e Simo n S ton e of Groton
“ he re wounded with Shot in Nine several Places fo o lay r Dead (as it was time) am ng the Dead . Th e o to Indians c ming strip him , attempted with
Tw o several Blows of an Hatchet. at his n eck to
“ Off o a ou cut his head, which bl ws dded y may be o or o ou o h o o sure , m re en m us W nds unt t se P rt h oles of Death at which the Life Of the p oor man B e was already running out as fast as it could . o ing charged hard by Lieut . Bancr ft they left the man with out Scalping him and the English n ow c oming to Bury the Dead on e of the S ol diers perceived this p oor ma n fetch a Gasp whereupon a Rough Fellow then present ad ’ vised em to give him another Dab with an so Hatchet and Bury him with the rest .
The English desisting this Barbar ous advice lifted up the Woun ded ma n and poured a little Fair Water into his M outh at which he Cough cd ; then they poured a little Stron g Wat- er afte r h o h e o is . it , at which pened Eyes The R ugh Fellow was ordered n ow to hale a Canc o a shore to carry the Wounded Man up the River unto — a Ch irurgeon z Simon Stone was th oroughly Cured a n d is at this Day a very Lusty Man ; and as he was born with Tw o Thumbs on on e o o h t hand , his Neighb rs have th ug t him o have ” at least a s many Hearts as Thumbs .
22
1 1 ' ‘ o 17 . a lso died at P ort R yal in . Under Lieut 1
e . oo Whe elwright the re were Lie ut . B nj P le and d 1 22 un a . oo . 7 d E Sergt . James P le In er C pt
' o o mund Ward of Scarbor ugh we re Lieut . Tim 2 o thy Goo dwin and Gersham Pr c tor . Under
e of Ca pt . El azer Lyng Dunstable was Ebenezer 3 4 ich Ols cen tinal a n d 172 e . N , a in a s rgeant
o Under Capt . J seph Blanchard at Dunstable o 2 . 6 to 29 1 2 . 7 5 th e o o fr m Aug Oct , were f ll w mg Reading men : 4 8 Th omas Bancroft 3 rd Ebenezer Damon 5 6 Th omas Eaton (and servan t) John Temple 7 J oseph Arnold Abraham Foster Edward Chamberlain Ebenezer Nich ols
' 1 . . . 1694 son of Es . . Benj Poole , b , q Jonathan 2 . . w of Lieut Timothy Good in , probably a son Lieut . Na
thaniel .
3 . 17 . H 03 . 177 . . S 7. Ebenezer Nichols , b , d Merrimack , N , on
. 1 38 Of James before noted Bought Parker Tavern in 7 . In the 1 0 army several years until 76 . Was a selectman and a r epre s entati ve for many terms , a justice also .
- 4 . r 1 7 1 3 d . 3 731 Thomas Bancroft 6 . His homes tead on
t . West S ; is now owned by Dr . Cheng . Was a selectman and
representative .
m - 5 . 168 1 5 774 . Tho as Eaton , Succeeded his father Joshua 2 . 3 5 on the Prescott farm , Summer Ave ; owned acres ; was a
tanner . 1 1 4 . . 6 . . 70 776 of John Temple , b , d Son and successor Richard ; was a selectman and member of the Provincial Con gress O f 1774 and 1775 that upheld the charter righ ts of the
colonists . 7 1702 ” . Abraham Foster , b , ‘bought the mill at Slab City on th e of John Eaton , who inherited a house , barn and farm “ 1673 Playne from his father , Jonas Eaton in . f ’ 1686 o . 8. . Ebenezer Damon , b son Sam l 23
1 2 J ohn Boutwell Thomas Damon 3 6 Benj . Burnap J oseph Ba ncroft
’ Sam l Lamson Ebenezer Pearson ’ 5 Sam l Ha rtsh orn
I n a e 1725 a r the s m year , , under Capt . Ele ze Tyng for 14 weeks were
7 9 Sergt . Benj . Nicho ls John Po ole
’ 8 e S rgt . Sam l Harnden William P royt 1 0 Jo nathan Pea rs on Edward Pratt Robert Pierce
1 17 2 . . 0 n . So John Boutwell , b of John and Grace (Eaton) This Boutwell family settled on the Dana Parker place where f o . the park and portion the ! Cemetery are 2 1 . . 703 s on Thomas Damon , b , Of Thomas . 02 3 . . . 17 f o . an Benj Burnap , b , son Benj d Eliz . (Newhall) . 1 1 4 . . 70 of Samuel Lamson , b , lived near the corner Pearl and Salem Sts . ’ ‘‘ 1 08 on T . 7 5 . s iJf i Samuel Hartshorn , b , mothy and Martha . f o 3rd . 6 1698. . o . S Joseph Bancr ft , b on Thomas Father m son on . and the same Roll , in the sa e company 1 99 n n h b. 6 so S . w o ergt Benjamin Nichols , , of Joh , lived on Pearl St . near the present Main St . m 1699 s B 8. . H o t S n . Serg a uel arnden , , of enjamin The early Harnden families in the north western part of Read n w o o . ing, Wilmingt n 1 688 . 9. n John Poole , b . Succeeded his father , Lieut . Joh T on the homestead north of the Pond . his included the Caleb
Wakefield , the Benj . Cox farms and Camp Curtis Guild . 1 P 1 0 . 770 f n . o o Edward ratt , b , son John who lived the
Es . place owned by Lucius Beebe , q 24
THE CAPTURE OF L OUISBURG
174 5 Gov . In , Shirley Of Massachusetts and
P e erill of William pp , a wealthy merchant Kit ter bo sol th e y, raised a large dy Of diers and with ! e e o f aid Of a t English war vessels , after a a th e o desperate siege , c ptured French f rtress of o o n h L uisburg, Cape Brit n Isla d, w ich had been a constant menace to the cities of the New o Pe erill England c ast . General pp was knighted as a reward for his service s .
Ebenezer Nich ols w a s captain of the 9th Co ;
e Col o O f und r . Sylvanus Richm nd the Sixth 1 2 on h o a ser Regt . ; J at a n and J shua P rker were 3 n 111 a o t s . o gea 1 the Third Regt . J nathan H rtsh rn
o i - ; was a lieutenant Of the 8th C . Under L eut co r o S llay was Edmund P a tt an ensign . J hn 4 o f e n e A h Batt and J hn Je frey di d o th ir return . a a n d a o r ham Frink Bry nt , br thers , Sudbury , 22 28 e a t o . age and years , di d L uisburg , Feb 1 746 . n on o f They were gra ds s Lieut . Abraham an d a o o Sarah (B ncr ft) Bryant , the first wners of Parker Tavern .
1 1709 Jonathan Parker , b . son of Jona . and Ann (North i Read ng) .
2. 720 . 1 f o h o . f t . Joshua Parker , b , son Eben C arles own
. 21 . 17 Jonathan Hartshorn , , son Of Benj . and Eliz . ( Bout w e113
4 . n r m 1 1 73 . Joh Batt ma ried Ruth La son , Reading 25
THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
o of o i o r of A j urnal J s ah Walt n , J . , Reading, bound for Cr own P oint with Maj or Ebenezer
Nich ols .
N. E ist r l Re e o . . 42 V V . g , , p 30 17515 June ye , I went with Maj or Nich ols bound for o o o o to WO Cr wn P ynt . M nday fr m Reading o o o burn ; Tuesday fr m there thr ugh Bedf rd, o o o o to o on C nc rd , Sudbury , Westb r W rcester ;
e f o o e W dnesday r m there thr ugh Leist r , and B rookfi eld to Palmer ; Thursday thr ough Spring field and Westfi eld to Glascow ; Friday thr ough 1 to f o part Of NO . She field ; Saturday thr ugh — Kin h -Ok oo der O to . the Half Way Br k Sunday ,
6 t o . July , we went Albany We went up the
river (Huds on) fr om the 6th Of Aug . till the
14 th . , when we arrived at the carrying place ” 8 4 ot to eo . . Sept . , we g Lake G rge Sept there wa s a scout o f seven hundre d men which met an army Of French and Indians which b eat us back to fo o the camp and the r e fought r s me h ours . o The fight began four miles fr m ca mp .
‘ ak Geor e 4 ot I was dismissed at L e g Oct . ; g to n o f Albany the 7th ; went o b ard o Capt . ’ Clapp s sloop which sailed that day for B oston 26
2 1 ot o where we arrived Oct . ye , and g h me ye ” next day .
l co w as Co . Tit mb killed in the battle men
o wo n . tion ed and Maj . Nich ls was u ded He later i n became the colone l Of th s regime t .
’
o O . n Muster Roll Of Capt . J hn Taplin s C u der Maj or Nichols on th e Crown Point Expedi 28 12 1 . t o 755 o o . . ti n fr m Mar Dec ,
6 . l 94 . 3 r i es V o . A ch v , , p
o Lieut . Benj . Flint Th mas Br own l o o Sergt . Nathan Wa t n Tim thy Bryant ’ o s o r Sergt . J siah Fay Sam l Hart h rn , J .
o . o C rp . Wm G uld Asa Kendall o o o C rnet , J hn Dix J hn Kendall ’ o o o a C rnet , J hn B utwell S m l Smith Ebenezer Going Kendall Flint o o Jo o J nathan Eat n siah Walt n Jr . (the diarist)
1 2 8 . 7 . . w Benj Flint , b , son Of Dea Wm hose homestead i half a m le south of village of North Reading . 1 29 . 7 Nathan Walton, b , son of John who probably came from Marblehead . 1 26 f f . 7 o T fi l . . o o s e d Wm Gould , bap , son Major Gold p
. 19 John Dix was a lieut in the North Reading Co . April ,
1739 f o . John Boutwell, b . , son Nathaniel “ ” 1 33 . 7 . Eben Going , b , son of Ebenezer Gowing 1 735 of . n . . o Jona Eaton , b , son Jona who lived Ash st .
1 38 of . . . 7 Thos Brown , b , son Jeremiah ’ 1 f ’ r 735 o . Sam l Hartshorn J . , b . , son Sam l K 1759 Asa endall of Dunstable , married in Reading in . ’
1 2 f . . 7 7 o Sam l Smith , b , son Isaac
1 33 . Wm. . K . 7 of endall Flint , b , son of Dea , bro Lieut . Benj . 1 36 “ ” f 7 . o Josiah Walton , b . the diarist , bro Nathan moved
B . to N . H was in the attle of Bunker Hill n o . U der Maj . Nich ls and Capt William Flint 1 56 o a . r 7 a at Ft Edwa ds, July , , were J n th n Mac
Kin tier o 46 , clerk , J seph Gilbert , age and Wil 1 6 . o . liam Shelden, age Transferred fr m Capt ’
oo Co . o G dwin s were Sergt . Hugh Lynde , J na h o 27 and o t an Eat n , age J hn Emery , age
! Under Capt . Tapley , Ft . William Henry ,
1 5 e 7 6 : e . . a 27 Aug . S rgt B nj P rker , died, age , o o o o 19 Th mas Eat n , J na . F ster , age , Richard Mellen d 33 R n 16 o y , age , Harran a d, age , Tim
o o oo o o . thy Stimps n , J siah Atw d, Jac b Upt n
1 r l 3 . 96 A i es o . ch v V 9 , p
b o e 22 A Return by Capt . E enezer J nes , S pt . , 1 1 1 755 . 5 to 7 6 . Feb ,
A list (if ye mens name s C oining ye Expidi tion against Crow yn e Pynt which belon gs to ye
R e ement e o l r T n l E ase . Co . g wh re f ‘ y g Esq is presented to me to be vew ed an d to pass muster
o o e J seph Flint Isaac Walt n , drumm r
’ 1 28 Nath l . 7 Jona Eaton , b , son of lived near Prospect and
Brook Sts . , Wakefield .
1727 of . 370 Benj . Parker , b . , son Benj their homestead
n o . Franklin St . w standing
1737 of . F . Jona . oster , b , son Jona ; his homestead now owned by the Meadow Brook Club .
1714 of . . Timothy Stimpson , b . , son Dr Thomas
1 26 of . U . 7 Jacob pton , b , son Joseph
1737 son of i . Joseph Flint , , Ens gn Thomas
1733 of . Is aac Walton , b . son John and Mary 28
o o oo o o J hn Br wn Kendall G dwin , c rp ral o o i w o Th mas Rayner William C gg n, unded
m ll eremi h o L e ue a . Jenkin J r Bryant , Jr c rnet o to o a J shua Ea n , clerk J shua P rker Didemus Nichols Greene Parker Stephen Knight Ebeneze r Parker
Taken from the militia in the summer of
1757 for - the Relief Of Ft . William Henry , a o n l r o e r a . a n o T o p Of H rs u de C pt S mue Ba cr ft ,
r . n to Brookfield 68 i 11 d J , Readi g , m les, ays " 11 10 wages, 8 S . T . z P r Lieut Jabe emple Phineas arker , J .
‘ Ph in eaS L OvejO y Samuel Smith
1 33 n f a . 7 so o John Brown , b , N thaniel .
R 175 . Lemuel Jenkin married Sarah Weston Of eading, 7 n f a t o T . s o t . . e a Joshua Ea on , C p hos Sr ; liv d t ri k Oa t . corner Of Summer Ave . a d S D i 1 34 son of demu . 7 s a . Nichols , b , D niel K f o R 1753 . Stephen night married Mary Pierce eading,
K Goodwin b 1736 s on O f . endall , , John 2 son of 1 4 . . . 7 Wm Coggin , b , Joseph 42 n f . 1 a 7 so o . Jeremiah Bry nt , b , Jeremiah 1 1 23 . 36 . 7 7 Ebenezer Parker , b ; Greene Parker , b ; Joshua 1738 n m t . d Parker , b , brothers , so s Of Ebenezer , ho es ea in
Wakefield . ’ ’ 1 15 n f 7 so o t . . S Capt ._ Sam l Bancroft Jr b , Cap am l , home
n W . t a ou We t St . s e d s , ear oburn line “ 1 1 1 9 of 3 . 7 0 . 7 Jabez Temple , b In bought north half Park er Tavern and 20 acres west and south of the barn ; sold in “ ” 1802 2ud 3rd . to Jona Weston , reserving rights to and loft 9 1728 r 1 3 . . . 7 Phineas Parker , J , b In his father , Phineas h f us. t t e S . t o B h r , inherited the homes ead Na aniel, near pre sent post office with the land extending from Lowell to Wash n Grouar ingto Sts . ; Phineas Sr . years later built the d house where the Library now stands . ’ 1727 on Sam l Smith , b . , son of Isaac who lived Main
. W . St . S , near Crescent t akefield
30
Green Parker J ohn Emer son a c Brown Emerson Tim othy Bryant a lc Pe ter Emerson o Bo r o Bo tlw ell u w . a c u J hn t ell , J l J hn ’ e a c ow Dan l Gardn r l Benj . Br n illiams a o so a s W . n J . lc J na Pier a o Michael Sweetser | c Jas . Emers n
’ o A Muster R ll of Capt . Jonathan Eaton s ’ o o of o t o Col n s Tr p H rse , de ached fr m . Ty g fo f . r o Regt the Relief Ft . William Henry
e . o o o . Li ut J nathan Jaquith Tim thy Nich ls , Jr
- n o O. M . James Westo J hn West on
o . o r C rp J na . Bryant Ebenezer Bea d
o . o C rp Jabez Dam n William Bryant , Jr . Pete r Emerso n Thomas Eat on
1 36 . 7 f o . Green Parker , b , son Ebenezer 1 32 . 7 of . John Emerson , b , son Brown 7 9 r . . 1 3 ih John Boutwell J , b , son of John ; homestead cluded Salem St . Playground . 1 35 of . 7 on Michael Sweetser , b , son Michael ; homestead “ ” Main St . ; near the Junction . 1 14 t T . 7 . . s . A h Capt Jonathan Eaton , b , son Of Cap hos Sr
St . near Wakefield line . 1733 of on James Weston , b . , son Benjamin , who lived
West St .
1 s . 0 11 31. . 17 7 of E q . of J Bryant , b , son Wm and grandson Sergt . Abraham .
1722 of . Jabez Damon , b . , son Joseph
1726 of . Peter Emerson , b . , son Brown f 173 1 o . Timothy Nichols , b . , son Timothy 1 3 1 on 7 . John Weston , b . , son of Isaac who lived West St
35 r . 17 . William Bryant , b . , son of Wm J , who removed to
Sudbury . f R i 17 5 a . o 7 1 29 . r . 7 w s Thomas Eaton , J . , b Capt ead ng Co ;
f . . son o Capt Thos . Sr . o f o o Under Capt Th mas Flint , r m the N rth to bo o 32 1 5 . Parish Marl r miles Aug . 7 7
l r i s o 95 . 5 1 A ch ve , V . , p 0 .
Lieut . Wm . Manning Ephraim Pratt h l i . e n o Sergt Abr . S d g J nathan Dix
Sergt . Abr . Stickney John Buxt on M Kin o b . ac ter C rp . James Flint E en William Sawyer Timo thy MacKin ter Timothy Russell T imothy Eaton
Ma cKinter Benj .
o 2 1758 N . Hampt n, June ,
To o Lieut . Eph . Wess n , Sir :
Y ou are to r-epair to Hadley and there wait ’ for Col o ou . Nich ls arrival that y may give him o f of e an Acct . the spare blankets the R giment h ’ t at were left there at Mr . Oliver Smith s . I o am y ur friend,
Jn . Smith ’ Green s Groton
l n 7 b m h e i 1 40 of . A d . S braham S g, b , son A raha heldon
1 24 . Wm . . 7 James Flint , b , son of Dea , who lived a half
mile south of the village .
1 30 of . . 7 Wm . Sawyer , b , son William
1 33 of . . 7 Timothy Russell , b , son Robert f ’ 1 25 o . Ma cKinter . 7 Benj . , b , son Sam l 1729 ’ Ephraim Pratt , b . , son of Sam l who lived near Her ’ rick Batchelor s place .
1738 . Jona . Dix, b . , son of Samuel Dix
1736 of . Timothy Eaton , b . , son Israel and Diadem 32
o outh boro on Under Capt . Aar n Fay Of S , an 2 1 o 2 o N . o to o . to v Expediti n Cr wn P int , Apr , 1759 o 1760 for 4 was C rp . Asa Parker ; and in , 1 o 98 l o to weeks, day ; all wed mi es travel h me o r a Reading ; als James B y nt .
l . 1 1 4 7 t . Co o . 3 58 o Under Nich ls, Sept , Jan , 1 759 . was Daniel Flint, killed l 2 o o 6 . Under C . Williams fr m June t o Dec 2 1760 e Fl int , was Eben zer i .
e . o o Und r Capt M ses Parker , Chelmsf rd ’ o 2 176 1 to an 2 1 1762 Nath l fr m May , J . , was n h o d s . a a . Parker , Reading, under C pt T Far o o 1 o 1 2 . 17 8 to N v . 7 6 ringt n fr m Mar , was ’ “ ” - Nath l er - or Park Of Reading a min , T . Emer so n , master .
’
. o 3 rd O In Capt Hezekiah Upt n s Reading C . wa s . 1 2 76 . Lieut Eliezer Flint , Mar . and Sergt ’
O S . a . o J Flint in C pt Francis Peab dy s CO . from 26 17 0 to 1 6 . 5 1 1 i 76 . two June , Apr , These Fl nt
f - 1740 o . t in Asa Parker , b . , son Benj ; succeeded his fa her
- f law on Franklin and Grove Sts . Was grandfather o Harri son oi Winchester ; Gilman and Loea of Reading and Asa of
Y . Brooklyn , N . f K 1719 O of . James Bryant , b . , son endall , grandson Sergt
Abraham . ’ 1 42 1 40 ben r . 7 . 7 E Daniel Flint , b ; Flint , b , sons of Ebe nezer . ’ h l . N at Parker , son Of Capt Nathan ; he was a physician in
Salem .
5 . Hes ekiah U . 172 , Capt . ' pton , b son Of Joseph 1 31 b. 7 Eliezer Flint , , Joseph Flint , brothers and grandsons
St . of Sergt . George whose garrison house still stands , Park ,
West , North Reading . 33
’ o s o br ther were in Sudbury at J na . Rice s Inn f 16 or . o i weeks They were pr bably s ck there .
o wa s fol Bef re this last war declared , the lowing named Reading men we re employed in o f o Col the defense the eastern fr ntier under . o N 17 4 o : ov . 5 o Winsl w . Th s . Richards n , sergt mo 2 . so C 3 w e 6 . and Wm Stimp n, lerk , . e ks , days
T 2 1 . o . 7 3 to . 9 Capt h s . Flint Apr Oct , 1 . 9 o . 3 to . Under Capt Th s Flint , May Sept , Y o . e o C rp B nj . Parker and ung Flint , master o Benj . Hartsh rn .
Fr m a Diar o L t Samu T om son i l o ieu . e n Ca . y f l h p , ’ r o o n r L a eor e t Ebe ze nes C . ea ke G Ni o s Re t . Ca . ne ch l g , p I , g — L br r I n the Woburn Public i a y.
20 1758 o e one of th e an On July , ccurr d m y skirmishes for which Half Way Brook is noted
n r Y f n uee esbu . o o (Q y, N . ) One the sc uti g par out o a to ties sent by Gen . M ntc lm attack and b o con o on arrass the s ldiers and e ys the Ft . Ed o to e o o wards r ad, and tak scalps and pr visi ns ,
on e - i made Of their hawk like descents , fall ng;
o ol o e up n C . Nich ls regiment th n quartered at
the Half Way Br ook . The detachment made up Of 500 Canadians and Indians succeeded in tak
2 173 . . William Stimpson , b . , son of Dr Wm and Catherine , f f . o dau . o Col . Ebenezer Nichols They lived at the corner
Main and Salem Sts . , Wakefield . 34
- o and o . ing twenty f ur scalps ten pris ners . Capt
o o a . a Gro J nes Of Wilmingt n, C pt L wrence Of ton and twelve others were brought into camp :
Scalped .
2 h n o On July 7 t ere was a ther ambush ; Gen . ’ Putnam s convoy of sixty baggage carts hal ted at night at Half Way Brook . The y resumed t heir march the next morning before their es o o c rt had left the encl sure . They were attacked o f by a large party French and Indians , and n ut o e of o Gen . P over hundred the esc rt killed . t ” o nam was made a pris ne r .
u e 1 1 . 7 759 The capt r Of Quebec, Sept by General Wolfe ended all h ope on th e pa rt Of
-e of o o Franc , c nquering New England . It als stopped the Indian massacres that had terrified
for the English settleme nts nearly a century .
These wars had imp osed he avy burdens on the e arly In tw o years during King ’ n o e Philip s Wars , seventee c unty rat s were as , o o o in sessed up n Massachusetts t wns . In s me
e o o . stances , these taxes exceed d the t tal valuati n
f 1675 l A single rate o Reading was 9S l d . The
! 1667 59 Houses in Reading in , ; Soldiers here listed in ’ 1675 38 Philip s War , . ! 1765 225 S Houses in Reading in , ; oldiers listed in last
- 1755 60 106. French and Indian War , , n on dema d up the militia was also very severe . It ’ is pr obable that in King Philip s War Of 1675 - 77 and in th e la st French and I ndian War Of 1755 ’ 60 there was a soldier in the army from every o h o no o e tw uses . These men t nly endur d the o o to hardships and dangers c mm n all army life ,
o o o r- but in additi n , the h rr rs Of Indian savage y,
a o o . such as sc lping , mutilati n and t rture The musty petitions in th e State Archives reveal n ot only the desp erate p overty of some Of their be e a o o r aved families , but displ y als a f rtitude and o o o f o dev ti n w rthy o her es and patriots .
Notwithstanding the deva stati on wrought during n early a century o f border warfare the indomitable spirit of the hardy settlers was
a th eir e f o n such th t astern r ntier , which in Ki g E ’ o Ba Philip s War had been at Casc y , had at the
o of I n e ad cl se the French and dian Wars , b en n n va ce d nearly to the Pe obscot River .
Their fortitude sh ould be aneverlasting ex ample and inspiration to New England pe ople .