CHAPTER XI.

ALARMS OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS.

1744-8-1753-60.

We have remarked that uncertainty as to the location of the boundary line between Massachusetts and New York, the governments of each claiming the territory now in Berkshire County,-together with the dangers of Indian warfare, incident to all frontier settlements, operated to prevent an earlier occupancy of the Housatonic Valley by New Englanders. The controversy relative to the divisional line seems to have subsided about the year 1731, and the settlers of the Housatonic Townships experiencing no further disturbance from this source, remained in peaceful possession of their improvements; and though this controversy was renewed in 1752, it was without detriment to the interests of the settlers.

The

From the begining of settlements to 1744, was a time of peace upon our borders, and the inhabitants were undisturbed by apprehensions of invasion; but in the stirring events of the wars between England and France, 1744-48 and 1753–60, the inhabitants of the parish-occupying, as they did, an exposed situation on the frontier-were deeply interested. presence of the Housatonic Indians at Stockbridge, whose friendship had been secured by kind treatment and the liberal policy which the government had pursued toward them, was a protection to the settlers and operated as a barrier to the devastations and massacres with which the French and their Indian allies visited

the more northern settlements. But though thus protected, the inhabitants felt insecure and were often alarmed by rumors of Indian invasion.

During these wars the direct route of communication from Boston and Springfield to Albany was by way of Three Mile Hill and the Great Bridge, through this town, Egremont and Kinderhook. This route, "The Great Road from Boston to Albany," was then an important military thoroughfare in the various expeditions towards Lake George, Lake Champlain and Canada, and the passage of large bodies of armed men through the town was a matter of not infrequent occurrence. Considerable bodies of soldiery were, also, sometimes gathered here,—preparatory to marching to Albany-and were quartered, or billeted, upon the inhabitants; and stores for the army were also from time to time collected here.

Late in February, 1745, a militia muster was held here for the enlistment of soldiers for the expedition against Louisburgh; religious services which had been appointed to be held on the same day were deferred on account of the muster. The expedition sailed; and Louisburgh surrendered on the eighteenth of June following. On the afternoon of the Sabbath, July 7th, whilst the people were assembled for worship at the meeting-house, a post brought the news of the surrender. The people rejoiced. On Monday the post continued his journey to Albany, accompanied by the minister and Stephen King; the party were met, "without the gate," by the principal men of the city, who welcomed them in; on the next day the messengers were invited into the fort, where the gentlemen of the city were assembled, bonfires were kindled, wine was served, and the messengers were treated with marked attention.

Such is the account written by the Rev. Samuel Hopkins in his diary, from which we gather much of the material of this chapter, and although the events narrated, are in themselves unimportant, they are nevertheless of interest as they serve to portray the fears, alarms and rejoicings which in those perilous times, stirred the hearts and animated the spirits of our predecessors.

A little after midnight, on the morning of the 22d of November, 1745, the town was thrown into a great excitement by a report, said to be brought by two young men who had fled from Stockbridge-that "Stockbridge was beset and taken" by Indians; the citizens were soon after, in some degree, quieted by a contradiction of the rumor as to the taking of Stockbridge, but the belief remained, and was strengthened by the arrival of fresh evidence, that Stockbridge was in danger, that a large body of Indians was in the vicinity and hourly expected there. Most of the inhabitants fled to fortified places-probably in Sheffield-as did the minister and the family with which he boarded, who found shelter at Elisha Noble's fort (1) in Sheffield; this was so crowded with women and children that rest the succeeding night was out of the question. This alarm, the foundation of which is not now appar«ent, spread in all directions, and, during that day and the night following, more than a hundred men came up from Connecticut to succor the inhabitants; but by the arrival of a post from Kinderhook on the 23d it was ascertained that the reports which had caused the alarm were false. The Connecticut men returned home, and the people to their dwellings and avocations. But apprehensions of danger were still felt; the country was filled with rumors, and two weeks later many of the inhabitants were again driven to fortified places, by the reported burning of a barn in Stockbridge, supposed to have been fired by the French and Indians. At the time of these alarms, as Mr. Hopkins states, there was no fort in this place. In November, 1743, the General Court ordered a grant of £100 to each, Sheffield, Stockbridge, and Upper Housatonic, to be expended in building forts or fortifying dwelling houses, but we do not learn that any defenses were erected here, under that appropriation. The earliest mention we find of a fortified place in this town, is of "Coonrod Burghardt's fort," in the spring of 1747, but of its character or location we have no information. It may be presumed to have stood in the vicinity of Mr.

(1) Elisha Noble's fortified house-stood at the north end of Sheffield plain, where Jay Shears lately lived.

Burghardt's dwelling, north of the lower cemetery, or it may have been simply his house palisaded.

Another alarm was caused, April 10, 1747, by the report that Kinderhook had been attacked by Indians, and that two persons were killed and eight taken prisoners. On the next day-Sunday-Mr. Hopkins, as... he records, "preached in Coonrod Burghardt's fort, the people not being willing to go to the meeting-house." In these troublous times, Mr. Hopkins himself did some service, presumably in the capacity of chaplain. Acting in this matter upon the advice of the Rev. John Sergeant, he went with a scouting party of one hundred white men and nineteen Indians, which marched from Stockbridge September 30th, 1746, on an expedition to the northward, and was absent until the 25th of December; but beyond the first and second days of his service his diary contains no record of his experiences. During the winter of 1746-7 preparations were being made for an expedition to Canada; about the middle of February, Capt. Williams came here, having "orders. to provide for the soldiers on this river for their march to Albany in order for Crown Point," and soon after a large number of soldiers was gathered here preparatory to their march. These were assembled at the meeting-house on the 11th of March, and at their request, Mr. Hopkins preached to them on the occasion. Weread in the parish records, March 22d, 1747, that Asahel Dewey was chosen collector "in the place of Stephen King, being enlisted in his Majestie's service, can't attend the office."

The peace of 1748, brought a season of respite to the people, which was followed by the second French war. In 1754 irruptions occurred in Western Massachusetts, and on the borders of New York, which tended to alarm the inhabitants and caused a general feeling of insecurity. The hamlet of Dutch Hoosac, northwest of Williamstown was attacked and destroyed by a large body of Indians, on the 28th of August, and a few days afterwards,-Sunday, September 1st-the houseof Joshua Chamberlain, on the hill, near the village of Stockbridge, was attacked by two Indians; a hired man in the family, by the name of Owen, after a vigorous

resistance—during which Chamberlain and his wife made their escape,—was killed and scalped. The Indians also killed and scalped one child, and carried away another, which,-on being soon afterwards discovered they killed. The news of this occurrence, following that of the destruction of Hoosac-greatly exaggerated, and magnified by the fears of the inhabitants, was received here while the people were assembled for worship, in the afternoon of the day on which it took place. The meeting was immediately broken up, and terror and consternation prevailed.

The following extract from a letter written by Mr. Hopkins to his friend, Dr. Bellamy, two days after this event, shows to what a pitch the feelings of the people were excited. This letter is dated September 3d, 1754, and is quoted from Professor Park's life of Dr. Hopkins.

"On the Lord's Day, P. M. as I was reading the Palm, news came that Stockbridge was beset by an army of Indians, and on fire, which broke up the assembly in an instant. All were put into the utmost consternation, men, women and children. What shall we do? Not a gun to defend us; not a fort to flee to, and few guns and little ammunition in the place. Some ran one way and some another; but the general course was to the southward, especially for women and children. Women, children and squaws presently flocked in upon us from Stockbridge, half naked and frightened almost to death; and fresh news came that the enemy were on the Plains this side of Stockbridge, shooting and killing and scalping people as they fled. Some presently came along bloody, with news they saw persons killed and scalped, which raised a consternation, tumult and distress inexpressible, many particulars of which Mr. Wheeler, now at my house, quorum magna pars fuit,-can relate, which I have not time to write. Two men are killed, one scalped, two children killed and one of them scalped; but two Indians have been seen at or near Stockbridge, that we certainly know of. Two Indians may put New England to a hundred thousand pounds charge, and never much expose themselves, in the way we now take. The troops that came to our assistance are now drawing off; and what have they done? They have seen Stockbridge and eaten up all their provisions, and fatigued themselves, and that's all; and now we are left as much exposed as ever, (for I suppose they are all going.) In short the case of New England books very dark especially on the frontiers. A few savages may be a terrible scourge to us &c."

The anxieties caused by these alarms continued for a considerable time, and Mr. Hopkins, in order that his