History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

178 HISTORY OF AMESBURY.
swamp, was aroused to a sense of danger by the growling of
his dog, which lay not far off. Being thus put upon his guard,
he made a hasty survey of the surrounding premises, and pres-
ently espied an Indian very quietly picking huckleberries near
the woods. Snatching his gun he fired, wounding the Indian
slightly under the arm, which so frightened the poor fellow that
he called for quarter without firing. "Lay down your gun and
I'll give you quarters!" was the reply, which he did very read-
ily. He was taken to the garrison house, near the residence of
the late D. G. Estes, and subsequently exchanged. The gun
was kept and is now in possession of Mr. John Currier, who
lives on the premises. He was one of a party of five or six
who were on the war-path seeking mischief. Startled by the
firing, they were seen running over the hill towards the pond
a few minutes later.
Before the close of the year the "way to Kingstown was laid
out," and the town complained of the heavy burden imposed
upon them in consequence.
Rev. Thomas Wells, the eloquent young preacher who capti-
vated the hearts of the people in 1674, had now grown some-
what aged, having most faithfully expounded the word for more
than forty-eight years, and passed through many very trying
times, as well as the people, began to feel the need of some
relief from the duties which every year grew more arduous.
Accordingly a meeting was called to "make choyce of men to
procure an orthodox Schooller to assist our reverent Mr Wells
Minister in y e work of y e Ministry." Nothing was done at this
meeting except chosing a moderator, and thus the matter rested
awhile.
Widow Elizabeth Colby petitioned for leave to fence across
the old road back of Pleasant valley ( then called River lots
;it both ends, "making convenient gates and maintaining them
at each end."
"This voted on y e afarmitive." Many of the roads were thus
turned into pastures every year. The Sandy Brook road was
fenced in and used by Thomas Challis and Thomas Nichols,
through whose land it was located.
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