History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

146 IIISTOBY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
divided, and eventually built three churches, one at
Rock Bottom, anotlier at Stow, and a third in the
East Village, Marlborough ; the latter has a mem-
bership of one hundred and thirty-seven.
The Baptist Church was formed April 14, 1868.
Rev. M. R. Deming was called to the pastorate a
month later. He was succeeded by the late incura-
be)it. Rev. J. T. Burhoe, who was ordained June
20, 1872. The membership, April 14, 1878, was
one hundred and sixty-two.
The Universalists have had a flourishing society
for many years. Recently, owing to severe losses
by removal and death, tlieir numbers have been
considerably reduced.
MUilary Histori/. — At the beginning of the
eigliteenth century the Indians, instigated by the
French, again troubled the settlement. During
the time of Queen Anne's War (as it was called)
the people experienced all the tantalizing annoy-
ances and injuries of guerilla strife. They bravely
resisted the enemy, and fortified (as in former
times) dwelling-houses in different parts of the
town. These were called garrisons, and were sup-
plied ^vith arms and ammunition. There were
as many as twenty-six of these refuges in 1711,
among which the one hundred and thirty-seven
families constituting the number of inhabitants
were distributed. Among many distressing inci-
dents of this time there has come down to us an
account of the assault of a party of Indians (1704)
on a number of men while they were at their work
in the field. One, Nahor Rice, son of Edmund,
was killed ; two other of his sons, Silas and Timo-
thy, were taken captive, married Indian women, and
changed alike their names and habits for tliose of
the savages, Timothy rising to the position of an
influential chief. Arthur and Adonijah, sons of
Thomas Rice, were carried off" at the same time,
the former being afterward ransomed by liis father,
and tiie latter remaining in Canada as a farmer.
At another time Abraham How and Benjamin
Hutchuis, Marlborougii men, were slain at Lan-
caster.
On the 15th of October, 170.5, Mr. John Bigelow
was captured at Lancaster, with Mr. Tiiomas
Sawyer and his son, at whose garrison-house he
had taken refuge. They efl"ected their escape by
the aid of the French governor, to wiiom tliey had
rendered the important service of erecting tlie only
saw-mill in Canada. Mr. Bigelow commemorated
his deliverance by calling tlie first daughter, sub-
seeiuently born, Freedom, and tiic second Coniforl.
In 1707 Mary Goodenow and Mrs. Mary Fay,
while gathering herbs near Stirrup Brook, were
surprised by a party of twenty-four stalwart In-
dians. Mrs. Fay fled, and reached the garrison ; but
her companion, who was hindered by lameness, was
overtaken, dragged a short distance, killed, scalped,
and the body left to be sought and, as it proved,
buried by her friends. On the same day, about a
mile from the brook. Captain Daniel How was captured
and handcuffed by this body of savages, who
left him in charge of one of their number, and
proceeded to attempt the capture of Mrs. Fay and
Miss Goodenow; but the captain adroitly freed
himself, gained possession of a gun, and forced his
captor to flee.
During this war-time Captain Thomas How sig-
nally distinguished himself for bravery and activity,
and Samuel Brigham, his lieutenant, was rewarded
by the government for his military services.
During the ensuing wars from 1741 to 1763
Marlborough was as loyal as it was afterward
patriotic. No official record, however complete,
could give an adequate idea of the endurance, self-
sacrifice, and hardship these vexatious campaigns
entailed on the people of this and other towns.
Unfortunately the records are meagre and imper-
fect, so that even a list of the men in active service
cannot be given. Tiiere is, however, enough
data to justify us in saying that the whole avail-
able manhood of the town was engaged either for
action or defence; citizens incapacitated for the
field by age and other causes organized themselves
into what was called an " alarm list." From the
minister to some of the oldest men, all joined this
organization who could contribute to the general
security. There were two military companies, con-
sisting of a hundred men each, including " alarm
men," under the lead of Captain J. Weeks and
C'olonel Abraham Williams. It is known that
eighteen Marlborough men were in the service in
1756 under Captain William Williams. Two com-
])anies marched to tiie relief of Fort William Henry,
the one under the command of Captain Sanniel
Howe, and the other led by Lieutenant Stephen
Maynard.
During 1758 and 175!) at least thirty-tliree men
were engaged in tiie attempt to reduceCanada to sub-
mission. Some of these served from 1 760 to 1762.
In 1760 there were fifteen men in Captain William
Williams' company.
From the inception of tlie Revolutionary strug-
'de until its triumiihaiit conclusion, it should be