History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1703-1712.] QUEEN ANNE'S FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 487
he was ransomed from the Indians by the payment of £5,
advanced by his protector. Suspecting his design of conveying
intelligence of pending military movements, the
Governor of Canada pnt him in irons, and kept him a close
prisoner four months. No sooner was he at large than he
renewed his attempt to escape. In this flight he was accompanied
by Joseph Petty, John Mms, and Martin Kellogg
Jr., fellow prisoners taken when he himself was cap-
tured. Their march homeward was attended by much suffering
and many privations. Though beset with dangers
on every side, their greatest difficulty was in procuring
food, but by fishing and hunting they were able to support
life till they reached Deerfield, nearly dead with hunger
and fatigue. In 1718, he petitioned the General Court for
remuneration for his losses, and was granted £10.
Goes on a Scout- Restlcss and adveuturous, Baker continued
ing Expedition,
Attacks and Disperses
a Party of
j^ the servlcc, and was actively employed
• t n ,- en x
duriug the contiiiuance ot the war. in
Indians. Re- 1712, he had reached the grade of lieuten-
Legis^iature
1712^ ^^^^' ^^^^ with thirty-two men started on a
scouting expedition. He went north-west
to Coasset, on the Connecticut River, and then struck
across the country to the Pemigewasset, the west branch of
the Merrimac River. Here at the confluence of a small
stream, since known as Baker's River, with the Merrimac,
he came upon a party of Indians, which he dispersed without
the loss of a man. The Indian sachem Walteonumus
[Wattanummon] was killed. It is reported that Capt.
Baker and the sachem leveled their guns at each other at
Baker's eyebrow was grazed by the Indian
the same time ;
bullet, but the chief was instantly killed. On the bank of
the river was a wigwam filled with beaver skins. Baker's
party carried away what they could, and burned the rest.
A daughter of Capt. Baker, Mrs. Bean, gives a different
version of this encounter, repeated undoubtedly from the
statements of her father. She reports that a large party
of French and Indians were discovered coming down the
river in their boats ; that Capt. Baker placed his men in
ambush, fired upon them when they appeared, and killed
so many and sunk so many canoes, that the remainder
made a precipitate retreat. He obtained the accoutrements