Soldiers in King Philip's war. Containing lists of the soldiers of ...

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without issue, Dec. 5, 1701; Judith, born March 26, 1G46;
Jabez, born August 4, 1651; Elnathan, married about 1G81 Sarah
Tainter ; Elizabeth; Richard, born Oct. 22, 1659; and Abigail,
born April, 1662. From Hull's Journal I find that Eliezur
served under Capt. Cutler in 1676. Elnathan was sergeant in his
father's company in the west, and afterwards served under Capt.
Sill. Capt. Beers's age was probably about 63.
It will be noted that in the first campaign to Mount Hope, the
troops were drawn almost wholly from the vicinity of Boston, Suffolk
and Middlesex counties. In the latter part of July a levy had
been made in Essex, and when on August 4th or 5th the news of
the disaster at Brookfield came to the Council, the company from
Salem and vicinity was summoned and sent up to the relief of the
distressed garrison, under the command of Capt. Lathrop, and ano-
ther company from Watertown under Capt. Beers. According to
Capt. Wheeler, these troops arrived at Brookfield on Saturday afternoon,
August 7th, and it is probable that the troops sent up from
Hartford and Springfield arrived later, perhaps the same evening.
It is possible that it was on Monday, 9th, or Tuesday, that the
troops in force marched out to " Meminimisset, where Capt.
Hutchinson and Capt. Wheeler were assaulted," 89 and having found
no signs of Indians in the vicinity, the company from Springfield left
the others and marched northwaixl and around to Springfield again,
while the rest returned to Brookfield. The English were sorely puz-
zled as to the whereabouts of the Indians, and continued scouting for
several days in the vicinity of Brookfield, probably as far as Hadley,
knowing that Philip had now joined the Nipmucks, and fearing that
the main body of the Indians were at no great distance. Gardiner's
bill, given below, indicates Lathrop's presence at Hadley, August
12, but within two days he was again at Brookfield. There, being
recruited by the large force that came up with Capt. Mosely
from Mendon, an advance in force was resolved upon, and on Aug.
15th, Capts. Lathrop and Beers with their companies marched by
way of Meininimisset to Springfield. Capt. Mosely with his troops
accompanied them as far as the swamp, the scene of Wheeler's fight,
where he separated from them and marched away towards Chelms-
ford and Lancaster, leaving twenty-six of his men to recruit the
company of Capt. Beers (see ante, page 24). The troops under
Capts. Lathrop and Beers, joined at Springfield by the forces under
Capt. Watts, together with the Connecticut Indians, spent several
days exploring the country up along Swift River and the Connecti-
89 Much doubt has existed as to the exact locality of the Wheeler fight, as we have noted
previously; hut Dr. L. R. Paige lias investigated the matter fully, and feels sure that the
place was some five miles from the head ofWickaboag Pond, in the swamp near the Indian
rendezvous called Wenimisset, or Meminimisset, which answers Capt. Wheeler's
description in every particular. The other place which has been considered the scene of
attack, is sonic two and a half miles northward from Wickaboag Pond, just over the town
line between West Brookfield and New Braintree, in what was formerly known as " Ditch
Meadow." It is hoped that the investigations made quite recently concerning this matter
will be published.