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

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had need to take along with you a Chirurgeon & make all possible
dition. A great part of our forces are at present at Hadley.
expe-
Daniel Denison, Maj r Gen1 .
Boston, August 17, 1675.
By order of
e
y Council.
Mass. Archives, Vol. 07, p. 241.
An account of the expedition referred to in the letter, has been
given in a former chapter relating to Capt. Mosely. The Pennacooks
and their allied families took no part in the war, but they did
not and perhaps could not prevent the hostile or " strange " Indians
from passing from tribe to tribe, and occasionally small war parties
going back and forth from the East to the West, found entertainment
in these tribes, but were not joined by them in their hostile
movements, though some of their young men may have been enticed
to join the hostiles on occasions.
In the beginning, the Indians, bent mostly upon plunder, seem to
have broken up into small parties, which could easily find out and
strike exposed points here and there, and when necessary for some
large enterprise, could swiftly concentrate their forces at any given
time and place.
The first depredations of these Indians upon these northeastern
frontiers began in September, 1675, at Oyster River (now Durham,
N. H.) ; they burnt two houses of "the Cheslies," killed two men
in a canoe upon the river, captured an old Irishman and a young
man, both of whom escaped in a few weeks by the help of a friendly
Indian. Three Indians, viz., John Sampson, Cromwel and John
Linde, waylaid Goodman Robinson and his son, of Exeter, on their
way to Hampton, and killed the father, the young man escaping to
Hampton. These same Indians captured Charles Randlet, of Ex-
eter, who soon after escaped. The house of Richard Tozer at
Salmon Falls, wherein were fifteen women and children, was attacked
by two Indians, " Andrew " and " Hope-Hood," but was
valiantly defended by a young woman, who held fast the door till
all the others escaped, and till it was hewn in pieces by the Indians,
who then entering struck her down, leaving her for dead, while they
followed the others to the next house, which, being better fortified,
the Indians did not attack. Two children were captured who were
of this company, and could not keep up with the others ; one of
three years was killed, the other of seven was carried into captivity,
but afterwards returned by them. The brave girl who defended the
house revived after the Indians left her, and escaped to her friends
and w r as restored to perfect health ; and it is to be regretted that
Mr. Hubbard, who relates this, did not record the name of the heroine,
as he doubtless could have easily done. Small parties prowled
in the woods in every direction, burning and shooting. Six more
houses were burned at Oyster River, and William Roberts and his