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

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to recover the body of Goodman Robinson of Exeter, killed by the
Indians. And the first official notice I have found is the order of
Council, January 17, 1675-6, mentioned heretofore, showing that
he was in charge of recruits then being sent out to Narraganset.
February 1, 1675-6, the Council by special order granted him three
pounds for the time he had been in the service ; this was probably
for his services in recruiting. February 29, 1675—6, he was credited
under Capt. Gardiner with £3. 00s. OOd. on the treasurer's book,
possibly the same item.
More than half the men credited under him assigned their credits
to the town of Haverhill, and I find were nearly all inhabitants of
that town. The service for which these credits are given was probably
rendered in the spring of 1676, upon the frontier towns of Essex
County. Capt. Swett was then engaged at home, and was in command
of the military at Hampton and vicinity until the next year,
when he was called into the public service at the Eastward, which
the following Order and Commission of the Council will explain :
Ordered that Leiftenaut Benjamin Swett have a Commission for a
Captains place & that he be the Conduct & chiefe of Commanders of the
English & Indian forces now raysed & to Goe forth on the Service of the
Country ag 4
the Eastern Indian Ennemy as also to order and dispose of the
masters & marines & vessels now Going to said service for the better management
of that affayre.
Mass. Archives, Vol. 69, p. 132.
Capt. Swett's Commission.
Capt. Swett, You are ordered with the forces now raysed & by your Commission
put under your Command to repayr to Blackpoynt & there use all
possible diligence by searching & otherwise to understand the state &
motions of the enemy & with your force to assayle & annoy them as much
as in you lyeth. If y e Headquarters of the Enemy by advice of Major
Clark & those upon the place be possible to be assaulted you are ordered
to march thither with all your force; if any other small quarter of the
enemy lye near & your force be in any Measure Capable in a short time to
visit and fall upon them you are accordingly with all y e force Indians &
English to make your march thither & assalt them; if otherwise no service
against the enemy offer advising with Major Clark to whom the Councill
doth refer you for advice, you shall with your whole force march down
towards Pascataq, on the Backside of winter Harbor, Wels, york &c, if
possible to discover the lurking places of y e enemy & fall upon them after
which you shall supply, out of your company y e places of y e old garrison
soldiers which went out under C. Swayne or other dismissing them home
& lodge y e remayners in most convenient and necessary places for the
Countryes Service & in such Companyes that upon prime exigent or order
you may call y m again forth on further excursion or expedition keeping
good correspondence giving account to ye Governor & Council of all
occurrences.
Dated at Charlestown y e 22 d of June, 1677
pr. Council. E. R. S ,y .
To be released, Sam 11 . Clark, Isaak How, W m . Hopkins, W m . Stanley,
Moses Whitney.