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

1744.J KING George's french and Indian war. 105
till the following spring. During that summer a third
fortification was erected in the town of Adams, beyond
Hoosack mountain, and named Fort Massachusetts. This
finished the line of defenses ordered and paid for by the
Province. Other means of safety were adopted, and houses
were fortified and mounts built in Vernon, Bernardston,
Colrain, Charlemont and Charlestown. West of the mountain
similar works were constructed at Pittsfield, Stockbridge,
and Sheffield. These were built, some at private
cost, and others by the towns in which they were sit-
uated. Generally the town fortifications were used as
places of refuge for the inhabitants in times of sudden
assault. In cases of imminent danger they were garrisoned
by the Province troops or volunteers paid by the government.
commauding offl- Col. Joliu Stoddard succeeded to the comcers
in Ham p- maud in this county, on the death of Col.
oun y.
Samuel Partridge, which occurred in 1740.
He also had charge of the frontier defenses. Capt. Ephraim
Williams of Hatfield, was entrusted with the oversight
of the western line of fortifications, with headquar-
ters at Fort Massachusetts, and Major Israel Williams of
Hatfield, was appointed commissary of the Western Department.
Soldiers and Dogs
were Enlisted,
Five hundred soldiers were ordered to be
raised iu 1744, two hundred of whom were
occu'tred!*^
'°^
to be scut to the western frontiers. Con-
stant scouting was carried on from the forts,
under the supervision of Capt. Williams. Dogs were
pressed into the service, and accompanied many of the
scouting parties, but evidently they did not accomplish all
that was anticipated. Abundant signs of the enemy were
discovered, but no collision occurred, and no assault was
made by the Indians in this section. It is not known that
any Northampton men were engaged in this campaign.
Undoubtedly some of them enlisted, and were employed in
the duties already named, but no company from this town
appears among the muster-rolls. During the year both
sides were engaged in preparations for the conflict. The
burden of building the fortifications and scouting fell upon