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

1722.] FATHER RALE'S WAR. 17
persons near Merry Meeting Bay, and burned the town of
Brunswick. During tins time negotiations for a settlement
of these troubles were in progress with Vaudreuil, Gov. of
Canada ; but while apparently friendly towards Massachu-
setts, he adroitly managed to foil them all. It was in connection
with this service that Joseph Kellogg and Thomas
Baker visited Canada, ^ as bearers of dispatches. Though
hostile acts had been performed by both parties, no formal
declaration of war on the part of the government of Massachusetts
was made till July, 1722. At the same time a
bounty of £15, which was soon after increased to £100, was
offered for every Indian scalp obtained. A body of English
troops was at once dispatched to the scene of opera-
tions, and the Abenakis were reinforced by nearly 200 Indians
sent from Canada.
Commanders in The immediate theater of the war was
Hampshire County, remote from tliis sectiou of the Province,
but it was uncertain how soon a horde of
savages might invade the Hampshire villages. Preparations
for the defence of the valley towns were promptly
begun. Col. John Stoddard was second in command in
the county, under the venerable Col. Samuel Partridge of
Hatfield, then in his 77"" year. Capt. Samuel Barnard of
Deerfield, with ninety men garrisoned the towns of Northfield
and Deerfield. His company contained sixteen men
from Northampton, and was in the service from July to
November. Both towns were put in a good posture for
defence, and scouts were sent up the Connecticut River,
eastward to the great Monadnock, and across the Ashuelot
and Contocook Rivers. No enemy, however, appeared during
that year.
Attempts to Nego-
When it bccame known that Vaudreuil was
tiate with the giving encouragcment to the eastern In-
Canada Indians. ,. » j_ i_ • i i j. xi, j. •^
dians, fears were entertained lest the tribes
in Canada, influenced by the French, should declare war
a,nd attack the western towns. Attempts were made to
form treaties of neutrality with them, but without success,
for the French had already arrayed them against the Eng-
1 See vol. 1, p. 490.
3