their beloved revenge on him for his barbarity and perfidy to their countrymen. "They took Col. Dudley Bradstreet and family and carried them about fifty rods from his house, when they halted and dismissed their prisoners without offering them the least injury; a singular instance of mercy in a people, who had always shown themselves to be cruel, and to have no mercy. The tradition is, that one Waternummon, an Indian who lived at Newbury, and is suppos ed to have had a particular regard to Col. Bradstreet, undertook to conduct the Indians to his house upon these conditions, that they should neither kill nor captivate any of his family." They took Abiel Stevens, a lad, who feigned himself lame and kept behind; the Indians hastened, expecting to be pursued, he turned, ran and made his escape, though fired upon by the Indian who took him.

“The snow being uncommonly deep, and the inhabitants unprovided with snow shoes, the Indians were not pursued."

"Assacumbuit, their principal leader, had distinguished himself in this war, by his horrid barbarities, which rendered their conduct in releasing the captives the more extraordinary."*

No assault after this has been made upon Andover ; but towns near suffered severely many years afterward.

The inhabitants were obliged to use caution and often to repair to garrisons for safety. Block houses were necessary near the Merrimack to secure the fields and laborers. In the spring of 1704, four block houses were built at the expense of the Province, for £8, 8, 10, by Christopher Osgood and John Barker. It was very necessary to have a block house in Shawshin fields, as there was no garrison or dwelling house near, and many of the inhabitants raised corn and rye in these fields.

In September 1722, the town voted,

* Dr. Symmes's Sermon.

"that there be a

new block-house builded against Henry Bodwell's, and the other three block-houses in said town shall be repaired, all at the town's expense." In 1735, the block-house in Shawshin field was sold for 20s to John Johnson.

The Indians were enemies very much dreaded. They concealed themselves and lay in ambush, and waited long and patiently, for an opportunity to surprise their prey. They never made their attacks openly, nor fought in the open field. The time of assault was often just before dawn of day, when they could strike the blow without resistance, and could cause the greatest panic. The inhabitants did not feel safe in their fields, and were liable to be shot down while at their labour. They frequently carried their firearms with them to their work. They also carried their guns, when they assembled for worship on the sabbath, and were exposed to be way laid in going and returning, and assaulted in the meeting house. They could not rest safely in their beds, without constant watch in time of war. They knew not when the enemy was near; they encamped in the wilderness, and were in the same place only a short time. It was as difficult to hunt them in the forest, as to hunt a wolf, and they were skilful at lying at ambush for their pursuers.

Under such circumstances, the early settlers suffered exceedingly, not only from actual assaults, but from alarms and constant apprehension of danger. Their labors were often interrupted, much time was lost, and much expense incurred in securing their families and property. They were exposed, and suffered frequent losses, by destruction of their cattle, houses and barns, and pillage of their fields. They were often called to perform military duty, not only to protect themselves, but the frontiers; and numbers perished in their wars, by sickness, hardships, or by the enemy. How little do we, their posterity, know of the dan

gers, alarms, distresses, and hardships, to which they were exposed, and which they endured!

It was important to our ancestors, that peace was preserved with the natives so many years. There was no war with them near Andover for more than thirty years after the plantation was begun; but they were obliged to attend to military duty and to be equipped. How easily might the first settlers of New England have been destroyed, had the natives been hostile, and had they combined and exerted themselves to remove their new neighbours! Divine providence favored the arduous undertaking of settling a wilderness. The first planters were men of principle, and treated the savages with kindness and justice, and secured their confidence.

When wars commenced, the planters had increased in numbers and strength, and, with their superior skill and means of defence, they were able to protect themselves, and drive the enemy to distant parts, or weaken and destroy them, and compel them to preserve peace.

The frontier settlements were exposed, and frequently suffered depredations from the Indians, till the reduction of Canada, and the French, in 1763, ceded their territories in America to the English.

It is probable, that the Indians left Andover, at the commencement of Philip's war, and that few, if any, families have resided there since. The residence of an Indian family in Andover is not now recollected by the oldest inhabitants. They have uniformly retired from civilization, and have not long continued, where settlements have been made by the English.

In 1679, grants of land were made to Edmond Faulkner, John Farnum, and Ephraim Stevens, in consideration of losses sustained by the Indians. In 1683, a grant of six

acres was made to Joshua Woodman. Amherst, N. H. was granted, in 1738, to those who had served in Philip's war, or to their representatives. The representatives of nine belonging to Andover, had shares. This grant was made more than sixty years after the war closed.

Philip's war commenced in 1675; peace was established, Nov. 1676. War from 1688 to the declaration of the peace of Ryswick, in 1697-war began at the westward, in 1703; peace restored, in 1713, by the treaty of Utretcht. It is computed, that from 5,000 to 6,000 young men were lost in these wars; and that the population, during that period, suffered a check of not less than 100,000 souls.

CHAP. IV.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN.

THE town records for the first twenty or twenty five years are very defective. We are left entirely in the dark concerning transactions interesting and gratifying to curiosity, if an account of them could be found. In this period, a meeting house had been built, and two ministers had been settled.

1656, March. The first town meeting noticed in the records was held at John Osgood's house.

1660. The town taking into consideration the great damage that may come to the town by persons living remote upon such lands as were given them for ploughing and planting, and so by their hogs and cattle destroy the meadows adjoining thereunto; have ordered and do hereby order, that whosoever inhabitant or other shall build any

dwelling house in that part of the town but upon houselots, or other places granted for that end, without express leave from the town, shall forfeit twenty shillings a month for the time he shall live in any such prohibited place;—the town having given houselots to build on, to all such as they have received as inhabitants of the town.t

1664. Attendance of every voter was required, and every neglect to come to the town meeting at the day and time appointed, subjected the delinquent to a forfeiture of twelve pence.*

*

The town was very attentive to have good order in their public meetings, whether for ordinary business, or public worship.

1672. It is ordered, that whatsoever dogs shall be in the meeting house on the sabbath day, the owner thereof shall pay six pence for every time being there, and G. A. jr. is appointed to take notice thereof, and have the pay for his pains and to gather it up.*- If this order were still enforced, it might prevent a nuisance often troublesome to religious assemblies.

1673. It is ordered, that if any man speak in town meeting after silence commanded twice by the moderator, shall forfeit twelve pence, this order to hold good forever.* -If this order were still enforced, it would tend to the despatch of business.

Care was taken to prevent disputes, as may be seen by the following order; that once within three years, every man that hath any land lying unfenced, shall take one of his neighbours with him, and renew the bound marks, and give the same to the selectmen, so that it may prevent future trouble; and whosoever shall fail to do so, shall forfeit the sum of five shillings to the town use.

*Town Records.