& Garrisons & have not men to Scout nor guard us so that we cant
get hay nor tend our fields there being but four or five men in a
Garrison, so that if not help Either by an addition of Souldiers or
some Vollentiers to Come and Clear them from us we must of
nesessity Draw of. Praying your assistance herein being our
Regimentall father «& a Proper person to be applied to
Trusting in your Care and Cander subscrib myself yo'' hon"
most Humble servt in hast Sam" Wright*
APPENDIX E.
Honord S""
haveing wrote you the third Instant of the mischief
done here by the Indians the first night Co" Tyng with my men
Joyning with him marcht on next morning in pursuit of the Enemy
& followed upon their Tracks out on the westward of Great Wat-
chusett till at Last they Scatterd and being in hemlock wood, they
Could follow the Track no further & Returned back, wanting bread.
Just at their return Co" Goff Came into Rutland & ordered Co"
Tyngs Lievt with Twelve of his men, my serg' with Twelve of my
men with severall Days prouision to Martch out again and Range
the woods in pursuit of the Enemy, who this morning sett out.
the Lad that was not found when I wrote before we are satisfied
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 181.
49
is Carried Captive the men finding where they had Tied him to a
tree. I shall no more but remain your hono" humble and obliged
Servt Sam" Wright
(Endorsed Aug. 5, 1724.)
Superscription : "on his Maj'^'* service
"his Hono' William Dummer Esq''
"Lt Governor &c
"at Boston"*
Honor'' Sr
These are to Inform your Hon'' that when our
Scout came in the night before Last about five miles on the back
of Rutland they came upon the Track of Indians coming toward
the Town semeing to be as new as their own, as if they were but
Just before them, they pursuied upon the Trak (which seemed
to be a Considerable Scout) till they Came within a mile & half
of the Town then the Indians scattered so they Could no ways
follow them, they Came and made Report, they ye Indians
Came in at a Distance from where the Other Came in & newer,
so we are satisfied they are yet by a fresh party watching of us as
we have reason to fear and since Coll Tyng went from us we have
made a moore particular discovery of their number & Contrivances
in waylaying the meadow where they killed the people, there being
in number as near as Can be thote neare about thirty by their
squating places or seats in where they sett to watch, & by which
we Can Learn there might be near half the Company that Lay in
ambush to shoot Down those who should Come to their Releif
there being but one way they Could Conveniently get to their help
so that if there were but a smal party of men had gone they would
Likely have shot them down before they had seen the Indians,
those persons that were killed went presumtiously Contrary to my
orders for I forbad them going without a considerable Company
and a strong guard but they went a way privatly to their
own Ruins, and the action was quit ouer before I knew it not
heareing the guns, not knowing they were gone before I heard they
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 186.
7
50
were killed, the bearer hereof Can give your Hono"" account of
what is aboue written as well as many Others ; I am your Hono""
most humble servt Sam" Wright
Rutland aug' 7th 1724
we are in great want of amunition our stock being quit out
that night Co" Goffe went away Two Children had like to have
been taken had it not been for a dogg in a feild nigh a house &c*
By an Express from Rutland, We are inform'd That on Monday
last the 3d Instant, a company of the Enemy Indians surpriz'd and
fir'd upon some of our Men at work, kill'd three, wounded another
that made his escape, and took one Captive. f
May it please your Honour
On Monday after we had travailed & scouted
from Sunrise till (as nigh as we judge) about two o'clock without
any refreshments 17 or 18 miles we came into Rutland where ye
Enemy in a Meadow just by y^ Town had kiled j men wounded i
& captivated a Boy about an Hour before, none of ye Town neither
Inhabitants nor Soldiers had made after them. I divided the Men
into two parcells to surround y^ Swamp & scoured it while we tract
them out. my Party had but one man for a Guide & had left all
our Cloths & Provisions behind us. We went upon yr Trail in
Expectation of these things to be sent after till Rain & ye night
prevented us for yt Day. I could not persuade any except two to
assist in the Pursuit they alledging they could not leave y' Gar-
risons our Party met us about a mile out of Town at Sundown.
Early ye next morning I set out with as many of my men as ca-
pable & six I obtained of Capt. Wright. I found their track &
pursued about 10 miles till ye woods were so we could find no
track by Reason of y' scattering. They marched away in yr own
Back Track & travailed in ye night for we could find no place
where y'' had lodged. They diverted yr Course towards Wadchu-
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 187.
tBoston News Letter, No. 1071, August, 1724.
51
setts y"^ number I judge to be about 12 or 13 in y'' Company. For
want of Bread & by reason of y*^ Lameness & Sickness of our Men
we could pursue no further & then besides ye men y' knew y^
woods declared y-^ were such as Indians could not be tract in for
20 miles together. Just upon our return Col. Goff arrived at Rut-
land. I am your Honours Obedt humble Servt
Eleazer Tyng
Rutland Aug 4. 1724.
P. S. Colle Goffe gives his Duty to y'' Honour &
would have writ but y' he designs to wait upon you on y*^ next
Saturday.*
May it please your Honour,
I was very much Surprized with a Relation
of the Management of our affairs at Rutland signed by one Hay-
wood that after I & my men had done to the extent of our Power
our Actions should be so misrepresented & such aspersions causesly
be cast upon my Conduct. I hope that your honour will not
judge me guilty, from the relation of one that was not psent at any
of the actions. I doubt not by sufficient evidence to clear my self
from what I am unjustly charged with. We met no men that took
any Circuit to come to us y^ came from Capt. Wright where we
saw one that was wounded & one that had escaped. The first
notices we had of any mischief or Danger was about three quarters
of a mile behind on which we run forward as fast as possible. Be-
fore V'' had well done telling y*-' Story all our Men came up & one
Party I ordered away imediately with my Ensign to head y"^ In-
dians & went with ye other my self where y^' ym selves s*^ y^ judged
the Indians were. Instead of some Pilots as ye Relation says, I
had but one man. I never said that I designed to wait but to
have them follow after us. The horses never came quite to ye
Place but were met by one of our Men y* returned back & this was
just at night. There was but one Party of the Men that went with
me that came to them there. I sent men eno to back & support
them that sent for help but our Rutland Guide carryed them away
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 52, page 25.
52
& never went to them. They waited for y" in vain i. e. my Lieut
& our men but y^ not coming they came to me as I was going
round ye swamp & He & I took ye Track & pursued upon them
as long as y'' Men were capable of going.
It being so near night, The Rains our Men being Faint we hav-
ing no Cloths, Blankets nor Provisions I was forced to Return.
The next day Instead of 12 Rutland men which Capt Wright
promised I was forced to take up with six & wait for yâ„¢ too which
occasioned ye Lateness in the Morning y-^ complain of. I sent
not my Lieut but actually went myself as far as it was possible to
make out Tracks & till y*^ Men universally said it was to no Pur-
pose to try to pursue upon them any longer, for ye woods were so
we could find none. I should be very glad to confront this Re-
lator & that your Honour would give me opportunity to set my
management in a truer light than He has & Vindicate myself which
I doubt not but that I can from all y'' is alledged against me.
I am your Hon"^^ Obedt humble Serv*
Eleazer Tyng
PS. I am in a great hurry going with Col. Goff to Rutland or
had writ fuller.*
[Date probably August, 1724.]
August 14, 1724, the Lieutenant-Governor was advised by the
Council to order Col. Tyng to detach ten men out of his company
to Rutland.!
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 52, page 28.
t Council Records.
53
APPENDIX F.*
1724 November 27 A Jou
rnal of my Scouting since Last
Muster Roll.
Novbr 27 'keept garrison
20 warded
28 Ditto
21 Scouted
29 Scouted toward vvatt-
22 Stormy
chusetts &: Cross to-
23 Stormy [trees
ward Brookfield
24 Snow hung on the
30 Stormy returned
25 Scouted every way
Decembr
26 keept garison
I kept garison
27 Scouted
2 foul wether
28 Scouted
3 Scouted
29 Stormy snow
4 Could not go out with
30 keept garison
Snow Shoes nor with-
31 Scouted
out snow deep & soft
Janry i Scouted
5 keept garison
2 Ditto
6 Scouted
3 Ditto
7 Came in with Scout
4 Ditto
8 Stormy
5 Ditto
9 Trees hung with Ise
6 Stormy
Could not go out
7 keept garison
10 keept in no Travill-
8 gaurded to Brook-
ing in the woods
field mill
: II Scouted
9 warded
12 Came in being Ex-
10 Scouted
1 tream Cold
1 1 Some to Brookfield
13 Scouted
some to Woster to
14 Stormey
mill
15 keept garison
12 Scouted
16 Ditto
13 Ditto
17 Scouted
14 Ditto
18 Scouted about 10 miles
15 Stormy [out
19 Came in
16 Ditto Could not go
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 38A, page 100.
54
1 7 Scouted [ye town
1 8 Scoute on the back of
1 9 Scouted over ware river
20 & back of Brookfield
21 back into the woods
2 2 Lay out [again
23 Came in again
24 warded
25 Scouted
26 keept garison stormy
27 Ditto
28 Stormy
29 Scouted
30 Ditto
3 1 warded
Febru^ i Scouted alarm at night
2 Scouted Discovered
some Tracks
3 went out after them
but they Scattered
we Could not follow
4 Came in
5 keept Garison
6 Scouted
7 Stormy keep garison
8 Ditto
9 Scouted
10 gaurd to mill to
Brookfield
1 1 not returned
12 Returned
13 Scouted
14 Ditto
15 keept garison
16 Ditto
1 7 Scouted
18 Ditto
19 Ditto
20 Stormy
2 1 keept garison
22 Scouted
23 Ditto
24 Ditto
25 Ditto
26 went a company to
buy Corn at brook-
field
27 not returned
28 Returned
March i Scouted
2 keept garison stormy
3 Ditto
4 went to Brookfield to
fetch Provision
5 Scouted
6 Stormy
7 Ditto no Travilling
8 went to woster for
provision
9 Returned
10 Scouted over ware
river
1 1 Lay out
12 Returned
1 3 Scout went out 3 days
14 Discovered nothing
1 5 Returned
16 Scouted
1 7 Scouted
18 gaurded the people
fenceing their meadows
55
> ) J » ) > >
19 gaurded
20 Scouted
2 1 warded
22 Scouted
23 Stormy
24 keept garison
25 Scouted
26 Ditto
2 7 Rain
28 Ditto keept garison
29 Ditto
30 Scouted &c
31 gaurded the Stoars
up from marlborough
Aprl 1 guarde the people at
the Corn mill
2 gaurded at mill
Ditto
3 ti: the carts to bring
Stoars
4 Scouted
5 Scouted ouer ware
river
6 & toward Wattchu-
setts hills
7 Stormy
8 Ditto
9 keept garison
10 Scouted
11 Ditto
1 2 gaurded the people
at their feilds
13 Ditto
14 Ditto
15 Scouted & gaurded
16 keept garison
May
17 Ditto
18 Ditto
19 Mustered Read the
Laws
20 gaurded
21 Ditto
22 Scouted
23 Ditto
24 gaurded the people
25 warded
26 gaurded the people
to plow
27 Scouted
28 Ditto
29 gaurded
30 Ditto
1 gaurded the people
at plow
2 warded
4 gaurded the people
to plant
5 Ditto
6 Ditto at the Corn
mill
7 Ditto
8 gaurded
9 warded
10 Scouted Discovered
Indian Tracks by
ware river
1 1 gaurded the people
to plant
12 Ditto
13 Ditto
14 Scouted
15 Ditto
56
1 6 keept garison warded
Lay out woods made
17 Scouted
fires put up blankets
18 gaurded
to deceive the In-
19 keept garison
dians &c
20 bad wether
June I Ranged Ditto
21 gaurded the Carts to
2 ambushed the places^
fetch
where the
22 Stoars from Marl-
3 Indians were Likly to
borough
come and weiglaid
23 Ditto
the fences &c
24 Returned
4 Scout came in
25 on the 25 day
5 gaurd the people at
26 Scouted the Swamps
the feilds
27 Scout sent out
6 Ditto
28 Indians came about
7 Scouted Cross to the
garisons
borders of Brookfield
29 Scouted the Swamps
8 Part gaurded part
in pursuit
Scouted
30 of the Indians
9 Ditto
31 watched without the
garisons and Ranged
Sam" Wright
the Swamps with Doggs
Rutland June 9th 1725
[The above is in Capt. Wright's own writing, but the following
is evidently a copy.]
A Journal of Scouting Guarding &c from June loth to Novr
loth 1725.*
June 10 Scouted 15 Men way laid the Swamps
1 1 Gaurded in the Field ;
1 2 Gaurded the people in the fields,
13 Scouted for 3 days 12 Men, over Ware River
14 Lay out
Massachusetts Archives, vol. 38A, page 122.
57
15 the Scout returned ;
1 6 Guarded the people at their work ;
17 Guarded Ditto 14 Men.
18 Guarded Ditto 12 Men.
19 Scouted 14 Men toward Wachusett.
20 Lay out about 10 Miles from the Town.
21 Scout returned,
22 Scouted 9 Men Northwest of Wachusetts Hills
23 Lay out.
24 Scout returned ;
25 Guarded 10 Men Scouted 9 North of Ware River,
26 Guarded the people in the Fields
2 7 kept in being Sabbath day ;
28 Guarded the Carts with Stores ;
29 from Marlborough to Rutland ;
30 Returned.
July I Guarded the Carts back 8 mile
2 Scouted
3 Lay out
4 Returned
5 Stormy,
6 Storm kept Garrison & Cleansed the Arms
7 Scouted
8 Returned
9 Guarded 22 Men in a Meadow
TO Guarded 23 Men in Ditto
1 1 Scouted 1 2 Men round the Town
12 for 4 days
13 Lay out
14 Returned
15 Stormy
16 Stormy kept Garrison
I 7 Capt Willard here with his Voluntiers
18 Guarded about the Meeting house
19 Capt Willard marched from Rutland wth his Men
20 I sent a Scout with him 2 days march who
58
21 discovered tracks they Supposed to be Indians
2 2 Scouted round the town ranging the Swamps 19 Men
23 Gaurded the Carts to Marlbo. for provisions
24 Stormy
25 Gaurd returned with the Stores
26 Scouted about the meadows 22 Men
27 Scouted Lay out
28 Scouted round the meadows, 6 Miles out
29 Scouted round the Town and divided our Men in 2
parties
30 Gaurded the Meadows 25 Men
31 Gaurded Ditto
Augt I Warded in the Town
2 Part Guarded & part Scouted
3 Scouted round the meadows,
4 Searched the Swamps & Gaurded
5 Gaurded the meadows 25 Men,
6 Scouted 22 Men 4 days
7 Lay out
8 Lay out
9 Wet weather returned
10 Wet weather Cleans'd our Arms
11 Gaurded the people at the meadow 19 Men
12 Gaurded the meadows and Scouted
13 Scouted 2 days
14 Returned
15 Stay in
16 Scouted
1 7 Gaurded
18 Gaurded
19 Scouted
20 Guarded
21 Guarded
22 Warded about the Town
23 Scouted to Lancaster
24 Returned
25 Scouted to Brookfield
59
2 6 Gaurded the meadows
27 Scouted & Gaurded ; a part, a Man wounded at Dear-
field the Indians alarmed us at the meadows.
28 Scouted & Guarded sd Meadow, & discover'd Indian
tracts
29 Scouted Round the Meeting house in 3 Guards
30 Gaurded and Scouted
• 31 Guarded
Septr I Scouted «& Guarded at the meadows
2 Guarded people Stacking Hay.
3 Guarded the meadows
4 Scouting and Guarding
5 kept in being Sabbath
6 Guarded & Scouted ye meadows discover'd tracts.
7 Guarded Stacking Hay 21 Men
8 2 Guards each 10 Men att the meadows
9 part Guarded & part Scouted
10 Scouted 18 Men 4 days
1 1 Stayed out
12 Lay out
13 returned
14 Guarded the people in the fields
15 Scouted about 10 Miles discouered Indian Tracks
16 Lay out
1 7 Guarded to Stack Hay
18 Guarded the people Cutting Stalks
19 Warded
20 Scout went out for 10 days 16 Men
21 An Indian appear'd at my Garison & we fired at him
22 Guarded the people 3 of the Scout came in sick
23 Fetched in Cattle ; Leut Ting Came in with his Scout
24 Gaurded the people to gather Corn
25 Guarded
26 kept in being Sabbath
2 7 Stormy
28 Guarded & Scouted about the Town
29 Guarded the people to gather Corn
6o
30 Scout Came in ; another went out over Ware river,
Octr I Scout went out for 3 days 14 Men
2 Lay out
3 Lay out
4 Guarded the people to gett in harvest
5 Scout Came in
6 Scout went out for 3 days 13 Men
7 Lay out
8 Lay out
9 returned
10 kept in being Sabbath
1 1 Stormy kept Garrison
1 2 Scout went for 3 days
13 Lay out
14 Came in
15 Guarded the Carts
16 kept Garrison
1 7 Warded
18 Went down to Shrewsbury to guard ye Stores 16 Men
19 Scouted
20 Returned with the Stores
21 Stormy kept Garrison
22 Guarded the Carts from Lancaster
23 Scout for 5 days to Come in at Turkey hills
24 Warded
25 Scout came in at Turkey Hill
26 Came into Lancaster
27 Came into Rutland
28 Thanksgiving
29 Scout out 10 Miles Northward Ware river 2 days
30 Came in
31 Kept in being Sabbath
Novr I Scout went out for 3 days 15 Men
2 Lay out
3 returned
4 Stormy kept Garrison
6i
5 Stormy
6 Stormy
7 Released the Men
8 Scout of 3 men over Ware river
9 Scouted 2 Men
lo Scouted 4 Men
Sam" Wright
Among the expenditures of the Province appear two items "for
wages and subsistence of Capt. Wright's company" :
"Dec. 12, 1724, ^^851-13-10 June 11, 1724, - Nov. 25, 1724.
"June 22, 1725, 71 7-10-7 Nov. 26, 1724,- -June 9, 1725."
APPENDIX G.
[From Lieutenant-Governor Dummer to Captain Wright, May,
1725-]
Cpt Wright
Sir I have Order'd Coll. to reinforce you with
twelve able bodied Men, one of which will be a Serjeant whom
you must Continue in ye post of a Serjeant. When they arrive
you will be strong. And therefore 1 expect that you keep your Men
upon vigorous & constant Service : You must always have a Party
of Eight or ten Men abroad to Scout on the Borders of your Town
at some distance & to ly out six or eight days together in the most
likely Places for the Enemies Passing, &some times to scout across
the Countrey from the Borders of Brookfield to the Borders of Lan-
caster & Groton. They must be silent &: patient in their Marches
& Ambushm", And if they do their duty faithfully I doubt not but
they will protect the Towns and Surprize the Enemy. When one
Scout comes in forthwith order out another ; It will be best not to
return ujjon the Tracks outward, & you are to recjuire a Journal
62
from Every Scout of their March & all the occurrences that should
hapen therein ; & render the Same to me.
Coll. Tyng & Cpt. Willard to have their Scouts constantly *
May 8, 1725, A reinforcement of one Sergeant and eleven men
ordered for Rutland.!
Rutland, may 24th 1725
Honor'' Sr These are to Inform your honr that I have Re-
cieved the men from your Rigement for Worcester, tho' some at
Least 2 not so able and Efective as I Could be glad they were,
(uizt Ebenr White & John Field both from Capt Thayer of Men-
don, who are not able to Travill. his Honor the Lieut Govern-
ours order to me was that I should put Suitable officers ouer the
men, & that they should Scout & gaurd, but in as much as my
orders are not so Clear as I Dare uenture to put one of the Inhab-
itants officer over them, I have Left ym under the Care and Con-
duct of Capt Ponds Son at present, but in as much as he nor any
of the men have not any knowledge of the woods so are not Like
to do much Service in Scouting, unless there be an Inhabitant put
an officer ouer them. I desire therefore you would get his honors
Leave to put Moses Rice & Benjn Flag in to be the officer ouer
them alternately when one Comes in, the Other to go out to have
but one mans pay ; which will be Likly to have the Duty better
prformed and is the mind of the Town, as for news I refer you
to the Inclosd Letter to his hon'' then desire you would deliver it
to his hono'' after you have sealed it ; with humble Respects I
Remain your hono"'* very humble and dutifuU Servt
vSam" Wright
Superscribed To the Honourable William Dummer Esqr
Lieut (iovernour and Commander in Chief &c|
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 229.
t Council Records.
I Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 237.
63
Boston June 2 1725
S' I just now received these from Capt Wright, at my Lodging,
and having taken physick this morning cannot well come forth.
If your Honour approves of Capt Wrights proposal for Flagg
and Rice to Command alternately, it seems as if it would be to
very good purpose I am
S"" your most obedient humble Serv'
John Chandler
On his Maj'''*' Service
To Coll John Chandler
Boston Present
pr Mr Moses Rice
May it please your Hon''
haveing this opportunity by Thomas Taylor,
These are to acquaint your Hon"" that there is Ten men Come
from the uper Country to Brookfield for his Maj'"^* Service & I
have had no Orders or direction from your hon"' whether they are
a Recruit of my Company ; or whether they are by them selves.
Ensign Warner being going with Capt Willard I sopose I may send
an officer to take Care of them untill further orders. I am now
going ouer to see they do their Duty & wait your hon" Direction.
Your hon'' was pleased to permitt 4 or 5 of my men to go with
Capt White & Capt Willard &c so that we are weakned by it
Except your Hon"" sends men in their Room our people are now
beginning to mow their out meadows we shall want a Strong guard,
one Scout Came in Last night discovered no Indians ; tho the
watch at one of the garisons Discovered an Indian as they say 2
nights agoe by a Garison as they lay at some distance this morn-
ing we found a mare as we Sopose Shot that her guts hung out &
Dead & Sopose the Indians shot her.*
V Hon""' most humble & ol)liged servt
Rutland July loth 1725 Sam" Wrightf
* A meadow in Rutland East Wing, now the southerly part of Princeton,
was for many years known as Dead Mare Meado7>.<.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 252.
64
Honoured Sr. these are to Inform your Hon"" that Capt
Samuel Willard marcht out from Rutland the 19th Instant with 52
able bodied men and Camped the first night south of ware river
then marched west of Watchusett hills my Scout Campt with them
2 nights Came from there yesterday brought news their Scouts
Discovered Indian Tracks &c I Let Capt Willard have five of my
best men and have five of his men in their Room to Incorage the
Expedition. Likewise furnisht with what Provisions he wanted
out of our Stoars. I have Received 4 men from Coll Buckminster
&c your Hon"" to Command Samuel Wright*
Rutland July 23d 1725
July 28. 1725. A warrant was approved by the Council to pay
John Taylour (a soldier) the sum of "thirty shillings for his Horse
Hire & expence in riding express from Rutland to Boston & back
by Framingham."t
Sir I approve of your Projection for watching the Motions of
the Indians about Rutland meadows, and have given directions to
Mr. Brintnall according. I desire you would assist him with your
advice and put him and your own People forward that so no time
be lost in the Execution of this design +
Cpt Wright
Aug 10 1725 Sergt. William Brintnall was ordered to take
command of "such of the men belonging to Capt Samuel Willards
Company as are returned into any of the frontier towns & with
them forthwith to march Out in Quest of the Enemy & to ly round
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. 72, page 254.
t Council Records.
I This has no date or signature. Probably instructions of Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Dummer, in August, 1725.
65
the meadows of Rutland while the People are making & Getting
in their hay : You must be very secret in your Motions & use all
possible means to conceal your selves from the Enemy. And be
very watchful to make seasonable discovery of them & to use all
possible Advantage in Attacking them. You must Consult with
Cpt Wright & take his advice for your further Proceeding : If
you can not make twelve out of those that are return'd you are
directed to enlist what are wanting of that Number*
Rutland August 19, 1725.
Honoured Sr
After my duty to you presented these are to
Informe your Hour that by vertue of the order I Received from
you to go to Rutland in quest of the Indian Enemie and Scout
about the Meadow with twelve Volenteers I have accordingly
obeyed Said orders by having the twelve men Eight of which are
Capt Willards and four who I Enlisted and Came to Rutland with
ym on fryday Last & have Ever since Scouted and guarded the