Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

MAY, 1816.

Wm. Judor.

[graphic]

The history of the wars of New-England, with the Eastern Indians, or a narrative of their continued perfidy and cruelty from the 10th of August, 1703, to the peace renewed 13th of July, 1713; and from the 25th of July, 1722, to their submission 15th December, 1725, which was ratified August 5th, 1726. By Samuel Penhallow, Esq.

Nescio tu quibus es, lector, lecturus ocellis,
Hoc scio, quod siccis, scribere non potui.

Boston printed by T. Fleet, for S. Gerrish at the lower end of Cornhill, and D. Henchman, over against the Brick meeting-house in Cornhill, 1726.

THIS is a plain and minute account of the wars mentioned in the title. It contains a narration of much cruel suffering from the incursions of savages, who sometimes came even from Canada to join in this border war. It affords a lively, though distressing picture of the calamities to which frontier settlements are exposed. The present generation in Massachusetts, who cultivate their fields in peace and security, and never see an Indian except it be in some itinerant group, whose appearance and occupation are not unlike the Gypsies of Europe; can hardly realize that a century since, the musket was taken to the field with the plough, and the houses exposed to the torch, and the women and Vol. III. No. 7.

[ocr errors]

children to the tomahawk of the savage, or to remote captivity. There are many families now existing, who may here find deeds performed by their progenitors, that in the office of a herald, would furnish the objects to emblazon the arms of a family.

This work is introduced with a preface from the Rev. B. Colman. We shall make an.extract from this, as a specimen of the universal feeling of our ancestors, who identified their situation with that of the Jews; an illusion which had a very salutary influence on them; though when circumstances had wholly changed, it has caused some inconvenience and mischief to their posterity.

"It is one part of our honour and happiness in this country, among the many difficulties and troubles which have attended the settlements and growth of it unto this day, that there have not been wapting honest and worthy persons, and some learned, who have delivered down to posterity, a plain and true account of the wars which we have had with the Indian natives in one part of the land and in another.

"We owe much unto those, who have done us this service from the beginning, and they have herein served God as well as obliged the world. For it always has been, and ever is like to be, a grateful thing to mankind to be informed of the rise and growth of provinces, and of the sufferings of their feeble infant state: and from the days of Moses, who wrote the first history, the beginning of the world and of Israel, the wise and pious among men have scarcely known a more sacred pleasure, nor found a more profitable entertainment, than in tracing the footsteps and windings of Divine Providence, in the planting of colonies and churches, here and there through the earth.

"Nor let it seem vain in me to say, that in the settlement of the New-England churches and provinces, there have been some circumstances so like unto those of Israel of old, (after their entrance into Canaan) that I am persuaded no people of God under heaven, can sing of his mercies and judgments in the inspired phrase, with more direct and pertinent self application than we can do. The subject of the following book affords us the most special instance hereof; namely, that although our merciful and gracious God did in a wonderful manner, cast out the Heathen before our fathers, and planted them; prepared also

[ocr errors]

a room before them, and caused them to take deep root, and to fill the land, so that the vine hath sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches upon the river; yet to humble and prove us, and for our sins to punish us, the righteous God hath left a sufficient number of the fierce and barbarous savages on our borders, to he pricks in our eyes, and thorns in our sides, and they have been and are like the boar of the woods to waste us, and the wild beasts of the field to devour us.

"Wherefore, on principles both humane and religious, I' gladly introduce the following memoirs to the publick view, with my hearty thanks to the honourable author, for the great pains he has taken among other of his publick services, to transmit the particulars of the two last wars with the Indian enemy down to posterity, that the generation to come might know them, and set their hope in God, and not forget his works, but keep his Commandments.

"The reader must not expect much entertainment or curiosity in the story of a barbarous war, with cruel and perfidious savages: it is the benefit of posterity, in a religious improvement of this dry and bloody story, that we aim at, in preserving some remembrance thereof: and that in times to come, when we are dead and forgotten, materials may remain for a continued and entire history of our country and we hope, that they who come after us, will take the like care in their times, for the children which shall be born.

"Let it suffice in praise of the narrative, if the facts related be true and exact, and that the style be familiar, plain and easy, as all historical memoirs should be writ. As to the truth of it, none I suppose will have any doubt to whom the author is known; and to whom among us is he not known? or by whom among the lovers of the country is he not esteemed for his affectionate regards unto the religious and civil liberties of it?

"The Reverend Dr. Mather wrote the remarkables of the eastern war before this, from the year 1688, unto the year 1698, ten years, wherefore he called his book, Decennium Luctuosum. This book may claim the like title, for the first war here related, from August 10th 1703, to the 13th of July 1713, did also continue just ten years."!

One short extract from Mr. Penhallow's introduction will serve as a specimen of his manner.

"I might with Orosius very justly entitle this history, de Miseria hominum, being no other than a narrative of tragical incursions, perpetrated by bloody Pagans, who are monsters of such cruelty, that the words of Virgil may not unaptly be applied to them,

Tristius haud illis monstrum, nec sævior ulla
Pestis et ira deum.

Who are as implacable in their revenge, as they are terrible in the execution of it; and will convey it down to the third and fourth generation. No courtesy will ever oblige them to gratitude; for their greatest benefactors have frequently fallen as victims to their fury.

"The Roman spectacles of old were very lively in them repeated. God has made them a terrible scourge for the punishment of our sins; and probably that very sin of ours, in neglecting the welfare of their souls. For we have not expressed the like laudable care of them, as hath been done in the southern and western parts of the country. But indeed, we have rather aimed to advance a private trade, than to instruct them in the principles of true religion. This brings to my remembrance, a remarkable saying of one of their chief Sachems, whom a little before the war broke out, I asked, wherefore it was they were so much bigoted to the French? considering their traffick with them was not so advantageous as with the English. He gravely replied, "That the Friars taught them to pray, but the English never did."

[ocr errors]

There are fac-similes of the devices assumed by the Indian Chiefs, placed against their names, to two or three Treaties: these are an eagle, an otter, a fish, a snake in the act of springing, a tortoise, the sun and moon, &c. &c.

A narrative of the Indian wars in New-England, from the first planting thereof, in the year 1607, to the year 1677, containing a relation of the occasion, rise and progress of the war with the Indians, in the southern, western, eastern and northern parts of said country. By William Hubbard, A. M.. minister of Ipswich. And the Lord said unto Moses, write this for a memorial in a Book, Ex. xvii. 14. Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us, That the generation

« PreviousContinue »