Old Mill Site Historic District

There can be no doubt that Mather's story of the "alarm" at Hadley was true. The same could have been said of Hatfield and Northampton, when the astounding news reached them of the attack that day upon Deerfield. No doubt they too "were in the utmost confusion," while making preparation for their defence. The usual method of Indians in warfare is, to watch chances for a surprise; then a swift stroke, and speedy retreat. But at Deerfield the first shock was unsuccessful; the Indians lingered, and in a measure besieged the garrisons, expecting to lay the whole town in ashes; part being busy in plundering and burning, out of musket range from the stockades. In the meantime this condition had been discovered and reported by scouts from below. It was the first attack upon any town in the valley, and what would be their fate after Deerfield had been destroyed, was the main thought. Of course, the people of Hadley were "in consternation by a most sudden and violent alarm, which routed them the whole day after," and doubtless a sleepless night followed. We must always note that Mather does not give the story of the alarm as part of the history of the war. He was dwelling strictly upon the dealings of God with the people, and the effect of prayer in turning aside His wrath.

Passage source: History of Hadley : Including the Early History of Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst and Granby, Massachusetts, published 1905.

Judd attempts an explanation: it was because the Judges were concealed there. He says, "It was necessary at the time and long after, to throw a veil over the transactions of that day, which has been, and can be, only partially removed." Let us examine this explanation - does it explain! How could this silence be enforced! The facts must have been known to every person in Hadley, inhabitants and soldiers; to all in Hatfield and Northampton. The story must have been repeated to the hundreds of soldiers who came to Hadley that week, for there was the headquarters of the army and the gathering place of the forces from the East and from Connecticut. Silence might perhaps have been imposed upon the magistrates and ministers, but what of the miscellaneous multitude ? All must see the utter impossibility of keeping their mouths shut, when, in the very nature of the case, no reason could be given, without betraying the fatal secret. On the contrary, if the people of Hadley believed they had been saved from destruction by an angel sent of God, why should not this amazing thing be proclaimed from every pulpit with joy and thanksgiving, be discussed at every fireside in the land, and preached in every camp that they were the chosen people of the Lord! This was by far and far the most important event in the history of New England; and how soon would the news have spread to the uttermost parts of the earth; and how would the literature of the times have teemed with the marvelous story. How the superstitious savage would have quailed in terror at this act of the white man's God! The bloody events of the current week show no such effect. If true, why do we not find traditions or recorded facts in the families of Barnard, Baldwin, Boltwood, Coleman, Dickinson, Hawks, Moody, Porter, Russell, Smith, Warner, or Wells, who were on the spot; or in those of Allis, Arms, Belden, Cowles, Field, Frary, Gillet, Graves, Hubbard, Hinsdale, Kellogg, Lyman, Munn, Montague, Marsh, Morton, Parsons, Pomeroy, Sheldon, Stebbins and scores of others in the surrounding towns, descendants of all of which families are now living among us? Look at the contrast! The knowledge of this wonderful deliverance of beset Hadley, by the act of the heroic Goffe, or the direct act of God, lay dormant and unknown for ninety years, to creep out at length through a traditionary anecdote handed down in a single family in far-off Boston, and then only preserved in a marginal footnote to a printed page. But Hutchinson, even, who published the tradition, did not believe the mysterious appearance part of the story, and the part which he did accept quietly slumbered for thirty years longer, until it was revived and printed by President Stiles, and so scattered broadcast as veritable history.

Passage source: History of Hadley : Including the Early History of Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst and Granby, Massachusetts, published 1905.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Hatfield Town - 239,522 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.