Brookfield Town (part 1 of 18)

Introductory Note

THE desirability of publishing a Town History having been in the minds of the older inhabitants for several years, and after the destruction of the Town Records by fire in 1862, the propriety, and even the necessity, of such a work becoming more apparent, in 1864 the North Brookfield Historical Society was formed, with Hon. Charles Adams, Jr., as Corresponding Secretary and Librarian. This organization resulted in the collection of considerable material for a Town History.

After the proclamation of President Grant, calling upon cities and towns to hold centennial celebrations on the Fourth of July, 1876, and advising that historical addresses be delivered on that day, and put into print for preservation, the people of North Brookfield, preparatory to such a celebration, raised, by numerous subscriptions, over five hundred dollars, and Rev. Christopher Cushing, D.D., a former clergyman of the town, delivered an historical address.

Soon after the celebration in 1876, Mr. Henry E. Waite, a native and former citizen of North Brookfield, began the publication in the " North Brookfield Journal," of a series of articles, containing personal memoirs, extracts from the records of Rev. Thomas Snell, D.D., of marriages and deaths from 1797 to 1852, copies of old wills, deeds, etc. These articles, as well as the address of Dr. Cushing, further awakened and deepened the interest in a Town History, and on May 5, 1879, the town appointed a Committee on Town History, consisting of, -

This Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Adams, prepared and sent to each family in town, blank schedules of questions relating to family, personal and local history, and especially to family genealogy ; and correspondence was opened by Mr. Adams with many former citizens and others who might be expected to possess old documents and papers which would supply important information.

In 1882, after due inquiry and personal interviews, the Committee voted unanimously to employ Rev. J. H. Temple of Framingham to write the history. In 1884, the impossibihty of writing a complete history of North Brookfield, without including early events which were located upon the territory of Brookfield and West Brookfield, so impressed itself upon the Committee and the Historian, that, by vote of the town, a formal invitation was extended to each of these towns to unite with us in the preparation and pubhcation of a joint history of all the Brookfields. But such were the obstacles in the way of our sister towns, that they did not assume the undertaking with us ; and it was decided to go on with the preparation of the History of North Brookfield, including therein much of the early history of the ancient town of Brookfield, which has been divided into the three now existing towns of Brookfield, North Brookfield, and West Brookfield.

During the progress of the work, the following changes have taken place in the membership of the History Committee. After Mr. Adams had substantially completed the preparation of the genealogical part of the work, which had been his specialty, he tendered his resignation, which, however, the town declined to accept. From April, 1882, Mr. Walker acted as chairman, until his decease in 1883; in April, 1884, Henry W. King was chosen a member in Mr. Walker's stead, and Theodore C. Bates was made chairman; and in April, 1885, Timothy M. Duncan and Nat H. Foster were added to the Committee.

Too much credit cannot be accorded to Mr. Adams for the immense amount of work done by him, and all without compensation. Nor should we fail to recognize the very valuable assistance rendered by Mr. Walker, both members of the original Committee, who have passed away during the progress of the work.

The Committee believe they secured the best man they could have found, in the Rev. J. H. Temple, who has written and edited the history ; and we feel sure that his years of faithful labor will be duly appreciated.

Nor would we fail to call attention to and acknowledge the great assistance given to the Committee, from the beginning of their labors, by Mr. Henry E. Waite, who has done a great deal of work in a most thorough manner, refusing any compensation whatever for his most efficient services.

The whole work has now been completed, having proved an undertaking of no small magnitude, considered either as to the labor performed, or the amount of money so cheerfully granted by the town ; and the result is herewith submitted to our own citizens, and the public generally, in the belief, on our part, that the work has been thoroughly and carefully done.

THE old township of Brookfield, of which the territory now the town of North Brook field was for more than a century a constituent part, was the earliest organized settlement in the neighborhood, and was by far the most important town in the county of Worcester, when the new county was incorporated in 1731, and so continued in valuation up to 1800, and in population up to 18 10. The present threefold or fourfold division of territory then constituted a unit. The men who laid the first foundations wrought for the whole. The ancestors of the families now living in Warren and the three Brookfields shared in common the labors, and privations, and sufferings, and warfare of 100 years : and a true account of the old town is a true account of all the parts that composed it, up to the date of a formal division.

In accordance with this view of the matter, and to elucidate the real and relative value of earlier as well as later historical facts, and set them in their true order of sequence, all available materials have been gathered that in any way related to the original townsliip, covering the period from the date of the earliest settlement up to the close of the Revolutionary War. North Brookfield separated from the old town ecclesiastically in 1750, and educationally in 1756. And during the war-struggle of 1 775-1 783, it took upon itself, with the tacit consent of the mother town, the burden of paying its military expenses and furnishing its quotas of soldiers for the army. And at that date the North Precinct became de facto, a town, except as to the assessment of general taxes and the maintaining of roads and bridges.

The work of the historian was thus marked out for him, both in its plan and limits, by the course of events to be recorded and explained ; and he has followed what appeared to him to be a natural order of growth, and the only logical metliod.

The headings of successive chapters indicate with sufficient clearness, whether the contents relate to the town of Brookfield, or to the Second Precinct and North Brookfield.

The book is composed largely of original records and official documents, - many of them now first put in print. These papers have been carefully copied verbatim et literatim, from the volumes preserved in the Massachusetts State Archives, the Connecticut State Archives, the Registries of Hampshire, Worcester and Hampden counties, the Town, Parish and Church Records, and memoirs in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the American Antiquarian Society, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

In company with Mr. Jenks, Mr. Adams, Mr. Waite, and Mr. Knight, the historian made a personal exploration of the entire tract embraced in the original township of eight miles square, with a view to determine important matters relating to topography, boundaries, mill-seats, and early land grants. In company with experts, he traversed this and the adjacent territory of 20 miles in extent, in order to fix upon the points occupied by Indian villages, and trace Indian trails and early Enghsh bridle-paths, referred to by Pynchon, Ehot and Gookin. The result was satisfactory, beyond his sanguine hopes, both in confirming the accuracy of those early writers, and in the discovery of numerous aboriginal " remains " of fort-sites, store towns and clusters of wigwams, - some of which are mentioned in the early histories, but have not before been identified, - and many of which were previously unknown to either history or tradition. All these gathered materials have been wrought into the book now offered to the public.

Several '' missing links " in Indian and EngUsh history have been discovered, and put in their proper places. As a rule, events are arranged in chronological order, - except where the duplicate character of the narrative required an overlapping in the chapters.

The labor of the historian has been greatly increased, and results are rendered in a measure unsatisfactory, by the loss of the Records of the Committee and town clerk for the period covered by the First Settlement ; the fragmentary state of the first book of Brookfield Records ; and the total destruction by fire, Oct. 14, 1862, of North Brookfield Town Records.

The committee of publication have cordially seconded every proposed plan of investigation, and aided personally in the collection of facts. Mr. Henry E. Waite has generously given his time and labor in making full copies of the earliest Land Grants, covering the original township ;

Special attention is called to the elaborate " Plan of Early Land Grants " in North Brookfield, with full index and explanations, prepared by Charles E. Jenks, Esq., a member of the committee. It supplements Chapter IV., and is invaluable for historical reference, and as a guide in tracing real estate titles.

It is a coincidence of some interest, that this History is written in the Bi-centennial year of the town's life - the Permanent Settlement having been made in 1686.

Josiah H. Temple

Corrections and Additions. - In the plan of Indian Land, facing page 54, the engraver misspelled Lashaway, and placed it too far from the pond. On p. 40, seventh line from bottom, for 39, read 29. On p. 6r, sixth line from bottom, for whereby, read when by. On p. 74, seventh line from top, for vast, read rash. On p. 92, second line from top, for them, read there. On p. 97, eleventh line from bottom, for Ayers'', read Ayres\ On p. 205, last line, for Wight, read Wright. On p. 254, sixth line from top, Levi should read Eli. On p. 326, David Mitchell's death should be May 31.

Topographical Description

Topographical Description of the Territory Included In the Original Brookfield Grant. - Objects of Special Interest. - Mill-seats. - Early Roads. - Training-field. - Common. - The Mile-square, etc.

THE territory that comprised the old town of Brookfield originally belonged to Hampshire County, and so remained till 1731, when it was transferred to the county of Worcester, then incorporated. It is situated twenty-five miles east of the Connecticut River, and eighteen miles west of Worcester.

As laid out and incorporated in 1673, it contained an area of six miles square, and was bounded on all sides by wilderness. As laid out by John Chandler in 1 701, and re-surveyed by Timothy Dwight and confirmed by Act of the General Court, Dec. 3, 1719,' the township embraced an area of eight miles square, and was surrounded by unnamed and unsettled lands. The addition of one mile in width was made on each of the four sides ; but, as laid out, the plot was not a perfect square, the east line only measuring exactly eight miles, i.e., 2,560 rods. The north line measured 2,450 rods; the south line, 2,520 rods; while the west line was 2,720 rods, i.e., 160 rods more than eight miles.

The bounds remained unaltered till 171 7, when five hundred acres "equivalent land" was annexed to the south side, to compensate the town for Col. Pynchon's five hundred acres previously laid out on Coy's Hill. This forms the rectangular piece jutting into Sturbridge. Jan. 16, 1741-42, the south-westerly corner of the township, two miles and three-quarters wide at the south end, and a mile and a half wide at the north end, by five miles and three-quarters in length, was set off to form in part the town of Western, now Warren. In 1751 seven families with their farms were set off to New Braintree. In 1823 a strip of

In 1793, Whitney, in his "History of Worcester County," says, " Brookfield is the third town in age, and the first as to its wealth and numbers, in the county, containing, when the census was taken [in 1 791], 438 dwelling-houses and 3,100 inhabitants." Worcester then had 2,100 inhabitants.

Feb. 28, 181 2, about one-third of the township, comprising the northeast corner, was set off and incorporated as the town of North Brookfield.

These partitions left the south-easterly part of the old township, containing 16,194 acres, and including the village of East Brookfield, to wear the historic and time-honored name of Brookfield.

Contrary to the prevalent belief, the country, at the time of the settlement of Brookfield, was practically bare of the primeval forests. The annual burnings by the Indians destroyed the old growth, and kept the uplands free from a new growth of sprouts ; so that only the wet swamps and protected places had heavy timber. Men on horseback went where they pleased, only shunning swamps and streams. From the top of Coy's Hill and other heights, cattle could be seen for a distance of three miles, and deer and wild turkeys a mile away.

Streams and Mill-seats. Quabaiig River. - This distinguishing feature of the town is formed by the union of two streams : the westerly branch, called Five-mile River, rises in the east part of Oakham, and runs in a southerly course ; the easterly branch, called Seven-mile River, rises in the south-west part of Rutland, crosses into Oakham, and runs through the west-central part of Spencer, nearly parallel with the other branch. These unite at East Brookfield Village, and then flow into the north-east corner of Quabaug Pond. A curious circumstance is, that the river approaches in a pretty direct line to the very bank of the pond ; then turns at nearly a right angle, and runs parallel with the shore for twenty or thirty rods, leaving only a narrow ridge ; then diverges so as to form a small island ; then makes a slight circuit, and cuts a channel into the pond. A country road is laid over this narrow ridge for quite half a mile, exposed, of course, to an overflow during the spring and fall freshets. A row of large pines and swamp-oaks formerly grew along the shore, and partially protected the road-bed ; but these are mostly dead from bruises by ice, and the ridge is gradually wasting away. The river emerges from the pond at its westerly end, and flows in a general northwesterly direction to a point near Wekabaug Pond, where it turns at a sharp angle, and takes a south-westerly course, and, passing through Warren Village and on the easterly and southerly sides of Palmer, unites with Ware River at the village of Three Rivers, where the stream takes the name of Chickopee River, and enters the Connecticut in the town of Chickopee. The current through the original Brookfield township is very sluggish, the fall not exceeding three feet in the distance of six miles. The average width of the stream is about six rods ; and the adjacent meadows, which are near a half-mile wide, are raised but little above the water-level.

Before the putting-in of dams, this river abounded in shad and salmon. As late as 1736 an article in the town-warrant was, "To consider what may properly be done to make a way in the river, so that shad and alewives may go up to the ponds to cast their spawn." In 1761 the proprietors of the meadows on Quabaug River, in a petition to the General Court, say, " The waters are stopped in their natural course by certain Bars in the same, which so obstruct the flow that the low lands on the same are rendered unprofitable, and in danger of becoming a standing water, to the public damage," and ask that "Commissioners of Sewers " may be appointed " to effect the removal of the obstructions aforesaid." But nothing effectual resulted.

Fordways. - The fording-place earliest named in the records was where the old Springfield path crossed the river where is now the bridge at West Brookfield Village.

The fordway at Mason's Point became an important factor in agricultural pursuits after the re-setdement of the town, and a bridge was built here soon after 17 15.

What was known as the " Crabtree ford " was at the small rapids, a half-mile below the mouth of Dean's Brook. This was the Indians' crossing-place on their west trail from Old Quabaug Fort to Wekabaug,

The Boat. - In low water, people readily crossed over the fords on horseback ; but, in high water, a boat was required. This was owned and controlled by the town. March 14, 1726, the town " Voted, That Ephraim Hayward (who then lived at Warren Village) do bring up the boat to the bridge at Mason's Point."

I. The falls at the north-east corner of the town, where Thomas Ball from Framingham bought Jan. 4, 1753, sixty acres on the Spencer side, and built saw and grist mills, which his widow sold in 1761 to Isaac Johnson of Southborough ; and the privilege has been called Jolmson's

2. About a mile below, in 1782, Jonathan and Nicholas Jenks leased land and the water-privilege of Moses Ayres, and built a dam, and put in a forge, or iron-works. Daniel and Wheat Gilbert joined the enterprise, and built a second fireplace. Dec. 4, 1788, the Gilberts took one fire, and the Jenks the other, and divided the business of washing and smelting ore, etc. The works were carried on about twenty years, but were not profitable.

4. The next privilege was at the head of the present pond, where John Woolcott put in a saw-mill in 1718, and for which the town made him a special grant of forty acres of upland.

5. One-third of a mile below, Patterson & Hair set up a fulling-mill. "Dec. 5, 1720, granted to John Patterson and William Hair a stream for a fulling-mill, they setting up the trade of a fuller and dressing off cloth within eighteen months, the stream to be theirs so long as they maintain said trade, and no longer."

7. In later times, Jeduthan Stevens built a grist-mill at the East Brookfield privilege; and afterwards a company operated a blast-furnace and machine-shop. It is now occupied as a woolen and shoddy mill.

The only privilege on Seven-mile River in this town is where John Hamilton, jun., built a saw-mill as early as 1725; now occupied by George E. Forbes as a factory and wheel-shop.

The first mill-seat on Quabaug River is at Warren Village, known as the " Hay ward privilege." George Hayward built saw and grist mills here about 1720 (now grist-mill and cotton-factory). Ephraim Hayward bought the privilege of his father George ; and, having secured the land for some distance below, built a race-way, and in 1727 sold threefourths of the power to Tilly Mirick, sen., of Brookfield, Samuel Copley and Asaph Leavitt of Suffield " for setting up iron-works." These works, known as the " Old Furnace," stood about thirty rods below the dam.

The affluents of Quabaug River, coming from the north, are : Moore's Brook, which has three distinct branches, the central one rising near North Brookfield Village. John Woolcott built a corn-mill on the east branch, which comes from Perry Pond, before 171 7.

Hovefs Brook, called later Stone's Brook, runs north and west of Brookfield Village, crossing the old stage- road just west of the cemetery.

Affluents Of Quae Aug River. 1 3

enters the river near West Brookfield Village. The meadows on this brook were an important factor in our early history. William Ayres built a saw-mill at the foot of Matchuk Meadow in 1762. Afterwards a fulling-mill was put in.

Sucker Brook, originally called Great Brook, rises in the east central part of New Braintree, runs through a corner of North Brookfield, then into New Braintree again, through Ditch Meadow, around the north end of Whortleberry Hill, and into Wekabaug Pond, from which it emerges through the outlet known as Lashaway. On the eastern branch of Sucker Brook, which branch was called in the earliest records Mill Brook, and after 1707 Old Af ill Brook, was situated the first grist-mill in Brookfield, erected by John Pynchon about 1667.' This mill was burnt by the Indians in 1675, re-built by Mr. Pynchon at the re-settlement of the town, and continued in use till his death in 1705. The privilege has been utilized in modern times in a variety of ways. The old dam remains.

The first satu-mill in Brookfield was built on Sucker Brook in 1 709, at what is known as Malt-Mill bridge, within the present limits of New Braintree. A company, consisting of Thomas Barns and eight others of the principal townsmen, received " a grant of 40 acres, to be divided amongst them, for their encouragement to build a saw-mill, and they have liberty to cut all sorts of timber for the use of the mill in any parts of the precinct." - The Committee^ s Records.

The privilege next above was the falls at Wait's Corner, which at one period became famous. The land hereabouts, including the falls, came into the hands of Nathan Barker of Andover, who sold Nov. 3, 1757, to Nathaniel Wait of Sutton, a clothier, who put in a fulling-mill, and later built a saw-mill. In 1790 Nathaniel Wait sold one-half the estate to Joseph Wait, clothier, who afterwards became sole owner. In 18 15 the privilege was bought by the " North Brookfield Woolen Manufacturing Company" (Amos Bond, Elisha Hammond, et als.),\^\\o started the manufacture of fine broadcloths, cassimeres, etc. The property next passed into the hands of Wait, Prouty, & Co., who made frocking, cassimere, etc. Later the firm was Wait & Prouty. Since their day the power has been used as a spoke-mill and saw-mill.

The privilege above, towards New Braintree, was bought April 24, 1749, of William Ayres by Daniel Matthews, jun., of Southborough, a mill-wright, who put in a saw-mill. It appears to have been bought in ^759 by Jonathan Wait, clothier, of Sutton, who, either alone or in company with Daniel Matthews and Nathaniel Wait, put in a fulling-mill and corn-mill. Daniel Matthews, in 1794, purchased the entire property. In 181 2 Elisha Matthews and Deacon James Woods built (or re-built) a dam near the New Braintree line, erected a factory, and began the manufacture of woolen goods. After several years the mill passed into the hands of Robert Lawton and Seth B. Manly, and then to Manly alone, and, while in his ownership, was burned.

Below the Malt- Mill bridge, on this brook, are the Pepper mills, first used as a blacksmith's forge and trip-hammer, and later as grist and saw mills ; and still lower down were Tyler's and Gilbert's saw-mills in West Brookfield. (It is erroneously stated in " Beers' Atlas," that the mill on the Gilbert privilege was " the first saw-mill erected in Worcester County.")

Next below Lashaway, is the Neiv Mill Brook, now known as Ellis's Brook. It rises among the Ragged hills, and forms in part the boundary between West Brookfield and Warren. In 1707 or 1708 John Hayward, jun., had a grant of land for a pond, and built a grist-mill where the old Hadley Path (which ran from the Philip Goss, now Charles H. Fairbanks', place over the top of Coy's Hill) crossed the brook. The remains of the dam may now be seen near the house of Sexton Douglass (see chap, iv., under date 1710). This privilege was abandoned, and a mill built by the brother of John Hayward at Warren Village, as already noted.

Above this Hayward privilege, a saw-mill was built by old Jacob Kent, who sold in 1845 to William R. Thomas. A short distance higher up, a saw-mill was put in by Sylvester Thomas.

Below this Hayward privilege, where the great road crosses the brook, Nathan B. Ellis from East Medway set up a clothier's shop as early as 1790. Whitney, \vx\\\x\g in 1793, says, "Ellis and Company carry on the clothier's business in all its branches. About 5,000 yards of cloth are annually dressed at these works. These men have obtained the art of coloring scarlet, which competent judges pronounce equal to any which is imported ; an art which few in this Commonwealth have attained unto."

The affluents of Quabaug River from the south are : Mason's Brook (sometimes called by the early settlers " Mason's Kil," from an obsolete word signifying stream), which enters the river to the south of Brookfield Centre. A grist-mill was built on this stream by Jabez Upham as early as 1748, In 1768 Joshua Upham established on this privilege " one of the first woolen factories ever attempted in this country."

Affluents Of Quae Aug River. Is

Dean's Brook - the Indian Naltaiig - rises in Bare-Knoll range, and enters the river in the east part of Warren. It formed the west boundary of the Quabaug lands, bought of the Indian chief Shattoockquis in 1665. A grist-mill was put in on this brook many years ago.

IVigwatn Brook enters the river at Warren Village. It is an important landmark in the early grants and deeds. Formerly there was a powdermill where is now Knowles's pump-works, and below was an extensive tannery.

Other streams in town, named in the early land-grants, or later deeds, are : Tuffts's Brook, near the south-west corner of the old township, which enters Quabaug River in Brimfield ; Rattlesnake Brook, which ran into Ware River ; Potepaug Brook, which ran south, and empties into the Quinebaug. Dr. Elisha Rice built a mill near the town Hne, on this stream, before 1762. Crotchet Brook was a branch of Mason's Brook. Capt. J^ohn^s Brook was a small stream which entered the head of Wekabaug Pond from the north-west. The Colonel's Brook was a west branch of Coy's, running near Rooke's brick-yard. Matchuk Brook was an upper east branch of Coy's. Afillefs Brook was an east branch of Coy's, just north of Slate Hill. Equies Brook was a west branch of Moore's. Mohawk Brook, in North Brookfield, ran between the two Mohawk hills, and into Sucker Brook. Horse-Pond Brook was the outlet of Horse Pond into Five-mile River. John Hinds, jun., built a mill on this stream as early as 1 738 ; sold to his son Seth, who sold to Joseph Bartlett, who sold March 3, 1761, to Rufus Putnam. The small stream that enters Five-mile River, next south of Horse-Pond Brook, is called in the early grants Wigwam Brook. Great Brook, named in early deeds, runs into Quabaug Pond from the south-east. Joseph Hamilton built a saw-mill on the only privilege here about 1747.

Ponds. - Quabaug Pond lies in the east part of Brookfield, and covers five hundred and forty acres. It was a conspicuous object and factor in the early annals of the place, as will appear in subsequent chapters. South Pond, a hundred and eighty acres of which lie in Brookfield, is connected with Quabaug by a canal. In times of freshet, the water sets southward ; in mid-summer, northward. Cranberry Pond of ten acres lies north-west of South Pond. North Pond was a natural basin on Five-mile River, where Thomas Ball put in his mill. Horse Pond is in the northerly part of North Brookfield. Perry Pond is in the south part of North Brookfield. It was named from John Perry, who located near it in 1701. Wekabaug Pond of three hundred acres lies near West Brookfield Village, and is an object of great beauty. At one time, large quantities of iron-ore were gathered from its bottom and

Springs. - "There are several springs, whose waters are sufficiently impregnated with iron to be highly useful in some diseases. The chalybeate springs in the South Parish, east of Quabaug Pond, have been a resort of invalids ; and many are said to have been relieved by the use of the water " {Foofs Discourse^.

Swamps and Meadows. - Great Swamp lies north of Quabaug Pond. Equies Swamp was near the old Josiah Beamon place in (now) Warren. Great Meadow was the name applied to the mow-lands lying on the north side of Quabaug River. Match nk Meadow, or Great Matchuk, was on Coy's Brook above the Ayres saw-mill ; Little Matchuk was below the said mill. Cattail Meadow and Slate Hill Meadow were lower down on the same brook. Millet's Meadow was on Millet's Brook. Ditch Meadow was on Sucker Brook, so called from a ditch which was dug to turn the water from Sucker into Old Mill Brook, to furnish a summer supply for Pynchon's grist-mill. Potebaug Meadow was on the east side of Potebaug Brook, in the south part of the town.

Beaver Dam. - Two of these curious structures are named in the early records : one was at the inlet into Wekabaug Pond of the little brook coming from the east, and which flooded a considerable tract of swamp ; the other beaver dam was near the outlet of Horse Pond.

Plains. - What was known as The Plain covered the large part of West Brookfield Village site. Most of the early settlers had a tillage-lot here. It was the great " Planting Field " of the Indians, and the " Great Field" of the EngUsh, and was surrounded by a "common fence," in the making and repair of which all the owners had a proportionate share. As near as can be ascertained, the fence enclosed not less than ninety acres.'

Quabaug Plain included the cultivable land lying on the northerly shore of Quabaug Pond. Pine Plain was near the John Woolcott place. Indian Plain was on the old Samuel Edmands place. Slate Hill Plain lay in North Brookfield, north of Slate Hill. This was the proposed site of the new meeting-house in 1747.

Hills. - Foster's Hill is the modern name for what was originally called " The Town Plot," where Sergt. John Ayres and his co-planters pitched in 1665.

The hills in North Brookfield are Slate Hill, at the south-westerly corner of the town ; Buck Hill, west of Matchuk ; Hogg Hill, south of the Lower Village ; Tower Hill, north of the meeting-houses ; Grass Hill, next north of Tower (now called Bell Hill) ; the two Mohawk Hills, near the north line of the town ; Ball Hill, in the east part of the town, west of Five-mile River ; Walnut Hill, by the Walnut-Grove Cemetery ; Gibbs Hill, near the south line of the town, named from Thomas Gibbs, who built in 1714 on its western slope.

Other places and objects of note in our early annals are Mason's Point, the hard land that reaches the river opposite the mouth of Mason's Brook, where the causeway is built ; Plu?n Gutter, south of the river, near Perilous Hill ; The Skulls, on Ware River ; the Stone House, a ragged pile of shelving rocks, on the road from West Brookfield to Ware ; Warding Rock, to the north-east of Gilbert's Fort site ; Whitefield Rock, near the top of Foster's Hill, from which Mr. Whitefield preached in October, 1 740.

The Horse Shades are named in a grant made to Joseph Perry in 1 7 10; probably were a clump of trees beside the highway, where the traveller could rest his horse.

The Mile Square was a tract of six hundred and forty acres, laid out in a body to eight of the heirs of Sergt. John Ayres, in 1714, eighty acres to each. It lay about a mile and a quarter south of the river. The north-east bound was a white oak that stood in what is now the angle of the West Brookfield and Warren line. The old Crawford and Shepherd farms adjoined the tract. The white oak, and the tract itself are often referred to in the early deeds.

The 800 Acres. - A tract known as the " 800-Acre Farm" is often referred to in the records, but the original grant has not been found. It lay on the westerly side of Coy's Hill, and extended to near the west line of the town. The following grants show how it was disposed of: "March 25, 1768, granted to James Nichols one-third of 800 acres on Coy's Hill and Pautauge ; also to Joseph Gilbert one-third of the 800 acres ; and to Ezra Hamilton one-third of said 800 acres, the whole in common " {Book of Land Grants., 173).

Capt. Kellogg' s 200 Acres. - A plot of two hundred acres of land was laid out to Capt, Joseph Kellogg of Fort Dummer, by virtue of a grant made to him by the great and General Court at their session, November, 1727, on the top of Coy's Hill, where the Hne of the west side of Brookfield Township crosses the road leading from Hadley to Boston. Surveyed by T. Dwight. (The plan is in possession of Mrs. E. P. Cutter of Warren. )

The clay-pits are named in the early records. They were situated on Colonel's Brook, where is now Rooke's brick-yard. At first, the clay was used in laying up the stone chimneys and ovens : later, bricks were made and burnt as at present.

Training-field and Co?nmon. - Oct. 9, 1773, Solomon Banister deeds to Capt. Phineas Upham and others, committee of the town of Brookfield, a tract of five acres, bounded west on county road, north on Meeting-house Common, to be used and improved as a public training-field, always and at all times to be common and open, and not fenced or enclosed, nor used or improved for any private purpose, and never to be appropriated to any other use than that of a public common training-field, nor divided. A tasteful building, known as the Banister Public Library, has been erected on the south-easterly part of this field by Hon. William B. Banister, a collateral descendant of Solomon Banister, and presented to the town of Brookfield. "The Mall" lies directly north of the trainingfield.

The Common in West Brookfield. - " Nov. 7, 1791, David Hitchcock of Brookfield grants and quitclaims to the First Parish in Brookfield a certain tract of land in said parish containing three acres, more or less, to be held by said parish in its corporate capacity forever ; provided said tract shall never be sold to any individual or individuals, but shall always remain open as a common for public use."

The Merriam Library Building

The Merriatn Library Building in West Brookfield, tasteful and well arranged for its uses, was erected, and given to the town, by Charles Merriam of Springfield, a native of West Brookfield.

Chapter Ii

The Wilderness. - River Indians. - Quabaugs. - Nipnets. - Nashaways. - Indian Name. - The Several Native Villages. - Wekabaug. - Quobagud. -

Indian Towns. - Tribal History. - William Pynchon's Letter. - Eliot's Visit. - Eliot's Grant. - Annoachamor. - Uncas' Raid and its Results. - Massasoit a Ruler Here. - Sale of Quabaug Lands to Ipswich Men. - Ten Years of Peaceful Co-occupation.

AT the date of the opening of our narrative, 1647, the only English settlement in Western Massachusetts was at Springfield, where a plantation was begun in 1636. The nearest towns towards the Bay were Lancaster (1643), Concord (1635), Sudbury (1637). Except these isolated spots, the broad region now comprising Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, and most of Middlesex counties, was wilderness, inhabited by Indian tribes, and crossed by Indian trails and one or two English bridle-paths. The wet swamps were heavily wooded, and impenetrable : the dry uplands, having been burnt over by the fires set by the Indians in the late autumn of each year, were covered with a sparse growth of old timber, without underbrush ; so that the first explorers could cross the country on horseback, wherever the way was not obstructed by miry swamps and large streams. Both the Indian trails and the early English paths followed the " divides," and crossed the streams at natural fordways.

When the English came to New England, they found the country parcelled out by different native tribes or clans, which claimed ownership of particular tracts of territory. These claimed domains varied greatly in extent and productive capacity, while they had certain characteristics in common. Every such tribal possession contained three essentials of savage Ufe ; viz., a hunting-ground, a good fishing-place, and arable land for cornfields. These, with oak, walnut, and chestnut groves (which were often carefully protected from their annual burnings), supplied the natives with summer and winter food. The foot of the falls in the larger rivers was esteemed a kind of common property ; and friendly tribes collected at these places in great numbers in the spring, for shad and salmon fishing, and a good time generally. After gorging themselves during the " run " of these fish, the surplus catch was dried in the smoke, and stored in their bams for future use. Early summer was often a time of scarcity with the improvident natives ; and small fish, clams, ground-nuts, greens, and berries were depended on for daily supplies. But the warm weather did not require stimulating food ; and the corn and beans, planted and tended by the squaws, began to fill in August sufficiently for boiling into " succotash," and for roasting on the coals. Corn and nuts furnished the supply for the fall ; and rabbits, coons, deer, and the larger game made up the winter stores. Cloth made of bark or wild hemp, and the skins of fur-bearing animals, furnished the summer and winter clothing.

The River Indians. - The tribes dwelling in the Connecticut river valley within the Massachusetts limits, at this date, were the Agawatns, who held both sides of the river from Enfield to the Holyoke range of hills, and sold Springfield to William Pynchon ; the Waranokes, who lived on the Westfield river; the Naunoticks (Nonotuks, Norwottucks), who held the lands on both sides of the river, from Mount Holyoke and Tom to Sugar Loaf, and sold at a later date to the Northampton and Hadley settlers ; the Pacompiucks, who owned the valley lands on the east side as far up as the mouth of Miller's river, and on the west side still higher, together with the valley of Deerfield river ; the Squakheags, who occupied the territory now included in Northfield, Vernon, and Hinsdale, and the Miller's river valley. These River tribes had each on its own territory all the essentials of food, clothing, shelter, and defence, and so in time of peace led an independent life. In time of war they usually made common cause of the quarrel, and united in a sort of confederacy, of which the Pacomptuck, the more warlike and energetic of the clans, was the acknowledged head and leader. Of their numbers, Mr. y^tidd, in his " History of Hadley," says, " When most numerous, they may be reckoned at ten or eleven hundred. Their numbers were considerably reduced before they left this part of the country, and did not perhaps exceed eight hundred in 1675."

The Quabaugs. - Next east of the Agawams were the Qiiabaugs, who held the territory which now comprises the towns of Sturbridge, Brimfield, Warren, the three Brookfields, and New Braintree. At an early, as well as a later, date, they occupied lands still further up the Menamesick (Ware) river. But the north and south limits of the tribe are not well defined.

The Nipnets. - To the east of the Quabaugs lay the possessions of the Nipnets or Nipmucks. What was known as the " Nipmuck Country," as described by Gookin and other writers of the time, took in the southern central part of Worcester county, from near the present State hne as far north as Worcester city. The word Nipnet signifies " the fresh-water country ; " and the natives dwelhng at the ponds in Dudley, Webster, Douglas, Sutton, Oxford, Auburn, etc., were known as freshpond Indians, to distinguish them from the River tribes of the Connecticut basin, and the shore Indians of the seacoast. At a later date, the Nipnets claimed and sold territory extending some miles southward of the Massachusetts line.

The Nashaways lived north of the Nipnets, with headquarters in Lancaster. They are sometimes called the Washakiims, from a large settlement of the tribe near the ponds of that name in Sterling, and sometimes called the Wachusetts, from their strongholds in the mountain of that name in Princeton.

It has been customary, with most writers, to class all these tribes under the general name of Nipnets. Mr. Gookin gives countenance to such a classification. They certainly were all " fresh water " Indians. And there is not wanting evidence, that they were more or less nearly alHed, either by blood, or by marriage, or by both. When a chief, or a common warrior of one clan committed an offence against an outside clan or the English, he would fly to another of these allied clans, and find protection ; and, when the great uprising of Indians against the whites took place in 1675, ^ these tribes promptly united in a common cause. And it is not unlikely that this latter fact may have been a leading reason for classing them under the common name of Nipnets. But Mr. Gookin, in his " Historical Collections," enumerates " the Pokomtakukes, the Squakheags, the Quabaugs, the Nipnets, and the Nashaway or Washakim Indians," in a connection to show that he understood each to have a distinct tribal status. And it is certain that they never acknowledged allegiance to one local, resident head chieftain, either in time of peace or war. Eliot and Pynchon, as well as Gookin, speak of these several tribes as independent in their possessions and jurisdiction. And the Massachusetts authorities uniformly treat with each of them, as occasion requires, without consulting with the others. When the Pacomptucks, in 1657, made war upon the Mohegans, the English Commissioners sent an official message directly to Deerfield, without stopping to get the sanction of any sagamore in the Nipmuck Country. .

The Quabaugs come into history as one of these distinct tribes, small in numbers, somewhat isolated in position, and living in scattered villages. Evidently they are not an aggressive people : the facts rather imply that they have the reputation of being inoffensive, - perhaps conscious of their inability to resent and redress wrongs suffered from their more warlike neighbors. But if this was true in earlier times, then the children were unHke the fathers; for, in the war of 1675, ^^^ Indians were noted as daring fighters.

Name Of The Place And Tribe

And the singular circumstance appears at the outset of their introduction to pubUc notice, that, having suffered injury from other Indians, they appeal for help, not to any of the neighboring clans, but to the Wampanoags, a powerful tribe living in the eastern part of the State. And the still more suggestive fact will by and by appear, that Massasoit, the renowned Wampanoag chieftain, in his old age came hither, and was for a time ruling sachem at Quabaug.

This tribe is first named in our official records in the year 1647. And no legends or traditions have been discovered, to throw light on their origin or earlier migrations. We have to take them as we find them ; and we shall be content to set forth in order the somewhat fragmentary history of their tribal life for the ensuing twenty-eight years, till the grand overthrow which followed the death of King Philip.

Name of the Place and Tribe. - It was a common rule with the English settlers to designate a native tribe by the name which said tribe gave to their principal seat or residence. But to the grievous perplexity of historians, this name-word is often spelled by the early scribes in a great variety of ways. This was partly due to carelessness in catching the word as spoken by the natives ; partly to ignorance of the peculiar force of Indian syllabic sounds ; and partly to the fact, that specific affixes and terminations to the generic word were used by the natives to indicate the different villages of the cluster occupied by them.

In the Indian language, the name of a place was descriptive of the distinguishing feature, or production, or use, or tradition of the location. The Indian was a keen observer ; he noted characteristic sounds of water or air; he detected characteristic colors of soils, or rocks, or prominent objects ; he saw and heard and marked whatever constituted the individuality of places and things, and gave them names accordingly. A knowledge of the Indian name-words would be a knowledge of descriptive geography as the native saw his immediate domains, or as his hills and valleys and streams stood related to his individual or tribal life.

There is little doubt that the name of our place, as pronounced by the Indians, was Sqitapauke, or Sqiiabaug. It is a compound word, which signifies "red water-place," or " red pond," - so called from the reddish, iron-stained gravel which forms the bottom and shores of the several ponds in the cluster near which the native villages were built, and to which collectively the general name was applied. Some of the early variations in the spelling of this name are : Squabauge, Squabage, Squawboge, Schobauge. But the English writers more often omitted the sibilant, and wrote Quabauke, Quabaug, Quabaugue, Quaboag, Quoboag. The apostle Eliot wrote it (1649) Quobagud. In some official papers, dated 1661, the name stands indiscriminately Quabaconk, Quabacutt, and Quabauke. Rev. John Russell of Hadley writes (1675) Quababaog.

When our tribe first appears in authentic records, it was not holding any one central cite, to which the name was applied ; nor did it own allegiance to one head chieftain. It was divided into several detached clans, living in scattered villages, each under its own sachem. These villages appear to have been located with special regard to good fishingplaces at the outlets of the ponds, and conveniency of large and easily tilled planting-fields. Perhaps one of them was chosen for its good planting-ground, and strong position for a defensive fort. At that date, our river was a favorite resort of shad and salmon, which ran up into the ponds for the purpose of depositing their spawn. When ascending, these fish were caught with scoop-nets and spears, or shot with arrows ; and, when descending, were taken in rudely constructed wiers. These wiers were simply stone walls built from opposite sides of the river, pointing down stream, till they nearly met each other. At this narrow opening a large cage was placed, formed of twigs fastened to hoops by strips of young elm or other tough bark. When caught in this cage, the frightened fish were easily captured. Some of these fishways remained in the river till within the memory of men now living.

Before giving a description of the several villages occupied by the Quabaugs, it may help the reader to get a clear idea of the Indian geography of the place, and show the relation of our tribe to the tribes living on the east and west, if we trace, somewhat minutely, the principal Trails or Paths by which the natives crossed the country, and which were followed by the early white explorers and settlers.

Indian Trails. - The inland trail in Massachusetts, of which we have the earliest account, is what was known as the " Old Connecticut Path." It ran from Cambridge, up the northerly bank of Charles river to Waltham Centre, thence to the north end of Cochituate pond in Framingham, thence south-westerly through South Framingham, Hopkinton, Grafton, Dudley, Woodstock, Conn., and so on to Hartford. This trail first comes into notice on this wise. In the fall of 1630, Gov. Winthrop's colony fell short of provisions. The hillsides of Woodstock were famous for their bountiful crops of Indian corn ; and the old chief of the Wabbaquassets, hearing that the English at the Bay were in great want, and would pay a good price for corn, filled large sacks from his full granaries, and, with his son and other Indians, carried the heavy burdens on their backs to Boston, " when there was but one cellar in the place, and that near the Common." Their route was the one already described And this Indian trading- expedition brought this path to the knowledgeof the whites, who made it their way of travel to the Connecticut valley. John Oldham followed this trail in 1633, "lodging at Indian towns all the way." The pioneer settlers of Wethersfield went this way. Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone with their large company went this way, June,

Indian Trails And Paths. , 25

1636. The path had now become so well defined, that they drove their cattle, and carried much household goods. " Mrs. Hooker was borne through the wilderness upon a horse-litter" {Trumbull, I. 55).

A well-defined trail from Mount Hope and the Narraganset country, known as the Providence Path, struck the Old Connecticut Path in or near Woodstock. Another trail, known as the " Nipmuck Path," came from Norwich to the same point. From here, a branch trail struck off to the north-west through Southbridge into Sturbridge, where it parted, one track going westerly past the lead mines, to Springfield \ the other keeping a north-westerly course, and crossing the Quinebaug river near Fiskdale, into Brimfield, through the Capt. Abraham Charles farm, the Deacon Tarbell farm to the southerly slope of Indian hill, over the southerly slope of Hubbard's hill, and passing just north of "Steerage Rock," to the bend in Quabaug river near the mouth of Elbow brook, and so on to " the Falls " in Connecticut river, now Holyoke city. This northerly branch continued to be a well-known Indian trail till the time of King Philip's war, and was the white man's bridle-path and cartway till after the settlement of Brimfield in 1701.

Another early through trail is named by Winthrop {Journal, II. 325), under date, 1648 : "This year a new way was found out to Connecticut by Nashaway which avoided much of the hill way." This road left the Old Connecticut Path in the town of Weston, and ran through Sudbury Centre and Stow to Lancaster (Nashaway), thence through Princeton, the south part of Barre, the north part of New Braintree, to Wekabaug pond in West Brookfield ; and thence, crossing Quabaug river near the Milk Condensing Factory, it went to the W. A. Patrick place, and so through the south central part of Warren, entering Brimfield just north of Hubbard's Hill, and struck the southern trail (before described), east of Steerage Rock, and so continued to Springfield. A branch of this path ran from Lancaster through Holden to Quabaug pond in East Brookfield. From Weston to Lancaster, this was an English highway ; but westerly from Lancaster it evidently followed old Indian trails. This continued to be an important line of travel, till the " Bay Path " was laid out in 1673. The laying-out of this new path - which so quickly became an important factor in our local history - is thus recorded : " At a county court holden at Charlestown, Dec. 23, 1673, John Stone, Sen., of Sudbury, John Woods of Marlborough, and Thomas Eams of Framingham, . . . were appointed and impowered to lay out an highway for the use of the country leading from the house of John Livermore in Watertown, to a Horse Bridge (then being) near the house of Daniel Stone, Jun., and thence the nearest and best way to Marlborough, and thence to Quabaug." This new path left the Old Connecticut Path at " Happy Hollow " in Wayland, and ran through N orth Framingham, Mail borough, Worcester to Brookfield, where it parted, one branch following the old trail through Warren to Springfield, and the other leading through Ware and Belchertown to Hadley.

Besides these long through paths, there were numerous cross-trails and by-ways, which served the various exigencies of savage society, and inter-tribal wants and wars. For these early trails held the same relation to the native villages, as our established lines of travel do to our towns. They will come into prominent notice, when we speak of the settlement of Brookfield, and narrate the course of the Indian war-parties, and the English messengers and troops in 1675-6 ; and they will often serve to explain hostile movements and strategy, otherwise difficult to be understood.

The Quabaiig Villages. It will be seen that the principal dwellingplaces of our tribe were either directly upon, or within easy reach of one or other of these old trails. And while no one of these villages had claims to be regarded as the social or commercial metropolis, it is evident that the original seat of the tribe, from which the name is derived, was at the "red-colored ponds " in Brookfield, now known as Wekabaug, Quabaug, and South ponds.

Wekabaug, in West Brookfield. This was the site of the largest of the Quabaug Indian villages. The native word Wekapauke means " at the end of the pond," and is descriptive of the place, not of the water ; i.e., it was the name given by the Indians to their wigwam site " at the end of the pond." The giving this name to the pond itself, by the English, was a misapplication of terms, very common in our present nomenclature, and grew out of an easily explained misapprehension - though it would be very embarrassing, if we had exact knowledge of the fitness and force of the Indian name-words. From contemporary accounts, and the condition of things existing here eighty years ago, as described by the then residents, and from the signs not yet obliterated, it appears that the main cluster of Indian wigwams was built on the bluff or high plain at the southerly end of and adjoining the pond. This was a dry spot, and sheltered from the north winds by a fringe of hemlocks and pines of large growth. The location met all the essential conditions of a permanent residence, and a large community. The handy Lashaway was a good fishing-place ; the adjacent plain was unsurpasssd as planting ground ; the neighboring hills and swamps were full of game. And at their departure, the natives left in the soil hereabouts, abundant evidences of their long occupancy, and household appointments. The piles of fire-stones ' indicated the wigwam sites, and bothered the settler's

- " The most constant and most unmistakable evidence of habitation is the presence of fire-stones. Before contact with the whites, the natives used for culinary purposes, vessels of wood, bark, clay, or stone. To seethe their food, these were supplied with cold water, into which heated stones were put, one after another, until the water boiled." Hon. George Sheldon. These stones were usually about the size of a quart measure. A couple of bushels of them were placed in the centre of the wigwam, plow. Great quantities of domestic utensils, such as stone kettles, drinking-cups, gouges, pestles, axes and awls have been turned up, many of which are still preserved. Two steatite kettles, in perfect preservation, were found on the westerly part of the plain, by Gilbert F. Lincoln, which are now in the Amherst College cabinet. A still larger one, of peculiar form, more recently exposed by the plow (and slightly broken) is in possession of B. P. Aiken, on whose premises it was found. Some personal ornaments, and a few winged stones, known as ceremonial stones or ensigns, have been found here' - one especially fine, and about five inches in length, is in possession of W. A. Blair. These peculiar relics may be significant of high official rank, or may have had a connection with mystic ceremonies and games, of which the Indians were passionately fond.

A notable wigwam site, connected with this Wekabaug village, lay to the south-east, about three-fourths of a mile, and just across the river. It occupied a spot about thirty rods east of the house of G. F. Lincoln. A cool, living spring supplied water. Large heaps of " chips " indicate that this was the workshop for making arrow and spear points, knives, piercers, etc., abundance of which were found in the soil. Many steatite cups, pieces of clay pottery, a well-finished pipe, and other utensils and ornaments have from time to time been unearthed here, a large and valuable collection of which, together with relics gathered from the pond site, and other places, is now in possession of David F. Lincoln. There is a well-preserved tradition that a wigwam was standing on this spot, and was occupied by an Indian family, as late as 1 745 .

Tradition locates the burial-place of this clan on the bluff at the north-easterly end of the pond ; and a number of skeletons were plowed up here by the early settlers. But the spot is too far removed from the main village site, to answer the Indian's idea of conveniency for burying his dead. Probably these interments were made to meet some exigency, as of a battle. And such a conclusion is in keeping with the fact that the position of this bluff, with its steep slopes, points it out as well suited for a strong defensive fort. And that it was so used, is indicated by the still visible remains of several " barns " on the terrace at its south-easterly foot. These Indian barns ox granaries - often mentioned in our descriptions of native village sites - were circular excavations in the ground, used for storing provisions, such as corn, nuts, and dried fish. The smaller ones were three to five feet in diameter by an equal depth ; the larger were ten to fifteen feet in diameter by five to ten feet deep. In digging, the sides were left slightly conon which their fire was built, and thus they were constantly ready for use. From repeated heating and cooling, they acquired the reddish, honey-combed appearance which makes it easy to distinguish them.

verging, and when the soil was tenacious, were not likely to cave in ; but in a sandy soil, it was common to line the sides with a coating of clay mortar, which was hardened by artificial heat, and is now often found unbroken. These barns were commonly set in the sloping sides of a knoll or bank, to secure dryness, and the better to shed rain. A considerable number were placed close together, in order that they might be protected from bears and other enemies by a picket. When filled, they were covered with poles and long grass, or brush and sods.

There are good reasons for believing that Wassamegin (Massasoit), the old sachem of the Wampanoags, came to Wekabaug village about the year 1657, and was the acknowledged ruler here till his death. The particulars of this advent will be given in its chronological order.

And circumstances clearly indicate that this was the residence and particular domain of Shattoockquis, the sachem who was in power and signed the deed to the English purchaser in 1665. That he remained here for the next ten years, is probable ; and if so, he Hved on friendly terms with his white neighbors, each race cultivating its own cornfields, and maintaining its own peculiar social and civil ideas and customs, without serious friction. It is also probable that he was one of the " old men " who had learned to respect his civilized friends, and was disposed to treat with Ephraim Curtis on his diplomatic mission to the Quabaugs in July, 1675 ; t'"*^^ ^^^ ^^^ overruled by the young braves, especially Mettawamppe, his co-ruler, who had " challenged some interest " in the lands here, and perhaps was his successor ; who certainly was the chosen leader of the hostile band that destroyed the town.

Qtiobagud, or Qiiobaciiti. The other large and permanent Quabaug village within our present town limits, which became noted in our annals, was located in the east part of Brookfield, at the south-easterly end of Quabaug pond,' and east of the canal connecting this with South pond. The distinctive remains of Indian occupancy are still plainly visible. The top of the bluff where the main part of the wigwams stood is still a waste of drifting sand, bare of vegetation, except where some white-pines have lately taken root, and the briers and sedges are maintaining a precarious foothold.^ Piles of fire-stones, showing the alternate action of fire and water, still indicate the spot in the centre of the wigwam, where the savages huddled for warmth in winter, and the

' The name Podunk, applied in modern times to this pond, is a misnomer; the word podunk meaning " place of burning," i.e., burning captives. It is rightly applied in the original deed of the town to a meadoiv.

2 The spots of drifting sand, which have remained a barren waste for two hundred years, are relied on as among the certain signs of permanent Indian village sites. The cause of the continued barrenness may have been, in part, the household fires. These were built as follows: a pit was dug, into which a bushel or two of small stones was put, on which the wood was placed. These stones becoming hot, would disseminate the heat through the surrounding earth for a considerable space, and thus burn out the life of the soil. Other causes, not well understood, may have contributed to the result.

Qua B Aug Village

squaws cooked the family meal. The spring for supplying water is in the ravine on the easterly side. The place of two large barns or granaries, used for storing provisions, can readily be identified. As far back as any one remembers, this vicinity abounded in Indian relics of various kinds. One or more skeletons have been unearthed ; and careful search would doubtless discover the village burial-place. Parts of aukooks (steatite ketdes), and specimens of baked clay pottery, and personal ornaments, point to the existence here of the higher refinements of savage society.

From intimations in his own account, and a more definite reference in Gookin's History, there is little doubt that this village is the Qiiobagud, where the apostle Eliot came to preach in 1649 ; and where, through his other visits, or more likely through the labors of the Christian Indians of Natick, so much of the " good seed of the word " was sown, that Gookin could write in 1674 : " Quobaug (the south-east part of Brookfield) is another Indian town which is coming on to receive the Gospel." Probably David, mentioned by Wheeler in his Narrative as one of the ^' chief sachems " here, ruled over this domain ; and through Mr. Eliot's influence, had taken a Christian name, and exhibited so much of Christian principle and honor, in his intercourse with the white planters, as to win the confidence of Sergt. Ayres, - only to turn traitor at the eleventh hour.

To the north of the pond, in the fork of Seven-mile and Five-mile brooks, there was formerly a steep conical hill, called Fort hill. The top showed signs of having been artificially levelled, and surrounded by a rude breastwork. It probably was originally an Indian fort, and may have been utilized by the whites, for a hke purpose, at a later period. The East Brookfield railroad-station and freight-yard now occupy much of the site, the earth having been removed for filUng.

The " little meadow at the north end of the pond Quaboag, which meadow is called Podunk," named in the Indian deed, is not easily identified, nor does reliable tradition point it out. The name signifies " place of burning." And in other localities where the same designation is given, it is known that captives taken in war, were tortured to death by fire. Probably such was the origin of the name here. And the use of the word gives us intimation that this clan of Quabaugs, at some date earlier than 1665, had an encounter with an enemy clan, was successful, brought home captives which were tied to stakes in this meadow, the fagots collected, the circle of begrimed braves formed around the victims, the death-dance performed, and amidst the fiend-like yells of savage exultation, the torch applied. But as History is silent in the matter, it is best that Imagination should not attempt to draw the sad picture.

Ashquoach. This important Quabaag village, often named in the early records, was situated on Indian hill, north of Great (now Sherman's) pond in Brimfield, and a short distance from the old Brookfield (now Warren) line. It was directly upon the great Indian trail from Woodstock (the Wabbaquasset country) to the Great Falls at Holyoke ; and but a little way south of the trail from Wekabaug to Springfield. Its location and abundant resources for food made it a favorite baitingplace for the native travellers, being a day's journey from Maanexit in Woodstock, and a like distance from Agawam, Chikuppe, and the Great Falls.

This Indian town comes into notice in 1648, and has a direct connection with our Brookfield history for the ensuing twenty-eight years. The sachem, first named, was Quacunquasit, who applied to the Massachusetts government for aid, as will appear in the letter of William Pynchon, to be hereafter inserted. Probably he is the same whose name is written Quaquequunset in 1661. The town was distinguished for its great cornfields, and its defensive fort ; and was known in the records as Qiiabaug Old Fort, till the Indians removed to their " new seat " on Menameseek river in the summer of 1675. The planting-ground was at the northeasterly, westerly, and southerly shores of the pond, where are many acres exactly suited for tillage with the native stone or shell hoes. Mr. /^«^/i(?«'i' statement is: "Ashquoach lies somewhat southward of our way to Brookfield, and about 23 miles from Springfield ; . . . the Indians have a great cornfield hard by on the southward side, and not far southward are more Indian cornfields."

Both written records and tradition concur in the representation that this was the stronghold of the tribe, and a permanent abiding-place. An examination of the ground shows that the fort must have been built on the highest point of the hill, where there is a rocky eminence, easily defended on all sides. The view in every direction was extensive, and a watchman could readily detect the approach of friend or foe. A spring of water - the essential adjunct of an Indian fort - comes out at the foot of the precipice. There is a good place for wigwams in the sheltered depressions of the south-easterly slope of the crown of the hill, and also lower down on a kind of shelf extending easterly from the spring for thirty or forty rods. Both this shelf and the depressions above appear to have remained nearly bare of any new growth of trees, till a comparatively recent period - a fact common to Indian wigwam sites.

The messengers and agents sent by the English authorities to the Quabaugs, often mention their stop at Quabaug Old Fort. And the place is memorable as the refuge of King Philip, Aug. 5, 1675, when on his flight from Pocasset, with a handful of followers. It was surmised that he intended to remain here to recruit ; but finding that the warriors had gone, leaving behind only the squaws and old men, and that the English troops were astir at Springfield, he went the next day (Friday, Aug. 6 - wrongly given by most writers as Aug. 5) to the new Quabaug settlement, eighteen miles to the northward, on Menameseek river.

There was another Ashquoach, which is named in the Indian deed of 1665, as being on the line between the head of Naltaug brook and Quabaug pond. This description would place it at the extreme southern point of West Brookfield. Wliitney, History of Western, says : " There have been some vestiges of the aboriginals discovered on an extensive hill in the easterly part of this town, which was taken from Brookfield. On ploughing the ground a few years since, large beds of clam-shells were discovered under the soil, which appeared to be placed at equal distances from each other ; these, together with Indian utensils found there, prove that this was a place of their resort and dwelling." No additional account of this wigwam site has been found ; nor has the writer been able to identify the spot where the remains were exhumed.

Quassuck. According to a letter written by William Pynchon in 1644, there was a small cluster of Indian wigwams and a cornfield in Sturbridge, a little way south of Quassuck pond (now called Lead-mine pond), close to the place where the ore was afterwards worked. The ruling sachem then was Namaswhat.

Futikookiippog. A larger village of the Quabaugs was situated on the south bank of the Quinebaug river, near the present line between Sturbridge and Brimfield. The hill here, called Indian-field hill, and sometimes Janes's hill, had large planting-fields, and from the signs observed in later times, was evidently a permanent dwelling-place of the natives. Many relics, of various kinds, have been found here. From the location and other circumstances, it is natural to conclude that this was the residence of the sachems Wattalloowekin and Nakin, who, in 1655, sold one thousand acres of their land, including this village site, to the apostle Eliot - a transaction to be given in detail in its proper place. In 1675, the ruling sachem here was Conkganasco (Konkewasco), who signed a treaty of peace June 24, and July 16 was found at Menameset, as one of the hostile leaders, so soon to fall upon the Brookfield settlers.

Another Quabaug village is thus described by Mrs. Eunice P. Cutter of Warren : " There was an Indian settlement at the eastern base of Colonel's mountain in the north-west part of Warren, near the townfarm house. It was in a sunny spot, sheltered by hills on the west, north-west and east. Two cool springs supplied never-failing water. Three trails led from the village - one to the Menameseek river for salmon (this was the English bridle-path to Hadley) ; one over Coy's hill to Wekabaug pond for bass and pickerel ; and the third down

Blackmar brook, and across Quabaug river, to intersect tlie old trail to Springfield. An Indian's lodge was standing here as late as 1746, at which date their burial-place was well defined. Stone utensils, arrow and spear points were then abundant in the soil."

Besides these clearly marked village sites, there are other places where single wigwams or small clusters were pitched, and occupied for a longer or shorter period. One such site was at " Indian plain," on the Edmands place, near Horse-pond brook. Appearances indicate that a large wigwam had stood here for a long time. There is a cool living spring in the swale hard by. When Samuel Edmands plowed this field for the first time, eighty years ago, his oxen sank into a deep bed of ashes on the north-easterly side of the lot.

The Rock House, in the north-west of VV^est Brookfield, has a probable connection with our Indian history. It is a remarkable, craggy ledge of rock left by the old upheaval, with an overhanging roof, fifteen feet of the outer edge of which broke off, and now stands on end, leaving a covered space sufficient to shelter a hundred persons. There is a tradition that this place was used by the Indians as a winter resort and stronghold.

Removal to Menameset. In the latter part of June, or first of July (after June 25), 1675, the able-bodied warriors of these Quabaug clans suddenly left their ancestral towns, and concentrated at the " Menameseek country," on the old Nashaway trail, in the north part of New Braintree, and adjacent part of Barre. As is evident from the letter of William Pynchon, dated 1648, the Quabaugs then claimed the territory, and had a settlement on Ware (Menameseek ') river. Their removal, then, was neither a relinquishment of old, nor an acquirement of new lands ; but a change of base, in order to meet the necessities of the new alliance, offensive and defensive, which the tribe had made with the Nashaways and Nipnets. The purpose and results of this alliance will appear when we come to King Philip's war.

As appears from contemporary history, our tribe built three towns on the easterly bank of Ware river, to each of which, according to Indian etymology, the name Menameset was applied. Perhaps the three leading Quabaug clans built each its own village. Reliable tradition has preserved a knowledge of the site of the lower of these towns. It was on "an island," i.e., a plot of dry land surrounded by wet swamp, on

' The Indian name of this stream signifies " great fishing basket," or " fishing wier " (pronounced ware) ; and their village or villages, built on the banks, would be Men-a-me-seek-et - contracted, Menameset; now more often written Meminimisset, or Wenimlsset. The natives had several of these great fishing wiers in this river; and some of them remained in place, up to the time when the Factories were established at Ware Village and Gilbertville.

Menameset Towns

the easterly side of Wenimisset brook in New Braintree, and contained four or five acres. The highest part of the island was about twenty rods from Ware river ; the old turnpike road from Furnace village through Oakham, crosses it, leaving one-fourth on the northerly and three-fourths on the southerly side of said road. Afr. Jiidd, the careful investigator, and reliable historian, visited the place and identified the island, in 1854. Ephraim Curtis, who came hither with a message from the governor in the middle of July, 1675, has left an interesting account of his visit, and description of the island. This was not, as some affirm, the Indian's " stronghold," but was the least defensible of the three towns ; and the absence of characteristic " remains " indicates that its occupation was less permanent. It will come into notice again, when we give an account of the ambushment of Capt. Wheeler.

The two upper Menameset town sites have remained practically unknown to local historians - notwithstanding the fact that the exact statements of the two guides, George Memicho and James Quanapohit, which are preserved in the State Archives, furnish the necessary clews, and Mrs. Rowlandson's Narrative is quite specific in data for fixing the most northerly site. Guided by these historical memoranda, the writer has made careful and repeated explorations of the valley from Barre Plains to the Old Furnace, and has discovered two spots which correspond to the estimated distances from known points, given by the guides above named ; which spots exactly meet the I'equii'ef/ienis of Indian village sites ; and at both of which sufficient " remains " were found, to leave no doubt that they are the two long over-looked Quabaug town sites.'

Going up stream from the mouth of Wenimisset brook, and distant about one mile, is what I call the second Menameset town.- The site is nearly opposite the White paper-mill. Extending from the Perez Cobb cemetery northerly, is a high plain containing about forty acres, the surface of which is some thirty-five feet above the river level. It is evident that in the olden time, a thick swamp enclosed this plain on the south, east, and north, while the river ran on the west. Back of the plain, and half-way down to the water level is a terrace, where a large village of wigwams could be set up, and where they would be effectually screened from observation by the fringe of hemlocks and pines growing on the ed^e of the bluff. Back of this terrace and next the river is a strip of low ground, partly sandy ridge and partly swamp. In this dry ridge can still be seen the remains of fifteen Indian "barns," showing

' All these places answer well to a description given Nov. 9, 1675, in a letter from the Massachusetts Council to Capt. Appleton: The enemy . . . stay in " piney and cedar swamps with dry knolls or islands in them, fit for their purpose to lurk in, and lay up their provisions, and hide their squas and children."

this to have been an important store-town. The site, as a place of security and conceahnent, could hardly be excelled - the slight fall in the river here giving a ready fordway for escape, in case of surprisal.

The third of the Indian towns known as Menameset, was up the river a distance of about two miles, on the Capt. Woodbury farm, in Barre Plains. The stream here makes a sharp turn, so as to form a double ox-bow. Within the lower bend is enclosed eight or nine acres of land, comprising above two acres of good cornfield, at near the water level, and the rest a bluff or high plain, bordered on all sides by steep slopes, which could be easily defended. A depression (perhaps originally a broad ditch dug for security, and now partly filled by successive plowings, and washings by the rains) crosses the bluff, back of which is a couple of acres, well suited for wigwam sites. At the extreme point in the bend of the river is an elevation, now well wooded, where a strong stockade could have been erected. Towards the westerly foot of this elevation are the remains of six or eight Indian " barns." And at several points on the bluff, and in the cornfield, an abundance of fire-stones are found, which prove the former existence here of a large number of Indian wigwams, and a somewhat permanent residence.

This site corresponds in distance, both from Quabaug Old Fort, and Lancaster, with the official report of Quanapohit ; and is capacious enough to accommodate the large numbers of natives specified in said report as then gathered at " Menemesseg." It also meets the requirements, as to distance from Lancaster and Bacquag, given in Mrs. Rowlandson's Narrative, as the place where she was held a captive, Feb. 12-28, 1676; is " about six miles off" from the small Indian town of Nichewaug ; and it would be the first of the Menameset towns to be reached by the band of whooping savages, as they returned with English scalps and plunder, from their assault on Medfield, Feb. 21, 1675-6.'

History of the Quabaugs. The foregoing detailed description of their chief towns, will enable the reader to understand the frequent topographical references made in succeeding pages of this and the next chapter.

The facts now to be narrated, concerning the internal affairs of Quabaug, and the relation of the tribe to other Indian tribes, and to the Massachusetts authorities, will be mainly given in the official documents of the time. This method is chosen, because many of these papers have not been accessible to the public : because the more important ones now in print are defective translations, rather than accurate copies of the originals in the State Archives : and because all of them, in addition to their intrinsic historical value, throw light upon contemporary events, by incidentally disclosing the meaning of actions, as well as the motives and ulterior plans of the actors.

1647. - In 1647, three Indians who lived near Quabaug Old Fort, were murdered by a party of marauding Naunotuks, aided by one or two Maquas. The next spring, a murderous raid was made on an out-settlement of the Quabaugs, located on the Ware river, probably in the town of Barre, and five Indians killed, and their wigwams robbed. News of this massacre was brought to Quabaug by an Indian that escaped. And steps were immediately taken by Quacunquasit, to send an account of the affair to the Governor at Boston, and ask for aid to apprehend the murderers. In response, the Court of Assistants at its May session, " sent twenty men to Nashaway to enquire of the truth of the matter, and to apprehend the murderers if they could be found ; but being fled to Narraganset, they returned, and informed us certainly of the persons murdered, and of the actors, etc." [ Winthrofs Journal, II. 397.]

Failing in this attempt, the Quabaug sachem sent two of his trusty Indians to Cutshamakin, a distinguished Wampanoag, living at Dorchester Mills, and under-sachem to Massasoit. A message was also sent to the apostle EHot, who had the confidence of Cutshamakin. The mission prospered ; and the Indian messengers not only gained the ear of the Dorchester sachem and Mr. Eliot, but offered to undertake the apprehension of some of the Naunotuk murderers. These counsels prevailed with the Magistrates at Boston ; and " we gave them commissions, and withal wrote to Mr. Pynchon to assist them, etc. (they living near Springfield)." S^Wlnthrof s yoiimal.']

William Pynchon was an early friend and associate of Gov. Winthrop ; was one of the founders of Roxbury, where he was a magistrate and treasurer. He was the father of Springfield, and was holding the office of Assistant ; he was a man of affairs, whose opinions would naturally have a controlling influence with the Magistrates. His letter of reply to the Governor shows that^he was well informed in the news of the day ; was politic ; was shrewd in the use of technicalities ; and was bound to save Springfield from possible harm, even if little Quabaug was left unavenged. This letter, as printed in Savage's edition of Winthrop's Journal, contains numerous and misleading errors. The following copy, made by Henry E. Waite, is believed to be an exact transcript of the original in the State Archives.

Sir. I received a letter from you with ye hands of 4 magistrates more to it, to assist two Indians of Quabaug with men &c, for the app>"hending of 3 murtherers at Naunotuk w^h is about 1 5 miles from our Towne up ye River.

These Indians of Ouabauge have dealt subtilly in getting Cutshamoquin to get Mr Eliot to be their medeator to you for y helpe : The principall ArgQt wch Mr Eliot doth use to move you is, that ye murthered are y subjectes : & thereuppon ye warrant from the Court runns that ye said Indians may charge eather Indians or English to assist them to app^hend them at Naunotak, i. bee [because] ye murthered are y subjects & 2ly bee tiie murtherers are w'hin y Jurisdiction.

1 grant they are all w^hin ye line of y^ pattent, but yet you cannot saythat therefore they are yr subjects nor yet within y Jurisdiction vntill they have fully subjected themselves to yr government (w^h I know they have not) & vntill you have bought their land: vntill this be done they must be esteemed as an Independant free people, & so they of Naunotak do all account themselves, & doubtless w^h ever goes w'h strength of men to disturb their peace at Naunotuk they will take it for no other than a hostile action : witness their deadly fewd' w^h they have & do beare to yi.Monaheganicks 2 ever since they took Sewoquasse 3 from them the last yere : w^h I doubt will be the ground of a further dangerous war : 4 for I heare that Pacomtuk will p^ue the Quarrel! & Joyne w^h ye Indians of the duch River against but the Naricanset must begin the war, and as I heare eather yesterday or this day is like to be ye day of fight between tiem & ye Naricanset: though thes River Indians will delay their tyme till the tyme that corne begins to be ripe : but now they are making of a very large & a strong forte.

But to returne to ye case of ye murthered: The first 3 that were murthered the last yere lived about 6 or 7 miles on this side Quabaug nerer us, 5 & the murtherers of them are known as they affirm : & there are several! Smale Sachims of Quabaug, & in all neer places there are other smale Sachims no one Sachim doth Rule all: & one of these petti Sachims hath made friendship w^h Cutshamoquin & that makes Cushamokin cale them his subjects, but I believe they will stick no longer to him than the sunn shines uppon him.

The last 5 that were killed this Spring (w'h one more that escaped) lived in ye midway between Quabaug & Nashaway, & yet not p^perly belonging to eather place, but liveing as newters, <& yet bee they were somewhat neere neighbors to both places, therefore both places do desyre y help against the murtherers. The murtherers of these 5 are not known : but bee the

' This " deadly fewd " was the war between the Narragansets and Mohegans, in which the English took bides with the latter. And when Sequasson, a Narraganset chieftain, for an alleged conspiracy, had put himself under the protection of the Pacomptucks, Uncas with a party of Mohegans, marched up the river and captured Sequasson by a night surprise, and took him to Hartford. On trial, he was acquitted; and at the date of this letter was probably living at Waranoco (Westfield).

"- This war, then brewing, was an alliance formed by the Narragansets, Pacomptucks, and Mohawks, who were to descend upon the Mohegans, and destroy the tribe, and take revenge on Uncas. As Uncas was in league with the English, they would become involved in the strife and its consequences. The day this letter was written was the one set for opening the campaign.

William Pynchon'S Letter To Governor

murtherers of the first 3 are known therefore they suppose they are the same men : but the man that is escaped saith that if he can see their faces he doth know their faces though he knows not their names.

Mr Eliot also writ a letter to me to stir me up to assist ye said Indians that came from you : i. he urgeih me w^h a comand of god to make inquisition for blood, & 2'y wth a p mise TJiey shall Jieare &^ Feare Etc : & hence he concludes that there is no feare of a war to pceed from this dealing.

If ye first positions can be made good, namely that ye murthered were y^ subjects & 2lythat ye murtherers were w'hin y iurisdiction ; then M^ Eliots exhortation to me had been seasonable, or else not.

But yet notw'hstanding, I have not declined ye businesse, but have bethought myself how to get it effected in the best manner: & therefore I advised ye Quabaug Indians to stay vntill Nippunsait returned from Sowoquasses house, w^h I expected w'hin 2 dayes, but he came not till the 3d day: then we had a private conference & I ordered my speech thus to him, that I had red letters from you that whereas Chickwallop desyred Cutshamokin to appoint a meeting at Quabauge, it was yr desyre that ye meeting might be at Boston, that you might understand the businesse as well as ye Indian Sachims, & that you would take it kindly if he would talk w^h the Naunotuk Sachims to apprehend the 3 murtherers, & that they would send some to [be] at ye meeting at Boston.

Thereuppon Quacunquasit, one of ye Sachims of Quabauge, & Nippunsait & others discoursed a long tyme how to effect this matter, & who to app^hend in the first place. But neether I nor my son for want of language could understand their discourse : but in conclusion they explained unto us what they had concluded on, namely, to take two of ye 4 that were at Naunotuk : but they thought it best not to medle w'h Wottowon & Reskeshonege bee they were of Pamshads kindred who is a maqua Sachim : but Nippunsait said he would tell him that they should live, hoping he would further them in the taking of the Rest: & all the Indians consented to this motion as ye most fesible & likly way to attain their ends in the Rest : the other two namely Wawhilam & his brother : Nippunsait hath undertaken by some wile or other to bringe them to my howse in a peacable way, & then he will leave to me to app^hend them & so to send y^ to you : & this they thought might be effected about 10 or 12 dayes after this conclusion was made, w^h was made 2 dayes before ye date of this letter.

But I must confess I look uppon this service in sending them to you as a difficult & troublesome service : for i. I have no prison to keep them safe, & 2ly it will occasion great resort of Indians to my house to see what I will do wth them, & 317 we shall want men : & I pceive that the Indians are afraid to medle w'h them unlesse they can mak the English the principall in the business.

If ye Lord should let loose the reynes to their malice, I mean to their friends & Abettors, it may be of ill Consequence to ye English that intermedle in their matters by a voluntary rather [than] by a necessary calinge, for they & their friends stand uppon their inocency, & in that respect they threaten to be avenged on such as lay any hands uppon them :

& our place is more obnoxtious to their malice than the Bay by farr, especially the Naunotuk Indians are desperate Spirites, for they have their dependance on the Mowhoaks or maquas who are the Terror of all Indians.

my advise therefor is, that you will as much as may be take the matter from vs : wch may thus be effected : send 3 or 4 men to our plantation ' w'h all speed that may lie together here, eather at the ordinary, or at some other hovvse, till the said p ties be brought to me : if they be not brought before they come : they may improve their tyme here by doing some work : & if there be not a sufficient number of Indians to goe with them to carry them safe : I may appoint more men that y^ businesse may not faile for want of a good guard.

let thes psons [that] march here [have] a charge to be private & silent in the business till they see it effected : you may send thes men away on the 2d day : if the Indians should mak an escape & not be taken, yet the charge of 3 or 4 men in so weighty a business for the faierer carrieing of it on, is not to be stood uppon : If they be taken before they come I will set a guard uppon them for 2 or 3 dayes in hope you will send them w'h as much speed as may be : Indeed there should not be a dayes delay after they come to my howse; it will p^vent the tumult of Indians, & p vent their waylaying: if thes two be once app>"hended & put to death then they have determined the death of 6 more neer Ouabaug: & only the former two to live.

thus have I as briefly as I can (though abruptly) related the substance of ye matter. I intreat you that thes men may cale to my son davis 2 for a letter before they come away: they must be active men & leight of foote, for the better countenancing of the businesse: I shall ere long send you further intelligence about this Pacomtuk businesse w'h ye Monaheganicks. the Lord is able to divert their intentions : though it is to be suspected it is intended for ye vtter ruine of ye monaheganicks, & the English will I feare be imbroyled in the war:

Upon readinge this Ire and conference w'h M"" Elyott, I give my advise (wch you require) for a pawse in the busines before wee proceede any further in it.

Advice Of Deputy Governor

1. For that the ground and warrant of our medlinge in it is by this Ire taken away : it being denyed that the murthered were our subiects, or the murtherers w hin our Jurisdiccon.

2. If the murtherers should be apprehended and brought to us, the p ty escapeing is for ought wee yet know all the witnes against them, hee affirminge hee knows their faces, w<=h yet is doubtfull, the murder beinge done in the night.

3. It is like in Mr Pinchons oppinon to draw a warr upon us, wch if (as hee saith) it be provoked by vs voluntarily, not necessaryly, wee shall incurr blame at home and w'h our confederate English, and want helpe from heaven in it, and comfort in prosecuting it.

I thinck a messinger would be dispatched to M"" Pinchon, to lett such Indians loose if any should be apprehended, w^h I thinck will not be, they whoe have promised not beinge like to doe it, or if Mr Pinchon see cause to doe otherwise to leave it to him.

The following note in IVinthrop's Jotrmal, gives the final upshot of the matter : " Whereupon the Gov wrote back personally to Mr. Pynchon, that then he should proceed no further, but send back the Indians, etc."

In addition to its historical relation to the Quabaugs, and other neighboring tribes, this letter gives us an insight into the Indian character, as exemplified when the English first came to the country, and before contact of races had modified natural traits. Perhaps the expressive word sanguinary best describes the native disposition. They were fond of war ; were ready to make and break alliances ; revengeful ; given to theft and murder, when the strong could assault the weak ; and artful to cover their tracks. Mr. Pynchon's reasoning also affords an insight into the views entertained by the first white comers as to the rights and privileges of the native dwellers. It was held that the Indian had ownership in the lands he occupied, till he voluntarily sold them ; and he was free and independent till he formally submitted to the English authorities. This letter also confirms the opinion heretofore expressed in these pages, that the Quabaugs, Naunotuks, and other River tribes were regarded and treated as distinct sovereignties, rather than allied clans, except in cases where self-interest prompted an alliance.