The snow was piled high against the stockade surrounding the tiny western Massachusetts settlement of Deerfield as its small body of residents slept comfortably in their beds.
Dawn was about to break on the morning of Tuesday, February 29, 1704. But, life as the Massachusetts Bay Colony knew it, was about to change. For everyone. Forever.
In the pre-dawn hours, an army of approximately 250 French soldiers and Huron Indians waited outside the fort. The snow was piled so high against the northwestern palisade invaders could walk up its banks and drop silently into the village. Perhaps, it was a dog's keen awareness that signalled the arrival of the uninvited enemy.
Soon, bedlam was everywhere. The French and Indians dropped on the fort without warning, setting fire to the houses in the small community, killing any defenders who responded to the onslaught and quickly rounding up the able-bodied women and children who survived the initial onslaught.
It all happened so quickly that in an hour's time the Canadian-based war party was headed back to Montreal; taking with it more than a hundred captives, leaving behind a burning village and another hundred dead.
Was it a massacre? Or, was it a raid? The debate has been going on from both sides of the border for more than 300 years.
Authoress Danielle Skjelver, who has captured the story of the epic battle in her historical novel, "MASSACRE, Daughter of War," suggests: "Though it was not my aim, this book became a study of the word 'massacre,' for what the First Nations say is true. When white people slaughter hundreds of Indians, it is a battle. When Indians do the same, it is a massacre."
Most of the women and children taken prisoner survived -- first the slaughter at the fort and the killing of their loved ones, then the march over several hundred miles of icy, snow crusted trails across the wilderness of Massachusetts, Vermont and New York to the Indian villages where they would live out their lives.
It is called the "Deerfield Massacre" in the U.S. and is celebrated with great pomp and circumstance among descendants of its original victims. A memorial observance each year commemorates the ill-fated memory of the tragic day.
Among the celebrated children taken prisoner were Abigail Nims and Josiah Rising. Abigail was 3 years old when she and her mother, Mary, were captured. Josiah, the son of a neighbor who regularly played with young Abigail, was 9.
Before Mary died on the march, she extracted a promise from Josiah: "My lad, you have ever been to me as one of my own. The end for me draws nigh. Promise me, Josiah Rising, that you will shield my baby as far as in you lies."
Josiah promised. For a while, Abigail cried for her mother and, since only Josiah could quiet her, the Indians let them travel together. As a result, they were taken to the same encampment in Canada, and eventually married, receiving a large land grant from the Indians and raising a family of eight children.
Representatives carried on a long-term negotiation with the Indians to ransom the captives, but Abigail and Josiah resisted their efforts, preferring the soft-spoken mannerisms of the Catholic missionaries in Canada to what they remembered of the driven teachings of the Protestant ministers in Massachusetts.
The story of Abigail and Josiah has become a featured part of the Deerfield story and the Nims family has remained a close-knit heritage of its own throughout history.
The savagry of the assault, fought 75 years before the American Revolution, was one of the great wars of the colonial era. In it, England wrested control of most of France's influence in the Americas. It was the last time the British and Americans fought side-by-side against another foreign power.
Benoni Stebbins, who was among the pioneer settlers killed in the raid at Deerfield, was the father of Benjamin Stebbins. Benjamin married Sarah Mead, the daughter of Joseph Mead II and Sarah Reynolds, on August 14, 1718.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Danielle Skjelver's book, "MASSSACRE, Daughter of War, " is available through both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Amazon has been temporarily sold out, but now has copies of the revised paperback edition. Both stores offerdiscounted prices between $10 and $13.50 (regularly $15.00). The book is 286 pages. A portion of profits are donated to "The South Asia Earthquake Effort.")
Too, too many Williams!
By VANCE MEAD
Once before, I complained there were too many William Meads in Maryland. But, there were also a few in New England.
We know of William Mead of Stamford, however, according to James Savage's genealogical dictionary, there are two more in Massachusetts -- one in Gloucester and another in Roxbury.
Apparently, one William moved from Gloucester to New London County of Connecticut in the 1650s; the other, reportedly, lived in Roxbury in the 1680s. Fortunately, for keepers of the family records, they were one and the same person.
This William was born about 1615 and his surname was spelled either Mead or Meades. He lived in Gloucester as early as 1639 and was a selectman in 1647 and a constable in 1648. In March 1651, together with other members of the Cape Ann Company of Gloucester, he relocated to New London. William and his wife, Rebecca (surname not given), had a daughter, Hannah, born in New London in August 1655.
William was made a freeman in New London in 1669 and was a witness to a deed of James Avery in Stonington in New London County in 1677. Four years later, he sold his farm in to James Willett. The farm was located east of the Thames River in Groton, Conn., just across from New London.
William died in Roxbury in 1683, apparently having moved there shortly after the sale of his property in New London. According to his will, his wife was Rebecca, his brother was Richard and his daughter was Hannah, who married Joseph Stanton of Stonington in 1673. William described his son-in-law as "undutiful," which might explain why he had moved to Roxbury, where his brother lived.
Richard also was a freeman in Roxbury in 1665. His son, Richard Jr., was a mariner who died before his father. Richard Sr. married a second wife, Mary, in 1678.
The following was written by William Leland and first published in the Norfolk County Journal on Sept. 26, 1857:
"William Mead was a worthy inhabitant of Roxbury. He owned but a single acre of land, and on this his dwelling house stood, and without much doubt it was all the land he ever owned. He died in 1683. He was, according to his ability, a benefactor of the Grammar School in Roxbury, giving it all his land, which though then valued at but 40 pounds, has proved a valuable gift to posterity. To the older inhabitants of Roxbury, it would be unnecessary to point out the locality of "Mead's Orchard," but to the younger it may be worth while to say that it is that lot of land just above St. James Street, at the corner of Walnut and Warren Streets.
"William Mead in his will dated Oct. 29, 1683, allowed four days afterwards, says, 'I give to my dearly and well beloved wife Rebecca, one half of my whole estate, willing the whole of my little tenement by me possessed in Roxbury unto her, as part of the half of my estate bequeathed to her, as also all my movables. All the aforesaid little tenement, in case my wife see good to marry, I give unto the Free School of the town of Roxbury, for the encouragement of learning; and in case my well beloved wife marry not, my will is, that after her decease, the whole above mentioned tenement shall be for the use and benefit of the school, and be managed by the Feoffees for the best advantage.'
"He left but a small property. He had no son, and his only daughter, the wife of Joseph Stanton, and their only child, Hannah, were both dead at the date of the will. Hence, no one can claim descent from William Mead. Rebecca Mead survived her husband but a short time, though his language implies she was in good health. Her will bears date of Nov. 5, 1683, just a week later than her husband's, and was proved November 15th following.
"William Mead, though he gave his son-in-law half of his small estate, speaks of him as "undufiful," but uses no harsh language.
"The widow gave small pecuniary legacies and articles of clothing to Goodwife Streeter of Muddy River, to Goodwife Holland of Watertown, and to Goodwife Welch, and others, doubtless her personal friends. She did not forget her brothers, and following a good example, she bequeathed 'to encourage learning,' seven pounds to Jamaica Plain School, for the purchase of land.
"There is something touching in these little gifts of William and Rebecca Mead, gleaming forth from these early times; and now when we call to mind the rich endowment of a Bell, let us not forget William Mead's little orchard. He gave it for the cause of education. It was all the land he had."
The Roxbury Grammar School was founded in 1645 and is still in existence today.
(SOURCES: James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England; The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776; Charles Knapp Dillaway, A history of the Grammar school, or, The Free Schoole of 1645 in Roxburie; New London Vital Statistics from the Collated Copy from the Original Records; D. Hamilton Hurd, History of New London County, Connecticut.)
Between
Us ...
HELEN AND I spent Christmas Eve at the home of our youngest daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Dave, in nearby Chanhassen, Minn. While Dave helped their children, 10-year-old Jenna and 8-year-old Calvin, clean up wrapping paper from the presents which had adorned the tree just a few moments earlier, our conversation changed to the subject of Christmases Past.
“What did you and mom do differently to celebrate Christmas in the olden days?” Lisa asked.
Now, first of all, I have to explain something about Lisa. She has shown a scant interest in genealogy and has a fairly good beginning on her own family tree. Compared to our other three children, she’s far ahead as my heir apparent. But, her impression of the “olden days” only goes back to the time before we had a color television set in our living room.
As I let my mind wander a bit before answering her question, I thought about my own childhood days. The six-mile journey in the early 1930s from our home in Alexandria to my grandparents’ 100-year-old pioneer farm in central Minnesota was one of the longest trips we ever made.
For one thing, our Model-A Ford did not have a heater in it and, before we could go anywhere in the wintertime, we had to load up enough blankets to keep us warm. Hot dishes were popular, but my mother had trouble keeping hers from getting cold as my dad maneuvered the car between the frozen ruts along the country road. Sometimes, it seemed the hot dish was wrapped in as many blankets as we were.
* * * *
I ONCE HEARD someone remark the best thing about the good old days is that they aren’t here anymore. Not necessarily true. But, it is fun to look back and recall the “inconveniences” we had and how we coped with them.
When we walked from one room to another, we didn’t reach for a switch to turn on a light. We carried it with us in a kerosene or oil lamp. We always tried to keep an extra pail of water near the sink so we wouldn’t have to go out in the cold to get it. Getting to the “outhouse” was often a group effort. Two or three of us would make the trek together, trying to follow the leader by walking in single-file through drifted snow while we attempted to step in somebody else’s footsteps on the 100-feet or so we had to negotiate.
The table our grandparents prepared for us was as sumptuous as anything we have today, except all the food was grown in the garden or raised on the farm. But, there was no shortage of quantity, quality or variety. From the garden, we had a selection of peas, beans, carrots, corn, squash, beets, Irish and sweet potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, watermelon and cantaloupe. For meat, we could make our choice from beef, pork, chicken, turkey or fish.
Skillfully using the large range in her kitchen, my grandmother began baking cookies and making fruit cake the day after Thanksgiving so she would have enough and they would be properly seasoned to our taste. She waited until the day before Christmas to make the mince meat and pumpkin pies to be certain they would be fresh.
* * * *
I WAS an only child, so it was great fun to play with my cousins and see my aunts and uncles on occasions such as this. Because of the travel, we always stayed overnight and the celebration of Christmas was a two- or three-day festivity. We exchanged presents on Christmas Eve, then dutifully went to bed so Santa Claus could have the house to himself when he made his rounds. My grandparents had a large house, originally built in 1892 and enlarged at least a couple of times. There were enough bedrooms for the adults, but we often slept on couches or in chairs placed end-to-end.
Generally, our presents were pre-determined, according to need. Adults gave us clothing, while cousins exchanged games and toys. There always was a special toy from our parents. My earliest recollection of Christmas was the year by dad gave me a mechanical train. It ran on an oval track and he set me inside the circle to watch it go round and round, much to my delight.
Yes, much was different 75 years ago. But, it was still a time we cherished and looked forward to with just as much anticipation as our children and grandchildren do today.
With that in mind, we take this opportunity to extend each of you our best wishes for a year of peace, love and happiness in 2006!
Lee Meade, Publisher and Editor
This, that & other things ...
Historic Deerfield Museum
By LEE MEADE
THE FINEST historical website I have ever seen is the result of a collaboration between Amherst University and the Deerfield Museum. You can view it at: http://www.1704.deerfield.history.museum/.
If you already have read Danielle Skjelver’s first novel, “MASSACRE – Daughter of War,” or if it’s still on your shopping list as a post-Christmas item, you will want to check out the website.
I ‘m not that easily impressed and don’t usually get as fired up about anything as I have about Deerfield. It was an event of its own great significance, but has been aided by a Mead family connection.
Sarah Mead, daughter of Joseph Mead II, grand-daughter of Joseph Mead I and great, grand-daughter of William Mead of Stamford, married Benjamin Stebbins, whose own father, Benomi, lost his life in defense of Deerfield. Benomi’s cabin was just inside the northwest gate of the stockade, where it was an easy mark for the attacking Indians.
Ironically, Benjamin, his mother and siblings were not at Deerfield on February 29, 1704, the date of the raid, and were spared their father’s fate. They may have been in nearby Hadley, Mass.
But, the award-winning website was carefully crafted and put together without bias to tell all sides of the story. It explains the bitter rivalry between the British and French colonial armies, along with their efforts to build strong military relationships among the Indian tribes. It also tells of the unique character of the Indians, who burned the village and killed its men on the one hand and looked after the care and comfort of the captives on the other.
Producers of the biography have combined text, audio and visual treatments of events leading up to the assault at Deerfield, through the forced march to Canada and efforts to ransom the captives.
Clicking the link (in blue) above will take you directly to the website so you will be able to judge for yourself.
BOAT ACCIDENT KILLS MEAD DESCENDANT
A Mead descendant was among the casualties of the boat accident at Lake George, N.Y., last summer.
William Nadvornik, a third great grandson of Rachel Mead (June 1776-12 May 1845), and his wife, Margaret, were killed when their tour boat capsized.
William’s line of descent was through William Mead of Stamford, John I, Jonathan I, Jonathan II and Jonathan III. Rachel married Ebenezer Hartwell in 1795 in North Norwich, Chenango County, N.Y. Rachel died while visiting family in Shiawassee County.
The Mead Research Group had its first reunion at Lake George just a couple of months before the accident.
* * * *
IT’S TIME TO PAY OUR DUES
WHEN WE STARTED publishing the Mead-e Family Tree in April 2003, we decided it would be important to archive past issues of the quarterly newsletter for others to read.
Since all of our writers and photographers are volunteers and contribute their articles and pictures without pay, archiving also is the most expensive part of the cost of producing the newsletter.
The good news is, thanks to contributions you have made during the year, we are still solvent. The newsletter will continue into the immediate future.
To those of you who remembered us in your Christmas giving, your donations were very much appreciated. All of the on-going expenses of publishing the Mead-e Family Tree are paid from donations.
You can make contributions by sending your check to: Mead-e Family Tree, 8505 Flying Cloud Drive, Apt. 221, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.
* * * *
RECORD NUMBER OF "HITS" FOR MEAD-E FAMILY TREE
Our new counter which tabulates the number of readers for the Mead-e Family Tree was 65,062 for the seven months from June through December. The total for the month of December was 8,058.
Eddie Hines, right, is a direct descendant of the family of Abigail Nims of Deerfield, Mass. He lives in St. Paul, Minn., with his wife, Jean.
