Post by benotforgot on Aug 11, 2008 20:15:33 GMT -6
On this date in our family history . . . the 11th day of August . . . in the year 1676 . . . Thomas Brackett is killed by Indians at Old Falmouth in Maine . . . this Thomas Brackett is a 9th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history website . . .
By James Otis Kaler, James Otis
THE ATTACK ON CASCO NECK.
On the 9th of August, 1676, a well-known Indian named Simon, who had been imprisoned at Dover awaiting his trial on the charge of murder, appeared at the farm-house of Anthony Brackett [brother of Thomas], and was accused by him of having stolen a cow a few days previous. Simon denied the charge, but promised to bring the culprits to Mr. Brackett's home on the third day. Agreeably to the promise he came, accompanied by five other Indians, and was admitted to the house by Mr. Brackett himself, who had no suspicion that mischief was intended. Then began the work of murder, and the settlement was alarmed.
Regarding this attack by the savages, there is in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a letter from Thaddeus Clark, written in the year 1676, to his mother in Boston.
In this letter the unfortunate man says ::
THE ISLAND REFUGEES.
At this time the Reverend George Burroughs was preaching on Casco Neck, where was the stockade house known as the Munjoy garrison.
Immediately the alarm was given the minister gathered a portion of his little flock and fled with them for a refuge to the rude fort. The shelter had no more than been reached when Thomas Pike, known as a Purpooducker because of living on that side of Cape Elizabeth which was called Purpooduck, came in at full speed, and gave in breathless haste the following report ::
"The wives of Corbin and Durham, and Atwell's children, escaped in a canoe, but were pursued and captured. Constable Ross, his wife and children are captured, and John Murphy and Isaac Wakely are dead and scalped. Thomas Brackett was shot down, and his wife and children are prisoners. Nathaniel Mitton [brother-in-law of Thomas] was tomahawked almost before he could speak."
Parson Burroughs soon decided that it would be folly to attempt to hold the stockade with his little company of women and children; for, counting himself, there were but three men to defend them all, and flight was resolved upon.
The savages were yet engaged in their bloody orgy near the ruins of the Brackett home, when the clergyman succeeded in taking his flock across to Purpooduck Point; for from the foot of India Street to the Point was the regular ferry, and a landing could not be made at any other place nearer, because of the long stretches of marsh and mud.
At the home of John Wallis they made their first halt; but had no more than arrived when it could be seen that the savages were coming in pursuit.
All the settlers near the Purpooduck shore joined Borroughs' company, fleeing to what was then known as James Andrews Island — that land which we now call Cushing's.
To give the details of the wondrously brave defense made there would require too much space. It is perhaps enough to say that the little settlement of Purpooduck was entirely destroyed by the savage foe, and that while the houses were in flames, with the howling fiends exulting in their work of destruction, two lads by name of Wallis, the eldest only fifteen years of age, ventured their lives to save the island refugees.
The children rowed over across the water to gain what the little company on the island sorely needed. A keg of powder was stored in the cellar of John Wallis's home; and this the two lads succeeded in obtaining, but at the cost of the life of one, and the serious wounding of the other.
There may yet be seen, on the north slope of Cushing's Island, the remains of the stone breastwork thrown up by Mr. Burroughs and the women and children whom he had taken under his charge. A few yards distant from this poor shelter is a spring, where the fugitives must have drawn their supply of water.
Mr. Gould says :: "Below the bank, at the sheltered cove, and on the rocky beach, is an artificial pool, evidently made by throwing out in a circle the small beach stones and pebbles to a considerable depth. The sea-water flows and ebbs through the ridge of stones, making a pool of clearest water.
"It requires no great stretch of the imagination to suppose this to be the inclosure where the imprisoned people in 1676 kept their fish and lobsters alive for use in bad weather At other times fish could be taken from the rocks at White Head."
ASSISTANCE FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
In response to the appeal made by Thaddeus Clark, Governor Leverett sent fifteen hundred pounds of bread to the afflicted people of Falmouth; when it arrived the fugitives had been on the island nine days with no other food than berries and fish.
Many of the inhabitants on the shores of the bay fled to Jewell's Island, thinking they would be safe at such a long distance from the mainland. On this island was a stockade, but no regular garrison had been stationed there.
While a portion of the people were out fishing, a party of Indians landed and made a vigorous assault; but the white men defended themselves bravely. The absent ones returning, fought their way into the stockade, and after twenty-four hours had elapsed forced the Indians to beat a retreat.
The Colony of Massachusetts at once sent one hundred and seventy white men and friendly Indians to Falmouth, the force arriving on the twentieth of September; but the enemy had drawn off. Not seeing anything of them, the troops departed for home during the month of October, whereupon the Indians immediately made a most savage attack on the garrison owned by Henry Josselyn at Black Point.
Master Josselyn was taken prisoner, but his companions succeeded in making their escape. . . .
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*This entire book is available for reading and/or downloading at Google Books.