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From: "Chris Sackett" <>
Subject: [SACKETT-L] Lockwood.3
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 10:51:04 +0100

Chapter X

The Indian Menace, Philip's War

p217-8

"The people of Springfield had to depend upon the mills at Westfield for
the grinding of their corn though the way there was long, rough, and
precarious owing to the menace of skulking enemies. Rev. Mr. Taylor,
writing of conditions during that frightful period (the autumn of 1675),
says, "but summer coming opened a door unto that, desolating war began by
Philip, Sachem of the Pakonoket Indians, by which this handful was sorely
pressed, yet sovereignty preserved, but yet not so as that we should be
wholly exempted from the fury of war, for our soil was moistened by the
blood of three Springfield men, young Goodman Dumbleton, who came to our
mill, and two sons of Goodman Brooks, who came here to look after the iron
ore on the land he had lately bought of Mr. John Pynchon, Esq. who being
persuaded by Springfield folk, went to accompany them, but fell in the way
by the first assault of the enemy upon us, at which time they burnt Mr.
Cornish's house to ashes and also John Sacket's with his barn and what was
in it, being the first snowy day of winter; they also at this time lodged a
bullet in George Granger's leg, which was the next morning taken out by Mr.
Bulkley, and the wound soon healed. It was judged that the enemy did
receive some loss at this time, because in the ashes of Mr. Cornish's house
were found pieces of the bones of a man lying about the length of a man in
the ashes."

p226-8
"The following pathetic and reasonable plea must have been granted:
"Worshipful Sir – together with the Hond Council.
"The allwise Providence of God having brought these desolating wars into
our parts the summer past, & thereby calling us not only to the expense of
a great part of our estate on public occasions; but also threatening ruin
both unto the rest & to ourselves, it was a question with some of us
whether we were in our way or not to abide the event. The which seems the
harder to resolve when there came (from whence we well know not) a report
that there would be no allowance for such charges as should be expended in
quartering soldiers (the which should be a truth would most certainly break
up our plantation & now undo the most here) but seeing neither equity in
any such report or thing, and considering what as our judgment it is for
towns to be laid desolate and made ruinous heaps, as also that our calling
& livelihood lay in this place, the hand of God seemed to point out unto us
some special duty of self denial, wherein we stood bound with respect to
the public benefit and hereupon we adventured (not troubling you for
advice) in keeping our station to draw out our estates in public uses & in
the service of God & his people, in quartering of soldiers in maintaining
of a garrison here, sometimes consisting of about 20, sometimes above 40 &
near about 30 soldiers as also in quartering Hartford soldiers in their
passing to & from, sometimes being more & sometimes less, sometimes leaving
40 or 50 or 60 Indian soldiers with them as also in sending posts &c from
the latter end of August until this instant.
"Therefore having now expended a great part of our estate thus in
obedience to the call of Providence we proceed to leave unto your
consideration an account thereof & proceeding upon the common say, that
things are with us, as for a man 4/ per week, for a horse 1/ at grass and
1/6 at hay, as for corn, wheat being at 3/6, Indian & oats 2/ per bushel,
as for flesh meat, pork being at 3d and beef at 2d½ per pound. Also
allowing a post 3d per mile he bearing all the charges (we say proceeding
according to these rates of things) our public expenses on Hartford
soldiers amounts to £124.16.7 from the latter end of August to the 19th of
November and our public expenses from the 19th of Nov. to March 3d 1675-6
(being just 15 weeks) the which have been disbursed on the garrison
soldiers left here by the Com. in Chief. Capt. Ap. amounts to £87.13.0. To
which we add troopers arrearages 25/ and for killing 2 wolves 20/ which
being added to the summers charges is £127.1.7 out of which subtracting the
County rates last summer demanded which come to 36.0.8½ the remainder
90.13.6½ being that which we are still out on public credit, the which
90.13.6½ of our charges on Hartford soldiers being added to the 87.13.0 the
total is 178.6.6½ that which we have still expended on public account which
is believed to be a faithful account as we are able with the best diligence
we could use to gather up. Only the last of the 3 county rates would not we
judge have come to so much as is set down, being that the list of our
estates did not arise to so much, as you may see; but not having at present
to correct aright we let it go at present. Thus having faithfully laid down
our expenses before you to your consideration & desiring the Almighty to
give you in all your consultations unto such events as he of his grace
shall bless to your good, & peace of his poor wilderness people, we remain
your humble servts.
John Sacket, Constable
John Root, Commissary
Westfield, 15.1.1675-6
[Mar. 15, 1676.Handwriting of Rev. E. Taylor]
(Judd Ms. Forbes Library.)"

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• [SACKETT-L] Lockwood.3 by "Chris Sackett" <>