1725-1731.]

JAMES COSS'S JOURNAL.

21

16

under the charge of Joseph Kellogg, who bore the titles both of Captain and Truck-master.*

The Indians, finding that they could carry on a cheaper trade at this station than at the French trading-houses, resorted hither in large numbers, bringing with them, among other articles of traffic, deer skins, moose skins, and tallow. The fort was soon found to be too small to accommodate all who came to it, and Capt. Kellogg was accordingly ordered, on the 10th of April, 1729, to raise an out-house in some convenient place near the Truck-house, "for the reception of the Indians." At the same time he was directed to build a boat for transporting the supplies, to advance fifteen instead of fifty per cent. on provisions, and to supply the soldiers with clothing at the same price with the Indians. He was also permitted to sell beaver skins to the people residing in the vicinity who should desire to obtain them for the purpose of converting them into hats. In July, 1731, further improvements were made at the block-house by the addition of a store-house at the back of the main building, and by repairs which had become necessary.

The route which the Indians usually took in going from Canada to Fort Dummer, was by Lake Champlain, Otter creek, and Black and Connecticut rivers. The government of Massachusetts being about to take measures to ascertain the exact course of this "Indian road," obtained from a certain James Coss or Cross, the following diary of a journey from Fort Dummer to Lake Champlain, performed in the year 1730. From it something may be learned of the manner of travelling in the wilderness in those early times, and of the hardships pertaining thereto.

"Monday, y 27th April, 1730, at about twelve of ye clock we left Fort Dummer, and travailed that day three miles, and lay down that night by West River, which is three miles distant from Fort Dummer. Notabene. I travailed with twelve Canady Mohawks that drank to great excess at ye fort and killed a Skatacook Indian in their drunken condition, that came to smoke with them.

The first appropriation for trading purposes was made on the 19th of June, 1728, when the General Court voted to set apart " £1000, equal to about £333 68. 8d. sterling, for the purchasing goods to be lodged at the Truck-house above Northfield, to supply the Indians withal." The Truck-master was ordered "to advance 50 per cent. on rum, sugar, and molasses, and 25 per cent. on European goods."

"Tuesday. We travailed upon the great River* about ten miles.

"Wednesday. We kept ye same course upon y great River travailed about ten miles, and eat a drowned Buck that night. "Thursday. We travailed upon the great River within two miles of ye Great Fallst in said River, then we went upon Land to the Black River above yo Great Falls, went up in that River and lodged about a mile and a half from the mouth of Black River, which days travail we judged was about ten miles.

"Fryday. We cross Black River at ye Fallst afterwards travail through ye woods N.N.W. then cross Black River again about 17 miles above our first crossing, afterwards travailed ye same course, and pitched our tent on ye homeward side of Black River.

"Saturday. We crossed Black River, left a great mountain on ye right hand and another on ye left. Keep a N.W. course till we pitch our tent after 11 miles travail by a Brook which we called a branch of Black River.

"Sabbath Day. Soon after we began our days work, an old pregnant squaw that travailed with us, stopt alone and was delivered of a child, and by Monday noon overtook us with a living child upon her Back. We travail to Black River. At ye three islands, between which and a large pound we past ye River, enter a mountain, that afforded us a prospect of ye place of Fort Dummer. Soon after we enter a descending country, and travail till we arrive at Arthur Creek in a descending land. In this days travail which is 21 miles, we came upon seven Brooks which run a S. W. course at ye north end of said Mountain. From Black River to Arthur Creek we judge is 25 miles.

"Monday. Made Canoes.

"Tuesday. Hindered travailing by rain.

"Wednesday. We go in our Canoes upon Arthur Creek, till we meet two great falls in said River.** Said River is very

Black and deep and surrounded with good land to ye extremity of our prospect. This days travail 35 miles.

*Connecticut river.

+ Bellows Falls.

At Centre village in the town of Springfield. See Zadock Thompson's Ver. mont, Part III., p. 164.

§ In the township of Ludlow.

In the township of Plymouth, where Black river rises.

Otter creek.

** Probably in the town of Rutland.

1725-1731.]

INDIAN COMMISSIONERS.

23

"Thursday. We sail 40 miles in Arthur Creek. We meet with great Falls,* and a little below them, we meet with two other great Falls,† and about 10 miles below ye said Falls we meet two other pretty large Falls. We carryd our Canoes by these Falls and come to ye Lake."§

The garrison at Fort Dummer, which had been reduced in 1727, was, in January, 1731, reinforced by the addition of ten soldiers, and from that time until the year 1750, it seldom numbered less than twenty men, and in times of danger often amounted to fifty. The Rev. Ebenezer Hinsdell was in 1730 appointed to the chaplaincy of the fort, which post he probably held twelve or fourteen years, being much beloved both by the Indians and the English.T

In order to render trade with the Indians more advantageous, and to strengthen the bonds of peace and friendship, Capt. Kellogg received into the fort on the 8th of October, 1734, three commissioners from the "Scaticook" tribe, whose names and titles were, Masseguun, first captain; Nannatoohau, second captain; Massamah, lieutenant; and on the 1st of September, 1735, three other commission officers of the Caughnawaga tribe,

* Middlebury Falls.

At Vergennes.

+ At Weybridge.

§ Bound MSS. in office Sec. State, Mass., A. xxxviii. 126, 127.

He was for several years a missionary to the Connecticut river Indians. In a letter which he wrote from Fort Dummer, dated January 26th, 173, referring to his labors, he stated that "a good disposition" was prevalent among the Indians, that on Sunday a number of them usually assembled to listen to him, that a child had been presented to him for baptism, to which he had refused to administer the rite because its parents were not Christians, that he had endeavored to instruct the parents in Christianity, but had as yet met with no success. In 1743, Mr. Hinsdell erected a fort within the limits of the present town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and in the same year he and Josiah Willard, the commander of Fort Dummer, were appointed under-commissioners for the northern portions of Massachusetts, and the adjacent frontiers. This post they held until October 26th, 1746. Hinsdell's efforts in behalf of the growth and prosperity of the province were not unobserved, and on November 10th, 1748, Governor Shirley desired the General Court "to provide a few men for the defence of Mr. Hinsdell's fort below Fort Dummer for the winter season," a request which was undoubtedly complied with. In the year 1759, he resided near Sugar Loaf Mountain, in the town which is now known as South Deerfield, Massachusetts.

It is difficult to ascertain the exact date of transactions which occurred at this period, owing to the burning of the Town House in Boston, on December 9th, 1747, at which time were destroyed "The Books of Records of the General Assembly of Massachusetts, from July 5th, 1737, to September 30th, 1746, and of his Majesty's Council."

named Ontaussoogoe, colonel; Thyhausilhau, lieutenant-colonel; Conneighau, major. Yearly pensions were granted to them, and they remained in the pay of the truck-house until 1744, when it was again turned into a fort.

Massachusetts having deemed it necessary to renew a certain treaty which had been made with the Indians some years before, appointed John Stoddard, Eleazer Porter, Thomas Wallis, Joseph Kellogg, and Israel Williams, commissioners, who by agreement met Ontaussoogoe and other delegates of the Caughnawaga tribe, at Fort Dummer, on the 5th and 6th of October, 1737. Friendly speeches were made by both parties, the health of King George was drank, and the death of the Governor's lady deplored. Blankets and wampum were exchanged, and the representatives of the Indians and the English separated with expressions of mutual good-will and friendship.* In the same year the truck-house was burned, but whether entirely or partially, there is nothing on record to show.†

During this season of comparative quiet, Massachusetts and New Hampshire granted several new townships on their frontiers, the former extending her grants to the northward and westward, and along Connecticut river, above Northfield, embracing on the east banks of that stream the present towns of Hinsdale, Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Walpole, and Charlestown. These five towns were at first included in four, and for several years were known by their numbers. Beginning at Hinsdale, Charlestown was Number Four. As to the settlements west of the Green Mountains, the first of them was made by the French in 1731, at Chimney Point, in the south-west corner of what is now the township of Addison. But this, as well as the settlement at Fort Frederick, now Crown Point, on the west side of the Lake, was subsequently broken up, and the settlers, with the garrison of the fort, were, in the year 1759, removed to Canada.

* See Appendix B, containing an account of the proceedings at the renewal of the treaty.

The only hint of this circumstance is contained in a petition to Governor Jonathan Belcher, from John Sargent, dated Nov. 29th, 1738, in which he says he was " formerly taken prisoner to Canada, afterwards was under Captain Kellogg at the truck-house, north of Northfield, and was a great sufferer in 1787 when it was burned."

CHAPTER II.

CONFLICTS WITH THE INDIANS.

Boundary Disputes-Sartwell's Fort-Bridgman's Fort-Defences at Fort Dummer-Traffic with the Indians-Maintenance of Fort Dummer-Disputes between the Assembly of New Hampshire and the General Court of Massachusetts Bay-Declaration of War between England and France-Establishment of Forts-Indian Depredations-William Phips-Presents to the IndiansAttack on the Fort at the Great Meadow-Capture of Nehemiah How-For fear of the Enemy the Settlers leave their Abodes-Siege of Number Four, afterwards Charlestown-Burning of Bridgman's Fort-Second Attack on Number Four-Fight between Capt. Melvin and the Indians-Capt. Stevens's Expedition-An Ambuscade-Account of the Captives who were taken to CanadaRunning the Gauntlet-Capt. Humphrey Hobbs's Encounter with the IndiansConflict near Fort Dummer-Brave Conduct of the Soldiers-Route pursued by the Indians Fight at Fitch's Block-house-Propositions for Protection.

THE dispute between Massachusetts and New Hampshire as to the northern boundary of the former province, which had continued since the year 1730, was determined on the 9th of April, 1740. The decision gave to New Hampshire a tract of country fourteen miles in breadth, and above fifty in length-a greater quantity than she had ever claimed-and took from Massachusetts twenty-eight new townships between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers, besides a large amount of vacant lands. But the settlement of one dispute only gave rise to another. A part of the south boundary of New Hampshire, beginning at a point three miles due north of Patucket falls, was declared in the decision referred to, to be "a straight line, drawn from thence due west, till it meets with his Majesty's other governments;" but the uncertainty which then prevailed as to the legal extent of "his Majesty's other governments," was the cause not only of a controversy in this instance, but of another which at a later period engaged the attention of New Hampshire, New York, and the "New Hampshire Grants" for many years.