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A NARRATIVE OF THE Captivity, Sufferings, and Removes, OF Mrs. Mary Rowlandfon, Who was taken Prisoner by the Indians ; with several others ; and treated in the moll barbarous and cruel Manner by the wild Savages : With many other remarkable Events dur- ing her Travels. Written by her own Hand, for her private Use, and since made public at the earnest Desire of some Friends, and for the Benefit of the Afflicted. BOSTON : Re- printed and sold by THOMAS and JOHN FLEET, at the Bible and Heart, Cornhill, 1791. By the Mass. Sabbath School Society, 13 Cornhill, 1856.
Riverside, Cambridge, Printed by H. O. HOUGHTON & Co.
A NARRATIVE OF THE Captivity and Removes OF Mrs. Mary Rowlandfon. ON the loth of February, 167s, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster : their first coming was about sun-rising; hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out; several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven. There were five persons taken in one house, the father and mother, and a sucking child they knocked on the head, the other two they took and car- ried away alive. There were two others, who being out of their garrison upon oc- casion, were set upon; one was knocked on the head, the other escaped : Another
4 Narrative of there was who running along was shot and wounded, and fell down ; he beg- ged of them his life, promising them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him, but knocked him on the head, stript him naked, and split open his bowels. Another seeing many of the Indians about his barn, ventured and went out, but was quickly shot down. There were three others belong- ing to the same garrison who were killed ; the Indians getting up upon the roof of the barn, had advantage to shoot down upon them over their fortification. Thus these murtherous wretches went on burn- ing and destroying all before them. At length they came and beset our house, and quickly it was the dolefulest day that ever mine eyes saw. The house stood upon the edge of a hill; some of the Indians got behind the hill, others into the barn, and others behind any thing that would shelter them ; from all which
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 5 places they shot against the house, so that the bullets seemed to fly like hail, and quickly they wounded one man among us, then another, and then a third. About two hours (according to my observation in that amazing time) they had been about the house before they prevailed to fire it, (which they did with flax and hemp, which they brought out of the barn, and there being no defence about the house, only two flankers at two opposite corners, and one of them not finished) they fired it once, and one ventured out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that took. Now is the dreadful hour come, that I have often heard of (in time of the war, as it was the case of others) but now mine eyes see it. Some in our house were fighting for their lives, others wal- lowing in blood, the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head if we stirred
6 .N'arrative of out. Now might we hear mothers and children crying out for themselves and one another, " Lord, what shall we do !" Then I took my children (and one of my sisters her's) to go forth and leave the house : but as soon as we came to the door, and appeared, the Indians shot so thick, that the bullets rattled against the house, as if one had taken a hand- ful of stones and threw them, so that we were forced to give back. We had six stout dogs belonging to our garrison, but none of them would stir, though at another time, if an Indian had come to the door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The Lord hereby would make us the more to ac- knowledge his hand, and to see that our help is always in him. But out we must go, the fire increasing, and coming along behind us roaring, and the Indians gap- ing before us with their guns, spears, and hatchets to devour us. No sooner were
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 7 we out of the house but my brother-in- law (being before wounded in defending the house, in or near the throat) fell down dead, whereat the Indians scorn- fully shouted and hallooed, and were presently upon him, stripping off his cloaths. The bullets flying thick, one went through my side, and the same (as would seem) through the bowels and hand of my poor child in my arms. One of my el- der sister's children (named William) had then his leg broke, which the Indians perceiving, they knocked him on the head. Thus were we butchered by those merciless heathens, standing amazed, with the blood running down to our heels. My eldest sister being yet in the house, and seeing those woeful sights, the in- fidels halling mothers one way and chil- dren another, and some wallowing in their blood ; and her eldest son telling her that her son William ways dead, and myself was wounded, she said, and Lord
8 Narrative of let me die with them : " which was no sooner said but she was struck with a bullet, and fell down dead over the threshold. I hope she is reaping the fruit of her good labours, being faithful to the service of God in her place. In her younger years she lay under much trouble upon spiritual accounts, till it pleased God to make that precious scrip- ture take hold of her heart, 2 Cor. 12. 9. And he faid unto me, My grace is fufi- cient for thee. More than twenty years after, I have heard her tell how sweet that place was to her. The Indians laid hold me one way, and the and said, " Come, go I told them they would answered, " If I were along with them, they and comfortable But to return : of us, pulling children another, along with us : " kill me : they willing to go would not hurt me." Oh ! thé doleful sight that now was to behold at this house ! Come behold
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 9 the works of the Lord, what desolations he has made in the earth. Of thirty- seven persons who were in this one house, none escaped either present death, or a bitter captivity, save only one, who might say as in ,7ob i, 5. And I only am efcaped alone to tell the news. There were twelve killed, some shot, some stabbed with their spears, some knocked down with their hatchets. When we are in prosperity, Oh the little that we think of such dreadful sights, to see our dear friends and relations lie bleed- ing out their hearts' blood upon the ground. There was one who was chopt in the head with a hatchet, and stript naked, and yet was crawling up and down. It was a solemn sight to see so many christians lying in their blood, some here and some there, like a com- pany of sheep torn by wolves. All of them stript naked by a company of hell-hounds, roaring, singing, ranting
io .Narrative of and insulting, as if they would have torn our hearts out : yet the Lord by his almighty power, preserved a number of us from death ; for there were twenty- four of us taken alive and carried cap- tive. I had often before this said that if the Indians should come, I should chuse rather to be killed by them, than taken alive : but when it came to the trial, my mind changed; their glittering wea- pons so daunted my spirit, that I chose rather to go along with those (as I may say) ravenous bears, than that mo- ment to end my days. And that I may the better declare what happened to me during that grievous captivity, I shall particularly speak of the several Removes we had up and down the wilderness.
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 1 . The firft Remove. N OW away we must go with those barbarous creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding and our hearts no less than our bodies. About a mile we went that night, up upon a hill within sight of the town, where we intended to lodge. There was hard by a vacant house, (deserted by the Eng- lish before, for fear of the Indians,) I asked them whether I might not lodge in the house that night`? to which they answered, What, will you love English- men still ? This was the dolefulest night that ever my eyes saw. Oh the roar- ing, and singing, and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resem- blance of hell: And miserable was the waste that was there made, of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, calves, lambs, roast-
12 Narrative of ing pigs and fowls (which they had plundered in the town) some roasting, some lying and burning, and some boil- ing, to feed our merciless enemies : who were joyful enough, though we were dis- consolate. To add to the dolefulness of the former day, and the dismalness of the present night, my thoughts ran upon my losses and sad bereaved condition. All was gone, my husband gone, (at least separated from me, he being in the Bay : and to add to my grief, the In- dians told me they would kill him as he came homeward,) my children gone, my relations and friends gone, our house and home, and all our comforts within door and without, all was gone (except my life) and I knew not but the next moment that might go too. There remained nothing to me but one poor wounded babe, and it seemed at present worse than death, that it was in such a pitiful condition, bespeaking
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 13 compassion, and I had no refreshing for, it, nor suitable things to revive it. Lit- tle do many think, what is the savage- ness and brutishness of this barbarous enemy, those even that seem to profess more than others among them, when the English have fallen into their hands. Those seven that were killed at Lan- caster the summer before upon a sabbath day, and the one that was afterward killed upon a week day, were slain and mangled in a barbarous manner, by one eyed John, and Marlborough's praying Indians, which Capt. Mosely brought to Boston, as the Indians told me. -- ®o The fecond Remove. BUT now (the next morning) I must turn my back upon the town, and travel with them into the vast and deso-
a4 Narrative of late wilderness, I know not whither. It is not my tongue or pen can express the sorrows of my heart, and bitterness of ' my spirit, that I had at this depar- ture : But God was with me in a won- derful manner, carrying me along and bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail. One of the Indians carried my poor wounded babe upon a horse ; it went moaning all along, " I shall die, I shall die." I went on foot after it, with sorrow that cannot be exprest. At length I took it off the horse, and car- ried it in my arms till my strength failed, and I fell down with it. Then they set me upon a horse, with my wounded child in my lap, and there being no furniture upon the horse's back, as we were going down a steep hill, we both fell over the horse's head, at which they like inhuman creatures laughed, and re- joiced to see it, though I thought we should there have ended our days, over-
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 15 come with so many difficulties. But the Lord renewed my strength still, and car- ried me along, that I might see more of his power, yea so much that I could never have thought of, had I not ex- perienced it. After this it quickly began to snow, and when night came on, they stopt : and now down I must sit in the snow, by a little fire, and a few boughs be- hind me, with my sick child in my lap, and calling much for water, being now (through the wound) fallen into a vio- lent fever. My own wound also grow- ing so stiff; that I could scarce sit down or rise up, yet so it must be, that I must sit all this cold winter night, upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last of its life; and having no christian friend near me, either to comfort or help me. Oh I may see the wonderful power of God, that my
16 .Narrative of spirit did not utterly sink under my af- fliction ; still the Lord upheld me with his gracious and merciful spirit, and we were both alive to see the light of the next morning. -o® The third Remove. THE morning being come, they pre- pared to go on their way, one of the Indians got upon a horse, and they sat me up behind him, with my poor sick babe in my lap. A very wearisome and tedious day I had of it ; what with my own wound, and my child being so exceeding sick, and in a lamentable con- dition with her wound, it may easily be judged what a poor feeble condition we were in, there being not the least crumb of refreshing that came within either of our mouths from Wednesday night to
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 17 Saturday night, except only a little cold water. This day in the afternoon, about an hour by sun, we came to the place where they intended, viz : an Indian town called Wenimesset, northward of Quabaug. When we were come, Oh the number of Pagans (now merciless enemies) that there came about me, that I may say as David, Psal. 27. 13, I had fainted unlefs I had believed, &c. The next day was the sabbath : I then re- membered how careless I had been of God's holy time : how many sabbaths I had lost and misspent, and how evilly I had walked in God's sight; which lay so close upon my spirit, that it was easy for me to see how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life, and cast me out of his presence forever. Yet the Lord still shewed mercy to me, and helped me ; and as he wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with the other. This day there came to me 2
i 8 A Narrative of one Robert Pepper, (a man belonging to Roxbury,) who was taken at Capt. Beers's fight; and had been now a con- siderable time with the Indians, and up with them almost as far as Albany to see King Philip, as he told me, and was now very lately come with them into these parts. Hearing, I say, that I was in this Indian town, he obtained leave to come and see me. He told me he himself was wounded in the leg at Capt. Beers's fight; and was not able some time to go, but as they carried him, and that he took oak leaves and laid to his wound, and by the blessing of God, he was able to travel again. Then took I oak leaves and laid to my side, and with the blessing of God, it cured me also ; yet before the cure was wrought, I may say as it is in Psalms 38. S, 6. My wounds flunk and are corrupt, I am troub- led, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourn- ing all the day long. I sat much alone
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 19 with my poor wounded child in my lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to revive the body, or cheer the spirits of her ; but instead of that one Indian would come and tell me one hour, your master will knock your child on the head, and then a second and then a third, your master will quickly knock your child on the head. This was the comfort I had from them; miserable comforters were they all. Thus nine days I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh was raw again. My child being even ready to depart this sorrowful world, they bid me carry it out to another wigwam ; (I suppose because they would not be troub- led with such spectacles ;) whither I went with a very heavy heart, and down I sat with the picture of death in my lap. About two hours in the night, my sweet babe like a lamb departed this life, on Feb. 18, 1 675, it being about six years
20 Narrati7le of and five months old. It was nine days from the first wounding in this miserable condition, without any refreshing of one nature or another, except a little cold water. I cannot but take notice, how at another time I could not bear to be in a room where a dead person was, but now the case is changed ; I must and could lie down with my dead babe all the night after. I have thought since, of the wonderful goodness of God to me, in preserving me so in the use of my reason and senses, in that distressed time, that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life. In the morning, when they under- stood that my child was dead, they sent me home to my master's wigwam. (By my master in this writing must be un- derstood Quannopin, who was a Sagga- more, and married King Philip's wife's sister ; not that he first took me, but I was sold to him by a Narraganset In-
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 21 dian, who took me when I first came out of the garrison.) I went to take up my dead child in my arms to carry it with me, but they bid me let it alone. There was no resisting, but go I must, and leave it. When I had been a while at my master's wigwam, I took the first opportunity I could get, to go look after my dead child. When I came I asked them what they had done with it 2 they told me it was on the hill ; then they went and showed me where it was, where I saw the ground was newly Jig- ged, and where they told me they had buried it; there I left that child in the wilderness, and must commit it and myself also in this wilderness condition, to him who is above all. God having taken away this dear child, I went to see my daughter Mary, who was at the same Indian town, at a wigwam not very far off, though we had little liberty or op- portunity to see one another; she was
22 Narrative of about ten years old, and taken from the door at first by a praying Indian, and afterwards sold for a gun. When I came in sight she would fall a weeping, at which they were provoked, and would not let me come near her, but bid me be gone ; which was a heart -cutting word to me. I had one child dead, another in the wilderness, I knew not where, the third they would not let me come near to : Me (as he said) have ye bereaved of my children ; yofeph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin alfo, all thefe things are againft me. I could not sit still in this condition, but kept walking from one place to another. And as I was going along, my heart was even overwhelmed with the thoughts of my condition, and that I should have children, and a nation that I knew not ruled over them. Whereupon I earnestly entreated the Lord that he would con - sider my low estate, and shew me a
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 23 token for good, and if it were his blessed will, some sign and hope of some relief. And indeed quickly the Lord answered in some measure, my poor prayer : For as I was going up and down mourning and lamenting my condition, my son came to me and asked me how I did 2 I had not seen him before, since the de- struction of the town ; and I knew not where he was, till I was informed by himself that he was amongst a smaller parcel of Indians, whose place was about six miles off. With tears in his eyes he asked me whether his sister Sarah was dead `? and told me he had seen his sister Mary; and prayed me, that I would not be troubled in reference to himself. The occasion of his coming to see me at this time was this There was, as I said, about six miles from us a small plantation of Indians, where it seems he had been during his captivity ; and at this time, there were some forces
24 Narrative of of the Indians gathered out of our com- pany, and some also from them (amongst whom was my son's master) to go to assault and burn Medfield : In this time of his master's absence, his dame brought him to see me. I took this to be some gracious answer to my earnest and un- feigned desire. The next day the In- dians returned from Medfield. (All the company, for those that belonged to the other smaller company came through the town that now we were at.) But before they came to us, Oh, the outrageous roar- ing and hooping that there was ! They began their din about a mile before they came to us. By their noise and hoop- ing they signified how many they had destroyed; which was at that time twenty- three. Those that were with us at home, were gathered together as soon as they heard the hooping, and every time that the other went over their number, these at home gave a shout, that the very
Mrs. Rowlandfon . 25 earth rang again. And thus they con- tinued till those that had been upon the expedition were come up to the Sagga- more's wigwam ; and then, Oh, the hide- ous insulting and triumphing that there was over some English men's scalps that they had taken (as their manner is) and brought with them. I cannot but take notice of the wonderful mercy of God to me in those afflictions, in sending me a Bible. One of the Indians that came from Medfield fight, and had brought some plunder, came to me, and asked me if I would have a Bible, he had got in his basket ? I was glad of it, and asked him if he thought the In- dians would let me read 2 He answered yes ; so I took the Bible, and in that melancholy time, it came into my mind to read first the 28 chap. of Deuteron- omy, which I did, and when I had read it, my dark heart wrought on this manner, that there was no mercy for me,
26 Narrative of that the blessings were gone, and the curses came in their room, and that I had lost my opportunity. But the Lord helped me still to go on reading till I came to ch. 30, the seven first verses ; where I found there was mercy prom- ised again, if we would return to him, by repentance : and though we were scattered from one end of the earth to the other, yet the Lord would gather us together, and turn all those curses upon our enemies. I do not desire to live to forget this scripture, and what comfort it was to me. Now the Indians began to talk of re- moving from this place, some one way and some another. There were now be- sides myself nine English captives in this place, (all of them children except one woman.) I got an opportunity to go and take my leave of them, they being to go one way and I another. I asked them whether they were earnest
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 27 with God for deliverance 2 They told me they did as they were able, and it was some comfort to me, that the Lord stir- red up children to look to him. The woman, viz : good-wife Toslin told me she should never see me again, and that she could find in her heart to run away by any means, for we were near thirty miles from any English town, and she very big with child, having but one week to reckon, and another child in her arms two years old, and bad rivers there were to go over, and we were feeble with our poor and coarse entertainments. I had my Bible with me, I pulled it out, and asked her whether she would read; we opened the Bible, and lighted on Psal. 27, in which Psalm we espec- ially took notice of that verse, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall ftrengthen thine heart, wait I fay on the Lord.
28 .7!l'arrative of The fourth Remove. AND now must I part with the lit- tle company I had. Here I parted with my daughter Mary (whom I never saw again till I saw her in Dorchester, returned from captivity) and from four little cousins and neighbours, some of which I never saw afterward, the Lord only knows the end of them. Among them also was that poor woman before mentioned, who came to a sad end, as some of the company told me in my travel: She having much grief upon her spirits about her miserable condition, being so near her time, she would be often asking the Indians to let her go home ; they not being willing to that and yet vexed with her importunity, gathered a great company ,together about her, and stripped her naked, and set her in the midst of them ; and when they
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 29 had sung and danced about her (in their hellish manner) as long as they pleased, they knocked her on the head, and the child in her arms with her. When they had done that, they made a fire and put them both into it, and told the other children that were with them, that if they attempted to go home they would serve them in like manner. The children said she did not shed one tear, but prayed all the while. But to return to my own journey : We travelled about half a day or a little more and came to a desolate place in the wilderness where there were no wigwams or inhabitants before; we came about the middle of the afternoon to this place ; cold, wet and snowy, and hungry, and weary, and no refreshing for man, but the cold ground to sit on, and our poor Indian cheer. Heart-aching thoughts here I had about my poor children, who were scattered up and down among the wild beasts of the
3o Narrative of forest. My head was light and dizzy, (either through hunger or bad lodging, or trouble, or all together,) my knees feeble, my body raw by setting double night and day, that I cannot express to man the affliction that lay upon my spirit, but the Lord helped me at that time to express it to himself. I opened my Bible to read, and the Lord brought that precious scripture to me. ,7er. 31. 16. Thus faith the Lord, refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work fhall be rewarded, and they l'hall come again from the land of the enemy. This was a sweet cordial to me; when I was ready to faint, many and many a time have I sat down and wept sweetly over this scripture. At this place we continued about four days.
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 31 `I've fifth Remove. THE occasion (as I thought) of their removing at this time, was the English army's being near and following them : For they went as if they had gone for their lives, for some considera- ble way; and then they made a stop, and chose out some of their stoutest men, and sent them back to hold the English army in play whilst the rest escaped; and then like Jehu they marched on fu- riously, with their old and young ; some carried their old decriped mothers, some carried one, and some another. Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier ; but going through a thick wood with him they were hindered, and could make no haste; whereupon they took him upon their backs, and carried him one at a time, till we came to Bacquag
32 Narrative of River. Upon Friday, a little after noon, we came to this river. When all the company was come up and were gath- ered together, I thought to count the number of them, but they were so many and being somewhat in motion, it was beyond my skill. In this travel, because of my wound, I was somewhat favoured in my load : I carried only my knitting - work, and two quarts of parched meal. Being very faint, I asked my mistress to give me one spoonful of the meal, but she would not give me a taste. They quickly fell to cutting dry trees, to make rafts to carry them over the river, and soon my turn came to go over. By the advantage of some brush which they had laid upon the raft to sit on, I did not wet my foot, (while many of themselves at the other end were mid- leg deep,) which cannot but be acknowl- edged as a favour of God to my weak- ened body, it being a very cold time.
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 33 I was not before acquainted with such kind of doings or dangers. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. Ifai. 43. 2. A certain number of us got over the river that night, but it was the night after the Sab- bath before all the company was got over. On the Saturday they boiled an old horse's leg (which they had got) and so we drank of the broth as soon as they thought it was ready, and when it was almost all gone they filled it up again. The first week of my being among them, I hardly eat any thing: the second week I found my stomach grow very faint for want of something, and yet it was very hard to get down their filthy trash ; but the third week (though I could think how formerly my stomach would turn against this or that, and I could starve and die before I could eat such things, yet) they were pleasant and savory to my taste. 3
34 Narrative of I was at this time knitting a pair of white cotton stockings for my mistress, and I had not yet wrought upon the Sabbath day. When the Sabbath came they bid me go to work ; I told them it was Sab- bath day, and desired them to let me rest, and told them I would do as much more work to-morrow ; to which they answered me they would break my face. And here I cannot but take notice of the strange Providence of God in preserving the hea- then : They were many hundreds, old and young, some sick and some lame ; many had Papooses at their backs ; the greatest number at this time with us were Squaws, and they travelled with all they had, bag and baggage, and yet they got over this river aforesaid ; and on Monday they sat their wigwams on fire, and away they went ; on that very day came the English army after them to this river, and saw the smoke of their wigwams and yet this river put a stop to them. God
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 35 did not give them courage or activity to go over after us. We were not ready for so great a mercy as victory and de- liverance ; if we had been, God would have found out a way for the English to have passed this river, as well as for the Indians with their Squaws and chil- dren, and all their luggage. 0 that my people had hearkened unto me, and Ifrael had walked in my ways, I fhould loon have fubdued their enemies, and turned my hand againft their adverfaries. Psal. 81. 13, 14. d The fixth Remove. ON Monday (as I said) they set their wigwams on fire, and went away. It was a cold morning, and before us there was a great brook with ice on it : Some waded through it up to the knees and higher, but others went till they
36 Narrative of came to a beaver-dam, and I amongst them, where, through the good Provi- dence of God, I did not wet my foot. I went along that day mourning, and la- menting (leaving farther my own country, and travelling farther into the vast and howling wilderness) and I understood something of Lot's wife's temptation, when she looked back. We came that day to a great swamp, by the side of which we took up our lodging that night. When we came to the brow of the hill that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had been come to a great Indian town (though there were none but our own company) the Indians were as thick as the trees ; it seemed as if there had been a thousand hatchets going at once. If one looked before one there was nothing but Indians, and behind one nothing but Indians ; and so on either hand ; and I myself in the midst, and no christian soul near me, and yet how
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 37 hath the Lord preserved me in safety ! Oh the experience that I have had of the goodness of God to me and mine ! The feventh Remove. AFTER a restless and hungry night there, we had a wearisome time of it the next day. The swamp by which we lay, was as it were a deep dungeon, and an exceeding high and steep hill before it. Before I got to the top of the hill, I thought my heart and legs and all would have broken, and failed me. What through faintness and soreness of body, it was a grievous day of travel to me. As we went along, I saw a place where English cattle had been, that was a com- fort to me, such as it was. Quickly after that we came to an English path, which so took me, that I thought I
38 Narrative of could there have freely lien down and died. That day, a little after noon, we came to Sqaubeag, where the Indians quickly spread themselves over the de- serted English fields, gleaning what they could find ; some picked up ears of wheat that were crickled down, some found ears of Indian corn, some found ground-nuts, and others sheaves of wheat that were frozen together in the shock, and went to threshing of them out. Myself got two ears of Indian corn, and whilst I did but turn my back, one of them was stole from me, which much troubled me. There came an Indian to them at that time, with a basket of horse-liver. I asked him to give me a piece : What (says he) can you eat horse liver? I told him I would try, if he would give me a piece, which he did ; and I laid it on the coals to roast, but before it was half ready, they got half of it away from me ; so that I was forced to take
Mrs. Rowlandfon. ,g the rest and eat it as it was, with the blood about my mouth, and yet a savory bit it was to me ; for to the hungry soul every bitter thing was sweet. A solemn sight methought it was, to see whole fields of wheat and Indian corn forsaken and spoiled, and the remainder of them to be food for our merciless enemies. That night we had a mess of wheat for our supper. ®o® The eighth Remove. ON the morrow morning we must go over Connecticut River to meet with King Philip ; two canoes full they had carried over, the next turn myself was to go ; but as my foot was upon the canoe to step in, there was a sudden out- cry among them, and I must step back ; and instead of going over the river, I must go four or five miles up the river
40 Narrative of farther northward. Some of the Indians ran one way, and some another. The cause of this rout was, as I thought, their espying some English scouts, who were thereabouts. In this travel up the river about noon the company made a stop, and sat down, some to eat and others to rest them. As I sat amongst them mus- ing on things past, my son Joseph unex- pectedly came to me. We asked of each others welfare, bemoaning our doleful con- dition, and the change that had come upon us : We had husband and father, and children, and sisters, and friends, and relations, and house, and home, and many comforts of this life ; but now we might say as Yob. Naked came I out of my moth- er's womb, and naked fhall I return: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleffed be the name of the Lord. I asked him whether he would read ? he told me he earnestly desired it. I gave him my Bible, and he lighted upon that comfort-
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 41 able scripture, Pfalm 118. 17, 18. I fhall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord . The Lord hath chaftened me fore, yet he hath not given me over to death. Look here mother (says he) did you read this`? And here I may take occasion to mention one principal ground of my set- ting forth these lines, even as the Psalm- ist says, to declare the works of the Lord, and his wonderful power in carrying us along, preserving us in the wilderness, while under the enemy's hand, and re turning of us in safety again; and his goodness in bringing to my hand so many comfortable and suitable scriptures in my distress. But to return : We travelled on till night, and in the morning we must go over the river to Philip's crew. When I was in the canoe, I could not but be amazed at the numerous crew of Pagans that were on the bank on the other side. When I came ashore, they gathered all
42 Narrative of about me, I sitting alone in the midst : I observed they asked one another ques- tions, and laughed, and rejoiced over their gains and victories. Then my heart be- gan to fail and I fell a weeping ; which was the first time to my remembrance that I wept before them; although I had met with so much affliction, and my heart was many times ready to break, yet could I not shed one tear in their sight, but rather had been all this while in a maze, and like one astonished; but now I may say as Pfal. 137. 1. By the river of Babylon, there we fat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. There one of them asked me why I wept ? I could hardly tell what to say ; yet I answered, they would kill me : No said he, none will hurt you. Then carne one of them, and gave me two spoonfuls of meal (to comfort me) and another gave me half a pint of peas, which was worth more than many bushels at another
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 43 time. Then I went to see King Philip ; he bid me come in, and sit down; and asked me whether I would smoke it ? (a usual compliment now a days, among the saints and sinners ;) but this no ways suited me. For though I had formerly used tobacco, yet I had left it ever since I was first taken. It seems to be a bait the devil lays to make men lose their precious time. I remember with shame, how formerly, when I had taken two or three pipes, I was presently ready for another ; such a bewitching thing it is. But I thank God he has now given me power over it ; surely there are many who may be better employed, than to sit sucking a stinking tobacco-pipe. Now the Indians gathered their forces to go against Northampton. Over night one went about yelling and hooting to give notice of the design. Whereupon they went to boiling of ground-nuts, and parching corn (as many as had it) for
44 Narrative of their provision; and in the morning away they went. During my abode in this place, Philip spake to me to make a shirt for his boy, which I did; for which he gave me a shilling. I offered the money to my mistress, but she bid me keep it, and with it I bought a piece of horse-flesh. Afterward he asked me to make a cap for his boy, for which he in- vited me to dinner ; I went, and he gave me a pan-cake, about as big as two fin- gers ; it was made of parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's grease, but I thought I never tasted pleasanter meat in my life. There was a Squaw who spake to me to make a shirt for her Sannup : for which she gave me a piece of beef. Another asked me to knit a pair of stock- ings, for which she gave me a quart of peas. I boiled my peas and beef to- gether, and invited my master and mis- tress to dinner ; but the proud gossip, because I served them both in one dish,
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 45 would eat nothing, except one bit that he gave her upon the point of his knife. Hearing that my son was come to this place, I went to see him, and found him lying flat on the ground ; I asked him how he could sleep so ? he answered me, that he was not asleep, but at prayer; and that he lay so, that they might not observe what he was doing. I pray God he may remember these things now he is returned in safety. At this place (the sun now getting higher) what with the beams and heat of the sun, and the smoke of the wigwams, I thought I should have been blinded. I could scarce discern one wigwam from another. There was one Mary Thurston of Medfield, who seeing how it was with me, lent me a hat to wear; but as soon as I was gone, the Squaw that owned that Mary Thurston came running after me, and got it away again. Here was a Squaw who gave me a spoonful of meal, I put it in my pock- 1
46 Narrative o f et to keep it safe, yet notwithstanding somebody stole it, but put five Indian corns in the room of it ; which corns were the greatest provision I had in my travel for one day. The Indians returning from North Hampton, brought with them some horses, and sheep, and other things which they had taken : I desired them that they would carry me to Albany upon one of those horses, and sell me for powder ; for so they had sometimes discoursed. I was utterly helpless of getting home on foot, the way that I came. I could hardly bear to think of the many weary steps I had taken to this place. oa.---- The ninth Remove. I3UT instead of either going to Al- bany or home-ward, we must go five miles up the river and then go over it.
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 47 Here we abode a while. Here lived a sorry Indian, who spake to me to make him a shirt; when I had done it, he would pay me nothing for it. But he living by the river side, where I often went to fetch water, I would often be putting him in mind, and calling for my pay ; at last he told me if I would make another shirt for a Papoos of his, he would give me a knife, which he did, when I had done it. I carried the knife in, and my master asked me to give it him, and I was not a little glad that I had anything that they would accept of and be pleased with. When we were at this place, my master's maid came home ; she had been gone three weeks into the Narragansett country to fetch corn, where they had stored up some in the ground : She brought home about a peck and a half of corn. This was about the time that their great Captain (Naonanto) was killed in the Narragan- sett country.
48 ,Narrative of My son being now about a mile from me, I asked liberty to go and see him, they bid me go, and away I went ; but quickly lost myself, travelling over hills and through swamps, and could not find the way to him. And I cannot but admire at the wonderful power and good- ness of God to me, in that though I was gone from home and met with all sorts of Indians, and those I had no knowl- edge of, and there being no christian soul near me, yet not one of them offered the least imaginable miscarriage to me. I turned homeward again, and met with my master, and he showed me the way to my son. When I came to him, I found him not well ; and withal he had a boil on his side, which much troubled him. We bemoaned one another a while, as the Lord helped us, and then I returned again. When I was returned, I found myself as unsatisfied as I was before I went up and down mourning
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 49 and lamenting, and my spirit was ready to sink, with the thoughts of my poor children. My son was ill, and I could not but think of his mournful looks, having no christian friend near him, to do any office of love to him, either for soul or body. And my poor girl, I knew not where she was, nor whether she was sick or well, alive or dead. I repaired under these thoughts to my Bi- ble, (my great comforter in that time,) and that scripture came to my hand, Caft thy burthen upon the Lord, and he fhall fuftain thee. Pfalmn 55. 22. But I was fain to go look after some- thing to satisfy my hunger ; and going among the wigwams, I went into one, and there found a Squaw who shewed herself very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear. I put it into my pocket, and came home ; but could not find an opportunity to broil it, for fear they should get it from me; and there it lay 4 r
5o Narrative of all the day and night in my stinking pocket. In the morning I went again to the same Squaw, who had a kettle of ground-nuts boiling : I asked her to let me boil my piece of bear in the kettle, which she did, and gave me some ground- nuts to eat with it, , and I cannot but think how pleasant it was . to me. I have sometimes seen bear baked hand- somely amongst the English, and some liked it, but the thoughts that it was bear, made me tremble : But now that was savory to me that one would think was enough to turn the stomach of a brute creature. One bitter cold day, I could find no room to sit down before the fire : I went out, and could not tell what to do, but I went into another wigwam, where they were also sitting round the fire ; but the Squaw laid a skin for me, and bid me sit down, and gave me some ground- nuts, and bid me come again; and told
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 51 me they would buy me if they were able ; and yet these were strangers to me that I never knew before. The tenth Remove. THAT day a small part of the com- pany removed about three quarters of a mile, intending farther the next day. When they came to the place where they intended to lodge, and had pitched their wigwams, being hungry, I went again back to the place we were before at, to get something to eat ; being encouraged by the Squaw's kindness, who bid me come again. When I was there, there came an Indian to look after me ; who when he had found me, kickt me all- along. I went home and found venison roasting that night, but they would not give me one bit of it. Sometimes I met with favour, and sometimes with nothing but frowns.
52 JV'arrative of The eleventh Remove. THE next day in the morning, they took their travel, intending a day's journey up the river ; I took my load at my back, and quickly we came to wade over a river, and passed over tiresome and wearisome hills. One hill was so steep, that I was fain to creep up upon my knees, and to hold by the twigs and bushes to keep myself from falling backward. My head also was so light that I usually reeled as I went : But I hope all those wearisome steps that I have taken, are but a forwarding of me to the heavenly rest. I know, 0 Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulnefs haft afflicted me. Pfalm 119. 75.
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 53 The twelfth Remove. T was upon a Sabbath day morning, that they prepared for their travel. This morning I asked my master whether he would sell me to my husband ; he answered mix ; which did much rejoice my spirit. My mistress, before we went, was gone to the burial of a Papoos, and returning she found me sitting, and read- ing in my Bible ; she snatcht it hastily out of my hand and threw it out of doors ; I ran out and catcht it up, and put it into my pocket, and never let her see it afterwards. Then they packed up their things to be gone, and gave me my load : I complained it was too heavy, whereupon she gave me a slap on the face, and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God, hoping that redemp- tion was not far off; and the rather be-
54 Narrative of cause their insolence grew worse and worse. But thoughts of my going homeward (for so we bent our course) much cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at all. But (to my amazement and great perplexity) the scale was soon turned ; for when we had got a little way, on a sudden my mistress gave out she would go no further, but turn back again, and said I must go back again with her, and she called her Sannup, and would have had him go back also, but he would not ; but said he would go on, and come to us again in three days. My spirit was upon this (I confess) very impatient, and almost outrageous. I thought I could as well have died as went back. I cannot de- clare the trouble that I was in about it ; back again I must go. As soon as I had an opportunity, I took my Bible to read, and that quieting scripture came to
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 55 my hand, Pfalm 46. 1 o. Be full, and know that I am God. Which stilled my spirit for the present : but a sore time of trial I concluded I had to go through. My master being gone, who seemed to me the best friend I had of an Indian, both in cold and hunger, and quickly so it proved. Down I sat with my heart as full as it could hold, and yet so hun- gry, that I could not sit neither ; but going out to see what I could find, and walking among the trees, I found six acorns and two chesnuts, which were some refreshment to me. Towards night I gathered me some sticks for my own comfort, that I might not lie a cold ; but when we came to lie down, they bid me go out, and lie somewhere else, for they had company : (they said come in more than their own :) I told them I could not tell where to go, they bid me go look : I told them, if I went to another wigwam they would be angry,
56 Narrative of and send me home again. Then one of the company drew his sword, and told me he would run me through if I did not go presently. Then was I fain to stoop to this rude fellow, and go out in the night, I knew not whither. Mine eyes hath seen that fellow afterwards walk- ing up and down in Boston, under the appearance of a friendly Indian, and sev- eral others of the like cut. I went to one wigwam, and they told me they had no room. Then I went to another, and they said the same. At last an old In- dian bid me come to him, and his Squaw gave me some ground-nuts ; she gave me also something to lay under my head, and a good fire we had. Through the good providence of God, I had a com- fortable lodging that night. In the morn- ing another Indian bid me come at night, and he would give me six groundnuts, which I did. We were at this place and time about two miles from Connecticut
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 57 River. We went in the morning (to gather ground-nuts) to the river, and went back again at night. I went with a great load at my back ; (for they when they went, tho' but a little way, would carry all their trumpery with them ;) I told them the skin was off my back, but I had no other comforting answer from them than this, that it would be no mat- ter if my head was off too. The thirteenth Remove. NSTEAD of going towards the Bay (which was what I desired) I must go with them five or six miles down the river, into a mighty thicket of brush, where we abode almost a fortnight. Here one asked me to make a shirt for her Papoos for which she gave me a mess of broth, which was thickened with
58 Narrative of meal made of the bark of a tree ; and to make it better, she had put into it about a handful of peas, and a few roasted ground-nuts. , I had not seen my son a pretty while, and here was an Indian of whom I made enquiry after him, and asked him when he saw him ? He an- swered me, that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a piece of him as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat. But the Lord upheld my spirit under this discourage- ment : and I considered their horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not one of them that makes the least con- science of speaking the truth. In this place, one cold night, as I lay by the fire, I removed a stick which kept the heat from me, a Squaw moved it down again, at which I looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in my eyes ; I thought I should have been quite blinded and never have seen more :
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 59 But lying down, the water ran out of my eyes, and carried the dirt with it, that by the morning I recovered my sight again. Yet upon this, and the like occa- sions, I hope it is not too much to say with rob, Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, 0 ye my friends, for tke hand of the LORD has touched me. And here I cannot but remember how many times sitting in their wigwams, and musing on things past, I should suddenly leap up and run out, as if I had been at home, forgetting where I was, and what my condition was, but when I was without, and saw nothing but wilderness and woods, and a company of barbarous Heathen, my mind quickly returned to me, which made me think of that spoken concerning Samson, who said I will go out and fhake myfelf as at other times, but he wilt not that the Lord was departed from him. About this time I began to think that
60 JV'arratine of all my hopes of restoration would come to nothing. I thought of the English army, and hoped for their coming, and being retaken by them, but that failed. I hoped to be carried to Albany, as the Indians had discoursed, but that failed also. I thought of being sold to my husband, as my master spake ; but instead of that my master himself was gone, and I left behind, so that my spirit was now quite ready to sink. I asked them to let me go out and pick up some sticks, that I might get alone, and pour out my heart unto the Lord. Then also I took my Bible to read, but I found no comfort here neither, yet I can say, in all my sor- rows and afflictions, God did not leave me to have any impatient work towards himself; as if his ways were unrighteous ; but I knew that he laid upon me less than I deserved. Afterward, before this doleful time ended with me, I was turn-
Mrs. Rowlandfon. 61 ing the leaves of my Bible, and the Lord brought to me some scripture which did a little revive me, as that, Isa. 55. 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, faith the Lord. And also that, Pfalm 37. 5. Com- mit thy ways unto the Lord, truft alfo in him, and he fhall bring it to pafs. About this time they came yelping from Hadley, having there killed three Englishmen, and brought one captive with them, viz. Thomas Read. They all gathered about the poor man, asking him many questions. I desired also to go and see him ; and when I came he was crying bitterly, supposing they would quickly kill him. Whereupon I asked one of them, whether they intended to kill him ; he answered me, they would not. He being a little cheered with that, I asked him about the welfare of my husband, he told me he saw him such a time in the Bay, and he was well, but
62 Narrative of very melancholy. By which I certainly understood (though I suspected it before) that whatsoever the Indians told me re- specting him, was vanity and lies. Some of them told me he was dead, and they had killed him : Some said he was mar- ried again, and that the governor wished him to marry, and told him that he should have his choice, and that all per- suaded him I was dead. So like were these barbarous creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning. As I was sitting once in the wigwam here, Philip's maid came with the child in her arms, and asked me to give her a piece off my apron, to make a flap for it; I told her I would not ; then my mistress bid me give it, but I still said no. The maid told me, if I would not give her a piece, she would tear a piece off it ; I told her I would tear her coat then; with that my mistress rises up, and takes up a stick big enough to have
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