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The Indians. and. The French. The English. Trouble in Colonial New Hampshire. Background to War. For almost a century, French, English and Native American forces warred with each other to control eastern North America.
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The Indians and The French The English Trouble in Colonial New Hampshire
Background to War For almost a century, French, English and Native American forces warred with each other to control eastern North America. In New England, where Indians had lost land and much of their way of life to English settlers … Native Americans sided with the French. To the English, Frenchmen and Indians were a common enemy. Concord Marker
Early Days in New Hampshire More than 50 years after New Hampshire’s first settlements in 1623, towns still clung to the coast and to nearby waterways.
The New Hampshire Frontier Settling towns involved extremely hard work. Fields, homesroads — everything — had to be carved out of wilderness. The Founding of Portsmouth
The Wilderness The land that settlers saw around them truly was a wilderness. But it was hardly empty. Native Americans lived in villages throughout New Hampshire’s woodlands. They were of great concern to the English newcomers.
Indians The fact that Indians and settlers lived close together provided opportunities for friendly trade. Native Americans appreciated the improvement of English metal over their traditional stone tools. For their part, settlerslearned much from their Indian neighbors about surviving in this new, wild country. Even so, the English fortified themselves against possible attack.
Peaceful Relations Peaceful relations with the English were possible. Passaconaway, the great sachem of the Pennacooks, counseled Native Americansin the region to co-exist peacefullywith the new settlers inNew Hampshire. Settler Wearing a Trade Shirt Snare with Figure-4 Trigger
The French Strong log houses guarded against Indians whom the settlers mistrusted, but settlers also wanted protection from the French. As early as 1632, New Hampshire began fortifyinga point on New Castle against French invasion by sea.
Joliet’s Map of 1674 The French had explored large parts of North America beforethe English. They struggled with the English for control of the continent … … and vied for alliance with Native Americans. New France
Competition This satiric engraving suggests a contrast. An Englishman offers a Bible and a bolt of cloth to a Native American. The Frenchman offers a tomahawk and a purse of money.
Tensions But good relations did not last. • Indian population plummeted because of “a great and deadly sickness” beginning around 1617. • English population, on the other hand, kept increasing — especially between 1630 and 1642. New Hampshire’s Population 10,000 European Population 8,000 Indian Population 3,000 2,500 2,300 800 500 0 0 0 1,400 1,250
Tensions Also, Native Americans did not understand English notions of land ownership … and English settlers did not respect the legitimacy of Indian use of the land. From The Old Indian Chronicle: Being a Collection of Exceeding Rare Tracts Written and Published in the Time of King Philip’s War
King Philip’s War In 1675, tired of English arrogance in general and spurred by a specific incident, Native Americans attacked English settlers. This bloody war lasted just over a year and ended with the slaying of Metacomet — the Indian leader known to the English as King Philip. Metacomet, or King Philip
King Philip’s War Indians of the Northeast would never recover from this loss. Most battles had been fought in Massachusetts and Rhode Island But incidents also occurred in New Hampshire late in the war.
Incidents in New Hampshire • Dover: invited to a “sham” battle, 400 Indians who came in peace were seized by Major Richard Waldron; some were hanged in Boston, and 200 others were sold into slavery • Incidents in North Hampton (4 dead) and Hampton (60 killed)
Indian Diaspora Native Americans in northern New England would never again live easily in their homeland. Some would move westward to live with Indians they once had considered enemies. Others would move northward to Canada and ally themselves with the French.
The End of Peace From 1623, when settlers first resided permanently in New Hampshire, to the death of King Philipin 1676 … and the end of peacefulrelations with Indiansin northern New England … just over 50 yearshad passed. Passaconaway Metacomet
French and Indian Wars Most of the raids were linked to wars between the French and the English — • King William’s War(1688–1697) • Queen Anne’s War(1702–1713) • Lovewell’s War(1721–1725) • King George’s War(1744–1748) • The French and Indian War(1754–1763) Over the next 90 years, Indian raids would ravage New Hampshire.
Battles Traditional open battlesbetween French andEnglish armies did occur. Often English armieswere supported byprovincial soldiers,including those fromNew Hampshire. But no battles betweenEuropean armies tookplace in New Hampshire. Even so, the province’s residents suffered directly from the wars — just as if they were on a battlefield!
Raids New Hampshire’ssettlers experienced theterrors of Indian raidsthat targeted civiliansas well as soldiers. Many houses wereburned … and women and children,as well as men, were killed in their homes and fields or were captured and taken to Canada.
1689 Dover: 23 settlers are killed and 29 captured 1689 Durham: 18 are killed 1690 Raymond: 8 are killed and 1 captured 1690 Newington: 16 are killed and 6 captured 1690 Exeter: 8 are killed Lee: 16 are killed Rye: 21 are killed Durham: 13 houses are burned; 94 are killed or captured Exeter: 2 are killed King William’s War (1688–1697)
King William’s War (1688–1697) • Dover: 3 settlers are killed and 3 wounded 1696 Rye: Captain John Locke is killed while working in his field • Dover: 3 settlers are killed 1697 Boscawen: Hannah Dustin kills 10 Indians and escapes after having been captured in Haverhill, Massachusetts Hannah DustinDetail of the Monument at Boscawen
1703 Hampton: 5 settlers are killed 1704 Durham: 2 are killed Dover: 3 are killed;3 are wounded and3 captured Durham: 10 are killed 1706 Nashua: 10 are killed; others are captured Exeter: 3 are killed and 3 captured 1707 Durham: 3 are killed 1707 Dover: 9 are killed 1709 Exeter: 5 are killed 1709 Durham: 1 is killed 1711 Dover: 5 are killed 1712 Durham: 1 is killed 1712 Dover: 2 are killed and 3 captured Queen Anne’s War (1702–1713)
Lovewell’s War (1721-1725) • Dover: Elizabeth Hansonand four of her childrenare taken. Mrs.Hansonkeeps a journal duringher year’s captivity. 1724 (and 1725) Tamworth andthe Lakes Region:John Lovewell leads twoexpeditions during which11 Indians are killed. For the slayings, he receives bounties totaling over £1000.
Lovewell’s War (1721-1725) In a third expedition, both Lovewell and Paugus, the Indian leader, are killed, and 14 of Lovewell’s men never return.
King George’s War (1744–1748) • Westmoreland: 2 settlers are killed and 3 captured 1745 Keene: 1 is killed 1746 Charlestown (Fort No. 4): 7 are killed and 5 captured; later, the fort is taken “Thomas HastingsHis horn”
King George’s War (1744–1748) 1746 Concord: 5 are killed 1746 Contoocook and Hopkinton:2 are killed and 9 captured 1747 Epsom: 1 is captured Concord Monument Commemorating the Ambush of 1746
BetweenWars 1749 Charlestown (Fort at No. 4): one man is killed; another, captured 1752 Rumney: while trapping, John Stark is captured, and another man is killed.Indians are impressed with Stark’s bravery while “running the gauntlet.”
BetweenWars The following spring, Stark is ransomed andreturns home. As a good soldier, Stark pays attention to his surroundings during his forced march to Canadaand is able to help map his route after his return.
French and Indian War(1754–1763) • Salisbury: Nathaniel Meloon and his family are captured and taken to Canada. • Franklin: 2 are killed, and 3 captured Rachel Meloon was nine years old when captured. Like many other captive children, she refuses to return with her parents when the family is ransomed four years later. Finally, after nine years with the Abenakis, Rachel does return. After her return from Canada, she weaves this porcupine quill belt for her friend Peter Kimball of Boscawen.
French and Indian War(1754–1763) • Charlestown (Fort at No. 4): Susanna Johnson, her family, and two others are captured and marched to Canada. A day and a half into the journey, Susanna gives birth to a baby girl, whom she names Elizabeth Captive. Amazingly, she and her child both survive the trek and the captivity. After they are ransomed, they return to Charlestown.
French and Indian War(1754–1763) Charlestown (Fort at No. 4): 1756 one settler is killed 1757 five are captured of whom three die in Canada Westmoreland: 1760 six are captured; one is killed Reconstruction of the Historic Village of the Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown Towns established as a northern “frontier against the Indians.” Fort at No. 4 is here referred to as Stephens Fort.
French and Indian War(1754–1763) Famous for their success in using guerilla tactics to fight Indians … Rogers’ Rangers attack the Indian village of St. Francis in Canada for… “so many devastations on the frontiers of New England.” Major Robert Rogers
French and Indian War(1754–1763) The Rangers’ attack on the Indians at St. Francis in 1759 effectively ends coordinated Indian raids into New England. That same year, General Wolfe’s victory over the French army on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec destroys France’s hopes for victory in America. In 1760, war ends in America. Tavern Sign, Rochester
Attacks in New HampshireA Review A Review A review of the towns attacked during 90 years ofoff-again-on-again war … (as listed in this presentation)
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War • King William’s War • Queen Anne’s War • Lovewell’s War • King George’s War • French and Indian War Dover, Hampton, North Hampton
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War King William’s War • Queen Anne’s War • Lovewell’s War • King George’s War • French and Indian War Dover, Newington, Rye, Exeter, Raymond, Durham, Lee, Boscawen
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War King William’s War Queen Anne’s War • Lovewell’s War • King George’s War • French and Indian War Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton, Nashua
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War King William’s War Queen Anne’s War Lovewell’s War • King George’s War • French and Indian War Dover, Tamworth and theMeredith-Moultonborough Area
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War King William’s War Queen Anne’s War Lovewell’s War King George’s War • French and Indian War Epsom, Concord, Hopkinton, Westmoreland, Keene, Charlestown
Attacks in New HampshireA Review King Philip’s War King William’s War Queen Anne’s War Lovewell’s War King George’s War French and Indian War Westmoreland, Charlestown, Salisbury, Franklin, Rumney
British America — Briefly — Briefly After 1763, New Hampshire is safe from the terrors of Frenchand Indian incursions. But the end of the wars brings to the forefront American dissatisfaction with English rule. A mere 12 years later, the American colonies join togetherin a successful revolt against England.
© 2006-2007 Christopher MacLeod forthe New Hampshire Historical Society