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The Boy Captives
An Incident of the Indian War of 1695
by John Greenleaf Whittier
THE township of Haverhill； even as late as the close of the
seventeenth century； was a frontier settlement； occupying an
advanced position in the great wilderness； which； unbroken by the
clearing of a white man； extended from the Merrimac River to the
French villages on the St。 Francois。 A tract of twelve miles on the
river and three or four northwardly was occupied by scattered
settlers； while in the centre of the town a compact village had
grown up。 In the immediate vicinity there were but few Indians；
and these generally peaceful and inoffensive。 On the breaking out
of the Narragansett War；（1） the inhabitants had erected
fortifications； and taken other measures for defence； but； with the
possible exception of one man who was found slain in the woods in
1676； none of the inhabitants were molested； and it was not until
about the year 1689 that the safety of the settlement was seriously
threatened。 Three persons were killed in that year。 In 1690 six
garrisons were established in different parts of the town； with a
small company of soldiers attached to each。 Two of these houses
are still standing。 They were built of brick； two stories high； with a
single outside door； so small and narrow that but one person could
enter at a time； the windows few； and only about two and a half feet
long by eighteen inches wide； with thick diamond glass secured
with lead； and crossed inside with bars of iron。 The basement had
but two rooms； and the chamber was entered by a ladder instead of
stairs； so that the inmates； if driven thither； could cut off
communication with the rooms below。 Many private houses were
strengthened and fortified。 We remember one familiar to our
boyhood；a venerable old building of wood； with brick between
the weather…boards and ceiling； with a massive balustrade over the
door； constructed of oak timber and plank； with holes through the
latter for firing upon assailants。 The door opened upon a stone…
paved hall； or entry； leading into the huge single room of the
basement； which was lighted by two small windows； the ceiling
black with the smoke of a century and a half； a huge fireplace；
calculated for eight…feet wood； occupying one entire side； while；
overhead； suspended from the timbers； or on shelves fastened to
them； were household stores； farming utensils； fishing…rods； guns；
bunches of herbs gathered perhaps a century ago； strings of dried
apples and pumpkins； links of mottled sausages； spare…ribs； and
flitches of bacon； the fire…light of an evening dimly revealing the
checked woollen coverlet of the bed in one far…off corner； while in
another
〃The pewter plates on the dresser
Caught and reflected the flame as shields of armies the
sunshine。〃（2）
（1） The 〃Narragansett War〃 was a name applied to that part of
King Philip's War which resulted from the defection of the powerful
tribe of Narragansetts； formerly allies of the English； to the standard
of the Indian chief。
（2） Longfellow's *Evangeline；* lines 205； 206。
Tradition has preserved many incidents of life in the garrisons。 In
times of unusual peril the settlers generally resorted at night to the
fortified houses； taking thither their flocks and herds and such
household valuables as were most likely to strike the fancy or
minister to the comfort or vanity of the heathen marauders。 False
alarms were frequent。 The smoke of a distant fire； the bark of a
dog in the deep woods； a stump or bush； taking in the uncertain
light of stars and moon the appearance of a man； were sufficient to
spread alarm through the entire settlement and to cause the armed
men of the garrison to pass whole nights in sleepless watching。 It is
said that at Haselton's garrison…house the sentinel on duty saw； as
he thought； an Indian inside of the paling which surrounded the
building； and apparently seeking to gain an entrance。 He promptly
raised his musket and fired at the intruder； alarming thereby the
entire garrison。 The women and children left their beds； and the
men seized their guns and commenced firing on the suspicious
object； but it seemed to bear a charmed life； and remained
unharmed。 As the morning dawned； however； the mystery was
solved by the discovery of a black quilted petticoat hanging on the
clothes…line completely riddled with balls。
As a matter of course； under circumstances of perpetual alarm
and frequent peril； the duty of cultivating their fields； and gathering
their harvests； and working at their mechanical avocations； was
dangerous and difficult to the settlers。 One instance will serve as an
illustration。 At the garrison…house of Thomas Dustin； the husband
of the far…famed Mary Dustin （who； while a captive of the Indians；
and maddened by the murder of her infant child； killed and scalped；
wit the assistance of a young boy； the entire band of her captors；
ten in number）； the business of brick…making was carried on。 The
pits where the clay was found were only a few rods from the house；
yet no man ventured to bring the clay to the yard within the
inclosure； without the attendance of a file of soldiers。 An anecdote
relating to this garrison has been handed down to the present time。
Among its inmates were two young cousins； Joseph and Mary
Whittaker； the latter a merry； handsome girl； relieving the tedium of
garrison…duty with her light…hearted mirthfulness and
〃Making a sunshine in that shady place。〃（1）
（1） 〃Her angel's face
As the great eye of heaven shyned bright
And made a sunshine in the shadie place；
Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace。〃
Spenser： *The Faerie Queene；* bk。 I。 canto iii。 st。 4。
Joseph； in the intervals of his labors in the double capacity of
brick…maker and man…at…arms； was assiduous in his attentions to his
fair cousin； who was not inclined to encourage him。 Growing
desperate； he threatened one evening to throw himself into the
garrison well。 His threat only called forth the laughter of his
mistress； and； bidding her farewell； he proceeded to put it in
execution。 On reaching the well he stumbled over a log；
whereupon； animated by a happy idea； he dropped the wood into
the water instead of himself； and； hiding behind the curb； awaited
the result。 Mary； who had been listening at the door； and who had
not believed her lover capable of so rash an act； heard the sudden
plunge of the wooden Joseph。 She ran to the well； and； leaning
over the curb and peering down the dark opening； cried out； in
tones of anguish and remorse； 〃O Joseph； if you're in the land of the
living； I 'll have you！〃 〃I 'll take ye at your word；〃 answered
Joseph； springing up from his hiding…place and avenging himself for
her coyness and coldness by a hearty embrace。
Our own paternal ancestor； owing to religious scruples in the
matter of taking arms even for defence of life and property； refused
to leave his undefended house and enter the garrison。 The Indians
frequently came to his house； and the family more than once in the
night heard them whispering under the windows； and saw them put
their copper faces to the glass to take a view of the apartments。
Strange as it may seem； they never offered any injury or insult to
the inmates。
In 1695 the township was many times molested by Indians； and
several persons were killed and wounded。 Early in the fall a small
party made their appearance in the northerly part of the town；
where； finding two boys at work in an open field； they managed to
surprise and capture them； and； without committing further
violence； retreated through the woods to their homes on the shore
of Lake Winnipiseogee。 Isaac Bradley； aged fifteen； was a small
but active and vigorous boy； his companion in captivity； Joseph
Whittaker； was only eleven； yet quite as large in size； and heavier in
his movements。 After a hard and painful journey they arrived at the
lake； and were placed in an Indian family； consisting of a man and
squaw and two or three children。 Here they soon acquired a
sufficient knowledge of the Indian tongue to enable them to learn
from the conversation carried on in their presence that it was
designed to take them to Canada in the spring。 This discovery was
a painful one。 Canada； the land of Papist priests and bloody
Indians； was the especial terror of the New England settlers； and
the anathema maranatha（1） of Puritan pulpits。 Thither the Indians
usually hurried their captives； where they compelled them to work
in their villages or sold them to the French planters。 Escape from
thence through a deep wilderness； and across lakes； and mountains；
and almost impassable rivers； without food or guide； is regarded as
an impossibility。 The poor boys； terrified by the prospect of being
carried still farther from their