Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28

placed him in the direction to the house of Mr..
Mount mot doubling, as the house was in plain
sinht and only few rods distant, but the little fell |
low would reach it in perfect safety. The girl re-
turned to the swamp and after completing her sup |
pv Of berries, went home to the house of her faith
err and found TO her establishment, as well as that |
of the family that William had not arrived No.
tice was Immediately given through the settlement,
and the whole population rushed at once TO the as
sislance and relief of the almOs, distracted parents
Day and night for more than a week, Witnessed the |
praseworthy eXertons Of his neghbors and the
whole country in every direction, to an extent of
more than twenty miles, was searched with until !
ring vigilance. Every pond aud stream of water
was examined and dragged, and every rod of land
scrulinized for many successive days, but no trace
could be discovered of the absent child. As an in
ducement to continue the search, notice Of the e.
vent was published in the papers and Mr.. Fey
offered reward of two hundred dollars for the re-
coyery Of the child, either dead or alive As sus
picions were entertained that foul play had been
practiscd by the Indians, enquiries were made Of
the different tribes and families in the vicinity, and
pccunurv offers were rendered to their chiefs and
Influential men; and Mr. Fllley himself traversed
for months, the wds Of Michigan, Iowa, and Wis
consin, but his efforts proved vain. No discovery
could be made aud no tidungs had ard he return
ed to his heart broken family, with the sad renec-
ton that their lite Fuiiam ieas los'.
Seven long years, this stricken family endured
Of human nature to submit to" months of vanity
and wearsome nights were appointed to them"
If the shaft of death had snitten down this their
first born son. and they had passed through funeral
solemnites, and had him laid in the grave of their
own church yard, time would have tempered their
grief and mitigated the anguish of their bereave.
mcnt. But the painful suspense, the awful unccr-
tainty that hung ever his fate, an abiding sor-
row, which time could not SOFTEN and earth had no
balm to heal. AS time rolled on, hope become ex.
tinguished, but William was not forgotten The
mourniul event with It's aggravatng circumstances
was a corrodng cankcr upon every comfort Of the
family-a fatal disease seized the mother, and she
sunk into an untimey grave.
Since the decease Of his wife, Mr.. Filey has WIS.,
tied Connecticut, the place Of Ills nativity, and
while here, by mysterious course Of events be-
You'd the comprehension of human wisdom to faith
ON, his long lost child has appeared and been res.
torcd TO his fond embraces.
1t seems that the lad, before reaching the house
Of Mr.. Mount was ovcrtaken aud kidnapped BY a
band of Indians who in their wandcrings happen.
ep to pass that way. In this family he lived, and
travelled with them in all their migratory move
ments. from the time lie was captured until the au-
tunn of 1913.
About this time, this family visited Albany, n
Y, and while there, this white child was discover
ed among them The municipal authorities of the
city becoming acquainted wirh the circumstance,
at once caused their arrest and took measures TO
compel them 10 disclose the means by which they
became possessed of the child. They were alter
nately hattored and threatened, but no disclosures
could be obtained, as they seemed resolved to sub
nit to any punishment, rather than make any com.
municaton by which the paternity of the child
could be ascertained. They therefore dis
charged, and the child very humanely placed in
their Orphan Asylum.
Subsequently in the Spring of 1874, NJ. L. Cowl-
es of Tolland Mass, being in want of boy in his
family, was recommended to this place, and furr-
shed with this Jade whom he brought home with
him to his residence in Tolland.
In the month Of December last, by a most mar
vellous concurrence of circumstances, the facts in
relation to this boy, far it concerned the trans
acton at Albany. came to the knowledge of Rev.
DR.. Cooley, Of Granville, The Doctor having fire.
quenlly heard the circumstances under which the
child was lost, Immediately communicated the in
telligence he had obtained to Mr.. Marvin, the
grandfather Of the child, and he, without loss Of
time, made known the tdngs to Mr. Filley who
was then with his friends in Connecticut. From
the knowledge thus obtained, Mr.. Fey visited Mr.
Cowles, in Holland, with whom the lad then resi-
ded.
Although time and exposure had somewhat OBJ
liberated the fair features of the YOUTH yet his per-
sonal appearance was a counterpart to the Other
members Of his family. His size, his age, the CON.
pleXon Of his eyes and hair, and all his prominen,
characteristics indicated those of his child; and up
on appealing TO II well known upon his hand
and examining an ndubitable mark in the hair o.
his head, his identity was fully recognized, and ii
the joy of his heart he pressed to his bosom hi:
long lost Son.
From the story of the boy it appears that he has
constantly resided in the same family, which con
sisted of four lndians--Paul Pye and Phcbe AM
Pye his wife, Martha Ann Pye their daughter, anC
Thomas Williams an inmate of the family. The
adopted him their son, and he was taught and be
eved that Paul and Phcbe Ann were his parents
and Martha his sister, lie supposed himself an In
dian boy, and was not aware of any difference o
complexion or distinction Of nature until his deliv
erance at Albany. He has an indistinct reccoliec
ton Of attending school, but when or where h
knows not.
This seems to be the only remaining fact in hi
memory that he can recognize as having transpir
ed prior to his capture, and he does not to
- sociate tins with any ether fact indicative of HI
home, except that he did not 90 10 school with In
dams.
The first place which he remembered to have yis,
ed was Green Bayou the scenery of which lie give
: faint, though correct description. In travelling
/ that place they probably went by water us he re
" members sailing IN a steamboat. He accompau
le ed them in in all their wanderings and was used
!. mendicant to supply himself with clothes and til
of family with food when their Incidence preyenle
" their obtaining it any other way
he In the summer they made their pcrcgrination
Of and sometimes visited Connecticut, and at one pc
c. Rod encamped themselves for several weeks i
Stonington. In the winter they generally quarter
ed themselves in wigwams in the vicinity Of SON
village, and lived on small game such as Rabbit
e Skunks and Bultrogs the latter Of which they
re sldered n rlch repasr.
Ill Occasionally they made few baskets with whic
to they sent William to the nearest grocery to bart,
d. for whiskey.
ne He recolIects living near Detroit, Utica, Brotl
IN ertown Catsklll and Hudson, and several montl
at Ilinsdale, n. York. In all their wanderings
N. summer and winter, he travelled barefoot, suhGrn
m. in winter from cold, AMI at all times from hung,
lis and fatigue; but the kindness of his Indian sist
of like second Pocahontas took unwearied pains
o. mitigate his sulierings and make his captivity o
~, durable.
C. Although he cannot recognize his new friend
of yet he rojoices that he has found permanent hon
g in land Of civilization, and all parties feel 10 rel