The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-01
uISTORYOE

| HISTORY OF
SIMSBURY, CRANKY AND CANTON
Connecticut, from the gear 1912 to 1876 =
BY NOAH A. PHELPS.
(EXtracts continued)
Arrow-heads have been found, very fire.
quently, in all parts of the meadows where
the lands have been cultivated by the pillow
1t is not uncommon, at the present day, tt
find them. Other relics, too, have been founC
occasionally, consisting of articles used ii
war, in the cultivation of the soil, and for do
mestic purposes. In the meadows, westerly
of the house Of Richard Bacon, Esq, such i'm
plements have often been discovered. With
in few years, Col. Aurora Case, in blowing
new field, lying westerly of Mr.. Robert j
! McRoys's house, found stone mortar and
ing corn, which have been deposited in the
archives of the Connecticut Historical Soci
ETY..
During the Indian disturbances in 1907
one of those events occurred, which, when
ever they happened, spread terror and con
sternation throughout the infant settlements
and overwhelmed with the deepest agony the
family connections Of the sufferers.
In the fall of 707, DANIEL HAYES, at the
age Of twcnty-one ycars,was taken by the lii
dians, and carried captive into Canada. lie
resided at Salmon brook, now the central
part Of CRANKY, which being at that time the
northern point Of settlement in the town, was
peculiarly exposed to sudden invasions by the
Indians. The circumstances attending this
transaction, as preserved by tradition, are as
follows:
Some two or three years before Hayes was
TAKEN e was at house-raising in Wcatauge,
when, very inconsideraLely, and out of mere
wanton sport, he cut off the tail of a dog be-
longing to an old Indian, who a stranger,and
entirely unknown, happened to be present.
The master Of the dog, though he uttered no
complaint, manifested such emotions Of i'll
will and revenge, that Hayes, before they
separated deemed it prudent for himself to
attempt to pacify him. He sought therefore
a reconciliation, by proposing to drink togcth-
or, and offered, moreover, reparation for the
injury. But the Indian rejected all over
lures, and left the ground, evidently in sur
ly and unreconciled mood Of mind, and, pro-
badly, with malice and revenge deeply I'M
pressed upon his heart. Nothing afterwards
being heard of the Indian or his dog, the cir
cumstancc in a short time if not forgotten, be-
came UNDECIDED. But the events which fol-
low were supposed to result from this af-
fair.
On the evening before his capture, there
was a corn husking party at the house of Mr.
Hayes, when,i in the course OF conversation, he
remarked that early in the ensuing morning
he should cndeavor to find his horse, which
was feeding in the forests, and, as supposed,
westerly of the settlement. This convcrsa-
ton, as appears from the sequel, was over
heard by Indians, who we're at that time Turk
ing about the house, and who, it is supposed,
from the information thus obtained, devised
their plans of operation for the next morning
After the family had retired and were
asleep, they were awakened by the barking
of their dog, which manifested 50 much unea-
siness as to induce Mr.. Hayes to leave his
bed and with his dog, to seek the cause. Sup
posing this disturbance to have proceeded from
the incurslon Of cattle into the corn-feld con-
tiguous to his house, and finding it unmolest-
cd, he again sought reposc in sleep But the
dog continued FESTIVE, and plainly made
known by his conduct that there was some
thing wrong in the neighborhood of the
house.
The next morning at an early hour, Mr..
Hayes, taking with him a bride, proceeded
into the forests to find his horse. His route
led him to pass Stoney Hill, ridge Of land
stretching north and south about eighty rods
westerly of Salmon brook street. Upon turn
ing round the south point of this hill, he was
seized by three Indians, who sprang upon
him from an ambush where they had secreted
themselves from view. SO suddenly and UNI
expectedly came this attack upon Hayes, that
he was deprived of all power to make resist
ance, or even any attempt to escape. One
Indian seized him by the throat-another en-
Joined silence, by putting a hand over his
the other, with a tomahawk
raised over his head, enforced obedience and
submission They Immediately bound his
hands at his back with the throat latch Of the
bride, and, with their captive, hastily left
the place, taking their course in a northern
direction.
Another account states that Hayes was ac-
by Mr. Lamson, who being an
agile and athletic man, outran the Indians and
effected his escapc-that the number OF In
dams belonging to the party amounted to five
or more and that the transaction was wit
messed by Mrs Holcomb, wife Of MIR. Ma
thaniel Holcomb, who was i'll the fields milk
inc, that morning, but who, from considera-
tons relating to her own safety, was deter
rcd from returning home, or giving an alarm,
until the Indians with their captive had left
the place.
Very soon, however, the usual alarm was
spread, and a force was raised sufficient to
make pursuit. Immediate effort was made to
relieve the captive, and punish the agrees
ors. And notice of the calamity having been
sent to Windsor, large force came from
that town to the rescue. The route taken
by the Indians was found and traced, and at
times the marks of their tracks appeared to
be so fresh, that strong hopes were entertain
ed Of ovcrtalling them. But their superior
cunning in such exploits, with their heetness
in passing through the wilderness, enabled