The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-24

Every precaution, however, which peo-
pie so weak in resources could adopt, was
taken both by the government and the town,
to give protection to the inhabitants. Many
houses were placed in a condition OF defense,
and some Of them, at times OF the greatest
alarm, were protected by a garrison. OF
these the Bestor house, at Weatauge'-the
minister's house at Hop meadow,-a house at
Westover's plain,-one at Salmon brook
and one or two at Turkey Hills, are either
known, or on Evolutionary evidence are sup
posed to be of the number. A supply of am
unition, procured at the expense Of the town,
was always kept on hand. This ammunition, at
one time, was kept at house which stood on
the east side of the river, on the spot where
the house of Richard Bacon, ESQ now stands,
which was destroyed with all its contents, by
the accidental burning of the house There
exists record evidence that the parsonage
house at Hop meadow was fortified in 1890,
and also in 1700 and that two Notifications
were erected in the town, one called the
" Great Fort" which stood ON the plain north
of SaXton's brook and another called "Shaw's
Fort" situated about one mile north of Sal
mon brook street. These block houses were
probably constructed in 1908, for in that year,
the General Assembly ordered the Committee
of War to erect two garrisons in Simsbury,at
the charge of the Colony, and supply them
with men and provisions" as there should
be occasion. In 1907, there was an alarm
spread that the Indians contemplated an in
vasion of the town, when the Assembly grant
ed seven pounds, from the treasury, to forti
fly it, and the next year, further grant Of
seven pounds six shillings was made, to pay
the soldiers belonging to Simsbury, who had
IooYo on,,,loyo1 Tny+ TI;olo,y
the public service
Just previous to this, the Council of War,
in February, 1907, passed the following res
olutions:
Resolved for the preservation of the from
tier townes of Symsbury, Waterbury, Wood
bury,an Danbury, that order be sent to those
townes to provide with all possible speed, a
sufficient number of well fortified houses for
the saltie Of themselves and families, in their
respective towncs; The houses for fortifca-
tions to be appointed by the vote of the ma
jor part of the inhabitants Of such respective
townes assembled, if they can agree,-in case
Of their disagreement, to be appointed by the
commission officers Of the towne.
"The scouts in Simsbury to be appointed
and directed by the Ma jor Of the Countie.-
The charges to be borne by the Countie, las by
law is provided.
Two faithful and trusty men,as scout to
J be out every day, to observe the motions of
the enemy"
The last alarm was in 1924. The conduct
of the Indians at the north and west during
this year, and especially their hostile move
ments in the vicinity of LitchGeld, induced
the government to take such precautionary
measures as the occasion demanded, in order
to furnish protection to the weak and exposed
settlements. A line of scouts was established,
extending from Litchfeld to Turkey Hills,
curying around the most northerly and west
erly settlements in Simsbury.
On the 4th of June, 1924, Captain Richard
Case, of this town, was directed to employ ten
men on this scouting party, to rendezvous at
Litchfeld. The men employed in this ser
vice, were Sergeant Jonathan Holcomb, John
HILL Nathaniel Holcomb, Joseph Mills, VIM.
Buell., Samuel Pettibone Joseph Wilcoxson,
Benajah Humphrey Nathaniel Westover and
Charles Humphrey all belonging to Sims
bury. They continued in the service until
early in October, On the oath Of Septem-
Der, captain Sprague with % scntinels join
ed the scout at SimSbury" Another force Of
eighteen men was employed in the summer
" to JOIN the grand scout"
During this summer, " n garrison" was con-
structcd at Turkey Hills. In july nine men
were sent to man it, and subsequently a larg-
er force, for the record Of the Council Of
J War (trom which the above quotations are
made) specifies that "thirty men who had
been sent to garrison at Simsbury," were or
) dered to bc disbanded in September. On the
, 9th of July, there was can alarm at Turkey
Hills" of a nature so serious, as to induce the
Council to send there fofty-one soldiers from
IN;,,Jso, ri;
does not appear however that there was any
substantial ground to apprchend immediate
danger, for these troops were dismissed after
one days service.
These precautionary measures were wisely
taken. Strolling parties of Indians had been
lurking about the settlements during most
part Of the season, with the intention, evident
? ly OF subjecting the weak and delenceless to
cruelties Of their accustomed modes of war
= fare. They were prevented, however, by the
+ prompt and efficient action of the govern
ment, from inficting any general or extensive
: injury.
Although this was the last time when dan
ger was seriously apprehended from the In
dams, it was not until after the lapse of some
years, that the people felt themselves in per-
feet security, or could entirely overcome that
fear which the nursery tales of the times had
kept alive long after all real danger hadpass-
ed away.
With the exception of some petty thefts,or
trespasscs, it is not known that tho whites
were ever materially injured by the Massa-
coe Indians, at least by that portion of them
who continued to reside IN the plantation
The burning of the town in 1876, as before
stated,was the act of northern tribes, in which
the MASSAGE Indians, it is believed, did not
participate. In this, as well as in subsequent
wars during that century, all the Indians re-
siding in the then county Of Hartford, which
included nearly one half of the Colony, join
ed the English by treaty stipuations, and
proved themselves not only true to their en-