Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-06-09
THE TREES
OF KING
PHILIP
uroap cup at Medfield. Mass.
winch Marks Historical
Event 10 Indian Wars


'ne town of Medfeld was burned b,
the Indians. The town at that time wa,
small frontier settlement HAVING hon,
set OFF from Dedham twentv.six veor,
previous.
hlng Philip and his dusky warrio-,
mad been waging war for severs
months against the English settlers ot
eastern Massachusetts, and had already
attacked them at Swanzey and othe,
towns of Plymouth colony. July IA
1919, four or FIVE settlers were killed
in Mendon.
The rest of the inhabitants fed tc
Medfeld, which then became the Outer
most settlement in the Massachusett,
colony.
During the summer of. 1875, many
other towns were visited by the In
dians, the buildings burned and the
settlers either killed or carried into
captivity.
The allied colonies of Massachu
Plymouth and Connecticut raised n
force of more than 1000 men and de.
feated Philip at his swamp stronghold
in Rhode Island, Decembo- Is. 1915.
More than 1000 Indians and 100 whites
were slain in this fight.
Philip escaped and the Indian forces
were cut up into small bands, which
preyed on isolated settlements and
farm houses Medfield, Lancaster, Wey.
mouth, Groton, Warwick, Sudbury and
other towns were attacked during Feb
rus-y and March, 1876.
Early in the year Rev. Mr.. Wilson.
pastor of the church in Medfeld. wrote
to the governor and council asking that
soldiers be sent to protect the Medfeld
settlement.
On February II Captain Jacob and
eighty men arrived, in response to Rev.
Mr.. Wilson'S requst. The town con.
tanned about the same number of male
inhabitants capable of bearing arms.
The soldiers were scattered among
the various families in Medfeld and on
Sun lay, February 20, all attended
church in the meeting house. In his
talk that morning Rev. NJ. Wilson
urged his hearers to be vigilant and to
guard against surprise by the Indians.
Tradition says that during the day In.
dams were seen on NOON hill and
Mount Nebo, two high elevations of
land in MeGtfeld. A guard was main
tained during the night, but as day
light approached the soldiers crept into
the houses of the settlers, to thaw out
their stiffened legs and fingers before
the great open freplaces
They evidently believed all danger
of an attack to be over for the time
being. The Inlians, however, had crept
upon the town from the westward dur
ing the night, and by concealing them
selves in barns, hay ricks Gnd outbuild-
ings, were ready to attack the town at
daybreak.
The plan of attack seems to have
been to FIRE the houses and barns
given signal and to murder the fleeing
inhabitants as they attempted to escape
to the garrison houses.
This plan was frustrated in a measure
by Samuel Morse, pioneer settler,
who had arisen early that Monday
and gone to the barn to feed
his cattle.
He discovered an Indian hiding in
the hay and at once took his family
and fed to the garrison house. His
house and barn were Immediately set
on FIRE by the Indians.
The burning of Goodman Morses
house was the signal for the general
pillage and massacre to
commence. More than thirty houses,
two mills and several barns were de
stroyed. Eighteen persons were killed.
Many cattle were burned when the
barns were destroyed. The garrison
houses were bravely defended and al
escaped destruction. Many Of the set
tiers were burned 10 death in their
homes. and some were killed as they |
attempted to fee to the garrison houses
Others were carried into captivity. As
soon as the settlers realized the full
extent of their peril they fred the one
cannon which the town possessed as
signal to the settlers in Dedham. On
he second discharge Of this "grate
une.'' a panic seems to have seized
he Indians and they fed across the OLD
North bridge. The bridge was set On
ire TO hinder pursuit. On hill west
# the town and in full view OF its out
aged settlers the Indians roasted an
gaQEf 1