EARLY FAMILIES OF CHARLESTOWN, NH
From:	Janice Farnsworth (Farns10th@AOL.COM)

Surname: Captivity of Susannah JOHNSON (Part 1 of 3)
Source:  History of Charlestown, NH, The Old No. 4,
     by Rev. Henry Saunderson printed by the Claremont Mfg.
        Co., Claremont, NH 1876

p.445
Capt. James Johnson m. Susannah, dau of Lieutenant Moses
and Susanna (Hastings) Willard.  She was born at Turkey
Hills - later known as Lunenburg, MA Feb 20, 1729/30.

Susannah Johnson and family were taken prisoners together
with her sister Miriam Willard, Peter Labaree and Ebene-
zer Farnsworth, on the 30th of August 1754 and were 
carried to Canada.  The story of their journey and
captivity is one of deep interest and is now familiar
to thousands who have read her graphic and exciting
narrative.  The manner of her capture and the subsequent
circumstances of her captivity and sufferings will be 
best appreciated by her own description of them.  But
as this cannot be inserted (here) on account of its great
length, a brief abridgment of the facts and circumstances
as narrated by herself, must be accepted in place of it.

About the 20th of August, 1754, the capture of the 
Maloon family on the Merrimac River by the Indians be-
came known in Charlestown (NH) and very great excitement
prevailed in consequence.  Mr. Johnson was absent at the
time and Mrs. Johnson and the family were living in their
house on the farm, which stood at what is now the north
end of the street in the village and which, being at
about the distance of a hundred rods from the fort, was
in a very exposed situation.  It is scarcely a matter
that should surprise us, therefore, that her mind should
be filled, as she describes it to have been, with the
most fearful apprehensions.  But her husband soon re-
turned and putting confidence in his courage and ability
to protect her, all fears were theron dismissed.

But although special danger had ceased to be feared, it
was still no less imminent for, on the morning of the 30th
of August, they were suddenly surprised by a party of
eleven Indiansand all the family were taken prisoners.

The circumstances were these:  There had been a social
gatheringof neighbors at the house the previous evening
who being very agreeably entertained with fine ripe 
melons and exciting beverages prolonged their stay to an
unusually late hour.  The consequence  was that the
family on retiring soon fell asleep and would doubtless
have continued to sleep until late in the morning had
they not been aroused about half way between dawn and
sunrise by the loud knocking of Peter Labaree at the
door, who had been engaged by James Johnson for a day's
work and had thus early come to commence it.  On being
awakened, Mr. Johnson slipped on his jacket and trousers
to go let him in, but by opening the door he opened a
scene terrible to describe: Indians! Indians! Indians!
He sprang to his guns, but Labaree, heedless of danger
instead of closing the door to keep them out, began to
rally our hired man upstairs.  But in an instant a crown
of savages fixed horribly for war, rushed furiously in.
I screamed and begged my friends to ask for quarter. By
this time they were all over the house; some up the
stairs;  some hauling my siter Miriam Willard out of bed
another had hold of me and one was approaching Mr. John-
son, who stood in the middle of the floor to deliver
himself up.  But the Indian supposing that he would make
resistance and be more than his match went to the door
and brought three of his comrades and the four bound him.

I was led to the door fainting and trembling.  There
stood our friend Labaree bound.  Ebenezer Farnsworth whom
they foundup chamber (a hired hand), they were putting
in the same situation; and to make complet the shocking
scene, my three little children were driven naked to the
place where I stood. After what little plunder their
hurry would allow, we were ordered to march.  After go-
ing about 20 rods we fell behind a rising ground where
we halted to pack things in a better manner.  While there
a savage went back, as we supposed, to fire the buildings.
Ebenezer Farnsworth proposed to my husband to go back
with him to get a quantity of pork from the cellar to
help us on the journey, but Mr. Johnson prudently replied
that by that means the Indians might find the rum and in
a fit of intoxication - kill us all.  The Indian returned
with marks of fear on his contenance and we were hurried
on with violence.  Two savages laid hold of each of my
arms and hurried me through thorny thickets in a most
unmerciful manner.  I lost a shoe and suffered exceed-
ingly.

We heard alarm guns from the fort.  This added new speed
to the flight of the savages.  They were apprehensive
that soldiers might be sent for our relief.  When we had
got a mile and a half, my faintness obliged me to sit.
This being observed by an Indian, he drew his knife, 
to put an end to my existence, but he only cut some band
by which my gown was tied and pushed me on.  My little
children were crying; my husband and the other two men
were bound, and my sister and myself were obliged to make
the best of our way with all our might.  At the distance
of three miles there was a general halt.  The savages
supposing that we as well as themselves might have an
appetite, gave us a loaf of bread, some raisins and
apples which they had taken from the house.  While we
were forcing down our scanty breakfasta horse came in
sight known to all by the name Scoggin, belonging to
Capt. Phineas Stevens, Esq.  One of the Indians attempted
to shoot him but was prevented by Mr. Johnson.  They
then expressed a wish to catch him saying (pointing to
me) for the squaw to ride.  Mr. Johnson and two Indians
caught the horse on the bank of the river.   By this time
my legs and feet were covered with blood which being
noticed by Mr. Labaree, he with that humanity that never
forsook him, took his own stockings and presented them
to me, and the Indians gave me a pair of moccasins. Bags
and blankets were thrown over Scoggin and I mounted on
top of them and on we jogged about seven miles to the
upper end of Wilcott's Island.  We there halted and pre-
pared to cross the river.  Rafts were made of dry timber
Two Indians and Farnsworth crossed first.  Labaree, by
signs, got permission to swim the horse and Mr. Johnson
was allowed to swim by the raft that I was on, to push
it along.  We all arrived safe on the other side of the
river about four o'clock in the afternoon.  A fire was
kindled and some of their stolen kettles were hung over
it and filled with porridge.  The savages took delight
in viewing their spoil, which amounted to forty or fifty
pounds in (monetary) value. They, then with a savage yell
gave the war whoop and bade defiance to danger. Our tarry
in this place lasted an hour.  I had time to reflect on
our miserable condition.  Captives in the power of un-
merciful savages, without provision and almost without
clothes, in a wilderness where we must sojourn as long
as the children of Israel did, for aught we knew, and,
what added to our distress, not one of our savage masters
could understand a word of English.

Here, after being hurried from home with such rapidity,
I have leisure to inform the reader respecting our Indian
masters.  (Susannah, as she writes her memoirs of her
captivity, here, speaks to the readers of her account)
They were eleven in number; all men of middle age, except
one, a youth of sixteen, who, on our journey discovered
a very troublesome disposition.  According to their
practice he who first laid hands on a prisoner consider-
ed (the prisoner) his property.  My master, who was the
one who first took my hand was as clever an Indian as I
ever saw.  He even evinced, at numberous times a dispo-
sition that showed he was by no means void of compassion.
The four who took my husband claimed him as their prop-
erty.  My sister, three children, Labaree and Farnsworth
had each a master.  When the time came for us to prepare
to march I almost expired at the thought of leaving my
aged parents, brothers, sisters and friends and travel
with savages through a dismal forest to unknown regions
in the alarming situation in which I then was with three
small children.  The eldest (child) Sylvanus (Johnson)
was but six years old.  My sister Miriam (Willard) was
fourteen.  My husband was barefoot and otherwise thinly
clad.  His masters had taken his jacket.  My two daughters
had nothing on but their shifts and I had only the gown
handed to me by the savages.  In addition to the suffer-
ings which arose from my own deplorable condition I could
not but feel for my friend, Labaree.  He had left a wife
and four small children behind - his situation was
extremely unhappy.  The Indians pronounced the dreadful
word, "munch", (march) and on we must go.

I was put on the the horse; Mr. Johnson took one daughter
and Mr. Labaree took the other.  We sent six or eight
miles and stopped for the night.  The men were made secure
by having their legs put in split sticks somewhat like
stocks and tied with cords which were tied to limbs of
trees too high to be reached.  My sister much to her
mortification must lie between two Indians with a cord
thrown over her and passing under each of them.  The
little children had blankets and I had one for my own
use.  The fatigues of day obliged me to sleep for several
hours in spite of the horrors which surrounded me.  The
Indians observed great silence and never spoke but when 
necessary.  My children were much more peaceable than
could be imagined.  Gloomy fear imposed a deadly silence.

End Part 1: The Captivity of Susannah Johnson

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