FOUNDERS OF FORT NO. 4, CHARLESTOWN, NH From: Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth The History of Charlestown, NH - Fort No.4 by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson 1876 p.69 Summer of 1755 During the summer of 1755 the Indians made frequent attacks on the New Hampshire frontiers and were parti- cularly active in the Connecticut valley.  To this section, therefore, scouts were ordered under Captain Elisha Winslow, Captain James Neal and Captain Summers- bee Gilman.  The one under Captain Neal consisting of twenty two men, which alone had any connection with Charlestown was ordered to the frontier for service for thirty days.  It was not probably present at Charlestown during its period of service over one week, during which time it was billetted by Lieut. Isaac Parker.  Though Captain Neal and his men were ordered for service for only thirty days, they continued until they had consid- erably exceeded that period.  They entered upon service the 13th of August, and were not discharged till the first of October.  On making out his Muster Roll for that period of service, we find the following record made in the Journal of the House of Representatives. "Upon examining Mr. James Neal's Muster Roll, it appear- ed that it consisted of more than there was any grant for and Captain Waldron was ordered by the Speaker to inform Mr. Neal, that he must make out his Muster Roll for thirty days only which is according to the grant." (VI Vol. of P.R. page 455.) The bill amounting to £135, 14s 5d, was allowed April 28 1756.  The following is the Muster Roll of Capt. Neal's Company: James Neal, Capt. Philip Johnson, Sergt. William Stevens, Sent. Joshua Webster Elias Parker Reuben Ham Jacob Rundlett William Parke Satchel Clark William Smith John Stevens Jonathan Blaso Jonathan Norris James Rowe John McMahon Moses Blake Eben Putnam Small Moulton John Montgomery John Hopkins Francis Orr William Mack See Potter's Military History, in Adj. General's report, p.154. As the inhabitants of Charlestown had little reason to expect that any suitable provisions would be made for their defense by New Hampshire, they were induced once more to appeal to Massachusetts to furnish them with such a force, as was necessary for their protection.* Note:* On the 8th of September, 1755, Simon Sartwell, John Hastings and three others say "The Indians are all around killing cattle, and driving them away - no chance to work, and we must abandon the place unless we have help. New Hampshire sent eighteen or twenty soldiers and we gathered our grain, in a damaged condition, and some hay. The men were ordered off on the 24th and we (were) left destitute. There are but twenty seven or eight men in town, soldiers and inhabitants." The petition which set forth the circumstances of their situation and their great need of assistance was signed by the following persons: viz. Micah Fuller Thomas Adams Simon Sartwell Moses Wheeler Daniel Sartwell James Whiting John Hastings, Jr. John Spafford John Hastings Seth Putnam Moses Willard Isaac Parker David Farnsworth Ebenezer Putnam. As proof of the importance of the post at Charlestown the petitioners stated that attacks of the enemy had been sustained there, on ten different occcasions during the space of two years.  Mention also was made of the sufferings and trials which the inhabitants had endured and of their great losses in cattle and provisions, in defending that frontier.  The appeal was successful; and Massachusetts again sent her soldiers for the defense of the town and a guard was thence-forward continued at the fort until 1757; when such was its situation it was supposed that the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's forces would take the place under his supervision as a royal garrison.  The petition was signed on the 8th of Sept. 1755. As has already been stated, the Indians were particularly active during the summer of 1755 in the Connecticut valley.  The principal mischief they did at Charlestown was to kill a large number of the cattle of the settlers. From these the flesh was cut and every part of them carried away which was valuable for food.  But other towns in the valley suffered from their incursions much more severely.  This resulted from the extensive means of defense, which had been instituted by Massachusetts, which rendered for the most part, successful attacks on her frontiers impracticable.  They therefore, put forth their most strenuous efforts against the settlements on the Connecticut (River) where, as they were but feebly garrisoned, they had better prospects of succeeding. Their (enemy) most successful incursion was at Hinsdale, (now Vernon, VT.) on the 27th of June, where they took three families, consisting of fourteen persons in all, among whom was the celebrated Jemima Howe and her children whose pathetic story has often been told. Walpole and other places were attacked during this summer of 1755, but the account of these attacks does not belong to this history. It ought in justice be observed that though New Hampshire failed to give suitable protection to her settlements on the Connecticut River, that in furnishing troops for the Provincial Army, her abilities were taxed to the utmost.  A regiment consisting of six hundred, under Colonel Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, was ordered for assisting in the expedition to Crown Point, in which no better service was done than by the New Hampshire troops.  In this regiment, Jonathan Hubbard of Charles- town was Adjutant.  After the engagement of the eighth of September, when it was found necessary to reinforce the army, the State also raised and forwarded another regiment of three hundred men which was under the comm- and of Colonel Peter Gilman.  It is stated that after the battle of the eighth of Semptember, the 1st New Hampshire Regiment were employed in scouting, which service they performed so acceptably that no other duty was required of them.    Parties of them with a dashing intrepidity, amounting to almost recklessness, frequently went in view of the French fort at Crown Point, and at one time they brought the scalp of a French soldier whom the had killed at the very gate (of Crown Point).  The men of the 2d Regiment, with an equal earnestness, were on the alert to do what they could but it was determined not to pursue the expedition and late in the autumn the forces were disbanded and returned home. Belknap remarks (p.314) that "The exertions made for the reduction of Crown Point, ot only failed of their object, but provoked the Indians to execute their mischievous designs against the frontiers of New Hampshire, which were wholly uncovered and exposed to their full force. Between the Rivers Connecticut and St. Francis there is a safe and easy communication by short carrying places with which they were perfectly acquainted.  The Indians of that River (St. Francis) therefore made frequent incursions and returned unmolested with their prisoners and booty." p.73 In the spring and summer of 1756 another attempt was made upon Crown Point for which New Hampshire furnished a regiment of seven hundred men, which was placed under the command of Colonel Nathaniel Meserve.  Most of the companies entered service in May and were not discharged until November and December.  For this expedition, Isaac Parker, (who was Lieutenant of the company of which Samuel Watts was Captain); John Hastings, Simon Stevens (son of Captain Phineas Stevens), Andrew Gardner, Jr., and Aaron Hosmer, were in the house of James Johnson, when attacked by the Indians.  Jacob Sartwell and Eleazer Farwell were also probably at Charlestown. By this expedition and the military movements of the summer, the English gained nothing; while the French, by their superior alertness, besieged and took the Eng- lish fort at Oswego; with the regiments of Shirley and Pepperell (MA) which garrisoned it, which were sent as prisoners of war to France.            (To be continued, p. 74) ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. 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