CHARLESTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From:	Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth

Capt. Phineas Stevens, Official Correspondence  Part 2
Source:  History of Charlestown, NH - Fort No. 4 by
         Rev. Henry H. Saunderson, 1876

p.561
I delivered the public letter, when he demanded of me 
all the private letters.  He understanding that I had no
special orders to treat with the Governor General, told
me he thought it not proper that I should go to Quebec,
and that he would send the letter by an express, and if
the Governor General thought it necessary he would send
for me; if not I might expect on the return of the ex-
press, to be sent immediately home; at the same time he
strictly forbid my having any conversation with the 
Indians and threatened if he perceived I had, I should 
be immediately confined.  Gave orders to my landlord,
the King's interpreter, to keep us always under his
inspection.

I continued at Montreal eight days (where I was very 
well entertained)  I mde it my constant business to
enquire after prisoners."

"Nov. 5th the express returned to Montreal with the
answer to Governor Shirley's letter.  The sixth of Nov.
I was ordered home.  I desired liberty to tarry one day
longer.  The Governor told me the orders from the Gov-
ernor General were so strict he could not grant me the
favor.  I accordingly set out with an officer and five
soldiers who had orders to bring me to Crown Point."

After arriving at Crown Point, Captain Stevens was left
to take care of himself.  The following extract will
show some of the difficulties of a journey from Crown
Point to Albany in those days, especially at the season
in which his journey was made.

"Nov. l5th, took our departure with the Indians (two
Cagnwaugen Indians whom he had hired to assist him) in
a birch canoe; came about five miles; found so much ice
we could go no further; 16th 17th and 18th - lodged here,
waiting for the ice to be strong enough to bear us; l9th
drew our canoe on the ice about seven miles; found it
very difficult - falling several times into the water;
20th, drew our canoe three miles further on the ice;
found it so weak (the ice) we could not travel; 2lst:
lay still; 22nd, travelled on the ice leaving our canoe;
23rd, passed the mouth of Wood Creek into a large pond,
which has a small communication to the drowned lands
lying to the west of the mouth of Wood Creed; 24th
travelled over the said pond, about four or five miles
in length, and then two or three miles up a small river;
we here took our packs on our backs and travelled in an
Indian path,trodden bythem in their descents upon the
Dutch this last war and not before.  Nevertheless, it is
so trod that we could easily follow it, although the
snow was four or five inches deep; Nov. 25th, we travel-
ed in said road; 26th, we came to Hudson's River in the
morning about five miles above Col. Lydius' trading
house.  This carrying place from where we first took up
our packs I judge to be twenty-two miles to Hudson's
River; the traveling level and exceeding good, except
about two miles, when we first left the aforesaid small
river."

Allusion has been made to a commission given to Capt.
Stevens by Governor Shirley, bearing the date at Boston,
June l6th 1746.  The object of this commission will be
seen by the following memorial: "Addressed to Honorable
Spencer Phipps, Lieutenant Governor of this Province
(Massachusetts) and the Council, June 12th, 1750."

"The memorial of Phineas Stevens, of Number Four, humbly
sheweth: -
"That upon his enlisting himself a volunteer in His
Majesty's service for the then intended expedition against
Canada, he removed his family, viz. his wife and six
children to Rutland from Number Four, expecting himself
soon to set out for Canada on said expedition, and, that
upon the delay of that expedition he was, by direction
from His Excellency the Captain General, ordered to the
frontiers of the Province, and was constantly exployed
on the frontiers, either in guarding stores to Fort
Massachusetts (note: Fort Massachusetts was situated
in the town of Adams in the western part of the state of
Massachusetts. It was located on the north end of Saddle
Mountain, and remains of it are still to be seen, or
were a few years ago. From 1746 to 1756 it was deemed
a very important post for the defense of the frontier
in that section.) or Number Four, or in keeping the fort
at Number Four till the said expedition was laid aside
and the Canada forces dismissed; in which time he defend-
ed the said Fort Number Four from a vigorous attack of
the enemy; and his other services in that term he humbly
hopes were acceptable to the province, where he was at
very great expense in supporting his family, at a dis-
stance from his station; and as his expenses so he
humbly conceives his constant labors and services for 
the province in that term distinguish his case from
that most if not any of the officers who enlisted them-
selves for the Canada service, he therefore prays your
honorable considerationof the premises and that your 
honor would grant that he may be allowed the common
allowance for a soldier for subsistence during the
said term and your memorialist as in duty bound will
ever pray.  Phineas Stevens."

In the House of Representatives, June l3th 1750:
"Read and ordered that the memorialist be allowed out of
the public treasury the sum of ten pounds and eight
shillings in full consideration of the above named. 
Signed S. Phipps."

p.563
After the successful termination of the expedition 
against Louisburg, another was set on foot for the in-
vasion of Canada, which as it was never carried out,
Captain Stevens in the above memorial, speaks of as
'the intended expedition.'  The New-Hampshire regiment,
raised for it, was ready to march on the first of July,
1746, but was delayed as were the forces of Massachusetts
by the news of the approach of a powerful French army
and fleet, to the eastern coast.  This fleet consisted
of about forty ships of war, besides transports, with
veteran officers, and all kinds of military stores; and
was indeed the most powerful armament that had ever been
sent to North America.  The intended Canadian expedition
was therefore abandoned, as it was thought that the 
troops would be needed for defense at home.  For a time
the deepest anxiety and excitement prevailed on all the
New England coast.  But through providential disasters,
the power of the armament was soon broken in such a
manner, without any human aid, that only a small and
scattered remnant of it ever returned to France; and the
people without any instrumentality on their part, were
delivered from their fears.

In July, 1752, Capt. Stevens was once more commissioned
by the government of Massachusetts to proceed to Canada
to negotiate for the deliverance of such captives be-
longing to the State, as he might there find.  He was
accompanied in this mission by Mr. Wheelwright of
Boston.  On arriving at Montreal, not finding as they
anticipated, the prisoners belonging to Massachusetts,
they decidedon the redemption of two from New-Hampshire.
They were John Stark, subsequently the celebrated Gener-
al Stark, the hero of Bennington and Amos Eastman, after-
wards of Hollis, NH.  The ransom for Stark was one 
hundred and three dollars, and that of his friend, East-
man, sixty dollars.  The ransom of Stark was not paid in
money, but he was given up for an Indian pony, for which
the amount above specified, had been paid.  These sums
which were thus paid for the redemption of two of her
sons, were never repaid by New-Hampshire.  The policy
of Massachusetts was more liberal, as she invariably
and with as much promptness as possible, redeemed all
her captives.  Stark ultimately paid the price of his
redemption himself, by pursuing his vocation as a 
hunter, on the river Androscoggin.

The estimation in which Captain Stevens was held, is
shown by the following letter from Governor Shirley to
Governor Benning Wentworth of New-Hampshire, and the
accompanying vote of the General Assembly of Massachu-
setts, which is subjoined:

Letter from Governor Shirley to Governor Wentworth:

"Sir - The Assembly of this Province, having been 
apprized of some measures your Excellency's Government
are taking for the redemption of such persons, taken by
the Indians and carried prisoners into Canada, as belong
to your Province, are desirous to join with you in this
affair, that some expense may be saved to both govern-
ments by employing one and the same person to transact
this business at Canada, have judged Capt. Phineas 
Stevens, one of your own government, to be a proper
person to be employed in this service, and the Council
and House of Representatives have desired me to write to
your excellency on this subject, as you will see by the
enclosed copy of their vote. Your Excellency will there-
fore be pleased to let me have your answer, as soon as
may be, that so the matter may be fully agreed upon
before our Assembly rises; I am with great regard, Sir,
Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servant
                               W. Shirley."
(above) To His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq."
                     End Part 2

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