The Attack on Medfield, Massachusetts, 21 February 1675/6: Ancestors Affected by the Conflict

 The Attack on Medfield, Massachusetts, 21 February 1675/6: Ancestors Affected by the Conflict

In the early morning hours of 21 February 1675/6, Native American forces, primarily Narragansett and Nipmuc warriors from the strong hold of Wenemesset in central Massachusetts, launched a surprise attack on the town of Medfield. Despite Medfield having fortified houses and a garrison of soldiers, the attackers managed to burn approximately half of the town's buildings - about 32 homes, along with barns and other structures. The town had received some warning of potential danger the day before from a messenger, which allowed some residents to seek shelter in the fortified houses, likely preventing even greater casualties. The details of the attack in the context of the greater King Phillip’s War throughout New England are covered in detail here and in the sources listed below.
 

From: https://montague-ma.gov/files/Battle_of_Turners_Falls_Project_Overview.pdf

The attack resulted in the death of about 17-18 colonists, including my maternal great grandparents, Henry and Elizabeth (Paine) Adams. Henry Adams (~1610-1675/6) was the son of the immigrant to the colonies, Henry Adams of Barton St. David, Somerset, England. Henry (1582/3–1646) and his wife Edith Squire, the immigrants, are the g.g.g. grandparents of the 2nd President of the United States, John Adams (1735-1836)[my 3rd cousin, 8X removed).  Accounts of the conflict record that Henry Adams was shot in the doorway of his house before it was burned. His wife, Elizabeth had taken refuge in the house of Rev. Mr. John Wilson and was in the chamber above the doorway after the attack. Tragically, she was “mortally wounded by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of one of our soldiers” (Hubbard, 171).

A 19th-century colored wood-cut depicting a Native American attack on a settlement. Wikipedia Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Philip%27s_War

Other of my ancestors, both direct and indirect, were affected by the tragedy of that night. My maternal 8th g.grandfather, Benjamin Clarke (1643/4–1724), was among those whose house had been burned in the attack. He and his wife and children survived the attack and remained in Medfield afterwards. The Peak House, which has been restored and still stands in Medfield, was re-bulit on the same spot as the original house.

Benjamin Clarke's Peak House, restored, Medfield, Massachusetts

Benjamin Clarke’s sister, Sarah Clarke (1651/2–1704), my 9th great aunt, was also at Medfield. She survived the attack, but her husband, John Bowers, Jr. was “slain by y^e Indians” as was his father, John Bowers, Sr. Their house was also burned. 

Sarah (Clarke) Bowers later married Samuel Smith (1641–1691), who was also affected by the tragedy. His house was not burned, however, his wife, Elizabeth (Turner) Smith was tragically killed and their infant son left for dead.  In an account,“when the Indians made their attack upon the town, Elizabeth took her youngest child, then a year and a half, in her arms, and ran toward the fort. When a little way from the house, the savages overtook her, and killed her by a blow on the head. The child was thrown on the ground, stunned, and left for dead, but recovered consciousness, and when found, had crept to the dead body of its mother.” The infant son, Samuel Smith (1674–1742), made a harrowing account years later, which was found in the Old Parish church records, and is transcribed in Tilden, 481-483.

Another sibling of Benjamin Clarke was also killed in the attack. His brother, Daniel Clarke (1647-1676), my 9th great uncle, was “mortally wounded by Indians,” and died six weeks later on 7 April 1676.

Hannah Clarke (1666–1757), my 8th great aunt, the daughter of my 9th g. grandfather, Benjamin Clarke, married Ebenezer Mason (1669–1754) in 1691, long after the attack. Although they survived, Ebenezer’s father, Thomas Mason, Sr. and two of his Ebenezer’s brothers, Thomas Mason, Jr. and Zachary Mason, were “slaine by ye Indians” and the house burned.

King Phillip's War between Native Americans and colonists had devastating effects on New England settlements and Native tribes. Widespread destruction, significant loss of life (both colonists and Native Americans) and the effective end of Native resistance in southern New England left long-term trauma and and societal changes for both communities. Native populations were displaced and colonists faced economic and security hardships and many destroyed communities either never recovered or took many years to rebound. I'm sure my ancestors that survived the Medfield attack were affected, perhaps for generations afterwards.

Sources:
William S. Tilden. History of the Town of Medfield, Mass. 1650-1886. (Boston: Geo. H. Ellis, Publisher, 1887), esp. 79-91.

Eric Shultz and Michael J. Tougias, King Phillips War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict. (Woodstock, Vermont: The Countryman Press, 1999), esp. 194-200. An excellent modern history of the King Phillip’s War in New England.

William Hubbard, The History of the Indian Wars in New England from the First Settlement to the Termination of the War with King Phillip in 1677, from the Original Work by the Rev. William Hubbard (1677), Vol. 1. Reprint, edited by Samuel G. Drake. (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1990). Esp. 167-173. The accounts were written shortly after the conclusion of the war with King Phillip, so provides nearly first hand account of the war, and especially the attack on Medfield, which had occurred only two years earlier.