HISTORY OF VERMONT. 307 



For several years after this period, a continu- 

 ed scene of devastation and destruction was 

 kept up. The New- England colonies formed 

 several expeditions against the French and In- 

 dians, in the eastern parts ; and they, in their 

 turn, were constantly making inroads on the ex- 

 posed setdements of the English. Success of- 

 ten attended both parties ; but the exertions of 

 the English colonies proved extremely distres- 

 sing to the inhabitants, as well as their losses. 

 They were too fe^v in number, to bear the loss 

 of men ; and so low in their circumstances that 



bravery they repulsed the enemy. On the breaking out of a new war, his 

 anxiety and his activity increased : Upon his application, the governmens 

 sent a guard of 20 soldiers to Deerfield ; and during the whole winter 

 he was incessant in his religious and civil c-onduct, to impress the minds of 

 the people with a sense of their danger, and with a spirit of vigilance and 

 activity. When the enemy broke in upon the town, they went to his 

 house in the beginning of the onset ; and about twenty of the Indians 

 entered his house, as he was rising from his bed. Such was the firmness 

 of his mind, that he took a pistol from the head of his bed, and presented 

 it to the breast of the first Indian that came up. The pistol missed fire, 

 and the Indians immediately disarmed and bound him. Tv/o of his chil- 

 dren, and a negro woman, were butchered, and his house pillaged. The 

 Indians then suffered him, his wife, and the five surviving children to put 

 on their cloaths, and prepare for their dreadful march. 



When the svm was about an hour high, they led kim out with hi» wife 

 andchildren, and set fireto his house and barn. On the second day of the 

 journey, hi* wife scarcely recovered from lying in, informed him that her 

 strength began to fail. He knew the consequence; her savage master 

 clove her head, and put an end to her life, by one stroke of his hatchet. 

 Mr. Williams himself was carried to Canada with his children. At times, 

 they all received favors from their Indian masters, and mauy acts of kind- 

 ness from the French. During his captivity, by his learning, firmness, 

 steadiness, and resolution, he proved of much se^vice in supporting the 

 spirits of his people, and preserving their attachment to the religion and 

 government of their country. In 1706 he was exchanged, and ?entto_Bos- 

 ton, with a number of the English captives. Some oftlie be3t_ parishes 

 Hear Boston, urged him to settle with them, as a minister. Declining ev- 

 ery offer and prospect of this nature, in conformity toa vo.v made inhis 

 captivity, he returned to Deerfield; collected his flock, and began again 

 with them the labors and hardships of another settlement: and remained 

 their worthy and faithful minister till the year i "a? ; dying in peace,bclov- 

 cd by his people, and lamented by biscountry. The account that he wrote 

 «f his captivity, is in the plain serious style of that day ; an instructive and 

 entertaining relation, and has gone through seven editions. — '' The me- 

 morial of virtue is immortal. It is known with <Jod and with men. 

 When it is prc8ent, mcmake example at it; undwlien it i-* gone, they de- 

 sire it.'* 



