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Subject: [GM-L] DANIEL FARMER, His Captivity ~ French/Indian Wars
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 17:57:09 EDT

Subject: Daniel Farmer - His Captivity & Petition
Source: Groton Historical Servies by Dr. Samuel A. Green Vol I 1887

p.18 No. XIX

The following petitions, hitherto unprinted, are found among the Archives at
the State House and furnish a few facts relating to the
military service of two Groton [MA] soldiers. (Petition of Eleazer
Priest will be transcribed in Part 2)

The place mentioned in both papers as "No. 4" is now known as Charles-
town, New Hampshire.

Fort Shirley was situated within the present limits of Heath, MA; Fort
Dummer within those of Brattleborough, Vermont; and Colonel Hendill's
(or more properly Hinsdale's) stood in the present town of Hinsdale,
New Hampshire.

Captain Willard, mentioned in the first paper, was Josiah Willard a
son of Henry Willard, who previously had been an inhabitant of Groton.
He was during many years the commander of Fort Dummer, though for a few
months in the year 1747, covering the period of this letter, he had
been relieved by Lieutenant Dudley Bradstreet, a native of Groton, MA
and a son of the Rev. Dudley Bradstreet, a former minister of the town.

PETITION


"Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To His Exellencey William Shirley Esq Captain Generall and Commander in
Cheif in and over His majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay to the
Hon'ble his majesties Council and house of Representatives now Setting at
Boston."

"The Petition of Daniel Farmer of Groton in the County of midd'x
Husband man Humbly Shueth that your Poor Petitioner hes ben in the
Service of his King and Cuntrey for the Space of four years Past. and
was at the Seige of Louisburg and afterwards Inlisted him Self into
the Canada Service & hes ben Boath on the Eastern and Western frontiers
and in march Last Inlisted him Selfe as a Volinteir for three years
under the Command of Captain Hobbs. and in June last was on a march
with him from No. 4 to fort Shirley and in Said march had a Smart
Ingagement with a large Number of ye Indian Enemy and by Reson of
Carring Some Wounded men turn'd Down to fort Dumer where your Petition-
er was taken Sick and So Continued for Some Days. and as Soone as he
was able to travle Set oute for No. 4 where he was Posted and upon his
march fell in with Sixteen of Capt Willard's men at Col Hendills fort.
and Between Said Hendills fort and fort Dumer on the forteenth Day of
July last were besett by a large Number of the Enemy where I with eight
others were taken Captive where I Recived a wound in my head with a
hatchit from one of the Enemy. then I was carred to Crown Point from
thence to montreal and then to Quebeck and from thence Brought to
Louisburge by a flag of truce and from there I Returned to Boston and
So got home on the forteenth of october last.

Now your Poor Petitioner had a good Gun taken from him by the Enemy
to ye Value of Eighteen Pounds old tenor and fifteen Pounds old tenor
in Paper Bills which he had Newly taken and as your Petitioner was told
ware (were) Bills of this Province But whether they were or not he Cannot
Say . your Petitioner had allso a hachit and Sundry other things
taken from him. for which Sufferings - Lose (loss) of time - gun money
& other things. your Petitioner humbly Begs your Exellencys & Honours wise
Considration and Grant him Such Relif as to you Shall See meet and
your Poor Petitioner as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray.
Daniel [his mark O] Farmer
Groton January ye 2d 1748.

In the House of Rep'tves Jan'y 18. 1748.
Read and Ordered that the Treasurer be directed to pay to Maj'r Lawrence Six
pounds twelve Shillings for the Use of the Petitioner.
Ordered also that the Commissary General be directed to deliver said
Lawrence for said Pet's Use a gun out of the Province Store.
Sent up for concurrence T. Hutchinson Speaker

In Council Jan 18. 1748; Read & Concur'd J. Willard Secry
Consented to, W. Shirley
[Endorsed]
the petition of Daniel Farmar Jan'y 4. 1748 18. 10 Enterd
(Massachusetts Archives LXXIII. 301.)

p.20
Daniel Farmer was the son of John Farmer, born at Billerica on October
30, 1705; he was married to Elizabeth Woods of Groton on Nov 2, 1732
at which time he is recorded as of Lunenburg. He had certainly three
children, and perhaps others, born at Groton between the years 1733
and 1741. According to the NEHGS Register VI.88 for January 1852,
Farmer, who was captured at Fort Dummer, arrived with other prisoners
in Boston Harbor, on October 6, 1748 in the schooner "Brittania,"
Aylmer Gravill, Master. This statement appears to be confirmed by the
following extract from "The Boston Weekly News-Letter," October 6, 1748

"This Morning a scooner arrived here in 18 Days from Louisbourg, ____
Garling, Master, who has brought one Serj. Cooper with above 50 People
Men, Women and Children, that have been taken by the French and Indians
at sundry Times, from divers Parts of this and neighbouring Governments
and carried Captive to Canada, and were lately brought to Louisbourg
from Quebec in a French Frigate of 20 Guns [the Zephire], as mentioned
in our last. About 20 other passengers came also in this Vessel.

To be continued - Eleazer Priest's petition. He was probably one of the
captives brought in the French frigate to Louisburg; but unfortunately he did
not live to reach his home. He was the son of
Joseph Priest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth

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