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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

1691 :: Brackett Massacre


Upon looking at a calendar from the year 1691 it does appear that the following described "terrible last TUESDAY of September, 1691" was actually the 29th day of that September . . . and in looking around the internet, it was found that some other bloggers, et al are indeed using the 29th instead of the 28th as the date for this event . . . so the date on this blogpost was edited to reflect that info . . . the date was left "as is" in the quotes from historical documents . . .






"The blow fell on Tuesday, September 28, 1691. 

On that day were killed Anthony Brackett and his wife; also on that day were made captives two children of his son, John Brackett." H.I. Brackett, 1907.


  • Anthony & his wife [Eleanor?], are 7th great-grandparents to Thomas Warren Alonzo Smith (1866-1920) . . . who is the father of Elizabeth Marilla Henry nee Smith (1912-1932) . . . who is the maternal grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
  • This Thomas married Eva Mae (1874-1936) in 1894 . . . who was raised by Peter & Lizzie (Merrill) Brackett . . .
  • This Peter (1838-1927) is a 3rd great-grandson of the same Anthony.
  • Peter's wife was Lizzie Brackett nee Merrill (1841-1911) . . . who was an older sister of Phoebe Merrill (1848-1927) who gave birth to Eva Mae.


According to the Brackett Genealogy published by H.I. Brackett in 1907, the following is one version of the attack that became known as The Brackett Massacre : —


 


The sons of Francis Rand went a fishing; the sons of ould Goodman Brackett were in the salt marsh and with no suspicion of danger. The settlers went about their usual vocations. Early in the afternoon a party of Indians came from the eastward in canoes, landed at Sandy Beach, left the garrison there unmolested, and attacked the homes of the defenseless ones, killing and capturing twenty-one persons.

Among the killed was Francis Rand, one of the first settlers. When his sons came in from fishing they followed the Indians over to Bracketts, fired upon them and frightened them away. The sons of Anthony Brackett who had the guns with them ran to the garrison at Odiorne's Point. . . .



The Keeper of this family history blog descends from Anthony & his wife by way of their son, Thomas Brackett, who had been killed in August of 1676 during King Philip's War. Another of their sons, Anthony, died two years before his parents, in September of 1689.


The full text of Brackett genealogy: descendants of Anthony Brackett of Portsmouth and Captain Richard Brackett of Braintree. With biographies of the immigrant fathers, their sons, and others of their posterity can be found > HERE < and is introduced by H. I. Brackett in the following manner : -



I have observed that old people live much in the past. As I grow older I find myself turning oftener to the days in the old home. I hear the patter and the prattle of childish feet and voice; light step of youth and maid; sober footfall and serious word of man and matron; the slowing step and failing voice of age. All, all are gone! I alone am left of . . .



The dear home faces whereupon
The fitful firelight paled and shown.
Hence forward, listen as I will
The voices of that hearth are still.
How strange it seems with so much gone
Of life and love to still live on.
Mrs. Silence J. Soule.


See also . . . The Brackett Massacre at cousin Heather's geneablog which is aka Nutfield Genealogy . . .



15 comments:

Beth Niquette said...

Oh....how moving. Thank you for sharing.

Debbie Blanton McCoy said...

I loved your post and the pictures. What a sad story.

Gini said...

Thank you for sharing such a great story Vickie, it was very moving. It is wonderful that you have these family stories to share with us. And of course your collage of photos is wonderful as always. I love how you display and post about your family history.

JamaGenie said...

How wonderful that you have an account of an event so far back. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Patricia Erikson said...

I'm never an advocate of violence, but I think it's important to put this event in context. Wabanaki peoples were not committing random violence, although no doubt it seemed that way to the settlers. They were trying to defend their homeland which they were losing control of, including the natural resources that sustained them. It doesn't bring anyone back to life to understand that, but I think it honors their memory to understand more fully why it is that they died and how we can try to avoid repeating such misunderstandings in the future.

Heather Wilkinson Rojo said...

I was just here this week, and also at the site of John Locke's massacre down the coast a bit in Rye, NH. There was major flooding in this area this week, but both sites are OK as of now. The seawall was breached in Rye, but they are rebuilding it today. Both events took place as settlers were harvesting salt grass in remote areas outside of the communities. The one on Brackett Road is still remote. I hope to get out there later this weekend to check on the flooding.

BeNotForgot said...

Thanks for letting me know about that, Heather. I had heard on the news about flooding in New England, but had NOT paid attention to exactly where it was. The pictures I posted here were taken in March of 1998 . . . it snowed while we were there. Keep me updated. V.

FranE said...

Loved the post. How wonderful you have the story, albet it was sad, tells what they suffered.

BeNotForgot said...

FYI . . . see also the > blogpost < by cousin Heather . . .

D. Ricker said...

Thank you for sharing. I am also a descendant and learning of this tragedy was very sad for me.

BeNotForgot said...


ANTHONY BRACKETT ca 1613-1691
&/1635 ELEANOR BRACKETT ca 1615-1691
|
THOMAS BRACKETT ca 1635-1676
&1654 MARY MITTON ca 1640-ca 1677
|
SAMUEL BRACKETT ca 1672-1752
&1694 ELIZABETH BOTTS ca 1673-1753
|
SAMUEL BRACKETT 1695-1786
&1720 SARAH EMERY 1700-1742
|
JOHN BRACKETT 1720-1814
&1745 MIRIAM THOMPSON 1723-1810
|
MIRIAM BRACKETT 1758-1836
&1778 MORRELL HOBBS 1753-1826
|
HENRY HOBBS ca 1786-1864
&ca 1805 JERUSHA LAKIN ca 1786-1850
|
JERUSHA LAKIN HOBBS 1810-/1870
&1831 TIMOTHY BARKER 1809-1870/
|
JERUSHA MARILLA BARKER 1841-1899
&1857 ATWOOD FRANK SMITH 1837-1907
|
THOMAS WARREN ALONZO SMITH 1866-1920
&1894 EVA MAY BRACKETT 1874-1936
|
ELIZABETH MARILLA SMITH 1912-1932
&1929 ROBERT E HENRY 1905-1976
|
Mom of Keeper
&1950 FORREST LEE POUNDERS 1927-1996
|
Keeper of this page

Scott said...

Hello I just wanted to say thank you for the story. I stumbled upon your web page while researching the death of a relative, Anthony Brackett in 1691. Regards, Scott Fischer

Unknown said...

I am a descendant of Anthony Brackett and Eleanor. Your blog is very moving and respectful and very much appreciated. But I really have a problem showing a respect for the murderers who did this horrible act to innocents. Be aware of the facts - these were marauding bands on murderers spurred on by the French. Being afraid of losing your land is no justification for the utter cruelty demonstrated here. I cannot praise this blog enough - I feel it is gentle and calm and serene - much like the people - my people - that it tells the story of. I truly feel we owe these people something close to the truth.

Anonymous said...

I grew up framiliar with this story for, like many, Anthony is my ancestor. My grandmother (Birdeen Brackett) possessed many writings on this event. I appreciate the work you've done here, thank you.

Unknown said...

Thank you, I also am a descendant of Anthony Brackett.

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