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Elijah Williams Day Book

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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As can be seen from this page from Elijah Williams Day Book, many Deerfield men bought powder, lead and flints on June 11, 1755. One of the men who bought powder was "Sesar" Jonathan Hoit's slave. Another was Caleb Sharp, a former slave who was said to be half Indian and half black. The reason that so many men were purchasing powder, lead and shot was so that they could go to Charlemont and defend the outpost. Moses Rice and others were working in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont, Massachusetts, on that June day. A small group of Indians were lying in wait, and attacked and ambushed the party. Captain Rice was severely wounded and carried off into the woods where he was tomahawked and scalped. A young soldier, Phineas Arms who had been acting as sentinel was shot and killed. Someone from Charlemont quickly rode to Deerfield,the nearest town,and told the people what had happened.

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