When I became interested in genealogy one of the first stories I heard was from Aunty Mary. (1) She claimed we had "Indian blood". Forty years later I am still searching for that Native American blood connection.
Several years ago I was excited to come across a story about two of our ancestors who were captured by "Indians" and taken to Canada in 1705. (2) Their names were John Bigelow (1675-1769) and Thomas Sawyer (1649-1736). Less than a hundred years later their descendants Horace Bigelow and Elmina Sawyer marry and produce our family line. (3)
Back in the early 1700's the French and Indian Wars were just beginning. (4). America was a vast sparsely settled continent that England, France and Spain were willing to go to war over. While all three countries sent their armies over to decide who would control this continent they also enlisted the help of the local Native American's to win the war. Different tribes aligned with different countries.
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| Indian Tribes c.1636 |
Our ancestors got caught up in history on October 26, 1705. Their stories appear in two books by the Sawyer and Bigelow Family. I am including a little bit from both books. (2)
The story takes place in Lancaster, Massachusetts
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| Lancaster, MA |
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Jerusha Garfield Bigelow (1677-1758) Marlborough, Massachusetts |
From the Sawyer Book:
" On 26 October 1705, 59- year old Thomas Sawyer , and his son Elias, 21 and one John Biglo (Bigelow) were captured by Indians and taken to Canada. When the party reached Montreal, Sawyer offered to erect a saw mill on the River Chambly on condition that the French governor obtain the release of the captives. Apparently there was little difficulty in arranging for the freedom of young Elias and Mr. Biglo, but for some reason the Indians were determined to put Thomas to death by slow torture. This may have been their way of paying tribute to him, for he was reputed to be a very brave man. In any event, a seeming miracle, probably arranged by the French governor, saved Thomas. He had already been tied to the stake when a friar appeared before the Indians and announced dramatically that he held the key to Purgatory in his hand. Unless they released their prisoner at once, he thundered, he would unlock the gate and throw them all in! The Indians, being superstitious, turned Thomas over to the French. He finished the saw mill as promised... reportedly the first built in Canada.. before the year was out, and was sent home to Lancaster along with John Biglo. Elias Sawyer remained for some time in order to teach the Canadians the art of 'sawing and keeping the mill in order, and then was dismissed with rich presents."
While in captivity, John Bigelow's wife Jerusha wrote him, and a copy of that letter, dated 22 August 1706, was included in the Bigelow genealogy as follows:
"Dear and loving husband, in much grief and tender affection, greatly lamenting your miserable condition, hoping in the mercy of God who has prospered you and kept you alive hitherto and who will in his own due time work your deliverance, that these few lines may find you in good health as I am at present and the children, blessed be God for it and for all his mercy bestowed on you and on myself.
This may acquaint you that I received your letter dated January the 6th on the 6th of August last and for which though I am in much sorrow and grief, thankful to you. And I do most humbly and importunately petition the governor to have pity and compassion on yourself and me.
Lamentations 3:25, "The Lord is good to them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord, for the Lord will not cast him off forever, but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. Wherefore should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins. Let us search and try our way, and turn again to the Lord."
I remain your loving wife, greatly sorrowing of you.
Jerusha Bigelow "
(1) Aunty Mary is Mary Ellen Bradley Maroney (1931-2011)
(3)
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