_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___+
| (1683 - 1761) m 1704
_Jesse AMSDEN _______|_Hannah HOWE ________
| (1729 - 1778) m 1748 (1688 - 1773)
_Jonas, Sr. AMSDEN __|
| (1749 - 1802) m 1770|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Bette BALL _________|_____________________
| m 1748
_Jonas, Jr. AMSDEN __|
| (1774 - 1859) m 1804|
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_Hannah RICE ________|
| (.... - 1809) m 1770|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|_____________________
|
|
|--John L. AMSDEN
| (1824 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Hannah LEONARD _____|
(.... - 1866) m 1804|
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|_____________________
_John, II AMSDEN _______+
| (1686 - 1742) m 1719
_Isaac, Sr. AMSDEN ____|_Mary COWLES ___________
| (1722 - 1809) m 1750 (1699 - 1757)
_Simeon AMSDEN ______|
| (1763 - 1832) m 1787|
| | _Daniel BELDEN _________
| | |
| |_Sarah BELDEN _________|_Esther SMITH __________
| (1730 - 1770) m 1750
_Lyman AMSDEN _______|
| (1794 - 1887) m 1833|
| | _Jonathan, Jr. WHITNEY _+
| | | (1704 - 1755)
| | _Jonathan, IV WHITNEY _|_Lydia or Linda JONES __
| | | (1737 - 1792) m 1760 (1705 - 1783)
| |_Abigail WHITNEY ____|
| (1764 - 1853) m 1787|
| | ________________________
| | |
| |_Esther PARKHURST _____|________________________
| (1741 - 1816) m 1760
|
|--John R. AMSDEN
|
| ________________________
| |
| _______________________|________________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | ________________________
| | | |
| | |_______________________|________________________
| |
|_Mary WHITMAN _______|
(1800 - 1885) m 1833|
| ________________________
| |
| _______________________|________________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| ________________________
| |
|_______________________|________________________
__
|
__|__
|
_Isaac AMSDEN _______|
| (1620 - 1659) |
| | __
| | |
| |__|__
|
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1654 - 1696) |
| | __
| | |
| | __|__
| | |
| |_____________________|
| |
| | __
| | |
| |__|__
|
|
|--John, II AMSDEN
| (1686 - 1742)
| __
| |
| __|__
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | __
| | | |
| | |__|__
| |
|_Elizabeth __??__ ___|
(.... - 1689) |
| __
| |
| __|__
| |
|_____________________|
|
| __
| |
|__|__
[39]
Two of the sons of this John were killed by the Indians subsequent tothe great massacre in 1704 on Aug. 25, 1746 of which I give an accountfrom Sheldeon p. 546-549.
De Vaudreuil, a brother of Governor Vaudreuil, left Canada Aug.3, with440 and 300 French Mohawks and Abenakis. His destination was FortMassachusetts at Adams, Mass. On Aug. 18, the main body encamped onthe Hoosac river, four miles below Fort Massachusetts, and took thefort on the 20th, after two days battle.
A party of 60 of Vaudreuil's Indians being dissatisfied with the smallnumber of prisoners taken at Fort Massachusetts, came over toDeerfield to secure captives to grace their triumphant return to CrownPoint and sell to the French in Canada. Sunday, Aug. 24, theyobserved some partly made hay in Stebbins Meadow, near the foot ofStillwater, Judging that the workmen would return to the place thenext day they formed an ambush in the thicket, at the foot of a hillhard by, and waited a favorable opportunity to accomplish theirobject. The hay belonged to the Allens and the Amsdens.
Monday morning, Aug. 25, the haymakers went to their fate. As far asknown the party were Samuel Allen, aged 44; his children - Eunice 13,Caleb 9, and Samuel 8; Oliver Amsden, 18, and Simeon, 9, orphan sonsof John Amsden.
The Allen and Amsden families lived at the Bars, on the table landjust south, but had deserted their homes to live in the forts, atWapping, or at the Street. Two soldiers seem to have been sent outwith them as a guard, John Saddler, a townsman, and Adonijah Gillettfrom Colchester. Conn. With the party was Eleazer Hawks,brother-in-law to Allen, who being out of health, was on a fowlingexcursion. He was the unconscious marplot of the occasion.
The news of the assault on Fort Massachusetts had not yet beenreceived by the commander here, and presumably he was ignorant of theattack at Colrain , or a larger guard would have been sent out and amore vigilant watch kept. Capt. Holson (or Hopkins, by anotheraccount), a Connecticut man, was stationed here with a party ofConnecticut soldiers, who were the "standing guard".
The haymakers went to work in the very jaws of the enemy, with noexamination of the thicket, and so far as appears, no precautionsagainst surprise. Had not prisoners, instead of scalps, been theirobject, the Indians might have killed the whole party at a singlevolley. They were waiting, however, for a favorable moment forstealing between the man and their guns when the whole party wouldbecome an easy prey. Their action was precipitated by Hawks, who,going into the copse in search of partridges, stumbled upon theambush. He was shot, the war-whoop given and a rush made for theirvictims.
The astounded men did the best they could. They urged the children tofly to the fort, while they tried to check the pursuit by a fightingretreat to the mill. They were so hard pressed however, they couldnot reach it, but took shelter under the bank of the river near it, onthe flank line of pursuit. Here they made a stand, hoping to divertthe attention of the enemy from the fleeing children. The odds weretoo great. Allen shot the foremost Indian, but he and Gillett weresoon overpowered and killed. Saddler, amid a shower of bullets,dashed through the water to a thicket on an island in their rear, andso escaped across the river. Meanwhile part of the assailants hadbeen busy with the children. Oliver Amsden fell early in the attack.He was scalped and his head severed from his body. His brother Simeonwas overtaken and killed after a brave defense, his hands and armsbeing cut in pieces by the knives of his captors. Caleb Allen escapedby dodging about and hiding in a field of corn. Samuel was caught by ayoung Scatacook Indian, his pursuer, and after a sharp resistance withteeth, nails and feet, was secured unhurt as a prisoner, and carriedto St. Francis. Eunice was the last to be overtaken, but finally anIndian split her skull with his hatchet and left her for dead, notstopping, however, in his haste, to secure her scalp. Eunice survivedthe blow and lived for seventy two years, but never fully recovered
But a few moments were occupied by the Indians in the bloody work,when they made a hasty retreat with their captive boy up the river andreached De Caudruuil at Crown Point about noon, Aug. 31, with thescalps of the five killed at the Bars and that of Constance Bliss.
The following concise account of the tragedy is given by Dea. NoahWright.
"Aug. 25, 1746. In the southwest corner of Deerfield Meadows a numberof Indians came upon our men at work, killed and scalped Samuel Allen,Eleazer Hawks, and one of Capt. Holson's soldiers named Jillet, andtwo of Widow Amsden's children, taken captive, one boy of SamuelAllen's and chopped a hatchet into the brains of one of his girls.They are in hopes she will recover. One man killed one of the Indianswho got one gun from them, and lost three guns by them."
Rev. Mr. Doolittle of Northfield criticises the military officers herefor their neglect of discipline, saying " Had there not been acontinual firing in the Town from Day to Day, the People would havetook the Alarm, and might have been upon the enemy before ever theycould have got out of the meadow". This must refer to other partiesworking in the meadows. It could not apply to the garrison two milesaway.
When the alarm reached the town there was vigourous action by hercitizens. Lieut. Jonathan Hoyt with one party followed the trail ofthe marauders up the river, and is was probably Lieut. Joseph Clessonwho led another party across the hills to intercept them atCharlemont. Neither party had any success.
From the Massachussetts MS. Archives we get the names of a few men whowent to the rescue. It seems that Othniel Taylor rode so hard as tokill his mare, for which 6 pounds was allowed him by the Province.Jonathan Hoit and Joseph Barnard were also in pursuit of the enemy.
The only other comtemporaneous account of this affair, besides thosenoticed, is from the lips of "Luce Bijah". She was a bright negress,wife of Alizjah Prince, "servant" of Ebenezer Wells and a member ofthe church in 1744.
"August, 'twas the twenty-fifth,
Seventeen hundred forty six,
The Indians did in Ambush lay,
Some very valiant men to slay,
The names of whom I'll not leave out,
Samuel Allen like a hero fout,
And though he was so brave and bold,
His face shall we no more behold.
Eleazer Hawks was killed outright,
Before he had time to fight, -
Before he did the Indians see,
Was shot and killed immediately.
Oliver Amsden he was slain,
Which caused his friends much grief and pain,
Simon Amsden they found dead,
Not many rods distance from his head.
Adonijah Gillett, we do hear,
Did lose his life which was so dear.
John Saddler fled across the water,
And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter.
Eunice Allen see the Indians coming,
And hopes to save herself by running;
And had not her petticoats stopped her,
The awful creatures had not catched her,
Nor tommy hawked her on the head,
And left her on the ground for dead.
Young Samuel Allen, Oh, lack-a-day !
Was taken and carried to Canada."
John purchased 100 acres at the Bars of a Peter Evans for 72 pounds in1715. This land was held by Amsden descendants for 150 years. Simeonand Oliver, John's sons, were killed by Indians in one of theDeerfield Massacres on Aug. 25, 1746. John served as a trumpeter inan army troop and was wounded by Indians. John's death was bydrowning at Cheapside in 1742.
Murray M. Brown, " Some Descendents of Isaac Amsden of CambridgeMassachusetts", (1934).
John was three years old when his mother died and ten when his fatherdrowned. Dr. John Hastings was administrator of his parent's estateand Samuel Belding was appointed John's guardian. Laurene WhiteTheilk, Ann Arbor, MI. "Amsden Genealogical Chart," AmericanGenealogist, July 1969.
Copeland gives his birth as being in Hatfield, MA.
__
|
_Isaac AMSDEN _______|__
| (1620 - 1659)
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1654 - 1696) |
| | __
| | |
| |_____________________|__
|
_John, II AMSDEN ____|
| (1686 - 1742) m 1719|
| | __
| | |
| | _____________________|__
| | |
| |_Elizabeth __??__ ___|
| (.... - 1689) |
| | __
| | |
| |_____________________|__
|
|
|--John, III AMSDEN
| (1720 - 1794)
| __
| |
| _____________________|__
| |
| _Samuel COWLES ______|
| | |
| | | __
| | | |
| | |_____________________|__
| |
|_Mary COWLES ________|
(1699 - 1757) m 1719|
| __
| |
| _Robert BARTLET _____|__
| | (.... - 1675)
|_Deborah BARTLET ____|
|
| __
| |
|_____________________|__
[41] About 1767 it was decided that a new steeple must be built for thechurch, since the size and weight of the one at that time was so heavyas to spread the framework of the building. When it was completed,together with a porch, the need for new shingles was seen, but so muchmoney had been spent that the taxpayers said no, but if any generouslydisposed persons are willing to shingle the meeting house at their ownexpense they have free, full and ample liberty. The challenge wasaccepted, a subscription paper was drawn up, some paying in grain andsome in money. There were 29 names, and among them John Amsden whogave 12 shillings. Murray M. Brown, Some Descendents of Isaac Amsdenof Cambridge Massachusetts, (1934).
_Isaac AMSDEN _________________
| (1620 - 1659) m 1654
_Isaac, Jr. AMSDEN __|_Frances PERRIMAN OR PERRYMAN _
| (1655 - 1727) m 1677 (1623 - 1728)
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1683 - 1761) m 1704|
| | _John, Sr. RUTTER _____________
| | | (1616 - 1695) m 1641
| |_Jane RUTTER ________|_Elizabeth PLYMPTON ___________
| (1659 - 1739) m 1677 (1619 - 1689)
_John, Jr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1714 - ....) m 1738|
| | _______________________________
| | |
| | _Isaac HOWE _________|_______________________________
| | |
| |_Hannah HOWE ________|
| (1688 - 1773) m 1704|
| | _______________________________
| | |
| |_Frances WOODS ______|_______________________________
|
|
|--John, III AMSDEN
| (1748 - 1749)
| _______________________________
| |
| _____________________|_______________________________
| |
| _Benjamin NEWTON ____|
| | |
| | | _______________________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_______________________________
| |
|_Abigail NEWTON _____|
(1717 - ....) m 1738|
| _______________________________
| |
| _____________________|_______________________________
| |
|_Abigail KNAPP ______|
|
| _______________________________
| |
|_____________________|_______________________________
_Isaac AMSDEN _______
| (1620 - 1659)
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|_____________________
| (1654 - 1696)
_John, II AMSDEN ____|
| (1686 - 1742) m 1719|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Elizabeth __??__ ___|_____________________
| (.... - 1689)
_John, III AMSDEN ___|
| (1720 - 1794) |
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _Samuel COWLES ______|_____________________
| | |
| |_Mary COWLES ________|
| (1699 - 1757) m 1719|
| | _Robert BARTLET _____
| | | (.... - 1675)
| |_Deborah BARTLET ____|_____________________
|
|
|--John, IV AMSDEN
| (1770 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
| _Jonathan FIELD _____|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Lydia FIELD ________|
(1731 - 1814) |
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|_____________________
_______________________
|
_Isaac AMSDEN _________________|_______________________
| (1620 - 1659) m 1654
_Isaac, Jr. AMSDEN __|
| (1655 - 1727) m 1677|
| | _John PERRIMAN ________
| | | m 1622
| |_Frances PERRIMAN OR PERRYMAN _|_Mary SNELLING ________
| (1623 - 1728) m 1654
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1683 - 1761) m 1704|
| | _______________________
| | |
| | _John, Sr. RUTTER _____________|_______________________
| | | (1616 - 1695) m 1641
| |_Jane RUTTER ________|
| (1659 - 1739) m 1677|
| | _Robert, Sr. PLYMPTON _
| | | (1590 - ....)
| |_Elizabeth PLYMPTON ___________|_Jane BENT ____________
| (1619 - 1689) m 1641 (1594 - ....)
|
|--John, Jr. AMSDEN
| (1714 - ....)
| _______________________
| |
| _______________________________|_______________________
| |
| _Isaac HOWE _________|
| | |
| | | _______________________
| | | |
| | |_______________________________|_______________________
| |
|_Hannah HOWE ________|
(1688 - 1773) m 1704|
| _______________________
| |
| _______________________________|_______________________
| |
|_Frances WOODS ______|
|
| _______________________
| |
|_______________________________|_______________________
_Isaac, Jr. AMSDEN __+
| (1655 - 1727) m 1677
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|_Jane RUTTER ________
| (1683 - 1761) m 1704 (1659 - 1739)
_Jesse AMSDEN _______|
| (1729 - 1778) m 1748|
| | _Isaac HOWE _________
| | |
| |_Hannah HOWE ________|_Frances WOODS ______
| (1688 - 1773) m 1704
_John, Sr. AMSDEN ___|
| (1762 - 1827) |
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_Bette BALL _________|
| m 1748 |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|_____________________
|
|
|--John, Jr. AMSDEN
| (1788 - 1827)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Lovisa __??__ ______|
(1763 - 1846) |
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|_____________________
[121] No issue recorded.
__
|
__|__
|
__|
| |
| | __
| | |
| |__|__
|
_Isaac AMSDEN _______|
| (1620 - 1659) |
| | __
| | |
| | __|__
| | |
| |__|
| |
| | __
| | |
| |__|__
|
|
|--John, Sr. AMSDEN
| (1654 - 1696)
| __
| |
| __|__
| |
| __|
| | |
| | | __
| | | |
| | |__|__
| |
|_____________________|
|
| __
| |
| __|__
| |
|__|
|
| __
| |
|__|__
[36]
"John Embsden" of Cambridge served in Capt. Davenport's Co. in 1675,received cash payment Jan. & Feb. 1677. John died by drowning inHatfield , leaving an estate of 4 pounds 12 shillings, 5 pence, anddebts of 57 pounds and 5 shillings. His wife's last name being unknownand whether she came from Cambridge or Hatfield will probably remain asecret. Murray M. Brown, Some Descendents of Isaac Amsden ofCambridge Massachusetts, (1934).
John is the ancestor that begins what genealogist's refer to as theJohn Branch of the Amsden tree. His half brother Isaac anddescendants are the Isaac Branch. Jacob had no issue, and thereforeno descendants.
Data from Lewis gives no first name but gives birth as about 1659,Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA. John's mother is unknown. It is thoughtthat he is issue of a prior marriage either in England, or thecolonies. Neither his father Isaac nor John's name appear onpassenger list of ships to Boston and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
_____________________
|
_______________________|_____________________
|
_Isaac AMSDEN _________________|
| (1620 - 1659) m 1654 |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_______________________|_____________________
|
_Isaac, Jr. AMSDEN __|
| (1655 - 1727) m 1677|
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _John PERRIMAN ________|_____________________
| | | m 1622
| |_Frances PERRIMAN OR PERRYMAN _|
| (1623 - 1728) m 1654 |
| | _John SNELLING ______+
| | | (1580 - 1639) m 1604
| |_Mary SNELLING ________|_Frances HELE _______
| m 1622 (.... - 1653)
|
|--John, Sr. AMSDEN
| (1683 - 1761)
| _____________________
| |
| _______________________|_____________________
| |
| _John, Sr. RUTTER _____________|
| | (1616 - 1695) m 1641 |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_______________________|_____________________
| |
|_Jane RUTTER ________|
(1659 - 1739) m 1677|
| _____________________
| |
| _Robert, Sr. PLYMPTON _|_____________________
| | (1590 - ....)
|_Elizabeth PLYMPTON ___________|
(1619 - 1689) m 1641 |
| _Robert, Sr. BENT ___+
| | (.... - 1631) m 1589
|_Jane BENT ____________|_Agnes GOSLING ______
(1594 - ....) (1564 - 1639)
[15] John probably made no change his actual residence although the settingoff of a part of Marlborough he came within the bounds of the town ofSouthborough where his name appears with members of his familyseveral times. Murray M. Brown, Some Descendents of Isaac Amsden ofCambridge Massachusetts, (1934).All data from Simms.