Pratt/Woodruff History-King Philip's War VIII

In previous Emails I have identified both Woodruff ancestor Maj. Robert Treat and Pratt ancestor Lt. Col. John Talcott as being in command of all Connecticut troops during King Philip's War in 1675-76. You may be thinking, "The old man is slipping!" Not really. They were both in command, just not at the same time. Nephew Allen figured that out for me.

 

We have found a number of refernces to John Talcott.

 

1650-64. Anglo-Dutch relations. "...In the spring of 1663 Connecticut dispatched Capt. John Talcott into Westchester and James Christie into Long Island. The former dismissed the magistrates and took an oath of allegiance from the settlers; the latter forced Stuyvesant to recognize English suzerainty over the English towns on Long Island." (Encyclopedia of American History).

 

"Captain John Talcott was sent with armed men in July, 1663, to enforce her claim to West Chester." (Narratives of New Netherland).

 

In 1670 some inhabitants of Westchester, Connecticut Colony, filed a witchcraft complaint against the Widow Katherine Harrison wanting her to be run out of town. At a hearing before the Governor; Captain Richard Ponton, with whom she and her children were staying, "...produced a letter from Capt. Talcott to him in Justification of the Womans Innocency..." She was allowed to stay. (Witchcraft in New York)

 

1673 "...Major John Talcott was appointed commander-in-chief of the military forces to be sent against New York, Major Robert Treat of Milford second commander..." (History of Fairfield).

 

"When in May, 1676, Major Treat, who had been in command of the Connecticut Troops, was advanced to the deputy-governorship, Major Talcott, who resigned the treasureship, was appointed in his stead. The Connecticut forces were assembled in the east at Norwich, marched up into Massachusetts, reaching Brookfield on 7 June. By a forced march, called  'the long and hungry march', on the way capturing and killing fifty-two of the enemy, he reached Hadley the next day. He secured the country round about '...inflicting severe blows on the hostile tribes.' In particular he saved Hadley from an attack of seven hundred Indians, this too though his 'standing army' does not appear to have amounted to more than two or three hundred men". (Powers-Banks Ancestry).

 

1676 May-August: "After Major Talcott, with 250 men from the Connectcut Valley and 200 Mohegans, defeated the Indians at Hadley, chased the Valley tribes into the New Hampshire hills, then turning eastward, destroyed 250 Indians near Marlboro..." (Encyclopedia of American History). 

 

If you have been reading these Emails of mine you know more about this obscure but important war than 99.999% of the population, including probably the academics.

Emailed Dec. 12