Raid on Dover

Not to be confused with the Raid on Port Dover, Ontario, during the War of 1812.
Raid on Dover
Part of King William's War

Major Waldron defending garrison
DateJune 27–28, 1689
Location
Dover, Province of New Hampshire
Result Pennacook victory
Belligerents
Pennacook Residents of Dover
Commanders and leaders
Kancamagus[a] Major Richard Waldron
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 23 killed, 29 captured

The Raid on Dover (also known as the Cochecho Massacre) took place in Dover, New Hampshire, on June 27–28, 1689. Led by Chief Kancamagus of the Pennacook, it was part of King William's War, the North American theater of the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), fought between England and France and their respective Native allies.

Background and Underlying Tension

At the end of King Philip's War (1675–1678), a number of Indians allied with King Philip attempted to flee the Massachusetts Bay Colony and took refuge with the Abenaki tribe living in Dover. They appeared unaware that New Hampshire had been governed by Massachusetts since 1641 and thus they remained in the colony. In response, the Massachusetts Bay General Court sent two companies of militia to the Dover area who then ordered Major Richard Waldron to attack all the natives and demand the Abenaki turn over any refugee combatants.[3]

Major Waldron believed he could capture the fleeing natives without a pitched battle involving the local allied Abenaki, and so on September 7, 1676, deceptively invited the natives—about 400 in total, half local and half refugees, to participate in a mock battle against the militia near Cochecho Falls. After the natives discharged their guns, Waldron and Major Charles Frost took them prisoner. He sent both refugee combatants and those locals who violently objected to Boston, where seven or eight were convicted of insurrection and executed. The rest were sold into slavery, most in Barbados.

Local Indians were released, but never forgave Waldron for the deception, which violated both sides' rules of honor and hospitality. According to Jeremy Belknap's History of New Hampshire, Major Waldron also felt like he violated rules of honor and hospitality.[4]

This action was applauded by the governments of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay for avoiding a pitched battle the militia companies expected. Waldron was appointed Chief Justice for New Hampshire in 1683.

Revenge

Thirteen years passed and colonial settlers believed the incident forgotten, when members of the newly formed Wabanaki Confederacy arrived at Dover. Citizens expressed concern to Waldron, but he told them to "go and plant your pumpkins, and he would take care of the Indians."[5]

On June 27, 1689, two native women appeared at each of five garrison houses, asking permission to sleep by the fire, not uncommon in peaceful times. All but one house accepted. In the dark early hours of the next day, the women unfastened the doors, allowing braves who had concealed themselves to enter. The sword-wielding elderly Waldron[6][7] was cut across his belly with knives, with each warrior saying "I cross out my account."

Five or six dwelling houses were burned, along with the mills. Fifty-two colonists, a full quarter of the entire population, were captured or slain.[5]

Aftermath

Captives included Waldron's seven-year-old grandchild Sarah Gerrish, daughter of Elizabeth and John Gerrish.[8][9] These were the first recorded English captives that natives abducted and sold in Quebec.[10]

In the following month Pemaquid, Maine, met a similar fate.[11] John Gyles was taken prisoner at Pemaquid and brought back to Dover, where he reported being in the company of captives taken in the earlier Dover raid.[12]

This was the first raid of many in Seacoast Region that comprised the New Hampshire theater of King William's War. It marked the beginning of what Cotton Mather called the Mournful Decade.

Legacy

The William Damm Garrison House, built in 1675, survived the raid, and was moved to the grounds of the Woodman Institute Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Kancamagus was also known as John Hogkin or John Hawkins.[1][2]

Sources

References

  1. ^ True stories of New England captives carried to Canada during the old French and Indian wars [microform]. 1897. ISBN 9780665024856. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  2. ^ "Kancamagus led Pennacook uprisings against English encroachment - NashuaTelegraph.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  3. ^ Belknap, p. 129
  4. ^ Belknap, p. 129
  5. ^ a b Robinson, J. Dennis (1997). "Cochecho Massacre". Seacoast NH History. www.seacoastnh.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  6. ^ "Cochecho Massacre", Dover Library, http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/DoverHistory/cocheco.htm Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Garland, Caroline Harwood, "Old Dover, New Hampshire", The New England Magazine, Volume 0023, Issue 1 (Sept. 1897), p.103, as found at https://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=newe&cc=newe&idno=newe0023-1&node=newe0023-1%3A1&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=111)
  8. ^ "The border wars of New England, commonly called King William's and Queen Anne's wars". 1897.
  9. ^ Hull, John Thomas; City Council, Portland (Me. ). (1885). The Siege and Capture of Fort Loyall, Destruction of Falmouth, May 20, 1690 (O.s.): A Paper Read Before the Maine Genealogical Society, June 2, 1885. Owen, Strout & Company, printers. p. 101. captive Sarah Gerrish and others quebec.
  10. ^ Belknap, p. 129
  11. ^ "Viasat Internet | Viasat Satellite Internet".
  12. ^ "The border wars of New England, commonly called King William's and Queen Anne's wars". 1897.

Further reading

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