CAPT. BENJAMIN WRIGHT

Son of Samuel Wright, born in Northampton July 13, 1660. He was grantee of Northfield in 1682 and a prominent settler at the third and final settlement and in the affairs of the town up to the time of his death. He married March 22, 1680, Thankful, daughter of John Taylor, who was killed by the Indians May 13, 1704. Thankful was born October 27, 1663 and died April 4, 1701.  He married (2) Mary Baker of Springfield, Mass.

Benjamin Wright                in 1671 when eleven years of age, left Northampton with his -lather and was among the first settlers to found the now plantation of "Squakheag" later called Northfield. The founding this new plantation by so small a colony thirty three and their was Indeed a bold move forward.

Their nearest neighbors were at Deerfield, then only two years old, Hadley, from which help must come in case of need, was thirty miles away                Brookfield thirty five, Lancaster sixty and Groton sixty five miles away, through a dense wilderness.  Their motives and hopes in establishing their home in this place, are best illustrated by portions of the petition which the thirty three original pioneers  to the general Court of Mass. May 31, 1671. This petition not acted upon favorably by the general Court and it was not until the following year that the prayer of the newcomers was granted.  No active building was commenced until the spring of 1673 the fort and stockade were constructed together with their huts.  These were built of clapboards split from oak, five to seven foot long and eight to ten Inches thick. The roof consisted of thatch made of native grass. Taken as a whole, the new homes were durable, comfortable and offered a protection from the elements and the arrows of the Indians.

In this kind of a home Capt. Wright lived doing his part, as a boy of thirteen years, in making the settlement one of permanence.  The Indians throughout the valley continued on friendly terms with the whites until the spring of 1675. Early in this year signs of unfriendliness were noticed as their usual plan of planting was not followed. Then the Indians discovered that the whites were doing their own plowing and planting. There was an immediate exodus of all the Indians with their effects, from the settlement to their own forts and clans. The first outbreak of Indiana resulted in the destruction of Brookfield on August 2. 1675.

As a matter of precaution at Northfield, Leut. Samuel Wright, father of Benjamin was 'out In command of twenty soldiers. On the morning of September 2, 1675, Northfield was attacked which resulted very disastrously for the settlers. The Indians destroyed all the grain, drove off all the cattle and burned all the houses that were outside the stockade. Eight defenders were killed and among them Leut. Wright.  Young Benjamin Wright, with the balance of the family, remained imprisoned in the stockade while his father was lying outside This with other attrocities inflicted by the savages, on those of the garrison who remained alive, made of him an avenger and tradition says that he took solemn oath to devote so much of the balance of his life as to avenge the death of his father and other relatives and friends. Benjamin at that time was fifteen years old and from this time on, was always ready and anxious, as following records will prove, to go on scout duty or make excursions Into the wilderness in pursuit of the savages.  His bravery in fighting the Indians form an intensely and interesting part In the settlement of the Connecticut Valley.

On the night of Monday, Sept. 6, 1675, under the command of and protection of Major Treat's forces, those remaining alive of the first settlers of Northfield returned to Northampton. Thus marking the first destruction, desertion and failure of the first settlement of Squakheag.

On March 22, 1680, at Northampton, Mass., Benjamin married Thankful. From this union seven children were born, four sons and three daughters.

It was not until 1682 that any attempt was made for a resettlement of Northfield. As a preliminary step the original proprietors sent a Petition to the general Court, asking that the vacancies on the first 'Committee of engagers be filed and the Committee be empowered to act. In May 1682 the general Court granted the petition but nothing further was done toward resettlement until the spring of 1683, when after several meetings of the Committee and Proprietors and much agitation, certain orders and agreements were adopted.

Benjamin at that time twenty three years old, was granted thirty acres of land. Thus becoming a grantee in the second settlement of the Town of Northfield.

In the early part of 1684, Benjamin was engaged with Micah Mudge and John Broughton in laying out highways, building fences, breaking ground, putting In crops, burning meadows, and in other ways preparing for the coming of their families. However there were very few families moved Into the town the first year. The abundance of land and a pleasant dwelling place were offset by the perils of the frontier. There were a few brave and resolute men who were the first of the new comers and who bore the brunt of the enterprise.

On April 4, 1701, Capt. Wright lost his wife who died at the age of thirty seven years. In July of the same year he married Mary Baker of Springfield. From this union three children were Born.

From 1690 to 1713 the settlers were in constant danger from Indian attacks, due largely to the existence of war between France and England In July 1698, due to an attack by Indians at Hatfield, a number of settlers were killed. Word was sent to Corp. Wright at Deerfield who, with two of his scouts and a few volunteer settlers, started north intending to intercept the savages. After riding twenty miles through the woods they reached the Great Bend where they halted, concealed their horses and awaited the enemy. Just at dawn the two canoes with four Indians and two kidnapped boys were seen approaching. When they had come opposite Corp. Wright and his scouts, they fired mortally wounding one Indian. The other three jumped into the water attempting to escape, while one was making every effort to kill one of the boys, he received a mortal wound. The boys reached safety and the two remaining Indians escaped.

In 1708 Capt. Benjamin Wright entered on his career as a leader of scouting parties for which he will always be famous in the history of Northfield. At this date he gives us some idea of his hatred of the Indian, as he said that if he captured a Papoose, he would dash It's brains out for the reason, as he expressed it, "nits If not cracked will make lice". And not once during his life did he permit an opportunity to escape to wreak vengeance on the savages.

During February of this year, at the head of a small scouting party, he went as far as Coassett, near the mouth of Wells River now Newbury, VT. This location was supposed to be the headquarters of an Indian Clan but none was found. About the middle of May following, he started up the Connecticut River, at the head of another party, and this time was more successful, but lost two of the party. A full and complete report of this trip is made in an affidavit.

(See History of Northfield P. 130)   On June 10, 1709 the general Court voted a bounty of twelve pounds to Capt. Wright and six pounds to each of the nine survivors of his party. In the early spring of 1709 the English government ordered the Colonies to raise a force for an attack on Canada. Massachusetts supplied and kept under arms, nine hundred men. While waiting near Boston for troops to come from England, Capt. Wright sent the following rote to the Governor.

Northampton, Mass. Sept. 101, 1709

May it please your Excellency

With submission and under correction, I would offer my service to your Excellency, if that in wisdom you send forces to Canada, from our parts by land, that "here am I send me". This year I have done service and hope I may again. Not that I trouble your Excellency but am willing to go not else but in trouble subscribe.

Your Excellency's most Humble servant

Benjamin Wright.

This communication speaks volumes concerning the patriotism of the man and gives us, who come after, a better idea of what devotion to the country means.

In 1690 the settlement of Northfield was the second time abandoned.

At the close of Queen Ann's war in 1713 the surviving proprietors and grantees of Sqyakheag immediately took steps to reclaim and resettle their lands which had been idle so long. They sent a petition to the General Court in 1713 asking for a revival of the grant and that a Committee be appointed to take charge. This petition was answered favorably Feb. 22, 1714 and we find Capt. Benjamin Wright was the first to sign the articles agreeing to resettle the plantation, April 14, 1714. This is known as the permanent settlement. Beside Capt. Wright, there were nineteen other engagers of whom only seven, with Capt. Wright, occupied their land the first year. He was one of the first to occupy the land In each of the three settlements of Squakheag. In this last settlement he was appointed measurer of land by the Committee. A very responsible posit'-on at this time in establishing the old lines so obliterated by time. On March 8, 1716, Capt. Wright is again engaged in civic duties having been appointed by the Committee for Squakheag to apportion to each settler the amount of fence each was expected to build about the Great Meadows. His own portion being thirty six rods, twelve feet and six inches, having been allowed an abatement of eight rods from his portion In consideration for his services in maintaining the water course at the south end of the meadow.

It is proper to relate here that the Northfield Committee refered to above, were appointed by the General Court and were composed of disinterested men, Inhabitants of other towns, Hadley, Northampton and older settled towns south. Samuel Porter of Hadley was an active member of this, Committee and his grandson James, about ten years after, married the Captains daughter Experience.

The coming of the first minister was an important event in the history of Northfield. Capt. Wright was appointed a member of -a committee to provide a house, sixteen feet long and twelve feet wide, for the temporary accommodation of the minister. It was ordered that the house be set adjoining or near to the dwelling house of such Inhabitant with whom the minister may lodge. The Committee was also instructed to order and inspect the house During the course 01' it's construction, appoint workmen, secure material and to keep an accurate account of all work done, together with the expense, and when the house was completed, to render a report to the Committee of Northfield.

March 4, 1717 marked the first legal meeting of the inhabitants of Northfield for the purpose of electing officers to serve for the ensuing year. Up to this time all officers had been appointed by the Committee for Northfield which had been appointed by the general Court. That Committee having performed all its duties and received their discharge from the Court, the inhabitants were permitted to elect their own officers and at this,. their first town meeting, Benjamin Wright was elected surveyor of highways and ore of a committee to take charge of all public lands.

in December of the same year it was agreed by the Committee

for Northfield, to raise a tax of six shillings on the poll, twelve pence per acre on all meadow land and six pence on upland. Capt.

together with Ens. Z. Field, was appointed to make out the list of taxable property. The Captains tax amounted to twelve shilling on the poll and four pound and eight shillings on his land., by far the largest tax assessment for the year of 1717. At the second annual election of officers, March 3, 1718, Capt. Wright was appointed chairmen of three important committees, the duities ties of which were as follows. To provide necessaries for Mr. Doolittle, the minister, and to take charge of all town affairs, which do not conflict with the authority of the Committee for Northfield. Another committee was expected to arrange about the building of a Meeting house. The third committee was to petition the General Court for aid in defraying the expense of such a building. Capt. Wright did not permit matters to drag concerning the Meeting house. On March 18 of the same year an agreement had been reached with the Committee for Northfield that said Committee should erect a building at once of the following dimensions: fourty five feet long, thirty feet wide and eighteen feet high. After this decision had been reached, Capt. Wright so persistently urged that the building should be erected at once, that it was completed in early August following. It had a rough board pulpit and slab boards for seats.

These committees were all important in the development of Northfield, as In all other New England towns, and the appointment of Capt. Wright as Chairman reflects with what esteem and high regard he was held by the town folk. At the annual town meeting, held March 2, 1719, Capt. Wright was appointed with others to confer with the minister regarding terms for the settlement of Northfield. From this time on, until the outbreak of Father Ralle's war, the people of Northfield lived in peace and contentment.

On June 15, 1723, a very important notice was read in the General Assembly as follows: In the House of Representatives read and ordered. That the town of Northfield have and hereby Is authorized and empowered to hace, use and enjoy all such powers, privileges and immunities, which other towns hace, use, exercise and enjoy, and that Capt. Benjamin Wright and Lieut. Eliezer Wright, two of the principal inhabitants of said town, are hereby directed and empowered to notify and summon all the inhabitants duly qualified to vote, to assemble and meet together for the election of town officers, to stand until the annual election according to law.

                                In council read concured and consented to.

Saturday June 15, 1723.                                                                                       William Dummer.

This marks the incorporation of Northfield as a Town and we find that Capt. Wright as usual together with his brother Eliezer, had an important part in the transformation of the town. in the summer of 1722, due to the influence of Father Ralle, the Indians opened war on the settlers, raiding and capturing those in the outlying neighborhoods. Due to his age, (62) no doubt more than any other thing, Capt. Wright did not attempt to take an active part in the war, until the following year. On August 13, 1723, Gray Lock, the leader of the savages, led his band against Northfield which resulted in the killing of two of the leading citizens. These expeditions, which were repeated with frequency, so aroused the Ire and hatred of Capt. Wright that he sent the following, very characteristic, letter to -Gov. Dummer,

Northfield, Dec. 5. 1723

Governor Dummer.

Honor Sir:

After my most humble duty presented, these are humbly to request your Honor to grant me the liberty of commanding five and thirty or forty men to So on the back of this army which came to Northfield as far as Otter Creek and thence round to White River and so home by the Connecticut River. This I humbly judge to be very serviceable to this part of the country, and probably might be the means of destroying some of the enemy. And if your Honor see, meet and give me orders, we think it a piece of good service, to march the road the enemy went as far to Otter Creek. We are desirous we might go upon the wages the Province allows and the encouragement they give to such for scalps. We would find ourselves and be allowed for it by the Government. The whole I humbly submit to your Honors wisdon to direct and if your Honor don't see meet to sent me, I humbly request, that some more suitable person might, that so our enemy might be discouraged and the Country

defended.

Benjamin Wright.

However, due to so many objections, his plan failed to produce the wood for which he had hoped. The Indian outrages continued during the next year which caused Capt. Wright to again volunteer his services to organize a scouting party, to go directly to Gary Locks fort and destroy him and his followers. Due *10 objections by Col. Stoddard this plan also failed. Not being, pleased ..,,ith the results of Capt. Wells expedition against the Indians, Gov. Dummer made a proposition in 'Kay 1725, to Capt. Wright to raise a party of rangers and seek out the savages who had been raiding for the -oast three years. In answer to this proposition of Gov. Dummer, Capt. Wright sent the following answer.

Northampton May 29, 1725.

Sir, I received an order from Col. Partridge, pursuant to your Houner's directions, for me to eait upon him in order to inlist men to go In quest of the enemy. Sir I am very willing to go and do what I can, 'out ye undertaking being so very difficult and ye fitting out so chargable ye that the  men 'cant possibly goe, upon ye encourridgment, but I--- there was a suitable encorridgment no doubt but men would goe out, ye unhappy loss of ye men in ye last expedition by ye miss management of ye officers has very much diss pirited People young and old,.and it seems to me ye probable place to be attained, and ye most service able when done is Messoquich "Gary Lock's fort", but I would not Proscribe to houner,but only just offer my opinion, if ye centimes which was last used In ye expedition, was secured for ye Goverment, it would be well.

I Remain Sir your mordent and most Humble Sartt.

Benj. Wright

To ye Honble Willm.Dummer Esq.

Left. Gov.& Commandr In 'Chief &c.

Copy of letter history of Northfield Vol. 2 P. 30.  In answer to this letter Capt. Wright received a very favorable- reply and also a warrant to raise a company of sixty or seventy men. As had been expected by him, he had great difficulty in securing the required number of men and two months had elapsed before he had secured a company of fifty nine men. With this company he started up the Connecticut River. Here follows a Journal of Capt. Wright, kept daily, from the time of departure, until the return of the company which dairy was presented to Gov. Dummer, August 30 , 1725. (see history of Northfield 11. 210-211)

On his return, Col. Stoddard recommended that Capt. Wright and his men be retained in pay and be sent on another scouting expedition. Acting on this suggestion Gov. Dummer sent three hundred pounds to Capt. Wright (which was about half the amount due), instructing him to make a distribution among his officers and men. At the same time he was ordered to make preparations for another expedition, going in what ever direction he thinks- will render the greatest good to the community. The Gov. includes in a part of his note; "Having a good opinion of your courage, also they rather have chosen that you go out again that so you may be in the way to retrieve your former error in letting those three Indians escape." This refers to the Journal of Capt. Wright Aug. 25. He immediately began the enlistment of another company of Rangers. Having secured twenty five men from Fort Dummer at Northfield, he went to Northampton to secure the full quota. While he was at Northampton, the Indians attacked a party of whites near Fort Dummer. These attacks hindered Capt. Wright In his preparations and it was not until Oct. 9 that he was-able to start on his second scout. Owing to the reluctance with which the men enlisted, their poor provisions, approaching winter and the Idea held by a great many that the war was about over, this trip accomplished nothing notable.

This was the last active campaign of Capt. Wright as he was at this time sixty five years old. He evidently, after the close of the war, settled in Northfield to pas the next eighteen years of his life. From 1726 to 1744 the policy became general of rewarding soldiers who had rendered special service or had been disabled, in Indian wars, with grants of land. Under this ruling Capt. Wright, was granted in 1728 two hundred acres of land lying north of Brookfield. This award was confirmed June 30, 1731.

On January 7, 1724 Capt. Wright sold to his son Daniel, the north half of his lot and one acre of his original grant. On December 26, 1728 he sold, to his son William, three acres and thirty rods off the north part remaining, including one half the barn. He retaining three acres and thirty rods as his homestead until 1740, which he sold to his grand son Remembrance Wright Jr.

In 1772 the State Legislature granted to Gov. Jonathan Belcher five hundred acres of land lying north of old Fort Hill. This infringed on the rights of priority by the early settlers and by this encroachment, brought matters to a crisis. The town resolved to have the matter settled and voted to give a large and valuable tract of land, as compensation, to any man who would get the boundaries-fixed. Stephen Belding Bent to Boston and labored with the Governor and Legislature but failed of his object and paid his own expenses. Capt. Wright, who at the time was seventy three years old and a power in the Town, County and State, was Bent to Boston, where by his influence with the leading men in the government, secured to the Town her claimed rights and was paid for his expenses and time.

Capt. Wright died in 1743, closing one of the most active and successful lives of any of the settlers of Northfield. He had an unbounded interest in everything that promised any good for the community.

He never permitted an opportunity to escape to avenge the death of his father and other relatives and neighbors. Yet he fought a fair and open fight with the Red man and it is to just such men         as he and most of his descendents that this Republic owes her existence.

Children of Benjamin and Thankful (Taylor) Wright

(-1-) Benjamin, born Feb. 12, 1681 married Nov. 18, 1702, Hannah Stebbins (one of the many marriages between the Porter and Stebbins families). His heirs were granted, Apr. 22, 1731, an island containing five sores in the Conn. River at the outlet of Cold Brook and between Jock's Brook, on the north, and Salmon Brook, on the south. It was known in later years as Elmore's Island, title having passed to Hezekiah Elmore.

(-2-) Thankful                Born Nov. 13, 1683 died Dec. 16, 1683.

(-3-) Rememberance born Man. 26, 1665 was a settler of Northfield at the final settlement in 1714 and died Oct. 8, 1765. He married Elizabeth, who died June 30, 1769 age eighty years. His son Benjamin was killed Aug. 11, 1746 by the Indians at Northfield while he was out after the cows. He was twenty one years old at that time. Tradition attributes this incident as the cause of his Great Grandfathers death.

(-4-) Thankful Born May 23, 1687 married Feb. 6, 1709 Nathaniel Woodruff.

(-5-) Jacob - Date of birth not known. He settled in South Carolina and no date of his death is recorded.

(-6-) Mindwell                Born Oct. 1694 married Dec. 24, 1713, Stephen Belding, who was born in 1609. He was a miller at Sunderland in 1717 and died Feb. 19, 1735.  Their son Aaron was killed by the Indians at Belding's Rock. He was scalped and head crushed by a party of supposed friendly Indians.,

(-7-)  Daniel,                Born Apr. 15, 1697. Was at Northfield at the final settlement in 1714 and married Margaret Judd of Northampton.

Children of Benjamin and Mary (Baker) Wright

(-1-) William                Born Nov. 20 1702. He was one of the original proprietors of Merry's Meadow. In 1731 he served under Capt. Stevens in the French and Indian War. He was Lieut. in 1748 and 1751 he is mentioned as one of the proprietors to the fourth division of land, as owner of one hundred and forty two acres, and as Selectman in 1750. He died Feb. 3,1763

(-2-) Mary Born Sept. 7, 1742 at; Northampton, Mass.

(-3-) Experience                Born Dec. 9, 1706; married about 1725, James Porter who was born Feb., 24, 1695. He was a son of Hezekiah Porter of East Hartford, Conn.  They were married in Northfield where all their children were born, and resided there until sometime 1745 and 1750 He with, his family moved to the new settlement.

The fact that Experience married James Porter evidently was not known by the compilers Of the histories of Charleston by Rev. H. H. Sanderson and of Northfield by Temple and Sheldon. As in either work do they record the marriage, except where 'Sanderson says James Porter married Experience surname not known".  Tradition however, handed down through one branch of the Porter family through Noah, says, "Thomas, Noah’s father married a daughter of Benjamin" Wright the noted Indian fighter”.  Now as Noah’s father was not Thomas but James, and he married Experience.  Benjamin Wright’s youngest daughter, by his second marriage was named so it is safe to record that her husband was none other than James Porter.  Further than that, the name Benjamin Wright, has been perpetuated down to the fifth generation from Noah.