Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

I. Mrs. Elizabeth Heard, a Widow of a Good Estate, a Mother of many Children, and a Daughter of Mr. Hull, a Reverend Minister formerly Living at Piscataqua, now Lived at Quochecho. Happening to be at Portsmouth, on the Day before Quochecho was cut off, She Returned thither in the Night, with one Daughter, and Three Sons all masters of Families. When they came near Quochecho, they were astonished, with a prodigious Noise of Indians, Howling, Shooting, Shouting, and Roaring, according to their manner in making an Assault. Their Distress for their Families carried them still further up the River, till they Secretly and Silently passed by some Numbers of the Raging Salvages. They Landed about an Hundred Rods from Major ⟨p. 34⟩Waldern's Garrison; and running up the Hill, they saw many Lights in the Windows of the Garrison, which they concluded, the English within had set up, for the Direction of those who might seek a Refuge there. Coming to the Gate, they desired entrance; which not being readily granted, they called Earnestly and bounced, and knocked, and cried out of their unkindness within, that they would not open to them in this Extremity. No Answer being yet made, they began to doubt, whether all was well; and one of the young men then climbing up the Wall, saw a horrible Tawny in the Entry, with a Gun in his Hand. A grievous Consternation Seized now upon them; and Mrs. Heard, sitting down without the Gate, through Despair and Faintness, unable to Stir any further, charged her Children to Shift for themselves, for She must unavoidably There End her Days. They finding it impossible to carry her with them, with heavy hearts forsook her; but then coming better to her self, she fled and hid among the Barberry-Bushes in the Garden: and then hastening from thence, because the Day-Light advanced, She sheltered her self (though seen by Two of the Indians,) in a Thicket of other Bushes, about Thirty Rods from the House. Here she had not been long, before an Indian came towards her, with a Pistol in his Hand: The Fellow came up to her, and Stared ⟨p. 35⟩her in the Face, but said nothing to her, nor she to him. He went a little way back, and came again, and Stared upon her as before, but said nothing; whereupon she asked him, What he would have? He still said nothing, but went away to the House, Co hooping, and Returned unto her no more.