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Mrs. Rowlandson says that " of thirty-seven persons who were in this one house, none escaped either present death or a bitter captivity, save only one." This one was Ephraim Roper, above-mentioned. Mrs. Rowlandson must be considered the very highest authority, as she was a part of the story, which she afterwards published, and which affords almost the only reliable information we have of the condition, plans and movements of the hostile Indians, during that dreadful winter of 1675-6. Her story is simply, yet graphically, told, and we learn many things about the habits and customs of the Indians, their ways of subsisting, treatment of captives, manners, dress, diversions, etc., which is nowhere else given. Rev. Mr. Rowlandson sought the aid of the Council in his efforts to redeem the captives, many of whom were his own kindred. At first it was impossible to find any one of the friendly Indians, willing to venture as messengers among the hostiles, mainly because they had been so cruelly and shamefully abused by the English and were now confined at Deer Island, where they could not be accused or placed under suspicion. At last, however, one Tom Dublet, or Nepanet, consented to go, and was fitted and instructed by Major Gookin, and upon April 3d started from Cambridge, and returned with the answer of the Sachems on April 12th. The correspondence between the Council and the Sachems is still preserved, in part, though the original letters are lost. The messenger brought back word from Sam Sachem, Kutquen and Quanohit, Samuel Uskatuhgun and Gunrashit, Sagamores, and owners of the captives, that all the captives taken at Lancaster were well except the youngest of Mr. Rowlandson, who was dead. At last, after many negotiations by the faithful Nepanet, Mr. John Hoar, of Concord, who, more than any man in the colony, had the confidence of the Indians, accompanied by Nepanet, and another friendly Indian, "Peter Conway," and bearing the ransom, twenty pounds in money and goods, raised by several gentlemen for the redemption of Mrs. Rowlandson, met the Sachems near Wachusett Hill, and on May 2d received and conducted that lady to Lancaster, and the next day to Boston. The other captives were redeemed at various times and places afterwards. The place where Mr. Hoar met the Sachems is well identified, being marked by a large rock called " Redemption Rock," a noble landmark near the ancient Indian trail, between Lancaster and Mount Wachusett, and in the present town of Princeton, on the easterly side of a beautiful valley, across which, in the distance, towers Mount Wachusett. The locality is known as " Everettville," from the name of an ancient family who have lived here for generations. In 1880, Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, of Worcester, a lineal descendant of the chief actor in this transaction, for the English, purchased the land containing this site, and set it apart for memorial purposes, and caused the following inscription to be placed upon the face of the rock:UPON THIS ROCK MAY 2D 1676 The writer visited this rock and copied this inscription, May 13, 1896, in company with Mr. Edward G. Davis of Leominster, who secured several fine photographs of the rock and surroundings. The inhabitants of Lancaster fled from their town after its destruction, and were scattered among their friends in various towns nearer to Boston, but within a few years many had returned and begun the resettlement.
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