Hannah Dustin and Mary Neff have been kidnapped by the Abenaki Indians in March 1697 and forced to march 75 miles from home. Hannah's week old daughter was killed by the Indians. The two women were joined by another English settler, Samuel Lennardson, a boy of 14 years, who was captured by the Indians 18 months earlier. In Part 2, the rest of Hannah's life and death struggle.
Indian Family and the Island
The Indian family went to the island a the junction of Contoocook and Merrimac to rest for a couple days before continuing north to meet up with the rest of the Abenaki Indians. It was now March 30, 1697, fifteen days since Hannah and Mary had been taken from Haverhill and fifteen days since Hannah precious baby daughter had been cruelty murdered.
During their hours together, Hannah had learned the Indian family had been taught by French priests years earlier of the Christian religion and the practice of saying prayers before meals. In spite of that background, Hannah feared for the possible terrible treatment they might get once they were much farther north and with the rest of the tribe. She thought only of how to escape. She quietly let Mary and Samuel to be ready at a moment’s notice when an opportunity to flee became available.
The Escape
It was around midnight when Hannah felt all the Indian family was sound asleep. Hannah, Mary and Sam were awake and each took a hatchet (tomahawk). One Hannah’s signal while up against the sleeping Indians, Sam and Hannah each killed the two men first and then Mary joined, killing the remaining family members. Only one Indian woman, who was severely wounded and a boy managed to escape into the woods.
Quickly gathering some supplies into a canoe, including a rifle which belonged one of the male Indians and a tomahawk, Hannah placed holes in the remaining canoes. The three, Hannah, Samuel and Mary took off along the Merrimac River. Hannah suddenly realized that some people might be suspicious of her version of events. It was then she quickly returned to the camp and scalped the dead Indians, next wrapping the scalps in a cloth before heading in the canoe back onto the Merrimac.
For days, they hide during daylight and traveled at night on the river. Their first taste of civilization was at the home of John Lovewell. They spent the night there before moving further down the river. Eventually they left the canoe at Bradley’s Cove, at the junction of the Creek Brook. The three traveled the remainder of the journey by foot, back to Haverhill.
Back to Haverhill
Hannah finally returned to Thomas and her children on April 25, 1697. The whole community was shocked to see Hannah and Mary had survived and that they had rescued Samuel. While Hannah was gone, Thomas had completed a new home for the family since their other house had been burned.
Reward
Thomas joined by Hannah, Mary and Samuel as they took the scalps to Boston on April 21, 1697. He filed a petition with the English Governor, to claim the reward of killing the Indians who had attacked the settlement in March. The General Court granted 25 pounds to Thomas and Hannah and granted 12 pounds, 10 shillings to Mary Neff and 12 pounds 10 shillings to Samuel Lennardson in June 1697.
Life Afterwards
Thomas Dustin completed work on a brick "Garrison House," one of several built in Haverhill to protect the community from future Indian raids. This house remains standing today. Hannah returned to being a mother and wife. Thomas and Hannah had a 13th child, whom they named Lydia on October 4, 1698.
Mary Neff and Samuel Lennardson
Mary Neff, born Mary Corliss in September 1646 in Haverhill led a quiet life until her death on October 22, 1722. After Thomas Dustin’s death around 1732, Hannah lived with her son, Jonathan. Hannah died early in 1736, leaving a will that was probated in March 1736. She and Thomas did have many descendants from the nine children who survived to adulthood.
Samuel Lennardson, returned to his father’s home and then moved to Preston, Connecticut. He was later married to Lidya and they had three sons and two daughters. Samuel died May 11, 1718 in Preston, Connecticut.
Monument to Honor a Woman
Some 164 years later, a monument to Hannah Dustin was erected in Haverhill, Mass on June 1, 1861. It became the first monument to honor a woman in American history. It was made of Italian marble. In size it was a five feet square and twenty-four feet high, resting on a base of granite. The public cost was $1,200. Over the years 5 monuments and tablets in her honor have been erected plus a street and a park square named in Hannah.
Read also in Suite 101: Yearning for Revenge - Hannah Dustin of Colonial America about Hannah's life before and during the capture
Sources:
Mary Neff
Samuel Lennardson
Alice Luckhardt - As a social science teacher in Florida for 18 years, office manager for the family business, historical and genealogical researcher and ...
Join the Conversation