Francis "Fracois" Drew

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166642943/francis-drew

The Oyster River Massacre of 1694 was a terrible encounter in which 130 residents were killed and 27 more captured by the Native Peoples.  Many extended Drew family members were affected.  William Sr and Elizabeth's oldest son, Francis (1648-1694) and his family were killed.  The account below explains.

 Francis was the son of William Drew and Elizabeth Matthews of Oyster River (now Durham), New Hampshire. He was married about 1672 to Lydia BICKFORD, b. c. 1652, d. July 1694, the daughter of John and Temperance Bickford. They were residents of Oyster River where Francis appears on the "provision rate" list for 1675. Francis was slain during the 1694 Oyster River massacre and his wife was captured, but because of her feebleness, she was left to die in the woods. Francis's brother, John, was initially appointed as administrator of his estate on 16 Nov 1694, but this responsibility was later shifted to Francis's oldest son, Thomas, after Thomas returned from captivity by the Indians in 1696.  Niños, born in Oyster River (Durham):* Thomas, b. c. 1673, d. c. 1766, m. Tamsen _______.* Elizabeth, b. say 1675, m. Thomas FOOTMAN, b. c. 1663, living in 1737, son of Thomas Footman and Catherine Matthews. They had three children, who with their parents were all baptized on 22 Nov 1719. A web source says Thomas died 30 Oct 1752.* John, b. say 1677, married about 1702 (wife's name not discovered) and had two daughters. He escaped when "put out of a window" during the Oyster River massacre of July 1694, but was later killed by Indians, likely with his wife, on 27 April 1706. He lived on his father's homestead, and his daughters had it after him. His children were: Mary, m. 11 Feb 1724/5 Joseph Wheeler; and Joanna, m. 11 Mary 1727 Zachariah Edgerly.* Mary, b. say 1680, perhaps m. Samuel GREEN of Stratham, who died there 31 Dec 1743. This is very difficult. The Gen Dict of Maine & NH (p 287) says if this is the Samuel Green who married Mary Drew, then she was NOT his wife Mary from 1718 to 1726, and she was NOT his widow Mary named in his 1743 will, this Mary dying 16 May 1753. So, what this is saying, if Mary Drew was his wife, then she was the first or second of two or three Marys to whom he was married. To really muck up things further, this Samuel Green of Stratham had a daughter named Mary Drew and a granddaughter named Mary Drew. There is an explanation for all of this mess, but who knows what it might be.* Benjamin, b. c. 1685, d. 1694, aged about nine years. He was captured during the Oyster River massacre of July 1694, and taken to Winnipiseogee, where he was killed by tomahawks and hatchets when forced to "run the gauntlet

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• from http://www.nedoba.org/ne-do-ba/or94_06.html

" …. The Drew garrison was the next to be struck. Francis Drew, the patriarch, made a dash for the Adams garrison to seek help, but was easily captured. He was bound and dragged back to within sight of his home, which he then surrendered on the promise of quarter.  The promise of quarter was not upheld.  Francis Drew was summarily tomahawked as his family was taken captive.  Francis' wife was eventually abandoned by her captors and left to die in the woods. Nine year old Benjamin Drew was forced to run a gauntlet of Indians as a moving target for their tomahawks.  Struck repeatedly, he could run no more."

Links

• http://deepinthewoods.me/sitemap/drew-families/the-drew-family/1627...