Rev. John Williams

John Williams was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1664. Son of Samuel Williams (1632–98) and Theoda Park (1637–1718). His grandfather Robert had immigrated there from England about 1638. John had local schooling. Later he attended Harvard College, where he graduated in 1683.

http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/williams_content.html

John Williams (1664-1729), one of the most well known members of the Williams family, was an ordained minister and an early settler of Deerfield, Massachusetts. He lost his first wife, Eunice Mather, and two of his children in the Indian raid known as the Deerfield Massacre (1704) and was held in captivity in Canada for two years before returning to Deerfield.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams_%28Reverend%29

On the night of 28 February 1704, approximately 300 French and Indian soldiers took 109 citizens captive, besides killing a total of 56 men, women and children, including two of Williams' children (six-year-old son John Jr., and six-week-old daughter Jerushah) and his African slave Parthena. The raiding party led the Williams and other families on a march over 300 miles (480 km) of winter landscape to Canada. En route to Quebec, a Mohawk killed Williams' wife after she fell while trying to cross a creek, along with Frank, another African slave. Others of the most vulnerable older and youngest people died, some at the hands of Indians who judged them unable to go on. Williams remained steadfast and encouraged the other captives with prayer and Scripture along their journey to Quebec. The large party had seven weeks of hard overland travel to reach Fort Chambly.

He married Abigail Bissell and one of their daughters, Abigail (1708-1787), married Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale (1706-1763).

Kidnapped in 1714, ransomed in 1716. Three of his children were ransomed back. His daughter, Eunice chose to stay and marry a Mohawk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice_Williams

http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/williams_content.html

Ransomed two years later.

Birth of John Williams, son of Samuel Williams (1632-1698) and Theoda Parke (1637-1718). John Williams (1664-1729), one of the most well known members of the Williams family, was an ordained minister and an early settler of Deerfield, Massachusetts. He lost his first wife, Eunice Mather, and two of his children in the Indian raid known as the Deerfield Massacre (1704) and was held in captivity in Canada for two years before returning to Deerfield. He married Abigail Bissell and one of their daughters, Abigail (1708-1787), married Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale (1706-1763). Hinsdale estate papers are included in this collection.

http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/williams_content.html

• Rev John Williams MEMORIAL ID 53109011