HOOKE TO STOUGHTON.

KITTERY this 17th of December, 1694.

May it pleas your honour,-These are only to informe you, that I haue understood by a letter from Coll: Giddney that your honour haue receiued my letter in which I informed you that I should be prepared soudenly for the sloope in hopes she might haue been here before this time, for our continuall longe delays haue allways proued predeudeshall to most of our expeditions and I wish it may not proue soe now, espestially consideringe the two french vessells are gon east, which I would certaynly haue stopt had I come hom but on half day sooner; I feare nothinge soe much as them to obstruct our good sucksess in this present designe; all the souldiers haue been in a readines euer since thursday last and haue nothinge to doe but to imbarque imeadiatly soe soon as the sloop coms in; and to the end that nothinge may hinder them I haue supplyed them with cloathing and els fittinge for theire acomadation; I hope your honour will see cause to hasten the sloope away; if shee be not com away before this com to your honours hand. All houses at our poynt are full of souldiers with the rest attendinge at Yorke wayghtinge euery moment when I shall send for them; which is all at present from him that is your honours perpetuall seruant.

FRANCIS HOOKE.

THACHER TO STOUGHTON.

YARMOUTH, 22nd. December, 1694.

RIGHT HONOURABLE, SIR, I Received yours yester day euening, and by these humbly give your self an account of that affaier. I did sum time since wright to Major Wally giving him a breef account there of with request to inform others Concerned. Sir, the press warrant directed to me by the Governour came not to hand vntill two daies after the souldiers are to be at boston. We had also intelligence that sum of the northern towns had sent theire men away so that at first I was at a stand whether I had best to Issue out warrants or not, for it would be sum further considerable time be fore our men could get to Boston. Yet not with standing I forthwith sent forth warrants to those Captains which failed in the last sending forth, to Capt. Sparrow I sent for three men, to Barnestable for two, and to Sandwig for two, to Monamoy for one, and to falmouth for one. Eastham, Monamoy and falmouth sent none the last press. Barnestable, but two, that should haue sent fiue. Sandwich but one or two that should haue sent fower. From Monamoy I had one man sent forth with who waited 7. or 8 days but not a man more apeering I released him; the account I haue from Eastham is that they prest fower men but they were at a distance, for

the press mastar could not com to touch them. they refuse to obey saying they were not prest for they did not hear. The press mastar saith they might haue heard. wherupon the Captain sent a warrant to the Constable to aprehend them but the constable returns that he cannot find them, and the Captain thinks he has done as much as the law requiers. The Lieutenant of Barnestable, the Captain not being at whome, prest two men which paid their money. And, saith he can get none but what will pay at Sandwich they prest one or two but I hear they made such excuses that they did not pay nor were sent. From Falmouth I hear nothing. I would only craue leaue further to say that we in this County are vnder very greate disadvantag at this time especialy, for our men were allaramed with the press neare a fortnight before the warrant came to me, souldiers being prest and sent from the northern towns. So that owrs were vpon their watch. 2ly all our young and strong men are imployed in whaling and mostly haue their rendivous remote from the towns and if they see any man coming towards them presently mistrust, make a shoute and run into the thick3ly those that cant avoyd being taken if they haue money pay and if they haue it not they will make friends and get it. So that those that are most sutable to go vpon such seruice cannot be sent forth, and for press mastars to press persons of abillity it looks hard, for they do but as twer say I will haue 5" from you. I think that law is inConvenient for us, we haue not men here that wil be hired with money as in sum other plases they may. Thus Sir I haue giuen you an account of this Mattar as neere as I understand it. I would pray that this faillure may not be lookt vpon as contempt in our officer for they haue taken much pains to do what they haue don and were very desirous to haue sent the men sent for but the hendrances in breef you haue: Sir I haue ben lately very sick and am now lame, so that if it were not half so far I could not in person waite vpon your Honour which I had much rather haue don then to haue written, if it could haue ben. No more but humbly Requesting your favourable construction of my unpollicht sentances I subscribe my self Sir yours to be commanded in any seruice to my power.

ets.

John tha

Thacker

HOOKE TO STOUGHTON.

KITTERY this 23 of December 1694.

May it pleas your honour, These are to informe you, that this morninge came in the long lookt for sloope. I designe God willinge to morrow morninge to take out of her what is to be landed here and to

putt abourde the souldiers that soe the uery firs opertunity may be improued to sayle hence, which I hope may be to morrow, howeuer your honour may be confydent that they shall not stope a moment for me, for both the souldiers as well as my self haue been much wearyed in our long wayghtinge for I did well hope when the thing was first concluded on, that by this time the sloop might haue been in a readines to haue returned I wish the long delaye that hath been doe not proue detrementall to our frontiers in the souldiers absence though I designe to send away as few of them as posible I can, but the long stay of the sloop hath ocationd many others that was willinge to goe for to returne home, pray if the Indians be not yett com away I hope your honour will see cause to hasten them consideringe our circumstances in this remote parts, by the next when the sloope is gone I shall inlardge and in the intrime remayne your honours humble seruant

FRANCIS HOOKE

HOOKE TO STOUGHTON.

-

KITTERY this 31 December, 1694

May it pleas your Honour, I take it for granted that my letter came to your honours hand the last weeke in which I informed you that Mr. Phillips came not hether untill Lords day last was seauen night, one the next day beinge monday in the morninge I sent abourde the sloope and brought ashore all that was to be landed here and forthwith sent them ballast without any of their help in order unto a speedy dispatch concludeing one monday night or tewsday morning they would haue sett sayle the souldiers hauinge been ready ten days before, but soe it was that he would not take them in one tewsday soe that by sun sett that day came in the sloop with the Indians, order was attended about them that soe they were kept under deck all the time they were here; the weather proued soe terible that they did not see cause to sayle hence before saturday morninge I sent with the sloope 59 souldiers I hope by this time they are at theyr port. I pray God giue them good suckses I orderd them to atend such measurs as was concluded one at council table, our long stay here hath put me under som fear that the enemy may be upon us before the returne of our soulders howeuer I haue left a company of souldiers at Barwicke York and Wells and am resolued to keep each place close to their duty, and in order there unto I am Just now bound to Yorke and Wells to take efectuall care with the comission officers of each town to haue ey ouer them and if any faylier, imeadiately to giue me an account thereof all which one the drawin of the souldiers they receiued my order for in wrightinge which now in person agayn I am resolued to see carefuly atended, neuer the less if the souldiers should continue at pemaquid any time I

calls for pay and depends on the wages for to satisfie him, and supply their other necessities; for we have no Commissary here.

Sir: I pray grant me an answer be it what it will, that I may be at peace with them; and let them have what accomodation may be, in the particulars mentioned; The men are sober, peaceable, and not violent in their petitions; and yet I know that the desire of some of them is, me judice, rational and necessary. Sir, I am your Servant NATH: SALTONSTALL.

HINCHMAN TO STOUGHTON.

CHELMSFORD, the 18th of Jan'ry 1694/5

HONOURD SIR, I reced yours beareing date Jan'ry the 15th. 1694/5, which I returne you hearty thanks for. That I may be strenghthened thereby to performe and bringe others to theire duty in order to secure our Towns from sudden Invasion by the Common Enimie. Yet as to reportes that have bin made I know not. But there might be some grounds for the same, concerneing watcheing in some of the Towns in our Regiment; yet as for our fronteires, there are as strict orders given out as I am Capable to doe. And tis attend'd.

Honoured sir I have in obedience to yours, sent out my warrants to the respective Towns belongeing to our Regiment to set up strict watches. And as to the severall souldiers, as by yours Reced I was required to give you an account of, they are forty six in number that are in our partes, who are disposed of according to my orders. Eight of them are at Lankister, fourteen at Groton at present, eleven at Dunstable, and six at Merrimak, who are and have bin keept dayly out upon the scout, many miles about the places where they are posted. The other seven are in Chelmsford who are Improved for the Securyty of the Town as well as may be Considering how remote they are one from the othere, at the severall Garrisons where they are posted. So I Remaine your most Humble Servant to Command

Thomas Hinchman

FROST TO STOUGHTON.

KITTERY In the Count. YORKE Jan. 21st. 1694/5.

May pleas your Honour, Yours of the 14th. Inst. I received on Saterday last In the Even. and since your Honour has been pleased to Repose that trust (as by your order) in me I shall take care for their

Majesties Service and Safetey of their Subjects in these partts forthwith to follow your Directions and Commands; I am goeing this day for Wells, and Yorke, to see what posture they are in and att my Returne shall take an Accountt of what Stores are left here, and render accountt of the Number of Souldiers in each place etc: to your Honour by the next Post: and in all respects shall see to the watchess, and Scouting for the observing the Enimies aproach, I humbly offer to your Honours consideration the great want of Shoes and Stockings for our Souldiers here severall of them being uncapable of service for want thereof; allso that severall Souldiers sent oute are lame more fitt for an Hospitall then to do service for the Cuntrey unless to eat up the provision, and to putt the Countrey to charge on Saterday last at night Mr. Peprills Shallop came from Fishing, gives an accountt that on Fryday last between black Point and Sawcoe thay did see six Smokes in the woods a little from the sea side, which Judge may bee the Enimie: haveing no farther to offer at present to your Honour, I subscribe your Honours humble Servantt

CHARLES FRost.

SALTONSTALL TO STOUGHTON.

HAVERHIL, Jan: 23: 1694/5.

SIR, -Your Honours most kind answer to mine sent the 9th of Jan: 1694/5, was fully made known to many who prevailed with me to write; Their mouths (and I hope their hearts consent therewith) are abundantly open, and fill'd with thankfull acknowledgment of your faithfull thoughts for; and care of Owr; and I may say distressed; if not distracted place. Bis dat qui cito dat; your Answer being so soon given, adds to the kindness. My return should have been sooner but I could not then, nor yet can I tell what to make of the Scout towards Chelmsford or Varnum's, unless Maj'r Hinchman be engaged in it, and will speak with me at Haverhil, or Else where; as your Honor shall please to order. I have consulted with many considerate persons here, who think that twelve or 18 men may be necessary for the Scout, For, They cannot move every day upon the same March.

I have discourst Capt: Harvey the 19th instant about Foots Garison, who informes me; They shall be thankfull and satesfied if the Country afford Foots garison Foure men to be upon duty and pay at that Garison; and for other additional men of their own to joyn them He feares not but they will attend, and do what shall be convenient for them to do: For the other Garison mentioned, viz; as I understand, at John Pressy's, He thinks it will be best for the Inhabitants adjacent, to stay and maintaine the same according to their own first voluntary entrance thereon; there being a competent number of Neighbours at hand;