Nehemiah Howe was the son of Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe , (1642-1713) and Samuel Howe's second wife,the widow Sarah (Leavitt)Clapp(1659-1726).Nehemiah Howe had seven half siblings one of which was,David Howe(1674-1759).David was the son of Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe , and Samuel's first wife Martha Bent(1638-1680). In 1716 David Howe received a licence for a "House of Entertainment" along the Old Boston Post Road,one of the first mail routes in the country,known then as "Howe's Tavern" In 1748 David's son,Ezekiel Howe,then poprietor,would call it "The Red Horse Inn". Lieutenant Colonial Ezekiel Howe led the Sudbury Minute and Militia to Concord center at the beginning of the Revolutionary War on April 19,1775.The Red Horse Tavern and Inn in Sudbury was just about halfway between Boston and Worcester,the Inn became a regular and popular stopping place for travellers between these two towns.It was owned and operated by four consecutive generations of Howe's.The last of which was Lyman Howe(1801-1861).When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visited the Inn in 1862,Lyman Howe became the inpiration for the fictitious character he created for his poem "The Landlord's Tale",more widely known as "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere".When publised in 1863,The Tales of a Wayside Inn were so popular that by 1866 they brought the Inn to a level of national significance.The First verse of Longfellow's Poem goes....
"Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ,On the eighteenth of April,in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year"
On Dec 18,1685 in Sudbury,Massachuesetts,five years after the death of his first wife,Martha Bend,Nehemiah's father Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe remarries to the widow Sarah(Leavitt)Clapp.Nehemiah Howe,listed below,was the third child of Samuel and Sarah Howe.Their six children in order of birth were as follows..
1)Jonathan Howe b Abt.1686
2) Daniel Howe b Feb 6,1689,d Feb 3,1757
3)Nehemiah Howe b 1693,d May 25,1747
4) Moses Howe b Aug 27,1695,d Feb 16 1751
5)Ebenezer Howe b April 27,1697,d Jun 30,1753
6)Micajah Howe b Aug 23,1700,d April 22,1740
When Nehemiah's father, Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe passed away in 1713, Nehemiah Howe was just twenty years old. He took his fathers estate and paid off the other heirs.
In about 1715,Nehemiah Howe married Margaret Willard(1694-1758) the daughter of Captain Benjamin Willard (1665-1732)and wife,Sarah Larkin(1662-1770).Nehemiah and Margaret have the following twelve children.They were as follows...
1) Joshua Howe b Oct 11,1716,d 1806 in Westmoreland,NH
2)Submit Howe b Mar 4,1718
3)Caleb Howe, b Jan 30,1720,d Jun 2,1721
4)Esher Howe b Apr 25,1722,d Mar 1769
5) Caleb Howe -, b Dec 21,1723,
d Jun 28,1755
6) Sarah Howe, b Jul 13,1725,d Apr 26,1788
7) Samuel Howe , b Jun 15,1727,d Apr 8 1806
8)Edward Howe b May 28,1728,d 1730
9) Abner Howe , b Oct 20,1731,d Jul 13 1781
10)Hannah Howe b Nov 29,1733,d 1734
11) Mary Howe b Apr 12,1735,d May 14,1794
12)Martha Howe b Sep 16,1738,d May 14,1794
On October 14, 1716 Nehemiah How of Sudbury and his father in law Captain Benjamin Willard and son Joseph,Webster and Thomas Pratt,of Framingham,bought from the heirs of Framingham schoolmaster Benjamin Thompson 300 acres.The property consisted of land in the wilderness called Collett's Farm,according to Suffolk Co. deeds.In 1717 Nehemiah sold his estate in Sudbury and moved to Framingham.In 1727 he moved again to Grafton, MA, closer to Worcester, where he was one of the signed witnesses to the Indian deed for Grafton.On April 9, 1728, the first meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands of Grafton was held at the home of Jonathan Howe (Nehemiah's older brother) of Marlborough.On April 19, 1728,the second proprietors meeting was held at Nehemiah's house in Grafton.Nehemiah Howe served in the following:In 1732 he was on a committee to adjust the treasurer's accounts, and on a committee to settle a disagreement on the division of lands.He was among the first church members at Grafton,being assigned the fore seat.In 1733 under the division of land at Grafton,he received 5 acres.He was a moderator of the proprietor's meeting in 1734,A Selectman in 1735,Chosen to procure a schoolmaster for the year 1736,and was paid 4 pounds, 1 shilling, 8 pence for the keeping of the school.He was Town Clerk 1736-38,Assessor 1737.He was on a committee formed to discuss the minister's salary in 1738.He was School committee and Town Constable in 1739.Nehemiah Howe was a well established in Grafton, Massachusetts and an influential citizen in town affairs.After a committee received a report of the survey of township #2,now Westmoreland,NH on November 30,1736,a charter of the lands was issued.The following persons were grantees under this Massachusetts charter:Nehemiah Howe's older brother Daniel Howe two of his son's, Joseph Howe and Daniel Howe Jr.,two of Nehemiah Howe's sons, Joshua Howe and Abner Howe .Other grantees were Thomas Chamberlain, Moses Wheeler ,Jethro Wheeler,Harriden Wheeler Jr,Josiah Foster,Meshach Taylor,Benjamin Alldrige,Jonathan Hildrith,Nathaniel Wooster,Jeremiah Hall and possibly others.In the spring and early summer of 1739,Nehemiah Howe bought three full township rights at the Great Meadow.The records of those deeds are found at Springfield,Massachusetts.In the Spring of 1741, Daniel Howe ,Nehemiah Howe, William Phipps,Jethro Wheeler,David Rugg,Robert Baker with their families traveled up the Connecticut River in canoes from Northfield,Ma and made what was the first settlement on the Great Meadow #2(East Putney).Nehemiah Howe's brother, Daniel Howe had previously traveled ahead of his brother and the other settlers to make a survey of the land to ensure its viability for settlement.Upon their arrival they cleared the ground at the Great Meadow,Putney.In the center of the clearing they built themselves a fortification known as Fort Hill. Within a short three years they were maintaining a healthy stock of cattle and cultivated fields for their food supply.
The year 1744 brought King George's War,The settlers were obliged to seek safety and shelter in Fort Putney.October 11,1745,historically refered to as "Black Friday",was the morning that Nehemiah How was attacked and captured.He was returning from cutting wood a sixth of a mile from the settlers fort.He had gone just a few steps when suddenly he heard behind him "crackling of Fences" and when he looked back in the direction of the noise,he saw the red painted heads of 12 or 13 Indians running after him.He started to run while shouting in desperation,hoping to attract the attention of the guard at the fort.By the time he had run 10 rods the Indians had overtaken him.They then seized him and led him away into the swamp where they immobilized him by tying him up.Another settler,David Rugg who in a savage act of brutality was beheaded.Wanting to instill fear among the settler's the retreating Indian's,in a gruesome display,mounted David Rugg's head on a pole and left it outside the fort.The Abenakis Indians of St Francis were numbered in a group of about fifty in all.Nehemiah Howe had been the first Connecticut Valley captive of King George's War during these brutal Indian attack at the Great Meadow.Nehemiah was taken to Canada,where he was kept a prisoner of the French in Quebec for a year and a half.Just as he was about to be set free,he became sick with fever and was taken to a hospital where he died on May 25,1747.
His death was a severe blow to his family,and to the community where he was known,as one of his contemporaries wrote of him, "he was a loving husband,and a tender Father;greatly beloved by his brothers and sisters,and indeed by every one who was acquainted with him" He possessed a heir of cultivation and refinement far beyond the ordinary.He kept a journal during his prison life which was of great value for other captive families.The many items in it brought news to loved one of other captives,who otherwise would never have known their fate.It is also a priceless legacy to his descendants, showing as it does, the beautiful Christion character of one who could endure the severest hardships with a grace and dignity rarely to be found.In 1748 his journal was used to publish "A Narrative of The Captivity of Nehemiah How" (1693-1747).
~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~~~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~
(The 1748-Narrative title page posted here)
"Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ,On the eighteenth of April,in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year"
On Dec 18,1685 in Sudbury,Massachuesetts,five years after the death of his first wife,Martha Bend,Nehemiah's father Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe remarries to the widow Sarah(Leavitt)Clapp.Nehemiah Howe,listed below,was the third child of Samuel and Sarah Howe.Their six children in order of birth were as follows..
1)Jonathan Howe b Abt.1686
2) Daniel Howe b Feb 6,1689,d Feb 3,1757
3)Nehemiah Howe b 1693,d May 25,1747
4) Moses Howe b Aug 27,1695,d Feb 16 1751
5)Ebenezer Howe b April 27,1697,d Jun 30,1753
6)Micajah Howe b Aug 23,1700,d April 22,1740
When Nehemiah's father, Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe passed away in 1713, Nehemiah Howe was just twenty years old. He took his fathers estate and paid off the other heirs.
In about 1715,Nehemiah Howe married Margaret Willard(1694-1758) the daughter of Captain Benjamin Willard (1665-1732)and wife,Sarah Larkin(1662-1770).Nehemiah and Margaret have the following twelve children.They were as follows...
1) Joshua Howe b Oct 11,1716,d 1806 in Westmoreland,NH
2)Submit Howe b Mar 4,1718
3)Caleb Howe, b Jan 30,1720,d Jun 2,1721
4)Esher Howe b Apr 25,1722,d Mar 1769
5) Caleb Howe -, b Dec 21,1723,
d Jun 28,1755
6) Sarah Howe, b Jul 13,1725,d Apr 26,1788
7) Samuel Howe , b Jun 15,1727,d Apr 8 1806
8)Edward Howe b May 28,1728,d 1730
9) Abner Howe , b Oct 20,1731,d Jul 13 1781
10)Hannah Howe b Nov 29,1733,d 1734
11) Mary Howe b Apr 12,1735,d May 14,1794
12)Martha Howe b Sep 16,1738,d May 14,1794
On October 14, 1716 Nehemiah How of Sudbury and his father in law Captain Benjamin Willard and son Joseph,Webster and Thomas Pratt,of Framingham,bought from the heirs of Framingham schoolmaster Benjamin Thompson 300 acres.The property consisted of land in the wilderness called Collett's Farm,according to Suffolk Co. deeds.In 1717 Nehemiah sold his estate in Sudbury and moved to Framingham.In 1727 he moved again to Grafton, MA, closer to Worcester, where he was one of the signed witnesses to the Indian deed for Grafton.On April 9, 1728, the first meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands of Grafton was held at the home of Jonathan Howe (Nehemiah's older brother) of Marlborough.On April 19, 1728,the second proprietors meeting was held at Nehemiah's house in Grafton.Nehemiah Howe served in the following:In 1732 he was on a committee to adjust the treasurer's accounts, and on a committee to settle a disagreement on the division of lands.He was among the first church members at Grafton,being assigned the fore seat.In 1733 under the division of land at Grafton,he received 5 acres.He was a moderator of the proprietor's meeting in 1734,A Selectman in 1735,Chosen to procure a schoolmaster for the year 1736,and was paid 4 pounds, 1 shilling, 8 pence for the keeping of the school.He was Town Clerk 1736-38,Assessor 1737.He was on a committee formed to discuss the minister's salary in 1738.He was School committee and Town Constable in 1739.Nehemiah Howe was a well established in Grafton, Massachusetts and an influential citizen in town affairs.After a committee received a report of the survey of township #2,now Westmoreland,NH on November 30,1736,a charter of the lands was issued.The following persons were grantees under this Massachusetts charter:Nehemiah Howe's older brother Daniel Howe two of his son's, Joseph Howe and Daniel Howe Jr.,two of Nehemiah Howe's sons, Joshua Howe and Abner Howe .Other grantees were Thomas Chamberlain, Moses Wheeler ,Jethro Wheeler,Harriden Wheeler Jr,Josiah Foster,Meshach Taylor,Benjamin Alldrige,Jonathan Hildrith,Nathaniel Wooster,Jeremiah Hall and possibly others.In the spring and early summer of 1739,Nehemiah Howe bought three full township rights at the Great Meadow.The records of those deeds are found at Springfield,Massachusetts.In the Spring of 1741, Daniel Howe ,Nehemiah Howe, William Phipps,Jethro Wheeler,David Rugg,Robert Baker with their families traveled up the Connecticut River in canoes from Northfield,Ma and made what was the first settlement on the Great Meadow #2(East Putney).Nehemiah Howe's brother, Daniel Howe had previously traveled ahead of his brother and the other settlers to make a survey of the land to ensure its viability for settlement.Upon their arrival they cleared the ground at the Great Meadow,Putney.In the center of the clearing they built themselves a fortification known as Fort Hill. Within a short three years they were maintaining a healthy stock of cattle and cultivated fields for their food supply.
The year 1744 brought King George's War,The settlers were obliged to seek safety and shelter in Fort Putney.October 11,1745,historically refered to as "Black Friday",was the morning that Nehemiah How was attacked and captured.He was returning from cutting wood a sixth of a mile from the settlers fort.He had gone just a few steps when suddenly he heard behind him "crackling of Fences" and when he looked back in the direction of the noise,he saw the red painted heads of 12 or 13 Indians running after him.He started to run while shouting in desperation,hoping to attract the attention of the guard at the fort.By the time he had run 10 rods the Indians had overtaken him.They then seized him and led him away into the swamp where they immobilized him by tying him up.Another settler,David Rugg who in a savage act of brutality was beheaded.Wanting to instill fear among the settler's the retreating Indian's,in a gruesome display,mounted David Rugg's head on a pole and left it outside the fort.The Abenakis Indians of St Francis were numbered in a group of about fifty in all.Nehemiah Howe had been the first Connecticut Valley captive of King George's War during these brutal Indian attack at the Great Meadow.Nehemiah was taken to Canada,where he was kept a prisoner of the French in Quebec for a year and a half.Just as he was about to be set free,he became sick with fever and was taken to a hospital where he died on May 25,1747.
His death was a severe blow to his family,and to the community where he was known,as one of his contemporaries wrote of him, "he was a loving husband,and a tender Father;greatly beloved by his brothers and sisters,and indeed by every one who was acquainted with him" He possessed a heir of cultivation and refinement far beyond the ordinary.He kept a journal during his prison life which was of great value for other captive families.The many items in it brought news to loved one of other captives,who otherwise would never have known their fate.It is also a priceless legacy to his descendants, showing as it does, the beautiful Christion character of one who could endure the severest hardships with a grace and dignity rarely to be found.In 1748 his journal was used to publish "A Narrative of The Captivity of Nehemiah How" (1693-1747).
~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~~~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~
(The 1748-Narrative title page posted here)
Nehemiah Howe was the son of Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe , (1642-1713) and Samuel Howe's second wife,the widow Sarah (Leavitt)Clapp(1659-1726).Nehemiah Howe had seven half siblings one of which was,David Howe(1674-1759).David was the son of Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe , and Samuel's first wife Martha Bent(1638-1680). In 1716 David Howe received a licence for a "House of Entertainment" along the Old Boston Post Road,one of the first mail routes in the country,known then as "Howe's Tavern" In 1748 David's son,Ezekiel Howe,then poprietor,would call it "The Red Horse Inn". Lieutenant Colonial Ezekiel Howe led the Sudbury Minute and Militia to Concord center at the beginning of the Revolutionary War on April 19,1775.The Red Horse Tavern and Inn in Sudbury was just about halfway between Boston and Worcester,the Inn became a regular and popular stopping place for travellers between these two towns.It was owned and operated by four consecutive generations of Howe's.The last of which was Lyman Howe(1801-1861).When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visited the Inn in 1862,Lyman Howe became the inpiration for the fictitious character he created for his poem "The Landlord's Tale",more widely known as "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere".When publised in 1863,The Tales of a Wayside Inn were so popular that by 1866 they brought the Inn to a level of national significance.The First verse of Longfellow's Poem goes....
"Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ,On the eighteenth of April,in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year"
On Dec 18,1685 in Sudbury,Massachuesetts,five years after the death of his first wife,Martha Bend,Nehemiah's father Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe remarries to the widow Sarah(Leavitt)Clapp.Nehemiah Howe,listed below,was the third child of Samuel and Sarah Howe.Their six children in order of birth were as follows..
1)Jonathan Howe b Abt.1686
2) Daniel Howe b Feb 6,1689,d Feb 3,1757
3)Nehemiah Howe b 1693,d May 25,1747
4) Moses Howe b Aug 27,1695,d Feb 16 1751
5)Ebenezer Howe b April 27,1697,d Jun 30,1753
6)Micajah Howe b Aug 23,1700,d April 22,1740
When Nehemiah's father, Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe passed away in 1713, Nehemiah Howe was just twenty years old. He took his fathers estate and paid off the other heirs.
In about 1715,Nehemiah Howe married Margaret Willard(1694-1758) the daughter of Captain Benjamin Willard (1665-1732)and wife,Sarah Larkin(1662-1770).Nehemiah and Margaret have the following twelve children.They were as follows...
1) Joshua Howe b Oct 11,1716,d 1806 in Westmoreland,NH
2)Submit Howe b Mar 4,1718
3)Caleb Howe, b Jan 30,1720,d Jun 2,1721
4)Esher Howe b Apr 25,1722,d Mar 1769
5) Caleb Howe -, b Dec 21,1723,
d Jun 28,1755
6) Sarah Howe, b Jul 13,1725,d Apr 26,1788
7) Samuel Howe , b Jun 15,1727,d Apr 8 1806
8)Edward Howe b May 28,1728,d 1730
9) Abner Howe , b Oct 20,1731,d Jul 13 1781
10)Hannah Howe b Nov 29,1733,d 1734
11) Mary Howe b Apr 12,1735,d May 14,1794
12)Martha Howe b Sep 16,1738,d May 14,1794
On October 14, 1716 Nehemiah How of Sudbury and his father in law Captain Benjamin Willard and son Joseph,Webster and Thomas Pratt,of Framingham,bought from the heirs of Framingham schoolmaster Benjamin Thompson 300 acres.The property consisted of land in the wilderness called Collett's Farm,according to Suffolk Co. deeds.In 1717 Nehemiah sold his estate in Sudbury and moved to Framingham.In 1727 he moved again to Grafton, MA, closer to Worcester, where he was one of the signed witnesses to the Indian deed for Grafton.On April 9, 1728, the first meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands of Grafton was held at the home of Jonathan Howe (Nehemiah's older brother) of Marlborough.On April 19, 1728,the second proprietors meeting was held at Nehemiah's house in Grafton.Nehemiah Howe served in the following:In 1732 he was on a committee to adjust the treasurer's accounts, and on a committee to settle a disagreement on the division of lands.He was among the first church members at Grafton,being assigned the fore seat.In 1733 under the division of land at Grafton,he received 5 acres.He was a moderator of the proprietor's meeting in 1734,A Selectman in 1735,Chosen to procure a schoolmaster for the year 1736,and was paid 4 pounds, 1 shilling, 8 pence for the keeping of the school.He was Town Clerk 1736-38,Assessor 1737.He was on a committee formed to discuss the minister's salary in 1738.He was School committee and Town Constable in 1739.Nehemiah Howe was a well established in Grafton, Massachusetts and an influential citizen in town affairs.After a committee received a report of the survey of township #2,now Westmoreland,NH on November 30,1736,a charter of the lands was issued.The following persons were grantees under this Massachusetts charter:Nehemiah Howe's older brother Daniel Howe two of his son's, Joseph Howe and Daniel Howe Jr.,two of Nehemiah Howe's sons, Joshua Howe and Abner Howe .Other grantees were Thomas Chamberlain, Moses Wheeler ,Jethro Wheeler,Harriden Wheeler Jr,Josiah Foster,Meshach Taylor,Benjamin Alldrige,Jonathan Hildrith,Nathaniel Wooster,Jeremiah Hall and possibly others.In the spring and early summer of 1739,Nehemiah Howe bought three full township rights at the Great Meadow.The records of those deeds are found at Springfield,Massachusetts.In the Spring of 1741, Daniel Howe ,Nehemiah Howe, William Phipps,Jethro Wheeler,David Rugg,Robert Baker with their families traveled up the Connecticut River in canoes from Northfield,Ma and made what was the first settlement on the Great Meadow #2(East Putney).Nehemiah Howe's brother, Daniel Howe had previously traveled ahead of his brother and the other settlers to make a survey of the land to ensure its viability for settlement.Upon their arrival they cleared the ground at the Great Meadow,Putney.In the center of the clearing they built themselves a fortification known as Fort Hill. Within a short three years they were maintaining a healthy stock of cattle and cultivated fields for their food supply.
The year 1744 brought King George's War,The settlers were obliged to seek safety and shelter in Fort Putney.October 11,1745,historically refered to as "Black Friday",was the morning that Nehemiah How was attacked and captured.He was returning from cutting wood a sixth of a mile from the settlers fort.He had gone just a few steps when suddenly he heard behind him "crackling of Fences" and when he looked back in the direction of the noise,he saw the red painted heads of 12 or 13 Indians running after him.He started to run while shouting in desperation,hoping to attract the attention of the guard at the fort.By the time he had run 10 rods the Indians had overtaken him.They then seized him and led him away into the swamp where they immobilized him by tying him up.Another settler,David Rugg who in a savage act of brutality was beheaded.Wanting to instill fear among the settler's the retreating Indian's,in a gruesome display,mounted David Rugg's head on a pole and left it outside the fort.The Abenakis Indians of St Francis were numbered in a group of about fifty in all.Nehemiah Howe had been the first Connecticut Valley captive of King George's War during these brutal Indian attack at the Great Meadow.Nehemiah was taken to Canada,where he was kept a prisoner of the French in Quebec for a year and a half.Just as he was about to be set free,he became sick with fever and was taken to a hospital where he died on May 25,1747.
His death was a severe blow to his family,and to the community where he was known,as one of his contemporaries wrote of him, "he was a loving husband,and a tender Father;greatly beloved by his brothers and sisters,and indeed by every one who was acquainted with him" He possessed a heir of cultivation and refinement far beyond the ordinary.He kept a journal during his prison life which was of great value for other captive families.The many items in it brought news to loved one of other captives,who otherwise would never have known their fate.It is also a priceless legacy to his descendants, showing as it does, the beautiful Christion character of one who could endure the severest hardships with a grace and dignity rarely to be found.In 1748 his journal was used to publish "A Narrative of The Captivity of Nehemiah How" (1693-1747).
~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~~~•●~~~•●~~~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ●•~~~●•~~~●•~
(The 1748-Narrative title page posted here)
"Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere ,On the eighteenth of April,in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year"
On Dec 18,1685 in Sudbury,Massachuesetts,five years after the death of his first wife,Martha Bend,Nehemiah's father Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe remarries to the widow Sarah(Leavitt)Clapp.Nehemiah Howe,listed below,was the third child of Samuel and Sarah Howe.Their six children in order of birth were as follows..
1)Jonathan Howe b Abt.1686
2) Daniel Howe b Feb 6,1689,d Feb 3,1757
3)Nehemiah Howe b 1693,d May 25,1747
4) Moses Howe b Aug 27,1695,d Feb 16 1751
5)Ebenezer Howe b April 27,1697,d Jun 30,1753
6)Micajah Howe b Aug 23,1700,d April 22,1740
When Nehemiah's father, Lieutenat Colonel Samuel Howe passed away in 1713, Nehemiah Howe was just twenty years old. He took his fathers estate and paid off the other heirs.
In about 1715,Nehemiah Howe married Margaret Willard(1694-1758) the daughter of Captain Benjamin Willard (1665-1732)and wife,Sarah Larkin(1662-1770).Nehemiah and Margaret have the following twelve children.They were as follows...
1) Joshua Howe b Oct 11,1716,d 1806 in Westmoreland,NH
2)Submit Howe b Mar 4,1718
3)Caleb Howe, b Jan 30,1720,d Jun 2,1721
4)Esher Howe b Apr 25,1722,d Mar 1769
5) Caleb Howe -, b Dec 21,1723,
d Jun 28,1755
6) Sarah Howe, b Jul 13,1725,d Apr 26,1788
7) Samuel Howe , b Jun 15,1727,d Apr 8 1806
8)Edward Howe b May 28,1728,d 1730
9) Abner Howe , b Oct 20,1731,d Jul 13 1781
10)Hannah Howe b Nov 29,1733,d 1734
11) Mary Howe b Apr 12,1735,d May 14,1794
12)Martha Howe b Sep 16,1738,d May 14,1794
On October 14, 1716 Nehemiah How of Sudbury and his father in law Captain Benjamin Willard and son Joseph,Webster and Thomas Pratt,of Framingham,bought from the heirs of Framingham schoolmaster Benjamin Thompson 300 acres.The property consisted of land in the wilderness called Collett's Farm,according to Suffolk Co. deeds.In 1717 Nehemiah sold his estate in Sudbury and moved to Framingham.In 1727 he moved again to Grafton, MA, closer to Worcester, where he was one of the signed witnesses to the Indian deed for Grafton.On April 9, 1728, the first meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands of Grafton was held at the home of Jonathan Howe (Nehemiah's older brother) of Marlborough.On April 19, 1728,the second proprietors meeting was held at Nehemiah's house in Grafton.Nehemiah Howe served in the following:In 1732 he was on a committee to adjust the treasurer's accounts, and on a committee to settle a disagreement on the division of lands.He was among the first church members at Grafton,being assigned the fore seat.In 1733 under the division of land at Grafton,he received 5 acres.He was a moderator of the proprietor's meeting in 1734,A Selectman in 1735,Chosen to procure a schoolmaster for the year 1736,and was paid 4 pounds, 1 shilling, 8 pence for the keeping of the school.He was Town Clerk 1736-38,Assessor 1737.He was on a committee formed to discuss the minister's salary in 1738.He was School committee and Town Constable in 1739.Nehemiah Howe was a well established in Grafton, Massachusetts and an influential citizen in town affairs.After a committee received a report of the survey of township #2,now Westmoreland,NH on November 30,1736,a charter of the lands was issued.The following persons were grantees under this Massachusetts charter:Nehemiah Howe's older brother Daniel Howe two of his son's, Joseph Howe and Daniel Howe Jr.,two of Nehemiah Howe's sons, Joshua Howe and Abner Howe .Other grantees were Thomas Chamberlain, Moses Wheeler ,Jethro Wheeler,Harriden Wheeler Jr,Josiah Foster,Meshach Taylor,Benjamin Alldrige,Jonathan Hildrith,Nathaniel Wooster,Jeremiah Hall and possibly others.In the spring and early summer of 1739,Nehemiah Howe bought three full township rights at the Great Meadow.The records of those deeds are found at Springfield,Massachusetts.In the Spring of 1741, Daniel Howe ,Nehemiah Howe, William Phipps,Jethro Wheeler,David Rugg,Robert Baker with their families traveled up the Connecticut River in canoes from Northfield,Ma and made what was the first settlement on the Great Meadow #2(East Putney).Nehemiah Howe's brother, Daniel Howe had previously traveled ahead of his brother and the other settlers to make a survey of the land to ensure its viability for settlement.Upon their arrival they cleared the ground at the Great Meadow,Putney.In the center of the clearing they built themselves a fortification known as Fort Hill. Within a short three years they were maintaining a healthy stock of cattle and cultivated fields for their food supply.
The year 1744 brought King George's War,The settlers were obliged to seek safety and shelter in Fort Putney.October 11,1745,historically refered to as "Black Friday",was the morning that Nehemiah How was attacked and captured.He was returning from cutting wood a sixth of a mile from the settlers fort.He had gone just a few steps when suddenly he heard behind him "crackling of Fences" and when he looked back in the direction of the noise,he saw the red painted heads of 12 or 13 Indians running after him.He started to run while shouting in desperation,hoping to attract the attention of the guard at the fort.By the time he had run 10 rods the Indians had overtaken him.They then seized him and led him away into the swamp where they immobilized him by tying him up.Another settler,David Rugg who in a savage act of brutality was beheaded.Wanting to instill fear among the settler's the retreating Indian's,in a gruesome display,mounted David Rugg's head on a pole and left it outside the fort.The Abenakis Indians of St Francis were numbered in a group of about fifty in all.Nehemiah Howe had been the first Connecticut Valley captive of King George's War during these brutal Indian attack at the Great Meadow.Nehemiah was taken to Canada,where he was kept a prisoner of the French in Quebec for a year and a half.Just as he was about to be set free,he became sick with fever and was taken to a hospital where he died on May 25,1747.
His death was a severe blow to his family,and to the community where he was known,as one of his contemporaries wrote of him, "he was a loving husband,and a tender Father;greatly beloved by his brothers and sisters,and indeed by every one who was acquainted with him" He possessed a heir of cultivation and refinement far beyond the ordinary.He kept a journal during his prison life which was of great value for other captive families.The many items in it brought news to loved one of other captives,who otherwise would never have known their fate.It is also a priceless legacy to his descendants, showing as it does, the beautiful Christion character of one who could endure the severest hardships with a grace and dignity rarely to be found.In 1748 his journal was used to publish "A Narrative of The Captivity of Nehemiah How" (1693-1747).
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(The 1748-Narrative title page posted here)
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