Rebecca Kellogg was born on December 22, 1695 in Deerfield, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Martin Kellogg and Sarah Dickenson.
On February 29, 1704, during Queen Anne's War, joint French and Indian forces attacked the town in what became known as the Raid on Deerfield. Under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville were 47 Canadiens and 200 Abenaki, Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), and Wyandot, as well as a few Pocumtuck. The attack began in the pre-dawn hours, burning Deerfield and killing 56 colonists, including 22 men, 9 women, and 25 children. They took 112 captives that included women and children. Martin Kellogg and four children (Martin Jr, Joseph, Joanna, and Rebecca) were captured and forced to march 300 miles to Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada. It was a months-long trek and many died along the way; some were killed because they could not keep up. During the raid, Sarah Dickinson Kellogg hid in the cellar with her youngest son Jonathan (1698 - 1704). The Indians heard the youngest child crying, found and killed him, then set fire to the house. Sarah escaped with her step-daughter Anna Kellogg (1689 - 1781).
Rebecca was eight years old when she was captured. She lived with the Mohawk Indians and learned their language. She had five sons that were born to a part-Indian father named Evans (believed to be the son of Jonathan Evans who was captured at age 20 in 1689). Four sons married Delaware Indians and the fifth married a Mohawk Indian.
She was thirty-two years old when she reluctantly returned to New England. Her brother, Joseph, was sent to Canada in 1727 by the General Court to redeem prisioners. This appears to be the trip that he found Rebecca and persuaded her to return home. She agreed under the conditions that she could bring with her an Indian man and boy and that she could return to Canada anytime that she wanted.
In March 13, 1745, she married Captain Benjamin Ashley, a teacher at the Indian school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where she served as interpreter. At the time of their marriage, she was age 50 and Benjamin Ashley only age 30.
In 1753, she went with her husband to be interpreter for Rev. Gideon Hawley, who was sent to serve as a missionary to the Ouaquagas, who at that time lived on the east side of the Susquehanna river, at the base of Ouaquaga mountain, some two miles north of the village of Windsor. She has been identified as being the first white woman in Broome County, New York.
She lived and served here for four years, until her death in 1757, being dearly beloved by the Indians, who gave her the name "Wausaunia" translated roughly as "The Bridge".
She was buried in the old cemetery near the mission where she served. The stone was about two feet high and about eighteen inches wide, a common gray sandstone, chiseled on the outside with the following inscription: "Wausaunia, Mrs. Rebecca Kellogg Ashley, born Dec. 22d, 1695, who died 1757." The old cemetery was slightly north of the present location and much closer to the river. The bank kept eroding and, little by little, graves were being lost. At one point there were very few grave markers left, so the decision was made to move Rebecca's remains to (or close to) the present site. On June 17th, 1909, the Tuscarora Chapter, D. A. R. took part in the dedication of a monument marking the grave of Mrs. Ashley. This monument is in the form of a boulder cut from a rock found in the vicinity of the Indian fort which once stood near by. It now bears upon its side a brass plate inscribed to "Wausaunia". In 1984, the D. A. R. replaced the boulder.
Martin Sr. was ransomed and released in 1705. Martin and Sarah relocated to Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, where Sarah died in 1731. Martin married again, but had no children with his third wife, Sarah Huxley. Martin died in Suffield and is buried there, location unknown.
Martin Jr. (1686 - 1753) escaped but was captured again. He remained in Canada for several years and acquired a knowledge of French which served him upon his return and he became an interpreter.
Joseph (1691 - 1756) spent two years with the Indians and eight years with the French. He returned to Deerfield after 1714, married and spent the rest of his life as an interpreter between Indians and whites.
Joanna (1693 - 1753) married the Chief of the Cahnassaga tribe of Mohawks and remained with them for life.
Father: Martin Kellogg (November 22, 1658 - October 5, 1732)
Mother: Sarah Dickinson (1656 - 11 Feb 1731)
Spouse: Evans
Spouse: Benjamin Ashley (9 Feb 1715 - 1757)
Children:
Tom Evans, aka Tobias (d. Jan 1761 )
Joe Evans, aka Nicodemus (d. 17 Jan 1760)
Anton Evans
Sam Evans (Abt 1720 - 1782 )
Joel Evans (d. 24 Jul 1764)
On February 29, 1704, during Queen Anne's War, joint French and Indian forces attacked the town in what became known as the Raid on Deerfield. Under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville were 47 Canadiens and 200 Abenaki, Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), and Wyandot, as well as a few Pocumtuck. The attack began in the pre-dawn hours, burning Deerfield and killing 56 colonists, including 22 men, 9 women, and 25 children. They took 112 captives that included women and children. Martin Kellogg and four children (Martin Jr, Joseph, Joanna, and Rebecca) were captured and forced to march 300 miles to Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada. It was a months-long trek and many died along the way; some were killed because they could not keep up. During the raid, Sarah Dickinson Kellogg hid in the cellar with her youngest son Jonathan (1698 - 1704). The Indians heard the youngest child crying, found and killed him, then set fire to the house. Sarah escaped with her step-daughter Anna Kellogg (1689 - 1781).
Rebecca was eight years old when she was captured. She lived with the Mohawk Indians and learned their language. She had five sons that were born to a part-Indian father named Evans (believed to be the son of Jonathan Evans who was captured at age 20 in 1689). Four sons married Delaware Indians and the fifth married a Mohawk Indian.
She was thirty-two years old when she reluctantly returned to New England. Her brother, Joseph, was sent to Canada in 1727 by the General Court to redeem prisioners. This appears to be the trip that he found Rebecca and persuaded her to return home. She agreed under the conditions that she could bring with her an Indian man and boy and that she could return to Canada anytime that she wanted.
In March 13, 1745, she married Captain Benjamin Ashley, a teacher at the Indian school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where she served as interpreter. At the time of their marriage, she was age 50 and Benjamin Ashley only age 30.
In 1753, she went with her husband to be interpreter for Rev. Gideon Hawley, who was sent to serve as a missionary to the Ouaquagas, who at that time lived on the east side of the Susquehanna river, at the base of Ouaquaga mountain, some two miles north of the village of Windsor. She has been identified as being the first white woman in Broome County, New York.
She lived and served here for four years, until her death in 1757, being dearly beloved by the Indians, who gave her the name "Wausaunia" translated roughly as "The Bridge".
She was buried in the old cemetery near the mission where she served. The stone was about two feet high and about eighteen inches wide, a common gray sandstone, chiseled on the outside with the following inscription: "Wausaunia, Mrs. Rebecca Kellogg Ashley, born Dec. 22d, 1695, who died 1757." The old cemetery was slightly north of the present location and much closer to the river. The bank kept eroding and, little by little, graves were being lost. At one point there were very few grave markers left, so the decision was made to move Rebecca's remains to (or close to) the present site. On June 17th, 1909, the Tuscarora Chapter, D. A. R. took part in the dedication of a monument marking the grave of Mrs. Ashley. This monument is in the form of a boulder cut from a rock found in the vicinity of the Indian fort which once stood near by. It now bears upon its side a brass plate inscribed to "Wausaunia". In 1984, the D. A. R. replaced the boulder.
Martin Sr. was ransomed and released in 1705. Martin and Sarah relocated to Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, where Sarah died in 1731. Martin married again, but had no children with his third wife, Sarah Huxley. Martin died in Suffield and is buried there, location unknown.
Martin Jr. (1686 - 1753) escaped but was captured again. He remained in Canada for several years and acquired a knowledge of French which served him upon his return and he became an interpreter.
Joseph (1691 - 1756) spent two years with the Indians and eight years with the French. He returned to Deerfield after 1714, married and spent the rest of his life as an interpreter between Indians and whites.
Joanna (1693 - 1753) married the Chief of the Cahnassaga tribe of Mohawks and remained with them for life.
Father: Martin Kellogg (November 22, 1658 - October 5, 1732)
Mother: Sarah Dickinson (1656 - 11 Feb 1731)
Spouse: Evans
Spouse: Benjamin Ashley (9 Feb 1715 - 1757)
Children:
Tom Evans, aka Tobias (d. Jan 1761 )
Joe Evans, aka Nicodemus (d. 17 Jan 1760)
Anton Evans
Sam Evans (Abt 1720 - 1782 )
Joel Evans (d. 24 Jul 1764)
Rebecca Kellogg was born on December 22, 1695 in Deerfield, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Martin Kellogg and Sarah Dickenson.
On February 29, 1704, during Queen Anne's War, joint French and Indian forces attacked the town in what became known as the Raid on Deerfield. Under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville were 47 Canadiens and 200 Abenaki, Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), and Wyandot, as well as a few Pocumtuck. The attack began in the pre-dawn hours, burning Deerfield and killing 56 colonists, including 22 men, 9 women, and 25 children. They took 112 captives that included women and children. Martin Kellogg and four children (Martin Jr, Joseph, Joanna, and Rebecca) were captured and forced to march 300 miles to Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada. It was a months-long trek and many died along the way; some were killed because they could not keep up. During the raid, Sarah Dickinson Kellogg hid in the cellar with her youngest son Jonathan (1698 - 1704). The Indians heard the youngest child crying, found and killed him, then set fire to the house. Sarah escaped with her step-daughter Anna Kellogg (1689 - 1781).
Rebecca was eight years old when she was captured. She lived with the Mohawk Indians and learned their language. She had five sons that were born to a part-Indian father named Evans (believed to be the son of Jonathan Evans who was captured at age 20 in 1689). Four sons married Delaware Indians and the fifth married a Mohawk Indian.
She was thirty-two years old when she reluctantly returned to New England. Her brother, Joseph, was sent to Canada in 1727 by the General Court to redeem prisioners. This appears to be the trip that he found Rebecca and persuaded her to return home. She agreed under the conditions that she could bring with her an Indian man and boy and that she could return to Canada anytime that she wanted.
In March 13, 1745, she married Captain Benjamin Ashley, a teacher at the Indian school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where she served as interpreter. At the time of their marriage, she was age 50 and Benjamin Ashley only age 30.
In 1753, she went with her husband to be interpreter for Rev. Gideon Hawley, who was sent to serve as a missionary to the Ouaquagas, who at that time lived on the east side of the Susquehanna river, at the base of Ouaquaga mountain, some two miles north of the village of Windsor. She has been identified as being the first white woman in Broome County, New York.
She lived and served here for four years, until her death in 1757, being dearly beloved by the Indians, who gave her the name "Wausaunia" translated roughly as "The Bridge".
She was buried in the old cemetery near the mission where she served. The stone was about two feet high and about eighteen inches wide, a common gray sandstone, chiseled on the outside with the following inscription: "Wausaunia, Mrs. Rebecca Kellogg Ashley, born Dec. 22d, 1695, who died 1757." The old cemetery was slightly north of the present location and much closer to the river. The bank kept eroding and, little by little, graves were being lost. At one point there were very few grave markers left, so the decision was made to move Rebecca's remains to (or close to) the present site. On June 17th, 1909, the Tuscarora Chapter, D. A. R. took part in the dedication of a monument marking the grave of Mrs. Ashley. This monument is in the form of a boulder cut from a rock found in the vicinity of the Indian fort which once stood near by. It now bears upon its side a brass plate inscribed to "Wausaunia". In 1984, the D. A. R. replaced the boulder.
Martin Sr. was ransomed and released in 1705. Martin and Sarah relocated to Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, where Sarah died in 1731. Martin married again, but had no children with his third wife, Sarah Huxley. Martin died in Suffield and is buried there, location unknown.
Martin Jr. (1686 - 1753) escaped but was captured again. He remained in Canada for several years and acquired a knowledge of French which served him upon his return and he became an interpreter.
Joseph (1691 - 1756) spent two years with the Indians and eight years with the French. He returned to Deerfield after 1714, married and spent the rest of his life as an interpreter between Indians and whites.
Joanna (1693 - 1753) married the Chief of the Cahnassaga tribe of Mohawks and remained with them for life.
Father: Martin Kellogg (November 22, 1658 - October 5, 1732)
Mother: Sarah Dickinson (1656 - 11 Feb 1731)
Spouse: Evans
Spouse: Benjamin Ashley (9 Feb 1715 - 1757)
Children:
Tom Evans, aka Tobias (d. Jan 1761 )
Joe Evans, aka Nicodemus (d. 17 Jan 1760)
Anton Evans
Sam Evans (Abt 1720 - 1782 )
Joel Evans (d. 24 Jul 1764)
On February 29, 1704, during Queen Anne's War, joint French and Indian forces attacked the town in what became known as the Raid on Deerfield. Under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville were 47 Canadiens and 200 Abenaki, Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), and Wyandot, as well as a few Pocumtuck. The attack began in the pre-dawn hours, burning Deerfield and killing 56 colonists, including 22 men, 9 women, and 25 children. They took 112 captives that included women and children. Martin Kellogg and four children (Martin Jr, Joseph, Joanna, and Rebecca) were captured and forced to march 300 miles to Kahnawake near Montreal, Canada. It was a months-long trek and many died along the way; some were killed because they could not keep up. During the raid, Sarah Dickinson Kellogg hid in the cellar with her youngest son Jonathan (1698 - 1704). The Indians heard the youngest child crying, found and killed him, then set fire to the house. Sarah escaped with her step-daughter Anna Kellogg (1689 - 1781).
Rebecca was eight years old when she was captured. She lived with the Mohawk Indians and learned their language. She had five sons that were born to a part-Indian father named Evans (believed to be the son of Jonathan Evans who was captured at age 20 in 1689). Four sons married Delaware Indians and the fifth married a Mohawk Indian.
She was thirty-two years old when she reluctantly returned to New England. Her brother, Joseph, was sent to Canada in 1727 by the General Court to redeem prisioners. This appears to be the trip that he found Rebecca and persuaded her to return home. She agreed under the conditions that she could bring with her an Indian man and boy and that she could return to Canada anytime that she wanted.
In March 13, 1745, she married Captain Benjamin Ashley, a teacher at the Indian school in Stockbridge, Massachusetts where she served as interpreter. At the time of their marriage, she was age 50 and Benjamin Ashley only age 30.
In 1753, she went with her husband to be interpreter for Rev. Gideon Hawley, who was sent to serve as a missionary to the Ouaquagas, who at that time lived on the east side of the Susquehanna river, at the base of Ouaquaga mountain, some two miles north of the village of Windsor. She has been identified as being the first white woman in Broome County, New York.
She lived and served here for four years, until her death in 1757, being dearly beloved by the Indians, who gave her the name "Wausaunia" translated roughly as "The Bridge".
She was buried in the old cemetery near the mission where she served. The stone was about two feet high and about eighteen inches wide, a common gray sandstone, chiseled on the outside with the following inscription: "Wausaunia, Mrs. Rebecca Kellogg Ashley, born Dec. 22d, 1695, who died 1757." The old cemetery was slightly north of the present location and much closer to the river. The bank kept eroding and, little by little, graves were being lost. At one point there were very few grave markers left, so the decision was made to move Rebecca's remains to (or close to) the present site. On June 17th, 1909, the Tuscarora Chapter, D. A. R. took part in the dedication of a monument marking the grave of Mrs. Ashley. This monument is in the form of a boulder cut from a rock found in the vicinity of the Indian fort which once stood near by. It now bears upon its side a brass plate inscribed to "Wausaunia". In 1984, the D. A. R. replaced the boulder.
Martin Sr. was ransomed and released in 1705. Martin and Sarah relocated to Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, where Sarah died in 1731. Martin married again, but had no children with his third wife, Sarah Huxley. Martin died in Suffield and is buried there, location unknown.
Martin Jr. (1686 - 1753) escaped but was captured again. He remained in Canada for several years and acquired a knowledge of French which served him upon his return and he became an interpreter.
Joseph (1691 - 1756) spent two years with the Indians and eight years with the French. He returned to Deerfield after 1714, married and spent the rest of his life as an interpreter between Indians and whites.
Joanna (1693 - 1753) married the Chief of the Cahnassaga tribe of Mohawks and remained with them for life.
Father: Martin Kellogg (November 22, 1658 - October 5, 1732)
Mother: Sarah Dickinson (1656 - 11 Feb 1731)
Spouse: Evans
Spouse: Benjamin Ashley (9 Feb 1715 - 1757)
Children:
Tom Evans, aka Tobias (d. Jan 1761 )
Joe Evans, aka Nicodemus (d. 17 Jan 1760)
Anton Evans
Sam Evans (Abt 1720 - 1782 )
Joel Evans (d. 24 Jul 1764)
Inscription
In Memory of
"WAUSAUNIA"
Rebecca Kellogg Ashley.
Born Dec. 22, 1695 In Suffield, Mass.
Died Aug. 1757 in Windsor, N. Y.
Interpreter for the Indians
at the "Old Fort,"
A Mission Station in Charge of
Rev. Gideon Hawley in 1748.
Erected by
TUSCARORA CHAPTER, D. A. R.
June 17th, 1909.
