Margaret (Christine) Otis

Notes:

Grizzel Otis and her infant daughter, Margaret, were taken to Canada by their Indian captives and they were sold to the French. Grizzel was rechristened as a Roman-Catholic and renamed Madeline Warren.

Margaret, was only 3 months old at the time of her capture. She was also christened as a Roman-Catholic and renamed, Christine. She was raised in a convent and at one point, the priests hoped that she would become a nun, but she refused to take her vows.

On June 14, 1707, at the age of 16 she married Louis Le Beau (or Bau) a French-Canadian from Montreal. The marriage lasted but 6 years as Louis died at the age of 35, on Feb. 26, 1713. The union did result in four children; Louis (1708-1709), Marie Anne Christine Treffle (1710-1726), Marie Madeline (1712-) and Louis (abt 1713-1760).

In 1714, an exchange of prisoners took place between the French and the English colonies. The young widow Christine met Captain Thomas Baker who was on a mission there to gain release of prisoners and became deeply interested in Madame Le Beau. Overcoming a strong opposition on the part of her mother, Grizzel, the priests and others, Captain Baker gained her release that she might come back with him to New England. Unfortunately, Christine was not allowed to take her children and despite attempts to recover them later on, was never able to bring them out of Canada.

Christine renounced her Catholic faith and was rebaptized Margaret, The Congregational Church at Brookfield, MA wanted her to take back the name officially, but she continued to call herself and was known as Christine the rest of her life). Soon after her return, she married Captain Baker who lived in Northampton. On December 14, 1714, the townspeople had granted her a 60 acre plot of land in Deerfield (in praise of her noble qualities) provided she marry Capt. Baker.

In 1717 the couple relocated in Brookfield, also near Northampton, farming and raising their family there until 1731, when misfortune again struck. With her husband's health and strength failing rapidly after the rigors of war, they sold their farm to a man who failed make payment for it, apparently after the deed transfer had occurred, leaving the Bakers, now with 7 dependent children, bankrupt and without means of livelihood.

Thomas apparently moved around some then; Mendon in 1732, Newport RI in 1733 and, finally, Dover NH, Christine's birthplace, in 1735. There Christine petitioned the General Assembly for permission to keep a "public house, on the county road from Dover Meeting house to Cocheco Boome," She explained her family's current and past plights, "that her losses are trebled on her; first the loss of her house, well fitted and furnished and the lands belonging to it; second , the loss of New England substance in her last journey to Canada; and thirdly, the loss of her children in Canada, and now finally having a large family to support, and by the changes and chances of fortune here reduced to very low circumstances; with a husband past his labour...." Her petition was granted and she opened her "House of Entertainment" (in the Puritan sense} and kept it many years. She brought up and educated her children and "fitted them for useful and honorable lives" She died at "the good old age of 84 on Feb. 23, 1773.

From the NH Gazette Obituary:
DIED in Dover, N. H., Feb. 23, 1773, Mrs. Christina Baker, born in Dover in March, 1688-9. With her mother she was taken captive by Indians in June 1689, and carried to Canada, where she married and had several children. Her husband died, and in 1714 she was exchanged, afterwards marrying Capt. Thomas Baker of North Hampton, N. H. (should MA); in Hingham, Mass." (this is error, should be Deerfield, MA, In the town records for Dover, NH she is recorded as Christiana Baker

Notes:

KING WILLIAM'S WAR was the first of four wars fought between England and France. It lasted from 1689 to 1697. The war was part of a larger European conflict which was being fought over the succession to the English throne. The war was officially ended with the Peace of Ryswick which was signed in 1697. These four wars would decide whether France or England would possess North America.

The town of Dover suffered a devastating attack on the night of Thursday, June 27, 1689. This attack was well planned and carried out by the Indians. In this area of Dover were three Garrison Houses, the Waldron Garrison which was located near the Cochecho River, the Heard Garrison which was located about 1/7 of a mile away on "Little Hill" and the Otis garrison which was located in between the first two. These three Garrisons were fortified houses with a stockade around each. Local residents would retire to these fortified houses in case of trouble. During times of trouble, soldiers would be stationed at Garrison Houses.

Early in the evening of the 27th, two local Indian women approached each of the garrison houses and asked for shelter. This was granted and when all was quiet, the Indians opened the gate and signaled to Indians awaiting outside the fort. The Indians rushed all three garrisons.

In the Waldron Garrison Major Waldron put up a fierce fight. He fought hand to hand with his sword but was overcome and the garrison put to the torch.

The Heard Garrison was saved by Elder William Wentworth. The 80 year old William acted swiftly and with strength to save the Garrison. " He was awakened by the noise of the barking of a dog, just as the Indians were entering, pushed them out, and falling on his back, set his feet against the gate and held it till he had alarmed the people; two balls were fired through it but both missed him."

The Otis Garrison fell like the Waldron House. Richard Otis was killed while attempting to rise out of his bed. His wife, Grizzel, was taken captive as was their infant daughter, Margaret. His son Stephen was killed as was his two year old daughter, Hannah. The Indians picked up Hannah and killed her " by dashing her head against the chamber stairs." Also taken captive were some of his older children; Experience, Judith, and Rose (another version says this daughter was Martha and Rose was a granddaughter). These three were later rescued by soldiers at Conway, New Hampshire as they were being led back to Canada. A total of 29 Dover residents were taken captive in this raid.

Source: NE Genealogical Dictionary and The Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire

RICHARD, blacksmith, admitted freeman of Boston May 1655, but settled at Dover where he had a grant of land before that year was out. Not in sympathy with the established church and often in court for absence from church services. Administrated estate of Wm. Lemon 1662 and of James Heard 1677. He admitted the Masonian claims and agreed to pay ground rent for his lands in 1683. His 1st wife was Rose Stoughton, daughter of (Sir) Anthony, a strong Puritan, who had come to Boston with her kinsman, (Captain) Israel Stoughton. She died before 5 Nov. 1677 when he had married Shuah (Starbuck) Heard on whose 1st husband's estate he was administrator. His 3d wife was GRIZZEL WARREN, married about 1685. On the night of 28 June 1689 his garrison was attacked by Indians, admitted by treachery, and he was murdered. Some of his family shared his fate, but his wife, infant daughter, Margaret, (later rebaptized Christine in Canada) and at least three grandchildren were taken captive to Canada.

Richard married Grizel (Marie Madeline) WARREN 1685, Dover, Strafford Co. NH. Grizel (daughter of James WARREN and Margaret) was born 6 Mar 1661/62, Kittery, York Co. ME; died 26 Oct 1750, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name Grizet, Grizell, or Griselle appears during the Middle Ages and is said to be a nickname for Grace.

Grizzel was carried to Canada by Indians with her younger, infant daughter Margaret Otis, later renamed Christine by the Catholic priests. Grizzel was rebaptized as a Catholic with the name Marie-Madeline and was married to Phillipe Robataille under the name Madeline Warren. She remained the rest of her life in French Canada.

Naturalization: May 1710 Canada, Nouvelle France
Donation d'une terre située à la côte St Laurents par Paul Otesse natif du village de Douvres, à Philippe Robitaille et Griselle Warennes, son épouse 1 Apr 1703

Will: 20 Mar 1750 Inventaire des biens de la communauté de Madeleine Varin, veuve de Philippe Robitaille.

Source: The Otis Genealogy, Horatio N. Otis, New England Historical Genealogical Register (1851) Vol 5: 184

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 4571
• _UID: 981B5A04517B43A7A5447CC6D8B596D8ED14

Notes:

HIS BACKGROUND IN SCOTLAND

James was one of the (Scots) Royalist soldiers who was captured at the Battle of Dunbar, (near Berwick, Scotland) March 9 1650 during the English Civil War.

Having defeated the Royalists in England and beheaded the king in 1649, Oliver Cromwell proceeded to invade Scotland, the last kingdom remaining loyal to the Crown and, reaching Edinburgh after some skirmishes he marched his army to Dunbar, a town on the east coast of Scotland. General David Leslie in command of the Scottish troops had more troops than Cromwell, but his army was no longer formed of the battle-hardened veterans of the Thirty Years' War as many of them had perished during the Civil War and the 1648 invasion of England. Some had left active service or returned to Swedish or French service again.

James was part of this new army that had to be raised and trained by the remaining veterans. They were raw recruits unused to war in its technical aspects, and the Scottish general Leslie was reluctant to give open battle hoping to starve out Cromwell then hemmed in on the narrow peninsula of Dunbar. The Scots were well armed, but they were poorly trained compared with their English counterparts, all of whom had served with Oliver Cromwell for years.

Meanwhile the young King Charles II had arrived from Holland and joined this motley military organization to the great joy of the clansmen and made himself popular by sharing their rough camp life.

Leslie's army was routed and Cromwell's cavalry pursued the disorganized Covenanters with great slaughter. The only resistance to this onslaught was made by a regiment of Highlanders who fought with great desperation as they had learned from his conquest of Ireland the tales that Cromwell would put all men to the sword and thrust hot irons through women's breasts. Cromwell claimed that 3,000 Scots were killed and 10,000 were taken prisoner. On the other hand, Sir James Balfour, a senior officer with the Scottish army, noted in his journal that there were "8 or 900 killed," and the English Royalist leader, Sir Edward Walker put the number at 6,000 captured, of which 1,000 sick and wounded men were quickly released.

James was one of the the 5,000 able-bodied prisoners that marched down to Durham cathedral in order to prevent any attempt to rescue them. The conditions on the march were so appalling that as many as 2,000 died of starvation, illness or exhaustion during this eight-day, 118 mile forced march.

Many had not eaten for four days prior to the Battle of Dunbar and in Cromwell's letter of the 4th September, he wrote he had to dismiss prisoners because they were sick, injured or starving.

The remaining 3,000 survived the march and a diet of raw cabbage which killed with the "flux". The cathedral had been converted into a prison where these unfortunate Highlanders were destined to spend an indefinite period as captives of war.

Although the Cathedral offered a degree of shelter, the English failed to provide their prisoners with adequate food or fuel for heating. Records indicate that the Scots died at an average of 30 a day between 11th September and 31st October and it seems this reached over 100 a day with virtually no food, clean water or heat and the linked spread of disease and infection.

For a time, the prisoners kept warm by burning all of the woodwork in the Cathedral with the notable exception of Prior Castell's Clock in the South Transept. It is thought that they left the clock alone because it carries a thistle, the emblem of Scotland, on it.

Sir Arthur Haselrigge, Member of the English Parliament for Leicester, The military leader appointed by Cromwell to take charge of the prisoners, later claimed in a letter to the Parliament that adequate food, water, bedding and fuel for heating had been provided.

There is a possibility that the prisoners were experiencing what we now call "refeeding syndrome." This is a metabolic disturbances that occur as a result of reinstitution of food to patients who are starved or severely malnourished. Blood sugar and electrolytes are out of balance leading to heart rhythm irregularties, coma and convulsions and cardiac failure. This can happen to people who are anorexic and then begin eating.

If a person has not eaten for five days in these modern times, they are in danger from refeeding syndrome. If they haven't eaten for ten days, then they are in critical danger. That is with modern hospital care. This syndrome was documented on the Allied Prisoners of the Japanese. The Japanese managed to kill 40 percent of their prisoners over the course of three years.

Attempts were made to feed the prisoners, all of which were detrimental. Bread, Broth, meat were fed to people whose systems had shut down. It was only when they tried boiled milk with water, followed by the same with added beanflour that they began to save people. Even then, Heslerig reported that men who were seeming well were falling down dead. His letters make more sense if you add refeeding syndrome to it and if you look at what happened to the Japanese POW's and the concentration camp survivors.

There was an order in Cromwell's council passed to deliver 900 prisoners for transportation to Virginia and 150 for New England. Another 500 were forced the following spring to serve in the French army, and were still fighting seven years later against the Spanish, side by side with a contingent of English soldiers sent over by Cromwell.

By the end of October, the cold, malnutrition and disease had resulted in the deaths of another 1,600 of the Scottish soldiers, the Dunbar Martyrs. The bodies of many of those who had died were simply thrown into a mass grave in the form of a trench running northwards from the Cathedral. The location of their remains was then forgotten for almost three centuries until rediscovered by workmen in 1946.

TRANSPORTED TO NEW ENGLAND

Selected as "well and sound and free of wound," James Warren was one of the 150 men who were transported from London to Boston, on the Unity, in November, 1650. James was initially sold (going price was 15 -30 pounds per man) into a number of years of indentured servitude, possibly spending some time at Hammersmith working at the Lynn/Saugus Ironworks near Boston or more likely was sold and taken to Kittery, ME where men were needed for the Great Works sawmill.

The prisoners were distributed throughout numerous towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in a kind of modified slavery or compulsory service which was to terminate in seven years. John Cotton had his qualms about this camouflaged slavery. In a letter to Cromwell dated Boston 28 July 1651 he said: "The Scots whom God delivered into your hands at Dunbarre and whereof sundry were sent hither, we have been desirous (as we could) to make their yoke easy. Such as were sick of the scurvey or other diseases have not wanted Physick and chyrugery. They have not been sold for slaves to perpetual servitude. But for 6 or 7 or 8 yeares as we do our own."

LIFE AFTER SERVITUDE

In Newichawannock between Thompson's Brook (Shorey's) and the Great Works River James was granted land 15 Aug. 1656. He received 50 acres with 48 poles (660') fronting Cow Cove where the "Pied Cow" dropped anchor in 1634, now part of the South Berwick Vaughn Woods Memorial.

James was the Commissioner for Kittery 5 July 1664. He was on the grand jury 28 Dec. 1665 and also 12 June 1666. He was again on jury duty 19 Aug. 1668. In 1670 Margaret and other Scots were admonished for using profane language and in 1674 James was bound to good behavior and was disciplined for abetting Richard Gibson.

On 6 Oct. 1662 James bought of John Davis a parcel of land "near the bridge" granted by the town of York in 1652 containing about 40 acres, but it is doubtful that he occupied this purchase. He may have cultivated it and harvested whatever crops he planted. James retained this property for 40 years until it was bequeathed to his eldest son Gilbert.

He signed a Kittery petition as a selectman 13 Apr. 1697. He signed a Berwick petition again as a selectman 4 Sept. 1697 and another 20 May 1698 requesting £20 for the maintenance of the ministry: "whereas the circumstance of the parish of Barwick continues as bad as, or rather more grievous than hitherto by reason of the not ceasing of the wars & the extreme deadness in trading." They were granted £15 for the maintenance of the ministry for the year beginning Sept. 1698 on 2 Dec. 1698. James then signed a Berwick petition for a township as a Berwick selectman 26 July 1700.

From The Highlander Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004. "Scottish Slaves in Colonial America" Part II by Diane Rapaport, p. 17.

"After his servitude ended, James Warren married an Irish woman and settled near the Great Works sawmill in Kittery, Maine. His friends Daniel Ferguson, John Taylor, Peter Grant and other former war prisoners from the ship Unity acquired farms nearby. Not surprisingly this area became known as 'the Parrish of Unity' and later Berwick, reputedly in honor of Warren's Scottish birthplace.

Warren seems to have been a natural leader in the Scottish community serving as a constable and selectman, but his outspoken ways sometimes offended Puritan sensibilities. In 1669 the Court admonished Warren, his wife and other Scotsmen "for using profane speeches in their common talk." He was punished in 1674 for "abetting a friend who made insolent remarks to the local militia commander" and in 1685 for "Contempt of Authority and abuse of the Constable" when Warren resisted seizure of "a small beast" for delinquent taxes.

Near the end of Warren's life the Indian wars had reduced Berwick to a state of poverty. Attacks destroyed homes, barns and mills; corn crops failed; families crowded into garrisons and survived only by charity and determination. Still, Warren owned land and he dreamed of a better life for his children when he signed his will with a shaky mark, leaving "all my lands to my sons and their Heirs forever."

Kittery which was in southern York Co. of Massachusetts Province, now Maine, an area which quickly became known as "Little Scotland". Berwick Parish was named after the old country town of Berwick, reputedly in honor of the birthplace of James warren, and probably of some of his neighbors. Berwick, Scotland is not far from the site of the Battle of Dunbar.

In Kittery, ME there was a Unity Parish, named for or by the prisoners, who were sent there to work in the sawmills. About fifteen Scotchmen worked there and many were friends and neighbors; their children intermarrying. They are:

Niven Agnew; James Barry; Alexander Cooper; William Furbush; Daniel Ferguson; Peter Grant; George Gray; William Gowen; David Hamilton; Thomas Holme; John Key; Alexander Maxwell; John Neal; John Ross; John Taylor;
William Thomson; and JAMES WARREN


JAMES WARREN'S WILL

James' will is recorded in Berwick, Massachusetts Province, (now Berwick, York Co. Maine), proved December 24, 1702. In it he names heirs, sons Gilbert, and James and daughters, Margaret, GRIZEL, and granddaughter, Jane Grant and grandson James Stagpole, wife Margaret and son James, Jr., executors.

"In the name of god Amen: James Warren Snr of the parish of Barwick in the town of Kittrey... Do make & ordain this my last will & testement as foloweth being sick & week of bodey but in good & perfect memory Viz...

1- I do give unto my son Gilbert Warren all yt tract of land which I bought of John Davis living in ye town ship of York to him & to his haires forever

2- I do give unto my son James warren all my other Lands marshes medoes buldings of all sorts Liing in ye town shep of Kettrey or elce whare to him & his haires for ever

3- I do Give to my Daughter Margrat Stagpole five Shiling

4- I do Give to by Daughter Grizel five Shilings-

5- I do Give to my Granddaughter Jane Grant five Shilings

6- I do Give to my Grandson James Stacpole- one hefer & one Ewe & a young fold-

7- I do Give unto Margrat waren my loveing wife all ye rest of my of my Estate it being moveabels for her Comfertabel mantainance and no legusi before mentioned to be demanded til her decse

8- I do Constitute & Appoint My liveing wife Margrat & my son James Waren to bee Executrix and Executor to this my will & testement made this ninth day of December one thousand seven hundred as wittness my hand-

James X Waren

his mark-

witnesses
Robert: X : Gray
his mark
James: A : Stacpole
his mark
Nicolas Gowen
An Invatary of the Estate of James Warren Late of Kittrey


deceased

Imp: to his waring Cloathes...... 03-00-00
to two Cows & two Hiffers of three years......12-00-00
to fourteen Sheep........... 04-04-00
to Six Swine and Six piggs......05-08-00
to the Dwelling house and the barn: and ye home Lot of Land...........80-00-00
to hundred Acres of Land and ten Acres of Marsh Lying
at whits Marsh.... 40-00-00
to two barrels & one hogshead.......
to one half bushel.....00-01-00
to two Brast Chaines and Apees and one Cleaver.. 00-16-00
to tooles and old Iron......... 01-07-00
to Brass But Saw.....00-07-00
to one barrel Sider..00-10-00
to Indian Corn..... 02-05-00
to A grind Stone.....00-05-00
( ) from Richard ( ).... 05-10-00
to two ( ) and two pichfork tynes......00-03-00
to Linning yarn and wooling Cotton wool
and Sheep wool:..... 04-10-00
to beding: and one feather bed bolster and pillowes. 08-00-00
to four sheets:..... 03-00-00
to new Cloath: Linning and woling......... 02-10-00
to one brass Kittel.... 02-00-00
to Hachet..... 00-01-08
to forty Acres of Land by york bridg..... 30-00-00
to puter:.... 01-06-00
to Spoones: woodin Trayes A ( )........ 03-00
to one Iron Kittel one pott one fryen pan one skillet
one tramel A pare of pot Hoks...... 01-01-00
to one Hamer one trowel pare of fire tongs: and som old
Iron and A pare of pincers..... 00-06-00
to A Chamber pot and: eight pounds flax....00-05-06
to four bushels pase:six bushels barley and A Cooler 02-01-00
to A barel and: half of beef.....02-10-00
to A ( )....00-08-00
to money:....11-16-04
to one bushel mault: one bushel Sault.... 00-06-00
to two Chests... 00-04-00
Aprised December:ye:15:1702

his
Peter O Grant


mark

William Goodin"(12)


REFERENCES

History of York, Maine- Banks, Vol.I, pp.206-9.

York Co. Court Records- Vol.II, p.205; Vol.III, p.42,p.54; Vol.IV, p.61.

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.721
York Deeds- Vol.4, p.159.

Mass. Archives- Vol.3, pp.385-6; Vol.11, pp.125-125a, p.127a;
Vol.3, p.394a.

York Co. Probate- I, 85; II, 66.

History and Genealogy of the Stackpole Family- pp.61-2.

Adriel Warren of Berwick, ME: His Forebears and Descendants- Vanetta Hosford Warren, Boston, 1969.

Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society- Vol.LXI, pp.16-29.

James married Margaret Bef 1654, Kittery, York Co. ME. Margaret was born ca 1622, Ireland; died 1713, Kittery, York Co. ME. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 4572
• _UID: 293A1548EB234AEAA40175BDFC7D63CB80F5

Notes:

"In The Name of God Amen. I Margret Warren of the town of Kittrey.... doe make this my Last will and testament in manner as followeth...

2ly I give and bequeath unto my Son Gilbird Warren one Cow and three Sheep.

3ly I give and bequeath to my daughter margret Stackpole my great Brass Kittle and two Blankits and one Coverlid and ten yeards of woling Cloath and my great wodden platter and one pare of Sheets and all my waring Cloathes

4ly I give and bequeath into my Son James Warren my feather bed and bolster and all the Rest of my Estat whatsoever abroad or at home without dores or within

5ly I doe ordain and Appoint my Son James Warren the hole and Soul Executor to this my Last will and testament revoaking and Renounsing all other will heretofore by me made

In witness hereof I set to my hand and Seal this thirteen day of december Anno Domni-one thousand seven hundred and twelve-

Signed Sealed and ( ) to be her Last will and testament

in the presence of
her
Margret X Warren
mark
his
Baker X Nason
mark
Joseph Wood
Thomas Curtis"(13)