Richard Otis

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:

She was killed in an Indian massacre along with her father. Her mother and infant sister were carried off to Quebec and sold to the French.

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