History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1744.] KING GEORGE'S FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 103
This was the fifth war in which the colony had been engaged,
and the third in wliich the French sought the aid of
their Indian allies. Louis XV. was King of France and
George II. King of England.
Capture of Canseau.
While the Condition of affairs was known
in Canada in April, intelligence of the
declaration of war was not received in Boston till a month
later. -Canada, anticipating hostilities, was prompt to take
advantage of the first intimation that peace no longer ex-
isted, and a body of troops dispatched from Louisburg captured
Canseau, before tidings that hostilities had commenced
reached Boston. Annapolis was threatened, but
immediate action on the part of Gov. Shirley, saved it
from attack.
War Preparations Forecasting a ''' speedy rujoture" between
Commenced in Frauce and England, the General Court
Massachusetts. ^ , . . ....
-.-r
commenced preparations to meet it in JNovember,
1743. Money was appropriated for the "defence
of " certain of the more exposed towns in the eastern sec-
tion of the Province, though New Salem in Hampshire, as
well as other towns in Worcester County, were among
them. An act was also passed for the enlistment of ten
companies of fifty men each in Maine and Massachusetts,
for the defence of the frontiers. These men were to constitute
a force of minute men, enlisted for the war, ready
to start at the shortest notice. Each man was to provide
himself with " a pair of snow-shoes, a pair of moggisons &
hatchet," for wliich he was to receive 10s. Three of these
companies were assigned to Hampshire County. In January
following. Col. John Stoddard, Eleazar Porter, and
Israel Williams, were designated by the Governor to sug-
gest the names of fit persons for their officers. For the
company from this section these men were proposed :
Seth Pomeroy, Captain ; Supply Kingsley, Lieutenant ; and
John Clap, Ensign, all of Northampton. No muster-roll
of this company has been discovered, and it is not probable
that any military organization thus officered was ever
formed. They were termed "snow shoe men," but it is
doubtful if they ever entered the service in that capacity.
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