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

110 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T45.
committee men. All the items which, entered into the expense
of constructing these forts are enumerated in the
original bills, and they are still on file, but curiouslyenough,
rum is nowhere mentioned. When a meetinghouse,
a school-house, or a bridge was built, rum was an
important factor, and was treated as an ordinary expense.
But here was work extending through the summer, and
into the winter, and no stimulant seems to have been pro-^
vided by the town. If any was used the workmen furnished
it themselves. After peace was declared the forts
were demolished, and the materials sold for £63. They
were the last defensive structures ever built or needed in
the town.
Casualties of the During the year 1745, the Indians commit-
Year. . ted uo depredation within this county. No
attack was made upon any town in it, and
no citizen of Northam])ton was killed or wounded by them.
Indians were constantly lurking in the woods along the
frontiers, as well as near the upper settlements, and gave
ample employment to the troops stationed at the block-
houses. The entire list of casualties for the year was con-
fined within the limits of what now comprises the State of
Vermont. Their first appearance was at Putney, in June,
when William Phipps, who was hoeing corn, was captured
by a couple of them. When they reached the woods
Phipps knocked one of them down with a hoe, and seizing
his gun, shot the other. Coming upon three more of the
enemy soon after, he was killed and scalped. Within a
few days, Josiah Fisher was killed at Keene. On October
ll*^*", Nehemiah How was taken at Great Meadow, where
he resided, fourteen miles above Fort Dummer. About
three miles above this point, David Rugg was shot and
killed while in a canoe with Robert Baker, coming down
the river, but Baker escaped to the bank. The Indians
with How, crossed the lake to Crown Point. He saw Am-
rusus, the husband of Eunice Williams. The French lieutenant
at the fort was named Ballock ;
he had been a prisoner
at Boston, and had visited Northampton and vicinity.
How reached Quebec, October 29^'', eighteen days after his
capture, and was imprisoned with other captives. He died