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

250 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1755.
Hampshire, a number of people were killed, many captives
taken, and much property destroyed. In some places it
was impossible to harvest the crops for want of protection,
and starvation was imminent.
Service of Titus Amoug the Northampton soldiers who
'
^i'^s- served in Col. Williams' regiment, was Titus
King. He was stationed with nine
others under Corporal Zebulon Allen at Charlemont. In
June, while guarding a company of men at work in a
meadow, they were attacked by Indians. Capt. Moses Rice
and Phinehas Arms, a garrison soldier, were killed, and
Titus King and Asa Rice, grandson of Capt. Moses, were
captured and carried to Canada. King remained a prisoner
there three years. ^ On his return he petitioned the
legislature for compensation for the loss of his gun and
time. His gun cost 44s., for which he was allowed 40s.
His three years' service as a prisoner in Canada disgusted
him with military life, and he became a pedagogue. For
twenty-eight years he taught school in Northampton, commencing
in April, 1 759. He was noted for his peculiarities
and eccentricities, and many humorous anecdotes are related
of him by those who attended the town schools. He
taught the English school , and received about £ 1 9 per year.
Preparations for the Early iu 1755, Gov. SMrley commenced
Movement upon preparations for the campaign against
Crown Point. The expedition was popu-
lar among the western settlements, and requisitions for
men were promptly filled. The people welcomed the opportunity
for definite action ; they were glad to be relieved of
the strain of guarding against an Indian raid, of the hurried
pursuit, and fruitless, unsatisfactory return. They
welcomed a change from the monotony of garrison duty.
It was believed also that an offensive movement would tend
to prevent the merciless incursions of the Indians, all of
whom would be required to defend the point assailed.
1 For a rtetailed account of the casualties on the northern frontiers see Sheldon's
History of Deerfleld and Ho)'t's Indian Wars.
2 Hoyt says that King was " carried 1o France, thence to England, whence he at
length returned to Northampton, his native place." King, however, does not men-
tion his foreign trip in his petition to the legislature for the payment of his losses,
as quoted in the Judd MSS.—See Hoyt, p. 266.