Jonathon Jones (1703 - 1704)

Ancestors

Died 13 May 1704 at age 1 in Mount Tom, Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Gurley [send private message]

Biography

Jonathon (2), with his brother Ebenezer and father Benoni, were slain by the enemy at Poscummuck, north end of Mount Tom, Northampton, MA. The following is taken from the History of Rev. John Williams, who was also a captive in Canada at the time of Mrs. Gurley's (alias Jones) death and conversed with her daily:

"At the time of the massacre at Poscummock, north end of Mount Tom, Mass., there were three families dwelling there, the enemy (Indians) beat down and killed the men and children like brutes, and after ransacking the houses they set them on fire, and took the three women and what plunder they desired to Canada, where one of the women soon died; on the arrival of the women in Canada the Catholic priests soon went to work trying to convert the them to their religion. One of the women, says Rev. Mr. Williams, they got to confess their religion without much difficulty, but the Jones woman was very reluctant and obstinate, but, finally, was taken sick, and the priests constantly annoying and tormenting her night and day, got her to say she confessed their religion, and tried to make her promise that if she ever got well and returned to Connecticut, that she would try to convert her friends and relatives to become Catholics, and when her tongue had become so dry that she could not speak, the priest anoited her with his holy oil, and she departed this life November 27, 1705." "Rev. Mr. Williams"

The following is taken from the History of Deerfield, Mass.:

"Those carried to Canada were Esther, wife of Benoni Jones; her niece, Margaret Huggins, eighteen years old; and Elisha, son of John Searls, eight years old. (Margaret Huggins afterwards returned to Conn.)"

"The slain were Samuel Jones, forty years old; Ebernezer, three years old; and Sarah, one year old. Also four children of Benjamin Janes: Hannah, eight years old; Marion, four years old; Nathan, one year old; and one of unknown name and age."

"Benoni Jones, about thirty years old, with his children: Ebernezer, six years old; and Jonathon, one year old."

"Also John Searls, about fifty-eight years old, and three children."

Another account, as follows, viz.:

"May 12th. Poscomock Fort taken by ye French & Indians, being about seventy-two. They took and captivated ye whole Garison, being about thirty-seven persons."

"The English pursuing of them caused them to knock all the Captives on the head, save five or six. Three were carried to Canada with them; the others escaped, and about seven of those knocked on the head recovered. Ye rest died. Capt. John Taylor was killed in the fight, and Samuel Bartlette wounded."

The author (Alebert E. Gurley) of this history hopes its readers will ever think how Mrs. Esther Jones must have felt at the time of the slaying of her husband and two children, and what must have been the thoughts of that Christian woman during her captivity before her death in Canada. What must have been her thoughts of her two small children she had left in Connecticut, and by being tormented day and night by those Catholic priests, who were trying to convert her to their religion? Those must have been long days and wearisome nights. These are thoughts that the reader will do well to ponder, and also the history of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

Transcribed from the source listed below by Mark Gurley, February 26, 2014.

Sources

[The History and Genealogy of the GURLEY FAMILY by Albert E. Gurley, Willimantic, Connecticut, 1897 - Press of the Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Company, Hartford, Connecticut, 1897].