Indigenous Indian Attacks on Rice Family

Profile manager: Jeanie Buchanan [send private message]

WORK IN PROGRESS

The goal of this project is to note different Indian attacks on various members of my family (the Rice family), including adopting relatives and being adopted by relatives.

Special note: I apologize for using the term "Indian" and not Native American. Most of the Indian attacks I have found came during the French Indian War and often the French were urging the Indians to take action.

Right now this project just has one member, me. I am Jeanie Buchanan.

Indian attacks throughout Rice history

8 Aug 1704, Marlborough, Massachusetts

See article at https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/four-rice-boys-captured-indians-1704-three-rice-boys-decide-stay/ from the New England Historical Society, "Four Rice Boys Captured by Indians in 1704; Three Rice Boys Decide to Stay."

There is a book entitled "Held Captive by Indians: Selected Narratives, 1642-1836" by Richard Vanderbeets, that covers some of the Indian captures.

Ashur Rice

Ashur Rice, son of Thomas Rice and Anna Rice. (Note: need to check if her maiden name is actually Rice) Note: need to check Aser or Ashur) is my first cousin, seven times removed. His grandmother, Mary (King) Rice is my seventh great-grandmother.

Asher Rice was captured by Indians while working in the field in that portion of Marlborough that was later set off as Westborough, during a raid on 8 Aug 1704. About four years later, he was redeemed by his father through the mediation of a minister. In 1735, he recognized Ontasaga, then a chief of the Caughnawaga tribes, as one of his captors. His mind was affected by the experience, and he continued to build fortifications against Indian attack long after the need for them had disappeared.^[1]

11 June 1755, Charlemont, Massachusetts

Moses Rice (1694-1755) (second cousin, seven times removed) was farming and was attacked and killed by Indians. His relative Phineas Arms (1731-1755) (third cousin, seven times removed), was also killed in the attack and his eight-year-old grandson, Asa Rice (1747-1833) (fourth cousin, five times removed), was captured and taken to Canada, along with Asa's great uncle, Titus King (1728-1790) (7th cousin, seven times removed). Asa was held captive for six years, when he was finally ransomed.

Adoption by American officer of Native American

Sherman Coolidge, About 1872

Sherman Coolidge (1862-1932) of Arapahoe ancestry (born Des-che-wa-ah "Runs-On-Top"), was adopted by Charles Calvin Coolidge around 1872. Coolidge was my fifth cousin, four times removed. We are both descendants of Mary Rice Brigham; she is his fourth great grandmother and my eighth great grandmother.

Sources

1. ↑ Emma Lewis Coleman, New England Captives Carried to Canada Between 1677 and 1760, During the French and Indian Wars (Portland, Me., 1925), volume 1, page 324