The Genealogy of one Vermonter, Darrell A. Martin

Jonathan was born in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, circa 1 June 1658.^1,2 He was the son of Thomas Welles and Mary Beardsley. He was the so-called "boy hero" of Turner's expedition, organized at Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, which on 19 May 1676 destroyed the Indian encampment at the falls of the Connecticut.^3,4 Leach wrote of this pivotal action, "On the 18th of May upward of 150 men and boys--some of them garrison soldiers, the remainder local inhabitants from as far south as Springfield--gathered in Hatfield with their knapsacks and muskets.... The whole venture was a huge gamble, for the company was far too small and inexperienced to engage a major force of the enemy, and if any whisper of their coming should go ahead of them the savages would surely gather their strength and prepare a deadly trap. After-thoughts of this nature may well have caused more than one of the volunteers to regret his rashness at the last moment, but with all the villagers assembled to see them off who would confess himself a coward by dropping out of ranks? Probably it was after supper when Turner and his men rode out of Hatfield, and took the well-known trail leading up to Deerfield.... they passed by Hopewell Swamp below Sugarloaf Hill, and crossed Bloody Brook--places fraught with evil memories. In darkness they rode silently through the ghost town of Deerfield, whose once busy homes were now gutted and black...." The company found in the Indian camp that the enemy, "having feasted the previous evening on roast beef and milk from the stolen English cattle, and knowing that no field army was in the upper [Connecticut River] valley to disturb them, were all asleep. Scattering through the camp, the attackers aimed their muskets directly into the wigwams, and opened fire upon the huddled figures inside. Instantly, with the first crashing shots, there began a scene of wildest confusion.... There were startled cries of 'Mohawks! Mohawks!' until the savages saw their assailants, and knew that it was the English who were upon them. Turner's highly excited men were ruthless in their murderous attack...." Indians from nearby camps began to form and move toward the action. Soon the English were scurrying for their horses. "By all standards the attack had been a smashing victory" but in short order, the retreat took on "the characteristics of a disorganized rout.... Some of the retreating soldiers became separated from their comrades, and, losing the way, stumbled through the woods alone, perhaps to fall prey to the pursuing savages or starvation. Sixteen-year-old Jonathan Wells survived such an experience. Although wounded in the leg, he wandered along by himself for two days, and on one occasion saved himself from prowling Indians only by hiding under a pile of brush. He eventually found his way back to Hatfield.... All told, at least forty men, or about one-quarter of those participating, had met death on this venture. But although the English had lost heavily, the Indians had suffered far greater casualties, and there can be no doubt that Turner's attack was a severe blow to the enemy's strength."⁵ He married Hepzibah Colton on 13 December 1682. He married Sarah Strong on 23 September 1698. He married Lucy (--?--) following 1732/33. He resided in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, and was a leader in both civil and military affairs. He was selectman for thirteen years, and the first Justice of the Peace in his home town.⁶ Jonathan died on 3 January 1739/40.