The Genealogy of one Vermonter, Darrell A. Martin

John was born in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, in 1663. He was the son of Sergeant John White Junior and Sarah Bunce. He married Hannah Welles on 7 July 1687.^1,2 I have no proof, but it seems likely that this John White lived through some interesting experiences indeed. He was 12 years old in 1675 when King Philip's War, between the New England Algonquin tribes and the English colonists, broke out. He lived in Hatfield, MA, with his mother, at the time. Hatfield was a frontier town; it was the scene of two major engagements with the Indians, and the base of operations for another. On 19 October 1675, Captain Samuel Moseley sent ten men from his well-known veteran company to scout some fires seen outside Hatfield. It was a trap, and only one or two men escaped. Capt. Moseley immediately sent for reinforcements, and it was a good thing; when the Indians attacked in force later that day, they met stiff and effective resistance. The English victory at Hatfield was an important event, especially since Springfield, MA had been largely burned to the ground two weeks earlier; and it was south of Hatfield and "closer to civilization." It is unlikely that 12-year-old John took part, but he must have been very close to the action. Next year, Hatfield was involved in one of the crucial actions of the war. An escaped English soldier reached town 15 May with news of a large gathering of Indians fishing at the Connecticut falls to the north. There were few warriors in the camp. Captain Turner, although sick, knew the opportunity was too good to waste, so when he couldn't get reinforcements immediately he rode north on 18 May with only 150 inexperienced men and boys from Hatfield and neighboring towns, and the small garrison. Amazingly, they achieved total surprise, and killed as many as several hundred enemy with only one loss of their own. Crucial Indian equipment and supplies were destroyed or sunk in the river. Then Indians from nearby camps arrived; the English retreat became panicky, and then a rout. Captain Turner and more than a quarter of his men were killed. For the next three days survivors straggled back into Hatfield. Connecticut reinforcements arrived on 21 or 22 May, which probably saved the day for the town. On 30 May the Indians attacked in force, destroying outlying buildings and stealing livestock. They did not withdraw until men from Hadley crossed the river to Hatfield, under fire, and joined the defenders. John White was probably not a part of Turner's expedition; he was by then 13 years old. But I would imagine, with so many men killed in the raid, when the Indians were in the outskirts of town he was likely wielding a musket with his elders. In later years John was a selectman twenty times, and an ensign in the militia. He became a deacon in the Hatfield church in 1713. He sold his home in 1742, but lived in Hatfield until at least October 1747; then, at age 84, he moved to Hardwick, MA to live with his son, Reverend David White. John died on 13 November 1750 in Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts.