For the Lesson “Deerfield Families”
This page contains information on the following:
- Nims Family
- Godfrey Nims (c.1660 – 1704)
- John Nims 1679 – 1762
- Ebenezer Nims (1687 – c.1760)
- Josiah Rising (1694 – 1771)
- Abigail Nims (1701 – 1748)
Nims Family
From Family and Landscape, Amelia Miller & Susan McGowan, 1996, pg.129
Godfrey Nims purchased his houselot from Benjamin Barrett in 1692.
“On June 27, 1692, Godfrey Nims had married his second wife, Mehitable…and they moved into the house…
…on January 4, 1694 the house of Godfrey Nims burned. Nims’s stepson, Jeremiah Hull, having been put to bed, ‘was burnt to death’ in a fire accidentally started by ten-year-old Henry Nims. Henry went ‘into the chamber [bedroom] with a light and by accident fired some flax or towe…the chamber was all in a flame, and before other help came sd [the said] Jeremiah was past recovery.’
Godfrey Nims did not rebuild on the burned site, but purchased the unimproved Lot 28 to the north…”
Godfrey Nims (c.1660 – 1704)
From The History of Deerfield, Vol. II, George Sheldon, 1895, pg. 250
Nims, Godfrey; cordwainer [shoemaker]; prob. [probably] the ancestor of all of the name in the country; is first heard of as a “lad” at Nhn. [Northampton], Sept., 4, 1667; was in the Falls fight, May 19, 1676; he bought land here in 1674, and was among the earlier permanent sett. [settlers]; in 1692 he bought No. 27, and in 1694 No. 28; these two lots united became the Nims home lot…a house was burned on this lot Jan. 4 1693, and a step-son of Godfrey perished in the flames; another [house] was burned here in 1704, in which three children were lost and his family was nearly exterminated [killed] on that bloody morning; he d. [died] soon aft. [after]……He m. [married] Nov. 26, 1677, Mary, wid. [widow] of Zebediah Williams, dau. [daughter] of William Miller; she d. [died] Apr. 27, 1688; (2) [second wife he married on] June 27, 1692, Mehitable, wid. [widow] of Jeremiah Hull, dau. [daughter] of William Smead; she was cap. [captured] 1704, and k. [killed] on the march to Canada.
Ch. [children]:
Rebecca, [born] Aug. 12, 1678; d. [died] Aug. 30, 1678
John, [born] Aug. 14, 1679
Rebecca, [born] Aug. 14, 1679; m. [married] Jan. 15, 1702, Philip Mattoon; all k. [killed] 1704.
Henry, [born] Apr. 20, 1682; k. [killed] 1704
Thankful, [born] Aug. 29, 1684; m. [married] Jan. 15, 1702, Benj. [Benjamin] Munn.
Ebenezer, [born] Mar. 14, 1686
Thomas, [born] Nov. 8, 1693; d. [died] Sept. 10, 1697.
Mehitable, [born] May 16, 1696; burned in the house, 1704.
Mary, [born] Feb. 28, 1698; burned in the house, 1704.
Mercy, [born] Feb. 28, 1698; burned in the house, 1704.
Abigail, [born] May 27, 1700; cap. [captured] 1704; she was bap. [baptized] in Can. [Canada] June 15, 1704, by the name of Abigail Marie Elizabeth
From New England Captives Carried to Canada, Emma L. Coleman, 1925, pg. 102
The Family of Godfrey Nims
His home, just within the stockade, was burned.
His wife, Mehitable, was captured and killed on the journey.
Of their nine children, John, the eldest, was already a captive.
Rebecca [Nims] (Mattoon) and the second son Henry were killed.
Thankful [Nims] (Munn) escaped because her little house was hidden in the drifted snow.
Three little girls perished [died] in the house.
Ebenezer and Abigail were taken away with their mother, as was Elizabeth Hull, her child by a former marriage.
John Nims 1679 – 1762
From The History of Deerfield, Vol. I, George Sheldon, 1895, Pgs. 351 & 352
Soon after John Sheldon left Canada for home in 1705, four young men, disappointed at not being allowed to return with him, made their escape and reached home about June 8th. Their names were Thomas Baker, John Nims, Martin Kellogg and Joseph Petty. They had no arms [guns], but probably a small stock of provisions [food], and reached our frontier more dead than alive from hunger and fatigue [tiredness]…Their appearance when brought in was such as to melt the stoutest heart…Broth [thin soup], in small quantities, was given at first, and by slow degrees more substantial food, until they were filled. It was a long time before their cravings were satisfied.
…One day when the fugitives [the escaped captives] seemed at the last extremity [were desperate], they discovered and killed a great white owl. This was instantly torn in pieces, which were laid in four piles, and fairly divided,…Each took his share, and hardly waiting to pull off the feathers, tore the tough fragments [pieces] with their teeth…’John Nims always insisted that a wing which fell to him was the sweetest morsel [piece] he ever tasted.’
Ebenezer Nims (1687 – c.1760)
From New England Captives Carried to Canada, Emma L. Coleman, 1925, pg. 103
Ebenezer, b. [born] 1687, was taken to Lorette. There, too, was Sarah Hoyt. As the story goes they were trying to force Sarah to marry a Frenchman when she, to free herself, offered publicly to marry any one of her fellow-captives. Ebenezer was her knight. Let us hope they were already lovers!
In 1714, when all prisoners were to be returned and Parson [minister] Williams, with Colonel Stoddard, was in Quebec, both priests and Indians made the departure of these two captives very difficult…Ebenezer feared to let the Indians know how eager they were to go home. Finally the governor demanded that they be brought to Quebec without priest or Indian, and since, as they represented, the woman was unable to walk she should come on horseback or in a cart.
…finally Ebenezer, Sarah and their child were safely on board. She, having walked, and being ‘as well as generally women are.’
The next day ‘a great number of Indians’with the squaw who had adopted Ebenezer hurried to Quebec and demanded their return. Two of them were taken to the ship where Ebenezer assured them of his determination to go home. Then they demanded that the child be left behind, which, naturally, was refused.”
From The History of Deerfield, Vol. I, George Sheldon, 1895, pg. 388
“The only known Deerfield captives brought home in Dudley’s vessel [ship] were Ebenezer Nims and his wife Sarah (Hoyt). They brought away, after fierce opposition by the Indians of Lorette where they lived, their only child, a boy of eighteen months, named for his father. The babe had been baptized by a priest, but in 1737 he was baptized anew by the then minister of Deerfield, Jonathan Ashley…”
From The History of Deerfield, Vol. I, George Sheldon, 1895, pgs. 354 & 355
“Ebenezer Nims, seventeen when captured. He was adopted by a squaw, and lived at Lorette; perhaps taken to fill the place of a son killed in the expedition. He came home with Stoddard and Williams in 1714, bringing his wife and son Ebenezer.”
Josiah Rising (1694 – 1771)
From New England Captives Carried to Canada, Emma L. Coleman, 1925, pgs. 107 & 108
“Rising, Josiah (Ignace Raizenne).
Josiah Rising, son of John of Suffield and Sarah (Hale) of Windsor, was born 2 Feb., 1694.
He was staying with his father’s cousin, Mehuman Hindell, with whom he was carried away. Hinsdell lived just across the road from Godfrey Nims and Josiah must have known the little Abigail. They were taken to the same Mission and the priests looked after him in his wigwam as the nuns cared for the little girl. The Indians, in their solemn ceremony of adoption, named him ‘Shontakak8ani,’ which means…(he has taken away his village).
As Ignace Raizenne we found him…Ignace, like Elizabeth, refused to be ransomed [rescued]…,the priests soon after obtained their freedom from their Indian masters…Then on ‘July 29 1715 I have married Ignace Shoentak8anni and Elizabeth T8atag8ach, both English, who wish to remain with the Christian Indians…Ignace Shoentak8anni aged about 23 or 24 years and Elizabeth about 15 years. Both were take at Dierfile [Deerfield], about 13 years ago
M. Quere, priest S.S.”
John Rising (Josiah’s father) died in 1719. Before that he had promised his son, Josiah, 5 pounds if he would return to Massachusetts.
Children of Josiah Rising and Abigail Nims
Marie Madeleine, born 1716
Simon, 1719
Catherine
Marianne
Suzanne
Anastasie ( 4th child )
Marie, 1735
J.B. Jerome, 1740
Abigail Nims (1701 – 1748)
From The History of Deerfield, Vol. I, George Sheldon, 1895, pgs. 345 & 346
Abigail Nims, aged three when captured. There was a mystery hanging over her life never fully cleared up. It is not certainly known that she was ever heard from by her friends. In her father’s will, a provision was made for her in case of her return. There is no indication that the estate [property] was ever called for by her….All that is known bearing on the matter is given below.
Giving an account of an outrage in the County of Hampshire, relating to a girl brought thither by a Macqua, and offered for sale; supposed to be an English captive carryed from Deerfield, it appearing so, by her own relation, and divers circumstances concurring. Advised that a letter be written to the Commissioners of Indian affairs at Albany to acquaint them thereof, that a strict examination and inquiry be made thereinto, & that Capt. John Sheldon be desired to undertake the journey to Albany with said letter, and assist in said enquiry.
Here’s what it means:
Colonel Partridge gave a letter to the Massachusetts council on July 31, 1714. He said that a girl had been brought to the area by Mohawks and was offered for sale. She was supposed to be an English captive from Deerfield. Capt. John Sheldon was requested to go to Albany to meet the girl and see if she really was a captive.
“Ensign Sheldon”, now a captain, and living at Hartford, accepted the mission, and went to Albany with his son. On his return he reported its results to the Council, which took the following action on the case:-
In Council, Aug. 22, 1714. Upon reading a letter from the Commissioners of the Indian affairs at Albany, by Capt. John Sheldon, messenger thither to make inquiries concerning a young Maid or Girle, brought thither into Westfield by a Macqua and offered for sale, very probably, supposed to be English, & daughter of one [Godfrey] Nims, late of Deerfield, and carried away captive, the Commissioners insisting upon it that she is an Indian.
Ordered, that Samuel Patridge, Esq., treat with the Macqua, her pretended master, & agree with him on the reasonablest terms he can for her release, & then to dispose her to some good family near the sea side … unless Capt. Sheldon will be prevailed with to take her home with him.
Paid John Sheldon for journey to Boston from Northampton, and back to Albany, and back, with his son, L17, 16s, 7d, for time and expenses.
In Council, Sept. 20, 1714. Ordered, that the sum of L25 be paid to Elewacamb, the Albany Indian…who claims the English girl in the hands of the English, and her Relations at Deerfield…Also that a coat and shirt be given sd Indian.
Here’s what it means:
At a council meeting on Aug. 22, 1714, a letter from the commissioners of Albany was read about this girl. They insisted that she was a captive from Deerfield, supposedly the daughter of Godfrey Nims. Mohawks had brought her to Westfield to sell her and the commissioners insisted that she was Indian. It was ordered that Samuel Partridge arrange to buy her from her Indian master and take her to live with a good family near the ocean, or Capt. Sheldon could take her home with him. John Sheldon and his son were paid 17 pounds, 16 shillings and 7 pence for their time and expenses.
At a council meeting on Sept. 20, 1714, it was ordered that 25 pounds and a coat and shirt be given to Elewacamb, the Indian who brought the girl to the English.
So it seems that Partridge was successful in his mission, and delivered the girl at Deerfied, before the above date. Here the curtain dropped. After this, not the slightest trace of Abigail Nims was found.
The Commissioners at Albany believed she was an Indian. But it would appear that the Council of Massachusetts, Col. Partridge and Capt. Sheldon, as well as her “relations in Deerfield”, believed she was the Abigail Nims she claimed to be. Which was right? What became of her?
From New England Captives Carried to Canada, Emma L. Coleman, 1925, pgs. 103-106
“Abigail was three years old [when she was captured]. Her master took her to his mission-home where the squaw Ganastasi, probably his wife or mother, took care of her.”
On June 15, 1704 she was baptized into the Catholic faith and given the new name of Marie Elisabeth Naim. Her birthday was given as June 11, 1700.
“…but we cannot know if the child retained her English speech and could understand her brother John when he came with Lieut. [Lieutenant] Samuel Williams in 1712 seeking her redemption [rescue] and that of their brother Ebenezer.
John, or some later messenger, must have seen her for the story is told in Canada that her relations…, Offered a considerable sum for her ransom [rescue], which the Indians would have accepted had she been willing to return, but she ‘preferred to be a poor prisoner among Catholics than to become a rich heiress [someone who will inherit land and/or money] in a Protestant family’.’
“Nine months after the time that the Council Records say that the supposed daughter of Godfrey Nims was with ‘her Relations at Deerfield’ she, as Elizabeth T8atag8ach, was married to Josiah Rising!
This Indian name of Abigail’s may mean…she picks something out of the water…
…and in the record of her burial, in February, 1748, she is ‘Elizabeth, aged about forty-eight years, an English woman adopted into the …family of the bear after having been taken in the time of war.”