~ INDIANS ATTACK MEETING HOUSE ~

The above water color depicts
the attack on the Meeting House in 1676

" Each man equipped on Sunday morn' with psalm book, shot and powder horn. "

The time of preaching the sermon was about an hour in length, one in the morning and another in the afternoon after short intermission, and was measured by an hour glass placed upon the pulpit. Carriages were unknown and those who rode went horse back with pillion for wife or daughter who dismounted easily by aid of the horse block near the meeting house. No man ever went unarmed in those clays, for the dreaded foe might ever come upon hirn.

One cold March morning in 1676 while preaching his Sunday sermon in this little thatched-roof meeting house, Father Brimsinead was interrupted by the awful cry: "The Indians' The Indians are upon us' " Confusion and fright ensued. All made for the neighhoring garrison (the old Ward house) where miraculously they escaped with a single exception. Brave Moses Newton, stopping to rescue an aged and infirm woman who was unable to move rapidly, brought her at last safely to the garrison, though with a ball in his arm, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. Secure in the garrison all were able to defend themselves, but their property, the parsonage, the meeting house, dwellings, cattle and fruit orchards were totally destroyed by the terrible foe. It is told that one of the tricks of the Indians, who so constantly kept the people in alarm was to hide Sundays in the swamp east of Fairmount, and from there, fire their guns in the direction of the church, which being erected upon their own planting field was no doubt an offense to them.

The 1667 map section (drawn eleven years before the attack) to the right depicts the location of the Meeting House.  The large star indicates the Meeting House, the small star, the house of William Ward where they took refuge.
 

This was the time when discouraged by their losses the inhabitants left Marlborough for a safer neighborhood, until some time in the early part of the following year the settlers returned and on the same location erected a new meeting house, which like the former, was thatched with straw.

This building was left in an unfinished state and lasted but a little while. In 1689 a larger and more commodious house was erected near the site of the former building and lasted more than one hundred and twenty years.

The picture to the left would be a similiar church (Meeting House) that was built in the later years.


The 1803 map section to the left, indicates the location of the Meeting House with the Old Common Grave behind it.  On this spot now resides the Walker Building


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