Sabin family tree » Sgt. Benjamin Waite (< 1644-1704)

Personal data Sgt. Benjamin Waite 

• He was born before 1644 in Hatfield, Hampshire, MA.
• He died on February 29, 1704 in Deerfield, Franklin, MA.
• A child of Thomas Waite and Eleanor Paine
• This information was last updated on December 11, 2016.

Household of Sgt. Benjamin Waite

He is married to Martha Leonard.

They got married on June 8, 1670 at Hatfield, Hampshire, MA.

Child(ren):

1. Jeremiah Waite  1684-1733 

Notes about Sgt. Benjamin Waite

{geni:about_me} BENJAMIN WAITE (second-generation in America) son of Thomas was known as "the scout" in Queen Ann's War and was first mentioned in the records Hatfield in 1644 when he received a grant of land of four acres. The town of Hatfield was incorporated May 31, 1670; Hatfield on the east side of the Connecticut River and Hadley on the west side. Prior to this both were one town. Benjamin Waite was a noted Indian scout.On the morning of September 19, 1677, the town was visited by a sudden attack of the savages. The men were working in the meadows cutting corn. The woman were busy with their household duties. The children were playing about their homes and in the street unconscious of impending danger. A blood-curdling yell suddenly pierced their ears, the dread war-whoop of the Indians.Torches were applied to the buildings and the savages sped on through the town killing and capturing the inhabitants. Benjamin Waites house, standing at the end of the street, they burned and took his wife Martha, and three children, Mary, 6, Martha, 4, and Sarah, 2, as captives. The shouts and screams of the victims and the smoke and flames warned the men at work what to expect. They hurried to the rescue but were to late. All that could be done was to care for the wounded, remove the bodies or the victims of the to Mohawk and gun and take a roll of the missing.The Indians with their captives started north toward Canada. Each night the captives were staked to the ground to prevent their escape. Benoni Stebbins did escape one night and reached Hatfield October 4th. Consternation reigned and Benjamin Waite took action to have the captives ransomed but failed. He then, with Stephen Jennings and a Mohawk guide, followed to Canada. They arrived at Chamble, a frontier town, about January 6, 1677. After locating the captives they set out for Quobeck in a few days. There the Governor kindly received them. With the Governor said the freedom of the captives was secured by the payment of a ransom of $200 .While in captivity a daughter was born to Benjamin Waite's wife on January 22, 1677 whom she called Canada. Fifty days later, Steven Jenning's wife gave birth to a girl whom they appropriately named Captivity.When the long Canadian winter was over the party set out for their homes accompanied by an escort of French soldiers. Albany, New York was reached May 22. From there news was sent to the anxious ones in Deerfield and Hatfield, Connecticut. After refreshing themselves for five days they again pursued their homeward ways. At Westfield they were greeted by their friends and neighbors. Rejoicing settlers met the triumphal procession at every village.At one time Benjamin and two captives were made to run the gantlet for punishment. His two companions were badly beaten by the savages lined upon either side with guns, clubs, and tomahawks; but being tall and athletic he wrested a gun from one of his enemies and wielding it to the right and to the left he beat his way between their lines. The Indians gave him his freedom but held his companions.Benjamin Waite, the hated foe of the Indians, ever ready to give aid and protection to the pioneer settlers was killed in the "Massacre at Deerfield", March 1, 1704. He was killed in the meadow and buried in a mass grave.www.babcock-acres.com/Misceallaneous/deerfield_captives_of_1704.htmQueen Ann's War. Jeremiah Waite (third generation in America) was granted a license to erect a fueling mill on the Hoosatonic River.--------------------Benjamin Waite was one of the first settelers in the Hatfield/ deerfield area. He was a well know Indian scout
RFN: geni:6000000006290234300 OBJE: FORM: text/html FILE: http://www.geni.com/photo/view?photo_id=6000000014687154016 OBJE: FORM: image/jpeg FILE: http://photos.geni.com/p13/f2/c1/ea/8c/5344483957c42f60/deerfield_marker_large.jpg Note: Change Date: 15 NOV 2010 at 19:35:43
Recorded in History of Hadley:9/19/1677 Pregnant wife and 3 daughters were captured in Hatfield by theIndians and taken to Canada. He went to Canada and redeemedhis wife and 4 daughters (4th born during captivity). P. 185
Note: Change Date: 03 OCT 2009 at 04:35:06
1. Benjamin was slain by Indians at Deerfield, MA. He was buried with 47 other men, women, and children, that also died at that time.2. Benjamin was a soldier and Indian scout.3. An interesting story is of the capture of Benjamin?s wife and children by the Indians, who took them to Canada; his long and determined pursuit and final recovery of them; the mother, Martha, giving birth to a daughter, while in captivity, who was named "Canada, " and one whose descendants founded Smith?s College at Northampton. [WAIT-GE.GED]
Note: Famous as a fighter against the Indians. Date: 11 NOV 2008 Note:
GEN: CRA Date: 31 JUL 2008
Note:
CD 113, 1st EditionCompendiums, SAVAGE, VOL 4 DICT. FIRST SETTLERS OF N.E.Screen 926 of 1752=================================================BRENJAMIN, Hatfield 1663, sw. alleg. 8 Feb. 1679, was serg. k. by the Ind. and Fr. in surpr. of Deerfield, to whose relief he hasted, 29 Feb. 1704. He m. 8 June 1670, Martha, d. of John Leonard of Springfield, had Mary, b. 25 Feb. 1672; Martha, 1673; Sarah 1675; on 19 Sept. 1677 the mo. and the three ch. were tak. by the Ind. (when his ho. with those of others was burn.) to Canada, where she had Canada,a d. 22 Jan. 1678; and next yr. all came back. She next had John, 17 Jan. 1680; Joseph, 17 July 1682, d. young; Jeremiah, 24 Sept. 1684; and Joseph, again, 11 Nov. 1688. His good est. was div. soon aft. his d. when the d. Martha is not ment. Mary, the eldest d. m. 4 Dec. 1690, Ebenezer Wells; Sarah m. John Belding; and Canada m. 15 Dec. 1696, Joseph Smith.=============================In January 1678 Hatfield residents Benjamain Waite and Stephen Jennings followed indians to Chambly Canada to ransom captives. Captives included Benjamin's wife and children. Benoni Stebbins was among the captives ransomed. (p.126)Ref: "New England Outpost, War and Society in Colonial Deerfield," Richard I. Melvoin Date: 31 MAR 2010

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Timeline Sgt. Benjamin Waite

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