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Joseph Crowfoot                                       see FAMILY TREE

Born: Bef. 26 Feb 1632 Tarvin, Cheshire, England
Baptism of Joseph Crowfoot 1632
Film # 1850101
February   "Joseph sonn of Willm Crofoote of Duddon 26th"
Married: 15 Apr 1658 Springfield, Hampden, MA
 
 
Died:  1678 Northampton, Hampshire, MA Will and Inventory of Joseph Crowfoot  1658
Hampshire Probate Records Vol 1 pg 13
Will written April 8, 1677/8. Inventory taken May 22, 1678

FATHER

William Crofoot

WIFE

Mary Ann Hillier

CHILDREN

1. Joseph Crowfoot

   b  29 Jun 1660 Springfield, Hampden, MA

2. Mary Crowfoot
   b. 4 Oct 1661 Springfield

3. John Crowfoot
    b. 2 Aug 1663 Springfield, MA
    d. 26 Mar 1727 Springfield, MA
    m. Sarah Kent

4. Samuel Crowfoot
    b. 13 Oct 1665 Springfield, MA
    d. 10 Feb 1733 Hadley, Hampshire, MA
    m. Mary Warner
    m. Abigail Dickinson

5. James Crowfoot
    b. 23 Jan 1667 Springfield, MA   

6. Daniel Crowfoot
    b. 23 Jan 1669 Springfield, MA

7. Mathew Crowfoot
    b. 5 Apr 1672 Springfield, MA
    d. 16 Jul 1718 Springfield, MA

8. David Crowfoot
    b. 11 Oct 1674 Springfield, MA

Joseph Crowfoot and King Philip’s War

Abridged from History of Deerfield, by George Sheldon, v. 1 p. 158.

 

            Joseph Crowfoot was in the Falls Fight at Turners Falls, Mass., in King Philip’s War. Joseph was one of a force of one hundred and sixty men under Capt. William Turner, after whom Turner’s Falls, a place upon the Connecticut River, not far from the Vermont line, was named and where Capt. Turner fell. This little force started out from Hatfield the day before. The garrisons at Springfield and Westfield furnished twenty-two men and there were twenty-three volunteers from Springfield. Joseph Crowfoot was one of these.

            Each man was furnished with provision for three meals. Nearly all were mounted, but there were a few footmen. They wended their way along the Pocumtuck path, with fearful glances through the swamp, now in South Deerfield, for the event still called Bloody Brook, where Capt. Lothrop’s force had been wiped out eight months before.

            Tall Wequamps (now called Sugarloaf) loomed to the northward of them. As they left the gloomy spot the stoutest must have quailed at the uncertainty beyond. Was their leader wise? Did he consider the danger: Was it prudent to neglect precautions against surprise?

            At any moment the war whoop of savages arising from ambush might be heard. With sinking heart they made their way to Pocumtuck (Old Deerfield), where were the cellars and charred timbers of the once flourishing village.

            To the north they went, barely escaping discovery at the passage of a stream. The glare of lightning and the growl of thunder added to their nervousness. At the break of day, tired and drenched by a shower, they reached their goal. Leaving his horses under a small guard, Turner led his men through Fall River, now Miller’s River, up a steep ascent and came out on a slope in the rear of the Indian camp.

            The English had not been discovered. With break of day the crack of a hundred shots aroused the stupefied sleepers. Many were killed at the first shot. The survivors in panic jumped for their canoes. Many were swept over the falls and drowned.

            One English man, being mistaken for an Indian, was shot dead, and another was wounded. The resistance was slight. Wigwams, provisions and ammunition of the Indians were destroyed. Two forges at which the Indians mended their arms, were demolished and two great pigs of lead intended for bullets, were thrown into the river.

            The English delayed too long upon the scene and Capt. Turner, being enfeebled by sickness, could not command his men any longer. The English retreated in considerable disorder. Then came a report that Philip was at hand with a thousand Indians. The retreat became a rout. Breaking up into small parties, many were lost.

            Capt. Turner fell, mortally wounded. Capt. Holyoke by his courage saved the day. Closely pursued by the Indians, the force reached Hatfield at last. Forty-five men were missing, and two mortally wounded. Six came in later. The total loss was 39 men. Joseph Crowfoot seems not to have been even wounded, but he must have been thoroughly exhausted when he at last reached safety.

            In 1734 Samuel Hunt, petitioned the General Court for a grant of land to the survivors and their heirs. Only nine veterans of the fight were living in 1735. The number of claimants in 1735 was about 100. A plot about 6 miles square was granted to them north of Deerfield. At first it was called Fall Town, but after 1762 Bernardston.

            The expedition was rash in the extreme, but it accomplished its purpose. About 400 Indians of all sexes and ages were killed. The power of several tribes was utterly broken and warfare receded to the eastward again.

            In August, King Philip was captured or killed and the war ended. But it had been at terrible cost to the colonists in men and money. It was only two years later that Joseph Crowfoot was in his grave, aged about forty years or a little more. We do not know that he was wounded, but the strain of that night march, the battle and the retreat must have been very great. It is possible that then he contracted disabilities which were the contributing cause of his death two years later. If that be true, he gave his life for his country just as truly as if he had fallen from an Indian’s bullet. However, there is evidence that he was in active life after the Falls Fight. 

The Battle of Turner's Falls, also known as the Peskeompscut massacre, was fought on May 19, 1676, during King Philip's War, in present-day Gill, Massachusetts, near a falls on the Connecticut River. The site is across the river from the village of Turners Falls 

Will of Joseph Crowfoot

Joseph made his will 23 March 1677/78, knowing that he was "under much bodily weakness." He named his wife Mary executor and left his son Joseph 10 shillings. The rest to go to his wife to raise the children. If she remarries, whatever was left to be equally divided, among the children, Joseph to have a double portion, also his wife should have a third during her life. As for sons Samuel and Daniel, Joseph was to have 10 pounds, when half their time is up (apprenticeship). This 10 pounds to be divided between the two. Joseph Sr. had also a mare as partial payment. Joseph was to pay his brother Daniel, three pounds when his time was up, Joseph gets the horse.[6] He asked that his brothers James and Andrew Hillyer be overseers. The will was duly presented in court and an inventory of L52.14.00 was taken.

Court on 30 Sep 1684, John Crowfoot, son of Joseph, asked that his father's estate finally be settled, so that he could have his portion, some land to improve. One daughter had her portion in movables. Seven sons were to divided land of about L50. The Court ordered eight portions, two to the eldest son. The Court also recognized that the land would be broken into very tiny lots if divided by eight. Joseph and John were to receive in the land their portions and were to pay the other brothers, Samuel, James, Daniel, Mathew, David, money L6.5s each.