Sources
History of Massachusetts L. Barr
History of Marlborough Charles Hudson Pub 1862
Early Reminisces of Marlborough by Ella Bigelow Pub 1910
Researched and Written by - John Buczek
The oldest known grave in Marlborough, exists in the Springhill Burial Grounds
It is that of Captain Edward Hutchinson, born May 28, 1613 in Alford Lincolnshire England. He was the son of William Hutchinson, born 1586 in England and died 1642 in Boston, Massachusetts and Anne Marbury born Alford Lincolnshire, England and died August 20, 1643 in New York N.Y.. He, along with his parents came to the New World in 1634 aboard the "Griffen". He married Katherine Hamby on October 13, 1636 in Ipswich, Suffolk England. Edward had gained the Rank of Captain during those early times.
It was Saturday July 17, 1675, the morning after Captain Hutchinson returned with his troops from a skirmish with the Indians that he learned of more troubles with King Philip. His previous fight was one of success, for he had returned with two hostages and no loss of men. It appeared that King Philip was now held up in a swamp at Pocasset and that a portion of the Plymouth troops had been sent to search for him. On the following Monday, the whole army of Plymouth marched and reaching the swamp, they cautiously entered and commenced to attack. There were over one hundred wigwams made of green bark covering about four acres of land, all were deserted. It was determined that the Indians had withdrawn deeper into the swamp land and the English decided to follow. Marching deeper into the swamp, the men started firing their muskets in such disorder at every moving bush that many of their own men were shot. Few, if any Indians were shot for their position was very secure. The army withdrew as night fell and the attempt to capture King Philip and his men was a failure.
At some point in time, King Philip was again amongst the missing and it was later found out that he had taken flight to the country of the Nipmucks. Previous to this, there were other attacks by King Philip in Middleborough, Taunton and Dartmouth. On Wednesday July 14, 1675 he had attacked Mendon in the evening shortly after sunset and five or six persons were killed. The Nipmucs had not yet joined Philip and some of the Praying Indians were still friendly to the English. These Native Americans were however ripe for battle and fear was that they would soon join up with King Philip.
To prevent this alliance, an agent was to be dispatched to negotiate a treaty at Quaboag now known as Brookfield, Massachusetts. Captain Hutchinson of Boston was the person chosen to effect this treaty and Captain Wheeler of Concord with a few of his troops were to join him. Three, yet friendly Praying Indians, were to act as guides to this distant Settlement. On Wednesday July 28, 1675 they marched from Cambridge to Sudbury and through Marlborough heading toward Nipmuc Country and the hopes of a successful end. As Captain Hutchinson and his troops headed for Brookfield, little did he know that his return would not be a joyous occasion, and certainly not his final association with Marlborough.
They
arrived at Brookfield on the following Sunday, a trip of four days in duration,
and finding that the Indians were not there, messengers were sent to seek
them. The Chiefs promised to meet the following morning at 
Wickabaug
Pond, near Brookfield. Captain Hutchinson left that morning with
his troops a few men from Brookfield and set off to make the final
arrangements. Upon reaching their destination they found not a single
Indian. He was determined to bring this situation to a final resolve,
so they continued on for about four or five more miles towards a place
called Mominimisset. Reaching their destination and on one side of
a high hill which rose almost perpendicular to the road and the other side
a swamp, they were attacked by two to three hundred Indians.
As the battle continued, Captain Hutchinson and Captain Wheeler barking commands and muskets firing from both sides, both the English and Indian were feeling the heat of the battle. As the shots continued there was little time to reload and the battle reverted to hand to hand combat. It wasn't until Captain Hutchinson, Captain Wheeler and three other men were wounded and eight men killed, Shadrach Hapgood of Marlborough being one of the eight men killed, was the sound of retreat made by the English. As the party raced off to what they thought to be they safety of the town, Captain Wheelers son noticing his fathers plight, instantly dismounted his horse and placing his father upon it and seizing another horse whose rider had been slain followed the retreating troops.
The Indians were not done yet; the troops had scarcely entered the town when it was fired upon by the Indians which had followed them. Soon the houses were set on fire save a few buildings which were held by the Indians for shelter and one main building held by the troops. The building that served as protection for seventy of the troops was besieged for two days, the Indians attacking it time after time with incessant volleys of musketry. On two occasions the Indians attempted to set fire to the building by piling heaps of hay and wood at it's sides, however on each occasion the men inside were able to extinguish the flames with heroic efforts. The Indians resorted to using arrows whose tips were covered with cloth and dipped into a sulfur and shot onto the roof in attempt to set the slate roof on fire. When this did not work, the Indians filled a cart with hay and wood pushing it to the side of the building and setting it on fire in hopes the building would burn. By the grace of God, a rain shower squelched this attempt.
The attacks continued, with the Indians roaring like mad bulls brandishing their weapons and continuing assaulting the garrison from every corner. Within the building there remained the troops, the women and children that were from the town and amidst them, the wounded Captain Hutchionson. When escape from death seemed hopeless, relief finally arrived. Two messengers had been sent to Boston for aid, only one was able to get through the mass of raiding Indians and on arriving at Marlborough, he met with Major Willard and Captain Parker of Groton and described the battle that was going on. Major Willard and Captain Parker had been sent to Marlborough with forty-six men and five friendly Indians to scout the area. Upon hearing of the plight in Brookfield, they hastened to the settlement and arrived just in time to help. They along with the remaining troops continued the engagement through out most of the night and towards the morning the Indians having burnt their shelters removed to the safety of the surrounding woods and swamp leaving about eighty of their dead.
The sad task at hand was to assess the condition of those wounded and to carry out the burying of those who were killed. Captain Hutchinson was reaching a critical point and nothing more could be done for him at this place. In a desperate attempt to get him to Boston for medical care, he was placed on a wagon and he along with several guards set off to reach home. As they traveled towards Boston, Captain Hutchinson was slowly getting weaker and less able to take food and drink to sustain his body. Upon reaching the outskirts of Marlborough it was decided that they seek help in this settlement. He was put up at the public house in Marlborough owned by John Howe, who was also known as “Goodman” Howe for his good deeds, and tended to.
Eleven days, there about, after being shot the good Captain breathed his last breath. The good folks of Marlborough appreciating the thing that he had done for their fellow settlers, took it upon themselves to provide a suitable burial and saw to it that he was interred. A grave stone was made of stone and inscribed. The inscription reads:
CAPTIN
EDWARD
HUTCHINSOn
AGED 67
YEARES
WAS SHOT
BY
TrEACHEROVS
INDIANS
AVGVST
2 1675
DYED 19
AVGVST
1675
The General Joseph Badger Chapter of the DAR had his stone set in another stone and they added their inscription on the part that originally was placed into the ground.
His headstone still stands today honoring a fallen hero.
NOTE: Some details and dates taken from the "History of Massachusetts Vol. III" by Barr
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