Please visit our new website at www.nedoba.org

The Great Massacre of 1694

Understanding the Destruction of Oyster River Plantation

By Craig J. Brown

Origianlly Published in Historical New Hampshire
Vol. 53, No. 3&4, Fall/Winter 1998
a Publication of the New Hampshire Historical Society
Published by Ne-Do-Ba with permission from the author
October 2000

CRAIG J. BROWN is a former museum director in New Hampshire, who now lives in Wells, Maine. He specializes in military history of the colonial and Civil War eras. Craig would like to give special thanks to D. B. Garvin, Director of Publications at the New Hampshire Historical Society, for her work in editing the original article.

We at Ne-Do-Ba would like to extend our grateful appeciation to Craig for allowing us to publish this wonderful research paper on our web site.
K'chi Wliwni Nidoba -- GREAT THANKS MY FRIEND

July 18. The Indians fell suddenly & unexpectedly upon Oyster River about break of Day. Took 3 Garrisons (being deserted or not defended) killed & Carried away 94 persons, & burnt 13 houses- this was the f[i]r[st] act of hostility Committed by [them] after ye peace Concluded at Pemmaqd.[1]

With these laconic words, the Reverend John Pike recorded in his diary the devastating events of the morning of July 18, 1694,[2] when out of the darkness 250 Abenaki warriors descended upon the sleepy little hamlet of Oyster River Plantation (now Durham and vicinity). They ravaged both sides of the river, cutting a swath of destruction some six miles in length. In small detachments of eight to ten warriors, they swept outward from the falls, killing and capturing some ninety-four to one hundred people, fully one-third of the population. Half of the settlement burned to the ground. The attackers destroyed countless crops and killed hundreds of head of livestock, bringing famine and financial ruin to those who survived.