Person:Abraham Josselyn (6)

Early in the morning of the 10th of February, 1675/6, Lancaster was surprised by a large number of Indians, who made their attach in five distinct bodies and as many places, burning the houses in their way, and destroying the people found inside them. Some of the inhabitants, to the number of forty-two, being mostly women and children, among whom were Abraham Josselyn and his family, took shelter in the fortified house of Rev. Joseph Rowlandson. This they defended upwards of two hours, during which time several of them were killed by the bullets showered upon them. At length the house was set on fire, and the people within were reduced to the sad necessity of either perishing in the flames or resigning themselves to the savages. In their attempts to escape, all the men, save one, were slain; and the rest about twenty in number, were seized by the Indians and carried into captivity. Thus perished Abraham Josselyn, as we are assured by Mrs. Rowlandson by Mr. Harrington. Mrs. Rowlandson who was one of the captives, met Mrs. Josselyn, about the 23rd of February, in the hands of the Indians, at a place called Wenimesset, now New Braintree. She found her in great distress, having in her arms her little daughter, Beatrice, then nearly two years old. In the course of her captivity, Mrs. Rowlandson heard that this unfortunate woman and her child were stripped by the Indians, knocked upon the head, and cast into a fire, where they miserably perished. Some captive children, who were present, declared to Mrs. Rowlandson, that Mrs. Josselyn shed not a tear, but continued in prayer till death put an end to her suffering.