Person:Eliezer Hawks (3)

Killed at the Bars - Deerfield, Mass 1746

From "History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts", Vol. II, Louis H. Everts, Press of J.B. Lippincott & Co.,Philadelphia, 1879. page 595:

"To answer frequent inquiry as to the origin of these names, some information may be given...."Bars," where the common field-fence crossed the road to Hatfield; in this fence was a set of slip-bars, for the accomodation of travelers. In the early days of our history cattle were fenced out instead of in."

"The Bars" was the section of Deerfield, Mass where these bars were located.

The Bars fight was the last attack upon the town of Deerfield on August 25th, 1746, after the fall of Fort Massachusetts, at Hoosac on August 20th. Eleazer Hawks was killed by a party of Indians who came to Deerfield after the seige of Fort Massachusetts looking for captives and/or scalps.

Two good narratives of the fight are given in:

1."Lucy Terry Prince, Singer of History", by David R. Proper, A publication of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association & Historic Deerfield, Inc. 1997. pages 16 - 20.

2."John Hawks, A Founder of Hadley, Massachusetts", by Imogene Hawks Lane, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1998. page 79

See also The Background of the Fight at the Bars

1. ↑ Baldwin, Thomas W. Vital Records of Deerfield, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston: Wright & Potter, 1920)
   p. 71.

   HAWKS, Eliezer, s. of Eliezer Jr. and Abigail, [born] Nov. 13, 1717.

2. ↑ Massachusetts. Probate Court (Hampshire County). Probate records, 1797-1869. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971)
   Box 69, file 18.

   [Note: the will of his grandfather Deacon Eleazer Hawks of Deerfield is filed in this file.]
   9 May 1749: Bond of Eleazer Hawks of Deerfield as guardian for Zilpah Hawks Judith Hawks Minors under fourteen Children of Eleazar Hawks Jun'r.