Person:John Bigelow (10)

Captivity in Canada

On October 5, 1705, John Bigelow, Thomas Sawyer, and Elias (Thomas' son) were working in Lancaster, Mass., and there surprised by the Natives were taken prisoner and marched to Canada, as was the practice during these times. For those who survived the long grueling march to Canada, ransoms could be paid for their release. However, this could take years and for useful captives, perhaps never. As John was a carpenter, Thomas Sawyer, a blacksmith, and knowing their captivity could be lengthy (or even permanent), Bigelow and Sawyer offered to build a sawmill in the hopes of ensuring and speeding their release.
There being no known sawmill in that part of Canada at that time, a bargain was struck. Bigelow and Sawyer built what is thought to be the first sawmill in Canada, upon the River Chamblay. Upon completion and after a period of delays, John and Thomas were released. Elias Sawyer was compelled to operate the sawmill several month more before he too was released.
Among the documents surviving from that time is a letter, dated Marlbury Aug. 22, 1706, from John's wife, Jerusha, to him in Canada, which reads in part:

"Dear and loving Husband. In much grief and tender affection, greatly lamenting your miserable condition, hoping in the mercy of God who has prospered you and kept you alive hitherto and will in His own due time work your deliverance, that these few lines may find you in health as I am at present and the children, blessed be God for it and for all his mercy bestowed on you and on myself

This may acquaint you that I received your letter dated January the 6th on the 6th of Aug. last, and for which I am though in much sorrow and grief, thankful to you. And I do most humbly and importunately petition the governor to have pity and compassion on yourself and me." (and then quoting Lamentations 3:25.)

All three were eventually released and returned to their families. To express their gratitude and joy for John's release, the reunited couple would name their next daughter, Comfort, and another, Freedom.(see Howe^S3)

1. ↑ Historical Society of Watertown (Massachusetts). Watertown Records. (Watertown, Mass.: Press of Fred Barker, 1894-1939)
   1:39.

   1675. John Bigulah son of Samuell and and [sic] mary Bigulah borne the nineth of may.

2. ↑ Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Worcester, Massachusetts: Franklin P. Rice, 1908)
   345.

   Biglow, John, Sept. 8, 1769, a. 94 y. 4 m. 7 d.
   [Birth about 1 May 1675.]

3.   John Bigelow, in Howe, Gilman Bigelow. Genealogy of the Bigelow family of America: from the marriage in 1642 of John Biglo and Mary Warren to the year 1890. (Worcester, Mass.: Charles Hamilton, 1890)
   p 34-37.
4. ↑ John Bigelow, in Find A Grave.