Martha Worchester

Family/Spouse: William Bacon. William (son of Samuel Bacon and Margaret Low) was born on 19 Nov 1593 in St Nicholas Parish, London, England; died on 29 Sep 1653 in St Nicholas Parish, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Patience married William Miller on 3 Mar 1641 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. William (son of John Miller and Mary Pylston) was born on 21 Nov 1620 in , , Middlesex, England; died on 15 Jul 1690 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Fact 1: 1RHX-2M9

Mary married Zebediah Williams on 18 Dec 1672 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Zebediah (son of Arthur Williams and Catherine) was born on 29 Oct 1649 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 18 Sep 1675 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Godfrey Nims on 26 Nov 1677 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Godfrey was born in 1650 in , , , England; died on 14 Mar 1704 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Fact 2: Feb 1727; Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Mary married Nathaniel Brooks in 1695 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Nathaniel (son of William Brooks and Mary Burt) was born on 19 May 1664 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 24 Nov 1746 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Fact 1: P3L3-67

Notes:

Zebediah Williams' father was killed by indians at Bloody Brook. His Mother Mary Miller married Godfrey Nims, who raised Zeb and his sister Mary as his own. Shortly before the Deerfield massacre, Zeb and his step brother John were kidnapped by indians while working in their fields. They were marched to Canada. John managed to escape in 1705, but Zeb died in 1706.

Zebediah married Sarah Arms on 2 May 1700 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Sarah (daughter of William Arms and Joanna Hawks) was born on 21 Nov 1681 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died on 24 Dec 1767 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: John (Twin) Nims
• Married: 1696

Notes:

John Nims, His Capture and Escape
On October 8, 1703, according to the Rev. John Williams ("The Redeemed Captive"), Zebediah Williams and John Nims went into the meadow in the evening to tend livestock and were ambushed by Indians in the ditch beyond Frary's bridge. The Indians fired at them, missed, and took Zebediah right away. Nims ran away to a nearby pond but returned, afraid of getting shot. The Indians wounded the cattle, and marched their captives to Canada. Zebediah died there in 1706. John Nims escaped in 1705, with Joseph Petty, Thomas Baker, and Martin Kellog, all three of whom were among the Feb. 29th captives. The four men walked to New England, via territory that is now Canada, Vermont, and New Hampshire. A letter written by Joseph Petty detailing their experiences survived and was reproduced in The Nims Family Association Book. George Sheldon wrote in his History of Deerfield that they had no weapons, and only meager provisions, but they made it home, more dead than alive from hunger and fatigue. Sheldon says "they were discovered in wisdom in an imbecile condition, and seemed guided more by instinct than by reason...Their appearance when brought in was such as to melt the stoutest heart...Broth, in small quantities, was given at first, and by slow degrees more substantial food, until they were filled. It was a long time before their cravings were satisfied."

Sheldon and the Nims Family Book (more information) also relate the following anecdote, told to Mr. Sheldon by his grandmother:

One day when the fugitives seemed at the last extremity, they discovered and killed a great white owl. This was instantly torn in pieces, which were laid in four piles, and fairly divided, one turning his back, and responding to the query, "Who shall have this?" Each took his share, and hardly waiting to pull off the feathers, tore through the tough fragments with their teeth, like so many ravenous beasts. Grandmother said John Nims always insisted that a wing which fell to him was the sweetest morsel he ever tasted."

source:http://freepages.folklore.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pahlow/nims.htm

Godfrey Nims (John's Father), and the Deerfield Massacre:
Three of his children had smothered to death in the cellar of his home while it burned over their heads, and his son Henry had been slain. His daughter Rebecca Mattoon and her newborn son had been slain. His wife, his son Ebenezer, his infant daughter Abigail, his step-daughter Elizabeth Hull, his son-in-law Philip Mattoon, and his mother-in-law Elizabeth Smead--along with many of other more distant relatives, friends and neighbors--had all been taken away as captives.

Was there, finally, nobody left for Godfrey? Was he all alone? Son John and step-son Zebediah Williams had been captured and carried to Canada a few months ago. His very first child had died shortly after birth; another step-son had died in the first Nims house fire in 1694.

John Nims, the son of Godfrey and Mary Miller. He was born on the14th of August 1679 along with a twin sister, Rebecca. He grew up in Deerfield, Massachusetts and survived. He persevered through sickness, weather, and enemies. John Nims defeated death at every turn; it was meant for him to live. He is our legacy and we are his.

On October 8, 1703 John 24 years old and his half brother Zebediah Williams age 28 were watching the cattle when they were taken by surprise and captured by Indians. They were taken to the Mohawk Fort in Canada. During his time as captive he watched the Indians bring in more prisoners and scalps. He saw many captives brought in from Deerfield, his family and friends among them. He watched their torture and endured his own.

John finally managed to escape on May 14, 1705 with Martin Kellogg, Joseph Petty and Thomas Baker. His return to Deerfield was something short of a miracle. Upon arriving in Deerfield, John found his father Godfrey had passed away early that spring in March.

Zebediah died a captive the following year. And to John’s dismal he was unsuccessful at bringing home his little sister Abigail or his brother Ebenezer. He offered a considerable sum for her ransom and the Indians would have given her up if she had wanted to go. The story was told that she would rather be a poor captive among Catholics than to become a rich heiress of a Protestant family.

John lived on the old homestead and married December 19, 1707, to Elizabeth Hull his stepsister. She too had been a captive at the Mohawk Fort in Canada. Finally, his brother Ebenezer was released in 1714 and came to live with John at the Nims home for a time. John and Elizabeth had twelve children; of which two were born and died on the same day, a daughter died when she was three years old, and his first born, a son named John died when he was two months old. Their last child was Daniel, the son who we descend from. John’s cherished wife, Elizabeth, lived a long and hard life. She passed away at the age of 66 on the 21st of September in 1754; John was 75 years old. John died on the 29th of December in 1762 at the age of 83.

John married Elizabeth Hull on 19 Dec 1707 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Jeremiah Hull and Mehitable Smead) was born on 23 Dec 1688 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 21 Sep 1754 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Rebecca (Twin) Nims

Rebecca married Phillip Mattoon on 15 Jan 1703 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Phillip (son of Philip Mattoon and Sarah Hawkes) was born on 4 Apr 1680 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 2 Mar 1704 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thankful married Benjamin Munn on 15 Jan 1702 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. Benjamin (son of John Munn and Abigail Parsons) was born on 29 Aug 1683 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 5 Feb 1774 in Northfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact 1: 29 Feb 1704, Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; Ebenezer & stepmother captured and taken to Canada by indians.
• Fact 2: Mar 1704, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Stepmother was killed on march to Canada & he was adopted by a squaw.
• Fact 3: 1710, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Ebenezer was married and had first child while in captivity
• Fact 4: 1714, Lorette, Quebec, Canada; Released from captivity

Notes:

Source: Nims Family Association:

Ebenezer Nims, captured in 1704, was then 17 years old and made the march to Canada, was adopted by a squaw and lived at Lorette. Of his romantic marriage to Sarah Hoyt (born May 6th 1686, to David & Sarah Wilson Hoyt). Mr. Sheldon says:

"The priest urged her to marry. They pertinaciously, insisted upon it as a duty, and had a French officer selected as her mate, thus assuring themselves of permanent resident and popish converts. Professing to be convinced of her duty in ther, Sara declared one day in public that she would be married, if any of her fellow-captives would have her. Ebenezer Nims, a life-long companion, at once stepped forward and claimed her for his bride. The twain was made one upon the spot. The wily priests had met their match, for it is easy to believe that this was a prearranged issue on the part of the lovers."

Gazeteer of Cheshire County N.H.
1704-1737

Part First, Gazeteer of Towns , Page 378

John and Ebenezer Nims were the sons of Godfrey Nims of Deerfield, Mass. Godfrey had eleven children, all of whom, with the exception of the two sons mentioned and one daughter, were destroyed while captives after the raid on Deerfield, in 1704. Ebenezer married Sarah Hoyt while both were captives in Canada, and their eldest son, Ebenezer, was born there Feb 14, 1713. They returned to Deerfield to help his brother John rebuild the house Godrey had built and that had been destroyed by the natives. David, second son of Ebenezer, was born in Deerfield, Mass. March 30, 1716, came to Deerfield 1737 and was probably the first one of the family there. He married Abagail Hawks and was the first town clerk.

Ebenezer and Sarah had 5 children; Ebenezer Jr. (1712), David, Moses, Elisha and Amasa.

He is believed to be buried in the Old Deerfield burial ground near his family.

Ebenezer married Sarah Hoyt in 1710 in Lorette, Quebec, Canada. Sarah (daughter of David Hoyt and Mary Wilson) was born on 6 May 1686 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; died on 11 Jan 1761 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]