From "Genealogy of the Janes Family" On the 13th of May, 1704, old style, the Indians attacked the village of Pascomac. They had been to Merrimac river; but meeting with no success they then directed their course toward Westfield; but Westfield river was so high they could not pass it. At this time they were in almost a famishing state: but being near to Paskhomuck, of which they had learned something the year before, and hoping to obtain provision to satisfy their hunger, they changed their route for that place, intending, as they afterwards declared, to resign themselves up, if they could obtain no food otherwise. In the evening before the 13th of May, the Indians went upon Mount Tom, and observed the situation of the place. As the meadow was then covered with water, they supposed the village might be taken, and that no aid could come seasonably from the town, on account of the intervening flood. A little before day light, the Indians attacked the village. The house of Benoni Jones was encompassed with pickets. The Indians procured flax and other combustibles, and set them on fire, which was communicated to the house. A young woman, named Patience Webb, was awakened, and looking out of a window, was shot through the head. The people surrendered, and all the families I have mentioned were killed or taken prisoners. Some of the prisoners were afterwards rescued by people from their town: but one of the number, Benjamin Janes, having fallen a little in the rear, effected his escape by running to the water, through a hollow, encompassed with bushes, near the residence of Mrs. Phineas Clark, and springing into a skiff he knew to be lying there, he headed it for Northampton, and with the blessing of heaven succeeding his efforts, was soon there; and hence was preserved, and was also the first to inform the people of the attack of the Indians upon Paskhomuck village and of the horrors his eyes had witnessed. The people of the town were at once upon the alert to intercept, if possible, the enemy, and to recapture the captives: and those of them who were under the command of Capt. Taylor went round by Pomeroy's meadow, and met the Indians between Mount Tom and Westfield road, on the farm, now in possession of Messrs. Waites, when a skirmish ensued, in which the captain was killed. Of the five families belonging to the village, the Indians killed the following persons: Samuel Janes, his wife and three children; Benoni Jones and his two children, and the young woman before named; John Searle and three children; Moses Hutchinson and one child; and four children of Benjamin Janes--the whole number nineteen. The wife of this Benjamin Janes was taken to the top of Pomeroy's mountain, and was there knocked in the head and scalped. The people of Northampton found her in this situation, and perceiving that she was still alive, carried her with them, on their return, to the town; and she recovered and lived until she was more than eighty years old. The wife of Moses Hutchinson was taken prisoner, but soon made her escape. John Searle's wife was also taken and severely wounded, but was afterwards rescued from the Indians. Benoni Jones's wife, and Elisha, the son of John Searle, were taken prisoners to Canada. (pp. 41-44) Samuel Janes, son of William by (2) wife Hannah, born in Northampton, was a husbandman. He settled in a part of the town called Pascomac, about a mile and a half from the centre of Northampton, with some four or five other families who felt in a measure secure from the incursions of the Indians. He married (1) Elizabeth Smead, in 1680. She died, so far as known, without issue. He married (2) Sarah Hinsdale, 1692. From this time some twelve years were passed in the social enjoyments of a Christian home, with his wife and children born to them, when most suddenly on an unfortunate morning, his household was assaulted and eleven down by the hand of a ruthless and savage foe. Himself, wife and three children were cut down at once, and soon after on the way, when the Indians were pursued by a small company from the town, the two older sons, Samuel and Jonathan, who, with some others were captives on their way to Canada, were struck, stunned, tomahawked, and left for dead. The occurred on the 13 May, 1704, old style, or 24 May, present reckoning, and is recorded upon the books of the town, at the time, which the compiler has seen, together with an account of the administration of the property of Samuel Janes, and some incidental notices of his brothers and family. The two surviving sons, Samuel and Jonathan, grew up and settled, one in Pascomac, and the other, at Northfield. Concerning these Indians, it was afterward confessed by them, that they were so very hungry and nearly famished, that they thought seriously of giving themselves up to the white people, so they might obtain food for themselves, but inspired with hope of an easy victory, and reward from the French in Canada, for scalps and captives, and seeing from Mount Tom, the day previously, the situation of the houses, and the intervening flood that would protect them from the town's people, they venture to attack, in the gray of the morning, these isolated inhabitants before the people had waked from their slumbers, and surprise and kill and capture as many as were to be found, and with hasty eating and securing of provisions, push on towards Canada. Benjamin Janes was spared to carry their provisions. He was ordered to empty his straw bed, nothing else being more convenient, and to put into it his pork, and carry it along with them. As he was encumbered with his load, he lagged a little behind, purposedly, and near a small ravine leading down to the water where he knew a boat was tied, he dropped quite suddenly his burden, and escaping observation by the friendly covering of shade trees, and running down leaped into the boat, and pushed away toward the other side and hastily rowed himself over to relate to the villagers the horrid scenes that had just passed before his eyes. The few rescuers and defenders of the slaughtered or captured neighbors, hastily rushed around the flood, then spreading over thousands of acres in Northampton, and in what is now East Hampton, intercepting the Indians, who suddenly turned to kill and scalp as many as they could, and defended themselves till they could get a better start with their booty and a few captives which they chose to take with them. In this hasty skirmish, the captain of the company more bold than prudent, was killed, and the Indians cowardly fled with scalps and some captives who could not break away from them with any hope of life. The descendants of Samuel Janes, Jr., keep the tradition of his being stunned by a blow from a tomahawk, and also the descendants of his brother Jonathan, the Northfield branch, where Jonathan settled, equally well remember the story of their progenitors, that Jonathan experienced the same tragic stunning. No doubt both were struck and wounded at this juncture, for the Indians saw plainly that this attack of the whites would deprive them of their captives whom now they determined to kill, and scalp if possible. The writer, when a youth, had many conversations with, and cannot but well remember the tradition of his great aunt, Hannah (Oliver) Janes, daughter of Jonathan, who had often heard from the lips of her own father the account, which, though occurring at so early an age, was vividly pictured on the tablet of his memory, so much of it being witnessed by himself. On what a slender thread is suspended the lives of the sons of men. It was indeed a slender thread on which the destines of hundreds of families were hung, who have since multiplied and spread themselves over the country, and are here partially recorded. (pp. 87-91) Immediately after the massacre, the Indians, for fear of the exasperated white inhabitants, hastened away from these desolated cottages, and learning that troops were coming from the town to intercept them on the west, they commenced killing and scalping their prisoners that they might take, in their escape at least, their scalps; some were only stunned by a blow, others were killed and scalped. Samuel and Jonathan, sons of Samuel, were thus stunned and escaped death. The wife of Benjamin was found farther away from this scene on the side of Pomeroy's mountain, scalped and nearly dead. On their return from their pursuit, they found some of them coming to consciousness who were supposed dead. Hannah, the wife of Benjamin, was found on the side of this mountain and leaning against a log, and stroking the blood from her forehead and eyes. Her infant was dashed against the door post, before they started on their way to free the captive mother from any incumbrance that would impede her travel, and they left her scaped just where they came to the conclusion that the could only take her scalp in safety and avoid being overtaken by just avengers. She was taken to the village on a litter, and by much care and attention was so far revived as to give hope of final recovery. (pp. 92-93) Three were alive, knocked on the head, and one of them scalped. They all recovered. The wife of Benjamin Janes, who was scalped, was under the care of Dr. Gershom Buckley and others, at Wethersfield, several years. Her husband lived in Wethersfield with her, and the governor and council kindly gave him a brief, May 8, 1707, craving the charity of the people of Branford, Guilford, Killingworth, and Saybrook. She was finally cured, and they settled in Coventry. (footnote p. 92) They were called a company of French and Indians, who fell upon a fortified house in Pascomuck, where no watch was kept. The people were alarmed in their beds by a noise of the enemy's rushing on the house, and before the inhabitants could arise the Indians had got their guns into the port-holes, and shot those that first appeared, and wounded others. The surprised people made what resistance they could, firing briskly on the enemy, but the house being set on fire, they were forced to yield. Fearing a pursuit, the enemy sent back a messenger to say that if they were pursued they would kill all the captives. (It is said this messenger was an old man, and stopped to rest and fell asleep). The whites pursued; three made an escape, eight were rescued, nineteen were slain, and three carried captive to Canada. Seven knocked on the head, recovered. Among the nineteen killed, were nine by the name of Janes. Two knocked on the head that recovered, were the boys, Samuel Janes, aged eleven, and Jonathan Janes, aged eight, whose father, mother, and other children were destroyed at the time.--Wars of New England, p. 15 (footnote, p. 88) (Story given to me by Bill Betts)