Historic Marker: Eunice Williams - Greenfield, MA

Eunice Williams

Greenfield, MA

N 42° 38.796 W 072° 37.158

Short Description: 

Eunice Williams was taken captive in the 1704 raid of Deerfield, MA and murdered  at this place along the Green River at the site of the present day Eunice Williams Covered Bridge in Greenfield, MA

Long Description:

On February 29, 1704, during the Queen Anne's War. French and Native American forces under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked the English settlement at Deerfield, MA killing 56 people and capturing more than 100. The Rev. John Williams later recounted how he and his family were taken by foot to Canada and that his daughter Eunice was adopted by the Mohawk tribe in his published story "The Redeemed Captive". This plaque memorializes the fate of his wife, also Eunice, who was killed during the raid.

A pair of historic markers mark the site where Eunice Williams was murdered by Indians following her capture in Deerfield. She had recently given birth and was too weak to make the winter march from Deerfield to Canada.  The marker is inscribed:

EUNICE WILLIAMS

EUNICE WILLIAMS WIFE OF 

THE REVEREND JOHN WILLIAMS

"THE REDEEMED CAPTIVE," WAS

KILLED AT THIS PLACE ON MARCH 1,

1704, DURING THE DEERFIELD

MASSACRE.

MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY

TERCENTENARY COMMISSION

A nearby stone marker is inscribed:

THE CRUEL AND BLOODTHIRSTY

SAVAGE WHO TOOK HER, SLEW HER

WITH HIS HATCHET AT ONE STROKE.

REV. JOHN WILLIAMS

OF DEERFIELD

THE REDEEMED CAPTIVE

SO WROTE OF HIS WIFE

MRS. EUNICE WILLIAMS

WHO WAS KILLED AT THIS PLACE

MARCH 1, 1704

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ERECTED BY P.V.M.A. AUGUST 12, 1884

P.V.M.A, - Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association