Thomas MASON

Wife: Margery Partridge (1628-1711) Children: Thomas, John, Mary, Mehitable, Zechariah, Ebenezer. Killed, along with 2 of his sons (Thomas and Zechariah) by Indians in burning of Medfield during King Philip’s War. Thomas and two sons, Thomas, Jr. and Zechariah were killed, 21 Feb 1676 - "When the town (Medfield) was burned by the Indians, Thomas Mason's house was destroyed; and he, with two of his sons, was killed, it is said near the spring in the meadow opposite the house. His wife and the other children had fled to the garrison probably." Mr. Richard DeSorgher and the Medfield Historical Society: In the early morning hours of February 21st, 1676, the residents of the town of Medfield slept in their beds or in one of the five garrisons in town. Since 1675, residents had heard the stories of towns across New England being burned to the ground and people killed by Indians led by Metacomet, or King Philip. This was the beginning of the King Philip's War, a war that would be prove to be the bloodiest in American history in terms of population. As the sun peaked above the horizon, the soldiers on sentry duty throughout the town retired to sleep after patrolling in the bitter cold all night. Samuel Morse was up early and walked into his barn. Under some hay, he discovered an Indian. He fled with his family as flames began to rise from his home. This signaled the rest of the Indians spread across town to light fire to the homes they were tasked to destroy. Ultimately, 32 or 64 homes were destroyed and 14 settlers, two soldiers from Boston, and a soldier from Cambridge dead, along with an unknown number of Indians.

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