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of Joseph Hewes Davis Esq Eng by F. Kearny,

Hསསག༔ སuIlllCb.

For persons of this persuasion, and indeed for all that were ambitious of a quiet and secure life, a residence in either Connecticut or Massachusetts, was at that period far from desirable.

The government of Massachusetts had, in order to "promote enterprise and encourage volunteers," raised the premium on Indian scalps and prisoners to one hun

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of Joseph Hewes Davis Esq Eng by F. Kearny.

HEWES.

CONCERNING JOSEPH HEWES, the circumstances known are much less abundant and particular than we desire. Nearly half a century has passed since he died, he left no children, and no very near relatives now survive, from whom the details of his life could be ascertained.

His parents were members of the society of friends, and at the time of their marriage resided in the colony of Connecticut, in one of the settlements the farthest removed from the coast of the Atlantic.

In this situation they were obliged to bear the double persecution arising from the often excited hostility of the Indians, who roved through the forests in their vicinity, and the prejudice still remaining among the puritans of New England, against all that wore the quaker habiliments or professed the quaker doctrines.

For persons of this persuasion, and indeed for all that were ambitious of a quiet and secure life, a residence in either Connecticut or Massachusetts, was at that period far from desirable.

The government of Massachusetts had, in order to "promote enterprise and encourage volunteers," raised the premium on Indian scalps and prisoners to one hun

dred pounds for each; and in the temper of mind which is sufficiently indicated by such an enactment, a bitter and murderous warfare was waged against the natives of the forest, attended with circumstances often discreditable to the humanity of the white men, and with instances of reprisals and retaliation on the part of the Indians involving the most shocking barbarities.

The province of Connecticut had refused to unite in any measures of war that were not defensive; but the Indians were not always careful to observe the boundary line between the two colonies, or to discriminate between people so closely resembling each other in manners and appearance.

The inoffensive and industrious farmers of Connecticut were therefore exposed to suffer the vengeance intended to be dealt upon the scalping parties of Massachusetts, and many of them moved off from the lands they had prepared for cultivation, to seek a more secure asylum in a southern colony.

Among these emigrants were Aaron and Providence Hewes, who made their escape from the scene of savage warfare not without difficulty and imminent personal risk; so near, indeed, were they to the scene of danger, that in crossing the Housatanic river, they were almost overtaken by the Indians, and were within the actual range of their bullets, one of which wounded Providence in the neck.

They took up their abode near Kingston, in New Jersey, where they found a peaceful and secure dwel

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