Williams, Eleazar, 1688-1742

The Deerfield Massacre occurred on Feb. 29, 1704 when a French and Indian war party from Canada attacked the Massachusetts village killing about fifty inhabitants and taking over one hundred prisoners.

The entire family of the Rev. John Williams, except Eleazar, were taken prisoner at Deerfield and carried into Canada. Enroute Mrs. Williams and her two young sons were killed. Most of the family remained in captivity for periods of one to two and a half years and were gradually redeemed and allowed to return to Massachusetts. Only one sister, Eunice (1696-1786), was not redeemed and subsequently was adopted by a Mohawk family. The Williams family spent the ensuing decades attempting to secure her return. Eventually they discovered that she was not being held against her will, but had chosen to marry a Mohawk man. Although she was finally reunited with her family in 1740 in Albany, she continued to live among the Indians until her death.