Last weekend, I went to the 304th commemoration of the French and Indian raid on Deerfield MA (29 February 1704). Here is a http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l76/ajlafleche/Deerfield%2008/" TARGET="_blank">link to the pictures I took.

On that cold winter night, a fprce of 50 or so French and 250 members of the Kanienkehaka (Mohawk), Wendat (Huron) and Wôbanaki (Abenaki, Pennacook, Sokoki, Pocumtuck and others). nations attacked the English town of Deerfield MA.

About half the town’s population of 250 was killed or captured. 112 men, women and children began a 300 mile trek to New France along a series of frozen rivers. Approximately 25 perished along the route, and 26 of the remaining captives chose to remain in New France, in several cases, splitting up families permanently. One of the “unredeemed” was my 6th generation grandmother, Martha French, whose father, Thomas, returned to Deerfield, where he is buried.