Iron 401

Hannah Sawyer (1) Born 5/23/1675 Where Marlborough, MA Married Where Died 5/1/1765 Where Bolton, MA Spouse Jonathan Moore
Thomas Sawyer II (1) Born 7/2/1649 Where Lancaster, MA Married 11/21/1672 Where Lancaster, MA Died 9/5/1736 Where Lancaster, MA On Oct. 26, 1708, 59 yr. old Thomas, his son Elias, 21, and one John Biglo (Bigelow) were captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. When the party reached Montreal, Sawyer offered to erect a saw mill on the River Chambly on condition that the French governor obtain the release of the captives. Apparently there was little difficulty in arranging for the freedom of Young Elias and Mr. Biglo, but for some reason the Indians were determined to put Thomas to death by slow torture. This may have been their way of paying tribute to him, for he was reputed to be a very brave man. In any event, a seeming miracle, probably arranged by the french governor, saved Thomas. He had already been tied to the stake when a friar appeared before the Indians and announced dramatically that he held the key to Purgatory in his hand. Unless they released their prisoner at once, he thundered, he would unlock the gate and throw them all in! The Indians, being superstitious, turned Thomas over to the French. He finished the saw mill as promised - reportedly the first built in Canada - before the year was out, and was sent home to Lancaster along with John Biglo. Elias remained for some time in order to teach the Canadians the art of "sawing and keeping the mill in order, and then was dismissed with rich presents." This story appears in published histories of Lancaster, as well as in many Sawyer family histories (1).				Hannah Lewis (1) Born 3/18/1649 Where Roxbury, MA Died before 1718 Where Lancaster, MA
Thomas Sawyer I (1) Born 1616 Where Lincolnshire, England Married Where Died 1706 Where Lancaster, MA Father: John Sawyer Iron 3202 Mother: Iron 3203		Mary Prescott (1) Born 2/24/1629/1630 Where Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England Died 4/1716 Where Lancaster, MA Father: John Prescott Iron 3204 Mother: Mary Gawkroger-Plats Iron 3205		William Lewis Born 1610 Where Glamorganshire, Wales Married Where Died after 1670 Where Lancaster, MA Father:  Iron 3206 Mother: Iron 3207		Amy Wells (1) Born 1620 Where Wales Died Where Father: Iron 3208 Mother: Iron 3209