Quentin Stockwell
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Quentin Stockwell was an early American colonist. He was one of the first settlers of Dedham, Massachusetts[1] and then Deerfield, Massachusetts.[2]
While in Dedham, he lived near the saw mill in what is today Walpole, Massachusetts.[3] His wife, Abigail, was a first cousin of Mary Bullard, the wife of John Farrington.[1] Both families were early residents of Dedham and Deerfield.[1]
King Phillip's War
After moving to Deerfield, the village was destroyed in King Phillip's War.[1] While attempting to rebuild his farm, he was taken captive with 24 others by the native peoples and marched to Canada.[2][4]
He was set to be burned at the stake and, on the night before his execution, was sent to gather wood for the pyre.[5] While doing so he discovered his captors were sleeping, and carefully gathered their weapons to kill them all with his fellow prisoners.[5] He lost his nerve, however, and put all the weapons back where he found them.[5] His master chose not to execute him.[5] He had a second opportunity to kill his captors when he was left with a sick guard.[5] Fearing for the safety of those left behind, he did not.[5]
After being ransomed,[2] his wrote an account of his experiences that was published by Increase Mather.[6]
