MITTON, Nathaniel

Abt 1648 - 1679  (31 years)

 Set As Default Person

• Name	MITTON, Nathaniel
  Birth	Abt 1648	Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA
  Gender	Male
  Differentiator	Killed by Indians
  Death	11 Aug 1679	Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA
  Person ID	I8828	My Genealogy | Laviolette Ancestry, Laviolette Ancestry
  Last Modified	4 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	MITTON, Michael,   b. Abt 1615, Shropshire, England d. 7 Oct 1661, Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA (Age 46 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	CLEEVES, Elizabeth,   b. 14 Dec 1619, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England d. 1681, Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA (Age 61 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	1637	Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA
  Family ID	F6857	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - Abt 1648 - Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA Death - 11 Aug 1679 - Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

  Albums		Casco Bay Massacre (6) The raids of August 1676 were a significant part of the Northeast Coast campaign during King Philip's War, a conflict that pitted Native American tribes against English settlers in New England. These raids were orchestrated by the Wabanaki Confederacy, a coalition of Native American tribes, targeting colonial American settlements along the border of the New England Colonies and Acadia in what is now Maine. During the initial month of this campaign, the Wabanaki Confederacy wreaked havoc along approximately 45 miles of the coast east of Casco Bay. They were responsible for the deaths and capture of numerous colonists, as well as the burning of many farms. This aggressive campaign effectively halted the expansion of colonial American settlements in the region, compelling the colonists to abandon their homes and retreat to the relative safety of Salem, Massachusetts. A poignant account came from Thaddeus Clark of Casco Bay, who wrote to his mother-in-law in 1676. He described the tragic fate of family members and friends who had been killed or captured in the area of Falmouth, later known as Portland. His letter mentioned the Brackett family, our ancestors, who were living on land deeded by Warrabitta in 1670. The attack on the Brackett family and others, who had allegedly violated the terms of their agreements with Warrabitta, suggests that the raid was a form of retribution for perceived fraud. These raids were part of the larger context of King Philip's War, which spanned from 1675 to 1676, and marked a tumultuous and violent chapter in the history of the New England region. In this collection, I present my research on our ancestors who were impacted by this event.
  		Ancestors Killed in Native American Raids (1) This collection focuses on a particularly challenging chapter of my family's past, dating back to the 1600s and early 1700s in colonial America, a time marked by conflict and cultural clashes. The era we are delving into was characterized by profound misunderstandings and tensions between the European settlers and the Native American tribes, each defending their way of life in an ever-changing landscape. The Native American tribes, with their rich and diverse cultures, had been living on this land for thousands of years. Their connection to the land was deep-rooted, and their societies were complex and varied. The arrival of European settlers brought unprecedented changes, often leading to conflicts, as both groups sought to protect their communities and resources. In this context, my ancestors, like many others, faced challenges and hardships. Some of them tragically lost their lives in raids conducted by Native American tribes. These events were undoubtedly painful and significant for my family's history. In presenting the list of my ancestors and their stories, I hope to provide a respectful tribute to their lives, acknowledging the tragedy they faced while also recognizing the broader historical context that led to these events.

  
  

• Notes

  Cattle precipitated the events of August 11, 1676 but probably provided only the immediate circumstance. On the 9th, neighboring Indians killed one of Anthony Brackett's cows. The circumstances are now unknown, but surely the Indians were making a point. Brackett was promised assistance in finding the culprits by an Indian named Simon whom, as historian William Willis' writes, "insinuated himself into his (Brackett's) confidence". This Simon turned out to be the Yankee Killer from Metacomet's army. He had recently escaped from Dover prison where he was held for murders committed during the previous summer. Simon is said to have had a "counterfeit pass". It is unlikely the Casco settlers knew any of this, but they were suspicious enough to send a report to Major Waldron at Dover. Travel was difficult, and communications were bad. Simon promised to bring the cattle slayers to Brackett, and he did. Very early on the morning of the 12th, Simon arrived with a war party whom he said killed the cow. Hardly contrite, the Indians ransacked the house and confiscated all the guns. Brackett asked the meaning of all this; he must have been stunned as it was obvious what was happening. Simon reputedly replied, "So it must be." Certainly it must, if the Indians were to reassert some control over their homelands. Brackett and his family were given the choice of submission to their captors or death. Ann Brackett's brother, Nathaniel Mitton, was visiting at the time. Mitton was unmarried and possibly quite a young man which might explain what happened next. He "offered some resistance" and was immediately killed. Certainly, this example provided the Brackett's with adequate incentive for submissive behavior. The two parents, five children and a Negro slave were bound together and carried off into captivity.